It doesn't matter your age or experience: taking full advantage of the stock market and investing with confidence are common goals for all investors. Luckily, Zacks Premium offers several different ways to do both.
The popular research service can help you become a smarter, more self-assured investor, giving you access to daily updates of the Zacks Rank and Zacks Industry Rank, the Zacks #1 Rank List, Equity Research reports, and Premium stock screens.
Zacks Premium also includes the Zacks Style Scores.
What are the Zacks Style Scores? Developed alongside the Zacks Rank, the Zacks Style Scores are a group of complementary indicators that help investors pick stocks with the best chances of beating the market over the next 30 days.
Based on their value, growth, and momentum characteristics, each stock is assigned a rating of A, B, C, D, or F. The better the score, the better chance the stock will outperform; an A is better than a B, a B is better than a C, and so on.
The Style Scores are broken down into four categories:
Value ScoreFor value investors, it's all about finding good stocks at good prices, and discovering which companies are trading under their true value before the broader market catches on. The Value Style Score utilizes ratios like P/E, PEG, Price/Sales, Price/Cash Flow, and a host of other multiples to help pick out the most attractive and discounted stocks.
Growth ScoreWhile good value is important, growth investors are more focused on a company's financial strength and health, and its future outlook. The Growth Style Score takes projected and historic earnings, sales, and cash flow into account to uncover stocks that will see long-term, sustainable growth.
Momentum ScoreMomentum trading is all about taking advantage of upward or downward trends in a stock's price or earnings outlook, and these investors live by the saying "the trend is your friend." The Momentum Style Score can pinpoint good times to build a position in a stock, using factors like one-week price change and the monthly percentage change in earnings estimates.
VGM ScoreIf you want a combination of all three Style Scores, then the VGM Score will be your friend. It rates each stock on their combined weighted styles, helping you find the companies with the most attractive value, best growth forecast, and most promising momentum. It's also one of the best indicators to use with the Zacks Rank.
How Style Scores Work with the Zacks Rank A proprietary stock-rating model, the Zacks Rank utilizes the power of earnings estimate revisions, or changes to a company's earnings outlook, to help investors create a successful portfolio.
It's highly successful, with #1 (Strong Buy) stocks producing an unmatched +24% average annual return since 1988. That's more than double the S&P 500. But because of the large number of stocks we rate, there are over 200 companies with a Strong Buy rank, plus another 600 with a #2 (Buy) rank, on any given day.
But it can feel overwhelming to pick the right stocks for you and your investing goals with over 800 top-rated stocks to choose from.
That's where the Style Scores come in.
To maximize your returns, you want to buy stocks with the highest probability of success. This means picking stocks with a Zacks Rank #1 or #2 that also have Style Scores of A or B. If you find yourself looking at stocks with a #3 (Hold) rank, make sure they have Scores of A or B as well to ensure as much upside potential as possible.
Since the Scores were created to work together with the Zacks Rank, the direction of a stock's earnings estimate revisions should be a key factor when choosing which stocks to buy.
Here's an example: a stock with a #4 (Sell) or #5 (Strong Sell) rating, even one with Style Scores of A and B, still has a downward-trending earnings outlook, and a bigger chance its share price will decrease too.
Thus, the more stocks you own with a #1 or #2 Rank and Scores of A or B, the better.
Stock to Watch: CDW (CDW - Free Report) Headquartered in Vernon Hills, IL, CDW Corporation, founded in 1984, provides discrete hardware and software products alongside integrated IT solutions that support mobility, security, data center optimization, cloud computing, virtualization and collaboration environments.
CDW is a #3 (Hold) on the Zacks Rank, with a VGM Score of B.
Momentum investors should take note of this Computer and Technology stock. CDW has a Momentum Style Score of A, and shares are up 19.8% over the past four weeks.
Five analysts revised their earnings estimate higher in the last 60 days for fiscal 2026, while the Zacks Consensus Estimate has increased $0.15 to $10.70 per share. CDW also boasts an average earnings surprise of +3.3%.
With a solid Zacks Rank and top-tier Momentum and VGM Style Scores, CDW should be on investors' short list.
, /PRNewswire/ -- The annual general and special meeting of shareholders of Curaleaf Holdings, Inc. (TSX: CURA) (OTCQX: CURLF) ("Curaleaf" or the "Company"), a leading international provider of consumer products in cannabis, was held today via live webcast online (the "Meeting").
The total number of votes cast by the shareholders in person or represented by proxy at the Meeting was 1,712,387,752 votes (with each subordinate voting share of the Company ("Subordinate Voting Share") entitling the holder thereof to one (1) vote, and each multiple voting share of the Company ("Multiple Voting Share") entitling the holder thereof to fifteen (15) votes).
At the Meeting, among other things, the requisite shareholder approvals were obtained by the Company in respect of the following items:
The proposed amendment (the "Proposed Amendment") to the articles of the Company having the effect of amending the share capital of the Company to remove the automatic conversion feature of the Multiple Voting Shares following the listing of the Subordinate Voting Shares on the Nasdaq Stock Market, New York Stock Exchange or another exchange or other marketplace approved by the board of directors of the Company. The Company expects to file a notice of alteration with the British Columbia Registrar of Companies declaring that the articles of the Company have been amended in accordance with the Proposed Amendment on or about June 23, 2026, the first business day following the Meeting and the date on which the Proposed Amendment will become effective. The implementation of a proposed exchange program whereby up to 10,070,478 of the Company's currently outstanding stock options having an exercise price or subject to performance vesting conditions tied to a trading price per share equal to or exceeding US$5.00 will be exchanged for restricted share units of the Company issued under the Company's 2018 Stock and Incentive Plan, as amended from time to time (the "Option Exchange Program"). The Company expects to implement the Option Exchange Program on or about June 30, 2026. The proposed plan of arrangement (the "Arrangement") under Section 288 of the Business Corporations Act (British Columbia) involving, among other things, the continuation of the Company out of British Columbia, Canada to the State of Delaware in the United States. The Company intends to apply to the Court for a final order approving the Arrangement and declaring that the Arrangement is procedurally and substantively fair and reasonable to the shareholders of the Company (the "Final Order Hearing"). The Final Order Hearing is scheduled for June 25, 2026, at 9:45 a.m. (Vancouver Time) at the Supreme Court of British Columbia, 800 Smithe Street, Vancouver, British Columbia, V6Z 2E1, or as soon thereafter as counsel may be heard, or at any other date and time and by any other method as the Court may direct. At the Meeting, the Proposed Amendment was approved by (i) 97.01% of the votes cast by the holders of Subordinate Voting Shares and Multiple Voting Shares, voting together as a single class, (ii) 83.07% of the votes cast by the holders of Subordinate Voting Shares, voting together as a class, (iii) 100% of the votes cast by the holders of Multiple Voting Shares, voting together as a class, and (iv) 79.66% of the votes cast by holders of Subordinate Voting Shares, excluding the shares held directly or indirectly by Mr. Jordan and any other Shares required to be excluded pursuant to Multilateral Instrument 61-101 – Protection of Minority Security Holders in Special Transactions. The Arrangement was approved by 99.93% of the votes cast by holders of Subordinate Voting Shares and Multiple Voting Shares, voting together as a single class.
In addition, at the Meeting, all seven (7) nominees listed in the Circular were elected as directors of the Company. The detailed results for the election of the directors are as follows:
Percentage of Votes
Name of Director
For (%)
Withheld (%)
Michelle Bodner
99.925 %
0.075 %
Faith Charles
99.909 %
0.091 %
Torsten Greif
99.745 %
0.255 %
Karl Johansson
97.156 %
2.844 %
Boris Jordan
97.360 %
2.640 %
Joseph Lusardi
99.744 %
0.256 %
Shasheen Shah
99.778 %
0.222 %
Additional details on each of the matters voted upon at the Meeting are available in the Company's management information circular dated May 7, 2026 (the "Circular"), as supplemented by the supplement to the Circular dated June 15, 2026, both of which can be found under the Company's profile on SEDAR+ (www.sedarplus.ca) and on EDGAR (https://www.sec.gov/edgar).
The formal report on voting results with respect to all matters voted upon during the Meeting was filed with the applicable securities regulatory authorities and is available on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca and on EDGAR at www.sec.gov/edgar.
About Curaleaf Holdings
Curaleaf Holdings, Inc. (TSX: CURA) (OTCQX: CURLF) is a leading international provider of consumer products in cannabis with a mission to enhance lives by cultivating, sharing and celebrating the power of the plant. As a high-growth cannabis company known for quality, expertise and reliability, the Company and its brands, including Curaleaf, Select, Grassroots, Find, Dark Heart, and Anthem provide industry-leading service, product selection and accessibility across the medical and adult use markets. Curaleaf International is powered by a strong presence in all stages of the supply chain. Its unique distribution network throughout Europe, Canada and Australasia brings together pioneering science and research with cutting-edge cultivation, extraction and production. Curaleaf is listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbol CURA and trades on the OTCQX market under the symbol CURLF. For more information, please visit https://ir.curaleaf.com.
Forward Looking Statements
This media advisory contains forward-looking statements and forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable securities laws. These statements relate to future events or future performance. All statements other than statements of historical fact may be forward–looking statements or information, including statements about the expected effective date for the Proposed Amendment, the implementation of the Option Exchange Program and statements about the Arrangement, including the Final Order Hearing. Generally, forward-looking statements and information may be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "plans", "expects" or "proposed", "is expected", "intends", "anticipates", or "believes", or variations of such words and phrases, or by the use of words or phrases which state that certain actions, events or results may, could, would, or might occur or be achieved. Such forward-looking statements and information reflect management's current beliefs and are based on assumptions made by and information currently available to the company with respect to the matter described in this new release. Forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties, which are based on current expectations as of the date of this release and subject to known and unknown risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such statements. Additional information about these assumptions and uncertainties is contained under "Risk Factors and Uncertainties" in the Company's latest annual information form filed on February 26, 2026, which is available under the Company's SEDAR profile at http://www.sedar.com, and in other filings that the Company has made and may make with applicable securities authorities in the future. Forward-looking statements contained herein are made only as to the date of this press release and we undertake no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law. We caution investors not to place considerable reliance on the forward-looking statements contained in this press release.
The Toronto Stock Exchange has not reviewed, approved or disapproved the content of this news release.
IonQ shares are powering higher. Why is IONQ stock surging? The Catalyst: A Split Market That Favors High Beta StocksOn top of Northland Capital Market’s bullish rating, the S&P 500 is down 0.20% and the Nasdaq is also lower, while the Dow is up 0.35% and the Russell 2000 leads with a 1.16% gain. Market breadth is supportive, with seven sectors advancing and four declining, and an advance to decline ratio of 1.8. That type of backdrop often helps growth oriented small caps attract buyers.
IonQ’s strength is also showing up on a day when the biggest movers are high volatility names such as NXTS up 175.6% and DFTX up 53.8%. That reinforces the idea that traders are leaning into momentum rather than reacting to a specific IonQ headline.
Critical Price Levels To Watch For IONQThe 20-day average is above the 50-day average, and price remains well above the longer-term averages, which usually signals that buyers are still defending dips. The next technical hurdle is whether price can build acceptance above the 20-day line rather than simply touching it and fading.
Key Resistance: $73.50 — A nearby round number and prior pivot zone that has capped rebounds before a move toward the $84.64 52 week high. Key Support: $53.00 — Lines up closely with the 50 day average at $53.10, a common trend support area in rising markets. IonQ Benzinga Edge Score And Momentum AnalysisMomentum: Bullish (Score: 88.8) — IonQ shows strong relative strength compared with the broader market, consistent with its position above key moving averages.
IONQ Shares Are Moving HigherIONQ Price Action: IonQ shares were up 6.98% at $60.50 at the time of publication on Monday, according to Benzinga Pro.
Image: Shutterstock
Market News and Data brought to you by Benzinga APIs
As investors look for opportunities in tech, many have turned to quantum computing. Amid the industry's growth, start-up companies such as IonQ (IONQ 7.14%) have come about to fill specific market niches.
Moreover, quantum has long attracted established tech companies like IBM and Google parent Alphabet. Unlike IonQ, these companies offer investors profits and stability, greatly lowering the risks for investors.
Still, they only derive a relatively small percentage of their revenue from quantum computing and would likely grow at a slower pace than IonQ. Knowing that, IonQ investors have to ask whether buying the pure-play quantum computing stock is worth the risk.
Image source: The Motley Fool.
IonQ's competitive advantages IonQ has stood out in its industry for its innovation. For one, quantum bits, often called qubits, can process data exponentially faster than traditional computer bits, but are highly error-prone. IonQ addresses this through trapped ions, which tend to have lower error rates than the superconducting qubits used by IBM and Google.
Moreover, trapped ions offer all-to-all connectivity. Thus, instead of only communicating with neighboring qubits, as is often the case, it allows for direct communication with any qubit within an ecosystem, greatly reducing overhead.
Furthermore, IonQ focuses on connecting quantum processors instead of merely trying to make processors larger. The company says that this could help systems scale better and avoid bottlenecks, and indeed, such innovations could turn IonQ into an industry powerhouse that greatly enriches its shareholders.
Today's Change
(
-7.14
%) $
-4.13
Current Price
$
53.72
Financial challenges Unfortunately, IonQ's financials remain challenged. Indeed, revenue in the first quarter of 2026 was $65 million, well above the $8 million in the year-ago quarter. Nonetheless, due to its $272 million operating loss in the quarter, IonQ is on track to continue bleeding cash.
IonQ has $2 billion in liquidity, so it has time. Still, given its operating losses, it may have to issue more shares or debt in the foreseeable future.
For now, the stock sells at around 97 times sales, while the S&P 500 average sales multiple is just 3.7. Additionally, at a forward P/S ratio of 79, investors may not be able to count on growth to moderate this valuation quickly.
Also, when compared to IBM or Alphabet, one can see IonQ's risks firsthand. Admittedly, IBM's 9% revenue growth in Q1 or even Alphabet's 22% increase may seem lackluster in comparison.
Still, IBM sells at a P/S ratio of just over 3, while Alphabet sells for less than 11 times sales. With those valuations, investors may choose to trade quantum purity and massive growth for lower risks and more stability.
Most investors should evaluate IonQ stock based on their risk tolerance.
If one has a high risk tolerance and money to bet on speculative investments, IonQ may be worth the risk, as many investors believe that it could be the best quantum computing pure play.
However, IonQ is far from a guaranteed success story, while IBM and Alphabet will probably continue to succeed regardless of what happens with their quantum computing businesses. Thus, risk-averse investors are likely better off passing on IonQ in favor of more stable tech giants.
IRVINE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Advanced Sterilization Products (ASP), part of the Infection Prevention group of companies within Fortive (NYSE: FTV), announced today it has acquired a majority share of UV Smart, a leader in High Level Disinfection technology in Europe.
UV Smart is renowned for its UV-C High Level Disinfection (HLD) technology that enables faster, safer and lower-cost HLD for specialty scopes. “UV Smart’s dedicated customer relationships and highly skilled team are key strengths that align perfectly with ASP’s long-term growth strategy of infection prevention,” shared Daan Hoek, co-founder of UV Smart. He continued, “Where current cleaning & disinfection processes of TEE probes can often take hours, UV Smart’s premier product, the D60, achieves high-level disinfection using UV-C light in just minutes. For healthcare providers, the D60 represents a significant improvement in efficiency and workflow.”
“This acquisition expands ASP’s ability to deliver innovative solutions to customers across Europe and North America,” said Chad Rohrer, President of ASP and Group President, Fortive Infection Prevention Group. “It strengthens ASP’s portfolio while accelerating global adoption of UV Smart’s products. We are pleased to welcome UV Smart to ASP’s clinical solutions portfolio and look forward to building a stronger future together.”
About Advanced Sterilization Products (ASP)
Advanced Sterilization Products (ASP) has a long track record of designing and delivering innovative infection prevention solutions that dramatically raise the level of health care and safety for those who matter most. Our pioneering technology, global distribution and established leadership position enable us to simplify the process of buying and operating infection prevention products and services every day for thousands of medical facilities around the world. This enables our customers to focus on what they do best – preventing infection and saving lives. For more information, please visit www.asp.com.
About UV Smart
UV Smart, a Dutch MedTech Company develops and delivers advanced UV-C products that make healthcare workflows faster, safer, more cost efficient, and more sustainable. The portfolio is specifically aimed at the disinfection of cardiology, gynecology, TEE and ENT equipment respectively, thoughtfully designed and clinically validated. UV Smart now supplies hospitals and clinics in 35 countries. Our dedicated team continuously improves our technology so healthcare facilities of any size can reduce reprocessing time, streamline daily operations, lower costs, and strength traceability while doing what matters most, fighting healthcare-associated infections. For more information about UV Smart, visit https://www.uvsmart.nl.
On June 22, 2026, The Mosaic Co MOS shares fell 3.9% to a current price of $22.00. The stock has experienced a challenging year, with a 1-year decline of 37.3% and a year-to-date drop of 7.0%. The shares have fluctuated between a 52-week high of $38.23 and a low of $19.80.
GF Value™ verdict: Current price of $22.00 is 24.8% below the GF Value™ of $29.25.GF Score™ of 63/100 indicates above-average performance based on various factors.Notable signal: No insider transactions have occurred in the last three months. Is MOS Overvalued or Undervalued? The Mosaic Co MOS currently trades at $22.00, which is significantly below the GF Value™ of $29.25, indicating that the stock is 24.8% undervalued. This presents a potential opportunity for investors looking for value in the market, given the substantial margin of safety. The GF Valuation label classifies the stock as "Modestly Undervalued," suggesting that while there is room for growth, caution is advised due to the overall market conditions and the company’s recent performance.
GF Value™ is GuruFocus' proprietary measure of intrinsic value, calculated from historical trading multiples, past business growth, and future performance estimates. As such, investors may find the current price appealing, but they should also consider the company's financial health and market trends that may influence its future performance.
How Does MOS's Valuation Compare to Its History? Metric Current Historical P/E (TTM) 169.2x 9.2x Forward P/E 29.6x N/A The current P/E ratio of 169.2x is dramatically above its 5-year median P/E of 9.2x, indicating that the stock is trading at a significantly higher valuation compared to its historical norms. This analysis aligns with the GF Value™ verdict, suggesting that while MOS may be undervalued based on intrinsic value, the current P/E ratio reflects a concerning overvaluation relative to historical performance.
What Does MOS's GF Score™ Tell Us? Metric Rating GF Score™ 63 Financial Strength 5/10 Profitability 6/10 Growth 3/10 Valuation 8/10 Momentum 2/10 The GF Score™ of 63/100 indicates above-average performance, particularly in the Valuation category where it scored 8/10, suggesting that the stock is undervalued compared to its intrinsic value. However, the lower scores in Growth (3/10) and Momentum (2/10) highlight potential concerns regarding the company's future growth prospects and recent stock performance. Overall, the mixed scores indicate that while there is value to be found, caution is warranted due to the weaknesses in growth and momentum.
What Are Insiders Doing with MOS Stock? In the last three months, there have been no insider transactions in The Mosaic Co MOS stock. This lack of insider activity may suggest that executives and board members do not view the current price as an attractive entry point or that they are confident in the company's future without needing to adjust their positions. Typically, insider buying can indicate confidence in a company's prospects, while selling may raise red flags, but the absence of transactions leaves a neutral stance on insider sentiment.
What This Means for Investors Based on the GF Value™ assessment, The Mosaic Co MOS is currently undervalued at a price of $22.00 compared to a GF Value™ of $29.25. However, potential investors should remain cautious given the company's recent performance and the high current P/E ratio relative to its historical averages.
For the complete analysis, visit the The Mosaic Co MOS stock page. You can also explore the GF Value™ page for detailed valuation methodology, or use the GuruFocus Stock Screener to find similar opportunities.
Frequently Asked Questions What is MOS's GF Score™?
The GF Score™ for The Mosaic Co MOS is 63/100, indicating above-average performance based on key financial metrics.
Is MOS overvalued or undervalued?
The stock is currently undervalued, trading at $22.00, which is 24.8% below its GF Value™ of $29.25.
What is MOS's P/E ratio?
The P/E (TTM) for MOS is 169.2x, which is significantly above its 5-year median P/E of 9.2x, indicating a concerning valuation compared to its historical performance.
This stock alert was generated using automated technology and GuruFocus financial data to provide readers with timely and accurate market reporting. This content was reviewed by GuruFocus editorial team prior to publication. Please send any questions or comments about this story to [email protected].
Disclosures I/We may personally own shares in some of the companies mentioned above. However, those positions are not material to either the company or to my/our portfolios.
PHOENIX--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Western Alliance Bank today announced that Matthew Leivian has joined as senior managing director of the Institutional Commercial Real Estate Finance team, based in Phoenix, as the bank continues to expand its national CRE lending platform.Leivian will lead a Phoenix-based team focused on building and growing a high-quality institutional loan portfolio. He will originate and structure construction, acquisition, bridge and mini-permanent financing for commercial real est.
The collaboration marks the latest evolution of Sonos' in-car listening experience
SANTA BARBARA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sonos today announced a partnership with Škoda, serving as the audio partner for the brand’s new flagship electric vehicle, Škoda Peaq. As part of the collaboration, Sonos has architected the in-cabin listening experience from the ground up, shaping how music, voice, and entertainment are experienced throughout the vehicle.
“Sonos is built around the idea that sound should move effortlessly through the home. The car is an increasingly natural extension of that — a place where the quality of what people hear matters just as much,” said Sonos CEO Tom Conrad. “As listening flows beyond the front door, this partnership enables us to imagine how the Sonos system can too. We are excited to partner with Škoda to create a truly premium in-car listening experience for the Peaq.”
Available as part of the optional Relax Package, the Sonos premium sound experience was purpose-built for the Peaq — custom-tuned to bring the depth and clarity Sonos is known for into the cabin. Every component was engineered specifically for the vehicle, with sound shaped to reflect what the artist intended. The result is deep, controlled bass, a front-focused soundstage that pulls you into the music, and rich, balanced sound across every seat — all tied together by spatial audio that makes the cabin feel like a space designed for listening.
For more details about the all-new Škoda Peaq featuring the Sonos premium sound system, please visit Škoda storyboard press center.
About Sonos
Sonos (Nasdaq: SONO) is a leading audio company dedicated to elevating life through sound. Sonos has built a connected system that brings together all the sounds people love, from music and movies to stories and conversations. Its portfolio of home theater speakers, components, plug-in and portable speakers, and headphones grows more powerful with every room and device added. Trusted by more than 17 million households in over 60 countries, Sonos is headquartered in Santa Barbara, California. Learn more at www.sonos.com.
Fifth Third Bancorp (FITB - Free Report) could be a solid addition to your portfolio given its recent upgrade to a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). An upward trend in earnings estimates -- one of the most powerful forces impacting stock prices -- has triggered this rating change.
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.
Individual investors often find it hard to make decisions based on rating upgrades by Wall Street analysts, since these are mostly driven by subjective factors that are hard to see and measure in real time. In these situations, the Zacks rating system comes in handy because of the power of a changing earnings picture in determining near-term stock price movements.
As such, the Zacks rating upgrade for Fifth Third Bancorp 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. The influence of institutional investors has a partial contribution to this relationship, as these big professionals use earnings and earnings estimates to calculate 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 bulk investment action then leads to price movement for the stock.
Fundamentally speaking, rising earnings estimates and the consequent rating upgrade for Fifth Third Bancorp 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 Fifth Third BancorpThis company is expected to earn $4.10 per share for the fiscal year ending December 2026, which represents no year-over-year change.
Analysts have been steadily raising their estimates for Fifth Third Bancorp. Over the past three months, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for the company has increased 0.8%.
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 Fifth Third Bancorp 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.
CINCINNATI--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The Fifth Third Foundation has made education programs a top priority since its founding in 1948. To honor students with high achievements, Fifth Third established its Scholarship Program. These one-time $2,500 scholarships are awarded annually to children of Fifth Third employees for educational purposes at college or university. This year's scholarships total $62,500. Nearly 500 students have been recognized since 2005.
“At the Fifth Third Foundation, we know that access to higher education can transform futures and create economic mobility,” said Kala Gibson, chief corporate responsibility officer for Fifth Third. “That’s why we remain dedicated to empowering our employees’ families and helping the next generation grow, learn, and thrive in their personal and professional goals.”
Chosen and administered by the National Merit Scholarship Corp., the Fifth Third Scholarship Program recognizes the academic achievements of the following students, listed with their employee parent or parents and their work location:
Jaidyn Freyn-Angel, Child of Fawn N. Angel, Holiday, Florida Cooper L. Bencurik, Child of William J. Bencurik, Cincinnati, Ohio Katherine Rose Bender, Child of David L. Bender, Cincinnati, Ohio Sarah Bidleman, Child of Beth M. Bidleman, Cincinnati, Ohio Emily Braun, Child of Eric R. Braun, Cincinnati, Ohio Colin Davey, Child of Julie M. Davey, Cincinnati, Ohio Alexa Gola, Child of Jason Gola, Chicago, Illinois Anamitra Gotike, Child of Basamma B. Reddy, Cincinnati, Ohio Lydia Hiller, Child of Jason C. Hiller, Cincinnati, Ohio Alyssa S. Jamoom, Child of Joseph A. Jamoom, Orlando, Florida Rebecca L. Jetton, Child of Casey A. Jetton, Lexington, Kentucky Sanvi Jha, Child of Rashmi Kiran, Cincinnati, Ohio Leah N. Kalan, Child of Kristin M. Kalan, Westerville, Ohio Megan E. Klimowski, Child of John C. Klimowski, Evergreen Park, Illinois Meredith Kojetin, Child of Erica Kojetin, Nashville, Tennessee Rylan Litchfield, Child of Tyler D. Litchfield, Cincinnati, Ohio Paige N. Logan, Child of Audrey Logan, Grand Rapids, Michigan Paxton J. Merz, Child of James A. Merz, Cincinnati, Ohio Reilly Meyer, Child of Justin J. Meyer, Cincinnati, Ohio Varsha Mohan, Child of Brindhaselvi Lokanathan, Cincinnati, Ohio Daniel Peterson, Child of Kimberly A. Peterson, Clarendon Hills, Illinois Julia Sun, Child of Jinghua Cao, Deerfield, Illinois Alyssa A. Uhlman, Child of Todd M. Uhlman, Cincinnati, Ohio Hannah Wang, Child of Suxing Zeng, Cincinnati, Ohio The National Merit Scholarship Corp. is an independent nonprofit organization. The National Merit Scholarship Program was designed to identify and honor exceptionally able high school students, and to provide a system of services for corporations, foundations and other organizations that wish to sponsor college undergraduate scholarships to students who interest them. All aspects of the selection of winners and the administration of their awards are handled by the NMSC.
About the Fifth Third Foundation
Established in 1948, the Fifth Third Foundation was one of the first charitable foundations created by a financial institution. The Fifth Third Foundation supports worthy causes in the areas of health and human services, education, community development and the arts in the states where Fifth Third Bank operates.
About Fifth Third
Fifth Third is a bank that's as long on innovation as it is on history. Since 1858, we've been helping individuals, families, businesses and communities grow through smart financial services that improve lives. Our list of firsts is extensive, and it's one that continues to expand as we explore the intersection of tech-driven innovation, dedicated people and focused community impact. Following the completion of its merger with Comerica in February 2026, Fifth Third is the ninth-largest bank in the United States, with approximately $294 billion in assets and operations spanning 15 states. Fifth Third is one of the few U.S.-based banks to have been named among Ethisphere's World's Most Ethical Companies® for several years. With a commitment to taking care of our customers, employees, communities and shareholders, our goal is to be the one bank people most value and trust.
Fifth Third Bank, National Association is a federally chartered institution. Fifth Third Bancorp is the indirect parent company of Fifth Third Bank, and its common stock is traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol "FITB." Investor information and press releases can be viewed at www.53.com. Deposit and credit products provided by Fifth Third Bank, National Association. Member FDIC.
Joint initiative empowers the next generation with the knowledge and skills to achieve lasting financial wellbeing and independence
LONDON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Global analytics software leader FICO (NYSE: FICO) brought its financial literacy mission to the U.K. for the first time through its partnership with Chelsea Foundation, building on its three-year relationship with Chelsea FC. A leader in financial education, FICO empowers consumers with knowledge and tools to better understand and manage their financial health.
FICO brought its financial literacy mission to the U.K. for the first time through its partnership with Chelsea Foundation, building on its three-year relationship with Chelsea FC.
ShareTogether, FICO and Chelsea Foundation harnessed the universal appeal of soccer to bring financial education to life for UK teens. Through this partnership, FICO and the Chelsea Foundation hosted their inaugural financial literacy event at Stamford Bridge on June 12th. The first of three events hosted 175 students. As part of the program, students worked in teams to learn how to manage a professional soccer club with a budget and balance sheet. FICO volunteers were on-site to assist students as they learned to manage operational costs, player salaries, expenses, and more.
The day concluded with financial strategy presentations to a panel of judges. Judges scored teams on financial decisions, teamwork, and communication, selecting top teams from each school. The afternoon culminated in a celebration where students toured the iconic Stamford Bridge stadium and met Chelsea FC Legend Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink.
Mariel Zelhart, Head of Philanthropic Partnerships, Chelsea Foundation, commented: "We are delighted to partner with FICO to provide young people with valuable financial education in such an engaging and memorable way.
"At Chelsea Foundation, we are committed to creating opportunities that help young people develop the skills, knowledge, and confidence they need to thrive both now and in the future. Combining football with practical financial learning helps students to build a stronger understanding of money management, teamwork, and decision-making. We look forward to continuing our work with FICO and seeing the positive impact this partnership will have on the young people across our communities.”
The partnership between FICO and Chelsea Foundation builds on FICO's existing relationship with Chelsea FC. Together, they are extending that commitment beyond the pitch — bringing financial literacy education to UK youth and demonstrating the powerful role that understanding credit and personal finance plays in helping people achieve lasting financial wellbeing.
“Financial literacy is one of the most powerful tools we can give young people, yet millions of youth around the world still lack access to basic financial education,” said Rukiya Kelly, Global Head of Corporate Impact. “We take great pride in partnering with an organization as impactful as Chelsea Foundation. Together, we are broadening access to personal finance education, closing the knowledge gap, and empowering the next generation to build stronger financial futures.”
For more information about FICO’s credit empowerment programs across the globe, visit: https://www.fico.com/empowerment.
About FICO
FICO (NYSE: FICO) powers decisions that help people and businesses around the world prosper. Founded in 1956, the company is a pioneer in the use of predictive analytics and data science to improve operational decisions. FICO holds more than 200 US and foreign patents on technologies that increase profitability, customer satisfaction and growth for businesses in financial services, insurance, telecommunications, health care, retail and many other industries. Using FICO solutions, businesses in more than 80 countries do everything from protecting 4 billion payment cards from fraud, to improving financial inclusion, to increasing supply chain resiliency. The FICO® Score, used by 90% of top US lenders, is the standard measure of consumer credit risk in the US and has been made available in over 40 other countries, improving risk management, credit access and transparency. Learn more at www.fico.com.
Learn more at https://www.fico.com.
Join the conversation at https://x.com/FICO_corp & https://www.fico.com/blogs/.
For FICO news and media resources, visit https://www.fico.com/newsroom.
FICO is a registered trademark of Fair Isaac Corporation in the U.S. and other countries.
About Chelsea Foundation
Chelsea Foundation: Where pride in our club becomes impact in our community.
We believe in the power of our club, our fans and our partners to bring people together, create healthier lives and shape brighter futures. We harness the passion, energy, resources and excellence of Chelsea FC to help tackle key issues and create opportunities in our local areas. Delivering across our three pillars of wellbeing, community and futures, we recognise the challenges many people face around our club’s footprint, and we’re determined to make a difference.
We focus on proactive grant giving, partner initiatives, and delivering impact where it matters most. Through our work with the Chelsea Players’ Trust, we also support the players who created our legacy. Founded in 2010, the Chelsea Foundation builds on the club’s history and positive impact in our community.
Global analytics software leader FICO (NYSE: FICO) brought its financial literacy mission to the U.K. for the first time through its partnership with Chelsea Foundation, building on its three-year relationship with Chelsea FC. A leader in financial education, FICO empowers consumers with knowledge and tools to better understand and manage their financial health.
Together, FICO and Chelsea Foundation harnessed the universal appeal of soccer to bring financial education to life for UK teens. Through this partnership, FICO and the Chelsea Foundation hosted their inaugural financial literacy event at Stamford Bridge on June 12th. The first of three events hosted 175 students. As part of the program, students worked in teams to learn how to manage a professional soccer club with a budget and balance sheet. FICO volunteers were on-site to assist students as they learned to manage operational costs, player salaries, expenses, and more.
The day concluded with financial strategy presentations to a panel of judges. Judges scored teams on financial decisions, teamwork, and communication, selecting top teams from each school. The afternoon culminated in a celebration where students toured the iconic Stamford Bridge stadium and met Chelsea FC Legend Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink.
Mariel Zelhart, Head of Philanthropic Partnerships, Chelsea Foundation, commented: "We are delighted to partner with FICO to provide young people with valuable financial education in such an engaging and memorable way.
"At Chelsea Foundation, we are committed to creating opportunities that help young people develop the skills, knowledge, and confidence they need to thrive both now and in the future. Combining football with practical financial learning helps students to build a stronger understanding of money management, teamwork, and decision-making. We look forward to continuing our work with FICO and seeing the positive impact this partnership will have on the young people across our communities.”
The partnership between FICO and Chelsea Foundation builds on FICO's existing relationship with Chelsea FC. Together, they are extending that commitment beyond the pitch — bringing financial literacy education to UK youth and demonstrating the powerful role that understanding credit and personal finance plays in helping people achieve lasting financial wellbeing.
“Financial literacy is one of the most powerful tools we can give young people, yet millions of youth around the world still lack access to basic financial education,” said Rukiya Kelly, Global Head of Corporate Impact. “We take great pride in partnering with an organization as impactful as Chelsea Foundation. Together, we are broadening access to personal finance education, closing the knowledge gap, and empowering the next generation to build stronger financial futures.”
For more information about FICO’s credit empowerment programs across the globe, visit: https://www.fico.com/empowerment.
About FICO
FICO (NYSE: FICO) powers decisions that help people and businesses around the world prosper. Founded in 1956, the company is a pioneer in the use of predictive analytics and data science to improve operational decisions. FICO holds more than 200 US and foreign patents on technologies that increase profitability, customer satisfaction and growth for businesses in financial services, insurance, telecommunications, health care, retail and many other industries. Using FICO solutions, businesses in more than 80 countries do everything from protecting 4 billion payment cards from fraud, to improving financial inclusion, to increasing supply chain resiliency. The FICO® Score, used by 90% of top US lenders, is the standard measure of consumer credit risk in the US and has been made available in over 40 other countries, improving risk management, credit access and transparency. Learn more at www.fico.com.
Learn more at https://www.fico.com.
Join the conversation at https://x.com/FICO_corp & https://www.fico.com/blogs/.
For FICO news and media resources, visit https://www.fico.com/newsroom.
FICO is a registered trademark of Fair Isaac Corporation in the U.S. and other countries.
About Chelsea Foundation
Chelsea Foundation: Where pride in our club becomes impact in our community.
We believe in the power of our club, our fans and our partners to bring people together, create healthier lives and shape brighter futures. We harness the passion, energy, resources and excellence of Chelsea FC to help tackle key issues and create opportunities in our local areas. Delivering across our three pillars of wellbeing, community and futures, we recognise the challenges many people face around our club’s footprint, and we’re determined to make a difference.
We focus on proactive grant giving, partner initiatives, and delivering impact where it matters most. Through our work with the Chelsea Players’ Trust, we also support the players who created our legacy. Founded in 2010, the Chelsea Foundation builds on the club’s history and positive impact in our community.
Learn more: chelseafoundation.chelseafc.com
View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260623898820/en/
Balances return to record high as spend increases and repayments fall, suggesting inflation and energy prices are hitting hard
LONDON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--New credit card data analysis by global analytics software leader FICO (NYSE: FICO) has found that spending rose in April, following typical Easter behaviour. However, we are seeing a strong trend downwards with the percentage of balance being paid, and this is driving up overall balances. The percentage of balance paid fell for the third month in a row and late payments increased year-on-year, balances returned to record high levels. This marks a notable shift from the improvements seen in 2025 for the percentage of customers missing payments. In April, there was the biggest increase in consumers missing three payments. Household budgets are clearly showing the strain from persistent inflation and the current fallout from volatile global energy prices.
The percentage of balance paid fell for the third month in a row and late payments increased year-on-year, balances returned to record high levels.
Share Highlights
Spending rose 10% month-on-month, reaching an average of £815 Average active balances increased 1.3% month-on-month to £1,950, matching the record high reached in December 2025 The percentage of overall balance paid decreased 1.4% month-on-month to 32.6%, continuing the downward trend that has persisted since 2025 and approaching the pre-pandemic average of 30% The percentage of customers missing two payments rose 1.9% month-on-month and 16.3% year-on-year The percentage of customers missing three payments also increased month-on-month by 6.2% and 17.3% year-on-year – the most significant annual deterioration seen across any delinquency category Balances on accounts with missed payments were higher across all delinquency categories than the same month last year Overlimit accounts increased sharply, by 14.1% month-on-month and 4.6% year-on-year FICO Comment:
April 2026 presents a mixed but broadly concerning picture for lenders. With consumer spending rising, but repayments falling, more customers have fallen into arrears and gone over their credit limit.
The monthly growth in spending does not go far enough to rise above 2025 levels, suggesting that any improvements are likely to be seasonal rather than a sign of stronger financial health. And with average balances now matching the record high from December 2025, it is clear that consumers are carrying more debt in 2026.
Despite the slight month-on-month improvement in the number of accounts with one missed payment after a spike in March, the figure remains 4.9% higher year on year. And those customers who are missing payments for the first time are doing so with a higher level of debt than a year ago, with average balance for accounts with one missed payment rising by 6.7% year-on-year to £2,480.
The picture for late payments is particularly concerning for those missing multiple payments. The percentage of accounts with two and three missed payments has grown more sharply. And average balances for two and three missed payments are 0.5% and 3.4% higher than 2025, at £2,855 and £3,325, respectively.
The other signal of weakened affordability is the number of overlimit accounts, which increased sharply by 14.1% month-on-month, and 4.6% year-on-year. Average overlimit spending of £95 represents a 5.9% drop on March but remains 5.5% higher than the previous year.
With seasonal spending increases likely to put further pressure on already stretched affordability levels, risk managers should prioritise proactive pre-delinquency intervention strategies and enhanced early warning monitoring ahead of the summer.
Key Trend Indicators – UK Cards April 2026
Metric
Amount
Month-on-Month Change
Year-on-Year Change
Average UK Credit Card Spend
£815
+10.0%
-1.3%
Average Card Balance
£1,950
+1.3%
+4.1%
Percentage of Payments to Balance
32.6%
-1.4%
-4.1%
Accounts with One Missed Payment
1.4%
-19.5%
+4.9%
Accounts with Two Missed Payments
0.4%
+1.9%
+16.3%
Accounts with Three Missed Payments
0.2%
+6.2%
+17.3%
Average Credit Limit
£5,960
+0.2%
+2.0%
Average Overlimit Spend
£95
-5.9%
+5.5%
Cash Sales as a % of Total Sales
0.8%
+2.4%
-0.9%
Source: FICO
These card performance figures are part of the data shared with subscribers of the FICO® Benchmark Reporting Service. The data sample comes from client reports generated by the FICO® TRIAD® Customer Manager solution in use by some 80% of UK card issuers. For more information on these trends, contact FICO.
About FICO
FICO (NYSE: FICO) powers decisions that help people and businesses around the world prosper. Founded in 1956, the company is a pioneer in the use of predictive analytics and data science to improve operational decisions. FICO holds more than 200 US and foreign patents on technologies that increase profitability, customer satisfaction and growth for businesses in financial services, insurance, telecommunications, health care, retail and many other industries. Using FICO solutions, businesses in more than 80 countries do everything from protecting 4 billion payment cards from fraud, to improving financial inclusion, to increasing supply chain resiliency. The FICO® Score, used by 90% of top US lenders, is the standard measure of consumer credit risk in the US and has been made available in over 40 other countries, improving risk management, credit access and transparency. Learn more at www.fico.com.
FICO and TRIAD are registered trademarks of Fair Isaac Corporation in the United States and other countries.
TORONTO, June 23, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- E Split Corp. (TSX: ENS and ENS.PR.A) (the “Fund”) is pleased to announce that a distribution for June 2026 will be payable to Class A shareholders as follows:
Record DatePayable DateDistribution Per Equity ShareJune 30, 2026July 15, 2026$0.14
The Fund also announces the second quarter distribution of 2026 will be payable to preferred shareholders as follows:
Record DatePayable DateDistribution Per Preferred ShareJune 30, 2026July 15, 2026$0.175
The equity and preferred shares both trade on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the respective symbols ENS and ENS.PR.A.
For further information, please visit our website at www.middlefield.com or contact our Sales and Marketing Department at 1.888.890.1868.
This press release contains forward-looking information. The forward-looking information contained in this press release is based on historical information concerning distributions and dividends paid on the securities of issuers historically included in the portfolio of the Fund. Actual future results, including the amount of distributions paid by the Fund, may differ from the monthly distribution amount. Specifically, the income from which distributions are paid may vary significantly due to: changes in portfolio composition; changes in distributions and dividends paid by issuers of securities included in the Fund’s portfolio from time to time; there being no assurance that those issuers will pay distributions or dividends on their securities; the declaration of distributions and dividends by issuers of securities included in the portfolio will generally depend upon various factors, including the financial condition of each issuer and general economic and stock market conditions; the level of borrowing by the Fund; and the uncertainty of realizing capital gains. The risks, uncertainties and other factors that could influence actual results are described under “Risk Factors” in the Fund’s prospectus and other documents filed by the Fund with the Canadian securities regulatory authorities. The forward-looking information contained in this press release constitutes the Fund’s current estimate, as of the date of this press release, with respect to the matters covered hereby. Investors and others should not assume that any forward-looking statement contained in this press release represents the Fund's estimate as of any date other than the date of this press release.
On June 23, 2026, EnerSys ENS shares declined by 4.1%, bringing the current price to $223.43. This move comes amid a 52-week range where the stock has seen a high of $244.30 and a low of $83.14.
GF Value™ verdict: Current price of $223.43 is 97.3% above the GF Value™ estimate of $113.27.GF Score™ of 76/100 indicates that the stock is above average compared to its peers.The most notable signal is that insiders have not engaged in any buying or selling activities in the last three months. Is ENS Overvalued or Undervalued? According to the GF Value™, EnerSys is significantly overvalued at a current price of $223.43 compared to its intrinsic value estimate of $113.27. This represents a substantial margin of safety that is absent for potential investors, as the stock is priced approximately 97.3% higher than its calculated fair value. The GF Valuation label confirms this assessment, categorizing the stock as significantly overvalued. This raises concerns about the sustainability of its current price level, especially given the potential risks associated with investing at such a premium.
GF Value™ is GuruFocus' proprietary measure of intrinsic value, calculated from historical trading multiples, past business growth, and future performance estimates. The significant gap between the current price and the GF Value™ suggests that investors may be paying too much for the stock, which could lead to potential declines in market valuation if earnings do not meet expectations.
How Does ENS's Valuation Compare to Its History? Metric Current Historical P/E (TTM) 29.0x 19.1x Forward P/E 18.6x N/A The current P/E (TTM) of 29.0x is notably above its 5-year median P/E of 19.1x, reflecting a 52% premium. The forward P/E of 18.6x suggests a slight improvement in valuation expectations, yet it still does not align with the historical trends. This P/E analysis supports the GF Value™ verdict that EnerSys is overvalued, as the stock trades significantly above its historical valuation benchmarks.
What Does ENS's GF Score™ Tell Us? The GF Score™ ranks stocks based on key metrics that assess their potential for long-term returns. For EnerSys, the scores are as follows:
Metric Rating GF Score™ 76/100 Financial Strength 7/10 Profitability 8/10 Growth 8/10 Valuation 1/10 Momentum 6/10 The GF Score™ of 76/100 indicates that EnerSys is performing above average in terms of financial health, profitability, and growth potential, with notable strengths in profitability and growth (8/10). However, the valuation score of 1/10 is a significant weakness, confirming the concerns raised by the GF Value™ assessment. This juxtaposition suggests that while EnerSys has solid operational fundamentals, its current market price may not be justified.
What Are Insiders Doing with ENS Stock? In the last three months, there has been no insider buying or selling activity reported for EnerSys. This lack of insider transactions often suggests a neutral perspective from those closest to the company regarding its future prospects. Insiders typically have significant insights into the company’s operations and future, so their inactivity may indicate they do not foresee immediate changes in the company's performance or valuation.
What This Means for Investors Based on the GF Value™ analysis, EnerSys is currently overvalued with a significant margin from its intrinsic value estimate. Investors may need to exercise caution given the disparity between the market price and the fair value, as well as the lack of insider activity that could signal confidence in the stock's future.
For the complete analysis, visit the EnerSys ENS stock page. You can also explore the GF Value™ page for detailed valuation methodology, or use the GuruFocus Stock Screener to find similar opportunities.
Frequently Asked Questions What is ENS's GF Score™?
ENS has a GF Score™ of 76/100, indicating it is above average compared to its peers based on financial strength, profitability, growth, valuation, and momentum.
Is ENS overvalued or undervalued?
ENS is currently overvalued according to the GF Value™, with its market price significantly exceeding its intrinsic value estimate.
What is ENS's P/E ratio?
ENS has a P/E (TTM) ratio of 29.0x, which is 52% higher than its 5-year median P/E of 19.1x, indicating that the stock is trading at a premium compared to its historical valuation.
This stock alert was generated using automated technology and GuruFocus financial data to provide readers with timely and accurate market reporting. This content was reviewed by GuruFocus editorial team prior to publication. Please send any questions or comments about this story to [email protected].
Energy Transfer (ET 1.15%) recently announced an additional expansion of its Nederland NGL Export Terminal. The project will enable the master limited partnership (MLP) to export more natural gas liquids (NGLs) out of that crucial Gulf Coast terminal by the end of the decade. It's the latest expansion of this facility and one of many projects the company has under construction.
Here's a look at the new project, which will give the MLP even more fuel to grow its over 7%-yielding distribution.
Image source: The Motley Fool.
The NGL export juggernaut Energy Transfer plans to increase the ethane export capacity of its Nederland NGL Export Terminal by 240,000 barrels per day (BPD). It also plans to add another 55,000 BPD of LPG export capacity. The company is expanding this facility due to robust customer demand. It has secured long-term contracts for 100% of the facility's ethane export capacity into the 2040s.
The company expects to complete the project in phases starting in 2028. It's expanding its Mont Belvieu-to-Nederland NGL export pipeline and building two additional NGL ship docks (which it expects to complete by the middle of 2029). The company is already expanding its refrigerated propane and butane storage tanks (anticipated completion in the first half of 2027). Once complete, the Energy Transfer will have the largest refrigerated storage capacity on the U.S. Gulf Coast and the capacity to export more than 1.25 million BPD from this facility. Add in the company's Marcus Hook NGL Export Facility along the East Coast (which it's expanding to 420,000 BPD by mid-2027), and Energy Transfer will have about 1.7 million BPD of NGL export capacity by the end of the decade.
Today's Change
(
-1.15
%) $
-0.22
Current Price
$
19.00
A massive and growing backlog Energy Transfer's latest Nederland expansion project adds to its already extensive expansion project backlog. The pipeline company plans to spend between $5.5 billion and $5.9 billion on expansion projects this year.
The bulk of its projects are natural gas pipelines. Energy Transfer is investing up to $9.5 billion in major gas pipeline projects, led by the $5.6 billion Desert Southwest Pipeline (anticipated completion by the fourth quarter of 2029). It's also building several pipeline laterals to supply gas to AI data centers and gas-fired power plants. Additionally, the company is expanding several crude oil and NGL pipelines, building additional NGL infrastructure, and constructing more gas processing plants.
These projects give Energy Transfer significant growth visibility. It currently has projects on track to enter commercial service through early 2030. These projects support the company's plans to increase its high-yielding distribution by 3% to 5% per year.
Enhancing its already robust growth profile Energy Transfer is moving forward with another expansion of its key Nederland terminal. This expansion will help further support distribution growth through the end of the decade. The MLP's combination of yield and growth makes it a highly attractive investment opportunity for those comfortable with receiving a Schedule K-1 Federal tax form from the MLP each year.
Matt DiLallo has positions in Energy Transfer. The Motley Fool has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
Energy Transfer LP (ET - Free Report) ended the recent trading session at $19.22, demonstrating a +1.75% change from the preceding day's closing price. The stock's change was more than the S&P 500's daily loss of 1.44%. Elsewhere, the Dow lost 0.09%, while the tech-heavy Nasdaq lost 2.22%.
The energy-related services provider's shares have seen a decrease of 5.88% over the last month, surpassing the Oils-Energy sector's loss of 7.14% and falling behind the S&P 500's gain of 0.08%.
Market participants will be closely following the financial results of Energy Transfer LP in its upcoming release. It is anticipated that the company will report an EPS of $0.37, marking a 15.63% rise compared to the same quarter of the previous year. Simultaneously, our latest consensus estimate expects the revenue to be $30.75 billion, showing a 59.78% escalation compared to the year-ago quarter.
Regarding the entire year, the Zacks Consensus Estimates forecast earnings of $1.43 per share and revenue of $121.19 billion, indicating changes of +18.18% and +41.69%, respectively, compared to the previous year.
Any recent changes to analyst estimates for Energy Transfer LP should also be noted by investors. These recent revisions tend to reflect the evolving nature of short-term business trends. Hence, positive alterations in estimates signify analyst optimism regarding the business and profitability.
Our research reveals that these estimate alterations are directly linked with the stock price performance in the near future. To capitalize on this, we've crafted the Zacks Rank, a unique model that incorporates these estimate changes and offers a practical rating system.
The Zacks Rank system ranges from #1 (Strong Buy) to #5 (Strong Sell). It has a remarkable, outside-audited track record of success, with #1 stocks delivering an average annual return of +25% since 1988. Over the last 30 days, the Zacks Consensus EPS estimate has moved 3.92% higher. Currently, Energy Transfer LP is carrying a Zacks Rank of #3 (Hold).
Valuation is also important, so investors should note that Energy Transfer LP has a Forward P/E ratio of 13.26 right now. For comparison, its industry has an average Forward P/E of 13.26, which means Energy Transfer LP is trading at no noticeable deviation to the group.
It's also important to note that ET currently trades at a PEG ratio of 1.09. Comparable to the widely accepted P/E ratio, the PEG ratio also accounts for the company's projected earnings growth. The Oil and Gas - Production Pipeline - MLB industry currently had an average PEG ratio of 1.3 as of yesterday's close.
The Oil and Gas - Production Pipeline - MLB industry is part of the Oils-Energy sector. Currently, this industry holds a Zacks Industry Rank of 104, positioning it in the top 43% of all 250+ industries.
The Zacks Industry Rank gauges the strength of our industry groups by measuring the average Zacks Rank of the individual stocks within the groups. Our research shows that the top 50% rated industries outperform the bottom half by a factor of 2 to 1.
You can find more information on all of these metrics, and much more, on Zacks.com.
Energy Transfer is upgraded to "Strong Buy," driven by predictable cash flows, robust yield, and a fee-based business model. ET's Q1 EBITDA rose 20% to $4.9 billion, with recurring growth drivers outpacing one-off items, and guidance for 2026 EBITDA raised to $18.2–$18.6 billion. Significant CapEx pipeline—$15 billion through 2028—positions ET for $2.5–$3 billion incremental annual EBITDA once projects are fully ramped.
American Express Company (NYSE: AXP) plans to host a live audio webcast of its earnings conference call at 8:30 a.m. (ET) on Friday, July 24, 2026, to discuss the company’s second-quarter 2026 financial results.
The webcast will be accessible to the general public through the American Express Investor Relations website at https://ir.americanexpress.com/. The financial results and presentation materials are scheduled to be released and posted on the website at approximately 7:00 a.m. (ET) prior to the conference call, and a webcast replay will be available on the website following the call.
ABOUT AMERICAN EXPRESS
American Express (NYSE: AXP) is a global payments and premium lifestyle brand powered by technology. Our colleagues around the world back our customers with differentiated products, services, and experiences that enrich lives and build business success.
Founded in 1850 and headquartered in New York, American Express’ brand is built on trust, security, service, and a rich history of delivering innovation and Membership value for our customers. We seek to provide the world’s best customer experience every day to a broad range of consumers, small and medium-sized businesses, and large corporations, and we build and manage relationships with millions of merchants across our global network.
For more information about American Express, visit americanexpress.com, americanexpress.com/en-us/newsroom/, and ir.americanexpress.com.
Source: American Express Company
Location: Global
View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260624306428/en/
In the latest trading session, Archrock Inc. (AROC - Free Report) closed at $39.06, marking a +2.57% move from the previous day. The stock outpaced the S&P 500's daily loss of 1.44%. Meanwhile, the Dow lost 0.09%, and the Nasdaq, a tech-heavy index, lost 2.22%.
The natural gas compression services business's shares have seen an increase of 2.23% over the last month, surpassing the Oils-Energy sector's loss of 7.14% and the S&P 500's gain of 0.08%.
The upcoming earnings release of Archrock Inc. will be of great interest to investors. On that day, Archrock Inc. is projected to report earnings of $0.47 per share, which would represent year-over-year growth of 20.51%. Our most recent consensus estimate is calling for quarterly revenue of $390.4 million, up 1.89% from the year-ago period.
Looking at the full year, the Zacks Consensus Estimates suggest analysts are expecting earnings of $1.95 per share and revenue of $1.55 billion. These totals would mark changes of +2.63% and +4.19%, respectively, from last year.
It's also important for investors to be aware of any recent modifications to analyst estimates for Archrock Inc. These revisions typically reflect the latest short-term business trends, which can change frequently. Consequently, upward revisions in estimates express analysts' positivity towards the business operations and its ability to generate profits.
Empirical research indicates that these revisions in estimates have a direct correlation with impending stock price performance. To utilize this, we have created the Zacks Rank, a proprietary model that integrates these estimate changes and provides a functional rating system.
The Zacks Rank system, stretching from #1 (Strong Buy) to #5 (Strong Sell), has a noteworthy track record of outperforming, validated by third-party audits, with stocks rated #1 producing an average annual return of +25% since the year 1988. Within the past 30 days, our consensus EPS projection remained stagnant. Currently, Archrock Inc. is carrying a Zacks Rank of #3 (Hold).
From a valuation perspective, Archrock Inc. is currently exchanging hands at a Forward P/E ratio of 19.53. For comparison, its industry has an average Forward P/E of 21.21, which means Archrock Inc. is trading at a discount to the group.
It is also worth noting that AROC currently has a PEG ratio of 1.63. The PEG ratio is similar to the widely-used P/E ratio, but this metric also takes the company's expected earnings growth rate into account. The Oil and Gas - Field Services was holding an average PEG ratio of 2.13 at yesterday's closing price.
The Oil and Gas - Field Services industry is part of the Oils-Energy sector. Currently, this industry holds a Zacks Industry Rank of 176, positioning it in the bottom 28% of all 250+ industries.
The Zacks Industry Rank assesses the vigor of our specific industry groups by computing the average Zacks Rank of the individual stocks incorporated in the groups. Our research shows that the top 50% rated industries outperform the bottom half by a factor of 2 to 1.
Ensure to harness Zacks.com to stay updated with all these stock-shifting metrics, among others, in the next trading sessions.
HOUSTON, June 24, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Archrock, Inc. (NYSE:AROC) today announced that Mohit Singh has been appointed Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, effective July 6, 2026.
Mr. Singh brings more than 25 years of experience across the energy value chain, with expertise in oil & gas operations, investment banking and corporate finance. He served as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Chesapeake Energy Corporation from 2021 through its merger with Southwestern Energy Company in 2024 to form Expand Energy Corporation, where he continued as CFO until August 2025. Prior to Chesapeake, Mr. Singh held senior leadership roles at BPX Energy, BP’s U.S. onshore subsidiary, where he led mergers and acquisitions, business development, exploration and operations functions. Earlier in his career, he served in investment banking roles at Goldman Sachs and RBC Capital Markets and began his career with Shell Exploration & Production Company.
Mr. Singh earned a PhD in Chemical Engineering from the University of Houston, an MBA from the University of Texas at Austin and a BTech in Chemical Engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology – Kanpur.
Mr. Singh has served since 2024 as an independent director of Powell Industries, a Houston-based leader in electrical engineering and power solutions serving critical infrastructure markets, including utilities, energy, petrochemicals, and data centers.
“We are thrilled to welcome Mohit to Archrock,” said Brad Childers, President and CEO of Archrock. “He brings significant public company experience, deep energy industry expertise and a strategic perspective that will be valuable to our management team and Board as we position Archrock for its next phase of growth.”
“I am honored to join Archrock at this exciting time,” said Mohit Singh. “Archrock has established strong momentum, underpinned by a disciplined operating model and compelling opportunities to support customers amid growing long-term demand for natural gas. I look forward to working closely with Brad and the entire Archrock team to execute on the company's strategic priorities, deliver strong financial results and create sustainable long-term value for shareholders.”
Mr. Singh succeeds Douglas S. Aron, who previously announced his intention to retire.
About Archrock
Archrock is an energy infrastructure company with a primary focus on midstream natural gas compression and a commitment to helping its customers produce, compress and transport natural gas in a safe and environmentally responsible way. Headquartered in Houston, Texas, Archrock is a premier provider of natural gas compression services to customers in the energy industry throughout the U.S. and a leading supplier of aftermarket services to customers that own compression equipment. For more information on how the Company embodies its purpose, WE POWER A CLEANER AMERICATM, visit www.archrock.com.
All FirstBank Branches in Colorado and Arizona are now PNC Bank branches
, /PRNewswire/ -- The PNC Financial Services Group, Inc. (NYSE: PNC) today announced it has completed the conversion of 780,000 customers, more than 1,620 employees and 95 branches across Colorado and Arizona from FirstBank to PNC Bank. Former FirstBank customers now have access to PNC's full range of products and services, including its digital banking capabilities, treasury management solutions, wealth management offerings and nationwide branch and ATM network.
"Today is about our customers," said William S. Demchak, chairman and chief executive officer of PNC. "We're proud to officially welcome FirstBank customers to PNC Bank and deliver the products, capabilities and expertise of one of the nation's leading banks while maintaining the local relationships they value most. This milestone reflects the hard work of thousands of employees across both organizations who remained focused on one goal: making this transition as seamless as possible for our customers."
The completion of the conversion follows PNC's acquisition of FirstBank and further strengthens PNC's presence in Colorado and Arizona. The combination expands PNC's ability to serve consumers, businesses and communities nationwide through a network of approximately 2,400 branch locations and 58,000 PNC and partner ATMs.
The PNC Financial Services Group, Inc. is one of the largest diversified financial services institutions in the United States, organized around its customers and communities for strong relationships and local delivery of retail and business banking including a full range of lending products; specialized services for corporations and government entities, including corporate banking, real estate finance and asset-based lending; wealth management and asset management. For information about PNC, visit www.pnc.com.
CAUTIONARY STATEMENT REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION
This communication contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the federal securities laws, including the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, as amended, Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"), and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Such forward-looking statements are typically, but not exclusively, identified by the use in the statements of words or phrases such as "aim," "anticipate," "believe," "estimate," "expect," "goal," "guidance," "intend," "is anticipated," "is expected," "is intended," "objective," "plan," "projected," "projection," "will affect," "will be," "will continue," "will decrease," "will grow," "will impact," "will increase," "will incur," "will reduce," "will remain," "will result," "would be," variations of such words or phrases (including where the word "could," "may," or "would" is used rather than the word "will" in a phrase) and similar words and phrases indicating that the statement addresses some future result, occurrence, plan or objective. Because forward-looking statements relate to future results and occurrences, many of which are outside of PNC's control, they are subject to inherent uncertainties, risks and changes in circumstances that are difficult to predict. Many possible events or factors could adversely affect the future results and performance of PNC and could cause those results or performance to differ materially from those expressed in or implied by the forward-looking statements. Such risks and uncertainties include, among others, risks related to the transaction including the risk that the cost savings and synergies from the transaction may not be fully realized or may take longer than anticipated to be realized, and the risk that the integration of FirstBank's business and operations into PNC will be materially delayed or will be more costly or difficult than expected. For additional information on these and other factors that could affect PNC's actual results, see the risk factors set forth in PNC's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"), including PNC's Annual Report on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, and Current Reports on Form 8-K, in each case filed with the SEC, and other reports and statements PNC has filed with the SEC. Copies of the SEC filings for PNC may be downloaded from the Internet at no charge from https://investor.pnc.com. PNC disclaims any obligation to update such factors or to publicly announce the results of any revisions to any of the forward-looking statements included herein to reflect future events or developments. Forward-looking statements included in this communication are made as of the date of this communication.
Last July, I picked U.S. Bancorp over The PNC Financial Services Group, Inc. as an opportunity for new money. USB outperformed as predicted, but its discount is now gone and the total-yield edge shifted to PNC. PNC has been buying back more shares and growing its dividend about twice as fast as USB, with a lower payout ratio. USB's growth has been slower but organic. For PNC, the coming quarters are all about integrating FirstBank as PNC's organic assets have been flat for two years.
Key Takeaways PNC has migrated 780,000 customers and 95 branches, completing the FirstBank system conversion.The transaction expands PNC's footprint in Colorado and Arizona with $26.8B in assets and strong deposits.PNC expects the transaction to drive cross-selling gains and add nearly $1 per share in accretion by 2027. The PNC Financial Services Group (PNC - Free Report) has completed the conversion of FirstBank customers and branches onto its banking platform, marking the final phase of its integration of the Colorado-based lender. By transitioning 780,000 customers, more than 1,620 employees and 95 branches onto its platform, PNC has finalized a key phase of the FirstBank integration process.
The FirstBank acquisition, completed in January 2026, expanded PNC's footprint in high-growth markets across Colorado and Arizona. FirstBank added $26.8 billion in assets, a strong retail deposit base and an established branch network in both states. As a result, PNC more than tripled its Colorado presence to nearly 120 branches and expanded its Arizona network to more than 70 locations. It also positioned the company to become the leading bank in Denver by retail deposit share and branch share. The broader footprint also complements its branch expansion strategy, which includes a planned $2 billion investment to open more than 300 branches across nearly 20 U.S. markets and renovate its existing network by 2029, thereby supporting long-term deposit and loan growth opportunities.
For PNC, the acquisition supports a broader growth strategy beyond its physical expansion. Former FirstBank customers now have access to the company's broader suite of products and services, including digital banking capabilities, treasury management solutions, wealth management offerings and its nationwide branch and ATM network. The expanded product portfolio is expected to help deepen customer relationships, increase cross-selling opportunities and generate additional revenues. Management also expects the acquisition to be earnings accretive, contributing nearly $1 per share by 2027.
The successful conversion also removes a key integration hurdle for PNC and allows management to focus on realizing the expected benefits of the acquisition. Systems conversions are often the most challenging phase of bank mergers, carrying risks related to customer retention, service disruptions and operational execution. With this process now complete, PNC can focus on realizing anticipated synergies and expanding customer relationships.
However, the benefits of the transaction will take time to fully materialize, with customer adoption, revenue synergies and deposit growth expected to remain key focus areas over the upcoming quarters.
Overall, the successful conversion enables PNC to advance its expansion strategy in Colorado and Arizona. By combining FirstBank's strong local relationships with PNC's broader capabilities, the company is better positioned to deepen customer engagement, expand market share and support long-term earnings growth.
How Other Finance Firms Executing Their Expansion Strategies?Similar to PNC, the other financial firms like UBS Group AG (UBS - Free Report) and Hancock Whitney Corp. (HWC - Free Report) are also advancing expansion strategies with footprint optimization across key markets.
UBS Group is completing the final phase of integrating Credit Suisse following its 2023 acquisition, one of the largest banking deals in Europe. As of March 2026, UBS Group has migrated about 1.2 million former Credit Suisse clients onto its platform, following earlier steps such as the 2024 Swiss entity merger and the transfer of most wealth management accounts across key hubs including Hong Kong, Singapore and Japan, supporting a more streamlined global wealth and banking platform.
Hancock Whitney is expanding its U.S. regional footprint through the acquisition of OFB Bancshares, adding six financial centers in the Orlando region. The transaction was agreed in May 2026 and is expected to close in the third quarter of 2026, subject to regulatory and shareholder approvals. The deal lifts Florida’s pro forma deposit share to about 21%, strengthening Hancock Whitney’s position in one of the fastest-growing banking markets in the United States.
PNC Financial’s Price Performance & Zacks RankOver the past six months, PNC's shares have rallied 10% compared with 4.1% growth of the industry.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
At present, the company carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
Antwerp, June 22, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- CMB.TECH NV (“CMBT”, “CMB.TECH” or “the company”) (NYSE: CMBT, Euronext Brussels: CMBT and Euronext Oslo Børs: CMBTO) and Fortescue have signed a milestone agreement for the charter of up to 12 ammonia-capable vessels, marking a significant step towards decarbonising global shipping and advancing the adoption of ammonia as a shipping fuel.
Under the agreement, Fortescue will charter a fleet of 12 Newcastlemax vessels (210,000 dwt) from Bocimar, the dry bulk division of CMB.TECH.
Up to three of the vessels will be delivered with dual-fuel ammonia engines and are expected to enter into service by the end of 2026. The remaining nine vessels will be ammonia-ready and can be converted to operate on ammonia in the future.
If fuelled by green ammonia, the combined fleet could reduce carbon dioxide emissions by approximately 250,000 tonnes a year compared with conventional marine fuels.
Fortescue Director Integrated Operations, Katie Charuga:
“The shipping industry doesn’t need more talk. It needs action.
Green ammonia is one of the clearest pathways to reducing carbon dioxide emissions from shipping, and these vessels represent a practical step towards that future. By backing new technologies and working with partners who are prepared to lead, we can help drive the uptake of green ammonia in shipping.
Fortescue’s Green Pioneer demonstration vessel has already shown that ammonia can be used safely and effectively in marine operations. The next challenge is scaling the use of green ammonia.
By investing in ammonia-capable vessels and working with partners who share our ambition, we are helping create demand for green ammonia and supporting the technologies needed to reduce emissions from global shipping.”
Alexander Saverys, CEO of CMB.TECH said:
“Fortescue and Bocimar have built a strong partnership over more than two decades, grounded in shared values and a clear commitment to decarbonise shipping. This agreement marks an important step in showcasing ammonia as a viable marine fuel and advancing the transition to zero-emission shipping. It also sends a powerful signal to the market, particularly at a time when there is doubt about the decarbonisation of shipping: our sector can decarbonise at scale. It just takes like-minded, determined partners who walk the talk.”
Announcement Q2 2026 results – 27 August 2026
About CMB.TECH
CMB.TECH (all capitals) is one of the largest listed, diversified and future-proof maritime groups in the world with a combined fleet of about 250 vessels: dry bulk vessels, crude oil tankers, chemical tankers, container vessels and offshore energy vessels. CMB.TECH also offers hydrogen and ammonia fuel to customers, through own production or third-party producers.
CMB.TECH is headquartered in Antwerp, Belgium, and has offices across Europe, Asia and Africa.
CMB.TECH is listed on Euronext Brussels and the NYSE under the ticker symbol “CMBT” and on Euronext Oslo Børs under the ticker symbol “CMBTO”. More information can be found at https://cmb.tech
About Fortescue
Fortescue exists to accelerate decarbonisation at a global scale, rapidly and profitably. The Company is committed to delivering on its ambitious Real Zero Target – an emissions reduction target that aims to eliminate Scope 1 and 2 emissions from its Australian terrestrial iron ore operations by the end of 2030. Fortescue is investing significantly in research and development to diversify and grow its core business by combining the operational expertise of a world-leading mining business with groundbreaking technologies. As the Company expands its global footprint, Fortescue’s growth remains deliberate and commercially focused.
Beyond business, Fortescue is committed to building thriving communities and delivering lasting social and economic impact. Through training, employment and business development opportunities, Fortescue is ensuring its success delivers shared and enduring value. fortescue.com
Forward-Looking Statements
Matters discussed in this press release may constitute forward-looking statements. The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 provides safe harbour protections for forward-looking statements in order to encourage companies to provide prospective information about their business. Forward-looking statements include statements concerning plans, objectives, goals, strategies, future events or performance, and underlying assumptions and other statements, which are other than statements of historical facts. The Company desires to take advantage of the safe harbour provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and is including this cautionary statement in connection with this safe harbour legislation. The words "believe", "anticipate", "intends", "estimate", "forecast", "project", "plan", "potential", "may", "should", "expect", "pending" and similar expressions identify forward-looking statements.
The forward-looking statements in this press release are based upon various assumptions, many of which are based, in turn, upon further assumptions, including without limitation, our management's examination of historical operating trends, data contained in our records and other data available from third parties. Although we believe that these assumptions were reasonable when made, because these assumptions are inherently subject to significant uncertainties and contingencies which are difficult or impossible to predict and are beyond our control, we cannot assure you that we will achieve or accomplish these expectations, beliefs or projections.
In addition to these important factors, other important factors that, in our view, could cause actual results to differ materially from those discussed in the forward-looking statements include the failure of counterparties to fully perform their contracts with us, the strength of world economies and currencies, general market conditions, including fluctuations in charter rates and vessel values, changes in demand for tanker vessel capacity, changes in our operating expenses, including bunker prices, dry-docking and insurance costs, the market for our vessels, availability of financing and refinancing, charter counterparty performance, ability to obtain financing and comply with covenants in such financing arrangements, changes in governmental rules and regulations or actions taken by regulatory authorities, potential liability from pending or future litigation, general domestic and international political conditions, potential disruption of shipping routes due to accidents or political events, vessels breakdowns and instances of off-hires and other factors. Please see our filings with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission for a more complete discussion of these and other risks and uncertainties.
This information is published in accordance with the requirements of the Continuing Obligations on Euronext Oslo Børs.
Mineral Latvija at Port Hedland Naming Ceremony with Alexander Saverys and Katie Charuga as godmother of Mineral Australia
Mineral Latvija at Port Hedland Mineral Latvija at Port Hedland Naming Ceremony with Alexander Saverys and Katie Charuga as godmother of Mineral Australia Naming Ceremony with Alexander Saverys and Katie Charuga as godmother of Mineral Australia
Resources Investor Relations Journalists Agencies Client Login Send a Release News Products Contact , /PRNewswire/ -- EOG Resources, Inc. (EOG) will host a conference call and webcast to discuss second quarter 2026 results on Wednesday, August 5, 2026, at 9 a.m. Central time (10 a.m. Eastern time). Please visit the Investors/Events & Presentations page on the EOG website to access a live webcast of the conference call. If you are unable to listen to the live webcast, a replay will be available for one year.
If you have any questions, please contact Angie Lewis at 713-651-6722.
About EOG
EOG Resources, Inc. (NYSE: EOG) is one of the largest crude oil and natural gas exploration and production companies in the United States with proved reserves in the United States and Trinidad. To learn more visit www.eogresources.com.
Comfort Systems USA (FIX +3.48%) has been a major beneficiary of the artificial intelligence boom. The infrastructure company provides ventilation and air conditioning for AI data centers that prevent GPUs from overheating.
Shares have more than doubled year to date and briefly touched $2,000. However, the stock has the potential to reach $2,500 per share by year-end. Here's why.
Image source: Getty Images.
Clear revenue visibility fuels solid results Comfort Systems USA benefits from a $12.45 billion backlog as of Q1. That's an 80.7% year-over-year increase, providing meaningful revenue visibility for future quarters. Total revenue for the first quarter was $2.87 billion, up 56.5% year over year. Its backlog is equal to more than one full year of revenue based on Q1 results.
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That revenue backlog is a major catalyst for future sales growth. Comfort Systems USA has reported sequential revenue growth for several quarters, partially fueled by its upcoming orders. The company also has a slight sequential increase in its backlog, showing that it can maintain the high figure while delivering on projects.
The clear revenue visibility also comes with rising profit margins. Net income more than doubled year over year, and the company closed Q1 with a double-digit net profit margin, a figure it has maintained for several quarters. Comfort Systems USA even announced a 14.3% dividend hike this year, showing that it can reward shareholders while gaining market share. That's a good setup on the path to $2,500 per share.
Tech companies are fueling the Comfort Systems USA rally The Comfort Systems rally isn't based on hype. The company is delivering tangible gains in its industry while appealing to tech giants eager to spend as much as possible on AI.
More than half of Comfort System USA's backlog was from tech companies in Q1. New construction also accounted for almost three-quarters of year-to-date revenue, up from 63.2% in full-year 2025.
Tech leaders need AI data centers for the next stage of innovation, and Comfort Fix USA is involved with many of them. Comfort Fix USA has also strategically acquired more than 50 operating companies over the years to expand its footprint. That additional market share is present at a critical time for the HVAC industry.
The top five hyperscalers are projected to spend more than $650 billion on AI infrastructure this year. That money has to go somewhere, and it's difficult to imagine these companies suddenly pulling the plug on AI spending in 2027. This is a multiyear megatrend, and Comfort Systems USA is well-positioned for it.
Marc Guberti has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Comfort Systems USA. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
Key Takeaways FIX and EMCOR are benefiting from rising demand for AI, data center and critical facility projects.Comfort Systems posted record Q1 revenues, a $12.45B backlog and stronger margin expansion.FIX offers faster earnings growth, modular construction gains and stronger cash generation than EMCOR. The growing need for data centers, AI infrastructure, semiconductor manufacturing and critical facility upgrades has created a favorable backdrop for mechanical, electrical and HVAC infrastructure companies. Contractors with strong execution capabilities and exposure to these long-term investment themes are benefiting from rising project demand and expanding backlogs. Comfort Systems USA (FIX - Free Report) and EMCOR Group (EME - Free Report) are among the biggest beneficiaries of this trend.
Both companies provide mechanical, electrical and building services across commercial, industrial and institutional markets. They continue to report record revenues, healthy backlogs and improving profitability as customers invest in mission-critical infrastructure. Yet, despite their similarities, their growth strategies, end-market exposure and valuation profiles differ in meaningful ways.
Let's dive deep and closely compare the fundamentals of the two stocks to determine which one is a better investment now.
The Case for Comfort Systems StockComfort Systems has transformed itself from a traditional HVAC contractor into one of the country's leading providers of mechanical, electrical and plumbing (MEP) solutions for advanced manufacturing, semiconductor plants, AI data centers, healthcare and industrial facilities. Approximately three-fourths of its business now comes from industrial projects, giving it significant exposure to some of the fastest-growing construction markets.
The company's first-quarter 2026 results once again demonstrated exceptional execution. Revenues jumped 56% year over year to a record $2.87 billion, while earnings more than doubled to $10.51 per share. Same-store revenues increased 51%, reflecting broad-based demand rather than acquisition-driven growth. Operating cash flow reached nearly $389 million, a remarkable turnaround from the prior-year outflow, highlighting the company's strong cash-generation capabilities.
Perhaps the most encouraging indicator is backlog. Comfort Systems ended the quarter with a record backlog of $12.45 billion, nearly doubling from a year ago despite faster project execution. Management noted that recent bookings, healthy customer pipelines and persistent demand support optimism for the coming quarters. The company's exposure to technology customers remains particularly strong as AI-driven data center construction continues to accelerate.
Another competitive advantage is its growing modular construction capability. Prefabricated mechanical and electrical systems help customers shorten construction schedules while improving labor productivity, making Comfort Systems an attractive partner for large, time-sensitive projects such as semiconductor fabs and hyperscale data centers. The company also continues to benefit from onshoring investments and expanding manufacturing activity across the United States.
Profitability also continues to improve. Gross margin expanded 430 basis points (bps) year over year to 26.3%, operating margin climbed 560 bps to 17%, and both mechanical and electrical businesses posted healthy margin gains. Strong project execution, favorable project closeouts and operating leverage have supported these improvements, while management believes margins should remain within their recent strong range.
Financial strength further supports the investment case. Alongside generating robust free cash flow, Comfort Systems recently increased its quarterly dividend, reflecting management's confidence in future earnings while maintaining a strong balance sheet.
The primary challenge is valuation. After an exceptional rally, investor expectations have become very high. The company also acknowledged that revenue comparisons will become more difficult during the second half of 2026 as it laps exceptionally strong growth. Any moderation in AI-related project spending or execution delays could lead to increased share-price volatility.
The Case for EMCOR StockEMCOR remains one of North America's most diversified specialty contractors, providing mechanical and electrical construction, industrial services and building services across multiple end markets. This broader business mix offers greater diversification while reducing dependence on any single customer group.
The company's first-quarter 2026 results were also impressive. Revenues increased nearly 20% to a record $4.63 billion, while adjusted operating performance continued to improve across construction and services businesses. Earnings per share rose 30% year over year as disciplined execution, strong labor management and favorable project mix supported higher profitability.
Like Comfort Systems, EMCOR is benefiting significantly from AI infrastructure investments. Management highlighted exceptionally strong demand for data centers, cloud infrastructure and digital transformation projects, stating that it sees no signs of slowing activity in these markets. Mechanical construction also continues to benefit from rising liquid-cooling requirements for AI data centers, an increasingly important growth opportunity.
Importantly, EMCOR's opportunities extend well beyond AI. The company continues to win projects across healthcare, institutional facilities, water and wastewater infrastructure, manufacturing and commercial construction. This diversified project portfolio provides greater stability should any one market experience slower growth. Remaining performance obligations or RPOs reached a record $15.62 billion, providing excellent revenue visibility while reflecting strong bookings across multiple sectors.
Management's confidence is also evident in its higher 2026 guidance. EMCOR increased both revenue and earnings outlooks following first-quarter results, supported by strong execution and favorable project visibility. The balance sheet remains healthy, allowing continued investment in organic growth while maintaining disciplined capital allocation.
However, EMCOR's larger size naturally makes sustaining very high growth rates more difficult. Although AI infrastructure remains a major growth driver, the company is expected to generate considerably slower earnings growth than Comfort Systems over the next two years. Its operating margins also remain below those achieved by Comfort Systems, reflecting differences in business mix and project composition.
FIX vs. EME: Price Momentum Shows Investors' ConfidenceBoth stocks have significantly outperformed the broader market in 2026. Comfort Systems has surged 110.8% year to date, substantially outperforming EMCOR's still-impressive 36.7% gain. Both have also comfortably exceeded the Zacks Construction sector's 16.9% advance and the S&P 500's 9.7% rise. The stronger rally suggests investors increasingly view Comfort Systems as one of the biggest beneficiaries of AI-driven infrastructure spending.
FIX vs. EME Price Performance (YTD)
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Premium Valuation Reflects Higher Growth ExpectationsSuperior growth rarely comes cheaply. Comfort Systems currently trades at 41.46X forward 12-month earnings, well above EMCOR's 27.2X. Both stocks trade at premiums to the Zacks Construction sector average of 22.09X and the S&P 500's 21.53X.
While EMCOR offers the more attractive valuation, Comfort Systems' premium appears supported by its faster earnings growth, stronger margin expansion and exceptional backlog momentum.
FIX vs. EME Valuation – P/E F12M
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
FIX & EME: Earnings Estimate Trends Continue to ImproveAnalysts remain optimistic about both companies. Over the past 30 days, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for Comfort Systems' 2026 EPS has increased to $43.08 from $42.74, implying 49.2% annual growth, alongside 30.5% revenue growth. Another 21.4% earnings growth is projected for 2027.
FIX EPS Estimate
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Estimates for EMCOR's 2026 EPS have also moved higher, rising to $29.22 from $28.67 over the same period. However, projected earnings growth of 13% in 2026 and 11.2% in 2027 trails Comfort Systems by a considerable margin.
EME EPS Estimate
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
FIX vs. EME: Which Stock Looks Better Positioned?Both companies remain among the highest-quality infrastructure contractors in today's market. EMCOR offers excellent diversification, record remaining performance obligations, improving guidance and a more attractive valuation. Investors seeking a relatively balanced risk-reward profile may find EMCOR appealing.
Nevertheless, Comfort Systems appears to hold the stronger long-term investment case. Its exposure to AI data centers, semiconductor manufacturing and advanced industrial projects is translating into faster revenue growth, stronger margin expansion, record backlog growth and significantly higher earnings momentum. The company's superior cash generation, expanding modular construction capabilities and accelerating analyst estimate revisions further strengthen its outlook.
FIX, sporting a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), appears better positioned to deliver superior long-term shareholder returns despite its richer valuation compared to EMCOR, which carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). For investors willing to pay a premium for stronger growth and industry-leading execution, Comfort Systems remains the better buy today. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.
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.
By their very nature, these stocks carry above-average risk and volatility. Moreover, if a company's growth story is over or nearing its end, betting on it 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.
Our proprietary system currently recommends Comfort Systems (FIX - 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 returns are even better for stocks that possess the combination of a Growth Score of A or B and a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) or 2 (Buy).
While there are numerous reasons why the stock of this heating, ventilation and air conditioning company 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 Comfort Systems is 61.3%, investors should actually focus on the projected growth. The company's EPS is expected to grow 49.2% this year, crushing the industry average, which calls for EPS growth of 7.4%.
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 Comfort Systems is 74.3%, which is higher than many of its peers. In fact, the rate compares to the industry average of -0.2%.
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 42.5% over the past 3-5 years versus the industry average of 14.3%.
Promising Earnings Estimate RevisionsSuperiority of a stock in terms of the metrics outlined above can be further validated by looking at the trend in earnings estimate revisions. A positive trend is of course favorable 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 Comfort Systems. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for the current year has surged 0.5% over the past month.
Bottom LineWhile the overall earnings estimate revisions have made Comfort Systems a Zacks Rank #1 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 Comfort Systems well for outperformance, so growth investors may want to bet on it.
HOUSTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Comfort Systems USA, Inc. (NYSE: FIX) (the “Company”), a leading provider of commercial, industrial and institutional heating, ventilation, air conditioning and electrical contracting services, today announced that Craig Sasser, currently Regional Vice President – Atlantic Region, will be appointed to serve as Chief Operating Officer, effective July 1, 2026. Trent T. McKenna will continue to serve as President of the Company.
Brian Lane, the Company's Chief Executive Officer, commented, “I’m thrilled to congratulate Craig on his new role. Craig is an ideal fit to be COO, as he is a proven leader whose contributions and deep industry knowledge have been invaluable to Comfort Systems. He will serve a pivotal role in positioning the Company for long-term growth and success.”
The Company further announced that Briston Blair will transition from his current role as the Company’s Senior Vice President – Innovation & Strategy to the role of the Company’s Chief Strategy & Innovation Officer, effective as of July 1, 2026.
Mr. Lane said, “Briston has been a driving force behind many of our strategy and innovation initiatives, and this promotion reflects the significant contributions he has made to our Company’s success. I am confident that, as Chief Strategy & Innovation Officer, he will continue to identify novel opportunities to create value for our stakeholders.”
Mr. Sasser has served as a Regional Vice President for the Company since he joined in September 2018 and has held responsibility for both the North and Atlantic regions. Prior to joining the Company, Mr. Sasser spent 34 years with a major MEP company where he started his career in project management and ultimately led the Mid-Atlantic region. Mr. Sasser earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Construction Management from Purdue University and completed the MCAA Advanced Leadership Institute at Babson College.
Mr. Blair has served as the Company’s Senior Vice President – Innovation & Strategy since January 2022. Prior to his current position, Mr. Blair served as Regional Vice President for the Company and Senior Growth Strategy & Corporate Development Advisor of the Company. Mr. Blair earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communications from The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and his MBA from East Carolina University.
Comfort Systems USA® is a premier provider of business solutions addressing workplace comfort, with 197 locations in 143 cities around the nation. For more information, visit the Company’s website at www.comfortsystemsusa.com.
When deciding whether to buy, sell, or hold a stock, investors often rely on analyst recommendations. Media reports about rating changes by these brokerage-firm-employed (or sell-side) analysts often influence a stock's price, but are they really important?
Let's take a look at what these Wall Street heavyweights have to say about Comfort Systems (FIX - Free Report) before we discuss the reliability of brokerage recommendations and how to use them to your advantage.
Comfort Systems currently has an average brokerage recommendation (ABR) of 1.18, on a scale of 1 to 5 (Strong Buy to Strong Sell), calculated based on the actual recommendations (Buy, Hold, Sell, etc.) made by 11 brokerage firms. An ABR of 1.18 approximates between Strong Buy and Buy.
Of the 11 recommendations that derive the current ABR, 10 are Strong Buy, representing 90.9% of all recommendations.
Brokerage Recommendation Trends for FIX
Check price target & stock forecast for Comfort Systems here>>>
While the ABR calls for buying Comfort Systems, it may not be wise to make an investment decision solely based on this information. Several studies have shown limited to no success of brokerage recommendations in guiding investors to pick stocks with the best price increase potential.
Are you wondering why? The vested interest of brokerage firms in a stock they cover often results in a strong positive bias of their analysts in rating it. Our research shows that for every "Strong Sell" recommendation, brokerage firms assign five "Strong Buy" recommendations.
In other words, their interests aren't always aligned with retail investors, rarely indicating where the price of a stock could actually be heading. Therefore, the best use of this information could be validating your own research or an indicator that has proven to be highly successful in predicting a stock's price movement.
Zacks Rank, our proprietary stock rating tool with an impressive externally audited track record, categorizes stocks into five groups, ranging from Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) to Zacks Rank #5 (Strong Sell), and is an effective indicator of a stock's price performance in the near future. Therefore, using the ABR to validate the Zacks Rank could be an efficient way of making a profitable investment decision.
ABR Should Not Be Confused With Zacks RankAlthough both Zacks Rank and ABR are displayed in a range of 1--5, they are different measures altogether.
The ABR is calculated solely based on brokerage recommendations and is typically displayed with decimals (example: 1.28). In contrast, the Zacks Rank is a quantitative model allowing investors to harness the power of earnings estimate revisions. It is displayed in whole numbers -- 1 to 5.
It has been and continues to be the case that analysts employed by brokerage firms are overly optimistic with their recommendations. Because of their employers' vested interests, these analysts issue more favorable ratings than their research would support, misguiding investors far more often than helping them.
On the other hand, earnings estimate revisions are at the core of the Zacks Rank. And empirical research shows a strong correlation between trends in earnings estimate revisions and near-term stock price movements.
In addition, the different Zacks Rank grades are applied proportionately to all stocks for which brokerage analysts provide current-year earnings estimates. In other words, this tool always maintains a balance among its five ranks.
Another key difference between the ABR and Zacks Rank is freshness. The ABR is not necessarily up-to-date when you look at it. But, since brokerage analysts keep revising their earnings estimates to account for a company's changing business trends, and their actions get reflected in the Zacks Rank quickly enough, it is always timely in indicating future price movements.
Is FIX a Good Investment?In terms of earnings estimate revisions for Comfort Systems, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for the current year has increased 0.5% over the past month to $43.08.
Analysts' growing optimism over the company's earnings prospects, as indicated by strong agreement among them in revising EPS estimates higher, could be a legitimate reason for the stock to soar in the near term.
The size of the recent change in the consensus estimate, along with three other factors related to earnings estimates, has resulted in a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) for Comfort Systems. You can see the complete list of today's Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) stocks here >>>>
Therefore, the Buy-equivalent ABR for Comfort Systems may serve as a useful guide for investors.
BERLIN--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Telefónica Deutschland and Blue Planet, a division of Ciena (NYSE: CIEN), have successfully completed a joint proof of concept (PoC) exploring the use of AI agents to accelerate the design and fulfillment of advanced 5G network slicing services. The initiative demonstrates how agentic AI can help communications service providers address the growing operational complexity of next‑generation services while significantly reducing service design time. As part of Telefónica.
Telefónica Deutschland and Blue Planet, a division of Ciena (NYSE: CIEN), have successfully completed a joint proof of concept (PoC) exploring the use of AI agents to accelerate the design and fulfillment of advanced 5G network slicing services. The initiative demonstrates how agentic AI can help communications service providers address the growing operational complexity of next‑generation services while significantly reducing service design time.
This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260623839595/en/
As part of Telefónica Deutschland’s ongoing transformation of its operations support systems (OSS) and its journey toward higher levels of network autonomy, the company is focused on industrializing service and network deployment through its Service & Network Factory. A key enabler of this transformation is Telefónica Deutschland’s Multi‑Domain Service Orchestration (MDSO) program, which provides end‑to‑end orchestration across network domains and underpins the introduction of new, complex services.
Within this context, 5G network slicing represents a critical use case: a high‑value B2B service characterized by complex specifications, evolving standards, and a strong dependence on expert knowledge. Designing and deploying slicing services efficiently is essential to reducing time to market while maintaining service quality and consistency across domains.
To address these challenges, Telefónica Deutschland collaborated with Blue Planet to test how AI agents could support engineers throughout the service lifecycle—from intent‑based design to catalog creation and fulfillment. The PoC leveraged Blue Planet AI Studio, an OSS‑native platform for building and running AI agents, integrated directly with Telefónica Deutschland’s existing MDSO environment. This ensured that AI‑driven automation was embedded into real operational workflows rather than operating as a standalone experiment.
The results of the PoC were significant. Tasks that previously required highly specialized expertise and manual effort—such as defining slice specifications and generating standards‑compliant service payloads—were completed in minutes instead of weeks. By abstracting complex standards and parameters into AI agents and reusing catalog elements managed through MDSO, the solution improved design speed, consistency, and quality, while reducing errors through guided, repeatable processes.
“Designing and delivering 5G network slicing services at scale is inherently complex and places significant demands on engineering teams,” said Eva Ulicevic, Director of Architecture, Strategy and Technology Enablement at Telefónica Deutschland. “This proof of concept has shown that AI agents, when integrated with our MDSO framework, can meaningfully simplify service design, reduce lead times, and help democratize expert knowledge. It is an important validation of how intent‑based, AI‑driven approaches can support our evolution toward more autonomous operations, allowing us to provide additional and enhanced customer services.”
The PoC also reflects Telefónica’s broader vision for AI-native operations and increasing network autonomy. “This proof of concept supports Telefónica’s ambition to advance towards higher levels of network autonomy, reinforcing the role of AI in transforming service and network operations. Moving beyond traditional automation requires evolving operational systems into AI-native platforms that can progressively increase autonomy,” said Javier García, Head of Core IT at Telefónica Global CTIO.
From Blue Planet’s perspective, the collaboration highlights the value of combining agentic AI with a mature orchestration foundation. “Telefónica Deutschland brought a clear operational vision and a robust MDSO program to this collaboration,” said Joe Cumello, Senior Vice President and General Manager, Blue Planet. “By building AI agents directly into their orchestration workflows using Blue Planet AI Studio, this PoC demonstrates how service providers can accelerate innovation while maintaining control, standards compliance, and operational rigor.”
Beyond the immediate outcomes, the PoC provides valuable insight into how AI‑driven automation can complement multi‑domain orchestration to support the future evolution of network and service operations. By validating the role of AI agents within the MDSO framework, Telefónica Deutschland and Blue Planet have established a foundation for scaling this approach to additional use cases and enabling more dynamic, intent‑based services.
About Telefónica Deutschland
Telefónica Deutschland is a leading full-service provider of telecommunications services for residential and business customers. The portfolio of the core brand O2 and various secondary and partner brands includes not only traditional telephone and Internet connections, but also innovative digital services in the areas of the Internet of Things, security, entertainment, and data analysis. In mobile communications, Telefónica Germany serves over 35 million mobile connections (as of December 31, 2025). The company is a leading mobile communications provider in the consumer market and in the market for innovative partner offerings, as well as a rapidly growing provider in the solutions business for corporate customers. The company's powerful and award-winning mobile network reaches more than 99 percent of the population. In the fixed-line network, Telefónica Germany offers its customers leading technological diversity and geographical availability in Germany. In fiscal year 2025, the company generated revenue of €8.2 billion and employed 7,650 people at the end of 2025. The company is majority-owned by the Spanish telecommunications group Telefónica S.A., based in Madrid, one of the world's largest telecommunications groups.
About Blue Planet
Blue Planet empowers communications service providers (CSPs) to be more software-driven, digital businesses with the industry’s first truly cloud-native operations support systems (OSS) platform. The Blue Planet intelligent automation portfolio helps CSPs automate network and service operations to speed the introduction of new services across any network domain or vendor. A division of Ciena and a key provider for many of the world’s leading CSPs, Blue Planet brings unparalleled expertise in accelerating digital transformation. For updates on Blue Planet, visit http://www.blueplanet.com/.
Note to Ciena Investors
You are encouraged to review the Investors section of our website, where we routinely post press releases, SEC filings, recent news, financial results, and other announcements. From time to time we exclusively post material information to this website along with other disclosure channels that we use. This press release contains certain forward-looking statements that are based on our current expectations, forecasts, information and assumptions. These statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties. Actual results or outcomes may differ materially from those stated or implied, because of risks and uncertainties, including those detailed in our most recent annual and quarterly reports filed with the SEC. Forward-looking statements include statements regarding our expectations, beliefs, intentions or strategies and can be identified by words such as "anticipate," "believe," "could," "estimate," "expect," "intend," "may," "should," "will," and "would" or similar words. Ciena assumes no obligation to update the information included in this press release, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260623839595/en/
HOUSTON & THE WOODLANDS, Texas--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Seneca Resources Company, LLC (Seneca), the exploration and production segment of National Fuel Gas Company (NYSE: NFG), and Evolution Well Services (Evolution) today announced a strategic alignment to deploy advanced electric fracturing technology across Seneca’s Appalachian basin footprint.
By leveraging our responsibly produced and gathered field gas to power electric fracturing operations, we can reduce fuel and logistics costs, improve reliability and uptime, and lower overall cost of ownership.
ShareThe partnership reflects strong alignment between two organizations committed to the responsible and transparent development of natural gas. By combining Evolution’s patent-protected electric fracturing technology, in-house power generation, and advanced field gas conditioning services with Seneca’s responsibly sourced natural gas production, the collaboration is designed to improve operational efficiency while reducing the environmental footprint of completions.
Together, the companies bring a shared focus on safety, performance, and disciplined execution. Evolution’s technology-driven approach and Seneca’s operational leadership will allow both teams to leverage real-time data and engineered solutions to drive efficiency during high-intensity completions.
“This initiative reflects Seneca’s focus on disciplined capital allocation and operational execution,” said Justin Loweth, President of Seneca Resources and NFG Midstream. “By leveraging our responsibly produced and gathered field gas to power electric fracturing operations, we can reduce fuel and logistics costs, improve reliability and uptime, and lower overall cost of ownership. Our partnership with Evolution demonstrates how thoughtfully integrated technology can drive meaningful operating efficiencies, enhance capital productivity, and deliver durable returns while maintaining strong environmental performance.”
“This alignment exemplifies how innovation and disciplined execution can work together to advance natural gas development,” said Steven W. Anderson, President and CEO of Evolution Well Services. “By integrating our fully electric fracturing technology, in-house power generation, and field gas conditioning with Seneca’s responsibly sourced natural gas, we are delivering a completion solution that prioritizes safety, reliability, and efficiency while reducing operational complexity. We’re proud to partner with Seneca to help set a higher standard for sustainable, high-performance completions in Appalachia.”
About Seneca Resources
Seneca Resources Company, LLC, headquartered in Houston, Texas, explores for, develops, and produces natural gas in the Appalachian Region including the Marcellus and Utica Shales. We have been providing energy and jobs for more than 100 years and remain committed to our core values of safety, environmental stewardship, community, professionalism, teamwork, and technical excellence.
Learn more at http://www.natfuel.com/seneca/default.aspx.
About Evolution Well Services
Evolution Well Services’ mission is to set the standard for electric fracturing by delivering consistent, best-in-class operational excellence through safety, innovation, and teamwork. The company leverages fully integrated, patent-protected electric frac operations, in-house power generation, and advanced field gas conditioning services to deliver reliable engineered solutions. Together, We Innovate to enhance performance, maximize efficiency, and create lasting value for partners across the oil and gas industry.
Seneca Resources Company, LLC (Seneca), the exploration and production segment of National Fuel Gas Company (NYSE: NFG), and Evolution Well Services (Evolution) today announced a strategic alignment to deploy advanced electric fracturing technology across Seneca’s Appalachian basin footprint.
This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260622340922/en/
Seneca and Evolution today announced a strategic alignment to deploy advanced electric fracturing technology across Seneca’s Appalachian basin footprint.
The partnership reflects strong alignment between two organizations committed to the responsible and transparent development of natural gas. By combining Evolution’s patent-protected electric fracturing technology, in-house power generation, and advanced field gas conditioning services with Seneca’s responsibly sourced natural gas production, the collaboration is designed to improve operational efficiency while reducing the environmental footprint of completions.
Together, the companies bring a shared focus on safety, performance, and disciplined execution. Evolution’s technology-driven approach and Seneca’s operational leadership will allow both teams to leverage real-time data and engineered solutions to drive efficiency during high-intensity completions.
“This initiative reflects Seneca’s focus on disciplined capital allocation and operational execution,” said Justin Loweth, President of Seneca Resources and NFG Midstream. “By leveraging our responsibly produced and gathered field gas to power electric fracturing operations, we can reduce fuel and logistics costs, improve reliability and uptime, and lower overall cost of ownership. Our partnership with Evolution demonstrates how thoughtfully integrated technology can drive meaningful operating efficiencies, enhance capital productivity, and deliver durable returns while maintaining strong environmental performance.”
“This alignment exemplifies how innovation and disciplined execution can work together to advance natural gas development,” said Steven W. Anderson, President and CEO of Evolution Well Services. “By integrating our fully electric fracturing technology, in-house power generation, and field gas conditioning with Seneca’s responsibly sourced natural gas, we are delivering a completion solution that prioritizes safety, reliability, and efficiency while reducing operational complexity. We’re proud to partner with Seneca to help set a higher standard for sustainable, high-performance completions in Appalachia.”
About Seneca Resources
Seneca Resources Company, LLC, headquartered in Houston, Texas, explores for, develops, and produces natural gas in the Appalachian Region including the Marcellus and Utica Shales. We have been providing energy and jobs for more than 100 years and remain committed to our core values of safety, environmental stewardship, community, professionalism, teamwork, and technical excellence.
Learn more at http://www.natfuel.com/seneca/default.aspx.
About Evolution Well Services
Evolution Well Services’ mission is to set the standard for electric fracturing by delivering consistent, best-in-class operational excellence through safety, innovation, and teamwork. The company leverages fully integrated, patent-protected electric frac operations, in-house power generation, and advanced field gas conditioning services to deliver reliable engineered solutions. Together, We Innovate to enhance performance, maximize efficiency, and create lasting value for partners across the oil and gas industry.
Learn more at www.evolutionws.com.
View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260622340922/en/
Whether it's through stocks, bonds, ETFs, or other types of securities, all investors love seeing their portfolios score big returns. But 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 the distribution of a company's earnings paid out to shareholders; it's often viewed by its dividend yield, a metric that measures a 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.
Based in Hanover, Independent Bank Corp. (INDB - Free Report) is in the Finance sector, and so far this year, shares have seen a price change of 10.91%. Currently paying a dividend of $0.64 per share, the company has a dividend yield of 3.16%. In comparison, the Banks - Northeast industry's yield is 2.23%, while the S&P 500's yield is 1.43%.
Looking at dividend growth, the company's current annualized dividend of $2.56 is up 8.5% from last year. Over the last 5 years, Independent Bank Corp. has increased its dividend 5 times on a year-over-year basis for an average annual increase of 5.67%. 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. Independent Bank Corp.'s current payout ratio is 41%, meaning it paid out 41% of its trailing 12-month EPS as dividend.
INDB is expecting earnings to expand this fiscal year as well. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2026 is $7.33 per share, representing a year-over-year earnings growth rate of 29.96%.
Investors like dividends for a variety of different reasons, from tax advantages and decreasing overall portfolio risk to considerably improving stock investing profits. However, not all companies offer a quarterly payout.
High-growth firms or tech start-ups, for example, rarely provide their shareholders a dividend, while larger, more established companies that have more secure profits are often seen as the best dividend options. Income investors must be conscious of the fact that high-yielding stocks tend to struggle during periods of rising interest rates. With that in mind, INDB is a compelling investment opportunity. Not only is it a strong dividend play, but the stock currently sits at a Zacks Rank of #3 (Hold).
Taking full advantage of the stock market and investing with confidence are common goals for new and old investors, and Zacks Premium offers many different ways to do both.
The popular research service can help you become a smarter, more self-assured investor, giving you access to daily updates of the Zacks Rank and Zacks Industry Rank, the Zacks #1 Rank List, Equity Research reports, and Premium stock screens.
Zacks Premium includes access to the Zacks Style Scores as well.
What are the Zacks Style Scores? The Zacks Style Scores, developed alongside the Zacks Rank, are complementary indicators that rate stocks based on three widely-followed investing methodologies; they also help investors pick stocks with the best chances of beating the market over the next 30 days.
Each stock is assigned a rating of A, B, C, D, or F based on their value, growth, and momentum characteristics. Just like in school, an A is better than a B, a B is better than a C, and so on -- that means the better the score, the better chance the stock will outperform.
The Style Scores are broken down into four categories:
Value ScoreValue investors love finding good stocks at good prices, especially before the broader market catches on to a stock's true value. Utilizing ratios like P/E, PEG, Price/Sales, Price/Cash Flow, and many other multiples, the Value Style Score identifies the most attractive and most discounted stocks.
Growth ScoreGrowth investors, on the other hand, are more concerned with a company's financial strength and health, and its future outlook. The Growth Style Score examines things like projected and historic earnings, sales, and cash flow to find stocks that will experience sustainable growth over time.
Momentum ScoreMomentum trading is all about taking advantage of upward or downward trends in a stock's price or earnings outlook, and these investors live by the saying "the trend is your friend." The Momentum Style Score can pinpoint good times to build a position in a stock, using factors like one-week price change and the monthly percentage change in earnings estimates.
VGM ScoreIf you like to use all three kinds of investing, then the VGM Score is for you. It's a combination of all Style Scores, and is an important indicator to use with the Zacks Rank. The VGM Score rates each stock on their shared weighted styles, narrowing down the companies with the most attractive value, best growth forecast, and most promising momentum.
How Style Scores Work with the Zacks Rank The Zacks Rank, which is a proprietary stock-rating model, employs earnings estimate revisions, or changes to a company's earnings expectations, to make building a winning portfolio easier.
#1 (Strong Buy) stocks have produced an unmatched +24% average annual return since 1988, which is more than double the S&P 500's performance over the same time frame. However, the Zacks Rank examines a ton of stocks, and there can be more than 200 companies with a Strong Buy rank, and another 600 with a #2 (Buy) rank, on any given day.
With more than 800 top-rated stocks to choose from, it can certainly feel overwhelming to pick the ones that are right for you and your investing journey.
That's where the Style Scores come in.
To have the best chance of big returns, you'll want to always consider stocks with a Zacks Rank #1 or #2 that also have Style Scores of A or B, which will give you the highest probability of success. If you're looking at stocks with a #3 (Hold) rank, it's important they have Scores of A or B as well to ensure as much upside potential as possible.
As mentioned above, the Scores are designed to work with the Zacks Rank, so any change to a company's earnings outlook should be a deciding factor when picking which stocks to buy.
A stock with a #4 (Sell) or #5 (Strong Sell) rating, for instance, even one with Scores of A and B, will still have a declining earnings forecast, and a greater chance its share price will fall too.
Thus, the more stocks you own with a #1 or #2 Rank and Scores of A or B, the better.
Stock to Watch: Alcon (ALC - Free Report) Headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland Alcon Inc. researches, develops, manufactures, distributes, and sells a full suite of eye care products. Founded in 1945, Alcon was first acquired by a Swiss subsidiary of Nestlé S.A. and operated as a wholly owned subsidiary of Nestlé until 2002. From March 20, 2002 until its 2011 merger into Novartis, Alcon was publicly listed and traded on the NYSE. In 2011, Novartis completed the acquisition of a full stake in Alcon.
ALC is a #3 (Hold) on the Zacks Rank, with a VGM Score of B.
It also boasts a Value Style Score of B thanks to attractive valuation metrics like a forward P/E ratio of 18.59; value investors should take notice.
Three analysts revised their earnings estimate upwards in the last 60 days for fiscal 2026. The Zacks Consensus Estimate has increased $0.02 to $3.48 per share. ALC boasts an average earnings surprise of +3.7%.
With a solid Zacks Rank and top-tier Value and VGM Style Scores, ALC should be on investors' short list.
Xiaomi stock price has suffered a major reversal in the last 12 months, moving from a high of H$61.55 to H$22.62 today, its lowest level since September 2024, with its market cap falling from H$1.53 trillion ($192 billion) to $74 billion. This retreat has happened amid the soaring memory prices and the ongoing retreat in EV stocks.
Xiaomi, a company often compared with Apple, has dropped sharply this year and is now hovering at its lowest level since 2024. This retreat has made it one of the worst-performing companies in the Hang Seng Index.
The company is facing some major challenges that are affecting its profits. The most notable one is the ongoing semiconductor and memory price surge around the world.
This is important because the company does not manufacture its own memory products. Instead, it uses products made by companies like SK Hynix, Micron, and Samsung Electronics. These companies have all seen a surge in memory demand, which has pushed their prices higher.
As a result, smartphone manufacturers are working on boosting their prices, which may affect their demand. Just last week, Apple became the first major company to say that it will hike prices for the next iPhones.
Xiaomi has also struggled because of its electric vehicle business. While its EV sales are rising, there are concerns that demand will wane after Beijing ended its subsidies earlier this year. All EV stocks have plunged sharply this year.
The most recent results showed that Xiaomi’s business is going in reverse gear. Its revenue dropped by 10.9% to RMB99.14 billion in the first quarter from the previous year’s RMB111.2 billion.
Its profitability metrics were worse. Its profit for the period declined by 56.5% to RMB4.7 billion, while the operating profit fell by 60% to RMB5.3 billion. These declines were mostly driven by the smartphone segment whose shipments dropped to 33.8 million units from 41.8 million in the same period last year.
READ MORE: Apple, Samsung warn of memory shortage in results: these stocks will benefit
The same slowdown is happening across its other segments. Vehicle deliveries dropped to 80,856 from 145,115 in the fourth quarter. Q4’s surge happened as customers rushed to buy ahead of the expiration of subsidies.
With its business slowing, the company has moved to financial engineering by reducing the number of outstanding shares. It bought 250 million shares valued at over H$8.4 billion.
Xiaomi stock price chart | Source: TradingView
The weekly chart shows that the Xiaomi share price has slumped in the past few months. This retreat happened after the stock formed a triple-top pattern at H$61.5 and a neckline at H$36. It has slumped below the 50-week Exponential Moving Average (EMA).
The stock has dropped below the 61.8% Fibonacci Retracement level, while the Relative Strength Index (RSI) moving below the oversold level. Therefore, the stock will likely continue falling, potentially to the key support of $19.86, the 78.2% retracement level.
FAIR LAWN, N.J., June 23, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Columbia Financial, Inc. (“Columbia”) (NASDAQ: CLBK), a Delaware corporation and the mid-tier holding company for Columbia Bank, announced today, on a preliminary basis, that Columbia Financial, Inc., a Maryland corporation and the proposed successor to Columbia, received over 5,000 orders representing approximately $925 million in the subscription offering that expired on June 16, 2026 in connection with the “second-step” conversion of Columbia Bank MHC from mutual to stock form.
In addition, Columbia also announced an increase in the maximum purchase limits in the stock offering being conducted by Columbia Financial, Inc. The maximum individual purchase limit in the offering has been increased from 300,000 shares ($3.0 million) to 800,000 shares ($8.0 million) and the maximum group purchase limit has been increased from 1,000,000 shares ($10.0 million) to 5,000,000 shares ($50.0 million).
Consistent with the prospectus dated May 11, 2026, as supplemented by the prospectus supplement dated June 23, 2026, only those persons who subscribed for the maximum number of shares in the subscription offering will be resolicited and given the opportunity to order additional shares up to the new purchase limits. Supplemental stock order forms will be distributed to those subscribers. A properly completed original supplemental stock order form for any increased stock order, together with full payment of immediately available funds, must be received by Columbia Financial, Inc. (not postmarked) by 2:00 p.m., Eastern time, on June 30, 2026. All other eligible subscribers who submitted valid stock order forms in the subscription offering will have their stock orders filled in full.
Columbia Financial, Inc. currently does not intend to conduct a community offering and will be offering shares not subscribed for in the subscription offering for sale at the same price of $10.00 per share in a firm commitment underwritten offering. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods, Inc., A Stifel Company, will serve as the lead-left book running manager, Piper Sandler & Co. will act as co-book running manager and Brean Capital, LLC will act as co-manager for the firm commitment underwritten offering. Anyone purchasing stock in the firm commitment underwritten offering is subject to the new purchase limitations set forth above.
Completion of the offering remains subject to (1) approval of the plan of conversion and reorganization by the current stockholders of Columbia and the members (who are eligible depositors and borrowers of Columbia Bank) of Columbia Bank MHC, (2) the receipt of all required final regulatory approvals, including an update of the independent appraisal, and (3) the sale of at least 142,375,000 shares of common stock, including up to 61,390,681 shares that may be issued as merger consideration to stockholders of Northfield Bancorp, Inc. (“Northfield”), at the adjusted minimum of the offering range.
About Columbia
Columbia is a Delaware corporation organized as Columbia Bank’s mid-tier stock holding company. Columbia is a majority-owned subsidiary of Columbia Bank MHC. Columbia Bank is a federally chartered savings bank headquartered in Fair Lawn, New Jersey that operates 70 full-service banking offices and offers traditional financial services to consumers and businesses in its market area. For more information about Columbia Bank, please visit www.columbiabankonline.com.
Disclaimer and Caution About Forward-Looking Statements
Certain statements in this press release constitute “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, as amended, which statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties. Examples of forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements regarding the outlook and expectations of Columbia and Northfield, respectively, with respect to the proposed transaction, the strategic benefits and financial benefits of the proposed transaction, including the expected impact of the proposed transaction on the combined company’s future financial performance (including anticipated accretion to earnings per share, the tangible book value earn-back period and other operating and return metrics), the timing of the closing of the proposed transaction, and the ability to successfully integrate the combined businesses. Such statements are often characterized by the use of qualified words (and their derivatives) such as “may,” “will,” “anticipate,” “could,” “should,” “would,” “believe,” “contemplate,” “expect,” “estimate,” “continue,” “plan,” “project” and “intend,” as well as words of similar meaning or other statements concerning opinions or judgment of Columbia or Northfield or their respective management about future events.
Forward-looking statements are based on assumptions as of the time they are made and are subject to risks, uncertainties and other factors that are difficult to predict with regard to timing, extent, likelihood and degree of occurrence, which could cause actual results to differ materially from anticipated results expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such risks, uncertainties and assumptions, include, among others, the following: (i) the occurrence of any event, change or other circumstances that could give rise to the right of one or both of the parties to terminate the merger agreement; (ii) the possibility that the proposed transaction does not close when expected or at all because the required approval by Columbia’s and/or Northfield’s stockholders, or other approvals and the other conditions to closing, are not received or satisfied on a timely basis or at all; (iii) the outcome of any legal proceedings that may be instituted against Columbia or Northfield; (iv) the possibility that the anticipated benefits of the proposed transaction, including anticipated cost savings and strategic gains, are not realized when expected or at all, including as a result of changes in, or problems arising from, general economic and market conditions, interest and exchange rates, monetary policy, laws and regulations and their enforcement, and the degree of competition in the geographic and business areas in which Columbia and Northfield operate; (v) the possibility that the integration of the two companies may be more difficult, time-consuming or costly than expected; (vi) Columbia’s ability to successfully complete its second-step conversion; (vi) the possibility that the final independent appraisal of Columbia will differ from the preliminary independent appraisal of Columbia; (viii) the impact of purchase accounting with respect to the proposed transaction, or any change in the assumptions used regarding the assets acquired and liabilities assumed to determine their fair value and credit marks; (ix) the possibility that the proposed transaction may be more expensive or take longer to complete than anticipated, including as a result of unexpected factors or events; (x) the diversion of management’s attention from ongoing business operations and opportunities; (xi) potential adverse reactions of Columbia’s or Northfield’s customers or changes to business or employee relationships, including those resulting from the announcement or completion of the proposed transaction; (xii) a material adverse change in the financial condition of Columbia or Northfield; (xiii) changes in Columbia’s or Northfield’s share price before closing; (xiv) risks relating to the potential dilutive effect of shares of Columbia’s common stock to be issued in the proposed transaction; (xv) general competitive, economic, political and market conditions, including the impact of any potential government shutdown; (xvi) major catastrophes such as earthquakes, floods or other natural or human disasters, including infectious disease outbreaks; and (xvii) other factors that may affect future results of Columbia or Northfield, including, among others, changes in asset quality and credit risk; the imposition of tariffs and any retaliatory responses; the inability to sustain revenue and earnings growth; changes in interest rates; deposit flows; inflation; customer borrowing, repayment, investment and deposit practices; the impact, extent and timing of technological changes; capital management activities; and other actions of the Federal Reserve Board and legislative and regulatory actions and reforms.
These factors are not necessarily all of the factors that could cause Columbia’s, Northfield’s or the combined company’s actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from those expressed in or implied by any of the forward-looking statements. Other factors, including unknown or unpredictable factors, also could harm Columbia’s, Northfield’s or the combined company’s results.
Although each of Columbia and Northfield believes that its expectations with respect to forward-looking statements are based upon reasonable assumptions based on its existing knowledge of its business and operations, there can be no assurance that actual results of Columbia or Northfield will not differ materially from any projected future results expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Additional factors that could cause results to differ materially from those described above can be found in Columbia’s most recent annual report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2025, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, and other documents subsequently filed by Columbia with the Securities Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), and in Northfield’s most recent annual report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2025, and its other filings with the SEC and quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, and other documents subsequently filed by Northfield with the SEC. The actual results anticipated may not be realized or, even if substantially realized, they may not have the expected consequences to or effects on Columbia, Northfield or each of their respective businesses or operations. Investors are cautioned not to rely too heavily on any such forward-looking statements. Columbia and Northfield urge you to consider all of these risks, uncertainties and other factors carefully in evaluating all such forward-looking statements made by Columbia and Northfield. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made and Columbia and/or Northfield undertake no obligation to update or clarify these forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except to the extent required by applicable law. For purposes of this section, references to Columbia include both Columbia Financial, Inc., a Delaware corporation and the current mid-tier holding company for Columbia Bank, and Columbia Financial, Inc., a Maryland corporation and the proposed successor holding company of Columbia Bank.
Important Additional Information About the Transaction and Where to Find It
Columbia Financial, Inc. has filed with the SEC a Registration Statement on Form S-1 (the “Form S-1 Registration Statement”) that includes a prospectus of Columbia Financial, Inc. and other relevant documents concerning the proposed second-step conversion. In addition, Columbia Financial, Inc. has also filed with the SEC a Registration Statement on Form S-4 (the “Form S-4 Registration Statement”) that includes a joint proxy statement/prospectus concerning the proposed second-step conversion and the merger.
BEFORE MAKING ANY VOTING OR INVESTMENT DECISION, INVESTORS AND STOCKHOLDERS OF COLUMBIA AND NORTHFIELD ARE URGED TO READ THE FORM S-1 REGISTRATION STATEMENT AND THE FORM S-4 REGISTRATION STATEMENT AND THE JOINT PROXY STATEMENT/PROSPECTUS REGARDING THE PROPOSED TRANSACTION AND ANY OTHER RELEVANT DOCUMENTS FILED WITH THE SEC, AS WELL AS ANY AMENDMENTS OR SUPPLEMENTS TO THOSE DOCUMENTS, BECAUSE THEY CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT THE PROPOSED TRANSACTION AND RELATED MATTERS.
This communication does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities or the solicitation of any vote or approval with respect to the proposed second-step conversion or the proposed merger between Columbia Financial, Inc. and Northfield. No offer of securities shall be made except by means of a prospectus meeting the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and no offer to sell or solicitation of an offer to buy shall be made in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of such jurisdiction.
A copy of the Form S-1 Registration Statement and the Form S-4 Registration Statement, Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus, as well as other filings containing information about Columbia and Northfield may be obtained, free of charge, at the SEC’s website (http://www.sec.gov). You may also obtain these documents, free of charge, by directing a request to Columbia Investor Relations, 19-01 Route 208 North, Fair Lawn, New Jersey 07410, or by calling (833) 550-0717, or to Northfield by directing a request to Northfield Investor Relations, 581 Main Street, Suite 810, Woodbridge, New Jersey 07095 or by calling (732) 499-7200 x2519. The information on Columbia’s or Northfield’s respective websites is not, and shall not be deemed to be, a part of this communication or incorporated into other filings either company makes with the SEC.
Participants in the Solicitation
Columbia, Northfield and certain of their respective directors, executive officers and employees may be deemed to be participants in the solicitation of proxies from the stockholders of Columbia and Northfield in connection with the proposed transaction. Information about the interests of the directors and executive officers of Columbia and Northfield and other persons who may be deemed to be participants in the solicitation of stockholders of Columbia and Northfield in connection with the proposed transaction and a description of their direct and indirect interests, by security holdings or otherwise, is included in the Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus related to the proposed transaction.
Columbia Financial, Inc.
Investor Relations Department
(833) 550-0717
Taking full advantage of the stock market and investing with confidence are common goals for new and old investors, and Zacks Premium offers many different ways to do both.
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What are the Zacks Style Scores? Developed alongside the Zacks Rank, the Zacks Style Scores are a group of complementary indicators that help investors pick stocks with the best chances of beating the market over the next 30 days.
Each stock is given an alphabetic rating of A, B, C, D or F based on their value, growth, and momentum qualities. With this system, an A is better than a B, a B is better than a C, and so on, meaning the better the score, the better chance the stock will outperform.
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Value ScoreFor value investors, it's all about finding good stocks at good prices, and discovering which companies are trading under their true value before the broader market catches on. The Value Style Score utilizes ratios like P/E, PEG, Price/Sales, Price/Cash Flow, and a host of other multiples to help pick out the most attractive and discounted stocks.
Growth ScoreGrowth investors are more concerned with a stock's future prospects, and the overall financial health and strength of a company. Thus, the Growth Style Score analyzes characteristics like projected and historic earnings, sales, and cash flow to find stocks that will see sustainable growth over time.
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How Style Scores Work with the Zacks Rank The Zacks Rank, which is a proprietary stock-rating model, employs earnings estimate revisions, or changes to a company's earnings expectations, to make building a winning portfolio easier.
#1 (Strong Buy) stocks have produced an unmatched +24% average annual return since 1988, which is more than double the S&P 500's performance over the same time frame. However, the Zacks Rank examines a ton of stocks, and there can be more than 200 companies with a Strong Buy rank, and another 600 with a #2 (Buy) rank, on any given day.
With more than 800 top-rated stocks to choose from, it can certainly feel overwhelming to pick the ones that are right for you and your investing journey.
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To maximize your returns, you want to buy stocks with the highest probability of success. This means picking stocks with a Zacks Rank #1 or #2 that also have Style Scores of A or B. If you find yourself looking at stocks with a #3 (Hold) rank, make sure they have Scores of A or B as well to ensure as much upside potential as possible.
As mentioned above, the Scores are designed to work with the Zacks Rank, so any change to a company's earnings outlook should be a deciding factor when picking which stocks to buy.
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Thus, the more stocks you own with a #1 or #2 Rank and Scores of A or B, the better.
Stock to Watch: Advance Auto Parts (AAP - Free Report) Advance Auto Parts, Inc. operates in the U.S. automotive aftermarket industry and is primarily engaged in selling replacement parts (excluding tires), accessories, batteries and maintenance items for domestic and imported cars, vans, sport utility vehicles, light and heavy-duty trucks. It is a leading automotive parts provider in North America, serving both the do-it-yourself or DIY and professional installers (professional) as well as independently owned operators.
AAP is a #3 (Hold) on the Zacks Rank, with a VGM Score of A.
It also boasts a Value Style Score of B thanks to attractive valuation metrics like a forward P/E ratio of 18.63; value investors should take notice.
10 analysts revised their earnings estimate upwards in the last 60 days for fiscal 2026. The Zacks Consensus Estimate has increased $0.20 to $2.94 per share. AAP boasts an average earnings surprise of +62.1%.
With a solid Zacks Rank and top-tier Value and VGM Style Scores, AAP should be on investors' short list.
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Focus List MethodologyWhen stocks are picked for the Focus List, it reflects our enduring reliance on the power of earnings estimate revisions.
Earnings estimates, or expectations of growth and profitability, come from brokerage analysts who track publicly traded companies; these analysts work together with company management to analyze every aspect that may affect future earnings, like interest rates, the economy, and sector and industry optimism.
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The Focus List is comprised of stocks hand-picked from a long list of #1 (Strong Buy) or #2 (Buy) ranked companies, meaning that each new addition boasts a bullish earnings consensus among analysts.
Since stock prices respond to revisions, it can be very profitable to buy stocks with rising earnings estimates. By buying Focus List stocks, then, you're likely getting into companies whose future earnings estimates will be raised, potentially leading to price momentum.
Focus List Spotlight: Virtu Financial (VIRT - Free Report) Headquartered in New York, NY, Virtu Financial is a market-leading financial services firm that leverages cutting-edge technology to provide execution services and data, analytics and connectivity products to its clients and deliver liquidity to the global markets. It provides a wide array of offerings in execution, liquidity sourcing, analytics and broker-neutral, multi-dealer platforms in workflow technology. The company was founded in 2008.
Since being added to the Focus List on July 31, 2023 at $18.9 per share, shares of VIRT have increased 233.7% to $63.07. The stock is currently a #1 (Strong Buy) on the Zacks Rank.
For fiscal 2026, five analysts revised their earnings estimate upwards in the last 60 days, and the Zacks Consensus Estimate has increased $1.3 to $6.51. VIRT boasts an average earnings surprise of 25.1%.
Earnings for VIRT are forecasted to see growth of 13.6% for the current fiscal year as well.
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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 the distribution of a company's earnings paid out to shareholders; it's often viewed by its dividend yield, a metric that measures a dividend as a percent of the current stock price. Many academic studies show that dividends account for significant portions of long-term returns, with dividend contributions exceeding one-third of total returns in many cases.
Headquartered in Green Bay, Associated Banc-Corp (ASB - Free Report) is a Finance stock that has seen a price change of 13.35% so far this year. The bank holding company is currently shelling out a dividend of $0.24 per share, with a dividend yield of 3.29%. This compares to the Banks - Midwest industry's yield of 2.59% and the S&P 500's yield of 1.43%.
Looking at dividend growth, the company's current annualized dividend of $0.96 is up 3.2% from last year. Over the last 5 years, Associated Banc-Corp has increased its dividend 4 times on a year-over-year basis for an average annual increase of 5.59%. 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. Associated Banc-Corp's current payout ratio is 33%, meaning it paid out 33% of its trailing 12-month EPS as dividend.
Looking at this fiscal year, ASB expects solid earnings growth. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2026 is $2.92 per share, representing a year-over-year earnings growth rate of 5.42%.
From greatly improving stock investing profits and reducing overall portfolio risk to providing tax advantages, investors like dividends for a variety of different reasons. 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. Income investors have to be mindful of the fact that high-yielding stocks tend to struggle during periods of rising interest rates. With that in mind, ASB is a compelling investment opportunity. Not only is it a strong dividend play, but the stock currently sits at a Zacks Rank of #3 (Hold).
DeLoye sold 14,299 shares for a transaction value of ~$404,000 on May 26, 2026. This sale represented 40.1% of his direct holdings, reducing his direct position from 35,684 to 21,385 shares.
, /PRNewswire/ -- Associated Banc-Corp (NYSE: ASB) today announced it expects to release second quarter 2026 financial results on Thursday, July 23, 2026, after market close. The Company also expects to host a conference call for investors and analysts at 4:00 p.m. Central Time (CT) on the same day.
Interested parties can access the live webcast of the call through the Investor Relations section of the Company's website, http://investor.associatedbank.com. Parties may also dial into the call at 877-407-8037 (domestic) or 201-689-8037 (international) and request the Associated Banc-Corp second quarter 2026 earnings call. The financial tables and an accompanying slide presentation are expected to be available on the Company's website just prior to the call. An audio archive of the webcast is expected to be available on the Company's website approximately fifteen minutes after the call is over.
ABOUT ASSOCIATED BANC-CORP
Associated Banc-Corp (NYSE: ASB) has total assets of approximately $50 billion and is the largest bank holding company based in Wisconsin. Headquartered in Green Bay, Wisconsin, Associated is a leading Midwest banking franchise, offering a full range of financial products and services from over 200 banking locations throughout Wisconsin, Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, Missouri and Nebraska. The Company also operates loan production offices in Indiana, Kansas, Michigan, New York, Ohio and Texas. Associated Bank, N.A. is an Equal Housing Lender, Equal Opportunity Lender and Member FDIC. More information about Associated Banc-Corp is available at www.associatedbank.com.
FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
Statements made in this presentation which are not purely historical are forward-looking statements, as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. This includes any statements regarding management's plans, objectives, or goals for future operations, products or services, and forecasts of its revenues, earnings, or other measures of performance. Such forward-looking statements may be identified by the use of words such as "believe," "expect," "anticipate," "plan," "estimate," "should," "intend," "target," "outlook," "project," "guidance," "forecast," or similar expressions. Forward-looking statements are based on current management expectations and, by their nature, are subject to risks and uncertainties. Actual results may differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking statements. Factors which may cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in such forward-looking statements include those identified in the Company's most recent Form 10-K and subsequent Form 10-Qs and other SEC filings, and such factors are incorporated herein by reference.
Investor Contact: Ben McCarville
Senior Vice President | Director of Investor Relations
920-491-7059 | [email protected]
Media Contact: Andrea Kozek
Vice President | Senior Manager, Public Relations
920-491-7518 | [email protected]
Commercial Metals Company (NYSE:CMC) will release earnings for its third quarter before the opening bell on Thursday, June 25.
Analysts expect the Irving, Texas-based company to report quarterly earnings of $1.75 per share, up from 74 cents per share in the year-ago period. The consensus estimate for Commercial Metals’ quarterly revenue is $2.41 billion. It reported $2.02 billion last year, according to Benzinga Pro.
CMC said it will host its 2026 Investor Day on Aug. 5.
Shares of Commercial Metals fell 1.2% to close at $72.36 on Thursday.
Benzinga readers can access the latest analyst ratings on the Analyst Stock Ratings page. Readers can sort by stock ticker, company name, analyst firm, rating change or other variables.
Let’s have a look at how Benzinga’s most-accurate analysts have rated the company in the recent period.
Considering buying CMC stock? Here’s what analysts think:
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, /PRNewswire/ -- Today, June 24, 2026, the board of directors of CMC (NYSE: CMC) declared a regular quarterly cash dividend of $0.20 per share of CMC common stock. CMC's 247th consecutive quarterly dividend will be paid on July 15, 2026, to stockholders of record as of the close of business on July 6, 2026.
About CMC
CMC is a Fortune 500 company headquartered in Irving, Texas, and a leading provider of early-stage construction solutions that support the foundational phases of modern infrastructure and building projects. Founded in 1915, CMC has grown from a single-site recycling operation to one of the largest U.S. manufacturers of steel reinforcing bar ("rebar"), a leading producer of subgrade soil stabilization and foundation enhancement solutions and a major supplier of concrete pipe and precast products.
Through an extensive manufacturing network primarily located in the United States and Central Europe, with strategic operations in the United Kingdom, Europe and Asia, CMC serves infrastructure, non-residential, residential, industrial and energy markets. While often unseen, CMC's products are essential to highways, bridges, airports, commercial buildings and other critical structures that support everyday life.
Forward-Looking Statements
This news release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the federal securities laws with respect to CMC's cash flow capabilities, financial position, fundamental business outlook and capital allocation strategy. The statements in this release that are not historical statements, are forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements can generally be identified by phrases such as we or our management "expects," "anticipates," "believes," "estimates," "intends," "may," "plans to," "ought," "could," "will," "should," "likely," "appears," "projects," "forecasts," "outlook" or other similar words or phrases, as well as by discussions of strategy, plans or intentions.
CMC's forward-looking statements are based on management's expectations and beliefs as of the time this news release was prepared. Although we believe that our expectations are reasonable, we can give no assurance that these expectations will prove to have been correct, and actual results may vary materially. Except as required by law, we undertake no obligation to update, amend or clarify any forward-looking statements to reflect changed assumptions, the occurrence of anticipated or unanticipated events, new information or circumstances or any other changes. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from our expectations include those described in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including, but not limited to, in Part I, Item 1A, "Risk Factors" of our annual report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended August 31, 2025, as well as the following: changes in economic conditions which affect demand for our products or construction activity generally, and the impact of such changes on the highly cyclical steel industry; rapid and significant changes in the price of metals, potentially impairing our inventory values due to declines in commodity prices or reducing the profitability of downstream contracts within our vertically integrated steel operations due to rising commodity pricing; excess capacity in our industry, particularly in China, and product availability from competing steel mills and other steel suppliers including import quantities and pricing; the impact of additional steelmaking capacity expected to come online from a number of ongoing electric arc furnace projects in the U.S.; the impact of geopolitical conditions, including political turmoil and volatility, regional conflicts, terrorism and war on the global economy, inflation, energy supplies and raw materials; increased attention to environmental, social and governance ("ESG") matters, including any targets or other ESG, environmental justice or regulatory initiatives; operating and startup risks, as well as market risks associated with the commissioning of new projects could prevent us from realizing anticipated benefits and could result in a loss of all or a substantial part of our investments; impacts from global public health crises on the economy, demand for our products, global supply chain and on our operations; compliance with and changes in existing and future laws, regulations and other legal requirements and judicial decisions that govern our business, including increased environmental regulations associated with climate change and greenhouse gas emissions; involvement in various environmental matters that may result in fines, penalties or judgments; evolving remediation technology, changing regulations, possible third-party contributions, the inherent uncertainties of the estimation process and other factors that may impact amounts accrued for environmental liabilities; potential limitations in our or our customers' abilities to access credit and non-compliance with their contractual obligations, including payment obligations; activity in repurchasing shares of our common stock under our share repurchase program; financial and non-financial covenants and restrictions on the operation of our business contained in agreements governing our debt; our ability to successfully identify, consummate and integrate acquisitions and realize any or all of the anticipated synergies or other benefits of acquisitions; the effects that acquisitions may have on our financial leverage; risks associated with acquisitions generally, such as the inability to obtain, or delays in obtaining, required approvals under applicable antitrust legislation and other regulatory and third-party consents and approvals; lower than expected future levels of revenues and higher than expected future costs; failure or inability to implement growth strategies in a timely manner; the impact of goodwill or other indefinite-lived intangible asset impairment charges; the impact of long-lived asset impairment charges; currency fluctuations; global factors, such as trade measures, military conflicts and political uncertainties, including changes to current trade regulations, such as Section 232 trade tariffs and quotas, tax legislation and other regulations which might adversely impact our business; availability and pricing of electricity, electrodes and natural gas for mill operations; our ability to hire and retain key executives and other employees; competition from other materials or from competitors that have a lower cost structure or access to greater financial resources; information technology interruptions and breaches in security; our ability to make necessary capital expenditures; availability and pricing of raw materials and other items over which we exert little influence, including scrap metal, energy and insurance; unexpected equipment failures; losses or limited potential gains due to hedging transactions; litigation claims and settlements, court decisions, regulatory rulings and legal compliance risks, including those related to the Pacific Steel Group litigation and other legal proceedings; risk of injury or death to employees, customers or other visitors to our operations; and civil unrest, protests and riots.
