Track market-moving stories before they get noisy

Key Takeaways Biogen's growth portfolio surpassed legacy MS drug revenues in Q2, with momentum expected to continue.Skyclarys, Qalsody, Zurzuvae and Spinraza may help offset declining Tecfidera and Tysabri sales.Biogen expects a $1.70-per-share earnings hit from acquired R&D and milestone expenses in Q3.
We expect Biogen (BIIB - Free Report) to beat expectations when it reports third-quarter 2026 results on Oct. 28, before market open. In the last reported quarter, the company's earnings beat expectations by 18.42%. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for third-quarter sales and earnings is pegged at $2.60 billion and $2.05 per share, respectively.

Factors to Consider for BiogenIn the third quarter, lower sales of multiple sclerosis drugs, Tecfidera and Tysabri, are likely to have been offset by higher revenues from new drugs, Skyclarys, Qalsody and Zurzuvae, and contributions from newly acquired drugs, Empaveli and Syfovre, from the Apellis acquisition.

Sales from Biogen’s growth products exceeded revenues from its legacy MS portfolio in the second quarter. Its growth drugs include Spinraza, Vumerity, new drugs Skyclarys (Friedreich’s ataxia), Qalsody (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis) and Supernus Pharmaceuticals (SUPN - Free Report) -partnered Zurzuvae (postpartum depression). Its growth drugs also include Empaveli and Syfovre, from the Apellis acquisition, plus Alzheimer’s revenues from the Leqembi collaboration with Eisai. The growth portfolio is expected to maintain its lead in the second half of 2026.

Sales of Biogen’s MS drugs like Tecfidera and Tysabri are likely to have declined in the third quarter. Sales of Tecfidera are likely to have been hurt by generic competition globally, particularly in Europe. Sales of Tysabri are likely to have been hurt by biosimilar competition in Europe and a decrease in U.S. demand.

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for third-quarter sales of Tecfidera is pegged at $88.0 million. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Tysabri is $379.0 million.

Sales of another MS drug, Vumerity, declined in the second quarter due to inventory dynamics. We expect the trend to have reversed in the third quarter. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Vumerity is $210.0 million.

Sales of Biogen’s spinal muscular atrophy drug, Spinraza, are likely to have continued to improve in the quarter due to demand and stocking for the new high-dose regimen. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Spinraza is $384.0 million.

Sales of Biogen’s new drug Skyclarys for Friedreich’s ataxia are likely to have continued to improve on higher demand growth in both U.S. and ex-U.S. markets.

Sales of other new drugs, Zurzuvae and Qalsody, are likely to have benefited from strong demand trends.

Biogen has a collaboration with Supernus Pharmaceuticals for Zurzuvae. Biogen and Supernus Pharmaceuticals equally share profits and losses for the commercialization of Zurzuvae in the United States. In outside U.S. markets, Biogen records product sales (excluding Japan, Taiwan and South Korea) and pays royalties to Supernus.

Alzheimer’s collaboration revenues are expected to have risen in the quarter. Alzheimer’s collaboration revenues include Biogen’s 50% share of net product revenues and cost of sales (including royalties) from Alzheimer’s drug Leqembi (lecanemab), which has been developed in collaboration with Eisai.

Leqembi sales have been improving sequentially over the past few quarters, driven by demand growth globally. The positive trend is expected to have continued in the third quarter. Leqembi sales are recorded by Eisai.

Contribution from Apellis’ products, Empaveli and Syfovre, is likely to have been much higher in the third quarter than the second since Biogen only began recording Syfovre and Empaveli revenues in mid-May.

In the third quarter, Biogen will record a charge related to acquired in-process research and development, upfront and milestone expense, which is expected to hurt adjusted earnings by $1.70 per share.

BIIB’s Earnings Surprise HistoryThe company’s earnings beat estimates in each of the last four quarters. The company has a four-quarter earnings surprise of 21.7%, on average.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

Biogen’s stock has risen 42.4% so far this year compared with an increase of 4.7% for the industry.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

What Our Model Says for BIIBOur proven model predicts an earnings beat for Biogen this time around. The combination of a positive Earnings ESP and a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), 2 (Buy) or 3 (Hold) increases the odds of an earnings beat, which is the case here.

Earnings ESP: Biogen’s Earnings ESP is +0.23%. You can uncover the best stocks to buy or sell before they’re reported with our  Earnings ESP Filter.

Zacks Rank: Biogen has a Zacks Rank #3.

Other Stocks to ConsiderHere are two drug/biotech stocks that also have the right combination of elements to beat on earnings this time around:

Gilead Sciences (GILD - Free Report) has an Earnings ESP of +4.08% and a Zacks Rank #3. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.

Gilead’s stock has risen 27.1% so far this year. GILD beat estimates in each of the last four quarters. The company has a four-quarter earnings surprise of 7.12%, on average. Gilead is scheduled to report third-quarter results on Oct. 29.

Pfizer (PFE - Free Report) has an Earnings ESP of +3.53% and a Zacks Rank #3 at present.

Shares of Pfizer have risen 20.6% so far this year. Pfizer beat earnings estimates in each of the last four reported quarters, delivering an average earnings surprise of 16.62%. Pfizer is scheduled to report third-quarter results on Nov. 3.

New cloud-delivered service brings advanced AI guardrails and inspection to FortiGate firewalls, backed by continued FortiAIGate innovation  | Source: Fortinet, Inc.

SUNNYVALE, Calif., Oct. 26, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) --

Fortinet® (NASDAQ: FTNT), the global cybersecurity leader driving the convergence of networking and security, today announced the new FortiGuard Inline AI Security Service, delivering AI-specific inspection and guardrails to FortiGate customers through a cloud-delivered service. Organizations gain deeper visibility into AI activity and stop AI threats and data exposure through the Fortinet solutions they already use. Ongoing innovation in FortiAIGate powers these capabilities with high-performance AI guardrails, expanded access and compliance controls, shadow AI and agent visibility, and technology from the recent acquisition of Virtue AI.

Fortinet’s broad FortiGate footprint gives organizations a simpler path to adopt advanced AI security through the infrastructure they already use. Customers can enable the FortiGuard Inline AI Security Service without deploying and managing separate AI security infrastructure, making advanced AI security accessible to a broader set of organizations. Customers with more advanced security, privacy, and sovereignty requirements can deploy FortiAIGate directly in their own environment for greater control over how and where AI traffic and data are processed.

“Organizations need AI security that can scale with how quickly AI is being adopted across the enterprise,” said Michael Xie, Founder, President, and Chief Technology Officer at Fortinet. “By extending advanced AI inspection and guardrails through FortiGate, we are making AI security available through the infrastructure customers already use. FortiAIGate provides the foundation for this broader strategy, giving customers flexibility in how they deploy and consume AI security based on their cost, performance, privacy, and sovereignty requirements.”

Cloud-Delivered AI Security through Fortinet Infrastructure

With the FortiGuard Inline AI Security Service, FortiGate customers gain deeper visibility into AI activity and stop AI-specific threats and sensitive data exposure through infrastructure they already use. FortiAIGate-based guardrails inspect prompts and data in real time and enforce security, compliance, and data protection policies across interactions with agents, large language models (LLMs), and Model Context Protocol (MCP) tools.

The service goes beyond existing Fortinet capabilities for discovering shadow AI usage and applying data loss prevention (DLP) policies to AI traffic. It extends protection beyond identifying AI use and sensitive data movement to inspecting the content of AI interactions and masking sensitive data without adding new infrastructure to deploy and manage.

Context-Aware AI Security for Applications and Agents

With AI moving into production, LLMs and autonomous agents gain access to sensitive data, business applications, and critical workflows. Traditional security tools inspect IPs, signatures, and payloads, but they do not assess prompts and responses for potential threats. AI-specific threats hide in prompts, model responses, and MCP tool communications and can trigger harmful tool calls, API calls, and autonomous agent actions.

FortiAIGate addresses these risks by providing a real-time control point between AI applications and models, analyzing interactions, and enforcing policy in real time based on the model, application, user role, and business context. Organizations can:

Stop AI attacks and data leaks in real time: Apply multilayered AI guardrails across prompts, model responses, MCP tool calls and responses, API activity, and agent actions. Dynamic inspection covers text, images, audio, video, and code, delivering industry-leading low latency and minimal false positives. Expanded DLP detects 35 types of personally identifiable information (PII) and confidential data, allowing organizations to alert, deny, or redact that sensitive information before exposure.Enforce usage policies and control AI spending: Set model permissions, budgets, spend limits, and rate limits by organization, workspace, project, or user. Administrators are alerted as spending nears a limit and requests are blocked once spending exceeds it. Malicious prompts and Denial-of-Wallet attacks are blocked before they consume tokens or GPU compute. Intelligent routing directs each request to the right model based on content, policy, and cost, with no application re-architecture.Govern AI across teams: Dedicated workspaces give teams and business units their own policies, models, logs, roles, and permissions under centralized visibility and control.Simplify compliance and auditability: Add more than 50 predefined policies with one click, spanning AI governance frameworks, data privacy laws, industry regulations, and security frameworks. Customize each policy, and give auditors detailed logs of every prompt, output, and tool call.Gain visibility into AI agents: See which agents are operating across the business and how they interact with enterprise applications, APIs, tools, data, and MCP servers.Maintain data sovereignty and deployment flexibility: Self-host FortiAIGate on-premises or in your cloud, on Kubernetes with NVIDIA GPUs. Prompts, responses, data, and logs stay inside your environment. Reducing AI Security Complexity for Enterprises

Across cloud-delivered and self-hosted deployment options, Fortinet gives organizations a more unified approach to securing AI without adding disconnected tools and operational complexity.

“FortiAIGate takes an elegant approach to a complex problem,” said Will Townsend, Chief Analyst at LoneStar Advisory & Research. “Rather than asking customers to manage separate tools for AI security, governance, cost, and agent visibility, Fortinet is bringing these capabilities together in a single gateway. The rapid integration of Virtue AI technology further strengthens that story by improving the guardrails and performance customers need as they move AI into production.”

Together, FortiAIGate and the FortiGuard Inline AI Security Service connect AI inspection and runtime controls with Fortinet capabilities spanning network, application, cloud, data, identity, and security operations. Organizations gain a more consistent approach to managing AI risk across users, applications, models, agents, and infrastructure while meeting performance, privacy, regulatory, and sovereignty requirements.

Additional Resources

Read more about FortiAIGate.Download the FortiAIGate solution brief.Read about the Fortinet AI-Native Security Fabric.Learn about the Fortinet Open Ecosystem.Visit fortinet.com/trust to learn about Fortinet innovation, collaboration partners, product security processes, and enterprise-grade products.Read about how Fortinet customers are securing their organizations.Learn about Fortinet’s commitment to product security and integrity, including its responsible product development and vulnerability disclosure approach and policies.Follow Fortinet on X, LinkedIn, Facebook, and Instagram. Subscribe to Fortinet on our blog or YouTube. Fortinet (Nasdaq: FTNT) is a driving force in the evolution of cybersecurity and the convergence of networking and security. Our mission is to secure people, devices and data everywhere, and today we deliver cybersecurity everywhere our customers need it with the largest integrated portfolio of over 50 enterprise-grade products. Well over half a Over one million lifetime customers trust Fortinet’s solutions, which are among the most deployed, most patented and most validated in the industry. The Fortinet Training Institute, one of the largest and broadest training programs in the industry, is dedicated to making cybersecurity training and new career opportunities available to everyone. Collaboration with esteemed organizations from both the public and private sectors, including Computer Emergency Response Teams (“CERTs”), government entities, and academia, is a fundamental aspect of Fortinet’s commitment to enhance cyber resilience globally. FortiGuard Labs, Fortinet’s elite threat intelligence and research organization, develops and utilizes leading-edge machine learning and AI technologies to provide customers with timely and consistently top-rated protection and actionable threat intelligence. Learn more at https://www.fortinet.com, the Fortinet Blog or FortiGuard Labs.

Copyright © 2026 Fortinet, Inc. All rights reserved. The symbols ® and ™ denote respectively federally registered trademarks and common law trademarks of Fortinet, Inc., its subsidiaries and affiliates. Fortinet’s trademarks include, but are not limited to, the following: Fortinet, the Fortinet logo, FortiGate, FortiOS, FortiGuard, FortiCare, FortiAnalyzer, FortiManager, FortiASIC, FortiClient, FortiCloud, FortiCore, FortiMail, FortiSandbox, FortiADC, FortiAgent, FortiAI, FortiAIOps, FortiAntenna, FortiAP, FortiAPCam, FortiAppSec, FortiAuthenticator, FortiBranchSASE, FortiCall, FortiCam, FortiCamera, FortiCarrier, FortiCART, FortiCASB, FortiCentral, FortiConnect, FortiController, FortiConverter, FortiDAST, FortiDATA, FortiDB, FortiDevice, FortiDDoS, FortiDeceptor, FortiDeploy, FortiDevice, FortiDevSec, FortiDLP, FortiEdge, FortiEDR, FortiEndpoint, FortiExplorer, FortiExtender, FortiFirewall, FortiFlex, FortiFone, FortiGSLB, FortiGuest, FortiHSM, FortiHypervisor, FortiIdentity, FortiInsight, FortiIsolator, FortiLink, FortiMonitor, FortiNAC, FortiNDR, FortiPAM, FortiPhish, FortiPoint, FortiPoints, FortiPortal, FortiPresence, FortiProxy, FortiRecon, FortiRecorder, FortiSASE, FortiSAT, FortiSEC, FortiSIEM, FortiSMS, FortiSOAR, FortiSOC, FortiSRA, FortiSwitch, FortiTelemetry, FortiTester, FortiTIP, FortiToken, FortiTrust, FortiVoice, FortiWAN, FortiWeb, FortiWiFi, FortiWLC, FortiWLM, FortiXDR, Lacework FortiCNAPP, Linksys, Intelligent Mesh, Velop, Max-Stream, Performance Perfected and SECURITY FABRIC.

Other trademarks belong to their respective owners. Fortinet has not independently verified statements or certifications herein attributed to third parties and Fortinet does not independently endorse such statements. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, nothing herein constitutes a warranty, guarantee, contract, binding specification or other binding commitment by Fortinet or any indication of intent related to a binding commitment, and performance and other specification information herein may be unique to certain environments.

Have you assessed how the international operations of SLB (SLB - Free Report) performed in the quarter ended September 2026? For this world's largest oilfield services company, possessing an expansive global footprint, parsing the trends of international revenues could be critical to gauge its financial resilience and growth prospects.

In today's increasingly interconnected global economy, a company's ability to tap into international markets can be a pivotal factor in shaping its overall financial health and growth trajectory. For investors, understanding a company's reliance on overseas markets has become increasingly crucial, as it offers insights into the company's sustainability of earnings, ability to tap into diverse economic cycles and overall growth potential.

International market involvement serves as insurance against economic downturns at home and enables engagement with economies that are growing more quickly. Still, this move toward diversification is not without its challenges, as it involves navigating through the fluctuations of currencies, geopolitical threats, and the distinctive nature of various markets.

In our recent assessment of SLB's quarterly performance, we discovered notable trends in its overseas revenue sections, which are typically modeled and scrutinized by Wall Street analysts.

The recent quarter saw the company's total revenue reaching $9.45 billion, marking an improvement of 5.8% from the prior-year quarter. Next, we'll examine the breakdown of SLB's revenue from abroad to comprehend the significance of its international presence.

Exploring SLB's International Revenue PatternsOf the total revenue, $2.81 billion came from Middle East & Asia during the last fiscal quarter, accounting for 29.7%. This represented a surprise of +3.56% as analysts had expected the region to contribute $2.71 billion to the total revenue. In comparison, the region contributed $2.57 billion, or 28.7%, and $3 billion, or 33.6%, to total revenue in the previous and year-ago quarters, respectively.

During the quarter, Latin America contributed $1.75 billion in revenue, making up 18.5% of the total revenue. When compared to the consensus estimate of $1.71 billion, this meant a surprise of +2.43%. Looking back, Latin America contributed $1.71 billion, or 19.1%, in the previous quarter, and $1.48 billion, or 16.6%, in the same quarter of the previous year.

Europe & Africa accounted for 25.8% of the company's total revenue during the quarter, translating to $2.44 billion. Revenues from this region represented a surprise of -2.89%, with Wall Street analysts collectively expecting $2.51 billion. When compared to the preceding quarter and the same quarter in the previous year, Europe & Africa contributed $2.39 billion (26.6%) and $2.43 billion (27.3%) to the total revenue, respectively.

Anticipated Revenues in Overseas MarketsIt is projected by analysts on Wall Street that SLB will post revenues of $10 billion for the ongoing fiscal quarter, an increase of 2.6% from the year-ago quarter. The expected contributions from Middle East & Asia, Latin America and Europe & Africa to this revenue are 31.4%, 18.6%, and 26.4%, translating into $3.14 billion, $1.86 billion, and $2.64 billion, respectively.

Analysts expect the company to report a total annual revenue of $37 billion for the full year, marking an increase of 3.6% compared to last year. The expected revenue contributions from Middle East & Asia, Latin America and Europe & Africa are projected to be 30% ($11.11 billion), 18.4% ($6.81 billion) and 26.5% ($9.79 billion) of the total revenue, in that order.

Wrapping UpSLB's leaning on foreign markets for its revenue stream presents a mix of chances and challenges. Therefore, a vigilant watch on its international revenue movements can greatly aid in projecting the company's future direction.

With the increasing intricacies of global interdependence and geopolitical strife, Wall Street analysts meticulously observe these patterns, especially for companies with an international footprint, to tweak their forecasts of earnings. Importantly, several additional factors, such as a company's domestic market status, also impact these earnings forecasts.

Emphasizing a company's shifting earnings prospects is a key aspect of our approach at Zacks, especially since research has proven its substantial influence on a stock's price in the short run. This correlation is positively aligned, meaning that improved earnings projections tend to boost the stock's price.

The Zacks Rank, our proprietary stock rating mechanism, demonstrates a notable performance history confirmed through external audits. It effectively utilizes the power of earnings estimate revisions to act as a predictor of a stock's price performance in the near term.

Currently, SLB holds a Zacks Rank #4 (Sell), signifying its potential to underperform the overall market's performance in the forthcoming period. You can see the complete list of today's Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) stocks here >>>> .

SLB's Recent Stock Market PerformanceThe stock has increased by 3% over the past month compared to the 1.2% fall of the Zacks S&P 500 composite. Meanwhile, the Zacks Business Services sector, which includes SLB,has increased 3.5% during this time frame. Over the past three months, the company's shares have experienced a gain of 7% relative to the S&P 500's 2.5% increase. Throughout this period, the sector overall has witnessed a 1.7% increase.

A group of senior creditors to JetBlue Airways has reportedly hired financial and legal advisors as the airline faces mounting financial pressure, falling bond prices and rising fuel costs that have complicated turnaround efforts.

The creditors are working with investment bank PJT Partners and law firm Akin, according to The Wall Street Journal, which cited people familiar with the matter.

JetBlue's roughly $2 billion in senior secured notes due in 2031 fell to approximately 42 cents on the dollar Thursday before recovering to the mid-40-cent range Friday, the Journal reported. Last month the bonds were trading near 80 cents.

Bloomberg separately reported that the creditor group includes holders of the $2 billion in bonds and a $742 million secured loan. 

JETMAKER BOMBARDIER DOUBLES DOWN ON US INVESTMENT IN DEAL TOUTED BY TRUMP

A JetBlue Airways Airbus A321 airplane approaches San Diego International Airport for a landing from Boston on April 20, 2025, in San Diego, California. (Kevin Carter/Getty Images)

The developments come as JetBlue struggles to restore profitability while managing approximately $8.5 billion in debt and finance lease obligations, according to its second-quarter filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The airline's shares have also fallen roughly 58% since the beginning of August, the Journal reported.

While creditors sometimes hire advisors to assess their options when a borrower faces financial difficulties, such moves do not necessarily signal an imminent bankruptcy or debt restructuring.

JetBlue reported a net loss of $247 million in the second quarter, compared with a $74 million loss a year earlier. Revenue rose 14.5% to $2.7 billion, but operating expenses climbed 20.8%, driven largely by higher fuel costs.

JetBlue reported a net loss of $247 million in the second quarter, compared with a $74 million loss a year earlier. (Beata Zawrzel/NurPhoto via Getty Images)

Aircraft fuel expenses surged 80.7% year over year to $911 million, with the average price per gallon rising to $4.23 from $2.40.

Higher jet fuel prices linked to the Iran war have pressured airlines across the U.S., squeezing profit margins despite resilient travel demand and higher airfares.

FAA PROPOSES $350K FINE AGAINST CHARTER COMPANY OVER UNAUTHORIZED FLIGHTS

In September, JetBlue raised its third-quarter fuel price estimate to $3.96 per gallon from $3.49 while also increasing its projected nonfuel operating costs. However, the airline raised its revenue outlook, citing strong travel demand and a favorable pricing environment.

The developments come as JetBlue struggles to restore profitability while managing approximately $8.5 billion in debt and finance lease obligations. ( Eva Marie Uzcategui/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

JetBlue has sought to shore up its finances, including through a $500 million aircraft-backed financing agreement reached in April. As of June 30, the airline reported approximately $2.2 billion in unrestricted cash, cash equivalents and investment securities, along with a $600 million undrawn credit facility.

In April, JetBlue CEO Joanna Geraghty told employees the airline was not considering bankruptcy in 2026, according to an internal memo reviewed by Reuters. She also said JetBlue had ample liquidity and access to additional capital.

Ticker Security Last Change Change % JBLU NO DATA AVAILABLE - -
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The airline has continued pursuing its JetForward turnaround strategy, which management said in July had generated $470 million in cumulative incremental earnings before interest and taxes through June.

A JetBlue representative told the Journal that the airline remained focused on strengthening revenue and building a more profitable business.

JetBlue is scheduled to report third-quarter earnings Tuesday, Oct. 27, offering investors a fresh look at its financial health and turnaround efforts.

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PJT Partners declined to comment.

FOX Business reached out to JetBlue and Akin for comment.

Reuters contributed to this report. 

In its upcoming report, Rivian Automotive (RIVN - Free Report) is predicted by Wall Street analysts to post quarterly loss of -$0.67 per share, reflecting an increase of 4.3% compared to the same period last year. Revenues are forecasted to be $2.02 billion, representing a year-over-year increase of 29.7%.

Over the past 30 days, the consensus EPS estimate for the quarter has been adjusted upward by 1% to its current level. This demonstrates the covering analysts' collective reassessment of their initial projections during this period.

Before a company announces its earnings, it is essential to take into account any changes made to earnings estimates. This is a valuable factor in predicting the potential reactions of investors toward the stock. Empirical research has consistently shown a strong correlation between trends in earnings estimate revisions and the short-term price performance of a stock.

While investors typically use consensus earnings and revenue estimates as a yardstick to evaluate the company's quarterly performance, scrutinizing analysts' projections for some of the company's key metrics can offer a more comprehensive perspective.

Given this perspective, it's time to examine the average forecasts of specific Rivian Automotive metrics that are routinely monitored and predicted by Wall Street analysts.

Based on the collective assessment of analysts, 'Revenue- Software and services' should arrive at $628.79 million. The estimate indicates a change of +51.2% from the prior-year quarter.

The collective assessment of analysts points to an estimated 'Revenue- Automotive' of $1.37 billion. The estimate indicates a year-over-year change of +20.2%.

Analysts' assessment points toward 'Delivery volume' reaching 19,248 . The estimate compares to the year-ago value of 13,201 .

The combined assessment of analysts suggests that 'Production volume' will likely reach 19,751 . Compared to the current estimate, the company reported 10,720 in the same quarter of the previous year.

Analysts predict that the 'Gross Profit- Software and services' will reach $230.37 million. The estimate is in contrast to the year-ago figure of $154.00 million.

View all Key Company Metrics for Rivian Automotive here>>>

Shares of Rivian Automotive have demonstrated returns of -23.5% over the past month compared to the Zacks S&P 500 composite's -1.2% change. With a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy), RIVN is expected to beat the overall market performance in the near future. You can see the complete list of today's Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) stocks here >>>> .

Key Takeaways Robinhood's Q3 revenues are projected to rise 13.1% to $1.44 billion, while earnings may decline 8.2%.Options and equity trading revenues are expected to jump 31.5% and 54.7%, offsetting a 55.7% crypto slump.Robinhood shares surged 29.9% in Q3, but premium valuation, rising expenses and regulatory risks remain.
Robinhood Markets (HOOD - Free Report) is scheduled to report third-quarter 2026 results tomorrow after market close.

After an impressive 2025 performance, momentum continued for HOOD in the first half of 2026 amid crypto weakness. Solid trading activity across options and equities amid heightened volatility led to an increase in transaction-based revenues, while a sell-off in cryptos hampered performance to some extent. The company’s events contract operations witnessed solid performance, which, along with higher net interest revenues (NIR) and a surge in Gold subscribers, was a tailwind. The company’s top line jumped 24% year over year.

HOOD is expected to have witnessed solid revenue growth in the third quarter as well. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for sales of $1.44 billion suggests 13.1% growth on a year-over-year basis.

Robinhood has an impressive earnings surprise history. The company’s earnings outpaced the Zacks Consensus Estimate in three of the trailing four quarters, with the average beat being 15.07%.

Earnings Surprise History
 

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

In the past week, the consensus estimate for earnings has been revised 1.8% upward to 56 cents. This indicates a fall of 8.2% from the prior-year quarter. 

HOOD’s Earnings Estimates
 

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

With Robinhood’s upcoming earnings release drawing closer, investors may be wondering whether to buy the stock ahead of the announcement or wait for greater clarity from the results. Let’s assess the company’s prospects and key factors that could influence its performance.

Factors to Note & Estimates for HOOD’s Q3 ResultsRevenues: During the third quarter, client activity was robust, driven by heightened volatility. Hence, Robinhood’s transaction revenues are expected to have increased like its peers, Interactive Brokers Group (IBKR - Free Report) and Charles Schwab (SCHW - Free Report) .

Interactive Brokers, which released third-quarter results on Oct. 15, witnessed a 12% year-over-year rise in commissions. Schwab, which also announced quarterly numbers on Oct. 15, recorded 16% growth in trading revenues.

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for HOOD’s transaction-based revenues is pegged at $887.7 million, indicating a 21.6% increase from the prior-year quarter. This performance is likely to have been supported by higher options and equity transaction revenues. However, cryptocurrencies transaction revenues and the prediction markets business may have remained subdued during the quarter.

The consensus estimate for options transaction revenues is $399.8 million, suggesting a 31.5% jump. Further, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for equity and cryptocurrencies transaction revenues is pegged at $133 million and $118.7 million, respectively. Equity transaction revenues are projected to soar 54.7%, while cryptocurrencies transaction revenues are estimated to plunge 55.7% year over year. The consensus estimate for other transaction revenues of $51.4 million suggests a 28.6% fall.

Robinhood’s NIR is expected to have witnessed a subdued performance amid higher interest rates. The consensus estimate for the metric is $430.7 million, implying a 5.6% decline.

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for other revenues is pegged at $134.4 million, suggesting a 52.7% jump from the prior-year quarter.

Expenses: Total operating expenses are likely to have remained elevated as HOOD invests in key areas to enhance platform capabilities, drive product innovation, improve customer support and build upon regulatory and compliance functions. Further, expansion through global presence is likely to have added to expenses.

What Our Model Unveils for RobinhoodOur quantitative model shows that the chances of an earnings beat for Robinhood are high this time. The combination of a positive Earnings ESP and a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), 2 (Buy) or 3 (Hold) increases the odds of an earnings beat. That is the case here, as you see below.

Earnings ESP: Robinhood has an Earnings ESP of +0.22%. You can uncover the best stocks to buy or sell before they are reported with our Earnings ESP Filter.

Zacks Rank: It sports a Zacks Rank #1 at present. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.

HOOD Stock Price Performance & ValuationIn the third quarter, Robinhood shares jumped 29.9% against the industry’s decline of 6.8%. It also outperformed Schwab and Interactive Brokers.

HOOD’s Q3 2026 Price Performance
 

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

Now, let’s look at the value Robinhood offers investors at current levels.

Currently, HOOD is trading at 9.88X 12-month trailing price/tangible book (P/TB), above the industry’s P/TB TTM multiple of 2.95X. Hence, the stock is trading at a steep premium compared with the industry.

HOOD P/TB TTM
 

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

Robinhood stock is expensive compared with Interactive Brokers and Schwab. At present, Interactive Brokers and Schwab have a P/TB TTM of 1.57X and 6.44X, respectively.

Robinhood: Investment ThesisRobinhood continues to make meaningful progress in diversifying its revenue streams and strengthening its product portfolio. Innovative product launches and international expansion (Europe, Canada, Singapore and Dubai) support its ambition to establish a comprehensive global financial platform.

HOOD’s expanding offerings appeal to younger, digitally savvy customers, while reduced dependence on transaction-based revenues reflects an evolving business model. Strong liquidity, a $1.4 billion share repurchase program, $2.2 billion in debt issuance and healthy customer engagement amid increasing digital asset adoption reinforce its competitive position.

However, heightened regulatory scrutiny, penalties and investigations across jurisdictions could raise compliance costs and complicate expansion plans. Moreover, its entry into banking introduces execution challenges in a highly competitive market, potentially weighing on near-term performance.

Robinhood stands to benefit from heightened market volatility and increased trading activity, although cryptocurrency market weakness could pressure revenues. Investments in tokenization, strategic acquisitions and product enhancements should help broaden its revenue base over time. While regulatory uncertainties and crypto-related volatility warrant a cautious near-term stance, Robinhood’s diversification efforts strengthen its long-term prospects.

How to Approach Robinhood Shares Ahead of Q3 Earnings?Robinhood presents a favorable investment opportunity ahead of its third-quarter earnings release, supported by robust trading activity, product diversification and encouraging revenue prospects. Strength in options and equities trading, alongside expanding subscription offerings, is expected to support results despite cryptocurrency-related weakness.

However, its premium valuation, elevated expenses and regulatory uncertainties could limit near-term upside. Despite these risks, Robinhood’s strategic initiatives and improving business diversification underpin its long-term prospects. Thus, investors with a higher risk appetite may consider buying HOOD shares ahead of earnings, while valuation-conscious investors may prefer awaiting greater clarity from the results.

Medifast (MED - Free Report) came out with a quarterly loss of $0.19 per share versus the Zacks Consensus Estimate of a loss of $0.4. This compares to a loss of $0.21 per share a year ago. These figures are adjusted for non-recurring items.

This quarterly report represents an earnings surprise of +52.50%. A quarter ago, it was expected that this weight-loss company would post a loss of $0.67 per share when it actually produced a loss of $0.28, delivering a surprise of +58.21%.

Over the last four quarters, the company has surpassed consensus EPS estimates four times.

Medifast, which belongs to the Zacks Food - Miscellaneous industry, posted revenues of $72.05 million for the quarter ended September 2026, surpassing the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 5.89%. This compares to year-ago revenues of $89.41 million. The company has topped consensus revenue estimates four times over the last four quarters.

The sustainability of the stock's immediate price movement based on the recently-released numbers and future earnings expectations will mostly depend on management's commentary on the earnings call.

Medifast shares have added about 11.1% since the beginning of the year versus the S&P 500's gain of 11.4%.

What's Next for Medifast?While Medifast has underperformed the market so far this year, the question that comes to investors' minds is: what's next for the stock?

There are no easy answers to this key question, but one reliable measure that can help investors address this is the company's earnings outlook. Not only does this include current consensus earnings expectations for the coming quarter(s), but also how these expectations have changed lately.

Empirical research shows a strong correlation between near-term stock movements and trends in earnings estimate revisions. Investors can track such revisions by themselves or rely on a tried-and-tested rating tool like the Zacks Rank, which has an impressive track record of harnessing the power of earnings estimate revisions.

Ahead of this earnings release, the estimate revisions trend for Medifast was mixed. While the magnitude and direction of estimate revisions could change following the company's just-released earnings report, the current status translates into a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) for the stock. So, the shares are expected to perform in line with the market in the near future. You can see the complete list of today's Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.

It will be interesting to see how estimates for the coming quarters and the current fiscal year change in the days ahead. The current consensus EPS estimate is -$0.17 on $59.98 million in revenues for the coming quarter and -$1.04 on $280.44 million in revenues for the current fiscal year.

Investors should be mindful of the fact that the outlook for the industry can have a material impact on the performance of the stock as well. In terms of the Zacks Industry Rank, Food - Miscellaneous is currently in the bottom 18% of the 250 plus Zacks industries. Our research shows that the top 50% of the Zacks-ranked industries outperform the bottom 50% by a factor of more than 2 to 1.

Another stock from the same industry, Vital Farms (VITL - Free Report) , has yet to report results for the quarter ended September 2026. The results are expected to be released on November 3.

This company is expected to post quarterly loss of $0.14 per share in its upcoming report, which represents a year-over-year change of -138.9%. The consensus EPS estimate for the quarter has been revised 10.4% lower over the last 30 days to the current level.

Vital Farms' revenues are expected to be $184.6 million, down 7.2% from the year-ago quarter.

The market expects Check Point Software (CHKP - Free Report) to deliver a year-over-year decline in earnings on lower revenues when it reports results for the quarter ended September 2026. This widely-known consensus outlook is important in assessing the company's earnings picture, but a powerful factor that might influence its near-term stock price is how the actual results compare to these estimates.

The stock might move higher if these key numbers top expectations in the upcoming earnings report, which is expected to be released on November 2. On the other hand, if they miss, the stock may move lower.

While the sustainability of the immediate price change and future earnings expectations will mostly depend on management's discussion of business conditions on the earnings call, it's worth handicapping the probability of a positive EPS surprise.

Zacks Consensus EstimateThis data security company is expected to post quarterly earnings of $2.49 per share in its upcoming report, which represents a year-over-year change of -36.8%.

Revenues are expected to be $672.51 million, down 0.7% from the year-ago quarter.

Estimate Revisions TrendThe consensus EPS estimate for the quarter has been revised 0.22% lower over the last 30 days to the current level. This is essentially a reflection of how the covering analysts have collectively reassessed their initial estimates over this period.

Investors should keep in mind that the direction of estimate revisions by each of the covering analysts may not always get reflected in the aggregate change.

Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise

Earnings WhisperEstimate revisions ahead of a company's earnings release offer clues to the business conditions for the period whose results are coming out. This insight is at the core of our proprietary surprise prediction model -- the Zacks Earnings ESP (Expected Surprise Prediction).

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

Thus, a positive or negative Earnings ESP reading theoretically indicates the likely deviation of the actual earnings from the consensus estimate. However, the model's predictive power is significant for positive ESP readings only.

A positive Earnings ESP is a strong predictor of an earnings beat, particularly when combined with a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), 2 (Buy) or 3 (Hold). Our research shows that stocks with this combination produce a positive surprise nearly 70% of the time, and a solid Zacks Rank actually increases the predictive power of Earnings ESP.

Please note that a negative Earnings ESP reading is not indicative of an earnings miss. Our research shows that it is difficult to predict an earnings beat with any degree of confidence for stocks with negative Earnings ESP readings and/or Zacks Rank of 4 (Sell) or 5 (Strong Sell).

How Have the Numbers Shaped Up for Check Point?For Check Point, the Most Accurate Estimate is higher than the Zacks Consensus Estimate, suggesting that analysts have recently become bullish on the company's earnings prospects. This has resulted in an Earnings ESP of +0.09%.

On the other hand, the stock currently carries a Zacks Rank of #4.

So, this combination makes it difficult to conclusively predict that Check Point will beat the consensus EPS estimate.

Does Earnings Surprise History Hold Any Clue?While calculating estimates for a company's future earnings, analysts often consider to what extent it has been able to match past consensus estimates. So, it's worth taking a look at the surprise history for gauging its influence on the upcoming number.

For the last reported quarter, it was expected that Check Point would post earnings of $2.45 per share when it actually produced earnings of $2.55, delivering a surprise of +4.08%.

Over the last four quarters, the company has beaten consensus EPS estimates four times.

Bottom LineAn earnings beat or miss may not be the sole basis for a stock moving higher or lower. Many stocks end up losing ground despite an earnings beat due to other factors that disappoint investors. Similarly, unforeseen catalysts help a number of stocks gain despite an earnings miss.

That said, betting on stocks that are expected to beat earnings expectations does increase the odds of success. This is why it's worth checking a company's Earnings ESP and Zacks Rank ahead of its quarterly release. Make sure to utilize our Earnings ESP Filter to uncover the best stocks to buy or sell before they've reported.

Check Point doesn't appear a compelling earnings-beat candidate. However, investors should pay attention to other factors too for betting on this stock or staying away from it ahead of its earnings release.

Stay on top of upcoming earnings announcements with the Zacks Earnings Calendar.

NEW YORK, Oct. 26, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- WTW (NASDAQ: WTW), a leading global advisory, broking and solutions company, today announced the launch of Via Retirement1, expanding its wealth business into the growing market for financial solutions in retirement. The new offering being made available in the US market brings together WTW’s deep retirement and investment expertise with personalized advice and technology, extending the company’s capabilities across the retirement lifecycle from savings accumulation through the transition into retirement.

As defined contribution plans have become the primary source of retirement savings for millions of workers, demand is growing for solutions that provide individuals with the option to convert accumulated retirement-focused investments into sustainable retirement income. While employers have invested significantly in helping employees save, much of that support ends when individuals retire from a company and enter a fragmented retail market. Via Retirement positions WTW to address this underserved need while helping employers extend the value of their retirement programs.

“Via Retirement builds on WTW’s decades of success supporting individuals to improve their financial security,” said Julie Gebauer, President of Health, Wealth & Career at WTW. “By combining our retirement and investment expertise with personalized advice and intuitive technology, Via Retirement addresses the growing market need to support the transition from retirement savings to living in retirement.” 

Via Retirement brings together real-time scenario modeling2, access to investment model portfolios, and personalized investment advice3 by investment adviser representatives, and a marketplace of annuity products4 supported by insurance brokers. Individuals can evaluate how decisions about retirement timing, goals, spending and income sources may affect their financial strategy and compare a range of retirement investment and income options in one place.

Via Retirement strengthens WTW’s proposition across the full retirement lifecycle, bringing together its capabilities with the goal of helping clients address evolving retirement needs and support better outcomes. Learn more here.

About WTW 

At WTW (NASDAQ: WTW), we provide data-driven, insight-led solutions in the areas of people, risk and capital. Leveraging the global view and local expertise of our colleagues serving 140 countries and markets, we help organizations sharpen their strategy, enhance organizational resilience, motivate their workforce and maximize performance. Working shoulder to shoulder with our clients, we uncover opportunities for sustainable success and provide perspective that moves you. 
Learn more at wtwco.com.

Media contacts

[email protected] / [email protected] 

1Via Retirement by WTW is the brand name of the combined investment advisory and fixed-insurance brokerage products and services that are offered by Willis Towers Watson Securities, LLC (“WTWS”) and Towers Watson Retiree Insurance Services, Inc (“TWRIS”). Investment advisory services, including the Via Retirement digital platform (the Platform”) and investment advice provided on the Platform, are offered and provided by Willis Towers Watson Securities, LLC (“WTWS”), an investment adviser registered with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). Registration does not imply a certain level of skill or training and does not constitute SEC approval, endorsement, or recommendation. WTWS provides investment advisory services to Clients through the Platform, combining a web-based financial planning and asset allocation tool with individualized guidance provided to Clients by investment adviser representatives (“IARs”). The Platform is intended to help Clients manage the complexity of retirement decision-making including whether to roll over their retirement plan into individual retirement account(s) (“IRA(s)”), establish an asset allocation appropriate to their risk and return objectives, and implement that allocation efficiently. WTWS and Towers Watson Retiree Insurance Services, Inc., an insurance brokerage firm (“TWRIS”), are commonly owned affiliates, and when a client’s recommended asset allocation includes a general allocation to fixed annuities, WTWS refers the Client to a TWRIS insurance agent to evaluate whether to purchase a fixed annuity, consistent with the Client’s best interest, a service for which TWRIS earns a commission on the resulting sale.  Fixed annuity transactions are not purchased through or part of WTWS’ advisory fees or services. Via Retirement by WTW is subject to eligibility requirements and is not available to all members of the general public. Purchase of products is not required to receive investment advice. Investments and annuities involve risks and may not be suitable for everyone. Investments will fluctuate and may lose value.

2Retirement projections are provided for informational purposes only, allocation advice results, income estimates and other financial illustrations are projections based on assumptions built into the project models and information provided by the user, may not reflect all relevant financial circumstances, and do not guarantee future results. Actual outcomes may differ materially. Information provided through the Platform is intended to support retirement-financial decisions. Neither the platform, service center representatives. Investment advisor representatives, nor insurance brokers provide legal, tax, or accounting advice. Service center representatives also do not provide investment advice or recommendations. Ongoing monitoring, discretionary investment management, and other advisory services are available only after you become a WTWS client and enter into the applicable advisory agreement with WTWS.

3Retirement outcomes are not guaranteed and will vary based on individual circumstances, financial decisions, investment performance, market conditions, and other factors.

4Products available through Via Retirement may be offered by affiliated or unaffiliated providers. Additional information regarding fees, compensation arrangements, conflicts of interest and product-specific disclosures will be provided before any purchase decision is made.

The ailing U.S. housing industry just got even more bad news, if that can be believed.

Pending home sales fell 7.3% in September from the previous month, according to the National Association of Realtors. The year-over-year decline was 11.3%. No region of the U.S was spared the carnage: the West had the largest decrease, followed by the South, the Midwest, and the Northeast.

So, you can't blame investors for avoiding homebuilder stocks. The State Street SPDR S&P Homebuilders ETF (XHB +0.06%), which tracks the S&P Select Industry Index, is down 10% over the past year. Some builders have fared much worse: Lennar (LEN +0.42%) has plummeted about 36% over that period.

LEN Lennar$85.28+$0.36 (+0.42%)

NYSE · As of 10:30 AM ET 10/26/26

Yet Berkshire Hathaway (BRKB +0.27%) is making large investments in the housing industry, including a significant acquisition and additional investments in Lennar -- a September stock purchase increased its stake in the company to 11%.

I think Berkshire's recent moves into the housing industry mean investors should take another look, but only if they're prepared to weather significant volatility and wait patiently for housing to recover. In fact, there may be a smart way to play the eventual housing recovery.

Image source: Getty Images.

So, what's ailing the housing industry? A lot, to say the least.

The industry has been struggling for years due to a massive shortage of housing supply and, more recently, soaring mortgage rates that have made home purchases impossible for many Americans. The average 30-year mortgage rate has climbed to almost 7.4% this year, more than one percentage point higher than at the beginning of 2026 and well more than double what the rate was five years ago.

The housing gap could be a huge opportunity The White House puts the housing gap -- the difference between the supply of and demand for available homes -- at 10 million houses.

I think Berkshire CEO Greg Abel sees that housing gap as a massive opportunity. So he's investing in homebuilders now when they're cheap. That includes a $53.9 million purchase of Lennar shares in September, taking its stake in the homebuilder to $2.2 billion, and the July acquisition of homebuilder Taylor Morrison for $6.8 billion. Berkshire says it will integrate Taylor's portfolio of housing brands with its own Clayton Properties Group, a collection of 15 regional builders, and the combined entity will make it the fourth-largest homebuilding operation in the U.S.

So, should ordinary investors be following Berkshire's lead into this beaten-down industry? Well, it's worth listening to what Abel recently said on CNBC: "We don't envision a quick recovery [in housing], but we do see it as an industry that we definitely want to be invested in, and we're invested in for the long-term."

Clearly, Berkshire has the patience and massive resources to wait for housing's recovery. And its recent purchases mean it will be locked and loaded with abundant homebuilding capacity when that happens.

BRKB Berkshire Hathaway$543.63+$1.44 (+0.27%)

NYSE · As of 10:30 AM ET 10/26/26

But with interest rates poised to rise as the Federal Reserve tightens financial conditions in response to elevated inflation, and bond yields -- which determine mortgage rates -- set to remain high as governments and AI infrastructure builders compete for capital, waiting for housing to recover could be a long and bumpy ride, to say the least.

I would suggest that investors interested in playing the long game on housing leave it to the experts: buy shares of Berkshire and profit from their patience and resources.

Have you assessed how the international operations of Snap-On (SNA - Free Report) performed in the quarter ended September 2026? For this tool and diagnostic equipment maker, possessing an expansive global footprint, parsing the trends of international revenues could be critical to gauge its financial resilience and growth prospects.

The global economy today is deeply interlinked, making a company's engagement with international markets a critical factor in determining its financial success and growth path. It has become essential for investors to comprehend how much a company relies on these foreign markets, as this understanding reveals the firm's potential for consistent earnings, its capacity to harness different economic cycles, and its overall growth prospects.

Participation in global economies acts as a defense against economic difficulties at home and a pathway to more rapidly developing economies. However, it also comes with the complexities of dealing with fluctuating currencies, geopolitical risks and different market dynamics.

Our review of SNA's last quarterly performance uncovered some notable trends in the revenue contributions from its international markets, which are commonly analyzed and tracked by Wall Street experts.

For the quarter, the company's total revenue amounted to $1.18 billion, experiencing a decline of 0.6% year over year. Next, we'll explore the breakdown of SNA's international revenue to understand the importance of its overseas business operations.

A Closer Look at SNA's Revenue Streams AbroadOf the total revenue, $186.8 million came from Europe during the last fiscal quarter, accounting for 15.8%. This represented a surprise of -7.12% as analysts had expected the region to contribute $201.11 million to the total revenue. In comparison, the region contributed $200.7 million, or 16.3%, and $181.5 million, or 15.2%, to total revenue in the previous and year-ago quarters, respectively.

Other International accounted for 11.5% of the company's total revenue during the quarter, translating to $135.6 million. Revenues from this region represented a surprise of +9.47%, with Wall Street analysts collectively expecting $123.87 million. When compared to the preceding quarter and the same quarter in the previous year, Other International contributed $131 million (10.6%) and $119.6 million (10%) to the total revenue, respectively.

Revenue Projections for Overseas MarketsThe current fiscal quarter's total revenue for Snap-On, as projected by Wall Street analysts, is expected to reach $1.26 billion, reflecting an increase of 2.6% from the same quarter last year. The breakdown of this revenue by foreign region is as follows: Europe is anticipated to contribute 16.7% or $211.2 million, and Other International 10.1% or $128.03 million.

For the full year, the company is expected to generate $4.92 billion in total revenue, up 3.7% from the previous year. Revenues from Europe and Other International are expected to constitute 16.8% ($828.21 million), and 10.3% ($505 million) of the total, respectively.

Key TakeawaysRelying on global markets for revenues presents both prospects and challenges for Snap-On. Therefore, scrutinizing its international revenue trends is key to effectively forecasting the company's future outlook.

In an era of growing international ties and escalating geopolitical disputes, financial analysts on Wall Street pay keen attention to these developments to fine-tune their earnings estimations for businesses operating across borders. It's important to note, however, that a range of additional variables, like a company's local market status, also play a crucial role in shaping these forecasts.

Emphasizing a company's shifting earnings prospects is a key aspect of our approach at Zacks, especially since research has proven its substantial influence on a stock's price in the short run. This correlation is positively aligned, meaning that improved earnings projections tend to boost the stock's price.

With an impressive externally audited track record, our proprietary stock rating tool - the Zacks Rank - harnesses the power of earnings estimate revisions and serves as an effective indicator of a stock's near-term price performance.

Snap-On currently has a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold), indicating that it could perform in line with the broader market in the near term. You can see the complete list of today's Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) stocks here >>>> .

Assessing Snap-On's Stock Price Movement in Recent TimesOver the past month, the stock has seen a decline of 3.3% in its value, whereas the Zacks S&P 500 composite has posted a decrease of 1.2%. The Zacks Consumer Discretionary sector, Snap-On's industry group, has ascended 4.8% over the identical span. In the past three months, there's been a decline of 13% in the company's stock price, against a rise of 2.5% in the S&P 500 index. The broader sector has increased by 2.8% during this interval.

The upcoming report from Emcor Group (EME - Free Report) is expected to reveal quarterly earnings of $8.33 per share, indicating an increase of 26.8% compared to the year-ago period. Analysts forecast revenues of $5.2 billion, representing an increase of 20.9% year over year.

Over the last 30 days, there has been no revision in the consensus EPS estimate for the quarter. This signifies the covering analysts' collective reconsideration of their initial forecasts over the course of this timeframe.

Prior to a company's earnings release, it is of utmost importance to factor in any revisions made to the earnings projections. These revisions serve as a critical gauge for predicting potential investor behaviors with respect to the stock. Empirical studies consistently reveal a strong link between trends in earnings estimate revisions and the short-term price performance of a stock.

While investors typically rely on consensus earnings and revenue estimates to gauge how the business may have fared during the quarter, examining analysts' projections for some of the company's key metrics often helps gain a deeper insight.

In light of this perspective, let's dive into the average estimates of certain Emcor Group metrics that are commonly tracked and forecasted by Wall Street analysts.

According to the collective judgment of analysts, 'Revenues- United States electrical construction and facilities services' should come in at $1.77 billion. The estimate points to a change of +38% from the year-ago quarter.

Analysts forecast 'Revenues- United States industrial services' to reach $328.50 million. The estimate indicates a year-over-year change of +14.5%.

The consensus among analysts is that 'Revenues- United States building services' will reach $841.50 million. The estimate indicates a year-over-year change of +3.4%.

Analysts' assessment points toward 'Revenues- United States mechanical construction and facilities services' reaching $2.32 billion. The estimate suggests a change of +30.6% year over year.

View all Key Company Metrics for Emcor Group here>>>

Over the past month, shares of Emcor Group have returned -15% versus the Zacks S&P 500 composite's -1.2% change. Currently, EME carries a Zacks Rank #4 (Sell), suggesting that it may underperform the overall market in the near future. You can see the complete list of today's Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) stocks here >>>> .

SummaryAlnylam Pharmaceuticals, Inc.'s shares remain under pressure.On October 23, Alnylam reported promising clinical data for brezosiran, its investigational treatment for Huntington’s disease.Second-quarter Amvuttra sales surged 105.7% year-on-year to approximately $1.1 billion.Wall Street’s average price target for ALNY stands at $367.78, according to Seeking Alpha, implying 64.17% upside.In this article, I outline additional reasons why I believe Alnylam offers an attractive long-term risk/reward profile. Liudmila Chernetska/iStock via Getty Images

Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (ALNY) is my favorite player in the RNAi therapeutics market.

I added it to my watchlist on July 30th, when its stock fell 30% to the -2σ band formed from the VWAP, $198.9, following a mixed

3.65K Followers

Analyst’s Disclosure: I/we have no stock, option or similar derivative position in any of the companies mentioned, and no plans to initiate any such positions within the next 72 hours. I wrote this article myself, and it expresses my own opinions. I am not receiving compensation for it (other than from Seeking Alpha). I have no business relationship with any company whose stock is mentioned in this article.

Seeking Alpha's Disclosure: Past performance is no guarantee of future results. No recommendation or advice is being given as to whether any investment is suitable for a particular investor. Any views or opinions expressed above may not reflect those of Seeking Alpha as a whole. Seeking Alpha is not a licensed securities dealer, broker or US investment adviser or investment bank. Our analysts are third party authors that include both professional investors and individual investors who may not be licensed or certified by any institute or regulatory body.

New platform connects domain experts with mission-critical AI work as companies compete for the human expertise needed to move AI from innovation to execution  | Source: EXL

NEW YORK, Oct. 26, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- iMerit, an EXL company, today announced the launch of its iMerit Scholars platform, designed to seamlessly manage hundreds of thousands of global domain experts (Scholars) who work on fine-tuning, evaluation and validation of generative AI models. This represents the first major launch since EXL (Nasdaq: EXLS) acquired iMerit in July to accelerate the progression of frontier AI into regulated enterprises.

The launch comes as the AI talent war heats up across generative and physical AI. The iMerit Scholars program already brings together a curated global community of 30,000 domain experts and linguists to support advanced model training, evaluation, validation and safety across specialized fields. The new iMerit Scholars platform provides a unified system to recruit, onboard, curate, assign, manage, engage, pay, and retain these experts at scale. It is powered by iMerit’s proprietary Ango Hub, which allows customers and experts to collaborate on complex multimodal data to generate highly curated and validated training artifacts for high-stakes models. 

“iMerit has always differentiated itself by a curated, people-first approach. We’re seeing that become even more important as we scale up to help the frontier labs,” said Radha Basu, executive vice president, head of iMerit at EXL. “The next phase of the GenAI race is about creating a painless and supportive infrastructure so that these highly capable specialists can enjoy their work and give their best. Scaling high quality and high engagement is mainly a human capital opportunity, backed by enabling technology. The iMerit Scholars platform is designed to create a seamless experience for top-notch talent to continue building and improving the next generation of AI.”

“Now, as a part of EXL, we are expanding from the creation of models in frontier labs to the implementation of model workflows in highly regulated enterprises in banking, healthcare and insurance. Once again, we find that trust, safety, and last-mile customization will dictate the success of AI projects in these sectors. We need people who are knowledgeable enough not just to teach models, but to prove them wrong and correct them. That parallel human authority is what will help move AI from innovation to trusted execution,” added Basu.

Leveraging Trolley’s global payouts platform, iMerit Scholars incorporates compliance and global secure payments to create a mutually beneficial environment for customers and experts. 

The iMerit Scholars program was built to meet the need for structured reasoning, domain nuance, and ongoing evaluation across high-stakes use cases in healthcare, physical AI, finance, and foundation models. The iMerit Scholars community brings together over 30,000 invited and vetted professionals from 118 countries representing 106 languages across fields such as medicine, mathematics, agriculture, linguistics, and autonomous systems. iMerit works with them to test, challenge, and “torment” models, helping improve performance in real-world conditions through techniques like RLHF, red-teaming, Q&A prompting, chain-of-thought tracing, and evaluation.

The iMerit Scholars platform matches experts with projects aligned to their specialization, enabling more consistent engagement and higher-quality outcomes. iMerit Scholars platform also introduces new capabilities to support this evolving workforce model, including:

Expert matching based on domain specialization and cognitive skill setsSecure, compliant workflows for sensitive data environmentsGlobal payments and workforce infrastructure through TrolleyIntegrated tooling for training, evaluation, and model feedback loops For experts, iMerit Scholars platform represents a move from fragmented experiences to a meaningful, ongoing relationship.

“Working with AI in this way feels like contributing to something foundational,” said Pavel Kopach, M.D. Department of Pathology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, and iMerit Scholar in Healthcare AI. “You’re not just labeling data, you’re helping shape how these systems reason and behave in your field. That’s both challenging and incredibly rewarding.”

To learn more about iMerit, an EXL company, visit iMerit.ai.

About EXL

EXL (NASDAQ: EXLS) is a global data and AI company that offers services and solutions to reinvent client business models, drive better outcomes and unlock growth with speed. EXL harnesses the power of data, AI, and deep industry knowledge to transform businesses, including the world's leading corporations in industries including insurance, healthcare, banking and capital markets, retail, communications and media, and energy and infrastructure, among others. EXL was founded in 1999 with the core values of innovation, collaboration, excellence, integrity and respect. We are headquartered in New York and have approximately 68,000 employees spanning six continents. For more information, visit www.exlservice.com.

Media Contact: [email protected] 

Bank of Hawaii (BOH - Free Report) came out with quarterly earnings of $1.49 per share, missing the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.52 per share. This compares to earnings of $1.2 per share a year ago. These figures are adjusted for non-recurring items.

This quarterly report represents an earnings surprise of -1.97%. A quarter ago, it was expected that this bank holding company would post earnings of $1.46 per share when it actually produced earnings of $1.47, delivering a surprise of +0.68%.

Over the last four quarters, the company has surpassed consensus EPS estimates two times.

Bank of Hawaii, which belongs to the Zacks Banks - West industry, posted revenues of $200.11 million for the quarter ended September 2026, missing the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 1.51%. This compares to year-ago revenues of $182.64 million. The company has topped consensus revenue estimates just once over the last four quarters.

The sustainability of the stock's immediate price movement based on the recently-released numbers and future earnings expectations will mostly depend on management's commentary on the earnings call.

Bank of Hawaii shares have added about 3.3% since the beginning of the year versus the S&P 500's gain of 11.4%.

What's Next for Bank of Hawaii?While Bank of Hawaii has underperformed the market so far this year, the question that comes to investors' minds is: what's next for the stock?

There are no easy answers to this key question, but one reliable measure that can help investors address this is the company's earnings outlook. Not only does this include current consensus earnings expectations for the coming quarter(s), but also how these expectations have changed lately.

Empirical research shows a strong correlation between near-term stock movements and trends in earnings estimate revisions. Investors can track such revisions by themselves or rely on a tried-and-tested rating tool like the Zacks Rank, which has an impressive track record of harnessing the power of earnings estimate revisions.

Ahead of this earnings release, the estimate revisions trend for Bank of Hawaii was mixed. While the magnitude and direction of estimate revisions could change following the company's just-released earnings report, the current status translates into a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) for the stock. So, the shares are expected to perform in line with the market in the near future. You can see the complete list of today's Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.

It will be interesting to see how estimates for the coming quarters and the current fiscal year change in the days ahead. The current consensus EPS estimate is $1.57 on $206.97 million in revenues for the coming quarter and $5.88 on $803.74 million in revenues for the current fiscal year.

Investors should be mindful of the fact that the outlook for the industry can have a material impact on the performance of the stock as well. In terms of the Zacks Industry Rank, Banks - West is currently in the top 23% of the 250 plus Zacks industries. Our research shows that the top 50% of the Zacks-ranked industries outperform the bottom 50% by a factor of more than 2 to 1.

Hope Bancorp (HOPE - Free Report) , another stock in the same industry, has yet to report results for the quarter ended September 2026. The results are expected to be released on October 28.

This bank holding company is expected to post quarterly earnings of $0.30 per share in its upcoming report, which represents a year-over-year change of +20%. The consensus EPS estimate for the quarter has been revised 1.9% higher over the last 30 days to the current level.

Hope Bancorp's revenues are expected to be $152.6 million, up 7.4% from the year-ago quarter.

Exelon reports earnings before the open on Oct. 30, and buried inside the call is a transmission pipeline question that could shift how Wall Street prices this utility for years to come.

Exelon (NASDAQ:EXC | EXC Price Prediction) reports third-quarter results before the open on Friday, Oct. 30. Shares trade at $44.42, about 12.6% below $50. I think data center demand is the driver that could close that gap.

Steady Guidance After a Stormy Summer
Last quarter, Exelon posted adjusted operating earnings of $0.43 per share and confirmed full-year guidance of $2.81 to $2.91. Management aims to land “at the midpoint or better.” Jeanne Jones said the third quarter should represent about 27% of that midpoint.

Storms, weather, and a PECO employee strike in early July shaped that outlook. ComEd alone faced 16 major weather events. Exelon also withdrew its PECO rate case without cutting planned capital.

The stock rose 9.17% over the past month and 4.74% year to date, but remains down 3.24% over the past year. Analysts lowered their third-quarter EPS average from $0.8746 90 days ago to $0.7951.

Wall Street Expects a Lighter Third Quarter

Metric
Consensus
Year-Ago Actual
YoY Change

Q3 2026 EPS
$0.7951
$0.86
-7.5%

Q3 2026 Revenue
$6.82B
$6.705B
+1.7%

FY 2026 EPS
$2.8567
$2.77
+3.1%

FY 2026 Revenue
$25.5B
$24.26B
+5.1%

Gigawatts Must Turn Into Signed Contracts
Transmission is the hidden driver. Exelon cut its data center pipeline to 36 gigawatts from 43 gigawatts after a stricter review, yet kept its $41 billion capital plan through 2029 unchanged. 4 gigawatts carry signed transmission security agreements supported by $1 billion of collateral. The focus turns to how much of the remaining 25 gigawatts under review changes into secured commitments.

Management also sees a $12 billion to $17 billion transmission opportunity beyond the plan. Two MISO Tranche 2.1 bids with Invenergy should get answers in the fourth quarter, and a 500-megawatt New Jersey battery project adds about $1 billion not yet in the plan.

PJM’s strain supports the case. Capacity prices cleared at the $330 per megawatt-day cap for a third straight auction, and PJM’s simulation showed ComEd clearing near $777 without it. Regulatory timing is another factor to watch: an order on ComEd’s $15.3 billion grid plan is expected by December 15, while BGE’s $156.1 million request waits a January 2027 decision.

Funding risk looks contained. Exelon completed about 86% of its 2026 debt financing and priced all 2026 equity needs.

Why Transmission Could Re-Rate This Utility
Exelon beat EPS estimates in every quarter from Q2 2024 through Q4 2025, and a softer third quarter already sits in consensus. The path toward $50 runs through rate base. If management turns more of the pipeline into signed, collateral-backed load and holds growth near the top of its 5% to 7% range, I think investors will start valuing Exelon as a grid growth story.

Contact [email protected] for any questions or corrections.

New York, New York--(Newsfile Corp. - October 26, 2026) - WHY: Rosen Law Firm, a global investor rights law firm, continues to investigate potential securities claims on behalf of shareholders of Azenta, Inc. (NASDAQ: AZTA) resulting from allegations that Azenta may have issued materially misleading business information to the investing public.

SO WHAT: If you purchased Azenta securities you may be entitled to compensation without payment of any out of pocket fees or costs through a contingency fee arrangement. The Rosen Law Firm is preparing a class action seeking recovery of investor losses.

WHAT TO DO NEXT: To join the prospective class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/cases/azenta-inc/join or call Phillip Kim, Esq. toll-free at 866-767-3653 or email [email protected] for information on the class action.

WHAT IS THIS ABOUT: On August 24, 2026, Azenta filed with the SEC a current report on Form 8-K which stated that on "August 22, 2026, John P. Marotta resigned as President and Chief Executive Officer of Azenta, Inc. (the "Company") and as a member of the Company's Board of Directors (the "Board"), effective as of August 22, 2026 (the "Effective Date")."

On this news, Azenta's stock fell 12% on August 24, 2026.

WHY ROSEN LAW: We encourage investors to select qualified counsel with a track record of success in leadership roles. Often, firms issuing notices do not have comparable experience, resources, or any meaningful peer recognition. Many of these firms do not actually litigate securities class actions. Be wise in selecting counsel. The Rosen Law Firm represents investors throughout the globe, concentrating its practice in securities class actions and shareholder derivative litigation. Rosen Law Firm has achieved the largest ever securities class action settlement against a Chinese Company. Rosen Law Firm was Ranked No. 1 by ISS Securities Class Action Services for number of securities class action settlements in 2017. The firm has been ranked in the top 4 each year since 2013 and has recovered billions of dollars for investors. In 2019 alone the firm secured over $438 million for investors. In 2020, founding partner Laurence Rosen was named by law360 as a Titan of Plaintiffs' Bar. Many of the firm's attorneys have been recognized by Lawdragon and Super Lawyers.

Follow us for updates on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-rosen-law-firm, on Twitter: https://twitter.com/rosen_firm or on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rosenlawfirm/.

Attorney Advertising. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.

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Key Takeaways Raymond James' Q4 earnings are projected to rise 5.5%, with revenues expected to grow 12.3% year over year.RJF's trading revenues are poised to gain from heightened market volatility and increased client activity.RJF's investment banking fees are expected to fall 4.9%, while NII is projected to rise 2.9%.
Raymond James (RJF - Free Report) is set to announce fourth-quarter and full-year fiscal 2026 (ended Sept. 30) results on Oct. 28, after market close. The company’s quarterly earnings and revenues are expected to have risen on a year-over-year basis.

In the last reported quarter, RJF’s earnings surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate. Results benefited primarily from an increase in revenues to record levels and robust growth in the assets under administration balance. However, higher expenses were the undermining factor.

Raymond James has an impressive earnings surprise history. Its earnings outpaced the Zacks Consensus Estimate in each of the trailing four quarters, with the average beat being 6.67%.

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for the company’s fiscal fourth-quarter earnings is pegged at $3.28, unchanged over the past week. The figure indicates an increase of 5.5% from the year-ago quarter.

The consensus estimate for sales of $4.19 billion suggests 12.3% year-over-year growth.

Management expects fiscal third-quarter asset management and related administrative fees to grow 11% sequentially, driven by higher Private Client Group assets and fee-based accounts balance at quarter end.

Factors to Influence Raymond James’ Q4 EarningsInvestment Banking (IB) Fees: After an impressive performance in the last few quarters, global deal-making activity moderated in the September quarter, weighed down by elevated interest rates, persistent inflation and geopolitical uncertainties that complicated valuations and deal negotiations. Still, strategic buyers continued to pursue acquisitions to strengthen scale, operational resilience and supply-chain security amid a challenging business environment. So, overall global mergers and acquisitions (M&As) volume and value were muted as only a handful of big transactions dominated the space. This is expected to have hurt RJF’s advisory fees in the quarter.

IPO activity remained robust in the to-be-reported quarter, with proceeds climbing to a five-year high, despite a year-over-year decline in the number of deals. Meanwhile, global equity and debt issuance activity lost momentum as geopolitical uncertainties, persistent inflation and fluctuating energy prices dampened investor risk appetite. So, RJF’s underwriting fees are expected to have declined on a year-over-year basis.

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for the company’s total IB fees for the fiscal fourth quarter is pegged at $300.5 million, indicating a 4.9% decrease on a year-over-year basis.

Trading Revenues: The performance of RJF’s trading business is expected to have been strong in the to-be-reported quarter, supported by increased client activity and market volatility. Trading conditions were shaped by evolving expectations surrounding artificial intelligence, ongoing geopolitical tensions, persistent inflationary pressures and a more hawkish Federal Reserve. These factors contributed to heightened volatility across equities and other asset classes, including commodities, fixed income and foreign exchange.

Net Interest Income (NII): In the to-be-reported quarter, the Fed raised interest rates by 25 basis points to 3.75-4.00% for the first time in more than three years because of persistently high inflation. However, this is less likely to have affected Raymond James’ NII numbers much in the quarter.

The lending scenario is likely to have normalized in the September-end quarter, which, along with stabilizing funding/deposit costs, is expected to have offered much-needed support to RJF’s NII.

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for NII is pegged at $567.1 million, indicating a year-over-year rise of 2.9%.

Based on static interest rates and assuming unchanged quarter-end balances and net of the fiscal fourth-quarter fee billing collection of $2.1 billion, the company expects the aggregate of NII and Raymond James Bank Deposit Program (RJBDP) third-party fees in the fourth fiscal quarter to be flat sequentially.

Expenses: Raymond James consistently hires advisors and invests in franchises. Thus, overall expenses are expected to have increased in the to-be-reported quarter. Due to a highly competitive environment and inflationary pressure, expenses are likely to have risen.

For fiscal 2026, management expects non-compensation expenses, excluding the bank loan loss provision for credit losses, unexpected legal and regulatory items, and non-GAAP adjustments to be $2.3 billion, representing 8% year-over-year growth.

What the Zacks Model Unveils for Raymond JamesAccording to our proven model, the chances of RJF beating the Zacks Consensus Estimate for earnings this time are low. This is because it does not have the right combination of two key ingredients — a positive Earnings ESP and a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) or better.

You can uncover the best stocks to buy or sell before they are reported with our Earnings ESP Filter.

Earnings ESP: The Earnings ESP for Raymond James is -0.82%.

Zacks Rank: The company currently has a Zacks Rank #3.

Finance Stocks Worth ConsideringHere are a couple of finance stocks that you may want to consider, as our model shows that these have the right combination of elements to post an earnings beat this time around.

Invesco (IVZ - Free Report) is scheduled to announce quarterly numbers on Oct. 27. The company has an Earnings ESP of +0.10% and carries a Zacks Rank #3 at present. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.

Quarterly earnings estimates for Invesco have been revised marginally upward to 75 cents over the past week.

The Earnings ESP for Prosperity Bancshares (PB - Free Report) is +0.04%, and it carries a Zacks Rank #3 at present. The company is slated to report third-quarter 2026 results on Oct. 28.

Over the past seven days, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for Prosperity Bancshares’ quarterly earnings has been unchanged at $1.63 per share.

SummaryCoreWeave remains a Strong Buy despite a reduced 2027 price target of $179, reflecting higher unsecured debt costs and increased dilution risk.CRWV’s balance sheet repricing centers on $16.6B in unsecured debt now yielding close to 15%, impacting valuation multiples and equity funding requirements.Capacity is sold out with a $103.7B backlog, but 2027 funding needs require raising ~$33B, making financing—not demand—the critical variable for equity value.I am closely monitoring upcoming unsecured or convertible financings, at-the-market equity sales, EBITDA margins, and progress toward an investment-grade rating. pingingz/iStock via Getty Images

I have covered CoreWeave, Inc. (CRWV) twice, initiating with a strong buy and a roughly $250 price target in early July and maintaining both after the second-quarter results, and this piece is prompted by the 14 October selloff, in which the shares fell

106 Followers

Analyst’s Disclosure: I/we have a beneficial long position in the shares of CRWV, NBIS either through stock ownership, options, or other derivatives. I wrote this article myself, and it expresses my own opinions. I am not receiving compensation for it (other than from Seeking Alpha). I have no business relationship with any company whose stock is mentioned in this article.

Seeking Alpha's Disclosure: Past performance is no guarantee of future results. No recommendation or advice is being given as to whether any investment is suitable for a particular investor. Any views or opinions expressed above may not reflect those of Seeking Alpha as a whole. Seeking Alpha is not a licensed securities dealer, broker or US investment adviser or investment bank. Our analysts are third party authors that include both professional investors and individual investors who may not be licensed or certified by any institute or regulatory body.

Bitmine repurchased 2.04 million shares in the past week Bitmine has repurchased a cumulative 22.9 million shares so far in 2026, the largest ever crypto treasury company equity buyback executed Bitmine owns 4.95% of the total ETH coin supply of 122.2 million Bitmine is 99% of the way to the 'Alchemy of 5%' in just 15 months Bitmine released Chairman's Message on October 7 titled "Crypto Bull Underway — This Cycle Likely the Largest" Bitmine was added to the Russell 1000 Large-cap index on June 26, 2026 Bitmine's Series A Preferred Stock is trading on the NYSE under the symbol BMNP Bitmine has 5,227,037 staked ETH, representing $12.3 billion at $2,356 per ETH. MAVAN (Made in America VAlidator Network) is a premier Ethereum staking destination for BMNR and institutional investors Bitmine owns $76 million of Eightco (NASDAQ: ORBS), now one of the only publicly listed equities in the world to provide investors indirect exposure to OpenAI Bitmine Crypto + Total Cash Holdings & Marketable Securities + "Moonshots" total $15 billion, including 6.05 million ETH tokens, total cash & marketable securities of $514 million, and other crypto holdings Bitmine remains supported by a premier group of institutional investors including ARK's Cathie Wood, MOZAYYX, Founders Fund, Bill Miller III, Pantera, Kraken, DCG, Galaxy Digital and personal investor Thomas "Tom" Lee to support Bitmine's goal of acquiring 5% of ETH NORWALK, Conn.

Schemes expected to become effective October 27, 2026; new Critical Metals Corp shares expected to begin trading on Nasdaq November 6, 2026  | Source: Critical Metals Corp

NEW YORK, Oct. 26, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Critical Metals Corp. (Nasdaq: CRML) (“Critical Metals Corp” or the “Company”), a leading critical minerals exploration and mining company, today announced that the Supreme Court of Western Australia (the “Court”) has approved the Company’s proposed acquisition of European Lithium Limited (ASX: EUR, FRA: PF8, OTC: EULIF) (“European Lithium”).

Under the proposed transaction, Critical Metals Corp would acquire 100% of the issued share capital of European Lithium and all of European Lithium’s listed options by way of Court-approved schemes of arrangement under Part 5.1 of the Australian Corporations Act 2001 (Cth), comprising a scheme between European Lithium and its shareholders (the “Share Scheme”) and a scheme between European Lithium and the holders of its listed options (ASX: EUROC) (the “Option Scheme”, and together with the Share Scheme, the “Schemes”). The consideration payable under each Scheme is to be satisfied by the issue of new ordinary shares in Critical Metals Corp.

Court Approval

European Lithium has announced that on October 26, 2026, the Court made orders approving the Schemes. The approval follows the vote by European Lithium shareholders and option holders in favor of the Schemes on October 22, 2026.

Critical Metals Corp intends to rely on the Court’s approval of the Schemes to qualify for the exemption from registration under section 3(a)(10) of the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended, in connection with the issue of new Critical Metals Corp shares under the Schemes.

Effective Date and Implementation

The Schemes will become legally effective once an office copy of the Court orders is lodged with the Australian Securities and Investments Commission, which European Lithium expects to do on October 27, 2026. Trading in European Lithium shares and options on the ASX is expected to be suspended from the close of trading that day.

The remaining key dates are expected to be:

October 27, 2026: Effective date and last day of trading of European Lithium shares and options on the ASXOctober 29, 2026: Record date for entitlements to the scheme considerationNovember 5, 2026: Implementation date, issue of new Critical Metals Corp shares to European Lithium securityholdersNovember 6, 2026: New Critical Metals Corp shares expected to begin trading on Nasdaq, and European Lithium removed from the ASX Official List All dates refer to time in Perth, Western Australia, are indicative only and subject to change. Any changes will be announced by European Lithium on the ASX. For further details, including the full timetable and next steps, please refer to European Lithium’s announcement to the ASX, “Court Approval of Schemes,” dated October 26, 2026.

About Critical Metals Corp.

Critical Metals Corp (Nasdaq: CRML) is a leading mining development company focused on critical metals and minerals, and producing strategic products essential to electrification and next-generation technologies for Europe and its Western world partners. Its flagship Project, Tanbreez, is one of the world's largest rare earth deposits and is located in Southern Greenland. The deposit is expected to have access to key transportation outlets as the area features year-round direct shipping access via deep water fjords that lead directly to the North Atlantic Ocean.

Another key asset is the Wolfsberg Lithium Project located in Carinthia, 270 km south of Vienna, Austria. The Wolfsberg Lithium Project is the first fully permitted mine in Europe and is strategically located with access to established road and rail infrastructure and is expected to be the next major producer of key lithium products to support the European market. Wolfsberg is well positioned with offtake and downstream partners to become a unique and valuable asset in an expanding geostrategic critical metals portfolio.

With this strategic asset portfolio, Critical Metals Corp is positioned to become a reliable and sustainable supplier of critical minerals essential for defense applications, the clean energy transition, and next-generation technologies in the western world.

For more information, please visit https://www.criticalmetalscorp.com/.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward Looking Statements

This news release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”). Forward-looking statements may include expectations of our business and the plans and objectives of management for future operations, including with respect to the proposed acquisition of European Lithium and the anticipated timetable for and implementation of the Schemes. These statements constitute projections, forecasts and forward-looking statements, and are not guarantees of performance. Such statements can be identified by the fact that they do not relate strictly to historical or current facts. When used in this news release, forward-looking statements may be identified by the use of words such as “estimate,” “plan,” “project,” “forecast,” “intend,” “will,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “believe,” “seek,” “target,” “designed to” or other similar expressions that predict or indicate future events or trends or that are not statements of historical facts. In addition, any statements that refer to projections, forecasts or other characterizations of future events or circumstances, including any underlying assumptions, are forward-looking statements.

Forward-looking statements are subject to known and unknown risks and uncertainties and are based on potentially inaccurate assumptions that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expected or implied by the forward-looking statements. Actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in forward-looking statements for many reasons, including the factors discussed under the “Risk Factors” section in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 20-F filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. These forward-looking statements are based on information available as of the date of this news release, and expectations, forecasts and assumptions as of that date, involve a number of judgments, risks and uncertainties. Accordingly, forward-looking statements should not be relied upon as representing our views as of any subsequent date, and we do not undertake any obligation to update forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date they were made, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as may be required under applicable securities laws.

Critical Metals Corp.

Investor Relations: [email protected]
Media: [email protected]

Elon Musk's Space Exploration Technologies (SPCX +1.89%), better known as SpaceX, has spent 2026 rewriting Wall Street's record books. Its June 12 initial public offering (IPO) raised $85.7 billion, including the underwriters' overallotment, and valued SpaceX at $1.77 trillion. Both are never-before-seen figures.

But SpaceX's history-making moments aren't always beneficial to its investors. While early investors have made a fortune, retail investors may pay the price for this success.

Image source: Getty Images.

Space Exploration Technologies' debut as a public company has hardly been conventional. In addition to pricing its shares several days before its June 12 debut, the company's prospectus outlined a staggered and accelerated share lockup period for early-release-eligible insiders.

Typically, companies going public prevent their insiders (high-ranking executives, board members, and early investors) from selling shares for 180 calendar days after the IPO. This ensures that insiders don't take advantage of retail investor euphoria early on.

However, SpaceX is allowing some of its insiders to sell their shares at several earnings- and time-based events through mid-December. CEO Musk, who's SpaceX's largest shareholder, is not among these early-release-eligible insiders.

Great look at the SpaceX shares unlock schedule as well as the potential passive buying schedule from @JSeyff @FrancisSharoon Depending on the early post-IPO returns, this could really play with and disperse the returns of "passive" funds (which is why there's arguably no such thing as passive). $SPCX

— Eric Balchunas (@EricBalchunas) May 28, 2026
Two business days after each of SpaceX's quarterly earnings reports, up to 911.5 million shares became eligible for sale. With the company unveiling its third-quarter operating results on Oct. 20, roughly 911.5 million shares became newly eligible for sale on Oct. 22.

Several time-based events also allow insiders to sell approximately 319 million shares each time. These events occur on calendar days 70, 90, 105, 120, 135, and 180. Given that calendar day 135 landed on a weekend (Oct. 24), today, Oct. 26, marks the release of another 319 million shares for sale by early-release-eligible insiders.

Image source: Getty Images.

We're witnessing a dubious wealth transfer in real timeBut this ongoing and accelerated share lockup period for select insiders isn't the only dubious history being made by Musk's company.

When Space Exploration Technologies went public, it sold roughly 555.6 million shares. While this might sound like a lot, it represents less than 5% of SpaceX's outstanding shares (OS). Usually, private companies going public sell anywhere from 10% to 25% of their OS.

SpaceX selling such a small percentage of its OS created a favorable environment for its stock in the weeks after its IPO. Gaining fast-track entry into the Nasdaq-100, Russell 1000, and Russell 3000 meant that passive funds scooped up a significant portion of the company's float (tradable shares). This artificially low float initially buoyed SpaceX's stock.

SPCX Space Exploration Technologies$147.49+$2.74 (+1.89%)

NASDAQ · As of 4:00 PM ET 10/23/26

However, with each earnings- and time-based insider share-unlock event, SpaceX's float is rapidly rising. Although this doesn't guarantee that insiders are cashing out, keep in mind that the overwhelming majority of these early investors haven't had any avenues to cash in their chips for years, if not a decade.

What we're effectively witnessing with each successive share-unlock event is the greatest wealth transfer in Wall Street's storied history, from retail investors to SpaceX's early-release-eligible insiders. Given the laundry list of unknowns surrounding SpaceX, including the sustainability of its operating model amid its enormous cash needs, it wouldn't be surprising to see insiders ramp up their selling and weigh on the company's stock.

SummaryTesla, Inc.'s growing EV backlog amid elevated fuel prices and expanding, high-margin FSD adoption underscore TSLA's near-term thesis.As the CEO feeds the Tesla - SpaceX merger exuberance, the two entities' estimated 2026 Price/Sales of 22.19x is expensive compared to NVDA (12.37x), AAPL (10.63x), and AMZN (3.23x).Regulatory/execution merger risks loom large, with a spin-off of TSLA's Chinese operations and a premium buyout price in cash/stock being likely outcomes.To deliver the "stratospheric growth," more capital and capex/cash flow pains may be necessary before the realization of the nascent robotaxi, robotics, and foundry opportunities.TSLA remains a Sell, with a prolonged/failed merger likely to trigger downside risks amid a pessimistic stock market environment. Devrimb/iStock via Getty Images

TSLA - SPCX Merger Exuberance Since my last Sell rating in July 2026, Tesla, Inc. (TSLA, TSLA:CA) has outperformed expectations by delivering a rich >20% rally against the wider market at a single-digits gain.

Part

16.31K Followers

Analyst’s Disclosure: I/we have a beneficial long position in the shares of GOOG, NVDA, AMZN either through stock ownership, options, or other derivatives. I wrote this article myself, and it expresses my own opinions. I am not receiving compensation for it (other than from Seeking Alpha). I have no business relationship with any company whose stock is mentioned in this article.

The analysis is provided exclusively for informational purposes and should not be considered professional investment advice. Before investing, please conduct personal in-depth research and utmost due diligence, as there are many risks associated with the trade, including capital loss.

Seeking Alpha's Disclosure: Past performance is no guarantee of future results. No recommendation or advice is being given as to whether any investment is suitable for a particular investor. Any views or opinions expressed above may not reflect those of Seeking Alpha as a whole. Seeking Alpha is not a licensed securities dealer, broker or US investment adviser or investment bank. Our analysts are third party authors that include both professional investors and individual investors who may not be licensed or certified by any institute or regulatory body.

Car rental giant Turo will start advertising which Teslas on its marketplace are outfitted with the automaker’s advanced driver assistance system, Full Self-Driving (Supervised) — or FSD, a collaboration that could boost further adoption of the driving software.

Eligible Turo “hosts” who rent out their cars on the platform will also receive a free one-month trial of FSD. Turo said it is working with Tesla to directly access the automaker’s API to verify which cars have FSD enabled.

The announcement comes just a few days after Tesla offered updated figures that show the carmaker is finally getting more customers to pay for the software, which can handle most driving tasks but still requires human supervision.

Last week, Tesla revealed that around 1.7 million customers have paid for FSD globally, out of more than 10 million cars built and sold to date. The company said more than 75% of customers who took delivery of a car in North America during the third-quarter paid for an FSD subscription. That was a roughly 20% increase from the second quarter, though the company’s U.S. sales have been in decline.

Tesla has spent much of the last year re-working some of its showrooms to focus more on FSD as a selling point. In a post last week, the company’s chief executive Elon Musk said the effort is working.

“People are buying FSD with a car attached, not the other way around,” wrote Musk.

“Customers are now coming in and saying: ‘Can we get into an FSD drive?’ They’re not asking for [Model] 3, [Model] Y, or Cybertruck,” Tesla’s finance chief Vaibhav Taneja said on last week’s earnings call.

For Turo, the addition of FSD rentals gives the company a chance to boost what are already some of its most heavily-rented vehicles. Turo said Tesla’s Model 3 and Model Y are the third and fourth-most popular vehicles on its platform this year. “[T]his integration further increases host earning opportunities as interest in self-driving technology grows,” said Turo.

“This industry-first integration with Tesla is another example of how Turo is redefining what car rental and access can look like,” Turo chief executive Andre Haddad said in a statement. “Most travelers have had limited opportunity to experience driver’s assistance technology, but the demand is clear. Our own research shows that 55% of Americans are interested in driverless technology for travel, growing to 71% for Gen Z. Turo’s marketplace model is uniquely positioned to close the gap between consumer curiosity and hands-on access.”

Customers who rent an FSD-enabled Tesla through Turo will be served cautionary language that requires drivers to monitor the software, and be ready to take over at any moment. Drivers will also have the option to view a Tesla-created tutorial.

“When enabled, your vehicle will drive you almost anywhere with your active supervision, requiring minimal intervention,” a screenshot of the Turo app reads.

The listings themselves, meanwhile, allow owners to promote their cars as “Self-Driving,” according to another screenshot provided by Turo.

When you purchase through links in our articles, we may earn a small commission. This doesn’t affect our editorial independence.

Sean O’Kane is a reporter who has spent a decade covering the rapidly-evolving business and technology of the transportation industry, including Tesla and the many startups chasing Elon Musk. Most recently, he was a reporter at Bloomberg News where he helped break stories about some of the most notorious EV SPAC flops. He previously worked at The Verge, where he also covered consumer technology, hosted many short- and long-form videos, performed product and editorial photography, and once nearly passed out in a Red Bull Air Race plane.

You can contact or verify outreach from Sean by emailing [email protected] or via encrypted message at okane.01 on Signal.

Exxon's refining business delivered a historic quarter, but crude prices moved sharply against it heading into the Oct. 30 earnings call. Find out which force came out on top and what it means for the stock's remarkable 13% run.

Exxon Mobil (NYSE:XOM | XOM Price Prediction) reports third-quarter results on Oct. 30. A projected $4.5 billion refining boost runs into lower average crude prices, and this report will show which force carried the quarter.

Refining Muscle Powered a Huge Second Quarter
Last quarter, Exxon earned $14.5 billion and generated $23.6 billion in operating cash flow while temporarily losing roughly 10% of upstream production to Middle East disruptions. Free cash flow exceeded $17 billion, and net debt fell by more than $7 billion.

Refining did the heavy lifting. About 3 million barrels a day of industry capacity sat idle because of the Strait closure, and CEO Darren Woods said on the July call that Exxon expects “a very robust refining market with very high margins.” Gulf Coast reliability exceeded 95%, and diesel output set a second-quarter record.

Shares have gained 13.63% over the past month, closing at $183.21 on Oct. 23.

Wall Street Expects Earnings to More Than Double

Metric
Consensus
Year-Ago
Growth

Q3 2026 EPS
$3.981
$1.88
111.76%

Q3 2026 Revenue
$104.03B
$85.29B
21.96%

FY 2026 EPS
$12.9051
$6.99
84.62%

FY 2026 Revenue
$421.33B
$332.24B
26.82%

The quarterly EPS consensus has rose from $3.2767 90 days ago.

Refining Gains Versus Crude and Derivative Drag
The net math is what matters. Energy Products should collect roughly $4.5 billion in added earnings, but lower average Brent prices could create a $1.3 billion upstream drag. An estimated $2.5 billion paper loss from derivative timing effects adds noise. Those timing effects cost $3.88 billion in the first quarter, so you should focus on underlying earnings.

Upstream volume is the second test. Guyana reached about 900,000 barrels per day and the Permian exceeded 1.8 million oil equivalent barrels per day last quarter. I want an update on the Errea Wittu FPSO, which management targeted for start-up by year-end, and on the Golden Pass LNG ramp.

Capital returns matter too. Exxon plans $20 billion in 2026 buybacks and has extended dividend growth to 43 consecutive years, the kind of run that puts it firmly in the Dividend Kings club we ranked by valuation in a free report. Structural cost savings reached $16.3 billion against a $20 billion target for 2030.

Finally, listen for management’s tone on windfall taxes. Rising refining profits have renewed scrutiny in Washington, and Exxon runs 850,000 barrels a day of capacity in the U.K. and Europe, where similar levies are under discussion.

A Real Test of Exxon’s Through-Cycle Pitch
Management has argued that Exxon can perform across market cycles. This quarter tests that claim directly, because refining, upstream growth and cost cuts must offset lower crude and complex derivative accounting. If underlying earnings hold up and buybacks stay on pace, the stock’s run has a stronger foundation. Keep an eye on fourth-quarter refining commentary, since that will shape whether the windfall lasts.

Contact [email protected] for any questions or corrections.