Track market-moving stories before they get noisy

The big reason to buy Pfizer (PFE 0.22%) right now is its huge 7% dividend yield. To put that into perspective, the S&P 500 index (^GSPC 1.01%) yields a tiny 1%, and the average pharmaceutical stock yields 1.5%. The big risk with buying Pfizer for its outsize yield is that the dividend could be cut. Here's a look at the problem.

Pfizer's spending a lot of cash on its dividend In 2025, Pfizer paid roughly $9.8 billion in dividends. Through the first half of 2026, it paid roughly $4.8 billion. That's a total of $14.6 billion in dividends over the last six quarters. It is a lot of money going out the door at a time when the company needs cash to pay for other things.

Image source: Getty Images.

The most notable other thing this pharmaceutical giant is paying for right now is the research and development of new drugs. To be fair, drug companies are always spending on R&D. New drugs are granted time-limited patent protection, so there's a constant need to develop new drugs to replace older ones that are losing patent protection. When a patent expires, generic drugs enter the market and revenues from branded drugs tend to decline sharply.

Pfizer's problem is that several of its large drugs are set to lose patent protection. Oncology drug Ibrance loses patent protection in 2027, with cardiovascular drugs Eliquis and Vyndaqel set to lose patent protection in 2028. And Pfizer doesn't have any big new drugs lined up to replace them just yet. To be fair, patent expirations happen on a set schedule, but R&D does not. So this isn't a shocking development. Still, investors have to consider the risk posed to the dividend if new drugs don't arrive in time to offset the revenue hit from generic competition. Meanwhile, the company had a very public setback when it had to drop a GLP-1 drug candidate in 2025.

Pfizer has options and says the dividend is a priority Pfizer's trailing 12-month dividend payout ratio was over 130% at the end of the first quarter of 2026. That's a level that would worry most dividend investors. However, the financial impact of dividends isn't reported on the income statement; it is reported on the cash flow statement. If you compare dividends to cash flow using the cash dividend payout ratio, the figure is slightly more reassuring: 103%.

Today's Change

(

-0.22

%) $

-0.06

Current Price

$

25.09

It is important to note that companies can access cash in different ways. For example, Pfizer ended the first quarter with $1.7 billion in cash on its balance sheet and $11.3 billion in short-term investments. Put those two together, and Pfizer can support its dividend just from that for a few quarters. But it could also elect to take on additional debt, using the cash it raises to support the dividend. In other words, Pfizer has options.

The dividend, meanwhile, is paid at the discretion of the board of directors. Management has made it very clear that the dividend is a priority, stating in the first quarter slide deck that "maintain dividend" is a key long-term goal. Management wouldn't likely have said that if the board was seriously considering a dividend cut.

Pfizer: No dividend guarantees Pfizer's yield is so high because investors are worried about the safety of the dividend. Given the healthcare company's backdrop, that concern makes complete sense. From a business perspective, Pfizer's long and successful history suggests it will muddle through this rough patch in relative stride. For example, it quickly pivoted in the GLP-1 space and bought a company with a more promising drug candidate. Still, it isn't 100% clear that the dividend will survive.

Given the facts around the dividend, however, it seems likely that more aggressive dividend investors could end up big winners if they take on the risk of a dividend cut. Meanwhile, a realistic worst-case scenario would probably be a 50% dividend reduction. That would still leave the stock with an above-average yield, and such a cut appears to be already priced in. All in, the risk/reward balance may not be as bad as the out size yield suggests.

The SEC has approved a NYSE Arca rule change that raises position and exercise limits for options on BlackRock’s iShares Bitcoin Trust, giving institutional traders more room to hedge and express larger views around the spot Bitcoin ETF market.

The change increases limits for IBIT options from 250,000 contracts to 1,000,000 contracts, according to the SEC release. That is a fourfold increase, and it reflects how quickly Bitcoin ETF options have become part of the market’s trading infrastructure.

This is not the kind of update that grabs attention like a new ETF launch. But for market structure, it matters.

Options limits decide how large positions can become. Larger limits can support deeper institutional trading, more complex hedging, and better liquidity around ETF-linked Bitcoin exposure.

Reference: SEC

TL;DR The SEC approved a NYSE Arca rule change raising IBIT options limits. Position and exercise limits move from 250,000 to 1,000,000 contracts. The change gives larger traders more room to hedge Bitcoin ETF exposure. Bitcoin ETFs Are Becoming Trading Infrastructure The first phase of the spot Bitcoin ETF story was access.

Investors wanted to know whether they could buy Bitcoin exposure through ordinary brokerage accounts. Asset managers wanted products that could fit inside existing portfolios. Advisers wanted a structure that did not involve exchanges, wallets, private keys, or direct custody.

That phase is now maturing.

The next phase is market structure. Once an ETF becomes liquid, traders want options, hedging tools, arbitrage routes, and larger position limits. Those pieces make the product more useful for institutions that manage risk actively rather than simply buying and holding.

IBIT has become one of the most important Bitcoin ETF products in the market, so options activity around it matters. If traders can hold larger options positions, they can manage larger underlying exposures, hedge portfolio risk more efficiently, or build more sophisticated volatility strategies.

That does not mean the change is automatically bullish for Bitcoin. Options can be used for bullish, bearish, and neutral strategies. But it does mean the market around Bitcoin ETFs is becoming deeper.

Why Position Limits Matter Position limits exist to prevent excessive concentration and reduce market-manipulation risk.

If limits are too low, large institutions may find the product less useful. If limits are too high, regulators may worry about market integrity. Raising the limit suggests the exchange and regulator believe the product can support larger activity without creating unacceptable risk.

For IBIT options, moving from 250,000 to 1,000,000 contracts is a meaningful shift.

It allows larger traders to operate with more flexibility. A fund with substantial Bitcoin ETF exposure may need options to hedge downside. A market maker may need room to support liquidity. A volatility trader may want to build positions that were previously constrained by the lower cap.

The result can be a more efficient options market.

Better options liquidity can also improve the underlying ETF market because traders have more ways to manage risk. In mature asset classes, options are a normal part of the ecosystem. Bitcoin ETFs are now moving closer to that model.

A Sign Of Institutional Normalisation The larger point is that Bitcoin is increasingly being absorbed into traditional market infrastructure.

Spot ETFs brought Bitcoin into regulated fund wrappers. Options brought a derivatives layer around those wrappers. Higher position limits now give larger institutions more operational room.

This is exactly how financial markets mature. First comes access, then liquidity, then hedging, then more complex institutional strategies.

For Bitcoin, that is a major shift from earlier cycles, when much of the market was concentrated on offshore exchanges, spot exchanges, and crypto-native derivatives venues. Those venues still matter, but the ETF market has changed the balance.

More regulated options activity could also affect volatility. In some cases, deeper options markets help smooth risk because traders can hedge more efficiently. In other cases, options positioning can create sharp moves around expiries, strikes, and dealer hedging flows.

Either way, Bitcoin traders will increasingly need to watch ETF options data alongside spot flows.

The SEC approval does not guarantee higher Bitcoin prices. It does not remove volatility. It does not change the underlying supply schedule. But it does make the institutional Bitcoin market more functional.

That may be the most important takeaway. Bitcoin ETFs are no longer just products people buy for exposure. They are becoming part of a larger trading and risk-management system.

This article is based on SEC release SR-NYSEARCA-2026-76 and Federal Register materials.

This article was written by the News Desk and edited by Samuel Rae.

Japan has taken a decisive step in cryptocurrency regulation by approving a new framework that reclassifies XRP and other digital assets as financial instruments. This move contrasts with ongoing debates in the United States over the proposed CLARITY Act, which aims to provide regulatory clarity for digital assets.

Japan’s new crypto classification sets stage for XRP ETFX Finance Bull, a well-known cryptocurrency commentator active on social media, described the development as a meaningful shift for XRP and the wider crypto market. He stated that Japan’s action illustrates progress beyond mere legislative debate and demonstrates a concrete commitment to integrating cryptocurrencies within the nation’s financial system.

According to X Finance Bull, the updated regulatory treatment of digital assets creates a legal foundation for the launch of exchange-traded funds (ETFs) tied to XRP and potentially other cryptocurrencies. He described this milestone as a transition from long-discussed ambitions to tangible implementation, especially given Japan’s status as the world’s third-largest economy.

Japan has approved its own framework reclassifying $XRP and other digital assets as financial instruments, marking a clear shift from theory to action. An XRP ETF now moves from an aspiration to an imminent reality in Asia’s leading market.

This shift stands in contrast to the United States, where policymakers continue to debate digital asset legislation. While the CLARITY Act remains under discussion in Congress, Japan’s financial authorities have moved forward with a completed and actionable regulatory model.

ETF filings progressing with support from SBI GroupOne of the central points in X Finance Bull’s analysis concerns the preparations underway for cryptocurrency ETFs in Japan. He pointed to SBI Group, one of the country’s largest financial conglomerates and a longstanding partner of Ripple, as the organization leading these efforts.

SBI Group’s early preparations for an XRP ETF reportedly began well before the latest government approval. The commentator noted that this indicates strategic, long-term planning and confidence in the regulatory trajectory. SBI Group’s collaboration with Ripple over several years may have given it the head start needed to introduce new investment products as soon as policy allowed.

This approach sets the current situation apart from prior announcements or speculative headlines, as institutions like SBI appear positioned to capitalize on regulatory changes swiftly.

Mini dictionary: SBI Group, headquartered in Tokyo, is a major Japanese financial services company engaged in banking, asset management, and fintech, and has been a key partner of Ripple in promoting blockchain adoption throughout Japan and Asia.

Potential impact on XRP adoptionX Finance Bull also emphasized the potential advantages of an XRP ETF for Japanese investors. He explained that by offering regulated financial products, such as ETFs, investors could gain exposure to XRP using familiar brokerage accounts or retirement plans.

Citing the experience of spot cryptocurrency ETFs in the United States, he claimed that XRP funds there have attracted approximately $1.48 billion in investments, even during challenging market periods. This, according to the commentator, demonstrates how structured ETF offerings can broaden participation in the cryptocurrency sector.

Japan’s tax structure may further support market growth. The current flat 20% tax rate on crypto gains stands out as a more straightforward regime compared to other jurisdictions, simplifying the process for investors.

CountryCrypto Tax RateStatus of XRP ETFJapan20% flat ratePreparations underwayUnited StatesVaries (up to 37% for capital gains)No XRP ETF approvedRipple’s close ties with Japanese institutionsThe commentator underscored the significance of Ripple’s relationship with SBI Group. He mentioned that RLUSD, a stablecoin, is already available via SBI VC Trade, and SBI Ripple Asia operates technical infrastructure on the XRP Ledger. These initiatives reflect ongoing efforts to support token issuance and digital asset integration in Japan.

Overall, these developments suggest Japan is prioritizing infrastructure for institutional-grade digital asset products, rather than simply adjusting existing regulations. Analysts suggest the combination of governmental support, ETF readiness, and established partnerships positions Japan as a notable environment for crypto adoption, with XRP poised to benefit from the country’s proactive approach.

SBI has been working with Ripple to build digital finance platforms in Japan for years, providing a robust foundation as the country moves toward institutional crypto adoption.

Disclaimer: The information contained in this article does not constitute investment advice. Investors should be aware that cryptocurrencies carry high volatility and therefore risk, and should conduct their own research.

XRP withdrawal activity on Binance has climbed to its highest level in at least two years.

According to a new on-chain analysis by CryptoQuant contributor Amr Taha, the exchange is now recording a significantly larger share of withdrawal transactions than of deposits.

Taha said Binance’s share of XRP withdrawal transactions reached 54.5% on July 17, the highest level since July 2024. Meanwhile, deposit transactions fell to 45.4%, the lowest reading since the same period and below the previous low of 46.7% recorded on June 20, 2025.

XRP Deposit/Withdrawal chart The widening gap between withdrawals and deposits has expanded to 9.1 percentage points, up from 6.5 points on June 20, 2025. According to Taha, this makes the current imbalance roughly 40% wider than the previous comparison.

Binance Outpaces Broader Exchange Trend The broader centralized exchange market is showing a similar pattern, though Binance’s shift is more pronounced.

Across all centralized exchanges, withdrawal transactions accounted for 53.01%, nearly matching the 53.09% recorded on June 20, 2025, while deposit transactions stood at approximately 46.9%.

Binance’s withdrawal share is now 1.49 percentage points higher than the all-exchange average. Its 9.1-point withdrawal-deposit gap is also nearly 49% wider than the roughly 6.1-point gap observed across all centralized exchanges.

The figures suggest Binance users are moving XRP off the exchange at a faster rate than the broader market, although the data reflects the number of transactions rather than the size or value of transferred funds.

Previous Pattern Preceded 66% XRP Rally Taha pointed to a historical parallel that has drawn attention from market participants.

After similar transaction levels were recorded on June 20, 2025, XRP’s price climbed from approximately $2.11 to $3.50 by July 21, delivering a gain of nearly 66% in about one month.

At the time of the analysis, XRP was trading near $1.09, around 48% below its June 2025 comparison price and nearly 69% below the subsequent $3.50 peak.

However, Taha cautioned against interpreting the data as a direct bullish signal. The metrics track the proportion of deposit and withdrawal transactions, not the volume of XRP being transferred or net exchange flows.

As a result, the shift reflects a change in transaction composition rather than definitive evidence of capital leaving exchanges or a guarantee that price will follow the same trajectory.

DisClamier: This content is informational and should not be considered financial advice. The views expressed in this article may include the author's personal opinions and do not reflect The Crypto Basic opinion. Readers are encouraged to do thorough research before making any investment decisions. The Crypto Basic is not responsible for any financial losses.

Ethereum (ETH) price is up slightly by 1.82% today, July 18, after the Chair of the US House Administration Committee, Bryan Steil, opined that the CLARITY Act bill could pass in the coming week. The bill’s passage will see ETH being classified as a digital commodity, a move that could bolster retail and institutional demand for the biggest altcoin.

ETH price traded at $1,845 at the time of writing. It is currently testing the support at the 50-day EMA, but bulls remain in control as this support holds.

US House Chair Eyes CLARITY Act Passage Next Week While speaking in an interview with FOX Business, U.S. Representative Steil has said that the Senate could pass the CLARITY Act bill in the week between June 20 and June 24.

Steil says that this will be the week when the bill will go to the Senate floor for voting, and if senators vote in favor of it, the US might “set the gold standard” for regulating crypto assets like Ethereum and potentially drive price gains.

Steil’s remarks come shortly after reports that the final text for the CLARITY bill will also be released next week. This new text might include changes on ethics and stablecoin yields.

Steil’s remarks have increased the likelihood of the bill passing. Data from Polymarket shows that the odds that the CLARITY Act will pass in 2026 have increased from 30% on July 17 to 42% at the time of writing.

Ethereum Price Prediction as Bears Test Key Support Level Ethereum price is testing the 50-day EMA support of $1,812 ahead of the crucial vote on the CLARITY Act bill that could officially classify ETH as a digital commodity if it passes.

If ETH price remains above this support, it could draw buyers that might push it to the 100-day EMA of $1,939. The buying pressure might come from the Senate passing the CLARITY Act.

The RSI reading of 57 also supports a bullish long-term Ethereum price prediction. This RSI is also making higher highs, suggesting that bulls are tightening their grip.

This bullish momentum might not only push ETH to the 100-day EMA of $1,939, but it could also trigger a move to $2,244. This is according to a previous Coingape Ethereum price analysis that detected a bullish double-bottom pattern forming on ETH’s daily chart.

ETH/USDT: 1-day chart (Source: TradingView) But if ETH closes below this support of $1,812, the price might drop to the 20-day EMA of $1,791. That drop might be caused by the US Senate failing to get enough votes to push the CLARITY Act forward, a move that may trigger a bearish Ethereum price prediction.

Ethereum ETFs Post Highest Weekly Inflows Since April Data from SoSovalue shows that there were $105 million inflows to spot Ethereum ETFs in the week between July 13 and July 17. This $105 million is the highest inflow that the ETFs have seen since April 2026.

Ethereum ETF Flow Data (Source: SoSoValue) The inflows suggest that institutions are getting more exposure to Ethereum price ahead of the CLARITY Act vote that would increase the regulatory clarity around ETH.

If the CLARITY Act passes, these spot ETF inflows could increase as institutions that were shying away because of regulatory uncertainty start buying ETH.

The institutional demand also comes amid an increase in Ethereum’s DeFi TVL that has increased from $36 billion on July 1 to $40 billion on July 17, per DeFiLlama.

This marks the first time that the TVL on Ethereum has gone above $40 billion since May 2026.

Posted by Defense World Staff on Jul 18th, 2026

Shares of Intuit Inc. (NASDAQ:INTU – Get Free Report) have been given an average rating of “Moderate Buy” by the thirty-two research firms that are covering the firm, MarketBeat reports. Three research analysts have rated the stock with a sell recommendation, seven have assigned a hold recommendation and twenty-two have assigned a buy recommendation to the company. The average 1-year price objective among analysts that have covered the stock in the last year is $490.3871.

INTU has been the topic of several research reports. Jefferies Financial Group reduced their price objective on Intuit from $650.00 to $550.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a report on Thursday, May 21st. Freedom Capital cut Intuit from a “strong-buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a report on Thursday, May 21st. Wells Fargo & Company dropped their price target on Intuit from $425.00 to $360.00 and set an “equal weight” rating on the stock in a research report on Thursday, May 21st. Truist Financial cut their price target on Intuit from $500.00 to $410.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a research note on Thursday, May 21st. Finally, Citigroup decreased their price objective on Intuit from $649.00 to $591.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a report on Thursday, May 21st.

Get Our Latest Research Report on Intuit

Intuit Trading Down 1.3% Shares of INTU opened at $291.09 on Friday. The firm has a market capitalization of $79.62 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 17.63, a PEG ratio of 1.08 and a beta of 1.00. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.26, a current ratio of 1.45 and a quick ratio of 1.45. Intuit has a 1-year low of $252.84 and a 1-year high of $813.70. The company has a 50-day moving average of $303.20 and a 200 day moving average of $406.56.

Intuit (NASDAQ:INTU – Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Wednesday, May 20th. The software maker reported $12.80 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $12.57 by $0.23. Intuit had a net margin of 21.91% and a return on equity of 25.18%. The business had revenue of $8.56 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $8.54 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the firm earned $11.65 EPS. The company’s revenue for the quarter was up 10.4% compared to the same quarter last year. Intuit has set its Q4 2026 guidance at 3.560-3.620 EPS and its FY 2026 guidance at 23.800-23.850 EPS. On average, research analysts expect that Intuit will post 18.18 EPS for the current year.

Intuit Announces Dividend The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, July 17th. Investors of record on Thursday, July 9th were issued a dividend of $1.20 per share. This represents a $4.80 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.6%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, July 9th. Intuit’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 29.07%.

Insider Activity at Intuit In related news, Director Vasant M. Prabhu bought 1,250 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction on Friday, May 22nd. The shares were acquired at an average price of $309.45 per share, with a total value of $386,812.50. Following the transaction, the director owned 1,250 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $386,812.50. The trade was a ∞ increase in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Also, Director Richard L. Dalzell sold 338 shares of Intuit stock in a transaction on Thursday, June 11th. The shares were sold at an average price of $279.86, for a total value of $94,592.68. Following the completion of the transaction, the director owned 12,326 shares in the company, valued at $3,449,554.36. This represents a 2.67% decrease in their ownership of the stock. Additional details regarding this sale are available in the official SEC disclosure. The transaction was executed under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plan. Over the last three months, insiders have sold 1,239 shares of company stock worth $348,354. 2.49% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Intuit Institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Joseph Group Capital Management purchased a new stake in shares of Intuit during the fourth quarter valued at about $25,000. Intesa Sanpaolo Wealth Management purchased a new position in shares of Intuit in the 4th quarter worth approximately $25,000. HHM Wealth Advisors LLC raised its stake in shares of Intuit by 75.0% during the 1st quarter. HHM Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 70 shares of the software maker’s stock worth $30,000 after acquiring an additional 30 shares in the last quarter. Whipplewood Advisors LLC bought a new position in shares of Intuit during the 1st quarter worth approximately $30,000. Finally, CrossGen Wealth LLC bought a new position in shares of Intuit during the 1st quarter worth approximately $32,000. Institutional investors own 83.66% of the company’s stock.

More Intuit News Here are the key news stories impacting Intuit this week:

Positive Sentiment: Intuit is being viewed as a long-term AI beneficiary as it embeds AI across its platform to automate financial workflows, expand higher-value services, and support future growth. Intuit Reinvents Itself With AI: Should You Buy the Stock? Positive Sentiment: The company’s AI initiative could improve productivity and deepen customer usage, which may support margins and recurring revenue over time. Intuit Reinvents Itself With AI: Should You Buy the Stock? Neutral Sentiment: One analyst note referenced Intuit being upgraded to “strong sell,” but the item provides no detailed rationale and appears secondary to the broader legal-news flow. Intuit upgraded by Piper Sandler to strong sell Negative Sentiment: Multiple law firms announced or reminded investors about a pending securities class action against Intuit, with a lead-plaintiff deadline of September 8, 2026, creating a legal overhang for the stock. Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman LLC Urges Intuit Inc. Investors to Act Negative Sentiment: The lawsuit alleges securities fraud and investor harm related to the period when Intuit’s stock dropped after guidance changes, which may keep pressure on shares near term. Robbins Geller Rudman & Dowd LLP Announces that Intuit Inc. Investors with Substantial Losses Have Opportunity to Lead Class Action Lawsuit Negative Sentiment: Several additional firms filed or promoted similar class-action notices, reinforcing concerns that Intuit may face prolonged litigation and headline risk. Pomerantz Law Firm Announces the Filing of a Class Action Against Intuit Inc. and Certain Officers Intuit Company Profile (Get Free Report)

Intuit Inc (NASDAQ: INTU) is a financial software company headquartered in Mountain View, California, that develops and sells cloud-based financial management and compliance products for individuals, small businesses, self-employed workers and accounting professionals. Founded in 1983 by Scott Cook and Tom Proulx, the company has grown from desktop tax and accounting software into a diversified provider of online financial tools. As of my latest update, Sasan Goodarzi serves as Chief Executive Officer.

Intuit’s product portfolio includes QuickBooks, its flagship accounting and business-management platform that offers bookkeeping, payroll, payments and invoicing capabilities; TurboTax, a tax-preparation and filing service aimed at individual taxpayers; and Mint, a consumer personal-finance and budgeting app.

Featured Stories Five stocks we like better than Intuit AST SpaceMobile Stock Sinks as SpaceX Fallout Rattles Space Sector Aehr Test Systems Stock Soars on Earnings, Eyes Over 150% Revenue Growth TSMC Just Gave AI Chip Bulls Another Reason to Stay Confident GE Aerospace Faces a Prove-It Moment in Q2 Earnings

Receive News & Ratings for Intuit Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Intuit and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.

« PREVIOUS HEADLINEAllspring Global Investments Holdings LLC Has $66.92 Million Stock Holdings in The Progressive Corporation $PGR

Allspring Global Investments Holdings LLC trimmed its stake in shares of S&P Global Inc. (NYSE:SPGI – Free Report) by 19.0% in the first quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 213,654 shares of the business services provider’s stock after selling 50,037 shares during the quarter. Allspring Global Investments Holdings LLC owned about 0.07% of S&P Global worth $90,839,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently modified their holdings of the company. Norges Bank bought a new stake in shares of S&P Global during the fourth quarter worth approximately $2,398,991,000. Cardano Risk Management B.V. lifted its holdings in shares of S&P Global by 858.3% during the fourth quarter. Cardano Risk Management B.V. now owns 1,760,230 shares of the business services provider’s stock worth $919,879,000 after buying an additional 1,576,544 shares in the last quarter. T. Rowe Price Investment Management Inc. boosted its position in shares of S&P Global by 2,256.7% in the fourth quarter. T. Rowe Price Investment Management Inc. now owns 1,446,633 shares of the business services provider’s stock valued at $755,996,000 after acquiring an additional 1,385,249 shares during the period. Capital International Investors boosted its position in shares of S&P Global by 43.6% in the fourth quarter. Capital International Investors now owns 3,037,912 shares of the business services provider’s stock valued at $1,587,910,000 after acquiring an additional 922,433 shares during the period. Finally, TCI Fund Management Ltd. grew its stake in shares of S&P Global by 5.4% in the fourth quarter. TCI Fund Management Ltd. now owns 11,790,310 shares of the business services provider’s stock valued at $6,161,498,000 after acquiring an additional 600,440 shares in the last quarter. 87.17% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Insider Activity at S&P Global In related news, CEO Martina Cheung acquired 2,322 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, April 29th. The shares were bought at an average cost of $429.93 per share, with a total value of $998,297.46. Following the completion of the purchase, the chief executive officer directly owned 27,518 shares in the company, valued at $11,830,813.74. The trade was a 9.22% increase in their ownership of the stock. The purchase was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available at this link. Also, CEO Catherine R. Clay bought 2,500 shares of S&P Global stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, May 1st. The stock was bought at an average price of $431.39 per share, for a total transaction of $1,078,475.00. Following the completion of the acquisition, the chief executive officer directly owned 2,500 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $1,078,475. The trade was a ∞ increase in their ownership of the stock. Additional details regarding this purchase are available in the official SEC disclosure. Insiders purchased 5,974 shares of company stock worth $2,576,775 over the last three months. Company insiders own 0.03% of the company’s stock.

Key Stories Impacting S&P Global Here are the key news stories impacting S&P Global this week:

Positive Sentiment: Stifel Nicolaus raised its price target on S&P Global to $521 from $489 and kept a buy rating, implying roughly 15.6% upside from the current share price. Benzinga Street Insider Positive Sentiment: S&P Global Energy said booming U.S. LNG exports could add $1.4 trillion to GDP through 2040 and support hundreds of thousands of jobs, reinforcing the company’s research and energy-market credibility. Reuters Positive Sentiment: S&P Global Market Intelligence launched ETF Intelligence, a new analytics product aimed at the fast-growing ETF market, which could help expand data and subscription revenue over time. PR Newswire Neutral Sentiment: Erste Group Bank lowered its FY2026 EPS estimate for S&P Global to $18.60 from $19.62, which is below the current consensus estimate of $19.49 and may temper expectations. MarketBeat Neutral Sentiment: Separate commentary flagged the stock as expensive on fair value and earnings, suggesting valuation remains a concern for some investors. Yahoo Finance Negative Sentiment: One market report said S&P Global underperformed peers on Wednesday, indicating some relative weakness versus competitors. MarketWatch Wall Street Analyst Weigh In A number of research firms recently commented on SPGI. Morgan Stanley lowered their price target on shares of S&P Global from $557.00 to $525.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a research report on Tuesday, July 7th. Daiwa Securities Group cut their price objective on shares of S&P Global from $490.00 to $485.00 and set an “outperform” rating for the company in a report on Wednesday, May 20th. Royal Bank Of Canada decreased their target price on shares of S&P Global from $560.00 to $510.00 and set an “outperform” rating on the stock in a research report on Tuesday, July 7th. Rothschild & Co Redburn lowered their target price on shares of S&P Global from $540.00 to $520.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a report on Thursday, June 18th. Finally, The Goldman Sachs Group dropped their price target on shares of S&P Global from $539.00 to $490.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a research report on Wednesday, July 1st. Seventeen analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and one has given a Hold rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, S&P Global has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $533.88.

Get Our Latest Report on SPGI

S&P Global Stock Performance S&P Global stock opened at $450.57 on Friday. The business has a 50 day moving average of $421.35 and a 200-day moving average of $445.32. The company has a market capitalization of $133.37 billion, a P/E ratio of 28.52, a P/E/G ratio of 2.21 and a beta of 1.08. S&P Global Inc. has a 1 year low of $381.61 and a 1 year high of $579.05. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.34, a current ratio of 0.68 and a quick ratio of 0.68.

S&P Global (NYSE:SPGI – Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Tuesday, April 28th. The business services provider reported $4.97 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $4.82 by $0.15. The firm had revenue of $4.17 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $4.08 billion. S&P Global had a net margin of 30.37% and a return on equity of 17.26%. The company’s revenue for the quarter was up 10.4% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the previous year, the firm posted $4.37 EPS. S&P Global has set its FY 2026 guidance at 19.400-19.650 EPS. On average, equities research analysts predict that S&P Global Inc. will post 19.32 earnings per share for the current year.

S&P Global Dividend Announcement The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, September 10th. Investors of record on Wednesday, August 26th will be issued a $0.97 dividend. This represents a $3.88 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 0.9%. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, August 26th. S&P Global’s dividend payout ratio is presently 24.56%.

S&P Global Profile (Free Report)

S&P Global is a leading provider of financial information, analytics and benchmark indices that serve investors, issuers, corporations and public institutions worldwide. The company operates through well-known businesses that include credit ratings, market intelligence and index licensing, as well as commodity and energy information services. Its products and services are used to assess creditworthiness, inform investment decisions, construct and track benchmark portfolios, and support risk and commodity market analysis.

S&P Global Ratings provides independent credit ratings, research and data used by fixed income investors and capital market participants to evaluate issuer and transaction risk.

Featured Stories Five stocks we like better than S&P Global AST SpaceMobile Stock Sinks as SpaceX Fallout Rattles Space Sector Aehr Test Systems Stock Soars on Earnings, Eyes Over 150% Revenue Growth TSMC Just Gave AI Chip Bulls Another Reason to Stay Confident GE Aerospace Faces a Prove-It Moment in Q2 Earnings Want to see what other hedge funds are holding SPGI? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for S&P Global Inc. (NYSE:SPGI – Free Report).

Receive News & Ratings for S&P Global Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for S&P Global and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.

Artificial intelligence has turned power infrastructure into one of the market’s hottest investment themes in 2026. As hyperscale data centers multiply, companies that can supply electricity quickly have become Wall Street favorites. That enthusiasm has lifted everything from utilities to turbine manufacturers and fuel cell providers. 

Yet the same growth story that fueled many of those gains is beginning to run into a less predictable obstacle: local opposition. For investors, the next phase of the AI infrastructure buildout may depend as much on regulators and communities as it does on technology. That shift matters for Bloom Energy (NYSE:BE).

Momentum Is Moving the Wrong Direction Bloom Energy has delivered an enviable return in 2026, with the stock climbing 149% year to date. Yet that headline figure hides a growing loss of momentum. Shares now sit roughly 39% below the June peak after investors began reassessing how quickly the company’s biggest opportunities can translate into revenue.

The first blow came earlier this month when a short seller questioned Bloom’s long-term growth assumptions and customer concentration. While the market didn’t fully embrace the bearish thesis, it added another layer of uncertainty just as expectations for AI infrastructure spending had become increasingly optimistic.

Now another development has put the spotlight back on execution risk.

Project Jupiter Faces Another Roadblock Oracle‘s (NYSE:ORCL | ORCL Price Prediction) proposed Stargate campus in New Mexico, called Project Jupiter, represents a planned $165 billion investment, making it one of the largest AI infrastructure projects under development. The project originally planned to rely on a natural gas-fired power plant, but following concerns from local officials and residents over emissions and water consumption, that was abandoned in favor of deploying up to 2.45 gigawatts of Bloom Energy’s solid oxide fuel cell technology.

That made the project one of Bloom’s most visible growth opportunities. Unfortunately for shareholders, the project was rejected by New Mexico regulators for a second time. Although the fuel cell approach remains under consideration, the required air permit application is still pending. The New Mexico Environment Department has ordered a public hearing, but as of mid-July no hearing date has been scheduled.

Act now: the analyst who called NVIDIA in 2010 just named his top 10 AI stocks — and Bloom Energy didn't make the cut. Grab the names FREE today.

That doesn’t necessarily kill the project. It does push revenue further into the future, which matters for a stock priced around aggressive growth expectations.

A Bigger Trend Could Matter Even More Project Jupiter may be only one facility, but it highlights a broader challenge. Communities across the country are becoming more vocal about data center construction because of concerns over electricity demand, water consumption, land use, and environmental impacts. Until recently, most opposition remained local.

Now the issue has expanded. New York recently became the first state to approve a one-year statewide moratorium on new data center construction, raising the possibility that other states could adopt similar policies.

For Bloom Energy, that’s an important development because its growth narrative depends heavily on the rapid expansion of AI data centers. Delays don’t eliminate demand for electricity, but they can postpone orders for fuel cells, stretching out revenue recognition and making quarterly growth less predictable.

Key Takeaway In short, Bloom Energy remains well positioned to benefit from AI-driven power demand, and its fuel cell technology still offers advantages over traditional natural gas generation in locations where emissions and water use are major concerns. That said, investors should recognize that regulatory approvals are becoming just as important as technological advantages.

A 149% gain this year shows investors continue to believe in Bloom’s long-term opportunity. A 39% decline from its June high shows the market is also beginning to price in execution risk. Ultimately, if more data center projects encounter permitting delays or community resistance, Bloom’s growth could arrive more slowly than many shareholders have been expecting. That’s a risk investors shouldn’t ignore, even if the long-term demand for AI power infrastructure remains intact.

Act now: the analyst who called NVIDIA in 2010 just named his top 10 AI stocks — and Bloom Energy didn't make the cut. Grab the names FREE today.

Contact [email protected] for any questions or corrections.

Posted by Defense World Staff on Jul 18th, 2026

Allspring Global Investments Holdings LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Vistra Corp. (NYSE:VST – Free Report) by 18.6% in the 1st quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 694,157 shares of the company’s stock after buying an additional 109,096 shares during the quarter. Allspring Global Investments Holdings LLC owned approximately 0.21% of Vistra worth $106,872,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Fideuram Intesa Sanpaolo Private Banking S.P.A. purchased a new position in shares of Vistra in the fourth quarter worth about $25,000. Mcguire Capital Advisors Inc. acquired a new stake in Vistra in the 4th quarter valued at about $28,000. Kemnay Advisory Services Inc. acquired a new stake in Vistra in the 4th quarter valued at about $30,000. Strive Financial Group LLC purchased a new position in Vistra in the 4th quarter worth approximately $33,000. Finally, Salomon & Ludwin LLC lifted its stake in Vistra by 74.8% in the 4th quarter. Salomon & Ludwin LLC now owns 215 shares of the company’s stock worth $35,000 after purchasing an additional 92 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 90.88% of the company’s stock.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades A number of equities research analysts have recently issued reports on the company. Seaport Research Partners restated a “buy” rating and issued a $230.00 price target on shares of Vistra in a research report on Monday, June 15th. TD Cowen reduced their price objective on Vistra from $253.00 to $230.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a research report on Monday, May 4th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. cut their target price on Vistra from $240.00 to $231.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a research note on Thursday, April 30th. Morgan Stanley reissued an “overweight” rating and set a $210.00 price target on shares of Vistra in a research report on Wednesday, June 24th. Finally, Weiss Ratings lowered shares of Vistra from a “hold (c+)” rating to a “hold (c)” rating in a report on Thursday. Two analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, thirteen have assigned a Buy rating and one has issued a Hold rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock currently has a consensus rating of “Buy” and a consensus price target of $230.62.

Read Our Latest Report on VST

Vistra News Summary Here are the key news stories impacting Vistra this week:

Positive Sentiment: Scotiabank raised its FY2026 and FY2027 earnings estimates for Vistra, while keeping an Outperform rating and a $298 price target, reinforcing the view that earnings can keep growing. Scotiabank Raises Vistra Estimates Positive Sentiment: News that Vistra secured PJM capacity points to better future revenue visibility, which investors typically view as supportive for utility and power producer stocks. Vistra Secures PJM Capacity Positive Sentiment: Coverage highlighting rising demand from data centers and increased capital investments in nuclear, solar, storage, and gas assets suggests Vistra could benefit from long-term load growth and reliable earnings expansion. Vistra Benefiting From Data Center Demand Positive Sentiment: KeyBanc reaffirmed its Buy rating, adding to the bullish analyst tone around the stock. KeyBanc Sticks to Buy Rating Neutral Sentiment: Vistra was also mentioned in media coverage and trading commentary as a stock showing momentum, which may reflect investor enthusiasm but does not add new fundamental information. Vistra Rises Higher Than Market Insiders Place Their Bets In other Vistra news, CAO Margaret Montemayor sold 4,600 shares of Vistra stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, June 2nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $160.00, for a total value of $736,000.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief accounting officer owned 9,760 shares in the company, valued at $1,561,600. The trade was a 32.03% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this link. Also, Director Paul M. Barbas sold 244 shares of Vistra stock in a transaction on Monday, June 15th. The shares were sold at an average price of $153.00, for a total transaction of $37,332.00. Following the transaction, the director owned 53,006 shares in the company, valued at $8,109,918. The trade was a 0.46% decrease in their position. Additional details regarding this sale are available in the official SEC disclosure. The transaction was executed under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plan. Insiders sold a total of 41,588 shares of company stock valued at $6,739,227 in the last quarter. Corporate insiders own 0.92% of the company’s stock.

Vistra Stock Up 1.7% Vistra stock opened at $155.12 on Friday. The company has a market capitalization of $52.30 billion, a P/E ratio of 25.98 and a beta of 1.40. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 5.51, a quick ratio of 0.79 and a current ratio of 0.90. Vistra Corp. has a fifty-two week low of $132.66 and a fifty-two week high of $219.82. The stock has a 50-day simple moving average of $154.14 and a 200-day simple moving average of $158.42.

Vistra (NYSE:VST – Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, May 7th. The company reported $2.87 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $1.32 by $1.55. The company had revenue of $5.64 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $5.22 billion. Vistra had a return on equity of 105.64% and a net margin of 11.52%. Equities research analysts expect that Vistra Corp. will post 9.53 earnings per share for the current year.

Vistra Increases Dividend The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, June 30th. Shareholders of record on Monday, June 22nd were issued a $0.229 dividend. This is a positive change from Vistra’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.23. The ex-dividend date was Monday, June 22nd. This represents a $0.92 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 0.6%. Vistra’s payout ratio is currently 15.41%.

About Vistra (Free Report)

Vistra (NYSE: VST) is an integrated power company that develops, owns and operates electricity generation and retail businesses in the United States. The company’s operations span wholesale power production—through a diversified fleet of thermal and lower‑carbon generation assets—and retail electricity supply to residential, commercial and industrial customers. Vistra serves organized wholesale markets and competitive retail markets, with a notable presence in Texas and other regional U.S. power markets.

Vistra’s core activities include the ownership and operation of generation facilities, the commercial dispatch and optimization of those assets into wholesale markets, and the sale of electricity and related services to end-use customers through its retail brands.

Featured Stories Five stocks we like better than Vistra AST SpaceMobile Stock Sinks as SpaceX Fallout Rattles Space Sector Aehr Test Systems Stock Soars on Earnings, Eyes Over 150% Revenue Growth TSMC Just Gave AI Chip Bulls Another Reason to Stay Confident GE Aerospace Faces a Prove-It Moment in Q2 Earnings Want to see what other hedge funds are holding VST? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Vistra Corp. (NYSE:VST – Free Report).

Receive News & Ratings for Vistra Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Vistra and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.

« PREVIOUS HEADLINEAllspring Global Investments Holdings LLC Purchases 120,414 Shares of Prologis, Inc. $PLD

NEXT HEADLINE »Advisortrust Partners LLC Takes Position in iShares U.S. Telecommunications ETF $IYZ

Ethereum has regained an upward trajectory for the first time in a year, coinciding with rising institutional adoption in tokenized finance. The network registered $327.3 million in tokenized exchange-traded fund (ETF) inflows over the past 12 months, securing a dominant lead over rival blockchains.

Ethereum’s upward price trendAnalyst Michaël van de Poppe highlighted that Ethereum has entered a new uptrend following nearly a year of sideways movement. He assessed the current market pullback as a relatively normal correction within this structure and expressed optimism about Ethereum’s potential for further gains if buyers defend key support levels.

$ETH is ready for another move higher, and the current consolidation appears to be a routine correction rather than a bearish phase. Michaël van de Poppe emphasized that he does not see a convincing reason for a bearish outlook on Ethereum, stating the asset has now entered an uptrend for the first time in twelve months.

According to van de Poppe, Ethereum’s correction does not alter the underlying positive momentum. Market observers are now watching whether ETH can stabilize and build the foundation for a fresh rally. The continued recovery phase remains in focus as analysts monitor price stability after volatility.

Record tokenized ETF inflows boost Ethereum’s dominanceValidation provider Everstake reported that Ethereum recorded the largest inflows into tokenized ETFs in the last year, adding $327.3 million to its total market capitalization. This amount was nearly four times that of Solana and more than five times that of BNB Chain over the same period.

Everstake stated that Ethereum is becoming the home of tokenized finance, supported by significant inflows into tokenized ETFs. The network’s $327.3 million in ETF inflows outpaces Solana’s and BNB Chain’s combined total, underlining Ethereum’s leading role in this sector.

Tokenized ETFs are blockchain-based representations of traditional exchange-traded funds, offering market participants access to ETF exposure using decentralized infrastructure. Their growing popularity reflects increasing institutional attention to tokenized asset markets, with liquidity and network maturity influencing the choice of blockchain platforms.

NetworkTokenized ETF Inflows (12 months)Ethereum$327.3 millionSolanaApprox. $82 millionBNB ChainApprox. $65 millionMini dictionary: Everstake is a blockchain infrastructure company specializing in staking and validation services across multiple proof-of-stake networks, supporting both institutional and retail clients.

Institutional interest centers on Ethereum’s infrastructureEverstake noted that institutional investors consistently prioritize deep liquidity, robust infrastructure, and established developer activity when choosing blockchain networks. Ethereum offers all three, contributing to its continued appeal as a platform for tokenized finance products, stablecoins, and on-chain markets.

Analysts say these fundamentals have kept Ethereum at the center of institutional blockchain strategies. As the uptrend continues, traders are also closely monitoring developments in tokenized ETF inflows among the major chains.

Ongoing growth in tokenized assets and decentralized finance may help reinforce Ethereum’s network role, especially as competition with Solana and BNB Chain intensifies.

Disclaimer: The information contained in this article does not constitute investment advice. Investors should be aware that cryptocurrencies carry high volatility and therefore risk, and should conduct their own research.

Electric Vertical Takeoff and Landing (eVTOL) companies Archer Aviation (ACHR 1.11%) and Beta Technologies (BETA +0.68%) just announced they are partnering with Macquarie Capital to bring standardized eVTOL charging hardware to as many as 250 air taxi sites across the U.S.

The companies dubbed the initiative America’s Consortium for Electric Skyways (ACES). They touted their charging standard as having been endorsed by the General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA) and “adopted almost uniformly across the industry.”

“Almost uniformly?” That’s right: there’s one major player in the U.S. eVTOL space that doesn’t conform to this standard. And, unsurprisingly, it's Archer’s big rival Joby Aviation (JOBY 0.89%).

Here’s what this new charging network is likely to mean for Archer, Beta, Joby, and their shareholders.

Image source: Archer Aviation.

A new standardThe Combined Charging Standard (CCS) for electric vehicles is a particular type of plug that allows a vehicle to charge using alternating current (AC) or direct current (DC). It was once the standard for electric vehicle charging in the U.S., but is now being phased out in favor of the North American Charging Standard (NACS) plug, developed by Tesla (TSLA 2.47%) for use in its Supercharger system.

However, the global aviation consortium GAMA still supports the CCS standard for electric aircraft, believing that having a standardized plug is preferable to having different manufacturers each developing their own non-interoperable plugs.

Unfortunately, that’s exactly what Joby had to do.

Today's Change

(

-0.89

%) $

-0.07

Current Price

$

7.28

Square plug, round holeDespite being a GAMA associate member, Joby didn’t design its eVTOLs to work with CCS plugs. Instead, it developed its own standard, the Global Electric Aviation Charging System (GEACS). In 2023, it made the GEACS specifications freely available to other companies in the industry.

There were two good reasons for Joby not to use CCS chargers. The first was that it designed its aircraft with distributed battery packs to provide redundancy for added safety. The GEACS system contains multiple DC channels, allowing for simultaneous charging of multiple battery packs. Archer’s and Beta’s systems concentrate their battery packs in a single location, so they don’t need this extra feature.

Image source: Joby Aviation.

The second reason is that Joby’s GEACS includes a coolant exchange system, providing an additional mechanism to prevent the batteries from overheating during charging, which could reduce their lifespan. Archer utilizes an onboard thermal management system made by Honeywell International (HON 0.58%) that, in theory, keeps the batteries from overheating. Meanwhile, Beta uses a separate device called a Thermal Management System Cube to cycle coolant through the batteries during recharging.

You snooze, you loseIt’s not surprising that Archer and Beta – which are also both GAMA associate members – would agree to join forces to deploy a type of charger with a plug that their aircraft can use but which their major rival’s cannot.

It also makes sense that Archer and Beta would try to get a head start on deploying their preferred chargers at airports likely to offer eVTOL air taxi service. According to an Archer press release, up to 250 deployments will occur over the next decade at locations “including airports and vertiports in California, Texas, Florida, and New York.”

Would an airport that had already installed Beta’s CCS chargers actually prevent Joby eVTOLs from operating there due to a lack of charging infrastructure? It seems doubtful, but it might cause some headaches for Joby down the road. And of course, there’s no love lost between Archer and Joby at this point.

Today's Change

(

-1.11

%) $

-0.05

Current Price

$

4.44

The takeawayAll the charging infrastructure in the world doesn’t matter if you don’t have an aircraft to charge. If Joby can get U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) approval for its eVTOLs to operate before Archer can, it’ll probably be able to dictate its own charging infrastructure installation to airports where it’s providing service. The same is true for Archer if it can beat Joby to the punch.

While the collaboration between Archer and Beta to shut out Joby is a smart move for those two companies, in the long run, it’s going to be FAA approval and then the profitability of their business models that determine whether Archer, Beta, and Joby succeed or fail. Not their charging apparatus.

Some of Wall Street’s fastest-growing companies are turning expansion into something more tangible: cash.

Nvidia, Micron Technology, CrowdStrike and Palo Alto Networks have each reported sharp increases in operating or free cash flow while management or analysts lifted profit forecasts.

That combination provides stronger confirmation than an earnings beat alone because cash is available for research, acquisitions, buybacks and protection against downturns.

The catch is valuation, as these are financially strengthening businesses, but their shares already assume continued execution, leaving investors exposed if AI infrastructure, memory pricing or cybersecurity demand slows.

Nvidia generated a record $50.3 billion of operating cash flow in its fiscal first quarter, up from $27.4 billion a year earlier.

Free cash flow reached about $48.6 billion, giving the chipmaker ample room to fund product development, secure supply and support an additional $80 billion share-repurchase authorisation.

Consensus fiscal 2027 earnings estimates subsequently rose 14%, to $9.34 a share from $8.18.

KeyBanc analyst John Vinh raised his Nvidia target to $330 from $310 and retained an Overweight rating.

Writing in a note, Vinh said the CUDA software stack created “significant barriers to entry” and expected the Vera Rubin ramp to begin in July despite a slight delay.

Micron offers a more cyclical but faster-accelerating cash story. Fiscal third-quarter operating cash flow reached $25.39 billion, versus $4.61 billion a year earlier, while free cash flow hit $18 billion.

FactSet now expects fiscal 2026 earnings near $73.20 a share.

Long-term customer agreements provide added visibility, but Micron remains exposed to memory pricing and the industry’s history of overbuilding.

CrowdStrike’s fiscal first-quarter operating cash flow rose 54% to $590.9 million, while free cash flow increased nearly 68% to $468.5 million. Its free-cash-flow margin widened to 34% from 25%.

The cybersecurity company raised its fiscal 2027 adjusted earnings forecast to between $4.88 and $4.96 a share, from $4.78 to $4.90.

The improvement reflects the economics of its Falcon platform: customers can add identity, cloud and other security modules without CrowdStrike rebuilding its sales and infrastructure base for each product.

Morgan Stanley analysts said CrowdStrike still had room for further valuation expansion, while 22 brokerages raised targets after the quarter.

Yet the same report showed the stock trading at 138 times forward earnings.

That leaves little protection if annual recurring revenue, deal activity or cash conversion falls short of elevated expectations.

Palo Alto Networks generated $871 million of operating cash flow in its fiscal third quarter, up 39% from a year earlier.

Adjusted free cash flow climbed 57% to $910 million, while the trailing 12-month adjusted free-cash-flow margin expanded 4.3 percentage points to 38.5%.

Management raised fiscal 2026 adjusted earnings guidance to $3.77-$3.79 a share.

BTIG called Palo Alto its “top pick”, citing stronger momentum and larger contracts, while Wells Fargo raised its target to $420 and pointed to a “clear catalyst path.”

The platformisation strategy encourages customers to consolidate network, cloud, identity and AI-security tools with one provider, supporting recurring revenue and cash generation.

However, CyberArk and Chronosphere contributed $388 million of quarterly revenue, and adjusted cash flow excludes some acquisition-related costs.

Elon Musk's space transportation, satellite internet connectivity, and artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructure company, Space Exploration Technologies (SPCX 5.43%), went public on June 12 with an opening price of $150 that day. In the days that followed, stock quickly rallied to an all-time high of $225.64, resulting in a market capitalization of almost $3 trillion.

However, as of the market close on Thursday, July 16, SpaceX stock was down 45% to just $125 as of mid-afternoon Friday. Although Wall Street is forecasting significant revenue growth for the company, its stock continues to trade at a sky-high valuation, which could lead to further volatility from here.

Should retail investors take this opportunity to buy the dip, or would they be better advised to steer clear?

Image source: The Motley Fool.

SpaceX is chasing $28.5 trillion worth of opportunities Elon Musk founded SpaceX in 2002 with a clear mission to make the human race interplanetary, but in the years since, it has expanded its focus. The company went on to develop the world's first reusable rocket, which dramatically lowered the cost of launching humans and commercial payloads into orbit, and also reduced the downtime between launches.

The Falcon 9 rocket is responsible for most of SpaceX's successful launches to date, but its Falcon Heavy and Starship rockets have much higher payload capacities. This means they can carry more satellites (and eventually humans) into space per trip, further reducing costs. Starship is expected to enter regular service in a couple of years with a payload capacity of 100 tons, whereas Falcon 9 can carry a maximum of 23 tons.

However, launching astronauts and commercial payloads into space is actually SpaceX's least valuable business, with an addressable market of around $370 billion. The company's satellite internet connectivity segment is capturing a slice of a much larger opportunity worth $1.6 trillion. So far, SpaceX has sent over 9,600 of its Starlink satellites into orbit, where they provide wireless broadband internet access to 10.3 million paying customers here on Earth.

The company will start launching its new V3 satellites later this year, which will offer 10 times the bandwidth of its current V2 satellites. This is where Starship will become especially valuable, because it can deploy 60 satellites at a time, whereas Falcon 9 has a maximum capacity of just 27.

Today's Change

(

-5.43

%) $

-7.12

Current Price

$

123.99

But over the long term, SpaceX actually thinks AI infrastructure will be its most valuable opportunity. The company only entered this business in February when it acquired one of Elon Musk's other companies, xAI, which came with data centers like Colossus and Colossus II. Since then, it has signed agreements to rent billions of dollars' worth of its spare computing capacity to AI developers such as Anthropic, Alphabet, and Reflection AI.

In the future, SpaceX wants to launch clusters of satellites containing AI computing servers into space, where they can run on solar energy and won't need complicated cooling systems. This infrastructure would use Starlink for its data transmission needs, so the company already has a massive advantage over any other competitors aiming to operate orbital data centers. Overall, SpaceX values its total addressable market opportunity in AI at $26.5 trillion.

Investors are still paying a huge premium for SpaceX stock SpaceX generated $18.7 billion in total revenue during 2025, which was up 33% from 2024. The internet connectivity business brought in $11.4 billion, while the space segment generated $4.1 billion, and AI infrastructure delivered $3.2 billion. But that order looks set to change in 2026 and beyond, because of the value of its recent cloud computing deals.

SpaceX has agreed to lease up to $1.25 billion worth of data center capacity per month to Anthropic, plus another $920 million worth of capacity per month to Alphabet, and $150 million per month to Reflection AI. These deals could amount to tens of billions of dollars in annual revenue over the next few years.

As a result, Wall Street analysts think SpaceX could more than double its total revenue to $39.2 billion in 2026, and then grow it to $72.7 billion in 2027.

That growth potential explains why some investors are willing to pay a hefty premium for SpaceX stock, which currently trades at a price-to-sales (P/S) ratio of 88. That is 14 times the 6.3 P/S ratio of the tech-heavy Nasdaq-100 index, suggesting SpaceX is heavily overvalued compared to its big-tech peers.

Even if we value SpaceX based on its potential 2027 revenue, its forward P/S ratio is still 23.4, which is nearly 4 times higher than where the Nasdaq-100 trades today. And the company is not yet profitable.

Therefore, even after its 45% decline from its peak and its 17% drop from its first-day opening price, SpaceX stock is far from cheap. In fact, I think its lofty valuation leaves it exposed to even more downside potential, so I personally won't be buying this dip.

Tesla (TSLA 2.47%) investors already know the headline numbers for the second quarter. The electric vehicle and energy company said earlier this month that it delivered 480,126 vehicles during the period, up about 25% year over year and more than it has delivered in any second quarter in its history. It also deployed 13.5 gigawatt-hours (GWh) of energy storage products, up about 41% from the year-ago period.

What investors don't know yet is what those record deliveries did to Tesla's profitability. That answer arrives on Wednesday, July 22, when the company posts its second-quarter results after market close, followed by a live management webcast at 5:30 p.m. ET.

With the stock closing Wednesday at $394.46, down about 12% year to date, Tesla commands a market capitalization of about $1.5 trillion and trades at about 360 times earnings. Investors paying that kind of premium aren't buying delivery counts. They need evidence that Tesla can turn all this volume into profit.

That's why I think one line in next week's report matters more than any other: automotive gross margin excluding regulatory credit sales.

Tesla Cybercab. Image source: Tesla.

A four-quarter streak Tesla's core profitability has quietly improved for a full year now. The company's automotive gross margin excluding regulatory credits was 12.5% in the first quarter of 2025. It climbed to 15% in the second quarter, 15.4% in the third, 17.9% in the fourth, and 19.2% in the first quarter of 2026.

That's four consecutive quarters of expansion.

This metric is worth attention because it strips out regulatory credits, the emissions credits Tesla sells to other automakers. That revenue is nearly pure profit, but it says nothing about the economics of building cars. And its contribution is shrinking anyway -- credits added 3.7 percentage points to Tesla's automotive gross margin in the first quarter of 2025, but just 1.9 points a year later.

However, there is a caveat in the streak. Tesla said its first-quarter results included one-time benefits related to warranty adjustments and tariffs, which helped both its automotive margin and its 4.2% operating margin.

So the July 22 report has to do two things at once. It has to show that the margin held up near 19% on record volume, and it has to show that Tesla managed this without one-time help.

If the margin excluding credits holds in the high teens, the bull case gets simpler. It would mean Tesla just posted its best second quarter of deliveries ever while preserving the pricing gains and cost work of the past year.

If the number steps back toward the mid-teens, the record quarter looks bought (volume achieved through discounts), and the profit story supporting a $1.5 trillion valuation arguably gets much harder to tell.

Today's Change

(

-2.47

%) $

-9.66

Current Price

$

381.41

What about robotaxi and energy? Plenty of investors will listen for other things on the call, and reasonably so.

Tesla's energy business deployed 13.5 GWh of storage in the quarter, its second-biggest quarter ever behind the 14.2 GWh it deployed in the fourth quarter of 2025. The segment carried a gross margin of nearly 40% in the first quarter, making it a meaningful profit contributor. Still, energy revenue actually declined 12% year over year in Q1, so deployments alone don't guarantee segment growth.

Then there's autonomy. Tesla ended the first quarter with 1.28 million active Full Self-Driving (Supervised) subscriptions, up 51% year over year, and it launched unsupervised robotaxi rides in Dallas and Houston in April. A subscription base growing that fast is exactly the kind of high-margin revenue the valuation needs more of, so any update on robotaxi expansion or software take rates could move the stock, too.

But those initiatives are still mostly about 2027 and beyond. The margin line shows whether today's business, the one funding all of those bets, is getting more profitable or less as it scales. At 360 times earnings, Tesla doesn't have the luxury of letting profitability drift while investors wait for autonomy.

So when the report lands on July 22, the delivery recap won't be the news -- investors already have it. The number worth finding is the automotive gross margin excluding regulatory credits. If the streak extends to five quarters without one-time help, record deliveries and improving profitability would make a powerful combination. If it doesn't, investors may opt to treat the record quarter far less kindly.

Everyone deals with some form of temptation. Even companies with energy and mining outfits are prime examples, so with oil prices high today, mostly due to the war in Iran, it's a good time to discuss corporate temptation as it relates to energy stocks, including Occidental Petroleum (OXY +2.25%).

When it reported first-quarter results in May, Occidental told investors it expects capital spending to decline by $550 million this year compared with 2025, targeting total spending of $5.5 billion to $5.9 billion. But with oil prices alluringly high, it may appear that Occidental and other oil companies may be incentivized to boost output.

Occidental Petroleum shouldn't run to boost production because oil prices are high. Image source: Getty Images.

Consider high oil prices as a form of temptation. Producers see those elevated prices and the knee-jerk response may be a rush to capitalize, but that's not always the smart play. Sometimes, erring on the side of caution is the better course of action. Let's get into why Occidental should not rush to accelerate production simply because crude prices are high.

Avoiding oil's Garden of Eden With oil prices up over 30% so far this year at this writing, it may be tempting for producers to rush to increase output, but the smart companies know that as quickly as the oil market gives, it can take away. For example, oil prices dipped dramatically in the last month before spiking again. 

The point is that Occidental and its peers may decide to boost output today, but by the time they bring a significant new product to market, prices could be significantly lower than what they were banking on. That's one of the risks investors must account for when investing in oil stocks.

Speaking of volatility, that's an apt way of describing the current state of affairs between the U.S. and Iran. The aforementioned tumble in crude prices came in large part due to the two sides hammering out details of a peace accord, but last week, President Donald Trump said the deal is "over," and prices moved up again.

Today's Change

(

2.25

%) $

1.21

Current Price

$

54.86

Looked at differently, there's no denying the war in Iran is affecting oil prices. However, there's also no getting around the fact that geopolitical situations can turn on a dime, potentially punishing any oil company that rushes to lift production.

No need to burn goodwill Shares of Occidental are up 30% year to date, and that gain isn't just about Iran. There are company-specific factors at play. For example, the $9.5 billion sale of the OxyChem business to Berkshire Hathaway wrapped up in January, paving the way for the company to prepay $6.7 billion in debt and eliminate $550 million in annual interest expenses. That implies some investors are giving Occidental credit for its balance sheet-firming efforts.

It'd be prudent for the company not to burn that goodwill, as the stock remains undervalued relative to peers, perhaps signaling that the broader investment community is overlooking the improving balance sheet health and strong asset quality. Getting investors to see those lights could be challenging if Occidental suddenly increases production.

It doesn't need to. If Evercore ISI is right, Occidental is on a path to grow free cash flow by 8% annually through 2030, with WTI prices at $75 per barrel, and possibly restart share repurchases in two years. Best of all, those outlooks aren't based on output moving materially higher in the near term.

https://web3.bitget.com/en/academy/what-is-hype-hyperliquid-token-crypto-price-prediction

Hyperliquid, a decentralized perpetuals exchange and Layer 1 blockchain, has achieved a significant milestone by surpassing $1.2 billion in cumulative fees since its launch in 2024. This figure has been reported by Grayscale and highlights the substantial revenue generated by the protocol. Hyperliquid employs a buy-back-and-burn model, directing the majority of its fees to an Assistance Fund that reduces the supply of HYPE, its native token, through buybacks. This approach has created a deflationary pressure on the token, potentially increasing its market value.

The HYPE token currently trades near $60 and plays a crucial role in securing the network and facilitating transactions on the HyperEVM platform. With over 45 million tokens, or approximately 14.5% of the initial supply, removed from circulation, the buy-back-and-burn mechanism is seen as a major factor driving the token’s value. This strategy aligns the token’s value with the protocol’s revenue, making the tokenomics of Hyperliquid a subject of interest among market participants.

Advertisement

Markets are currently assessing the impact of these developments on the likelihood of Hyperliquid reaching a $100 price target by the end of 2026. As of now, the odds are priced at 30% for this scenario, suggesting that while there is optimism, significant growth is still required to reach this target.

Key Takeaways The milestone of $1.2 billion in fees suggests strong growth and sustainability for Hyperliquid, consistent with positive sentiment around its future potential. The buy-back-and-burn model appears to create deflationary pressure on the HYPE token, which may support a rise in its price. Current market pricing indicates a 30% probability for Hyperliquid to reach $100 by December 31, 2026, reflecting cautious optimism. What to Watch Observers should monitor Hyperliquid’s ongoing fee generation and the effectiveness of its buy-back-and-burn model in enhancing token value. Key developments, such as major partnerships or listings on prominent exchanges, could drive sentiment and pricing. Conversely, any security issues or negative regulatory news might impact the market’s outlook. The evolving performance of Hyperliquid and its tokenomics will be crucial in shaping market expectations and pricing consistency with the $100 target scenario.

Get live prediction-market analysis, powered by Vera. Sign up for Vera.

Term Structure

Contract Odds Δ since publish Volume 24h December 31 30% — — View market → January 1 2027 6.2% — — View market → January 1 2027 4% — — View market → January 1 2027 65.5% — — View market → January 1 2027 9.1% — — View market → January 1 2027 3.6% — — View market →

Michael Saylor built his reputation on a simple thesis: buy Bitcoin, keep buying Bitcoin, never sell. CryptoQuant thinks it’s time to complicate that playbook.

On June 23, the on-chain analytics firm published a report urging Strategy, the company formerly known as MicroStrategy, to pump the brakes on its aggressive accumulation strategy. The core argument is less about Bitcoin and more about basic financial hygiene: the company’s liquidity position has deteriorated to a point where buying more Bitcoin before shoring up cash reserves is a meaningful risk.

The numbers that are making analysts nervous Strategy’s USD cash reserves dropped 38% in 2026, falling to roughly $1.1 billion by mid-June. At the same time, annual dividend obligations on its STRC preferred shares have quadrupled to approximately $1.2 billion per year.

The dividend coverage ratio tells the story most clearly. Strategy went from having over seven years of dividend runway to just 14 months, essentially in the span of one market cycle. CryptoQuant’s head of research, Julio Moreno, specifically recommended that the company rebuild reserves to around $2.8 billion, which would represent 24 months of coverage, before resuming any Bitcoin purchases.

Advertisement

STRC preferred shares were trading around $82.50 in mid-June, roughly 17.5% below par value.

CryptoQuant estimates that Strategy is sitting on approximately $10.6 billion in aggregate unrealized Bitcoin losses, with every purchase made between 2024 and 2026 currently underwater relative to prevailing market prices.

847,000 Bitcoin and a structural dilemma Strategy currently holds roughly 847,000 Bitcoin, a position that makes it the dominant force in corporate treasury Bitcoin ownership. CryptoQuant pegs Strategy’s share at approximately 76% of all Bitcoin held by corporate treasury entities globally.

CryptoQuant explicitly advised against selling to improve cash reserves, noting that divesting at current loss levels would simply crystallize the damage rather than fix the underlying problem. The firm’s preferred solution is to focus on raising capital through dividends or new share issuance rather than liquidating Bitcoin holdings.

The recommendation to develop a model for potential sales during future market rallies is the sharpest departure from Saylor’s public doctrine. Saylor has been categorical about never selling Bitcoin. CryptoQuant is suggesting the company needs at least a contingency plan, a set of conditions under which selling would be the rational move, even if that plan is never triggered.

What this means for the broader market CryptoQuant’s warning is partly about Strategy specifically and partly about the model it represents. A number of companies have followed Saylor’s playbook, adding Bitcoin to their balance sheets as a treasury reserve asset. If the originator of that strategy runs into a liquidity wall, it raises questions about whether smaller imitators have stress-tested their own positions.

The risk of intermediate Bitcoin cycle peaks is a specific concern Moreno flagged. If Bitcoin rallies hard and then corrects before Strategy has rebuilt its cash position, the company could find itself caught between the need to service preferred dividends and a Bitcoin treasury worth less than the peak valuations it was carried on.

Strategy’s ability to issue new equity or preferred shares at favorable terms depends heavily on market confidence. If that confidence erodes, the capital raise option that CryptoQuant sees as the cleanest solution becomes more expensive precisely when the company needs it most.

Disclosure: This article was edited by Editorial Team. For more information on how we create and review content, see our Editorial Policy.

A new proposal, Solstice, aims to make one of the most significant changes to Filecoin’s reward system since the network launched. It would reshape how storage providers earn rewards and how the network supports services that bring paying customers and data to Filecoin.

The basic idea is straightforward: instead of requiring providers to complete a special approval process to earn higher rewards, network consensus providers would receive full rewards automatically. At the same time, a portion of block rewards would be programmatically directed toward the services that attract customers, onboard data, and work directly with storage providers.

The Filecoin Improvement Proposal (FIP) 0118 is still a draft and is open for community feedback at: Create fip 0118-solstice.md by irenegia · Pull Request #1270 · filecoin-project/FIPs

Background on the Current System Today, Filecoin uses a program called Filecoin Plus, or Fil+. The original goal was to reward storage providers for storing useful, verified data rather than simply adding empty capacity to the network.

In practice, Fil+ has introduced a significant amount of operational overhead. To qualify for enhanced rewards, clients need to apply for datacap, which acts as a credit confirming that their data is legitimate. That process involves reviews, approvals, and compliance checks.

Over time, this has made the onboarding sectors pipeline slower and more complex. It has also created opportunities for gaming. The FIP 0118 argues that Fil+ verification has become a weak signal of useful data, so rewards do not always reach the storage providers creating the most value for the network.

Solstice builds on what Fil+ set out to do, rewarding useful storage, and replaces the verification step with a direct signal of customer activity: onchain payment volume. It supports both sides of the marketplace. Storage providers keep earning block rewards for securing and supplying storage, while a share of rewards goes to the services bringing paying customers to the network.

What Would Change The proposal introduces two major changes.

First, the Fil+ system would be removed. Every new sector onboards on equal footing, earning consensus rewards in proportion to the storage it commits, with no verified and unverified tiers. Existing sectors keep their current power and terms.

Second, a portion of Filecoin's block rewards would automatically be redirected to fund services that help drive paid network usage. Today, block rewards go entirely to the storage provider that wins the block. Under Solstice, part of that reward would instead go to a new role in the network, Service Orchestrators, who are responsible for bringing paying customers to the Filecoin network.

In simple terms, miners continue earning rewards for providing consensus and securing the storage network, while a portion of rewards would also fund the sales, service, and integration layer that brings more paying customers to the network. More demand means more value flowing to the providers already serving it.

The Opportunity for Storage Providers The timing of this proposal matters as much as the mechanics. Several forces are converging in the broader market right now, that point toward exactly the kind of infrastructure Filecoin storage providers have already built.

Data growth is outpacing centralized infrastructure. AI, enterprise, and machine-generated workloads are driving demand beyond available cloud capacity and into new geographies, while power grid constraints delay roughly one fifth of planned data center development. The same AI adoption is also shifting what buyers need from storage: verifiability, provenance, and durability, not capacity alone. Filecoin answers both. Its global network of independent providers added more than 59 PiB of raw storage in a single day, and its cryptographic proofs verify what is stored and that it stays stored.

These trends are already producing real deals. Aurora, an SP, is deploying Filecoin-powered storage across 100 megawatt AI compute data centers in Europe, built for multi-petabyte workloads. 375ai and Akave, another SP using Filecoin, with edge infrastructure across more than 40,000 retail, industrial, and logistics locations in the United States, is using Filecoin backed storage as the durability layer for its verifiable AI data pipeline.

What Solstice does is give the network, for the first time, a protocol level mechanism to reward the service layer that captures this demand. The service stream creates funding that rewards one measurable thing: bringing paying customers to Filecoin and routing their workloads to storage providers. For storage providers, that means the go-to-market work gets done by specialists at scale, keeping them focused on operating their infrastructure, and subsidized by the block reward.

For more on the macro tailwinds shaping this moment, see: Why Macro Trends Are Moving in Filecoin's Favor.

Governance Tiers and Functions Solstice introduces two new governed contracts, the Stream Weights Actor and the Service Rewards Actor, that parameterize the built-in reward actor (f02), which does the actual splitting.

Stream Weights Actor (SWA). The SWA controls how each block reward is divided among streams. At launch there are two: the consensus stream, paid to the winning miner each epoch, and the service stream, paid to registered Orchestrators. The SWA manages the weight schedule: consensus share ramps from 95% down to a 50% floor, and service share steps up from 5% in 5 percentage point increments, but only when quarterly on-chain Filecoin Pay volume clears a verifiable USD target. Whatever share leaves consensus but has not been earned by the service stream is burned. Every discretionary SWA change requires a published FIP, sign-off from both Safes operating the first decision-making surface, and a seven day hold enforced at the L1. f02 itself queues and delays the write, so no weight can shift without the community having time to see and object. Gate step-ups are mechanism-executed and not cancellable.

Service Rewards Actor (SRA). The SRA determines how the service stream is split among registered Orchestrators. Each quarter it computes each Orchestrator's share from their verified Filecoin Pay volume and writes the wallet-to-share map directly into f02, which pays each Orchestrator wallet every epoch. The SRA never holds funds and is never on the value path. It also maintains the Orchestrator registry: which entities are admitted, which (payer, operator) pairs are attributed to each Orchestrator, and which stablecoin and Filecoin Pay contract addresses count toward volume. Registry changes require both Safes operating the second decision-making surface and a cancellation hold, but no FIP.

Service Orchestrators. Orchestrators are the registered entities whose on-chain payment activity drives the service stream. Their protocol interaction is narrow: they register the (payer, operator) pairs whose Filecoin Pay volume counts toward them, post their quarterly volume figure to the SRA in stablecoin and FIL components recomputable by anyone from public settlement events, and receive their share of the service stream each epoch directly from f02. They are not a decision-making surface. At launch a single Orchestrator is registered; the second decision-making surface can admit more over time, with permissionless registration as the Phase 2 goal.

Together: f02 splits every block reward by the current weights; the SWA sets those weights and governs when the service share can grow; the SRA determines how that share is divided based on measured volume; and Orchestrators generate the client demand that justifies the funding increasing over time.

What This Means for Storage Providers Storage providers are the direct beneficiaries as Filecoin’s service economy grows. The shift Solstice makes is about accelerating the demand side of the network that makes providing storage capacity on the network highly attractive.

The most significant community-advocated change is that the Fil+ system goes away. No more datacap applications, allocator reviews, or compliance overhead. Every sector onboards on equal footing with full rewards from day one. For providers who have spent years navigating that pipeline, this alone is a meaningful operational improvement.

The bigger opportunity is what the service stream funds. As that client pipeline grows, so do the deals and direct revenue storage providers earn from serving real customers. Revenue for storage providers increases because paying customers are coming to the network.

For providers running newer storage proof systems; such as Proof of Data Possession (PDP) for hot data and retrieval workloads; Solstice removes a meaningful barrier. Service funding is not tied to any specific proof system. Whether a storage provider runs PoRep, PDP, or whatever the market demands, the incentive structure accommodates it.

At launch the service portion is 5% of each block reward, with 95% flowing directly to miners as the consensus share. Over roughly nine quarters the consensus share steps down on a published schedule toward a 50% floor, opening up more room for service funding. That room does not fill automatically: the service portion steps up only when payment volume flowing through Filecoin Pay clears a verifiable on-chain target for that quarter. When the target is met the step-up executes automatically, no governance approval required. When it is not, the service portion holds and the gap is burned, permanently removing those tokens from supply.

This means the burn rate is directly tied to revenue: as the network wins more real paying business, more of the issuance flows to service funding and less is burned. Every step up is therefore evidence that the revenue opportunity for SPs is growing alongside it, and every missed step tightens supply instead of distributing funds the network has not yet earned.

Read the full proposal at Create fip 0118-solstice.md by irenegia · Pull Request #1270 · filecoin-project/FIPs. The discussion is open until later this month. After the feedback period, the authors will incorporate community input into the draft and progress through the FIP process.

Fluxers! Welcome back to another ecosystem update! On Wednesday, July 15, we had an AMA, and in today’s blog, we are going to recap everything, so let’s dive in. 

High-Level Ecosystem Shifts To start off, Flux is restructuring its operations around a leaner, more community-driven model. The core team remains in place, but the project expects less direct corporate involvement from InFlux, greater community participation, and a transition of its corporate focus from the United Kingdom to the United States. 

Next up, we will soon be sending notifications to FluxNode operators still running legacy nodes, stating that if they do not update to PoUW v2, they will be brought offline. Essentially, operators running legacy nodes will be given a deadline to migrate to the currently supported node environment. Nodes that remain on the legacy system after that deadline will be banned from FluxCloud. 

Additionally, we plan to implement community referral codes and profit sharing. For example, if a Fluxer helps bring 30 new machines to the network, they would receive a portion of that revenue by entering their personal code on any deployments they make. 

Expanding further on revenue sharing, Flux is exploring partnerships in which it supplies infrastructure and development support in exchange for a share of the participating company’s revenue or business. The community would be asked to approve how proceeds from these arrangements are incorporated into PNR. 

FluxAI Developments Flux is building its own Large Language Model (LLM), and we will train it on FluxEdge GPUs. Our aim is not to compete with ChatGPT or Claude; we want to build an LLM that is highly specific to Flux and does not train on user data. 

This specialized LLM will operate for particular FluxAI and customer applications. The team emphasized that FluxAI is designed around business privacy and does not harvest customer data in the manner associated with many mainstream AI platforms. 

PNR Update Next, Progressive Node Rewards (PNR) are almost ready. With PNR, there will be an allocation specifically for node operators for what we refer to as “flex time,” where if your machine runs workloads at a higher rate, you will be compensated accordingly. 

PNR differs from conventional mining economics. In a proof-of-work system, increasing competition can reduce an individual miner’s share of a largely fixed block-reward pool. Under the proposed PNR model, increased paid workload demand would instead expand the amount distributed to eligible node operators. 

For PNR, as demand increases, payouts rise; conversely, when demand wanes, payouts decrease. When PNRs are implemented, node operators will be paid in proportion to their machines’ runtime depending on whether assigned workloads scale up or down.

Building out a PNR pay structure that dynamically adjusts to network demand requires extensive development. The team has largely finalized its proposed approach to PNR and hopes to introduce it during Q4 2026, subject to development progress, publication of a governance proposal and community approval.

Flux Foundation Update The Flux Foundation will adopt a bounty-payout feature that operates like a job marketplace. Flux community members can post a job they need completed with a bounty, and other community members can complete it to earn FLUX. Part of the Foundation’s yield-generating infrastructure will be allocated to fund the bounty program. 

Conclusion This AMA reinforced that Flux is entering its next phase with a sharper focus on sustainability, community participation, and real-world adoption. 

From restructuring operations and strengthening FluxAI to developing Progressive Node Rewards, referral incentives, and community bounties, the goal is to create an ecosystem in which contributors, operators, developers, and community members can all benefit from the network’s growth.

Many of these initiatives are still being developed and will require further technical work, governance proposals, and community approval before they are fully implemented. 

However, the direction is clear: Flux is working toward a leaner, more decentralized ecosystem that rewards meaningful participation and ties node-operator earnings more closely to genuine platform demand. The future runs on Flux. 

@RobinhoodCrypto's Ethereum Layer 2 network is only 16 days old, and it is already moving serious money. Robinhood Chain recorded $5.254 billion in weekly DEX volume, a 490% jump week over week, according to DefiLlama data. For a chain that only opened its public mainnet on July 1, 2026, the numbers are difficult to ignore.

Uniswap Is Doing Almost All of the Work The volume story is largely a single-protocol story. @Uniswap accounted for $588.93 million of the $594.74 million traded on the chain in the most recent 24-hour window, making every other protocol on Robinhood Chain a rounding error by comparison. That concentration reflects Uniswap's position as the designated public liquidity layer on the network, a role it was given at launch alongside infrastructure partners including Chainlink, BitGo, and Morpho.

Robinhood Chain was built on Arbitrum's Orbit technology and settles to Ethereum as an optimistic rollup. The chain was unveiled at Robinhood's "The World Is Flat" event in London and was positioned from the outset as infrastructure for tokenized real-world assets, offering stock tokens available in more than 120 countries alongside a DeFi lending product called Robinhood Earn, which routes user deposits into a Morpho-powered USDG vault at an estimated 7% annual yield.

Strong Flows, But TVL Lags the Volume The gap between trading activity and capital locked on the chain is wide. DeFi TVL stands at $220 million against $5.25 billion in weekly volume, with $816 million bridged into the network. The chain itself booked $175,178 in revenue in a single day, a meaningful figure for a network still in its first weeks.

The chain's stated focus on tokenized real-world assets remains a small part of the actual activity. Early volume has been driven heavily by speculation, including a surge in meme coin trading, rather than the tokenized stock use case Robinhood originally advertised. Still, the raw throughput has been enough to push Robinhood Chain into the top tier of DEX networks globally. On July 12, the chain ranked second in 24-hour DEX volume across all networks, trailing only Solana, according to DefiLlama data.

The chain launched with a built-in distribution advantage that most new L2 networks do not have. Robinhood operates a brokerage serving nearly 28 million customers, giving the network a ready-made audience from day one. Whether that early volume converts into sustained DeFi activity and genuine RWA adoption will be the question to watch in the weeks ahead.

Sources
Robinhood Chain on DefiLlama: TVL, Volume and Revenue
CoinDesk: Robinhood Rolls Out Public Blockchain
Bitcoin.com: Robinhood Chain Surges Past $3 Billion in DEX Volume

MongoDB (MDB - Free Report) closed the most recent trading day at $312.33, moving -4.95% from the previous trading session. The stock's performance was behind the S&P 500's daily loss of 1.01%. Meanwhile, the Dow lost 0.77%, and the Nasdaq, a tech-heavy index, lost 1.4%.

The database platform's stock has dropped by 1.25% in the past month, exceeding the Computer and Technology sector's loss of 3.73% and lagging the S&P 500's gain of 0.32%.

Investors will be eagerly watching for the performance of MongoDB in its upcoming earnings disclosure. The company is expected to report EPS of $1.6, up 60% from the prior-year quarter. Simultaneously, our latest consensus estimate expects the revenue to be $733.61 million, showing a 24.05% escalation compared to the year-ago quarter.

For the full year, the Zacks Consensus Estimates are projecting earnings of $6.07 per share and revenue of $2.94 billion, which would represent changes of +22.13% and +19.5%, respectively, from the prior year.

Investors should also pay attention to any latest changes in analyst estimates for MongoDB. Recent revisions tend to reflect the latest near-term business trends. As a result, we can interpret positive estimate revisions as a good sign for the business outlook.

Our research shows that these estimate changes are directly correlated with near-term stock prices. To utilize this, we have created the Zacks Rank, a proprietary model that integrates these estimate changes and provides a functional rating system.

The Zacks Rank system, running from #1 (Strong Buy) to #5 (Strong Sell), holds an admirable track record of superior performance, independently audited, with #1 stocks contributing an average annual return of +25% since 1988. Within the past 30 days, our consensus EPS projection remained stagnant. Currently, MongoDB is carrying a Zacks Rank of #3 (Hold).

In terms of valuation, MongoDB is currently trading at a Forward P/E ratio of 54.11. This expresses a premium compared to the average Forward P/E of 20.37 of its industry.

Investors should also note that MDB has a PEG ratio of 4.44 right now. Comparable to the widely accepted P/E ratio, the PEG ratio also accounts for the company's projected earnings growth. By the end of yesterday's trading, the Internet - Software industry had an average PEG ratio of 1.11.

The Internet - Software industry is part of the Computer and Technology sector. This industry currently has a Zacks Industry Rank of 86, which puts it in the top 35% of all 250+ industries.

The Zacks Industry Rank gauges the strength of our industry groups by measuring the average Zacks Rank of the individual stocks within the groups. Our research shows that the top 50% rated industries outperform the bottom half by a factor of 2 to 1.

Make sure to utilize Zacks.com to follow all of these stock-moving metrics, and more, in the coming trading sessions.

By PYMNTS  |  July 17, 2026

 | 

Regions Financial Corp. reported continued growth in customers’ digital usage and transactions during the second quarter, with President, CEO and Chairman John M. Turner highlighting its online banking and mobile app offerings as “key initiatives that are central to our long-term strategy.”

Speaking during a Friday (July 17) earnings call, Turner said surveys ranked Regions No. 1 among regional banks in online banking satisfaction and No. 1 among regional banks in its mobile app.

“These results reflect the work we’ve done to enhance the client experience, deliver more intuitive digital capabilities and make banking easier for our customers,” Turner said.

Regions serves customers across the South, Midwest and Texas, according to its website. Its Regions Bank subsidiary operates 1,200 banking offices and 1,750 ATMs, per a recent press release.

Regions launched a new native mobile app and found that customers’ usage of Zelle increased by 44% compared to two years ago and that customer chat volume leapt 70% year over year, according to a presentation released Friday.

Over the past two years, Regions’ mobile banking active users increased 6% to 2.73 million, its mobile banking logins rose 19% to 211 million, and its share of customer transactions that were digital rose from 75% to 80%, per the presentation.

Regions continued its core modernization efforts during the second quarter, completing a successful implementation of a new commercial lending platform and making good progress on a core deposit transformation that is set to reach a pilot phase later this year and full conversion in 2027, Turner said during the call.

Of the commercial lending platform, Turner said: “This represents a significant step forward in enhancing our technology infrastructure, improving speed to market and elevating the experience we deliver to our clients and bankers.”

Surveying the overall operating environment, Turner said during the call that it remains encouraging and that it is supporting continued momentum in Regions’ core business.

“Economic activity is solid, and despite ongoing uncertainty, businesses are generally well positioned, and we continue to see steady levels of investment and job growth across our markets,” Turner said. “On the consumer side, spending trends remain health and customers maintain solid account balances and liquidity buffers relative to their spending levels with overall financial conditions remaining stable.”

On July 2, days after the end of the second quarter, Regions announced that it expanded its services by acquiring The Frazer Lanier Company, a Montgomery, Alabama-based full-service investment banking firm specializing in municipal and corporate securities.

Turner said during Friday’s call: “We believe this transaction expands our capital markets platform, enhances our municipal finance expertise and allows us to broaden the solutions we provide to the public sector and institutional clients.”

Circle’s euro-backed stablecoin EURC has roughly doubled in market capitalization since the start of the year, climbing from approximately $205 million to around $430 million. The token’s circulation now sits at approximately €378 million as of mid-July, with its share of the euro stablecoin market ballooning from about 17% a year ago to north of 40%.

MiCA did the heavy lifting MiCA’s full enforcement in late 2024 and early 2025 created a compliance gauntlet that most euro stablecoin issuers couldn’t survive. The most notable casualty was Tether’s EURT, which exited the market rather than meet the new regulatory requirements.

Advertisement

Circle secured a French Electronic Money Institution license back in 2024, giving it a single regulatory passport to operate across the entire EU and European Economic Area. The supply numbers tell the story cleanly. EURC’s token supply grew from roughly 309 million at the end of 2025 to approximately 390 million in early 2026, nearly tripling in a compressed timeframe.

Multi-chain expansion and Base launch Circle has been deploying EURC across multiple blockchain networks, including Ethereum and Solana. The most recent expansion landed on July 9, when EURC went live on Coinbase’s Base network.

Daily active addresses for EURC hit an all-time high of 1,760 shortly after the Base launch. The broader euro stablecoin market has reached record highs approaching $900 million as of mid-2026, with EURC commanding roughly 40–50% of that total.

What this means for investors The institutional character of this growth is worth noting. The supply expansion and market cap gains appear driven by enterprise-level integrations rather than grassroots consumer adoption. The company has reportedly been building payment integrations with partners like Visa and exploring point-of-sale terminal support through Ingenico, which would push EURC into physical retail environments.

With the overall euro stablecoin market still under $1 billion, it remains a fraction of the dollar stablecoin market, which is measured in the hundreds of billions.

Disclosure: This article was edited by Editorial Team. For more information on how we create and review content, see our Editorial Policy.

In the latest close session, Coca-Cola (KO - Free Report) was down 3.96% at $81.56. This change lagged the S&P 500's daily loss of 1.01%. At the same time, the Dow lost 0.77%, and the tech-heavy Nasdaq lost 1.4%.

The world's largest beverage maker's stock has climbed by 6.97% in the past month, exceeding the Consumer Staples sector's gain of 1.62% and the S&P 500's gain of 0.32%.

Market participants will be closely following the financial results of Coca-Cola in its upcoming release. The company plans to announce its earnings on July 28, 2026. It is anticipated that the company will report an EPS of $0.92, marking a 5.75% rise compared to the same quarter of the previous year. In the meantime, our current consensus estimate forecasts the revenue to be $13.05 billion, indicating a 4.15% growth compared to the corresponding quarter of the prior year.

For the full year, the Zacks Consensus Estimates project earnings of $3.26 per share and a revenue of $49.29 billion, demonstrating changes of +8.67% and +2.92%, respectively, from the preceding year.

Investors should also note any recent changes to analyst estimates for Coca-Cola. Recent revisions tend to reflect the latest near-term business trends. Consequently, upward revisions in estimates express analysts' positivity towards the business operations and its ability to generate profits.

Research indicates that these estimate revisions are directly correlated with near-term share price momentum. Investors can capitalize on this by using the Zacks Rank. This model considers these estimate changes and provides a simple, actionable rating system.

The Zacks Rank system, running from #1 (Strong Buy) to #5 (Strong Sell), holds an admirable track record of superior performance, independently audited, with #1 stocks contributing an average annual return of +25% since 1988. Over the last 30 days, the Zacks Consensus EPS estimate has witnessed an unchanged state. Right now, Coca-Cola possesses a Zacks Rank of #3 (Hold).

Digging into valuation, Coca-Cola currently has a Forward P/E ratio of 26.04. This signifies a premium in comparison to the average Forward P/E of 20.46 for its industry.

One should further note that KO currently holds a PEG ratio of 3.39. This metric is used similarly to the famous P/E ratio, but the PEG ratio also takes into account the stock's expected earnings growth rate. As the market closed yesterday, the Beverages - Soft drinks industry was having an average PEG ratio of 2.24.

The Beverages - Soft drinks industry is part of the Consumer Staples sector. With its current Zacks Industry Rank of 78, this industry ranks in the top 32% of all industries, numbering over 250.

The strength of our individual industry groups is measured by the Zacks Industry Rank, which is calculated based on the average Zacks Rank of the individual stocks within these groups. Our research shows that the top 50% rated industries outperform the bottom half by a factor of 2 to 1.

Be sure to follow all of these stock-moving metrics, and many more, on Zacks.com.

The Boeing logo on the doors to the Boeing factory in Renton, Washington, U.S., April 15, 2026. REUTERS/Genna Martin Purchase Licensing Rights, opens new tab

SummaryCompaniesBoeing forecast 43,625 deliveries from 2026 through 2045, including 33,545 single-aisle jetsBoeing estimates an undersupply of close to 2,000 aircraft entering 2026China is expected to account for 21% of deliveriesFARNBOROUGH, England, July 18 (Reuters) - Boeing (BA.N), opens new tab maintained its ​forecast for strong global demand for new commercial aircraft over the next 20 years, according to ‌the U.S. planemaker's market projection released in England on Saturday, ahead of the Farnborough Airshow.

The U.S. planemaker's forecast was almost identical to its 2025 outlook. Boeing forecast industry-wide global deliveries of 43,625 new jetliners and freighters around the world from 2026 through 2045 -- 33,545 single-aisle ​jets, 7,715 widebody aircraft, 930 factory-built freighters and 1,435 regional jets.

The Reuters Iran Briefing newsletter keeps you informed with the latest developments and analysis of the Iran war. Sign up here.

This month, Boeing's European rival Airbus trimmed its ​projection by 1% to 42,060 new aircraft, citing the Iran war and trade tensions.

Boeing expects ⁠air passenger traffic growth of about 2.3% this year, less than half of last year's growth rate of 5.3%. ​It expects growth to rebound to 6%-7% in 2027 and 5%-6% in 2028.

"Our outlook is that passenger traffic globally ​will be where it would have been by the end of 2028," Boeing Commercial Marketing Vice President Darren Hulst told reporters. He described the current slowdown as different from the multi-year demand shock caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Boeing expects passenger traffic to grow 4% annually ​over the next 20 years, with cargo traffic rising 3.7%, the jet fleet expanding 3% and the world economy ​growing 2.5%.

Demand for new aircraft continues to grow faster than planemakers can deliver new jets. Passenger traffic last year had rebounded ‌to pre-pandemic ⁠levels, but deliveries of new jets remained below the 2018 output, Hulst said.

The company estimates an undersupply of close to 2,000 aircraft entering 2026, with the single-aisle shortfall unlikely to clear until around the end of the decade and widebody shortages likely to persist into the early 2030s.

The outlook assumes a roughly even split between replacement and growth ​demand. Boeing projects 21,475 deliveries ​will replace older jets and ⁠22,150 will support fleet expansion. The global fleet is expected to rise from about 28,000 aircraft in 2025 to 50,000 by 2045, with new-generation aircraft growing from 32% of ​the fleet to 92%.

China is expected to account for 21% of deliveries, followed by ​Eurasia at ⁠20%, North America and South/Southeast Asia at 19% each, the Middle East and Africa at 10%, Latin America at 6% and Oceania/Northeast Asia at 5%.

Boeing's forecast reflects a market recovering from repeated shocks but still constrained by manufacturing capacity and supply-chain ⁠fragility. Boeing ​also faces certification delays on key programs including the 737 MAX ​7 and 10 and the 777-9.

Hulst said the long-term demand picture remains supported by trade, tourism, migration and airline network expansion.

"The reason why we ​travel and the reason why goods move isn't changing," he said.

Reporting by Dan Catchpole in Seattle; Editing by David Gregorio

Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles., opens new tab