Track market-moving stories before they get noisy

Key Takeaways Comfort Systems emerges as the better HVAC buy, backed by stronger growth, backlog momentum and valuation.FIX's $17.81B backlog surged 90% year over year, fueled by data center demand and modular construction.FIX trades at 23.24X forward earnings versus TT's 24.91X, with faster projected EPS growth in 2027.
Comfort Systems USA, Inc. (FIX - Free Report) and Trane Technologies plc (TT - Free Report) are capitalizing on rising demand for advanced heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) solutions, supported by expanding data center investments, energy-efficiency initiatives and commercial infrastructure development. Both companies are strengthening their capabilities to address increasingly complex cooling and building requirements.

While Comfort Systems specializes in mechanical and electrical contracting, modular construction and mission-critical infrastructure, Trane focuses on energy-efficient HVAC equipment, intelligent building controls, thermal management and aftermarket services. Both compete in an evolving industry alongside Carrier Global Corporation (CARR - Free Report) and Johnson Controls International plc (JCI - Free Report) .

With artificial intelligence (AI)-driven infrastructure investments accelerating, comparing their growth prospects, operational strengths, valuations and earnings expectations has become particularly relevant.

With both companies having recently reported their third-quarter 2026 results, let's compare their growth drivers, financial outlooks and valuations to determine which stock offers better upside potential.

The Case for Comfort Systems StockComfort Systems is benefiting from robust demand for mission-critical infrastructure, particularly data centers, semiconductor facilities and other technology-intensive projects. Its integrated mechanical and electrical capabilities, modular construction expertise and expanding geographic presence position it favorably to capitalize on rising infrastructure spending. (Read more: Comfort Systems Q3 Earnings & Revenues Beat Estimates, Backlog Surges).

A major growth catalyst is its expanding modular construction business, which enables faster project delivery, improved productivity and greater execution efficiency. Management expects modular capacity to exceed 4 million square feet by year-end 2026 and approach 6 million square feet by year-end 2027. Growing commitments from established technology customers provide visibility into future utilization.

Comfort Systems' record backlog of $17.81 billion at September-end 2026, up approximately 90% year over year, strengthens revenue visibility. Management anticipates same-store revenue growth in the mid-20% range in 2027, supported by sustained demand and project execution.

Acquisitions are another important growth driver, expanding electrical capabilities, regional reach and customer relationships. Strong operating cash generation provides flexibility for capacity investments and strategic expansion.

However, increasing exposure to large technology projects introduces customer concentration and spending-cycle risks. Labor shortages, execution complexity, rising capital requirements and fluctuating project mix could pressure profitability. Rapid capacity expansion also creates utilization risks if demand moderates.

Unlike equipment-focused competitors such as Carrier Global and Johnson Controls, Comfort Systems faces substantial labor-intensive construction execution risks. Nevertheless, its accelerating backlog and strong customer commitments support favorable growth prospects.

The Case for Trane StockTrane is benefiting from structural demand for energy-efficient HVAC systems, building electrification, digital controls and sophisticated commercial cooling solutions. Its diversified portfolio across commercial HVAC, residential systems, transport refrigeration and services provides multiple growth opportunities (Read more: Trane Technologies' Q3 Earnings Beat on Strong Commercial HVAC Demand).

Commercial HVAC remains a major strength, supported by data center development and modernization of existing buildings. Global applied HVAC bookings increased more than 40% in the third quarter of 2026, contributing to a $12.5 billion backlog, up 73% year over year.

Trane's service business, representing approximately one-third of revenues, provides recurring income and reduces dependence on equipment replacement cycles. Connected systems, advanced controls and energy-management solutions further strengthen customer relationships.

Management raised its 2026 organic revenue growth outlook to approximately 11% while reaffirming adjusted earnings per share (EPS) guidance of $15.20-$15.30. Strong cash generation, disciplined acquisitions and shareholder returns reinforce its financial position.

However, supply-chain constraints, inflationary pressures and elevated reinvestment have weighed on operating leverage. Trane reduced its expected organic leverage to the low-20% range from more than 25%. Weakness in China, geopolitical disruptions in the Middle East and uneven transport refrigeration demand remain concerns.

Competition from Carrier Global and Johnson Controls also intensifies pressure to innovate and maintain pricing discipline. Carrier Global is expanding its data center cooling capabilities, while Johnson Controls is strengthening integrated thermal-management solutions. Both Carrier Global and Johnson Controls compete for large commercial projects, potentially challenging Trane's market share and margins.

FIX Leads TT in Share Price PerformanceComfort Systems shares have surged 42.1% year to date, significantly outperforming Trane's 10.8% gain and the Zacks S&P 500 Composite's 12.4% increase.

FIX's stronger performance reflects investor confidence in its expanding backlog, earnings momentum and growing data center exposure. Trane's relatively modest appreciation suggests a more measured market response to its operational progress.

FIX vs TT Price Performance (YTD)

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

FIX Offers a More Attractive ValuationOn a forward 12-month price-to-earnings (P/E) basis, Comfort Systems trades at 23.24X, below Trane's 24.91X. Despite stronger earnings growth expectations, Comfort Systems trades at a discount to Trane, suggesting a more attractive growth-adjusted valuation. Although Trane's recurring service revenues and diversified operations support its premium, FIX offers a compelling combination of faster growth and lower valuation.

FIX vs TT Valuation (P/E F12M)

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

Earnings Estimate Revisions Favor FIXThe Zacks Consensus Estimate for Comfort Systems' 2026 EPS has increased from $48.35 to $49.72 over the past seven days, while the 2027 estimate has climbed from $58.85 to $65.30. These estimates indicate EPS growth of 72.2% in 2026 and 31.3% in 2027, accompanied by revenue growth of 48.6% and 23.6%, respectively.

FIX’s EPS Estimate

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

For Trane, the consensus estimate for EPS has edged up from $15.31 to $15.32 for 2026 and from $17.56 to $17.71 for 2027 over the past 30 days. Earnings are expected to grow 17.3% in 2026 and 15.7% in 2027, while revenues are projected to increase 11.2% and 9.7%, respectively.

Comfort Systems' sharper upward estimate revisions and superior projected growth provide a distinct advantage over Trane.

TT’s EPS Estimate

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

FIX or TT: Which Stock Has Better Upside Potential?Both companies offer exposure to favorable HVAC industry trends. Trane benefits from diversified operations, recurring service revenues and energy-efficiency innovation, while Comfort Systems enjoys exceptional demand for data center infrastructure, modular construction and electrical contracting. Trane currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold).

Comfort Systems — currently carrying a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) — appears to be the better buy, supported by stronger backlog momentum, faster projected earnings growth, more substantial positive estimate revisions and a comparatively attractive valuation. Its robust stock performance further reinforces investor confidence. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.

RBC Bearings (RBC - Free Report) came out with quarterly earnings of $3.74 per share, beating the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $3.55 per share. This compares to earnings of $2.88 per share a year ago. These figures are adjusted for non-recurring items.

This quarterly report represents an earnings surprise of +5.35%. A quarter ago, it was expected that this maker of bearings and components would post earnings of $3.42 per share when it actually produced earnings of $3.88, delivering a surprise of +13.45%.

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

RBC Bearings, which belongs to the Zacks Manufacturing - General Industrial industry, posted revenues of $524.6 million for the quarter ended September 2026, surpassing the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 1.63%. This compares to year-ago revenues of $455.3 million. The company has topped consensus revenue estimates four times over the last four quarters.

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

RBC Bearings shares have added about 10.6% since the beginning of the year versus the S&P 500's gain of 12.8%.

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

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

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

Ahead of this earnings release, the estimate revisions trend for RBC Bearings was unfavorable. While the magnitude and direction of estimate revisions could change following the company's just-released earnings report, the current status translates into a Zacks Rank #4 (Sell) for the stock. So, the shares are expected to underperform the market in the near future. You can see the complete list of today's Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.

It will be interesting to see how estimates for the coming quarters and the current fiscal year change in the days ahead. The current consensus EPS estimate is $3.67 on $524.96 million in revenues for the coming quarter and $14.80 on $2.14 billion in revenues for the current fiscal year.

Investors should be mindful of the fact that the outlook for the industry can have a material impact on the performance of the stock as well. In terms of the Zacks Industry Rank, Manufacturing - General Industrial is currently in the bottom 36% of the 250 plus Zacks industries. Our research shows that the top 50% of the Zacks-ranked industries outperform the bottom 50% by a factor of more than 2 to 1.

One other stock from the same industry, Parker-Hannifin (PH - Free Report) , is yet to report results for the quarter ended September 2026. The results are expected to be released on November 5.

This maker of motion and control products is expected to post quarterly earnings of $8.23 per share in its upcoming report, which represents a year-over-year change of +14%. The consensus EPS estimate for the quarter has been revised 0.6% higher over the last 30 days to the current level.

Parker-Hannifin's revenues are expected to be $5.82 billion, up 14.5% from the year-ago quarter.

On its third-quarter 2026 earnings call, held on Oct. 22, 2026, Pinnacle Financial (PNFP +0.12%) highlighted that banker retention and market share growth are accelerating following its merger. Sustaining high talent retention through a major bank integration protects client relationships and long-term earnings power.

Three key takeaways stand out for long-term investors.

1. Banker Retention Remains Exceptionally High During IntegrationHigh turnover typically plagues bank mergers, but revenue-producing bankers aren't leaving. Keeping key producers preserves core client relationships and fuels loan growth across its geographic footprint.

Producer retention, excluding merger-related synergies, is 95% year to date. That is better than our historical years, and we posted it in the middle of a merger. It says a lot about the underlying model.
-- Kevin Blair, President and Chief Executive Officer2. Client Attrition Declines as Deposit Growth Outpaces PeersClient retention improved over the prior year rather than degrading during platform integration. Core non-certificate of deposit (non-CD) account closures decreased in both total dollar volume and overall account numbers.

Non-CD deposit account closures are down in 2026 versus 2025 in both dollars and number of accounts. When a bank of our size goes through a combination, you expect some clients to head for the door. Fewer are leaving this year than last.
-- Kevin Blair, President and Chief Executive Officer3. Artificial Intelligence Accelerates System Integration and Cuts Operational RiskAutomating test scripts using artificial intelligence (AI) speeds up system conversion tasks while reducing potential errors. This strategy keeps the operational migration on track for March 2027 without risking client service disruptions.

Across the 838 test scripts completed to date, we estimate AI handled close to 80% of the scripting and cut the time required by roughly 70%.
-- Kevin Blair, President and Chief Executive OfficerLooking AheadLoan growth and fee income momentum are lifting net interest margin (NIM, the difference between interest earned on assets and interest paid on deposits) expectations for the fourth quarter. Pinnacle Financial relies on its relationship-centric hiring, strong core deposit franchise, and strict pricing discipline to expand market share while building capital ratios. Management is keeping close watch on credit quality and deposit costs as full platform conversion approaches.

Rate movements to date should benefit us modestly from here, and we expect the margin to slightly expand in the fourth quarter.
-- Jamie Gregory, Chief Financial OfficerExecution across integration milestones continues to eliminate operational uncertainties ahead of the planned March 2027 brand and systems conversion.

The things that go wrong in a merger this size, losing bankers, losing clients, losing credit discipline, have each had three quarters to show up. None of them has.
-- Kevin Blair, President and Chief Executive OfficerThe Motley Fool has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

Gates Industrial (GTES - Free Report) came out with quarterly earnings of $0.47 per share, beating the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $0.45 per share. This compares to earnings of $0.39 per share a year ago. These figures are adjusted for non-recurring items.

This quarterly report represents an earnings surprise of +4.44%. A quarter ago, it was expected that this manufacturer of power transmission and fluid power systems would post earnings of $0.4 per share when it actually produced earnings of $0.44, delivering a surprise of +10%.

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

Gates Industrial, which belongs to the Zacks Manufacturing - General Industrial industry, posted revenues of $903.6 million for the quarter ended September 2026, missing the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 0.03%. This compares to year-ago revenues of $855.7 million. The company has topped consensus revenue estimates two times over the last four quarters.

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

Gates Industrial shares have added about 22.3% since the beginning of the year versus the S&P 500's gain of 12.8%.

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

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

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

Ahead of this earnings release, the estimate revisions trend for Gates Industrial was favorable. While the magnitude and direction of estimate revisions could change following the company's just-released earnings report, the current status translates into a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) for the stock. So, the shares are expected to outperform the market in the near future. You can see the complete list of today's Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.

It will be interesting to see how estimates for the coming quarters and the current fiscal year change in the days ahead. The current consensus EPS estimate is $0.44 on $919.27 million in revenues for the coming quarter and $1.68 on $3.61 billion in revenues for the current fiscal year.

Investors should be mindful of the fact that the outlook for the industry can have a material impact on the performance of the stock as well. In terms of the Zacks Industry Rank, Manufacturing - General Industrial is currently in the bottom 36% of the 250 plus Zacks industries. Our research shows that the top 50% of the Zacks-ranked industries outperform the bottom 50% by a factor of more than 2 to 1.

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

This marketplace for on-demand manufacturing is expected to post quarterly earnings of $0.19 per share in its upcoming report, which represents a year-over-year change of +72.7%. The consensus EPS estimate for the quarter has remained unchanged over the last 30 days.

Xometry's revenues are expected to be $235.82 million, up 30.5% from the year-ago quarter.

Key Takeaways Five stocks passed a screen based on four efficiency ratios exceeding their industry averages.The screen narrowed more than 7,906 stocks to 16 using efficiency metrics and a favorable Zacks Rank.HCSG, KMX, HAS, FORM and MXL posted average four-quarter earnings surprises ranging from 11.1% to 70.8% A company’s efficiency level indicates how effectively it utilizes its resources, including labor, capital and assets, to generate revenues, maximize profitability and support business growth. It serves as an important measure of financial health and operational performance, highlighting how well a company manages its resources, controls costs and maintains its ability to generate consistent and sustainable profits over the long term. Companies with higher efficiency levels usually manage their operations better and generate stronger returns, making them more likely to deliver solid long-term stock performance.

However, at times, it becomes difficult to measure the efficiency level of a company. This is why one must consider the popular efficiency ratios listed below while selecting stocks.

The stocks of Healthcare Services Group (HCSG - Free Report) , CarMax (KMX - Free Report) , Hasbro (HAS - Free Report) , FormFactor (FORM - Free Report) and MaxLinear (MXL - Free Report) made it through the screening process.

These efficiency ratios are:

Receivables Turnover: This is the ratio of 12-month sales to four-quarter average receivables. It shows a company’s potential to extend its credit and collect debt in terms of that credit. A high receivables turnover ratio, or the “accounts receivable turnover ratio” or “debtor’s turnover ratio” is desirable as it shows that the company is capable of collecting its accounts receivables or that it has quality customers.

Asset Utilization: This ratio indicates a company’s capability to convert assets into output and is thus a widely known measure of efficiency level. It is calculated by dividing total sales over the past 12 months by the last four-quarter average of total assets. Like the above ratios, high asset utilization may indicate that a company is efficient.

Inventory Turnover: The ratio of the 12-month cost of goods sold (COGS) to a four-quarter average inventory is considered one of the most popular efficiency ratios. It indicates a company’s ability to maintain a suitable inventory position. While a high value indicates that the company has a relatively low level of inventory compared to COGS, a low value indicates that the company is facing declining sales, which has resulted in excess inventory.

Operating Margin: This efficiency measure is the ratio of operating income over the past 12 months to sales over the same period. It measures a company’s ability to control operating expenses. Hence, a high value of the ratio may indicate that the company manages its operating expenses more efficiently than its peers.

Screening CriteriaIn addition to the above-mentioned ratios, we have added a favorable Zacks Rank — Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) — to the screen to make this strategy more profitable. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.

Inventory Turnover, Receivables Turnover, Asset Utilization, and Operating Margin greater than the industry average(Values of these ratios higher than industry averages may indicate that the efficiency level of the company is higher than its peers.)   

The use of these few criteria narrowed down the universe of over 7,906 stocks to 16.

Here are the top five stocks that made it through the screen:

Healthcare Services Group

Healthcare Services Group provides housekeeping, laundry, linen, facility maintenance and food services to the health care industry, including nursing homes, retirement complexes, rehabilitation centers and hospitals. HCSG has an average four-quarter earnings surprise of 70.8%.

CarMax

CarMax is the largest retailer of used vehicles in the United States. KMX has an average four-quarter earnings surprise of 56%.

Hasbro

Hasbro designs, manufactures and markets games, toys and licensed products. HAS has an average four-quarter earnings surprise of 37.3%.

FormFactor

FormFactor is a provider of electrical and optical test and measurement technologies across the semiconductor product lifecycle, from characterization and design debug to qualification and production test. FORM has an average four-quarter earnings surprise of 27.8%.

MaxLinear

MaxLinear is a fabless semiconductor company that designs and markets high-performance communications system-on-chip solutions for broadband, wired and wireless infrastructure, data centers, and industrial and multi-market applications. MXL has an average four-quarter earnings surprise of 11.1%.

Blue Owl Capital delivered a stronger Q3 than its valuation implies, with fee-related earnings up 14% year-over-year. Some fee growth was driven by non-recurring deal fees; core business growth remains in the low single digits, with Credit platform flat. OWL trades at a significant discount to peers, at 11.7x DE and an 8.8% yield, with intrinsic value estimated at $12–$14 per share.

30.10.2026 15:37, AMZN, INTC, RDDT, FDXF

Index Dow Jones -0,22 % na 52225,46 b.
S&P 500 -1,24 % na 7624,85 b.
Nasdaq Composite -2,34 % na 25572,28 b

Přední americké akciové indexy se nacházejí pod tlakem kvůli rostoucím obavám z návratnosti investic do umělé inteligence. Negativní sentiment podpořily výsledky Amazonu (-2,4 %), které společnost zveřejnila včera po uzavření trhu. Její cloudová divize nenaplnila zvýšená očekávání investorů. Společnost zároveň vykázala záporný volný peněžní tok, a to v souvislosti s rozsáhlými investicemi do umělé inteligence. Zprávu k výsledkům připravujeme.

Z indexu S&P500 odepisují nejvíce akcie Intelu (-29 %). Investory zklamal především výhled, který je významně slabší, než trh očekával. Důvodem je zejména pokles poptávky po osobních počítačích a přetrvávající problémy v dodavatelském řetězci.  Významně ztrácejí také akcie společnosti Reddit (-26 %), která vykázala nižší než očekávaný počet denních aktivních uživatelů a poskytla výhled výnosů na 4Q pod odhady trhu. Na opačné straně spektra jsou akcie Fedex Freight Holding (+15 %), která rovněž reportovala kvartální výsledky. Analytici kvitují především potenciál možného dalšího zlepšování provozní efektivity, růstu marží a ziskovosti.

Ztrácí také akcie společností navázaných na kryptoměny, a to po hackerském útoku na kryptoměnovou burzu Binance. Odhadovaný dopad útoku je 6,3 mld. USD.

Index S&P 500 -1,24 % na 7624,85 b.

Nejsilnější sektory S&P
Změna
Nejslabší sektory S&P
Změna

Nezbytná spotřeba
+2,2 %
Informační technologie
-3,5 %

Zdravotní péče
+1,6 %
Zbytná spotřeba
-1,1 %

Energie
+1,5 %
Komunikační služby
-0,9 %

Nejsilnější akcie S&P
Změna
Nejslabší akcie S&P
Změna

Fedex Freight Holding (FDXF)
+15 %
Intel Corp (INTC)
-29 %

Regeneron Pharmaceuticals (REGN)
+13 %
Reddit (RDDT)
-26 %

Veralto Corp (VLTO)
+8,2 %
Twilio (TWLO)
-21 %

Dexcom (DXCM)
+5,3 %
Illumina (ILMN)
-14 %

Mondelez International (MDLZ)
+5,0 %
Coinbase Global (COIN)
-12 %

Zdroj: Bloomberg

Jakub Němec
Fio banka, a.s.
Prohlášení

Church & Dwight (CHD - Free Report) came out with quarterly earnings of $0.92 per share, beating the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $0.9 per share. This compares to earnings of $0.81 per share a year ago. These figures are adjusted for non-recurring items.

This quarterly report represents an earnings surprise of +2.22%. A quarter ago, it was expected that this maker of household and personal products would post earnings of $0.89 per share when it actually produced earnings of $0.89, delivering no surprise.

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

Church & Dwight, which belongs to the Zacks Consumer Products - Staples industry, posted revenues of $1.6 billion for the quarter ended September 2026, surpassing the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 1.13%. This compares to year-ago revenues of $1.59 billion. The company has topped consensus revenue estimates four times over the last four quarters.

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

Church & Dwight shares have added about 26.4% since the beginning of the year versus the S&P 500's gain of 12.8%.

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

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

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

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

It will be interesting to see how estimates for the coming quarters and the current fiscal year change in the days ahead. The current consensus EPS estimate is $1.03 on $1.65 billion in revenues for the coming quarter and $3.78 on $6.24 billion in revenues for the current fiscal year.

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

Another stock from the same industry, Energizer Holdings (ENR - Free Report) , has yet to report results for the quarter ended September 2026.

This battery and personal care products company is expected to post quarterly earnings of $1.31 per share in its upcoming report, which represents a year-over-year change of +24.8%. The consensus EPS estimate for the quarter has remained unchanged over the last 30 days.

Energizer Holdings' revenues are expected to be $813.31 million, down 2.3% from the year-ago quarter.

It doesn't matter your age or experience: taking full advantage of the stock market and investing with confidence are common goals for all investors. Luckily, Zacks Premium offers several different ways to do both.

Featuring daily updates of the Zacks Rank and Zacks Industry Rank, full access to the Zacks #1 Rank List, Equity Research reports, and Premium stock screens, the research service can help you become a smarter, more self-assured investor.

It also includes access to the Zacks Style Scores.

What are the Zacks Style Scores? The Zacks Style Scores is a unique set of guidelines that rates stocks based on three popular investing types, and were developed as complementary indicators for the Zacks Rank. This combination helps investors choose securities with the highest chances of beating the market over the next 30 days.

Each stock is given an alphabetic rating of A, B, C, D or F based on their value, growth, and momentum qualities. With this system, an A is better than a B, a B is better than a C, and so on, meaning the better the score, the better chance the stock will outperform.

The Style Scores are broken down into four categories:

Value ScoreValue investors love finding good stocks at good prices, especially before the broader market catches on to a stock's true value. Utilizing ratios like P/E, PEG, Price/Sales, Price/Cash Flow, and many other multiples, the Value Style Score identifies the most attractive and most discounted stocks.

Growth ScoreGrowth investors are more concerned with a stock's future prospects, and the overall financial health and strength of a company. Thus, the Growth Style Score analyzes characteristics like projected and historic earnings, sales, and cash flow to find stocks that will see sustainable growth over time.

Momentum ScoreMomentum investors, who live by the saying "the trend is your friend," are most interested in taking advantage of upward or downward trends in a stock's price or earnings outlook. Utilizing one-week price change and the monthly percentage change in earnings estimates, among other factors, the Momentum Style Score can help determine favorable times to buy high-momentum stocks.

VGM ScoreWhat if you like to use all three types of investing? The VGM Score is a combination of all Style Scores, making it one of the most comprehensive indicators to use with the Zacks Rank. It rates each stock on their combined weighted styles, which helps narrow down the companies with the most attractive value, best growth forecast, and most promising momentum.

How Style Scores Work with the Zacks Rank The Zacks Rank, which is a proprietary stock-rating model, employs earnings estimate revisions, or changes to a company's earnings expectations, to make building a winning portfolio easier.

It's highly successful, with #1 (Strong Buy) stocks producing an unmatched +23.82% average annual return since 1988. That's more than double the S&P 500. But because of the large number of stocks we rate, there are over 200 companies with a Strong Buy rank, plus another 600 with a #2 (Buy) rank, on any given day.

But it can feel overwhelming to pick the right stocks for you and your investing goals with over 800 top-rated stocks to choose from.

That's where the Style Scores come in.

You want to make sure you're buying stocks with the highest likelihood of success, and to do that, you'll need to pick stocks with a Zacks Rank #1 or #2 that also have Style Scores of A or B. If you like a stock that only has a #3 (Hold) rank, it should also have Scores of A or B to guarantee as much upside potential as possible.

Since the Scores were created to work together with the Zacks Rank, the direction of a stock's earnings estimate revisions should be a key factor when choosing which stocks to buy.

For instance, a stock with a #4 (Sell) or #5 (Strong Sell) rating, even one that boasts Scores of A and B, still has a downward-trending earnings forecast, and a much greater likelihood its share price will decline as well.

Thus, the more stocks you own with a #1 or #2 Rank and Scores of A or B, the better.

Stock to Watch: Planet Fitness (PLNT - Free Report) Planet Fitness, Inc. is a fitness club franchisor and operator focused on the low-cost, high-volume segment of the gym industry. The company targets first-time and occasional gym users with a simple offering, extended operating hours and a “Judgement Free Zone” brand position. Clubs typically operate with a mix of cardio and strength equipment, standardized layouts and limited staffing to support a value price point.

PLNT is a #3 (Hold) on the Zacks Rank, with a VGM Score of B.

It also boasts a Value Style Score of B thanks to attractive valuation metrics like a forward P/E ratio of 16.68; value investors should take notice.

Two analysts revised their earnings estimate upwards in the last 60 days for fiscal 2026. The Zacks Consensus Estimate has increased $0.05 to $3.22 per share. PLNT boasts an average earnings surprise of +9.3%.

With a solid Zacks Rank and top-tier Value and VGM Style Scores, PLNT should be on investors' short list.

Kenvue (KVUE - Free Report) came out with quarterly earnings of $0.29 per share, beating the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $0.28 per share. This compares to earnings of $0.28 per share a year ago. These figures are adjusted for non-recurring items.

This quarterly report represents an earnings surprise of +3.57%. A quarter ago, it was expected that this consumer health company would post earnings of $0.32 per share when it actually produced earnings of $0.31, delivering a surprise of -3.13%.

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

Kenvue, which belongs to the Zacks Consumer Products - Staples industry, posted revenues of $3.89 billion for the quarter ended September 2026, missing the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 0.08%. This compares to year-ago revenues of $3.76 billion. The company has topped consensus revenue estimates two times over the last four quarters.

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

Kenvue shares have added about 13.4% since the beginning of the year versus the S&P 500's gain of 12.8%.

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

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

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

Ahead of this earnings release, the estimate revisions trend for Kenvue was unfavorable. While the magnitude and direction of estimate revisions could change following the company's just-released earnings report, the current status translates into a Zacks Rank #4 (Sell) for the stock. So, the shares are expected to underperform the market in the near future. You can see the complete list of today's Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.

It will be interesting to see how estimates for the coming quarters and the current fiscal year change in the days ahead. The current consensus EPS estimate is $0.28 on $3.88 billion in revenues for the coming quarter and $1.14 on $15.58 billion in revenues for the current fiscal year.

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

BBB Foods (TBBB - Free Report) , another stock in the same industry, has yet to report results for the quarter ended September 2026. The results are expected to be released on November 2.

This discount retailer is expected to post quarterly loss of $0.15 per share in its upcoming report, which represents a year-over-year change of +77.3%. The consensus EPS estimate for the quarter has remained unchanged over the last 30 days.

BBB Foods' revenues are expected to be $1.61 billion, up 48.3% from the year-ago quarter.

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MINNEAPOLIS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The complete earnings release can be found on the firm's website at pipersandler.com/earnings.

FTI Consulting NYSE: FCN reported third-quarter 2026 revenue above $1 billion for the first time, with growth across all five business segments and record adjusted earnings per share. Management said the results reflected a return to the company’s longer-term growth trajectory after an approximately 18-month period in which weakness at its Compass Lexecon economic consulting business weighed on consolidated performance.

Revenue rose 6% year over year, while adjusted EBITDA increased 18% to $153.7 million. Adjusted EBITDA margin expanded 150 basis points to 15.2%. Adjusted EPS reached a record $3.84, up 48% from $2.60 in the prior-year quarter.

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GAAP EPS was $2.35, compared with $2.60 a year earlier. The company said GAAP results included a $46 million special charge, equivalent to $1.36 per share, and $4.5 million of extraordinary litigation-related expenses, or $0.13 per share.

Leadership cites recovery in economic consulting
CEO and Chairman Steve Gunby said the quarter included favorable items such as unusually high success fees and a lower tax rate, but he said underlying performance also improved materially. After normalizing for those items, Gunby said he had “a hard time getting the number below $2.90 a share,” compared with average adjusted EPS in the low-$2 range over the preceding four quarters.

Gunby attributed much of the company’s recent relative underperformance to disruption in Compass Lexecon. He said FTI’s economic consulting segment had generally generated $25 million to $30 million of quarterly adjusted EBITDA in 2023 and 2024, but its cumulative adjusted EBITDA over the most recent four quarters was approximately zero.

“The dislocation that we have been working through in Compass Lexecon” was the principal factor obscuring progress elsewhere in the business, Gunby said. He added that the segment became accretive to year-over-year results during the third quarter, though he cautioned investors not to expect an immediate return to its historical profitability levels.

Gunby said the company issued significant forgivable loans in connection with retaining and recruiting talent during the disruption. He expects their amortization to remain a factor, estimating that approximately $50 million of forgivable loans could be amortized this year, with a comparable level possible next year under current contracts.

Targeted workforce actions expected to yield $80 million in annual savings
CFO Angela Nam said FTI recorded a $46 million third-quarter special charge, including $45.5 million in salary and benefits costs tied to targeted headcount actions and $500,000 of non-cash real estate-related costs. The actions affected all segments and regions, but were concentrated in the Middle East and the United Kingdom, as well as selected investments in EMEA and Asia-Pacific.

The company also cited construction solutions operations primarily outside the U.S. and certain strategic communications activities as areas affected by the actions. Nam said FTI is shifting strategic communications toward higher-margin, event-driven work.

FTI expects an additional $7 million special charge in the fourth quarter, including approximately $2 million in salary and benefits costs and $5 million in real estate-related costs. The third- and fourth-quarter actions are expected to generate approximately $80 million in annualized cost savings.

About 4% of FTI’s total employees were affected by the actions. Approximately 230 impacted employees remained included in third-quarter headcount because of varied notice periods, with most expected to depart by the end of the fourth quarter. Nam said the company expects about $15 million of benefits from the actions during the fourth quarter.

Gunby characterized the actions as responses to investments or market positions that were not working as intended rather than a reaction to normal cyclical demand weakness. He said the company generally seeks to retain strong employees through down cycles, but will exit or address bets that do not offer a credible path to improvement.

Segment results included record success fees and growth across businesses

Corporate Finance & Restructuring: Revenue increased 5%, aided by higher success fees and realized bill rates. Adjusted segment EBITDA rose 7% to a record $102.8 million. Record success fees of $40.7 million included a particularly large fee from a transactions assignment involving the sale of a loan portfolio for the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston.
Forensic and Litigation Consulting: The segment delivered record revenue, despite lower volumes in global risk and investigations and data and analytics. Nam attributed the lower volume largely to reduced regulatory enforcement. Adjusted segment EBITDA was $38 million, compared with $42.6 million a year earlier, when the segment benefited from a legal gain contingency.
Economic Consulting: Revenue increased 9%, driven by non-M&A and M&A-related antitrust demand in North America and EMEA. Adjusted segment EBITDA increased $18.5 million year over year.
Technology: Revenue grew 10%, supported by demand for M&A-related second requests and antitrust services across North America, EMEA and Asia-Pacific. Adjusted segment EBITDA increased $2.4 million, and margin rose 100 basis points to 15.5%.
Strategic Communications: Revenue rose 13%, led by public affairs and corporate reputation demand. The business supported transactions involving Prologis, SEGRO and McCormick-Unilever Foods, among others.

Management said demand remains uneven in major end markets. The company cited lower overall volumes in restructuring, M&A and regulatory work as it enters the seasonally slower fourth quarter. In particular, FTI said announced deal volume slowed notably in the third quarter, while reduced U.S. regulatory enforcement and the completion of several large engagements created headwinds for Forensic and Litigation Consulting.

Guidance updated for earnings
FTI reaffirmed its full-year revenue outlook of $3.94 billion to $4.1 billion. It raised its adjusted EPS guidance to $9.50 to $10.00 from a previous range of $9.10 to $9.70, while forecasting GAAP EPS of $7.55 to $8.05.

The company said its adjusted EPS outlook excludes expected third- and fourth-quarter special charges of $1.55 per share and extraordinary litigation-related expenses of $0.40 per share. FTI expects fourth-quarter economic consulting adjusted segment EBITDA to be closer to its second-quarter level, reflecting third-quarter benefits that it does not expect to recur, including a paid-time-off true-up and lower bad debt.

During the quarter, FTI repurchased approximately 524,000 shares for $79.4 million, at an average price of $151.55 per share. Through the first nine months of 2026, the company repurchased 3.9 million shares for an average of $153.09 per share. Total debt fell to $852 million at Sept. 30 from $1 billion at June 30, following $168 million in debt repayment during the quarter.

About FTI Consulting (NYSE:FCN)FTI Consulting, Inc is a global business advisory firm that helps organizations address complex financial, legal, operational and reputational challenges. The company provides independent expertise to corporations, law firms, financial institutions, government agencies and other organizations involved in major disputes, transactions, investigations, restructurings and regulatory matters.

FTI Consulting operates through several practice areas, including Corporate Finance & Restructuring, Forensic and Litigation Consulting, Economic Consulting, Technology and Strategic Communications.

This instant news alert was generated by narrative science technology and financial data from MarketBeat in order to provide readers with the fastest reporting and unbiased coverage. Please send any questions or comments about this story to [email protected].

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Newell Brands (NWL - Free Report) came out with quarterly earnings of $0.2 per share, in line with the Zacks Consensus Estimate . This compares to earnings of $0.17 per share a year ago. These figures are adjusted for non-recurring items.

A quarter ago, it was expected that this consumer products company would post earnings of $0.19 per share when it actually produced earnings of $0.42, delivering a surprise of +121.05%.

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

Newell Brands, which belongs to the Zacks Consumer Products - Staples industry, posted revenues of $1.87 billion for the quarter ended September 2026, surpassing the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 1.14%. This compares to year-ago revenues of $1.81 billion. The company has topped consensus revenue estimates four times over the last four quarters.

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

Newell Brands shares have added about 36.6% since the beginning of the year versus the S&P 500's gain of 12.8%.

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

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

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

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

It will be interesting to see how estimates for the coming quarters and the current fiscal year change in the days ahead. The current consensus EPS estimate is $0.19 on $1.92 billion in revenues for the coming quarter and $0.76 on $7.32 billion in revenues for the current fiscal year.

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

Krispy Kreme (DNUT - Free Report) , another stock in the same industry, has yet to report results for the quarter ended September 2026. The results are expected to be released on November 5.

This doughnut wholesaler and retailer is expected to post quarterly earnings of $0.02 per share in its upcoming report, which represents a year-over-year change of +100%. The consensus EPS estimate for the quarter has remained unchanged over the last 30 days.

Krispy Kreme's revenues are expected to be $316.04 million, down 15.8% from the year-ago quarter.

Five dividend stocks are paying out in November, but three of them stop accepting new buyers as early as today. Miss the window by even one day and the payment goes to whoever sold you the shares.

Three of these five stocks go ex-dividend on Monday, November 2, so today, Friday, October 30, is the last day to buy them and still receive the next payment. The other two cutoffs come later next week, on November 5 and November 6. All five payments arrive in November.

How the timing works: the ex-dividend date is the cutoff. You have to own the shares before that date to receive the payout. If you buy on or after it, the payment goes to the seller. The pay date is when the cash reaches your account.

East West Bancorp (EWBC): Cutoff Is Today
East West Bancorp (NASDAQ:EWBC | EWBC Price Prediction) is paying $0.80 a share on November 17. Shares go ex-dividend on November 2, which makes today the last day to buy. The annualized $3.20 works out to a 2.4% yield at a $132.80 share price. The yield looks low mostly because the stock is up 20.48% year to date.

The payout looks well covered. Against Q2 2026 EPS of $2.63, the quarterly dividend is about a 30% payout ratio. Net income rose 17% year over year to $363.7 million, and the bank has raised its quarterly dividend from $0.55 in 2024 to $0.60 in 2025 and $0.80 in 2026. Watch credit quality. Nonperforming assets rose to 0.29% of total assets, and net charge-offs were 19 bps.

NVE Corp (NVEC): Big Yield, Thin Coverage
NVE Corp (NASDAQ:NVEC) is paying $1.00 a share on November 30. Shares also go ex-dividend on November 2, so today is the deadline. At $78.39, the $4 annual payout yields 5.1%. Part of that yield comes from a falling share price: the stock is down 29.42% over the past month, despite a 14.67% rebound over the past week.

Coverage on an earnings basis is weak. Fiscal Q2 EPS came in at $0.65, which means the dividend took about 154% of earnings. Over the first half of the fiscal year, EPS of $1.97 covered roughly 102% of the dividend, essentially break-even. Q2 revenue fell 19.7% to $5.83 million. The balance sheet is the buffer: $44.39 million in cash and marketable securities, only $1.89 million in total liabilities, and no debt. The $1 payment has held steady every quarter since 2021, but it depends on earnings recovering.

Dorchester Minerals (DMLP): Variable Payout, Same-Day Deadline
Dorchester Minerals (NASDAQ:DMLP) pays $0.882297 per unit on November 12. Shares go ex-dividend on November 2, so today is also the last day to buy. Trailing 12-month distributions of $3.193574 give a 10.3% yield at $31.05. If you annualize the current quarter instead, the yield is 11.4%.

The distribution changes every quarter. This one is down 30.7% from the prior $1.272943, and 2026 payments have run from $0.475036 to that high. Dorchester is a royalty partnership that passes through its current cash receipts from royalty and net profits interests, so payouts rise and fall with oil and gas prices and production. The prior quarter also benefited from a non-recurring Midland County, TX settlement.

For an MLP, the right test is distributable cash flow. Because Dorchester pays out what it takes in, the distribution is covered by design, but the dollar amount is never fixed. Q2 operating revenue rose 73% to $56.08 million.

Wintrust Financial (WTFC): Lowest Payout Ratio on the List
Wintrust Financial (NASDAQ:WTFC) is paying $0.55 a share on November 19. With an ex-date of November 5, the last day to buy is Wednesday, November 4. The yield is 1.4% at $154.86.

The yield is small but very well covered. Q3 EPS of $3.37 beat the $3.31 consensus and brings the payout ratio near 16%. Net income rose 11% to $239.05 million, and the dividend has increased from $0.45 in 2024 to $0.55 in 2026. On the risk side, net charge-offs rose to 15 bps from 10 bps, and office commercial real estate exposure is $1.66 billion.

SiriusXM (SIRI): Last Cutoff of the Week
SiriusXM (NASDAQ:SIRI) is paying $0.27 a share on November 23. Shares go ex-dividend on November 6, so the last day to buy is Thursday, November 5. The yield is 3.8% at $28.45. Shares are up 46.86% year to date, but still down 43.5% over five years.

Q3 EPS was $0.78, missing the $0.79 estimate, for a payout ratio of about 35%. Free cash flow of $293 million covered the $91 million in dividends paid, a 31% cash payout, and full-year free cash flow guidance was raised to about $1.40 billion. The main risks are debt, with long-term debt of about $9.45 billion as of Q2, and a 7% drop in Pandora monthly active users.

Three Deadlines Close Today
The first cutoff is today for East West, NVE, and Dorchester, all of which go ex-dividend on November 2. Wintrust and SiriusXM give you until November 4 and November 5. Buying a stock to take in one payment rarely pays off, because share prices usually drop by about the dividend amount when the stock goes ex-dividend, so payout coverage matters more than the deadline. Still, the timing rule doesn’t bend: if you miss the ex-date, you miss that payment.

Contact [email protected] for any questions or corrections.

Organon (OGN - Free Report) came out with quarterly earnings of $0.94 per share, beating the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $0.91 per share. This compares to earnings of $1.01 per share a year ago. These figures are adjusted for non-recurring items.

This quarterly report represents an earnings surprise of +3.30%. A quarter ago, it was expected that this pharmaceutical company would post earnings of $0.87 per share when it actually produced earnings of $0.85, delivering a surprise of -2.3%.

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

Organon, which belongs to the Zacks Medical Services industry, posted revenues of $1.57 billion for the quarter ended September 2026, surpassing the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 0.43%. This compares to year-ago revenues of $1.6 billion. The company has topped consensus revenue estimates two times over the last four quarters.

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

Organon shares have added about 92.6% since the beginning of the year versus the S&P 500's gain of 12.8%.

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

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

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

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

It will be interesting to see how estimates for the coming quarters and the current fiscal year change in the days ahead. The current consensus EPS estimate is $0.82 on $1.53 billion in revenues for the coming quarter and $3.37 on $6.08 billion in revenues for the current fiscal year.

Investors should be mindful of the fact that the outlook for the industry can have a material impact on the performance of the stock as well. In terms of the Zacks Industry Rank, Medical Services is currently in the top 42% of the 250 plus Zacks industries. Our research shows that the top 50% of the Zacks-ranked industries outperform the bottom 50% by a factor of more than 2 to 1.

One other stock from the same industry, DocGo Inc. (DCGO - Free Report) , is yet to report results for the quarter ended September 2026.

This company is expected to post quarterly loss of $0.04 per share in its upcoming report, which represents a year-over-year change of +63.6%. The consensus EPS estimate for the quarter has remained unchanged over the last 30 days.

DocGo Inc.'s revenues are expected to be $76.97 million, up 8.7% from the year-ago quarter.

CBOE Global (CBOE - Free Report) came out with quarterly earnings of $3.63 per share, beating the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $3.43 per share. This compares to earnings of $2.67 per share a year ago. These figures are adjusted for non-recurring items.

This quarterly report represents an earnings surprise of +5.83%. A quarter ago, it was expected that this holding company for the Chicago Board Options Exchange would post earnings of $3.45 per share when it actually produced earnings of $3.56, delivering a surprise of +3.19%.

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

CBOE, which belongs to the Zacks Securities and Exchanges industry, posted revenues of $712.2 million for the quarter ended September 2026, surpassing the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 0.99%. This compares to year-ago revenues of $605.5 million. The company has topped consensus revenue estimates four times over the last four quarters.

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

CBOE shares have added about 25.2% since the beginning of the year versus the S&P 500's gain of 12.8%.

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

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

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

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

It will be interesting to see how estimates for the coming quarters and the current fiscal year change in the days ahead. The current consensus EPS estimate is $3.39 on $707.36 million in revenues for the coming quarter and $13.96 on $2.87 billion in revenues for the current fiscal year.

Investors should be mindful of the fact that the outlook for the industry can have a material impact on the performance of the stock as well. In terms of the Zacks Industry Rank, Securities and Exchanges is currently in the top 42% of the 250 plus Zacks industries. Our research shows that the top 50% of the Zacks-ranked industries outperform the bottom 50% by a factor of more than 2 to 1.

One other stock from the same industry, OTC Markets Group Inc. (OTCM - Free Report) , is yet to report results for the quarter ended September 2026.

This company is expected to post quarterly earnings of $0.75 per share in its upcoming report, which represents a year-over-year change of +5.6%. The consensus EPS estimate for the quarter has remained unchanged over the last 30 days.

OTC Markets Group Inc.'s revenues are expected to be $33.99 million, up 7.4% from the year-ago quarter.

Shares of SharkNinja, Inc. (SN - Free Report) have been strong performers lately, with the stock up 16.3% over the past month. The stock hit a new 52-week high of $209.55 in the previous session. SharkNinja, Inc. has gained 86.9% since the start of the year compared to the -11.8% gain for the Zacks Consumer Discretionary sector and the 8.6% return for the Zacks Consumer Products - Discretionary industry.

What's Driving the Outperformance?The stock has a great record of positive earnings surprises, having beaten the Zacks Consensus Estimate in each of the last four quarters. In its last earnings report on August 5, 2026, SharkNinja, Inc. reported EPS of $1.26 versus consensus estimate of $1.1.

For the current fiscal year, SharkNinja, Inc. is expected to post earnings of $6.55 per share on $7.48 in revenues. This represents a 24.05% change in EPS on a 16.93% change in revenues. For the next fiscal year, the company is expected to earn $7.6 per share on $8.43 in revenues. This represents a year-over-year change of 16.13% and 12.64%, respectively.

Valuation MetricsSharkNinja, Inc. may be at a 52-week high right now, but what might the future hold for the stock? A key aspect of this question is taking a look at valuation metrics in order to determine if the company has run ahead of itself.

On this front, we can look at the Zacks Style Scores, as they provide investors with an additional way to sort through stocks (beyond looking at the Zacks Rank of a security). These styles are represented by grades running from A to F in the categories of Value, Growth, and Momentum, while there is a combined VGM Score as well. Investors should consider the style scores a valuable tool that can help you to pick the most appropriate Zacks Rank stocks based on their individual investment style.

SharkNinja, Inc. has a Value Score of F. The stock's Growth and Momentum Scores are A and C, respectively, giving the company a VGM Score of B.

In terms of its value breakdown, the stock currently trades at 31.9X current fiscal year EPS estimates, which is a premium to the peer industry average of 15X. On a trailing cash flow basis, the stock currently trades at 34.4X versus its peer group's average of 8.2X. Additionally, the stock has a PEG ratio of 2.22. This isn't enough to put the company in the top echelon of all stocks we cover from a value perspective.

Zacks RankWe also need to consider the stock's Zacks Rank, as this supersedes any trend on the style score front. Fortunately, SharkNinja, Inc. currently has a Zacks Rank of #2 (Buy) thanks to rising earnings estimates.

Since we recommend that investors select stocks carrying Zacks Rank of 1 (Strong Buy) or 2 (Buy) and Style Scores of A or B, it looks as if SharkNinja, Inc. fits the bill. Thus, it seems as though SharkNinja, Inc. shares could have a bit more room to run in the near term.

How Does SN Stack Up to the Competition?Shares of SN have been soaring, and the company still appears to be a decent choice, but what about the rest of the industry? One industry peer that looks good is The RealReal, Inc. (REAL - Free Report) . REAL has a Zacks Rank of #2 (Buy) and a Value Score of D, a Growth Score of A, and a Momentum Score of C.

Earnings were strong last quarter. The RealReal, Inc. beat our consensus estimate by 100.00%, and for the current fiscal year, REAL is expected to post earnings of $0.26 per share on revenue of $791.66 million.

Shares of The RealReal, Inc. have gained 26.8% over the past month, and currently trade at a forward P/E of 113.5X and a P/CF of 165.69X.

The Consumer Products - Discretionary industry may rank in the bottom 78% of all the industries we have in our universe, but there still looks like there are some nice tailwinds for SN and REAL, even beyond their own solid fundamental situation.

Key Takeaways e.l.f. Beauty's Q2 revenues are expected to jump 36.8% to $470.6 million, while EPS may fall 10.3%. Product launches, strategic pricing and momentum in e.l.f. SKIN and Naturium may have boosted sales. Rhode's European expansion may have fueled growth, while marketing costs and retail shifts pressured margins. e.l.f. Beauty, Inc. (ELF - Free Report) is likely to witness top-line growth when it reports second-quarter fiscal 2027 earnings on Nov. 4. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for revenues is pegged at $470.6 million, indicating a 36.8% increase from the year-ago reported number.

The consensus mark for earnings has risen by a penny over the past 30 days to 61 cents a share, though it suggests a decline of 10.3% from the year-ago period’s figure. ELF has a trailing four-quarter surprise of 61.5%, on average.

Factors Likely to Influence ELF’s Upcoming Resultse.l.f. Beauty's second-quarter results are likely to benefit from improving trends in its core e.l.f. Cosmetics business, supported by targeted pricing actions and strengthening unit momentum. The company's decision to maintain lower prices on approximately 10% of its SKUs may have stimulated consumer demand while reinforcing its value proposition. Favorable comparisons against the year-ago period, when the company temporarily halted shipments on orders that did not reflect its price increase, are also expected to have supported organic sales growth.

Product innovation and category expansion are likely to have provided additional momentum. Encouraging consumer response to the fall 2026 cosmetics launches, introduced in July, may have strengthened demand and supported market share. The expansion into haircare through e.l.f. Hair's exclusive partnership with Target, alongside continued momentum in e.l.f. SKIN and Naturium, could have further aided performance.

The company's international expansion initiatives are also likely to have bolstered revenues. Rhode's planned September launch across 19 European countries through Sephora, supported by associated pipeline shipments, is expected to have been a significant growth driver. Improving trends for the core e.l.f. brand in the U.K. and Germany, supported by marketing initiatives and expanded distribution, may have provided additional impetus. Management anticipated total net sales growth in the mid-30% range for the quarter.

However, profitability could have faced pressure from increased marketing and digital investments, alongside targeted price reductions. Management planned to reinvest the tariff refunds received in the first quarter across the remaining fiscal year, primarily through marketing and pricing initiatives. Rhode's continued shift toward retail distribution may have weighed on gross margins, partly offsetting benefits from lower year-over-year tariff rates and earlier price increases.

Earnings Whispers for ELFOur proven model doesn’t conclusively predict an earnings beat for e.l.f. Beauty this time. The combination of a positive Earnings ESP and a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), 2 (Buy) or 3 (Hold) increases the odds of an earnings beat, which is not the case here.

 e.l.f. Beauty currently sports a Zacks Rank #1, but it has an Earnings ESP of -1.64%. You can uncover the best stocks to buy or sell before they’re reported with our Earnings ESP Filter.

Stocks With the Favorable CombinationHere are some companies worth considering, as our model shows that these have the right combination of elements to beat on earnings this reporting cycle.

The Estee Lauder Companies (EL - Free Report) currently has an Earnings ESP of +4.09% and a Zacks Rank #3. The consensus estimate for quarterly revenues is pegged at $3.7 billion, which indicates an improvement of 4.8% from the figure reported in the prior-year quarter. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for The Estee Lauder Companies’ upcoming quarter’s EPS is pegged at 52 cents, which calls for 62.5% growth from the figure reported in the prior-year quarter. EL delivered a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 41.4%, on average.

Sysco Corporation (SYY - Free Report) currently has an Earnings ESP of +2.46% and a Zacks Rank of 3. The consensus estimate for the quarterly revenues stands at $22.2 billion, which suggests 4.9% growth from the figure reported in the prior-year quarter.

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Sysco’s upcoming quarter’s EPS is pegged at $1.17, which calls for a 1.7% increase from the year-ago period’s figure. SYY delivered a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of nearly 1%, on average.

Vital Farms, Inc. (VITL - Free Report) currently has an Earnings ESP of +4.88% and a Zacks Rank of 3. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for VITL’s upcoming quarter’s revenues is pegged at $184.6 million, suggesting a 7.2% decline from the figure reported in the prior-year quarter.

The consensus estimate for Vital Farms’ bottom line is pegged at a loss of 14 cents per share, implying a deterioration from the year-ago quarter’s earnings of 36 cents.

San Diego, California--(Newsfile Corp. - October 30, 2026) - The law firm of Robbins Geller Rudman & Dowd LLP announces that purchasers or acquirers of Doximity, Inc. (NYSE: DOCS) common stock between August 8, 2024 and May 13, 2026, inclusive (the "Class Period"), have until Monday, November 16, 2026 to seek appointment as lead plaintiff of the Doximity class action lawsuit. Captioned Michigan Laborers' Pension Fund v. Doximity, Inc., No. 26-cv-10529 (N.D. Cal.), the Doximity class action lawsuit charges Doximity as well as certain of Doximity's top current and former executives with violations of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.

If you suffered substantial losses and wish to serve as lead plaintiff of the Doximity class action lawsuit, please provide your information here:

https://www.rgrdlaw.com/cases-doximity-class-action-lawsuit-docs.html

You can also contact attorneys Ken Dolitsky or Michael Albert of Robbins Geller by calling 800/851-7783 or via e-mail at [email protected].

CASE ALLEGATIONS: Doximity operates a digital platform for medical professionals.

The Doximity class action lawsuit alleges that defendants throughout the Class Period made false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that: (i) Doximity overstated the impact that its Newsfeed would have on its revenue growth; and (ii) Doximity was losing market share to its competitors with more favorable pricing and engagement models, while also using banner ads and e-newsletters instead of deep engagement tactics.

On November 6, 2025, Doximity allegedly reported second quarter results where they expressed a degree of caution regarding the outlook for ad spending and implied a slowdown in sales growth in the second half of the 2026 fiscal year. On this news, the price of Doximity common stock dropped 13%, according to the complaint.

The complaint further alleges that on February 5, 2026, Doximity lowered its revenue guidance for 2026 full fiscal year, which ended on March 31, 2026, and announced that its sales growth had decelerated while its net income had contracted, which will negatively impact its 2026 fiscal fourth quarter. On this news, the price of Doximity common stock declined 17%, according to the complaint.

Finally, on May 13, 2026, Doximity allegedly announced that it missed its already-reduced revenue guidance and projected a significantly slower pace of growth for its 2027 fiscal year, which ends on March 31, 2027. On this news, the price of Doximity common stock fell 23%, according to the complaint.

THE LEAD PLAINTIFF PROCESS: The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 permits any investor who purchased or acquired Doximity common stock during the Class Period to seek appointment as lead plaintiff in the Doximity class action lawsuit. A lead plaintiff is generally the movant with the greatest financial interest in the relief sought by the putative class who is also typical and adequate of the putative class. A lead plaintiff acts on behalf of all other class members in directing the Doximity class action lawsuit. The lead plaintiff can select a law firm of its choice to litigate the Doximity class action lawsuit. An investor's ability to share in any potential future recovery is not dependent upon serving as lead plaintiff of the Doximity class action lawsuit.

ABOUT ROBBINS GELLER: Robbins Geller Rudman & Dowd LLP is one of the world's leading law firms representing investors in securities fraud and shareholder rights litigation. Our Firm ranked #1 on the most recent ISS Securities Class Action Services Top 50 Report, recovering more than $916 million for investors in 2025. This marks our fourth #1 ranking in the past five years. And in those five years alone, Robbins Geller recovered $8.4 billion for investors – $3.4 billion more than any other law firm. With 200 lawyers in 10 offices, Robbins Geller is one of the largest plaintiffs' firms in the world, and the Firm's attorneys have obtained many of the largest securities class action recoveries in history, including the largest ever – $7.2 billion – in In re Enron Corp. Sec. Litig. Please visit the following page for more information:

https://www.rgrdlaw.com/services-litigation-securities-fraud.html

Attorney advertising.
Past results do not guarantee future outcomes.
Services may be performed by attorneys in any of our offices.

Contact:
Robbins Geller Rudman & Dowd LLP
Ken Dolitsky
Michael Albert
655 W. Broadway, Suite 1900, San Diego, CA 92101
800/851-7783
[email protected]

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/321726

Source: Robbins Geller Rudman & Dowd LLP

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One pizza chain flashes a near double-digit dividend yield that no longer exists, while the other quietly raises its payout every year. Knowing which number to trust could be the difference between steady retirement income and a dividend trap.

Papa John’s (NASDAQ:PZZA) or Domino’s Pizza (NASDAQ:DPZ | DPZ Price Prediction): which is the higher-income pick right now for retirement savings? Papa John’s shows a headline yield near 9.9%. That figure comes from a dividend the board has already suspended. The board announced the cut with second-quarter results on August 6, 2026, and the stock has since fallen to $18.52. That price is 50.57% lower than where it started the year.

First, a quick overview of how both companies make money. Independent owners run most of the stores. Corporate collects royalties and fees from them and also sells them dough, cheese, and supplies through a company-run supply chain. Domino’s runs this model across more than 22,700 stores, and franchisees own 99% of them. Papa John’s has about 5,978 restaurants.

Dividend Income: Domino’s Wins Outright Papa John’s paid $1.84 per share a year on trailing diluted EPS of $0.82. That works out to a payout ratio of about 224%. In the first half of 2026, the company paid $30.9 million in dividends and generated just $9 million of free cash flow. The quarterly payout had stayed flat at $0.46 since August 2023. The last ex-dividend date was May 18, 2026. Chief Executive Todd Penegor said the board would suspend the dividend “to make the investments that we believe are needed to deliver on our strategic transformation.”

Domino’s pays $1.99 per share per quarter, or $7.96 per year. At $306.62, that is a yield of about 2.6%. Trailing payments of $7.71 use about 44% of fiscal 2025 EPS of $17.57. Free cash flow that year reached $671.5 million. The payout has grown every year from $0.20 a quarter in 2013, including a 15% raise in early 2026.

Business Momentum: Papa John’s Keeps Losing Ground Papa John’s North American comparable sales fell 8.3% in the second quarter. Management now guides to a full-year decline of 6% to 8% and has cut adjusted EBITDA guidance to $180 million to $190 million from $200 million to $210 million. Management admits the turnaround is “taking longer than expected.” International comps rose 1.5%, the one bright spot.

Domino’s is slowing as well. U.S. same-store sales grew just 0.3% in the third quarter, compared with 5.2% a year earlier. Revenue still rose 3.36%. EPS of $4.60 beat the $4.3904 consensus, and the chain added 175 net stores. Growth is slower, but it is still growth. Papa John’s is shrinking.

Balance Sheet and Track Record: Scale Favors Domino’s Both companies have negative shareholders’ equity, common for heavily franchised businesses that borrow to return cash to shareholders. Papa John’s is at -$442.3 million, and Domino’s at -$3.955 billion. Domino’s has far more debt, including $4.77 billion in securitized notes at 4.2x leverage. It also earns enough to service that debt: fiscal 2025 operating income was $953.97 million, compared with $89.15 million at Papa John’s.

Over 10 years, Domino’s stock has returned 105.83%. Papa John’s has lost 68.85% over the same stretch.

Verdict: Domino’s Has the Stronger Income Profile Domino’s wins all three categories, and it wins clearly for income investors. Its yield is lower than Papa John’s old yield. However, earnings support it: they have grown on record every year and include buybacks; the company still has about $1.15 billion in repurchase authorization left. The specific risk to watch is refinancing. $1.33 billion of debt is now current. The CFO has said “interest rates [are] accelerating pretty significantly,” and higher borrowing costs could squeeze the money available for future dividend increases.

Papa John’s now pays no dividend, which leaves its appeal linked entirely to the turnaround. The specific risk is that the turnaround takes too long. Management has promised only to “revisit” dividends and buybacks once the turnaround pays off, with no timeline. For anyone living on portfolio income, the 10% yield in the headline no longer exists (a near-double-digit yield that gets suspended is the classic dividend trap, and the seven warning signs are detailed in a free report).

Contact [email protected] for any questions or corrections.

Did you buy HIMS securities between August 4, 2025 and July 29, 2026?

Affected HIMS Investor Summary

Who: Hims & Hers Health, Inc. (NYSE: HIMS)What: Securities fraud class action lawsuit filedClass Period: August 4, 2025 through July 29, 2026Deadline to Seek Lead Plaintiff Status: November 2, 2026Key Lawsuit Allegations: Material misstatements and/or omissions concerning the company's deceptive and unlawful privacy practicesInvestor Action: Contact Kessler Topaz Meltzer & Check, LLP (www.ktmc.com) for recovery options, /PRNewswire/ -- Kessler Topaz Meltzer & Check, LLP (www.ktmc.com), a nationally recognized securities litigation law firm, informs investors that a securities fraud class action lawsuit has been filed against Hims & Hers Health, Inc. (HIMS) (NYSE: HIMS) on behalf of those who purchased or acquired HIMS securities between August 4, 2025 and July 29, 2026, inclusive. The lawsuit is filed in the United States District Court for the Northern District of California and is captioned Velanki v. Hims & Hers Health, Inc., No. 3:26-cv-09313 (N.D. Cal.). Investors have until November 2, 2026, to file for lead plaintiff status. 

CONTACT KTMC TO DISCUSS YOUR LEGAL RIGHTS:    

If you purchased or acquired HIMS securities and have lost money on your investment, please provide your information here:

https://www.ktmc.com/hims-hims-hers-inc-class-action-lawsuit?utm_campaign=hc?utm_source=PR_Newswire&utm_medium=pressrelease&utm_campaign=hims&mktm=PR 

To view the HIMS video on YouTube, click here: https://youtu.be/zCS_-D0Ocv4

You can also contact attorney Jonathan Naji, Esq. by calling (484) 270-1453 or by email at [email protected].  There is no cost or obligation to speak with an attorney.

HIMS & HERS HEALTH, INC. CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT - COMPLAINT ALLEGATION SUMMARY: 

The complaint alleges that, throughout the Class Period, Defendants made materially false and/or misleading statements, as well as failed to disclose material facts about the company's business, operations, and prospects.  Specifically, Defendants failed to disclose to investors that: (1) HIMS shared consumers' health information with third-party advertising platforms; (2) HIMS charges consumers for prescriptions almost immediately after they submit an intake form, despite telling consumers that they will be able to consult with a medical provider to find a treatment that is "right for them;" (3) the foregoing conduct subjected HIMS to regulatory scrutiny; (4) as a result, HIMS was reasonably likely to incur fees and penalties; and (5) as a result of the foregoing, Defendants' positive statements about the company's business, operations, and prospects were materially misleading and/or lacked a reasonable basis.

Why did HIMS's Stock Drop?

On July 29, 2026, the Federal Trade Commission ("FTC") filed a lawsuit against HIMS accusing the company of sharing customers' medical information with third-party advertisers.  Specifically,

the FTC's criminal complaint accuses HIMS of "deceptive and unlawful privacy practices," including sharing sensitive details about a patient's health with Snap and Facebook parent, Meta Platforms.  On this news, HIMS's stock price declined $4.32 per share, or 14.73%, to close at $25.00 per share on July 29, 2026.

WHAT HIMS & HERS HEALTH, INC. INVESTORS CAN DO NOW:

File to be lead plaintiff by November 2, 2026.Contact KTMC for a free case evaluation. All representation is on a contingency fee basis, there is no cost to you.Retain counsel of choice or take no action.THE LEAD PLAINTIFF PROCESS FOR HIMS & HERS HEALTH, INC. INVESTORS:

HIMS investors may, no later than November 2, 2026, seek to be appointed as a lead plaintiff representative of the class through Kessler Topaz Meltzer & Check, LLP or other counsel, or may choose to do nothing and remain an absent class member. A lead plaintiff is a representative party who acts on behalf of all class members in directing the litigation.  The lead plaintiff is usually the investor or small group of investors who have the largest financial interest and who are also adequate and typical of the proposed class of investors. The lead plaintiff selects counsel to represent the lead plaintiff and the class and these attorneys, if approved by the court, are lead or class counsel. Your ability to share in any recovery is not affected by the decision of whether or not to serve as a lead plaintiff.

Kessler Topaz Meltzer & Check, LLP encourages HIMS investors to contact the firm for more information.

ABOUT KESSLER TOPAZ MELTZER & CHECK, LLP (KTMC):    

Kessler Topaz Meltzer & Check, LLP (KTMC) is a leading U.S. plaintiff-side law firm focused on securities-fraud class actions and global investor protection. The firm represents individual investors as well as institutions, such as major pension funds, asset managers, and international investors. KTMC has led some of the largest recoveries in securities litigation and has been recognized by peers and the legal media with numerous accolades, including being recognized in Chambers & Partners USA 2026 as a Band 1 Top Firm in Securities and Class Actions, Legal 500's Tier 1 Rankings for Securities and M&A Litigation, The National Law Journal's Plaintiff's Hot List and Trailblazers in Plaintiffs' Law, BTI Consulting Group's Honor Roll of Most Feared Law Firms, The Legal Intelligencer's Class Action Firm of the Year, Lawdragon's Leading Plaintiff Financial Lawyers, and Law360's Titans of the Plaintiffs Bar. The firm operates globally with offices in Pennsylvania and California. KTMC has recovered over $25 billion for our clients and the classes they represent.  The complaint in this matter was not filed by KTMC.

CONTACT:

Jonathan Naji, Esq.

(484) 270-1453

280 King of Prussia Road

Radnor, PA 19087

[email protected] 

May be considered attorney advertising in certain jurisdictions.  Past results do not guarantee future outcomes. 

SOURCE Kessler Topaz Meltzer & Check, LLP

This has been a brutal year for SoundHound AI (SOUN -4.24%) investors, as shares of the conversational voice artificial intelligence (AI) specialist have lost over 58% of their value.

Concerns about the company's cash burn and losses have led investors to press the panic button and look elsewhere to capitalize on the AI software boom. However, this AI stock could get a nice boost when it releases its third-quarter results after the market closes on Nov. 5. Let's look at the reasons why.

Image source: The Motley Fool.

Software stocks have been in fine form latelyThe iShares Expanded Tech-Software Sector ETF has jumped by 22% over the past three months. This impressive rally has been fueled by the belief that AI won't disrupt traditional software businesses as was thought earlier.

$4.18-$0.19 (-4.24%)

NASDAQ · As of 10:17 AM ET 10/30/26

However, SoundHound AI has missed the bus, even though it is an enterprise AI software provider that helps clients improve productivity. The company has missed Wall Street's free cash flow estimates over the last four quarters, and the following chart clearly indicates that its cash burn has accelerated recently.

SOUN Free Cash Flow data by YCharts

But investors looking to buy and hold an AI software stock that may become a big winner over the long run should consider the bigger picture. SoundHound AI operates in the fast-growing conversational AI market that's expected to generate $136 billion in revenue in 2035, well above last year's levels of $12.8 billion. This translates into a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 24%.

SoundHound is growing faster than the end market, and its acquisition-based growth strategy is positioning it for solid long-term expansion. SoundHound's revenue increased by 45% year over year in Q2 to $62 million. Analysts are anticipating an 84% year-over-year jump in Q3 to $77.2 million. This acceleration will be fueled by SoundHound's acquisition of LivePerson, which was completed last month.

This acquisition should bolster SoundHound's presence in the conversational AI market. That's because LivePerson develops and deploys voice-based AI agents, and it has a strong customer base. SoundHound AI management believes that the combined company could generate more than $500 million in revenue over the long run. For comparison, SoundHound AI delivered $169 million in revenue in 2025.

SoundHound's growth strategy could improve investor confidenceAnalysts have become bullish on SoundHound's revenue growth potential lately, suggesting it could reach $500 million in revenue.

SOUN Revenue Estimates for Current Fiscal Year data by YCharts

Moreover, the company notes that its new CFO, John Collins, has a track record of achieving more than $200 million in cost reductions and turning cash burn into cash generation. As a result, there is a chance SoundHound AI could exceed expectations and post a surprise on the cash flow front when it releases its results.

Also, the potential cost-optimization moves that the company may announce following its latest acquisition could increase investor confidence in the stock. What's more, SoundHound AI has a strong balance sheet with just $5.4 million in debt and nearly $203 million in cash.

With the stock trading at an attractive 9 times sales right now, there is a likelihood that SoundHound will jump higher after delivering positive news to investors on Nov. 5. As such, SoundHound AI may end the year on a bright note, following a sharp decline in 2026 so far.

Wall Street analysts expect Nice (NICE - Free Report) to post quarterly earnings of $2.78 per share in its upcoming report, which indicates a year-over-year decline of 12.6%. Revenues are expected to be $786.25 million, up 7.4% from the year-ago quarter.

The consensus EPS estimate for the quarter has undergone a downward revision of 0.3% in the past 30 days, bringing it to its present level. This represents how the covering analysts, as a whole, have reassessed their initial estimates during this timeframe.

Ahead of a company's earnings disclosure, it is crucial to give due consideration to changes in earnings estimates. These revisions serve as a noteworthy factor in predicting potential investor reactions to the stock. Numerous empirical studies consistently demonstrate a strong relationship between trends in earnings estimate revision and the short-term price performance of a stock.

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

With that in mind, let's delve into the average projections of some Nice metrics that are commonly tracked and projected by analysts on Wall Street.

The consensus among analysts is that 'Revenue by Business Model- Cloud' will reach $636.13 million. The estimate indicates a year-over-year change of +13%.

According to the collective judgment of analysts, 'Revenue by Business Model- Services' should come in at $122.38 million. The estimate suggests a change of -11.8% year over year.

The combined assessment of analysts suggests that 'Revenue by Business Model- Product' will likely reach $27.73 million. The estimate suggests a change of -8.7% year over year.

Analysts forecast 'Geographic Revenues- Americas' to reach $643.78 million. The estimate points to a change of +4.2% from the year-ago quarter.

The collective assessment of analysts points to an estimated 'Geographic Revenues- Asia Pacific' of $43.62 million. The estimate indicates a year-over-year change of +9%.

It is projected by analysts that the 'Geographic Revenues- EMEA' will reach $98.86 million. The estimate suggests a change of +33.6% year over year.

View all Key Company Metrics for Nice here>>>

Over the past month, shares of Nice have returned -1.3% versus the Zacks S&P 500 composite's +0.7% change. Currently, NICE carries a Zacks Rank #4 (Sell), suggesting that it may underperform the overall market in the near future. You can see the complete list of today's Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) stocks here >>>> .

Reddit beat earnings expectations by a wide margin, yet its stock cratered in morning trading as the CEO revealed a threat that no quarterly report can easily fix. The culprit sits inside Google, and Reddit's proposed solution could cost it…

A strong quarter couldn’t shield Reddit (NYSE:RDDT | RDDT Price Prediction) from a warning that artificial intelligence (AI) is reducing its traffic. Reddit stock is at $97.74 in morning trading, down 25%. The sector fund, Communication Services Select Sector SPDR Fund (NYSEARCA:XLC), is at $99.98, down 1.2%. For a broad-market check, the SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (NYSEARCA:SPY) is at $760.15, also down 1.2%, matching the sector fund.

On paper, Reddit’s Q3 2026 results, released October 29 after the close, looked strong. The company’s revenue rose 53% year over year (YoY) to $895 million, beating the $874.9 million analysts had expected. Net income at Reddit climbed 74% to $283 million, and earnings per share (EPS) of $1.40 exceeded the $1.33 analysts forecast. Even so, Reddit set its Q4 2026 revenue guidance at $1 billion to $1.03 billion, below the $1.05 billion analysts expected.

Google’s AI Search Shift Is Draining Reddit’s Traffic
CEO Steve Huffman said on Reddit’s earnings call that search referral traffic fell significantly in Q3 and dropped by more than 1 million per week on average in October. Should that pace continue, Huffman warned, total daily active uniques (DAUq) could fall by a low-double-digit percentage in Q4 from 130.3 million. Reddit’s U.S. DAUq already slipped 2% YoY to 50.7 million.

Huffman faulted AI Overviews and AI Mode at Google, owned by Alphabet (NASDAQ:GOOGL), which answer queries without sending users on to Reddit. “Web search is evolving from a gateway to the web to becoming an AI-powered destination itself,” he stated.

Reddit’s Logged-In Push Trades Reach for Engagement
Reddit’s response is to become more of a direct destination. The company plans to begin fully testing a logged-in-only experience in select markets outside the U.S. in Q4. It is also pushing mobile web users toward its app. Huffman noted that logged-in and app audiences account for more than 80% of Reddit’s monetization.

Logged-in users give Reddit more ad-targeting signals and engage more deeply, though a login wall could turn away casual visitors. “So we will likely be trading reach for engagement,” Huffman acknowledged.

Reddit’s strong results were overshadowed. Jefferies analyst John Colantuoni wrote that revenue growth and 70% growth in earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) were overshadowed by worsening U.S. user drops tied to AI Overviews. Colantuoni sees Reddit stock as possibly rangebound in the near term but still likes the long-term story.

What the Peer Group Says About Reddit
Snap (NYSE:SNAP) stock is at $5.37, down 5%. That decline is smaller than Reddit’s but the largest among the three peers.

At the same time, Pinterest (NYSE:PINS) stock is at $19.12, down 4%. Unlike Reddit, Pinterest reported results missing expectations: its Q3 2026 revenue was $1.17 billion, short of the $1.21 billion consensus. Wells Fargo cut its Pinterest price target to $23 from $31 while keeping an Overweight rating, citing weaker Q4 guidance tied to China cross-border headwinds in the EU.

Additionally, Meta Platforms (NASDAQ:META) stock is at $615.42, down 1%. Among Reddit’s peers, that’s the smallest decline.

How Reddit’s Business Differs From Snap, Pinterest and Meta
Reddit is a community discussion platform whose logged-out audience has long leaned on Google search, while Snap depends on direct use of its messaging and camera app, plus Snapchat+ subscriptions and Specs augmented reality glasses. Pinterest is a visual discovery and shopping platform where users search inside the app.

Meta stands at the opposite end, with Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp and Messenger serving logged-in audiences it owns. That owned-audience model is what Reddit is now racing to build.

What Comes Next for Reddit’s Search-Dependent Model
Reddit stock is now down 57% year to date (YTD), and the selloff fits a wider repricing of how AI reshapes search and advertising. Alphabet’s slide after its own results also pressured AI-related shares on October 29.

Bulls can point to Reddit’s rapid ad revenue growth and Huffman’s view that Google is teaching people to visit Reddit directly. Bears see a user base that could shrink in Q4 and a login wall that might deter casual visitors.

The next test for Reddit is whether U.S. DAUq stabilizes and whether the international logged-in tests lift engagement. Search referral data in the company’s next quarterly update is the other signal to watch for. Investors may want to stay cautious while the debate over Reddit’s logged-in shift plays out.

Contact [email protected] for any questions or corrections.