Market Signal Briefing

TL;DR

US spot Bitcoin ETFs shed about 100,300 BTC since October, cutting holdings to roughly 1.26 million BTC as redemptions forced selling further. SoSoValue estimates $1.6 billion exited in January, extending outflows from November 2025, while Bitcoin near $67,349 leaves buyers about 20% underwater at $83,980 basis. Crypto funds saw $173 million leave last week and $3.7 billion over four weeks, yet inflows remain near $53 billion versus $63 billion peak. US spot Bitcoin ETFs have entered their deepest withdrawal phase of the current cycle, with balances down about 100,300 BTC since the October peak. The headline signal is institutional de-risking showing up as inventory reduction, not just price volatility. Total holdings sit near 1.26 million BTC, and flow data show redemptions have been steady enough to force funds to sell underlying coins. Bitcoin itself has slid from roughly $126,000 to about $67,349, turning ETF positioning into a stress test for conviction and liquidity management. SoSoValue says about $1.6 billion left in January, extending outflows monthly.

Flow Mechanics and What Comes Next SoSoValue’s tracking shows the withdrawals became a monthly theme starting in November 2025, with about $1.6 billion leaving in January alone, forcing funds to reduce coin exposure. The mechanics are straightforward: redemptions translate into spot selling when custodial balances must match shares outstanding. Glassnode noted that during the run-up many traders treated spot ETFs as a durable tailwind, but the same plumbing works in reverse during de-risking. In early February, Arthur Hayes also pointed to dealer hedging from big institutions as another source of downside pressure. That dynamic tightens liquidity just as sentiment turns risk-off.

The balance drawdown is also showing up in investor PnL. With an average ETF cost basis near $83,980, this cohort is sitting on roughly 20% unrealized losses at $67,349. That weakens willingness to add risk and can make rallies more supply-heavy as participants seek to reduce exposure on bounces. The report said selling is not confined to these products: about $173 million left crypto funds last week, marking four straight weeks of redemptions. Over that period, withdrawals totaled roughly $3.7 billion, reinforcing a cautious posture. Glassnode said institutional de-risking is strengthening the wider risk-off mood.

Still, the cycle picture is not being framed as a full reversal. Cumulative net inflows remain near $53 billion, down from a $63 billion peak in October 2025, implying retrenchment rather than abandonment. Bloomberg ETF analyst Eric Balchunas argued context matters, pointing to roughly $8 billion in outflows that followed a 45% price drop and describing Bitcoin’s Wall Street linkage as mostly positive overall. He also noted his team’s first-year inflow forecast of $5 billion to $15 billion was above peers. The message: risk is being trimmed, not rewritten. Holdings may stabilize if confidence rebuilds.

Cover image via U.Today Disclaimer: The opinions expressed by our writers are their own and do not represent the views of U.Today. The financial and market information provided on U.Today is intended for informational purposes only. U.Today is not liable for any financial losses incurred while trading cryptocurrencies. Conduct your own research by contacting financial experts before making any investment decisions. We believe that all content is accurate as of the date of publication, but certain offers mentioned may no longer be available.

Dogecoin is about to have its first golden cross of 2026 against Bitcoin, with the 23-day simple moving average nearing the 50-day simple moving average on the daily DOGE/BTC chart on Binance by TradingView. 

To put it simply, this means that Dogecoin’s price over the past three weeks has been rising faster than average over the past 10 weeks, a measurable change after months of underperformance versus Bitcoin.

DOGE outpaces Bitcoin as relative strength fuels golden cross potentialThe probability of that crossover increased during the Feb. 23 session as Dogecoin outpaced Bitcoin on a relative basis. While BTC quoted near $65,755 and posted modest daily losses, DOGE held near $0.095 and printed stronger intraday gains. That widening spread directly accelerated the ascent of the 23-day average, bringing it within immediate reach of the 50-day line.

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It does not require a major crypto rally for DOGE, only to appreciate faster than BTC. For investors holding both assets, confirmation would mean Dogecoin is delivering higher short-term returns than Bitcoin within the same market environment.

DOGE/BTC chart on Binance by TradingViewTechnically, the 50-day SMA has stopped declining and is moving sideways, creating a narrower gap for the shorter average to cross. The next structural level sits near the 200-day exponential moving average around 0.00000166 BTC. A move into the 0.00000150 to 0.00000160 BTC range would bring that longer-term trend marker into focus.

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Previous recovery attempts in late 2025 failed once relative strength faded. This time, the consolidation phase has lasted longer and daily ranges have compressed, reducing the distance between short- and medium-term averages. 

If the golden cross confirms and the ratio holds above the 50-day line, it would be the first sustained period in 2026 where Dogecoin gains ground against Bitcoin on the long-term time frame.

Bitcoin price briefly slipped below $65,000 as changing macro trade policies and escalating geopolitical tensions kept investors on edge and sent risk sentiment plunging to multi-year lows before managing a brief recovery to the $66,000 range during late Asian trading hours.

The entire crypto market slipped alongside the pioneer asset as nearly $100 billion in market value vanished from the market within hours of the Monday open, with the total market cap sliding over 3.5% to $2.29 trillion. 

As of last check, the crypto fear and greed index showed no signs of improvement and was languishing at a reading of 5, firmly within the territory of "extreme fear."

Leading altcoins like Ethereum, Solana, and XRP were all trading with notable losses, as a massive wave of $458 million in liquidations forced overleveraged traders out of their positions, with a handful of tokens remaining as the only muted exceptions.

Why is Bitcoin price down today?Bitcoin price printed a fresh multi-week low of $64,435 as traders reacted to a sharp turn in global trade rhetoric and a renewed wave of geopolitical anxiety. 

President Donald Trump’s decision to lift proposed global tariffs to 15% unsettled already fragile sentiment, particularly after the Supreme Court struck down earlier emergency measures. 

Markets interpreted the policy pivot as inflationary and potentially harmful to global growth, prompting a rotation away from volatile assets. 

Digital assets, which have increasingly traded as high beta expressions of macro risk, bore the brunt of that repositioning.

Heightened military activity around Iran added another layer of unease.

Reports of an expanding US presence in the Persian Gulf, combined with uncertainty over whether further escalation could follow, reinforced a broader risk-off tone across asset classes. 

Institutional desks have shown limited appetite to increase exposure under such conditions, especially when cross-border trade flows and energy markets sit at the centre of the tension.

Crypto, lacking the defensive characteristics once associated with the digital gold narrative, struggled to attract safe-haven flows.

Pressure intensified on the market structure side.

Spot Bitcoin ETFs have now recorded multiple consecutive weeks of net outflows, with billions of dollars exiting year to date. 

BlackRock’s IBIT alone recently posted sizable redemptions, signalling that large allocators are trimming exposure rather than adding on weakness.

Reduced institutional sponsorship has left order books thinner and more reactive to sudden bursts of selling.

As price slipped through the closely watched $65,000 support zone, forced liquidations accelerated. 

More than $450 million in leveraged positions were wiped out within 24 hours, with long traders accounting for the overwhelming majority of losses.

Automated sell orders triggered margin calls, which in turn pushed the price lower. 

Simultaneously, open interest has fallen toward $95 billion, which is a sign that investors were closing positions. 

Fewer active market makers mean there were limited bids to absorb the sudden influx of supply. Nearly $100 billion in total crypto market value evaporated within hours

Yet the same factors that drove the slide also laid the groundwork for a rebound. Once the bulk of forced selling had cleared, incremental buy orders faced far less overhead pressure. 

On-chain data showed that large holders accumulated meaningfully over the past month, with whales adding substantial amounts of BTC even as retail and ETF flows weakened. 

Those long-term wallets provided a steady bid near the $64,000 region, slowing the descent.

Short sellers also began locking in gains as volatility peaked. Profit taking from bearish positions created natural buying pressure, which combined with opportunistic dip buying from patient capital. 

Stabilisation in the Japanese yen and a modest cooling of tariff rhetoric helped ease some cross-asset stress, allowing risk appetite to recover marginally during late Asian trading hours. 

At the moment, structural dynamics remain mixed.

Stablecoin market capitalisation continues to expand, signalling that capital has not fully exited the digital asset ecosystem but is instead parked on the sidelines. 

Prediction markets and select on-chain sectors show sustained activity, suggesting that speculative interest has shifted rather than disappeared. 

At the same time, futures open interest remains well below prior cycle highs, reflecting a more cautious posture among leveraged traders.

Will Bitcoin price crash?Although Bitcoin has recovered back above $66,000, it does not erase the broader fragility.

Whether that support can hold through the next macro headline will determine if $64,000 marked a local floor.

Analysts are currently identifying the $64,000 to $65,000 range as a make-or-break zone that defines the short-term trajectory for the market. 

This area is significant because it aligns with a high-volume node where significant accumulation occurred earlier in the year, acting as a historical buffer against deeper corrections.

If Bitcoin can maintain its position above this threshold, it would suggest that the recent dip was merely a flush of overleveraged participants rather than a fundamental breakdown of the existing trend. 

However, a daily close below this support would likely shift the focus toward the $60,000 psychological floor, which many traders view as the ultimate line of defense before a potential entry into a more prolonged bearish phase.

To the upside, the immediate hurdle for bulls is the $67,000 to $68,500 corridor, which now hosts a cluster of descending moving averages. 

This region acted as support throughout much of mid February, but in technical terms, old support often flips into new resistance once it has been decisively breached.

For a sustained recovery to take hold, Bitcoin needs to reclaim these levels with rising spot volume to prove that the bounce from $64,000 was driven by genuine demand.

Until then, there’s a risk he recover may turn out to be a fakeout. 

On X, pseudonymous crypto analyst Dami-Defi pointed out that the Bitcoin price was trading within a symmetrical triangle.

At press time, Bitcoin price was trading close to the lower boundary of the pattern and a break below would confirm that sellers are firmly in control. (See below.)

BTC/USD 1-day price chart. Source: Demi-Defi on X.

A drop to $63,000 would confirm the breakout and could send the price towards $60,000.

Simultaneously, fellow analyst Rekt Capital warned that Bitcoin has closed below the 200-week EMA, a long-standing structural support level that has historically defined the boundary between macro bull and bear conditions.

According to the analyst, losing that level on a weekly timeframe means the 200-week EMA is no longer acting as a floor and could now turn into overhead resistance on any recovery attempt.

In prior cycles, similar weekly closes below the 200-week EMA, followed by a failed retest from underneath, have led to further downside acceleration. See below.

BTC/USD - 1-Week. Source:

“Historically across cycles, whenever Bitcoin performed a Weekly Close below the 200-week EMA followed by a bearish retest, it would prompt additional Bearish Acceleration to the downside,” the analyst wrote.

At press time, Bitcoin price trading at $65,829 down over 2.3% on the day.

Altcoins market tanksThe total altcoin market cap fell nearly 9% to $940 billion during the early trading hours on Monday before recovering to $1.02 trillion.

Ethereum (ETH) price briefly dropped below the $1,900 mark, and is down 2.3% over the 24-hour session.

XRP, BNB, Tron (TRX), and Cardano (ADA) faced modest losses between 1-2% each, while Solana (SOL) and Bitcoin Cash (BCH) were down 5% and 7%, respectively.

Most of the top 100 crypto assets were still in minute losses by the end of the day, with the top laggards like LayerZero (ZRO) and Hyperliquid (HYPE) down 9% each. 

Pippin (PIPPIN) bucked the trend as the sole double-digit gainer with a 15% surge driven by whale accumulation, retail spot buying, and its position within the AI agent and Solana narratives.

However, community members have flagged the project as a potential rug pull, citing a highly concentrated token distribution where insider wallets control a significant portion of the supply.

Just (JST) token rose 6% on February 23, 2026, driven by increased DeFi activity on the TRON network and the introduction of WBTC and USDD 2.0 mining rewards on JustLend DAO.

Meanwhile, ether.fi (ETHFI) gains can be attributed to its strategic migration to the Optimism Mainnet recently and its selection as the network's official liquid staking partner.

Source: CoinMarketCap

Arbor Realty Trust (ABR - Free Report) has recently been on Zacks.com's list of the most searched stocks. Therefore, you might want to consider some of the key factors that could influence the stock's performance in the near future.

Shares of this real estate investment trust have returned -3.8% over the past month versus the Zacks S&P 500 composite's +1.8% change. The Zacks REIT and Equity Trust industry, to which Arbor Realty Trust belongs, has lost 2.8% over this period. Now the key question is: Where could the stock be headed in the near term?

While media releases or rumors about a substantial change in a company's business prospects usually make its stock 'trending' and lead to an immediate price change, there are always some fundamental facts that eventually dominate the buy-and-hold decision-making.

Revisions to Earnings EstimatesHere at Zacks, we prioritize appraising the change in the projection of a company's future earnings over anything else. That's because we believe the present value of its future stream of earnings is what determines the fair value for its stock.

We essentially look at how sell-side analysts covering the stock are revising their earnings estimates to reflect the impact of the latest business trends. And if earnings estimates go up for a company, the fair value for its stock goes up. A higher fair value than the current market price drives investors' interest in buying the stock, leading to its price moving higher. This is why empirical research shows a strong correlation between trends in earnings estimate revisions and near-term stock price movements.

For the current quarter, Arbor Realty Trust is expected to post earnings of $0.21 per share, indicating a change of -47.5% from the year-ago quarter. The Zacks Consensus Estimate remained unchanged over the last 30 days.

The consensus earnings estimate of $1.08 for the current fiscal year indicates a year-over-year change of -37.9%. This estimate has remained unchanged over the last 30 days.

For the next fiscal year, the consensus earnings estimate of $0.99 indicates a change of -8.3% from what Arbor Realty Trust is expected to report a year ago. Over the past month, the estimate has remained unchanged.

With an impressive externally audited track record, our proprietary stock rating tool -- the Zacks Rank -- is a more conclusive indicator of a stock's near-term price performance, as it effectively harnesses the power of earnings estimate revisions. The size of the recent change in the consensus estimate, along with three other factors related to earnings estimates, has resulted in a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) for Arbor Realty Trust.

The chart below shows the evolution of the company's forward 12-month consensus EPS estimate:

12 Month EPS

Revenue Growth ForecastWhile earnings growth is arguably the most superior indicator of a company's financial health, nothing happens as such if a business isn't able to grow its revenues. After all, it's nearly impossible for a company to increase its earnings for an extended period without increasing its revenues. So, it's important to know a company's potential revenue growth.

For Arbor Realty Trust, the consensus sales estimate for the current quarter of $221.71 million indicates a year-over-year change of -15.7%. For the current and next fiscal years, $925.71 million and $893.91 million estimates indicate -20.7% and -3.4% changes, respectively.

Last Reported Results and Surprise HistoryArbor Realty Trust reported revenues of $223 million in the last reported quarter, representing a year-over-year change of -22.2%. EPS of $0.35 for the same period compares with $0.43 a year ago.

Compared to the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $240.23 million, the reported revenues represent a surprise of -7.17%. The EPS surprise was +25%.

Over the last four quarters, the company surpassed EPS estimates just once. The company topped consensus revenue estimates two times over this period.

ValuationWithout considering a stock's valuation, no investment decision can be efficient. In predicting a stock's future price performance, it's crucial to determine whether its current price correctly reflects the intrinsic value of the underlying business and the company's growth prospects.

Comparing the current value of a company's valuation multiples, such as its price-to-earnings (P/E), price-to-sales (P/S), and price-to-cash flow (P/CF), to its own historical values helps ascertain whether its stock is fairly valued, overvalued, or undervalued, whereas comparing the company relative to its peers on these parameters gives a good sense of how reasonable its stock price is.

The Zacks Value Style Score (part of the Zacks Style Scores system), which pays close attention to both traditional and unconventional valuation metrics to grade stocks from A to F (an A is better than a B; a B is better than a C; and so on), is pretty helpful in identifying whether a stock is overvalued, rightly valued, or temporarily undervalued.

Arbor Realty Trust is graded A on this front, indicating that it is trading at a discount to its peers. Click here to see the values of some of the valuation metrics that have driven this grade.

Bottom LineThe facts discussed here and much other information on Zacks.com might help determine whether or not it's worthwhile paying attention to the market buzz about Arbor Realty Trust. However, its Zacks Rank #3 does suggest that it may perform in line with the broader market in the near term.

Broadcom Inc. (AVGO - Free Report) is one of the stocks most watched by Zacks.com visitors lately. So, it might be a good idea to review some of the factors that might affect the near-term performance of the stock.

Over the past month, shares of this chipmaker have returned +3.9%, compared to the Zacks S&P 500 composite's +1.8% change. During this period, the Zacks Electronics - Semiconductors industry, which Broadcom Inc. falls in, has gained 3.6%. The key question now is: What could be the stock's future direction?

While media releases or rumors about a substantial change in a company's business prospects usually make its stock 'trending' and lead to an immediate price change, there are always some fundamental facts that eventually dominate the buy-and-hold decision-making.

Revisions to Earnings EstimatesHere at Zacks, we prioritize appraising the change in the projection of a company's future earnings over anything else. That's because we believe the present value of its future stream of earnings is what determines the fair value for its stock.

We essentially look at how sell-side analysts covering the stock are revising their earnings estimates to reflect the impact of the latest business trends. And if earnings estimates go up for a company, the fair value for its stock goes up. A higher fair value than the current market price drives investors' interest in buying the stock, leading to its price moving higher. This is why empirical research shows a strong correlation between trends in earnings estimate revisions and near-term stock price movements.

For the current quarter, Broadcom Inc. is expected to post earnings of $2.03 per share, indicating a change of +26.9% from the year-ago quarter. The Zacks Consensus Estimate remained unchanged over the last 30 days.

The consensus earnings estimate of $10.25 for the current fiscal year indicates a year-over-year change of +50.3%. This estimate has changed +0.3% over the last 30 days.

For the next fiscal year, the consensus earnings estimate of $14.12 indicates a change of +37.7% from what Broadcom Inc. is expected to report a year ago. Over the past month, the estimate has changed +0.6%.

With an impressive externally audited track record, our proprietary stock rating tool -- the Zacks Rank -- is a more conclusive indicator of a stock's near-term price performance, as it effectively harnesses the power of earnings estimate revisions. The size of the recent change in the consensus estimate, along with three other factors related to earnings estimates, has resulted in a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) for Broadcom Inc..

The chart below shows the evolution of the company's forward 12-month consensus EPS estimate:

12 Month EPS

Projected Revenue GrowthWhile earnings growth is arguably the most superior indicator of a company's financial health, nothing happens as such if a business isn't able to grow its revenues. After all, it's nearly impossible for a company to increase its earnings for an extended period without increasing its revenues. So, it's important to know a company's potential revenue growth.

In the case of Broadcom Inc., the consensus sales estimate of $19.27 billion for the current quarter points to a year-over-year change of +29.2%. The $95 billion and $133.72 billion estimates for the current and next fiscal years indicate changes of +48.7% and +40.8%, respectively.

Last Reported Results and Surprise HistoryBroadcom Inc. reported revenues of $18.02 billion in the last reported quarter, representing a year-over-year change of +28.2%. EPS of $1.95 for the same period compares with $1.42 a year ago.

Compared to the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $17.5 billion, the reported revenues represent a surprise of +2.94%. The EPS surprise was +4.28%.

The company beat consensus EPS estimates in each of the trailing four quarters. The company topped consensus revenue estimates each time over this period.

ValuationNo investment decision can be efficient without considering a stock's valuation. Whether a stock's current price rightly reflects the intrinsic value of the underlying business and the company's growth prospects is an essential determinant of its future price performance.

Comparing the current value of a company's valuation multiples, such as its price-to-earnings (P/E), price-to-sales (P/S), and price-to-cash flow (P/CF), to its own historical values helps ascertain whether its stock is fairly valued, overvalued, or undervalued, whereas comparing the company relative to its peers on these parameters gives a good sense of how reasonable its stock price is.

As part of the Zacks Style Scores system, the Zacks Value Style Score (which evaluates both traditional and unconventional valuation metrics) organizes stocks into five groups ranging from A to F (A is better than B; B is better than C; and so on), making it helpful in identifying whether a stock is overvalued, rightly valued, or temporarily undervalued.

Broadcom Inc. is graded D on this front, indicating that it is trading at a premium to its peers. Click here to see the values of some of the valuation metrics that have driven this grade.

ConclusionThe facts discussed here and much other information on Zacks.com might help determine whether or not it's worthwhile paying attention to the market buzz about Broadcom Inc.. However, its Zacks Rank #2 does suggest that it may outperform the broader market in the near term.

Pfizer (PFE - Free Report) has been one of the most searched-for stocks on Zacks.com lately. So, you might want to look at some of the facts that could shape the stock's performance in the near term.

Shares of this drugmaker have returned +3.9% over the past month versus the Zacks S&P 500 composite's +1.8% change. The Zacks Large Cap Pharmaceuticals industry, to which Pfizer belongs, has gained 2.3% over this period. Now the key question is: Where could the stock be headed in the near term?

While media releases or rumors about a substantial change in a company's business prospects usually make its stock 'trending' and lead to an immediate price change, there are always some fundamental facts that eventually dominate the buy-and-hold decision-making.

Revisions to Earnings EstimatesHere at Zacks, we prioritize appraising the change in the projection of a company's future earnings over anything else. That's because we believe the present value of its future stream of earnings is what determines the fair value for its stock.

We essentially look at how sell-side analysts covering the stock are revising their earnings estimates to reflect the impact of the latest business trends. And if earnings estimates go up for a company, the fair value for its stock goes up. A higher fair value than the current market price drives investors' interest in buying the stock, leading to its price moving higher. This is why empirical research shows a strong correlation between trends in earnings estimate revisions and near-term stock price movements.

For the current quarter, Pfizer is expected to post earnings of $0.78 per share, indicating a change of -15.2% from the year-ago quarter. The Zacks Consensus Estimate has changed +3.7% over the last 30 days.

For the current fiscal year, the consensus earnings estimate of $2.97 points to a change of -7.8% from the prior year. Over the last 30 days, this estimate has changed +0.4%.

For the next fiscal year, the consensus earnings estimate of $2.83 indicates a change of -4.8% from what Pfizer is expected to report a year ago. Over the past month, the estimate has remained unchanged.

Having a strong externally audited track record, our proprietary stock rating tool, the Zacks Rank, offers a more conclusive picture of a stock's price direction in the near term, since it effectively harnesses the power of earnings estimate revisions. Due to the size of the recent change in the consensus estimate, along with three other factors related to earnings estimates, Pfizer is rated Zacks Rank #3 (Hold).

The chart below shows the evolution of the company's forward 12-month consensus EPS estimate:

12 Month EPS

Revenue Growth ForecastEven though a company's earnings growth is arguably the best indicator of its financial health, nothing much happens if it cannot raise its revenues. It's almost impossible for a company to grow its earnings without growing its revenue for long periods. Therefore, knowing a company's potential revenue growth is crucial.

For Pfizer, the consensus sales estimate for the current quarter of $13.83 billion indicates a year-over-year change of +0.9%. For the current and next fiscal years, $61 billion and $58.78 billion estimates indicate -2.5% and -3.6% changes, respectively.

Last Reported Results and Surprise HistoryPfizer reported revenues of $17.56 billion in the last reported quarter, representing a year-over-year change of -1.2%. EPS of $0.66 for the same period compares with $0.63 a year ago.

Compared to the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $16.84 billion, the reported revenues represent a surprise of +4.26%. The EPS surprise was +15.79%.

The company beat consensus EPS estimates in each of the trailing four quarters. The company topped consensus revenue estimates three times over this period.

ValuationWithout considering a stock's valuation, no investment decision can be efficient. In predicting a stock's future price performance, it's crucial to determine whether its current price correctly reflects the intrinsic value of the underlying business and the company's growth prospects.

Comparing the current value of a company's valuation multiples, such as its price-to-earnings (P/E), price-to-sales (P/S), and price-to-cash flow (P/CF), to its own historical values helps ascertain whether its stock is fairly valued, overvalued, or undervalued, whereas comparing the company relative to its peers on these parameters gives a good sense of how reasonable its stock price is.

The Zacks Value Style Score (part of the Zacks Style Scores system), which pays close attention to both traditional and unconventional valuation metrics to grade stocks from A to F (an A is better than a B; a B is better than a C; and so on), is pretty helpful in identifying whether a stock is overvalued, rightly valued, or temporarily undervalued.

Pfizer is graded A on this front, indicating that it is trading at a discount to its peers. Click here to see the values of some of the valuation metrics that have driven this grade.

Bottom LineThe facts discussed here and much other information on Zacks.com might help determine whether or not it's worthwhile paying attention to the market buzz about Pfizer. However, its Zacks Rank #3 does suggest that it may perform in line with the broader market in the near term.

JD.com, Inc. (JD - Free Report) is one of the stocks most watched by Zacks.com visitors lately. So, it might be a good idea to review some of the factors that might affect the near-term performance of the stock.

Over the past month, shares of this company have returned -8.1%, compared to the Zacks S&P 500 composite's +1.8% change. During this period, the Zacks Internet - Commerce industry, which JD.com falls in, has lost 9.2%. The key question now is: What could be the stock's future direction?

While media releases or rumors about a substantial change in a company's business prospects usually make its stock 'trending' and lead to an immediate price change, there are always some fundamental facts that eventually dominate the buy-and-hold decision-making.

Earnings Estimate RevisionsRather than focusing on anything else, we at Zacks prioritize evaluating the change in a company's earnings projection. This is because we believe the fair value for its stock is determined by the present value of its future stream of earnings.

Our analysis is essentially based on how sell-side analysts covering the stock are revising their earnings estimates to take the latest business trends into account. When earnings estimates for a company go up, the fair value for its stock goes up as well. And when a stock's fair value is higher than its current market price, investors tend to buy the stock, resulting in its price moving upward. Because of this, empirical studies indicate a strong correlation between trends in earnings estimate revisions and short-term stock price movements.

For the current quarter, JD.com is expected to post earnings of $0.07 per share, indicating a change of -93.1% from the year-ago quarter. The Zacks Consensus Estimate remained unchanged over the last 30 days.

For the current fiscal year, the consensus earnings estimate of $2.53 points to a change of -40.6% from the prior year. Over the last 30 days, this estimate has remained unchanged.

For the next fiscal year, the consensus earnings estimate of $2.85 indicates a change of +12.5% from what JD.com is expected to report a year ago. Over the past month, the estimate has remained unchanged.

Having a strong externally audited track record, our proprietary stock rating tool, the Zacks Rank, offers a more conclusive picture of a stock's price direction in the near term, since it effectively harnesses the power of earnings estimate revisions. Due to the size of the recent change in the consensus estimate, along with three other factors related to earnings estimates, JD.com is rated Zacks Rank #4 (Sell).

The chart below shows the evolution of the company's forward 12-month consensus EPS estimate:

12 Month EPS

Projected Revenue GrowthWhile earnings growth is arguably the most superior indicator of a company's financial health, nothing happens as such if a business isn't able to grow its revenues. After all, it's nearly impossible for a company to increase its earnings for an extended period without increasing its revenues. So, it's important to know a company's potential revenue growth.

In the case of JD.com, the consensus sales estimate of $50.22 billion for the current quarter points to a year-over-year change of +5.6%. The $187.32 billion and $192.4 billion estimates for the current and next fiscal years indicate changes of +16.5% and +2.7%, respectively.

Last Reported Results and Surprise HistoryJD.com reported revenues of $42.01 billion in the last reported quarter, representing a year-over-year change of +13.2%. EPS of $0.52 for the same period compares with $1.24 a year ago.

Compared to the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $41.32 billion, the reported revenues represent a surprise of +1.67%. The EPS surprise was +13.04%.

The company beat consensus EPS estimates in each of the trailing four quarters. The company topped consensus revenue estimates each time over this period.

ValuationNo investment decision can be efficient without considering a stock's valuation. Whether a stock's current price rightly reflects the intrinsic value of the underlying business and the company's growth prospects is an essential determinant of its future price performance.

While comparing the current values of a company's valuation multiples, such as price-to-earnings (P/E), price-to-sales (P/S), and price-to-cash flow (P/CF), with its own historical values helps determine whether its stock is fairly valued, overvalued, or undervalued, comparing the company relative to its peers on these parameters gives a good sense of the reasonability of the stock's price.

The Zacks Value Style Score (part of the Zacks Style Scores system), which pays close attention to both traditional and unconventional valuation metrics to grade stocks from A to F (an A is better than a B; a B is better than a C; and so on), is pretty helpful in identifying whether a stock is overvalued, rightly valued, or temporarily undervalued.

JD.com is graded B on this front, indicating that it is trading at a discount to its peers. Click here to see the values of some of the valuation metrics that have driven this grade.

Bottom LineThe facts discussed here and much other information on Zacks.com might help determine whether or not it's worthwhile paying attention to the market buzz about JD.com. However, its Zacks Rank #4 does suggest that it may underperform the broader market in the near term.

Novo Nordisk (NVO - Free Report) is one of the stocks most watched by Zacks.com visitors lately. So, it might be a good idea to review some of the factors that might affect the near-term performance of the stock.

Over the past month, shares of this drugmaker have returned -23.8%, compared to the Zacks S&P 500 composite's +1.8% change. During this period, the Zacks Large Cap Pharmaceuticals industry, which Novo Nordisk falls in, has gained 2.3%. The key question now is: What could be the stock's future direction?

While media releases or rumors about a substantial change in a company's business prospects usually make its stock 'trending' and lead to an immediate price change, there are always some fundamental facts that eventually dominate the buy-and-hold decision-making.

Earnings Estimate RevisionsRather than focusing on anything else, we at Zacks prioritize evaluating the change in a company's earnings projection. This is because we believe the fair value for its stock is determined by the present value of its future stream of earnings.

Our analysis is essentially based on how sell-side analysts covering the stock are revising their earnings estimates to take the latest business trends into account. When earnings estimates for a company go up, the fair value for its stock goes up as well. And when a stock's fair value is higher than its current market price, investors tend to buy the stock, resulting in its price moving upward. Because of this, empirical studies indicate a strong correlation between trends in earnings estimate revisions and short-term stock price movements.

Novo Nordisk is expected to post earnings of $0.88 per share for the current quarter, representing a year-over-year change of -4.4%. Over the last 30 days, the Zacks Consensus Estimate has changed -8.5%.

For the current fiscal year, the consensus earnings estimate of $3.37 points to a change of -14.9% from the prior year. Over the last 30 days, this estimate has changed +0.5%.

For the next fiscal year, the consensus earnings estimate of $3.35 indicates a change of -0.8% from what Novo Nordisk is expected to report a year ago. Over the past month, the estimate has changed -5%.

With an impressive externally audited track record, our proprietary stock rating tool -- the Zacks Rank -- is a more conclusive indicator of a stock's near-term price performance, as it effectively harnesses the power of earnings estimate revisions. The size of the recent change in the consensus estimate, along with three other factors related to earnings estimates, has resulted in a Zacks Rank #4 (Sell) for Novo Nordisk.

The chart below shows the evolution of the company's forward 12-month consensus EPS estimate:

12 Month EPS

Revenue Growth ForecastWhile earnings growth is arguably the most superior indicator of a company's financial health, nothing happens as such if a business isn't able to grow its revenues. After all, it's nearly impossible for a company to increase its earnings for an extended period without increasing its revenues. So, it's important to know a company's potential revenue growth.

In the case of Novo Nordisk, the consensus sales estimate of $11.46 billion for the current quarter points to a year-over-year change of +4%. The $45.54 billion and $47.23 billion estimates for the current and next fiscal years indicate changes of -2.6% and +3.7%, respectively.

Last Reported Results and Surprise HistoryNovo Nordisk reported revenues of $12.34 billion in the last reported quarter, representing a year-over-year change of +0.7%. EPS of $1 for the same period compares with $0.91 a year ago.

Compared to the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $12.08 billion, the reported revenues represent a surprise of +2.16%. The EPS surprise was +11.11%.

Over the last four quarters, Novo Nordisk surpassed consensus EPS estimates three times. The company topped consensus revenue estimates just once over this period.

ValuationWithout considering a stock's valuation, no investment decision can be efficient. In predicting a stock's future price performance, it's crucial to determine whether its current price correctly reflects the intrinsic value of the underlying business and the company's growth prospects.

Comparing the current value of a company's valuation multiples, such as its price-to-earnings (P/E), price-to-sales (P/S), and price-to-cash flow (P/CF), to its own historical values helps ascertain whether its stock is fairly valued, overvalued, or undervalued, whereas comparing the company relative to its peers on these parameters gives a good sense of how reasonable its stock price is.

The Zacks Value Style Score (part of the Zacks Style Scores system), which pays close attention to both traditional and unconventional valuation metrics to grade stocks from A to F (an A is better than a B; a B is better than a C; and so on), is pretty helpful in identifying whether a stock is overvalued, rightly valued, or temporarily undervalued.

Novo Nordisk is graded B on this front, indicating that it is trading at a discount to its peers. Click here to see the values of some of the valuation metrics that have driven this grade.

ConclusionThe facts discussed here and much other information on Zacks.com might help determine whether or not it's worthwhile paying attention to the market buzz about Novo Nordisk. However, its Zacks Rank #4 does suggest that it may underperform the broader market in the near term.

Palo Alto Networks (PANW - Free Report) has been one of the most searched-for stocks on Zacks.com lately. So, you might want to look at some of the facts that could shape the stock's performance in the near term.

Over the past month, shares of this security software maker have returned -17.5%, compared to the Zacks S&P 500 composite's +1.8% change. During this period, the Zacks Security industry, which Palo Alto falls in, has lost 13.1%. The key question now is: What could be the stock's future direction?

Although media reports or rumors about a significant change in a company's business prospects usually cause its stock to trend and lead to an immediate price change, there are always certain fundamental factors that ultimately drive the buy-and-hold decision.

Earnings Estimate RevisionsRather than focusing on anything else, we at Zacks prioritize evaluating the change in a company's earnings projection. This is because we believe the fair value for its stock is determined by the present value of its future stream of earnings.

Our analysis is essentially based on how sell-side analysts covering the stock are revising their earnings estimates to take the latest business trends into account. When earnings estimates for a company go up, the fair value for its stock goes up as well. And when a stock's fair value is higher than its current market price, investors tend to buy the stock, resulting in its price moving upward. Because of this, empirical studies indicate a strong correlation between trends in earnings estimate revisions and short-term stock price movements.

Palo Alto is expected to post earnings of $0.82 per share for the current quarter, representing a year-over-year change of +2.5%. Over the last 30 days, the Zacks Consensus Estimate has changed -9.7%.

The consensus earnings estimate of $3.73 for the current fiscal year indicates a year-over-year change of +11.7%. This estimate has changed +2.5% over the last 30 days.

For the next fiscal year, the consensus earnings estimate of $4.08 indicates a change of +9.3% from what Palo Alto is expected to report a year ago. Over the past month, the estimate has changed -5.6%.

Having a strong externally audited track record, our proprietary stock rating tool, the Zacks Rank, offers a more conclusive picture of a stock's price direction in the near term, since it effectively harnesses the power of earnings estimate revisions. Due to the size of the recent change in the consensus estimate, along with three other factors related to earnings estimates, Palo Alto is rated Zacks Rank #3 (Hold).

The chart below shows the evolution of the company's forward 12-month consensus EPS estimate:

12 Month EPS

Revenue Growth ForecastEven though a company's earnings growth is arguably the best indicator of its financial health, nothing much happens if it cannot raise its revenues. It's almost impossible for a company to grow its earnings without growing its revenue for long periods. Therefore, knowing a company's potential revenue growth is crucial.

For Palo Alto, the consensus sales estimate for the current quarter of $2.94 billion indicates a year-over-year change of +28.6%. For the current and next fiscal years, $11.2 billion and $13.08 billion estimates indicate +21.4% and +16.8% changes, respectively.

Last Reported Results and Surprise HistoryPalo Alto reported revenues of $2.59 billion in the last reported quarter, representing a year-over-year change of +14.9%. EPS of $1.03 for the same period compares with $0.81 a year ago.

Compared to the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $2.58 billion, the reported revenues represent a surprise of +0.5%. The EPS surprise was +10.75%.

The company beat consensus EPS estimates in each of the trailing four quarters. The company topped consensus revenue estimates each time over this period.

ValuationWithout considering a stock's valuation, no investment decision can be efficient. In predicting a stock's future price performance, it's crucial to determine whether its current price correctly reflects the intrinsic value of the underlying business and the company's growth prospects.

While comparing the current values of a company's valuation multiples, such as price-to-earnings (P/E), price-to-sales (P/S), and price-to-cash flow (P/CF), with its own historical values helps determine whether its stock is fairly valued, overvalued, or undervalued, comparing the company relative to its peers on these parameters gives a good sense of the reasonability of the stock's price.

As part of the Zacks Style Scores system, the Zacks Value Style Score (which evaluates both traditional and unconventional valuation metrics) organizes stocks into five groups ranging from A to F (A is better than B; B is better than C; and so on), making it helpful in identifying whether a stock is overvalued, rightly valued, or temporarily undervalued.

Palo Alto is graded F on this front, indicating that it is trading at a premium to its peers. Click here to see the values of some of the valuation metrics that have driven this grade.

Bottom LineThe facts discussed here and much other information on Zacks.com might help determine whether or not it's worthwhile paying attention to the market buzz about Palo Alto. However, its Zacks Rank #3 does suggest that it may perform in line with the broader market in the near term.

Marathon Petroleum (MPC - Free Report) has been one of the most searched-for stocks on Zacks.com lately. So, you might want to look at some of the facts that could shape the stock's performance in the near term.

Over the past month, shares of this refiner have returned +12.2%, compared to the Zacks S&P 500 composite's +1.8% change. During this period, the Zacks Oil and Gas - Refining and Marketing industry, which Marathon Petroleum falls in, has gained 13.8%. The key question now is: What could be the stock's future direction?

Although media reports or rumors about a significant change in a company's business prospects usually cause its stock to trend and lead to an immediate price change, there are always certain fundamental factors that ultimately drive the buy-and-hold decision.

Revisions to Earnings EstimatesHere at Zacks, we prioritize appraising the change in the projection of a company's future earnings over anything else. That's because we believe the present value of its future stream of earnings is what determines the fair value for its stock.

Our analysis is essentially based on how sell-side analysts covering the stock are revising their earnings estimates to take the latest business trends into account. When earnings estimates for a company go up, the fair value for its stock goes up as well. And when a stock's fair value is higher than its current market price, investors tend to buy the stock, resulting in its price moving upward. Because of this, empirical studies indicate a strong correlation between trends in earnings estimate revisions and short-term stock price movements.

For the current quarter, Marathon Petroleum is expected to post earnings of $0.98 per share, indicating a change of +508.3% from the year-ago quarter. The Zacks Consensus Estimate has changed -33.2% over the last 30 days.

For the current fiscal year, the consensus earnings estimate of $13.31 points to a change of +24.4% from the prior year. Over the last 30 days, this estimate has changed +2.3%.

For the next fiscal year, the consensus earnings estimate of $14.19 indicates a change of +6.7% from what Marathon Petroleum is expected to report a year ago. Over the past month, the estimate has changed +5.4%.

With an impressive externally audited track record, our proprietary stock rating tool -- the Zacks Rank -- is a more conclusive indicator of a stock's near-term price performance, as it effectively harnesses the power of earnings estimate revisions. The size of the recent change in the consensus estimate, along with three other factors related to earnings estimates, has resulted in a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) for Marathon Petroleum.

The chart below shows the evolution of the company's forward 12-month consensus EPS estimate:

12 Month EPS

Revenue Growth ForecastWhile earnings growth is arguably the most superior indicator of a company's financial health, nothing happens as such if a business isn't able to grow its revenues. After all, it's nearly impossible for a company to increase its earnings for an extended period without increasing its revenues. So, it's important to know a company's potential revenue growth.

In the case of Marathon Petroleum, the consensus sales estimate of $28.93 billion for the current quarter points to a year-over-year change of -9.2%. The $120.94 billion and $119.88 billion estimates for the current and next fiscal years indicate changes of -10.6% and -0.9%, respectively.

Last Reported Results and Surprise HistoryMarathon Petroleum reported revenues of $33.42 billion in the last reported quarter, representing a year-over-year change of -0.1%. EPS of $4.07 for the same period compares with $0.77 a year ago.

Compared to the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $29.61 billion, the reported revenues represent a surprise of +12.89%. The EPS surprise was +49.08%.

Over the last four quarters, Marathon Petroleum surpassed consensus EPS estimates three times. The company topped consensus revenue estimates each time over this period.

ValuationNo investment decision can be efficient without considering a stock's valuation. Whether a stock's current price rightly reflects the intrinsic value of the underlying business and the company's growth prospects is an essential determinant of its future price performance.

Comparing the current value of a company's valuation multiples, such as its price-to-earnings (P/E), price-to-sales (P/S), and price-to-cash flow (P/CF), to its own historical values helps ascertain whether its stock is fairly valued, overvalued, or undervalued, whereas comparing the company relative to its peers on these parameters gives a good sense of how reasonable its stock price is.

The Zacks Value Style Score (part of the Zacks Style Scores system), which pays close attention to both traditional and unconventional valuation metrics to grade stocks from A to F (an A is better than a B; a B is better than a C; and so on), is pretty helpful in identifying whether a stock is overvalued, rightly valued, or temporarily undervalued.

Marathon Petroleum is graded A on this front, indicating that it is trading at a discount to its peers. Click here to see the values of some of the valuation metrics that have driven this grade.

ConclusionThe facts discussed here and much other information on Zacks.com might help determine whether or not it's worthwhile paying attention to the market buzz about Marathon Petroleum. However, its Zacks Rank #3 does suggest that it may perform in line with the broader market in the near term.

Paypal (PYPL - Free Report) has recently been on Zacks.com's list of the most searched stocks. Therefore, you might want to consider some of the key factors that could influence the stock's performance in the near future.

Shares of this technology platform and digital payments company have returned -26.4% over the past month versus the Zacks S&P 500 composite's +1.8% change. The Zacks Financial Transaction Services industry, to which Paypal belongs, has lost 3% over this period. Now the key question is: Where could the stock be headed in the near term?

While media releases or rumors about a substantial change in a company's business prospects usually make its stock 'trending' and lead to an immediate price change, there are always some fundamental facts that eventually dominate the buy-and-hold decision-making.

Revisions to Earnings EstimatesRather than focusing on anything else, we at Zacks prioritize evaluating the change in a company's earnings projection. This is because we believe the fair value for its stock is determined by the present value of its future stream of earnings.

We essentially look at how sell-side analysts covering the stock are revising their earnings estimates to reflect the impact of the latest business trends. And if earnings estimates go up for a company, the fair value for its stock goes up. A higher fair value than the current market price drives investors' interest in buying the stock, leading to its price moving higher. This is why empirical research shows a strong correlation between trends in earnings estimate revisions and near-term stock price movements.

For the current quarter, Paypal is expected to post earnings of $1.28 per share, indicating a change of -3.8% from the year-ago quarter. The Zacks Consensus Estimate has changed -7.6% over the last 30 days.

The consensus earnings estimate of $5.38 for the current fiscal year indicates a year-over-year change of +1.3%. This estimate has changed -6.8% over the last 30 days.

For the next fiscal year, the consensus earnings estimate of $5.91 indicates a change of +9.9% from what Paypal is expected to report a year ago. Over the past month, the estimate has changed -8.1%.

Having a strong externally audited track record, our proprietary stock rating tool, the Zacks Rank, offers a more conclusive picture of a stock's price direction in the near term, since it effectively harnesses the power of earnings estimate revisions. Due to the size of the recent change in the consensus estimate, along with three other factors related to earnings estimates, Paypal is rated Zacks Rank #5 (Strong Sell).

The chart below shows the evolution of the company's forward 12-month consensus EPS estimate:

12 Month EPS

Projected Revenue GrowthEven though a company's earnings growth is arguably the best indicator of its financial health, nothing much happens if it cannot raise its revenues. It's almost impossible for a company to grow its earnings without growing its revenue for long periods. Therefore, knowing a company's potential revenue growth is crucial.

For Paypal, the consensus sales estimate for the current quarter of $8.13 billion indicates a year-over-year change of +4.3%. For the current and next fiscal years, $34.23 billion and $35.78 billion estimates indicate +3.2% and +4.5% changes, respectively.

Last Reported Results and Surprise HistoryPaypal reported revenues of $8.68 billion in the last reported quarter, representing a year-over-year change of +3.7%. EPS of $1.23 for the same period compares with $1.19 a year ago.

Compared to the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $8.77 billion, the reported revenues represent a surprise of -1.07%. The EPS surprise was -4.65%.

Over the last four quarters, Paypal surpassed consensus EPS estimates three times. The company topped consensus revenue estimates two times over this period.

ValuationNo investment decision can be efficient without considering a stock's valuation. Whether a stock's current price rightly reflects the intrinsic value of the underlying business and the company's growth prospects is an essential determinant of its future price performance.

While comparing the current values of a company's valuation multiples, such as price-to-earnings (P/E), price-to-sales (P/S), and price-to-cash flow (P/CF), with its own historical values helps determine whether its stock is fairly valued, overvalued, or undervalued, comparing the company relative to its peers on these parameters gives a good sense of the reasonability of the stock's price.

As part of the Zacks Style Scores system, the Zacks Value Style Score (which evaluates both traditional and unconventional valuation metrics) organizes stocks into five groups ranging from A to F (A is better than B; B is better than C; and so on), making it helpful in identifying whether a stock is overvalued, rightly valued, or temporarily undervalued.

Paypal is graded A on this front, indicating that it is trading at a discount to its peers. Click here to see the values of some of the valuation metrics that have driven this grade.

Bottom LineThe facts discussed here and much other information on Zacks.com might help determine whether or not it's worthwhile paying attention to the market buzz about Paypal. However, its Zacks Rank #5 does suggest that it may underperform the broader market in the near term.

Occidental Petroleum (OXY - Free Report) is one of the stocks most watched by Zacks.com visitors lately. So, it might be a good idea to review some of the factors that might affect the near-term performance of the stock.

Shares of this oil and gas exploration and production company have returned +17.6% over the past month versus the Zacks S&P 500 composite's +1.8% change. The Zacks Oil and Gas - Integrated - United States industry, to which Occidental belongs, has gained 16.9% over this period. Now the key question is: Where could the stock be headed in the near term?

While media releases or rumors about a substantial change in a company's business prospects usually make its stock 'trending' and lead to an immediate price change, there are always some fundamental facts that eventually dominate the buy-and-hold decision-making.

Revisions to Earnings EstimatesRather than focusing on anything else, we at Zacks prioritize evaluating the change in a company's earnings projection. This is because we believe the fair value for its stock is determined by the present value of its future stream of earnings.

We essentially look at how sell-side analysts covering the stock are revising their earnings estimates to reflect the impact of the latest business trends. And if earnings estimates go up for a company, the fair value for its stock goes up. A higher fair value than the current market price drives investors' interest in buying the stock, leading to its price moving higher. This is why empirical research shows a strong correlation between trends in earnings estimate revisions and near-term stock price movements.

Occidental is expected to post earnings of $0.17 per share for the current quarter, representing a year-over-year change of -80.5%. Over the last 30 days, the Zacks Consensus Estimate has changed -36.4%.

The consensus earnings estimate of $0.76 for the current fiscal year indicates a year-over-year change of -65.6%. This estimate has changed -18.6% over the last 30 days.

For the next fiscal year, the consensus earnings estimate of $1.49 indicates a change of +96.3% from what Occidental is expected to report a year ago. Over the past month, the estimate has changed -15.8%.

Having a strong externally audited track record, our proprietary stock rating tool, the Zacks Rank, offers a more conclusive picture of a stock's price direction in the near term, since it effectively harnesses the power of earnings estimate revisions. Due to the size of the recent change in the consensus estimate, along with three other factors related to earnings estimates, Occidental is rated Zacks Rank #4 (Sell).

The chart below shows the evolution of the company's forward 12-month consensus EPS estimate:

12 Month EPS

Revenue Growth ForecastWhile earnings growth is arguably the most superior indicator of a company's financial health, nothing happens as such if a business isn't able to grow its revenues. After all, it's nearly impossible for a company to increase its earnings for an extended period without increasing its revenues. So, it's important to know a company's potential revenue growth.

For Occidental, the consensus sales estimate for the current quarter of $4.97 billion indicates a year-over-year change of -27.4%. For the current and next fiscal years, $20.58 billion and $21.8 billion estimates indicate -19.1% and +6% changes, respectively.

Last Reported Results and Surprise HistoryOccidental reported revenues of $5.42 billion in the last reported quarter, representing a year-over-year change of -20.7%. EPS of $0.31 for the same period compares with $0.8 a year ago.

Compared to the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $5.88 billion, the reported revenues represent a surprise of -7.81%. The EPS surprise was +63.16%.

The company beat consensus EPS estimates in each of the trailing four quarters. The company topped consensus revenue estimates times over this period.

ValuationNo investment decision can be efficient without considering a stock's valuation. Whether a stock's current price rightly reflects the intrinsic value of the underlying business and the company's growth prospects is an essential determinant of its future price performance.

While comparing the current values of a company's valuation multiples, such as price-to-earnings (P/E), price-to-sales (P/S), and price-to-cash flow (P/CF), with its own historical values helps determine whether its stock is fairly valued, overvalued, or undervalued, comparing the company relative to its peers on these parameters gives a good sense of the reasonability of the stock's price.

The Zacks Value Style Score (part of the Zacks Style Scores system), which pays close attention to both traditional and unconventional valuation metrics to grade stocks from A to F (an A is better than a B; a B is better than a C; and so on), is pretty helpful in identifying whether a stock is overvalued, rightly valued, or temporarily undervalued.

Occidental is graded B on this front, indicating that it is trading at a discount to its peers. Click here to see the values of some of the valuation metrics that have driven this grade.

Bottom LineThe facts discussed here and much other information on Zacks.com might help determine whether or not it's worthwhile paying attention to the market buzz about Occidental. However, its Zacks Rank #4 does suggest that it may underperform the broader market in the near term.

Key Takeaways Four "Magnificent 7" firms plan $650B in 2026 AI capex, up 71.1% year over year.APH rides triple-digit IT datacom growth, backed by a 33% data center interconnect share.WDC, VRT, LITE and EME set to gain massive from surging AI data center demand. The artificial intelligence (AI) saga, supported by the massive growth of cloud computing and data centers, is yet to fully unfold. This space remains rock solid supported by an extremely bullish demand scenario. The demand for AI-powered data center capacity surged to manage and store the vast amount of cloud computing-based data. 

Four of the “magnificent 7” stocks have decided to invest a massive $650 billion in 2026 as capital expenditure for AI-infrastructure development. This marks a significant 71.1% year-over-year increase in capital spending on the AI ecosystem.

After benefiting the semiconductor industry immensely, the astonishing growth of the AI-powered data centers is going to boost other infrastructure segments. This includes, communication components, especially optical connectivity, storage systems, thermal systems, liquid cooling, construction infrastructure, heating, ventilation and air conditioning, to name a few.

Here, we narrowed our search to five AI-centric giants that have strong growth potential in 2026. These are: Amphenol Corp. (APH - Free Report) , Western Digital Corp. (WDC - Free Report) , Vertiv Holdings Co. (VRT - Free Report) , Lumentum Holdings Inc. (LITE - Free Report) and EMCOR Group Inc. (EME - Free Report) . Each of our picks currently carries either a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) or 2 (Buy). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.

The chart below sows the price performance of our five picks year to date.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

Amphenol Corp. Zacks Rank #2 Amphenol benefits from a diversified business model. Its strong portfolio of solutions, including high-technology interconnect products, is a key catalyst. The company is a dominant force in AI-powered data center interconnects, commanding an estimated 33% market share. APH’s advanced fiber-optic and high-density interconnect solutions are now essential for hyperscale data centers and 5G deployments. 

APH’s AI-driven datacom momentum is transforming its growth profile, with recent fourth-quarter 2025 results indicating a capacity-driven infrastructure shift rather than a short-term surge. IT datacom — the segment most exposed to AI infrastructure — generated triple-digit organic growth, fueled by high-speed and power interconnect products supporting next-generation data centers. 

APH’s record bookings and a strong book-to-bill ratio are aligned with AI investment cycles, as customers extend commitments for large-scale system buildouts. This visibility reflects multi-quarter capacity planning, confirming demand tied to expansion initiatives and supporting revenue durability.

Amphenol is deepening its competitive positioning amid this demand expansion. The inclusion of CommScope’s CCS business enhances its fiber, copper and power connectivity portfolio, positioning APH to serve a wider range of AI datacenter architectures. AI workloads are simultaneously increasing performance thresholds, reinforcing the importance of APH’s mission-critical interconnect solutions.

Amphenol has an expected revenue and earnings growth rate of 34.9% and 29.3%, respectively, for the current year. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for the current year’s earnings has improved 1.9% in the last 30 days. 

Western Digital Corp.Zacks Rank #1 Western Digital has been witnessing strong execution amid intensified cloud and AI demand. WDC has witnessed strong data center demand and increased adoption of high-capacity hard disk drives (HDD). This reflects its ability to scale reliable, high-capacity storage solutions to meet the needs of the AI-driven data economy.

As AI and cloud adoption accelerate, demand for higher-density storage continues to rise. WDC is meeting this demand through close collaboration with hyperscale customers, delivering reliable, high-capacity drives at scale with strong performance and total cost of ownership. 

Gen AI adoption is driving eSSD sales due to its speed, reliability and efficiency over HDDs. Growing AI data boosts demand, fueling eSSD market growth and reshaping storage. Agentic AI is driving future data growth, while its platform business is gaining traction among native AI firms and SaaS providers.

Western Digital has an expected revenue and earnings growth rate of -6.3% and 81.7%, respectively, for the current year (ending June 2026). The Zacks Consensus Estimate for the current year’s earnings has improved 16.2% in the last 30 days. 

Vertiv Holdings Co.Zacks Rank #2 Vertiv Holdings has benefited from an extensive product portfolio, which spans thermal systems, liquid cooling, UPS, switchgear, busbar, and modular solutions. Buoyed by unprecedented data center growth, VRT is strategically expanding capacity to accelerate its AI-enabled pipeline. 

VRT also benefited from the accelerating digital transformation driven by AI and data center demand. Acquisitions have also played a key role, with Great Lakes enhancing IT systems and white space solutions, and Weeleay boosting service capabilities through real-time machine data analysis and predictive actions.

Vertiv’s partnership with NVIDIA Corp. (NVDA) is a key catalyst. VRT co-develops an 800-volt DC power architecture with NVDA, timed to align with the 2027 rollout of NVIDIA's Rubin Ultra platforms. This keeps VRT one GPU generation ahead of evolving silicon architectures, ensuring its infrastructure solutions remain relevant as rack power requirements scale toward and beyond the megawatt threshold.

Vertiv Holdings has an expected revenue and earnings growth rate of 34% and 46.9%, respectively, for the current year. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for the current year’s earnings has improved 15.3% over the last 30 days. 

Lumentum Holdings Inc.Zacks Rank #1 Lumentum Holdings designs and manufactures optical and photonic technologies for high-speed telecommunications, data centers, and advanced manufacturing. LITE provides components, such as transceivers and lasers for fiber-optic networks, supporting the rapid growth of AI, cloud computing, 5G connectivity, and beyond.

LITE’s fiscal second-quarter 2026 results mark a significant inflection point for the company, driven by strengthening demand for AI infrastructure connectivity solutions. LITE’s robust revenue growth reflects accelerating customer adoption of optical technologies that address bandwidth and power efficiency challenges in modern AI workloads.

LITE’s technology leadership in high-speed optical components has positioned it as an essential supplier to hyperscale customers deploying next-generation network architectures. Moreover, LITE has a strong collaboration with NVIDIA for developing NVDA’s silicon photonics ecosystem, especially for deploying the latter’s Spectrum-X Photonics networking switches.

Lumentum Holdings has an expected revenue and earnings growth rate of 76.7% and more than 100%, respectively, for the current year (ending June 2026). The Zacks Consensus Estimate for the current year’s earnings has improved 34.6% over the last 30 days.

EMCOR Group Inc.Zacks Rank #2 EMCOR Group is a leading provider of critical infrastructure to AI-powered data centers. Major offerings of EME are electrical infrastructure, mechanical and cooling systems and fire protection and safety. 

EME is gaining solid traction in the fast-growing data center construction market, which has become an important contributor to its expanding remaining performance obligations (RPOs). EME is actively building on its expertise to manage complex data center projects that involve multiple trades and diverse customer needs. 

With a focus on operational efficiency, planning and execution discipline, EME is strengthening its ability to capture new opportunities in this segment. The growing demand for data centers from multiple regions is not only driving consistent project wins but also supporting a more visible and stable flow of future work.

The growing scale of data center construction work is likely to remain a key support for its order book and future revenue visibility, reinforcing the company’s steady performance momentum in 2026.

EMCOR Group has an expected revenue and earnings growth rate of 5.4% and 8.6%, respectively, for the current year. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for the current year’s earnings has improved 0.01% over the last 30 days. 

Appointments add decades of defense, security, and international program experience to T3 Defense’s executive team February 23, 2026 10:03 ET  | Source: T3 Defense Inc.

NEW YORK and TEL AVIV, Israel, Feb. 23, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- T3 Defense Inc. (NASDAQ: DFNS),  a strategic acquirer and developer of high-potential businesses in the Aerospace and Defense (A&D) sector, formerly Nukkleus Inc., today announced two senior leadership appointments aimed at strengthening execution, scalability, and long-term production reliability.

T3 Defense appointed Emil Blumer as Chief Business Officer and Jordan Buchler as Chief Executive Officer of its Manufacturing & Industrial Processing Division, aligning commercial growth and operational execution around the industrial capabilities that most directly influence production continuity.

As Chief Business Officer, Mr. Blumer is responsible for growth strategy, dealflow, and market positioning across the portfolio. He brings more than 25 years of experience in the defense industry, most notably from his tenure at Rafael Advanced Defense Systems, where he held senior roles spanning program leadership, business development, and commercial management across international defense markets. 

During his time at Rafael, Mr. Blumer worked closely with government customers and defense integrators, gaining firsthand experience into how industrial capacity and supplier readiness intersect over long production cycles. He later held senior leadership roles at Avnon and Magal, further expanding his experience across defense and global markets. At T3 Defense, Blumer’s mandate will be to align commercial strategy with industrial reality, strengthening demand visibility, supporting capital allocation, and ensuring that constrained manufacturing capacity can scale in step with program needs.

Meanwhile, Mr. Buchler will lead T3 Defense’s Manufacturing & Industrial Processing Division, a mandate that includes expanding manufacturing throughput, standardizing industrial and quality processes, reducing qualification friction, and converting durable backlogs into repeatable production output. He will do this by managing a number of subsidiaries including Industrial Techno-Logic Solutions (ITS) and Positech. These companies provide custom industrial machinery, metal processing, machining, fabrication, ruggedized components, and precision motion and stabilization systems embedded across A&D programs. 

Mr. Buchler brings decades of experience building and scaling complex operational systems in highly constrained environments. He spent over 20 years in the public sector before moving into senior operational roles in industry, including building the Ethiopian Maritime Training Institute, and senior leadership positions at Weissbeerger, Paramount Enterprise International, ZOOZ Power, and Oran Safety Glass. Across these roles, Buchler developed a reputation for identifying the critical path, building durable processes, and expanding capacity in environments defined by long cycles, limited margin for error, and capital-intensive infrastructure - conditions that closely mirror the realities of defense manufacturing today.

These leadership moves are another signal of T3 Defense’s focus on growing the most constrained layers of the defense supply chain. Operating as a federated holding company, T3 Defense pairs commercial leadership with hands-on operational leadership and enables its subsidiaries to coordinate across the ecosystem, enabling capacity, expertise, and execution to reinforce one another at the points where production speed is actually set.

“Having spent much of my career at Rafael working directly with defense programs and international customers, I’ve seen how often delivery timelines are shaped by industrial readiness rather than demand,” said Mr. Blumer. “I’m looking to bring that perspective to the portfolio, and to ensure that strong operational capabilities are matched with the right commercial structure, market access, and long-term growth strategy.”

“Building systems in environments where there is no margin for delay or error is how I built my career,” said Mr. Buchler. “I’ve found that what matters is identifying the critical path to success, removing friction, and encouraging teams to have the confidence to make decisions quickly and independently. At T3 Defense, I see an opportunity to take constrained industrial assets and turn them into leaders by building the right processes, moving quickly, and creating an environment where people feel trusted, challenged, and part of something meaningful.”

“Defense output is increasingly limited by the weakest links in the industrial base, not by primes or budgets,” said Menny Shalom, CEO of T3 Defense Inc. “By pairing Emil’s ability to translate industrial strength into market value with Jordan’s focus on expanding real manufacturing capacity, we are organizing T3 Defense around the part of the supply chain that actually determines delivery.”

About T3 Defense Inc.

T3 Defense Inc. (NASDAQ: DFNS), formerly Nukkleus Inc., is a federated holding company focused on acquiring and operating mission-critical defense businesses embedded in long-cycle national security programs. The company targets defense businesses operating at constrained, qualification-driven, or execution-critical points across the industrial base where strategic value exists and where qualification, capacity, and execution are decisive. Through disciplined M&A, centralized capital and strategy, and decentralized operating autonomy, T3 Defense seeks to strengthen critical defense capabilities and compound long-term value.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the federal securities laws. These forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements regarding T3 Defense Inc.’s growth strategy; its ability to expand manufacturing throughput, industrial capacity, and production reliability; anticipated benefits of recent executive appointments; expectations regarding subsidiary coordination and operational scalability; the conversion of backlog into repeatable production output; and the Company’s ability to capitalize on structural constraints within the defense industrial base.

Forward-looking statements are based on current expectations, estimates, and projections and involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in such statements. These risks and uncertainties include, among others, risks related to defense program funding and timing; dependence on government contracts and defense OEM relationships; supply chain constraints; manufacturing execution risks; integration of acquired businesses; availability of capital; and general economic and geopolitical conditions.

T3 Defense undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise, except as required by law.

For more information, please contact:

Investor Relations (US)
Lena Cati
Tel: +1 212 836-9611
[email protected]

Val Ferraro
Tel: +1 212 836-9612
[email protected]

An updated edition of the January 5, 2026 article.

A wide moat refers to companies with lasting competitive advantages that protect them from rivals, similar to how a moat defends a castle. Made famous by Warren Buffett, this strategy targets businesses that can sustain strong long-term profitability due to factors like distinct market positions, strong brand loyalty, cost advantages, network effects and regulatory barriers.

Among the companies that exemplify wide economic moats are Lam Research Corporation (LRCX - Free Report) , NVIDIA Corporation (NVDA - Free Report) , ASML Holding N.V. (ASML - Free Report) and Moody's Corporation (MCO - Free Report) . These companies compete in industries with significant barriers to entry, which safeguard their market positions and promote consistent revenue growth by reducing the risk of new competitors.

Wide-moat companies typically derive their advantage from factors such as strong brand recognition, network effects, high customer switching costs, regulatory hurdles and economies of scale. These elements create formidable challenges for new or existing rivals attempting to gain market share. Consequently, these firms often benefit from solid pricing power, stable profit margins, and the capacity to reinvest in their businesses, further reinforcing their long-term competitive edge.

The attraction of investing in wide-moat businesses stems from their ability to deliver steady, long-term returns. In contrast to companies in highly competitive industries, where profits are more vulnerable to pricing pressure and intense rivalry, wide-moat firms tend to show greater stability during economic downturns and market turbulence. Their solid market positions and robust balance sheets enable them to weather challenges that might severely impact less well-protected competitors.

Investing in wide-moat companies provides a solid strategy for building long-term wealth, as these businesses typically produce steady cash flows and deliver shareholder value through dividend payments and stock price growth. While no investment is entirely risk-free, companies with strong economic moats provide a level of durability that many investors seek in an ever-changing market. Our Wide Moat Screen makes it easy to identify high-potential stocks at any given time — just like the ones mentioned above.

Ready to uncover more transformative thematic investment ideas? Explore 37 cutting-edge investment themes with Zacks Thematic Investing Screens and discover your next big opportunity.

Lam Research benefits from its leadership position in wafer fabrication equipment, specializing in etch and deposition technologies critical to semiconductor manufacturing. Its deep expertise, long-term customer relationships and the enormous capital requirements of its industry form a powerful competitive moat. Technology inflections in the semiconductor industry, including 3D device scaling, multiple patterning, process flow, and advanced packaging chip integration, are expected to continue driving sustainable growth and increasing LRCX’s served market for its products and services in the deposition, etch and clean businesses.

Lam Research has high exposure to the memory segment, which is likely to see tremendous growth in the long run. The semiconductor memory market is being driven by the growing proliferation of artificial intelligence (AI), Machine Learning, Blockchain, cloud computing, big data, mobile devices and the Internet of Things. The huge explosion of data as a result of these advanced technologies requires it to be stored, processed and analyzed to increase efficiency and drive the growth of the business. This has been leading to increased demand for memory chips. In addition, the increasing adoption of semiconductor components across various industries, including automotive, consumer electronics, and IT & telecom, still acts as a tailwind.

Lam Research is at the center of the AI revolution, with its advanced fabrication tools playing a crucial role in enabling high-performance computing. Also, with AI applications requiring more efficient and high-speed memory, high-bandwidth memory adoption is accelerating. Additionally, Lam is benefiting from increased complexity in semiconductor manufacturing, where etch and deposition technologies are crucial. With AI-driven investments accelerating, Lam Research’s leading position in etch and deposition makes it a key beneficiary of the ongoing semiconductor spending cycle. These factors position this Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) stock as a key enabler of next-generation AI chips. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.

NVIDIA, a leader in graphics processing units (GPUs) and AI, possesses a technological moat that keeps it ahead of competitors. Its cutting-edge GPUs are essential for gaming, AI computing and data centers, creating strong demand across multiple industries. The company’s substantial investment in research and development ensures technological superiority, while its CUDA software ecosystem further locks in customers by making it difficult to switch to alternative platforms.

Datacenter presents a solid growth opportunity for this Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) stock. As businesses are increasingly shifting toward cloud, the need for datacenters is increasing. To cater to this huge demand, datacenter operators like Amazon (AMZN - Free Report) , Microsoft (MSFT - Free Report) and Alphabet (GOOG - Free Report) are expanding their operations across the world, which is driving demand for GPUs. Further, NVIDIA plans to focus on new growth boosters for its data center business, such as inference, data science and machine learning techniques, to consolidate its presence in this niche market.

NVIDIA is rapidly gaining traction in enterprise AI, expanding its market beyond cloud providers. Major companies across industries are integrating NVIDIA’s AI platforms to automate workflows, enhance productivity and improve decision-making. The company’s DGX Cloud AI infrastructure, which allows enterprises to train and deploy AI models at scale, has seen increased adoption.

The generative AI revolution also continues to be a tailwind for NVIDIA. The company’s new GPU architectures, Hopper 300 and Blackwell, are rapidly gaining adoption as customers race to expand AI capabilities. Additionally, AI adoption is spreading beyond cloud hyperscalers, with industries such as healthcare, automotive, and robotics increasingly investing in AI-powered solutions. This diversification ensures that NVIDIA continues to grow beyond its traditional customer base.

ASML Holding, a vital supplier to the semiconductor industry, possesses one of the strongest technological moats in the world. Its technological leadership in lithography equipment makes it indispensable to the semiconductor industry. The company maintains a near-monopoly on extreme ultraviolet (EUV) lithography, which is essential for producing advanced chips at 3nm and below. Its EUV systems are crucial for leading chipmakers, positioning ASML as a key enabler of cutting-edge semiconductor manufacturing. The company’s technological superiority ensures high barriers to entry, giving it a competitive moat.

  ASML Holding’s High-NA EUV technology represents the next frontier in chip manufacturing. Designed for sub-2nm nodes, these advanced systems will be critical for the industry’s future. As chipmakers ramp up production of smaller, more powerful chips, ASML’s High-NA EUV tools will play a pivotal role, driving sustained demand. With EUV technology being essential for advanced semiconductor fabrication, ASML Holding’s dominance remains intact, supporting its long-term growth outlook.

ASML Holding, a Zacks Rank #2 stock, is well-positioned to capitalize on the AI revolution, which is driving massive demand for advanced semiconductors. With AI workloads requiring cutting-edge GPUs, high-bandwidth memory and AI accelerators, the demand for smaller and more powerful chips is rising. This trend plays directly into ASML’s hands, as its EUV and High-NA EUV machines are vital for manufacturing these advanced chips. As cloud providers, data centers and tech giants expand their AI infrastructure, ASML Holding’s lithography tools will be in greater demand.

Moody’s is a leader in credit ratings and analytics. Its position is fortified by regulatory reliance on its ratings and a reputation built over decades, creating high barriers for new entrants. Its dominant position in the credit rating industry, along with opportunistic acquisitions and restructuring efforts to diversify revenues and footprint, supports top-line expansion. A strong balance sheet position and earnings strength also keep the company’s capital distributions sustainable.

Moody’s has been meaningfully growing through strategic acquisitions, increasing scale and cross-selling opportunities across products and vertical markets. In August 2025, it announced its plans to secure a majority equity ownership in Middle East Rating & Investors Service. In June 2025, it fully acquired ICR Chile, strengthening its presence in Latin America’s domestic credit markets. In 2024, it announced the acquisition of Numerated Growth Technologies and a 100% stake in Global Credit Rating Company Limited (GCR) to deepen its presence in Africa’s credit market. These deals, along with several other strategic buyouts, will continue helping the company diversify revenues and be accretive to earnings. Moody's will continue to pursue opportunistic deals that are strategic fits and complement its existing operations.

Moody’s continues to pursue growth in areas outside the core credit ratings service. This Zacks Rank #2 company has increased its exposure to the banking and insurance industries and is diversifying into fast-growing professional services and enterprise risk solutions (ERS) businesses. The rising share of the analytics business, which is not correlated with the volatility of interest rates, has added stability to top-line growth.

Key Takeaways CCOI reported a narrower Q4 net loss, beating earnings estimates despite a revenue miss.Off-Net revenue decline offset growth in On-Net and wavelength services for Cogent Communications.CCOI expanded gross margins and adjusted EBITDA, even as full-year revenue declined. Cogent Communications Holdings, Inc. (CCOI - Free Report) reported mixed fourth-quarter 2025 results, with the bottom line beating the Zacks Consensus Estimate while the top line missing the same. 

This Washington, DC-based Internet service provider recorded lower revenues year over year, mainly due to the continued weakness in legacy Sprint and off-net revenues offsetting gains in on-net and wavelength services.

Net IncomeDuring the quarter, the company reported a net loss of $30.8 million or a loss of 64 cents per share compared with a net loss of $43.3 million or a loss of 91 cents per share in the year-ago quarter. Lower operating costs improved the bottom line and beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 45 cents.

For 2025, Cogent reported a net loss of $182.2 million or a loss of $3.80 per share compared with a net loss of $204.1 million or a loss of $4.28 per share in 2024.

RevenuesService revenues decreased to $240.5 million from $252.3 million in the year-earlier quarter, owing to a decline in Off-Net revenues. The top line fell short of the Zacks consensus estimate of $243.01 million. For 2025, revenues decreased to $975.8 million from $1.04 billion in 2024.

On-Net revenues in the quarter were $134.3 million, up from $128.8 million in the year-ago quarter. Revenues beat our estimate of $130.9 million. Customer connections of On-Net rose to 87,944 from 87,500.

Off-Net revenues were $92.9 million compared with $113.2 million in the year-earlier quarter. The segment's customer connections decreased to 24,656 from 28,963 in the year-ago quarter. Net sales miss our revenue estimate of $99 million.

Wavelength revenues were $12.1 million in the quarter, up from $7 million in the year-ago quarter. The segment's customer connections were 2,064, up from 1,118 in the prior-year quarter. Revenues beat our estimate of $11.8 million.

Non-core revenues were $1.2 million, down from $3.4 million in the year-ago quarter. The segment's customer connections were 2,979, down from 5,802 in the prior-year quarter. The company’s net-centric customer connections increased to 64,551 from 62,236 a year ago. Enterprise customer connections decreased to 10,513 from 14,776 a year ago.

Other DetailsGAAP gross profit was $53.7 million, up from $29.8 million a year ago, with respective margins of 22.3% and 11.8%. Non-GAAP gross profit aggregated $112.5 million compared with $97.6 million in the year-ago quarter, with respective margins of 46.8% and 38.7%. Operating loss was $11.3 million compared with a loss of $32.8 million a year ago.

During the quarter, EBITDA was $51.7 million compared with $41.9 million a year ago, with respective margins of 21.5% and 16.6%. Adjusted EBITDA increased to $76.7 million from $66.9 million in the year-ago quarter, with respective margins of 31.9% and 26.5%.

Cash Flow & LiquidityIn the fourth quarter of 2025, Cogent utilized $6 million in cash for operations against a cash generation of $14.5 million in the year-ago quarter. For 2025, the company utilized $10.6 million of cash for operating activities compared with $8.6 million cash utilization in 2024.

As of Dec. 31, 2025, the company had $205.1 million in cash and cash equivalents & restricted cash with $597.2 million of finance lease obligations (net of current maturities) compared with respective tallies of $227.9 million and $517.2 million a year ago.

CCOI’s Zacks RankCogent currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). 

Stocks to ConsiderCelestica Inc. (CLS - Free Report) sports a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) at present. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.

In the last reported quarter, it delivered an earnings surprise of 8.62%. With rising demand for AI and cloud infrastructure, Celestica is well-positioned to benefit. Its focus on higher-margin markets, diversified portfolio, and strong engineering capabilities support scalable production of complex electronic and data-center solutions. Its strong research and development capabilities enable it to produce high-volume electronics manufacturing across multiple industries.

Ericsson (ERIC - Free Report) carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) at present. It delivered an earnings surprise of 17.39% in the last reported quarter.

Ericsson is likely to gain from steady global 5G investments. Its competitive 5G portfolio and disciplined cost focus support network leadership, while expanding enterprise and private-network offerings create new growth opportunities. The company continues to execute its plan to become a leading mobile infrastructure provider. Ongoing innovation and partnerships should further strengthen its position in the wireless infrastructure market.

Ubiquiti Inc. (UI - Free Report) currently holds a Zacks Rank #2. It delivered an earnings surprise of 38.08% in the last reported quarter.

It offers a broad portfolio of networking solutions for enterprises and service providers. Its efficient and flexible business model supports healthy margins and scalable expansion. The company continues to invest in research and development to launch innovative networking products and advanced technologies. Strong channel management and a wide global distributor network improve demand visibility and inventory control.

Cedarhurst Senior Living, eXp Realty, and LRS (Lakeshore Recycling Systems) adopt Chime Workplace to strengthen employee financial health and workforce productivity

Employers move beyond standalone earned wage access as financial wellness becomes core to workplace benefits

, /PRNewswire/ -- Chime Enterprise, the enterprise division of leading financial technology company Chime® (NASDAQ: CHYM), today announced growing employer adoption of Chime Workplace™, a comprehensive financial wellness suite that delivers the full range of Chime's fee-free1 financial tools within a no-cost enterprise financial health solution. Features built into Chime Workplace include earned wage access (EWA)2, which allows employees to access their pay on demand, a high-yield savings account3 with an APY 7x the national average4, and credit-building5 tools. Employers gain real-time, actionable insights into employee financial well-being through the employer portal.

Cedarhurst Senior Living, eXp Realty, and LRS (Lakeshore Recycling Systems) Offer Chime Workplace Financial Wellness Benefits Suite Cedarhurst Senior Living, eXp Realty, and LRS (Lakeshore Recycling Systems) are among the latest employers to implement Chime Workplace to support employee financial well-being and help reduce stress that can impact productivity, retention, and overall performance.

Employers are increasingly linking employee financial wellness to workforce outcomes. According to Gallup's State of the Global Workplace 2025 report, employee engagement remains low at just 21%, costing the global economy an estimated $438 billion annually6. This widespread disengagement signals a workforce under strain, weighing heavily on productivity and performance across industries.

"As organizations look to optimize their workforce and do more with existing resources, employee financial wellness is becoming a business imperative," said Jason Lee, Chief of Chime Enterprise. "Earned wage access is an important first step, but on its own is no longer enough. Employers are moving beyond short-term fixes to holistic platforms that reduce financial stress and support productivity at scale. Chime Workplace gives enterprises a practical, scalable foundation to strengthen workforce readiness without added complexity or cost."

Today's announcement highlights employers across senior living, real estate, and waste and recycling adopting Chime Workplace to replace legacy earned wage access point solutions or implement more integrated financial wellness strategies that help drive workforce performance:

Cedarhurst Senior Living, based in St. Louis, MO, adopted Chime Workplace as part of a broader workforce investment strategy designed to enhance financial wellness resources for frontline caregiving and operations teams, where consistency, attentiveness, and reliability are essential. eXp Realty, a cloud-based real estate brokerage headquartered in Bellingham, WA, selected Chime Workplace to support its employees with scalable, fee-free financial tools that align with its flexible operating model. LRS (Lakeshore Recycling Systems), a waste and recycling services provider headquartered in Rosemont, IL that serves communities across the Midwest, adopted Chime Workplace to support employee financial health across its frontline and field-based operations, helping reduce financial stress that can impact workforce safety and performance. "In senior living, workforce stability directly impacts the resident experience," said Allie Rapini, Director of Human Resources, Cedarhurst Senior Living. "As part of our ongoing commitment to supporting our caregiving and operations teams, we evaluated how our benefits offerings could better promote long-term engagement and financial well-being. We recognized that comprehensive financial wellness tools can play an important role in strengthening retention and supporting employees through real-life financial needs. The transition from our previous earned wage access solution to Chime Workplace's comprehensive financial wellness suite was seamless and efficient, allowing us to enhance our benefits offering without disrupting operations or the high standards of care our residents and families expect."

"We've evaluated several financial wellness solutions over the years, including standalone earned wage access offerings, to determine the right fit for our frontline and field-based workforce," said Dr. Robert Rustman, Vice President of Human Resources, LRS. "We see the connection between employee financial health and overall well-being and safety, and our core values commit us to caring for our teams so they can continue caring for the communities we serve. Chime's comprehensive, fee-free approach stood out as the right solution for us at this time, offering practical support that meets the everyday financial needs of our workforce today and over the long term."

While these new customers span industries—from senior living and real estate to waste and recycling—they share common workforce challenges. Employees from across varied sectors are facing rising living costs, persistent financial stress, and limited access to affordable financial tools, all of which can affect focus, attendance, retention, and overall performance.

Explore how employers are redefining financial wellness at work: Learn more

About Chime Enterprise
Chime Enterprise, the enterprise division of Chime® (NASDAQ: CHYM) — a leading financial technology company — partners with employers to deliver financial wellness solutions that empower their workforce across industries including retail, hospitality, senior living, food and beverage, healthcare, and professional services. Through its award-winning flagship product, Chime Workplace™, the company offers a comprehensive financial wellness suite that brings together everything from earned wage access to long-term saving, credit building, and more — all in a single, no-cost platform designed to support employees at every stage of their financial journey. To learn more, please visit https://enterprise.chime.com/.

Media Contact:
[email protected]

Chime is a financial technology company, not a bank. Banking services provided by The Bancorp Bank, N.A. or Stride Bank, N.A., Members FDIC. The secured Chime Visa® Credit Card is issued by The Bancorp Bank, N.A. or Stride Bank, N.A., pursuant to a license from Visa U.S.A. Inc.

Chime Workplace offered by Chime. Banking services provided by Chime's bank partners, The Bancorp Bank, N.A. or Stride Bank, N.A.

1 Optional services and products may have fees or charges, such as outbound instant transfers, out-of-network transactions, and credit products. Learn more at chime.com/feesinfo.
2 MyPay at Work™ provided by The Bancorp Bank, N.A. or Stride Bank, N.A.. MyPay at Work services provided by Chime Capital, LLC (NMLS 2316451).
3 Chime Checking Account is required to be eligible for a Savings Account.
4 The Annual Percentage Yield ("APY") rates are variable and can change at any time. See here for current Chime APY rates. National APY rates reported by FDIC here.
5 On-time payment history may have a positive impact on your credit score. Late payment may negatively impact your credit score. Results may vary.
6 Gallup, Inc., 2025 State of the Global Workplace Report, April 2025

SOURCE Chime Enterprise

DALLAS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Stablecore, the digital asset core for banks and credit unions, announced today that it has joined the Jack Henry™ Fintech Integration Network (FIN). This strategic milestone enables Jack Henry's approximately 1,670 bank and credit union core clients, as well as the more than 1,000 financial institutions on the Banno Digital Platform™, to deploy institutional-grade, fully-compliant digital asset products directly within their existing core ecosystems. Through this integ.

Analyst’s Disclosure: I/we have a beneficial long position in the shares of NVDA, AMZN either through stock ownership, options, or other derivatives. I wrote this article myself, and it expresses my own opinions. I am not receiving compensation for it (other than from Seeking Alpha). I have no business relationship with any company whose stock is mentioned in this article.

Seeking Alpha's Disclosure: Past performance is no guarantee of future results. No recommendation or advice is being given as to whether any investment is suitable for a particular investor. Any views or opinions expressed above may not reflect those of Seeking Alpha as a whole. Seeking Alpha is not a licensed securities dealer, broker or US investment adviser or investment bank. Our analysts are third party authors that include both professional investors and individual investors who may not be licensed or certified by any institute or regulatory body.

February 23, 2026 09:00 ET  | Source: Savaria Corporation

LAVAL, Quebec, Feb. 23, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Savaria Corporation (“Savaria”) (TSX: SIS) one of the global leaders in the accessibility industry, announces it will release its financial results for the fourth quarter of 2025 after market closes on March 4, 2026. Savaria’s management will hold an investor conference call and webcast at 8:30 a.m. Eastern Standard Time (EST) on Thursday, March 5, 2026. Investors and members of the media are invited to participate on a listen-only basis.

Conference call access:

https://register-conf.media-server.com/register/BI11584c57606d4117a7bc686702e48569

To access the conference call, you must register online and choose the method to join the call, either by dialing the number provided to you or by entering your phone number to receive a call from the system.

Webcast URL (EN): https://edge.media-server.com/mmc/p/gd2pkz3c

About Savaria Corporation

Savaria Corporation (savaria.com) is a global leader in the accessibility industry. It provides accessibility solutions for the physically challenged to increase their comfort, their mobility and their independence. Its product line is one of the most comprehensive on the market. Savaria designs, manufactures, distributes and installs accessibility equipment, such as stairlifts for straight and curved stairs, vertical and inclined wheelchair lifts and elevators for home and commercial use. It also manufactures and markets a comprehensive selection of pressure management products for the medical market, medical beds for the long-term care market, as well as an extensive line of medical equipment and solutions for the safe handling of patients, including ceiling lifts and slings. The Corporation operates a sales network of dealers worldwide and direct sales offices in North America, Europe (UK, The Netherlands, Switzerland, Italy, Germany, Poland and Czech Republic), Australia and China. Savaria employs approximately 2,500 people globally and its plants are located across Canada, the United States, Mexico, Europe and China.

For further information: Sébastien Bourassa
President and CEO
1. 800.661.5112 
[email protected]
Stephen Reitknecht, CPA, CA
Chief Financial Officer
1.800.661.5112, ext. 3370
[email protected] 
Facebook : https://www.facebook.com/savariabettermobility
Instagram :https://www.instagram.com/savariacorp/
LinkedIn: https://ca.linkedin.com/company/savaria

February 23, 2026 09:00 ET  | Source: Globex Mining Enterprises Inc.

TORONTO, Feb. 23, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- GLOBEX MINING ENTERPRISES INC. (GMX – Toronto Stock Exchange, G1MN – Frankfurt, Stuttgart, Berlin, Munich, Tradegate, Lang & Schwarz, LS Exchange, TTMzero, Düsseldorf and Quotrix Düsseldorf Stock Exchanges and GLBXF – OTCQX International in the US) is pleased to announce that it will be attending and presenting at the Red Cloud Pre-PDAC Mining Showcase 2026 at the King Edward Hotel in Toronto on February 26-27, 2026. The company will also be attending the PDAC Convention at the Toronto Convention Center, March 1-4, 2026. Interested investors and shareholders can visit Globex management at booth #2718 of the Investors Exchange. The PDAC is the world’s largest Mineral exploration conference held annually in Toronto, Ontario Canada.

We Seek Safe Harbour.  Foreign Private Issuer 12g3 – 2(b) CUSIP Number 379900 50 9
LEI 529900XYUKGG3LF9PY95For further information, contact:David Christie, P.Geo.
President and COO
Globex Mining Enterprises Inc.
120 Carlton Street, Unit 219
Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5A 4K2
Tel.: 819.797.5242
Fax: 819.797.1470
[email protected]
www.globexmining.com   Forward-Looking Statements: Except for historical information, this news release may contain certain “forward-looking statements”.  These statements may involve a number of known and unknown risks and uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, level of activity and performance to be materially different from the expectations and projections of Globex Mining Enterprises Inc. (“Globex”). No assurance can be given that any events anticipated by the forward-looking information will transpire or occur, or if any of them do so, what benefits Globex will derive therefrom. A more detailed discussion of the risks is available in the “Annual Information Form” filed by Globex on SEDARplus.ca.

56,417,436 shares issued and outstanding

-- Advances reimbursement strategy in the U.S. for FemaSeed, an intended first-step infertility treatment --

ATLANTA, Feb. 23, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Femasys Inc. (NASDAQ: FEMY), a leading biomedical innovator making fertility and non-surgical permanent birth control more accessible and cost-effective to women worldwide, announced today that it has received notice from the American Medical Association (AMA) CPT Editorial Panel approving a new, unique Category III Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) code covering the use of FemaSeed for intratubal insemination (ITI), a procedure that delivers sperm directly into the fallopian tube where conception occurs. The approved Category III CPT code is expected to be issued publicly by the AMA with an effective date of January 1, 2027. Approval of this Category III CPT code represents an important step in advancing the reimbursement strategy for FemaSeed to support broader clinical adoption, provider utilization, and expanded patient access to this first-step infertility treatment option.

“The creation of a new Category III code for the FemaSeed ITI procedure reflects the innovation and differentiated approach of our technology,” said Kathy Lee-Sepsick, Chief Executive Officer and Founder of Femasys Inc. “As we initiate the rollout of FemaSeed to gynecologists and their clinical teams, supported by the availability of our FemSperm® product line, we intend to expand our provider footprint, accelerate adoption, and increase access to care for more than 10 million women in the U.S. affected by infertility. Together, these offerings advance our scalable commercialization strategy and position us for sustainable long-term growth.”

FemaSeed is a next-generation artificial insemination solution that enhances fertilization by precisely delivering sperm to the fallopian tube, the natural site of conception. Developed to bridge the gap between traditional intrauterine insemination (IUI), which often has low success rates, and in vitro fertilization (IVF), which is costly and invasive, FemaSeed offers a safe, effective, accessible, and cost-efficient first-line, in-office treatment option. In its pivotal clinical trial (NCT0468847), conducted in the challenging setting of low male sperm count, FemaSeed achieved more than double the pregnancy rates of IUI.1 FemaSeed is authorized for use in the U.S., Europe, UK, Canada, and Israel. Learn more at www.femaseed.com.

About Femasys
Femasys is a leading biomedical innovator focused on making fertility and non-surgical permanent birth control more accessible and cost-effective for women worldwide through its broad, patent-protected portfolio of novel, in-office therapeutic and diagnostic products. As a U.S. manufacturer with global regulatory approvals, Femasys is actively commercializing its lead product innovations in the U.S. and key international markets. Femasys’ fertility portfolio includes FemaSeed® Intratubal Insemination (ITI), a groundbreaking first-step infertility treatment; FemSperm®, a CLIA waived sperm preparation and analysis product line; and FemVue®, a companion diagnostic for fallopian tube assessment. Published clinical trial data demonstrate that FemaSeed achieved more than double the pregnancy rates of traditional IUI, with a comparable safety profile and high patient and practitioner satisfaction.1

FemBloc® permanent birth control is the first and only non-surgical, in-office alternative to centuries-old surgical sterilization that received full regulatory approval in Europe in June of 2025, the UK in August 2025, and New Zealand in September 2025. Commercialization of this highly cost-effective, convenient and significantly safer approach will be completed through strategic partnerships in select European countries. Alongside FemBloc, the FemChec®, diagnostic product provides an ultrasound-based test to confirm procedural success. Published data from initial clinical trials demonstrated compelling effectiveness, five-year safety, and high patient and practitioner satisfaction.2 For U.S. FDA approval, enrollment in the FINALE pivotal trial (NCT05977751) is on-going.

Learn more at www.femasys.com, or follow us on X, Facebook and LinkedIn.

References
1Liu, J. H., Glassner, M., Gracia, C. R., Johnstone, E. B., Schnell, V. L., Thomas, M. A., L. Morrison, Lee-Sepsick, K. (2024). FemaSeed Directional Intratubal Artificial Insemination for Couples with Male-Factor or Unexplained Infertility Associated with Low Male Sperm Count. J Gynecol Reprod Med, 8(2), 01-12. doi: 10.33140/JGRM.08.02.08.

2Liu, J. H., Blumenthal, P. D., Castaño, P. M., Chudnoff, S. C., Gawron, L. M., Johnstone, E. B., Lee-Sepsick, K. (2025). FemBloc Non-Surgical Permanent Contraception for Occlusion of the Fallopian Tubes. J Gynecol Reprod Med, 9(1), 01-12. doi: 10.33140/JGRM.09.01.05.

Forward-Looking Statements 
This press release contains forward-looking statements that are subject to substantial risks and uncertainties. Forward-looking statements can be identified by terms such as “may,” “will,” “should,” “expect,” “plan,” “anticipate,” “could,” “pending,” “intend,” “believe,” “suggests,” “potential,” “hope,” or “continue” or the negative of these terms or other similar expressions, although not all forward-looking statements contain these words. Forward-looking statements are based on our current expectations and are subject to inherent uncertainties, risks and assumptions, many of which are beyond our control, difficult to predict and could cause actual results to differ materially from what we expect. Further, certain forward-looking statements are based on assumptions as to future events that may not prove to be accurate. Factors that could cause actual results to differ include, among others: our ability to obtain regulatory approvals for our FemBloc product candidate; develop and advance our current FemBloc product candidate and successfully enroll and complete the clinical trial; the ability of our clinical trial to demonstrate safety and effectiveness of our product candidate and other positive results; estimates regarding the total addressable market for our products and product candidate; our ability to commercialize our products and product candidate, our ability to establish, maintain, grow or increase sales and revenues, or the effect of delays in commercializing our products, including FemaSeed; our business model and strategic plans for our products, technologies and business, including our implementation thereof; and those other risks and uncertainties described in the section titled "Risk Factors" in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2024, and other reports as filed with the SEC. Forward-looking statements contained in this press release are made as of this date, and Femasys undertakes no duty to update such information except as required under applicable law.

Contacts: 
David Gutierrez, Dresner Corporate Services, (312) 780-7204, [email protected]
Nathan Abler, Dresner Corporate Services, (714) 742-4180, [email protected]

Eli Lilly on Monday launched a new form of its blockbuster obesity drug, Zepbound, that offers a month's worth of doses in a single pen.

Cash-paying patients can get the multi-dose device, called KwikPen, on the company's direct-to-consumer website, LillyDirect. Prices start at $299 per month for the lowest dose level. 

The pen could serve as a more convenient option for some patients, as it reduces the number of devices they have to use in a month to take the drug. Patients can use one pen to take four weekly doses of Zepbound. 

Currently, patients on the treatment use a different single-dose autoinjector device each week. Lilly also offers single-dose vials of Zepbound, which requires users to draw the medication into a syringe and inject themselves. 

The announcement comes as Lilly works to sustain the early success of Zepbound, which has exploded in demand since it first entered the market in late 2023. LillyDirect has been key to Zepbound's growth, and rolling out a new form of the drug on the platform could attract even more patients. 

The torrid growth of Zepbound has helped Eli Lilly seize a majority share of the weight-loss drug market from rival Novo Nordisk. In the company's fourth quarter, Zepbound brought in $4.2 billion in U.S. revenue, a 122% spike from the previous year.

In a release, Lilly said the Food and Drug Administration approved a label expansion for Zepbound to include the multi-dose device.

The KwikPen is already used for other drugs, such as Lilly's popular diabetes medication, Mounjaro. 

"As part of our commitment to supporting people living with obesity in their weight management journey, we are introducing a new option with the Zepbound KwikPen, a device trusted by patients globally and in the United States for other Lilly medicines," said Ilya Yuffa, the president of Lilly USA and Global Customer Capabilities, in the release. 

GEORGE TOWN, Cayman Islands, Feb. 23, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Consolidated Water Co. Ltd. (NASDAQ Global Select Market: CWCO), a leading designer, builder and operator of advanced water treatment plants, has been invited to attend the 38th Annual ROTH Conference being held at The Ritz-Carlton Laguna Niguel in Dana Point, California, on March 22-24, 2026.

The conference will feature on-demand presentations by companies across a range of industry sectors, in-person one-on-one and small group meetings, industry panels, and fireside chats.

Past conferences have attracted more than 5,000 participants, comprised of institutional investors, family offices, high-net-worth investors, and equity analysts.

On March 23-24, Consolidated Water CEO, Rick McTaggart, will participate in one-on-one meetings with analysts and investors. He will be joined by the company’s CFO, David Sasnett, and its COO, Ramjeet Jerrybandan.

They will discuss the company’s operating results and growth drivers across its four business segments, including its Cayman Islands water utility company, Caribbean-based seawater desalination plants, and U.S.-based manufacturing and services businesses.

The company increased its quarterly cash dividend 27.3% to $0.14 per share beginning in the third quarter of 2025.

Submit your conference registration request here. To schedule a one-on-one meeting with Consolidated Water, please contact your ROTH representative.

For questions or further information about Consolidated Water, contact Ron Both of Encore IR at (949) 432-7557, or submit your request here.

About ROTH
ROTH is a relationship-driven investment bank focused on serving growth companies and their investors. Its full-service platform provides capital raising, high impact equity research, macroeconomics, sales and trading, technical insights, derivatives strategies, M&A advisory, and corporate access. Headquartered in Newport Beach, California, Roth is a privately held, employee-owned organization and maintains offices throughout the U.S. For more information on Roth, please visit www.roth.com.

About Consolidated Water Co. Ltd.
Consolidated Water Co. Ltd. develops and operates advanced water treatment plants and water distribution systems. The company designs, constructs and operates seawater desalination facilities in the Cayman Islands, The Bahamas and the British Virgin Islands, and designs, constructs and operates water treatment and reuse facilities in the United States.

The company also manufactures and services a wide range of products and provides design, engineering, management, operating and other services applicable to commercial and municipal water production, supply and treatment, and industrial water and wastewater treatment.

For more information, visit cwco.com.

Company Contact:
David W. Sasnett
Executive Vice President and CFO
Tel (954) 509-8200
Email Contact

Investor Relations Contact:
Ron Both or Grant Stude
Encore Investor Relations
Tel (949) 432-7557
Email Contact

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/e65745c3-f405-4bd8-aaee-94621c45453c

Key Takeaways Earnings surprises matter as stocks often drop if results miss or merely match expectations.A screen using EPS surprise history, growth outlook and rankings helps spot likely beaters.Likely winners: Revolve Group, Phibro Animal Health Corporation, Silicon Motion Technology and IPG Photonics. It is not surprising that before an earnings season, every investor looks for stocks that can beat market expectations. This is because investors always try to position themselves ahead of time and look to tap stocks that are high-quality in nature.

In this regard, we ran a screener that yielded stocks Revolve Group (RVLV - Free Report) , Phibro Animal Health (PAHC - Free Report) , Silicon Motion Technology (SIMO - Free Report) and IPG Photonics (IPGP - Free Report) as the likely winners on the earnings beat potential.

Why Is a Positive Earnings Surprise So Important?Historically, stocks of companies with solid quarterly earnings (on a nominal basis) tank if they miss or merely meet market expectations. After all, a 20% earnings rise (though apparently looks good) doesn’t tell you if earnings growth has been exhibiting a decelerating trend.

Also, seasonal fluctuations come into play sometimes. If a company’s Q1 is seasonally weak and Q4 strong, then it is likely to report a sequential earnings decline. In such cases, growth rates are misleading when judging the true health of a company.

On the other hand, after much brainstorming and analysis of companies’ financials and initiatives, Wall Street analysts project earnings of companies. They, in fact, club their insights and a company’s guidance when deriving an earnings estimate.

Thus, outperforming that estimate is almost equivalent to beating the company’s own expectation as well as the market perception. And if the margin of earnings surprise is big, it typically drives the stock higher right after the release. Thus, more than anything else, an earnings surprise can push a stock higher.

How to Find Stocks That Can Beat?Now, finding stocks that have the potential to beat on the bottom line may be investors’ dream, but not an easy job. One way to do this is to look at the earnings surprise history of the company.

An impressive track in this regard generally acts as a catalyst in sending a stock higher. It indicates the company’s ability to surpass estimates. And investors generally believe that the company will apply the same secret sauce to execute yet another earnings beat in its next release.

The Winning StrategyIn order to shortlist stocks that are likely to come up with an earnings surprise, we chose the following as our primary screening parameters.

Last EPS Surprise greater than or equal to 10%: Stocks delivering positive surprise in the last quarter tend to surprise again.

Average EPS Surprise in the last four quarters greater than 20%: We lifted the bar for outperformance slight higher by setting the average earnings surprise for the last four quarters at 20%.

Average EPS Surprise in the last two quarters greater than 20%: This points to a more consistent surprise history and makes the case for another surprise even stronger.

In addition, we place a few other criteria that push up the chance of a positive surprise.

Zacks Rank less than or equal to 2: Only companies with a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) or 2 (Buy) rating can get through.

Earnings ESP greater than zero: A stock needs to have both a positive Earnings ESP and a Zacks Rank of #1, 2 or 3 for an earnings beat to happen, as per our proven model.

In order to zero in on those that have long-term growth potential and high trading liquidity we have added the following parameters too:

Next 3–5 Years Estimated EPS Growth (Per Year) greater than 10%: Solid expected earnings growth exhibits the stock’s long-term growth prospects.

Average 20-day Volume greater than 100,000: High trading volume implies that the stocks have adequate liquidity.

A handful of criteria has narrowed down the universe from over 7,700 stocks to only four.

Here are all four stocks:

Revolve Group: The Zacks Rank #2 e-commerce fashion company markets and sells men's and women's designer apparel, shoes and accessories. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.

The average earnings surprise of RVLV for the past four quarters is 61.71%.

Phibro Animal Health: Phibro Animal Health Corporation is a leading global diversified animal health and mineral nutrition company. PAHC sports a Zacks Rank #1.

The average earnings surprise of PAHC for the past four quarters is 20.15%.

Silicon Motion Technology: The Zacks Rank #1 company is a leading developer of microcontroller ICs for NAND flash storage devices.

The average earnings surprise of SIMO for the past four quarters is 23.43%.

IPG Photonics: Oxford, MA-based IPG Photonics Corp develops and manufactures high-performance fiber lasers, fiber amplifiers and diode lasers that are used for diverse applications, including materials processing, medical and advanced applications. The stock has a Zacks Rank #1.

The average earnings surprise of IPGP for the past four quarters is 112.59%.