Track market-moving stories before they get noisy

Key Takeaways FCX expects Grasberg to reach 65% capacity in late 2026 and approach full capacity by year-end 2027.Morenci mining rates rose 30% above the five-year average as reliability and workforce stability improved.Freeport targets a 300-million-pound leach run rate by year-end 2026, with 800 million pounds longer term. Freeport-McMoRan Inc. (FCX - Free Report) used its second-quarter 2026 earnings call to emphasize steady progress at Grasberg, improving U.S. operating performance and a widening pipeline of brownfield copper projects.

The quarter also showed how favorable metals pricing and better-than-expected execution can offset lower year-over-year production while the company rebuilds Indonesian output.

FCX Keeps Grasberg Ramp on SchedulePresident and chief executive officer Kathleen Quirk said the Grasberg Block Cave ramp remained aligned with the company’s April plan. Production rates doubled during the quarter, rising from an April average of 34,000 metric tons per day to 69,000 in June.

Quirk said overall Grasberg district rates should approximate 65% of full capacity in the second half of 2026, reach 80% by mid-2027 and approach full capacity by year-end 2027.

Mark Johnson, president and chief operating officer of Freeport-McMoRan Indonesia, added that material-handling upgrades and drainage work are progressing, while preparations continue for a 2027 restart of Production Block 1 South.

Freeport Builds a Larger U.S. Copper BaseQuirk said Morenci’s second-quarter mining rate was 30% above its five-year average, supported by better equipment reliability, maintenance execution and workforce stability.

Senior vice president Cory Stevens said higher-capacity haul trucks, centralized operating support and additional technology should help sustain those gains. Management expects stronger mining rates to translate into higher copper production over time.

The leach program remains another central growth lever. Freeport is targeting a 300-million-pound annual run rate by year-end 2026 and continues to frame 800 million pounds annually as the longer-term opportunity.

FCX Weighs Higher Bagdad Capital CostsQuirk said preliminary capital for the Bagdad expansion is now around $4.5 billion, roughly 30% above the 2023 estimate, reflecting labor and commodity inflation, scope changes and added engineering.

Despite the increase, management said the project remains supported at an incentive copper price of about $4 per pound. The expansion would add 200 million to 250 million pounds of annual copper production and could be completed in three to four years.

During the Q&A, a BofA Securities analyst pressed management on the economics. Quirk said automation, operating-model changes and throughput optimization are helping offset the higher capital requirement, with a board decision still targeted for the second half of 2026.

Freeport Maintains Volume and Cost OutlookExecutive vice president and chief financial officer Maree Robertson said 2026 sales expectations remain broadly consistent with April estimates. Second-half copper sales are projected to exceed first-half levels by more than 20%, while gold sales are expected to rise more than 65%.

The company expects 2026 unit net cash costs of about $1.9 per pound, slightly better than the prior $1.95 estimate, as stronger by-product credits offset higher energy and input costs.

FCX reported adjusted earnings of $0.74 per share versus the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $0.62. Revenues of $7.03 billion also exceeded the $6.47 billion consensus.    

FCX Q&A Sharpens Key Execution RisksA Goldman Sachs analyst asked whether Grasberg’s strong June exit rate created upside to second-half guidance. Quirk said planned maintenance and chute-gallery upgrades should keep output near the existing range rather than produce a near-term step-up.

A Barclays analyst questioned the shift of copper sales from the third quarter into the fourth. Quirk said production plans were largely unchanged, but inventory-building and refined-copper timing at the new Indonesian smelter altered the sales schedule.

A UBS analyst also challenged the prior goal of reducing U.S. costs to $2.5 per pound in 2027. Quirk said the target remains valid, but current energy, sulfur and acid markets make it unattainable in 2027.

Freeport’s Near-Term FocusManagement’s tone remained confident on execution but disciplined on timing. Grasberg restoration, leach scaling and U.S. operating improvements are the immediate priorities.

At the same time, Freeport is advancing Bagdad, El Abra and Safford/Lone Star without committing to overlapping large-project schedules before studies, permits and capital reviews are complete.

Zacks Signals Point to a Mixed SetupFCX currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). Its Growth Score of B, Momentum Score of A and VGM Score of A indicate favorable growth and trading characteristics, while the Value Score of C is more neutral.

The Style Scores are most powerful when paired with a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) or Zacks Rank 2 (Buy). The current Hold rating supports a balanced stance, and it can change as analysts revise estimates following the reported results.

You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.

Key Takeaways Biogen's new launches may help offset weaker MS franchise sales in second-quarter results due July 29.BIIB may see growth from Skyclarys, Zurzuvae and Alzheimer's collaboration revenues in Q2.Biogen will record acquisition-related IPR&D charges as investors watch Apellis portfolio sales. We expect Biogen (BIIB - Free Report) to beat expectations when it reports second-quarter 2026 results on July 29, before market opens. In the last reported quarter, the company's earnings beat expectations by 21.02%. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for second-quarter sales and earnings is pegged at $2.47 billion and 79 cents per share, respectively.

Factors to Consider for BiogenIn the second quarter, lower sales of Biogen’s multiple sclerosis (“MS”) drugs, excluding Vumerity, are likely to have been offset by sequential revenue growth from new products.

Sales of Biogen’s MS drugs like Tecfidera and Tysabri are likely to have declined due to generic competition for Tecfidera globally, biosimilar competition for Tysabri in Europe and rising competitive pressure in the MS market.

Biogen saw an increased impact of Tecfidera generics in Europe in the last two quarters, with the trend expected to continue in the second quarter.

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for second-quarter sales of Tecfidera is pegged at $103.0 million. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Tysabri is $375.0 million.

Sales of another MS drug, Vumerity, are expected to have risen due to strong demand in the United States. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Vumerity is $205.0 million.

Sales of Biogen’s spinal muscular atrophy drug, Spinraza, are likely to have declined due to lower demand in the U.S. market. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Spinraza is $379.0 million.

The performance of Biogen’s newly launched drug Skyclarys for Friedreich’s ataxia is likely to have continued to improve sequentially, backed by demand growth in outside U.S. markets. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Skyclarys sales is $155.0 million.

Sales of another new drug, Zurzuvae, are likely to have benefited from strong demand trends.

Biogen has a collaboration with Supernus Pharmaceuticals (SUPN - Free Report) for Zurzuvae. Biogen and Supernus Pharmaceuticals equally share profits and losses for the commercialization of Zurzuvae in the United States. In outside U.S. markets, Biogen records product sales (excluding Japan, Taiwan and South Korea) and pays royalties to Supernus.

Alzheimer’s collaboration revenues are expected to have risen in the quarter. Alzheimer’s collaboration revenues include Biogen’s 50% share of net product revenues and cost of sales (including royalties) from Alzheimer’s drug Leqembi (lecanemab), which has been developed in collaboration with Eisai.

Leqembi sales have been improving sequentially over the past few quarters, driven by demand growth globally. The positive trend is expected to have continued in the second quarter. Eisai records Leqembi sales.

In May, Biogen closed its acquisition of Apellis Pharmaceuticals, adding the commercialized medicines Empaveli and Syfovre for immune-mediated retinal disease and nephrology to its commercial portfolio. Investors will look for sales numbers of these newly added drugs. In June, Biogen announced a definitive agreement to acquire RayThera for $1 billion to strengthen its immunology pipeline.

In the second quarter, Biogen will record IPR&D charges related to the Apellis acquisition and the acquisition of exclusive rights to felzartamab in China from TJ Biopharma, which will hurt its EPS.

In the second quarter, Biogen expects core operating expenses to be roughly consistent with the first quarter.

BIIB’s Earnings Surprise HistoryThe company’s earnings beat estimates in each of the last four quarters. The company has a four-quarter earnings surprise of 26.87%, on average.

Biogen’s stock has risen 14.0% so far this year compared with an increase of 2.2% for the industry.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

What Our Model Says for BIIBOur proven model predicts an earnings beat for Biogen this time around. The combination of a positive Earnings ESP and a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), 2 (Buy) or 3 (Hold) increases the odds of an earnings beat, which is the case here.

Earnings ESP: Biogen’s Earnings ESP is +282.03%. The Zacks Consensus Estimate is pegged at 79 cents per share, while the Most Accurate Estimate is pegged higher at $3.02 per share. You can uncover the best stocks to buy or sell before they’re reported with our  Earnings ESP Filter.

Zacks Rank: Biogen has a Zacks Rank #3.

Other Stocks to ConsiderHere are two drug/biotech stocks that also have the right combination of elements to beat on earnings this time around:

Regeneron Pharmaceuticals (REGN - Free Report) has an Earnings ESP of +1.22% and a Zacks Rank #3. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.

Regeneron stock has declined 15.3% so far this year. REGN beat estimates in each of the last four quarters. The company has a four-quarter earnings surprise of 26.33%, on average. Regeneron is scheduled to report second-quarter results on July 30.

Pfizer (PFE - Free Report) has an Earnings ESP of +2.07% and a Zacks Rank #3 at present.

Shares of Pfizer have risen 3.8% so far this year. Pfizer beat earnings estimates in each of the last four reported quarters, delivering an average earnings surprise of 21.93%. Pfizer is scheduled to report second-quarter results on Aug. 4.

Key Takeaways Invitation Homes is expected to post higher Q2 revenues and FFO per share.INVH reported stronger occupancy, positive new lease growth and steady renewal pricing entering the quarter.INVH expects renewals to remain a key driver, though heavy supply may limit pricing in some markets. Invitation Homes (INVH - Free Report) is slated to report second-quarter 2026 results on July 29, after market close. The company’s quarterly results are likely to highlight year-over-year increases in revenues and funds from operations (FFO) per share.

In the last reported quarter, this residential real estate investment trust (REIT) posted a core FFO per share of 48 cents, meeting the Zacks Consensus Estimate. Results reflected firm operating momentum, with higher blended rentals and improved leasing trends.

Over the preceding four quarters, INVH’s core FFO per share met the Zacks Consensus Estimate on all occasions, with the average beat being 0.00%. The graph below depicts this surprise history:

In this article, we will dive deep into the U.S. apartment market environment and the company's fundamentals and analyze the factors that may have contributed to its second-quarter 2026 performance.

US Apartment Market in Q2The U.S. multifamily market entered the second half of 2026 with a clearer recovery taking shape, as strong renter demand and a rapidly shrinking supply pipeline began translating into lower vacancy and improving rent growth.

According to a Cushman & Wakefield report, net absorption reached roughly 124,600 units, up from 83,500 units in the first quarter and 8% above the prior year, making it the fifth-strongest quarter in nearly 25 years. The supply picture also became more favorable. Approximately 88,000 units were delivered during the quarter, down 27% year over year. Around 475,000 units remained under construction at quarter-end, equal to just 3.5% of existing inventory.

Improving demand and slowing supply pushed the national vacancy rate down 35 basis points quarter over quarter to 8.9%, its first move below 9% since 2024. On a trailing four-quarter basis, absorption of approximately 362,000 units exceeded deliveries of about 358,000 units for the first time since early 2022, indicating vacancy is likely to have passed its cyclical peak. The recovery was particularly pronounced in previously overbuilt markets: Austin; Charleston, SC; Savannah, GA; Huntsville, AL; Salt Lake City, UT, and Colorado Springs recorded some of the largest quarterly vacancy declines.

Rent growth remains modest but is beginning to improve. National asking rents reached approximately $1,945 per month, up 1.5% year over year, compared with 1.1% growth in the first quarter. The Bay Area led the recovery, with San Francisco rents rising 13%, San Jose 7% and the East Bay 4.8%. Norfolk, VA; Toledo, OH; Reno, NV, and Boise, ID, also posted strong gains.

High-supply markets remained softer, with rents still declining in Austin and Sarasota, FL, although the pace of those declines moderated as excess supply was absorbed. Overall, the market appears to be shifting from stabilization into an occupancy-led recovery, with broader rent growth likely as the construction pipeline continues to shrink.

Factors at Play and Projections for Invitation HomesInvitation Homes’ second-quarter 2026 performance is likely to have benefited from stronger peak-season leasing trends, improving occupancy and steady renewal pricing. Management said April occupancy accelerated to 97.1%, up 80 basis points from the first-quarter average, while new lease rent growth returned to positive territory at just under 0.5%. Renewal rent growth remained in the low-3% range, lifting blended rent growth to 2.3%. These trends suggest that same-store revenue growth may have improved from the first quarter as demand remained healthy and available rental supply moderated.

Renewals should remain the key support, with management expecting mid-3% to mid-4% renewal growth through the year. New lease pricing is likely to have strengthened further through late second quarter as the gap with renewal rates narrowed during the peak leasing season.

For the second quarter, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for INVH’s rental revenues currently stands at $669.3 million, up from $592.5 million reported in the prior-year period. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for second-quarter total revenues is pegged at $714.3 million, indicating a rise of 4.8% from the year-ago reported number.

However, elevated inventory in some markets could still have limited pricing power, making occupancy preservation important.

Invitation Homes’ activities in the to-be-reported quarter were inadequate to garner analysts’ confidence. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for the quarterly FFO per share has remained unchanged at 49 cents over the past two months. However, the figure suggests an improvement of 2.1% year over year.

What Our Quantitative Model Predicts for Invitation HomesOur proven model does not conclusively predict a surprise in terms of FFO per share for INVH this season. The combination of a positive Earnings ESP and a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), 2 (Buy) or 3 (Hold) increases the chances of an FFO beat, which is not the case here.

Invitation Homes currently has an Earnings ESP of 0.00% and carries a Zacks Rank #3. You can uncover the best stocks to buy or sell before they’re reported with our Earnings ESP Filter.

Stocks That Warrant a LookHere are two stocks from the broader REIT sector — Extra Space Storage (EXR - Free Report) and Cousins Properties (CUZ - Free Report) — you may want to consider, as our model shows that these have the right combination of elements to report an FFO beat this quarter.

Extra Space Storage is slated to report quarterly numbers on July 28. EXR has an Earnings ESP of +0.39% and a Zacks Rank of 3 at present. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.

Cousins is slated to report quarterly numbers on July 30. CUZ has an Earnings ESP of +0.45% and a Zacks Rank of 3 at present.

Note: Anything related to earnings presented in this write-up represents funds from operations (FFO), a widely used metric to gauge the performance of REITs.

Key Takeaways Applied Materials' broad chip equipment portfolio supports AI-driven advanced packaging growth.AMAT expects foundry, DRAM and advanced packaging to drive most 2026 equipment spending growth.Qnity posted strong AI-related growth but faces inventory, debt and China exposure risks. Applied Materials, Inc. (AMAT - Free Report) and Qnity Electronics (Q - Free Report) are two prominent players in the semiconductor supply chain, both involved in advanced packaging and stand out as major beneficiaries of the AI-driven semiconductor upcycle. Applied Materials sits at the heart of chip manufacturing, supplying critical equipment used by foundries to produce advanced semiconductors, and Qnity Electronics serves the fast-growing semiconductor market with a broad portfolio of advanced materials, CMP consumables, advanced packaging, interconnect chemistry and thermal management.

Given the major tailwind, let’s analyze their business models, risk profiles and long-term outlooks and examine which one looks like the better investment right now.

The Case for Applied Materials StockApplied Materials is its unmatched breadth across semiconductor wafer fabrication equipment manufacturing. Applied Materials offers solutions across deposition, materials engineering, etch, metrology, inspection, packaging and process integration, allowing customers to optimize manufacturing flows using a single vendor across multiple stages of production.

Management believes that leading-edge foundry-logic, DRAM and advanced packaging will account for more than 80% of the year-over-year growth in wafer fabrication equipment spending during 2026. In the second quarter of fiscal 2026, Applied Global Services, which accounts for AMAT’s equipment servicing business, generated $1.665 billion of revenues, up from $1.42 billion a year earlier, while its gross margin improved to 34.7% and its operating margin rose to 29.2%.

AMAT already offers what it describes as the industry’s broadest portfolio for the emerging panel trend, spanning chemical vapor deposition, etch, physical vapor deposition, digital lithography, electrochemical deposition and e-beam metrology and test. Now it plans to strengthen this portfolio through its acquisition of the NEXX business from ASMPT. The combined portfolio of NEXX and AMAT is designed to help chipmakers and systems companies build larger AI accelerators with higher energy-efficient performance.

Revenue composition further highlights the shift toward AI-driven semiconductor investment. Foundry, logic and other applications contributed 67% of segment revenues, DRAM accounted for 29%, and flash memory represented just 4%. The higher contribution from foundry-logic and DRAM is increasingly driving demand for leading-edge logic chips, high-bandwidth memory and advanced packaging technologies.

Collaboration is another important element of Applied Materials’ packaging strategy. Through the EPIC Center, AMAT and SK hynix plan to work on next-generation DRAM, HBM and 3D advanced packaging. These factors establish AMAT at a sweet spot in the packaging business. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for AMAT’s 2026 earnings is pegged at $12.14, implying year-over-year growth of 29%. Estimates have been revised upward in the past 30 days.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

The Case for Qnity Electronics StockQnity Electronics is benefiting from rising semiconductor complexity as AI shifts the industry from traditional transistor scaling toward vertically stacked chip architectures, where materials intensity, integration and reliability become increasingly critical. The company's momentum is already translating into strong financial performance. In first-quarter 2026, net sales increased 18% year over year to $1.32 billion, while organic sales grew 17%.

During the first quarter, organic sales in the Semiconductor Technologies segment grew 12%, supported by advanced logic, HBM, improving NAND demand and higher fab utilization. Qnity noted that 3-nanometer production continues to ramp up while meaningful activity has begun at 2-nanometer nodes. Adjusted operating EBITDA rose 22% to $411 million, and adjusted EBITDA margin expanded 125 basis points to 31.3%.

Qnity Electronics’ interconnect solutions (ICS) segment has become its fastest-growing business. The segment delivered 22% organic sales growth during the first quarter, driven by advanced packaging, advanced interconnects and thermal management. Revenues from these core AI-related product categories increased more than 50% year over year as the company benefited from data-center demand and production ramps from shorter-cycle Process of Record (POR) wins secured during 2025.

Management also highlighted new business wins with AI PCB manufacturers serving leading hyperscalers and premium smartphone OEMs, while increasing thermal management requirements continue to drive higher content per device. ICS generated an adjusted operating EBITDA margin of 28.5%, reflecting strong operating leverage and favorable product mix. However, Qnity faces several near-term challenges despite solid execution. Growth remains sensitive to customer inventory cycles, with recent semiconductor restocking benefits unlikely to persist.

Qnity Electronics’ cash flow is under pressure as elevated capital spending and IT separation investments reduce free cash flow and limit buybacks and deleveraging. Additionally, high debt raises interest costs, and significant China exposure leaves the company vulnerable to geopolitical and trade-related disruptions. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Qnity’s 2026 earnings is pegged at $4.16, implying year-over-year growth of 24%. Estimates have been revised upward in the past 30 days.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

AMAT vs. Q: Price Performance & Valuation CheckQnity shares have risen 69.8% year to date, while Applied Materials has soared 123.9%.

YTD Performance Chart
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

On the valuation front, Applied Materials trades at a forward 12-month price-to-sales (P/S) multiple of 11.20X, above its median of 9.29X, while Qnity Electronics trades at a P/S multiple of 5.11X, below its median of 5.29X.

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

Conclusion: Which Stock is a Safer Bet?Applied Materials appears to be the safer long-term investment. Its unmatched portfolio across semiconductor manufacturing equipment, expanding AI-driven advanced packaging opportunities, higher expected earnings growth, and robust high-margin services business provide greater visibility and resilience. While Qnity Electronics offers an attractive valuation and strong exposure to advanced packaging materials, its near-term outlook is tempered by customer inventory sensitivity, elevated capital spending, higher leverage and China-related risks. Investors seeking a balanced combination of growth, profitability and execution may find Applied Materials better positioned to capitalize on the AI semiconductor investment cycle.

AMAT and Q carry a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) each at present. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.

Rivian has filed a lawsuit against the U.S. government in an attempt to claw back a “full refund” on tariffs it paid under President Trump’s “Liberation Day” taxes, which the Supreme Court later ruled unconstitutional.

The automaker joins a long line of companies seeking such refunds. In April, Rivian CFO Claire McDonough said she expected the company stood to reap a refund in the “tens of millions of dollars.”

Rivian’s action comes as the company is in the middle of rolling out its first mass-market SUV, the R2. It expects to ship around 20,000-25,000 of them by the end of this year, and help the company finally reach profitability. Reaching that goal may not happen until 2028, though, as Rivian is plowing a lot of money into developing autonomous vehicles at the moment. The company recently sold shares to raise around $1.3 billion to help pad out its cash balance in the meantime.

The lawsuit, filed on Thursday in the U.S. Court of International Trade, names the U.S. government, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and its commissioner Rodney Scott as defendants. CBP collected the tariffs on behalf of the Trump administration, which tried to justify them under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA).

In a statement to TechCrunch, CBP said that over $121 billion in both “potential and certified refunds have been accepted for processing .” The agency did not comment specifically on the lawsuit.

Earlier this month, the Cato Institute wrote that $71 billion had been paid out, which “suggests that frictions built into” the refund process created “obstacles for importers seeking refunds.”

According to Rivian’s lawsuit, the company wants a guarantee that it will get its money — and the proper amount — back from the government.

“Although the Supreme Court invalidated the tariffs, this separate action remains necessary because importers that have paid IEEPA tariffs, including Plaintiffs, are not guaranteed a refund of amounts previously paid based on the Supreme Court’s decision,” Rivian’s lawyers wrote in the complaint.

Rivian did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Rivian CEO RJ Scaringe told Reuters last year after the tariffs were imposed that he expected the cost of each vehicle to rise by “a couple of thousand dollars” as a result. By the end of 2025, he said the company had mitigated the impact to “low hundreds of dollars.”

“The resulting environment of retaliatory trade or other practices or additional trade restrictions or barriers has harmed, and could continue to harm, our ability to obtain necessary raw materials, components and equipment and could harm our ability to sell our products and services at prices customers are willing to pay,” the company wrote in a regulatory filing earlier this year.

Rivian is asking the trade court to declare the tariffs “contrary to law,” issue a refund with interest, and pay any associated court fees.

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Sean O’Kane is a reporter who has spent a decade covering the rapidly-evolving business and technology of the transportation industry, including Tesla and the many startups chasing Elon Musk. Most recently, he was a reporter at Bloomberg News where he helped break stories about some of the most notorious EV SPAC flops. He previously worked at The Verge, where he also covered consumer technology, hosted many short- and long-form videos, performed product and editorial photography, and once nearly passed out in a Red Bull Air Race plane.

You can contact or verify outreach from Sean by emailing [email protected] or via encrypted message at okane.01 on Signal.

The space sector is changing almost at the speed of a high-powered rocket. Among the numerous developments in the business recently, one in particular could make quite a difference: Rocket Lab's (RKLB -6.00%) $8 billion deal for satellite telecom company Iridium Communications (IRDM -3.15%).

Rocket Lab is touting the acquisition as transformational. While there's some degree of the usual corporate hype behind that assertion, it's absolutely going to change the company. Here's why.

Calling on a new asset At the end of June, Rocket Lab and Iridium agreed that Rocket Lab would pay $54 per share for Iridium in a mix of cash and stock. The deal has an enterprise value of around $8 billion.

Image source: Getty Images.

In a joint press release, the two companies said that this is a synergistic combination of Rocket Lab's launch business and equipment manufacturing with Iridium's low earth orbit (LEO) satellite network and related assets.

Fusing will "create a competitive, vertically integrated space company that designs, builds, launches, and operates its own constellations, delivering critical communications capability to millions of users worldwide," the companies said.

The boards of directors of both have unanimously approved the acquisition. The purchase price breaks down into $27 per Iridium share and shares of Rocket Lab stock, calculated according to an exchange ratio yet to be determined.

The deal is subject to approval from both Iridium shareholders and the relevant regulatory authorities. It's expected to close in the middle of next year.

Comparisons with the big guy This deal is pricey, but it still looks like a smart, opportunistic move by Rocket Lab. It's getting a unique -- and, importantly, highly productive -- asset with Iridium's satellite network, which is the go-to for customers wanting/needing pole-to-pole telecom connectivity for a variety of use cases.

Even in the likely case that the two businesses take some time to integrate, Iridium is regularly profitable and significantly free cash flow (FCF) positive, with FCF hovering just below $300 million in 2025. So owning it will have an immediate and beneficial effect on Rocket Lab's fundamentals.

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Although Iridium and the Starlink service, now under the wing of Space Exploration Technologies, aka SpaceX, aren't exactly direct competitors, their businesses are close enough to inevitably draw comparisons. So, going forward, Rocket Lab will be regularly matched against its monster rival.

To me, SpaceX as a conglomerate is something of a mishmash, with artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructure and development, a social media site, and Starlink sitting alongside the company's space operations. Meanwhile, with the Iridium deal, Rocket Lab is shaping up to be a tighter, yet still comprehensive, set of complementary assets.

One big caveat with Rocket Lab is its still-high valuations, as the market still clearly hasn't entirely gotten over its excitement about bulking up space companies. Personally, this would make me hesitant to buy the stock, as I feel it's overvalued for a company that still needs to prove it can become reliably profitable with its legacy business.

Investors with a more bullish view of the space sector's prospects who don't mind waiting a while for Rocket Lab and Iridium to properly integrate might feel differently. Those folks should definitely consider buying.

Key Takeaways INCY is set to report Q2 results with revenue estimates at $1.40B and earnings expected at $1.85 per share.INCY may benefit from strong Jakafi demand, higher royalties and Opzelura growth with a one-time Q2 benefit.Incyte's newer products, including Niktimvo and Monjuvi, are expected to add to second-quarter revenues. Incyte Corporation (INCY - Free Report) is expected to beat expectations when it reports second-quarter 2026 earnings on July 28, before the opening bell. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for the to-be-reported quarter’s revenues is pegged at $1.40 billion, while the same for earnings is pinned at $1.85 per share.

Let’s see how things might have shaped up before the announcement.

Factors Likely to Influence INCY's Q2 ResultsIncyte primarily derives product revenues from the sales of its lead drug, Jakafi (ruxolitinib), in the United States, as well as from the sales of other marketed drugs. Its momentum is likely to have continued on the back of strong Jakafi sales, a first-in-class, selective JAK1/JAK2 inhibitor, in all approved indications (polycythemia vera, myelofibrosis and refractory acute graft-versus-host disease [GvHD]).

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Jakafi's second-quarter sales is pegged at $796.5 million.

Incyte also earns product royalty revenues from Novartis (NVS - Free Report) for the commercialization of Jakafi in ex-U.S. markets.

While Incyte markets Jakafi in the United States, Novartis markets the same drug as Jakavi outside the United States. INCY is expected to have received higher royalties from NVS in the to-be-reported quarter due to potentially higher Jakavi sales.

Year to date, Incyte shares have gained 18.1% compared with the industry’s 1.3% growth.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

Incyte also receives royalties from the sales of Tabrecta (capmatinib), which is approved for treating adult patients with metastatic non-small cell lung cancer. Novartis has exclusive worldwide development and commercialization rights to Tabrecta.

In the to-be-reported quarter, Opzelura (ruxolitinib cream) sales are expected to have been driven by continued growth in new patient starts and refills in the United States, for both its approved indications, atopic dermatitis and vitiligo. Incyte's second-quarter results are expected to benefit from its recent settlement with the CMS regarding Medicaid rebate rules for Opzelura. The agreement eliminates potential liabilities related to the application of line extension regulations, leading to a one-time, non-cash benefit of approximately $246 million in the second quarter from the reversal of previously accrued balances. The settlement should also improve Opzelura's gross-to-net performance going forward, and management is expected to update its financial guidance to reflect the impact.

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Opzelura’s second-quarter sales is pegged at $214.7 million.

While Jakafi’s sales and royalties are the key catalysts for Incyte’s revenue growth, sales of other drugs like Minjuvi, Pemazyre and Iclusig, and Olumiant’s royalties from Eli Lilly (LLY - Free Report) are also likely to have contributed to Incyte’s top line. INCY has a collaboration agreement with LLY for Olumiant. The drug is a once-daily oral JAK inhibitor discovered by Incyte and licensed to Eli Lilly. It is approved for several types of autoimmune diseases.

Incyte acquired exclusive global rights to Monjuvi/Minjuvi (tafasitamab), initially approved for the treatment of relapsed or refractory diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, from MorphoSys in 2024. Last year, the FDA approved Monjuvi for relapsed or refractory follicular lymphoma, expanding its label and boosting sales. Minjuvi also secured approvals for this indication in the EU and Japan in 2025.

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Iclusig, Minjuvi/Monjuvi and Pemazyre’s second-quarter sales is pegged at $35.5 million, $50.6 million and $22.4 million, respectively. Incremental sales from Zynyz, too, are expected to have boosted Incyte’s revenues in the to-be-reported quarter.

Incyte and partner Syndax launched Niktimvo (axatilimab-csfr) in the United States in early 2025 after FDA approval for chronic graft-versus-host disease (cGvHD) patients who have failed at least two prior systemic therapies. Niktimvo is Incyte's second approved treatment for cGvHD (third-line). The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Niktimvo’s second-quarter sales is pegged at $63.5 million.

Higher research and development expenses, as well as increased selling, general and administrative costs, are likely to have escalated operating expenses in the second quarter of 2026.

INCY's Earnings Surprise HistoryIncyte has a mixed history of earnings surprises. The company beat earnings estimates in three of the trailing four quarters, while missing the same on the remaining occasion, delivering an average surprise of 18.26%. In the last reported quarter, INCY posted an earnings surprise of 31.16%.

Earnings Whispers for INCY StockOur proven model predicts an earnings beat for INCY this time around. The combination of a positive Earnings ESP and a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), 2 (Buy) or 3 (Hold) increases the odds of an earnings beat, which is the case here, as you will see below.

INCY’s Earnings ESP: Incyte’s Earnings ESP is +18.47% as the Most Accurate Estimate currently stands at $2.19, higher than the Zacks Consensus Estimate, which is pegged at $1.85. You can uncover the best stocks to buy or sell before they're reported with our Earnings ESP Filter.

INCY’s Zacks Rank: INCY has a Zacks Rank #3 at present.

Another Stock With a Favorable CombinationHere is a stock worth considering from the healthcare space, as our model shows that this, too, has the right combination of elements to beat on earnings this reporting cycle.

ACADIA Pharmaceuticals (ACAD - Free Report) has an Earnings ESP of +25.00% and a Zacks Rank #2 at present. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.

Shares of ACAD have lost 7% year to date. The company’s earnings beat estimates in three of the trailing four quarters and missed on the remaining occasion, delivering an average surprise of 20.83%. Acadia is scheduled to report second-quarter results on Aug. 4.

Key Takeaways OTIS grew second-quarter Service sales 11%, with maintenance, repair and modernization driving gains.Otis modernization backlog rose 26% at constant currency, supporting future Service revenue visibility.OTIS expects Service margin improvement in second half as UpLift and pricing initiatives continue. Otis Worldwide Corporation (OTIS - Free Report) is leaning harder on its recurring Service business as New Equipment demand stays uneven. Maintenance, repair and modernization now carry more of the revenue story while installation activity remains pressured.

The investor question is whether Service can keep enough momentum to offset weak equipment demand, especially in China. That balance is central to OTIS’ near-term operating setup.

Otis Service Revenue Becomes the Core Growth EngineService accounted for 65.4% of 2025 revenues, making it the larger of Otis’ two segments. The segment includes maintenance, repair and modernization services across a maintenance portfolio of more than 2 million units worldwide.

In the second quarter of 2026, Service net sales rose 11% year over year to $2.58 billion. Organic sales increased 9%, helped by broad gains across maintenance, repair and modernization activity.

OTIS Modernization Backlog Extends Revenue VisibilityModernization remains a key support for Service growth. Organic modernization sales increased 24% in the second quarter, while modernization orders rose 9% at constant currency.

Backlog grew 26% at constant currency, giving Otis better visibility into future modernization revenues. Management expects Service organic sales to grow in the mid-to-high-single-digit range in 2026, though second-half Service growth is expected to ease to about 6% as modernization normalizes to a low-teens rate.

Otis New Equipment Demand Remains Under PressureNew Equipment remains the weak spot. Second-quarter organic sales declined 1%, reflecting a high-teens revenue drop in China and a mid-single-digit decline in Europe, the Middle East and Africa.

Orders fell 5% at constant currency as declines in Asia Pacific and China offset growth in the Americas and Europe, the Middle East and Africa. The segment’s operating margin contracted 220 basis points to 3.1%, underscoring the impact of lower volume, unfavorable pricing and mix.

Carrier Global Corporation (CARR - Free Report) , a climate and energy solutions company, offers investors another lens on building systems demand. United Rentals, Inc. (URI - Free Report) , which serves construction and industrial customers with equipment rentals, provides a broader read on project activity tied to the same end-market cycle.

OTIS Cost Actions Target a Service Margin RecoveryOtis is trying to improve Service execution through its UpLift transformation. The effort focuses on standardized field processes, frontline execution and customer retention.

The company invested $15 million in Service Excellence during the second quarter and plans $50 million of Service Excellence and pricing initiatives in 2026. Management also completed non-frontline restructuring actions and expects Service margins to improve from 23.1% in the first half of 2026 to about the mid-24% range in the second half.

Otis Signals Favor Growth but Not Near-Term MomentumThe bottom line is that Otis has a durable Service thesis, but the stock does not yet show clean near-term confirmation. Recurring maintenance, repair and modernization revenues support the operating case, while China weakness, low New Equipment margins and cost pressure keep the earnings setup mixed.

OTIS currently carries a Zacks Rank #4 (Sell). That ranking reflects weaker short-term estimate revision trends, so it tempers the appeal of the Service-led growth story for investors focused on the next one to three months.

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

The Style Scores are more balanced. OTIS has a Growth Score of B and VGM Score of B, pointing to stronger operating potential across growth and combined style factors. Its Value Score of C and Momentum Score of C are more neutral, suggesting that valuation and price action are not yet providing the same level of support.

Key Takeaways Invesco's Q2 results are expected to reflect y/y earnings and revenue growth.IVZ's preliminary AUM reached $2.47T in June 2026, supporting investment management fees.IVZ completed its Canadian fund business transfer to CI GAM while retaining select portfolio mandates. Invesco (IVZ - Free Report) is scheduled to announce second-quarter 2026 results on July 28, before market open. The company’s quarterly earnings and revenues are expected to have witnessed a rise on a year-over-year basis.

In the last reported quarter, IVZ’s adjusted earnings missed the Zacks Consensus Estimate. The results primarily benefited from an increase in adjusted revenues and growth in assets under management (AUM) balance. However, an increase in adjusted expenses was a headwind.

Invesco does not have an impressive earnings surprise history. Its earnings surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate in only two of the trailing four quarters, the average surprise being 7.9%.

Invesco’s Key Q2 Estimates & Factors to NotePer the monthly metrics data published by Invesco, its preliminary total AUM as of June 30, 2026, was $2.47 trillion, up 14.4% from the previous quarter’s end. So, the company’s investment management fees are expected to have been positively impacted in the quarter. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for investment management fees is pegged at $1.48 billion, indicating a rise of 6.8% from the previous quarter.

The consensus estimate for service and distribution fees of $323 million indicates a rise of 7% from the previous quarter’s reported number. Also, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for other revenues is pegged at $63 million, suggesting a 28% sequential increase.

However, the company’s performance fee is expected to have declined sequentially because the previous quarter benefited from relatively stronger realizations in performance-fee-eligible strategies, particularly in private markets, fundamental fixed income and multi-asset products. In the to-be-reported quarter, performance fees are likely to have normalized to a lower level, reflecting the inherently lumpy nature of these revenues and the absence of any indication of unusually large performance-fee realizations during the quarter. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for second-quarter performance fees of $6.02 million indicates a 46.7% decline from the previous quarter’s actual.

On the cost front, while Invesco’s cost-saving initiatives are likely to have boosted its efficiency, the rise in compensation and marketing costs is expected to have had an adverse impact on overall expenses in the to-be-reported quarter.

Management expects one-time implementation costs of Alpha to be $10-$15 million in the second quarter of 2026.

Major Q2 Development for InvescoIn June, Invesco completed the transfer of its Canadian fund management business to CI Global Asset Management (CI GAM), marking the close of a deal that significantly reshapes the Canadian investment fund landscape.

The transaction, announced in January, involved management agreements tied to Invesco’s Canadian fund lineup, which oversees approximately C$27 billion in assets. Now, CI GAM has assumed management responsibilities for 98 mutual funds and ETFs that were previously operated by Invesco Canada.

Although management of the funds has shifted to CI GAM, Invesco will continue to play an important role through a long-term strategic partnership between the two firms. Under a sub-advisory arrangement, Invesco affiliates will keep providing portfolio management services for 61 funds representing roughly C$13 billion in assets.

What Our Model Predicts for IVZAccording to our proven model, the chances of Invesco beating the Zacks Consensus Estimate for earnings this time are high. This is because it has the right combination of the two key ingredients — a positive Earnings ESP and a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) or better.

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

Earnings ESP: The Earnings ESP for Invesco is +0.08%.

Zacks Rank: The company currently carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy).

Invesco’s Q2 Earnings & Sales EstimatesThe Zacks Consensus Estimate for Invesco’s earnings of 67 cents per share has been unchanged over the past seven days. However, the figure indicates a rise of 86.1% from the year-ago quarter’s actual.

The consensus estimate for sales is pegged at $1.33 billion, suggesting a year-over-year increase of 20.1%.

Other Finance Stocks Worth ConsideringHere are a couple of other finance stocks that you may want to consider, as our model shows that these, too, have the right combination of elements to post an earnings beat this time:

Prosperity Bancshares (PB - Free Report) is scheduled to report quarterly results on July 29. The company currently has an Earnings ESP of +1.76% and a Zacks Rank #3. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.

Over the past seven days, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for PB’s quarterly earnings has been unchanged at $1.54.

The Earnings ESP for Affiliated Managers Group (AMG - Free Report) is +1.86% and it carries a Zacks Rank #2 at present. The company is slated to report quarterly results on July 30.

Over the past seven days, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for AMG’s quarterly earnings has been unchanged at $7.85.

HCA Healthcare (HCA - Free Report) came out with quarterly earnings of $7.59 per share, beating the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $7.57 per share. This compares to earnings of $6.84 per share a year ago. These figures are adjusted for non-recurring items.

This quarterly report represents an earnings surprise of +0.26%. A quarter ago, it was expected that this hospital operator would post earnings of $7.17 per share when it actually produced earnings of $7.15, delivering a surprise of -0.28%.

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

HCA, which belongs to the Zacks Medical Services industry, posted revenues of $20.23 billion for the quarter ended June 2026, in line with the Zacks Consensus Estimate. This compares to year-ago revenues of $18.61 billion. The company has topped consensus revenue estimates just once over the last four quarters.

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

HCA shares have lost about 19.4% since the beginning of the year versus the S&P 500's gain of 8.2%.

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

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

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

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

It will be interesting to see how estimates for the coming quarters and the current fiscal year change in the days ahead. The current consensus EPS estimate is $7.13 on $19.73 billion in revenues for the coming quarter and $29.19 on $78.51 billion in revenues for the current fiscal year.

Investors should be mindful of the fact that the outlook for the industry can have a material impact on the performance of the stock as well. In terms of the Zacks Industry Rank, Medical Services is currently in the top 39% of the 250 plus Zacks industries. Our research shows that the top 50% of the Zacks-ranked industries outperform the bottom 50% by a factor of more than 2 to 1.

One other stock from the same industry, Teladoc (TDOC - Free Report) , is yet to report results for the quarter ended June 2026. The results are expected to be released on July 29.

This telehealth services provider is expected to post quarterly loss of $0.24 per share in its upcoming report, which represents a year-over-year change of -26.3%. The consensus EPS estimate for the quarter has remained unchanged over the last 30 days.

Teladoc's revenues are expected to be $614.69 million, down 2.7% from the year-ago quarter.

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SummaryBloom Energy is positioned as a critical AI infrastructure enabler, addressing hyperscaler power constraints with modular, on-site fuel cell solutions.Q1 2026 results proved BE’s scalable model, with 130% YoY revenue growth, expanding margins, and credible upward guidance for 2026.Strategic partnerships—especially Brookfield’s $25B commitment and Oracle’s multi-GW deployments—underscore BE’s moat in rapid, financed power delivery.Despite valuation volatility and customer concentration risks, BE’s operational leverage and AI-driven demand support a long-term Buy rating. da-kuk/E+ via Getty Images

Elevator Thesis The conversation around AI infrastructure has changed, to say the least.

Semiconductors remain important as Nvidia (NVDA) continues to scale supply, and Taiwan Semiconductor (TSM) continues to add

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Analyst’s Disclosure: I/we have no stock, option or similar derivative position in any of the companies mentioned, and no plans to initiate any such positions within the next 72 hours. 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.

Customers Bancorp NYSE: CUBI reported second-quarter 2026 earnings per share of $2.05, up about 4% from the prior quarter and 18% from a year earlier, as loan growth, deposit gathering and net interest income increased. CEO Sam Sidhu and Chief Financial Officer Mark McCollum said the company reaffirmed its key full-year guidance and expects stronger net interest income in the second half of 2026.

Total loans reached a record $18 billion, rising $624 million, or 4%, during the quarter and 17% year over year. Total deposits increased by more than $140 million sequentially to a record $21.7 billion, while non-interest-bearing deposits reached a second consecutive record of $6.9 billion, representing 32% of deposits.

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“The second quarter was further evidence of our core strategy firing on all cylinders,” Sidhu said, citing continued balance-sheet growth, credit quality and capital levels.

Net Interest Income and Margin Outlook Net interest income totaled more than $193 million, increasing $16 million, or 9%, from a year earlier. McCollum said the increase reflected higher average loan balances and a lower cost of funds. On an annualized linked-quarter basis, net interest income rose about 4%.

The company’s net interest margin was 3.17% in the second quarter, which McCollum described as the expected low point for 2026. Customers Bancorp expects third-quarter margin to move closer to its first-quarter level and to build from there, while net interest income is expected to be stronger in the year’s second half.

Management pointed to deposit pipelines, continued remixing of higher-cost funding, the contribution from recently hired commercial teams and loan growth that accelerated late in the second quarter. During the quarter, the bank remixed more than $600 million of less-strategic deposits, improving pricing by 150 basis points, according to McCollum.

In response to an analyst question, McCollum said the company’s loan-growth outlook appears more likely to land toward the higher end of its guidance range. He said new-loan pricing varied by business vertical, generally ranging from 200 to 225 basis points over SOFR to 300 basis points over SOFR.

Deposit Growth and Commercial Team Recruitment Non-interest-bearing deposits increased by about $175 million during the quarter. Excluding the digital-assets, or DA, channel, such balances rose approximately $375 million, up 14% sequentially and 37% year over year. The company has added more than $840 million of non-interest-bearing deposits outside the DA channel over the past 12 months.

Sidhu said teams recruited since 2023 account for 18% of the company’s deposit base. Teams hired during the past 12 months held more than $500 million in deposits across 1,600 accounts, with 63% of those deposits non-interest bearing. The company said about 30 team members had joined or were in advanced discussions to join during 2026, with four teams expected to join in the third quarter.

Management said the bank’s 2025 recruiting cohort became profitable in approximately three quarters and operated with roughly 1.7 times deposits to loans. The company also cited a roughly $250 million non-interest-bearing deposit pipeline for new teams over the following 90 days.

cubiX Payments Platform Expands Customers Bancorp’s cubiX payments platform surpassed $5 trillion in cumulative transaction activity during the quarter. The bank said it processed more than 200,000 cubiX internal transfers year to date, double the level in the comparable period last year.

The real estate payments vertical is becoming a larger contributor, with transaction volume rising roughly sevenfold sequentially and spot deposit balances exceeding $400 million after only a few quarters. The bank added about 350 deposit accounts in the vertical.

Sidhu said the company projects that real estate could represent 20% of payment units by 2027. Management said mortgage-finance customers migrated to cubiX and newly added real estate customers represented about $1 billion in aggregate balances, with an internal target of reaching approximately $1.5 billion by year-end.

While DA trading activity was lower in May and June, management said total cubiX balances were roughly flat in the quarter because of growth in real estate payments. Customers Bancorp said it expects cubiX to become a growth area in 2027 as newer verticals scale.

AI Investments and Efficiency Efforts Sidhu said Customers Bancorp is pursuing a goal of becoming an “AI-native regional bank.” The company is working with OpenAI engineers on custom capabilities and has piloted a multi-agent credit-underwriting process that it said helped close certain commercial-and-industrial and commercial-real-estate loans within a week.

The bank said its AI-enabled workflow automation has saved at least 46,000 hours, equivalent to 24 full-time employees, and that employees have built more than 600 agents and custom GPTs. All team members are now AI licensed, according to Sidhu.

Management is targeting a low-40% run-rate efficiency ratio in 2027, compared with roughly 50% currently, through revenue growth and productivity improvements. Non-interest expense was $114.9 million in the second quarter, including about $1 million of severance. The company’s operational excellence program has achieved its $30 million annual run-rate target, including about $4 million from revenue initiatives and $26 million from expense initiatives.

Tangible book value per share rose 3% sequentially and 16% year over year to $65.20. The CET1 ratio stood at 12.8%, while the tangible common equity-to-tangible assets ratio was 8.3%. Management said credit quality remained stable, with commercial charge-offs at 18 basis points and reserve coverage at 293%.

About Customers Bancorp (NYSE:CUBI)Customers Bancorp, Inc NYSE: CUBI is a bank holding company headquartered in Phoenixville, Pennsylvania, and the parent of Customers Bank, a federally chartered institution. The company offers a full suite of commercial and consumer banking services, combining traditional deposit and lending products with modern digital banking platforms. As a publicly traded entity, Customers Bancorp focuses on delivering tailored financial solutions to mid‐market companies, small businesses, professionals and individuals across the United States.

Through its commercial banking division, the company provides term loans, lines of credit, real estate financing, asset‐based lending and treasury management services.

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

Should You Invest $1,000 in Customers Bancorp Right Now?Before you consider Customers Bancorp, you'll want to hear this.

MarketBeat keeps track of Wall Street's top-rated and best performing research analysts and the stocks they recommend to their clients on a daily basis. MarketBeat has identified the five stocks that top analysts are quietly whispering to their clients to buy now before the broader market catches on... and Customers Bancorp wasn't on the list.

While Customers Bancorp currently has a Moderate Buy rating among analysts, top-rated analysts believe these five stocks are better buys.

View The Five Stocks Here

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3 Insurance Stocks Hitting 52-Week Highs With More Room to RunThe Hartford Insurance Group NYSE: HIG reported second-quarter 2026 core earnings of $945 million, or $3.42 per diluted share, as strength in its commercial insurance, employee benefits and investment operations supported results. The insurer’s trailing 12-month core earnings return on equity was 18.7%, while book value per share excluding accumulated other comprehensive income rose 7% from year-end to $78.91.

Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Chris Swift said the company’s results reflected the strength of its property-and-casualty and Employee Benefits franchises, distribution relationships and customer-service capabilities. The Hartford also announced an agreement to sell Hartford Funds to Wellington Management, characterizing the business as a non-core long-term investment.

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The board authorized a new $4.2 billion share-repurchase program through December 2028, in addition to approximately $650 million remaining under the prior authorization as of June 30. Chief Financial Officer Beth Costello said the company repurchased 3.4 million shares for $450 million during the quarter and expects to raise quarterly repurchases to $475 million for the rest of 2026.

Business Insurance Posts Premium Growth Business Insurance generated core earnings of $695 million, with written premiums increasing 5% and an underlying combined ratio of 89.3. Small Business written premiums rose 7%, supported by double-digit growth in package products and excess-and-surplus binding business. Its underlying combined ratio improved 2.5 points from a year earlier to 86.5, primarily due to lower non-catastrophe property losses and improved operating leverage.

Middle and Large business premiums increased 4%, while its underlying combined ratio was 95.3. Costello said results included elevated non-catastrophe property losses, including several large fire losses, as well as a business mix shift toward National Accounts and commercial auto. She said the company expects the full-year Middle and Large underlying combined ratio to be roughly a point better than its 93.3 year-to-date level if non-catastrophe property losses normalize in the second half.

Global Specialty premiums grew 4%, and the segment reported an 85.8 underlying combined ratio. The ratio increased from the previous year because of a higher international loss ratio and technology-related expenses. Swift said the business continued to see momentum in wholesale excess casualty and auto, bond, and financial lines.

Business Insurance renewal written pricing excluding workers’ compensation was 5.8%, relatively consistent with prior trends. Commercial auto and general liability rates remained above loss trends, while umbrella and excess lines achieved some of the strongest increases across the portfolio. Property pricing moderated, particularly in large property, although Swift said aggregate pricing in Small Business package and middle-market general-industry property remained in the mid-single digits.

Morris Tooker, president of Commercial Lines, said increased competition affected Middle and Large retention, rather than any targeted pruning following reserve actions. He added that The Hartford has reduced its shared-and-layered large-property book to less than $25 million as pricing in that market no longer met the company’s benchmarks.

Reserve Actions Reflect Casualty Trends The company reported favorable prior-year reserve development in workers’ compensation, catastrophes, bond and Personal Insurance, partly offset by increases in general liability and commercial auto liability reserves.

Costello said general liability prior-year reserves increased by $46 million during the quarter, primarily because of a higher frequency of large losses in excess casualty and umbrella lines across several accident years. The affected periods included 2017 through 2019 and 2022 and 2023, with no addition to accident year 2025, she said.

Commercial auto liability reserves rose as adverse development in accident years 2023 and 2024 pointed to higher severity than previously estimated. Costello said the company is seeing more attorney representation and time-limit demands in claims that previously may have involved more minor accidents and injuries.

Management described the changes as modest relative to the reserve base and said the reserve review process was unchanged. Costello said the effect on expected forward loss trends was minimal, amounting to tenths of basis points.

Current accident-year property-and-casualty catastrophe losses totaled $222 million before tax, compared with $212 million a year earlier. The catastrophe ratio remained unchanged at 4.9 combined-ratio points.

Personal Insurance Profitability Improves Despite Lower Premiums Personal Insurance produced $128 million in core earnings and an 86.3 underlying combined ratio, an improvement of 1.7 points from the second quarter of 2025. Auto’s underlying combined ratio improved 1.9 points as earned pricing continued to exceed loss trends, while home results were supported by underwriting execution and low-double-digit pricing.

Written premiums in Personal Insurance declined 7%, including a 10% decline in auto and flat home premiums, amid elevated competition for new business. Agency business grew 7% from a year earlier. Renewal written pricing increased 5.5% in auto and 10.4% in home, while auto policy retention improved slightly and home retention was relatively stable.

The Personal Insurance expense ratio rose to 26.3 from 25.1 a year earlier, driven by lower earned premiums and higher commissions associated with a growing agency-business mix. Swift said the company’s contemporary agency product was available in 23 states following its July rollout and is expected to reach 30 states by early 2027. He said direct-channel growth is likely to face continued pressure amid high customer shopping activity and strong competition.

Employee Benefits and Investments Add Support Employee Benefits earned $139 million in core earnings, producing a 7.4% core earnings margin. Fully insured premium growth benefited from sales execution and persistency in the low 90s. Group life performance was described as excellent, while disability performance was solid.

The group disability loss ratio increased 6.3 points to 74.8%, reflecting increased claim incidence across short- and long-term disability. Mike Fish, head of Employee Benefits, said behavioral-health claims were rising somewhat more than other diagnoses in short-tail lines. Paid family and medical leave utilization was also higher in newly launched states and in some longer-established states, though Fish said the company continues to apply rate increases to the book.

Net investment income climbed 22% year over year to $800 million, driven by income from limited partnerships and other alternative investments, along with a higher level of invested assets. Annualized limited partnership returns were 7.6% before tax, supported by real estate joint-venture sales and infrastructure and energy-transition funds. The Hartford expects full-year net investment income to increase, with overall portfolio yields broadly in line with 2025.

About The Hartford Insurance Group (NYSE:HIG)The Hartford Financial Services Group, commonly known as The Hartford, is a U.S.-based insurance and investment company that provides a broad range of commercial and personal insurance products and employee benefits. Its core businesses include property and casualty insurance for businesses and individuals, group benefits such as group life, disability and dental plans, and retirement and investment solutions offered through affiliated asset-management operations. The company also delivers risk management, claims-handling and loss-prevention services designed to support policyholders across a variety of industries.

Founded in Hartford, Connecticut, in 1810, The Hartford is one of the oldest insurance organizations in the United States and has a long history of underwriting and product development across multiple insurance lines.

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

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Lamb Weston (LW - Free Report) came out with quarterly earnings of $0.87 per share, beating the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $0.62 per share. This compares to earnings of $0.87 per share a year ago. These figures are adjusted for non-recurring items.

This quarterly report represents an earnings surprise of +40.32%. A quarter ago, it was expected that this frozen foods supplier would post earnings of $0.61 per share when it actually produced earnings of $0.72, delivering a surprise of +18.03%.

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

Lamb Weston, which belongs to the Zacks Food - Miscellaneous industry, posted revenues of $1.77 billion for the quarter ended May 2026, surpassing the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 4.05%. This compares to year-ago revenues of $1.68 billion. The company has topped consensus revenue estimates four times over the last four quarters.

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

Lamb Weston shares have added about 17.4% since the beginning of the year versus the S&P 500's gain of 8.2%.

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

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

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

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

It will be interesting to see how estimates for the coming quarters and the current fiscal year change in the days ahead. The current consensus EPS estimate is $0.62 on $1.61 billion in revenues for the coming quarter and $3.10 on $6.35 billion in revenues for the current fiscal year.

Investors should be mindful of the fact that the outlook for the industry can have a material impact on the performance of the stock as well. In terms of the Zacks Industry Rank, Food - Miscellaneous is currently in the bottom 16% of the 250 plus Zacks industries. Our research shows that the top 50% of the Zacks-ranked industries outperform the bottom 50% by a factor of more than 2 to 1.

Another stock from the same industry, Post Holdings (POST - Free Report) , has yet to report results for the quarter ended June 2026. The results are expected to be released on August 6.

This cereal maker is expected to post quarterly earnings of $1.63 per share in its upcoming report, which represents a year-over-year change of -19.7%. The consensus EPS estimate for the quarter has remained unchanged over the last 30 days.

Post Holdings' revenues are expected to be $2.02 billion, up 1.8% from the year-ago quarter.

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DoorDash says its new fee structure will "better reflect what it takes to complete your delivery." Bloomberg/Getty Images The fees on your next DoorDash order could change depending on the size of your order or how far your delivery worker has to travel.

DoorDash is overhauling the way it charges customer fees, the company said on Thursday. It plans to roll out the new fee structure across most of the US over the coming months.

Under the new system, the service fee customers pay can vary more, depending on factors such as the size of an order and the distance to the store or restaurant. Orders that require trips of more than 10 miles may still incur a separate long-distance fee.

DoorDash's delivery fee, meanwhile, will remain a fixed charge that varies by merchant, the company said.

The changes "better reflect what it takes to complete your delivery," DoorDash wrote in a blog post describing the new fee structure.

The new fee structure is the latest change to the DoorDash app. Last month, the delivery service unveiled an AI tool that lets users order groceries by uploading a shopping list or a recipe.

Gig workers for apps like DoorDash and Uber Eats often decide which orders to take based on factors such as how far they need to travel to deliver them. That calculation has become more important as gas prices have soared this year after the US and Israel began a war with Iran.

About 70% of recent DoorDash orders would have carried lower fees under the new system, the company said. A DoorDash spokesperson did not immediately respond to a request for clarification on the fee structure.

DoorDash is also adding app features that it said make its fees more transparent to customers. A new "Farther Away" label will appear on orders from restaurants that could incur higher service fees, for example.

The rollout will initially exclude California, Chicago, Colorado, Washington, DC, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New York City, Puerto Rico, and Seattle, DoorDash said.

Do you have a story idea about DoorDash? Contact this reporter at [email protected] or via encrypted messaging app Signal at 808-854-4501. Use a personal email address, a nonwork WiFi network, and a nonwork device; here's our guide to sharing information securely.

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Alex Bitter You're currently following this author! Want to unfollow? Unsubscribe via the link in your email.

Alex Bitter is a senior retail reporter covering the gig economy, food, and retail. His work focuses major gig delivery and ride-hailing apps, including Uber, Lyft, DoorDash, Instacart, and Walmart's Spark. He is interested in everything from what it's like to work on the apps to the companies' business strategies.Some of his recent stories feature gig workers who have been deactivated on the apps, DoorDash hiring traditional employees to make deliveries, gig workers' use of bots, and gig work expanding into new professions, such as nursing.Alex has also written about Aldi's US expansion, Starbucks' turnaround efforts, and the fallout from Kraft-Heinz's budget cutting. Convenience store chain Sheetz ended its "smile policy" after his reporting.Before joining Insider in September 2020, he wrote about consumer and retail companies for S&P Global Market Intelligence. He's a graduate of the University of Hawai'i at Mānoa and grew up on the Big Island.Alex lives in the Washington, DC, area, where you can find him studying ancient coins or searching for Civil War artifacts with his metal detector in his free time.Got a tip? Reach out at [email protected] or via encrypted messaging app Signal at +1 (808) 854-4501.

Delivery

Textron Inc. (TXT - Free Report) is scheduled to release its second-quarter 2026 results on July 28, before market open. The company delivered an earnings surprise of 11.54% in the last reported quarter.

Let’s discuss the factors that are likely to be reflected in the upcoming quarterly results.

Factors Likely to Affect TXT’s Q2 ResultsHigher aircraft revenues, as well as aftermarket parts and services revenues, are likely to have boosted the Aviation unit’s top line in the second quarter.

Higher sales volumes on the MV-75 program and military sustainment programs, along with increased commercial helicopter parts and services revenues, are projected to have bolstered the Bell unit’s revenue performance.

Higher sales volumes from the Ship-to-Shore Connector program, as well as military training and support services provided by Airborne Tactical Advantage Company (“ATAC”), are likely to have bolstered Textron Systems unit’s performance.

Lower sales volumes from the specialized vehicles are likely to have impacted TXT’s Industrial segment’s performance.

Higher costs of products sold, as well as selling and administrative expenses, are likely to have hurt TXT’s overall bottom line.

TXT’s Q2 EstimatesThe Zacks Consensus Estimate for TXT’s second-quarter revenues is pegged at $3.82 billion, which indicates growth of 2.8% from the year-ago quarter’s figure.

The consensus estimate for TXT’s earnings is pegged at $1.52 per share. This indicates decline of 1.9% from the prior-year figure.

What the Zacks Model UnveilsOur proven model does not conclusively predict an earnings beat for TXT this time. The combination of a positive Earnings ESP and a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), 2 (Buy) or 3 (Hold) increases the odds of an earnings beat, which is not the case here, as you will see below.

Earnings ESP: Textron has an Earnings ESP of 0.00%. You can uncover the best stocks before they’re reported with our Earnings ESP Filter.

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

Stocks to ConsiderBelow, we have mentioned a few players from the same sector that have the right combination of elements to beat on earnings in the upcoming releases:

General Dynamics (GD - Free Report) is set to report its second-quarter 2026 earnings on July 29, before market open. It has an Earnings ESP of +1.61% and a Zacks Rank of 2 at present.

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for GD’s earnings is pegged at $3.95 per share. The consensus estimate for its sales is pegged at $13.49 billion, indicating year-over-year growth of 3.4%.

L3Harris Technologies, Inc. (LHX - Free Report) is expected to report its second-quarter 2026 earnings on July 29, after market close. It has an Earnings ESP of +2.09% and a Zacks Rank of 3 at present.

The consensus estimate for LHX’s earnings is pegged at $2.80 per share. The consensus estimate for its sales is pegged at $5.79 billion, indicating year-over-year growth of 6.8%.

CurtissWright (CW - Free Report) is set to report its second-quarter 2026 earnings on Aug. 5, 2026, after market close. It has an Earnings ESP of +0.36% and a Zacks Rank of 3 at present.

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for CW’s earnings is pegged at $3.62 per share. The consensus estimate for its sales is pegged at $930.6 million, indicating year-over-year growth of 6.2%.

Eaton (ETN - Free Report) is expected to deliver a year-over-year increase in earnings on higher revenues when it reports results for the quarter ended June 2026. This widely-known consensus outlook gives a good sense of the company's earnings picture, but how the actual results compare to these estimates is a powerful factor that could impact its near-term stock price.

The earnings report, which is expected to be released on July 31, might help the stock move higher if these key numbers are better than expectations. On the other hand, if they miss, the stock may move lower.

While the sustainability of the immediate price change and future earnings expectations will mostly depend on management's discussion of business conditions on the earnings call, it's worth handicapping the probability of a positive EPS surprise.

Zacks Consensus EstimateThis power management company is expected to post quarterly earnings of $3.08 per share in its upcoming report, which represents a year-over-year change of +4.4%.

Revenues are expected to be $8 billion, up 13.9% from the year-ago quarter.

Estimate Revisions TrendThe consensus EPS estimate for the quarter has been revised 0.25% higher over the last 30 days to the current level. This is essentially a reflection of how the covering analysts have collectively reassessed their initial estimates over this period.

Investors should keep in mind that the direction of estimate revisions by each of the covering analysts may not always get reflected in the aggregate change.

Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise

Earnings WhisperEstimate revisions ahead of a company's earnings release offer clues to the business conditions for the period whose results are coming out. Our proprietary surprise prediction model -- the Zacks Earnings ESP (Expected Surprise Prediction) -- has this insight at its core.

The Zacks Earnings ESP compares the Most Accurate Estimate to the Zacks Consensus Estimate for the quarter; the Most Accurate Estimate is a more recent version of the Zacks Consensus EPS estimate. The idea here is that analysts revising their estimates right before an earnings release have the latest information, which could potentially be more accurate than what they and others contributing to the consensus had predicted earlier.

Thus, a positive or negative Earnings ESP reading theoretically indicates the likely deviation of the actual earnings from the consensus estimate. However, the model's predictive power is significant for positive ESP readings only.

A positive Earnings ESP is a strong predictor of an earnings beat, particularly when combined with a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), 2 (Buy) or 3 (Hold). Our research shows that stocks with this combination produce a positive surprise nearly 70% of the time, and a solid Zacks Rank actually increases the predictive power of Earnings ESP.

Please note that a negative Earnings ESP reading is not indicative of an earnings miss. Our research shows that it is difficult to predict an earnings beat with any degree of confidence for stocks with negative Earnings ESP readings and/or Zacks Rank of 4 (Sell) or 5 (Strong Sell).

How Have the Numbers Shaped Up for Eaton?For Eaton, the Most Accurate Estimate is higher than the Zacks Consensus Estimate, suggesting that analysts have recently become bullish on the company's earnings prospects. This has resulted in an Earnings ESP of +0.32%.

On the other hand, the stock currently carries a Zacks Rank of #2.

So, this combination indicates that Eaton will most likely beat the consensus EPS estimate.

Does Earnings Surprise History Hold Any Clue?Analysts often consider to what extent a company has been able to match consensus estimates in the past while calculating their estimates for its future earnings. So, it's worth taking a look at the surprise history for gauging its influence on the upcoming number.

For the last reported quarter, it was expected that Eaton would post earnings of $2.74 per share when it actually produced earnings of $2.81, delivering a surprise of +2.55%.

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

Bottom LineAn earnings beat or miss may not be the sole basis for a stock moving higher or lower. Many stocks end up losing ground despite an earnings beat due to other factors that disappoint investors. Similarly, unforeseen catalysts help a number of stocks gain despite an earnings miss.

That said, betting on stocks that are expected to beat earnings expectations does increase the odds of success. This is why it's worth checking a company's Earnings ESP and Zacks Rank ahead of its quarterly release. Make sure to utilize our Earnings ESP Filter to uncover the best stocks to buy or sell before they've reported.

Eaton appears a compelling earnings-beat candidate. However, investors should pay attention to other factors too for betting on this stock or staying away from it ahead of its earnings release.

An Industry Player's Expected ResultsAmong the stocks in the Zacks Manufacturing - Electronics industry, A.O. Smith (AOS - Free Report) , is soon expected to post earnings of $0.96 per share for the quarter ended June 2026. This estimate indicates a year-over-year change of -10.3%. This quarter's revenue is expected to be $986.45 million, down 2.5% from the year-ago quarter.

The consensus EPS estimate for A.O. Smith has been revised 0.2% lower over the last 30 days to the current level. However, a lower Most Accurate Estimate has resulted in an Earnings ESP of -2.08%.

When combined with a Zacks Rank of #4 (Sell), this Earnings ESP makes it difficult to conclusively predict that A.O. Smith will beat the consensus EPS estimate. Over the last four quarters, the company surpassed consensus EPS estimates three times.

Stay on top of upcoming earnings announcements with the Zacks Earnings Calendar.

, /PRNewswire/ -- Simpson Manufacturing Co., Inc. (the "Company") (NYSE: SSD), an industry leader in engineered structural connectors and building solutions, today announced that on July 23, 2026, the Company's Board of Directors (the "Board") declared a regular quarterly dividend of 30 cents per share on the Company's common stock. The dividend is payable on October 22, 2026, to stockholders of record on October 1, 2026.

About Simpson Manufacturing Co., Inc.

Simpson Manufacturing Co., Inc., headquartered in Pleasanton, California, through its subsidiaries, including Simpson Strong-Tie Company Inc., designs, engineers and is a leading manufacturer of wood construction products, including connectors, truss plates, fastening systems, fasteners and shear walls, and concrete construction products, including adhesives, specialty chemicals, mechanical anchors, powder actuated tools and reinforcing fiber materials. The Company primarily supplies its building product solutions to both the residential and commercial markets in North America and Europe. The Company's common stock trades on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol "SSD."

CONTACT:   
Addo Investor Relations
[email protected]
(310) 829-5400

SOURCE Simpson Manufacturing Co., Inc.

Eastern Bankshares NASDAQ: EBC reported record operating net income for the second quarter, supported by loan and deposit growth, margin expansion, higher fee revenue and expense reductions tied to the HarborOne integration.

Chief Executive Officer Denis Sheahan said operating net income increased 20% from the prior quarter and 30% from a year earlier, producing an operating return on average tangible common equity of 15.3%. The company also returned $106 million to shareholders through dividends and share repurchases during the quarter.

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“Our results are a reflection of the priorities we have consistently communicated to investors, organically growing both banking and fee-based businesses and returning capital to shareholders,” Sheahan said.

Second-Quarter Results and Margin Trends Eastern reported GAAP net income of $105.2 million, or $0.48 per diluted share. Operating net income, which excluded $1.6 million of remaining HarborOne merger-related costs, was $106.5 million, or $0.49 per diluted share.

Chief Financial Officer David Rosato said operating revenue growth and expense management generated positive operating leverage. The operating efficiency ratio improved to 49%, while operating return on average assets increased 21 basis points to 1.38%.

Net interest income increased 3% from the first quarter as the net interest margin expanded 3 basis points to 3.66%. Higher yields on loans and securities more than offset increased funding costs, Rosato said. Total interest-earning asset yields rose 4 basis points, while interest-bearing liability costs increased 2 basis points.

Discount accretion remained about $20 million during the quarter and contributed 28 basis points to the margin. Rosato later said the company expects accretion income to remain around its recent quarterly run rate of roughly $19.5 million, with a potential slight decline over time.

Operating non-interest income rose $12.8 million, or 28%, from the first quarter. The largest contributor was an $8.9 million increase in investment income related to employee retirement benefits, reflecting stronger equity markets. That gain was partly offset by a $3.4 million increase in related employee benefit costs.

The company also cited higher investment advisory fees, seasonal tax preparation fees and increased interest-rate swap income. Rosato said swap income benefited from higher commercial loan volume and greater customer use of interest-rate risk-management products.

Loan, Deposit and Wealth Management Growth Period-end loan balances increased $325 million, or 1.4%, from the preceding quarter. More than $300 million of commercial and industrial loan growth drove the increase, partially offset by commercial real estate payoffs.

Sheahan said the commercial lending pipeline finished June at a record level and was diversified across businesses. Rosato put the commercial pipeline at nearly $1 billion. Management said it expects commercial real estate payoffs, which were elevated in the second quarter, to moderate during the second half of the year.

Home equity balances rose $59 million, while residential mortgage balances declined slightly. Rosato said Eastern expects its residential mortgage portfolio to remain relatively flat in 2026 as it emphasizes home equity and commercial lending growth.

Deposits increased $814 million, or 3.2%, from the prior quarter, driven by seasonal municipal inflows and broad-based growth across business lines. The loan-to-deposit ratio improved to 91% at quarter-end from 93% at March 31.

Management expects a portion of municipal deposits to leave seasonally in the third quarter. Total deposit costs increased 1 basis point to 1.47%, while the June spot deposit rate was 1.51%, reflecting competition in the New England deposit market.

Rosato said competition remains relatively constant and does not expect it to ease in the near term. The company expects money market balances to grow faster than certificates of deposit, citing customer preference for money market products.

Wealth management assets reached a record $11.5 billion. Sheahan said the business provides recurring fee income, diversifies earnings and deepens customer relationships, particularly through coordination among wealth management, private banking and commercial banking teams.

Credit Quality, Costs and Capital Return Asset quality remained strong, according to management. Net charge-offs were stable at 17 basis points of average total loans. Nonperforming loans declined $29 million from the first quarter to $109 million, or 47 basis points of total loans.

Sheahan said Eastern has limited exposure to life-science lending and continues to monitor its office portfolio closely. He said every office loan above $5 million is re-underwritten annually.

Non-interest expense declined $30.7 million, or 15%, from the first quarter. Most of the reduction reflected lower merger-related costs, while operating non-interest expense declined $1.5 million. Rosato said HarborOne cost savings are “basically done,” with savings primarily reflected in salaries and benefits as well as occupancy and equipment costs.

Eastern paid $33.1 million in dividends and repurchased 3.6 million shares for $72.7 million during the quarter, at an average price of $20.03 per share. Its CET1 ratio was 13% and its tangible common equity ratio was 10.1% at June 30.

The board authorized a new repurchase program for up to 11.3 million shares, equivalent to 5% of common shares outstanding, through Dec. 31, 2027. The board also approved a $0.15 per-share dividend payable in September.

Updated 2026 Outlook Eastern narrowed its full-year loan growth outlook to 3% to 4%, from a previous range of 3% to 5%, reflecting a slower start to the year. It raised its deposit growth outlook to 2% to 3%, from 1% to 2%.

The company also lowered its outlook for net interest income and margin, citing softer first-quarter loan growth, lower-than-expected accretion income and deposit competition. Management expects full-year fully taxable equivalent net interest margin of 3.60% to 3.65%.

Eastern reduced its expected provision for credit losses to $25 million to $30 million, from $30 million to $40 million, citing favorable credit performance. It narrowed its operating fee income outlook to $195 million to $200 million and tightened its operating non-interest expense range to $655 million to $665 million.

About Eastern Bankshares (NASDAQ:EBC)Eastern Bankshares, Inc is the bank holding company for Eastern Bank, one of the oldest and largest mutual banks in the United States. Founded in 1818 as Salem Savings Bank and later rebranded as Eastern Bank in 1989, the company preserved its mutual ownership structure for more than two centuries. In March 2020, it completed an initial public offering and began trading on the Nasdaq under the ticker EBC, while continuing to emphasize its community-focused heritage.

Through its primary subsidiary, Eastern Bank, the company delivers a broad range of commercial and consumer banking products.

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

Should You Invest $1,000 in Eastern Bankshares Right Now?Before you consider Eastern Bankshares, you'll want to hear this.

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Represents significant milestone in the Company’s ongoing portfolio optimization efforts July 24, 2026 09:00 ET  | Source: Surgery Partners, Inc.

BRENTWOOD, Tenn., July 24, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Surgery Partners, Inc. (NASDAQ:SGRY) (“Surgery Partners” or the “Company”), a leading short-stay surgical facility owner and operator, today announced it, along with its existing partner Intermountain Health, has placed into escrow signature pages to definitive agreements, pursuant to which Surgery Partners would sell its ownership interests in Mountain View Hospital and Idaho Falls Community Hospital to Intermountain Health. Physician ownership of Mountain View Hospital will remain unchanged.

The transaction values the combined Idaho Falls facilities at approximately $1.15 billion. Total consideration to Surgery Partners is approximately $795 million. The Company expects to receive substantial cash proceeds upon closing, with the final amount subject to customary purchase price adjustments, including adjustments for indebtedness, working capital, transaction expenses and other closing items. Accordingly, the Company is unable to provide a reasonable estimate of final net cash proceeds at this time.

Completion of the transaction is subject to customary closing conditions, including the execution of binding Securities Purchase Agreements between the Company and Intermountain Health following requisite Mountain View Hospital physician member and physician governing board approvals. Unless and until these approvals are obtained, there is no assurance regarding the completion of the transaction. 

In addition, the closing of the transaction is subject to customary closing conditions, including expiration of applicable waiting periods under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Act, obtaining any other applicable material regulatory approvals, and obtaining certain material third-party consents.

The transaction is expected to close in the coming months, subject to the forgoing approvals.

“For Surgery Partners, assuming physician partner approval, this transaction represents the largest step forward in our portfolio optimization strategy to date, simplifying our go forward operations, and positioning us to accelerate momentum in the rapidly growing, high-value ambulatory surgery center space,” said Eric Evans, Chief Executive Officer of Surgery Partners. “While our Idaho Falls partnerships have been a large and successful part of our Company’s growth story, these unique facilities are best positioned for their next chapter of growth with an outstanding regional health system like Intermountain. Once complete, this will further sharpen our strategic focus and help support long-term shareholder value. We are confident that Intermountain Health is the best natural owner to continue to advance the mission that Mountain View physician partners started well over two decades ago and to build on their strong legacy of exceptional patient care.”

2026 Outlook

The Company’s previously issued guidance does not reflect the anticipated impact of this transaction. Excluding the impact of this transaction, the Company reaffirms its outlook for 2026 revenues to be in the range of $3.35 billion to $3.45 billion and Adjusted EBITDA of at least $530 million.

The Company intends to provide further details regarding the expected financial impact of the transaction on its 2026 financial outlook at the appropriate time, subject to the completion of the transaction.

Second Quarter 2026 Earnings Release Date and Conference Call Details

Surgery Partners will release its second quarter 2026 results before the market opens on Monday, August 10, 2026, to be followed by a conference call at 8:30 a.m. (Eastern Time).

You can join the call as follows:

Dial in number for live access: 1-877-451-6152 (domestic), 1-201-389-0879 (international)Replay (available 3 hours after the call and available until August 24, 2026): 1-844-512-2921 (domestic), 1-412-317-6671 (international)Passcode for the live call and the replay: 13761354
Interested investors and other parties may also listen to a simultaneous webcast of the conference call by logging onto the Investor Relations section of the Company’s website at www.surgerypartners.com. The replay will also be available on this same website for a limited time following the call.

To learn more about Surgery Partners please visit the company’s website at www.surgerypartners.com. Surgery Partners uses its website as a channel of distribution of material company information. Financial and other material information regarding Surgery Partners is routinely posted on the Company’s website and is readily accessible.

About Surgery Partners

Headquartered in Brentwood, Tennessee, Surgery Partners is a leading healthcare services company with a differentiated outpatient delivery model focused on providing high-quality, cost-effective solutions for surgical and related ancillary care in support of both patients and physicians. Founded in 2004, Surgery Partners is one of the largest and fastest growing surgical services businesses in the country, with more than 200 locations in 30 states, including ambulatory surgery centers, surgical hospitals, multi-specialty physician practices and urgent care facilities. For additional information, visit www.surgerypartners.com.

About the Idaho Falls Facilities

The Idaho Falls facilities have built a long-standing reputation as preferred providers and leaders in delivering high-quality, affordable care for the Idaho Falls region. Mountain View Hospital was founded in 2002 and has grown into a leading surgical hub and Level III NICU, with the opening of the Idaho Falls Community Hospital in 2019 adding scalable acute care capabilities. Combined, the locations employ over 150 physicians and include 126 beds with a breadth of services across nine surgical specialties and a diverse range of additional service lines, including oncology, emergency department and ICU services, and neonatology.

About Intermountain Health

Headquartered in Utah with locations in six states and additional operations across the western U.S., Intermountain Health is a nonprofit system of 34 hospitals, approximately 400 clinics, medical groups with some 4,600 employed physicians and advanced care providers, a nonprofit health plan called Select Health with more than one million members, and other health services. Helping people live the healthiest lives possible, Intermountain is committed to improving community health and is widely recognized as a leader in transforming healthcare by using evidence-based best practices to consistently deliver high-quality outcomes at sustainable costs.

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements, including those regarding growth, our anticipated operating results for future periods and other similar statements. These statements can be identified by the use of words such as "believes," "anticipates," "expects," "intends," "plans," "continues," "estimates," "predicts," "projects," "forecasts," "may," "could," and similar expressions. All forward-looking statements are based on current expectations and beliefs as of the date of this release and are subject to risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from the expectations discussed in, or implied by, the forward-looking statements. Many of these factors are beyond our ability to control or predict including, without limitation, the risk that the potential sale transaction may not be completed in a timely manner or at all, including the risk that required physician, regulatory and other approvals and consents are not obtained, are delayed, or are obtained subject to conditions that are not anticipated; the failure to satisfy other closing conditions to the transaction; the possibility that the anticipated benefits of the sale to the Company are not realized as expected, the potential adverse effect of the announcement or pendency of the transaction on the market price of, or trading in, the Company’s securities and on the Company's business relationships, operating results, and business generally, including the ability to retain key personnel; risks related to diverting management's attention from the Company's ongoing business operations; the amount of costs, fees, expenses, and charges related to the sale transaction; potential litigation relating to the transaction that could be instituted against the Company or its affiliates, officers, or directors, and the effects of any outcomes related thereto; reductions in payments from government health care programs and private insurance payors, such as health maintenance organizations, preferred provider organizations, and other managed care organizations and employers; our ability to contract with private insurance payors; changes in our payor mix or surgical case mix; failure to maintain or develop relationships with physicians on beneficial or favorable terms, or at all; the impact of payor controls designed to reduce the number of surgical procedures; our efforts to integrate operations of acquired or developed businesses and surgical facilities, attract new physician partners, or acquire additional surgical facilities; supply chain issues, including shortages or quality control issues with surgery-related products, equipment and medical supplies; competition for physicians, nurses, strategic relationships, acquisitions and managed care contracts; our ability to attract and retain qualified health care professionals; our ability to enforce non-compete restrictions against our physicians; our ability to manage material liabilities whether known or unknown incurred as a result of acquiring or operating surgical facilities; the impact of future legislation and other health care regulatory reform actions, and the effect of that legislation and other regulatory actions on our business; our ability to comply with current health care laws and regulations; the outcome of legal and regulatory proceedings that have been or may be brought against us; the impact of cybersecurity attacks or intrusions, changes in the regulatory, economic and other conditions of the states where our surgical facilities are located; our indebtedness; the social and economic impact of a pandemic, epidemic or outbreak of a contagious disease on our business; and the risks and uncertainties identified and discussed from time to time in the Company’s reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"), including in Item 1A under the heading "Risk Factors" in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2025 and other reports filed with the SEC. Except as required by law, the Company undertakes no obligation to revise or update publicly any forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this report, or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events or circumstances.

Contacts

Media/Investor Contact
Surgery Partners Investor Relations
(615) 234-8940
[email protected]

Intermountain Health Media Relations
[email protected]

TAIPEI, Taiwan and MILPITAS, Calif., July 24, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Silicon Motion Technology Corporation (NasdaqGS: SIMO) (“Silicon Motion” or the “Company”), a global leader in designing and marketing NAND flash controllers for solid state storage devices, confirms today its quarterly cash dividend.

On October 27, 2025, the Board of Directors of the Company declared payment of an annual dividend of US$2.00 per ADS1, equivalent to US$0.50 per ordinary share, which will be paid in four quarterly installments of $0.50 per ADS, equivalent to US$0.125 per ordinary share. According to the previously announced record and payment dates, the next quarterly installment will be paid on August 20, 2026 to all shareholders of record on August 6, 2026. Our depository bank’s DR Books will be closed for issuance and cancellation on August 6, 2026.

The declaration and payment of future cash dividends are subject to the Board's continuing determination that the payment of dividends is in the best interests of the Company’s shareholders and are in compliance with all laws and agreements of the Company applicable to the declaration and payment of cash dividends.

ABOUT SILICON MOTION:

We are the global leader in supplying NAND flash controllers for solid state storage devices. We supply more SSD controllers than any other company in the world for servers, PCs and other client devices and are the leading merchant supplier of eMMC and UFS embedded storage controllers used in smartphones, IoT devices and other applications. We also supply customized high-performance hyperscale data center and specialized industrial and automotive SSD solutions. Our customers include most of the NAND flash vendors, storage device module makers and leading OEMs. For further information on Silicon Motion, visit us at www.siliconmotion.com.

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS:

This news release contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by terminology such as “may,” “will,” “should,” “expect,” “intend,” “plan,” “anticipate,” “believe,” “estimate,” “predict,” “potential,” “continue,” or the negative of these terms or other comparable terminology. Although such statements are based on our own information and information from other sources we believe to be reliable, you should not place undue reliance on them. These statements involve risks and uncertainties, and actual market trends or our actual results of operations, financial condition or business prospects may differ materially from those expressed or implied in these forward-looking statements for a variety of reasons. Potential risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to the unpredictable volume and timing of customer orders, which are not fixed by contract but vary on a purchase order basis; the loss of one or more key customers or the significant reduction, postponement, rescheduling or cancellation of orders from one or more customers; general economic conditions or conditions in the semiconductor or consumer electronics markets; the impact of inflation on our business and customer’s businesses and any effect this has on economic activity in the markets in which we operate; the functionalities and performance of our information technology (“IT”) systems, which are subject to cybersecurity threats and which support our critical operational activities, and any breaches of our IT systems or those of our customers, suppliers, partners and providers of third-party licensed technology; the effects on our business and our customer’s business taking into account the ongoing U.S.-China tariffs and trade disputes; other factors beyond our control such as nature disasters, terrorism, civil unrest, war, including conflicts in the Middle East, threats to the Strait of Hormuz and global energy supply routes, and the ongoing Russia-Ukraine War, and pandemics, epidemics and other health emergencies; the continuing tensions between Taiwan and China, including enhanced military activities; decreases in the overall average selling prices of our products; changes in the relative sales mix of our products; supply chain disruptions that have affected us and our industry as well as other industries on a global basis; the payment, or non-payment, of cash dividends in the future at the discretion of our Board of Directors and any announced planned increases in such dividends; changes in our cost of finished goods; the availability, pricing, and timeliness of delivery of other components and raw materials used in the products we sell given the current raw material supply shortages being experienced in our industry; our customers’ sales outlook, purchasing patterns, and inventory adjustments based on consumer demands and general economic conditions; any potential impairment charges that may be incurred related to businesses previously acquired or divested in the future; the risk that the anticipated benefits from our PCIe 5 controller products, including higher [average selling prices], may not be maintained or may be less than expected; the risk that our anticipated market share gains across our product lines and penetration of enterprise end markets may not materialize as expected or on the anticipated timeline; our ability to successfully develop, introduce, and sell new or enhanced products in a timely manner; and the timing of new product announcements or introductions by us or by our competitors. For additional discussion of these risks and uncertainties and other factors, please see the documents we file from time to time with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, including our Annual Report on Form 20-F filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission on April 30, 2026. Other than as required under the securities laws, we do not intend, and do not undertake any obligation to, update or revise any forward-looking statements, which apply only as of the date of this news release.

Investor Contact:Investor Contact:Tom SepenzisSelina HsiehVice President of Investor Relations & StrategyInvestor RelationsE-mail: [email protected] E-mail: [email protected]   Media Contact: Minnie Lin Director of Marketing Communication Department E-mail: [email protected]   
1 One ADS is equivalent to four ordinary shares.

Flagstar Bank, National Association NYSE: FLG reported its third consecutive quarter of profitability in the second quarter of 2026, as commercial-and-industrial loan growth, deposit growth and lower operating expenses helped offset continued runoff in commercial real estate and multifamily lending.

The bank reported GAAP net income attributable to common stockholders of $0.06 per diluted share, while adjusted earnings were $0.05 per diluted share. That compared with an adjusted loss of $0.14 per share in the second quarter of 2025, according to Executive Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Joseph Otting.

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Flagstar also announced a $250 million share-repurchase program. Chief Financial Officer Lee Smith said the bank ended the quarter with a common equity tier 1 capital ratio of 13.16%, which he described as among the strongest levels in the regional-bank peer group. The company said it had about $1.6 billion of excess capital after tax relative to the low end of its target CET1 operating range.

C&I Lending Drives Balance-Sheet Growth Total balance-sheet growth resumed during the quarter, rising by roughly $600 million from the prior quarter, the first overall balance-sheet growth since 2023. Smith said the balance sheet would have increased by more than $800 million had the company not paid down $250 million of Federal Home Loan Bank advances.

Commercial-and-industrial loans increased by $2 billion, or 12% quarter over quarter, to $18.6 billion. The company generated $4.2 billion in new and increased credit commitments, leading to a record $2.8 billion in C&I loan originations.

Rich Raffetto, co-president, co-chief operating officer and chief banking officer, said Flagstar added 75 new-to-bank C&I relationships and hired 32 producers and credit underwriters during the quarter. The company’s C&I pipeline entering the third quarter stood at more than $2 billion in commitments.

Specialized Industries Banking and Corporate and Regional Commercial Banking together produced $2.1 billion of end-of-period loan growth. Raffetto cited activity in energy, financial institutions, healthcare, technology, sports and entertainment, large corporate diversified banking, and regional commercial banking in New York and Southern California.

The bank also expanded its commercial platform through new team leadership in Dallas, Detroit, Cleveland and Phoenix, launched a Texas regional commercial banking initiative, and added specialized-industry verticals in food and beverage, leisure, hospitality and gaming, and education and nonprofits.

Deposits Grow as Funding Costs Decline Core deposits excluding brokered deposits rose $700 million in the second quarter and were up about $1.8 billion in the first half of 2026. Commercial and private-bank deposits increased approximately $900 million, partly offset by a $290 million decline in retail deposits.

Despite the growth in interest-bearing deposits, Flagstar reduced the cost of interest-bearing deposits by five basis points from the prior quarter and by 65 basis points from a year earlier. Smith said the bank retained roughly 85% of $4.8 billion in retail certificates of deposit that matured during the quarter, with retained balances moving into CD products priced about 15 to 25 basis points below the maturing CDs.

Another $4.4 billion of retail CDs with a weighted-average cost of 3.87% are scheduled to mature in the third quarter. Smith said Flagstar’s all-in spot cost of deposits, including noninterest-bearing and brokered deposits, was approximately 2.49% at quarter-end.

Net interest margin was 2.13% in the second quarter, versus 2.15% in the first quarter. Excluding the effect of an additional day in the quarter, management said NIM would have been 2.16%. June NIM was 2.19%, which Smith said he viewed as a floor as the bank expands its balance sheet, adds market-rate C&I loans and continues reducing lower-yielding multifamily exposure.

CRE Reduction and Credit Trends Flagstar continued to reduce commercial real estate exposure, with multifamily and CRE balances declining $1.5 billion during the quarter. CRE balances are down $14.9 billion, or 28%, since 2023, while the CRE concentration ratio declined to 350% from 367% in the prior quarter and more than 500% when current management joined the company.

CRE par payoffs totaled $1.1 billion, with 39% involving substandard-rated loans. Total multifamily and CRE payoffs reached $1.5 billion. Management said these payoffs accelerate the bank’s diversification strategy but also reduce near-term interest income and margin.

The allowance for credit losses declined by $81 million, primarily because of lower CRE and multifamily balances, charge-offs and lower qualitative adjustments as more appraisals became available. Criticized and classified loans fell $152 million, or 1%, from the prior quarter and were down $1.1 billion, or 9%, year over year. Substandard loans declined $375 million during the quarter.

Nonaccrual loans rose 5% sequentially to $2.8 billion, partly reflecting the company’s review of loans with reset or maturity dates within 18 months. Smith said approximately 40% of nonaccrual loans were current and paying, and Flagstar expects nonaccrual balances to decline to about $2.3 billion by year-end.

Net charge-offs were approximately $100 million, though management said $47 million of that amount had previously been fully reserved. The company expects new C&I production to carry reserve coverage of about 1%, while runoff in CRE and multifamily includes loans with higher risk and coverage levels.

Updated Outlook Flagstar reduced its interest-income outlook for 2026 and 2027, citing faster-than-expected CRE and multifamily payoffs, a greater mix of interest-bearing deposits, somewhat higher anticipated nonaccrual balances and weaker mortgage gain-on-sale revenue in a higher-for-longer rate environment.

2026 earnings per share are forecast at $0.40 to $0.50. 2027 earnings per share are forecast at $1.60 to $1.70. Management expects total assets to end 2026 at roughly $91.5 billion to $92 billion and reach about $100 billion by the end of 2027. Otting said future capital-return decisions would depend on core earnings growth, credit trends and the balance between CRE payoffs and capital needed to support C&I expansion. Smith said the updated earnings guidance does not include the effect of the newly authorized share repurchase program.

About Flagstar Bank, National Association (NYSE:FLG)Flagstar Financial Corporation NYSE: FLG is a bank holding company whose principal subsidiary, Flagstar Bank, provides a range of financial services across the United States. Headquartered in Troy, Michigan, Flagstar combines commercial banking, mortgage lending and servicing, and deposit products to serve individuals, businesses and public entities. As a publicly traded company, Flagstar leverages its banking charter and national mortgage platform to deliver tailored financial solutions through both digital and branch channels.

The company's mortgage business is one of the largest residential originators and servicers in the nation, offering retail, wholesale and correspondent lending channels.

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

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The logo of Meta at the Meta Lab in Los Angeles, California, U.S., May 20, 2026. REUTERS/Daniel Cole/File Photo Purchase Licensing Rights, opens new tab

July 24 (Reuters) - Meta (META.O), opens new tab on Friday launched a new app called "Seller" to offer dedicated selling tools to merchants ​using the company's Facebook Marketplace platform for buying ‌and selling items.

Increasing shopping activity on Facebook groups prompted the social media giant to launch Marketplace ten years ago, ​generating revenue from boosted listings.

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Here are some ​details:

Meta is looking to strengthen its Marketplace offering ⁠to better compete with e-commerce platforms like eBay, ​while enhancing the shopping experience on the platform, which ​sees 430 million items listed each month globally.

The "Seller" app is designed to sync with existing Marketplace accounts, carrying over current ​listings, messages and sales history.

The app features AI-powered ​tools for creating listings, a unified inbox for buyer communications, ‌inventory ⁠management capabilities and performance insights to help sellers optimize their strategies.

The company said "Seller" is now available on the App Store for U.S. users 18 and older, ​with a ​web version ⁠currently being tested for those who download the app.

Facebook is also launching "Facebook Verified", ​a free badge that signifies a real ​person ⁠is behind a profile, the company said.

The verification involves a selfie-based process, as the company looks to address ⁠concerns ​about authenticity and safety.

In May, ​Meta released an app called "Forum" for people who use Facebook Groups.

Reporting ​by Jaspreet Singh in Bengaluru; Editing by Vijay Kishore

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Tesla (NASDAQ:TSLA | TSLA Price Prediction) delivered a split-decision quarter: a big revenue beat wrapped around an ugly EPS miss. Wall Street trimmed price targets without walking away from the story. Our model comes out constructive.

Tesla trades at $374.01 after a roughly 4% after-hours slide that erased $71 billion in market cap. Our 24/7 Wall St. price target is $413.49, implying 10.56% upside over twelve months. The recommendation is buy with 90% confidence level confidence.

Metric Value Current Price $374.01 24/7 Wall St. Price Target $413.49 Upside 10.56% Recommendation BUY Confidence 90% A Record Quarter That Cost $71 Billion Tesla posted $28.24 billion in Q2 revenue, up 25.52% year over year and beating consensus by 7.10%, on record deliveries of 480,126 vehicles.

Non-GAAP EPS of $0.33 missed the $0.5367 estimate by 38.51%, operating margin compressed to 1.4%, and free cash flow flipped to negative $1.09 billion as capex surged to $5.79 billion. Shares are down 5.18% this week and 16.83% year to date, though up 12.62% over the past year.

Why Bulls See a Breakout Ahead The bull case rests on Tesla’s transition to an AI and robotics platform. FSD attach rates on North American deliveries exceeded 55%, with 1.48 million active subscriptions (up 56% YoY).

Cybercab production has begun at Gigafactory Texas, robotaxi service covers seven US metros, and Optimus lines are installed at Fremont. Energy storage deployments jumped to 13.5 GWh. Our bull scenario points to $479.66 within twelve months, a 28.25% return.

The Risks Worth Watching The bear case flips the spending story. Operating income fell 56.88% YoY, opex jumped 47%, and regulatory credits collapsed to $146 million. Reddit sentiment tracked bearish (24 to 36) after the earnings report. Multiple analysts slashed the price target after earnings. 

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Bulls counter that margin damage is self-inflicted, with heavy AI infrastructure and stock-based comp from the 2025 CEO Performance Award weighing on GAAP profits, while operating cash flow rose 84.9% to $4.70 billion and cash swelled to $43.52 billion. Our bear scenario lands at $365.83, a 2.19% decline.

How Tesla Compares to GM and Rivian General Motors (NYSE:GM) is the anti-Tesla trade. GM posted its 16th consecutive earnings beat, with adjusted earnings up 41.3% and raised full-year 2026 guidance, plus roughly 75 million shares retired in the past year. That execution at a fraction of Tesla’s 370 P/E is why our $413.49 target must earn its premium through AI optionality, not vehicle economics.

Rivian (NASDAQ:RIVN) is the pure-play EV comp fighting for scale. Rivian lacks Tesla’s 480,126-unit quarterly cadence and $43.52 billion cash pile, making Tesla’s balance sheet look conservative and supporting our target as reasonable rather than aggressive.

Tesla Price Prediction 2026 to 2030 Our 24/7 Wall St. price target for Tesla is $413.49, a buy with 90% confidence. Q2 shows demand strength (record deliveries, revenue beat) with misses concentrated in discretionary AI and Optimus spending Tesla chose to accelerate.

I’d buy here if capex converts into robotaxi and Optimus revenue on the 2027 timeline management outlined. I’d stay on the sidelines if operating margin fails to recover above 5% by year-end.

Year 24/7 Wall St. Price Target 2026 $413.49 2027 $445.00 2028 $475.00 2029 $505.00 2030 $538.14 These projections assume Tesla executes on robotaxi monetization and Optimus reaches commercial scale. Significant upside or downside could result from FSD adoption curves and margin recovery pace.

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Contact [email protected] for any questions or corrections.

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SummaryWhile critics panic over increasing CapEx, Amazon’s $143 billion cash reserves generate enough in quarterly interest income to fund debt obligations.Amazon has $364 billion, and counting, in legally binding, long-term cloud contracts that ensure data center compute capacity is accounted for before construction completes.Though infrastructure investments have temporarily reduced short-term free cash flow, these assets are projected to deliver highly profitable returns by the end of 2028 and for many years to follow.Editor's note: Seeking Alpha is proud to welcome MarginMinded as a new contributing analyst. You can become one too! Share your best investment idea by submitting your article for review to our editors. Get published, earn money, and unlock exclusive SA Premium access.

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