Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD - Free Report) is one of the stocks most watched by Zacks.com visitors lately. So, it might be a good idea to review some of the factors that might affect the near-term performance of the stock.
Shares of this operator of cable TV channels such as TLC and Animal Planet have returned -3.1% over the past month versus the Zacks S&P 500 composite's +2% change. The Zacks Broadcast Radio and Television industry, to which Warner Bros. Discovery belongs, has lost 11.3% over this period. Now the key question is: Where could the stock be headed in the near term?
Although media reports or rumors about a significant change in a company's business prospects usually cause its stock to trend and lead to an immediate price change, there are always certain fundamental factors that ultimately drive the buy-and-hold decision.
Revisions to Earnings EstimatesRather than focusing on anything else, we at Zacks prioritize evaluating the change in a company's earnings projection. This is because we believe the fair value for its stock is determined by the present value of its future stream of earnings.
Our analysis is essentially based on how sell-side analysts covering the stock are revising their earnings estimates to take the latest business trends into account. When earnings estimates for a company go up, the fair value for its stock goes up as well. And when a stock's fair value is higher than its current market price, investors tend to buy the stock, resulting in its price moving upward. Because of this, empirical studies indicate a strong correlation between trends in earnings estimate revisions and short-term stock price movements.
Warner Bros. Discovery is expected to post a loss of $0.12 per share for the current quarter, representing a year-over-year change of -119.1%. Over the last 30 days, the Zacks Consensus Estimate has changed +2.4%.
For the current fiscal year, the consensus earnings estimate of -$1.07 points to a change of -469% from the prior year. Over the last 30 days, this estimate has changed -49.6%.
For the next fiscal year, the consensus earnings estimate of $0.03 indicates a change of +97.3% from what Warner Bros. Discovery is expected to report a year ago. Over the past month, the estimate has changed -62.5%.
Having a strong externally audited track record, our proprietary stock rating tool, the Zacks Rank, offers a more conclusive picture of a stock's price direction in the near term, since it effectively harnesses the power of earnings estimate revisions. Due to the size of the recent change in the consensus estimate, along with three other factors related to earnings estimates, Warner Bros. Discovery is rated Zacks Rank #3 (Hold).
The chart below shows the evolution of the company's forward 12-month consensus EPS estimate:
12 Month EPS
Revenue Growth ForecastWhile earnings growth is arguably the most superior indicator of a company's financial health, nothing happens as such if a business isn't able to grow its revenues. After all, it's nearly impossible for a company to increase its earnings for an extended period without increasing its revenues. So, it's important to know a company's potential revenue growth.
For Warner Bros. Discovery, the consensus sales estimate for the current quarter of $9.39 billion indicates a year-over-year change of -4.3%. For the current and next fiscal years, $37.04 billion and $38.02 billion estimates indicate -0.7% and +2.6% changes, respectively.
Last Reported Results and Surprise HistoryWarner Bros. Discovery reported revenues of $8.89 billion in the last reported quarter, representing a year-over-year change of -1%. EPS of -$1.17 for the same period compares with -$0.18 a year ago.
Compared to the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $8.93 billion, the reported revenues represent a surprise of -0.42%. The EPS surprise was -1070%.
Over the last four quarters, the company surpassed EPS estimates just once. The company topped consensus revenue estimates just once over this period.
ValuationWithout considering a stock's valuation, no investment decision can be efficient. In predicting a stock's future price performance, it's crucial to determine whether its current price correctly reflects the intrinsic value of the underlying business and the company's growth prospects.
While comparing the current values of a company's valuation multiples, such as price-to-earnings (P/E), price-to-sales (P/S), and price-to-cash flow (P/CF), with its own historical values helps determine whether its stock is fairly valued, overvalued, or undervalued, comparing the company relative to its peers on these parameters gives a good sense of the reasonability of the stock's price.
As part of the Zacks Style Scores system, the Zacks Value Style Score (which evaluates both traditional and unconventional valuation metrics) organizes stocks into five groups ranging from A to F (A is better than B; B is better than C; and so on), making it helpful in identifying whether a stock is overvalued, rightly valued, or temporarily undervalued.
Warner Bros. Discovery is graded C on this front, indicating that it is trading at par with its peers. Click here to see the values of some of the valuation metrics that have driven this grade.
Bottom LineThe facts discussed here and much other information on Zacks.com might help determine whether or not it's worthwhile paying attention to the market buzz about Warner Bros. Discovery. However, its Zacks Rank #3 does suggest that it may perform in line with the broader market in the near term.
The media and entertainment sector is undergoing a terminal consolidation phase, completely altering how capital flows through the sector. Investors chasing unverified buyout rumors learned a harsh lesson when speculative chatter surrounding Lionsgate Studios Corp. NYSE: LION and Netflix, Inc. NASDAQ: NFLX collapsed overnight. Retail traders piled in on hopes of a premium buyout, only to be crushed by a swift denial from Netflix management. Speculative intellectual property hunting is a wealth hazard. Smart money is deploying capital in entirely different ways.
Trillion-dollar technology conglomerates exercise strict discipline, prioritizing margin defense over legacy studio bailouts. The unconditional Department of Justice clearance of the $110.9 billion Paramount Skydance NASDAQ: PSKY and Warner Bros. Discovery, Inc. NASDAQ: WBD mega-merger, alongside the $22 billion Fox Corporation NASDAQ: FOXA buyout of Roku, Inc. NASDAQ: ROKU, establishes a new paradigm. The mergers-and-acquisitions playbook has permanently pivoted from content hoarding to distribution control and hard arbitrage.
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Debt Traps and Dead Scripts: The Studio IllusionLionsgate Studios Today
LION
Lionsgate Studios
$15.05 -0.16 (-1.05%)
As of 03:58 PM Eastern
52-Week Range$5.55▼
$16.70Price Target$15.37
When options volume for Lionsgate Studios spiked to over 21,646 contracts on June 16, heavily concentrated in July 2026 $16 and $18 speculative calls, the trap was set. The swift denial instantly crushed this premium. This serves as a textbook case of retail behavior generating highly monetizable shorting opportunities for institutional desks.
Let's unpack why the buyout rumor never made fundamental sense. Acquiring intellectual property sounds strategic until you examine the underlying balance sheets. Recent 10-K filings reveal Lionsgate Studios faces an estimated $1.96 billion in debt service obligations over the next 12 months. In an environment where capital costs remain elevated, acquiring an overleveraged balance sheet severely dilutes free cash flow margins for any potential buyer.
Lionsgate Studios carries a massive forward price-to-earnings ratio of over 88, suggesting the current valuation is heavily skewed toward an artificial acquisition premium rather than fundamental earnings growth. Last quarter, Lionsgate Studios missed earnings-per-share estimates, reporting a 7-cent loss versus an expected 2-cent loss.
This lack of fundamental profitability makes the $1.96 billion debt wall even more precarious. Netflix operates with a highly disciplined capital allocation framework. Netflix refuses to function as a white knight for struggling studios just to acquire legacy film franchises.
Netflix simply does not need expensive, debt-laden acquisitions to drive top-line revenue. Netflix surpassed 250 million monthly active users on its ad-supported tier in May 2026. Coupled with aggressive live sports integration, organic average revenue per user is expanding rapidly. Net margins are robust at 28.52%. Sustainable organic growth negates the strategic necessity for margin-dilutive acquisitions.
Institutional short sellers understood this reality. Financial Industry Regulatory Authority data indicates that short interest in Lionsgate Studios surged by more than 191% over the trailing 12 months, representing roughly 9.4% of the float. Smart money bet against the standalone viability of Lionsgate Studios long before retail investors chased the intraday spike.
Digital Tollbooths: Owning the Living Room Operating SystemThe fundamental value in the entertainment sector has migrated from the content itself to the hardware and software that delivers it. Content production is highly commoditized and incredibly capital-intensive. Distribution infrastructure operates as a high-margin digital tollbooth. Fox Corporation recognized this structural dynamic and formalized an agreement to acquire Roku for $22 billion.
FOX Today
$48.79 -0.60 (-1.21%)
As of 04:00 PM Eastern
52-Week Range$48.55▼
$76.39Dividend Yield1.15%
P/E Ratio12.87
Price Target$74.36
This transaction is a masterclass in modern media strategy. Fox Corporation secures the connected television home screen and the invaluable first-party viewing data of over 100 million households. First-party viewing data allows Roku to charge premium rates for targeted programmatic advertising.
By controlling the interface where viewers select streaming applications, Roku extracts a toll from every media transaction on the television screen. Fox Corporation recognized that integrating this targeted advertising engine with its live broadcast network creates a monetization loop that traditional content studios simply cannot replicate.
Owning the living room operating system yields higher structural leverage than owning a mid-tier movie catalog. For investors, the optimal strategy is to accumulate equities that control these digital gateways.
Infrastructure providers operating ad-insertion software, smart television operating systems, and programmatic video ecosystems present compelling fundamentals. These infrastructure providers operate with high-margin, software-as-a-service models.
Roku and similar infrastructure providers remain completely immune to the heavy capital expenditures required to produce blockbuster films or prestige television. When legacy studios realize they cannot survive without localized distribution and targeted ad-insertion capabilities, these infrastructure stocks become the next wave of highly probable acquisition targets.
Spin-Off Scripts: Trading the Sum of the Media PartsGenerating absolute returns in the current volatile environment demands rotating out of mid-cap studio rumors and deploying capital into mathematical spreads. The Paramount Skydance and Warner Bros. Discovery transaction offers a defined, hard catalyst. Warner Bros. Discovery currently trades near $27, down from a finalized $31 all-cash buyout price. That represents a roughly 14 % merger arbitrage spread.
Warner Bros. Discovery Today
WBD
Warner Bros. Discovery
$26.88 -0.07 (-0.26%)
As of 04:00 PM Eastern
52-Week Range$10.75▼
$30.00Price Target$27.04
Historically, media mega-mergers faced intense regulatory scrutiny, keeping arbitrage spreads wide as investors priced in the risk of deal collapse. With the Department of Justice Antitrust Division granting unconditional clearance to the $110.9 billion transaction, the regulatory risk profile is exceptionally asymmetric.
For retail and institutional investors, merger arbitrage involves purchasing Warner Bros. Discovery shares at a discount to the open market price and holding them until the acquiring company finalizes the transaction, automatically converting those shares into the $31 cash payout. Institutional capital will increasingly rotate out of volatile equities and into these high-probability, event-driven spreads to capture yield as the Paramount Skydance deal approaches its closing date.
Beyond outright acquisitions, persistent margin compression across the interactive entertainment space is forcing major corporate restructuring. Microsoft Corporation NASDAQ: MSFT is facing widespread speculation regarding the restructuring of its struggling gaming unit. Internal options reportedly include spinning off the Xbox division into a wholly owned subsidiary or an independent venture to mitigate the capital drain.
This highlights a broader structural shift toward capital efficiency. Buying Microsoft Corporation purely for a minor gaming restructuring offers diluted returns. The actionable trade involves waiting for definitive SEC S-1 filings or spin-off authorizations, then acquiring the newly separated, pure-play equity. Standalone entities unburdened by parent-company overhead typically experience immediate repricing of their sum-of-the-parts valuation. This dynamic consistently attracts aggressive institutional accumulation.
Final Cut: Directing Capital Toward Media GatewaysThe era of throwing capital at any studio with a recognizable film franchise is over. Media consolidation is entering its endgame, rewarding investors who prioritize structural leverage and definitive catalysts over unverified chatter.
Selling into rumor-driven liquidity vacuums capitalizes on retail behavior while maintaining strict institutional risk management. Capital deployment requires formalized term sheets rather than reacting to sector-wide fear of missing out. The swift 5% after-hours correction in Lionsgate Studios shares following Netflix's denial proves that legacy technology companies will not overpay for content.
Investors may want to evaluate media-sector exposure, rotating away from speculative intellectual property holders facing massive debt maturities. Accumulating connected television infrastructure companies or capturing the yield in cleared merger spreads offers a highly calculated approach to navigating the media industry's structural transformation.
Should You Invest $1,000 in Lionsgate Studios Right Now?Before you consider Lionsgate Studios, you'll want to hear this.
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New solution from Omnicom's designated commerce practice leverages reverse engineering from AI systems to reveal how product content is evaluated
, /PRNewswire/ -- Flywheel, a leader in commerce and technology solutions and part of the Omnicom (NYSE: OMC) Integrated Media offering, today launched a new Generative Engine Optimization (GEO) capability designed to help brands earn recommendations within AI-powered commerce experiences across retailers including Amazon, Walmart, and Target.
The new capability is the latest addition to Omnicom's global portfolio of GEO solutions - spanning commerce, media and public relations - that help clients increase visibility and performance in AI search.
Flywheel GEO Capability "As product discovery rapidly shifts toward AI-driven shopping experiences, brands need to rethink how they appear in these environments," said Alex McCord, CEO of Flywheel. "Flywheel sits at the intersection of retail expertise, commerce data, AI enablement, and scaled execution, which uniquely positions us to help brands optimize for how AI-powered commerce ecosystems actually work."
From Search to Recommendation
For years, brands relied on traditional Search Engine Optimization (SEO) to improve visibility in retailer search results. But as conversational AI shopping experiences become more common, the focus is shifting from ranking in search to being selected and recommended by AI systems.
While many brands continue optimizing Product Detail Pages (PDPs) for search algorithms, AI systems now evaluate products differently, prioritizing contextual relevance, conversational language, and consumer intent. Existing SEO tools and manual audits often fail to measure or improve performance in generative AI environments.
"The GEO conversation is evolving quickly, but brands cannot afford to wait," said Mike O'Donnell, Head of AI at Flywheel. "Without action, products risk disappearing from AI-generated recommendations, reducing organic traffic and increasing dependence on paid media to maintain visibility."
How the Capability Works
The short answer: reverse engineering AI systems to reveal how product content is evaluated.
Flywheel's GEO solution combines AI-powered auditing, content optimization, and ongoing performance measurement into a single workflow designed for commerce platforms.
The capability evaluates PDP content across retailers and benchmarks it against GEO best practices informed by AI behavior, algorithms, and visibility signals. It then identifies gaps in content quality and relevance before optimizing titles, bullet points, and descriptions with conversational language, use cases, audience targeting, and functional benefits.
The solution also tracks downstream impact on traffic, conversion, and sales, while scaling insights across SKUs and categories in alignment with brand and SEO guidelines.
"What makes this capability different is its focus on platform-native AI optimization," said O'Donnell. "We are connecting content, AI discovery, and business outcomes in one integrated solution that combines audit, activation, and measurement."
Early results have been strong. In a recent pilot for a beauty brand, Flywheel's GEO capability drove 56% portfolio growth and an 80% increase in clicks and website traffic after refining product descriptions to better align with consumer intent and AI recommendation models.
Optimizing for AI-Driven Commerce
Rather than focusing solely on improving search rankings, Flywheel's GEO capability is designed to help products surface directly in AI-generated recommendations. The solution identifies missing content signals such as gifting context, age appropriateness, materials, and safety information that influence how AI systems evaluate products.
"AI recommendation engines rely on richer context than traditional search," said O'Donnell. "By strengthening those signals, brands can improve how products are surfaced and recommended during the shopping journey."
Summing up the value the Flywheel offering adds to Omnicom's GEO solutions portfolio, Megan Pagliuca, Chief Product Officer at Omnicom Media, said: "By combining AI precision with deep retail and category expertise, Flywheel is helping brands adapt in real time to the changing dynamics of commerce and make smarter decisions that drive growth across retail channels."
ABOUT FLYWHEEL
Flywheel, a leader in commerce and technology solutions and part of the Omnicom (NYSE: OMC) Integrated Media offering, provides best-in-class service that combines tailored expertise with advanced software solutions to help clients drive incremental sales, market share, profitability, and measurable commerce growth.
A leader across major marketplace platforms, Flywheel combines global scale and influence with a customized, client-centric approach designed to deliver impactful business outcomes. Client success remains at the center of the company's mission.
With operations across the Americas, Europe, APAC, and China, Flywheel is widely recognized for the scale of its retail media capabilities, while delivering value across the entire commerce ecosystem. The company helps brands navigate the evolving commerce landscape through integrated solutions built to accelerate growth and performance.
CHICAGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Ventas, Inc. (NYSE: VTR) (“Ventas” or the “Company”) today announced that the Company has named Andrew L. Wattula Executive Vice President, Outpatient Medical & Research and CEO of Lillibridge Healthcare Services, a wholly-owned property management and leasing subsidiary of Ventas, effective August 2026. He will oversee the Company’s differentiated outpatient medical and research business, which is a leading owner and manager of properties operating at the intersection of medicine, research and universities. He succeeds Peter J. Bulgarelli, who retired from Ventas in May 2026.
Wattula brings deep operational, leasing and tenant engagement expertise to Ventas. Working with the Company’s in-place expert teams, Andy will focus on driving operational excellence and maximizing the performance of our portfolio. He will report to Debra A. Cafaro, Ventas Chairman and CEO.
“Andy has an exceptional combination of leadership, operational rigor, real estate expertise and client focus that will further strengthen our in-place expert outpatient medical and research teams. His ability to integrate operations, leasing and client engagement aligns with our focus on maximizing performance and creating value for Ventas stockholders and key stakeholders including physicians, patients and researchers. We are delighted to welcome Andy to the Ventas team,” said Debra A. Cafaro, Ventas Chairman and CEO.
Wattula is an accomplished commercial real estate leader, with more than twenty years of experience in operations, strategy and leasing. Most recently, he served as Chief Operating Officer at Hudson Pacific Properties, Inc. (NYSE: HPP), where he led operations for a 16.5 million square foot office and retail portfolio serving more than 1,000 tenants. Prior to Hudson Pacific, Wattula held roles of increasing responsibility at Beacon Capital Partners and Hines.
Before his career in commercial real estate, Wattula served as a Naval Flight Officer in the United States Navy, leading mission-critical teams in operations, training, budgeting and personnel development. Wattula was a mission commander overseas and was awarded the Navy Air Medal for his service.
Wattula holds a Bachelor of Science with honors from Vanderbilt University and a Master in Business Administration from Harvard Business School. He serves on the Leadership Council of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation and is actively engaged with health systems, researchers and donors on pediatric pulmonary research and care.
About Ventas
Ventas, Inc. (NYSE: VTR) is an S&P 500 company enabling exceptional environments that benefit a large and growing aging population. With more than 1,400 properties in North America and the United Kingdom, Ventas occupies an essential role in the longevity economy. The Company’s growth is fueled by its approximately 900 senior housing communities, which provide valuable services to residents and enable them to thrive in supported environments. Ventas aims to deliver outsized performance by leveraging its operational expertise, data-driven insights from its Ventas OITM platform, extensive relationships and strong financial position. The Ventas portfolio also includes outpatient medical buildings, research centers and healthcare facilities. Ventas’s seasoned team of talented professionals shares a commitment to excellence, integrity and a common purpose of helping people live longer, healthier, happier lives.
Acquisition adds multiple immunology assets to Biogen’s portfolio, including a lead asset poised to enter Phase 1 development June 17, 2026 18:59 ET | Source: Biogen Inc.
CAMBRIDGE, Mass. and SAN DIEGO, June 17, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Biogen Inc. (Nasdaq: BIIB) and RayThera Inc., a private biotechnology company focused on discovering and developing small molecule therapies in immunology, today announced the companies have entered into a definitive agreement under which Biogen has agreed to acquire RayThera Inc. for up to $1 billion, consisting of an upfront payment and, predominantly, payments contingent on the achievement of future clinical and regulatory milestones.
RayThera’s portfolio includes multiple anti-inflammatory assets that could potentially treat immune-mediated conditions across a range of indications. The lead candidate is expected to enter Phase 1 development in early Q3 2026.
“With this acquisition, we are further deepening our pipeline in immunology by adding a suite of assets that can allow us to expand into new disease areas,” said Priya Singhal, M.D., M.P.H., Executive Vice President and Head of Development at Biogen. “We believe these assets can meaningfully contribute to our long-term pipeline potential and we’re excited about the opportunity to rapidly advance the first candidate into the clinic.”
“With its strong global development capabilities in immunology, we believe that Biogen is the natural fit to move these assets forward into Phase 1 development and beyond,” said Qing Dong, co-founder, Chairman and CEO of RayThera. “I am proud of our team at RayThera for the innovative pipeline we have built together and the rapid advancement of these molecules.”
Financial Details and Terms of the Transaction
Under the terms of the agreement, Biogen will make an upfront payment to RayThera’s shareholders, who would also be eligible for clinical and regulatory milestone payments for a total potential deal value of up to $1 billion. The transaction is subject to customary closing conditions, including receipt of necessary regulatory approvals and is currently anticipated to close in the third quarter of 2026. With the acquisition, once closed, Biogen will lead development, manufacturing and global commercialization of these assets.
About Biogen
Founded in 1978, Biogen is a leading biotechnology company that pioneers innovative science to deliver new medicines to transform patients’ lives and to create value for shareholders and our communities. We apply deep understanding of human biology and leverage different modalities to advance first-in-class treatments or therapies that deliver superior outcomes. Our approach is to take bold risks, balanced with return on investment to deliver long-term growth.
We routinely post information that may be important to investors on our website at www.biogen.com. Follow us on social media - Facebook, LinkedIn, X, YouTube.
About RayThera, Inc.
RayThera, Inc. is a small molecule drug discovery company focused on building an immunology pipeline. Based in San Diego, CA, and co-founded by Qing Dong, Ph.D., and Gene Hung, M.D., the company is led by a team of accomplished drug discovery leaders and executives with a proven track record across the biotech and pharma industries. RayThera recently completed its Series A financing co-led by Foresite Capital and OrbiMed Advisors, with participation from TTM Capital. For more information, visit www.raythera.com.
Biogen Safe Harbor
This press release contains forward-looking statements that are being made pursuant to the provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 (the PSLRA) with the intention of obtaining the benefits of the “Safe Harbor” provisions of the PSLRA. This press release contains forward-looking statements, relating to: the anticipated benefits of the RayThera Inc. acquisition (the “Acquisition”), our strategy and our future financial and operating results, costs and other anticipated financial impacts of the Acquisition, and our long-term pipeline potential in immunology. These forward-looking statements may be accompanied by such words as “aim,” “anticipate,” “assume,” “believe,” “contemplate,” “continue,” “could,” “estimate,” “expect,” “forecast,” “goal,” “guidance,” “hope,” “intend,” “may,” “objective,” “outlook,” “plan,” “possible,” “potential,” “predict,” “project,” “prospect,” “should,” “target,” “will,” “would,” and other words and terms of similar meaning. Drug development and commercialization involve a high degree of risk, and only a small number of research and development programs result in commercialization of a product. Results in early-stage clinical trials may not be indicative of full results or results from later stage or larger scale clinical trials and do not ensure regulatory approval. You should not place undue reliance on these statements. Given their forward-looking nature, these statements involve substantial risks and uncertainties that may be based on inaccurate assumptions and could cause actual results to differ materially from those reflected in such statements. These forward-looking statements are based on management's current beliefs and assumptions and on information currently available to management. Given their nature, we cannot assure that any outcome expressed in these forward-looking statements will be realized in whole or in part.
We caution that these statements are subject to risks and uncertainties, many of which are outside of our control and could cause future events or results to be materially different from those stated or implied in this document, including, among others, factors relating to: the possibility that the thresholds for clinical and regulatory milestone payments are never met; results of litigation, settlements and investigations; actions by third parties, including governmental agencies; unexpected costs, charges or expenses resulting from the Acquisition; potential adverse reactions or changes to business relationships resulting from the announcement or completion of the Acquisition; the risk that Biogen may not be able to successfully integrate the business of RayThera and realize the expected benefits of the Acquisition in a timely manner or at all; uncertainty of our long-term success in developing, licensing, or acquiring other product candidates or additional indications for existing products; expectations, plans, prospects and timing of actions relating to product approvals, approvals of additional indications for our existing products, sales, pricing, growth, reimbursement and launch of our marketed and pipeline products; the potential impact of increased product competition in the biopharmaceutical and healthcare industry, as well as any other markets in which we compete, including increased competition from new originator therapies, generics, prodrugs and biosimilars of existing products and products approved under abbreviated regulatory pathways; our ability to effectively implement our corporate strategy; difficulties in obtaining and maintaining adequate coverage, pricing, and reimbursement for our products; the drivers for growing our business, including our dependence on collaborators and other third parties for the development, regulatory approval, and commercialization of products and other aspects of our business, which are outside of our full control; risks related to commercialization of biosimilars, which is subject to such risks related to our reliance on third-parties, intellectual property, competitive and market challenges and regulatory compliance; the risk that positive results in a clinical trial may not be replicated in subsequent or confirmatory trials or success in early stage clinical trials may not be predictive of results in later stage or large scale clinical trials or trials in other potential indications; risks associated with clinical trials, including our ability to adequately manage clinical activities, unexpected concerns that may arise from additional data or analysis obtained during clinical trials, regulatory authorities may require additional information or further studies, or may fail to approve or may delay approval of our drug candidates; and the occurrence of adverse safety events, restrictions on use with our products, or product liability claims; and any other risks and uncertainties that are described in other reports we have filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, which are available on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov.
These statements speak only as of date hereof and are based on information and estimates available to us at this time. Should known or unknown risks or uncertainties materialize or should underlying assumptions prove inaccurate, actual results could vary materially from past results and those anticipated, estimated, or projected. Investors are cautioned not to put undue reliance on forward-looking statements. A further list and description of risks, uncertainties and other matters can be found in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2025 and in our subsequent reports on Form 10-Q, in each case including in the sections thereof captioned “Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements” and “Item 1A. Risk Factors,” and in our subsequent reports on Form 8-K. Except as required by law, we do not undertake any obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statements whether as a result of any new information, future events, changed circumstances or otherwise.
Biogen Digital Media Disclosure
From time to time, we have used, or expect in the future to use, our investor relations website (investors.biogen.com), the Biogen LinkedIn account (linkedin.com/company/biogen-) and the Biogen X account (https://x.com/biogen) as a means of disclosing information to the public in a broad, non-exclusionary manner, including for purposes of the SEC’s Regulation Fair Disclosure (Reg FD). Accordingly, investors should monitor our investor relations website and these social media channels in addition to our press releases, SEC filings, public conference calls and websites, as the information posted on them could be material to investors.
Biogen logo is seen displayed in this illustration taken, May 3, 2022. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File Photo Purchase Licensing Rights, opens new tab
CompaniesJune 17 (Reuters) - Biogen (BIIB.O), opens new tab has struck a deal to acquire private biotechnology company RayThera for up to $1 billion, the companies said on Wednesday, as the U.S.-listed drugmaker seeks to expand its pipeline in immunology.
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The transaction will include an upfront payment to RayThera shareholders, along with additional payments tied to clinical and regulatory milestones, the companies said in a statement.
San Diego-based RayThera's portfolio includes several anti-inflammatory drug candidates, with its lead program expected to enter Phase 1 clinical trials in early third quarter, 2026.
The deal comes at a time of biotech dealmaking frenzy, with large drugmakers on a spending spree to expand their product pipelines this year.
In March, Biogen acquired Apellis Pharmaceuticals for about $5.6 billion, expanding its presence in kidney disease treatments.
Reporting by Ananya Palyekar in Bengaluru; Editing by Joyjeet Das
Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles., opens new tab
, /PRNewswire/ -- Pomerantz LLP is investigating claims on behalf of investors of Biogen Inc. ("Biogen" or the "Company") (NASDAQ: BIIB). Such investors are advised to contact Danielle Peyton at [email protected] or 646-581-9980, ext. 7980.
The investigation concerns whether Biogen and certain of its officers and/or directors have engaged in securities fraud or other unlawful business practices.
[Click here for information about joining the class action]
On May 14, 2026, Biogen issued a press release announcing "topline results from the Phase 2 CELIA study evaluating diranersen (BIIB080), an investigational antisense oligonucleotide (ASO) therapy targeting tau, in individuals with early Alzheimer's disease." Although Biogen described the results as "compelling," the study missed its primary dose-response endpoint.
On this news, Biogen's stock price fell $13.16 per share, or 6.43%, to close at $191.37 per share on May 14, 2026.
Pomerantz LLP, with offices in New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, London, Paris, and Tel Aviv, is acknowledged as one of the premier firms in the areas of corporate, securities, and antitrust class litigation. Founded by the late Abraham L. Pomerantz, known as the dean of the class action bar, Pomerantz pioneered the field of securities class actions. Today, more than 85 years later, Pomerantz continues in the tradition he established, fighting for the rights of the victims of securities fraud, breaches of fiduciary duty, and corporate misconduct. The Firm has recovered numerous multimillion-dollar damages awards on behalf of class members. See www.pomlaw.com.
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Key Takeaways BIIB agreed to acquire RayThera for up to $1B, with milestone-based payments included.RayThera adds anti-inflammatory candidates, including a lead asset entering phase I in Q3 2026.BIIB's RayThera acquisition is expected to be closed in the third quarter of 2026. Biogen (BIIB - Free Report) announced that it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire San Diego-based privately held biotech RayThera Inc. for up to $1 billion. The deal includes an undisclosed upfront payment to RayThera's shareholders and additional payments tied to the achievement of certain clinical and regulatory milestones.
The transaction is expected to be closed in the third quarter of 2026, subject to customary closing conditions.
Biogen's proposed acquisition of RayThera will add several anti-inflammatory candidates to its pipeline, including a lead asset that is expected to enter phase I development in early third quarter 2026. These candidates are being developed as potential treatments for immune-mediated diseases across multiple indications.
BIIB’s Price PerformanceYear to date, shares of Biogen have rallied 12.9% against the industry’s decline of 0.9%.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
BIIB’s Recent Acquisition DealThe acquisition of RayThera is expected to strengthen BIIB’s immunology pipeline by adding a portfolio of anti-inflammatory candidates.
The latest deal comes on the heels of Biogen’s recent acquisition of Apellis, which added two differentiated commercialized immunology medicines, Empaveli (pegcetacoplan) and Syfovre (pegcetacoplan injection), to its commercial portfolio.
Such acquisitions highlight the continued interest among large drugmakers in bolstering their pipelines through targeted acquisitions of promising clinical-stage biotechnology companies.
Biotech, Pharma on a M&A SpreeThe biotech and pharma sector is seeing strong merger and acquisition (M&A) activity in 2026, with deals accelerating in recent times.
The recent surge in dealmaking underscores the industry’s broader focus on portfolio expansion and continuous pipeline innovation, alongside a growing emphasis on AI-driven drug discovery. Oncology and immuno-oncology companies have always been at the top of acquisition targets.
So far in 2026, Eli Lilly (LLY - Free Report) has announced six proposed acquisitions — Centessa Pharmaceuticals, Ajax Therapeutics, Kelonia Therapeutics, Orna Therapeutics, CrossBridge Bio and Ventyx Biosciences — to diversify beyond its GLP-1 franchise and strengthen its pipeline in oncology, neuroscience, RNA and cell therapies.
LLY also agreed to acquire three private vaccine developers in May 2026, adding programs targeting shingles, bacterial infections and Epstein-Barr virus. The company also announced several M&A deals in 2025.
Earlier this month, GSK plc (GSK - Free Report) announced that it will acquire clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company Nuvalent for $10.6 billion, gaining three lung cancer assets, including late-stage ROS1 inhibitor zidesamtinib and ALK inhibitor neladalkib, both under FDA review.
The deal strengthens GSK’s oncology pipeline, expands its presence in lung cancer, and is expected to contribute to sales and operating profit growth beginning in 2027.
GSK earlier acquired RAPT Therapeutics to strengthen its immunology pipeline. The company also bought 35Pharma, adding HS235, a potential best-in-class therapy for pulmonary hypertension.
Merck (MRK - Free Report) recently completed the acquisition of California-based cancer biotech, Terns Pharmaceuticals. The acquisition added TERN-701, an investigational oral allosteric BCR::ABL1 tyrosine kinase inhibitor, to Merck’s hematology/cancer pipeline.
Merck acquired Verona Pharma in 2025 and Cidara Therapeutics in early 2026, which likely strengthened its respiratory and infectious disease portfolios.
Several large pharmaceutical companies, including Novartis, Gilead Sciences and Johnson & Johnson, have been actively pursuing targeted acquisitions of clinical-stage biotech firms to strengthen their pipelines and drive long-term growth.
BIIB’s Zacks RankBiogen currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
Biogen Inc. (NASDAQ:BIIB) on Wednesday agreed to acquire private biotechnology company RayThera Inc. for up to $1 billion.
The company looks to further expand its immunology pipeline and broaden its reach into additional disease areas.
The deal includes an upfront payment to RayThera shareholders, with the majority of the consideration tied to future clinical and regulatory milestone achievements.
The transaction is expected to close in the third quarter of 2026.
Acquisition Adds Early-Stage Immunology AssetsRayThera focuses on discovering and developing small-molecule therapies for immunological diseases.
The company's portfolio includes several anti-inflammatory programs that could treat immune-mediated conditions across multiple indications.
The company expects its lead candidate to enter Phase 1 development in the early third quarter of 2026.
For the past couple of years, Biogen has been in the news due to its Alzheimer's disease program(s),
In May, the company reported topline Phase 2 results for diranersen (BIIB080), its investigational tau-targeting antisense oligonucleotide therapy for early Alzheimer's disease.
The data highlighted cognitive benefits and reductions in tau biomarkers despite missing the study's primary endpoint.
But it has picked up some M&A deals to bolster its pipeline.
Most recently, Biogen acquired Apellis Pharmaceuticals for $41 per share in cash or approximately $5.6 billion.
The acquisition is expected to enhance Biogen's growth portfolio in immunology and rare diseases and add significant value to both companies.
In April, Biogen announced an agreement with Alloy Therapeutics Inc. to accelerate the development of antisense therapies targeting multiple undisclosed indications.
Alloy receives an undisclosed upfront payment and stands to earn additional milestone-based compensation, along with tiered royalties.
BIIB Stock Price Activity: Biogen shares were down 2.38% at $193.93 at the time of publication on Thursday, according to Benzinga Pro data.
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NEW YORK, June 23, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Pomerantz LLP is investigating claims on behalf of investors of Biogen Inc. (“Biogen” or the “Company”) (NASDAQ: BIIB). Such investors are advised to contact Danielle Peyton at [email protected] or 646-581-9980, ext. 7980.
The investigation concerns whether Biogen and certain of its officers and/or directors have engaged in securities fraud or other unlawful business practices.
[Click here for information about joining the class action]
On May 14, 2026, Biogen issued a press release announcing “topline results from the Phase 2 CELIA study evaluating diranersen (BIIB080), an investigational antisense oligonucleotide (ASO) therapy targeting tau, in individuals with early Alzheimer’s disease.” Although Biogen described the results as “compelling,” the study missed its primary dose-response endpoint.
On this news, Biogen’s stock price fell $13.16 per share, or 6.43%, to close at $191.37 per share on May 14, 2026.
Pomerantz LLP, with offices in New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, London, Paris, and Tel Aviv, is acknowledged as one of the premier firms in the areas of corporate, securities, and antitrust class litigation. Founded by the late Abraham L. Pomerantz, known as the dean of the class action bar, Pomerantz pioneered the field of securities class actions. Today, more than 85 years later, Pomerantz continues in the tradition he established, fighting for the rights of the victims of securities fraud, breaches of fiduciary duty, and corporate misconduct. The Firm has recovered numerous multimillion-dollar damages awards on behalf of class members. See www.pomlaw.com.
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More than half of Americans say they need more money this summer than last year, with Gen Z more than twice as likely as boomers to say the gap is significant
, /PRNewswire/ -- Financial stress is pervasive this summer, but it's not evenly distributed across age groups. According to a new survey from MoneyLion, 52% of Americans say they need more money this summer than last year, with 22% saying they need "significantly more." Gen Z reports the sharpest shortfall: 33% say the gap is significant, compared to 23% of millennials, 20% of Gen X, and 15% of boomers.
Summer Financial Pressure Hits Gen Z The Hardest The results reflect conditions that are particularly difficult for younger adults to absorb. Housing costs, student debt, and wage stagnation in entry-level roles are compressing budgets in ways that older generations largely avoided at the same life stage. Among respondents ages 18 to 24, 23% say they are moving back in with family or taking on roommates this summer because of financial pressure.
"Americans, especially younger generations, are working hard to keep up with rising costs, often without the financial foundation earlier generations could rely on," said Sarah DiCara, Financial Wellness Advocate at MoneyLion. "Our mission is to give everyone the power to make their best financial decisions, and this summer we're focused on helping people get ahead by connecting them with the products, content, and guidance they need to turn that effort into lasting financial progress."
Key Findings
52% of Americans say they need more money this summer than last year; 22% say "significantly more." Gen Z reports the highest rate of financial strain, with 33% citing a significant shortfall, compared to 23% of millennials, 20% of Gen X, and 15% of boomers. 23% of 18- to 24-year-olds are moving back in with family or taking on roommates this summer due to financial pressure. 62% of Gen Z and 52% of millennials plan to earn supplemental income this summer, compared to 39% of all respondents. 15% of 18- to 24-year-olds planning to earn extra cash this summer are considering OnlyFans or other adult-content platforms as a side hustle. 35% of Gen Z say they would work 60 or more hours a week to earn extra income this summer, compared to 25% of millennials. 41% of all Americans are cutting back on dining, entertainment, and social plans. The survey also pushes back on assumptions about how Gen Z spends. Respondents in that age group spend less overall than older generations, and the cutbacks they are making mirror those reported across the full sample. The distinction is not behavior but starting conditions: a labor market that rewards experience, a housing market built on appreciation that predates this generation, and a debt load that many carry before earning their first full-time paycheck.
For Americans looking to strengthen their finances this season, MoneyLion shares a few practical tips to get started:
Pick the side hustle that fits your life, not the trend. Before signing up for a gig platform, weigh startup costs, scheduling, and realistic earnings after expenses. Give summer its own budget. Travel, events, and higher utility bills spike predictably. A separate seasonal budget keeps those costs from eroding rent, debt payments, and savings goals. Build a buffer before you need it. Small, automatic transfers add up over a season, and a modest cushion can be the difference between absorbing a surprise expense and borrowing to cover it. Cut costs without cutting everything. Auditing recurring charges can free up room without touching the plans that make summer worth it. Know your options before you borrow. Comparing rates, fees, and repayment terms upfront helps ensure a short-term bridge doesn't become a long-term setback. More resources are available at moneylion.com/learn.
Survey Methodology
MoneyLion surveyed 1,000 adults ages 18 and over in May 2026.
About MoneyLion
MoneyLion is a leading financial technology platform and part of Gen (NASDAQ: GEN), a global company dedicated to powering Digital Freedom with a family of trusted consumer brands. MoneyLion powers the next generation of personalized products, content, and marketplace technology through its top-rated consumer finance super app, premier embedded finance platform for enterprise businesses, and world-class media arm. Consumers gain control of their finances with an innovative suite of products to save, borrow, spend, and invest, seamlessly integrating the best offers and content from MoneyLion and its 1,300+ enterprise partners into one unified experience. Its mission is to give everyone the power to make their best financial decisions. Learn more at www.moneylion.com.
Media Contact:
Malea Lamb-Hall
Gen
[email protected]
TEMPE, Ariz.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Align Technology, Inc. (“Align”) (Nasdaq: ALGN), a leading global medical device company that designs, manufactures, and sells the Invisalign® System of clear aligners, iTero™ intraoral scanners, and exocad™ CAD/CAM software for digital orthodontics and restorative dentistry, today announced that C. Raymond Larkin, Jr. will retire as Chairman of the Board effective July 1, 2026, following more than 20 years of distinguished service on Align’s Board of Directors. Mr. Larkin will continue to serve on the Board and as a member of the Nominating and Governance Committee through December 31, 2026, to support a smooth transition.
Kevin Conroy will succeed Mr. Larkin as Chairman of the Board, effective July 1, 2026. Mr. Conroy has served as an independent director since his appointment to the Board in December 2023 and Chair of the Compensation and Human Capital Committee of the Board since January 2026.
“On behalf of the entire Board and management team, I would like to express our deep gratitude to Ray for his extraordinary leadership, partnership, and enduring contributions to Align over more than two decades,” said Joe Hogan, Align Technology president and chief executive officer. “Ray has been instrumental in guiding Align through multiple phases of growth, innovation, and scale. His strategic insight, deep experience in healthcare, and unwavering commitment to strong governance have helped shape Align into the global leader it is today.”
Mr. Hogan continued, “We are pleased to welcome Kevin as our next Chairman. Kevin brings extensive experience as a board leader and recently as CEO of Exact Sciences prior to its acquisition by Abbott Laboratories in March 2026. He has demonstrated a strong track record of creating stockholder value, and deep expertise in healthcare, technology, and strategy. His leadership will help guide Align through our next chapter of growth and innovation.”
Mr. Larkin added, “It has been an honor to serve as Chairman of Align. I am incredibly proud of all that Align has achieved and confident in its continued leadership in digital dentistry. I look forward to supporting Kevin and the Board during this transition and seeing Align continue to transform smiles and improve patient outcomes around the world well into the future.”
Mr. Conroy said, “I am honored to be appointed Chairman of Align’s Board. Align has a strong foundation, an exceptional leadership team, and significant opportunities ahead. I look forward to working closely with Joe, the Board, and management to continue driving innovation, expanding access to digital orthodontics, and creating long-term value for our stockholders.”
ABOUT C. RAYMOND LARKIN, JR.
Mr. Larkin has served as a member of Align’s Board since 2004. He has decades of leadership experience in the medical device and healthcare industries, including serving as President and Chief Executive Officer of Nellcor Puritan Bennett, where he led the company’s growth to nearly $1 billion in revenue and helped establish pulse oximetry as a global standard of care. Throughout his tenure at Align, Mr. Larkin has provided strategic guidance across periods of significant growth and innovation, drawing on his extensive public and private company board experience and deep expertise in healthcare.
ABOUT KEVIN CONROY
Mr. Conroy has served as an independent director of Align since December 2023 and Chair of the Compensation and Human Capital Committee of the Board since January 2026. He brings extensive experience as a business, legal, and strategic leader, including serving as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Exact Sciences Corp. until its acquisition by Abbott Laboratories in March 2026, where he led the commercialization of Cologuard and grew the company to $3.25 billion in annual revenue while serving millions of patients. Prior to Exact Sciences, Mr. Conroy served as President and CEO of Third Wave Technologies and held leadership roles at GE Healthcare. He currently serves on the board of Abbott Laboratories and brings deep expertise in healthcare innovation, strategy, and governance.
About Align Technology, Inc.
Align Technology designs and manufactures the Invisalign® System, the most advanced clear aligner system in the world, iTero™ intraoral scanners and services, and exocad™ CAD/CAM software. These technology building blocks enable enhanced digital orthodontic and restorative workflows to improve patient outcomes and practice efficiencies for approximately 299.5 thousand doctor customers and are key to accessing Align’s 600 million consumer market opportunity worldwide. Over the past 29 years, Align has helped doctors treat approximately 22.8 million patients with the Invisalign System and is driving the evolution in digital dentistry through the Align™ Digital Platform, our integrated suite of unique, proprietary technologies and services delivered as a seamless, end-to-end solution for patients and consumers, orthodontists and GP dentists, and lab/partners. Visit www.aligntech.com for more information.
For additional information about the Invisalign system or to find an Invisalign doctor in your area, please visit www.invisalign.com. For additional information about the iTero digital scanning system, please visit www.itero.com. For additional information about exocad dental CAD/CAM offerings and a list of exocad reseller partners, please visit www.exocad.com.
Invisalign, iTero, exocad, Align, Align Digital Platform and iTero Lumina are trademarks of Align Technology, Inc.
Riot Platforms, Inc. (RIOT - Free Report) closed the most recent trading day at $28.63, moving +1.89% from the previous trading session. The stock outperformed the S&P 500, which registered a daily loss of 0.37%. Elsewhere, the Dow gained 0.29%, while the tech-heavy Nasdaq lost 1.33%.
Prior to today's trading, shares of the company had gained 14.74% outpaced the Finance sector's gain of 4.79% and the S&P 500's gain of 2.02%.
The investment community will be closely monitoring the performance of Riot Platforms, Inc. in its forthcoming earnings report. The company is predicted to post an EPS of -$0.21, indicating a 136.84% decline compared to the equivalent quarter last year. Meanwhile, our latest consensus estimate is calling for revenue of $148.71 million, down 2.8% from the prior-year quarter.
For the full year, the Zacks Consensus Estimates project earnings of -$2.08 per share and a revenue of $647.34 million, demonstrating changes of -6.67% and -0.02%, respectively, from the preceding year.
Investors should also take note of any recent adjustments to analyst estimates for Riot Platforms, Inc. Recent revisions tend to reflect the latest near-term business trends. Consequently, upward revisions in estimates express analysts' positivity towards the business operations and its ability to generate profits.
Our research reveals that these estimate alterations are directly linked with the stock price performance in the near future. We developed the Zacks Rank to capitalize on this phenomenon. Our system takes these estimate changes into account and delivers a clear, actionable rating model.
The Zacks Rank system, spanning from #1 (Strong Buy) to #5 (Strong Sell), boasts an impressive track record of outperformance, audited externally, with #1 ranked stocks yielding an average annual return of +25% since 1988. Over the past month, the Zacks Consensus EPS estimate remained stagnant. Riot Platforms, Inc. presently features a Zacks Rank of #3 (Hold).
The Financial - Miscellaneous Services industry is part of the Finance sector. This industry, currently bearing a Zacks Industry Rank of 103, finds itself in the top 43% echelons of all 250+ industries.
The strength of our individual industry groups is measured by the Zacks Industry Rank, which is calculated based on the average Zacks Rank of the individual stocks within these groups. Our research shows that the top 50% rated industries outperform the bottom half by a factor of 2 to 1.
Be sure to follow all of these stock-moving metrics, and many more, on Zacks.com.
Blink Charging (BLNK - Free Report) could be a solid addition to your portfolio given its recent upgrade to a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). This upgrade is essentially a reflection of an upward trend in earnings estimates -- one of the most powerful forces impacting stock prices.
A company's changing earnings picture is at the core of the Zacks rating. The system tracks the Zacks Consensus Estimate -- the consensus measure of EPS estimates from the sell-side analysts covering the stock -- for the current and following years.
Since a changing earnings picture is a powerful factor influencing near-term stock price movements, the Zacks rating system is very useful for individual investors. They may find it difficult to make decisions based on rating upgrades by Wall Street analysts, as these are mostly driven by subjective factors that are hard to see and measure in real time.
Therefore, the Zacks rating upgrade for Blink Charging basically reflects positivity about its earnings outlook that could translate into buying pressure and an increase in its stock price.
Most Powerful Force Impacting Stock PricesThe change in a company's future earnings potential, as reflected in earnings estimate revisions, has proven to be strongly correlated with the near-term price movement of its stock. That's partly because of the influence of institutional investors that use earnings and earnings estimates for calculating the fair value of a company's shares. An increase or decrease in earnings estimates in their valuation models simply results in higher or lower fair value for a stock, and institutional investors typically buy or sell it. Their bulk investment action then leads to price movement for the stock.
For Blink Charging, rising earnings estimates and the consequent rating upgrade fundamentally mean an improvement in the company's underlying business. And investors' appreciation of this improving business trend should push the stock higher.
Harnessing the Power of Earnings Estimate RevisionsAs empirical research shows a strong correlation between trends in earnings estimate revisions and near-term stock movements, tracking such revisions for making an investment decision could be truly rewarding. 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 Blink ChargingThis company is expected to earn -$0.17 per share for the fiscal year ending December 2026, which represents no year-over-year change.
Analysts have been steadily raising their estimates for Blink Charging. Over the past three months, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for the company has increased 43.3%.
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 Blink Charging 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.
Sherwin-Williams leverages its vast store network and pricing power to drive resilient growth despite soft end-market demand. SHW's Q1 2026 net sales rose 6.8% year-over-year, aided by the Suvinil acquisition and incremental price increases. Trading at a forward P/E of 27, SHW offers a marginal discount to its fair value estimate of $322 per share.
BEIJING, June 23, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Li Auto Inc. (“Li Auto” or the “Company”) (Nasdaq: LI; HKEX: 2015), a leader in China’s new energy vehicle market, today officially launched the all-new Li L8, with deliveries to commence within this week. The vehicle is available in Ultra and Livis trims, priced at RMB369,800 and RMB429,800, respectively. For more details on the all-new Li L8, please visit Li Auto’s official website.
About Li Auto Inc.
Li Auto Inc. is a leader in China’s new energy vehicle market. The Company designs, develops, manufactures, and sells premium smart electric vehicles. Its mission is: Be Proactive, Change the World. Through innovations in product, technology, and business model, the Company provides families with safe, convenient, and comfortable products and services. Li Auto is a pioneer in successfully commercializing extended-range electric vehicles in China. While firmly advancing along this technological route, it builds platforms for battery electric vehicles in parallel. The Company leverages technology to create value for users. It concentrates its in-house development efforts on proprietary range extension systems, innovative electric vehicle technologies, and smart vehicle solutions. The Company started volume production in November 2019. It offers high-tech flagship family MPVs, Li L series extended-range electric SUVs, and Li i series battery electric SUVs. The Company will continue to expand its product lineup to target a broader user base.
For more information, please visit: https://ir.lixiang.com.
Safe Harbor Statement
This press release contains statements that may constitute “forward-looking” statements pursuant to the “safe harbor” provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements can be identified by terminology such as “will,” “expects,” “anticipates,” “aims,” “future,” “intends,” “plans,” “believes,” “estimates,” “targets,” “likely to,” “challenges,” and similar statements. Li Auto may also make written or oral forward-looking statements in its periodic reports to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) and The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited (the “HKEX”), in its annual report to shareholders, in press releases and other written materials, and in oral statements made by its officers, directors, or employees to third parties. Statements that are not historical facts, including statements about Li Auto’s beliefs, plans, and expectations, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties. A number of factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statement, including but not limited to the following: Li Auto’s strategies, future business development, and financial condition and results of operations; Li Auto’s limited operating history; risks associated with extended-range electric vehicles and high-power charging battery electric vehicles; Li Auto’s ability to develop, manufacture, and deliver vehicles of high quality and appeal to customers; Li Auto’s ability to generate positive cash flow and profits; product defects or any other failure of vehicles to perform as expected; Li Auto’s ability to compete successfully; Li Auto’s ability to build its brand and withstand negative publicity; cancellation of orders for Li Auto’s vehicles; Li Auto’s ability to develop new vehicles; and changes in consumer demand and government incentives, subsidies, or other favorable government policies. Further information regarding these and other risks is included in Li Auto’s filings with the SEC and the HKEX. All information provided in this press release is as of the date of this press release, and Li Auto does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statement, except as required under applicable law.
The global video games industry is entering a period of consolidation that is likely to favour the biggest publishers and developers, according to analysts at Bernstein, who argue that investors should look beyond slowing revenue growth and focus on rising barriers to entry.
The broker estimates the gaming market will generate around $220 billion of revenue in 2026, up 0.7%, following growth of 4.8% last year.
While that points to a softer near-term outlook, Bernstein believes the industry is becoming increasingly concentrated as smaller studios struggle with rising development costs and a tougher funding environment.
The firm said studio closures and restructuring programmes across the industry were reducing competition and strengthening the position of established developers with successful intellectual property and large player communities.
Bernstein highlighted Asian gaming groups as its preferred investments, including Tencent Holdings (HKG:0700, OTC:TCEHY), NetEase (NetEase Inc (NASDAQ:NTES)), Nintendo (OTCMKTS:NTDOY), Capcom (OTCMKTS:CCOEY) and Konami (LON: KNM).
Analyst Robin Zhu argued that Japanese, Chinese and Korean developers continue to benefit from lower development costs and improving productivity compared with many western rivals.
PC gaming was also identified as one of the industry's strongest growth areas, supported by advances in hardware and a growing number of blockbuster releases.
Attention is increasingly turning to the launch of Grand Theft Auto VI, published by Take-Two Interactive Software Inc (NASDAQ:TTWO), which is expected in November.
Zhu said rival publishers had crowded release schedules into September in an effort to avoid competing directly with what is widely expected to be one of the biggest game launches in history.
The broker also dismissed concerns that AI will materially disrupt the industry's economics, arguing that successful franchises, creative storytelling and engaged player communities remain the key drivers of long-term value creation.
NetEase (NTES) is deeply undervalued, trading at 10x free cash flow and offering a 24% upside to a $150/share target. International expansion, evidenced by hits like Marvel Rivals and Where Winds Meet, is accelerating, with overseas revenue now at 10.1%. NTES boasts a 38% free cash flow margin, $25.3B cash, low leverage, and expanding gross margins, supporting dividends and reinvestment.
JD.com, Inc. remains a Strong Buy, supported by compelling sum-of-the-parts valuation and a fortress balance sheet. Food delivery subsidy war is de-escalating, reducing cash burn and improving margin outlook, with sequential narrowing of losses already visible. Retail operating margin is expanding, driven by a shift toward higher-margin general merchandise and services, while logistics and marketplace segments show robust growth.
I have closed my short position in the Direxion Daily FTSE China Bull 3x ETF and am now neutral on the fund. Despite China's relative undervaluation and improved macro backdrop, YINN's leveraged structure poses significant long-term risks. Chinese equities continue to have value trap risk, as many listed firms don't return much cash to shareholders.
JD.com, Inc. (JD - Free Report) has been one of the most searched-for stocks on Zacks.com lately. So, you might want to look at some of the facts that could shape the stock's performance in the near term.
Over the past month, shares of this company have returned -9.7%, compared to the Zacks S&P 500 composite's +2% change. During this period, the Zacks Internet - Commerce industry, which JD.com falls in, has lost 6.3%. The key question now is: What could be the stock's future direction?
While media releases or rumors about a substantial change in a company's business prospects usually make its stock 'trending' and lead to an immediate price change, there are always some fundamental facts that eventually dominate the buy-and-hold decision-making.
Earnings Estimate RevisionsHere at Zacks, we prioritize appraising the change in the projection of a company's future earnings over anything else. That's because we believe the present value of its future stream of earnings is what determines the fair value for its stock.
We essentially look at how sell-side analysts covering the stock are revising their earnings estimates to reflect the impact of the latest business trends. And if earnings estimates go up for a company, the fair value for its stock goes up. A higher fair value than the current market price drives investors' interest in buying the stock, leading to its price moving higher. This is why empirical research shows a strong correlation between trends in earnings estimate revisions and near-term stock price movements.
JD.com is expected to post earnings of $0.84 per share for the current quarter, representing a year-over-year change of +21.7%. Over the last 30 days, the Zacks Consensus Estimate remained unchanged.
The consensus earnings estimate of $3.19 for the current fiscal year indicates a year-over-year change of +25.1%. This estimate has remained unchanged over the last 30 days.
For the next fiscal year, the consensus earnings estimate of $3.62 indicates a change of +13.8% from what JD.com is expected to report a year ago. Over the past month, the estimate has remained unchanged.
With an impressive externally audited track record, our proprietary stock rating tool -- the Zacks Rank -- is a more conclusive indicator of a stock's near-term price performance, as it effectively harnesses the power of earnings estimate revisions. 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 #3 (Hold) for JD.com.
The chart below shows the evolution of the company's forward 12-month consensus EPS estimate:
12 Month EPS
Revenue Growth ForecastWhile earnings growth is arguably the most superior indicator of a company's financial health, nothing happens as such if a business isn't able to grow its revenues. After all, it's nearly impossible for a company to increase its earnings for an extended period without increasing its revenues. So, it's important to know a company's potential revenue growth.
In the case of JD.com, the consensus sales estimate of $52.83 billion for the current quarter points to a year-over-year change of +6.1%. The $204.15 billion and $215.2 billion estimates for the current and next fiscal years indicate changes of +11.2% and +5.4%, respectively.
Last Reported Results and Surprise HistoryJD.com reported revenues of $45.77 billion in the last reported quarter, representing a year-over-year change of +10.3%. EPS of $0.74 for the same period compares with $1.16 a year ago.
Compared to the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $45.57 billion, the reported revenues represent a surprise of +0.42%. The EPS surprise was +29.82%.
The company beat consensus EPS estimates in each of the trailing four quarters. The company topped consensus revenue estimates three times over this period.
ValuationWithout considering a stock's valuation, no investment decision can be efficient. In predicting a stock's future price performance, it's crucial to determine whether its current price correctly reflects the intrinsic value of the underlying business and the company's growth prospects.
While comparing the current values of a company's valuation multiples, such as price-to-earnings (P/E), price-to-sales (P/S), and price-to-cash flow (P/CF), with its own historical values helps determine whether its stock is fairly valued, overvalued, or undervalued, comparing the company relative to its peers on these parameters gives a good sense of the reasonability of the stock's price.
As part of the Zacks Style Scores system, the Zacks Value Style Score (which evaluates both traditional and unconventional valuation metrics) organizes stocks into five groups ranging from A to F (A is better than B; B is better than C; and so on), making it helpful in identifying whether a stock is overvalued, rightly valued, or temporarily undervalued.
JD.com is graded A on this front, indicating that it is trading at a discount to its peers. Click here to see the values of some of the valuation metrics that have driven this grade.
ConclusionThe facts discussed here and much other information on Zacks.com might help determine whether or not it's worthwhile paying attention to the market buzz about JD.com. However, its Zacks Rank #3 does suggest that it may perform in line with the broader market in the near term.
JD.com, Inc. (JD - Free Report) closed the most recent trading day at $27.03, moving -1.98% from the previous trading session. This change lagged the S&P 500's 0.37% loss on the day. Elsewhere, the Dow saw an upswing of 0.29%, while the tech-heavy Nasdaq depreciated by 1.33%.
Shares of the company witnessed a loss of 9.67% over the previous month, trailing the performance of the Retail-Wholesale sector with its loss of 4.65%, and the S&P 500's gain of 2.02%.
The upcoming earnings release of JD.com, Inc. will be of great interest to investors. The company's upcoming EPS is projected at $0.84, signifying a 21.74% increase compared to the same quarter of the previous year. Meanwhile, the latest consensus estimate predicts the revenue to be $52.83 billion, indicating a 6.11% increase compared to the same quarter of the previous year.
For the full year, the Zacks Consensus Estimates project earnings of $3.19 per share and a revenue of $204.15 billion, demonstrating changes of +25.1% and +11.16%, respectively, from the preceding year.
Additionally, investors should keep an eye on any recent revisions to analyst forecasts for JD.com, Inc. Recent revisions tend to reflect the latest near-term business trends. As a result, upbeat changes in estimates indicate analysts' favorable outlook on the business health and profitability.
Research indicates that these estimate revisions are directly correlated with near-term share price momentum. To take advantage of this, we've established the Zacks Rank, an exclusive model that considers these estimated changes and delivers an operational rating system.
Ranging from #1 (Strong Buy) to #5 (Strong Sell), the Zacks Rank system has a proven, outside-audited track record of outperformance, with #1 stocks returning an average of +25% annually since 1988. Over the past month, the Zacks Consensus EPS estimate has remained steady. JD.com, Inc. is currently a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold).
Valuation is also important, so investors should note that JD.com, Inc. has a Forward P/E ratio of 8.66 right now. This represents a discount compared to its industry average Forward P/E of 16.45.
The Internet - Commerce industry is part of the Retail-Wholesale sector. At present, this industry carries a Zacks Industry Rank of 105, placing it within the top 44% of over 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.
Make sure to utilize Zacks.com to follow all of these stock-moving metrics, and more, in the coming trading sessions.
NEW YORK, June 23, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Pomerantz LLP is investigating claims on behalf of investors of JD.com, Inc. (“JD” or the “Company”) (NASDAQ: JD). Such investors are advised to contact Danielle Peyton at [email protected] or 646-581-9980, ext. 7980.
The investigation concerns whether JD and certain of its officers and/or directors have engaged in securities fraud or other unlawful business practices.
[Click here for information about joining the class action]
On June 11, 2026, Bloomberg News reported that the Beijing branch of China’s State Administration for Market Regulation summoned JD representatives “over what officials said was false advertising during the annual ‘618’ midyear online shopping festival.”
On this news, JD’s American Depositary Receipt (“ADR”) price fell $0.39 per ADR, or 1.37%, to close at $28.06 per ADR on June 11, 2026.
Pomerantz LLP, with offices in New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, London, Paris, and Tel Aviv, is acknowledged as one of the premier firms in the areas of corporate, securities, and antitrust class litigation. Founded by the late Abraham L. Pomerantz, known as the dean of the class action bar, Pomerantz pioneered the field of securities class actions. Today, more than 85 years later, Pomerantz continues in the tradition he established, fighting for the rights of the victims of securities fraud, breaches of fiduciary duty, and corporate misconduct. The Firm has recovered numerous multimillion-dollar damages awards on behalf of class members. See www.pomlaw.com.
Attorney advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes.
China EV stocks are in a strong freefall this year as investors remain pessimistic about their growth prospects. Nio stock slipped to $5 on Friday, down nearly 30% from its May high, and is hovering at its lowest level since March 9.
Xpeng stock has tumbled to $13.21 in New York, down 53% from its November 2025 high. This retreat has wiped out billions of dollars in its value as its market capitalization has slumped to $12.55 billion.
Li Auto stock has slumped to $13.2, marking a major downfall for one of the most popular Chinese EV companies. Its valuation has slumped to $13.3 billion from $34 billion at its peak last year.
Polestar stock has dropped to $20, down by 52% from its 2025 highest point in 2025, while BYD has lost 50% of its value in the past few months. In total, all these Chinese EV companies have shaved over $100 billion in value from their all-time highs.
Nio, Xpeng, BYD, Li Auto, and Polestar stocks | Source: TradingView
China’s top EV companies like Nio, XPeng, Li Auto, and BYD have slumped because of the ongoing competition in the country that has pushed them to issue robust discounts.
A closer look at their quarterly numbers show that these firms are building thousands of cars and are seeking to boost production. For example, data shows that BYD delivered over 1 million vehicles globally in the first quarter, up by 59% YoY. XPeng sold 94,000 units, while Li Auto, Nio, and Polestar sold 94,000, 92,864, and 12,300 units in the same period.
These deliveries are on top of those made by other EV and traditional companies like Mercedes-Benz, Toyota, Geely, Tesla, and Xiaomi. As a result, these companies are working to boost their sales by offering discounts, which will affect their margins in the long term.
READ MORE: NIO stock has 22% upside, so why are investors still staying away?
China EV stocks have also plunged because of a major policy shift in the country. Beijing started ending its subsidies, which is affecting the growth momentum. New energy vehicles transitioned from full purchase tax exemption to 50% exepemption, with the maximum tax deduction falling from 30,000 yuan to 15,000 yuan.
As a result, Chinese residents boosted their purchases in the December quarter as they took advantage of the new shift. Most companies launched their “tax-difference guarantee” for customers who ordered in November and received deliveries in 2026.
The policy shift mirrors what happened in the United States when President Donald Trump ended the EV tax credit, a move meant to boost sales of Internal Combustion Engine (ICE) vehicles.
Many Chinese EV companies are now working to diversify their revenue sources by expanding their businesses beyond the country. Europe has become one of their favorite destinations, with firms like BYD, Saic, Jaecoo, and XPeng spending aggressively in the region.
Chinese companies are also aiming to capitalize on a major tariff cut in Canada to boost their growth there. Canada reduced the tariff of China EVs from 100% to 6% for the first 50,000 vehicles.
Humanoid robots may grab the headlines, but they represent just one small piece of a much larger opportunity in the physical AI ecosystem. Autonomous robots, drones, collaborative robots (cobots), and electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) vehicles are rapidly transitioning from conceptual hype to scaled industrial and defense deployments. This wave of physical AI is acting as the primary engine behind a broader industrial resilience and reshoring push across the U.S., Europe, and Japan.
Key Takeaways The Pentagon’s autonomy budget request has skyrocketed from $250 million to $55 billion, with $14 billion earmarked specifically for unmanned systems. U.S. industrial Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) data is climbing again, fueling an incredible year for core industrial robotics component and robot-arm manufacturers. Legacy Japanese industrial champions like Fanuc, Mitsubishi Electric, and Yaskawa are hitting multi-year or all-time highs due to physical AI partnerships and reshoring tailwinds. National Security Drives Physical AI and Defense Integration The intersection of national security and automation is driving significant growth for the AI industry. Zeno Mercer, head of robotics & AI research, at VettaFi said on a recent call with investors that the Pentagon’s autonomy budget request has surged from $250 million to $55 billion and includes $14 billion for autonomous systems
Moreover, it includes significant partnerships with commercial pioneers. For example, aviation innovator Joby (JOBY), which aims to launch its commercial flying-car operations in the U.S. by 2028, is partnering with defense giant L3Harris to open entirely new military eVTOL markets. This defense-backed funding provides a highly stable revenue floor for automated systems manufacturers, insulating them from purely cyclical consumer electronics slowdowns.This wave of physical AI underpins a broader industrial resilience and reshoring push in the U.S., Europe, and Japan. The reshoring story is tightly linked to automation. Industrial Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) in the U.S. is “finally climbing again,” and core industrial robotics players — especially components and robot‑arm makers — have had “an incredible year” as highly automated, miniaturized manufacturing comes back onshore, Mercer said. Consequently, humans are increasingly focused on maintaining, repairing, and managing these systems rather than doing the most precise production work themselves.
On the competitive front, Chinese automation and EV names like XPeng (XPEV) have been punished by a weak domestic auto market and brutal price wars, even as they push into humanoid robots, in‑house chips, robo‑taxis and flying cars.
XPeng’s CEO has taken over its robotics unit, which is targeting 1,000 iron humanoid robots in production by year‑end. Meanwhile, the company is developing its own Turing chip to sell to Volkswagen and building out its AeroHT flying‑car division, a robo taxi division similar to what Tesla is doing, Mercer said.
Physical AI Market Leaders and Regional Resilience Simultaneously, Japan’s industrial sector is experiencing a powerful structural turnaround. Fanuc (6954 JP) has reached all-time highs while partnering with Nvidia (NVDA) on physical AI applications, Mitsubishi Electric (6503 JP) is co-developing advanced drones and ground robots, and Yaskawa (6506 JP) has guided for its operating profit to nearly double this year.
Investors finally recognize Japan as “one of the most formidable robotics markets” and a key beneficiary of both physical AI and global reshoring, Mercer said.
Fanuc, Mitsubishi Electric, Joby, Xpeng, and Yaskawa are holdings in the ROBO Global Robotics and Automation Index ETF (ROBO). ROBO offers diversified exposure to the global hardware and physical logistics side of this theme.
Conversely, for portfolios requiring exposure to the underlying software and computational intelligence powering these autonomous units, the ROBO Global Artificial Intelligence ETF (THNQ) focuses on key enabling technologies and applications.
Looking for regular updates? Subscribe here for weekly insights on robotics, AI, and healthcare technology, delivered straight to your inbox. For more news, information, and analysis, visit the Artificial Intelligence Content Hub.
vettafi.com is owned by VettaFi LLC (“VettaFi”). VettaFi is the index provider for THNQ and ROBO, for which it receives an index licensing fee. However, THNQ and ROBO are not issued, sponsored, endorsed, or sold by VettaFi. VettaFi and its affiliates have no obligation or liability in connection with the issuance, administration, marketing, or trading of THNQ and ROBO.
Integrations with leading travel, hospitality, and commerce media platforms help advertisers unify campaign activation, measurement, and optimization across the open internet
NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The Trade Desk, a leading global advertising technology company, today announced the continued expansion of its commerce media ecosystem through a growing network of integrations with leading travel media, hospitality, mobility, and online travel agency (OTA) platforms. The integrations strengthen The Trade Desk’s ability to help advertisers activate data-driven campaigns across the open internet using high-intent commerce and travel signals that influence consumer decisions from discovery to consideration to purchase.
The growing ecosystem features integrations with travel and hospitality leaders including Booking Holdings brands Booking.com, Agoda, KAYAK, and Priceline, along with MARRIOTT MEDIA, Uber Advertising, and Kinective Media by United Airlines. With these additions, The Trade Desk is now integrated with a majority of travel media networks, aggregating travel signals across the open internet.
These partnerships build on The Trade Desk’s broader commerce media ecosystem across leading retail media platforms including Albertsons Media Collective, CVS Media Exchange, Dollar General Media Network, Instacart Ads, Kroger Precision Marketing, Roundel Media, Walgreens Advertising Group, and an expanding network of commerce media partnerships.
Together, these integrations reflect a broader evolution taking place across digital advertising as commerce media expands beyond retail into a fragmented ecosystem spanning travel, hospitality, mobility, dining, and other transaction-rich environments. As advertisers seek more interoperable ways to activate and measure campaigns across these ecosystems, The Trade Desk is becoming a connective layer for commerce signals, premium inventory, omnichannel activation, and objective measurement across the consumer journey.
The open internet is where these journeys happen.
A traveler may first discover a destination while streaming the World Cup on Peacock, plan and book their trip on Booking.com, book airfare through United Airlines, stay at a Marriott Bonvoy property, and take an Uber ride to dinner. Historically, these are separate signals across multiple different travel companies. By integrating with each of these travel media networks and their travel data, The Trade Desk can now aggregate these signals for a traveler — generating valuable commerce insights that help brands better understand intent and help deliver more relevant advertising experiences. Through its growing ecosystem of retail and travel integrations, The Trade Desk can help advertisers unify activation, measurement, and optimization across these touchpoints through a single platform. This provides advertisers with a more complete view of the travel journey, helping them reach audiences with relevant messaging before, during, and after key moments such as trip planning, booking, travel, and in-destination experiences.
“Advertisers are increasingly looking to activate deterministic signals across a growing range of consumer touchpoints, including retail, travel, hospitality, and mobility,” said Jeff Daniel, GM of Commerce Data Partnerships, The Trade Desk. “Retail media has demonstrated the value of high-intent signals in driving business outcomes, and we're now seeing that opportunity extend to other sectors where purchase decisions are made. The Trade Desk helps advertisers activate those signals through a single platform that unifies data, measurement, and AI-powered decisioning across the open internet.”
As brands seek to connect media investment with measurable business outcomes, high-intent travel and commerce signals are becoming increasingly valuable across categories including automotive, financial services, restaurants, entertainment, luxury, telecom, and consumer packaged goods.
Commerce media is evolving beyond lower-funnel conversion strategies as brands increasingly apply commerce and intent signals to upper-funnel environments like connected TV and digital audio to influence discovery, consideration, and brand affinity earlier in the consumer journey.
Through The Trade Desk, advertisers can activate omnichannel campaigns across connected TV, digital audio, display, and native using commerce and travel intent signals while maintaining unified measurement, optimization, and reporting across campaigns. The platform also uses Koa AI to analyze commerce, travel, and behavioral signals, helping advertisers improve campaign performance in real time.
These capabilities are further strengthened by The Trade Desk’s direct path to premium publishers and streaming inventory across the open internet through OpenPath, helping improve supply chain transparency, efficiency, and advertiser performance.
“Consumers expect more relevant and personalized experiences throughout the travel journey,” said Ben Harrell, Managing Director, U.S., Booking.com. “Working with The Trade Desk helps brands engage travelers more effectively across the open internet using signals that reflect real consumer interests and intent.”
"As the first and largest media network in hospitality, we've been deliberate about how we bring Marriott Media to market,” said Chris Norton, Senior Vice President and General Manager, MARRIOTT MEDIA and Marketing Capabilities, Marriott International. “Our owned channels give us a deep understanding of traveler intent, and working with The Trade Desk allows us to activate those signals beyond our own ecosystem, connecting advertisers with travelers across premium environments throughout the entire journey.”
“At Uber, we don't just seek to understand consumer behavior — we power the physical journeys that drive it,” said Jess Shuraleff, Head of Uber USC Advertising Sales. “Partnering with The Trade Desk allows brands to go beyond digital impressions, leveraging Uber's real-world intent signals to seamlessly reach consumers before, during, and after their everyday real-world experiences.”
As commerce media continues to expand across industries, The Trade Desk is strengthening its role as a centralized platform where advertisers can access audiences and signals across retail, travel, hospitality, mobility, and transactional ecosystems while applying consistent measurement and optimization strategies across channels. The company believes the future of commerce media will be built on interoperability and advertiser choice — enabling brands to work across a broad ecosystem of commerce and travel partners through a unified workflow.
About The Trade Desk
The Trade Desk™ is a technology company that empowers buyers of advertising. Through its self-service, cloud-based platform, ad buyers can create, manage, and optimize digital advertising campaigns across ad formats and devices. Integrations with major data, inventory, and publisher partners ensure maximum reach and decisioning capabilities, and enterprise APIs enable custom development on top of the platform. Headquartered in Ventura, CA, The Trade Desk has offices across North America, Europe, and Asia Pacific. To learn more, visit thetradedesk.com or follow us on Facebook, X, and LinkedIn.
In the latest trading session, The Trade Desk (TTD - Free Report) closed at $18.51, marking a +1.93% move from the previous day. The stock exceeded the S&P 500, which registered a gain of 1.09% for the day. Elsewhere, the Dow saw an upswing of 0.14%, while the tech-heavy Nasdaq appreciated by 1.91%.
The digital-advertising platform operator's shares have seen a decrease of 13.61% over the last month, not keeping up with the Computer and Technology sector's gain of 0.22% and the S&P 500's gain of 0.29%.
Investors will be eagerly watching for the performance of The Trade Desk in its upcoming earnings disclosure. The company's upcoming EPS is projected at $0.4, signifying a 2.44% drop compared to the same quarter of the previous year. Meanwhile, our latest consensus estimate is calling for revenue of $751.76 million, up 8.32% from the prior-year quarter.
Regarding the entire year, the Zacks Consensus Estimates forecast earnings of $1.87 per share and revenue of $3.18 billion, indicating changes of +5.65% and +9.81%, respectively, compared to the previous year.
Investors might also notice recent changes to analyst estimates for The Trade Desk. These revisions help to show the ever-changing nature of near-term business trends. As a result, upbeat changes in estimates indicate analysts' favorable outlook on the business health and profitability.
Our research suggests that these changes in estimates have a direct relationship with upcoming stock price performance. We developed the Zacks Rank to capitalize on this phenomenon. Our system takes these estimate changes into account and delivers a clear, actionable rating model.
Ranging from #1 (Strong Buy) to #5 (Strong Sell), the Zacks Rank system has a proven, outside-audited track record of outperformance, with #1 stocks returning an average of +25% annually since 1988. Over the past month, the Zacks Consensus EPS estimate has remained steady. Currently, The Trade Desk is carrying a Zacks Rank of #3 (Hold).
Valuation is also important, so investors should note that The Trade Desk has a Forward P/E ratio of 9.7 right now. This valuation marks a discount compared to its industry average Forward P/E of 15.55.
It's also important to note that TTD currently trades at a PEG ratio of 0.55. The PEG ratio bears resemblance to the frequently used P/E ratio, but this parameter also includes the company's expected earnings growth trajectory. TTD's industry had an average PEG ratio of 1.61 as of yesterday's close.
The Internet - Services industry is part of the Computer and Technology sector. This industry, currently bearing a Zacks Industry Rank of 164, finds itself in the bottom 33% echelons 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.
Keep in mind to rely on Zacks.com to watch all these stock-impacting metrics, and more, in the succeeding trading sessions.
Connected TV stocks were all the rage during the pandemic, but many of these same stocks have crashed from their highs. Roku is getting acquired for $160 per share after almost reaching $500 per share in 2021.
The Trade Desk (TTD 0.42%) is a similar story, but without the buyout. The stock is down by more than 50% year to date, and its $18 price tag is a far cry from the $140 per share it hit near the end of 2024.
The Roku deal has brought more attention to The Trade Desk stock, and its 20.6 P/E ratio makes it worth looking at now. Here's what you should know about the stock.
Image source: Getty Images.
The days of 20% growth rates appear to be over Part of The Trade Desk's ability to outperform the S&P 500 during its peak was its ability to consistently generate 20% or more year-over-year revenue growth. Investors didn't like it when The Trade Desk indicated that those days were over.
The Trade Desk delivered 12% year-over-year revenue growth in the first quarter, compared to a 25% year-over-year growth rate when it reported earnings for Q1 2025. This fading growth rate is a major area of contention, and Q2 guidance only implied at least $750 million in revenue, which would represent an 8% year-over-year growth rate.
Profit margins also compressed to just below 6%, compared to double-digit margins. Growth isn't what it used to be, but retention remains high. The Trade Desk closed out Q1 with a retention rate above 95%, maintaining a streak that has lasted for more than a decade.
Today's Change
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The correction is overdone at this point Marc Guberti has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Roku and The Trade Desk. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
SILVER SPRING, MD / ACCESS Newswire / June 18, 2026 / CuriosityStream Inc. (Nasdaq:CURI), a leading global factual media company, today announced the appointment of Claire Chiang to the role of Corporate Controller. Ms. Chiang will report to Brady Hayden, CuriosityStream's Chief Financial Officer.
As part of her compensation package, Ms. Chiang received a restricted stock grant covering 35,000 shares of the Company's common stock, effective June 18, 2026. The award was granted outside of the Company's shareholder-approved equity compensation plans and was approved by the Board of Directors in accordance with Nasdaq Listing Rule 5635(c)(4) as a material inducement to Ms. Chiang's acceptance of employment with the Company.
The restricted stock unit award will vest in full on the first anniversary of the grant date, subject to Ms. Chiang's continued employment with the Company through such date, and any shares that vest will remain subject to a one-year post-vesting holding period, subject to the terms of the applicable award agreement.
Forward-Looking Statements
Certain statements in this press release may be considered "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 including, but not limited to, CuriosityStream's expectations or predictions of future financial or business performance or conditions, consumers' valuation of factual content, and the Company's continued success. Forward-looking statements are inherently subject to risks, uncertainties and assumptions. Generally, statements that are not historical facts, including statements concerning possible or assumed future actions, business strategies, events or results of operations, are forward-looking statements. These statements may be preceded by, followed by or include the words "believes," "estimates," "expects," "projects," "forecasts," "may," "will," "should," "seeks," "plans," "scheduled," "anticipates," "predicts" or "intends" or similar expressions. Such forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties that may cause actual events, results or performance to differ materially from those indicated by such statements. Certain of these risks are identified and discussed under "Risk Factors" in CuriosityStream's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2025, that CuriosityStream filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") on March 12, 2026, and in CuriosityStream's other SEC filings. These risk factors are important to consider in determining future results and should be reviewed in their entirety.
Forward-looking statements are based on the current belief of the management of CuriosityStream, based on currently available information, as to the outcome and timing of future events, and involve factors, risks, and uncertainties that may cause actual results in future periods to differ materially from such statements. However, there can be no assurance that the events, results or trends identified in these forward-looking statements will occur or be achieved. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made, and CuriosityStream is not under any obligation, and expressly disclaims any obligation to update, alter or otherwise revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law. Readers should carefully review the statements set forth in the reports that CuriosityStream has filed or will file from time to time with the SEC.
In addition to factors previously disclosed in CuriosityStream's reports filed with the SEC and those identified elsewhere in this communication, the following factors, among others, could cause actual results to differ materially from forward-looking statements or historical performance: (i) risks related to CuriosityStream's ability to maintain and develop new and existing revenue-generating relationships and partnerships or to significantly increase CuriosityStream's subscriber base and retain customers; (ii) the effects of pending and future legislation; (iii) risks of the internet, online commerce and media industry; (iv) the highly competitive nature of the internet, online commerce and media industry and CuriosityStream's ability to compete therein; (v) litigation, complaints, and/or adverse publicity; and (vi) privacy and data protection laws, privacy or data breaches, or the loss of data.
About CuriosityStream Inc.
CuriosityStream Inc. (Nasdaq:CURI) is the entertainment brand for people who want to know more. The global media company is home to award-winning original and curated factual films, shows, and series covering science, nature, history, technology, society, and lifestyle. CuriosityStream is also a leader in high-integrity AI video model training and data licensing, extending the reach and value of its premium library. With millions of subscribers worldwide and thousands of titles, the company operates the flagship Curiosity Stream SVOD service, available in more than 175 countries worldwide; Curiosity Channel, the linear television channel available via global distribution partners; Curiosity University, featuring talks from the best professors at the world's most renowned universities as well as courses, short and long-form videos, and podcasts; Curiosity Now, Curiosity History, Curiosity Animals, Curiosity Explora, and other free, ad-supported channels; Curiosity Audio Network, with original content and podcasts; and Curiosity Studios, which oversees original programming. For more information, visit CuriosityStream.com.
CuriosityStream leverages its vast, copyright-compliant non-fiction content library as a key moat, targeting AI data training as its primary growth driver. CURI's licensing revenue, including AI training, rose to 40% of total revenue in 1Q26, offsetting a 5% decline in subscription revenue. Management projects full-year 2026 revenue to grow 8% year-over-year, with adjusted EBITDA expected to increase 120% at the mid-point of guidance.
Integration embeds Gracenote content intelligence, including contextual segments and live sports schedule data, directly within PubMatic's platform for activation across premium streaming inventory
, /PRNewswire/ -- Gracenote, Nielsen's content intelligence business, and PubMatic (Nasdaq: PUBM), the leading AI-powered adtech company delivering digital advertising performance, today announced a strategic partnership that makes connected TV (CTV) inventory easier to discover, evaluate and buy based on the programming itself.
As live sports and premium entertainment consumption move deeper into streaming, advertising investment has not fully kept pace with audiences. One reason is a persistent content signal gap: buyers often can't see what is actually airing behind a CTV impression before – or even after – they commit marketing budgets. Recent Gracenote research found that 86% of media planners cite limited show- or content-level data as a barrier to shifting more ad budget from linear to CTV.
The partnership addresses that gap within PubMatic's platform, giving advertisers, agencies and streaming publishers a shared foundation for packaging and transacting inventory around content attributes and live events. Through the integration, PubMatic can match bid opportunities against Gracenote episode-level data in real time at-auction, enabling specific, advertiser-selected inventory to be associated with curated deal IDs across its platform.
In parallel, PubMatic is using Gracenote's program schedule data to identify and curate live sports inventory, helping buyers reach audiences around valuable games and events as they air. The integration brings Gracenote's content intelligence directly into PubMatic's AI-powered Live Sports Marketplace, pairing moment-based curation with verified programming data to give buyers a complete picture of what they're buying.
The implementation runs on the IAB Tech Lab's Agentic Real-Time Framework (ARTF), a standard for fast, containerized data integrations in programmatic advertising, and is built to operate within PubMatic's AgenticOS. It supports real-time decisioning with minimal impact to the bidstream, adding just 0.1 to 0.5 milliseconds to transactions. The result is content intelligence that works at the speed of the bidstream — available to buyers however they choose to activate, whether through direct deal execution or PubMatic's AgenticOS autonomous buying infrastructure.
For publishers, the partnership makes premium inventory easier to differentiate and monetize across live sports, TV shows and movies. Packages are built on Gracenote data and IDs, the same content intelligence streaming services trust to power viewer search and discovery. For buyers, it brings program-informed precision to deal-based buying, replacing guesswork with verified content signals and helping campaigns align with the specific content and live events that drive audience attention.
"Marketers are paying more for CTV impressions and want to know their ads are running during familiar content they can verify," said Jake Richardson, VP of product partnerships at Gracenote. "What's made this difficult is the need for the data to work at the speed of the bidstream to inform what gets packaged and bought. Now, with PubMatic, our contextual segments and live sports schedules operate at that critical decision point."
"Live sports is the most premium inventory in the industry," said Nicole Scaglione, VP of CTV and Online Video, PubMatic. "What Gracenote brings to our platform is the verified content intelligence that powers impression-level decisioning to be more precise and more measurable, so buyers get the performance without sacrificing transparency. Whether buying agentically or through existing workflows, there are now tens of millions of verified live sports impressions on our platform ready to deliver."
The collaboration brings Gracenote's CTV content intelligence deeper into streaming advertising and advances PubMatic's aim to make premium live sports inventory the most plannable, verifiable, and intelligently buyable in programmatic CTV, whether through direct deal execution or autonomous agentic activation.
About Gracenote
Gracenote is the content intelligence business unit of Nielsen. We standardize the way the global media and entertainment ecosystem indexes content and associated metadata, allowing it to flow between creators, distributors, platforms and advertisers. By providing unmatched depth across 50M+ titles and 80K+ channels and catalogs, we power the modern search, discovery and navigation experiences that connect people to the TV, movies, music and sports they love—in 70+ languages across 80+ countries. For more information, visit Gracenote.com or follow us on LinkedIn.
About PubMatic
PubMatic (NASDAQ: PUBM) is the leading AI-powered ad tech company delivering digital advertising performance. Through an intelligent, unified platform that connects buyers, publishers, data partners, and commerce media networks, PubMatic delivers superior performance with greater transparency, control, and efficiency.
Since 2006, PubMatic has pioneered every major advance in programmatic advertising, from enabling the first OpenRTB transactions to embedding AI-driven optimization and privacy-focused innovation across its platform. With omnichannel scale, proven reliability, and a track record of continuous innovation, PubMatic is building a more intelligent, profitable, and sustainable digital advertising ecosystem. Built to Connect. Powered to Perform.
As independent content creators scale audiences across CTV and beyond social platforms, PubMatic enables direct access to a new class of performance-driven buyers through AgenticOS
NO-HEADQUARTERS/REDWOOD CITY, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--PubMatic (Nasdaq: PUBM), the leading AI-powered ad tech company delivering digital advertising performance, today announced the launch of its Creator Marketplace, the first programmatic CTV auction connecting independent creator media companies’ premium CTV inventory with programmatic and emerging agentic demand. MeatEater, the leading outdoor lifestyle media brand founded by renowned writer and TV host Steven Rinella, joins as the marketplace's inaugural launch partner.
"The creator economy has matured into one of the most powerful forces in media, yet the programmatic industry has mostly stayed on the outside," said Nicole Scaglione, VP of CTV at PubMatic.
Share The creator economy is estimated to exceed $250 billion1 globally, yet creator monetization has traditionally relied on direct sponsorships and walled gardens, leaving independent creator publishers without the programmatic infrastructure that drives incremental publisher revenue. At the same time, a new class of performance-driven advertisers, activated through AgenticOS, PubMatic's agentic advertising platform, is entering programmatic for the first time, seeking the kind of highly-engaged, loyalty-driven audiences that have historically only been accessible inside walled gardens. Additionally, according to IAB research2, two in three digital video buyers are actively using or planning agentic AI campaigns in 2026, validating strong demand for a new path to creator-led CTV performance.
The Creator Marketplace arrives at this convergence point: creators gain access to incremental programmatic demand, and agentic advertisers gain access to highly performant creator-led CTV audience segments previously unavailable to them through programmatic channels.
"The creator economy has matured into one of the most powerful forces in media, yet the programmatic industry has mostly stayed on the outside," said Nicole Scaglione, VP of CTV at PubMatic. "With the surge of agentic advertising at PubMatic, we are seeing a new class of advertisers hungry for the type of highly-engaged, deeply-loyal audiences that these creators bring. With the Creator Marketplace, we are providing a direct line from that new demand to these powerful publishers, in a way that neither could access before.”
The Creator Marketplace is developed in partnership with Holmes Media, whose Boost offering helps creator-led media companies scale premium CTV inventory across platforms and monetize through direct and programmatic channels. FreeWheel serves as the marketplace's inaugural ad server partner, enabling seamless integration across platforms and existing creator-publisher workflows.
"A significant gap has emerged between traditional premium video and platform-native creator media,” said Emily Bromley, VP Global Growth at FreeWheel. "Many of today's most influential creators have built highly engaged audiences and premium content, yet they often lack the infrastructure, transparency, and standardized buying workflows required to access large-scale video advertising budgets. FreeWheel is helping bridge that gap by bringing the measurement, control, and operational consistency buyers expect from premium video environments. We look forward to working with creators, Holmes Media, and PubMatic to unlock new opportunities across emerging formats, including vertical video, interactive experiences, and performance-driven creative solutions."
MeatEater: A New Kind of Publisher, A New Kind of Audience
MeatEater exemplifies the category PubMatic is building for. Founded by Steven Rinella, a New York Times-best selling author and key voice in American outdoors culture, MeatEater, has grown into a fully scaled, independent media company, with 12 full-time content creators and in-house production capabilities for its wholly-owned video and audio output. Across that portfolio, MeatEater has built an engaged audience with more than 7 million followers across social handles and more than 2 million YouTube subscribers, while extending that audience into meaningful CTV scale across leading FAST and AVOD platforms. That audience carries creator-level loyalty: 32% report making a purchase based on the MeatEater creator team’s endorsement. Brands across automotive, outdoor and sporting goods, consumer packaged goods, and travel categories are already accessing MeatEater's premium CTV inventory through PubMatic's platform, signaling strong early advertiser demand.
"MeatEater has one of the most engaged communities in digital media, and our CTV growth offers brands a new path to reach those fans at scale," said Andrew Barge, Chief Content Officer, MeatEater. "Partnering with PubMatic opens a programmatic front door to that demand while preserving the control and standards that our creators and fans expect.”
MeatEater is the first of several creator-founded media companies joining PubMatic's Creator Marketplace, with additional publisher partners across key verticals expected to onboard in the coming months. To learn more, and integrate the creator marketplace into your next campaign, visit go.pubmatic.com/creator-marketplace or contact your PubMatic representative.
About PubMatic
PubMatic (NASDAQ: PUBM) is the leading AI-powered ad tech company delivering digital advertising performance. Through an intelligent, unified platform that connects buyers, publishers, data partners, and commerce media networks, PubMatic delivers superior performance with greater transparency, control, and efficiency.
Since 2006, PubMatic has pioneered every major advance in programmatic advertising, from enabling the first OpenRTB transactions to embedding AI-driven optimization and privacy-focused innovation across its platform. With omnichannel scale, proven reliability, and a track record of continuous innovation, PubMatic is building a more intelligent, profitable, and sustainable open internet. Built to Connect. Powered to Perform.
About MeatEater
MeatEater, Inc. is an outdoor lifestyle company founded by renowned writer and TV personality Steven Rinella. Host of the Netflix show MeatEater and The MeatEater Podcast, Rinella has gained wide popularity with hunters and non-hunters alike through his passion for outdoor adventure and wild foods, as well as his strong commitment to conservation. Founded with the belief that a deeper understanding of the natural world enriches all of our lives, MeatEater, Inc. brings together leading influencers in the outdoor space to create premium content experiences and unique apparel and equipment. MeatEater, Inc. is based in Bozeman, MT.
In a controlled, simultaneous comparison, PubMatic’s AgenticOS outperformed the incumbent DSP on every meaningful metric – and expanded Level Agency’s spend on the open internet
NO-HEADQUARTERS/REDWOOD CITY, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Level Agency, a performance-driven digital marketing agency, in partnership with PubMatic, the leading AI-powered ad tech company delivering digital advertising performance, today announced the results of a head-to-head test comparing PubMatic's AgenticOS against its incumbent DSP for an education sector client. Running simultaneously with identical budgets and objectives, AgenticOS outperformed the incumbent on every meaningful metric, delivering more than 2x reach per dollar on qualified audiences.
The result is exactly what AgenticOS was designed to deliver: a simpler ecosystem, more dollars in working media, and the open internet as a legitimate competitor to the walled gardens." — Andy Bryant, AVP, Advertiser Solutions, PubMatic
Share The performance gap traces to a combination unique to PubMatic: agentic AI operating directly inside the supply chain through Activate, PubMatic’s direct-to-supply activation platform, where inventory signals and audience data are applied before the auction. The speed of audience building and retargeting, scaling in days rather than the typical 30–60-day ramp, gave the agency the flexibility to adapt creative from an existing social campaign and deploy it immediately against a localized, date-specific campus open house activation on the open internet.
The Test
Education advertisers demand precise demographic and geographic audience-building — an industry where inventory quality, audience reach, and cost efficiency are equally critical. The client needed hyper-local audiences at scale. Level defined the outcome they were looking for, structured the most direct test possible, and let the data decide: PubMatic's AgenticOS against the incumbent DSP, running simultaneously with identical budgets and objectives, tracked throughout the flight using Level's own reporting.
AgenticOS outperformed on every meaningful metric Level measured.
The Results1
More than 2x more reach per dollar on qualified audiences, across mobile, online video, and premium CTV – 351 qualified impressions delivered for every $1, compared to the DSP’s 164 53% lower weighted average CPMs for premium CTV inventory 54% higher video completion rate overall; 35% higher on a controlled OTT-to-OTT comparison Retargeting at scale within days, versus the 30-60 day ramp typically required by DSP-led campaigns Campaign activated in minutes, from audience discovery to tactics and budgets, compared to the typical 3–5 hour setup plus creative trafficking “At Level, every technology decision starts with one question: will this move the needle for our clients? We structured this test the same way we approach every strategic decision: define the outcome, run the experiment, trust the data. What AgenticOS delivered changed how we're thinking about where the open internet can compete for client budgets, and that's exactly the kind of adaptive advantage and innovation we're always looking for." — Patrick Van Gorder, Chief Partnership Officer, Level Agency
The Compounding Effects of AgenticOS
Most agentic capabilities announced in the market today describe a single buyer agent communicating with a single seller agent. What Level activated through AgenticOS is different: a coordinated sequence of more than 20 specialized agents operating across the full campaign lifecycle through a single access point. Through a custom buyer agent built for the Untapped Growth Collective, Level described their campaign objectives in plain language. Proprietary agents identified the highest-quality available inventory, including premium CTV and OTT, built and refined audience segments from publisher-side signals, handled direct activation, and surfaced optimization insights continuously throughout the flight.
Those results are a direct function of where PubMatic uniquely sits in the ecosystem. AgenticOS is the only agentic platform operating at the intersection of buy-side and sell-side intelligence simultaneously, combining four compounding assets that work independently but deliver categorically different outcomes when unified on a single platform: agentic AI through AgenticOS; direct supply-side activation through Activate; a 300+ partner data and commerce media ecosystem giving agents continuously learning audience capabilities; and owned-and-operated GPU infrastructure purpose-built for accelerated computing and reduced inferencing latency. For Level, that entire stack was accessible through a single prompt, with no infrastructure or additional technology required on the agency's end.
"The best media strategies are the ones that don't require constant intervention. When your supply pool is already controlling frequency, filtering inventory, and qualifying audiences before the auction, you get scale that manages itself — and that frees you up to make better decisions faster." — Anjlee Majmudar, VP of Programmatic, Level Agency
Allocating More Spend to the Open Internet
The success of the campaign, coupled with the ease of execution, opened a new category of campaign execution. The agency made a mid-flight decision to expand the program: an upcoming open house campaign, a date-based, hyper-local activation with a tight turnaround, is being allocated to AgenticOS alongside their existing social buy. The open internet is now in the mix for the kind of time-sensitive, geographically specific activation where speed and flexibility are the deciding factors.
"AgenticOS runs at the intersection of supply and demand, giving agencies direct access to publisher signals and inventory that isn't available from the demand side alone. The result is exactly what AgenticOS was designed to deliver: a simpler ecosystem, more dollars in working media, and the open internet as a legitimate competitor to the walled gardens. Level proved it out, and we're excited to build on it." — Andy Bryant, AVP, Advertiser Solutions, PubMatic.
To view the full case study, visit here. To learn more about AgenticOS and how PubMatic is powering the next generation of agentic advertising, visit pubmatic.com/agents
About PubMatic
PubMatic (NASDAQ: PUBM) is the leading AI-powered ad tech company delivering digital advertising performance. Through an intelligent, unified platform that connects buyers, publishers, data partners, and commerce media networks, PubMatic delivers superior performance with greater transparency, control, and efficiency.
Since 2006, PubMatic has pioneered every major advance in programmatic advertising, from enabling the first OpenRTB transactions to embedding AI-driven optimization and privacy-focused innovation across its platform. With omnichannel scale, proven reliability, and a track record of continuous innovation, PubMatic is building a more intelligent, profitable, and sustainable open internet. Built to Connect. Powered to Perform.
Level Agency, a performance-driven digital marketing agency, in partnership with PubMatic, the leading AI-powered ad tech company delivering digital advertisin
For those looking to find strong Computer and Technology stocks, it is prudent to search for companies in the group that are outperforming their peers. PubMatic, Inc. (PUBM - Free Report) is a stock that can certainly grab the attention of many investors, but do its recent returns compare favorably to the sector as a whole? Let's take a closer look at the stock's year-to-date performance to find out.
PubMatic, Inc. is one of 592 companies in the Computer and Technology group. The Computer and Technology group currently sits at #1 within the Zacks Sector Rank. The Zacks Sector Rank considers 16 different groups, measuring the average Zacks Rank of the individual stocks within the sector to gauge the strength of each group.
The Zacks Rank emphasizes earnings estimates and estimate revisions to find stocks with improving earnings outlooks. This system has a long record of success, and these stocks tend to be on track to beat the market over the next one to three months. PubMatic, Inc. is currently sporting a Zacks Rank of #2 (Buy).
Over the past three months, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for PUBM's full-year earnings has moved 34% higher. This is a sign of improving analyst sentiment and a positive earnings outlook trend.
Our latest available data shows that PUBM has returned about 27.4% since the start of the calendar year. Meanwhile, stocks in the Computer and Technology group have gained about 18.7% on average. This shows that PubMatic, Inc. is outperforming its peers so far this year.
One other Computer and Technology stock that has outperformed the sector so far this year is Cognex Corporation (CGNX - Free Report) . The stock is up 87.9% year-to-date.
Over the past three months, Cognex Corporation's consensus EPS estimate for the current year has increased 52.1%. The stock currently has a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy).
Breaking things down more, PubMatic, Inc. is a member of the Internet - Software industry, which includes 170 individual companies and currently sits at #84 in the Zacks Industry Rank. This group has lost an average of 15.6% so far this year, so PUBM is performing better in this area.
In contrast, Cognex Corporation falls under the Electronics - Testing Equipment industry. Currently, this industry has 4 stocks and is ranked #6. Since the beginning of the year, the industry has moved +21.1%.
Investors interested in the Computer and Technology sector may want to keep a close eye on PubMatic, Inc. and Cognex Corporation as they attempt to continue their solid performance.
Taking full advantage of the stock market and investing with confidence are common goals for new and old investors, and Zacks Premium offers many different ways to do both.
Featuring daily updates of the Zacks Rank and Zacks Industry Rank, full access to the Zacks #1 Rank List, Equity Research reports, and Premium stock screens, the research service can help you become a smarter, more self-assured investor.
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.
Each stock is given an alphabetic rating of A, B, C, D or F based on their value, growth, and momentum qualities. With this system, an A is better than a B, a B is better than a C, and so on, meaning the better the score, the better chance the stock will outperform.
The Style Scores are broken down into four categories:
Value ScoreFinding good stocks at good prices, and discovering which companies are trading under their true value, are what value investors like to focus on. So, the Value Style Score takes into account ratios like P/E, PEG, Price/Sales, Price/Cash Flow, and a host of other multiples to highlight 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 traders and investors live by the saying "the trend is your friend." This investing style is all about taking advantage of upward or downward trends in a stock's price or earnings outlook. Employing factors like one-week price change and the monthly percentage change in earnings estimates, the Momentum Style Score can indicate favorable times to build a position in high-momentum stocks.
VGM ScoreIf you 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 The Zacks Rank is a proprietary stock-rating model that harnesses the power of earnings estimate revisions, or changes to a company's earnings expectations, to help investors build a successful portfolio.
Investors can count on the Zacks Rank's success, with #1 (Strong Buy) stocks producing an unmatched +24% average annual return since 1988, more than double the S&P 500's performance. But the model rates a large number of stocks, and there are over 200 companies with a Strong Buy rank, plus another 600 with a #2 (Buy) rank, on any given day.
This totals more than 800 top-rated stocks, and it can be overwhelming to try and pick the best stocks for you and your portfolio.
That's where the Style Scores come in.
You want to make sure you're buying stocks with the highest likelihood of success, and to do that, you'll need to pick stocks with a Zacks Rank #1 or #2 that also have Style Scores of A or B. If you like a stock that only has a #3 (Hold) rank, it should also have Scores of A or B to guarantee 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.
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: Affirm Holdings (AFRM - Free Report) Founded in 2012 and headquartered in San Francisco, CA, Affirm Holdings, Inc. is a financial technology company specializing in payment solutions that provide consumers with flexible, transparent installment loans — both interest-free and interest-bearing — at the point of sale. By partnering with a diverse range of merchants, Affirm enables customers to pay for purchases over time.
AFRM 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. AFRM has a Momentum Style Score of B, and shares are up 5.4% over the past four weeks.
For fiscal 2026, 10 analysts revised their earnings estimate upwards in the last 60 days, and the Zacks Consensus Estimate has increased $0.16 to $1.25 per share. AFRM boasts an average earnings surprise of +74.9%.
With a solid Zacks Rank and top-tier Momentum and VGM Style Scores, AFRM should be on investors' short list.
Affirm Holdings, Inc. (AFRM - Free Report) is looking like an interesting pick from a technical perspective, as the company reached a key level of support. Recently, AFRM's 50-day simple moving average crossed above its 200-day simple moving average, known as a "golden cross."
There's a reason traders love a golden cross -- it's a technical chart pattern that can indicate a bullish breakout is on the horizon. This kind of crossover is formed when a stock's short-term moving average breaks above a longer-term moving average. Typically, a golden cross involves the 50-day and the 200-day moving averages, since bigger time periods tend to form stronger breakouts.
There are three stages to a golden cross. First, there must be a downtrend in a stock's price that eventually bottoms out. Then, the stock's shorter moving average crosses over its longer moving average, triggering a positive trend reversal. The third stage is when a stock continues the upward momentum to higher prices.
A golden cross is the opposite of a death cross, another technical event that indicates bearish price movement may be on the horizon.
AFRM has rallied 13.3% over the past four weeks, and the company is a #3 (Hold) on the Zacks Rank at the moment. This combination indicates AFRM could be poised for a breakout.
The bullish case only gets stronger once investors take into account AFRM's positive earnings outlook for the current quarter. There have been 10 upward revisions compared to none lower over the past 60 days, and the Zacks Consensus Estimate has moved up as well.
Investors may want to watch AFRM for more gains in the near future given the company's key technical level and positive earnings estimate revisions.
Key Takeaways Affirm's expanding ecosystem and card growth are driving stronger user engagement.Earnings estimates and GMV outlook point to continued momentum for AFRM.Rising leverage and higher credit-loss provisions remain risks to watch. Shares of Affirm Holdings, Inc. (AFRM - Free Report) have climbed 13.3% over the past month, handily beating the broader industry, which slipped 2.6%, while the S&P 500 was little changed. The rally reflects growing confidence in the company’s growth prospects, improving profitability and an expanding ecosystem. Among major buy now, pay later (BNPL) peers, PayPal Holdings, Inc. (PYPL - Free Report) has fallen 3.9% during the same period, while Klarna Group plc (KLAR - Free Report) has gained 13.7%.
Price Performance – AFRM, PYPL, KLAR, Industry & S&P 500 Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Let’s look at its growth drivers.
AFRM’s New Initiatives Are Opening More DoorsAffirm’s newer offerings are beginning to play a bigger role in its growth story. The Affirm Card, digital wallet integrations, agentic commerce initiatives and the recently launched Affirm Edge are creating additional ways for customers to use the platform. Active cardholders reached 4.4 million in the fiscal third quarter, while card GMV alone soared 146% year over year, helped by the company’s cash-flow underwriting model.
Affirm also strengthened its relationship with Google by integrating its BNPL services to Google Search, AI Mode and the Gemini app through Google Pay. The move expands its reach and could drive higher transaction volumes over time.
Funding capacity also continues to improve. Earlier this month, Affirm expanded its partnership with Canada Pension Plan Investment Board. The agreement is expected to support roughly $8 billion in consumer loan volume over the next two years, underscoring institutional confidence in the company’s underwriting and credit performance.
AFRM Building Scale Across Consumers and MerchantsDespite uncertainty in the broader economy, Affirm continues to deepen its presence through partnerships, product innovation and a growing customer base. These efforts are expanding its addressable market and reducing reliance on any single growth driver.
Active consumers rose 22% year over year to 26.8 million in the fiscal third quarter. Usage is spreading beyond large purchases into categories such as groceries, fuel, travel and subscriptions, making the platform more relevant to everyday spending.
Transactions increased 45% to 45.3 million in the latest quarter. Repeat users accounted for about 96% of total transactions, showing that customers continue to come back. Gross merchandise volume rose 35% to $11.6 billion. For fiscal 2026, management expects GMV between $49.265 billion and $49.565 billion. It has also outlined a medium-term goal of reaching $100 billion in annual GMV, supported by at least 25% yearly growth.
Merchant adoption is also gaining momentum. Active merchants climbed 44% from a year ago to 515,000 as of March 31, 2026, reflecting steady demand for flexible payment options.
Earnings Outlook for AFRM Remains BrightThe Zacks Consensus Estimate for fiscal 2026 earnings of $1.25 per share indicates a 733.3% year-over-year surge, while the estimate for fiscal 2027 earnings implies further growth of 35.6%. Moreover, the consensus mark for fiscal 2026 and 2027 revenues suggests 30.6% and 26.5% year-over-year growth, respectively.
It has delivered solid financial results lately, beating earnings estimates in each of the trailing four quarters, the average surprise being 74.9%.
Risks Still Deserve AttentionThe outlook is not without challenges. Inflation concerns and uneven economic conditions continue to raise questions about consumer spending and borrowers’ ability to manage debt. Provision for credit losses increased 24.6% in the first nine months of fiscal 2026, reflecting a more cautious view of the environment.
Competition is intensifying as Klarna and other fintech firms aggressively pursue market share. Walmart’s decision last year to replace Affirm with Klarna as its exclusive BNPL provider highlighted how quickly key partnerships can change.
Leverage is another concern. Funding debt stood at $2.4 billion at the end of the fiscal third quarter, up from $1.6 billion at fiscal 2025-end. The company’s debt-to-capital ratio of 67.7% remains well above the industry average of 21.4%. PayPal, by comparison, stands at 32%.
The stock trades at 4.67X forward 12-month sales, slightly above its three-year median of 4.40X and the industry average of 3.66X, leaving little room for disappointment. PayPal and Klarna trade far lower, at 1.07X and 1.46X forward sales, respectively.
ConclusionAffirm is executing well, supported by strong user engagement, expanding products and improving earnings prospects. Its growing merchant network and rising transaction volumes provide a solid foundation for long-term growth. However, elevated leverage, rising credit-loss provisions, intense competition and a premium valuation remain key concerns.
While the company’s growth story remains compelling, these risks warrant caution in the short run. Reflecting the balance between favorable fundamentals and the challenges, Affirm currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold), suggesting investors may want to wait for a more attractive entry point or additional catalysts. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
LONDON, June 23, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- EBC Financial Group (EBC) has been named Most Trusted FX Broker and Best CFD Broker on a global basis at the World Finance Awards 2026, taking two honours within the World Finance Forex Awards. For traders, the recognition is an independent signal that the conditions they depend on have been judged among the strongest in the market: transparent pricing, secure access, and dependable execution.
What the recognition reflects
The Most Trusted FX Broker award recognises the confidence EBC builds through secure market access, responsive service, and consistent operational standards across its global network. For clients, that consistency is what makes a platform dependable through changing market conditions, rather than only in calm ones.
The Best CFD Broker award reflects the strength of EBC's CFD offering across major markets, with robust execution, professional trading conditions, and an environment built for retail, professional, and institutional clients alike. Interbank-level pricing from 0.0 pips and order execution averaging under 20 milliseconds mean lower trading costs and fewer missed fills, helping clients act on opportunities as they arise rather than after the moment has passed.
“EBC has built a reputation in this market that's hard to ignore. Consistently transparent, consistently reliable, and clearly trusted by the clients who matter most. Both wins are thoroughly deserved, and it's been a pleasure watching EBC's progress this year. Congratulations to the whole team,” said Cyril Jones, Awards Director, World Finance.
Global access, backed by local support
For clients, the value of these awards lies in what they make possible. EBC provides access to currencies, commodities, indices, shares, and CFDs across more than 100 countries, supported by local teams that share market insight and respond in real time. Whether starting from a low-capital position or managing professional volume, clients reach global markets through a single regulated environment, with support close to where they are.
Raising the standard for clients worldwide
“Receiving these two global honours from the World Finance Awards is a meaningful recognition of the trust our clients place in us. Our focus remains on delivering transparent, secure, and reliable access to global FX and CFD markets, while continuing to raise the standard of service for traders worldwide,” said Christopher Stiegeler, Executive Director, EBC Financial Group (Cayman) Limited.
That focus runs through how the wider Group operates: a commitment to integrity, high-standard trading conditions, and a safer, more transparent environment in which clients can pursue global opportunities with confidence.
Building on a record of trust
Founded in London, EBC has expanded its international presence through regulated entities operating across major financial jurisdictions, including the UK, Australia, the Cayman Islands, and South Africa, among others. The Group now serves clients in over 100 countries, with more than 5 million registered users and over USD 390 billion in average monthly trading volume.
The 2026 honours extend a multi-year run of World Finance recognition and reinforce EBC's standing as a brokerage measured by the trust, transparency, and long-term value it delivers to the clients it serves.
For more information, visit the EBC Financial Group website at www.ebc.com.
Risk Disclaimer
Trading foreign exchange (FX) and contracts for differences (CFDs) on margin carries a high level of risk and may not be suitable for all investors. Losses can exceed deposits. Past performance does not guarantee future results. Please consider your investment objectives and risk tolerance carefully before trading.
About EBC Financial Group
Founded in London, EBC Financial Group (EBC) is a global brand known for its expertise in financial brokerage and asset management. Through its regulated entities operating across major financial jurisdictions—including the UK, Australia, the Cayman Islands, Mauritius, and others—EBC enables retail, professional, and institutional investors to access global markets and trading opportunities, including currencies, commodities, CFDs and more.
Trusted by investors in over 100 countries and honoured with global awards including multiple year recognition from World Finance, EBC is widely regarded as one of the world’s best brokers with titles including Best Trading Platform and Most Trusted Broker. With its strong regulatory standing and commitment to transparency, EBC has also been consistently ranked among the top brokers—trusted for its ability to deliver secure, innovative, and client-first trading solutions across competitive international markets.
EBC’s subsidiaries are licensed and regulated within their respective jurisdictions. EBC Financial Group (UK) Limited is regulated by the UK's Financial Conduct Authority (FCA); EBC Financial Group (Cayman) Limited is regulated by the Cayman Islands Monetary Authority (CIMA); EBC Financial Group (Australia) Pty Ltd, and EBC Asset Management Pty Ltd are regulated by Australia's Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC); EBC Financial (MU) Ltd is authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Commission Mauritius (FSC).
At the core of EBC are a team of industry veterans with over 40 years of experience in major financial institutions. Having navigated key economic cycles from the Plaza Accord and 2015 Swiss franc crisis to the market upheavals of the COVID-19 pandemic. We foster a culture where integrity, respect, and client asset security are paramount, ensuring that every investor relationship is handled with the utmost seriousness it deserves.
EBC is a proud official foreign exchange partner of FC Barcelona and continues to drive impactful partnerships to empower communities – namely through the UN Foundation’s United to Beat Malaria initiative, Oxford University’s Department of Economics, and a diverse range of partners to champion initiatives in global health, economics, education, and sustainability.
Amazon NASDAQ: AMZN is the prime stock for investors to play Prime Day, as it is the originator and central hub for all things related to it. This year's event runs June 23–26, 2026—a four-day, 96-hour window that Amazon has moved up from its usual July slot.
Critical details for investors to know this year include the expected 9% increase in period sales, Amazon’s 60% share of e-commerce during the event, and its impact on consumer habits. Studies have shown consumers strategically wait to stock up on low-cost essentials, setting the stage for some vendors to outperform others.
Get Walmart alerts:
However, while Amazon is best-positioned, it is not the only company that will benefit.
#1: Walmart Fights Back to Defend Market ShareWalmart NASDAQ: WMT is a good play on Prime Day, too, because it is the world’s largest retailer with a growing, robust online presence. It leans heavily into weeklong sales events intended to defend share, and they work.
Walmart Today
$119.42 +2.24 (+1.91%)
As of 04:00 PM Eastern
52-Week Range$94.23▼
$135.15Dividend Yield0.83%
P/E Ratio41.90
Price Target$138.85
Walmart times its sales events to start earlier and last longer than Prime Day, with an omnichannel presence and accessibility. Omnichannel accessibility enables shoppers to benefit from same-day delivery and in-store pickup deals without an Amazon Prime subscription.
Outside of its sales events set to coincide with Prime Day, WMT catalysts include expectations that earnings growth will accelerate over the course of the year.
Quarterly growth is expected to top 9% year-over-year in the current quarter, then accelerate each quarter modestly for several quarters thereafter.
Analyst trends are positive, with sentiment firming and price target revisions moving well above the existing high.
#2: Affirm Captures Market Share With Buy-Now-Pay-Later OptionsAffirm NASDAQ: AFRM is a strategic play on Prime Day because it enables shoppers to buy higher-ticket items with a lower upfront cost.
Affirm Today
$71.83 -0.37 (-0.51%)
As of 04:00 PM Eastern
52-Week Range$42.10▼
$100.00P/E Ratio65.30
Price Target$86.20
With as much as 10% of the Prime Day business expected to fall in the buy-now-pay-later category, Affirm is expected to see a seasonal boost and sustain its high-double-digit growth pace.
More importantly, the company will significantly expand its loan portfolio, increase recurring revenue, and improve its long-term outlook.
As it stands, Affirm is forecast to sustain a solid double-digit growth rate over the next five to six years and widen its margin along the way.
Twenty-nine analysts rate Affirm stock a Moderate Buy by consensus, with recent revisions in the high-end range, forecasting fresh highs by year’s end. They cite the company’s strong underwriting standards, the push for bank charter, and ecosystem scalability as growth drivers.
#3: Visa Cashes In as the Network Behind the CardsVisa Today
V
Visa
$328.95 +2.35 (+0.72%)
As of 03:58 PM Eastern
52-Week Range$293.89▼
$359.66Dividend Yield0.81%
P/E Ratio28.65
Price Target$387.78
Visa NYSE: V is uniquely positioned to benefit from Prime Day as the world’s premier payment processing platform. Details are sketchy, but it and competitor Master Card are believed to handle upwards of 90% of global volume, with Visa accounting for as much as 60% in the core U.S. market.
Not only is it the force behind most major cards, but it also has partnerships with Amazon reflected in the Amazon-branded Visa Prime card. It enables cash back, bonuses, and other incentives that boost business, membership, and loyalty for both the merchant and processor.
#4: Mastercard Rounds Out the Payment Processing PlayMastercard Today
MA
Mastercard
$488.95 +4.86 (+1.00%)
As of 03:58 PM Eastern
52-Week Range$464.52▼
$601.77Dividend Yield0.71%
P/E Ratio28.30
Price Target$656.08
MasterCard NYSE: MA is a great play on Prime Day, as it commands the remaining market share not captured by Visa.
In this scenario, there is likely to be a modest spike in revenue and earnings, alongside organic growth drivers and a strengthening outlook for capital returns.
MasterCard pays a token dividend, worth approximately 0.7% as of mid-2026, and aggressively buys back shares.
Q1 activity helped to reduce the count by approximately 2.3% year-over-year (YOY), a pace expected to continue in upcoming quarters.
Twenty-eight analysts rate MA stock as a consensus Buy with a 35% upside, and institutions have been accumulating aggressively, running a pace of approximately $3 to $1 on a trailing 12-month basis.
#5: Target Aims to Capture Amazon’s BusinessTarget NYSE: TGT is another retailer actively working to retain its share and potentially capture additional share during Prime Day. It relies on the fact that many shoppers compare deals across platforms, using the opportunity to convert traffic with its own deals.
Target Today
$134.17 +4.44 (+3.42%)
As of 03:58 PM Eastern
52-Week Range$83.44▼
$137.87Dividend Yield3.40%
P/E Ratio17.72
Price Target$129.00
Because it focuses on daily items and essentials, it also converts a high rate of impulse purchases. The takeaway for TGT investors is that it offers a lower-cost entry point compared to WMT and attractive capital returns.
The dividend yields more than 3.5%, while share buybacks incrementally reduce the share count.
Target’s catalysts this year include business recovery. The company is still in the early stages of recovery but showed some traction in the last report, with comps up nearly 4.5%, which has its price trending higher in late Q2 2026.
The likely outcome is that it continues to build momentum in subsequent quarters, improving both its revenue and earnings quality. Thirty-three analysts rate Target as a consensus Hold, but sentiment has been firming, and price targets are improving ahead of the expected mid-August earnings release.
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Introduces the Cloudflare One Stack—a robust library of AI skills—to streamline SASE deployment alongside select global partners including Arctiq, Consortium, CMT, Presidio, The Missing Link, and others
SAN FRANCISCO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Cloudflare, Inc. (NYSE: NET), the leading connectivity cloud company, today announced the launch of its Cloudflare One Design Partner Designation. This new high-priority designation focuses on the Cloudflare One suite, equipping a select group of global partners—including Arctiq, Consortium, CMT, Presidio, and The Missing Link—with the deep technical expertise needed to accelerate secure AI innovation.
Migrating away from legacy security architectures is traditionally slow and risky. Auditing existing environments, mapping out new architectures, and avoiding configuration errors during vendor transitions can create vulnerabilities. This friction can create security gaps and stall innovation. Now, businesses can confidently reduce fragmentation by turning to a trusted partner to guide them into one suite designed for secure AI.
“Cloudflare One has evolved into a partner-led engine and our new Design Partner Designation is built to propel long-term growth,” said Tom Evans, Chief Partner Officer at Cloudflare. “This new framework represents our deepest channel co-investment yet. We are equipping our elite partners with the financial runway and technical mastery they want to scale the Cloudflare One platform. By blending our unified SASE architecture with partner expertise, we are turning complex network migrations into high-margin, high-value consulting opportunities for the AI era.”
To support the launch, Cloudflare is introducing the Cloudflare One Stack. This framework provides a robust library of AI skills that security teams can use with any agent to evaluate, deploy, and manage Cloudflare One. Built directly on top of Cloudflare One, these skills provide structured knowledge, decision trees, and tool definitions that AI agents can automatically use. By giving partners access to a central repository of blueprint configurations and automated workflows, Cloudflare eliminates tedious manual provisioning. Instead, partners can focus on delivering high-margin managed services tailored for the AI era.
Cloudflare One Design Partner Testimonials
"Organizations are under increasing pressure to modernize legacy architectures, secure AI adoption, and simplify increasingly complex environments. By combining the Cloudflare One platform with Arctiq’s expertise in cybersecurity, networking, cloud, and managed services, we help clients accelerate Zero Trust and SASE initiatives while reducing complexity and improving resilience,” said Wes Brown, CTO at Arctiq. “Together, we're helping organizations build secure, connected, and AI-ready environments that can adapt to an evolving threat landscape and support the future of business.”
"This partnership represents a significant investment in our ability to serve customers navigating the AI adoption landscape, SASE shift and cloud-delivered security," said Andrew Barnett, CTO at Consortium. “Consortium’s purpose-built dedicated Centers of Excellence are proven practices that have become one of the most recognized capabilities in our firm. With our level of rigor, expertise, and customer focus to Cloudflare, the Cloudflare One Design Partner designation gives us a foundation most partners will spend years trying to reach.”
“Cloudflare's deep co-investment in elite enablement empowers CMT Info & Comm Co., Ltd. with the advanced technical mastery needed to solve our customers' most complex security headaches,” said Soojong Lee, Chief Technology Officer at CMT. “With integrated SASE protections that scale smoothly across web, cloud, and private application environments, we can seamlessly protect sensitive data while building the automated frameworks necessary for the AI era."
“As a Cloudflare One Design Partner, we can now help eliminate fragmented, legacy architectures, and enable our customers to innovate with AI quicker and more securely,” said Jim Finn, Sales VP of Cyber at Presidio. “With a foundational repository of agent-ready best practices—that remove rigidity and allow us to easily transform complex network migrations into high-value consulting services—we are thrilled to help create the future of enterprise security.”
"Organisations are increasingly looking for ways to reduce complexity by bringing networking and security together within a single, modern architecture,” said Aaron Bailey, CISO and Director of The Missing Link. “As a Cloudflare One Design Partner, The Missing Link can help customers accelerate their Zero Trust and SASE strategies while improving security, performance, and operational efficiency. Combining Cloudflare's platform with our cyber security and consulting expertise enables us to help organisations navigate transformation with greater confidence and resilience.”
To learn more, please check out the resources below:
Cloudflare One Blog: Introducing the Cloudflare One stack: agent-powered deployment About Cloudflare
Cloudflare, Inc. (NYSE: NET) is the leading connectivity cloud company. It empowers organizations to make their employees, applications and networks faster and more secure everywhere, while reducing complexity and cost. Cloudflare’s connectivity cloud delivers the most full-featured, unified platform of cloud-native products and developer tools, so any organization can gain the control they need to work, develop, and accelerate their business.
Powered by one of the world’s largest and most interconnected networks, Cloudflare blocks billions of threats online for its customers every day. It is trusted by millions of organizations – from the largest brands to entrepreneurs and small businesses to nonprofits, humanitarian groups, and governments across the globe.
Learn more about Cloudflare’s connectivity cloud at cloudflare.com/connectivity-cloud. Learn more about the latest Internet trends and insights at radar.cloudflare.com.
Follow us: Blog | X | LinkedIn | Facebook | Instagram
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, which statements involve substantial risks and uncertainties. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements because they contain words such as “may,” “will,” “should,” “expects,” “explores,” “plans,” “anticipates,” “could,” “intends,” “target,” “project,” “contemplates,” “believes,” “estimates,” “predicts,” “potential,” or “continue,” or the negative of these words, or other similar terms or expressions that concern Cloudflare’s expectations, strategy, plans, or intentions. However, not all forward-looking statements contain these identifying words. Forward-looking statements expressed or implied in this press release include, but are not limited to, statements regarding the capabilities and effectiveness of the Cloudflare One suite of solutions and Cloudflare’s other products and technology, the benefits to Cloudflare’s customers from using the Cloudflare One suite of solutions and Cloudflare’s other products and technology, Cloudflare’s partnerships with Cloudflare One Design Partners and the potential resulting benefits to Cloudflare customers of working with Cloudflare One Design Partners, the potential opportunity for Cloudflare to attract additional customers and to expand sales to existing customers through Cloudflare’s partnerships with Cloudflare One Design Partners, Cloudflare’s technological development, future operations, growth, initiatives, or strategies, and comments made by Cloudflare’s Chief Partner Officer and others. Actual results could differ materially from those stated or implied in forward-looking statements due to a number of factors, including but not limited to, risks detailed in Cloudflare’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), including Cloudflare’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed on May 8, 2026, as well as other filings that Cloudflare may make from time to time with the SEC.
The forward-looking statements made in this press release relate only to events as of the date on which the statements are made. Cloudflare undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements made in this press release to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this press release or to reflect new information or the occurrence of unanticipated events, except as required by law. Cloudflare may not actually achieve the plans, intentions, or expectations disclosed in Cloudflare’s forward-looking statements, and you should not place undue reliance on Cloudflare’s forward-looking statements.
Cloudflare, Inc. (NYSE: NET), the leading connectivity cloud company, today announced the launch of its Cloudflare One Design Partner Designation. This new high-priority designation focuses on the Cloudflare One suite, equipping a select group of global partners—including Arctiq, Consortium, CMT, Presidio, and The Missing Link—with the deep technical expertise needed to accelerate secure AI innovation.
Migrating away from legacy security architectures is traditionally slow and risky. Auditing existing environments, mapping out new architectures, and avoiding configuration errors during vendor transitions can create vulnerabilities. This friction can create security gaps and stall innovation. Now, businesses can confidently reduce fragmentation by turning to a trusted partner to guide them into one suite designed for secure AI.
“Cloudflare One has evolved into a partner-led engine and our new Design Partner Designation is built to propel long-term growth,” said Tom Evans, Chief Partner Officer at Cloudflare. “This new framework represents our deepest channel co-investment yet. We are equipping our elite partners with the financial runway and technical mastery they want to scale the Cloudflare One platform. By blending our unified SASE architecture with partner expertise, we are turning complex network migrations into high-margin, high-value consulting opportunities for the AI era.”
To support the launch, Cloudflare is introducing the Cloudflare One Stack. This framework provides a robust library of AI skills that security teams can use with any agent to evaluate, deploy, and manage Cloudflare One. Built directly on top of Cloudflare One, these skills provide structured knowledge, decision trees, and tool definitions that AI agents can automatically use. By giving partners access to a central repository of blueprint configurations and automated workflows, Cloudflare eliminates tedious manual provisioning. Instead, partners can focus on delivering high-margin managed services tailored for the AI era.
Cloudflare One Design Partner Testimonials
"Organizations are under increasing pressure to modernize legacy architectures, secure AI adoption, and simplify increasingly complex environments. By combining the Cloudflare One platform with Arctiq’s expertise in cybersecurity, networking, cloud, and managed services, we help clients accelerate Zero Trust and SASE initiatives while reducing complexity and improving resilience,” said Wes Brown, CTO at Arctiq. “Together, we're helping organizations build secure, connected, and AI-ready environments that can adapt to an evolving threat landscape and support the future of business.”
"This partnership represents a significant investment in our ability to serve customers navigating the AI adoption landscape, SASE shift and cloud-delivered security," said Andrew Barnett, CTO at Consortium. “Consortium’s purpose-built dedicated Centers of Excellence are proven practices that have become one of the most recognized capabilities in our firm. With our level of rigor, expertise, and customer focus to Cloudflare, the Cloudflare One Design Partner designation gives us a foundation most partners will spend years trying to reach.”
“Cloudflare's deep co-investment in elite enablement empowers CMT Info & Comm Co., Ltd. with the advanced technical mastery needed to solve our customers' most complex security headaches,” said Soojong Lee, Chief Technology Officer at CMT. “With integrated SASE protections that scale smoothly across web, cloud, and private application environments, we can seamlessly protect sensitive data while building the automated frameworks necessary for the AI era."
“As a Cloudflare One Design Partner, we can now help eliminate fragmented, legacy architectures, and enable our customers to innovate with AI quicker and more securely,” said Jim Finn, Sales VP of Cyber at Presidio. “With a foundational repository of agent-ready best practices—that remove rigidity and allow us to easily transform complex network migrations into high-value consulting services—we are thrilled to help create the future of enterprise security.”
"Organisations are increasingly looking for ways to reduce complexity by bringing networking and security together within a single, modern architecture,” said Aaron Bailey, CISO and Director of The Missing Link. “As a Cloudflare One Design Partner, The Missing Link can help customers accelerate their Zero Trust and SASE strategies while improving security, performance, and operational efficiency. Combining Cloudflare's platform with our cyber security and consulting expertise enables us to help organisations navigate transformation with greater confidence and resilience.”
To learn more, please check out the resources below:
Cloudflare OneBlog: Introducing the Cloudflare One stack: agent-powered deploymentAbout Cloudflare
Cloudflare, Inc. (NYSE: NET) is the leading connectivity cloud company. It empowers organizations to make their employees, applications and networks faster and more secure everywhere, while reducing complexity and cost. Cloudflare’s connectivity cloud delivers the most full-featured, unified platform of cloud-native products and developer tools, so any organization can gain the control they need to work, develop, and accelerate their business.
Powered by one of the world’s largest and most interconnected networks, Cloudflare blocks billions of threats online for its customers every day. It is trusted by millions of organizations – from the largest brands to entrepreneurs and small businesses to nonprofits, humanitarian groups, and governments across the globe.
Learn more about Cloudflare’s connectivity cloud at cloudflare.com/connectivity-cloud. Learn more about the latest Internet trends and insights at radar.cloudflare.com.
Follow us: Blog | X | LinkedIn | Facebook | Instagram
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, which statements involve substantial risks and uncertainties. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements because they contain words such as “may,” “will,” “should,” “expects,” “explores,” “plans,” “anticipates,” “could,” “intends,” “target,” “project,” “contemplates,” “believes,” “estimates,” “predicts,” “potential,” or “continue,” or the negative of these words, or other similar terms or expressions that concern Cloudflare’s expectations, strategy, plans, or intentions. However, not all forward-looking statements contain these identifying words. Forward-looking statements expressed or implied in this press release include, but are not limited to, statements regarding the capabilities and effectiveness of the Cloudflare One suite of solutionsand Cloudflare’s other products and technology, the benefits to Cloudflare’s customers from using the Cloudflare One suite of solutions and Cloudflare’s other products and technology, Cloudflare’s partnerships with Cloudflare One Design Partners and the potential resulting benefits to Cloudflare customers of working with Cloudflare One Design Partners, the potential opportunity for Cloudflare to attract additional customers and to expand sales to existing customers through Cloudflare’s partnerships with Cloudflare One Design Partners, Cloudflare’s technological development, future operations, growth, initiatives, or strategies, and comments made by Cloudflare’s Chief Partner Officer and others. Actual results could differ materially from those stated or implied in forward-looking statements due to a number of factors, including but not limited to, risks detailed in Cloudflare’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), including Cloudflare’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed on May 8, 2026, as well as other filings that Cloudflare may make from time to time with the SEC.
The forward-looking statements made in this press release relate only to events as of the date on which the statements are made. Cloudflare undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements made in this press release to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this press release or to reflect new information or the occurrence of unanticipated events, except as required by law. Cloudflare may not actually achieve the plans, intentions, or expectations disclosed in Cloudflare’s forward-looking statements, and you should not place undue reliance on Cloudflare’s forward-looking statements.
Phoenix, AZ, June 18, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- InnSuites Hospitality Trust (NYSE American: IHT) achieved Fiscal First Quarter Consolidated Net Income profitability of $74,702, which is a modest improvement of $35,672, over the prior year Fiscal First Quarter. IHT reported record Hotel Revenue results of approximately $2.2 million in the Fiscal First Quarter of 2027 (February 1, 2026, to April 30, 2026).
Consolidated Net Income before non-cash items of depreciation and non-cash Best Western Travel Rewards credit expenses was $307,326 for the 2027 First Fiscal Quarter ended April 30, 2026 (February 1, 2026, through April 30, 2026).
Combined Hotel Occupancy jumped to 85.37%, while the Revenue Per Available Room and Suites (REVPAR), modestly increased to $88.23.
IHT hotel operations were strong in the 2026 Fiscal Year ended January 31, 2026, and are contributing to a solid start in the current 2027 Fiscal Year. Combined Hotel May Revenue for both hotels was $652,786, which led to total Hotel Revenue of approximately $2.9 million for the First Four Fiscal Months of Fiscal 2027, a new combined record level. IHT’s strong hotel operating results are reflected in three of the five most recent Fiscal Years profitable, even after accounting for substantial non-cash depreciation expense. These are positive signs for InnSuites, as progress remains strong, despite early 2026 Travel Industry uncertainty.
InnSuites Hospitality Trust continues to explore diversification opportunities and opportunities to increase Equity, potentially including a reverse merger, which is of high interest.
RRF LLLP, the 76% owned subsidiary Management Company for IHT, manages the IHT Hotels, and InnDependent Boutique Collection (IBC Hotels, LLC). IBC is a diversification opportunity for IHT.
In the process of ownership and management of branded and unbranded hotels, IHT recognized an unfulfilled need to provide hotel reservations, branding, and hotel services for global independent hotels, which at the time and still represent half the hotels in the world. In February 2014, IHT founded IBC Hotels, LLC to exploit this unfulfilled opportunity, developing reservations, branding, and related hotel services doing business as “InnDependent Boutique Collection “(IBC Hotels). Initial success in providing reservations for an IHT operated independent hotel was substantial. As this independent hotel services opportunity and the size of this potential demand was increasingly recognized in the travel industry, IBC Hotels was sold in August 2018 to a foreign hotel company planning expansion of independent hotel reservations and services internationally. IBC growth slowed in 2020 with the Covid Travel shutdown.
On March 5, 2025, REF , an investment entity owned by the chairman and family of IHT majority IHT shareholder, purchased IBC Hotels, LLC, and hired RRF LLLP, the management company subsidiary of InnSuites Hospitality Trust (IHT), to manage the rebirth of IBC, to benefit from the substantial unfulfilled need worldwide for independent hotel and resort reservations, Boutique branding, and related hotel services. In the process, RRF LLLP, obtained a five-year option to purchase, at cost, IBC Hotels, LLC. This option is believed to provide IHT a valuable upside opportunity, if successful, to profit from the revitalization of InnDependent Boutique Collection (IBC Hotels).
With the continued growing demand for electricity from data centers plus the influx of electric vehicles, as well as projected growing needs for artificial intelligence, increased demand for electricity over the next five years is projected to approximately double, which bodes well for the IHT investment in UniGen Power, Inc. This product is a potentially power industry disruptive relatively clean energy cost effective electric generation innovation, and even though it is high risk, it offers IHT substantial high upside potential.
On February 20, 2026, James Wirth was elected Chairman, CEO, and President of UniGen, while Marc Berg was elected as Vice Chairman, EVP, and Secretary/Treasurer of UniGen, with plans to rejuvenate the UniGen progress to benefit all the UniGen debt and equity holders, including IHT. Target date for the first two prototype engines to be ready for testing is in less than two years.
IHT management believes that due to real estate held on the books of IHT at book values significantly below current market value, due to clean energy diversification high profit potential ahead, IBC independent hotel services prospects, a potential reverse merger possibility, and improving hospitality profitability before non-cash depreciation and other non-cash items, the IHT future looks bright.
Our most recent dividend at the start of the current Fiscal Year 2027 extended IHT’s uninterrupted, continuous annual dividends to 56 years, since 1971, when IHT was first listed on the NYSE.
For more information, visit www.innsuitestrust.com and www.innsuites.com.
Forward-Looking Statements
With the exception of historical information, matters discussed in this news release may include “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the federal securities laws. All statements regarding IHT’s review and exploration of a potential reverse merger, strategic, operational, and structural alternative diversification investments, increasing equity, and expected associated costs and benefits are forward-looking. Actual developments and business decisions may differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Important factors, among others, that could cause IHT’s actual results and future actions to differ materially from those described in forward-looking statements include economic effects of international conflicts as well as tariffs, the uncertain outcome, impact, effects and results of IHT’s success in finding qualified purchasers for its hospitality real estate, or a reverse merger partner, the success of additional financing increasing equity, and timing of the UniGen clean energy and other potential diversification innovations, the continuation of annual dividends in the year(s) ahead, collections of receivables, and other risks discussed in IHT’s SEC filings. IHT expressly disclaims any obligation to update any forward-looking statement contained in this news release to reflect events or circumstances that may arise after the date hereof, all of which are expressly qualified by the foregoing, other than as required by applicable law.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION:
Marc Berg, Executive Vice President
602-944-1500
email: [email protected]
INNSUITES HOSPITALITY CENTRE
1730 E. NORTHERN AVENUE, #122
Phoenix, Arizona 85020
Phone: 602-944-1500
The price trend for Cloudflare (NET - Free Report) has been bearish lately and the stock has lost 16.6% over the past two weeks. However, the formation of a hammer chart pattern in its last trading session indicates that the stock could witness a trend reversal soon, as bulls might have gained significant control over the price to help it find support.
The formation of a hammer pattern is considered a technical indication of nearing a bottom with likely subsiding of selling pressure. But this is not the only factor that makes a bullish case for the stock. On the fundamental side, strong agreement among Wall Street analysts in raising earnings estimates for this web security and content delivery company enhances its prospects of a trend reversal.
Understanding Hammer Chart and the Technique to Trade ItThis is one of the popular price patterns in candlestick charting. A minor difference between the opening and closing prices forms a small candle body, and a higher difference between the low of the day and the open or close forms a long lower wick (or vertical line). The length of the lower wick being at least twice the length of the real body, the candle resembles a 'hammer.'
In simple terms, during a downtrend, with bears having absolute control, a stock usually opens lower compared to the previous day's close, and again closes lower. On the day the hammer pattern is formed, maintaining the downtrend, the stock makes a new low. However, after eventually finding support at the low of the day, some amount of buying interest emerges, pushing the stock up to close the session near or slightly above its opening price.
When it occurs at the bottom of a downtrend, this pattern signals that the bears might have lost control over the price. And, the success of bulls in stopping the price from falling further indicates a potential trend reversal.
Hammer candles can occur on any timeframe -- such as one-minute, daily, weekly -- and are utilized by both short-term as well as long-term investors.
Like every technical indicator, the hammer chart pattern has its limitations. Particularly, as the strength of a hammer depends on its placement on the chart, it should always be used in conjunction with other bullish indicators.
Here's What Increases the Odds of a Turnaround for NETAn upward trend in earnings estimate revisions that NET has been witnessing lately can certainly be considered a bullish indicator on the fundamental side. That's because empirical research shows that trends in earnings estimate revisions are strongly correlated with near-term stock price movements.
Over the last 30 days, the consensus EPS estimate for the current year has increased 425%. What it means is that the sell-side analysts covering NET are majorly in agreement that the company will report better earnings than they predicted earlier.
If this is not enough, you should note that NET currently has a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy), which means it is in the top 20% of more than 4,000 stocks that we rank based on trends in earnings estimate revisions and EPS surprises. And stocks carrying a Zacks Rank #1 or 2 usually outperform the market. You can see the complete list of today's Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) stocks here >>>> .
Moreover, a Zacks Rank of 2 for Cloudflare is a more conclusive indication of a potential trend reversal, as the Zacks Rank has proven to be an excellent timing indicator that helps investors identify precisely when a company's prospects are beginning to improve.
New Private Access Control Tokens (PACT) technology, developed alongside Mozilla, Google, Microsoft, and Shopify, pioneers a privacy architecture to secure interactions across the global Internet
SAN FRANCISCO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Cloudflare, Inc. (NYSE: NET), the leading connectivity cloud company, today announced a new initiative with major Web browsers—Mozilla Firefox, Google Chrome, and Microsoft Edge—committing to developing and submitting for standardization a privacy-preserving protocol to help humans and bots prove that their traffic is not malicious. As the Internet shifts from human-driven clicks to agent activity, website operators must now figure out how to stop aggressive automated traffic, without resorting to invasive tracking. This initiative will lay the foundation for a more frictionless, secure, and private experience for every Internet user and website owner alike.
“The way we interact with the Internet is facing a fundamental shift. Normal everyday tasks like ordering food previously required a user to personally navigate menus and payment gateways. Now, autonomous agents are starting to orchestrate these workflows on behalf of people," said Dane Knecht, CTO of Cloudflare. "As AI-powered traffic becomes widespread, existing tools to support its use are too generic and coarse. Now this collaboration lets us eliminate the friction caused by security protocols for every visitor—whether they are human or agent—without sacrificing privacy."
For decades, website operators have relied on a patchwork of imperfect defense mechanisms to manage automated abuse, but these imperfect techniques are increasingly failing to keep pace with modern threats. Now, with the explosion of Generative AI, the battlefield has shifted yet again. Malicious automation is more widespread, sophisticated, and economically damaging to site owners. As we move toward an era of agentic AI, the line between human behavior and bot activity is blurring, leaving the digital world with an unprecedented privacy problem. When websites attempt to verify that a request originates from a legitimate human or authorized bot, the traditional solutions—forced logins and invasive tracking—compromise user trust.
“In commerce, every extra challenge, delay, or false positive can turn a purchase into an abandoned cart. Merchants need effective protections against automated abuse, but buyers shouldn’t have to pay for them with unnecessary friction or invasive tracking. Shopify is proud to help develop PACT as an open, privacy-preserving standard that can help the millions of businesses on our platform distinguish legitimate shoppers and authorized agents from abusive traffic while preserving buyer privacy." – Ilya Grigorik, Distinguished Engineer at Shopify.
Private Access Control Tokens (PACT) are designed to allow sites with strong knowledge of “personhood” to issue anonymous tokens. A user's browser can then provide these tokens to other sites to prove that a human is in the loop, reducing the need for annoying and clunky captchas or invasive tracking. PACT is designed so that sites cannot leverage it to track or identify users or their browsing history.
"The health of the web depends on effective, interoperable, privacy-preserving tools that enable sites to combat abuse without unnecessary user friction. Microsoft is excited to collaborate on developing new standards and helping ensure their deployment across the open web." – Erik Anderson, Director of Engineering, Web Platform at Microsoft Edge.
"Mozilla is committed to defending openness and user privacy on the web. An avalanche of automated traffic is pushing sites to adopt blunt defenses—paywalls, identity checks, CAPTCHAs, and invasive tracking—simply to tell whether a request comes from a human. We can build a better solution that maintains strong privacy and provides a much less annoying experience for real humans using the web. This project requires collaboration across the ecosystem, and we're thrilled to work with Cloudflare and other like-minded partners to bring it to life." – Bobby Holley, CTO for Firefox at Mozilla.
PACT will further empower businesses to identify genuine visitors, ensuring they can focus their resources on the traffic that matters to them. PACT leverages trusted information from contexts that have authentic relationships with people while keeping that information private. This provides businesses with high-integrity assurances about their audiences with minimal friction. Using PACT on Cloudflare’s network raises the bar for trustworthiness and integrity online without the traditional costs.
About Cloudflare
Cloudflare, Inc. (NYSE: NET) is the leading connectivity cloud company. It empowers organizations to make their employees, applications and networks faster and more secure everywhere, while reducing complexity and cost. Cloudflare’s connectivity cloud delivers the most full-featured, unified platform of cloud-native products and developer tools, so any organization can gain the control they need to work, develop, and accelerate their business.
Powered by one of the world’s largest and most interconnected networks, Cloudflare blocks billions of threats online for its customers every day. It is trusted by millions of organizations – from the largest brands to entrepreneurs and small businesses to nonprofits, humanitarian groups, and governments across the globe.
Learn more about Cloudflare’s connectivity cloud at cloudflare.com/connectivity-cloud. Learn more about the latest Internet trends and insights at https://radar.cloudflare.com.
Follow us: Blog | X | LinkedIn | Facebook | Instagram
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, which statements involve substantial risks and uncertainties. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements because they contain words such as “may,” “will,” “should,” “expects,” “explore,” “plans,” “anticipates,” “could,” “intends,” “target,” “project,” “contemplates,” “believes,” “estimates,” “predicts,” “potential,” or “continue,” or the negative of these words, or other similar terms or expressions that concern Cloudflare’s expectations, strategy, plans, or intentions. However, not all forward-looking statements contain these identifying words. Forward-looking statements expressed or implied in this press release include, but are not limited to, statements regarding the capabilities and effectiveness of Cloudflare’s products and technology, the benefits to Cloudflare’s customers from using Cloudflare’s products and technology, Cloudflare’s partnership with Google Chrome, Microsoft Edge, Mozilla Firefox, Shopify and the potential resulting benefits to Cloudflare customers, the potential benefits to customers of integrating Cloudflare and Google Chrome, Microsoft Edge, Mozilla Firefox, Shopify products, the potential opportunity for Cloudflare to attract additional customers and to expand sales to existing customers through Cloudflare’s partnership with Google Chrome, Microsoft Edge, Mozilla Firefox, Shopify, Cloudflare’s technological development, future operations, growth, initiatives, or strategies, and comments made by Cloudflare’s CEO and others. Actual results could differ materially from those stated or implied in forward-looking statements due to a number of factors, including but not limited to, risks detailed in Cloudflare’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), including Cloudflare’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed on May 8, 2026, as well as other filings that Cloudflare may make from time to time with the SEC.
The forward-looking statements made in this press release relate only to events as of the date on which the statements are made. Cloudflare undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements made in this press release to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this press release or to reflect new information or the occurrence of unanticipated events, except as required by law. Cloudflare may not actually achieve the plans, intentions, or expectations disclosed in Cloudflare’s forward-looking statements, and you should not place undue reliance on Cloudflare’s forward-looking statements.
Cloudflare Collaborates With Leading Browsers to Develop a Privacy-First Protocol For the Global Internet Cloudflare, Inc. (NYSE: NET), the leading connectivity cloud company, today announced a new initiative with major Web browsers—Mozilla Firefox, Google Chrome, and Microsoft Edge—committing to developing and submitting for standardization a privacy-preserving protocol to help humans and bots prove that their traffic is not malicious. As the Internet shifts from human-driven clicks to agent activity, website operators must now figure out how to stop aggressive automated traffic, without resorting to invasive tracking. This initiative will lay the foundation for a more frictionless, secure, and private experience for every Internet user and website owner alike.
“The way we interact with the Internet is facing a fundamental shift. Normal everyday tasks like ordering food previously required a user to personally navigate menus and payment gateways. Now, autonomous agents are starting to orchestrate these workflows on behalf of people," said Dane Knecht, CTO of Cloudflare. "As AI-powered traffic becomes widespread, existing tools to support its use are too generic and coarse. Now this collaboration lets us eliminate the friction caused by security protocols for every visitor—whether they are human or agent—without sacrificing privacy."
For decades, website operators have relied on a patchwork of imperfect defense mechanisms to manage automated abuse, but these imperfect techniques are increasingly failing to keep pace with modern threats. Now, with the explosion of Generative AI, the battlefield has shifted yet again. Malicious automation is more widespread, sophisticated, and economically damaging to site owners. As we move toward an era of agentic AI, the line between human behavior and bot activity is blurring, leaving the digital world with an unprecedented privacy problem. When websites attempt to verify that a request originates from a legitimate human or authorized bot, the traditional solutions—forced logins and invasive tracking—compromise user trust.
“In commerce, every extra challenge, delay, or false positive can turn a purchase into an abandoned cart. Merchants need effective protections against automated abuse, but buyers shouldn’t have to pay for them with unnecessary friction or invasive tracking. Shopify is proud to help develop PACT as an open, privacy-preserving standard that can help the millions of businesses on our platform distinguish legitimate shoppers and authorized agents from abusive traffic while preserving buyer privacy." – Ilya Grigorik, Distinguished Engineer at Shopify.
Private Access Control Tokens (PACT) are designed to allow sites with strong knowledge of “personhood” to issue anonymous tokens. A user's browser can then provide these tokens to other sites to prove that a human is in the loop, reducing the need for annoying and clunky captchas or invasive tracking. PACT is designed so that sites cannot leverage it to track or identify users or their browsing history.
"The health of the web depends on effective, interoperable, privacy-preserving tools that enable sites to combat abuse without unnecessary user friction. Microsoft is excited to collaborate on developing new standards and helping ensure their deployment across the open web." – Erik Anderson, Director of Engineering, Web Platform at Microsoft Edge.
"Mozilla is committed to defending openness and user privacy on the web. An avalanche of automated traffic is pushing sites to adopt blunt defenses—paywalls, identity checks, CAPTCHAs, and invasive tracking—simply to tell whether a request comes from a human. We can build a better solution that maintains strong privacy and provides a much less annoying experience for real humans using the web. This project requires collaboration across the ecosystem, and we're thrilled to work with Cloudflare and other like-minded partners to bring it to life." – Bobby Holley, CTO for Firefox at Mozilla.
PACT will further empower businesses to identify genuine visitors, ensuring they can focus their resources on the traffic that matters to them. PACT leverages trusted information from contexts that have authentic relationships with people while keeping that information private. This provides businesses with high-integrity assurances about their audiences with minimal friction. Using PACT on Cloudflare’s network raises the bar for trustworthiness and integrity online without the traditional costs.
About Cloudflare
Cloudflare, Inc. (NYSE: NET) is the leading connectivity cloud company. It empowers organizations to make their employees, applications and networks faster and more secure everywhere, while reducing complexity and cost. Cloudflare’s connectivity cloud delivers the most full-featured, unified platform of cloud-native products and developer tools, so any organization can gain the control they need to work, develop, and accelerate their business.
Powered by one of the world’s largest and most interconnected networks, Cloudflare blocks billions of threats online for its customers every day. It is trusted by millions of organizations – from the largest brands to entrepreneurs and small businesses to nonprofits, humanitarian groups, and governments across the globe.
Learn more about Cloudflare’s connectivity cloud at cloudflare.com/connectivity-cloud. Learn more about the latest Internet trends and insights at https://radar.cloudflare.com.
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Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, which statements involve substantial risks and uncertainties. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements because they contain words such as “may,” “will,” “should,” “expects,” “explore,” “plans,” “anticipates,” “could,” “intends,” “target,” “project,” “contemplates,” “believes,” “estimates,” “predicts,” “potential,” or “continue,” or the negative of these words, or other similar terms or expressions that concern Cloudflare’s expectations, strategy, plans, or intentions. However, not all forward-looking statements contain these identifying words. Forward-looking statements expressed or implied in this press release include, but are not limited to, statements regarding the capabilities and effectiveness of Cloudflare’s products and technology, the benefits to Cloudflare’s customers from using Cloudflare’s products and technology, Cloudflare’s partnership with Google Chrome, Microsoft Edge, Mozilla Firefox, Shopify and the potential resulting benefits to Cloudflare customers, the potential benefits to customers of integrating Cloudflare and Google Chrome, Microsoft Edge, Mozilla Firefox, Shopify products, the potential opportunity for Cloudflare to attract additional customers and to expand sales to existing customers through Cloudflare’s partnership with Google Chrome, Microsoft Edge, Mozilla Firefox, Shopify, Cloudflare’s technological development, future operations, growth, initiatives, or strategies, and comments made by Cloudflare’s CEO and others. Actual results could differ materially from those stated or implied in forward-looking statements due to a number of factors, including but not limited to, risks detailed in Cloudflare’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), including Cloudflare’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed on May 8, 2026, as well as other filings that Cloudflare may make from time to time with the SEC.
The forward-looking statements made in this press release relate only to events as of the date on which the statements are made. Cloudflare undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements made in this press release to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this press release or to reflect new information or the occurrence of unanticipated events, except as required by law. Cloudflare may not actually achieve the plans, intentions, or expectations disclosed in Cloudflare’s forward-looking statements, and you should not place undue reliance on Cloudflare’s forward-looking statements.
Cloudflare Inc (NYSE:NET) shares were last seen down 4.8% to trade at $213.35, heading for a fourth-straight loss. Despite a June 4 record high of $276.63, Cloudflare has suffered an 11.7% drawdown in June. The upside, however, is the stock is testing support at the 50-day moving average, which has a history of yielding strong positive returns.
According to Schaeffer's Senior Quantitative Analyst Rocky White, NET is trading within 0.75 times the 50-day moving average's 20-day average true range (ATR), after spending at least 80% of the previous two weeks and 80% of the prior 42 trading sessions above that trendline. This setup has appeared nine times over the last decade, after which the stock was higher one month later 67% of the time, averaging an impressive 9.6% gain. A comparable rally from current levels would place Cloudflare stock at $233.83.
An unwinding of pessimism amongst options traders could provide tailwinds as well. NET's 10-day call/put volume ratio of 0.91 at the International Securities Exchange (ISE), Cboe Options Exchange (CBOE), and NASDAQ OMX PHLX (PHLX) ranks higher than 86% of readings from the past year, so while calls are still winning out on an absolute basis, puts have been much more popular than usual.
Cloudflare stock could also be an attractive premium-selling candidate per its Schaeffer's Volatility Scorecard (SVS) of 4 out of 100. This means the shares have consistently realized lower volatility than options traders have priced in over the past 12 months.
In the latest trading session, Cloudflare (NET - Free Report) closed at $218.38, marking a -2.54% move from the previous day. The stock fell short of the S&P 500, which registered a loss of 0.37% for the day. Elsewhere, the Dow gained 0.29%, while the tech-heavy Nasdaq lost 1.33%.
Shares of the web security and content delivery company have appreciated by 3.65% over the course of the past month, underperforming the Computer and Technology sector's gain of 4.52%, and outperforming the S&P 500's gain of 2.02%.
The investment community will be paying close attention to the earnings performance of Cloudflare in its upcoming release. The company is expected to report EPS of $0.27, up 28.57% from the prior-year quarter. In the meantime, our current consensus estimate forecasts the revenue to be $665.42 million, indicating a 29.88% growth compared to the corresponding quarter of the prior year.
For the full year, the Zacks Consensus Estimates project earnings of $1.2 per share and a revenue of $2.81 billion, demonstrating changes of +29.03% and +29.72%, respectively, from the preceding year.
Investors should also note any recent changes to analyst estimates for Cloudflare. These latest adjustments often mirror the shifting dynamics of short-term business patterns. Consequently, upward revisions in estimates express analysts' positivity towards the business operations and its ability to generate profits.
Based on our research, we believe these estimate revisions are directly related to near-term stock moves. We developed the Zacks Rank to capitalize on this phenomenon. Our system takes these estimate changes into account and delivers a clear, actionable rating model.
The Zacks Rank system, which varies between #1 (Strong Buy) and #5 (Strong Sell), carries an impressive track record of exceeding expectations, confirmed by external audits, with stocks at #1 delivering an average annual return of +25% since 1988. The Zacks Consensus EPS estimate has moved 425% higher within the past month. Currently, Cloudflare is carrying a Zacks Rank of #2 (Buy).
From a valuation perspective, Cloudflare is currently exchanging hands at a Forward P/E ratio of 186.72. This represents a premium compared to its industry average Forward P/E of 18.33.
It is also worth noting that NET currently has a PEG ratio of 4.33. This metric is used similarly to the famous P/E ratio, but the PEG ratio also takes into account the stock's expected earnings growth rate. The average PEG ratio for the Internet - Software industry stood at 0.99 at the close of the market yesterday.
The Internet - Software industry is part of the Computer and Technology sector. Currently, this industry holds a Zacks Industry Rank of 84, positioning it in the top 35% of all 250+ industries.
The Zacks Industry Rank evaluates the power of our distinct industry groups by determining the average Zacks Rank of the individual stocks forming 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.
Cloudflare (NET +2.96%) hasn't fared as well as other cybersecurity stocks this year. It's only up 13.8% year to date, while competitors like CrowdStrike (CRWD +0.81%) and Fortinet (FTNT +1.85%) are up by 49% and 87% year to date, respectively. This gap may exist for a reason, and there is good cause to believe that Cloudflare is overvalued, even at current levels.
Image source: Getty Images.
Profitability remains an issue for Cloudflare Cloudflare's first-quarter results once again showed a net operating loss, which is one of the major headwinds holding the stock back from a higher valuation. Solid growth rates matter, but when a company has been around for more than 15 years, profitability matters a lot more.
The company produced a net operating loss of $62 million. That's a higher operating loss than last year, but it also represents 9.7% of revenue, while the Q1 2025 net operating loss represented 11.1% of revenue. CrowdStrike and Fortinet are both profitable, which partially explains why those stocks have enjoyed better rallies.
Revenue is still good for Cloudflare, with total sales up 34% year over year. Like many cybersecurity companies, Cloudflare enjoys an annual recurring revenue model, which makes it easier to project future results.
Cloudflare also anticipates $2.81 billion in full-year revenue at the midpoint, which represents a 29.6% year-over-year improvement. It's a step down from the 34% growth rate in Q1, but it's also normal for growth-oriented companies to beat and raise guidance. There was no guidance for GAAP (generally accepted accounting principles) net income, indicating that profitability may remain an issue.
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Cloudflare's valuation is already high The price-to-sales (P/S) ratio does not paint a pretty picture for Cloudflare. The stock trades at more than 33 times sales, which is similar to CrowdStrike's valuation and more than double Fortinet's valuation. Still, CrowdStrike delivers profits, while Cloudflare isn't at that level yet.
Cloudflare's P/S ratio doesn't leave much flexibility if revenue growth starts to decelerate in future quarters. Artificial intelligence can accelerate revenue growth rates across the cybersecurity industry, but Cloudflare's recent guidance does not suggest this scenario will play out for the company.
It would be easier to give the stock a chance if it had a lower P/S ratio. Some high-growth companies can get away with high valuations, but if they remain unprofitable for too long, more investors will start to notice and look for other investments.
Cloudflare does a good job of retaining customers and has more than 4,400 large customers, defined as any business that pays at least $100,000 per year for Cloudflare's cybersecurity solutions. Cloudflare also works with more than 40% of Fortune 500 companies.
The company has an excellent service that continues to attract leading businesses. That part is good. However, profitability concerns, guidance forecasting revenue deceleration, and a lofty P/S ratio suggest that investors can do better with other stocks.
