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Key Takeaways Arthur J. Gallagher's Q3 revenues are projected to rise 19.1%, while earnings are expected to grow 29.7%.Strong client retention, new business, higher commissions and AssuredPartners are likely to drive growth.AJG's Earnings ESP of -0.58% shows a potential miss, rising compensation and integration costs may weigh.
Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. (AJG - Free Report) is expected to register an improvement in its top and bottom lines when it reports third-quarter 2026 results on Oct. 29, after the closing bell.

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for AJG’s third-quarter revenues is pegged at $3.97 billion, indicating 19.1% growth from the year-ago reported figure.

The consensus estimate for earnings is pegged at $3.01 per share. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for AJG’s third-quarter earnings suggests a 29.7% year-over-year increase. The consensus estimate has witnessed no movement in the last seven days.

What the Zacks Model Unveils for AJGOur proven model does not predict an earnings beat for Arthur J. Gallagher this time around.  A stock needs to have the right combination of a positive Earnings ESP and a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), 2 (Buy) or 3 (Hold). That’s not the case here, as you can see below.

Earnings ESP: Arthur J. Gallagher has an Earnings ESP of -0.58%. This is because the Most Accurate Estimate of $3.00 per share is pegged lower than the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 3.01 per share. You can uncover the best stocks to buy or sell before they’re reported with our Earnings ESP Filter.

Zacks Rank: AJG carries a Zacks Rank #3. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.

Factors Likely to Shape AJG's Q3 ResultsImproved performance across the Brokerage and Risk Management segments is expected to support Arthur J. Gallagher’s third-quarter results. Strong new business generation, healthy client retention, higher renewal premiums and continued organic growth across its operations are likely to have benefited the third-quarter performance.

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for fees is pegged at $1.2 billion, indicating an increase of 24.2% from the prior-year period’s reported number. The consensus mark for commissions is pinned at $2.56 billion, implying 41.9% growth from the prior-year period’s reported number.

The Brokerage segment is expected to have benefited from acquisition contributions, particularly AssuredPartners, along with higher commissions and fees. However, softer insurance pricing in certain property and casualty markets could have limited organic growth.

The Risk Management segment is likely to have benefited from demand for claims management and related services, supporting fee revenues. Continued client retention and new business generation could have further aided the segment’s performance.

Higher commissions and fees, supplemental and contingent revenues, and investment income are likely to have supported overall revenues. Contributions from strategic acquisitions and the realization of acquisition synergies could also have strengthened operating performance.

Total expenses are anticipated to have increased, primarily due to higher compensation costs, acquisition-related amortization, integration expenses and interest costs. These expenses could have partially offset the benefits of revenue growth and operational efficiencies.

Stocks to ConsiderHere are some insurance stocks you may want to consider, as our model shows that these, too, have the right combination of elements to post an earnings beat:

The Allstate Corporation (ALL - Free Report) has an Earnings ESP of +5.25% and a Zacks Rank #3 at present. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for third-quarter 2026 earnings is pegged at $7.03 per share, indicating a year-over-year decrease of 37.1%.

ALL’s earnings beat estimates in each of the last four reported quarters.

Arch Capital Group Ltd. (ACGL - Free Report) has an Earnings ESP of +11.70% and a Zacks Rank #3 at present. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for third-quarter 2026 earnings is pegged at $2.05 per share, indicating a year-over-year decrease of 26%.

ACGL’s earnings beat estimates in each of the last four reported quarters.

The Hanover Insurance (THG - Free Report) has an Earnings ESP of +6.83% and a Zacks Rank of 2 at present. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for third-quarter 2026 earnings is pegged at $4.47 per share, indicating a year-over-year decreaseof 12.2%.

THG’s earnings beat estimates in each of the last four reported quarters.

Key Takeaways ARES is set to report Q3'26 earnings on Oct. 29, with EPS expected to be $1.25, up 5% year over year.ARES' total AUM is likely to rise 3.5% sequentially to $694.9 billion, while fee-earning AUM may grow 4.5%.ARES' fee-related performance revenues are expected to nearly double year over year to $80.7 million. Ares Management (ARES - Free Report) is scheduled to announce third-quarter 2026 results on Oct. 29, before the opening bell. Its quarterly revenues and earnings are likely to have increased on a year-over-year basis.

In the last reported quarter, results benefited from higher management fees, fee-related performance revenues and growth in assets under management (AUM). However, higher expenses partially offset these gains.

ARES' earnings surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate in one of the trailing four quarters, matched it once and missed it twice, resulting in an average miss of 4.2%.

ARES’ Q3 Earnings & Sales EstimatesThe Zacks Consensus Estimate for Ares Management’s quarterly earnings has remained unchanged at $1.25 per share over the past seven days. The estimate indicates a 5.0% increase from earnings reported in the prior-year quarter.

The consensus estimate for quarterly sales is pegged at $1.26 billion, suggesting an 8.9% year-over-year increase.

Key Factors & Estimates for Ares Management in Q3ARES has been witnessing consistent improvement over the years, supported by its diversified alternative investment platform. Despite persistent challenges in private equity exits and elevated financing costs, deal activity remained relatively resilient in the third quarter of 2026 as strategic acquirers continued to pursue deals to expand scale, gain capabilities and strengthen competitiveness. Further, continued fundraising momentum, along with strong investor demand across private credit and other alternative strategies, is likely to have supported AUM growth in the to-be-reported quarter. Overall expansion is expected to have remained steady, driven by the company’s scalable platform, rising perpetual capital base and expanding global distribution network. Backed by continued capital inflows and its scalable investment platform, Ares Management is expected to have witnessed a rise in its AUM balance.

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for total AUM of $694.9 billion indicates growth of 3.5% from the prior quarter’s actual. The consensus estimate for total fee-earning AUM of $428.3 billion suggests a sequential rise of 4.5%.

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for total management fees (segment revenues) is pegged at $1.1 billion, which indicates 4.5% growth from the prior quarter’s actual. The consensus estimate for fee-related performance revenues (segment revenues) of $80.7 million suggests a significant increase from the $40.5 million reported in the prior-year quarter. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Other fees (segment revenues) is pegged at $79.0 million, which indicates a decrease from the $91.9 million reported in the prior quarter.

ARES’ expenses have been increasing over the past few years, primarily due to higher compensation and benefits, along with continued investments in fundraising and platform expansion. Expenses are also expected to have remained elevated in the third quarter due to acquisition and integration-related costs associated with GCP International and BlueCove. Going forward, continued investments in scaling the global platform, integrating acquired businesses and pursuing growth initiatives may pressure near-term profitability.

What Our Model Predicts for Ares ManagementOur proven model does not conclusively predict an earnings beat for ARES this time around. The combination of a positive Earnings ESP and a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), 2 (Buy) or 3 (Hold) increases the odds of an earnings beat. This is not the case here.

You can uncover the best stocks to buy or sell before they are reported with our Earnings ESP Filter.

Earnings ESP: The company has an Earnings ESP of -0.06%.

Zacks Rank: The company currently carries a Zacks Rank #4 (Sell).

Finance Stocks Worth Considering

Here are a couple of finance stocks that you may want to consider, as our model shows that these have the right combination of elements to post an earnings beat this time:

Invesco Ltd. (IVZ - Free Report) is scheduled to announce third-quarter 2026 results on Oct. 27. The company currently has an Earnings ESP of +0.10% and a Zacks Rank #3.

Over the past week, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for IVZ’s quarterly earnings has been revised upward to 75 cents per share.

The Earnings ESP for T. Rowe Price Group, Inc. (TROW - Free Report) is +0.36%, and it carries a Zacks Rank of 3 at present. The company is slated to report third-quarter 2026 results on Oct. 29. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.

Over the past seven days, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for TROW’s quarterly earnings has been revised downward to $2.58 per share.

Key Takeaways NWL's Q3 revenues are projected to rise 2.5% to $1.85B, with EPS expected to grow 17.7% to 20 cents.Product innovation, distribution gains and strong back-to-school execution may support Newell's Q3 sales.NWL's FUEL productivity program, pricing actions and supply-chain savings are expected to support margins. Newell Brands Inc. (NWL - Free Report) is expected to register a year-over-year increase in the top line when it reports third-quarter 2026 results on Oct. 30, 2026, before the opening bell. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for quarterly revenues is pegged at $1.85 billion, indicating a rise of 2.5% from the figure reported in the year-ago quarter's actual.

The consensus estimate for the bottom line is pegged at 20 cents per share, which indicates an increase of 17.7% from the year-ago quarter's reported figure. The consensus mark has been revised upward by 1 cent in the past 30 days.

In the last reported quarter, the Atlanta, GA-based company’s earnings surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 121.1%. Its bottom line beat the consensus estimate by 40%, on average, in the trailing four quarters.

Factors Likely to Impact NWL’s Q3 ResultsNewell’s top-line performance is likely to have benefited from stronger product innovation, distribution gains and improved retail execution. Better category planning, stronger retailer relationships and improved service levels have helped the company secure additional shelf space.

Management indicated that existing customer commitments supported further distribution gains during the second half. These gains, coupled with increased advertising and promotional support, are likely to have supported consumer demand and sales in the to-be-reported quarter.

Stronger back-to-school execution and consumer-focused innovation could have provided additional momentum. Earlier merchandising setups and strong order fulfillment positioned Sharpie, Elmer’s and Prismacolor to capture seasonal purchases, with management reporting encouraging early-season demand and market-share gains. Favorable consumer responses to Graco’s rotating car seats, Rubbermaid’s Brilliance Glass products and Coleman’s Snap & Go coolers also provided a foundation for continued growth. Newell’s innovation pipeline, supported by focused marketing and retail activation, is likely to have strengthened brand appeal and created further growth opportunities.

Newell’s FUEL productivity program, restructuring actions and disciplined overhead management are likely to have supported profitability. Manufacturing improvements, procurement savings and supply-chain optimization could have enhanced operating efficiency while helping fund investment in innovation and brand building. Selective pricing and revenue management initiatives, together with the company’s tariff-advantaged manufacturing footprint, could have helped preserve attractive consumer value and protect margins. Combined with stronger sales, these initiatives are expected to have supported earnings growth in the quarter under review.

During its last earnings call, management projected third-quarter net sales and core sales growth of 2-3% each. Our model expects 2.5% year-over-year sales growth and a core sales increase of 2.4%, led by anticipated core sales growth of 5.4% in Learning and Development, and 5% in Outdoor and Recreation. Management envisioned a normalized operating margin of 9.5-10.2% and normalized earnings per share (EPS) of 18-20 cents. Our model projects a normalized operating margin of 10.2% and a normalized EPS of 19 cents, consistent with expectations for year-over-year improvement in both sales and earnings.

What the Zacks Model Unveils For NWLOur proven model conclusively predicts an earnings beat for Newell this season. The combination of a positive Earnings ESP and a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), 2 (Buy) or 3 (Hold) increases the odds of an earnings beat, which is exactly the case here.

Newell currently has an Earnings ESP of +2.26% and a Zacks Rank of 3. You can uncover the best stocks before they are reported with our Earnings ESP Filter.

Valuation PictureFrom a valuation perspective, Newell offers an attractive opportunity, trading at a discount relative to historical and industry benchmarks. With a forward 12-month price-to-earnings ratio of 7.86X, which is below the five-year high of 10.51X and the Consumer Products - Staples industry’s average of 20.16X, the stock offers compelling value for investors seeking exposure to the sector.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

The recent market movements show that NWL shares have gained 28.2% over the past six months compared with the industry's 9.9% growth.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

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

BJ's Wholesale Club (BJ - Free Report) currently has an Earnings ESP of +2.54% and a Zacks Rank of 2. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for BJ's Wholesale’s upcoming quarterly revenues is pegged at $5.94 billion. The figure indicates an 11.1% increase from the prior-year quarter's actual. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for BJ's Wholesale’s quarterly earnings per share is pegged at $1.22, suggesting a 5.2% rise from the year-ago period figure. BJ delivered a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 4.8%, on average.

Church & Dwight Co. (CHD - Free Report) currently has an Earnings ESP of +0.06% and a Zacks Rank of 3. The company is likely to register bottom-line growth and a decline in its top line when it reports third-quarter 2026 numbers.

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Church & Dwight’s quarterly revenues is pegged at $1.58 billion, indicating a decrease of 0.2% from the figure reported in the prior-year quarter. The consensus estimate for CHD’s quarterly earnings of 90 cents per share implies a rise of 11.1% from the year-ago quarter’s reported level. CHD has a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 3.9%, on average.

Colgate-Palmolive Company (CL - Free Report) has an Earnings ESP of +0.01% and a Zacks Rank of 3 at present. The company is expected to register top-line growth when it reports third-quarter 2026 figures. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Colgate’s quarterly bottom line has been unchanged over the past 30 days at earnings of 92 cents per share. The consensus mark for earnings indicates an improvement of 1.1% from the figure reported in the year-ago quarter.

The consensus estimate for quarterly revenues is pegged at $5.33 billion, which indicates a gain of 3.9% from the figure reported in the year-ago quarter. CL has delivered an earnings surprise of 3.2%, on average, in the trailing four quarters.

Shares of Brazilian oil giant Petroleo Brasileiro SA Petrobras ADR (PBR -14.14%) (PBRA -16.13%) joined the ongoing rout of Brazilian stocks Monday, crashing 16.2% through 12:10 p.m. ET.

Why? Incumbent Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva just beat conservative challenger Flávio Bolsonaro 51.8% to 48.2% in the second, run-off round of that country's presidential election. This result surprised investors who had bet that Bolsonaro's victory in the first round of voting, earlier this year, implied a likely victory for the conservative in Sunday's contest as well.

But that didn't happen.

Image source: Getty Images.

Election Brazil 2026Bolsonaro is refusing to concede defeat, alleging the incumbent administration suppressed voting in key Bolsonaro-leaning districts. Almost all other Latin American heads of state, however, have already made their calls to congratulate Lula on his victory; as of this moment, only Argentine President Javier Milei, another conservative, is holding back.

Momentum seems on Lula's side, and barring yet another surprise, it seems likely the current president will remain president in Brazil through another term -- ending in 2030.

PBR Petróleo Brasileiro - Petrobras$22.46-$3.70 (-14.14%)

NYSE · As of 2:10 PM ET 10/26/26

What does any of this have to do with Petroleo Brasileiro SA Petrobras ADR?What does all of this have to do with Petrobras in particular? Well, since returning to office in 2023, Lula has put government control "at the center of his energy policy," as Argus Media reports, imposing price controls on domestic fuel sales and ending privatization of the company's assets. He's also ordered Petrobras to expand production and favor capital investment over dividend payouts.

Short-term, that might sound like bad news to investors, but longer term it could pay off. With Petrobras shares trading at a cheap 6.6x trailing earnings, today might be a good time for investors to jump on the sell-off and snap up some cheap Petrobras shares!

Rich Smith has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

Key Takeaways Smurfit Westrock is projected to post Q3 revenues of $8.32B, up 3.9% y/y, and EPS growth of 3.4%.Europe, MEA, APAC and LATAM's adjusted EBITDA is expected to rise, while North America EBITDA may dip 1.4%.Stable packaging demand, e-commerce growth support margins, but low volumes and rising costs pose challenges. Smurfit Westrock PLC (SW - Free Report) is scheduled to report third-quarter 2026 results on Oct. 28, before market open.

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for revenues is pegged at $8.32 billion, indicating 3.9% growth from the year-ago quarter's reported figure.
The consensus mark for earnings per share is pegged at 60 cents, indicating year-over-year growth of 3.4%. The bottom-line estimate has moved down in the past 60 days.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

Smurfit Westrock’s Earnings Surprise HistoryThe company’s earnings missed the Zacks Consensus Estimate in the trailing four quarters, delivering an average negative surprise of 16.5%.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

Factors Likely to Shape SW’s Q3 ResultsThe demand for corrugated packaging and containerboard used to package essential items, such as food, beverages and medicines, has been stable. Strong growth in e-commerce and rising demand for paper as a sustainable packaging solution have favored the industry. These trends are expected to get reflected in Smurfit Westrock’s third-quarter 2026 results.

However, some of these gains are likely to have been offset by lower volumes in North America and lower box demand. This is expected to hurt Smurfit Westrock’s quarterly results. The company expects year-over-year volume growth in either the third or fourth quarter, but the timing remains uncertain.

Inflation in freight, energy and labor is expected to have affected SW’s quarterly performance and free cash flow margin. Pricing actions and cost-saving initiatives are likely to have negated some of these headwinds.

Smurfit Westrock’s Q3 Segmental ProjectionThe Zacks Consensus Estimate for Europe, MEA and APAC’s revenues is pegged at $2.97 billion for the third quarter, indicating an increase from the $2.82 billion reported in the third quarter of 2025. The segment’s adjusted EBITDA is pegged at $435 million. In the prior-year quarter, the segment reported adjusted EBITDA of $419 million.

The estimates for the North America segment’s third-quarter 2026 revenues are pegged at $4.81 billion, whereas it reported $4.64 billion in the year-ago quarter. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for the segment’s adjusted EBITDA is pegged at $799 million, suggesting a 1.4% year-over-year dip.

The LATAM segment’s revenue estimate is pegged at $558 million, suggesting year-over-year growth from $545 million. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for the segment’s adjusted EBITDA is pegged at $120 million, indicating a rise from the $116 million reported in the prior-year quarter.

What the Zacks Model Unveils for SW StockOur model predicts an earnings beat for Smurfit Westrock this time around. The combination of a positive Earnings ESP and a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), 2 (Buy) or 3 (Hold) increases the odds of an earnings beat. That is not the case here.

SW’s Earnings ESP: The Earnings ESP for Smurfit Westrock is +1.67%. You can uncover the best stocks before they are reported with our Earnings ESP Filter.

SW’s Zacks Rank: SW currently has a Zacks Rank #3.

Smurfit Westrock Stock’s Price PerformanceShares of the company have lost 3.5% in the past year compared with the industry’s 14.1% growth.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

Stocks to ConsiderHere are some Basic Materials stocks, which, according to our model, have the right combination of elements to post an earnings beat in their upcoming releases.

FreeportMcMoRan (FCX - Free Report) , scheduled to release third-quarter 2026 earnings on Oct. 27, has an Earnings ESP of +0.63% and a Zacks Rank of 2 at present. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for earnings for FreeportMcMoRan for the third quarter of 2026 is 75 cents per share, indicating a 50% year-over-year increase. FreeportMcMoRan has a trailing four-quarter average earnings surprise of 32.6%.

DuPont de Nemours, Inc. (DD - Free Report) , scheduled to release earnings on Nov. 3, has an Earnings ESP of +1.35%. 

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for earnings for DuPont for the third quarter of 2026 is pegged at $1.86 per share, suggesting a 43% year-over-year dip. DD has a trailing four-quarter average earnings surprise of 8.3%.

Huntsman Corporation (HUN - Free Report) , slated to release third-quarter earnings on Nov. 2, has an Earnings ESP of +36.12% and a Zacks Rank #3 at present. 

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Huntsman earnings for the third quarter of 2026 is pegged at 7 cents per share, indicating 333% growth from the year-ago quarter’s reported figure. 

Key Takeaways Silicon Motion expects Q3 revenues to rise 15-20% sequentially, driven by enterprise and automotive storage.SIMO's MonTitan SSD controllers, AI infrastructure demand and embedded storage gains support growth prospects.Higher memory costs, soft consumer demand and premium valuation warrant caution ahead of SIMO's Q3 earnings. Silicon Motion Technology Corporation (SIMO - Free Report) is scheduled to report third-quarter 2026 earnings after the closing bell on Oct. 28. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for sales and earnings is pegged at $532.8 million and $3.3 per share, respectively. Earnings estimates for SIMO for 2026 and 2027 have remained unchanged over the past 60 days.

SIMO Estimate Trend
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

Earnings Surprise HistoryThe leading NAND flash controller designer has a modest trailing four-quarter earnings surprise history, having exceeded expectations on three occasions. It delivered a four-quarter earnings surprise of 13.96%, on average. In the last reported quarter, the company delivered an earnings surprise of 14.08%.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

Earnings WhispersOur proven model does not conclusively predict an earnings beat for SIMO for the third quarter. The combination of a positive Earnings ESP and a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), 2 (Buy) or 3 (Hold) increases the chances of an earnings beat. That is not the case here. You can uncover the best stocks to buy or sell before they’re reported with our Earnings ESP Filter.

Silicon Motion currently has an ESP of 0.00% and carries a Zacks Rank #3. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.

Factors Shaping Upcoming ResultsDuring the quarter, Silicon Motion unveiled its MonTitan SSD Reference Design Kit, targeting AI infrastructure with high-performance, scalable storage solutions. The kit helps accelerate SSD development, enabling faster data processing, improved efficiency and optimized storage performance for demanding AI workloads, data centers and next-generation computing systems.

The company is expected to benefit from growing demand for enterprise storage solutions, AI infrastructure and automotive applications in the third quarter of 2026. Management expects revenues to increase 15-20% sequentially, supported primarily by its Ferri automotive storage products, enterprise boot drive solutions and MonTitan enterprise SSD controllers. The ongoing commercial ramp of MonTitan, coupled with healthy customer order patterns across storage solutions, is expected to support the company's near-term performance.

SIMO's embedded storage business is another potential growth driver. The company continues to gain market share in eMMC and UFS controllers as NAND suppliers focus more resources on higher-priority memory products. However, rising NAND and DRAM prices remain a potential headwind. Higher component costs are making smartphones and PCs less affordable, particularly in lower-priced segments

Price PerformanceOver the past year, SIMO has surged 81.9% compared with the industry’s growth of 97.6%. It has underperformed peers like Marvell Technology, Inc. (MRVL - Free Report) and Western Digital Corporation (WDC - Free Report) over this period. While Marvell has gained 157.5%, WDC has jumped 171.3%.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

Key Valuation MetricFrom a valuation standpoint, Silicon Motion appears to be trading at a premium relative to the industry and above its mean. Going by the price/earnings ratio, the company's shares currently trade at 12.17 forward earnings, higher than 9.6 for the industry but lower than the stock’s mean of 22.81.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

Investment ConsiderationsSIMO's expanding exposure to enterprise storage, automotive applications and AI infrastructure strengthens its long-term growth opportunity. The company's controller technology, established relationships with NAND manufacturers, and growing presence in higher-value storage solutions could help it capture demand as computing workloads become more storage-intensive. The increasing contribution of MonTitan and enterprise boot drive products also offers an opportunity to reduce dependence on consumer-oriented markets over time.

Profitability is another factor worth monitoring. Management expects the third quarter to benefit from a more favorable product mix, particularly the rising contribution of MonTitan and PCIe Gen5 controllers.

However, SIMO is exposed to volatility in the consumer market. Weak smartphone and PC demand, elevated memory prices, intense competition and uncertainty surrounding component availability could limit growth in established product categories.

End NoteExpanding enterprise storage operations, market-share gains in embedded controllers and increasing demand for automotive and AI-related storage solutions are major tailwinds as SIMO is set to release third-quarter results. Nevertheless, higher memory costs, weakness in consumer markets and the pace of enterprise product adoption remain key variables. SIMO’s diversification strategy boosts prospects for the long run, but in the near term, the company demonstrates a balanced outlook. Long-term investors should hold on to the stock, but new investors should wait for a better entry point.

Flagstar Financial Inc. (NYSE:FLG) on Friday posted mixed results for the third quarter.

Flagstar’s adjusted profit came to 1 cent per share, below the 8 cents analysts predicted. Revenue went the other way, reaching $530 million against a $487.8 million forecast.

Executive Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Joseph M. Otting stated, “Our third quarter results reflect the fact that the Bank’s core underlying fundamentals continued to improve despite the emergence of several headwinds, including a higher interest rate environment, deposit competition, persistent inflation, as well as the continuing impact of rent regulation policies on our New York City multi-family portfolio, which pressured our credit costs. We believe we are on track toward achieving our long-term strategic objectives, however given the higher for longer interest rate environment, the full  realization of these objectives has shifted to 2028 from 2027.”

Flagstar Financial shares fell 1.2% to trade at $10.26 on Monday.

These analysts made changes to their price targets on Flagstar Financial following earnings announcement.

Barclays analyst Jared Shaw maintained the stock with an Overweight rating and lowered the price target from $15 to $14. Truist Securities analyst David Smith maintained the stock with a Buy and lowered the price target from $15 to $13. TD Cowen analyst Janet Lee maintained the stock with a Buy and cut the price target from $16 to $13. JP Morgan analyst Anthony Elian maintained the stock with a Neutral and slashed the price target from $14 to $11.5. RBC Capital analyst Jon G. Arfstrom maintained the stock with a Sector Perform and lowered the price target from $13 to $12. Photo via Shutterstock

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Investor Call Scheduled for October 29, 2026, at 8:30 a.m. ET

Special Meeting of Stockholders Scheduled November 2, 2026, at 10 a.m. ET

AUSTIN, Texas--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Swarmer, Inc (“Swarmer”) (NASDAQ: SWMR), a drone autonomy platform company which has supported more than 100,000 real-world combat missions in Ukraine since April 2024, today announced it will host a conference call on Thursday, October 29, 2026, at 8:30 a.m. ET to discuss its previously announced acquisition of Ratel Robotics (“Ratel”), a leading manufacturer of unmanned ground vehicles (“UGV”) in Ukraine. Alex Fink, President and U.S. CEO of Swarmer, and Taras Ostapchuk, Founder and CEO of Ratel Robotics, will host the call.

As previously announced on September 10, 2026, Swarmer entered into an agreement to acquire 100% of Ratel, The consideration for the acquisition includes a mix of cash and stock. Closing remains subject to customary conditions, including all required legal, regulatory and shareholder approvals.

The acquisition is expected to spearhead Swarmer’s expansion into multi-domain autonomous systems by combining Ratel’s UGV manufacturing capabilities with Swarmer’s combat-proven autonomy software. Ratel’s UGVs are deployed across Ukraine for battlefield logistics, casualty evacuation, reconnaissance and other missions. In 2026, Ratel has secured more than $86 million in contracts from the Ukrainian government, 70% of which has been prepaid in advance. Ratel is also pursuing additional opportunities with NATO nations. Upon closing, more than 300 Ratel employees are expected to join Swarmer, with Ostapchuk continuing to lead Ratel’s operations.

Special Meeting of Shareholders

Swarmer’s Special Meeting of Shareholders is scheduled for Monday, November 2, 2026, at 10 a.m. ET and will be held virtually. Shareholders of record as of September 11, 2026, will be asked to approve the issuance of Swarmer common stock in connection with the proposed acquisition, as required under Nasdaq Listing Rule 5635(a). Swarmer’s Board of Directors recommends that shareholders vote “FOR” the share issuance proposal. Additional information regarding the proposed acquisition, Special Meeting and voting procedures is available in the Company’s definitive proxy statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on October 6, 2026.

The proposed acquisition remains subject to customary closing conditions, including shareholder approval of the share issuance.

Conference Call Details

Participants may access the conference call by dialing 1-877-451-6152 (U.S. and Canada) or 1-201-389-0879 (international). A live webcast of the call will also be available here and through the Events & Presentations section of Swarmer’s Investor Relations Website at https://investors.swarmer.com/events-presentations/.

About Swarmer

Swarmer™ (Nasdaq: SWMR) is a defense technology company that specializes in vendor-agnostic software which allows one operator to intuitively control hundreds of autonomous platforms in real time. Swarmer’s primary mission areas include autonomous swarm coordination, integration of multi-domain unmanned systems and AI-powered autonomy software for distributed operations. Swarmer’s technology has been rigorously validated in real-world kinetic environments and was first deployed in combat operations in Ukraine in April 2024. Since then, it has completed more than 100,000 combat missions, generating terabytes of proprietary data that informs its machine-learning models and enables the replication of advanced pilot performance at scale. Swarmer’s routine use in combat missions generates continuous streams of telemetry, sensor data and operational feedback which are then used to refine performance, increase resilience and accelerate learning. Swarmer has headquarters in Austin, Texas, and maintains operations and teams in Ukraine, Poland and Estonia. For more information, visit www.swarmer.com.

About Ratel Robotics

Ratel Robotics is a top manufacturer of unmanned systems in Ukraine that has been developing versatile solutions to support Ukrainian Defense Forces on the battlefield since 2023. Ratel Robotics’ unmanned ground vehicles (UGVs) perform logistics, evacuation, engineering, demining, strike and drone launch missions in the most challenging areas of the frontline, reducing risks to military personnel and saving lives.

Today, Ratel Robotics is actively expanding its aerial systems, advancing autonomy solutions and developing an integrated ecosystem of unmanned technologies designed to further strengthen Ukraine’s defense capabilities. Every serial Ratel H and Ratel M model produced by Ratel Robotics carries a NATO stock number under the NCAGE code A3X8J as well as an AQAP 2110 certificate, the NATO standard for quality assurance throughout design, development and production. For more information, visit: https://robots.com.ua/en/.

Forward-Looking Statements:

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the federal securities laws, including statements concerning the proposed acquisition of Ratel Robotics; the anticipated timing, terms, consideration and completion of the proposed acquisition; the satisfaction of closing conditions; the achievement of performance or delivery milestones; the expected integration of Ratel Robotics’ personnel, operations, technology and products; projected revenue, production capacity and customer demand; and the anticipated operational, commercial and strategic benefits of the proposed acquisition. Forward-looking statements may be identified by words such as “anticipate,” “believe,” “could,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend,” “may,” “plan,” “potential,” “project,” “should,” “will,” “would” and similar expressions.

These statements are based on current expectations and assumptions and are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially. These risks include the possibility that the proposed acquisition may be delayed, modified or terminated; closing conditions may not be satisfied; required approvals or financing may not be obtained; performance or delivery milestones may not be achieved; projected revenue, production or demand may not materialize; integration may require more time or expense than anticipated; expected benefits may not be realized; key personnel, customers or suppliers may not be retained; and Swarmer may assume unforeseen liabilities. Additional risks include cybersecurity, safety, testing, validation and field-performance risks; reliance on government customers and procurement processes; operations in active conflict zones, including Ukraine; geopolitical developments; sanctions, export-control and defense-trade-control requirements; supply-chain constraints; competition; and other risks described in Swarmer’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this press release. Swarmer undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether because of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by applicable law.

Additional risks and uncertainties are described in Swarmer’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including under the caption “Risk Factors” in Swarmer’s registration statement and other filings filed with or furnished to the SEC.

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EasyJet's Starlink deal is a potential edge over Ryanair, Europe's dominant budget airline. Horacio Villalobos#Corbis/Getty Images Elon Musk's Starlink has won its latest customer, a budget airline that could put pressure on one of the WiFi service's biggest critics.

EasyJet announced on Monday that the high-speed WiFi service would be deployed on its airplanes from the first half of next year. The British airline, which carries 100 million passengers a year, hopes to have Starlink installed across its 300-strong fleet by early 2028.

The deal means two of Europe's three biggest budget airlines have committed to Starlink.

Wizz Air, a Hungarian carrier that flies about 70 million passengers a year, signed up in June.

That leaves Ryanair, the continent's largest airline and the world's third-largest, as the only one of Europe's biggest budget carriers without the service.

Its CEO, Michael O'Leary, is well-known for being outspoken and took aim at Starlink earlier this year, leading to a spat with Musk.

"We don't think ‍our ⁠passengers are willing to pay for WiFi for an average ⁠one-hour flight," O'Leary told Reuters in January.

While Starlink is typically offered free to passengers, O'Leary also complained about increased fuel costs due to the aerodynamic drag of a Starlink terminal, installed on the top of airplanes.

Musk responded in an X post, arguing that Ryanair — which carries over 200 million passengers a year — would lose customers to airlines that do have internet access.

Over the next week, the two CEOs called each other idiots while Musk called for O'Leary to be fired and joked about purchasing the airline.

But Ryanair appeared to have the last laugh, using the publicity to launch a "Big 'Idiot' Sale" with 100,000 tickets starting at £16.99, or about $23.

The situation has some parallels with the US's Big Three airlines. While United Airlines has Starlink on almost half of its fleet and American Airlines is starting installations early next year, Delta Air Lines has instead tapped Amazon Leo, beginning in 2028.

This has led Musk to insult Delta's CEO, Ed Bastian, and call for his firing.

But American passengers are wealthier and more interested in premium offerings than their European counterparts. That trend has also prompted US budget airlines to offer comfier seats and package deals.

Adding free amenities for passengers is at odds with the typical no-frills budget-airline business model that relies on extra charges to turn a profit.

However, easyJet and Wizz may see Starlink as a way to gain an edge over Ryanair.

That may not last forever, though. In a January earnings call, O'Leary said, "I think as the WiFi technology improves over the next four or five years, we'll all be offering free WiFi access."

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Pete Syme You're currently following this author! Click to unsubscribe from email alerts.

Pete Syme is an aviation reporter for Business Insider, based in London.He writes about all things related to the industry, from aviation safety and CEO interviews to route reveals and airplane tours. Pete also uses data for industry analyses and to visualize breaking news events.Before joining Business Insider in 2022, he graduated with an MA in Newspaper Journalism from City, University of London, and a BA in English from the University of Exeter.

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Key Takeaways Powerade's global unit case volume rose 8% y/y in Q2'26, led by Coca-Cola's FIFA World Cup marketing.Coca-Cola's North America unit case volume grew 3%, with Powerade among the brands posting strong growth.KO is leveraging innovation, digital engagement and distribution to expand its sports beverage presence.
The Coca-Cola Company (KO - Free Report) continues to strengthen its sports beverage portfolio as changing consumer preferences create opportunities across fitness and active lifestyle occasions. With brands such as Powerade and BODYARMOR, the beverage giant is looking to deepen consumer engagement and expand its presence beyond traditional carbonated soft drinks.

The company's sports beverage business demonstrated encouraging momentum in the second quarter of 2026. Powerade's global unit case volume increased 8%, supported by Coca-Cola's extensive marketing activities surrounding the FIFA World Cup. The company leveraged the tournament to connect with sports enthusiasts, strengthen brand visibility and encourage beverage consumption across different occasions.

North America also delivered encouraging results, with overall unit case volume rising 3% during the quarter. Powerade was among the brands recording strong volume growth, reflecting favorable momentum within Coca-Cola's diversified beverage portfolio.

Coca-Cola's broader strategy emphasizes understanding consumer preferences, accelerating innovation and strengthening connections across consumption occasions. Its established distribution network and marketing capabilities provide a foundation for expanding its sports beverage presence. The company's focus on digital engagement and consumer insights could further help its brands remain relevant among active consumers.

However, capturing sustained fitness-related demand will require continued product differentiation, effective marketing and consistent consumer engagement. Competition within the sports and hydration beverage category also presents challenges. While Powerade's recent performance is encouraging, Coca-Cola's ability to translate this momentum into broader sports beverage growth remains an important area to watch.

Are Coca-Cola's Peers Also Targeting Fitness Demand?Like Coca-Cola, PepsiCo Inc. (PEP - Free Report) and Monster Beverage Corporation (MNST - Free Report) are focusing on the growing demand for sports and functional beverages, leveraging product innovation and portfolio expansion to attract fitness-conscious consumers and strengthen their presence in the evolving beverage market.

PepsiCo is strengthening its sports beverage portfolio to capitalize on growing demand for functional hydration. In third-quarter 2026, Gatorade delivered volume and net revenue growth, supported by Gatorade Lower Sugar and Gatorlyte, both of which gained value and volume share. Propel, with estimated annual retail sales exceeding $1 billion, also recorded volume and revenue growth, highlighting PepsiCo's expanding presence in the functional hydration category.

Monster Beverage is leveraging its energy drink portfolio to tap growing demand for functional beverages and active lifestyles. In second-quarter 2026, its Monster Energy Drinks segment sales increased 21.6% to $2.36 billion. The Ultra brand family grew 19% in the United States, reflecting momentum in zero-sugar offerings. Sports sponsorships, product innovation and expanding consumer engagement further support its efforts to capture fitness-related demand.

Zacks Rundown for Coca-ColaKO shares have rallied 32.3% in the past year compared with the industry’s 19.9% growth.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

From a valuation standpoint, Coca-Cola is trading at a forward price-to-earnings ratio of 26.61X, higher than the industry’s 20.09X.

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The Zacks Consensus Estimate for KO’s 2026 and 2027 earnings implies year-over-year growth of 10% and 7%, respectively. Earnings estimates for 2026 have moved up by a penny in the past 30 days, while earnings estimates for 2027 have been unchanged in the same period.

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Coca-Cola currently carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.

Amazon's stock sits well below its 52-week high while its core businesses accelerate at triple-digit rates, and that gap creates a question every investor holding cash should run the numbers on before 2030 arrives.

What would $1,000 in Amazon (NASDAQ:AMZN | AMZN Price Prediction) turn into by 2030? The timing makes the question worth asking. Shares are trading at $252.75 noon, down 3.67% on the session and below the $287.20 52-week high, even as the business underlying speeds up.

Our price-prediction model starts from a reference price of $262.37 and maps out where that stake could land.

What $1,000 in Amazon Could Become
In the model’s base case, a $1,000 investment could be worth about $2,032.90 by October 2031, returning 103.29% in total. That figure rests on a five-year base-case target of $533.36 per share, which works out to an annualized return of 15.24%.

Why October 2031 and not 2030? The model produces one-year and five-year targets. 2030 sits between the two, so the five-year horizon is the anchor. For an example 2030 reading, the base case puts shares at $485.68 on October 22, 2030, which would turn $1,000 into roughly $1,851.13.

What about the headline’s claim? If the stock compounds at 10% a year for four years from the $262.37 reference, shares would reach $384.14 and $1,000 would become $1,464.10. That is a simple illustration. The model’s own base case compounds faster than 10% a year.

Bull, Base and Bear Outcomes for a $1,000 Stake

Scenario (Five-Year, October 2031)
Target Share Price
Total Return
Value of $1,000

Bull
$645.72
146.11%
$2,461.10

Base
$533.36
103.29%
$2,032.90

Bear
$354.64
35.17%
$1,351.70

Example October 2030 checkpoints on the same three paths: a bull price of $584.96 (about $2,229.52 for the stake), a base price of $485.68 (about $1,851.13), and a bear price of $339.88 (about $1,295.42). On a one-year view, the base target is $334.99, meaning 27.68% upside. The model gives a confidence score of 0.7.

Analysts come out in roughly the same place. The consensus target is $331.72, with 16 strong buy ratings, 43 buys, 2 holds and zero sells.

Three Engines Driving Amazon’s Upside
AWS Is Accelerating Again
AWS revenue reached $42.2 billion last quarter, up 36.7%. That was the fifth straight quarter of faster growth, and the AWS backlog stands at $496 billion.

Amazon’s AI and chips businesses each run at an annualized rate above $25 billion, both growing at triple-digit rates. On the earnings call, the CEO said AWS could become “very possibly a trillion-dollar annual revenue business for us in time.”

All of that AWS expansion has to be powered, cooled, and connected by somebody, and we rounded up seven suppliers riding that wave in a free report on the AI infrastructure trade.

Advertising Is a High-Margin Profit Lever
Ad revenue rose 26% to $19.8 billion, helped by more shoppers using agentic and conversational shopping tools. Alexa for Shopping has reached more than 350 million customers over the last 12 months.

Guidance Supports the 10% Premise
Third-quarter guidance calls for net sales of $197 billion to $202 billion, which is growth of 9% to 12%. Without the shift in Prime Day timing, growth would be nearly 400 basis points higher.

On 24/7 Wall St.’s AI Investor Podcast, a host described this setup: a “really good path to grow sales, maybe only 8 to 10%, but profits 20% plus.”

Risks That Could Shrink Your $1,000

Capex strain: Amazon raised its 2026 cash capex plan to about $220 billion from $200 billion, pointing to higher memory costs. Trailing free cash flow has fallen to -$7.6B.
Earnings quality: Q2 GAAP EPS of $5.75 got a lift from a $53.4B non-operating Anthropic gain. Comparable EPS was closer to $1.88.
Macro pressure: Management highlighted tariffs, recession risk, supply volatility and a foreign-exchange drag of about 80 basis points in Q3.
Volatility: With a beta of 1.456, the stock tends to swing harder than the market. Its 52-week low is $196.

What to Watch on the Road to 2030
Across the projected scenarios, a $1,000 Amazon stake ranges from $1,351.70 to $2,461.10 by October 2031, and the base case is $2,032.90. Example 2030 checkpoints fall between $1,295.42 and $2,229.52.

These figures are projections rather than investment advice, and none of them is guaranteed. Keep an eye on AWS growth and capex returns in the next earnings report.

Contact [email protected] for any questions or corrections.

Microsoft stock gained on Monday after attracting bullish analyst sentiment ahead of its fiscal first-quarter earnings report, with Wall Street expecting continued growth in its Azure cloud platform and Copilot AI assistant despite rising infrastructure spending.

MSFT shares rose 1.1% on Monday. The stock reached a record closing high of $543.45 on October 13.

Microsoft shares have gained 34% since July 29, when the company reported strong fiscal fourth-quarter results that helped reinforce investor confidence in its AI investments.

The company spent $41 billion on capital expenditure in the fiscal fourth quarter and $145 billion over the full fiscal year.

Its next test comes on Wednesday, when it is scheduled to report fiscal first-quarter earnings after the market closes.

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Azure and Copilot momentum could justify Microsoft’s AI spending surge.

51% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with this provider.

Azure and Copilot growth remain key to Microsoft’s outlookCantor analyst Thomas Blakey reiterated his Overweight rating and $608 price target ahead of the results, noting that capital expenditure would be a central focus.

He expects spending in fiscal 2027, which began on July 1, to increase significantly.

However, Blakey said his analysis points to continued growth in Azure and Copilot, with Microsoft positioned as the “enterprise AI orchestration layer.”

“Microsoft continues to expect margin improvement within individual cloud and AI product layers despite near-term mix pressure,” Blakey said.

He also highlighted the company's potential to benefit as AI adoption expands across businesses, supporting continued momentum in Azure.

Morgan Stanley analyst Adam Wood maintained an Overweight rating and a $600 price target.

He views increasing competition among AI models as a positive for Microsoft, arguing that a wider range of models could drive greater Azure capacity consumption and Copilot usage.

“We see accelerating model choice as further validation of Microsoft’s positioning across the AI stack,” Wood said. He added that a multi-model environment aligns with Microsoft's full-stack AI platform.

Oppenheimer raised its Microsoft price target to $625 from $570 while maintaining an Outperform rating.

The firm's checks indicate healthy enterprise demand for Azure and Microsoft 365, supporting the outlook for continued growth.

Oppenheimer also said infrastructure availability, rather than demand, remains the main constraint on Azure's expansion.

Additional capacity coming online this fiscal year and next could help accelerate growth across Azure and Microsoft 365.

Oppenheimer forecasts fiscal first-quarter revenue of $90 billion, representing 16% year-over-year growth, and GAAP earnings of $4.69 per share.

It estimates Azure revenue growth of 46% in constant currency, compared with buy-side expectations of 47%.

The firm also flagged fiscal 2027 capital expenditure requirements as a risk to monitor.

Meanwhile, broader Copilot monetisation beyond seat-based pricing could support Microsoft 365 Commercial Cloud growth.

Truist analyst Terry Tillman raised his price target to $600 from $575 and maintained a Buy rating.

Truist expects Azure growth to accelerate in the fiscal first quarter and believes elevated growth could persist for longer.

The firm cited continued AI and agentic activity, including Copilot and Microsoft's role in coordinating first- and third-party AI workloads.

Truist also pointed to Azure efficiencies and established businesses such as Microsoft 365 as potential supports for Microsoft's free cash flow.

FactSet data shows that the average price target among 59 firms covering Microsoft is $599.14, alongside an average Buy rating.

Investors will watch Wednesday's results for evidence that growing AI demand can justify the company's expanding capital expenditure.

AI agents are being designed to do more than answer questions: They can access files, use workplace tools and carry out tasks with less human supervision. But giving software that much freedom creates a new risk. Nvidia Corp (NASDAQ:NVDA) wants to make these digital assistants safer to use, though BNP Paribas analyst Karl Ackerman sees a potential trade-off: runtime could slow by as much as 25%.

Giving AI More Freedom—With LimitsNvidia announced its OpenShell reference architecture at GTC Berlin recently, building on open-source software designed to control what AI agents can access and do. The system is intended to set boundaries around agents as they work, monitor their actions and block activity that violates security rules.

That matters because an AI agent does not simply produce an answer and stop. It may access company files, connect to online services, run code or use other tools to complete a task. If it misinterprets an instruction or is manipulated, those permissions can create risks beyond a misleading chatbot response.

Nvidia’s approach puts security controls outside the AI agent itself, rather than relying on the agent to police its own behavior. Its reference architecture combines computing systems for running AI with BlueField-4 data processing units and Nvidia’s Sentry security framework to monitor activity and enforce restrictions.

Companies including Cisco Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ:CSCO), CrowdStrike Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ:CRWD), Microsoft Corp (NASDAQ:MSFT) and Alphabet Inc‘s (NASDAQ:GOOGL) (NASDAQ:GOOG) Google Cloud are working with the architecture, Nvidia said.

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The Potential Cost of SafetyIn his note following GTC Berlin, Ackerman said OpenShell could slow runtime by as much as 25%. That is an analyst estimate, not a confirmed performance result across all tasks or deployments.

The potential trade-off is straightforward: More checks can mean more work before an AI agent is allowed to act. For businesses, the question is whether added safeguards justify any delay, particularly when agents are expected to handle time-sensitive work or perform thousands of tasks at once.

Still, a slower but controlled agent may be more useful to an enterprise than a faster system that can access information or take actions it should not. The actual balance will depend on the task, security settings and implementation.

What It Means for NvidiaOpenShell reflects Nvidia’s effort to sell more than the chips that power AI. As companies move from testing AI assistants to giving them access to real business systems, security could become an increasingly important part of enterprise AI spending.

For investors, the key question is whether businesses adopt Nvidia’s approach at scale and whether its security controls can protect agents without materially hurting performance. Independent benchmarks and customer deployments will matter more than the launch announcement alone.

If Nvidia can make AI agents safer without making them meaningfully slower, security could become another reason businesses choose its broader platform.

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Key Takeaways JPM gets approval-in-principle to establish a Nigerian merchant bank, expanding its Africa banking presence.The proposed bank will aim to offer wholesale banking, capital markets, advisory services and lending.JPM needs final regulatory approval before operations begin; growth will depend on client acquisition. JPMorgan Chase & Co. (JPM - Free Report) is advancing its expansion plans in Nigeria after the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) granted approval-in-principle to establish JPMorgan Merchant Bank Nigeria Limited. The move marks a significant step in JPMorgan’s efforts to deepen its presence in Africa’s largest economy and expand its corporate and institutional banking services.

Can JPMorgan’s Nigeria Banking License Strengthen Its African Presence?The CBN granted approval-in-principle to JPMorgan on Oct. 23, 2026, allowing it to proceed with plans to establish a merchant bank in Nigeria. The development follows the bank’s reported deposit of 50 billion Nigerian naira (approximately $38 million) with CBN as part of its licensing process. The deposit represented a key regulatory requirement but did not guarantee approval.

JPMorgan Merchant Bank Nigeria Limited is expected to expand the bank’s ability to serve Nigerian corporations and institutional clients. Its proposed activities include wholesale banking, capital markets and advisory services. The expansion could also create opportunities in lending, payments, trade finance and cross-border transactions. JPMorgan has maintained a representative office in Lagos for years. Establishing a locally licensed merchant bank would provide a broader platform to serve businesses and participate in Nigeria’s financial markets.

The approval-in-principle represents only the initial stage of the regulatory process. JPMorgan Merchant Bank Nigeria Limited must complete the remaining requirements, including incorporation with the Corporate Affairs Commission and the necessary operational arrangements, before receiving authorization to commence business.

The proposed Nigerian merchant bank also aligns with JPMorgan’s broader efforts to strengthen its African presence and capture corporate and investment banking opportunities across the region. The bank has reinforced its regional investment banking leadership through appointments covering sub-Saharan Africa, Kenya and Ivory Coast, reflecting its focus on expanding client coverage and strengthening relationships with businesses, governments and institutional investors.

Nigeria’s position as a major African economy could make the proposed bank a valuable addition to JPMorgan’s regional operations. However, the scale of the opportunity will depend on regulatory approvals, client demand and the bank’s ability to establish profitable operations.

Final Words on JPMIn conclusion, JPMorgan’s planned entry into Nigeria’s merchant banking sector could strengthen its African presence and create new growth opportunities in corporate banking, capital markets, advisory services and cross-border financing. Nigeria’s sizable economy and growing demand for institutional financial services offer significant long-term potential. However, the expansion’s success will depend on securing final regulatory approval, attracting corporate clients and building profitable operations amid competition and market challenges. While the approval-in-principle marks an important milestone, its contribution to JPMorgan’s overall growth will ultimately depend on how effectively the bank converts its expanded presence into sustainable revenue and earnings.

Over the past year, shares of JPM have gained 9% compared with the industry’s 3.3% growth.

One-Year Performance

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

Currently, JPM carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.

Other Financial Firms’ International ExpansionOther global financial institutions are expanding their international operations to strengthen their market presence and capitalize on growth opportunities across key financial markets.

Mizuho Financial Group (MFG - Free Report) is expanding its presence in mainland China after clearing regulatory hurdles to launch a wholly owned securities business. The move is expected to strengthen its position in China’s capital markets by enabling it to serve domestic clients directly through its securities platform. This expansion reflects the opportunities global banks see in deepening their presence in major economies.

Meanwhile, HSBC Holdings (HSBC - Free Report) continues to strengthen its wealth-management business in Asia, including mainland China. Its acquisition of Citigroup’s China consumer wealth business supports its focus on high-net-worth clients, digital capabilities and talent investment. HSBC’s January 2026 privatization of Hang Seng Bank is also expected to create opportunities for revenue growth and cost synergies.

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Verizon's CEO says SpaceX's Starlink faces some significant technical and financial hurdles to compete at scale in the US.

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In business, as in war, the safest bet is often to avoid underestimating your competitors, even when the odds appear to be in your favor.

Verizon CEO Dan Schulman says he's a student of that philosophy when it comes to Elon Musk's ambitions to develop SpaceX's Starlink into a significant US network player.

"Clearly, the tech and the wireless landscape is rapidly evolving, and we need to rapidly evolve along with that," he said during the company's third-quarter earnings call Monday. "I also operate under the assumption that everything SpaceX says they will do, they will do, and that they will execute flawlessly."

Setting aside Musk's track record of delivering on his eyebrow-raising promises, Schulman said there are significant technical and financial hurdles that Starlink would have to clear to meaningfully compete with established networks like Verizon. But it is possible.

"If they build a terrestrial network, it will basically look and feel like every other network," he said. "I think we should take it quite seriously."

News earlier this month that Starlink had acquired a batch of mobile-friendly low-band spectrum sent the share prices of the major US mobile carriers falling by approximately 10%. Verizon is the only one of the three to partially recover from the drop.

"Their service just can't compete with a terrestrial network in suburban and urban areas, where like 98% of our revenues are," he said of the satellite-based system. "We're somewhere between 100 to 1000 times more efficient than they are."

Building a competitive US network, especially for mobile, would require building as many as 80,000 large cell towers on Earth linked with some combination of satellites and fiber optics, Schulman said.

Schulman estimates that project would cost up to a half trillion dollars over six to eight years, with a minimum of four to six years to actually build out the network.

"Then they need to build retail customer service, back office systems, et cetera., and all of that gets them basically the same network and same capabilities and same cost structure as what we have today," Schulman said.

The Verizon chief's remarks come less than a week after his AT&T counterpart, John Stankey, brushed off concerns that Starlink's mobile network could pose a threat to his business.

"I wouldn't over-rotate on what I would call one carrier of low band spectrum," he said.

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Dominick Reuter is a senior retail reporter for Business Insider, primarily covering Walmart, Target, Costco, and other big box retailers. His stories tend to focus on issues and trends that affect employees and customers, such as affordability challenges and the growing race to provide ultra-fast delivery services on e-commerce orders.Prior to joining BI in 2019, Dominick worked for more than a decade as an independent photojournalist covering a wide range of stories for global wire services and newspapers, including Reuters, the Wall Street Journal, and Agence France-Presse.Dominick studied photojournalism at Boston University and later earned a Masters in business and economics journalism from Columbia University.If you're an employee or customer with a story to share, please contact me via email or text/call/Signal at 646-768-4750.

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Intel Corp. (NASDAQ:INTC) stock rose more than 4% Monday as semiconductor stocks advanced with a broader technology rally ahead of the company’s Oct. 29 earnings report.

The Nasdaq gained 1.39% and the S&P 500 rose 0.93%, while the Technology sector climbed 1.80% and led all sectors.

New Street Research analyst Pierre Ferragu upgraded Intel from Neutral to Buy and set a $125 price target.

• Intel stock is charging ahead with explosive momentum. Why are INTC shares rallying?

Broad Chip Rally Supports IntelIntel’s advance came alongside broad strength in growth and semiconductor stocks rather than a company-specific catalyst.

Nine of 11 sectors traded higher, while the Russell 2000 gained 1.01% and the Dow rose 0.49%, showing broader participation across growth and cyclical stocks.

Intel also outpaced the Technology sector by about 1.3 percentage points during the session.

Technical Picture Remains MixedIntel trades about 4.9% above its 200-day moving average, keeping the longer-term trend positive despite the recent pullback.

However, the stock remains 12.2% below its 20-day moving average and 11.4% below its 50-day moving average, reflecting weaker short-term momentum.

The Technology sector has fallen 4.09% over the past 30 days but remains up 9.05% over the past 90 days.

Earnings and Analyst OutlookIntel is scheduled to report earnings on Oct. 29, 2026.

Analysts expect EPS of 39 cents, up from 23 cents a year earlier, and revenue of $16.45 billion, up from $13.65 billion.

Intel carries a Hold consensus rating with an average consensus price target of $102.

Susquehanna maintained Neutral and lowered its forecast to $105 on Oct. 21. TD Cowen maintained Hold and cut its forecast to $95, while JPMorgan upgraded Intel to Neutral and maintained an $85 forecast on Oct. 19.

Top ETF ExposureThe iShares Semiconductor ETF (NASDAQ:SOXX) holds an 8.56% weight in Intel, while the MicroSectors FANG & Innovation 3x Leveraged ETN (NYSE:BULZ) carries a 7.26% weighting.

The Invesco Semiconductors ETF (NYSE:PSI) holds a 5.64% weight in the stock.

Because Intel represents a meaningful portion of these funds, significant ETF inflows or outflows can translate into corresponding trading activity in INTC shares.

INTC Price ActionINTC Stock Price Activity: Intel shares were up 4.36% at $90.75 at the time of publication on Monday, according to Benzinga Pro data.

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Shopify (SHOP +0.25%) will report earnings for the third quarter of 2026 on Nov. 3. Since it began to recover from its 52-week low closing price on May 13, the stock has risen by just over 75%.

That has led to its first record close in nearly a year. However, the recent gain may set investor expectations too high, adding to the risk of disappointment.

Indeed, the history of third-quarter reports tends to bode well for Shopify. Nonetheless, since its recent history suggests headwinds, investors should probably hold rather than buy the stock at this time.

Image source: The Motley Fool.

Shopify and third-quarter earnings Investors tend to consider a variety of metrics in these reports. Gross merchandise volume, revenue growth, free cash flow, and forward guidance are among these numbers.

With an increasingly popular sales platform and a vast ecosystem, Shopify's growth suggests that investors should be optimistic long term. Shopify has consistently delivered double-digit revenue growth for years, and the third quarter of 2026 will likely not be an exception.

Looking forward, consensus analyst estimates forecast revenue of $3.65 billion. If that holds, it will represent a 32% increase from year-ago levels. On a non-GAAP basis, they also predict earnings of $0.46 per share, 35% above the $0.34 per share reported in the year-ago quarter.

Moreover, in four of the previous five third-quarter reports, the SaaS stock price rose in the trading session following the earnings report. This is likely a measure of maturity and timing. With the exception of 2022, when it briefly entered the capital-intensive logistics business, Shopify has delivered positive free cash flow.

More importantly, Q3 is always a time when retailers of all sizes prepare for the busy holiday season. This attracts retailers who want to launch or revamp online sales sites using Shopify. They are likely also making greater use of Shopify's ecosystem as they prepare for a busy end-of-year period.

Unfortunately, the third quarter of 2025 was an exception in terms of stock performance. One factor was its highly elevated price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio of 127 at that time. Also, an earnings miss in Q4 followed, and Shopify stock trended downward until the following May.

SHOP Shopify$169.10+$0.42 (+0.25%)

NASDAQ · As of 1:36 PM ET 10/26/26

Today's conditions appear similar. Its P/E is now 114, only slightly lower than it was one year ago. Additionally, heavy investment in artificial intelligence (AI) solutions has become a headwind for stocks in general, and that could easily give investors another reason to sell. Considering near-term challenges, now might be the time to turn cautious.

Treat Shopify as a hold going into earnings Given its recent history, investors should probably refrain from adding shares before the Nov. 3 release of the third-quarter 2026 earnings report.

Indeed, Shopify's rapid growth makes it a great stock to hold. Also, since holiday-season preparation typically happens in Q3, it is an objectively favorable quarter for the company.

However, Shopify's stock is trading at a lofty valuation, even as the company has spent heavily on AI. Unfortunately, these factors may negate the historical third-quarter positives, and given the risk, investors should probably not buy shares right now.

American Express Co (NYSE:AXP) is preparing for a new challenge as artificial intelligence makes it easier for consumers to optimize credit card rewards.

CEO Stephen Squeri acknowledged that AI could help cardholders extract more value from benefits, potentially forcing issuers to rethink how they manage perks, spending thresholds and loyalty economics.

AI Changes the Rewards GameSpeaking on the company’s third-quarter earnings call, Squeri said consumers have always been able to optimize spending across cards, but AI could make that behavior more sophisticated.

"With AI, as it might allow people to game a little more, it also will allow us to manage it a little bit better as well by using AI tools to understand what people are doing," Squeri said.

The remarks came in response to KBW analyst Sanjay Sakhrani, who asked how AmEx would respond if consumers increasingly directed spending toward whichever card offered the highest rewards.

Squeri acknowledged that rewards optimization is already common. "We’ve got a lot of gaming today that goes on, and it’s part of the overall mix," he said.

The emerging risk is that AI assistants could make it easier to compare benefits, identify lucrative offers and allocate purchases across multiple cards. For issuers, that could complicate the economics of rewards programs if customers become more effective at using benefits without generating corresponding incremental spending.

AmEx did not quantify the potential financial impact of AI-driven rewards optimization.

Why AmEx Thinks It Has an EdgeSqueri argued that AmEx’s business model extends beyond points and cash-equivalent rewards. The company competes through access, service, security and its relationships with both cardholders and merchants.

"Our overall model is so much more than just about points," he said.

AmEx also has ways to limit the cost of benefits. Squeri pointed to spending thresholds on the Platinum Card, saying the company can require customers to reach certain levels of spending before qualifying for specific benefits, reducing opportunities to game the system.

AI could give the company another way to identify behavior patterns and adjust its offers. However, Squeri cautioned that the situation is still developing, leaving the eventual impact on card member services expenses uncertain.

The Stakes for InvestorsThe issue matters because AmEx’s premium-card strategy relies on making membership attractive while maintaining profitable customer relationships. In the third quarter, net card fees grew 17% on a foreign-exchange-adjusted basis, supported by the U.S. Platinum refresh, while U.S. consumer spending increased 9.4% year-over-year.

Those figures do not establish that AI is affecting rewards costs today. Instead, they show why managing the balance between generous benefits, customer engagement and profitability matters as AI changes consumer behavior.

For investors, the key question is whether AmEx can use AI to personalize benefits and deepen loyalty without allowing rewards optimization to erode program economics. The same technology that helps customers maximize value could help issuers respond — but the financial outcome remains an open question.

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Key Takeaways SNPS is automating engineering workflows across silicon-to-system design using AI agents.Recurring revenues accounted for 82% of fiscal Q3 2026 revenue, while backlog reached $10.9 billion.SNPS raised fiscal 2026 revenue guidance to $9.69-$9.74 billion.
Synopsys (SNPS - Free Report) is benefiting from rising demand for advanced chip design, verification and simulation tools as AI infrastructure expansion increases semiconductor and system-level engineering complexity. The company is integrating AI across its electronic design automation (EDA), verification and simulation portfolio to automate engineering workflows, improve productivity and accelerate chip development.

The integration of Ansys has further expanded its capabilities into multiphysics engineering, while growing demand for specialized chips, multi-die architectures and advanced packaging is creating additional growth opportunities. Currently, Synopsys is pursuing a multi-layered AI strategy focused on automating complex engineering tasks and expanding the use of its underlying design tools.

SNPS has introduced AgentEngineer, a portfolio of domain-specific, long-horizon AI agents built on its Autopilot Platform to automate engineering workflows across silicon-to-system design. The platform combines orchestration, persistent memory, engineering context and security to support more autonomous workflows. Synopsys is also collaborating with OpenAI to develop GPT-Synopsys for chip design, while its agreement with Amazon expands the use of its silicon IP, EDA, simulation and AI-powered engineering technologies for custom chips and AWS infrastructure.

Synopsys' growth strategy is supported by recurring revenues, a substantial backlog and improving cash generation. Recurring revenues accounted for 82% of total revenues in the third quarter of fiscal 2026, while backlog stood at $10.9 billion at the end of the quarter. EDA revenues grew 8.5% year over year, and Design IP returned to growth, supported by demand for interface, memory and die-to-die IP.

SNPS raised its fiscal 2026 revenue guidance to $9.69-$9.74 billion and expects EDA growth to accelerate to double digits for the full year. However, elevated debt following the Ansys acquisition, the ongoing recovery in Design IP margins, competitive pressures and customer concentration remain important risks.

How Competitors Fare Against SNPSSynopsys operates in a highly competitive EDA market, with major rivals, including Cadence Design Systems Inc. (CDNS - Free Report) and Keysight Technologies (KEYS - Free Report) . These companies serve different stages of the electronic and IC design lifecycle, offering specialized tools and solutions that help customers improve product development, design efficiency and testing.

Keysight Technologies competes primarily across electronic design, measurement and testing, with software and solutions covering areas such as electromagnetic analysis, circuit simulation and hardware verification. Meanwhile, Cadence Design Systems is benefiting from increasing design complexity and growing customer investments in AI-powered automation.

Cadence is also strengthening its position through its expanding Cadence.ai portfolio. New offerings, including AgentStack, ChipStack, ViraStack and InnoStack AI Super Agents, are broadening the company’s AI capabilities across the design workflow and could help Cadence maintain its momentum as AI adoption accelerates.

SNPS’ Price Performance, Valuation and EstimatesShares of SNPS have lost 8.4% year to date compared with the Computer - Software industry’s decline of 1%.

SNPS YTD Performance Chart
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

From a valuation standpoint, SNPS trades at a forward price-to-sales ratio of 7.53X, higher than the industry’s average of 6.27X.

SNPS Forward 12-Month (P/S) Valuation Chart
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for SNPS’ fiscal 2026 earnings is pegged at $15.14, indicating 17% year-over-year growth. Estimates have been revised upward in the past seven days.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

SNPS currently sports a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.

Investors seek growth stocks to capitalize on above-average growth in financials that help these securities grab the market's attention and produce exceptional returns. But finding a growth stock that can live up to its true potential can be a tough task.

In addition to volatility, these stocks carry above-average risk by their very nature. Also, one could end up losing from a stock whose growth story is actually over or nearing its end.

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

T-Mobile (TMUS - Free Report) is one such stock that our proprietary system currently recommends. The company not only has a favorable Growth Score, but also carries a top Zacks Rank.

Research shows that stocks carrying the best growth features consistently beat the market. And returns are even better for stocks that possess the combination of a Growth Score of A or B and a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) or 2 (Buy).

Here are three of the most important factors that make the stock of this wireless carrier a great growth pick right now.

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

While the historical EPS growth rate for T-Mobile is 36.6%, investors should actually focus on the projected growth. The company's EPS is expected to grow 14.9% this year, crushing the industry average, which calls for EPS growth of 13.5%.

Cash Flow GrowthWhile cash is the lifeblood of any business, higher-than-average cash flow growth is more important and beneficial for growth-oriented companies than for mature companies. That's because, growth in cash flow enables these companies to expand their businesses without depending on expensive outside funds.

Right now, year-over-year cash flow growth for T-Mobile is 3%, which is higher than many of its peers. In fact, the rate compares to the industry average of -0.6%.

While investors should actually consider the current cash flow growth, it's worth taking a look at the historical rate too for putting the current reading into proper perspective. The company's annualized cash flow growth rate has been 6.3% over the past 3-5 years versus the industry average of 0.4%.

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

The current-year earnings estimates for T-Mobile have been revising upward. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for the current year has surged 3.3% over the past month.

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

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

This combination indicates that T-Mobile is a potential outperformer and a solid choice for growth investors.

Social Security's 3.6% COLA keeps your benefit moving, but your brokerage account has to fend for itself. Three dividend stocks not only clear that income bar but also carry the coverage ratios to prove the payout can last.

Social Security benefits rise 3.6% under the cost-of-living adjustment taking effect in 2027. The raise is applied to the check each retiree already gets, so it helps the benefit keep up with prices. It does nothing for the savings in a brokerage account. To grow your income alongside that benefit, you need dividend payers whose cash flow can support a steady, rising payout. Each of the three stocks below yields more than the COLA figure, and each passed a coverage check before yield was considered.

First, a COLA and a yield measure different things, as a COLA is a percentage increase on a benefit you already receive. On a hypothetical $2,000 monthly check, a 3.6% adjustment adds $72 a month. A dividend yield is the cash a stock pays each year divided by its current share price, and a yield alone can’t tell you whether the payout will grow or even last. So the COLA works here as a reference point for how fast a retiree’s income is rising, and each dividend still has to be judged on whether the business can pay for it.

PepsiCo: Global Brands Funding a Dividend That Has Risen Every Year in the Record PepsiCo (NASDAQ:PEP | PEP Price Prediction) sells snacks, foods and drinks in more than 200 countries and territories. Its brands include Pepsi, Lay’s, Doritos and Gatorade. At $136.28, the stock yields 4.13%. Part of that yield comes from a falling share price. The stock is down 6.41% over the past year and trades well below its 52-week high of $166.41.

Dividend safety: PepsiCo paid $5.80 per share in dividends against trailing EPS of $7.95, a payout ratio of about 73% of earnings. Free cash flow coverage is lower. The free cash flow yield of 4.15% roughly matches the dividend yield, so the business generates about enough free cash to pay its dividend. Management plans to return $8.9B to shareholders this year, including $7.9B in dividends. It is also targeting free cash flow conversion of at least 80%. Debt is manageable: operating earnings cover interest expense 10.26x.

Track record: PepsiCo’s dividend history goes back to 1999, and the quarterly payout steps up every year in that record. The latest quarterly payment is $1.48, up from $1.4225. That sets the forward annual dividend at $5.92.

Bull case: International growth is making up for a weak U.S. snack business. In the latest quarter, adjusted EPS of $2.34 beat the $2.30 estimate. Revenue rose 5.6% to $25.27B, and LatAm Foods grew 14%. People keep buying chips and sports drinks in a downturn, which gives retirees a steady source of cash to lean on.

Risk: North American snacks remain under pressure. Core operating profit in that segment fell 12%, and rising input costs led management to cut its core EPS growth outlook to 2.5% to 3.5%. Slower earnings growth could mean smaller dividend raises.

Realty Income: Monthly Checks With an A-Rated Balance Sheet Behind Them Realty Income (NYSE:O) is a real estate investment trust that owns over 15,500 properties. It rents them to 1,798 clients across 92 industries, mostly on long-term net rents where tenants cover taxes, insurance and maintenance. At $57.05, the stock yields 5.43%. That yield isn’t the result of a falling price, since the shares are roughly flat over the past year (down 0.05%).

Dividend safety: For a REIT, adjusted funds from operations (AFFO) is the right measure of coverage, because accounting depreciation makes GAAP earnings look smaller than the cash coming in. Second-quarter AFFO was $1.09 per share, against $0.8115 in dividends paid. That works out to a payout of about 74% of AFFO. The free cash flow yield of 7.18% sits above the dividend yield. The balance sheet has A-range credit ratings from all three major agencies: Moody’s A3, S&P A- and Fitch A. Net debt is 5.4x adjusted EBITDAre. Occupancy stands at 98.8%.

Track record: Realty Income has raised its dividend for 115 consecutive quarters and is part of to the S&P 500 Dividend Aristocrats index. Its dividend record shows a payment every month from 1999 onward, with the payout rising from $0.17 to $0.2715. The forward annual dividend is $3.258.

Bull case: Monthly payments match how retirees pay their bills. We rounded up seven of our favorite monthly payers in a free report here. The company keeps adding properties: it invested about $2.6B in the second quarter at a 7.3% initial cash yield. On re-leased properties, it recovered 102.7% of prior rent. A $6B hyperscale data center joint venture adds a new source of rent alongside retail and industrial.

Risk: Tenant credit quality. About 65.7% of annualized base rent comes from tenants without investment-grade ratings. A run of retail bankruptcies would put pressure on AFFO.

Verizon: The Biggest Yield in the Group, Covered Comfortably by Free Cash Flow Verizon (NYSE:VZ) provides wireless and broadband service to roughly 94.1 million postpaid phone connections and about 17.1 million broadband connections. The stock yields 6.18%, which puts it in ultra-high-yield territory. The yield is high even after a strong run: the shares are up 25.36% over the past year to $45.07. The stock trades at about 9x forward earnings.

Dividend safety: Free cash flow reached $6.43B in the second quarter, up 27.1% from a year earlier. The quarterly dividend of $0.7075 across 4,154,775,000 shares costs about $2.94 billion, roughly 46% of that quarter’s free cash flow. That leaves room for buybacks: Verizon had bought back $3.5B of stock through the second quarter. Net unsecured debt is 2.5x adjusted EBITDA.

Track record: Verizon’s quarterly payout has risen every year in its dividend history from $0.46 in 2009 to the current $0.7075. The forward annual dividend is $2.83.

The bull case: the core business is gaining strength. Verizon gained 184,000 postpaid phone customers, compared with a loss of 9,000 a year earlier. Postpaid phone churn, the share of customers who leave, improved to 0.92% from 0.97%. Adjusted EBITDA margin expanded to 40.1%. The Frontier Communications acquisition raised fiber connections to about 10.9M. Adjusted EPS of $1.30 beat the $1.27 estimate. Phone and internet bills get paid in any economy, and that is what funds this dividend.

Risk: Debt. Total unsecured debt stands at $136.5B. Leverage rose to 2.5x from 2.2x at the end of last year after the Frontier deal. Higher refinancing costs could reduce the cash available for dividend raises. Verizon appears on Barron’s list of stocks to watch this week. That makes its next quarterly update the first check on that leverage trend.

Income That Grows Alongside Your Benefit These three names suit retirees who want income from three different sources: everyday consumer brands, monthly rent checks and telecom bills. Realty Income offers the strongest coverage, with an A-rated balance sheet and monthly payments. Verizon has the highest yield and the largest free cash flow surplus. PepsiCo has the longest annual raise record in its dividend history, though its free cash flow covers the payout more narrowly than the other two. Together, they give a portfolio cash payouts that each business can fund, working alongside a Social Security check that rises with the COLA.

Contact [email protected] for any questions or corrections.

Micron Technology Inc. (NASDAQ:MU) builds the memory chips inside AI servers. Its workers in Taoyuan, Taiwan, just sent a blunt message about who builds them.

Of 1,637 union members who voted on the company’s latest bonus offer, 1,633 rejected it, entrepreneur and independent analyst Shehroz Hussain wrote in his Tape Out newsletter. 

The tally comes to 99.8% of ballots cast and, in Hussain’s words, "nearly 70% of the union’s membership."

The Taoyuan union confirmed the count in a statement on Sunday. "No" votes topped half of its entire membership, the union said, and first-day turnout beat its earlier strike vote.

MU stock is climbing. See the real-time price action here. What Workers Turned DownMicron plans quarterly performance-linked payments for employees worldwide starting in fiscal 2027, on top of its annual incentive program. 

The pool is calculated as after-tax profit minus projected capital spending for the next quarter, using fiscal 2026 as the baseline. Half gets paid in cash after results, with the rest in shares vesting after one year. 

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However, one number is missing. Unlike its South Korean rivals Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd. and SK Hynix Inc., Micron did not disclose a set share of earnings or the total amount reserved for employees, according to Reuters. 

"The union still wants 15% of operating profit," Hussain wrote, referring to profit from the core business before interest and taxes.

"A strike has never been the goal, but a means of fighting for reasonable profit-sharing," the union said. It urged Micron not to use its 24-hour warning strike to "threaten and divide" workers.

Why the AI Boom Should CareTaiwan is a crucial production center for Micron’s DRAM and high-bandwidth memory (HBM) chips, both key components in AI servers.  DRAM serves as a computer’s working memory, while HBM is a faster, stacked version mounted beside AI processors.  

Micron employs about 15,000 people on the island, and its two unions together represent more than 80% of the Taiwan workforce. Labor action could amplify supply concerns in an already tight memory-chip market, according to Reuters.  

Taipei is paying attention. Taiwan’s labor ministry urged Micron to consider workers’ concerns, put forward concrete proposals and negotiate with the union. On Oct. 15, President Lai Ching-te called on Micron and its workers to negotiate sincerely, Reuters reported.  

Cracks in Taichung, TooManagement and the union at the larger Taichung facility signed an agreement on Wednesday, after which both sides withdrew from planned mediation. Reuters reported the terms were not made public. 

Even so, the Taoyuan union says some Taichung members have launched a petition to withdraw their representatives’ authority. It has not disclosed how many signed.  

The two sites are separate legal entities, so the Taichung deal does not cover Taoyuan. Talks there resume Oct. 27.

The Takeaway Hussain narrowed the story to one figure: "the percentage Micron eventually attaches to its profit pool, against the union’s 15% ask." In his view, "A number near that would show up in Micron’s Taiwan cost base."

MU Stock Price Activity: Micron stock was up 3.43% at $887.48 at the time of publication Monday, according to Benzinga Pro market data.

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This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.

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, /PRNewswire/ -- The board of directors of Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE: LLY) has declared a dividend for the fourth quarter of 2026 of $1.73 per share on outstanding common stock.

The dividend is payable on December 10, 2026, to shareholders of record at the close of business on November 13, 2026.

About Lilly
Lilly is a medicine company turning science into healing to make life better for people around the world. We've been pioneering life-changing discoveries for 150 years, and today our medicines help tens of millions of people across the globe. Harnessing the power of biotechnology, chemistry and genetic medicine, our scientists are urgently advancing new discoveries to solve some of the world's most significant health challenges: redefining diabetes care; treating obesity and curtailing its most devastating long-term effects; advancing the fight against Alzheimer's disease; providing solutions to some of the most debilitating immune system disorders; and transforming the most difficult-to-treat cancers into manageable diseases. With each step toward a healthier world, we're motivated by one thing: making life better for millions more people. That includes delivering innovative clinical trials that reflect the diversity of our world and working to ensure our medicines are accessible and affordable. To learn more, visit Lilly.com and Lilly.com/news, or follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn. F-LLY

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements (as that term is defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995) about expected dividend payments and reflects Lilly's current beliefs and expectations. However, there are significant risks and uncertainties in pharmaceutical research and development, as well as in business development activities and capital allocation strategies related to the company's business and actual results may differ materially due to various factors. For further discussion of risks and uncertainties relevant to Lilly's business that could cause actual results to differ from Lilly's expectations, see Lilly's Form 10-K and Form 10-Q filings with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission. Except as required by law, Lilly undertakes no duty to update forward-looking statements to reflect events after the date of this release.

Refer to: Megan MacCauley; [email protected] (Media)
                Michael Czapar; [email protected] (Investors)

SOURCE Eli Lilly and Company

Key Takeaways RSG's Q3 revenues are projected to grow 4.7% y/y to $4.4B, while EPS is expected to reach $1.92.Collection revenues are expected to rise 6%, fueled by industrial activity, market-share gains and pricing.Landfill and transfer revenues are projected to grow 6.7%, aided by special waste and construction demand. Republic Services (RSG - Free Report) is scheduled to release third-quarter 2026 results on Oct. 29, after market close.

RSG has an impressive earnings surprise history. In the trailing four quarters, it surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate, with an average surprise of 5.5%.

Republic Services’ Q3 ExpectationsThe Zacks Consensus Estimate for the company’s revenues is set at $4.4 billion, implying a 4.7% increase from the year-ago quarter’s reported figure. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for the collection segment’s revenues is pegged at $3 billion, suggesting a year-over-year rise of 6%.

Robust industrial activity, accompanied by increased service requirements from large-container customers, is expected to have supported this segment’s growth. Strengthening manufacturing activity, market-share gains in the industrial and small-container business, and prudent pricing are expected to have provided additional support.

For Landfill revenues, the consensus estimate is $901.6 million, suggesting 6.7% year-over-year growth. Improving underlying demand for special waste is anticipated to have laid the foundation for this segment’s revenue growth.

The consensus estimate for transfer revenues is $503.6 million, implying a 6.7% year-over-year rally. Improving commercial construction and industry activity is expected to have raised waste movements, potentially solidifying transfer revenues.

For the environmental solutions segment, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for revenues is $461.6 million. It marks a 2.8% uptick from the year-ago quarter. Growing demand for per-and polyfluoroalkyl-related substances, including hazardous waste disposal, wastewater treatment, remediation and solid waste disposal, is expected to have benefited this segment.

The consensus estimate for revenues from the other segment is pegged at $211.2 million, suggesting 3.5% year-over-year growth.

The consensus estimate for earnings per share is pinned at $1.92, a slight step up from the year-ago quarter. Improved route efficiency, service execution and safety driven by the RISE digital platform and continued price discipline are factors expected to have supported the bottom line.

What Our Model Says About RSGOur proven model does not conclusively predict an earnings beat for Republic Services this time around. The combination of a positive Earnings ESP and a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), 2 (Buy) or 3 (Hold) increases the odds of an earnings beat. But that is not the case here. You can uncover the best stocks before they are reported with our Earnings ESP Filter.

Republic Services has an Earnings ESP of -0.11% and a Zacks Rank of 3 at present. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.

Stocks to ConsiderHere are a few stocks from the broader Business Services sector, which, according to our model, have the right combination of elements to beat on earnings this time around.

Corpay (CPAY - Free Report) : The Zacks Consensus Estimate for the company’s third-quarter 2026 revenues is $1.4 billion, indicating 16.1% year-over-year growth. For earnings, the consensus estimate is pinned at $7.18 per share, suggesting a 26% gain from the year-ago quarter’s actual. The company beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate in the past four quarters, the average surprise being 3.6%.

CPAY has an Earnings ESP of +1.07% and a Zacks Rank of 3 at present.

The company is scheduled to announce third-quarter 2026 results on Oct. 4.

Casella Waste Systems (CWST - Free Report) : The Zacks Consensus Estimate for the company’s third-quarter 2026 revenues is $560.6 million, hinting at a 15.5% increase from the year-ago quarter’s actual. For earnings, the consensus estimate is pegged at 36 cents per share, suggesting a 14.3% decline from the year-ago quarter’s reported number. The company beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate in the past four quarters, the average surprise being 52.1%.

CWST has an Earnings ESP of +4.75% and a Zacks Rank of 3 at present. The company is scheduled to announce third-quarter 2026 results on Oct. 9.

Key Takeaways Pembina Pipeline's shares gained 32.5% over 12 months, outperforming the sub-industry's 19% increase.2026 EPS is projected to grow 15.79%, supported by expansion projects and ethane agreements.Declining pipeline EBITDA, spread volatility and project execution risks challenge PBA's growth outlook.
Over the past 12 months, Pembina Pipeline Corporation (PBA - Free Report) stock has outperformed the Zacks Oil and Gas Production and Pipelines sub-industry. It gained 32.5% compared with the sub-industry's 19% increase. This reflects the stock's higher returns relative to its sub-industry over the past year.

12-Month Share-Price Performance Comparison
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

Pembina Pipeline operates in the energy transportation and midstream services industry through three segments: Pipelines, Facilities, and Marketing and New Ventures. Its Pipelines segment has a transportation capacity of 2.9 million barrels of oil equivalent per day, supporting the movement of energy products across North America. The Facilities segment provides transportation and storage services for natural gas, condensate and natural gas liquids. Meanwhile, the Marketing and New Ventures segment focuses on buying and selling hydrocarbons, primarily sourced from the Western Canadian Sedimentary Basin.

Let's examine the key factors that could support Pembina Pipeline's growth and the risks that investors should consider before adding the stock to their portfolios.

Growth Drivers for Pembina Pipeline StockImproving Earnings Outlook: Pembina Pipeline’s earnings estimates indicate continued growth, with the Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2026 earnings per share pegged at $2.20. The estimate implies year-over-year growth of 15.79%, reflecting expectations for improved earnings performance in 2026.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

Integrated Asset Base: Pembina Pipeline connects natural gas, crude oil, condensate and natural gas liquids through processing, pipelines, storage, fractionation and export infrastructure. This integrated network can improve customer service and market access, while growth in one commodity stream may create additional throughput and service opportunities elsewhere.

Ambitious Growth Targets: Pembina Pipeline targets 5% to 7% annual growth in fee-based adjusted EBITDA per share through 2030. Its September presentation shows a path from C$6.76 per share at the midpoint of 2026 guidance to C$8.25-C$8.90 by 2030, supported by volume growth and sanctioned projects. Delivery depends on the stated project and volume assumptions

Stronger Ethane Supply Agreements: Pembina Pipeline sanctioned the C$570 million Heartland Extraction Plant and secured a long-term agreement to supply Dow with 22,500 barrels per day of ethane. Total contracted ethane volumes rise 15% to 57,500 barrels per day, while retained propane-plus output creates additional fractionation and marketing opportunities. This supports longer-term revenue visibility.

New Opportunity in Data Center Power: Pembina Pipeline and its partners reached a final investment decision on the 932-megawatt Greenlight gas-fired power facility for a Meta Platforms (META - Free Report) data center. Management expects a stable long-term cash-flow stream and stronger natural gas demand, with potential benefits for existing processing, transportation and natural gas liquids businesses. These benefits remain forward-looking.

Key Risks for Pembina Pipeline InvestorsDeclining Pipeline EBITDA: PBA’s pipeline adjusted EBITDA fell 3% year over year to C$626 million. The press release attributes part of the decline to the Alliance Pipeline’s new toll structure and revenue-sharing mechanism, which offset better contracted volumes and operating performance elsewhere in the pipeline division. This decline shows pressure on a major earnings segment.

Softer Q3 Outlook: PBA expects its third-quarter adjusted EBITDA contribution to be below the second quarter because of seasonal factors, spending timing and one-time items. Higher integrity and maintenance costs add pressure, so near-term results may weaken even though full-year guidance was reaffirmed. This creates a weaker near-term comparison.

Exposure to Market Volatility: PBA expects its U.S. and Canadian fractionation-spread businesses to represent about two-thirds of marketing in 2025-2026. It has hedged 90% of third-quarter exposure but only 40% of fourth-quarter exposure, leaving results more sensitive to spread movements later in the year. This leaves some marketing results exposed to spread volatility.

Potential Delays at Cedar LNG: PBA expects Cedar LNG to begin exports in late 2028, so the project will not contribute its full intended benefits immediately. Management identified the floating vessel’s final hookup and commissioning as the key remaining unknown, leaving timing and execution risk before operations start and cash flows ramp up materially.

Regulatory and Investment Hurdles: Pembina Pipeline’s proposed West Coast oil pipeline still needs regulatory approval, competitive cost estimates and sufficient volumes to support investment. Management said these conditions would be assessed over roughly 18 months, meaning the project’s potential benefits are not yet secured earnings and could delay investment approval.

Should Investors Buy or Hold PBA Stock?Pembina Pipeline’s earnings estimates point to continued growth, supported by its integrated asset base, long-term EBITDA per-share targets and expanded ethane supply agreement with Dow. The Greenlight gas-fired power facility also offers potential long-term cash flow opportunities. However, declining pipeline-adjusted EBITDA, a weaker near-term outlook and exposure to fractionation-spread volatility could pressure results. Delays and execution risks related to Cedar LNG and the proposed West Coast oil pipeline add further uncertainty to future growth. Given this mix of strengths and potential challenges, investors should wait for a more opportune entry point instead of adding this Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) stock to their portfolios.

On the other hand, META is a technology company that operates Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp and Messenger while investing in artificial intelligence, digital advertising, and virtual and augmented reality technologies. META carries a Zacks Rank #3 at present.

Key PicksInvestors interested in the energy sector might consider some better-ranked stocks, such as Marathon Petroleum (MPC - Free Report) and Delek US Holdings (DK - Free Report) , each sporting a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) at present. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.

Marathon Petroleum is valued at $133.48 billion. The company is a leading U.S. independent refiner, marketer and transporter of petroleum products, with a strong refining footprint and an extensive midstream business. Marathon Petroleum benefits from its integrated operations, strategic refining assets and diversified earnings streams across the energy value chain.

Delek US Holdings is valued at $4.56 billion. It is a diversified downstream energy company engaged in petroleum refining, renewable fuels, asphalt production and logistics operations. Delek US Holdings operates multiple refineries in the United States and is committed to delivering safe, reliable energy while investing in cleaner energy initiatives.