Duan Yongping has sold SpaceX put options with a strike price of $92.
Renowned investor Duan Yongping stated yesterday in response to a community user's question that he has started selling put options on SpaceX. This is his typical "potential acquisition" strategy. According to the live trading records of the SpaceX put options Duan shared, his quoted price was around 23.20, with actual execution at 23.26 (1,000 contracts), earning him a premium of approximately $2.32 million. Calculated over a 5-month term, the yield is roughly 25.35%, with an annualized return of about 60%. He noted, "I want to support Elon Musk's dream."
2 hours ago
The United States and the United Kingdom plan to discuss forming an international alliance to protect maritime shipping in the Strait of Hormuz.
According to AXIOS: European diplomats say the U.S. and the U.K. are discussing holding a high-level meeting in London next week, with the meeting focusing on a potential plan to establish an international coalition to protect maritime shipping in the Strait of Hormuz.
2 hours ago
A prominent trader says Bitcoin’s cycle is accelerating, and firmly believes this cycle will still hit a new high before the halving.
Renowned trader Killa (@KillaXBT) stated in a post that Bitcoin’s cycle is accelerating. The previous cycle took just 476 days to rise from its bottom to a new all-time high (ATH), far faster than the two prior cycles. He forecasts this cycle will also hit a new high ahead of the next halving. Killa, a BTC-focused quantitative trader, accurately predicted the peak of the current bull market in May 2025 and boasts over 200,000 followers on X. In mid-April, he shorted Bitcoin at $74,688 before switching to long positions during the broad market sell-off on June 5.
2 hours ago
Qualcomm notifies its customers it can no longer absorb price hikes, and will raise prices by double-digit percentages.
Bloomberg cited a letter reporting that Qualcomm has informed its clients it can no longer absorb price hikes and will implement double-digit percentage price increases. Following the news, BIT (bit.com) market data shows Qualcomm’s decline narrowed, while Nvidia climbed 1.2% to hit a new daily high.
2 hours ago
OpenAI CEO: Hopes the U.S. wins in the open-source AI sector, and is "pleased to see" Jensen Huang's remarks.
OpenAI CEO Sam Altman said he hopes the U.S. will lead in both open-source AI and proprietary AI models, adding that he "welcomes" the statement Nvidia’s CEO made on social media regarding the open letter jointly issued by over 20 U.S. tech companies.
Not financial or tax advice. PANews content is strictly educational and informational and is not investment advice, financial advice, tax advice, legal advice, or a solicitation to buy or sell any digital asset, security, or financial product. Do your own research and consult qualified advisers.
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Gold price (XAU/USD) drifts higher on Friday as the Greenback stands firm, even as growing speculation that the US-Iran war may last longer than expected could, in the end, hurt the prospects of the yellow metal. The XAU/USD trades at $4,065, up 0.38%.
XAU/USD gains as softer US yields counter Fed hike betsThe US Dollar Index (DXY), which tracks the buck’s value against a basket of six currencies, is slightly higher at 101.46 and poised to end the week with gains of over 0.60%. The yellow metal is also being propelled by the decline in US Treasury yields, with the 10-year benchmark note dropping three basis points to 4.667%.
The last tranche of geopolitical news hasn’t changed the needle in the Gulf War. Reports said Pakistan is looking to resume US-Iran talks at China's urging. Meanwhile, Trump revealed that he is losing patience over Iran and confirmed that China and Russia are not giving or selling weapons to Iran.
Friday’s schedule was light with US business activity steady. The S&P Global Manufacturing PMI dropped slightly from 53.9 to 53.8, falling short of the expected 54.5. Meanwhile, the Services PMI rose from 51.2 to 53.6, surpassing forecasts of 51, helped by the World Cup held in the country.
Bullion’s advance is also propelled by easing Oil prices. West Texas Intermediate (WTI), the US Crude benchmark, is down 3.83% at $88.79, but is set to finish the week with gains of over 8.50%.
Money markets continued to increase the odds for a rate hike by the Federal Reserve (Fed) at next week’s meeting. On July 29, the Fed is projected to keep rates unchanged. There is a 59% chance of the US central bank standing pat, but a 25-basis-point (bps) rate hike has nearly a 41% chance.
For the September meeting, the odds of a rate increase are at 84%, according to Prime Terminal data.
Source: Prime TerminalBesides next week’s Fed meeting, traders will eye US Retail Sales and Durable Goods Orders, as well as jobs data, Gross Domestic Product (GDP) figures for Q2 and the Personal Consumption Expenditures report.
XAU/USD technical outlook: Gold drifts higher, but faces key resistance at $4,100Gold’s downtrend remains intact as the market structure would be compromised until XAU/USD climbs above the June 17 cycle high seen at $4,382. Further signs of tailwinds for the downtrend are that the 50, 100, and 200-day Simple Moving Averages (SMAs) lie above the spot price of the yellow metal, and that sellers are dragging prices back below a resistance trendline.
Momentum as well, continues to push lower, with the Relative Strength Index (RSI) remaining bearish. Hence, the path of least resistance is downward.
The first support is $4,000, followed by the current year-to-date (YTD) low of $3,941. A breach of those two levels paves the way to challenge the October 28, 2025, low of $3,886, with further support seen on the swing high-turned-support at $3,500, hit on April 22, 2025.
Conversely, if buyers aim for higher prices, they need to surpass $4,100. Above this, the weekly high of $4,165 is the next target, followed by the $4,200 resistance.
Gold daily chart Gold FAQs Gold has played a key role in human’s history as it has been widely used as a store of value and medium of exchange. Currently, apart from its shine and usage for jewelry, the precious metal is widely seen as a safe-haven asset, meaning that it is considered a good investment during turbulent times. Gold is also widely seen as a hedge against inflation and against depreciating currencies as it doesn’t rely on any specific issuer or government.
Central banks are the biggest Gold holders. In their aim to support their currencies in turbulent times, central banks tend to diversify their reserves and buy Gold to improve the perceived strength of the economy and the currency. High Gold reserves can be a source of trust for a country’s solvency. Central banks added 1,136 tonnes of Gold worth around $70 billion to their reserves in 2022, according to data from the World Gold Council. This is the highest yearly purchase since records began. Central banks from emerging economies such as China, India and Turkey are quickly increasing their Gold reserves.
Gold has an inverse correlation with the US Dollar and US Treasuries, which are both major reserve and safe-haven assets. When the Dollar depreciates, Gold tends to rise, enabling investors and central banks to diversify their assets in turbulent times. Gold is also inversely correlated with risk assets. A rally in the stock market tends to weaken Gold price, while sell-offs in riskier markets tend to favor the precious metal.
The price can move due to a wide range of factors. Geopolitical instability or fears of a deep recession can quickly make Gold price escalate due to its safe-haven status. As a yield-less asset, Gold tends to rise with lower interest rates, while higher cost of money usually weighs down on the yellow metal. Still, most moves depend on how the US Dollar (USD) behaves as the asset is priced in dollars (XAU/USD). A strong Dollar tends to keep the price of Gold controlled, whereas a weaker Dollar is likely to push Gold prices up.
NEW YORK, July 24, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- WHY: Rosen Law Firm, a global investor rights law firm, reminds purchasers of securities of First Solar, Inc. (NASDAQ: FSLR) between February 26, 2025 and February 24, 2026, inclusive (the “Class Period”), of the important August 24, 2026 lead plaintiff deadline.
Investors seek growth stocks to capitalize on above-average growth in financials that help these securities grab the market's attention and produce exceptional returns. However, it isn't easy to find a great growth stock.
That's because, these stocks usually carry above-average risk and volatility. In fact, betting on a stock for which the growth story is actually over or nearing its end could lead to significant loss.
However, the task of finding cutting-edge growth stocks is made easy with the help of the Zacks Growth Style Score (part of the Zacks Style Scores system), which looks beyond the traditional growth attributes to analyze a company's real growth prospects.
Palantir Technologies Inc. (PLTR - Free Report) is one such stock that our proprietary system currently recommends. The company not only has a favorable Growth Score, but also carries a top Zacks Rank.
Studies have shown that stocks with the best growth features consistently outperform the market. And for stocks that have a combination of a Growth Score of A or B and a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) or 2 (Buy), returns are even better.
Here are three of the most important factors that make the stock of this company a great growth pick right now.
Earnings GrowthArguably nothing is more important than earnings growth, as surging profit levels is what most investors are after. And for growth investors, double-digit earnings growth is definitely preferable, and often an indication of strong prospects (and stock price gains) for the company under consideration.
While the historical EPS growth rate for Palantir Technologies is 21.1%, investors should actually focus on the projected growth. The company's EPS is expected to grow 97.5% this year, crushing the industry average, which calls for EPS growth of 22.9%.
Cash Flow GrowthCash is the lifeblood of any business, but higher-than-average cash flow growth is more beneficial and important for growth-oriented companies than for mature companies. That's because, high cash accumulation enables these companies to undertake new projects without raising expensive outside funds.
Right now, year-over-year cash flow growth for Palantir Technologies is 665.2%, which is higher than many of its peers. In fact, the rate compares to the industry average of 8.4%.
While investors should actually consider the current cash flow growth, it's worth taking a look at the historical rate too for putting the current reading into proper perspective. The company's annualized cash flow growth rate has been 50.9% over the past 3-5 years versus the industry average of 17.3%.
Promising Earnings Estimate RevisionsBeyond the metrics outlined above, investors should consider the trend in earnings estimate revisions. A positive trend is a plus here. Empirical research shows that there is a strong correlation between trends in earnings estimate revisions and near-term stock price movements.
The current-year earnings estimates for Palantir Technologies have been revising upward. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for the current year has surged 0.7% over the past month.
Bottom LineWhile the overall earnings estimate revisions have made Palantir Technologies a Zacks Rank #2 stock, it has earned itself a Growth Score of A based on a number of factors, including the ones discussed above.
You can see the complete list of today's Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
This combination positions Palantir Technologies well for outperformance, so growth investors may want to bet on it.
It has been about a month since the last earnings report for Micron (MU - Free Report) . Shares have lost about 18.4% in that time frame, underperforming the S&P 500.
But investors have to be wondering, will the recent negative trend continue leading up to its next earnings release, or is Micron due for a breakout? Before we dive into how investors and analysts have reacted as of late, let's take a quick look at the latest earnings report in order to get a better handle on the important drivers.
Micron Q3 Earnings Beat Estimates, Revenues Rise on AI Memory StrengthMicron reported third-quarter fiscal 2026 non-GAAP earnings of $25.11 per share, beating the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 17.39%. The company reported earnings of $1.91 per share in the year-ago quarter.
Revenues soared 345.7% year over year to $41.46 billion and surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 12.91%. Revenues jumped 73.7% sequentially. The upside was driven by robust AI-led memory demand, with data center revenues exceeding $25 billion, an annualized run rate of more than $100 billion.
Micron announced 16 strategic customer agreements (SCAs) across data center, consumer and auto markets in the reported quarter. These agreements represent roughly 20% of DRAM volume and one-third of NAND volume over the covered period.
The company expects approximately half or more of its revenues to eventually be under SCAs. Under the agreements signed so far, Micron projects $22 billion in cash deposits and related financial commitments, supporting longer-term supply visibility and financial predictability.
MU’s Q3 Top-Line DetailsMicron’s top-line growth benefited from tight DRAM and NAND supply, stronger pricing and accelerating demand tied to AI infrastructure. MU noted that industry demand for both DRAM and NAND continues to significantly exceed supply.
DRAM revenues were $31.3 billion, accounting for 76% of total revenues in the fiscal third quarter. DRAM revenues increased 67% sequentially, helped by low-single-digit bit shipment growth and a low-60s percentage increase in average selling price (ASP).
NAND revenues were $9.9 billion, representing 24% of total revenues. NAND revenues increased 99% sequentially, driven by a mid-single-digit increase in bit shipments and a mid-80s percentage rise in ASP.
MU’s Business Units Set RecordsCloud Memory Business Unit’s revenues were a record $13.77 billion, up 77.7% sequentially and 306.6% year over year.
Core Data Center Business Unit’s revenues were a record $11.52 billion, up 103% sequentially and 653.2% year over year.
Mobile and Client Business Unit’s revenues were a record $11.52 billion, up 49.4% sequentially and 254% year over year. The sequential revenue growth was driven by higher pricing.
Automotive and Embedded Business Unit’s revenues were a record $4.63 billion, up 71.1% sequentially and 311.2% year over year. The improvement reflected higher pricing and higher bit shipments.
MU’s Q3 Margins ExpandNon-GAAP gross margin was 84.9% in the reported quarter, up from 74.9% in the fiscal second quarter and 39% in the year-ago quarter.
Cloud Memory Business Unit’s gross margin expanded to 83% from 74% reported in the prior quarter, driven by higher pricing. The company reported Cloud Memory’s gross margin of 58% in the year-ago quarter. On a sequential basis, the core Data Center Business Unit’s gross margin improved to 87% from 74%, aided by higher pricing and a favorable mix. The company reported a Data Center gross margin of 38% in the year-ago quarter.
Mobile and Client Business Unit gross margin reached 87% compared with 79% in the prior quarter and 24% in the year-ago quarter. Automotive and Embedded Business Unit gross margin surged to 79% compared with 68% in the prior quarter and 26% in the year-ago quarter.
Non-GAAP operating expenses were $1.52 billion, up 6.8% year over year and 34% sequentially.
In the third quarter of fiscal 2026, non-GAAP operating income came in at $33.68 billion, a significant rise from $2.49 billion reported in the year-ago quarter and $16.46 billion reported in the previous quarter.
Micron’s Balance Sheet Shows Strong Liquidity LevelMU exited the quarter with $30.2 billion in cash, marketable investments and restricted cash. Liquidity was $32.2 billion at the end of the fiscal third quarter.
Micron generated $25.39 billion in operating cash flow in the quarter. Capital expenditures, net of proceeds from government incentives and asset sales, were $7.1 billion, resulting in adjusted free cash flow of $18.3 billion.
The company declared a quarterly dividend of 15 cents per share, payable on July 21, 2026 to shareholders of record as of July 6. Micron did not repurchase shares during the fiscal third quarter.
MU’s Guidance Points to More StrengthFor the fourth quarter of fiscal 2026, Micron expects revenues of $50 billion, plus or minus $1 billion. The company projects a non-GAAP gross margin of approximately 86%.
Non-GAAP operating expenses are expected to be approximately $1.65 billion. Adjusted earnings are projected at $31 per share, plus or minus $1, based on roughly 1.15 billion diluted shares.
Micron now expects supply-demand conditions for both DRAM and NAND to remain tight beyond calendar 2027. In DRAM, the company expects industry DRAM bit shipments in calendar 2026 to grow in the low to mid-20s percentage range, slightly above MU’s prior outlook. In NAND, Micron expects industry NAND bit shipments in calendar 2026 to grow approximately 20%, unchanged from its prior expectations.
How Have Estimates Been Moving Since Then?In the past month, investors have witnessed a upward trend in estimates review.
The consensus estimate has shifted 24.94% due to these changes.
VGM ScoresCurrently, Micron has a strong Growth Score of A, though it is lagging a lot on the Momentum Score front with a C. However, the stock was allocated a score of F on the value side, putting it in the bottom 20% quintile for value investors.
Overall, the stock has an aggregate VGM Score of C. If you aren't focused on one strategy, this score is the one you should be interested in.
OutlookEstimates have been broadly trending upward for the stock, and the magnitude of these revisions looks promising. It comes with little surprise Micron has a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy). We expect an above average return from the stock in the next few months.
Key Takeaways Several semiconductor stocks lost ground Friday, reversing gains earlier in the week when big chip buyers pledged to spend more on AI.Many chip stocks have fallen from their highs in recent weeks amid a broader pullback in the AI trade. Get personalized, AI-powered answers built on 27+ years of trusted expertise.
Semiconductor stocks are resuming their recent slide.
Several semiconductor stocks lost ground Friday, reversing gains earlier in the week when big chip buyers Alphabet (GOOGL) and Tesla (TSLA) said they planned to invest heavily in AI. The PHLX Semiconductor index (SOX) was down 3% recently, as Broadcom (AVGO) and TSMC (TSM) fell 2% and Intel (INTC) tumbled more than 4% despite reporting quarterly results that blew past expectations on surging AI-related demand.
Shares of memory favorites Micron Technology (MU) and Sandisk (SNDK) were some of the biggest decliners in the S&P 500 Friday, with shares down 6% and 7%, respectively, on a day when the broader index gained. The Roundhill Memory ETF (DRAM) plunged 7%.
Why This Matters to Investors Friday’s slump could underscore weakening sentiment surrounding some of this year’s biggest AI beneficiaries amid worries about the sustainability of spending in the sector.
The moves could threaten to extend what’s been a tough few weeks for the sector amid a broader pullback in the AI trade, with the PHLX Semiconductor index’s recent slide leaving it nearly 20% off its June highs.
Gabelli Funds portfolio manager John Belton told CNBC in a televised interview Friday that the “reversion trade” pressuring some of this year’s best-performing stocks could underscore a “risk-off attitude” among investors, but that a string of strong earnings reports recently—including Intel’s—don’t justify Friday’s selloff.1
In emailed comments, Belton suggested investors may have been caught off guard by renewed tensions in the Middle East and rising Treasury yields, which tend to weigh on growth stocks as borrowing becomes more expensive. With fundamentals “potentially getting even stronger in the coming quarters,” Belton said he “would not be surprising to see a bit of a shift in sentiment” back in favor of AI stocks.
Even with Friday’s decline, Sandisk and Micron remain among the S&P 500’s strongest performers this year, with shares up some 500% and 200%, respectively for 2026. Intel shares have surged roughly 160%.
There isn't one “smoking gun” catalyst — but investors could be reacting to Chinese memory developments, Korean stock-market weakness and Intel's inability to sustain postearnings gains
New York, New York--(Newsfile Corp. - July 24, 2026) - WHY: Rosen Law Firm, a global investor rights law firm, reminds purchasers of Class A or Class C common stock of Zillow Group, Inc. (NASDAQ: ZG) (NASDAQ: Z) between February 11, 2025 and May 7, 2026, both dates inclusive (the "Class Period"), of the important August 10, 2026 lead plaintiff deadline in the securities class action first filed by the Firm.
SO WHAT: If you purchased Zillow common stock during the Class Period you may be entitled to compensation without payment of any out of pocket fees or costs through a contingency fee arrangement.
WHAT TO DO NEXT: To join the Zillow class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/cases/zillow-group-inc/join or call Phillip Kim, Esq. toll-free at 866-767-3653 or email [email protected] for information on the class action. A class action lawsuit has already been filed. If you wish to serve as lead plaintiff, you must move the Court no later than August 10, 2026. A lead plaintiff is a representative party acting on behalf of other class members in directing the litigation.
WHY ROSEN LAW: We encourage investors to select qualified counsel with a track record of success in leadership roles. Often, firms issuing notices do not have comparable experience, resources, or any meaningful peer recognition. Many of these firms do not actually handle securities class actions, but are merely middlemen that refer clients or partner with law firms that actually litigate the cases. Be wise in selecting counsel. The Rosen Law Firm represents investors throughout the globe, concentrating its practice in securities class actions and shareholder derivative litigation. Rosen Law Firm achieved the largest ever securities class action settlement against a Chinese Company. Rosen Law Firm was Ranked No. 1 by ISS Securities Class Action Services for number of securities class action settlements in 2017. The firm has been ranked in the top 4 each year since 2013 and has recovered billions of dollars for investors. In 2019 alone the firm secured over $438 million for investors. In 2020, founding partner Laurence Rosen was named by law360 as a Titan of Plaintiffs' Bar. Many of the firm's attorneys have been recognized by Lawdragon and Super Lawyers.
DETAILS OF THE CASE: According to the lawsuit, defendants throughout the Class Period made materially false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that: (1) Zillow's agreement with Redfin Corporation was not a "partnership," but rather an acquisition of Redfin's business; (2) as a result of the Redfin Agreement, Zillow faced a materially heightened risk of regulatory scrutiny and liability under federal antitrust laws; (3) upon the filing of an antitrust lawsuit, Zillow continued to downplay its legal exposure; and (4) as a result, defendants' statements about Zillow's business, operations, and prospects, were materially false and misleading and/or lacked a reasonable basis at all relevant times. When the true details entered the market, the lawsuit claims that investors suffered damages.
To join the Zillow class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/cases/zillow-group-inc/join or call Phillip Kim, Esq. toll-free at 866-767-3653 or email [email protected] for information on the class action.
No Class Has Been Certified. Until a class is certified, you are not represented by counsel unless you retain one. You may select counsel of your choice. You may also remain an absent class member and do nothing at this point. An investor's ability to share in any potential future recovery is not dependent upon serving as lead plaintiff.
Follow us for updates on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-rosen-law-firm or on Twitter: https://twitter.com/rosen_firm or on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rosenlawfirm.
Attorney Advertising. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
-------------------------------
To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/306454
Source: The Rosen Law Firm PA
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NEW YORK, July 24, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Gross Law Firm issues the following notice to shareholders of Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ: REGN).
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Eli Lilly (NYSE:LLY | LLY Price Prediction) has accelerated despite its $1 trillion scale. Revenue grew 55.5% in Q1 2026, management raised full-year guidance by $2 billion, and the FDA cleared Foundayo, the first any-time-of-day oral GLP-1.
Our 24/7 Wall St. price target for Eli Lilly is $1,365.51, implying roughly 15% upside from the current $1,186.85. We rate LLY a buy with high (90%) confidence.
24/7 Wall St. Price Target Summary Metric Value Current Price $1,186.85 24/7 Wall St. Price Target $1,365.51 Upside ~15.1% Recommendation BUY Confidence 90% Foundayo Reset the Growth Story LLY is up 8.59% year-to-date and 50.84% over the trailing year, recovering from an April low of $903.99.
Q1 2026 delivered $19.80 billion in revenue, beating the $17.80 billion consensus, with non-GAAP EPS of $8.55 versus the $6.79 estimate. Mounjaro revenue jumped 125% to $8.66 billion and Zepbound climbed 80% to $4.16 billion.
Recent headlines mixed bullish coverage of the $6.3 billion Centessa acquisition and a $6.5 billion Houston manufacturing plant against a fresh Novo Nordisk lawsuit alleging deceptive GLP-1 comparison ads.
The Case for $1,429 and Higher Bulls argue Foundayo unlocks an oral obesity market that injectables never fully addressed. CEO Dave Ricks noted the drug can reach “over 1 billion people around the world with obesity and related conditions” with regulatory reviews underway in over 40 countries. Early launch data showed 80% of prescriptions were new-to-class.
Retatrutide, the next-gen triple agonist, delivered up to 37 pounds of weight loss in Phase 3. Morningstar flagged LLY as positioned for “industry-leading growth”. Our bull-case scenario carries the stock to $1,429.03, roughly 12.5% above current levels.
What Could Go Wrong Pricing pressures loom. Q1 realized prices fell 13%, offsetting a 65% volume gain, and Mounjaro’s inclusion on China’s National Reimbursed Drug List will pressure international prices. Novo Nordisk’s false-advertising lawsuit and emerging generic semaglutide competition add legal and competitive headwinds.
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Q1 carried $584 million in IPR&D charges plus $279 million in litigation and restructuring. Most charges reflect deliberate M&A spend (Centessa, Orna, Kelonia, Ajax) that expands the pipeline. Our bear scenario prices LLY at $1,123.10, an 11.6% drawdown.
How Eli Lilly Compares to Merck and Novo Nordisk Merck (NYSE:MRK) is the value counterpoint. Merck guided FY2026 revenue of $65.8 billion to $67 billion and non-GAAP EPS of $5.04 to $5.16, with Q1 growth of just 4.87%. That is a fraction of Lilly’s 55.5% pace, explaining why Lilly commands a forward P/E of 33x while Merck trades at mid-teens multiples. Growth still wins.
Novo Nordisk (NYSE:NVO) is the direct GLP-1 rival. Novo’s Q1 underlying adjusted sales fell 4% at constant currency, and management guided full-year growth to -4% to -12% CER after slashing Wegovy list prices by roughly 50% effective January 2027. Against that peer set, our LLY target looks reasonable.
Eli Lilly Price Prediction 2026-2030 Our 24/7 Wall St. price target of $1,365.51 reflects a buy rating with 90% confidence. Foundayo converts a large injectable-averse population into addressable demand.
The setup looks constructive if the Foundayo launch tracks to plan into Q3, and more cautious if realized prices deteriorate past mid-teens headwinds. Growth of this quality at this scale is rare.
Year 24/7 Wall St. Price Target 2026 $1,365.51 2027 $1,470 2028 $1,565 2029 $1,640 2030 $1,711.70 These projections assume Lilly executes on Foundayo, retatrutide, and pipeline acquisitions. Significant upside or downside could result from GLP-1 pricing regulation, Novo Nordisk competition, or acceleration of oral obesity adoption globally.
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Shares of ServiceNow (NYSE:NOW | NOW Price Prediction) are up 6% in Friday midday trading, changing hands at $97.36. Meanwhile, Salesforce (NYSE:CRM) stock is climbing 4% to $162.56 as a wave of federal AI deal flow lifts enterprise software after months of pain.
The bounce comes off a brutal run. ServiceNow stock is down 40% year to date (YTD), and Salesforce shares have shed 40.5% over the same span. Today’s session reads as an oversold rebound with two fresh, name-specific catalysts underneath it.
Both companies sit at the center of a rotation from AI infrastructure names back into application-layer software, where AI is finally translating into recurring revenue rather than raw capex.
ServiceNow’s Q2 Beat and Raise Lights the Fuse ServiceNow reported Q2 FY2026 results Wednesday after the close. The company’s subscription revenue climbed 24.5% to $3.88 billion year over year (YoY), and current remaining performance obligations (cRPO) rose 21% to $13.2 billion. AI annual contract value crossed $1 billion ahead of schedule, with agentic-AI production customers up ninefold in nine months.
CEO Bill McDermott stated in the release, “ServiceNow’s exceptional Q2 results solidify our position as the fastest-growing major enterprise software and cybersecurity company.” ServiceNow’s management raised its FY26 subscription revenue guide to at least $15.755 billion, and security products landed in 16 of the 20 largest deals thanks to Armis, Veza, and the AI Control Tower stack.
Analysts’ reactions have been aggressive overall. Research reports from Bernstein (Outperform, $248), Evercore ISI ($160), JPMorgan (Overweight, $150), Cantor ($141), and Jefferies ($140) all lifted their ServiceNow stock price targets. Moreover, a fresh Bank of America (NYSE:BAC) research note flagged an “overlooked AI advantage” at a $130 Buy rating.
The bear case has weight, too. UBS cut ServiceNow stock to $110 and Neutral, noting that “demand remains mixed.” Notably, ServiceNow’s Q2 also benefited from federal on-premise revenue pulled forward from Q3, and the Q3 subscription guide of $3.975 to $3.98 billion sits below the $4 billion Street view. Additionally, ServiceNow’s gross margin slipped to 77.9% from 81%.
Salesforce Lands $1.6 Billion Veterans Affairs Deal Salesforce won a $1.6 billion, three-year Department of Veterans Affairs Agentic Enterprise License Agreement, deploying Missionforce, Agentforce Public Sector, and Agentforce Health across the agency. The stated goal is cutting veteran appointment scheduling from 28 days to minutes.
Act now: the analyst who called NVIDIA in 2010 just named his top 10 AI stocks — and Salesforce didn't make the cut. Grab the names FREE today.
The award builds on Q1 FY2027 momentum for Salesforce. Agentforce ARR reached $1.2 billion, up 205% YoY, combined Agentforce and Data 360 ARR hit $3.4 billion, and Public Sector Industry Cloud ARR surpassed $2 billion, up 23% YoY. Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff emphasized, “Agentic AI is the biggest growth opportunity for our customers, and for Salesforce.”
The bears may counter that Salesforce stock still trades at a trailing 12-month P/E ratio of 18.85x with decelerating headline growth, and that the Informatica integration adds execution risk. Salesforce’s $25 billion accelerated share repurchase program has cushioned EPS, but organic acceleration in H2 FY27 is now the show-me story.
Software Sector Rides the Government Spending Wave The rally lifts the broader group. The iShares Expanded Tech-Software Sector ETF (NYSEARCA:IGV) holds both ServiceNow and Salesforce among its top positions, giving the fund concentrated exposure to today’s tape. Concentration cuts both ways, amplifying gains on days like this and losses on drawdowns.
Oracle (NYSE:ORCL) recently secured an up-to-$6.99 billion Pentagon software deal, reinforcing the government-AI-spend theme running through the sector. Federal budget priorities are flowing directly into enterprise software order books, and today’s action suggests that investors are willing to pay for exposure again.
What to Watch Now Investors can watch for whether today’s midday gains hold into the Friday close and whether follow-through research notes extend the target-hike wave into next week. Volume and breadth across software names will signal whether this is a durable rotation or a one-day squeeze.
Salesforce’s Q2 FY2027 earnings report is expected in late August, and ServiceNow’s Q3 setup carries a pull-forward overhang that management will need to address. For beaten-down holders, today offers relief, but position sizing should reflect that both names are still deep in the red for the year.
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I keep buying Broadcom (NASDAQ:AVGO | AVGO Price Prediction) and I am not embarrassed to say it out loud. Every paycheck window that opens, I add. The post-earnings selloff in June only reinforced my conviction, confirming that the market keeps handing long-term holders a discount on the one AI infrastructure name that also pays me to wait.
The core of my thesis is simple. Hock Tan built a company that sells the picks and shovels the hyperscalers cannot buy anywhere else, and he pairs that with software cash flows from VMware and a dividend I can plan a retirement around. That combination is why I keep clicking buy.
The Numbers That Keep Me Coming Back Start with the AI engine. Q2 FY2026 AI semiconductor revenue hit $10.80 billion, up 143% year-over-year, and management guided Q3 AI revenue to $16.0 billion, growth of over 200%. CEO Hock Tan told shareholders: “The momentum continues and in Q3 we expect semiconductor revenue from AI to grow over 200 percent year-over-year to $16.0 billion.” Total Q2 revenue landed at $22.19 billion, up 47.9%, with non-GAAP EPS of $2.44, the eighth consecutive quarter of beating expectations.
Next comes the cash. Q2 free cash flow was $10.26 billion, or 46% of revenue, with an adjusted EBITDA margin of 69%. Full-year FY2025 free cash flow reached $26.91 billion. Cash generation at that scale speaks for itself.
Then the dividend. Broadcom has raised its payout 15 consecutive years since fiscal 2011, with the last hike lifting the quarterly to $0.65, a 10% increase. That is the kind of streak I plan a retirement withdrawal schedule around.
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Why This One, Not NVIDIA or AMD Every reader lands first on NVIDIA (NASDAQ:NVDA) or Advanced Micro Devices (NASDAQ:AMD) when they think AI chips. I keep landing here instead because Broadcom sells something distinct from NVIDIA’s lineup: custom ASICs designed to spec for individual hyperscalers, plus the networking silicon that stitches those clusters together. The Apple relationship, reported by retail as a $30B+ custom AI chip deal through 2031, is the template. Add a Semiconductor Solutions segment growing 79% year-over-year and an Infrastructure Software segment producing $7.18 billion of high-margin recurring revenue, and I own a business model neither pure GPU maker offers, with a dividend streak neither matches.
The Risk I Refuse to Wave Off Customer concentration is real. Broadcom itself flags dependence on a limited number of large customers and significant indebtedness. If one hyperscaler cuts its custom ASIC roadmap, a quarter gets ugly fast. I stay because free cash flow of $10.26 billion in a single quarter services the debt with room to spare, and cash on the balance sheet grew to $19.63 billion, up 107.22% year-over-year. That is defense I can live with.
The Line in the Sand Shares closed at $386.50 on July 21, roughly 6% off the 52-week high of $494.18. The Wall Street consensus target sits at $524.51 with 44 buys against 4 holds and zero sells. The base-case fair value modeled at $404.96 is my accumulation ceiling. Under that number, my finger stays on the buy button. Above it, I let the dividend do the work.
The pivot back in is back on because Broadcom is compounding cash at hyperscaler speed while paying me a raise every year. I will keep buying until the price catches up to the business, and then I will keep holding while the business keeps running ahead.
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Looking for a stock that has been consistently beating earnings estimates and might be well positioned to keep the streak alive in its next quarterly report? Rockwell Automation (ROK - Free Report) , which belongs to the Zacks Electronics - Miscellaneous Products industry, could be a great candidate to consider.
When looking at the last two reports, this industrial equipment and software maker has recorded a strong streak of surpassing earnings estimates. The company has topped estimates by 11.23%, on average, in the last two quarters.
For the most recent quarter, Rockwell Automation was expected to post earnings of $2.89 per share, but it reported $3.3 per share instead, representing a surprise of 14.19%. For the previous quarter, the consensus estimate was $2.54 per share, while it actually produced $2.75 per share, a surprise of 8.27%.
Price and EPS Surprise
With this earnings history in mind, recent estimates have been moving higher for Rockwell Automation. In fact, the Zacks Earnings ESP (Expected Surprise Prediction) for the company is positive, which is a great sign of an earnings beat, especially when you combine this metric with its nice Zacks Rank.
Our research shows that stocks with the combination of a positive Earnings ESP and a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) or better produce a positive surprise nearly 70% of the time. In other words, if you have 10 stocks with this combination, the number of stocks that beat the consensus estimate could be as high as seven.
The Zacks Earnings ESP compares the Most Accurate Estimate to the Zacks Consensus Estimate for the quarter; the Most Accurate Estimate is a version of the Zacks Consensus whose definition is related to change. The idea here is that analysts revising their estimates right before an earnings release have the latest information, which could potentially be more accurate than what they and others contributing to the consensus had predicted earlier.
Rockwell Automation currently has an Earnings ESP of +1.55%, which suggests that analysts have recently become bullish on the company's earnings prospects. This positive Earnings ESP when combined with the stock's Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) indicates that another beat is possibly around the corner. We expect the company's next earnings report to be released on August 4, 2026.
When the Earnings ESP comes up negative, investors should note that this will reduce the predictive power of the metric. But, a negative value is not indicative of a stock's earnings miss.
Many companies end up beating the consensus EPS estimate, though this is not the only reason why their shares gain. Additionally, some stocks may remain stable even if they end up missing the consensus estimate.
Because of this, it's really important to check a company's Earnings ESP ahead of its quarterly release to increase the odds of success. Make sure to utilize our Earnings ESP Filter to uncover the best stocks to buy or sell before they've reported.
All investors love getting big returns from their portfolio, whether it's through stocks, bonds, ETFs, or other types of securities. However, when you're an income investor, your primary focus is generating consistent cash flow from each of your liquid investments.
While cash flow can come from bond interest or interest from other types of investments, income investors hone in on dividends. A dividend is that coveted distribution of a company's earnings paid out to shareholders, and investors often view it by its dividend yield, a metric that measures the dividend as a percent of the current stock price. Many academic studies show that dividends make up large portions of long-term returns, and in many cases, dividend contributions surpass one-third of total returns.
Headquartered in Nashville, Ryman Hospitality Properties (RHP - Free Report) is a Finance stock that has seen a price change of 36.22% so far this year. Currently paying a dividend of $1.20 per share, the company has a dividend yield of 3.72%. In comparison, the REIT and Equity Trust - Other industry's yield is 3.86%, while the S&P 500's yield is 1.33%.
Looking at dividend growth, the company's current annualized dividend of $4.80 is up 3.2% from last year. Over the last 5 years, Ryman Hospitality Properties has increased its dividend 3 times on a year-over-year basis for an average annual increase of 85.96%. Looking ahead, future dividend growth will be dependent on earnings growth and payout ratio, which is the proportion of a company's annual earnings per share that it pays out as a dividend. Ryman Hospitality Properties's current payout ratio is 55%, meaning it paid out 55% of its trailing 12-month EPS as dividend.
Looking at this fiscal year, RHP expects solid earnings growth. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2026 is $9.04 per share, with earnings expected to increase 6.86% from the year ago period.
Investors like dividends for a variety of different reasons, from tax advantages and decreasing overall portfolio risk to considerably improving stock investing profits. It's important to keep in mind that not all companies provide a quarterly payout.
Big, established firms that have more secure profits are often seen as the best dividend options, but it's fairly uncommon to see high-growth businesses or tech start-ups offer their stockholders a dividend. During periods of rising interest rates, income investors must be mindful that high-yielding stocks tend to struggle. That said, they can take comfort from the fact that RHP is not only an attractive dividend play, but also represents a compelling investment opportunity with a Zacks Rank of #2 (Buy).
Growth stocks are attractive to many investors, as above-average financial growth helps these stocks easily grab the market's attention and produce exceptional returns. However, it isn't easy to find a great growth stock.
That's because, these stocks usually carry above-average risk and volatility. In fact, betting on a stock for which the growth story is actually over or nearing its end could lead to significant loss.
However, the Zacks Growth Style Score (part of the Zacks Style Scores system), which looks beyond the traditional growth attributes to analyze a company's real growth prospects, makes it pretty easy to find cutting-edge growth stocks.
Our proprietary system currently recommends Ryman Hospitality Properties (RHP - Free Report) as one such stock. This company not only has a favorable Growth Score, but also carries a top Zacks Rank.
Studies have shown that stocks with the best growth features consistently outperform the market. And for stocks that have a combination of a Growth Score of A or B and a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) or 2 (Buy), returns are even better.
While there are numerous reasons why the stock of this hotel and resort real estate investment trust is a great growth pick right now, we have highlighted three of the most important factors below:
Earnings GrowthEarnings growth is arguably the most important factor, as stocks exhibiting exceptionally surging profit levels tend to attract the attention of most investors. And for growth investors, double-digit earnings growth is definitely preferable, and often an indication of strong prospects (and stock price gains) for the company under consideration.
While the historical EPS growth rate for Ryman Hospitality Properties is 35.4%, investors should actually focus on the projected growth. The company's EPS is expected to grow 6.9% this year, crushing the industry average, which calls for EPS growth of 3.5%.
Impressive Asset Utilization RatioAsset utilization ratio -- also known as sales-to-total-assets (S/TA) ratio -- is often overlooked by investors, but it is an important indicator in growth investing. This metric exhibits how efficiently a firm is utilizing its assets to generate sales.
Right now, Ryman Hospitality Properties has an S/TA ratio of 0.43, which means that the company gets $0.43 in sales for each dollar in assets. Comparing this to the industry average of 0.13, it can be said that the company is more efficient.
While the level of efficiency in generating sales matters a lot, so does the sales growth of a company. And Ryman Hospitality Properties is well positioned from a sales growth perspective too. The company's sales are expected to grow 8.1% this year versus the industry average of 2.5%.
Promising Earnings Estimate RevisionsBeyond the metrics outlined above, investors should consider the trend in earnings estimate revisions. A positive trend is a plus here. Empirical research shows that there is a strong correlation between trends in earnings estimate revisions and near-term stock price movements.
There have been upward revisions in current-year earnings estimates for Ryman Hospitality Properties. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for the current year has surged 0.1% over the past month.
Bottom LineWhile the overall earnings estimate revisions have made Ryman Hospitality Properties a Zacks Rank #2 stock, it has earned itself a Growth Score of B based on a number of factors, including the ones discussed above.
You can see the complete list of today's Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
This combination positions Ryman Hospitality Properties well for outperformance, so growth investors may want to bet on it.
Investors interested in stocks from the Internet - Software sector have probably already heard of Block (XYZ) and Spotify (SPOT). But which of these two stocks presents investors with the better value opportunity right now?
Key Takeaways NXP Semiconductors expects revenues of $3.35-$3.55 billion in the second-quarter of 2026.NXPI is benefiting from demand in automotive, Industrial & IoT, mobile and communications markets.Higher input costs, supply chain constraints and China exposure remain key near-term risks. NXP Semiconductors (NXPI - Free Report) is scheduled to report second-quarter 2026 results on July 28, after market close.
NXPI expects second-quarter revenues between $3.35 billion and $3.55 billion. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for revenues is pegged at $3.47 billion, indicating an increase of 18.5% year over year.
For the second quarter, NXP Semiconductors anticipates non-GAAP earnings per share between $3.29 and $3.72. The consensus mark for earnings is pinned at $3.54 per share, unchanged over the past 60 days, suggesting an increase of 30.2% year over year.
In the trailing four quarters, NXPI’s earnings beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate in three of the trailing four quarters, while matching once, with the average surprise being 1.5%.
Let’s see how things are shaping up for the upcoming quarterly results.
Factors to Consider for NXPINXP Semiconductors' second-quarter performance is expected to have benefited from continued strength in its Automotive business. Growth is likely to have been driven by increasing adoption of software-defined vehicle platforms, supported by strong demand for NXPI's S32N and S32K5 processors, as well as continued momentum in vehicle electrification, imaging radar and 10-gigabit automotive Ethernet solutions.
The company expects revenues from the Automotive end market to be up in the low-double-digit percent range on a year-over-year basis. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Automotive revenues is currently pegged at $1.93 billion, indicating an increase of 11.9% from the year-ago quarter.
Recovery in the Industrial & Internet of Things (IoT) market is expected to have remained a key growth driver during the second quarter. Demand is likely to have been supported by industrial processing solutions, including the i.MX, RT and MCX product families, along with strength in factory automation, energy storage and data center applications. The company expects revenues from Industrial & IoT end markets to be up in the high-30% range year over year. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for NXPI’s Industrial & IoT revenues is pegged at $742.3 million, indicating a year-over-year increase of 35.9%.
Continued strength in secure mobile transaction products is expected to have benefited NXPI’s performance in the second quarter. NXPI expects revenues from the Mobile end market to be up in the low single-digit percent range on a year-over-year basis. The Zacks Consensus Estimate of $348.7 million for the Mobile end market implies an increase of 5.4% from the year-ago quarter.
The Communications Infrastructure & Other segment’s second-quarter prospects are expected to have benefited from growing exposure to data center infrastructure, digital networking products and continued strength in RFID solutions. NXPI expects revenues from Communications Infrastructure & Other end markets to be up in the mid-30% range on a year-over-year basis. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for the Communications Infrastructure & Others segment revenues is pegged at $436.98 million, indicating an increase of 36.6% on a year-over-year basis.
However, NXPI's second-quarter performance is anticipated to have been hurt due to higher input costs and supply chain bottlenecks. Management noted that certain parts of the supply chain remain tight, leading to inflationary cost pressures. Further, NXPI’s prospects in the second quarter are anticipated to have been hurt by macroeconomic headwinds and escalating geopolitical tensions, as NXPI is a major player in China, accounting for 39% of its annual revenues in 2025.
What Our Proven Model Says for NXPI’s Q2 EarningsOur proven model does not conclusively predict an earnings beat for NXP Semiconductors 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, which is not the case here.
NXP Semiconductors has an Earnings ESP of 0.00% and carries a Zacks Rank #2 at present. You can uncover the best stocks to buy or sell before they are reported with our Earnings ESP Filter.
Stocks to ConsiderHere are some stocks worth considering, as our model shows that these have the right combination of elements to beat on earnings this reporting cycle.
Amphenol (APH - Free Report) has an Earnings ESP of +1.12% and sports a Zacks Rank #1 at present. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.
Amphenol is set to report second-quarter 2026 results on July 29. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Amphenol’s second-quarter 2026 earnings is pegged at $1.19 per share, up by 2 cents over the past seven days, indicating a rise of 46.9% from the year-ago quarter’s reported figure.
ASE Technology (ASX - Free Report) has an Earnings ESP of +21.21% and a Zacks Rank #2 at present.
ASE Technology is slated to report second-quarter 2026 results on July 30. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for ASE Technology’s second-quarter 2026 earnings is pegged at 17 cents per share, up by 5 cents over the past 30 days, indicating a rise of 54.6% from the year-ago quarter’s reported figure.
Advanced Micro Devices (AMD - Free Report) has an Earnings ESP of +1.49% and carries a Zacks Rank #2 at present.
Advanced Micro Devices is set to report second-quarter 2026 results on Aug. 4. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Advanced Micro Devices’ second-quarter earnings is pegged at $1.60 per share, unchanged over the past 30 days, indicating a rise of 233.3% from the year-ago quarter’s reported figure.
Key Takeaways Strategy's dollar reserve covers roughly 1.8 years of annual interest and dividend costs.Bitcoin sales, share repurchases and reserve funding tools may reduce forced financing in weak markets.Strategy still faces high debt, preferred-stock obligations, dilution risk and Bitcoin dependence. Strategy (MSTR - Free Report) has shifted from nonstop Bitcoin accumulation toward protecting its cash position. As of July 24, 2026, it held 843,775 BTC and a $3.225 billion reserve after selling more than 2.7 million MSTR shares for about $263.5 million.
The reserve is restricted mainly to preferred-stock dividends and debt interest. Strategy reports annual interest and dividend costs of about $1.76 billion, so the current reserve offers roughly 1.8 years of coverage.
The latest news shows why that buffer matters. Strategy sold 3,588 BTC in early July for about $216 million, its first major sale after years of steady buying, and disclosed an $8.32 billion second-quarter digital-asset loss.
The company has also approved up to $1 billion each for preferred-share and MSTR repurchases, plus Bitcoin sales of up to $1.25 billion to refill reserves. These tools may reduce forced financing during weak markets and give management flexibility when Bitcoin prices fall sharply.
However, risk remains high, because the reserve improves liquidity without reducing dependence on Bitcoin. Strategy carries about $6.75 billion of debt and $15.46 billion of preferred stock, while MSTR’s valuation premium has fallen near 1.0 times net asset value. Raising cash may, therefore, require more dilution or further Bitcoin sales.
How Are MARA Holdings and Strive Managing Bitcoin Risk?MARA Holdings (MARA - Free Report) has paired treasury defense with expansion. MARA Holdings sold 15,133 Bitcoin and repurchased about $1 billion of convertible notes, then agreed in July to acquire a Texas site with 2,000 megawatts of planned power. MARA Holdings gains flexibility, but development commitments could later rebuild financial pressure.
Strive (ASST - Free Report) held 19,921 Bitcoin and $157.4 million in cash on July 17 after buying 21 more coins. Strive also held $43.1 million of Strategy preferred shares. Strive has liquidity, yet share issuance and Bitcoin volatility still create fixed-payment and dilution risks for investors.
MSTR’s Price Performance, Valuation and EstimatesShares of MSTR have declined 44.1% over the past three months compared with the industry’s fall of 4.8%.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
From a valuation standpoint, Strategy remains highly expensive, trading at a forward 12-month price-to-sales ratio of 65.55, which is far above the sector's average. Its Value Score of F reinforces concerns that the stock is significantly overvalued.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Over the past 30 days, earnings estimates for both 2026 and 2027 have been revised downward, signaling a bearish outlook from analysts.
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A $45,000 income stream is roughly what a Social Security check plus a modest pension covers for many retirees, and it is also the annual draw many investors target from a taxable brokerage or IRA. Doubling that to $90,000 without adding new capital is possible, but only if the reader understands what shifting up the yield curve actually costs.
The math is simple: income target divided by yield equals capital required. Producing $45,000 at a 3.5% yield takes roughly $1,285,714. Producing $90,000 from the same portfolio requires either doubling the capital or doubling the yield. This piece walks through what that trade looks like at three yield tiers, with the current rate backdrop of a 3.75%-range federal funds upper bound and a 10-year Treasury yield near 4.6% as the risk-free anchor.
Conservative Tier: 3% to 4% Yield At 3.5%, hitting $45,000 requires about $1,285,714. Hitting $90,000 from that same base is not possible without adding capital, so this tier is the “keep it and grow it” anchor rather than the doubling engine. The category includes regulated utilities, dividend-growth consumer names, and best-in-class regional banks.
Alliant Energy (NASDAQ:LNT | LNT Price Prediction) pays a $0.535 quarterly dividend against a share price near $74, with 2026 EPS guidance of $3.36 to $3.46 and a data-center pipeline of 3.4 GW contracted across five agreements. Casey’s General Stores (NASDAQ:CASY) just delivered its 27th consecutive annual dividend increase, raising the quarterly payout from $0.57 to $0.65. East West Bancorp pays $0.80 quarterly and posted $9.87 in trailing EPS with a 13x P/E.
Moderate Tier: 5% to 7% Yield Here is where the doubling story begins. At 7%, $90,000 requires roughly $1,285,714, the same capital that produced $45,000 at 3.5%. The trade is dividend growth and multiple expansion for current cash flow, with no new capital required. The tier holds preferred shares, covered-call equity funds, higher-yielding REITs, and dividend-heavy regional banks.
Peoples Bancorp (NASDAQ:PEBO) pays a $0.42 quarterly dividend with a 4.2% yield and a forward P/E near 10x. Home Bancorp recently raised its quarterly payout to $0.32 and reported Q2 2026 EPS of $1.48 against a $1.46 estimate. Stacked with covered-call ETFs and preferred baskets, a blended 6% to 7% yield is achievable, but dividend growth typically slows and total return leans on the coupon rather than capital appreciation.
Aggressive Tier: 8% to 14% Yield At 12%, $90,000 requires only $750,000, and $45,000 requires just $375,000. The lever is enormous. The cost is principal.
AGNC Investment (NASDAQ:AGNC) pays $0.12 monthly, or $1.44 annualized, against a share price near almost $11, a yield above 13%. The dividend has been held flat at $0.12 for more than six years after a 25% cut in March 2020 from $0.16. Tangible book value sits at roughly $8.60 per share. Business development companies, leveraged covered-call funds, and high-yield bond funds behave similarly: heavy current income, weak or negative growth in the distribution, and principal that often drifts lower.
The Compounding Trap Most Income Investors Fall Into Consider two portfolios both starting at $1,285,714. Portfolio A yields 3.5% and grows the payout 8% annually, roughly the pace at which Casey’s raised its dividend when it moved from $0.57 to $0.65 quarterly. In nine years the income doubles from $45,000 to $90,000 without a single dollar added. Portfolio B yields 7% today, pays $90,000, and never grows. A decade later, after inflation running near the Fed’s 2% target, the second portfolio’s real income has quietly shrunk while the first has caught and passed it.
That is why doubling a $45,000 stream to $90,000 “without new capital” is often better executed by time than by yield reach.
What To Do Next Map your current portfolio yield against the three tiers above and calculate what percentage of your $45,000 already comes from names growing the dividend versus names paying a static coupon. Compare a decade of total return between a 3.5% dividend-growth compounder and a 10%-plus mortgage REIT or leveraged covered-call fund; the AGNC price chart and Casey’s dividend ladder are two ends of that spectrum. If you are within five years of drawing income, model the tax hit tier by tier. Qualified dividends from names like LNT and regional banks are taxed differently than the ordinary-income distributions from AGNC-style mREITs, and that gap can be worth more than a full percentage point of yield. Contact [email protected] for any questions or corrections.
Key Takeaways AON is expected to post Q2 revenue growth, led by Commercial Risk Solutions and Health Solutions.AON's four straight earnings beats and favorable retention rates point to potential upside this quarter.Higher compensation, IT and other costs, plus weaker Wealth Solutions demand, may weigh on results. Leading global insurer Aon plc (AON - Free Report) is set to report second-quarter 2026 results on July 29, 2026, before the opening bell. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for the to-be-reported quarter’s earnings is currently pegged at $3.77 per share on revenues of $4.26 billion.
The second-quarter earnings estimate has witnessed two upward revisions and five downward movements over the past 60 days. The bottom-line projection indicates a year-over-year increase of 8%. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for quarterly revenues suggests year-over-year growth of 2.6%.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
AON beat the consensus estimate for earnings in each of the last four quarters, with the average surprise being 3.1%.
Q2 Earnings Whispers for AONOur proven model predicts a likely earnings beat for the company this time around as well. The combination of a positive Earnings ESP and a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), 2 (Buy) or 3 (Hold) increases the odds of an earnings beat. That’s precisely the case here.
AON has an Earnings ESP of +0.24% and a Zacks Rank #3. You can uncover the best stocks to buy or sell before they’re reported with our Earnings ESP Filter.
You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.
What’s Shaping AON’s Q2 Results?The Zacks Consensus Estimate for the Commercial Risk Solutions line’s revenues indicates 5.3% growth from $2.18 billion a year ago, whereas our model predicts a 5% increase. We expect the unit to witness 5% organic revenue growth in the quarter under discussion.
The consensus mark for the Health Solutions line’s second-quarter revenues suggests nearly 6% growth from the year-ago level, while our model estimate indicates an 8% increase. The segment is likely to have been supported by new business growth, strong retention rates and positive market impact.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Reinsurance Solutions' revenues indicates growth of 4.4% from $688 million recorded a year ago, while our model estimate suggests a 7% increase. Favorable retention rates, new business generation and facultative placement growthare expected to have benefited the unit.
The factors mentioned above are expected to have contributed to the company's year-over-year growth, positioning it for an earnings beat. However, the positives are likely to have been partially offset by high expenses due to significant investments in priority areas for long-term growth, coupled with an uptick in certain discretionary and other costs.
Our model predicts total operating expenses for the second quarter at above $3.3 billion, attributed to increased costs related to higher compensation and benefits and information technology. Specifically, the estimate for other general expenses is set at more than $400 million, while compensation and benefits costs are pegged at nearly $2.4 billion.
Moreover, the consensus estimate for second-quarter revenues in the Wealth Solutions segment suggests a 15.2% decrease from the previous year’s $519 million, whereas our model indicates a 15% decline. The unit is likely to have been affected by weaker advisory demand in the United States.
How Did AON’s Peers Perform?Several insurance companies, including Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc. (MRSH - Free Report) , AMERISAFE, Inc. (AMSF - Free Report) and RenaissanceRe Holdings Ltd. (RNR - Free Report) , have already reported their financial results for the June quarter of 2026. Here’s how they performed:
Marsh reported second-quarter 2026 adjusted earnings per share of $2.96, which surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 2.8%. The bottom line advanced 8.8% year over year.Its strong quarterly results benefited from solid growth in the Risk and Insurance Services and Consulting units. However, the upside was partially offset by Marsh’s elevated operating expenses, primarily due to increased compensation and benefits.
AMERISAFE reported second-quarter adjusted earnings per share of 44 cents, missing the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 17%. The bottom line also declined 17% year over year. The quarterly result was affected by higher expenses and weaker underwriting margins, with additional pressure from lower investment income. AMSF’s strong premium growth partly offset these headwinds.
RenaissanceRe reported second-quarter 2026 operating income of $12.92 per share, which surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 12.9%. The bottom line also improved 5.1% year over year. The quarterly earnings benefited from lower expenses, higher net investment income and an improved total combined ratio. However, the upside was partly offset by lower net premiums earned, weaker underwriting results in RNR’s Casualty & Specialty segment and lower fee income.
EUR/USD has trended lower since mid-July, struggling at 1.1480 resistance and forming a double-top pattern amid dollar strength Dollar safe-haven demand from Middle East tensions, not rate divergence, is the main driver behind the euro's recent pullback lower Fundamentals favor the dollar due to US economic resilience and policy divergence, while technical patterns warn of potential further declines The EUR/USD currency pair has declined since mid-July, encountering repeated rejections at the 1.1480 resistance level. This pattern of failed attempts to break higher has formed a double-top, indicating a potential reversal. The pair is currently trading at a lower level compared to the start of the month.
What the Chart Is Showing The pair opened last week near 1.1425, spiked to 1.1480, then drifted before selling pressure returned. That 1.1480 level has now been tested and rejected multiple times through July, and a confirmed close below the 1.1405 support would effectively validate the double-top reversal, opening the door to a deeper pullback.
As of the latest session, EUR/USD was trading near 1.1380 after the European Central Bank left interest rates unchanged. That’s a meaningful break of the range the pair had held for over a week.
Fundamental Factors Shaping the Pair Several factors have contributed to the euro’s recent weakness. The US dollar has shown persistent strength, driven by expectations regarding Federal Reserve policy, supported by robust US economic data and geopolitical tensions that increase demand for safe-haven assets. In contrast, the Eurozone is facing headwinds such as slower growth prospects and vulnerability to energy price fluctuations.
Navigating the current EUR/USD market environment involves assessing macroeconomic challenges alongside short-term trading possibilities. If US economic data continues to be strong while Eurozone growth decelerates, the interest rate differential between the Federal Reserve and the European Central Bank is likely to remain favorable to the US dollar.
Additionally, rising global oil prices and ongoing geopolitical friction are impacting Eurozone manufacturing, potentially exerting further downward pressure on the euro.
The ECB’s decision to hold interest rates steady, without providing clear guidance on future policy adjustments, did not offer the market a catalyst for a sustained euro rally based on rate divergence. In the absence of a clear hawkish stance from either central bank, the dollar has become the path of least resistance, particularly with geopolitical instability adding to risk-off sentiment.
Risks and Opportunities Ahead Opportunities exist on both sides. A continued breakdown could extend declines toward 1.13 or lower, rewarding short positions. On the upside, a decisive break above 1.1480 might signal exhaustion of sellers and open targets near 1.1575-1.1600, benefiting long exposures.
Risks include sudden shifts from central bank rhetoric, unexpected economic data surprises, or rapid changes in risk sentiment driven by global events. The opportunity sits on the other side of that coin. If geopolitical tensions ease and incoming US data softens, the dollar’s safe-haven premium could unwind quickly, and the euro’s stalled ascending channel would reassert itself.
What caused EUR/USD’s double-top pattern?
Repeated failed attempts to break above 1.1480 resistance, combined with dollar safe-haven demand from Middle East tensions and a cautious ECB.
Why didn’t the ECB decision help the euro?
The ECB held rates without signaling future direction, denying the market the clear rate-divergence catalyst that typically drives sustained euro strength.
What could reverse the dollar’s current strength?
The current strength of the dollar could be reversed if Middle East tensions de-escalate or if upcoming US economic data weakens, leading to a reduction in the dollar’s safe-haven premium.
Investors with an interest in REIT and Equity Trust - Other stocks have likely encountered both Ryman Hospitality Properties (RHP - Free Report) and Public Storage (PSA - Free Report) . But which of these two stocks presents investors with the better value opportunity right now? Let's take a closer look.
There are plenty of strategies for discovering value stocks, but we have found that pairing a strong Zacks Rank with an impressive grade in the Value category of our Style Scores system produces the best returns. The Zacks Rank favors stocks with strong earnings estimate revision trends, and our Style Scores highlight companies with specific traits.
Ryman Hospitality Properties has a Zacks Rank of #2 (Buy), while Public Storage has a Zacks Rank of #3 (Hold) right now. This means that RHP's earnings estimate revision activity has been more impressive, so investors should feel comfortable with its improving analyst outlook. But this is just one factor that value investors are interested in.
Value investors are also interested in a number of tried-and-true valuation metrics that help show when a company is undervalued at its current share price levels.
Our Value category highlights undervalued companies by looking at a variety of key metrics, including the popular P/E ratio, as well as the P/S ratio, earnings yield, cash flow per share, and a variety of other fundamentals that have been used by value investors for years.
RHP currently has a forward P/E ratio of 14.26, while PSA has a forward P/E of 18.60. We also note that RHP has a PEG ratio of 2.32. This metric is used similarly to the famous P/E ratio, but the PEG ratio also takes into account the stock's expected earnings growth rate. PSA currently has a PEG ratio of 4.24.
Another notable valuation metric for RHP is its P/B ratio of 10.55. Investors use the P/B ratio to look at a stock's market value versus its book value, which is defined as total assets minus total liabilities. By comparison, PSA has a P/B of 11.13.
Based on these metrics and many more, RHP holds a Value grade of B, while PSA has a Value grade of D.
RHP stands above PSA thanks to its solid earnings outlook, and based on these valuation figures, we also feel that RHP is the superior value option right now.
If you are looking for a stock that has a solid history of beating earnings estimates and is in a good position to maintain the trend in its next quarterly report, you should consider Sherwin-Williams (SHW - Free Report) . This company, which is in the Zacks Chemical - Specialty industry, shows potential for another earnings beat.
This paint and coatings maker has seen a nice streak of beating earnings estimates, especially when looking at the previous two reports. The average surprise for the last two quarters was 5.05%.
For the last reported quarter, Sherwin-Williams came out with earnings of $2.35 per share versus the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $2.24 per share, representing a surprise of 4.91%. For the previous quarter, the company was expected to post earnings of $2.12 per share and it actually produced earnings of $2.23 per share, delivering a surprise of 5.19%.
Price and EPS Surprise
For Sherwin-Williams, estimates have been trending higher, thanks in part to this earnings surprise history. And when you look at the stock's positive Zacks Earnings ESP (Expected Surprise Prediction), it's a great indicator of a future earnings beat, especially when combined with its solid Zacks Rank.
Our research shows that stocks with the combination of a positive Earnings ESP and a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) or better produce a positive surprise nearly 70% of the time. In other words, if you have 10 stocks with this combination, the number of stocks that beat the consensus estimate could be as high as seven.
The Zacks Earnings ESP compares the Most Accurate Estimate to the Zacks Consensus Estimate for the quarter; the Most Accurate Estimate is a version of the Zacks Consensus whose definition is related to change. The idea here is that analysts revising their estimates right before an earnings release have the latest information, which could potentially be more accurate than what they and others contributing to the consensus had predicted earlier.
Sherwin-Williams has an Earnings ESP of +0.94% at the moment, suggesting that analysts have grown bullish on its near-term earnings potential. When you combine this positive Earnings ESP with the stock's Zacks Rank #2 (Buy), it shows that another beat is possibly around the corner. The company's next earnings report is expected to be released on July 28, 2026.
Investors should note, however, that a negative Earnings ESP reading is not indicative of an earnings miss, but a negative value does reduce the predictive power of this metric.
Many companies end up beating the consensus EPS estimate, though this is not the only reason why their shares gain. Additionally, some stocks may remain stable even if they end up missing the consensus estimate.
Because of this, it's really important to check a company's Earnings ESP ahead of its quarterly release to increase the odds of success. Make sure to utilize our Earnings ESP Filter to uncover the best stocks to buy or sell before they've reported.
For the quarter ended June 2026, Halliburton (HAL - Free Report) reported revenue of $5.71 billion, up 3.7% over the same period last year. EPS came in at $0.55, compared to $0.55 in the year-ago quarter.
The reported revenue represents a surprise of +4.19% over the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $5.48 billion. With the consensus EPS estimate being $0.54, the EPS surprise was +1.85%.
While investors scrutinize revenue and earnings changes year-over-year and how they compare with Wall Street expectations to determine their next move, some key metrics always offer a more accurate picture of a company's financial health.
As these metrics influence top- and bottom-line performance, comparing them to the year-ago numbers and what analysts estimated helps investors project a stock's price performance more accurately.
Here is how Halliburton performed in the just reported quarter in terms of the metrics most widely monitored and projected by Wall Street analysts:
Revenue- Latin America: $1.12 billion compared to the $1.11 billion average estimate based on three analysts. The reported number represents a change of +14.9% year over year.Revenue- Europe/Africa/CIS: $1.02 billion versus $877.28 million estimated by three analysts on average. Compared to the year-ago quarter, this number represents a +24% change.Revenue- North America: $2.28 billion versus the three-analyst average estimate of $2.25 billion. The reported number represents a year-over-year change of +0.8%.Revenue- Middle East/Asia: $1.3 billion versus the three-analyst average estimate of $1.3 billion. The reported number represents a year-over-year change of -10.7%.Revenue- Drilling and Evaluation: $2.51 billion compared to the $2.35 billion average estimate based on five analysts. The reported number represents a change of +7.4% year over year.Revenue- Completion and Production: $3.2 billion versus $3.15 billion estimated by five analysts on average. Compared to the year-ago quarter, this number represents a +1% change.Operating income- Completion and Production: $474 million versus the five-analyst average estimate of $480.38 million.Operating income- Drilling and Evaluation: $338 million versus $322.07 million estimated by five analysts on average.Operating income- Corporate and other: $-83 million versus the two-analyst average estimate of $-96.5 million.View all Key Company Metrics for Halliburton here>>>
Shares of Halliburton have returned -5.7% over the past month versus the Zacks S&P 500 composite's +0.6% change. The stock currently has a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold), indicating that it could perform in line with the broader market in the near term.
Key Takeaways SLB reported Q2 2026 EPS of 55 cents, beating estimates on revenue growth in Digital and Production Systems.SLB's Digital revenues increased 18% y/y, while annualized recurring revenues rose 15% to $1.04 billion.SLB expects Data Center Solutions to exceed a $1 billion annualized revenue run rate by year-end. SLB N.V. (SLB - Free Report) reported second-quarter 2026 adjusted earnings per share (EPS) of 55 cents, which beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 51 cents by 7.84%. The bottom line declined 26% from 74 cents in the year-ago quarter.
The oilfield services giant recorded quarterly revenues of $8.97 billion, which topped the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $8.71 billion by around 3%. The top line increased 5% year over year from $8.55 billion.
The better-than-expected quarterly results were primarily driven by growth in Digital and Production Systems, along with broad-based gains outside the Middle East. As of June 30, 2026, digital annualized recurring revenues reached $1.04 billion, up 15% from the prior-year figure of $904 million.
SLB's Geographic Mix Supports GrowthInternational revenues were $6.67 billion, down 3% year over year. North America revenues increased 36% year over year to $2.24 billion. ChampionX contributed $870 million in quarterly revenues.
Latin America revenues increased 9% year over year to $1.71 billion, aided by higher OneSubsea revenues, digital exploration sales and offshore drilling in Brazil. Europe and Africa revenues declined 3% to $2.39 billion, while Middle East and Asia revenues fell 16% to $2.57 billion.
Digital Momentum Lifts SLB ResultsDigital revenues increased 18% year over year to $697 million from $591 million in the year-ago quarter. Growth was driven by stronger Digital Exploration sales in Brazil and Indonesia, and wider adoption of Digital Operations. Lower sales of permanent licenses caused a minor dip in Platforms and Applications, which was slightly offset by higher SaaS-based revenues.
The segment's pretax operating income increased 27% year over year to $194 million. Pretax operating margin expanded 187 basis points to 27.8%, supported by exploration data license sales and improved profitability in Digital Operations and Platforms and Applications.
SLB Core Segments Face Uneven TrendsReservoir Performance revenues declined 8% year over year to $1.56 billion from $1.69 billion recorded in the year-ago quarter, as lower evaluation, stimulation and intervention activity in the Middle East offset stronger activity in Europe and Africa, and Asia. Pretax operating income fell 26% to $232 million.
Well Construction revenues decreased 7% year over year to $2.74 billion from $2.96 billion recorded a year ago. Pretax operating income dropped 24% to $417 million. Middle East disruptions remained the main pressure, partly offset by increased offshore drilling in Latin America and improved U.S. land activity.
Production Systems Strengthens SLB's QuarterProduction Systems revenues increased 29% year over year to $3.77 billion from $2.93 billion. The ChampionX production chemicals and artificial lift businesses contributed $865 million. Excluding the acquisition, segment revenues declined 1% year over year.
Pretax operating income increased 19% to $586 million, while margin contracted 120 basis points year over year to 15.5%. Margin shrank due to weak results in surface production systems and completions, but profit from ChampionX’s production chemical and lift businesses partially offset the decline.
SLB Cash Flow & Capital Returns ImproveCash flow from operations was $1.36 billion in the second quarter, while free cash flow totaled $716 million. SLB ended June with $4.07 billion in cash and short-term investments and $11.14 billion in long-term debt.
The company repurchased 12 million shares for $648 million during the quarter. Its board approved a quarterly cash dividend of 29.5 cents per share, payable Oct. 8, 2026, to shareholders of record as of Sept. 2.
Data Center Growth & SLB's OutlookData Center Solutions revenues reached $186 million, increasing 80% year over year. First-half revenues increased 63% to $327 million. Management expects the business to exceed a $1 billion annualized revenue run rate by year-end. SLB expects Data Center Solutions to surpass a $2 billion annualized revenue run rate exiting 2027.
The company maintained its 2026 capital investment guidance at approximately $2.5 billion, covering capital expenditures, exploration data costs and Asset Performance Solutions investments.
SLB’s Zacks Rank & Key PicksSLB currently carries a Zacks Rank #4 (Sell).
Some better-ranked stocks from the energy sector that have yet to release their second-quarter 2026 earnings are Cheniere Energy, Inc. (LNG - Free Report) , TechnipFMC plc (FTI - Free Report) and NOV Inc. (NOV - Free Report) . LNG sports a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), while NOV and FTI carry a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) each, at present. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks Rank #1 stocks here.
Houston, TX-based Cheniere Energy is primarily engaged in the liquefied natural gas business. LNG owns and operates major liquefaction and export facilities on the U.S. Gulf Coast, including the Sabine Pass and Corpus Christi terminals.The company is involved in liquefied natural gas and natural gas marketing. With growing demand for cleaner energy, LNG is well-positioned to meet this need through its liquefaction and export facilities. Cheniere Energy is scheduled to release second-quarter 2026 earnings on Aug. 6, 2026.
TechnipFMC provides advanced technologies, products and services for subsea, surface and onshore/offshore energy projects. As global oil and gas demand is expected to grow, the company is leveraging its iEPCI Subsea, iComplete Integrated System, Subsea Studio and record backlog of more than $16.5 billion as of March-end 2026 to drive future growth. FTI is scheduled to release second-quarter 2026 earnings on July 30, 2026.
Houston, TX-based NOV is a global leader in the design, manufacture and sale of advanced equipment and components used in the oil and gas drilling, production, and renewable energy sectors. By leveraging its extensive proprietary technology portfolio, the company is well-positioned to reduce marginal costs and capitalize on the growing demand for oil and gas in the coming years. NOV is scheduled to release second-quarter 2026 earnings on July 28, 2026.
AI’s Power Crunch Fuels a Pivot for These 2 Oilfield StocksSLB NYSE: SLB reported second-quarter revenue of $9 billion, up 3% sequentially, as growth in Latin America, Europe and Africa, U.S. land and Asia more than offset disruptions in the Middle East. Adjusted earnings per share were $0.55, up $0.03 from the prior quarter but down $0.19 from a year earlier, according to Chief Financial Officer Stephane Biguet.
The company said Middle East revenue declined 13% sequentially to $1.66 billion amid conflict-related operational disruptions. SLB took temporary cost actions to limit the earnings impact, and Biguet said the resulting effect on earnings per share was slightly below the low end of the company’s previously indicated $0.06 to $0.08 range.
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MarketBeat Week in Review – 05/04 - 05/08Despite those disruptions, SLB said its pre-tax segment operating margin increased 49 basis points sequentially and adjusted EBITDA margin rose 83 basis points.
Production Systems and Digital Lead Growth Chief Executive Officer Olivier Le Peuch said growth outside the Middle East was broad-based, supported by higher offshore activity in Brazil, Guyana, Mexico, Scandinavia, Nigeria, China, Indonesia, India and Australia. U.S. land activity also improved, with higher demand for production chemicals, artificial lift and valves.
SLB’s Tough Quarter Masks a Powerful Long-Term ShiftProduction Systems was the company’s largest division in the quarter, with revenue rising 7% sequentially to $3.8 billion. The increase was driven by OneSubsea, artificial lift, valves, surface production systems and completions. Pre-tax operating margin improved 138 basis points to 15.5%, aided by better profitability in OneSubsea and artificial lift, as well as contributions from ChampionX’s Production Chemicals and Artificial Lift businesses.
Le Peuch said Production Systems adjusted EBITDA margins returned to above 20%. He added that ChampionX delivered sequential margin expansion for a third consecutive quarter despite inflation in chemicals.
Digital revenue increased 9% sequentially to $697 million, while pre-tax operating margin rose 683 basis points to 27.8%. Digital adjusted EBITDA margin reached 34.7%, up 860 basis points sequentially, driven by exploration data licenses and transfer fees in Brazil and Indonesia, along with improved profitability in digital operations, platforms and applications. SLB said digital annual recurring revenue increased 15% year over year.
Reservoir Performance revenue declined 2% sequentially to $1.6 billion, and Well Construction revenue also fell 2% to $2.7 billion, primarily because of Middle East disruptions. Well Construction margin was essentially flat as lower profitability in the Middle East was offset by improved profitability in North America and Latin America.
Middle East Recovery Remains Uneven Management said activity resumed in several Middle Eastern countries during the quarter, though operations in Iraq remained constrained by security concerns. Le Peuch said recovery will vary by country, customer and operating environment, and a return to full activity will take time.
During the question-and-answer session, Le Peuch said customer engagement had increased as operators plan to restore shut-in wells, expand capacity and deploy production-recovery solutions. He said activity had been restored and was strengthening in the United Arab Emirates, Qatar and, to some extent, Saudi Arabia, while Iraq remained more constrained.
SLB expects initial recovery work to include well intervention, production chemicals, coiled tubing and other ChampionX-related production and recovery offerings. Management also said the disruption could accelerate interest in digital tools to optimize existing wells and operations.
For the third quarter, SLB’s base case assumes a gradual Middle East recovery and calls for global sequential revenue growth of 3% to 4%, with approximately 75 basis points of adjusted EBITDA margin expansion. Core-division revenue is expected to rise in the low- to mid-single digits, while Digital revenue is projected to increase in the low single digits.
The company also outlined a downside scenario in which renewed escalation prevents remobilization efforts and leaves Middle East revenue flat sequentially. In that case, third-quarter revenue would be about $150 million below its base case and adjusted EBITDA would face an approximately $75 million headwind, primarily in Well Construction and Reservoir Performance.
Deepwater Activity and Fourth-Quarter Outlook Le Peuch said the market is beginning to show characteristics of an upcycle, citing the need to replenish inventories and strategic reserves, diversify supply, develop domestic resources and rebuild spare capacity. He said third-party reports indicate final investment decisions for long-cycle projects could increase about 30% year over year in 2026.
SLB expects stronger exploration spending and deepwater capital investment during the second half of 2026, led by Africa, with a more meaningful impact in 2027 across Latin America, the Mediterranean and Asia. Management also highlighted continued activity in Brazil, Guyana, Suriname, the North Sea and the Gulf of America.
The company reiterated its ambition for OneSubsea bookings to reach $9 billion over two years. Le Peuch said SLB is expanding its subsea portfolio, including trees, manifolds, umbilicals, processing and boosting solutions, while pursuing life-of-field service capabilities and alliances with customers and partners.
For the fourth quarter, SLB expects Middle East revenue of $2.1 billion to $2.2 billion, or roughly 95% of the level achieved in the fourth quarter of 2025. Assuming that recovery, continued deepwater momentum and typical year-end Digital product sales, the company expects fourth-quarter revenue to exceed $10 billion, representing about 5% year-over-year growth. Adjusted EBITDA margin is expected to be about 24%.
Data Center Business Expands SLB said its data center solutions revenue grew 33% sequentially and 80% year over year. The business added hyperscaler customers and expanded from equipment manufacturing into data center design, engineering and system integration.
Le Peuch said SLB uses off-site fabrication to produce modular equipment for server infrastructure and cooling systems, aiming to provide customers with shorter delivery times and scalable deployment. The company said its backlog is already sufficient to support an annualized revenue run rate exceeding $2 billion by the end of 2027.
Biguet said the data center business is not currently accretive to SLB’s overall margins, but it is accretive to revenue and earnings growth and has strong free-cash-flow characteristics because of its capital-light business model and contract terms.
SLB generated $1.4 billion in cash flow from operations and $716 million in free cash flow during the quarter. It ended the period with net debt of $8.7 billion, repurchased $648 million of stock, and maintained its full-year target to return more than $4 billion to shareholders through dividends and buybacks.
About SLB (NYSE:SLB)SLB NYSE: SLB, historically known as Schlumberger, is a leading global provider of technology, integrated project management and information solutions for the energy industry. Founded by Conrad and Marcel Schlumberger in 1926, the company develops and supplies products and services used across the exploration, drilling, completion and production phases of oil and gas development. Its offerings are intended to help operators characterize reservoirs, drill and complete wells, optimize production and manage field operations throughout the asset lifecycle.
SLB's product and service portfolio spans reservoir characterization and well testing, wireline and logging services, directional drilling and drilling tools, well construction and completion technologies, production systems, and subsea equipment.
This instant news alert was generated by narrative science technology and financial data from MarketBeat in order to provide readers with the fastest reporting and unbiased coverage. Please send any questions or comments about this story to [email protected].
Should You Invest $1,000 in SLB Right Now?Before you consider SLB, you'll want to hear this.
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Key Takeaways ECL's Q2 revenues are estimated to rise 9.3%, while earnings are projected to improve 10.1%.High-Tech, Life Sciences, Digital and Pest Elimination are expected to remain key growth drivers.Higher commodity, logistics and energy costs may pressure margins before pricing fully catches up. Ecolab (ECL - Free Report) is scheduled to release second-quarter 2026 results on July 28, before the opening bell. In the last reported quarter, the company delivered earnings in line with the estimates. ECL’s earnings beat estimates in two of the trailing four quarters, missed once and met once, delivering an average surprise of 0.23%.
Q2 Estimates
Currently, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for revenues is pegged at $4.4 billion, indicating growth of 9.3% year over year. The consensus mark for earnings is pinned at $2.08 per share, indicating an improvement of 10.1%.
Factors to Note Before ECL ReportsEcolab is expected to have delivered another quarter of organic growth, supported by continued value pricing, resilient demand across most end markets and sustained momentum in its higher-growth businesses. Global High-Tech, Digital, Life Sciences and Pest Elimination are likely to have remained the key growth drivers, benefiting from ongoing AI infrastructure investments, accelerating digital adoption, robust biopharmaceutical demand and continued customer adoption of connected pest management solutions. However, elevated commodity, logistics and energy costs, along with the temporary lag in pricing recovery, are expected to have pressured second-quarter margins and earnings growth.
Within the Global Industrial segment, Global High-Tech is expected to have maintained strong double-digit growth, supported by continued investments in semiconductor fabrication facilities, AI-driven data center expansion and rising demand for advanced water management solutions. Life Sciences is also likely to have delivered another quarter of double-digit growth, aided by robust demand for bioprocessing solutions, expanding biologics production and favorable capacity utilization. Meanwhile, Food & Beverage is expected to have outperformed its underlying markets, supported by innovation and the company's One Ecolab strategy. Paper and Heavy Water businesses, however, likely remained relatively soft despite signs of stabilization and incremental gains from new business wins.
The Global Institutional & Specialty segment is expected to have delivered steady growth, supported by continued value pricing, market share gains and demand from restaurant, lodging and quick-service restaurant customers. Specialty is likely to have remained a standout performer, benefiting from customer demand for productivity-enhancing and resource-efficient solutions that lower labor, water and energy costs. The company's One Ecolab initiative, including cross-selling efforts among its largest customers, is also expected to have supported revenue growth during the quarter.
Per management, Ecolab expects second-quarter 2026 to serve as a transition period as elevated commodity, energy and logistics costs temporarily pressure earnings before pricing actions and energy surcharges are fully realized. While the company did not provide specific revenue or earnings per share (EPS) guidance for the quarter, it expects underlying performance to remain within its long-term adjusted EPS growth target of 12-15%, with higher commodity costs expected to reduce second-quarter EPS growth by a few percentage points. Pricing is anticipated to have accelerated through the quarter, allowing Ecolab to fully offset the dollar impact of higher input costs by the end of the second quarter.
Meanwhile, favorable business mix, continued strength in higher-margin growth engines such as Global High-Tech and Life Sciences, SG&A productivity initiatives and digital efficiencies are expected to have partially cushioned inflationary pressures during the quarter. Investors will closely monitor management's commentary on pricing realization, margin recovery, demand trends across key end markets and the initial contribution and integration of the recently acquired CoolIT business, particularly as Ecolab enters the second half of 2026 with its full-year adjusted EPS growth outlook of 12-15% intact, excluding the temporary acquisition-related impact.
Earnings Beat UnlikelyOur proven model does not predict an earnings beat for ECL this earnings season. The combination of a positive Earnings ESPand a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), 2 (Buy) or 3 (Hold) increases the chances of an earnings beat, which is not the case here.
Earnings ESP: Earnings ESP, which represents the difference between the Most Accurate Estimate and the Zacks Consensus Estimate, is +0.20%. You can uncover the best stocks to buy or sell before they are reported with our Earnings ESP Filter.
Zacks Rank: The company carries a Zacks Rank #4 (Sell) at present.
Stocks Worth a LookHere are some other medical product stocks worth considering, as these have the right combination of elements to post an earnings beat this reporting cycle.
Henry Schein (HSIC - Free Report) has an Earnings ESP of +0.41% and a Zacks Rank #2 at present. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.
HSIC’s earnings surpassed estimates in three of the trailing four quarters and missed once, with the average surprise being 3.74%. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for HSIC’s second-quarter EPS indicates an improvement of 10.9% from the year-ago reported figure.
Alcon (ALC - Free Report) has an Earnings ESP of +3.13% and a Zacks Rank of 3 at present. The company is set to release second-quarter 2026 results on Aug. 10.
ALC’s earnings surpassed estimates in three of the trailing four quarters and missed once, with the average surprise being 3.66%. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for ALC’s second-quarter EPS implies an improvement of 1.3% from the year-ago reported figure.
Cardinal Health (CAH - Free Report) has an Earnings ESP of +1.24% and a Zacks Rank of 2 at present. The company is slated to release fourth-quarter fiscal 2026 results on Aug. 11.
CAH’s earnings surpassed estimates in each of the trailing four quarters, the average surprise being 10.27%. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for CAH’s fourth-quarter EPS indicates a gain of 16.4% from the year-ago reported figure.
NEW YORK, July 24, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Gross Law Firm issues the following notice to shareholders of ZoomInfo Technologies Inc. (NASDAQ: GTM).
Paul Singer’s Elliott Investment Management just handed retail investors a cheat sheet. The latest 13F filing, disclosing holdings as of March 31, 2026, reveals five US-listed long positions that stretch from precious metals royalties to AI infrastructure. One of them has already returned 90.1% since the filing date. The other four are still setting up. Here is where the money is moving, and whether you can still get in.
1. Triple Flag Precious Metals (TFPM): The Surprise Pick A gold streamer is rare territory for Elliott, and that is exactly why Triple Flag Precious Metals (NYSE:TFPM) belongs at the top of the list. The $6.43B royalty and streaming name is a pure play on gold at a time when the metal is repricing every commodity cycle assumption, and the stock has drifted lower even as its fundamentals have exploded.
Q1 FY26 landed with adjusted EPS of $0.45 against a $0.42 estimate, revenue of $146.99M up 78.7% year over year, and a realized gold price of $4,873 per ounce versus $2,860 a year earlier. Gross margin expanded to 72% and net income jumped 156.87% on record 30,166 GEOs sold. Our model pegs base case fair value at $35.95, a 31.73% upside from the $27.29 current price, with 73% of analysts bullish and zero bears. Screens as a Buy.
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The stock has fallen 21.6% since the 13F reference date of March 31, 2026. Elliott’s paper P&L on TFPM is underwater at current prices. Next up is a name where Singer’s paper is already very much in the black.
2. Suncor Energy (SU): The Cash Machine Masquerading as a Miss Suncor Energy (NYSE:SU | SU Price Prediction) is the integrated oil sands and refining giant that headline-scanning traders punished on a Q1 EPS miss and then quietly bought back. This is Elliott territory: a business printing cash while traders debate the wrong number.
Q1 FY26 EPS came in at $1.36 versus a $1.93 estimate, but adjusted operating earnings actually rose to $1.62B from $1.15B, and free cash flow surged 188.13% year over year to $2.05B. Management responded by lifting the monthly buyback pace from $275M to $350M, targeting nearly $4 billion in 2026 repurchases, over 30% higher than 2025. Our model reads Suncor as near fair value with 0.25% upside to a $62.02 base case. Screens as a Hold, but one that is paying shareholders to wait.
Elliott’s paper is up modestly here, with SU still down 7.61% from the March 31 filing reference even after a 60.35% one-year run. If Suncor is the boring compounder, the next name is the opposite: the one where the market has already sprinted past the activist thesis.
3. Phillips 66 (PSX): The Activist Heavyweight Running Hot This is the obvious one. Phillips 66 (NYSE:PSX) is the flagship of Elliott’s current activist book, with the fund publicly pushing for a midstream separation. Refining margins are back, buybacks are flowing, and the crowd has piled in.
Q1 FY26 delivered adjusted EPS of $0.49 against a -$0.39 estimate, revenue of $33.00B up 8.2%, and refining margins of $10.11 per barrel versus $6.81 a year earlier. Buybacks hit $269M in Q1 and the annualized dividend was raised 7% to $1.265. The problem: the stock has ripped to $206.33, above the $198.44 analyst target, and our base case models a 20.27% drawdown to $164.52 over the next year. All three of our scenarios, bull, base, and bear, produce negative to flat one-year returns. Screens as a Sell into strength based on our modeled downside.
Act now: the analyst who called NVIDIA in 2010 just named his top 10 AI stocks — and Phillips 66 didn't make the cut. Grab the names FREE today.
Elliott is sitting on gains of 11.29% since March 31 and 68.37% over one year. The activist thesis worked. The trade has aged. And the next name on Singer’s list has an even longer activist history behind it.
4. Southwest Airlines (LUV): The Turnaround Elliott Built Southwest Airlines (NYSE:LUV) is the case study for what Elliott activism produces. The fund reshaped the board, drove the commercial overhaul, and the Q1 numbers now show the model working, if fuel cooperates.
Q1 FY26 posted EPS of $0.45 versus $0.4739 consensus, revenue of $7.249B up 12.8%, and net income of $227M against a $149M loss a year earlier. RASM grew 11.2% YoY, roughly 60% of customers bought up to assigned or extra legroom seats, and Rapid Rewards enrollments jumped 37%. CEO Bob Jordan called it a “turning point for Southwest,” even as Q2 fuel guidance leapt to $4.10 to $4.15 per gallon. Our model puts fair value at $49.99, only 4.48% above the $47.85 current price. Screens as a Hold. The easy money on the activist trade has already been made.
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LUV has already surged 32.1% since the March 31 filing reference. But the biggest Elliott win, and the punchline of this list, is not in the sky.
5. Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE): The Payoff Elliott’s Chris Hsu now sits on the board of Hewlett Packard Enterprise (NYSE:HPE), confirming the activist stake and giving Singer a seat at the table for what has already become the trade of 2026. The Juniper Networks integration turned a legacy enterprise IT name into an AI infrastructure operator.
Q2 FY26 (reported June 1, 2026) obliterated guidance. Non-GAAP EPS came in at $0.79 against a $0.51 to $0.55 range, revenue was $10.68 billion up 40%, and Networking revenue exploded 148.2% to $2.69 billion. Free cash flow hit $915 million, non-GAAP operating margin expanded to 13.3% from 8.0%, and management hiked full-year non-GAAP EPS guidance to $3.35 to $3.45, up from a prior $2.30 to $2.50 range. CEO Antonio Neri framed it plainly: “HPE delivered an exceptional quarter with record-breaking revenue, higher-than-anticipated profitability, and increased free cash flow.”
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The stock is up 90.1% since March 31, 2026 and 126.21% over one year. Yet our model still flags 16.09% base case upside to $53.31, the analyst target sits at $64.13, and composite sentiment reads bullish at 69.26. Screens as a Buy, and Elliott’s involvement is far from finished.
The Takeaway Singer’s five-name book is a spectrum, not a basket. HPE and TFPM screen as buys with real modeled upside. Phillips 66 has run past the activist thesis and now screens as a sell. Suncor and Southwest are compounders that already delivered the easy dollars. If you are trailing Elliott into these names, the sequence matters more than the ticker list. The window on the two still-open trades is not going to stay open forever.
Act now: the analyst who called NVIDIA in 2010 just named his top 10 AI stocks — and Phillips 66 didn't make the cut. Grab the names FREE today.
Momentum investing revolves around the idea of following a stock's recent trend in either direction. In "long context," investors will be essentially be "buying high, but hoping to sell even higher." With this methodology, taking advantage of trends in a stock's price is key; once a stock establishes a course, it is more than likely to continue moving that way. The goal is that once a stock heads down a fixed path, it will lead to timely and profitable trades.
Even though momentum is a popular stock characteristic, it can be tough to define. Debate surrounding which are the best and worst metrics to focus on is lengthy, but the Zacks Momentum Style Score, part of the Zacks Style Scores, helps address this issue for us.
Below, we take a look at CSX (CSX - Free Report) , which currently has a Momentum Style Score of A. We also discuss some of the main drivers of the Momentum Style Score, like price change and earnings estimate revisions.
It's also important to note that Style Scores work as a complement to the Zacks Rank, our stock rating system that has an impressive track record of outperformance. CSX currently has a Zacks Rank of #2 (Buy). Our research shows that stocks rated Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) and #2 (Buy) and Style Scores of "A or B" outperform the market over the following one-month period.
You can see the current list of Zacks #1 Rank Stocks here >>>
Set to Beat the Market? In order to see if CSX is a promising momentum pick, let's examine some Momentum Style elements to see if this freight railroad holds up.
Looking at a stock's short-term price activity is a great way to gauge if it has momentum, since this can reflect both the current interest in a stock and if buyers or sellers have the upper hand at the moment. It's also helpful to compare a security to its industry; this can show investors the best companies in a particular area.
For CSX, shares are up 2.71% over the past week while the Zacks Transportation - Rail industry is up 3.42% over the same time period. Shares are looking quite well from a longer time frame too, as the monthly price change of 11.32% compares favorably with the industry's 7.12% performance as well.
While any stock can see its price increase, it takes a real winner to consistently beat the market. That is why looking at longer term price metrics -- such as performance over the past three months or year -- can be useful as well. Shares of CSX have increased 16.25% over the past quarter, and have gained 50.89% in the last year. In comparison, the S&P 500 has only moved 4.48% and 17.65%, respectively.
Investors should also take note of CSX's average 20-day trading volume. Volume is a useful item in many ways, and the 20-day average establishes a good price-to-volume baseline; a rising stock with above average volume is generally a bullish sign, whereas a declining stock on above average volume is typically bearish. Right now CSX is averaging 12,499,395 shares for the last 20 days..
Earnings OutlookThe Zacks Momentum Style Score also takes into account trends in estimate revisions, in addition to price changes. Please note that estimate revision trends remain at the core of Zacks Rank as well. A nice path here can help show promise, and we have recently been seeing that with CSX.
Over the past two months, 5 earnings estimates moved higher compared to none lower for the full year. These revisions helped boost CSX's consensus estimate, increasing from $1.90 to $1.94 in the past 60 days. Looking at the next fiscal year, 6 estimates have moved upwards while there have been no downward revisions in the same time period.
Bottom LineGiven these factors, it shouldn't be surprising that CSX is a #2 (Buy) stock and boasts a Momentum Score of A. If you're looking for a fresh pick that's set to soar in the near-term, make sure to keep CSX on your short list.
NEW YORK, July 24, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Gross Law Firm issues the following notice to shareholders of Zoetis Inc. (NYSE: ZTS).
Shareholders who purchased shares of ZTS during the class period listed are encouraged to contact the firm regarding possible lead plaintiff appointment. Appointment as lead plaintiff is not required to partake in any recovery.
ALLEGATIONS: The complaint alleges that during the class period, Defendants issued materially false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that: (i) veterinarian prescription growth and adoption of Zoetis’ Librela, a canine pain treatment, were sharply weakening as clinicians became more cautious following FDA safety warnings concerning serious neurological complications in dogs; (ii) Zoetis’ Simparica Trio was losing significant market share to a lower priced competing canine parasiticide with broader indicated use in a slowing overall market; and (iii) Zoetis’ dermatology products, Apoquel and Cytopoint, were losing substantial market share to a newly launched competing canine treatment.
DEADLINE: July 27, 2026 Shareholders should not delay in registering for this class action. Register your information here: https://securitiesclasslaw.com/securities/zoetis-inc-loss-submission-form-2/?id=195836&from=3
NEXT STEPS FOR SHAREHOLDERS: Once you register as a shareholder who purchased shares of ZTS during the timeframe listed above, you will be enrolled in a portfolio monitoring software to provide you with status updates throughout the lifecycle of the case. The deadline to seek to be a lead plaintiff is July 27, 2026. There is no cost or obligation to you to participate in this case.
WHY GROSS LAW FIRM? The Gross Law Firm is a nationally recognized class action law firm, and our mission is to protect the rights of all investors who have suffered as a result of deceit, fraud, and illegal business practices. The Gross Law Firm is committed to ensuring that companies adhere to responsible business practices and engage in good corporate citizenship. The firm seeks recovery on behalf of investors who incurred losses when false and/or misleading statements or the omission of material information by a company lead to artificial inflation of the company's stock. Attorney advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes.
CONTACT:
The Gross Law Firm
15 West 38th Street, 12th floor
New York, NY, 10018
Email: [email protected]
Phone: (646) 453-8903
Corteva, Inc. (CTVA - Free Report) could be a solid choice for investors given its recent upgrade to a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). This rating change essentially reflects an upward trend in earnings estimates -- one of the most powerful forces impacting stock prices.
The sole determinant of the Zacks rating is a company's changing earnings picture. The Zacks Consensus Estimate -- the consensus of EPS estimates from the sell-side analysts covering the stock -- for the current and following years is tracked by the system.
Since a changing earnings picture is a powerful factor influencing near-term stock price movements, the Zacks rating system is very useful for individual investors. They may find it difficult to make decisions based on rating upgrades by Wall Street analysts, as these are mostly driven by subjective factors that are hard to see and measure in real time.
As such, the Zacks rating upgrade for Corteva, Inc. is essentially a positive comment on its earnings outlook that could have a favorable impact on its stock price.
Most Powerful Force Impacting Stock PricesThe change in a company's future earnings potential, as reflected in earnings estimate revisions, has proven to be strongly correlated with the near-term price movement of its stock. That's partly because of the influence of institutional investors that use earnings and earnings estimates for calculating the fair value of a company's shares. An increase or decrease in earnings estimates in their valuation models simply results in higher or lower fair value for a stock, and institutional investors typically buy or sell it. Their transaction of large amounts of shares then leads to price movement for the stock.
Fundamentally speaking, rising earnings estimates and the consequent rating upgrade for Corteva, Inc. imply an improvement in the company's underlying business. Investors should show their appreciation for this improving business trend by pushing the stock higher.
Harnessing the Power of Earnings Estimate RevisionsEmpirical research shows a strong correlation between trends in earnings estimate revisions and near-term stock movements, so it could be truly rewarding if such revisions are tracked for making an investment decision. Here is where the tried-and-tested Zacks Rank stock-rating system plays an important role, as it effectively harnesses the power of earnings estimate revisions.
The Zacks Rank stock-rating system, which uses four factors related to earnings estimates to classify stocks into five groups, ranging from Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) to Zacks Rank #5 (Strong Sell), has an impressive externally-audited track record, with Zacks Rank #1 stocks generating an average annual return of +25% since 1988. You can see the complete list of today's Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here >>>> .
Earnings Estimate Revisions for Corteva, Inc.For the fiscal year ending December 2026, this agriculture is expected to earn $3.76 per share, which is unchanged compared with the year-ago reported number.
Analysts have been steadily raising their estimates for Corteva, Inc.. Over the past three months, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for the company has increased 3.7%.
Bottom LineUnlike the overly optimistic Wall Street analysts whose rating systems tend to be weighted toward favorable recommendations, the Zacks rating system maintains an equal proportion of "buy" and "sell" ratings for its entire universe of more than 4,000 stocks at any point in time. Irrespective of market conditions, only the top 5% of the Zacks-covered stocks get a "Strong Buy" rating and the next 15% get a "Buy" rating. So, the placement of a stock in the top 20% of the Zacks-covered stocks indicates its superior earnings estimate revision feature, making it a solid candidate for producing market-beating returns in the near term.
You can learn more about the Zacks Rank here >>>
The upgrade of Corteva, Inc. to a Zacks Rank #2 positions it in the top 20% of the Zacks-covered stocks in terms of estimate revisions, implying that the stock might move higher in the near term.
2 Canadian Mid-Cap Dividend Payers Energized For GrowthOvintiv NYSE: OVV reported second-quarter 2026 free cash flow of $682 million and cash flow per share of $4.46, with both measures exceeding consensus estimates, according to executives on the company’s earnings call. The company also raised its full-year oil and condensate production outlook after production from its Permian operations surpassed expectations.
President and CEO Brendan McCracken said the company generated more than $1.3 billion in free cash flow during the first half of the year and returned approximately 63% of second-quarter free cash flow to shareholders through share repurchases and its base dividend. Ovintiv expects full-year shareholder returns to exceed 60%, following returns of about 45% year to date.
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Production Guidance Raised on Permian Outperformance Second-quarter oil and condensate production averaged 206,000 barrels per day, above the high end of Ovintiv’s guidance, while total production was 615,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day. Chief Financial Officer Corey Code said the production beat was driven by both new-well productivity and stronger-than-expected base production in the Permian Basin.
The company raised its full-year oil and condensate production guidance to between 210,000 and 212,000 barrels per day. Ovintiv also increased the go-forward Permian oil production run rate to 125,000 barrels per day from 120,000 barrels per day previously, without adding capital spending or drilling activity.
Code said the revised outlook, combined with year-to-date repurchases, represents about 4% oil production growth on a per-share basis. Ovintiv maintained its full-year capital guidance and expects third-quarter capital spending of approximately $575 million, in line with second-quarter spending. Third-quarter total production is expected to average roughly 628,000 BOE per day, including about 208,000 barrels per day of oil and condensate.
Natural gas production came in below guidance during the quarter because of planned Montney plant turnarounds, although Ovintiv said the revenue impact was limited by weak AECO natural gas prices. The company maintained the midpoint of its prior full-year natural gas outlook at 2.05 billion cubic feet per day and increased full-year NGL guidance to about 84,000 barrels per day.
Debt Reduction and Buyback Focus Ovintiv reduced net debt by about $3.4 billion during the quarter, using proceeds from its Anadarko disposition and a portion of free cash flow. Quarter-end net debt stood at $2.995 billion, resulting in a leverage ratio of 0.6 times.
Code said the lower debt balance represented a key milestone for the company, while Fitch upgraded Ovintiv’s credit rating to BBB from BBB low. McCracken said the company views its capital structure as appropriately sized and plans to balance additional debt reduction, share repurchases and smaller land-focused transactions.
During the question-and-answer session, McCracken said Ovintiv sees value in repurchasing shares but does not have a “crystal ball” on commodity prices. He said the company expects its “ground game” acquisitions to be in the low hundreds of millions of dollars range and focused on modest-sized deals in the Permian and Montney.
Operational Technology and Montney Developments Chief Operating Officer Greg Givens attributed Permian outperformance to improved new-well results, base-production optimization and the company’s development approach, which includes co-developing stacked zones from a single pad and timing adjacent development projects to limit pressure depletion.
Givens said Ovintiv has completed approximately 400 Permian wells with surfactant treatments since 2019 and has seen about a 9% improvement in oil productivity compared with wells that did not receive the treatment. The company estimates the surfactants account for roughly half of its productivity uplift over the past several years. Ovintiv said the treatment costs about $100,000 per well.
The company is beginning to evaluate surfactant use in the Montney, where McCracken said it remains in the early stages. Ovintiv also cited the use of AI, automation and its Permian Operations Control Center as contributors to reduced downtime, improved artificial-lift performance and stronger base production.
In the Montney, planned plant turnarounds were completed in the second quarter. Ovintiv said it prioritized production from its most liquids-rich wells during the outages, limiting the effect on condensate volumes. Based on current strip prices, the company expects second-half Montney condensate production of 80,000 to 85,000 barrels per day.
Canadian condensate realizations averaged about $94 per barrel during the quarter, at a premium to WTI, Givens said. Ovintiv also reported that its Montney gas realization was 187% of AECO, supported by physical sales arrangements, financial contracts and approximately $40 million of sulfur revenue. Sulfur, a byproduct from certain Montney gas operations, benefited from historically high prices during the period.
Inventory, Sand Supply and Market Access McCracken said Ovintiv has added more than 3,200 Permian and Montney drilling locations since 2023 at an average cost of $1.4 million per net 10,000-foot location. The company estimates it has nearly 15 years of premium inventory in the Permian and close to 20 years of premium oil inventory in the Montney.
Ovintiv said it has already replaced its planned 2026 drilling locations in both regions through organic additions. In the Permian, the company is evaluating approximately 100,000 acres of Barnett potential on acreage it has held for more than a decade. Givens said Ovintiv has drilled and cored the vertical section of its first Barnett well in Martin County and expects the well to begin production late this year.
In the Montney, Ovintiv said completion speeds have averaged more than 4,900 feet per day year to date, about 20% faster than its 2023 pace. The company recently completed more than 7,000 lateral feet per day in a simul-frac operation and completed Canada’s first 100% domestic wet-sand pad, according to management. Domestic wet sand is roughly 20% less expensive than imported dry sand, the company said, though Ovintiv expects broader adoption to depend on local supply infrastructure and could take until around 2028.
Management also said it continues to diversify its natural-gas pricing away from AECO and Waha. Ovintiv reported total company gas price realizations, including hedging, of $1.99 per Mcf during the quarter, or about 70% of NYMEX pricing.
About Ovintiv (NYSE:OVV)Ovintiv Inc is a North American energy company focused on the exploration, development and production of oil, natural gas and natural gas liquids. Formerly known as Encana Corporation, the company rebranded as Ovintiv in January 2020 and established its headquarters in Denver, Colorado. Ovintiv's upstream portfolio spans multiple unconventional resource plays, reflecting a strategy centered on high-return projects and disciplined capital allocation.
The company's core business activities include the acquisition and development of acreage in major shale basins across the United States and Canada.
This instant news alert was generated by narrative science technology and financial data from MarketBeat in order to provide readers with the fastest reporting and unbiased coverage. Please send any questions or comments about this story to [email protected].
Should You Invest $1,000 in Ovintiv Right Now?Before you consider Ovintiv, you'll want to hear this.
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Shares of Tesla (NASDAQ:TSLA | TSLA Price Prediction) are trading at $308.05 in Friday afternoon action, down 4% on the day and 18% over the past month.
A logo of Blackstone is pictured in Manhattan, New York City, U.S. July 29, 2025. REUTERS/Mike Segar/File Photo Purchase Licensing Rights, opens new tab
SummaryCompaniesBidding for MarineMax has moved into third roundDonerail, Blackstone, Centerbridge among interested partiesInvestment firm Donerail began pushing for a sale last yearNEW YORK, July 24 (Reuters) - Investment firms Blackstone (BX.N), opens new tab and Donerail are among the final bidders to acquire MarineMax (HZO.N), opens new tab, two people familiar with the matter said on Friday, as the recreational yacht retailer explores selling itself.
The two, as well as private equity firm Centerbridge, are in the final round of bidding for the Clearwater, Florida-headquartered company, said the sources who are not permitted to discuss private deliberations.
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MarineMax, which has a market value of around $725 million, caters to a wealthy clientele through its 65 marinas and storage locations and 70 dealerships, mostly in the U.S. It has attracted significant interest at a time the marina business has become a popular investment area.
Donerail began pushing MarineMax to sell itself or replace its chief executive officer last year, intensifying pressure on the company after Levin Capital in 2024 urged management and the board to evaluate strategic alternatives.
Representatives for MarineMax, Blackstone, and Donerail declined to comment. A representative for Centerbridge did not immediately respond to a comment request.
The company has made some changes aimed at addressing concerns of disgruntled investors, including replacing board directors, but has never publicly acknowledged running a sales process including on Thursday when it reported quarterly earnings.
Reuters reported in February that Donerail submitted an all-cash offer which valued MarineMax at around $1 billion. Donerail subsequently raised its offer, while other buyout firms including Blackstone jumped into the mix as the company formally solicited buyer interest from April onwards.
Marinas and superyacht services have seen significant dealmaking in the last 18 months, with investment firms being particularly active.
Lower interest rates have supported high-end consumers' spending on luxury items like yachts even as other economic brackets are forced to tighten their belts.
Blackstone, through its infrastructure arm, bought Safe Harbor Marinas in 2025 for $5.7 billion. Fellow infrastructure investor Stonepeak acquired marina owner and operator Southern Marinas in April.
MarineMax was trading around $33.30 per share around midday on Friday, putting year-to-date gains around 37%. However, it is still trading at roughly half the value of its lifetime high hit in May 2021.
Reporting by Svea Herbst-Bayliss; Editing by David French and Sanjeev Miglani
Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles., opens new tab
Key Takeaways Chipotle is set to report Q2 2026 on July 29, with consensus EPS of 32 cents and revenues of $3.32B.CMG may benefit from Honey Chicken, Cilantro Lime Sauce and stronger Rewards enrollment in Q2.Chipotle likely faces margin pressure from higher avocado, dairy, beef and labor costs in Q2. Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc. (CMG - Free Report) is scheduled to report second-quarter 2026 results on July 29.
CMG’s earnings beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate in each of the trailing four quarters, the average surprise being 2.7%.
Trend in the Estimate Revision of CMGThe Zacks Consensus Estimate for second-quarter earnings per share (EPS) is pegged at 32 cents, indicating a decline of 3% from 33 cents reported in the year-ago quarter.
For revenues, the consensus mark is pegged at $3.32 billion. The metric suggests a rise of 8.4% from the year-ago quarter’s figure.
Let us take a look at how things might have shaped up in the quarter to be reported.
Factors Likely to Shape CMG’s Quarterly ResultsChipotle’s second-quarter performance is likely to have been supported by menu innovation, stronger customer engagement and continued restaurant expansion. The company anticipated comparable restaurant sales growth of approximately 1% in the quarter under review. Menu pricing of about 1.5% and a broadly flat sales mix are also expected to have supported the top line. The return of Chipotle Honey Chicken and continued demand for Cilantro Lime Sauce are likely to have aided transactions and average check.
The refreshed Chipotle Rewards program is expected to have supported customer acquisition, re-engagement and visit frequency. Following the program’s April relaunch, the company recorded a nearly 25% increase in daily enrollments. The continued rollout of high-efficiency equipment is likely to have aided CMG’s performance in the second quarter.
However, elevated input costs are likely to have pressured profitability. Chipotle anticipated cost of sales of approximately 30% of revenues in the quarter to be reported, reflecting mid-single-digit inflation and higher avocado, dairy and beef costs. Labor costs were expected to remain in the low-25% range, with wage inflation in the low-single digits.
Continued investments in technology, personnel and restaurant operations are also likely to have constrained margin expansion in the to-be-reported quarter. Our model predicts second-quarter restaurant-level margins to decline 240 basis points year over year to 25%.
What Our Model Says About CMG StockOur proven model predicts an earnings beat for Chipotle 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 exactly the case here.
Earnings ESP for CMG: Chipotle has an Earnings ESP of +0.84%. You can uncover the best stocks to buy or sell before they’re reported with our Earnings ESP Filter.
Chipotle’s Zacks Rank: The company currently carries a Zacks Rank #3.
Other Stocks With the Favorable CombinationHere are a few other stocks from the Zacks Retail-Wholesale sector, which, according to our model, also have the right combination of elements to post an earnings beat this reporting cycle.
BJ's Restaurants, Inc. (BJRI - Free Report) currently has an Earnings ESP of +7.51% and a Zacks Rank of 2. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.
In the to-be-reported quarter, BJRI’s earnings are expected to decline 10.3%. BJRI’s earnings beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate in three of the trailing four quarters and missed on one occasion, the average surprise being 136%.
Sweetgreen, Inc. (SG - Free Report) has an Earnings ESP of +11.54% and a Zacks Rank of 2 at present.
In the to-be-reported quarter, Sweetgreen’s earnings are expected to register a 35% year-over-year increase. Sweetgreen’s earnings missed estimates in each of the trailing four quarters, the average miss being 42.4%.
The Cheesecake Factory Incorporated (CAKE - Free Report) currently has an Earnings ESP of +2.76% and a Zacks Rank of 3.
In the to-be-reported quarter, Cheesecake Factory’s earnings are expected to register a 0.9% year-over-year increase. CAKE’s earnings surpassed estimates in each of the trailing four quarters, the average surprise being 6.7%.
MEXC, a pioneer in 0-fee digital asset trading, announced the expansion of its Ondo tokenized stock offerings as part of its collaboration with Ondo Finance, with the addition of four new tokenized U.S. stocks spanning AI infrastructure and mining companies. The latest additions broaden users’ access to some of today’s most closely watched investment themes.
The trading pairs include tokenized shares of Cloudflare, Inc. (NETON/USDT), MaxLinear, Inc. (MXLON/USDT), GlobalFoundries Inc. (GFSON/USDT), and First Majestic Silver Corp. (AGON/USDT). All four pairs went live for spot trading at 13:30 on July 23, 2026 (UTC), with withdrawals set to open at 13:30 on July 24, 2026 (UTC).
Ondo brings traditional financial assets on-chain through compliant infrastructure, giving users access to U.S. stocks and ETFs in a blockchain-native format. Each tokenized asset is backed by the corresponding underlying security held through regulated custodial brokers, allowing users to purchase fractional amounts and giving holders the same economic exposure as the underlying stock, with dividends automatically reflected in token value.
The latest expansion further strengthens MEXC’s growing U.S. stock investment ecosystem. Together with Pre-IPO opportunities, stock futures, tokenized stock offerings, and RealStocks, which enables eligible users to invest in real U.S. stocks and ETFs through a licensed securities broker partner, MEXC provides multiple pathways to access U.S. stock markets within a single platform. By bringing these investment opportunities, MEXC continues to simplify access to global markets while advancing its vision as the Gateway to Infinite Opportunities.
About MEXC
MEXC is the world’s fastest-growing cryptocurrency exchange, trusted by more than 40 million users across 170+ markets. Built on a user-first philosophy, MEXC offers industry-leading 0-fee trading and access to over 3,000 digital assets. As the Gateway to Infinite Opportunities, MEXC provides a single platform where users can easily trade cryptocurrencies alongside tokenized assets, including stocks, ETFs, commodities, and precious metals.
MEXC Official Website｜ X ｜ Telegram ｜How to Sign Up on MEXC
Risk Disclaimer:
This content does not constitute investment advice. Given the highly volatile nature of the cryptocurrency market, investors are encouraged to carefully assess market fluctuations, project fundamentals, and potential financial risks before making any trading decisions.
BALA CYNWYD, Pa., July 24, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Brodsky & Smith reminds investors of the following investigations. If you own shares and wish to discuss the investigation, contact Jason Brodsky ([email protected]) or Marc Ackerman ([email protected]) at 855-576-4847. There is no cost or financial obligation to you.
Momentum investing revolves around the idea of following a stock's recent trend in either direction. In "long context," investors will be essentially be "buying high, but hoping to sell even higher." With this methodology, taking advantage of trends in a stock's price is key; once a stock establishes a course, it is more than likely to continue moving that way. The goal is that once a stock heads down a fixed path, it will lead to timely and profitable trades.
Even though momentum is a popular stock characteristic, it can be tough to define. Debate surrounding which are the best and worst metrics to focus on is lengthy, but the Zacks Momentum Style Score, part of the Zacks Style Scores, helps address this issue for us.
Below, we take a look at PBF Energy (PBF - Free Report) , a company that currently holds a Momentum Style Score of A. We also talk about price change and earnings estimate revisions, two of the main aspects of the Momentum Style Score.
It's also important to note that Style Scores work as a complement to the Zacks Rank, our stock rating system that has an impressive track record of outperformance. PBF Energy currently has a Zacks Rank of #1 (Strong Buy). Our research shows that stocks rated Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) and #2 (Buy) and Style Scores of "A or B" outperform the market over the following one-month period.
You can see the current list of Zacks #1 Rank Stocks here >>>
Set to Beat the Market? In order to see if PBF is a promising momentum pick, let's examine some Momentum Style elements to see if this refiner holds up.
Looking at a stock's short-term price activity is a great way to gauge if it has momentum, since this can reflect both the current interest in a stock and if buyers or sellers have the upper hand at the moment. It is also useful to compare a security to its industry, as this can help investors pinpoint the top companies in a particular area.
For PBF, shares are up 18% over the past week while the Zacks Oil and Gas - Refining and Marketing industry is up 9.82% over the same time period. Shares are looking quite well from a longer time frame too, as the monthly price change of 46.49% compares favorably with the industry's 20.2% performance as well.
While any stock can see a spike in price, it takes a real winner to consistently outperform the market. Shares of PBF Energy have increased 42.87% over the past quarter, and have gained 165.54% in the last year. In comparison, the S&P 500 has only moved 4.48% and 17.65%, respectively.
Investors should also take note of PBF's average 20-day trading volume. Volume is a useful item in many ways, and the 20-day average establishes a good price-to-volume baseline; a rising stock with above average volume is generally a bullish sign, whereas a declining stock on above average volume is typically bearish. Right now PBF is averaging 3,021,517 shares for the last 20 days..
Earnings OutlookThe Zacks Momentum Style Score encompasses many things, including estimate revisions and a stock's price movement. Investors should note that earnings estimates are also significant to the Zacks Rank, and a nice path here can be promising. We have recently been noticing this with PBF.
Over the past two months, 4 earnings estimates moved higher compared to none lower for the full year. These revisions helped boost PBF's consensus estimate, increasing from $6.99 to $10.94 in the past 60 days. Looking at the next fiscal year, 5 estimates have moved upwards while there have been no downward revisions in the same time period.
Bottom LineGiven these factors, it shouldn't be surprising that PBF is a #1 (Strong Buy) stock and boasts a Momentum Score of A. If you're looking for a fresh pick that's set to soar in the near-term, make sure to keep PBF Energy on your short list.
Have you been searching for a stock that might be well-positioned to maintain its earnings-beat streak in its upcoming report? It is worth considering Permian Resources (PR - Free Report) , which belongs to the Zacks Oil and Gas - Exploration and Production - United States industry.
When looking at the last two reports, this company has recorded a strong streak of surpassing earnings estimates. The company has topped estimates by 17.39%, on average, in the last two quarters.
For the last reported quarter, Permian Resources came out with earnings of $0.39 per share versus the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $0.38 per share, representing a surprise of 2.63%. For the previous quarter, the company was expected to post earnings of $0.28 per share and it actually produced earnings of $0.37 per share, delivering a surprise of 32.14%.
Price and EPS Surprise
Thanks in part to this history, there has been a favorable change in earnings estimates for Permian Resources lately. In fact, the Zacks Earnings ESP (Expected Surprise Prediction) for the stock is positive, which is a great indicator of an earnings beat, particularly when combined with its solid Zacks Rank.
Our research shows that stocks with the combination of a positive Earnings ESP and a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) or better produce a positive surprise nearly 70% of the time. In other words, if you have 10 stocks with this combination, the number of stocks that beat the consensus estimate could be as high as seven.
The Zacks Earnings ESP compares the Most Accurate Estimate to the Zacks Consensus Estimate for the quarter; the Most Accurate Estimate is a version of the Zacks Consensus whose definition is related to change. The idea here is that analysts revising their estimates right before an earnings release have the latest information, which could potentially be more accurate than what they and others contributing to the consensus had predicted earlier.
Permian Resources currently has an Earnings ESP of +0.77%, which suggests that analysts have recently become bullish on the company's earnings prospects. This positive Earnings ESP when combined with the stock's Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) indicates that another beat is possibly around the corner. We expect the company's next earnings report to be released on August 5, 2026.
When the Earnings ESP comes up negative, investors should note that this will reduce the predictive power of the metric. But, a negative value is not indicative of a stock's earnings miss.
Many companies end up beating the consensus EPS estimate, but that may not be the sole basis for their stocks moving higher. On the other hand, some stocks may hold their ground even if they end up missing the consensus estimate.
Because of this, it's really important to check a company's Earnings ESP ahead of its quarterly release to increase the odds of success. Make sure to utilize our Earnings ESP Filter to uncover the best stocks to buy or sell before they've reported.
A month has gone by since the last earnings report for Jefferies (JEF - Free Report) . Shares have added about 5.6% in that time frame, outperforming the S&P 500.
But investors have to be wondering, will the recent positive trend continue leading up to its next earnings release, or is Jefferies due for a pullback? Before we dive into how investors and analysts have reacted as of late, let's take a quick look at the most recent earnings report in order to get a better handle on the important catalysts.
Jefferies Q2 Earnings Miss Estimates Despite Record IB PerformanceJefferies’ second-quarter fiscal 2026 (ended May 31) adjusted earnings per share from continuing operations of $1.03 missed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.09. However, the bottom line increased significantly from the prior-year quarter.
Results were primarily aided by record IB advisory and underwriting net revenues, as well as record equities net revenues. However, a rise in expenses hurt the results to an extent.
Net earnings attributable to common shareholders (GAAP) increased significantly year over year from $88 million to $226.2 million.
Revenues Improve, Expenses RiseQuarterly net revenues were $2.21 billion, up 35% from the prior-year quarter. The top line marginally missed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $2.22 billion.
Total non-interest expenses were $1.89 billion, up 26.1% from the year-ago quarter. The rise was due to an increase in almost all cost components, except for depreciation and amortization costs, cost of sales, and other expenses.
As of May 31, 2026, book value per common share was $51.95, up from $49.96 as of May 31, 2025. Furthermore, adjusted tangible book value per fully diluted share increased from $32.84 to $34.55.
Quarterly Segment PerformanceInvestment Banking & Capital Markets: Total Net revenues were $2.01 billion, rising 36.4% from the prior-year quarter. Investment Banking net revenues were $1.21 billion, up 57.5% year over year, driven by higher advisory and equity underwriting revenues, while debt underwriting remained solid but declined year over year. Capital Markets net revenues were $799.3 million, up 13.5%, driven by increases in both Equities and Fixed Income net revenues.
Asset Management: Net revenues were $187.7 million, up 21.4% from the year-ago quarter. Asset management fees and revenues, as well as investment return, declined year over year, but other investments, inclusive of net interest, increased.
Balance Sheet SolidAs of May 31, 2026, total assets were $79.54 billion, up from $74.38 billion as of Feb. 28, 2026, while total shareholders’ equity was $10.57 billion, down modestly from $10.61 billion.
The leverage ratio was 7.5 compared with 6.5 in the prior-year quarter, and the tangible gross leverage ratio was 9.0 compared with 7.9.
Return on adjusted tangible shareholders’ equity was 12.8%, up from 5.5% in the prior-year quarter.
Share Repurchase UpdateIn the reported quarter, Jefferies repurchased 4 million common shares for $197 million, at an average price of $49.83 per share.
How Have Estimates Been Moving Since Then?In the past month, investors have witnessed a downward trend in fresh estimates.
The consensus estimate has shifted -8.9% due to these changes.
VGM ScoresCurrently, Jefferies has a strong Growth Score of A, though it is lagging a lot on the Momentum Score front with an F. However, the stock has a grade of B on the value side, putting it in the top 40% for this investment strategy.
Overall, the stock has an aggregate VGM Score of B. If you aren't focused on one strategy, this score is the one you should be interested in.
OutlookEstimates have been broadly trending downward for the stock, and the magnitude of these revisions indicates a downward shift. Notably, Jefferies has a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). We expect an in-line return from the stock in the next few months.
US Dollar Talking Points: The US Dollar retains a bullish look from weekly, daily and four-hour charts and next week brings the FOMC, which helped to fire the current rally back in June when they sounded more hawkish than expected. Next week also brings the BoE and BoJ, and USD/JPY has been a large component of that USD breakout of late as the pair has pushed to fresh 40-year highs.
US Dollar The FOMC rate decision in June is what finally helped USD bulls to take a big step forward and from the weekly chart, that move is still quite evident although it started to stall shortly after running into the Fibonacci level at 101.80.
Since then, the pullback retained structure as shown by a bull flag formation, and that led into topside breakout this week after the European Central Bank rate decision.
US Dollar Daily Chart Chart prepared by James Stanley; data derived from Tradingview USD Shorter-Term Going into next week we have a bullish short-term trend to go along with that bullish bigger picture backdrop and there’s a few different spots to investigate for possible higher-low support in the Dollar. Nearby is the 101.20 and 101 areas, with 100.90, 100.65 and 100.36-100.44 areas.
Of course, as usual, the big question draws down to USD counterparts as the DXY basket is simply a composition of underlying currencies, so for strength themes to continue to play, we’ll likely need to see continued weakness in markets like the Euro or Japanese Yen.
US Dollar Four-Hour Price Chart Chart prepared by James Stanley; data derived from Tradingview USD/JPY
As looked at earlier in the week the Bank of Japan is between a rock and a hard place. It’s difficult to pick between either defending the Yen or supporting growth, especially given the bigger picture for the Japanese economy with a dwindling population and the hangover of decades of deflation and disinflation.
This helps to explain why, to this point, there hasn’t been much more than band aids applied to the matter in the form of interventions which, essentially, have been long opportunities for bulls after the dust has settled.
As we go into next week the BoJ is not expected to hike but I’d be surprised if Ueda doesn’t try to address the matter in some form, as failing to do so could lead to an aggressive continuation of a slide that would force the MoF into action. And that would cost capital in the form of burning finite FX reserves to bid down a move that their own rate policy is encouraging, so more likely from here, at least in my opinion, is we hear Ueda try to sound tough on inflation without doing anything concrete.
The more attractive scenario is if it would be enough to bring a pullback without too much to reverse the trend. Of course, we have the Fed to get through before that so the way that USD markets respond there will have impact to how USD/JPY sets up into the BoJ.
From a technical basis, 162.95 was resistance as an ascending triangle built and it hasn’t yet come in as support, so this would be an ideal area to look for bullish defense. Below that, 161.81 is of note before 160.64 comes into play.
USD/JPY Daily Chart Chart prepared by James Stanley; data derived from Tradingview EUR/USD In the USD video on StoneX coming into this week, I shared my opinion that it was EUR/USD dynamics that would determine USD flows and that’s ended up as the case after the European Central Bank rate decision on Thursday.
That led to a bearish break of the bear flag in the EUR/USD pair which went along with the bullish break of the bull flag in the USD.
For next week, bears have an open door to make a move here as we have a bearish short-term setup and a bearish long-term setup, and that Thursday candle was both a bearish engulf as well as the downside break of the flag formation.
EUR/USD Daily Chart Chart prepared by James Stanley; data derived from Tradingview GBP/USD In the effort of balance, I often try to find something on the other side of the USD especially when there’s so many items pointing in a single direction. I’ve been tracking GBP/USD for USD-weakness setups and while that was attractive in early trade last week, as the pair broke out to a fresh higher-high on the US PPI report, the backdrop since has been unforgiving as USD strength has come roaring back.
For next week, there’s a BoE rate decision and that could be meaningful, particularly if Warsh sounds less hawkish than he did in June. Given the relative weakness in equities there may be reason for him to push in that direction and if that happens, I think GBP/USD could be one of the more attractive spots to look for Dollar weakness.
That said, price action on the four hour is bearish, so bulls have some work to do here if they’re going to turn this into a rally. There has been a bit of stalling around the 1.3300 but it’s 1.3390 that I would like to see come into play in order to set up that theme, after which higher-low potential could create a set up to work with.
GBP/USD Four-Hour Price Chart Chart prepared by James Stanley; data derived from Tradingview --- written by James Stanley, Senior Market Analyst, Global Macro
Momentum investing is all about the idea of following a stock's recent trend, which can be in either direction. In the "long context," investors will essentially be "buying high, but hoping to sell even higher." And for investors following this methodology, taking advantage of trends in a stock's price is key; once a stock establishes a course, it is more than likely to continue moving in that direction. The goal is that once a stock heads down a fixed path, it will lead to timely and profitable trades.
While many investors like to look for momentum in stocks, this can be very tough to define. There is a lot of debate surrounding which metrics are the best to focus on and which are poor quality indicators of future performance. The Zacks Momentum Style Score, part of the Zacks Style Scores, helps address this issue for us.
Below, we take a look at Terreno Realty (TRNO - Free Report) , a company that currently holds a Momentum Style Score of B. We also talk about price change and earnings estimate revisions, two of the main aspects of the Momentum Style Score.
It's also important to note that Style Scores work as a complement to the Zacks Rank, our stock rating system that has an impressive track record of outperformance. Terreno Realty currently has a Zacks Rank of #2 (Buy). Our research shows that stocks rated Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) and #2 (Buy) and Style Scores of "A or B" outperform the market over the following one-month period.
You can see the current list of Zacks #1 Rank Stocks here >>>
Set to Beat the Market? In order to see if TRNO is a promising momentum pick, let's examine some Momentum Style elements to see if this industrial real estate company holds up.
Looking at a stock's short-term price activity is a great way to gauge if it has momentum, since this can reflect both the current interest in a stock and if buyers or sellers have the upper hand at the moment. It's also helpful to compare a security to its industry; this can show investors the best companies in a particular area.
For TRNO, shares are up 8.16% over the past week while the Zacks REIT and Equity Trust - Other industry is up 3.41% over the same time period. Shares are looking quite well from a longer time frame too, as the monthly price change of 10.27% compares favorably with the industry's 2.1% performance as well.
While any stock can see its price increase, it takes a real winner to consistently beat the market. That is why looking at longer term price metrics -- such as performance over the past three months or year -- can be useful as well. Over the past quarter, shares of Terreno Realty have risen 10.52%, and are up 25.91% in the last year. In comparison, the S&P 500 has only moved 4.48% and 17.65%, respectively.
Investors should also pay attention to TRNO's average 20-day trading volume. Volume is a useful item in many ways, and the 20-day average establishes a good price-to-volume baseline; a rising stock with above average volume is generally a bullish sign, whereas a declining stock on above average volume is typically bearish. TRNO is currently averaging 1,109,706 shares for the last 20 days.
Earnings OutlookThe Zacks Momentum Style Score encompasses many things, including estimate revisions and a stock's price movement. Investors should note that earnings estimates are also significant to the Zacks Rank, and a nice path here can be promising. We have recently been noticing this with TRNO.
Over the past two months, 2 earnings estimates moved higher compared to none lower for the full year. These revisions helped boost TRNO's consensus estimate, increasing from $2.79 to $2.81 in the past 60 days. Looking at the next fiscal year, 2 estimates have moved upwards while there have been no downward revisions in the same time period.
Bottom LineTaking into account all of these elements, it should come as no surprise that TRNO is a #2 (Buy) stock with a Momentum Score of B. If you've been searching for a fresh pick that's set to rise in the near-term, make sure to keep Terreno Realty on your short list.
Key Takeaways Crocs brand, DTC and international growth are expected to support second-quarter sales and earnings.HEYDUDE faces continued pressure from weak U.S. demand, tariffs and wholesale channel resets.CROX's earnings outlook is tempered by a Sell Rank despite attractive valuation and recent share gains. Crocs, Inc. (CROX - Free Report) is scheduled to release second-quarter 2026 results on July 30, before market open. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for revenues is pegged at $1.2 billion, indicating a drop of 0.2% from the prior-year figure.
The consensus estimate for earnings per share has risen a couple of cents in the past seven days to $4.32. The estimate indicates a rise of 2.1% from the year-ago period’s number.
The Broomfield, CO-based company has a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 13.6%, on average. In the last reported quarter, its bottom line surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 7.6%.
Key Factors to Note Ahead of CROX’s ResultsCrocs’ quarterly results are likely to reflect gains from brand strength, consumer demand and the strength of its core product categories, including clogs and sandals. The company has consistently performed well in these segments, supported by effective pricing strategies and strong brand appeal. Its personalization engine, particularly the Jibbitz business, has also shown steady growth.
Additionally, Crocs' solid performance in its direct-to-consumer (DTC) channel and international division is expected to have further offered a boost. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for the company’s DTC and international revenues is currently pegged at $646 million and $546 million, respectively, showing corresponding increases of 10.4% and 8.8% from the year-ago period.
However, the company has been witnessing persistent softness in its HEYDUDE brand, which, coupled with a tough macroeconomic environment, is likely to have negatively impacted sales. Crocs’ HEYDUDE brand continues to face headwinds, with softness due to cautious U.S. consumer, elevated tariffs and wholesale channel pressures. The brand is navigating a prolonged reset in North America, marked by incremental inventory returns, wholesale cleanups and a pullback in performance marketing to improve profitability.
On its last earnings call, management had expected revenues to fall slightly year over year at currency rates as of April 27, 2026, with the Crocs brand up 1-3% and HEYDUDE down 14-12% from the second-quarter 2025 actuals. It had anticipated adjusted operating margin of 24.7% and adjusted earnings of $4.15-$4.35 per share. The consensus mark for the company’s HEYDUDE brand’s revenues is currently pegged at $167 million, indicating a decline of 12.1% from the year-ago period.
What Our Zacks Model Unveils for CrocsOur proven model does not conclusively predict an earnings beat for Crocs this season. The combination of a positive Earnings ESP and a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), 2 (Buy) or 3 (Hold) increases the odds of an earnings beat. But that’s not the case here. You can uncover the best stocks before they’re reported with our Earnings ESP Filter.
Crocs currently has an Earnings ESP of -0.12% and a Zacks Rank #4 (Sell).
CROX’s Valuation PictureFrom a valuation perspective, Crocs offers an attractive opportunity, trading at a discount relative to the historical and industry benchmarks. With a forward 12-month price-to-earnings ratio of 9.6X, which is below the five-year high of 21.6X and the Textile - Apparel industry’s average of 15.7X, the stock offers compelling value for investors seeking exposure to the sector.
The recent market movements show that Crocs’ shares have gained 29.7% in the past three months compared with the industry's 5.1% growth.
Stocks With the Favorable CombinationHere are some companies, which according to our model, have the right combination of elements to post an earnings beat:
SharkNinja, Inc. (SN - Free Report) currently has an Earnings ESP of +1.29% and a Zacks Rank of 2. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.
SN is likely to register bottom and top-line growth when it reports second-quarter 2026 results. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for its quarterly revenues is pegged at $1.6 billion, indicating a 13.5% increase from the figure reported in the year-ago quarter.
The consensus estimate for SN’s second-quarter earnings is pegged at $1.09 per share, implying 12.4% growth from the year-ago quarter’s actual. The consensus mark has dipped a penny in the past 30 days.
MGM Resorts International (MGM - Free Report) currently has an Earnings ESP of +0.08% and a Zacks Rank of 3. MGM is likely to register a top-line increase when it reports second-quarter 2026 results. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for its quarterly revenues is pegged at $4.5 billion, indicating a 1.5% rise from the figure reported in the year-ago quarter.
The consensus estimate for MGM Resorts’ second-quarter earnings is pegged at 60 cents a share, implying a 24.1% decrease from the year-earlier quarter. The consensus mark has been stable in the past 30 days.
Cintas Corporation (CTAS - Free Report) currently has an Earnings ESP of +0.09% and a Zacks Rank of 3. CTAS is likely to register bottom and top-line growth when it reports first-quarter fiscal 2027 results. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for its quarterly revenues is pegged at $3 billion, indicating 9.2% growth from the figure reported in the year-ago quarter.
The consensus estimate for CTAS first-quarter earnings is pegged at $1.35 a share, implying a 12.5% increase from the year-earlier quarter. The consensus mark has been stable in the past 30 days.
Key Takeaways CROX has outperformed peers recently but faces tariff, margin and HEYDUDE-related growth challenges.Crocs is investing in international expansion, marketing and inventory discipline to support long-term growth.CROX trades below the industry P/E but above its historical median valuation despite recent share gains. Crocs, Inc. (CROX - Free Report) has seen its shares rally 28.1% in the past three months, outperforming the industry’s growth of 5.6%. The stock has also outperformed the broader sector’s 4.7% decline and the S&P 500 Index’s 4% increase over the same period.
CROX Stock’s 3-Month Performance
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
In the past three months, CROX has trailed the performance of Vince Holding Corp. (VNCE - Free Report) while outperforming G-III Apparel Group, Ltd. (GIII - Free Report) and Columbia Sportswear Company (COLM - Free Report) . In the same period, shares of VNCE, GIII and COLM have increased 31.5%, 8.8% and 1%, respectively.
CROX’s Share Price Performance VS Peers
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Closing at $132.47 in the last trading session, CROX stock stands 5.7% below its 52-week high of $140.42 reached on July 17, 2026. CROX is trading above its 50-day simple moving average of $120.99 and its 200-day simple moving average of $95.95, indicating a strong technical setup.
CROX Trades Above 50 & 200-Day SMA
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Crocs Drives Growth Through Global ExpansionCrocs remains optimistic about its international business, expecting strong growth across its international markets for the remainder of the year and seeing a multiyear runway for expansion in key markets. Management highlighted particularly robust performance in Japan and China, noting that both continue to deliver very strong growth and reinforce the company's long-term global opportunity.
To support future growth, the company is also investing in marketing across both brands to drive demand for new product launches. At the same time, Crocs is maintaining a disciplined approach to inventory and supply chain management, using lean inventory levels to improve productivity and enhance financial flexibility.
Crocs Reports Margin Pressure and Weak Brand PerformanceDespite these long-term growth opportunities, the company is facing the impact of the Middle East conflict and expects these impacts to create several challenges for the Crocs brand. Management identified three potential areas of impact: lower revenue from its Middle East distributor business, which has already been incorporated into its annual guidance; higher raw material and transportation costs associated with elevated oil prices; and the possibility of broader macroeconomic disruptions, the extent of which remains uncertain. These factors could create additional headwinds for the business going forward.
The company faced margin pressure in the first quarter of fiscal 2026, with enterprise adjusted gross margin declining 90 basis points year over year to 56.9%. The decrease was primarily driven by a 100-basis-point impact from incremental tariffs, along with an unfavorable product mix. These headwinds were only partially offset by a favorable brand mix, resulting in an overall decline in gross margin in the first quarter.
Crocs reported weaker performance across both of its key brands in the first quarter of fiscal 2026 while continuing to execute initiatives to return both brands to growth. Sales at the Crocs brand declined 2%, while the HEYDUDE brand recorded a steeper 13% decrease. Both brands reported lower adjusted gross margins in the quarter. Adjusted gross margin for the Crocs brand declined 120 basis points to 59.5%, while the HEYDUDE brand experienced a steeper contraction of 210 basis points, bringing its adjusted gross margin to 44.5%.
Crocs issued a cautious outlook, expecting second-quarter revenues to decline slightly at prevailing currency rates, with continued weakness at the HEYDUDE brand and margin pressure from tariffs. For 2026, the company projects muted enterprise revenue growth between down 1% and up 1%, while HEYDUDE is still expected to post a 5% to 7% sales decline despite an improved outlook.
How Estimates Are Shaped Up for CROX?The Zacks Consensus Estimate for CROX’s current quarter earnings per share has been revised up by 2 cents to $4.32 in the past seven days. The consensus mark for the current year earnings per share has been revised down by a penny to $13.66, reflecting a challenging outlook for the year.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
CROX is currently trading at a forward 12-month P/E multiple of 9.29X, lower than the industry average of 15.70X and well below the S&P 500 multiple of 20.80X. However, the stock is trading above its 12-month median P/E of 7.11X, suggesting potential overvaluation relative to its historical valuations.
Crocs’ Valuation Picture
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
How to Play CROX Stock?Although Crocs continues to see attractive long-term opportunities in international markets, the business is facing mounting near-term challenges that could weigh on financial performance and investor sentiment. Weakening brand momentum and pressure on profitability reduce visibility into the pace of any meaningful recovery, while ongoing macroeconomic uncertainties create additional pressures. Given these risks, existing investors may consider reducing exposure, while prospective investors may prefer to remain on the sidelines until there is clearer evidence of sustained improvement in operating performance and a more favorable business environment. At present, CROX carries a Zacks Rank #4 (Sell).
You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
