Track market-moving stories before they get noisy

, /PRNewswire/ -- The Board of Directors of American Electric Power (Nasdaq: AEP) has declared a regular quarterly cash dividend of 97 cents per share on the company's common stock, an increase of 2 cents per share.

The dividend is payable Dec. 10, 2026, to shareholders of record as of Nov. 10, 2026.

About AEP
American Electric Power (Nasdaq: AEP) is committed to improving our customers' lives with reliable, affordable power. We plan to invest $78 billion from 2026 through 2030 to enhance service for customers and support the growing energy needs of our communities. Our nearly 18,000 employees operate and maintain the nation's largest electric transmission system with 40,000 line miles, along with more than 252,000 miles of distribution lines to deliver energy to 5.6 million customers in 11 states. AEP also is one of the nation's largest electricity producers with approximately 33,000 megawatts of diverse owned and contracted generating capacity. We are focused on safety and operational excellence, creating value for our stakeholders and bringing opportunity to our service territory through economic development and community engagement. Our family of companies includes AEP Texas, Appalachian Power (in Virginia, West Virginia and Tennessee), Indiana Michigan Power, Kentucky Power, Ohio Power Company, Public Service Company of Oklahoma, and Southwestern Electric Power Company (in Arkansas, Louisiana, east Texas and the Texas Panhandle). AEP also owns AEP Energy, which provides innovative competitive energy solutions nationwide. AEP is headquartered in Columbus, Ohio. For more information, visit aep.com.

Website Disclosure
AEP may use its website as a distribution channel for material company information. Financial and other important information regarding AEP is routinely posted on and accessible through AEP's website at https://www.aep.com/investors/. In addition, you may automatically receive email alerts and other information about AEP when you enroll your email address by visiting the "Email Alerts" section at https://www.aep.com/investors/.

SOURCE American Electric Power

RUM Group stock has been in a strong freefall this month, reaching its lowest level since July 31 this year. It fell to $5.86, down by 45% from its highest point in August, and technicals suggest that it has more downside as AI jitters persist. 

RUM Group stock has fallen as AI bubble risks remainRUM Group is a company known for Rumble, the YouTube competitor that is popular among conservatives. Recently, the firm has ventured into the fast-growing neocloud industry. Its AI business is through Quake AI, which is aiming to become a big provider of data center solutions to hyperscalers and other AI labs. 

The company recently acquired Northern Data, a German AI cloud and high-performance computing company. It initially spent $767 million to acquire an 85% stake in the company in June, and recently increased it to 98%. Its goal is to own the whole company.

The transition has had some earlier success, with the company signing a six-year $13.7 billion deal with Anthropic, the creator of Claude. It now hopes to receive more deals from both large companies and smaller AI labs. 

The challenge, however, is that there have been concerns about the neocloud industry, with Gartner warning that companies in the industry will need to announce major impairments in the coming years. 

Michael Burry has warned that these companies were exaggerating their depreciation cycle. Ideally, he believes that the optimum usage of these GPUs should be two to three years, while they see it as over six years. 

RUM Group also faces the challenges that other neocloud companies like CoreWeave and Nebius are facing. For example, rolling out data centers is a highly expensive process, meaning that it will need to raise cash, either through debt or equity. CoreWeave’s debt has jumped to nearly $30 billion, while IREN’s has soared to over $7 billion. 

Additionally, the cost of all items in the data center industry, including memory, servers, and GPUs has continued rising this year. There are also fears that the AI bubble will burst this year, which explains why the company has a short interest of 11%. 

RUM Group’s business is expected to continue growing, driven by its Rumble and Quake. Its last earnings report showed that its revenue jumped by 40% in the second quarter to $40.4 million. With the Northern Data buyout, the company announced that its Q3 revenue will be $93 billion.

RUM Group stock chart | Source: TradingView

The daily chart shows that the RUM Group shares have been in a strong bearish trend in the past few weeks. It dropped from $10.53 in August to the current $5.86. 

The stock has moved below the Ultimate Support level of the Murrey Math Lines tool. It has dropped below the key support level of $6.98, its lowest level on September 11. 

The stock has dropped below the 50-day moving average, and is along the lower side of the Bollinger Bands. At the same time, the Relative Strength Index (RSI) has dropped to the oversold level of 30.

Therefore, the stock will likely continue falling, potentially to the psychological level of $5. A drop below that level will point to more downside, potentially to $4.65, its lowest level in March.

Binance launches Stage Two of its USD1 incentive program with 2.5M $USD1 in secondary reward pools, alongside a 150M $WLFI reserve built with World Liberty Financial.

@Binance is bringing @worldlibertyfi's dollar-pegged stablecoin $USD1 into its centralized exchange yield-generation framework, with the launch of Stage Two of its user incentive program.

The new phase releases a total of 2.5M $USD1 in rewards into secondary reward pools. This comes on top of a 150M $WLFI promotional reserve pool that Binance built jointly with World Liberty Financial.

A continuation of earlier USD1 campaigns on BinanceThe move extends a series of incentive programs linking the two companies. An earlier campaign offered weekly $WLFI airdrops to users holding a minimum balance of $USD1, with a total allocation of $40 million in tokens. Binance said at the time it aimed to encourage users to hold or deploy their USD1 across supported products.

The program was later extended. According to MEXC News, 235 million $WLFI tokens were offered from February 20 to March 20, 2026 to users holding $USD1.

Binance has also backed USD1 through trading incentives. In a December 2025 press release, Binance said VIP Level 2 to 9 users would pay zero maker and taker fees on BNB/USD1, BTC/USD1, ETH/USD1 and SOL/USD1 pairs, while all users would pay no fees on USD1/USDT and USD1/USDC pairs.

What USD1 is and where it standsThe same release describes USD1 as a fully redeemable, 1:1 dollar-backed stablecoin, with reserves held in U.S. Treasury bills, cash deposits and other cash equivalents. Coinbase data shows it launched in March 2025 and is closely associated with the Trump family.

Its supply is heavily tied to Binance. Eco, citing CoinGecko and Binance data, estimates the exchange holds roughly 87% of total USD1 supply, making it the dominant venue for the asset. That concentration helps explain why incentives on the exchange can move the stablecoin's numbers.

The timing is notable. BigGo Finance, citing CoinGecko data, reports USD1's market capitalization fell by about $401 million, or 9.1%, to roughly $4.02 billion between Oct. 6 and Oct. 19, driven mainly by net redemptions on Ethereum and BNB Chain. The same report says USD1 held its peg throughout, trading between $0.998 and $1.000.

Stage Two adds fresh $USD1 and $WLFI incentives at a point when the stablecoin's supply has been shrinking. Whether the larger reward pools draw new balances onto the exchange is likely to show up in USD1 supply data over the coming weeks.

SourcesBusiness Wire: Binance expands USD1 integration
BigGo Finance: USD1 market cap and redemptions
Coinbase: World Liberty Financial USD overview

The Swiss regulator cleared a retail exchange-traded fund that holds bitcoin directly, without naming the fund or its issuer, and warned that the investment remains highly risky.

Swiss regulator FINMA approves the country's first retail bitcoin ETF

Posted October 20, 2026 at 9:21 am ET.

Switzerland’s financial markets regulator has approved the country’s first exchange-traded fund that holds bitcoin directly, and it is open to retail investors. The Swiss Financial Market Supervisory Authority (FINMA) announced the decision on Oct. 20, saying it had seen growing interest in crypto investments, especially bitcoin.

FINMA did not name the fund, its issuer, where it will list, or when trading will begin. The regulator said other fund providers have also filed or announced plans to file for bitcoin ETFs of their own.

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An Exemption for Bitcoin Under Swiss law, the product is classed as an “other fund for alternative investments” carrying a specific risk. To approve it, FINMA granted an exemption from the risk diversification rules that would normally apply to such a fund. The regulator pointed to bitcoin’s lengthy trading record and its heavy volume relative to other cryptocurrencies as the basis for that exception.

The approval comes with conditions. Supervised institutions must take steps to reduce operational and custody risks in line with guidance FINMA issued on Jan. 12, 2026. Point-of-sale conduct rules under Switzerland’s Financial Services Act (FinSA) also apply, which FINMA said should give buyers more protection than they would have when buying cryptocurrencies directly. The fund’s documents are expected to spell out its risks clearly.

A Warning Attached FINMA paired the approval with a caution. Bitcoin investments “remain highly risky,” it said in the release, even when held through an approved ETF, and because of crypto’s volatility “the capital invested may lose a significant amount of its value.” The regulator told investors to weigh that, particularly when deciding how much to put in.

For firms offering crypto-based financial instruments, FinSA’s conduct rules “must be strictly adhered to,” FINMA said in the same statement, including clear warnings about volatility and the chance of losses, along with careful suitability assessments.

The decision builds on an earlier step. In 2021, FINMA authorized a fund that invests mainly in a basket of cryptocurrencies, but that product was limited to qualified investors. The new approval is the first to bring a fund holding bitcoin directly to Swiss retail buyers.

Related Listen: MSBT Is Cheapest But IBIT Likely Still Can’t Be Beat for This Reason

AI-assisted content: This article was produced with the assistance of AI tools and was reviewed, edited, and fact-checked by a member of the Unchained editorial team before publication.

XRP inflows to exchanges have hit seven-month highs as more than 6 billion tokens were deposited in the last 30 days.

Key points:

Rolling 30-day inflows to exchanges hit 6 billion XRP on Oct. 19, their highest value in seven months.The 90-day moving average of whale outflows fell to $49.7 million, its lowest levels in five years, as analysts see a lack of interest in the XRP/USDT pair.The realized profit/loss ratio has dropped 41% in October as rangebound trading conditions return.XRP whale interest absent as exchange inflows climb: AnalysisNew research from onchain analytics platform CryptoQuant reveals that on a rolling 30-day basis, XRP exchange inflows are at their highest since March.

In the 30 days to Oct. 19, inflows totaled 6.05 billion XRP and have doubled since mid-August. During this time, XRP/USD increased from around $1 to a maximum of $1.70 before correcting to the current levels around $1.30.

“The rise in total inflows to more than 6 billion XRP, reaching a seven-month high, signals a clear shift in asset movement toward exchanges. This could reflect increased trading activity and liquidity on these platforms, or a rise in the movement of XRP between wallets and exchanges,” CryptoQuant commented.

XRP exchange inflows (screenshot). Source: CryptoQuant

Further analysis covering exchange withdrawals from whales shows that XRP is “attracting less and less attention.” CryptoQuant suggests that large-volume investors may be waiting for more advantageous prices before increasing exposure.

The 90-day moving average of whale outflows hit a high of $3.5 billion in February 2025, shortly after XRP’s all-time high at $3.40. Since then, whale outflows are down 98.6% and the 90-day moving average currently stands at $49.7 million. This is its lowest value since October 2021.

“From a long-term perspective, this suggests XRP could lack buying volume without whale support,” CryptoQuant commented while acknowledging XRP’s “notable resilience” during the 2026 crypto bear market.

XRP whale exchange outflows (screenshot). Source: CryptoQuant

Bitcoin rangebound price action eases profit-takingOnchain data confirms that Bitcoin investors also stepped back in October as BTC/USD traded within a range between $80,000 and $87,000.

In its latest Market Pulse bulletin released on Monday, crypto analytics platform Glassnode reported reduced profit-taking across the Bitcoin investor base. The realized profit/loss ratio dropped from 0.8 to 0.4, a decrease of 50%, over the past week.

“This contrast demonstrates that profit realized activity cooled relative to loss realization onchain, highlighting a transition toward more subdued sentiment and diminished aggressive spending by market participants,” Glassnode summarized.

Bitcoin realized profit/loss ratio (screenshot). Source: Glassnode

XRP withdrawals below 10,000 tokens surged 6.6-fold on Binance, while reserves across three major exchanges increased by 120 million.

XRP withdrawal activity on Binance has changed quite a bit over the past few weeks. Between September 30 and October 20, withdrawals below 10,000 XRP grew from just 3% to 19.7% of total outflow value.

This figure represents a 6.6-fold increase and the highest level since October 2024.

A Shift in XRP Exchange Activity
At the other end, transfers above 1 million XRP lost ground. Their share of Binance outflows fell from 60% to 38.6%, according to CryptoQuant. Transfers between 100,000 and 1 million XRP moved in the opposite direction, as the figures rose from around 24% to 27%. Even with that shift, larger transfers still make up most of the activity.

Outflows above 100,000 units accounted for 65.7% of Binance’s total XRP outflow value. Coinbase also saw a sharp drop in its largest withdrawal category. The share of outflows involving more than 1 million units fell from 43% on September 30 to 12.5% on October 20, which is a 70.9% decline in relative terms.

But the change in withdrawal sizes is only part of the picture. XRP reserves have also been rising across three major exchanges. Between October 5 and October 20, Binance holdings increased from 2.60 billion to 2.66 billion. Upbit reserves climbed from 6.41 billion to 6.45 billion, while Bithumb went from 1.82 billion to 1.84 billion XRP.

The three exchanges added 120 million XRP, bringing their combined reserves to 10.95 billion tokens from 10.83 billion. Binance accounted for half of the increase.

“Together, the figures highlight a shift in the relative shares of smaller versus larger XRP withdrawals, alongside a renewed increase in exchange reserves. October 20 readings remain subject to final daily confirmation.”

Analysts Hold On to Bullish Bets
XRP has lost more than 5% in the last seven days amid broader market turbulence. Spot ETFs providing exposure to the crypto asset are also feeling the heat. The funds recorded zero net flows on Monday after ending the previous week with $1.84 million in withdrawals.

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Important Ripple News and XRP Price Update: October 15

Not everyone has given up on XRP. Vincent Van Code is seeing the market turbulence differently. He believes the past week’s sell-offs were part of a wider crypto shakeout that pushed weaker investors out. According to him, long positions were wiped out, short sellers jumped in, and those bets were then liquidated too. He expects fresh all-time highs across the market in the coming weeks, followed by a slower, steadier bull run.

Another analyst, EGRAG CRYPTO, is also sticking to his bullish outlook and said that the token could reach $7 to $9 at the cycle top, well above its 2025 peak of $3.65.

Tags:

The National Cryptocurrency Association (NCA) has submitted a formal comment letter to the U.S. Treasury regarding Section 3 rules of the GENIUS Act, marking a significant step in clarifying stablecoin regulation.

Industry’s framework for stablecoin regulationStuart Alderoty, NCA President and Chief Legal Officer at Ripple, signed the document, confirming industry support for a one-hundred-percent reserve requirement for stablecoins. However, he emphasized the need for a practical approach to shield retail users from potential risks associated with regulatory changes.

Alderoty addressed the need to protect Americans from being “stranded holding stablecoins if regulations change.” The NCA proposes a safe-harbor mechanism: a designated period following any issuer’s license revocation or missed compliance deadline—such as the July 18, 2028 date—allowing users to redeem, sell, or convert their stablecoins without incurring losses. This measure aims to provide exchanges with the ability to assist users technically without facing accusations of unlawful trading during this window.

Retail holders must have a temporary window to redeem or convert their stablecoins if an issuer’s license lapses, ensuring they are not left vulnerable during regulatory transitions.

The comment letter also emphasizes the importance of clear legal pathways for recovering stolen assets. The NCA advocates permitting the reissuance of payment stablecoins, under a lawful court order, to replace those lost through theft or accidental transfers. This action would fall under the “except as required by a lawful order” clause, according to the association.

Mini dictionary: National Cryptocurrency Association (NCA), a U.S.-based industry group representing crypto sector interests in regulatory matters.

New boundaries for wallets and self-custodyThe NCA further outlined boundaries distinguishing custodial professionals from software developers. Under its proposal, providers of non-custodial wallets and simple balance-display interfaces that do not control private keys should not be classified as intermediaries or sellers by regulatory bodies.

Any transactions conducted directly between individual users or within their personal wallets should remain outside agency restrictions, maintaining the right to self-custody and peer-to-peer transfers.

Service TypeNCA Proposed ClassificationRegulatory ImpactCustodial wallet providersIntermediary/SellerSubject to agency rulesNon-custodial wallet softwareDeveloper/Interface onlyOutside agency restrictionsThe association recommends that direct peer-to-peer (P2P) transfers, internal account moves, and activity restricted to self-managed wallets be protected from federal intervention, preserving users’ fundamental rights in cryptocurrency management.

Implications for the retail marketBy submitting these recommendations, the NCA seeks to shift industry-regulator dialogue toward pragmatic solutions and clear separation of technological responsibilities. The association’s approach aims to define technology’s role while balancing regulatory objectives with market stability.

Market observers note that with this filing, industry leaders have effectively placed the onus for ensuring retail market stability on the Treasury Department. The agency will now determine the final strictness of stablecoin regulations in the coming months.

A newly activated XRP wallet has received more than 82 million tokens in a single transaction, adding to the large transfers recorded on the XRP Ledger. 

On-chain data shows that the wallet received 82,314,668 XRP worth more than $106 million. However, the identity of the wallet owner remains unknown, which leaves open the possibility that the funds could belong to a private investor, a large institution, or an exchange.

New XRP Wallet Receives $106 Million
On-chain records show that the XRP wallet r3p…ybc received exactly 82,314,668 XRP at 00:30 on October 20, 2026, worth more than $106 million at the time of reporting. The transfer activated the wallet, which has recorded no other transactions since receiving the funds.

XRP wallet gulps over 83 million tokens at once
Nearly 12 hours after the transfer, the wallet still held all 82.3 million XRP, with no recorded outflows. This means the tokens had not moved from the newly activated address during that period.

However, the available records do not reveal who controls the wallet and whether it belongs to an individual investor or a large institution.

The address that sent the funds, rN1…8uo, also holds a large amount of XRP. Despite transferring 82.3 million tokens to the new wallet, it retains approximately 142.7 million XRP worth $184 million at press time.

The transfer also marked the wallet’s first recorded outgoing payment since May 20, 2026. On that date, rN1…8uo sent 73 million XRP to another existing address, rpx…ZY1.

XRP Wallet Transfer History Reveals a Long-Standing Connection
Interestingly, the transaction history shows that rN1…8uo has consistently received its XRP from rpx…ZY1. This helps establish how the funds reached the newly activated wallet, although it does not reveal who owns the addresses.

Records show that rpx…ZY1 activated rN1…8uo in November 2025, sending it 10 XRP to open the account. Ten days later, the same address transferred 73 million XRP to the newly activated wallet. It followed that transfer with another 59.6 million XRP on Dec. 4, 2025, and then sent 73.9 million XRP on Dec. 12, 2025.

The pattern continued into 2026, with most transfers involving around 73 million XRP each. The latest transaction followed the same pattern of whale movements, as rN1…8uo sent the 82.3 million XRP to r3p…ybc from its existing balance.

These repeated transfers show that large XRP balances have moved between the connected wallets over several months.

Binance Connection
Tracing the transactions has not revealed the identity of the person or institution behind the wallets. However, the trail points toward Binance, as the address rpx…ZY1 was activated by a wallet linked to the exchange.

This connection leaves two possible explanations. An individual XRP whale may be using Binance to manage the funds, or Binance itself may have carried out the transfers. If the exchange controls the wallets, the movement could be part of an internal fund-rebalancing exercise, not a purchase by an outside investor.

Neither explanation has been confirmed. A wallet’s connection to an exchange does not necessarily mean the exchange owns the funds. Similarly, moving XRP between addresses does not automatically indicate buying or selling.

Latest Transfer Follows Earlier Large XRP Movements
The transaction also fits a trend discussed in an earlier report, which highlighted large XRP transfers that moved tokens away from exchanges. 

Specifically, on Sept. 11, transactions involving at least 1 million XRP moved tokens worth approximately $165 million. This was the highest intraday total recorded since late February 2026. The latest transfer adds to the record of large XRP movements.

MANCHESTER, N.H., Oct. 20, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Allegro MicroSystems, Inc. (“Allegro”) (Nasdaq: ALGM), a global leader for motion control and energy-efficient systems, is expanding its robotics portfolio with precision sensing and 48V power architectures to address key hardware challenges in physical AI, including torque density, thermal management, and functional safety for human-robot collaboration. 

Key Portfolio Innovations Include: 

48V Power Integration: The A81481 48V power management IC (PMIC) reduces overall system footprint and hardware costs by 50% while accelerating time-to-market for robotics OEMs.High-Torque Joint Precision: The A17802 and A17803 inductive position sensors deliver stray-field immunity without supplemental shielding and tolerate mechanical air-gap variations.Micro-Joint Dexterity: The CT310 XtremeSense™ TMR and A33023 Hall-effect angle sensors deliver sub-degree, solid-state accuracy to replace bulky wire-wound resolvers and optical encoders. “Precise motion control, accurate sensing, and efficient power management are fundamental to advanced robotic manipulation,” said Harpal J.S. Mandaher, CEO and co-founder of Sarcomere Dynamics Inc. “We’re proud to partner with Allegro to integrate their advanced motion controllers, sensors, and power ICs into our Scorpion gripper and are on track to extend this collaboration to our next-generation ARTUS Dex – a 24-degree-of-freedom (DoF) robotic hand that delivers near-human dexterity for advanced physical AI applications.”

Single-Chip PMIC Simplifies and Shrinks 48V Robotic Power Design 

As humanoid designs adopt 48V architectures to reduce cabling weight and minimize resistive losses, engineers face the challenge of safely stepping down higher voltages within tight enclosures. Leveraging decades of automotive engineering experience, Allegro’s A81481 addresses this directly. As a single-chip 48V PMIC engineered for safety-critical robotics, it delivers complete system power and safety regulation directly from a 48V bus, eliminating the need for external pre-regulators. 

By integrating dual buck regulators, five low-dropout (LDO) outputs, and ASIL-D-capable safety diagnostics (including a triple-watchdog architecture) into a 6x6 mm compact package, the A81481 powers remote sensing clusters while simplifying board layout and cutting total system footprint and BOM costs by roughly 50%. 

Sub-Degree Precision for Fluid, Natural Motion

For high-torque actuators like shoulder, hip, and knee joints, the A17802 and A17803 inductive position sensors provide accurate and reliable position measurement in demanding motor control environments. The A17803 is also available in an ultra-compact QFN package, and both sensors deliver reliable operation under varying air gaps through on-chip compensation and advanced filtering, while built-in stray-field immunity eliminates the need for expensive shielding. 

For the tighter mechanical constraints of robotic hands and fingers, Allegro’s CT310 XtremeSense™ TMR and A33023 Hall-effect angle sensors offer greater resilience to contamination, mechanical shock, and runout that can degrade traditional encoder technologies. The CT310 delivers sub-degree accuracy in a 2x2 mm DFN package, while the A33023 adds low-latency, stray-field immunity, and multiple digital output options for applications requiring robust diagnostics and functional safety support.

“In fixed industrial robots, weight and space are less constrained because thick cables, large external drives and liquid cooling are practical,” said Andreas Friedrich, Senior Director of Technology & Strategy at Allegro MicroSystems. “But in autonomous humanoids with 30-plus degrees of freedom, every gram and millimeter matters. By combining true 48V power management, robust motor and gate drivers, stray-field-immune inductive and compact TMR sensors, we give robotics engineers integrated, safety-ready building blocks to maximize torque, manage tight tolerances, and enable fluid motion.” 

Availability 

For more information about the A17802 and A17803 QFN package variant inductive position sensors, the CT310 TMR angle sensor, the A33023 Hall-effect angle sensor, and the A81481 PMIC, including samples and evaluation support, visit Allegro Robotics Building Blocks. Attendees at electronica 2026 can also see Allegro’s latest robotics power and sensing solutions at Hall C6, Booth 129. 

About Allegro MicroSystems 

Allegro MicroSystems, Inc. is leveraging more than three decades of expertise in magnetic sensing and power ICs to propel electrification, automation, AI data center, and robotics forward with solutions that enhance efficiency, performance and sustainability. Allegro’s commitment to quality drives transformation across industries, reinforcing our status as a pioneer in “automotive-grade” technology and a partner in our customers' success. For additional information, visit allegromicro.com. 

Forward-Looking Statements 

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. All statements other than statements of historical facts contained in this press release, including statements regarding the anticipated performance, customer benefits, cost savings, and customer collaboration potential of Allegro’s products and the timing of such collaborations, are forward-looking statements. These statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other important factors that may cause our actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. 

In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by terms such as “will,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “plan,” “project,” “believe,” “estimate,” “potential,” or other similar expressions. No forward-looking statement is a guarantee of future performance, and you should avoid placing undue reliance on these statements. 

Forward-looking statements are based on management’s current expectations and assumptions and are subject to risks and uncertainties. Actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements due to various factors, including, but not limited to: our ability to successfully develop and commercialize new products; customer adoption rates of emerging technologies; the timing and success of customer design wins; our ability to compete effectively; and other risk factors identified in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended March 27, 2026, as updated by our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. All forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this press release, and except as required by law, we assume no obligation to update them. 

Media Contact:
Andrew MacLellan
Corporate Communications
(617) 633-4909
[email protected]

Allegro Contact:
Ram Sathappan
Vice President of Global Marketing and Applications
[email protected]

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/552c4e45-4aa0-4d27-b0f4-495d933f6caf

Allegro MicroSystems Robotics Solutions
Allegro MicroSystems expands portfolio to address critical size, weight, and safety design challenge...

The upcoming report from SouthState (SSB - Free Report) is expected to reveal quarterly earnings of $2.39 per share, indicating a decline of 7.4% compared to the year-ago period. Analysts forecast revenues of $690.84 million, representing a decline of 1.1% year over year.

The consensus EPS estimate for the quarter has been revised 0.2% higher over the last 30 days to the current level. This reflects how the analysts covering the stock have collectively reevaluated their initial estimates during this timeframe.

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

While investors typically use consensus earnings and revenue estimates as a yardstick to evaluate the company's quarterly performance, scrutinizing analysts' projections for some of the company's key metrics can offer a more comprehensive perspective.

Bearing this in mind, let's now explore the average estimates of specific SouthState metrics that are commonly monitored and projected by Wall Street analysts.

The collective assessment of analysts points to an estimated 'Net Interest Margin (Non-Tax Equivalent)' of 3.8%. The estimate is in contrast to the year-ago figure of 4.1%.

Analysts forecast 'Efficiency Ratio' to reach 52.0%. The estimate is in contrast to the year-ago figure of 49.9%.

It is projected by analysts that the 'Average Balance - Total interest-earning assets' will reach $62.09 billion. Compared to the current estimate, the company reported $58.73 billion in the same quarter of the previous year.

The average prediction of analysts places 'Total nonperforming assets' at $272.34 million. The estimate compares to the year-ago value of $320.81 million.

Analysts predict that the 'Total nonperforming loans (non-acquired & acquired)' will reach $256.46 million. Compared to the current estimate, the company reported $301.69 million in the same quarter of the previous year.

According to the collective judgment of analysts, 'Net interest income, tax equivalent (Non-GAAP)' should come in at $590.78 million. Compared to the current estimate, the company reported $600.42 million in the same quarter of the previous year.

The consensus estimate for 'Total Noninterest Income' stands at $100.70 million. The estimate compares to the year-ago value of $99.09 million.

The combined assessment of analysts suggests that 'Total correspondent banking and capital market income' will likely reach $22.02 million. Compared to the present estimate, the company reported $21.20 million in the same quarter last year.

The consensus among analysts is that 'Trust and investment services income' will reach $15.14 million. Compared to the present estimate, the company reported $14.16 million in the same quarter last year.

Based on the collective assessment of analysts, 'Fees on deposit accounts' should arrive at $42.86 million. Compared to the present estimate, the company reported $42.57 million in the same quarter last year.

Analysts expect 'Net Interest Income' to come in at $590.09 million. The estimate is in contrast to the year-ago figure of $599.70 million.

Analysts' assessment points toward 'Mortgage banking income' reaching $5.80 million. The estimate is in contrast to the year-ago figure of $5.46 million.

View all Key Company Metrics for SouthState here>>>

Shares of SouthState have demonstrated returns of -1.9% over the past month compared to the Zacks S&P 500 composite's +0.7% change. With a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold), SSB is expected to mirror the overall market performance in the near future. You can see the complete list of today's Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) stocks here >>>> .

, /PRNewswire/ -- Credera, the transformation consulting firm of Omnicom (NYSE: OMC), today announced a five-year strategic collaboration agreement (SCA) with Amazon Web Services, Inc. (AWS) to help clients accelerate marketing transformation, modernize infrastructure, and deploy AI into production while combining Credera's technical delivery depth and Omnicom's enterprise client relationships, proprietary identity data, connected media expertise, all powered by AWS. The resulting solutions can be fully integrated with Omni, Omnicom's next-generation AI-powered marketing and sales intelligence platform.

Credera will target six priority verticals — Consumer Packaged Goods, Energy, Healthcare and Life Sciences, Automotive, Public Sector, and Media and Entertainment — across North America, Europe, and Asia-Pacific.

"Building on AWS allows us to bring together cloud capabilities and deep marketing expertise at a scale that creates measurable outcomes for clients," said Justin Bell, Global Chief Executive Officer, Credera. "Enterprise brands need their data, identity, and AI infrastructure working together in real time. Using AWS, Credera is delivering that as a single, integrated capability. What makes this collaboration distinct is that Credera enables Omnicom to connect marketing transformation with adjacent enterprise domains like supply chain optimization and connected vehicle intelligence, creating cloud workloads that extend well beyond traditional agency scope."

A Dedicated AWS Business Unit
As part of the collaboration, Credera has established a dedicated AWS Business Unit, investing in specialized teams across business development, solution architecture, alliance operations, and delivery over the SCA term. Credera is investing in building scalable capabilities, including:

AWS Marketplace solutions already available, such as the Marketing Data & Analytics Foundation, a structured consulting engagement in which Credera assesses, designs, engineers, and operationalizes scalable marketing data architecture aligned to AWS best practices, providing the governed data layer that enables AI and personalization at enterprise scale. A roadmap of future solutions targeting intelligent contact centers (Amazon Connect), AI-powered migration, agentic marketing automation (Amazon Bedrock, Amazon Bedrock AgentCore), and privacy-compliant advertising activation (AWS Clean Rooms, Amazon Marketing Cloud) with a target of 12–15 Marketplace listings over the collaboration term. Talent growth and development, with Credera investing in additional training and AWS certifications for its 3,000-person workforce, targeting additional certifications across foundational, associate, professional, and specialty levels. Delivering New Outcomes Through AI and Cloud
The collaboration enables Credera to focus on helping clients solve three interconnected challenges: unifying fragmented customer data into actionable identity profiles, deploying AI from pilot into production, and modernizing the infrastructure that powers marketing operations. Through this agreement, Credera delivers integrated solutions across three areas:

MarTech Intelligence connects disconnected marketing ecosystems through governed data foundations, agentic marketing automation, and identity resolution powered by AWS Entity Resolution and Omni, including Acxiom's Real ID, Omnicom's 2.6 billion verified global identity graph. AdTech Intelligence unlocks first-party data for privacy-compliant advertising activation across Amazon Marketing Cloud and AWS Clean Rooms, with autonomous bid optimization built on Amazon Bedrock and Amazon Bedrock AgentCore. Enterprise Modernization uses marketing transformation as an entry point for full cloud adoption, including AI development lifecycle, AI-powered migration, and data platform modernization. Unlike traditional agency models, this collaboration enables Credera to extend Omnicom's client relationships into adjacent enterprise functions while connecting marketing data platforms with supply chain optimization, linking connected vehicle telemetry to personalization engines, and bridging retail media measurement with inventory management systems. This cross-functional reach converts marketing-led engagements into full enterprise cloud adoption, generating workloads across business domains that no agency-only partnership can access.

Credera's expertise in behavioral science and organizational psychology creates a repeatable, evidence-based path for cloud and AI transformation. By assessing organizational readiness and building the adoption capabilities that sustain lasting change, Credera helps clients move confidently from pilot to production, compressing timelines while embedding the human and organizational foundations required for measurable business outcomes.

"By bringing together, Omnicom's deep marketing expertise and client relationships with AWS, Omni, and Credera's technology transformation experience, we can help brands modernize how they engage customers and deliver more connected, AI-powered experiences," said Jantzen Bridges, Credera's Global President. "Credera brings the strategy, engineering, and delivery expertise to turn these capabilities into practical solutions that drive measurable business outcomes across marketing and technology."

Built on Proven Results
The collaboration builds on enterprise-scale results already delivered by Credera on AWS, including a global pharmaceutical company achieving a 30% increase in consumer marketing ROI, a major consumer goods brand delivering 92% higher purchase rates through AWS Clean Rooms, and an airline compressing a 3.5 year cloud migration into less than 18 months.

Customers can access the Marketing Data & Analytics Foundation in AWS Marketplace. To learn more about Credera, visit credera.com/partnerships/aws.

About Credera
Credera (credera.com) is the transformation consulting firm of Omnicom, empowering the world's leading brands to navigate the complexities of data, technology, and marketing. As the global consultancy embedded within Omnicom's creative and media scale, Credera bridges marketing ambition and technical execution to accelerate growth. With more than 3,000 consultants across six countries, Credera holds Premier AWS Consulting Partner status with certifications across eight AWS competencies including Advertising and Marketing Technology, Generative AI, Migration and Modernization, and Data and Analytics.

About Omnicom
Omnicom (NYSE: OMC) is the world's leading marketing and sales company. Powered by Omni, its proprietary data and identity platform, Omnicom's Connected Capabilities unite the company's agency brands, talent, and domain expertise across media, commerce, consulting, precision marketing, advertising, production, health, public relations, branding, and experiential to address clients' most critical growth priorities. For more information, visit www.omc.com.

SOURCE Omnicom Group Inc.

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

Over the past month, shares of this company have returned +6.3%, compared to the Zacks S&P 500 composite's +0.7% change. During this period, the Zacks Utility - Electric Power industry, which Vistra falls in, has gained 1%. The key question now is: What could be the stock's future direction?

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

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

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

Vistra is expected to post earnings of $2.89 per share for the current quarter, representing a year-over-year change of +65.1%. Over the last 30 days, the Zacks Consensus Estimate remained unchanged.

For the current fiscal year, the consensus earnings estimate of $9.04 points to a change of +71.9% from the prior year. Over the last 30 days, this estimate has remained unchanged.

For the next fiscal year, the consensus earnings estimate of $10.54 indicates a change of +16.6% from what Vistra is expected to report a year ago. Over the past month, the estimate has remained unchanged.

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

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

12 Month EPS

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

For Vistra, the consensus sales estimate for the current quarter of $7.76 billion indicates a year-over-year change of +56.2%. For the current and next fiscal years, $22.59 billion and $25.77 billion estimates indicate +27.4% and +14.1% changes, respectively.

Last Reported Results and Surprise HistoryVistra reported revenues of $4.02 billion in the last reported quarter, representing a year-over-year change of -5.5%. EPS of $1.8 for the same period compares with $1.01 a year ago.

Compared to the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $6.29 billion, the reported revenues represent a surprise of -36.17%. The EPS surprise was +16.88%.

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

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

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

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

Vistra is graded C on this front, indicating that it is trading at par with its peers. Click here to see the values of some of the valuation metrics that have driven this grade.

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

Glamsterdam is scheduled to go live on the Hoodi testnet next week. Hoodi will run the same raised gas limit already tested on Sepolia. Ethereum developers have not yet set a mainnet date. ETH is sitting on support formed by its 200-day average and a Fibonacci level. Ethereum’s Glamsterdam upgrade will activate on the Hoodi testnet on October 26 at 17:42:48 UTC, the Ethereum Foundation confirmed in its October 16 Hoodi announcement, and Hoodi’s block gas limit will climb to 200 million at the same epoch. The date lands while ETH trades near $2,381, roughly 15% under its late-September peak and parked on a support band around $2,310 that has caught every dip for a week. Hoodi exists mostly for validator and staking operations, which means mainnet users see no change yet, though a clean fork there is the last public step before developers commit to a mainnet slot.

Hoodi Gets 200M Gas Before Mainnet Does Activation is set for epoch 132,352, slot 4,235,264, twenty days after Glamsterdam went live on Sepolia, whose first public testnet activation already ran the same 200 million gas limit. Every Hoodi operator has to upgrade both execution and consensus clients before the deadline. The Foundation’s release table still showed blanks for some execution clients when the post went live, with go-ethereum, Ethereum’s most widely used execution client, among those still waiting for a confirmed build.

Glamsterdam Rollout

Aug 20, 2026

Platåberget Early testing

Oct 6, 2026

Sepolia Activated

Oct 26, 2026 · 17:42 UTC

Hoodi + 200M gas Scheduled

Date not set

Ethereum mainnet Pending

Source: Ethereum Foundation

Bigger Blocks, Same 12 Seconds A higher gas limit lets each block carry more computation, yet every node still has to execute and verify that work inside one twelve-second slot, and pushing more into that window without other changes raises hardware costs until smaller validators drop out. Glamsterdam tackles the problem from the way blocks are built, the way they are checked and the price of the operations inside them.

EIP-7732 moves proposer-builder separation into the consensus rules. Most validators currently hand block construction to specialised builders through relay software that Ethereum’s protocol does not govern. Under the new model a builder commits to a payload, the proposer signs the block around that commitment and the protocol itself checks whether the payload showed up on time, which buys validators extra time to process heavier blocks. The concentration of block building among a few sophisticated firms survives the change, and developers still list it as a risk to watch.

EIP-7928 adds a block-level access list, a record of every account and storage slot a block’s transactions touch together with the resulting changes. Clients today only find that out by running transactions one after another. A node holding the list can pull state from disk in parallel and rebuild the state root with much less sequential work, so a larger block does not have to become a slower one.

Pricing is handled by EIP-8037 and EIP-8038, which reset the gas charged for creating and reading state such as balances, contract storage and deployed code, and several of those operations get more expensive. In its May 2026 protocol update the Foundation tied the 200 million figure to these three changes working together, calling it a credible post-upgrade floor against roughly 60 million on mainnet today. That gas budget is about 3.3 times larger, although transaction counts will not scale by the same factor, because Glamsterdam also rewrites how intrinsic gas is counted and real blocks mix cheap transfers with heavy DeFi calls.

The Contracts That Hardcoded Gas Foundation researchers replayed historical mainnet transactions under the new schedule for an August 24 repricing report and found that the vast majority behaved exactly as before. The small group that diverged ran from transactions that merely burned a different amount of gas to a handful of contracts that kept failing even with a much higher limit. Contracts that fix gas allowances in their code or assume how much gas is left mid-execution carry the most exposure, and developers can check individual addresses with the repricing impact checker before mainnet. The report flags no direct threat to user funds, yet it is the main reason Hoodi carries more weight than the gas headline suggests.

$2,310 Is Where Two Supports Meet On the daily chart, the pullback from the $2,809 high has carried ETH into the area where the 200-day EMA at $2,314 almost overlaps with the 0.382 Fibonacci retracement of the June to September rally at $2,311. Traders tend to treat that kind of overlap as a serious line, because the 200-day EMA tracks the long-term trend and the 0.382 level marks the depth where corrections inside an uptrend usually attract buyers.

ETH/USDT daily chart by Alexander Stefanov on TradingView Several daily candles over the past week dipped toward $2,320 and left long lower wicks before closing higher, showing bids parked inside the zone. Volume backs that up, since the heaviest selling came with the early October break below $2,600 and the daily bars have since shrunk to some of their lightest readings in two months, with the October 20 session at about 71,000 ETH by midday. When a decline loses volume on its way into major support, it usually means sellers are running out of urgency rather than starting a fresh wave of distribution.

Momentum has yet to confirm a turn, with the 14-day RSI at 35.7, below its signal line at 39.5 and still sloping down, which leaves room for one more push toward the 30 area where ETH bottomed in June. The golden cross from late August holds, with the 50-day EMA about $165 above the 200-day, but the 50-day at $2,479 has started to roll over just under the 0.236 retracement at $2,502, making the $2,480 to $2,500 band the first ceiling any recovery must clear.

ETH Price Map · daily

$2,809
September high
+18.0%

$2,502
EMA 50 + Fib 0.236
+5.1%

$2,381
Current price
NOW

$2,311
EMA 200 + Fib 0.382
-2.9%

$2,157
Fib 0.5
-9.4%

$1,784
Fib 0.786
-25.1%

Distance from the current price

A daily close back above $2,500 would put ETH back into the range it held for most of September and reopen the way toward $2,600 and the $2,809 high. Losing $2,310 on a closing basis would break both supports in one move and expose the 0.5 retracement at $2,157, with the August breakout base near $1,900 underneath and the 0.786 level at $1,784 as the deeper target if selling picks up speed.

The Burn Rate Is the Real Test A smooth fork on Hoodi would hand client teams the evidence they need to propose a mainnet slot on the All Core Developers calls, where the date gets fixed, while a rough one would stretch a schedule that has already slid from an original June target into the fourth quarter. For ETH holders the harder question arrives after mainnet. More capacity tends to lower the fee per transaction, and with it the amount of ETH burned, unless activity grows fast enough to fill the bigger blocks. Much of Ethereum’s usage already lives on layer-2 networks that have no built-in reason to move back to a cheaper base layer, so gas utilization, fee revenue and the burn rate in the weeks after activation will show whether the extra room gets used.

Early December has come up in developer planning discussions as a possible mainnet window, though the Foundation has not confirmed any date and the Hoodi results will weigh on that decision. Planning for Hegotà, the upgrade lined up to follow Glamsterdam, is already running in parallel according to the same May protocol update.

Wall Street’s Deposits Land on Layer 1 In separate news, JPMorgan said on October 19 that it is bringing JPM Coin to the Ethereum mainnet, extending its dollar deposit token beyond Base, where it has been available to institutional clients since November 2025. JPMD is a claim on money held at the bank rather than a reserve-backed stablecoin, so it can carry interest, and only approved institutional wallets can hold or transfer it. The move puts bank cash on the same chain as JPMorgan’s tokenized money market funds, including JLTXX, which went live on Ethereum in May with $100 million committed at launch. The bank has not disclosed how much JPMD it expects to issue on mainnet, and the near-term effect on ETH demand may stay small, since a large institutional settlement consumes the same gas as a modest transfer.

Alex is a financial markets journalist and co-founder of Millennial Media Group, and he's spent close to ten years trying to answer one stubborn question: what's really driving this? It started in 2016, when Bitcoin refused to make sense to him - and rather than shrug, he stayed with it until it did. That patience became his method. He's less interested in what an asset is doing today than in the plumbing behind it: how liquidity flows, where risk hides, what a chart is quietly telling you that the headline isn't. That lens eventually stretched well past crypto into traditional markets, because the same forces - fear, leverage, incentives, timing - show up everywhere once you know how to look. Most coverage, in his view, insults the reader by stopping at the surface. Price up, price down, moving on. He'd rather leave someone genuinely understanding a move than merely informed that it happened. His path into markets ran through a Tourism degree at New Bulgarian University - proof, maybe, that curiosity beats credentials. With more than 200 deep analyses and over 10,000 articles behind him, he still walks away from most trading days having learned something he didn't know that morning.

Full Profile

Ethereum risks slipping toward $2,300 as significant capital continues to exit US spot ETH exchange-traded funds ahead of the Federal Reserve’s upcoming policy announcement. Even as Bitcoin ETFs see renewed investor demand, Ethereum funds experienced another week of net withdrawals, highlighting a notable divergence in institutional sentiment toward the two major cryptocurrencies.

Ethereum ETF outflows accelerate, Bitcoin attracts inflowsBased on recent figures from Farside Investors, Ethereum funds recorded $103.3 million in net outflows on October 19, led by $95.4 million withdrawn from BlackRock’s ETHA product. This marks the fourth consecutive session of negative flows for Ethereum ETFs, with cumulative redemptions totaling roughly $362.8 million from October 14 to 19.

Over the prior week, ETH funds also saw $320.1 million in outflows between October 12 and 16. Additional withdrawals from Fidelity’s FETH and Grayscale’s ETHE, at $6 million and $1.9 million respectively, contributed to the total losses.

While ETH funds saw mounting redemptions, Bitcoin ETFs benefited from robust inflows during the same period, collecting $526.7 million on October 19 alone. This resulted in a striking divergence of over $630 million between the two asset classes, as institutional investors continued to favor Bitcoin amid shifting market conditions.

The latest selloff previously pushed Ethereum below the key $2,500 level. Rising US bond yields and widespread liquidations have also weighed on crypto valuations, constraining ETH’s recent price recovery.

Ethereum ETFs have registered back-to-back outflows, whereas Bitcoin products have attracted renewed inflows, underlining a clear shift in institutional preference.

Bitmine accumulates more ETH, approaching 5% supply markDespite the negative trend in Ethereum ETFs, Bitmine Immersion Technologies has intensified its accumulation. In an update filed with the SEC on October 19, the company confirmed acquiring an additional 12,535 ETH, taking its total holdings to 6,041,481 tokens. Bitmine now controls about 4.9% of Ethereum’s circulating supply, with most of its tokens already staked.

However, the value of Bitmine’s assets dropped from $16.2 billion to $15.1 billion in a single week as overall market prices declined, underscoring how falling valuations can offset the impact of ongoing purchases. The company has signaled that its 5% supply target is near, which could affect the pace of future accumulation, though it has not specified when buying might pause.

Bitmine’s rapid accumulation has made it the largest publicly traded ETH treasury holder, but its progress toward a 5% supply share adds uncertainty about whether this buying trend will continue.

Technical outlook and trader strategies amid Fed uncertaintyFor traders monitoring ETH’s short-term direction, the $2,350–$2,370 range remains a critical technical zone. A solid move below this level could open the door to further downside, potentially bringing $2,300 into focus if ETF outflows persist and financial conditions tighten as the Federal Reserve prepares for its October 28 decision.

If Ethereum can recover and close above $2,500, analysts identify $2,600 as a likely next resistance, with $2,700 possible if positive momentum returns. However, these are conditional scenarios, not guaranteed targets, given the ongoing macroeconomic pressures.

Volatility in the broader market continues to be shaped by central bank policies, persistent inflation risk, and high Treasury yields, which complicate efforts by ETH to mount a sustainable recovery.

In a market where a single Fed decision or a sudden altcoin listing can change everything in seconds, switching between apps for charts, news, and portfolio management leaves traders at a disadvantage. As a result, more investors are consolidating their tools. Smart traders now turn to privacy-first solutions like CryptoAppsy to get live charts, tailored price alerts, news for specific coins, and crucial macro data combined on one screen—without even needing an account.

8h18 ▪
4
min read ▪ by
Lydie M.

Summarize this article with:

Charles Hoskinson personally develops a new programming language for Cardano with Lucas Rosa, one of the creators of Aiken. The project aims to combine transaction intents, proof-carrying data, and Groth16 proofs. For this new crypto building block, no name, public code, or launch schedule has yet been announced.

In brief

Hoskinson works with Lucas Rosa on a new language for Cardano.
The project will combine transaction intents, proof-carrying data, and Groth16.
No name or release date has been announced yet.

Hoskinson personally takes the keyboard on Cardano
Charles Hoskinson does not just oversee the project. He states that he is directly involved in the development of the language. The announcement comes as Cardano is already accelerating its technical work. A few days earlier, Hoskinson explained that the Leios upgrade was to complete much of the network’s architecture, including higher throughput and new scaling capabilities.

This time, the work concerns more the crypto applications built on top of Cardano. Hoskinson works with Lucas Rosa, co-creator of Aiken, one of the main languages used to develop validators on the network. He describes their project as the first of its kind to bring together intents, proof-carrying data, and Groth16 proofs.

The language, however, still has no public name. No code repository has been presented either. Hoskinson has not indicated a testnet, release date, or first application using this technology. The project remains at an early stage.

Crypto transactions described by their result
The concept of “intent” changes the way to request an operation from a blockchain application. Today, a transaction may require several precise steps. With a system based on intents, the user mainly indicates the result they want to obtain.

A trader could, for example, request: exchange one token for another only if the final price respects a given limit. They would not necessarily have to define all the intermediate steps themselves.

Proof-carrying data adds another layer. Information can travel with a cryptographic proof certifying that a calculation or series of rules was indeed respected. The application receiving the result then verifies the proof instead of reproducing the entire calculation.

Groth16 is intended to serve this verification. This cryptographic proof system produces compact and fast-to-check proofs. Cardano is already strengthening its cryptographic toolbox. In May, the network had tested five new Plutus primitives, notably to improve performance and possibilities offered to developers.

The new language could go further by directly integrating several of these logics into the way applications are built. For now, Hoskinson has not explained how this technology will integrate with Cardano’s existing architecture.

Cardano already has multiple languages
The new project does not arrive on empty ground. Cardano has been using Plutus for several years, its historic environment for smart contracts. Aiken is a more recent alternative, with syntax and tools designed to simplify developers’ work.

Contracts written in several Cardano languages usually end up compiled to UPLC, the format executed by nodes during validation. Hoskinson has not yet indicated if his new language will follow exactly the same path.

He also has not explained whether he aims to replace Aiken or Plutus. Nothing in his announcement allows us to say so at this time. The ecosystem also has Compact, used on Midnight. This privacy-focused blockchain already occupies an important place in Hoskinson’s strategy, notably thanks to zero-knowledge proofs and applications handling private data.

The new language therefore shares some ideas with technologies already present in Cardano’s crypto ecosystem, while adding a strong orientation towards intents and proofs attached to data. Hoskinson promises a “first of its kind” approach. Now we wait to see the code.

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Lydie M.

Enseignante et ingénieure IT, Lydie découvre le Bitcoin en 2022 et plonge dans l’univers des cryptomonnaies. Elle vulgarise des sujets complexes, décrypte les enjeux du Web3 et défend une vision d’un futur numérique ouvert, inclusif et décentralisé.

DISCLAIMER

The views, thoughts, and opinions expressed in this article belong solely to the author, and should not be taken as investment advice. Do your own research before taking any investment decisions.

Key Takeaways Comfort Systems' operating cash flow surged to $1.53 billion in the first half of 2026 from $164.5 million.Free cash flow rose to $1.24 billion despite higher spending, aided by advance payments and favorable terms.Capital expenditures reached $288.8 million, with full-year spending expected at approximately 5% of revenues. Comfort Systems USA, Inc. (FIX - Free Report) is generating strong cash flow as it invests in expanding the business and production capabilities. The company's ability to fund these investments through internal cash generation remains important as capital spending rises. Cash flow quality and the timing of customer payments also influence the financial flexibility available for future investments.

Operating cash flow reached $1.53 billion in the first half of 2026, compared with $164.5 million in the year-ago period. Free cash flow increased to $1.24 billion from $113.1 million, despite higher capital expenditures. Advance customer payments, favorable payment terms and project execution contributed to cash generation. The company's revenues also grew to $6.13 billion from $4 billion, reflecting higher business activity.

FIX's financial position improved during the first half. Cash and cash equivalents rose to $1.855 billion as of June 30, 2026, from $981.9 million at year-end 2025. Total debt declined to $54.1 million from $145.2 million over the same period. This provides greater financial flexibility as investment requirements increase.

First-half capital expenditures climbed to $288.8 million from $53.5 million a year earlier. The company is investing in production facilities and equipment to address customer demand. These investments are important as project activity increases and customers require additional capacity. Full-year capital expenditures are expected to reach approximately 5% of revenues, placing greater importance on cash generation from ongoing operations.

However, the sharp increase in free cash flow requires some caution. Advance payments on certain orders improved cash flow before the related costs were incurred. The timing of customer billings and payments, along with changes in operating liabilities, also influenced cash generation. These factors may vary across periods, making the first-half increase less indicative of future cash flow on its own.

Comfort Systems enters the second half with higher cash reserves and lower debt, providing room to fund investments without relying heavily on additional borrowing. The company's ability to convert strong demand and project earnings into cash, while managing higher investment needs, will remain important to its financial flexibility.

Comfort Systems and Its Competitive PositionComfort Systems USA competes with AAON, Inc. (AAON - Free Report) and Carrier Global Corporation (CARR - Free Report) in HVAC equipment, commercial building systems and data center-related markets. Both companies are investing in production capabilities and business growth, but the financial resources available to support these plans differ. Comparing cash generation, capital spending and balance-sheet metrics helps assess how each company is positioned to fund future investments.

AAON is investing in manufacturing capacity and operational improvements to support demand, particularly for data center cooling solutions. First-half operating cash flow improved to $55 million, compared with a $31 million cash outflow a year earlier. However, capital expenditures reached $102.6 million, while cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash totaled $12.7 million at the end of June 2026. Debt stood at $435 million and the leverage ratio improved to 1.48 from 1.77 at year-end 2025. AAON expects better working capital efficiency, higher productivity and improved profitability to support future cash generation. These improvements will be important as the company funds additional capacity and operational needs.

Carrier has greater cash generation available for investment and shareholder returns. The company generated $810 million in free cash flow in the second quarter of 2026. Carrier expects full-year capital expenditures of approximately $600 million, including higher spending related to a new U.S. facility. The company also plans $1.5 billion in share repurchases for 2026. Its investment strategy reflects strong demand for commercial HVAC and data center solutions, alongside efforts to expand production capacity. However, the expected increase in capital expenditures is projected to offset the benefit of higher earnings on full-year free cash flow. This makes investment spending and cash conversion important factors in assessing Carrier's financial flexibility.

Wall Street analysts expect Associated Banc-Corp (ASB - Free Report) to post quarterly earnings of $0.76 per share in its upcoming report, which indicates a year-over-year increase of 4.1%. Revenues are expected to be $464.03 million, up 20.1% from the year-ago quarter.

Over the last 30 days, there has been an upward revision of 1.2% in the consensus EPS estimate for the quarter, leading to its current level. This signifies the covering analysts' collective reconsideration of their initial forecasts over the course of this timeframe.

Prior to a company's earnings release, it is of utmost importance to factor in any revisions made to the earnings projections. These revisions serve as a critical gauge for predicting potential investor behaviors with respect to the stock. Empirical studies consistently reveal a strong link between trends in earnings estimate revisions and the short-term price performance of a stock.

While investors usually depend on consensus earnings and revenue estimates to assess the business performance for the quarter, delving into analysts' forecasts for certain key metrics often provides a more comprehensive understanding.

In light of this perspective, let's dive into the average estimates of certain Associated Banc-Corp metrics that are commonly tracked and forecasted by Wall Street analysts.

According to the collective judgment of analysts, 'Net Interest Margin' should come in at 3.2%. The estimate compares to the year-ago value of 3.0%.

Analysts forecast 'Fully tax-equivalent efficiency ratio' to reach 55.3%. Compared to the current estimate, the company reported 54.8% in the same quarter of the previous year.

The consensus among analysts is that 'Average Balance - Total earning assets and related interest income' will reach $47.78 billion. The estimate is in contrast to the year-ago figure of $40.56 billion.

The average prediction of analysts places 'Nonaccrual loans' at $132.29 million. The estimate is in contrast to the year-ago figure of $106.18 million.

The collective assessment of analysts points to an estimated 'Total nonperforming assets' of $151.16 million. Compared to the current estimate, the company reported $136.24 million in the same quarter of the previous year.

Analysts predict that the 'Total Noninterest Income' will reach $80.47 million. Compared to the present estimate, the company reported $81.27 million in the same quarter last year.

Analysts expect 'Net Interest Income (FTE)' to come in at $383.83 million. Compared to the current estimate, the company reported $309.44 million in the same quarter of the previous year.

The combined assessment of analysts suggests that 'Wealth management fees' will likely reach $26.46 million. The estimate is in contrast to the year-ago figure of $25.32 million.

The consensus estimate for 'Service charges and deposit accounts fees' stands at $15.73 million. The estimate is in contrast to the year-ago figure of $13.86 million.

Based on the collective assessment of analysts, 'Capital markets, net' should arrive at $7.75 million. The estimate compares to the year-ago value of $10.76 million.

It is projected by analysts that the 'Card-based fees' will reach $13.62 million. The estimate is in contrast to the year-ago figure of $12.31 million.

Analysts' assessment points toward 'Mortgage banking, net' reaching $3.38 million. The estimate is in contrast to the year-ago figure of $3.54 million.

View all Key Company Metrics for Associated Banc-Corp here>>>

Associated Banc-Corp shares have witnessed a change of -2.5% in the past month, in contrast to the Zacks S&P 500 composite's +0.7% move. With a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold), ASB is expected closely follow the overall market performance in the near term. You can see the complete list of today's Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) stocks here >>>> .

In its upcoming report, Kinder Morgan (KMI - Free Report) is predicted by Wall Street analysts to post quarterly earnings of $0.33 per share, reflecting an increase of 13.8% compared to the same period last year. Revenues are forecasted to be $4.38 billion, representing a year-over-year increase of 5.7%.

Over the past 30 days, the consensus EPS estimate for the quarter has been adjusted upward by 0.3% to its current level. This demonstrates the covering analysts' collective reassessment of their initial projections during this period.

Before a company reveals its earnings, it is vital to take into account any changes in earnings projections. These revisions play a pivotal role in predicting the possible reactions of investors toward the stock. Multiple empirical studies have consistently shown a strong association between trends in earnings estimates and the short-term price movements of a stock.

While investors typically use consensus earnings and revenue estimates as indicators of quarterly business performance, exploring analysts' projections for specific key metrics can offer valuable insights.

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

Analysts' assessment points toward 'Realized weighted average oil price' reaching 71 dollars per barrel. The estimate is in contrast to the year-ago figure of 68 dollars per barrel.

According to the collective judgment of analysts, 'Realized weighted average NGL price' should come in at 35 dollars per barrel. Compared to the current estimate, the company reported 31 dollars per barrel in the same quarter of the previous year.

The consensus estimate for 'Terminals - Liquids leasable capacity' stands at N/A. Compared to the present estimate, the company reported N/A in the same quarter last year.

It is projected by analysts that the 'NGL sales volumes - net' will reach 9.80 thousands of barrels of oil per day. The estimate is in contrast to the year-ago figure of 9.03 thousands of barrels of oil per day.

Analysts forecast 'Total oil production - net' to reach 28.20 thousands of barrels of oil per day. The estimate compares to the year-ago value of 25.04 thousands of barrels of oil per day.

The combined assessment of analysts suggests that 'Terminals - Bulk transload tonnage' will likely reach 13 millions of ton. The estimate is in contrast to the year-ago figure of 12 millions of ton.

The collective assessment of analysts points to an estimated 'Segment EBDA- Natural gas Pipelines' of $1.41 billion. Compared to the current estimate, the company reported $1.39 billion in the same quarter of the previous year.

Analysts expect 'Segment EBDA- Terminals' to come in at $284.75 million. The estimate is in contrast to the year-ago figure of $274.00 million.

Analysts predict that the 'Segment EBDA- Products Pipelines' will reach $290.54 million. Compared to the current estimate, the company reported $288.00 million in the same quarter of the previous year.

The consensus among analysts is that 'Segment EBDA- CO2' will reach $195.07 million. The estimate is in contrast to the year-ago figure of $135.00 million.

View all Key Company Metrics for Kinder Morgan here>>>

Shares of Kinder Morgan have experienced a change of +5.3% in the past month compared to the +0.7% move of the Zacks S&P 500 composite. With a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold), KMI is expected to mirror the overall market performance in the near future. You can see the complete list of today's Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) stocks here >>>> .

Ally Financial (ALLY - Free Report) came out with quarterly earnings of $1.34 per share, beating the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.32 per share. This compares to earnings of $1.15 per share a year ago. These figures are adjusted for non-recurring items.

This quarterly report represents an earnings surprise of +1.52%. A quarter ago, it was expected that this auto finance company and bank would post earnings of $1.25 per share when it actually produced earnings of $1.21, delivering a surprise of -3.2%.

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

Ally Financial, which belongs to the Zacks Financial - Consumer Loans industry, posted revenues of $2.33 billion for the quarter ended September 2026, surpassing the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 2.32%. This compares to year-ago revenues of $2.17 billion. The company has topped consensus revenue estimates two times over the last four quarters.

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

Ally Financial shares have lost about 17% since the beginning of the year versus the S&P 500's gain of 12.4%.

What's Next for Ally Financial?While Ally Financial 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 Ally Financial 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 #5 (Strong 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 $1.43 on $2.32 billion in revenues for the coming quarter and $5.00 on $8.9 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, Financial - Consumer Loans is currently in the bottom 27% 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.

Navient (NAVI - Free Report) , another stock in the same industry, has yet to report results for the quarter ended September 2026. The results are expected to be released on November 4.

This student loan servicing company is expected to post quarterly earnings of $0.16 per share in its upcoming report, which represents a year-over-year change of -44.8%. The consensus EPS estimate for the quarter has been revised 12.8% lower over the last 30 days to the current level.

Navient's revenues are expected to be $124.63 million, down 14.6% from the year-ago quarter.

Paychex has raised its dividend every year since 2020 and the cash flow math still works, but something in the payout structure signals the easy years of outsized raises may be behind it.

Paychex (NASDAQ:PAYX | PAYX Price Prediction) declared a quarterly dividend of $1.19 per share on October 15, 2026. That works out to an indicated $4.76 per share per year. The stock goes ex-dividend on October 26, and the payment lands November 25. With shares at $111.20, the forward yield is about 4.3%. Our view: the payout is safe. The buffer is smaller than it used to be, though, so future increases will probably track earnings growth rather than exceed it.

Cash Flow Covers the Check With Room to Spare In fiscal 2026, operating cash flow totaled $2.56 billion, and capital spending totaled $234.9 million. That left roughly $2.32 billion in free cash flow. Dividends of $1.59 billion used about 68% of it. Earnings leave less room. The dividend took about 90% of net income, and the new $4.76 rate equals about 86% of fiscal 2026 EPS of $5.51. Add the $611 million spent on buybacks, and Paychex returned about 95% of its free cash flow to shareholders.

The first quarter of fiscal 2027 looked tighter on paper. Operating cash flow was $413.5 million, while dividends cost $424.1 million. CFO Bob Schrader put the shortfall down to “the timing of client and corporate tax payments.” Paychex’s quarterly cash flow swings a lot. The February quarter brought in $812.5 million. Schrader also made the company’s priorities clear:

“We continue to focus on the drivers of long-term shareholder returns within our control, including strong earnings growth, sustained dividend growth, and disciplined capital deployment.”

Paycor Debt Is the Pressure Point Paychex took on $5.0 billion in borrowings to buy Paycor. At the end of the quarter, it had about $4.6 billion in total borrowings against roughly $1 billion in cash and corporate investments. Total liabilities were $11.96 billion, compared with equity of $3.71 billion. Management never described the debt as a limit on the dividend. CEO John Gibson said:

“We continue to operate from a position of financial strength supported by our durable recurring revenue, strong cash generation, and disciplined investment.”

How Paychex Stacks Up Against ADP and Paycom Automatic Data Processing (NASDAQ:ADP) paid $2,626.3 million in fiscal 2026 dividends. That was about 50% of its free cash flow, and ADP still had room to spend $2,083.3 million on buybacks. ADP also guides for faster adjusted EPS growth: 9% to 11%, compared with 7% to 9% at Paychex. Paycom Software (NYSE:PAYC) pays a small dividend and leans on buybacks. Last quarter it spent $345.9 million on repurchases, compared with $17.9 million in dividends. Of the three, Paychex offers the most income, but ADP has more room to keep paying.

A Dividend Record Built on Steady Raises Paychex has paid quarterly dividends without a break since 1999. The record has one pause: the payout stayed at $0.62 through 2020. After that, it rose each year to $0.66, $0.79, $0.89, $0.98, $1.08, and $1.19. The latest raise was about 10%.

What to Watch Before the Next Raise Fiscal 2027 guidance assumes “flat employment levels.” Gibson called the job market “low fire, low hire” and said the company is “still not seeing any signs of a recession.” Keep an eye on PEO benefits enrollment in October and January, which management cited as a reason for keeping the outlook conservative. Wall Street is cautious too: 15 analysts rate the stock a hold, and the shares are down 8.26% over the past year. Free cash flow covers the $4.76 dividend easily, and the warning signs we flag when a payout is actually at risk (we laid out all seven in a free report) are not flashing here. A payout that already eats up this much of earnings, though, points to increases that stay in line with EPS growth from here.

Contact [email protected] for any questions or corrections.

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

Over the past month, shares of this data analytics and cloud monitoring company have returned +6.3%, compared to the Zacks S&P 500 composite's +0.7% change. During this period, the Zacks Internet - Software industry, which Datadog falls in, has gained 2.2%. The key question now is: What could be the stock's future direction?

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

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

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

Datadog is expected to post earnings of $0.64 per share for the current quarter, representing a year-over-year change of +16.4%. Over the last 30 days, the Zacks Consensus Estimate remained unchanged.

For the current fiscal year, the consensus earnings estimate of $2.52 points to a change of +22.9% from the prior year. Over the last 30 days, this estimate has remained unchanged.

For the next fiscal year, the consensus earnings estimate of $2.96 indicates a change of +17.4% from what Datadog is expected to report a year ago. Over the past month, the estimate has remained unchanged.

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

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

12 Month EPS

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

For Datadog, the consensus sales estimate for the current quarter of $1.14 billion indicates a year-over-year change of +28.9%. For the current and next fiscal years, $4.46 billion and $5.45 billion estimates indicate +30.2% and +22.2% changes, respectively.

Last Reported Results and Surprise HistoryDatadog reported revenues of $1.12 billion in the last reported quarter, representing a year-over-year change of +35.6%. EPS of $0.65 for the same period compares with $0.46 a year ago.

Compared to the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.08 billion, the reported revenues represent a surprise of +3.85%. The EPS surprise was +12.07%.

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

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

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

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

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

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

CarMax Today

$52.97 +1.32 (+2.56%)

As of 10:36 AM Eastern

This is a fair market value price provided by Massive. Learn more.

$30.26▼

$65.2825.80

$57.85

CarMax Inc. NYSE: KMX operates in the used-car retail industry, where affordability pressures and elevated borrowing costs have weighed on consumers.

But the company recently received a bullish double upgrade from Bank of America, raising the possibility that its midyear rally could rev up again.

Get CarMax alerts:

That’s a meaningful change in tone. Wall Street has largely treated the used car giant as a show-me story, with analysts waiting for proof that its omnichannel strategy could deliver consistent unit growth and better margins.

A double upgrade, which skips over a neutral rating entirely, signals that at least one major firm believes CarMax is making enough progress to justify a more bullish outlook.

CarMax Is Benefiting From an FTC PolicyThe catalyst for CarMax comes down to transparency. In March, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) warned 97 auto dealership groups about deceptive pricing practices, followed by additional guidance in September. For years, CarMax has been disadvantaged by posting an "all-in" price that was, on paper, higher than prices some competitors advertised without including mandatory fees.

But those additional fees could appear later in the buying process. Now the FTC is requiring dealers to list their all-in prices, which works to CarMax's advantage.

In other words, shoppers comparing listings online were often making an apples-to-oranges comparison. A competitor’s lower sticker price could look like the better deal until documentation fees, reconditioning charges, and other add-ons appeared at the closing table. CarMax’s no-haggle pricing, long one of its key brand differentiators, was being penalized for the very thing that made it consumer-friendly.

Used Car Market Tailwinds Are Hard to IgnoreIt's a real story, but it's not new. So why now? The used car market has shown resilience in 2026, supported by demand from budget-conscious buyers. The same pressures that have impacted new car prices (tariffs, inflation, etc.) are making used vehicles more appealing. The gap between new and used cars is approximately $16,000, the widest it has ever been.

That gap pushes budget-conscious buyers who might otherwise have purchased a new vehicle into the used market. As the nation’s largest used car retailer, CarMax is well-positioned to capture a large share of that demand.

Plus, according to Mordor Intelligence, the U.S. used car market is valued at approximately $871 billion and could reach $980 billion by 2031. Even modest market share gains in a market that size can translate into significant revenue growth for a company with CarMax’s scale.

Second-Quarter Results Show the Thesis Is WorkingCarMax's fiscal 2027 (FY2027) second-quarter earnings report provided encouraging evidence of its turnaround. The company reported revenue of $7.88 billion, which was up 19.5% year over year (YOY).

The earnings story was even stronger. CarMax delivered diluted earnings per share (EPS) of $1.16. That beat expectations by approximately 59% and came in over 81% higher YOY.

Investors should also keep an eye on CarMax Auto Finance (CAF), the company’s in-house lending arm. CAF contributes a meaningful share of CarMax’s profits, and its provision for loan losses offers a window into the financial health of the company’s customers. If credit quality holds up as more buyers shift to used vehicles, that would ease one of the risks that has weighed on the stock.

The company is expected to report Q3 FY2027 earnings on Dec. 17. Before then, CarMax will host a strategic update on Nov. 3, which Bank of America highlighted as a near-term catalyst. But for long-term investors, this may be a time to look at buying KMX on weakness. Between now and the next earnings report, the stock is likely to trade on broader sentiment toward consumer spending and interest rates, as well as management's strategic outlook, creating entry points for patient investors.

Is KMX Ready for a Second Act?It's not like investors ignored the FTC action. The KMX share price is up around 35% year-to-date. However, that includes a drop of over 17% since hitting its 52-week high in August.

The question for investors is whether they are losing confidence in the stock or if this is just a healthy pullback. The technicals signal more of the latter. The relative strength index (RSI) hit an oversold level near 29 on Oct. 14, and investors rushed in to provide support.

The rebound confirms support at a level the stock reached in June. That was also a level that acted as resistance at two other points in 2026. When former resistance becomes support, technical analysts generally read it as a sign that buyers are willing to defend that price, which can set the stage for the next leg higher.

Some analysts are coming around to the current price action. The CarMax analyst forecasts on MarketBeat have 19 analysts giving KMX a consensus Hold rating with a price target of $57.85.

In addition to Bank of America's Oct. 15 double upgrade from Underperform to Buy, which included a price-target increase from $50 to $65, UBS Group set a $65 price target on CarMax.

Consensus price targets also tend to lag fresh upgrades. If more analysts follow Bank of America’s lead, the consensus target could move higher in the coming weeks.

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

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The upcoming report from Old National Bancorp (ONB - Free Report) is expected to reveal quarterly earnings of $0.66 per share, indicating an increase of 11.9% compared to the year-ago period. Analysts forecast revenues of $735.94 million, representing an increase of 3.2% year over year.

The consensus EPS estimate for the quarter has been revised 0.4% lower over the last 30 days to the current level. This reflects how the analysts covering the stock have collectively reevaluated their initial estimates during this timeframe.

Prior to a company's earnings release, it is of utmost importance to factor in any revisions made to the earnings projections. These revisions serve as a critical gauge for predicting potential investor behaviors with respect to the stock. Empirical studies consistently reveal a strong link between trends in earnings estimate revisions and the short-term price performance of a stock.

While investors typically use consensus earnings and revenue estimates as a yardstick to evaluate the company's quarterly performance, scrutinizing analysts' projections for some of the company's key metrics can offer a more comprehensive perspective.

Given this perspective, it's time to examine the average forecasts of specific Old National Bancorp metrics that are routinely monitored and predicted by Wall Street analysts.

The combined assessment of analysts suggests that 'Net interest margin (FTE)' will likely reach 3.6%. The estimate is in contrast to the year-ago figure of 3.6%.

The consensus estimate for 'Efficiency Ratio' stands at 49.3%. Compared to the current estimate, the company reported 58.8% in the same quarter of the previous year.

Analysts forecast 'Average Balance - Total earning assets' to reach $67.36 billion. The estimate compares to the year-ago value of $64.03 billion.

Based on the collective assessment of analysts, 'Nonaccrual loans' should arrive at $447.31 million. The estimate is in contrast to the year-ago figure of $590.82 million.

The consensus among analysts is that 'Total underperforming assets' will reach $455.31 million. The estimate compares to the year-ago value of $598.67 million.

The average prediction of analysts places 'Net Interest Income (FTE)' at $607.72 million. The estimate is in contrast to the year-ago figure of $582.58 million.

Analysts' assessment points toward 'Total noninterest income' reaching $128.22 million. Compared to the present estimate, the company reported $130.46 million in the same quarter last year.

According to the collective judgment of analysts, 'Debit card and ATM fees' should come in at $13.16 million. Compared to the present estimate, the company reported $13.20 million in the same quarter last year.

The collective assessment of analysts points to an estimated 'Other income' of $16.56 million. The estimate is in contrast to the year-ago figure of $19.08 million.

It is projected by analysts that the 'Mortgage banking revenue' will reach $9.73 million. Compared to the present estimate, the company reported $10.44 million in the same quarter last year.

Analysts expect 'Wealth and investment services fees' to come in at $42.59 million. The estimate is in contrast to the year-ago figure of $39.68 million.

Analysts predict that the 'Capital markets income' will reach $11.68 million. Compared to the present estimate, the company reported $12.63 million in the same quarter last year.

View all Key Company Metrics for Old National Bancorp here>>>

Shares of Old National Bancorp have experienced a change of -1.9% in the past month compared to the +0.7% move of the Zacks S&P 500 composite. With a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy), ONB is expected to outperform the overall market in the near future. You can see the complete list of today's Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) stocks here >>>> .

Wall Street analysts expect Valley National (VLY - Free Report) to post quarterly earnings of $0.33 per share in its upcoming report, which indicates a year-over-year increase of 17.9%. Revenues are expected to be $577.6 million, up 12.7% from the year-ago quarter.

Over the past 30 days, the consensus EPS estimate for the quarter has been adjusted downward by 0.7% to its current level. This demonstrates the covering analysts' collective reassessment of their initial projections during this period.

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

While investors usually depend on consensus earnings and revenue estimates to assess the business performance for the quarter, delving into analysts' forecasts for certain key metrics often provides a more comprehensive understanding.

Given this perspective, it's time to examine the average forecasts of specific Valley National metrics that are routinely monitored and predicted by Wall Street analysts.

Analysts predict that the 'Efficiency Ratio' will reach 52.4%. The estimate compares to the year-ago value of 53.4%.

It is projected by analysts that the 'Net Interest Margin' will reach 3.3%. Compared to the present estimate, the company reported 3.0% in the same quarter last year.

Analysts' assessment points toward 'Average Balance - Total interest earning assets' reaching $61.99 billion. Compared to the current estimate, the company reported $58.62 billion in the same quarter of the previous year.

The average prediction of analysts places 'Total non-accrual loans' at $461.40 million. The estimate is in contrast to the year-ago figure of $421.49 million.

The consensus among analysts is that 'Total Non-performing Assets' will reach $466.23 million. Compared to the present estimate, the company reported $427.34 million in the same quarter last year.

According to the collective judgment of analysts, 'Tier 1 risk-based capital ratio' should come in at 11.4%. Compared to the present estimate, the company reported 11.7% in the same quarter last year.

The combined assessment of analysts suggests that 'Total risk-based capital ratio' will likely reach 13.8%. The estimate is in contrast to the year-ago figure of 13.8%.

Analysts forecast 'Total non-interest Income' to reach $72.03 million. Compared to the present estimate, the company reported $64.89 million in the same quarter last year.

Analysts expect 'Service charges on deposit accounts' to come in at $19.01 million. The estimate compares to the year-ago value of $16.76 million.

The consensus estimate for 'Net Interest Income' stands at $506.34 million. The estimate is in contrast to the year-ago figure of $446.22 million.

The collective assessment of analysts points to an estimated 'Wealth management and trust fees' of $17.74 million. Compared to the current estimate, the company reported $16.13 million in the same quarter of the previous year.

Based on the collective assessment of analysts, 'Bank owned life insurance' should arrive at $5.74 million. Compared to the present estimate, the company reported $4.66 million in the same quarter last year.

View all Key Company Metrics for Valley National here>>>

Shares of Valley National have experienced a change of -6.2% in the past month compared to the +0.7% move of the Zacks S&P 500 composite. With a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold), VLY is expected to mirror the overall market performance in the near future. You can see the complete list of today's Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) stocks here >>>> .

, /PRNewswire/ -- Oncor Electric Delivery Company LLC ("Oncor") plans to release its third quarter 2026 results on November 5, prior to Sempra's (NYSE: SRE) third quarter 2026 results conference call. Oncor's earnings release will be available on Oncor's website, oncor.com.

Sempra executives will host a conference call at 12 p.m. ET on Thursday, November 5 that will include discussion of Oncor's third quarter 2026 operational and financial results. Investors, media, analysts and the public may listen to a live webcast of the conference call by registering on the Investors section of Sempra's website and clicking on the appropriate link. Prior to the conference call, an accompanying slide presentation will be posted on sempra.com/investors.

For those unable to obtain access to the live webcast, it will be available on replay a few hours after its conclusion at sempra.com/investors.

Oncor's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ended September 30, 2026 will be filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission after Sempra's conference call and, once filed, will also be available at oncor.com.

Headquartered in Dallas, Oncor Electric Delivery Company LLC is a regulated electricity transmission and distribution business that uses superior asset management skills to provide reliable electricity delivery to consumers. Oncor (together with its subsidiaries) operates the largest transmission and distribution system in Texas, delivering electricity to more than 4.1 million homes and businesses and operating more than 145,000 circuit miles of transmission and distribution lines in Texas. While Oncor is owned by two investors (indirect majority owner, Sempra, and minority owner, Texas Transmission Investment LLC), Oncor is managed by its Board of Directors, which is comprised of a majority of disinterested directors.

SOURCE Oncor Electric Delivery Company LLC