Track market-moving stories before they get noisy

Leidos autonomy earns its place at RIMPAC and with carrier strike group PR Newswire

RESTON, Va., Sept. 8, 2026

, /PRNewswire/ -- Leidos (NYSE: LDOS) maritime autonomy recently reached two significant milestones supporting U.S. Navy operations, with Sea Hunter at Rim of the Pacific 2026 (RIMPAC) and Seahawk operating with the USS Theodore Roosevelt Carrier Strike Group.

Why it matters: The milestones reinforce the growing role of autonomous vessels and mark a milestone in moving these systems from experimentation to the U.S. Navy fleet.

At RIMPAC 2026

Sea Hunter, originally developed by Leidos, participated in RIMPAC as the exercise's only Medium Unmanned Surface Vessel (MUSV).

Powered by the Leidos Autonomous Vessel Architecture (LAVA), Sea Hunter:

Operated autonomously more than 2,000 nautical miles from Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, to San Diego, CaliforniaDemonstrated autonomous surveillanceDemonstrated manned-unmanned teaming, operating as part of a larger naval force as well as a stand-alone platformWith the USS Theodore Roosevelt Carrier Strike Group

Seahawk is operating alongside crewed naval forces as the first MUSV to deploy operationally with a carrier strike group.

Operating within the strike group's communications, command-and-control and operational framework, Seahawk's capabilities include:

Autonomous navigation and perceptionCollision avoidance: Compliance with International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea (COLREGs) and hazard avoidanceKeep Out Zone avoidance: Automatically navigates around designated restricted areasCommunications failover and remote control: Maintains control through alternate communications pathsGPS-denied navigation: Followed commanded waypoints without GPS and reintegrated GPS while remaining on trackExpert perspective

"Sea Hunter and Seahawk show what more than a decade of operating autonomy at sea brings to the mission," said Mike Rickels, Leidos senior vice president for Maritime. "Real-world operations validate performance while providing lessons that further refine autonomy for future missions."

The technology

Sea Hunter and Seahawk are powered by LAVA, the modular software that enables autonomous navigation, mission execution, obstacle avoidance and other critical functions. It also provides a common autonomy foundation that can support different vessels and mission requirements.

By the numbers

Across its autonomous maritime portfolio, Leidos vessels and autonomy software have accumulated:

Over 200,000 nautical miles of autonomous operation14,000 hours of safe autonomous operationMore than a decade of autonomous maritime development and operational experienceThe big picture

Leidos' experience extends beyond autonomous navigation. In 2021, the Leidos-built MUSV Ranger, operating with LAVA, test-fired an SM-6 Standard Missile from a modular launch system as part of the Navy's Ghost Fleet Overlord program.

Together, Sea Hunter, Seahawk and Ranger demonstrate the breadth of Leidos maritime autonomy across vessels, missions and operating environments.

About Leidos

Leidos is an industry and technology leader serving government and commercial customers with smarter, more efficient digital and mission innovations. Headquartered in Reston, Virginia, with approximately 50,000 global employees, Leidos reported annual revenues of approximately $17.2 billion for the fiscal year ended January 2, 2026.

Certain statements in this announcement constitute "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the rules and regulations of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). These statements are based on management's current beliefs and expectations and are subject to significant risks and uncertainties. These statements are not guarantees of future results or occurrences. A number of factors could cause our actual results, performance, achievements, or industry results to be different from the results, performance, or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. These factors include, but are not limited to, the "Risk Factors" set forth in Leidos' Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended January 2, 2026, and other such filings that Leidos makes with the SEC from time to time. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date hereof. Leidos does not undertake to update forward-looking statements to reflect the impact of circumstances or events that arise after the date the forward-looking statements were made.

Media Contact:

Brandon Ver Velde
[email protected]
(571) 526-6257

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/leidos-autonomy-earns-its-place-at-rimpac-and-with-carrier-strike-group-302872671.html

SOURCE Leidos Holdings, Inc.

SAN MATEO, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Hercules Capital, Inc. (NYSE: HTGC) (“Hercules,” “Hercules Capital,” or the “Company”), the largest and leading specialty finance provider to innovative venture, growth and established stage companies backed by some of the leading and top-tier venture capital and select private equity firms, today announced that Hercules Adviser LLC (“Hercules Adviser”), its wholly-owned registered investment adviser, has surpassed $2.3 billion in investable capital. The mile.

Freshpet (FRPT - Free Report) closed the most recent trading day at $67.28, moving -4.21% from the previous trading session. The stock's change was less than the S&P 500's daily loss of 0.58%. On the other hand, the Dow registered a loss of 1.18%, and the technology-centric Nasdaq decreased by 0.32%.

Prior to today's trading, shares of the seller of refrigerated fresh pet food had gained 3.64% outpaced the Consumer Staples sector's loss of 0.95% and the S&P 500's loss of 0.36%.

Analysts and investors alike will be keeping a close eye on the performance of Freshpet in its upcoming earnings disclosure. The company is expected to report EPS of $0.38, down 17.39% from the prior-year quarter. Meanwhile, the latest consensus estimate predicts the revenue to be $308.51 million, indicating a 6.81% increase compared to the same quarter of the previous year.

For the annual period, the Zacks Consensus Estimates anticipate earnings of $1.73 per share and a revenue of $1.22 billion, signifying shifts of -34.47% and +10.73%, respectively, from the last year.

It is also important to note the recent changes to analyst estimates for Freshpet. Recent revisions tend to reflect the latest near-term business trends. With this in mind, we can consider positive estimate revisions a sign of optimism about the business outlook.

Our research demonstrates that these adjustments in estimates directly associate with imminent stock price performance. To benefit from this, we have developed the Zacks Rank, a proprietary model which takes these estimate changes into account and provides an actionable rating system.

The Zacks Rank system, which ranges from #1 (Strong Buy) to #5 (Strong Sell), has an impressive outside-audited track record of outperformance, with #1 stocks generating an average annual return of +25% since 1988. Over the last 30 days, the Zacks Consensus EPS estimate has remained unchanged. Right now, Freshpet possesses a Zacks Rank of #4 (Sell).

With respect to valuation, Freshpet is currently being traded at a Forward P/E ratio of 40.72. This expresses a premium compared to the average Forward P/E of 14.33 of its industry.

The Food - Miscellaneous industry is part of the Consumer Staples sector. With its current Zacks Industry Rank of 208, this industry ranks in the bottom 16% of all industries, numbering over 250.

The Zacks Industry Rank is ordered from best to worst in terms of the average Zacks Rank of the individual companies within each of these sectors. Our research shows that the top 50% rated industries outperform the bottom half by a factor of 2 to 1.

To follow FRPT in the coming trading sessions, be sure to utilize Zacks.com.

LAUSANNE, Switzerland & SAN JOSE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Logitech Shareholders Approve All Board Proposals, Including Increased Dividend, at 2026 Annual General Meeting.

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--PVH Corp. (NYSE: PVH) announced today that Stefan Larsson, Chief Executive Officer, Alexis Rollier, Chief Financial Officer, and Melissa Stone, Executive Vice President, Global Financial Planning & Analysis, will participate in a fireside chat at the Goldman Sachs 33rd Annual Global Retailing Conference on Monday, September 14, 2026, at 10:45 AM Eastern Time. The event will be broadcast live over the Internet. A link will be available on the Company's website, www.

Hsbc Holdings PLC lifted its position in shares of Carlyle Group Inc. (NASDAQ:CG – Free Report) by 33.5% during the 2nd quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 283,206 shares of the financial services provider’s stock after acquiring an additional 71,039 shares during the quarter. Hsbc Holdings PLC owned 0.08% of Carlyle Group worth $11,914,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently modified their holdings of CG. WFA of San Diego LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Carlyle Group in the second quarter valued at approximately $26,000. Main Street Group LTD purchased a new position in Carlyle Group during the first quarter worth approximately $27,000. Geneos Wealth Management Inc. boosted its stake in Carlyle Group by 755.3% during the first quarter. Geneos Wealth Management Inc. now owns 650 shares of the financial services provider’s stock worth $28,000 after buying an additional 574 shares during the last quarter. Quarry LP purchased a new stake in Carlyle Group in the 3rd quarter valued at $33,000. Finally, Allworth Financial LP acquired a new stake in shares of Carlyle Group in the 2nd quarter worth $35,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 55.88% of the company’s stock.

Carlyle Group Price Performance Shares of CG opened at $45.95 on Wednesday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.91, a current ratio of 2.35 and a quick ratio of 2.35. Carlyle Group Inc. has a 1-year low of $39.60 and a 1-year high of $69.85. The stock has a market cap of $16.37 billion, a PE ratio of 47.87, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.44 and a beta of 1.84. The firm has a fifty day moving average price of $46.77 and a 200 day moving average price of $47.26.

Carlyle Group (NASDAQ:CG – Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Tuesday, August 4th. The financial services provider reported $1.07 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $0.91 by $0.16. Carlyle Group had a return on equity of 22.52% and a net margin of 10.08%.The business had revenue of $1.11 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $923.50 million. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm earned $0.87 earnings per share. The business’s revenue was down 28.6% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, sell-side analysts anticipate that Carlyle Group Inc. will post 3.69 EPS for the current year. Carlyle Group Dividend Announcement The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, August 26th. Shareholders of record on Monday, August 17th were given a dividend of $0.35 per share. This represents a $1.40 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 3.0%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, August 17th. Carlyle Group’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 145.83%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades Several research analysts have recently weighed in on CG shares. Evercore set a $51.00 price target on shares of Carlyle Group in a research report on Thursday, August 6th. BMO Capital Markets reaffirmed an “outperform” rating and set a $52.00 target price on shares of Carlyle Group in a research note on Monday, July 13th. Royal Bank Of Canada dropped their price target on shares of Carlyle Group from $58.00 to $56.00 and set a “sector perform” rating for the company in a research note on Monday, July 13th. Citizens Jmp raised their price target on shares of Carlyle Group from $70.00 to $73.00 and gave the stock a “market outperform” rating in a report on Thursday, August 6th. Finally, UBS Group upped their price objective on Carlyle Group from $63.00 to $70.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a report on Thursday, August 6th. Seven research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, seven have assigned a Hold rating and one has assigned a Sell rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the company has an average rating of “Hold” and a consensus price target of $59.31.

View Our Latest Report on Carlyle Group

Carlyle Group Profile (Free Report)

The Carlyle Group (NASDAQ: CG) is a global alternative asset manager that invests across a range of strategies including private equity, real assets (such as real estate and infrastructure), global credit, and investment solutions. Founded in 1987 and headquartered in Washington, DC, Carlyle raises and manages investment funds that acquire, operate and exit companies and assets on behalf of institutional and private investors. The firm is publicly traded on the Nasdaq exchange and operates as an asset manager and investment advisor rather than as an operating company.

Carlyle’s core activities include sourcing and executing private equity buyouts and growth investments, originating and managing credit and financing solutions, and acquiring and operating real asset portfolios.

Featured Articles Five stocks we like better than Carlyle Group Tesla’s Robotaxi Launch Wasn’t the Moment Investors Expected Despite Post-Earnings Drop, Wall Street Analysts Eye New Highs for Broadcom Stock Morgan Stanley Eyes Good Things Ahead for Meta After $18 Billion Legal Settlement Q3 Earnings Could Be the Catalyst the Market Has Been Waiting For

Receive News & Ratings for Carlyle Group Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Carlyle Group and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.

Late-summer vacations and school prep usually signal a sleepy August for Wall Street. However, exchange-traded funds (ETFs) had other plans in mind. FactSet figures noted that the ETF market continued to grow their footprint in the capital markets through August 2026, closing the month with $16.4 trillion in total assets under management (AUM).

While the velocity of monthly net inflows moderated slightly by 5.5% to $182.6 billion, overall asset growth rose 3.5% from July. Underneath these headline numbers, two prominent market dynamics emerged in August. This includes a record-breaking pace of new product innovation and a notable defensive rotation across investor asset flows.

Key Takeaways:

Driven by 134 new fund launches in August alone, the ETF market reached $16.4 trillion in total assets under management as product innovation paced 52% ahead of 2025’s record rate.
Active strategies, single-stock leveraged tools, target-maturity fixed-income ladders, and mutual-fund-to-ETF conversions accounted for a major share of new product development.
Asset flows reflected a pronounced defensive tilt, as capital pivoted into short-duration Treasuries, high-dividend equities, international developed/emerging markets, and broad commodity strategies while exiting mega-cap technology and financials.

See More: Fixed Income Takes Center Stage as August ETF Inflows Defy Seasonal Trends

A Record Pace for Innovation
As competitive as the ETF market is, innovation is bound to be a byproduct. As such, product development in the ETF ecosystem reached unprecedented speed in August, which was highlighted by 134 new ETFs. This influx pushed the year-to-date (YTD) total to 1,023 new launches, as noted by FactSet, establishing a record-setting pace that’s running 52% ahead of the same time a year ago. Needless to say, it’s going to be another record-setting year for ETFs.

The composition of August’s new launches underscored a growing institutional and retail appetite for active management, structured outcome tools, and targeted thematic strategies. Precision trading strategies saw expanding product depth as roughly 25% of all new August offerings were ETFs of the leveraged or inverse variety. This segment included 18 new single-stock funds primarily targeted at the semiconductor industry that’s continuing to capitalize on the “picks and shovels” artificial intelligence (AI) buildout trade.

Building on this momentum, Bank of Montreal (BMO) and REX Shares expanded their joint suite in August by debuting six 3x leveraged exchange-traded notes (ETNs) linked to VettaFi tracking indexes for Brazil, Japan, and Taiwan. These strategies cater to strong global demand for single-country trading vehicles by delivering leveraged long and short exposure to the iShares MSCI Brazil ETF (EWZ), iShares MSCI Japan ETF (EWJ), and iShares MSCI Taiwan ETF (EWT).

Active Strategies and Fixed Income Drive Growth
More investors are gravitating towards the dynamism of active funds in an uncertain market environment. That said, active core equity solutions expanded as ORIX enlarged its product footprint by launching 13 funds under the Harbor AlphaEdge brand to capture alpha across core domestic stocks.

Higher-for-longer rates and a new Fed chair call for more innovation in fixed income, and Northern Trust Asset Management was there to help answer the call. Income-focused structural design featured prominently as Northern Trust Asset Management expanded its distributing ladder ETF suite in August with eight new target-maturity funds spanning 5-, 10-, 20-, and 30-year horizons. Unlike traditional bond ladder ETFs that reinvest maturing principal into future rungs, these strategies pay out principal annually alongside regular distributions. This aims to provide structured cash flow for retirement and goals-based planning. The expansion includes four inflation-protected TIPS strategies and four tax-exempt municipal bond strategies.

Meanwhile, the structural migration from mutual funds to ETFs continued to accelerate. This ability to have two access points by way of mutual funds or ETFs was marked by five conversions completed during the month by Goldman Sachs, Zevenbergen Capital Investments, and Raymond James.

The Defensive Sector Pivot
While equities continued to dominate overall monthly capital creation by absorbing 54.2% ($98.9 billion) of net inflows, fixed income and commodities gained significant market share. This asset diversification move captured 33.5% and 5.8% of net flows, respectively.

Within equity markets, investors tilted towards defensive income and targeted global exposure. U.S. high dividend yield, global robotics, AI, and broad technology captured strong demand. Internationally, capital flowed heavily into broader ex-U.S. markets, including South Korea and Taiwan. Conversely, cyclical and mega-cap sector headwinds triggered net outflows in U.S. financials, energy, and the broader information technology (IT) sectors.

Fixed income inflows were heavily anchored by U.S. Treasuries, which captured 42% of the monthly total. To curb rate risk while achieving liquidity and yield, ultra-short-term paper led creations. Meanwhile, intermediate-term duration experienced moderate redemptions.

In alternative asset classes, digital assets maintained their positive trajectory through long Bitcoin and Ethereum funds, though leveraged crypto and U.S. dollar products saw capital exit. Broad commodity funds, wheat, and inverse crude oil strategies absorbed steady inflows, while target-outcome and managed-risk strategies led asset allocation creations, which further confirmed a cautious backdrop as markets navigated the late-summer macroeconomic landscape.

Ultimately, August’s record launch pace and disciplined asset flows reveal an ETF marketplace that not only continues to grow in size, but offer offer innovative solutions that are ideal for the current market environment.

Originally published on Advisor Perspectives.

For more news, information, and analysis, visit VettaFi | ETF Trends.

Cadence Design Systems (CDNS - Free Report) ended the recent trading session at $284.11, demonstrating a -2.93% change from the preceding day's closing price. The stock's performance was behind the S&P 500's daily loss of 0.58%. At the same time, the Dow lost 1.18%, and the tech-heavy Nasdaq lost 0.32%.

The maker of hardware and software products for validating chip designs's shares have seen a decrease of 11.81% over the last month, not keeping up with the Computer and Technology sector's gain of 0.12% and the S&P 500's loss of 0.36%.

The upcoming earnings release of Cadence Design Systems will be of great interest to investors. In that report, analysts expect Cadence Design Systems to post earnings of $2.04 per share. This would mark year-over-year growth of 5.7%. Meanwhile, the latest consensus estimate predicts the revenue to be $1.61 billion, indicating a 20.23% increase compared to the same quarter of the previous year.

Regarding the entire year, the Zacks Consensus Estimates forecast earnings of $8.12 per share and revenue of $6.31 billion, indicating changes of +13.73% and +19.18%, respectively, compared to the previous year.

Investors should also note any recent changes to analyst estimates for Cadence Design Systems. These revisions help to show the ever-changing nature of near-term business trends. As such, positive estimate revisions reflect analyst optimism about the business and profitability.

Our research demonstrates that these adjustments in estimates directly associate with imminent stock price performance. To benefit from this, we have developed the Zacks Rank, a proprietary model which takes these estimate changes into account and provides an actionable rating system.

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. The Zacks Consensus EPS estimate remained stagnant within the past month. Currently, Cadence Design Systems is carrying a Zacks Rank of #3 (Hold).

In terms of valuation, Cadence Design Systems is presently being traded at a Forward P/E ratio of 36.04. For comparison, its industry has an average Forward P/E of 16.56, which means Cadence Design Systems is trading at a premium to the group.

We can also see that CDNS currently has a PEG ratio of 2.47. 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 Computer - Software industry stood at 1.54 at the close of the market yesterday.

The Computer - Software industry is part of the Computer and Technology sector. This industry, currently bearing a Zacks Industry Rank of 95, finds itself in the top 39% echelons of all 250+ industries.

The Zacks Industry Rank gauges the strength of our individual industry groups by measuring the average Zacks Rank of the individual stocks within the groups. Our research shows that the top 50% rated industries outperform the bottom half by a factor of 2 to 1.

You can find more information on all of these metrics, and much more, on Zacks.com.

PM Images/DigitalVision via Getty Images

Focus of Article: The focus of PART 1 of this article is to analyze Blackstone Secured Lending's (BXSL) recent results and compare a handful of the company's metrics to 11 business development company ("BDC") peers. This analysis will show past and current data with supporting documentation. Table 1 will compare BXSL's recent net asset value ("NAV") economic return (loss), adjusted net investment income ("NII"), stock price to annualized NII ratio, and percentage of total investment income attributable to capitalized payment-in-kind ("PIK")/deferred interest income to the 11 BDC peers. Table 1 will also provide a premium (discount) to estimated CURRENT NAV analysis using stock prices as of 9/4/2026. Table 2 will compare BXSL's investment portfolio (including several additional metrics) as of 3/31/2026 and 6/30/2026 to the 11 BDC peers.

I am writing this two-part article due to the continued requests that such an analysis be specifically performed on BXSL and some of the company's BDC peers at periodic intervals. These BDC peers include Ares Capital (ARCC), Capital Southwest (CSWC), FS KKR Capital Corp (FSK), Gladstone Investment (GAIN), Golub Capital BDC (GBDC), Main Street Capital Corporation (MAIN), Oaktree Specialty Lending Corporation (OCSL), Blue Owl Capital Corporation (OBDC), SLR Investment Corp. (SLRC), TriplePoint Venture Growth BDC Corp. (TPVG), and Sixth Street Specialty Lending, Inc. (TSLX).

Understanding the characteristics of a company's investment portfolio and operating performance can shed some light on which companies are overvalued or undervalued strictly per a "numbers" analysis. This is not the only data that should be examined to initiate a position within a particular stock/sector. However, I believe this analysis would be a good "starting point" to begin a discussion on the topic. My BUY, SELL, or HOLD recommendation and current price target for BXSL will be in the "Conclusions Drawn" section of the article. This includes providing a list of the BDC stocks I currently believe are undervalued (a buy recommendation), overvalued (a sell recommendation), or appropriately valued (a hold recommendation).

NAV, Economic Return (Loss), Current Premium (Discount) to NAV, and NII Analysis - Overview: Let us start this analysis by getting accustomed to the information provided in Table 1 below. This will be beneficial when explaining how BXSL compares to the company's 11 BDC peers regarding the metrics stated above. Due to the fact several BDC peers listed in Table 1 have a different fiscal year-end, all quarterly results are based on a calendar year-end. For instance, all metrics below are stated as "Q2 2026" even though this does not correspond to every company's fiscal year-end. Readers should be aware as such when the analysis is presented below.

Table 1a + 1b - NAV, Economic Return (Loss), Current Premium (Discount) to NAV, NII, and Capitalized PIK Analysis

The REIT Forum

The REIT Forum

(Source: Table created by me, obtaining historical stock prices from NASDAQ and each company's NAV per share figures from the SEC's EDGAR Database)

Table 1 above provides the following information on BXSL and the 11 BDC peers (see each corresponding column): 1) NAV per share at the end of calendar Q1 2026; 2) NAV per share at the end of calendar Q2 2026; 3) NAV per share change during calendar Q2 2026 (percentage); 4) economic return (loss) (change in NAV and accrued dividend) during calendar Q2 2026 (percentage); 5) economic return (loss) during the trailing 24-months (percentage); 6) my estimated CURRENT NAV per share (NAV as of 9/4/2026); 7) stock price as of 9/4/2026; 8) 9/4/2026 premium (discount) to my estimated CURRENT NAV (percentage); 9) NII (or adjusted NII where applicable) per share during calendar Q2 2026; 10) NII (or adjusted NII where applicable) per share change versus the prior quarter; 11) NII (or adjusted NII where applicable) per share change versus calendar Q2 2025 (monetary amount); 12) NII (or adjusted NII where applicable) per share change versus calendar Q2 2025 (percentage); 13) 9/4/2026 stock price to annualized NII ratio; and 14) percentage of total investment income attributable to capitalized PIK (deferred) interest income during calendar Q2 2026 (percentage).

Now that an overview has been provided, let us start the comparative analysis.

Analysis of BXSL: Using Table 1 above as a reference, BXSL had a NAV of $26.26 per share at the end of calendar Q1 2026. BXSL had a NAV of $25.53 per share at the end of calendar Q2 2026. This calculates to a quarterly NAV decrease of ($0.73) per share, or (2.78%). Some of this modest NAV decrease was directly due to broader credit spread widening, while a portion was directly related to individual portfolio company credit risk during the quarter. This included, but was not limited to, unrealized depreciation within Medallia, Inc. (Medallia), Titan Investment Company, Inc. (Titan), and Paramount Global Surfaces, Inc. (Paramount). All 3 of these portfolio companies were either placed on non-accrual during Q4 2025 or Q1 2026. I correctly projected modest unrealized depreciation occurring within BXSL's investment portfolio during calendar Q2 2026. When including BXSL's quarterly base dividend of $0.77 per share and no special periodic dividend, the company had an economic return (change in NAV and accrued dividends) of $0.04 per share, or 0.15%, for calendar Q2 2026. It should also be noted BXSL had a trailing 24-month economic return of 16.55%. This percentage was slightly below the covered 12 BDC peer average (a slightly negative factor/trend).

BXSL's performance during the past four quarters was mainly attributable to the following three factors: 1) very minor net underpayment of dividends (including special periodic dividends if/when applicable) when compared to the company's NII/adjusted NII; 2) minor-modest net realized loss within several exited/restructured portfolio companies; and 3) modest net unrealized depreciation within the company's active investment portfolio. This is a good transition to the next topic of discussion, an analysis of BXSL's investment portfolio (including several additional metrics) as of 3/31/2026 and 6/30/2026. To begin this analysis, Table 2 is provided below.

Tables 2a + 2b - Investment Portfolio Composition Analysis (Including Several Additional Metrics; 6/30/2026 Versus 3/31/2026)

The REIT Forum

The REIT Forum

(Source: Tables created by me, directly obtaining some figures/percentages from the SEC's EDGAR Database [link provided below Table 1]). All remaining figures/percentages were calculated using data obtained within the SEC's EDGAR Database)

Using Tables 2a and 2b above as a reference, BXSL had 97% and 2% of the company's investment portfolio in senior secured first- and second-lien loans as of 6/30/2026, respectively. As such, these types of loans comprised the vast majority of BXSL's investment portfolio. When compared to the prior quarter, BXSL's percentage of senior secured first- and second-lien loans remained unchanged. BXSL also had less than 1%, 0%, and 1% of the company's investment portfolio in subordinated debt (unsecured loans), collateralized loan obligations ("CLO")/credit-linked notes ("CLN") (structured securitizations) + other, and equity/warrants, respectively. When compared to the prior quarter, BXSL's percentage of subordinated debt (unsecured loans), CLO/CLN (structured securitizations) + other, and equity/warrants remained unchanged as well. As such, there was not a shift in investment portfolio composition during calendar Q2 2026.

I would also point out BXSL's proportion of second-lien loans and subordinated debt is very low when compared to the company's 11 BDC peers. Simply put, this is generally a positive characteristic regarding potential credit risk/recoveries in a recessionary environment (considering general credit hierarchy). I believe BXSL's previously below-average non-accrual percentages were direct evidence of the company's more cautionary strategy regarding capital stack/credit hierarchy. That said, to remain non-bias, there was a short-term "uptick" regarding non-accrual percentages during calendar Q1 2026, which is discussed below.

As of 6/30/2026, BXSL's investment portfolio had a "fair market value ("FMV") versus cost" ratio of 0.9645x. When compared to the 11 other BDC peers within this analysis, this ratio was modestly below the mean of 1.0102x (a negative factor/trend). However, I would point out GAIN's and MAIN's FMV versus cost ratio of 1.2275 and 1.1551 as of 6/30/2026, respectively, "skews" the metric to the upside a bit. When excluding those 2 BDC peers, this ratio becomes 0.9699x, which is very close to BXSL's ratio as of 6/30/2026. When compared to a ratio of 0.9752x as of 3/31/2026, BXSL's ratio slightly decreased during calendar Q2 2026. As noted above, this was mainly the result of unrealized depreciation in various BXSL's portfolio companies (including a majority of software and software-related investments). A more detailed "breakdown" of BXSL's quarterly performance was recently provided to our Investing Group subscribers via a quarterly earnings assessment article.

BXSL had 3.6% and 1.8% of the company's investment portfolio in "non-accrual" status as of 6/30/2026, based on its amortized cost basis and FMV, respectively. When compared to the 11 BDC peers as of 6/30/2026, BXSL's amortized cost and FMV non-accrual percentage were now at - basically at the mean of 3.6% and 1.7%, respectively (now a neutral catalyst/trend). Last quarter was the 1st quarter since BXSL's initial public offering ("IPO") in 2021 that the company's amortized cost and FMV non-accrual percentage were above the BDC covered peer average. This was directly due to BXSL placing ACI Group Holdings, Inc. ("ACI"), Medallia, and Paramount on non-accrual during Q1 2026. ACI's and Medallia's non-accrual was not a surprise. Both portfolio companies were "flagged" for non-accrual during Q1 2026 by my team. However, to remain non-bias, Paramount's non-accrual occurred a bit sooner than anticipated. That said, Paramount was correctly on our "watch list" for several quarters (weekly credit reports/tables are provided on the subscriber side). Specifically regarding Medallia, as noted in the aforementioned BXSL assessment article, this portfolio company's non-accrual/restructuring should not have come as a surprise. This event was projected for nearly 1 year by my team (a future general type of restructuring/non-accrual) and was first spotted, regarding rising credit risk, nearly 2 years ago. BXSL's external management team, a subsidiary of Blackstone (BX), continues to lead Medallia's restructuring, whereas the creditors will see a partial debt-to-equity exchange, with the newly termed debt going back on accrual status. This restructuring has recently been finalized during calendar Q3 2026. Regarding BXSL's non-accrual percentage decline during calendar Q2 2026, creditors completed a partial debt-to-equity restructuring of ACI and DCA Investment Holdings LLC ("DCA") while no new portfolio companies were placed on non-accrual status.

Since the company's initial public offering ("IPO") in 2021, BXSL's investment portfolio as of 6/30/2026 has generated a cumulative realized loss of only ($0.06) per share (when based on a per-share count as of 6/30/2026). BXSL's very minor cumulative realized loss figure was modestly more attractive when compared to the mean loss of ($0.90) per share (a positive catalyst/trend). This includes GAIN's cumulative realized gain of $4.23 per share, which skews this figure to the upside (it would be a larger net loss when excluding GAIN). I believe calculating a BDC's cumulative realized gain (loss) per share amount provides an extremely useful metric when analyzing the long-term performance of management's underwriting abilities, due diligence, expertise, and operational performance. This metric provides direct evidence BXSL's management team has, regarding a majority of instances, continued to find attractive debt/equity investments over a long period of time, which, more times than not, have ultimately delivered attractive risk-adjusted returns. I am the only contributor on Seeking Alpha to provide this specific metric (includes reconciling all necessary cumulative adjustments within this account to provide a "proper/true" per share amount). This holds especially true due to the past Generally Accepted Accounting Principles ("GAAP") disclosure changes regarding equity presentation.

As of 6/30/2026, 0.70% of BXSL's portfolio had debt and equity investments within the oil and gas sector (based on FMV, including certain investments in the energy sector that had "oil and gas" characteristics and/or services closely linked to the sector). When compared to the 11 other BDC peers within this analysis, BXSL's oil and gas exposure was slightly below the mean of 1.64%. When compared to the prior quarter, BXSL's exposure to the oil and gas sector fractionally increased. Even though larger oil and gas companies benefited during most of 2022 from a net increase to commodity prices tied to inflation and the ongoing Russia/Ukraine conflict, I would point out most sector prices largely retraced during late 2022 - 2025. However, with the recent conflict in the Middle East, oil and gas prices sharply increased during 2026 (the largest increase in years). Depending on how long this regional conflict lasts, there will very likely continue to be volatility in pricing (both to the upside and downside as the conflict escalates/winds down). This could temporarily benefit U.S. oil and gas companies. Simply put, dependent upon offsetting/mitigating hedges/forward contracts, smaller/private oil and gas companies could benefit from this recent conflict regarding increased domestic oil and gas production (which would trickle down to several parts of the economy). This could be a short- or long-term event dependent upon many unresolved geopolitical/macroeconomic variables. As such, I would remain a bit cautious considering the ramifications of this specific sector regarding high-yield/speculative-grade credit. That said, on the flip side, sharply higher oil and gas prices will have a direct impact on various facets of the U.S. economy, which could lead to a rise in credit risk outside the oil and gas sector down the road. As is the case in most scenarios, there is usually a "give and take".

As of 6/30/2026, 18.9% of BXSL's portfolio had debt and equity investments within the generalized software (and software-related) sector (based on FMV). When compared to the 11 other BDC peers within this analysis, BXSL's generalized software exposure was slightly above the mean of 15.1%. This is a new sector classification metric I added this quarter due to recent fears/panic regarding underlying portfolio companies within this classification. There continues to be "market jitters" around private credit as a whole (especially around private BDC redemptions) and "AI disruption" risk (specifically software as a service [SaaS] exposure). I continue to believe some fear/speculation is valid regarding AI/disruption risk, but not to the extent regarding how markets reacted in February-early March 2026 ("snowball effect"). This was reiterated by most BDC management teams during calendar Q4 2025, Q1 2026, and Q2 2026 earnings calls. This topic is continuously monitored, tracked, and forecasted on the subscriber side of the service.

Once again using Table 1 as a reference, BXSL reported adjusted NII (which excludes capital gains incentive fees) of $0.747 per share during calendar Q2 2026. I prefer to track/utilize BXSL's adjusted NII metric as opposed to NII (more indicative of net investment company taxable income [ICTI]). When comparing each company's stock price as of 9/4/2026 to its annualized NII (or where applicable, adjusted NII), BXSL had the 3rd lowest ratio at 8.27x. BXSL's annualized adjusted NII ratio was modestly below the 12-peer ratio of 10.10x as of 9/4/2026 (a positive catalyst/trend). Historically speaking, BXSL's price-to-earnings ratio as of 9/4/2026 was attractive/low (a positive catalyst/trend).

During calendar Q2 2026, 6.28% of BXSL's total investment income was attributable to capitalized PIK/deferred interest income. When compared to the 11 other BDC peers within this analysis, this was slightly below the mean of 7.31% (a slightly positive catalyst/trend). I believe it is never a positive catalyst/trend when a BDC has any portion of its accrued income classified as being capitalized/deferred. Simply put, under GAAP, capitalized PIK interest/dividend income is revenue that is currently being "booked" but has not actually been received in cash yet (deferred). In theory/a "perfect world", capitalized PIK interest income is usually paid in cash at the maturity of that particular loan/when a sale occurs. However, in my experience, more times than not, capitalized PIK interest income is a contractual amendment regarding a specific portfolio company that is, at the time, having operational difficulties (which increases the probability of the eventual inability to pay its loan obligations). This especially holds true when a specific debt investment had no capitalized PIK feature at the origination of a particular loan but is currently accruing 100% capitalized PIK interest income due to a loan modification/restructuring.

Simply put, in a majority of cases, it is a "slick" strategy of continuing to record accrued interest income only to write off this capitalized interest income at a later date, usually at loan maturity, by classifying that "lost deferred interest" as a reduction in the debt investment's proceeds (a realized loss) as opposed to lowering previously accrued income by the accumulated capitalized PIK balance. I am not stating this occurs all the time, but certain BDC peers tend to utilize this "phantom income" strategy regularly. In particular, Prospect Capital Corporation (PSEC) has been prone to this strategy to a greater degree over the years versus most other BDC peers within this analysis, which has been pointed out for years (and was one of the reasons I dropped coverage of that BDC back in 2024). As such, it could be the case that capitalized PIK interest income is never "completely" received in cash upon maturity/when a sale occurs. In my professional opinion, if a BDC has a large/above-average portion of its investment income classified/accrued as capitalized PIK interest income, it should be seen as a potential concern regarding future performance/credit quality. In the end, one really just has to go "case-by-case" to determine the overall "viability" of a BDC actually eventually receiving this capitalized PIK/deferred interest income in the future. Something I continually monitor/track in my modeling.

A great recent example of this trend was FSK. This particular BDC peer has been carrying high - very high capitalized PIK/deferred interest income—for quite some time. I previously continued to warn subscribers/readers about this negative factor/trend for a handful of quarters. I also warned of "looming" non-accruals within FSK's investment portfolio. During Q2 2025, Q4 2025, and Q1 2026, FSK placed 4, 5, and 7 new portfolio companies on non-accrual status, respectively. During Q2 2025 and Q1 2026, this included 3 and 6 large - very large portfolio companies that previously had partial/full PIK provisions, respectively. Simply put, this should not have been a notable surprise for market participants. As a direct result, FSK's stock price previously notably declined during the 2nd half of 2025 - early 2026 (I/we had FSK listed as notably overvalued/STRONG SELL prior to the company's Q2 2025 earnings).

As of 9/4/2026, BXSL's stock price traded at $24.72 per share. When calculated, BXSL's stock price was trading at a discount to my estimated CURRENT NAV (NAV as of 9/4/2026; $24.45 per share) of ($0.73) per share, or (2.87%). This was slightly more attractive than the 12-BDC covered peer average of a discount of (1.20%) (a slightly positive catalyst/trend). I continue to believe BXSL should trade at a modest, notable premium to the company's CURRENT NAV. As such, based on my proven valuation methodology over various interest rate/economic cycles, I currently believe BXSL is one of a couple BDC sector peers that is notably undervalued.

Comparison of BXSL's NAV, Economic Return, Valuation, NII, and Other Metrics to 11 BDC Peers in Ranking Order: The REIT Forum Feature

Conclusions Drawn (PART 1): PART 1 of this article has analyzed BXSL and 11 other BDC peers in regard to the following metrics: 1) trailing 24-month economic return (loss) (good indicator of recent overall performance); 2) percentage of investments on non-accrual status as of 6/30/2026 (good indicator of overall portfolio health/credit risk); 3) cumulative gain (loss) per share as of 6/30/2026 (great indicator of long-term performance); 4) current premium (discount) to my estimated CURRENT NAV per share (NAV as of 9/4/2026) (very good indicator of overall valuation); 5) current stock price to annualized NII ratio (good indicator of overall valuation); and 6) percentage of total investment income attributable to capitalized PIK (deferred) interest income (good indicator of overall portfolio health/credit risk).

When compared to the 11 other BDC peers within this analysis, I believe BXSL continues to outperform a majority of the company's BDC peers I currently cover. This includes, but is not limited to, BXSL's attractive adjusted NII per share (though, to remain unbiased, it has net decreased over the prior several quarters [similar to most sector peers]); a modestly more attractive cumulative realized gain (loss) per share amount as of 6/30/2026; a very low exposure to the oil and gas sector (including certain investments in the energy sector that had oil and gas characteristics and/or services closely linked to the sector); a slightly more attractive stock price to annualized adjusted NII ratio; and a slightly below average capitalized PIK/deferred interest income percentage (all positive catalysts/trends). In addition, BXSL is tied for having the lowest management fees out of the externally-managed covered BDC peers at 1.00% of total assets less cash and cash equivalents (along with a "clawback" feature regarding the company's incentive fees). Simply put, this will continue to positively impact shareholders via lower proportionate fees versus most other externally managed BDC-covered peers.

That said, to remain non-bias, this article also highlighted BXSL had an average percentage of investments in non-accrual status as of 6/30/2026 (though it should decline once the Medallia restructuring is complete), a slightly below-average FMV versus cost ratio, a slightly below-average trailing 24-month economic return percentage, and a slightly above-average exposure to the generalized software and software-related sector (cautious - slightly negative factors/trends).

Looking back, I previously correctly identified the very high probability of an increasing BXSL base dividend and/or special periodic dividends during 2022 - 2023. This was mainly due to the U.S. London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR)/Standard Overnight Financing Rate ("SOFR")/PRIME very quickly moving past all floors on the asset side of the balance sheet, along with financing outstanding borrowings with longer-term, lower-cost debt on the liability side of the balance sheet, during 2021.

That said, to remain non-bias, during 2024 - 2026, one had/has to continue to monitor the weighted average annualized yield on new loan originations versus exiting debt investments, as there remains a pretty good "lag" in this specific metric. I believe we are close - very close to a "trough"/bottoming pattern regarding this metric. Something I continually track. In addition, I believe the majority of sector earnings peaked during late 2023 - early 2024 (previously "plateaued"). The rapid NII growth that sector peers experienced during 2022 - 2023 simply did not occur during 2024 - the 1st half of 2026 (nor will it occur during the 2nd half of 2026 - 2027). As the FOMC began to reduce the Federal Funds Rate (starting in September 2024), sector earnings GRADUALLY decreased over time. The severity of decreases has varied peer-to-peer (which I continuously project/model). This notion is already embedded in all price targets. Furthermore, credit risk will almost certainly rise (albeit mildly) throughout the sector during 2026 but should begin to slowly ease during 2027.

However, I continue to believe BXSL is better positioned to weather a potential minor-modest recession when compared to most sector peers (as highlighted in the analysis above).

Dividend sustainability will be discussed/analyzed in PART 2 of this sector comparative analysis.

My BUY, SELL, or HOLD Recommendation: From the analysis provided above, including additional factors not discussed within this article (additional metrics covered in PART 2), I currently rate BXSL as a SELL when I believe the company's stock price is trading at or greater than a 17.5% premium to my projected CURRENT NAV (NAV as of 9/4/2026; $24.45 per share), a HOLD when trading at less than a 17.5% premium but greater than a 7.5% premium to my projected CURRENT NAV, and a BUY when trading at or less than a 7.5% premium to my projected CURRENT NAV.

Therefore, with a closing price as of 9/4/2026 of $24.72 per share, I currently rate BXSL as NOTABLY UNDERVALUED from a stock price perspective.

As such, I currently believe BXSL is a STRONG BUY recommendation. My current price target for BXSL is approximately $29.90 per share. This is currently the price where my recommendation would change to a SELL. The current price where my STRONG BUY recommendation would change to a HOLD is approximately $27.35 per share. Put another way, the following are my CURRENT BUY, SELL, or HOLD per share recommendation ranges for BXSL (our Investing Group subscribers get this type of data on all 12 BDC (and 18 mortgage real estate investment trust [mREIT]) stocks I currently cover on a weekly basis):

$29.90 per share or above = SELL (Overvalued)

$27.36 - $29.89 per share = HOLD (Appropriately Valued)

$24.81 - $27.35 per share = BUY (Undervalued)

$24.80 per share or below = STRONG BUY (Notably Undervalued)

BDC Sector Recommendations as of 9/4/2026: Table 10 - Past and Current BDC Recommendations

The REIT Forum

(Source: Table created by me, including all past and present recommendations based on data obtained from the SEC's EDGAR Database [link provided below Table 1a])

Table 10 above provides the following information on BXSL and the 11 BDC peers (see each corresponding column): 1) 7/18/2025 BUY, SELL, or HOLD recommendation (pre late summer 2025 sell-off); 2) 10/10/2025 BUY, SELL, or HOLD recommendation (pre fall 2025 rally); and 3) 9/4/2026 BUY, SELL, or HOLD recommendation range, relative to my estimated CURRENT NAV.

I currently have 3 BDCs rated as NOTABLY UNDERVALUED (STRONG BUY), 2 rated as UNDERVALUED (BUY), 5 rated as APPROPRIATELY VALUED (HOLD), 0 rated as OVERVALUED (SELL), and 2 as NOTABLY OVERVALUED (STRONG SELL). Simply put, certainly not as bearish as late 2019 - early 2020 or June - July 2025. I currently believe the sector, as a whole, is appropriately valued - very slightly undervalued. I would just be mindful, knowing high-yield/speculative-grade credit spreads directly impact broader asset valuations. I continue to project a net widening of spreads during the 2nd half of 2026 - mid-2027. This is something I have continued to discuss with subscribers. It's important to understand.

That said, I continue to see very good - great value with BXSL (yes, even considering a projected dividend reduction at some point during 2026 - early 2027, discussed in PART 2).

The analysis performed above does not provide "every" catalyst/factor to consider when choosing a BDC investment. However, I believe this analysis is a good starting point to begin a discussion on the topic. Additional metrics will be analyzed in PART 2 of this article. PART 2 will take a look at BXSL's past and current dividend rates, yields, and other similar metrics and compare the results to the 11 other BDC peers. Several of these metrics have a direct impact on future operations/results as events unfold. This includes dividend projections for all 12 peers for calendar Q4 2026/each applicable company's next set of dividend projections.

My Personal BXSL Past + Current Stock Disclosures: The following are my BXSL past and current stock disclosures and total returns since I have been writing on Seeking Alpha (since 2013):

Table 11 - BXSL Past + Current Stock Disclosures/Returns

The REIT Forum

Source: Taken Directly from the REIT Forum's © Spreadsheets/Data

Final Note: All trades/investments I have performed over the past 10+ years have been disclosed to readers in "real time" (that day at the latest) via Seeking Alpha and, more recently, the "live chat" feature of our Investing Group (which cannot be changed/altered). Beginning in January 2020, I transitioned all my real-time purchase and sale disclosures solely to subscribers of the REIT Forum. All applicable public articles will still have my "main ticker" purchase and sale disclosures (just not real-time alerts). At the end of August 2026, I had an unrealized/realized gain "success rate" of 87.8% and a total return (includes dividends received) success rate of 95.6% out of 90 total past and present mREIT and BDC positions (updated monthly; multiple purchases/sales in one stock count as one overall position until fully closed out). I encourage other Seeking Alpha contributors to provide real-time buy and sell updates for their readers/subscribers, which would ultimately lead to greater transparency/credibility.

Simply put, a contributor's/team's recommendation track record should "count for something" and should always be considered when it comes to credibility/successful investing.

Understanding My/Our Valuation Methodology Regarding mREIT Common and BDC Stocks: The basic "premise" around my/our recommendations in the mREIT common and BDC sectors is value. Regarding operational performance over the long term, there are above average, average, and below-average mREIT and BDC stocks. That said, better-performing mREIT and BDC peers can be expensive to own, as well as being cheap. Just because a well-performing stock outperforms the company's sector peers over the long term, this does not mean this stock should be owned at any price. As with any stock, there is a price range where the valuation is cheap, a price where the valuation is expensive, and a price where the valuation is appropriate. The same holds true with all mREIT common and BDC peers. As such, regarding my/our investing methodology, each mREIT common and BDC peer has their own unique BUY, SELL, or HOLD recommendation range (relative to estimated CURRENT BV/NAV). The better-performing mREITs and BDCs typically have a recommendation range at a premium to BV/NAV (varying percentages based on overall outperformance) and vice versa with the average/underperforming mREITs and BDCs (typically at a discount to estimated CURRENT BV/NAV).

Each company's recommendation range is "pegged" to estimated CURRENT BV/NAV because this way subscribers/readers can track when each mREIT and BDC peer moves within the assigned recommendation ranges (daily if desired). That said, the underlying reasoning why I place each mREIT and BDC recommendation range at a different premium or (discount) to estimated CURRENT BV/NAV is based on roughly 15-20 catalysts, which include both macroeconomic catalysts/factors and company-specific catalysts/factors (both positive and negative). This investing strategy is not for all market participants. For instance, not likely a "good fit" for extremely passive investors. For example, investors holding a position in a particular stock, no matter the price, for, say, a period of 5+ years. However, as shown throughout my articles written here at Seeking Alpha since 2013, in the vast majority of instances I have been able to enhance my personal total returns and/or minimize my personal total losses from specifically implementing this particular investing valuation methodology. I hope this provides some added clarity/understanding for new subscribers/readers regarding my valuation methodology utilized in the mREIT common and BDC sectors.

Each investor's BUY, SELL, or HOLD decision is based on one's risk tolerance, time horizon, and dividend income goals. My personal recommendation will not fit each reader's current investing strategy. The factual information provided within this article is intended to help assist readers when it comes to investing strategies/decisions. Please disregard any minor "cosmetic" typos if/when applicable.

NEW YORK, Sept. 08, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Pomerantz LLP is investigating claims on behalf of investors of lululemon athletica inc. (“lululemon” or the “Company”) (NASDAQ: LULU).  Such investors are advised to contact Danielle Peyton at [email protected] or 646-581-9980, ext. 7980.

The investigation concerns whether lululemon 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 September 3, 2026, lululemon reported its financial results for the second quarter of fiscal year 2026.  Among other items, lululemon reported lower-than-expected revenue and sharply lowered its full-year revenue and earnings guidance.  The Company’s management attributed its disappointing quarterly results to negative media and social-media commentary, softer-than-planned new-product launches, and weaker store traffic. 

On this news, lululemon’s stock price fell $21.16 per share, or 17.38%, to close at $100.61 per share on September 4, 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. 

CONTACT:
Danielle Peyton
Pomerantz LLP
[email protected]
646-581-9980 ext. 7980

I upgrade The Hershey Company to Buy as its valuation now offers a more attractive risk-reward amid macro uncertainty. HSY delivered a strong Q2, beat estimates, raised guidance, and maintained a robust balance sheet with manageable long-term debt. Despite cocoa price spikes and consumer weakness, HSY's portfolio is positioned for evolving health trends and resilient snacking demand.

Vertiv Holdings (VRT +3.67%), a provider of critical digital infrastructure, including power and cooling systems, for artificial intelligence (AI) build-out, generated $10.2 billion in net sales in 2025. To reach an annual revenue of about $20.4 billion by 2029, the company will need to grow revenue at about 18.9% annually.

Image source: Getty Images.

However, Vertiv expects 2026 sales of $13.8 billion to $14.2 billion. Using the $14 billion midpoint, Vertiv would need revenue growth of only about 13.5% annually from 2026 through 2029 to double its 2025 sales.

Hence, the real question is whether it can double its revenue as the AI infrastructure build-out matures.

Expected growth rate is below management's target The strongest support for that forecast comes from Vertiv itself. Management is targeting 20% to 22% organic annual sales growth from 2025 through 2030 and roughly $26 billion of revenue in 2030. Hence, Vertiv seems well-positioned to cross the $20.4 billion threshold before then, even if growth slows meaningfully from current levels.

Premium Feature

Moneyball Superscore

95/100

Today's Change

(

3.67

%) $

10.30

Current Price

$

290.83

Vertiv also enjoys high demand visibility. The company exited 2025 with $15 billion of backlog, more than its entire 2025 revenue. However, that backlog should not be treated as guaranteed 2029 sales. Management says orders can be canceled or rescheduled, and much of the backlog is expected to convert within 12 to 18 months. Vertiv will therefore need to keep replacing completed projects with new orders.

Execution risk AI data centers are also becoming harder to power and cool as computing density rises. This increases demand for Vertiv's power, cooling, and integrated infrastructure products, giving the company another way to grow even if the number of data centers expands more slowly.

However, strong demand does not always turn into revenue immediately. Vertiv's second-quarter revenue (ending June 30, 2026) rose 24% year over year, but temporary supply chain congestion and the timing of larger, more complex projects delayed some sales. The company is expanding manufacturing capacity across power systems, integrated infrastructure, and cooling to keep up with demand.

Hence, investors should assess whether Vertiv can keep winning enough new orders and expanding capacity fast enough to sustain low-teens growth after 2026.

Growth stocks are attractive to many investors, as above-average financial growth helps these stocks easily grab the market's attention and produce exceptional returns. However, it isn't easy to find a great growth stock.

By their very nature, these stocks carry above-average risk and volatility. Moreover, if a company's growth story is over or nearing its end, betting on it could lead to significant loss.

However, the Zacks Growth Style Score (part of the Zacks Style Scores system), which looks beyond the traditional growth attributes to analyze a company's real growth prospects, makes it pretty easy to find cutting-edge growth stocks.

Lincoln Electric Holdings (LECO - Free Report) is on the list of such stocks currently recommended by our proprietary system. In addition to a favorable Growth Score, it carries a top Zacks Rank.

Studies have shown that stocks with the best growth features consistently outperform the market. And for stocks that have a combination of a Growth Score of A or B and a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) or 2 (Buy), returns are even better.

While there are numerous reasons why the stock of this manufacturer of specialized welding products and other equipment is a great growth pick right now, we have highlighted three of the most important factors below:

Earnings GrowthArguably nothing is more important than earnings growth, as surging profit levels is what most investors are after. And for growth investors, double-digit earnings growth is definitely preferable, and often an indication of strong prospects (and stock price gains) for the company under consideration.

While the historical EPS growth rate for Lincoln Electric is 10.4%, investors should actually focus on the projected growth. The company's EPS is expected to grow 13.1% this year, crushing the industry average, which calls for EPS growth of 11.6%.

Impressive Asset Utilization RatioAsset utilization ratio -- also known as sales-to-total-assets (S/TA) ratio -- is often overlooked by investors, but it is an important indicator in growth investing. This metric shows how efficiently a firm is utilizing its assets to generate sales.

Right now, Lincoln Electric has an S/TA ratio of 1.17, which means that the company gets $1.17 in sales for each dollar in assets. Comparing this to the industry average of 0.8, it can be said that the company is more efficient.

While the level of efficiency in generating sales matters a lot, so does the sales growth of a company. And Lincoln Electric looks attractive from a sales growth perspective as well. The company's sales are expected to grow 10.6% this year versus the industry average of 2.6%.

Promising Earnings Estimate RevisionsSuperiority of a stock in terms of the metrics outlined above can be further validated by looking at the trend in earnings estimate revisions. A positive trend is of course favorable here. Empirical research shows that there is a strong correlation between trends in earnings estimate revisions and near-term stock price movements.

The current-year earnings estimates for Lincoln Electric have been revising upward. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for the current year has surged 0.7% over the past month.

Bottom LineLincoln Electric has not only earned a Growth Score of B based on a number of factors, including the ones discussed above, but it also carries a Zacks Rank #2 because of the positive earnings estimate revisions.

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

This combination positions Lincoln Electric well for outperformance, so growth investors may want to bet on it.

Is Procore Technologies Inc (PCOR) a Bargain After 3.1% Drop? GF Value Says Undervalued Procore Technologies Inc Valuation AssessmentOn September 08, 2026, Procore Technologies Inc PCOR shares fell 3.1% to a current price of $56.18. The stock has fluctuated in a 52-week range between $38.03 and $82.32.

GF Value™ verdict: Current price of $56.18 is 33.5% below the GF Value™ of $84.48.GF Score™: 75/100 indicates an above-average overall performance.Most notable signal: Insiders sold $77.8M worth of stock over the past 12 months, with no buying activity.Is PCOR Overvalued or Undervalued?The current valuation of Procore Technologies Inc can be largely assessed through its Price-to-Sales (P/S) ratio, given the company's unprofitable status. As of now, PCOR is trading significantly below its historical median P/S of approximately 9.9x. This suggests that traditional earnings-based valuation methods, such as Price-to-Earnings (P/E) multiples, may not be applicable or reliable for assessing the company's fair value. In light of this, the GF Value™ estimate of $84.48 serves as a directional warning, indicating that the stock is significantly undervalued based on its historical trading multiples, past business growth, and future performance predictions.

However, it is essential to approach this conclusion with caution. The GF Valuation label suggests that PCOR is undervalued, but being a cash-flow-negative company presents inherent risks. The substantial margin of safety implied by the GF Value™ estimate indicates an opportunity, but investors should consider the volatility and potential uncertainty surrounding future performance.

How Does PCOR's Valuation Compare to Its History?MetricCurrentHistoricalForward P/E23.2xN/ACurrently, Procore Technologies Inc is trading with a forward P/E ratio of 23.2x. As there is no available trailing twelve months (TTM) P/E ratio, we cannot juxtapose it with its historical valuations. However, the absence of a P/E metric emphasizes the difficulty in applying this traditional valuation method to PCOR due to its unprofitability. This situation aligns with the GF Value™ verdict, which suggests a significant undervaluation but also highlights the inherent risks of relying solely on P/E analysis for a loss-making entity.

What Does PCOR's GF Score™ Tell Us?The GF Score™ evaluates a company's overall performance based on multiple factors, including financial strength, profitability, growth potential, valuation, and momentum. Procore Technologies Inc scores a 75/100, indicating it is above average in terms of overall quality. The strongest sub-rank is for growth, scoring 9/10, while the weakest is in profitability, with a rank of 4/10.

MetricRatingGF Score™75Financial Strength8/10Profitability4/10Growth9/10Valuation4/10Momentum4/10In summary, the GF Score™ indicates that while Procore has strong growth potential, its profitability and valuation ranks are concerning. This suggests that while the company may excel in expanding its business, it faces challenges in generating profits and achieving a favorable valuation in the current market landscape.

What Are Gurus and Insiders Doing with PCOR?Currently, six gurus hold Procore Technologies Inc stock, with five increasing their positions and three trimming their holdings in recent quarters. This mixed activity indicates a level of interest from prominent investors, which can serve as a validation of the stock's potential.

Additionally, insider activity reveals a concerning trend, as insiders sold $77.8 million worth of shares over the past 12 months without any buying activity. This lack of insider buying may suggest a lack of confidence from those who are most familiar with the company's operations, which could be a red flag for potential investors.

What This Means for InvestorsConsidering the analysis of Procore Technologies Inc, the stock appears to be undervalued based on the GF Value™ estimate, with a notable margin of safety. However, the company’s unprofitability and the concerning insider selling pattern warrant caution. Prospective investors should weigh these factors carefully when considering their investment strategy.

For more detailed insights, visit the Procore Technologies Inc PCOR stock page for additional analysis and metrics.

Frequently Asked QuestionsWhat is PCOR's GF Score™?

PCOR's GF Score™ is 75/100, indicating that the company performs above average compared to its peers in various aspects.

Is PCOR overvalued or undervalued?

PCOR is currently considered undervalued, trading at a significant discount to its GF Value™ of $84.48.

What is PCOR's P/E ratio?

PCOR does not have a trailing twelve months (TTM) P/E ratio available, but it has a forward P/E of 23.2x, indicating challenges in applying traditional valuation methods due to its unprofitability.

This stock alert was generated using automated technology and GuruFocus financial data to provide readers with timely and accurate market reporting. This content was reviewed by GuruFocus editorial team prior to publication. Please send any questions or comments about this story to [email protected].

Disclosures I/We may personally own shares in some of the companies mentioned above. However, those positions are not material to either the company or to my/our portfolios.

, /PRNewswire/ -- Envista Holdings Corporation (NYSE: NVST) ("Envista") today announced that the company will participate in the Baird 2026 Global Healthcare Conference. The fireside chat will take place on Tuesday, September 15, 2026, from 9:40 – 10:10 AM ET.

A live audio webcast of the event, along with an archived replay, will be available in the Investors section of the Envista website at https://investors.envistaco.com/. 

ABOUT ENVISTA HOLDINGS CORPORATION

Envista is a global leader in the dental industry, uniting more than 30 trusted brands—including DEXIS, Kerr, Nobel Biocare, and Ormco—under one mission: partnering with dental professionals to improve patients' lives. With a heritage of category-defining innovation, our brands have shaped modern dentistry: Nobel Biocare introduced the first dental implant, Ormco is a pioneer in both traditional and digital orthodontics, DEXIS has long been at the forefront of 2D, 3D and intraoral imaging, and Kerr has supported clinicians for over 135 years.  Our high-performing culture is underpinned by our CIRCLe Values and the Envista Business System. Guided by these, we deliver a comprehensive portfolio of technologies, consumables, and services that empower clinicians to provide confident, efficient care—today and for the future. Learn more at http://envistaco.com.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION
Jim Gustafson
Vice President, Investor Relations
Envista Holdings Corporation
200 S. Kraemer Blvd., Building E
Brea, CA 92821
Telephone: (424) 350-5259
[email protected]

SOURCE Envista Holdings Corporation

Bruker Corporation (Nasdaq: BRKR) announced today that its senior leadership will present at the following conferences:

Wells Fargo 21st Annual Healthcare Conference in Boston, MA
Wednesday, September 9, 2026 at 8:00 a.m. Eastern Time

Morgan Stanley 24th Annual Global Healthcare Conference in New York City
Wednesday, September 16, 2026, at 10:45 a.m. Eastern Time

Bank of America Global Healthcare Conference in London, UK
Tuesday, September 22, 2026, at 6:45 a.m. Eastern Time

Live audio webcasts of the presentations will be available on the Investor Relations section of the Company's website at https://ir.bruker.com. Replays of the presentations will be posted in the “Events & Presentations” section of the Bruker Corporation Investor Relations website after the event and will be available for at least 30 days following the presentations.

About Bruker Corporation – Leader of the Post-Genomic Era (Nasdaq: BRKR)

Bruker is enabling scientists and engineers to make breakthrough post-genomic discoveries and develop new applications that improve the quality of human life. Bruker’s high-performance scientific instruments and high-value analytical and diagnostic solutions enable scientists to explore life and materials at molecular, cellular, and microscopic levels. In close cooperation with our customers, Bruker is enabling innovation, improved productivity, and customer success in post-genomic life science molecular and cell biology research, in applied and biopharma applications, in microscopy, as well as in industrial and cleantech research, and semiconductor metrology in support of AI. Bruker offers differentiated, high-value life science and diagnostics systems and solutions in preclinical imaging, proteomics and multiomics, spatial and single-cell biology, structural and condensate biology, as well as in clinical microbiology and molecular diagnostics. For more information, please visit www.bruker.com.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260908551439/en/

Disclosures I/we have no positions in any stocks mentioned, and have no plans to buy any new positions in the stocks mentioned within the next 72 hours.

Click for the complete disclosure

Burford Capital (NYSE:BUR – Get Free Report) and Toast (NYSE:TOST – Get Free Report) are both finance companies, but which is the better investment? We will contrast the two businesses based on the strength of their valuation, risk, earnings, analyst recommendations, dividends, institutional ownership and profitability.

Risk and Volatility Burford Capital has a beta of 1.25, meaning that its share price is 25% more volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, Toast has a beta of 1.72, meaning that its share price is 72% more volatile than the S&P 500.

Insider & Institutional Ownership 82.9% of Toast shares are held by institutional investors. 8.9% of Burford Capital shares are held by insiders. Comparatively, 10.0% of Toast shares are held by insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that endowments, hedge funds and large money managers believe a stock will outperform the market over the long term.

Profitability This table compares Burford Capital and Toast’s net margins, return on equity and return on assets. Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets Burford Capital 15.14% 10.24% 4.35% Toast 7.14% 23.90% 15.77% Earnings and Valuation This table compares Burford Capital and Toast”s revenue, earnings per share and valuation.

Gross Revenue Price/Sales Ratio Net Income Earnings Per Share Price/Earnings Ratio Burford Capital -$1.63 billion -0.59 $62.57 million ($7.71) -0.57 Toast $6.15 billion 2.78 $342.00 million $0.78 42.68 Toast has higher revenue and earnings than Burford Capital. Burford Capital is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than Toast, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks.

Analyst Ratings This is a breakdown of current ratings and target prices for Burford Capital and Toast, as provided by MarketBeat.com.

Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score Burford Capital 2 2 2 0 2.00 Toast 0 11 16 0 2.59 Burford Capital presently has a consensus price target of $9.33, suggesting a potential upside of 111.88%. Toast has a consensus price target of $39.12, suggesting a potential upside of 17.50%. Given Burford Capital’s higher possible upside, analysts clearly believe Burford Capital is more favorable than Toast.

Summary Toast beats Burford Capital on 12 of the 14 factors compared between the two stocks.

(Get Free Report)

Burford Capital Limited provides legal finance products and services worldwide. The company operates through two segments, Capital Provision, and Asset Management and Other Provision. The Capital Provision segment provides capital to the legal industry or in connection with legal matters directly and through investment in private funds; legal risk management services; lower risk legal finance business focusing on pre-settlement litigation matters with lower risk and lower expected returns; post-settlement finance; and complex strategies in which it acts as a principal and acquires assets that are mispriced. The Asset Management and Other Services segment provides services to the legal industry, including litigation insurance. Burford Capital Limited was incorporated in 2009 and is based in Saint Peter Port, Guernsey.

About Toast (Get Free Report)

Toast, Inc. operates a cloud-based digital technology platform for the restaurant industry in the United States, Ireland, and India. The company offers software products for restaurant operations and point of sale, such as Toast POS, Toast now, multi-location management, kitchen display system, Toast mobile order and pay, Toast catering and events, Toast invoicing, Toast tables, and restaurant retail; and hardware products, including Toast flex, Toast flex for guest, Toast go 2, Toast tap, kiosks, and Delphi by Toast. It provides toast online ordering and toast takeout, first-party delivery toast delivery services, and third-party delivery integrations and orders hub; and loyalty, email marketing, and toast gift cards. In addition, the company offers payroll and team management, Sling by Toast, Toast pay card and payout, and tips manager, as well as partner-enabled products comprising insurance and benefits; supply chain and accounting products, such as xtraCHEF by toast; and financial technology solutions consisting of payment processing, toast capital, and purchase plans. Further, it offers reporting and analytics, Toast shop, and Toast partner connect and application programming interfaces. The company was formerly known as Opti Systems, Inc. and changed its name to Toast, Inc. in May 2012. Toast, Inc. was incorporated in 2011 and is headquartered in Boston, Massachusetts.

Receive News & Ratings for Burford Capital Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Burford Capital and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.

CHICAGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--GE HealthCare today announced that StarGuide GX,i its new digital 4D CZT SPECT/CT technology, is 510(k) pending with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Building on the system's recent CE Mark, this milestone is a step towards expanding access to advanced molecular imaging technologies in the United States and marks a significant moment in molecular imaging's evolution – aiming to empower clinicians with a high-performance, general purpose scanner to help pers.

On Semiconductor (ON) is positioned for a potential re-rating ahead of its Investor Day 2026, driven by a massive TAM upgrade to $213B by 2030. The $7B Synaptics acquisition expands ON's TAM by 233%, despite a 12-14% shareholder dilution and balance sheet concerns. ON's growth hinges on capitalizing on the AI data center shift to 800V DC power, with management targeting higher fab utilization and gross margins.

New York, New York--(Newsfile Corp. - September 8, 2026) - WHY: Rosen Law Firm, a global investor rights law firm, continues to investigate potential breaches of fiduciary duties by the directors and officers of BellRing Brands, Inc. (NYSE: BRBR).

If you currently own shares of BellRing stock, please visit the firm's website at https://rosenlegal.com/cases/bellring-brands-inc/join for more information. You may also contact Phillip Kim of Rosen Law Firm toll free at 866-767-3653 or via email at [email protected].

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

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

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

-------------------------------

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/313434

Source: The Rosen Law Firm PA

Proficient Auto Logistics (NASDAQ:PAL – Get Free Report) and Old Dominion Freight Line (NASDAQ:ODFL – Get Free Report) are both industrials companies, but which is the better investment? We will compare the two businesses based on the strength of their dividends, risk, analyst recommendations, institutional ownership, profitability, valuation and earnings.

Valuation and Earnings This table compares Proficient Auto Logistics and Old Dominion Freight Line”s revenue, earnings per share and valuation.

Gross Revenue Price/Sales Ratio Net Income Earnings Per Share Price/Earnings Ratio Proficient Auto Logistics $430.42 million 0.34 -$36.02 million ($1.41) -3.73 Old Dominion Freight Line $5.50 billion 7.06 $1.02 billion $5.19 36.03 Old Dominion Freight Line has higher revenue and earnings than Proficient Auto Logistics. Proficient Auto Logistics is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than Old Dominion Freight Line, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks. Profitability This table compares Proficient Auto Logistics and Old Dominion Freight Line’s net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets Proficient Auto Logistics -9.24% -0.49% -0.33% Old Dominion Freight Line 19.44% 24.87% 19.47% Volatility & Risk Proficient Auto Logistics has a beta of 1.15, suggesting that its share price is 15% more volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, Old Dominion Freight Line has a beta of 1.16, suggesting that its share price is 16% more volatile than the S&P 500.

Analyst Recommendations This is a breakdown of current recommendations for Proficient Auto Logistics and Old Dominion Freight Line, as reported by MarketBeat.com.

Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score Proficient Auto Logistics 2 1 2 0 2.00 Old Dominion Freight Line 2 12 10 1 2.40 Proficient Auto Logistics currently has a consensus target price of $12.00, indicating a potential upside of 128.14%. Old Dominion Freight Line has a consensus target price of $228.91, indicating a potential upside of 22.40%. Given Proficient Auto Logistics’ higher possible upside, analysts plainly believe Proficient Auto Logistics is more favorable than Old Dominion Freight Line.

Insider & Institutional Ownership 77.8% of Old Dominion Freight Line shares are held by institutional investors. 14.2% of Proficient Auto Logistics shares are held by company insiders. Comparatively, 8.2% of Old Dominion Freight Line shares are held by company insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that large money managers, hedge funds and endowments believe a stock is poised for long-term growth.

Summary Old Dominion Freight Line beats Proficient Auto Logistics on 13 of the 15 factors compared between the two stocks.

(Get Free Report)

Proficient Auto Logistics, Inc. focuses on providing auto transportation and logistics services in North America. It primarily focuses on transporting and delivering finished vehicles from automotive production facilities, ports of entry, and rail yards to a network of automotive dealerships. The company operates approximately 1,130 auto transport vehicles and trailers, including 615 company-owned transport vehicles and trailers. It serves auto companies, electric vehicle producers, auto dealers, auto auctions, rental car companies, and auto leasing companies. The company was formerly known as AH Acquisition Corp. and changed its name to Proficient Auto Logistics, Inc. in October 2023. The company was incorporated in 2023 and is based in Jacksonville, Florida.

About Old Dominion Freight Line (Get Free Report)

Old Dominion Freight Line, Inc. operates as a less-than-truckload motor carrier in the United States and North America. The company offers regional, inter-regional, and national less-than-truckload services, as well as expedited transportation. It also provides various value-added services, including container drayage, truckload brokerage, and supply chain consulting. As of December 31, 2023, it owned and operated 10,791 tractors, 31,233 linehaul trailers, and 15,181 pickup and delivery trailers; 46 fleet maintenance centers; and 257 service centers. Old Dominion Freight Line, Inc. was founded in 1934 and is headquartered in Thomasville, North Carolina.

Receive News & Ratings for Proficient Auto Logistics Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Proficient Auto Logistics and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.

Growth investors focus on stocks that are seeing above-average financial growth, as this feature helps these securities garner the market's attention and deliver solid returns. However, it isn't easy to find a great growth stock.

By their very nature, these stocks carry above-average risk and volatility. Moreover, if a company's growth story is over or nearing its end, betting on it could lead to significant loss.

However, the Zacks Growth Style Score (part of the Zacks Style Scores system), which looks beyond the traditional growth attributes to analyze a company's real growth prospects, makes it pretty easy to find cutting-edge growth stocks.

Our proprietary system currently recommends Toro (TTC - Free Report) as one such stock. This company not only has a favorable Growth Score, but also carries a top Zacks Rank.

Studies have shown that stocks with the best growth features consistently outperform the market. And for stocks that have a combination of a Growth Score of A or B and a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) or 2 (Buy), returns are even better.

While there are numerous reasons why the stock of this landscaping, maintenance and irrigation equipment maker is a great growth pick right now, we have highlighted three of the most important factors below:

Earnings GrowthArguably nothing is more important than earnings growth, as surging profit levels is what most investors are after. And for growth investors, double-digit earnings growth is definitely preferable, and often an indication of strong prospects (and stock price gains) for the company under consideration.

While the historical EPS growth rate for Toro is 3.7%, investors should actually focus on the projected growth. The company's EPS is expected to grow 10.2% this year, crushing the industry average, which calls for EPS growth of 5.5%.

Impressive Asset Utilization RatioGrowth investors often overlook asset utilization ratio, also known as sales-to-total-assets (S/TA) ratio, but it is an important feature of a real growth stock. This metric shows how efficiently a firm is utilizing its assets to generate sales.

Right now, Toro has an S/TA ratio of 1.32, which means that the company gets $1.32 in sales for each dollar in assets. Comparing this to the industry average of 1, it can be said that the company is more efficient.

In addition to efficiency in generating sales, sales growth plays an important role. And Toro looks attractive from a sales growth perspective as well. The company's sales are expected to grow 6.5% this year versus the industry average of 1.8%.

Promising Earnings Estimate RevisionsBeyond the metrics outlined above, investors should consider the trend in earnings estimate revisions. A positive trend is a plus here. Empirical research shows that there is a strong correlation between trends in earnings estimate revisions and near-term stock price movements.

There have been upward revisions in current-year earnings estimates for Toro. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for the current year has surged 0.6% over the past month.

Bottom LineWhile the overall earnings estimate revisions have made Toro a Zacks Rank #2 stock, it has earned itself a Growth Score of B based on a number of factors, including the ones discussed above.

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

This combination positions Toro well for outperformance, so growth investors may want to bet on it.

Pioneering gene-editing company CRISPR Therapeutics (CRSP -1.81%) was a well-performing biotech stock in August. Its shares were hot in the hot month, zooming almost 19% higher thanks to a solid quarterly earnings report and business update.

A welcome update CRISPR released its second-quarter financials and business update early in the month, on Aug. 3, to be exact. It quoted CEO Samarth Kulkarni as saying that this "reflected strong execution across CRISPR Therapeutics' portfolio and platform" -- and he was not wrong.

Image source: Getty Images.

The biotech's one approved product, the blood disorder treatment Casgevy (developed and marketed in partnership with Vertex Pharmaceuticals), saw a 78% quarter-over-quarter jump in sales to $76 million. Better, during the period, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Casgevy's label expansion to cover pediatric patients aged 2 and older.

While financial figures aren't as meaningful for biotechs, with their typically feast-or-famine business models, CRISPR's have been looking good lately.

Second-quarter revenue was boosted significantly by a $10 million upfront payment from a license and collaboration deal from a business partner that hasn't been identified. With that, the company's total top line expanded to nearly $10.2 million from the year-ago tally of $892,000.

I should note here that, under the CRISPR/Vertex partnership agreement, CRISPR does not recognize its share of Casgevy sales as revenue. Rather, its net share is bundled with its proportion of costs in the "collaboration expense, net" line item of its profit and loss statement.

As for CRISPR's bottom line, a steep decline in in-process research and development expenses, plus that $10 million infusion, narrowed the net loss considerably. It was just under $91.5 million ($0.94 per share) for the period compared to the second quarter of 2025's nearly $209 million deficit.

Analysts tracking the stock were modeling revenue of less than $7.5 million and a net loss of $1.20 per share.

CRISPR is a busy company that continues to use its proprietary gene-editing platform to develop new medications. In its pipeline are treatments targeting disorders like hypertension (high blood pressure) and alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency, a genetic condition that can threaten the lungs and liver.

Premium Feature

Moneyball Superscore

55/100

Today's Change

(

-1.81

%) $

-1.01

Current Price

$

54.78

Bright future Since we're still near the start of the gene-editing revolution in healthcare, it's likely to be some time before medicines developed with the technology become commonly available. While there are now numerous gene-editing businesses on the scene, CRISPR is a rare bird that has helped bring an actual product to market.

With that, I think it's always going to be in the mix with this future-forward technology, and I'd fully expect more products from its lab to reach pharmacy shelves. This remains a high-potential stock, I believe, but investors need to be patient with it.

Fintech Chime (CHYM.O) said on Tuesday it will acquire nationally chartered Stride Bank for $590 million, bringing ​key banking infrastructure in-house as it looks to ‌expand its lending business.

Here are some details:

Chime's shares, which are up over 28% this year, jumped nearly 10% in ​extended trading.

The all-cash deal is expected to help ​Chime realize more than $100 million in net ⁠synergies and close in the first half of ​2027.

Enid, Oklahoma-based Stride was founded in 1913 and provides ​financial services including consumer and commercial banking. The bank has been a partner to Chime for over seven years.

"The acquisition ​of Stride Bank provides Chime with a faster ​and more proven path to full-stack ownership versus pursuing a de ‌novo ⁠bank charter," Chime said in a statement.

Chime will manage Stride's balance sheet upon closing and keep its assets below $10 billion for the foreseeable future.

San Francisco-based ​Chime targets everyday ​Americans with ⁠banking products and has managed to grow its user base by attracting younger ​customers through its mobile-first products

Chime also raised ​its ⁠full-year revenue forecast and now expects between 26% and 27% growth, from its prior expectation of 25% ⁠to 26%.

Morgan ​Stanley is serving as a ​financial advisor to Chime, while Piper Sandler & Co is advising Stride.

Chime plans to acquire its bank partner, Oklahoma-headquartered Stride Bank, to further Chime's efforts to provide “mainstream America” with better banking, the company said in a Tuesday (Sept. 8) press release.