Track market-moving stories before they get noisy

It doesn't matter your age or experience: taking full advantage of the stock market and investing with confidence are common goals for all investors. Luckily, Zacks Premium offers several different ways to do both.

The research service features daily updates of the Zacks Rank and Zacks Industry Rank, full access to the Zacks #1 Rank List, Equity Research reports, and Premium stock screens, all of which will help you become a smarter, more confident investor.

Zacks Premium also includes the Zacks Style Scores.

What are the Zacks Style Scores? Developed alongside the Zacks Rank, the Zacks Style Scores are a group of complementary indicators that help investors pick stocks with the best chances of beating the market over the next 30 days.

Each stock is assigned a rating of A, B, C, D, or F based on their value, growth, and momentum characteristics. Just like in school, an A is better than a B, a B is better than a C, and so on -- that means the better the score, the better chance the stock will outperform.

The Style Scores are broken down into four categories:

Value ScoreValue investors love finding good stocks at good prices, especially before the broader market catches on to a stock's true value. Utilizing ratios like P/E, PEG, Price/Sales, Price/Cash Flow, and many other multiples, the Value Style Score identifies the most attractive and most discounted stocks.

Growth ScoreWhile good value is important, growth investors are more focused on a company's financial strength and health, and its future outlook. The Growth Style Score takes projected and historic earnings, sales, and cash flow into account to uncover stocks that will see long-term, sustainable growth.

Momentum ScoreMomentum traders and investors live by the saying "the trend is your friend." This investing style is all about taking advantage of upward or downward trends in a stock's price or earnings outlook. Employing factors like one-week price change and the monthly percentage change in earnings estimates, the Momentum Style Score can indicate favorable times to build a position in high-momentum stocks.

VGM ScoreIf you like to use all three kinds of investing, then the VGM Score is for you. It's a combination of all Style Scores, and is an important indicator to use with the Zacks Rank. The VGM Score rates each stock on their shared weighted styles, narrowing down the companies with the most attractive value, best growth forecast, and most promising momentum.

How Style Scores Work with the Zacks Rank The Zacks Rank is a proprietary stock-rating model that harnesses the power of earnings estimate revisions, or changes to a company's earnings expectations, to help investors build a successful portfolio.

Investors can count on the Zacks Rank's success, with #1 (Strong Buy) stocks producing an unmatched +23.94% average annual return since 1988, more than double the S&P 500's performance. But the model rates a large number of stocks, and there are over 200 companies with a Strong Buy rank, plus another 600 with a #2 (Buy) rank, on any given day.

But it can feel overwhelming to pick the right stocks for you and your investing goals with over 800 top-rated stocks to choose from.

That's where the Style Scores come in.

You want to make sure you're buying stocks with the highest likelihood of success, and to do that, you'll need to pick stocks with a Zacks Rank #1 or #2 that also have Style Scores of A or B. If you like a stock that only has a #3 (Hold) rank, it should also have Scores of A or B to guarantee as much upside potential as possible.

The direction of a stock's earnings estimate revisions should always be a key factor when choosing which stocks to buy, since the Scores were created to work together with the Zacks Rank.

A stock with a #4 (Sell) or #5 (Strong Sell) rating, for instance, even one with Scores of A and B, will still have a declining earnings forecast, and a greater chance its share price will fall too.

Thus, the more stocks you own with a #1 or #2 Rank and Scores of A or B, the better.

Stock to Watch: Freeport-McMoRan (FCX - Free Report) Based in Phoenix, AZ, Freeport-McMoRan Inc., formerly Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold Inc., is engaged in mineral exploration and development; mining and milling of copper, gold, molybdenum and silver; as well as the smelting and refining of copper concentrates. The company conducts its operations primarily through its principal operating subsidiaries, PT Freeport Indonesia (PT-FI), Freeport Minerals Corporation and Atlantic Copper. PT Freeport Indonesia’s principal asset is Papua, Indonesia-based Grasberg mine, which contains the world’s largest copper and gold reserves.

FCX is a #3 (Hold) on the Zacks Rank, with a VGM Score of B.

Momentum investors should take note of this Basic Materials stock. FCX has a Momentum Style Score of A, and shares are up 1.1% over the past four weeks.

Seven analysts revised their earnings estimate upwards in the last 60 days for fiscal 2026. The Zacks Consensus Estimate has increased $0.17 to $2.72 per share. FCX boasts an average earnings surprise of +32.6%.

With a solid Zacks Rank and top-tier Momentum and VGM Style Scores, FCX should be on investors' short list.

Kroger Health dietitians share practical guidance for patients navigating weight-management treatment as part of Kroger's new GLP-1 Complete Support Program

, /PRNewswire/ -- GLP-1 medications are changing what is possible for many patients looking to manage their weight. To get the most out of this treatment, patients need more than a prescription.

"Patients need more than a prescription, they need ongoing support," said Colleen Lindholz, president of Kroger Health. "Kroger Health GLP-1 Complete Support was created to help patients navigate affordability, nutrition and lifestyle changes with confidence."

Kroger Health dietitians work with patients at every stage of their GLP-1 journey, from understanding affordability options like the Medicare GLP-1 Bridge Program to building everyday habits that support lasting results. Here are five practical tips to help:

1. Lead with protein

GLP-1 medications reduce appetite, which means what patients eat matters more than how much they eat. Build meals around protein, such as seafood, lean meats, eggs, Greek yogurt, cottage cheese, beans or tofu, then add fruits, vegetables and whole grains. Protein helps patients stay fuller longer and supports muscle preservation during weight loss.

2. Make Every Bite Count

When appetite decreases, nutrient quality becomes more important. Kroger's OptUP® nutrition rating system makes it easy to identify more nutritious options throughout the store. This is a simple way to build a cart that supports nutrition goals without reading every label

3. Stay hydrated

Many patients unintentionally drink less while taking a GLP-1 medication. Staying hydrated supports energy, digestion and overall wellness. Water, low-sugar beverages and water-rich foods such as cucumbers and melons all help.

4. Plan before shopping

Having the right foods on hand makes healthy choices easier throughout the week. Simple staples – rotisserie chicken, Greek yogurt, pre-cut vegetables, frozen fruit and portion-controlled snacks – work well for smaller appetites and busy schedules.

5. Build a support team

Medication is only one part of a successful journey. Pharmacists, registered dietitians and care teams help patients manage side effects, optimize nutrition and develop habits that last. No patient has to navigate this experience alone.

Support at Every Step

Kroger Health's GLP-1 Complete Support connects patients with pharmacists, registered dietitians, clinical services through The Little Clinic and personalized nutrition guidance through OptUP®, all in one place. Kroger pharmacists can also help patients understand affordability issues, including the Medicare GLP-1 Bridge Program, and determine eligibility.

"GLP-1 medications can be powerful tools, but long-term success depends on the everyday choices patients make around food, hydration and lifestyle," said Laura Brown, MS, RDN, LDN, director of nutrition for Kroger Health. "Practical guidance and the right support system make a real difference."

To learn more, patients can speak with their local Kroger pharmacy team, schedule a consultation with a registered dietitian or visit Kroger Health online.

About Kroger
At The Kroger Co. (NYSE: KR), we are dedicated to our Purpose: To Feed the Human Spirit™. We are, across our family of companies more than 400,000 associates who serve over 11 million customers daily through an e-Commerce experience and retail food stores under a variety of banner names, serving America through food inspiration and uplift, and creating #ZeroHungerZeroWaste communities. To learn more about us, visit our newsroom and investor relations site.

SOURCE The Kroger Co.

The upcoming report from Public Storage (PSA - Free Report) is expected to reveal quarterly earnings of $4.25 per share, indicating a decline of 0.7% compared to the year-ago period. Analysts forecast revenues of $1.21 billion, representing an increase of 1% year over year.

The current level reflects a downward revision of 0.7% in the consensus EPS estimate for the quarter over the past 30 days. This demonstrates how the analysts covering the stock have collectively reappraised their initial projections over this period.

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

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

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

Based on the collective assessment of analysts, 'Revenues- Self-storage facilities' should arrive at $1.14 billion. The estimate indicates a change of +1.8% from the prior-year quarter.

Analysts expect 'Revenues- Ancillary operations' to come in at $90.75 million. The estimate indicates a year-over-year change of +10.1%.

The average prediction of analysts places 'Square foot occupancy' at 92.4%. Compared to the present estimate, the company reported 92.2% in the same quarter last year.

According to the collective judgment of analysts, 'Depreciation and amortization' should come in at $293.81 million.

View all Key Company Metrics for Public Storage here>>>

Shares of Public Storage have experienced a change of -1.8% in the past month compared to the +0.6% move of the Zacks S&P 500 composite. With a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold), PSA is expected to mirror the overall market performance in the near future. You can see the complete list of today's Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) stocks here >>>> .

CrowdStrike Holdings NASDAQ: CRWD has entered into a strategic partnership with Cerebras Systems NASDAQ: CBRS. CrowdStrike will pair Cerebras’s industry-leading artificial intelligence (AI) inference speed with its proprietary Falcon AI Detection and Response (AIDR) platform for enterprises building and deploying AI at scale.

CrowdStrike Today

$183.60 +0.18 (+0.10%)

As of 12:20 PM Eastern

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

52-Week Range$85.68▼

$217.50Price Target$183.85

It’s already been a headline-making summer for CrowdStrike. In June, the company announced a four-for-one stock split. CRWD shares began trading at their split-adjusted price on July 2. The company has also announced an expansion of its strategic partnership with Schwarz Digits. The two companies are launching a multi-year roadmap to bring the Falcon platform to European enterprises on Schwarz Digits’ sovereign cloud.

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Both partnerships highlight the significance of the Frontier AI age and the key role cybersecurity will play in it. However, CRWD stock has dipped since the Cerebras announcement, suggesting the company has yet to convince investors that its growth justifies its valuation.

The Cerebras partnership highlights a significant concern for the C-suite, providing investors with another reason besides price to include CRWD in a growth portfolio.

AI Inference Speed Could Become CrowdStrike's Biggest EdgeThe AI revolution is driven by the speed of AI inference. Higher productivity and efficiency are the positive side effects of faster AI processing, but in cybersecurity, inference speed can also determine whether a threat is stopped before it spreads.

That's the gap this partnership is designed to close. Under the agreement, CrowdStrike will run its Falcon AIDR models on Cerebras's wafer-scale CS-3 chips instead of relying solely on traditional GPU-based inference.

In exchange, Cerebras is standardizing on the Falcon platform to secure its internal operations—a detail that matters for credibility and revenue, since it puts one of the industry's most demanding AI infrastructure builders in the position of vouching for CrowdStrike by using it internally.

How the CrowdStrike-Cerebras Partnership WorksHere's a simplified version of how that partnership could play out in practice. Imagine an AI-powered attacker compromises a single cloud workload and begins moving laterally across an enterprise's network, probing for credentials and sensitive data.

This is a process that, with AI tooling on the attacker's side, can now unfold in seconds rather than the hours or days it once took. Falcon AIDR is built to detect that kind of behavioral anomaly by running large models against real-time telemetry.

The bottleneck has always been AI inference speed: a security model that takes several seconds to score a threat is already behind the attack. By shifting that inference workload onto Cerebras's infrastructure, CrowdStrike is betting it can compress the time between "anomaly detected" and "response executed" enough to intervene before lateral movement turns into data exfiltration—catching the intrusion at step two instead of step five.

Neither company has published specific benchmark figures for the latency improvement this integration delivers, so the compression is directional rather than quantified for now. But the strategic logic is consistent with where CrowdStrike has been positioning AIDR all along: as the security layer built specifically for a world where both attacks and defenses are increasingly AI-driven.

Investors Want Proof Beyond the AI StoryInvestors will have to wait until Sept. 1 for CrowdStrike to report its second-quarter earnings for the fiscal year 2027. When it does, Cerebras won’t be significant to its numbers. However, CrowdStrike was delivering strong growth before this announcement, and management hasn’t been conservative with its forecasts.

That includes subscription growth margin growth of 82% to 85% and free cash flow margin growth of 34% to 38%. To be clear, CrowdStrike has been generating strong growth in both categories. But much like Palantir Technologies NASDAQ: PLTR, investors believe that a forward price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio of over 760x already prices in years of growth.

Cerebras Systems Today

CBRS

Cerebras Systems

$203.81 -16.19 (-7.36%)

As of 12:20 PM Eastern

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

52-Week Range$160.81▼

$386.34Price Target$299.30

That's likely why the stock dipped rather than rallied on the Cerebras news, even as Cerebras shares themselves jumped double digits. Partnership announcements like this one add to CrowdStrike's competitive moat and its story, but they don't move the needle on the metrics that matter most to a stock already priced for perfection.

Investors have heard the AI-native security pitch before; what they're watching for now is whether it shows up in net new annual recurring revenue (ARR) and in the margin guidance itself, not just in press releases.

But investors are rotating into enterprise cybersecurity stocks. The threat from AI isn’t constrained by capital expenditure budgets or supply chain bottlenecks. More importantly, the threat is adapting in real time. CrowdStrike was already a leader in that space, and the Cerebras partnership is another step to cementing its leadership position.

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

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

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

View The Five Stocks Here

The AI boom is creating opportunities across semiconductors, cloud computing, enterprise software, infrastructure, cybersecurity, and automation.

Inside this report, you’ll find 10 companies positioned to benefit as artificial intelligence moves from hype to real-world deployment and becomes a core growth driver for corporate America.

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3 Boring Infrastructure Stocks That Could Beat the Market in 2026Canadian National Railway NYSE: CNI raised its 2026 outlook after reporting second-quarter earnings growth, higher volumes and what management described as improved productivity across its network.

President and Chief Executive Officer Tracy Robinson said the company delivered 12% exchange-adjusted earnings-per-share growth on 5% volume growth during the quarter. CN now expects low-single-digit growth in revenue ton miles for 2026 and mid- to high-single-digit adjusted diluted EPS growth, compared with its prior assumption for roughly flat volumes.

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3 Stocks To Watch For When Tariffs Subside “The engine's running well,” Robinson said, citing operating execution, commercial activity, cost discipline and capital management. She said the company expects year-over-year comparisons to become more difficult in the fourth quarter, particularly because it is lapping record grain performance from the prior year.

Second-quarter financial performance Chief Financial Officer Gilles Lelièvre said reported diluted EPS totaled C$2.06, up 10% from a year earlier. Adjusted diluted EPS was C$2.08, up 11%, or C$2.09 on an exchange-adjusted basis, representing 12% growth. The results included a C$17 million adjustment for advisory fees related to industry consolidation.

Trade War Bargain Stocks: Top 3 Picks Too Good to Pass UpRevenue rose 11% year over year as RTMs increased 5%, according to Chief Commercial Officer Janet Drysdale. CN reported an adjusted operating ratio of 62.2%, compared with 61.7% a year earlier. Lelièvre said higher fuel prices had a 210-basis-point unfavorable effect on the operating ratio.

Year-to-date free cash flow increased about 20%, or roughly C$300 million, driven by stronger earnings, disciplined capital spending and working-capital management, partly offset by higher tax payments. CN ended the quarter with leverage of 2.6 times and maintained its target of 2.7 times adjusted debt to adjusted EBITDA for 2026.

On an exchange-adjusted basis, labor expense increased 3%, reflecting wage increases and about C$40 million more in incentive compensation, partly offset by a 5% reduction in average headcount. Fuel expense increased about C$250 million from the prior-year period because of higher prices, while purchased services and materials rose 11%, including advisory costs and higher trucking and vessel costs associated with volume growth.

Productivity and network operations Chief Operating Officer Pat Whitehead said CN moved 3% more gross ton miles while using existing assets and capacity more efficiently. Locomotive productivity improved about 6%, employee productivity improved about 9%, and train-and-engine employee productivity increased about 13%. Average train length rose approximately 1%.

CN also reported its best second-quarter and first-half fuel-efficiency performance in its history. Whitehead said the company improved efficiency through train handling, locomotive utilization and operating practices while maintaining transit-time performance.

The company’s Fast Track continuous-improvement program generated close to C$100 million in realized benefits so far this year, Whitehead said. The review of an initial group of major terminals has largely been completed, while work continues at intermodal terminals, network operations centers and other areas including purchased services and facilities.

Whitehead said car velocity and network train speed were largely flat year over year despite higher volumes, while metrics improved during the quarter after being affected by the end of winter conditions in April. In Western Canada, CN handled record grain volumes alongside higher refined petroleum products, potash and natural gas liquids, while car velocity, train speed and dwell each improved by roughly 3%.

CN is monitoring active wildfires in Northern Ontario and British Columbia. Whitehead said the company’s main line through Northern Ontario was open and management did not expect a significant effect on the business, though it had experienced some traffic bunching during a shutdown.

Commodity trends and second-half outlook Drysdale highlighted record second-quarter volumes for Western Canadian grain and potash, as well as strong U.S. grain movements. Petroleum and chemicals RTMs rose 11%, supported by increased long-haul refined-product shipments from Western to Eastern Canada, growth into the Greater Toronto Area fuel terminal and higher NGL exports through Prince Rupert.

Metals volumes increased 11% despite tariffs on steel and aluminum, as CN worked with customers on supply-chain changes, according to Drysdale. Domestic intermodal also grew, while overseas intermodal volumes rose sequentially but declined from a year earlier due to difficult comparisons with tariff-related volume pull-forwards in the prior year.

CN expects grain strength to be a principal driver of third-quarter RTM growth. Management expects continued momentum in refined products, new crude business and NGL exports. Domestic intermodal is expected to remain strong, while overseas intermodal is expected to weaken in the second half, partly due to the demarketing of certain low-profitability Port of Vancouver shipments. Automotive share gains and offshore imports into Canada are expected to offset generally flat production. Canadian coal volumes will depend on mine production and operating conditions, while U.S. export demand remains supportive. Union Pacific agreements expand market access Robinson also discussed two agreements announced with Union Pacific. A commercial agreement, which is effective once definitive documentation is completed and is not contingent on a merger, gives CN rights for Canada-to-Mexico traffic through Memphis and direct access to Ferromex. CN said the arrangement extends its length of haul from Chicago to Memphis and creates opportunities for northbound and southbound traffic across commodities, including automotive, intermodal, agriculture, energy and chemicals.

In return, Union Pacific will receive rights to additional capacity on CN’s EJ&E line for U.S. traffic. Robinson said CN will retain control over capacity and Union Pacific would fund any required expansion tied to its volumes.

A separate settlement agreement, contingent on Surface Transportation Board approval and closing of the proposed Union Pacific merger, would provide CN access to Kansas City and use of Union Pacific’s NEF yard. CN said it identified five “two-to-one” customers under the agreement, with additional “three-to-two” opportunities expected to evolve through the regulatory process.

CN agreed not to oppose the merger, saying the agreements had largely addressed its concerns while creating new growth opportunities. Robinson said the company would still participate if questions arise concerning its agreements with Union Pacific.

About Canadian National Railway (NYSE:CNI)Canadian National Railway Company NYSE: CNI is a Class I freight railway that operates an integrated rail network across Canada and the United States. Headquartered in Montreal, Quebec, CN provides long-haul freight transportation and related logistics services that connect major ports, industrial centers and inland markets throughout North America. Its transcontinental system enables cross-border movement of goods and supports supply chains that span coast-to-coast in Canada and into the central and eastern United States.

CN's core business is the railborne transportation of a broad mix of commodities, including intermodal container traffic, forest and paper products, grain and other agricultural products, metallurgical and industrial products, petroleum and chemical products, coal and automotive shipments.

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

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

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

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

View The Five Stocks Here

Tesla, Nvidia, and Google helped shape the last era of market growth, but the next wave could come from a new group of companies. Inside this report, you’ll find 7 stocks that could play a major role in the next tech-driven market boom.

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Lido’s Core Upgrade is officially heading to mainnet. The Lido DAO approved the sweeping protocol overhaul on or around July 23, 2026, after clearing every required governance hurdle, including a clean pass through Dual Governance with no vetoes from any stakeholder.

For context, Dual Governance is Lido’s highest-level approval mechanism, designed so that even a well-organized dissenting faction can pump the brakes on a proposal.

What actually changed The Core Upgrade bundles two major components: the Community Staking Module updated to version 3, and the brand-new Curated Module v2.

The Community Staking Module, or CSM, is Lido’s permissionless entry point for node operators. Version 3 pushes that flexibility further, making it easier for new operators to participate at scale.

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Curated Module v2 introduces bond-based security mechanisms, which means node operators post collateral as a performance guarantee rather than relying solely on governance-managed reputation. The practical effect is less governance overhead per operator.

Together, the two modules are designed to improve scalability, tighten security, and reduce governance friction.

Existing stakers do not need to do anything. The upgrade operates entirely at the protocol layer, meaning stETH holders wake up on mainnet deployment day with the same holdings and no migration steps required.

The road to mainnet The upgrade did not arrive overnight. Lido ran the components through thorough testnet phases before the DAO vote opened, and multiple independent security audits assessed the smart contracts and governance logic specifically.

Lido has been a dominant player in Ethereum’s liquid staking landscape since liquid staking became a category worth talking about. Its stETH token, which represents a staker’s ETH position plus accruing rewards, became one of the most widely integrated assets in DeFi. That deep integration means upgrades to Lido’s core infrastructure have downstream effects across a substantial portion of the Ethereum ecosystem, not just for direct Lido users.

The bond-based security model in Curated Module v2 changes the economic incentives for node operators. When operators have skin in the game through posted collateral, the protocol’s alignment with good validator behavior becomes structural rather than reputational.

What it means for the market For stETH holders, the most immediate takeaway is that Lido’s infrastructure is getting more robust without requiring any action on their part.

Lido controls a significant share of the total staked ETH on Ethereum. Upgrades that make the protocol more secure and scalable directly affect confidence in stETH as a collateral asset across lending protocols, liquidity pools, and structured products that have integrated it.

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

Raydium, one of the top 10 most influential DeFi protocols according to Fortune, debuted Permissioned AMMs yesterday, July 23. Permissioned AMMs introduce a new framework that enables issuers of KYC-gated and regulated assets to launch directly on Raydium, accessing Solana’s deepest liquidity while maintaining compliant secondary markets. Superstate became the first partner to integrate the infrastructure, bringing tokenized equities into Raydium’s liquidity ecosystem.

The launch marks another step in the race to build infrastructure for regulated assets on public blockchains. As tokenized stocks, funds, and real-world assets gain attention, protocols are adapting traditional DeFi tools to meet compliance requirements.

Raydium Adds Compliance Controls to AMM Trading Traditional AMMs allow anyone with a wallet to provide liquidity or trade assets. That model works well for crypto-native tokens but creates challenges for regulated assets that require investor verification and transfer restrictions.

Raydium’s Permissioned AMMs add an access-control layer to its existing liquidity infrastructure. Instead of allowing any wallet to interact with a pool, the system verifies whether a wallet meets issuer-defined eligibility requirements before allowing trades.

The framework combines 3 core components:

Issuer-managed KYC, where asset issuers determine which participants qualify.

Programmatic enforcement, where smart contracts restrict pool interactions to approved wallets.

Immutable smart contracts, which provide transparent and verifiable execution.

Eligible investors can trade only with verified counterparties, while issuers maintain control over participant access.

Superstate Brings Tokenized Equities to Raydium Superstate became the first service partner to integrate Raydium’s Permissioned AMMs. The company operates Opening Bell, a platform designed to issue publicly registered tokenized equities directly on blockchains.

Unlike synthetic products that track stock prices without representing direct ownership, Superstate focuses on natively tokenized securities where the token represents the underlying security.

Superstate has developed infrastructure that tracks ownership changes across DeFi environments, including automated market makers and lending protocols. The company has also worked with protocols such as Uniswap, Orca, Aave, Morpho, and Kamino to support regulated asset activity onchain.

Through Raydium’s integration, approved investors can trade tokenized equities through Permissioned AMMs while Superstate manages ownership records and compliance requirements.

Raydium Joins a Broader Shift Toward Permissioned DeFi Raydium is not the only major DEX moving toward compliance-focused infrastructure.

On May 27, Orca launched permissioned pools on Solana in partnership with gold tokenization firm Streamex. Orca’s system uses Solana token extensions to enforce transfer restrictions and connect investor eligibility with onchain activity.

Uniswap Labs also announced Permissioned Pools yesterday, July 23. The feature introduces a hook standard for Uniswap v4 that allows pools to verify approved wallets directly through smart contracts rather than relying on frontend restrictions or offchain checks.

These launches highlight a broader industry trend: regulated assets require more than a place to trade. Issuers need infrastructure that combines blockchain transparency with controls required by securities markets.

Tokenized Assets Target a Trillion-Dollar Market The push toward compliant onchain markets comes as interest in tokenization continues to grow. In its Big Ideas 2026 report, Ark Invest estimated that the global market for tokenized assets could grow from $19 billion to $11 trillion by 2030, representing around 1.38% of all financial assets.

Solana has also seen rapid growth in its real-world asset ecosystem. The network recently became the blockchain with the highest number of RWA holders, reaching 311,000 holders, $3.5 billion in RWA value, and more than 2,500 types of tokenized assets.

Read More on SolanaFloor Mubadala Capital to Launch $75M Tokenized Fund on Solana via Kaio
Are the Trenches Back?: 62K Dormant Wallets Return as Memecoins Capture $2B in Volume

What's Next For Crypto If CLARITY Fails?

In its upcoming report, Ventas (VTR - Free Report) is predicted by Wall Street analysts to post quarterly earnings of $0.96 per share, reflecting an increase of 10.3% compared to the same period last year. Revenues are forecasted to be $1.67 billion, representing a year-over-year increase of 17.4%.

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

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

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

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

The consensus among analysts is that 'Revenues- Interest and other income' will reach $1.88 million. The estimate indicates a year-over-year change of -68%.

It is projected by analysts that the 'Revenues- Resident fees and services' will reach $1.29 billion. The estimate points to a change of +24.8% from the year-ago quarter.

Based on the collective assessment of analysts, 'Revenues- Income from loans and investments' should arrive at $4.31 million. The estimate indicates a year-over-year change of -2%.

Analysts forecast 'Revenues- Rental income- Outpatient medical & research portfolio' to reach $230.35 million. The estimate indicates a year-over-year change of +4.3%.

The collective assessment of analysts points to an estimated 'Revenues- Rental income- Triple-net leased properties' of $124.21 million. The estimate indicates a change of -18.7% from the prior-year quarter.

The consensus estimate for 'Revenues- Rental income' stands at $354.18 million. The estimate indicates a year-over-year change of -5.2%.

The combined assessment of analysts suggests that 'NOI- Senior housing operating portfolio (SHOP)' will likely reach $381.35 million. Compared to the current estimate, the company reported $286.41 million in the same quarter of the previous year.

Analysts expect 'NOI- Triple-net leased properties (NNN)' to come in at $121.48 million. The estimate is in contrast to the year-ago figure of $148.74 million.

Analysts' assessment points toward 'NOI- Outpatient medical & research portfolio (OM&R)' reaching $152.09 million. The estimate is in contrast to the year-ago figure of $146.49 million.

Analysts predict that the 'Depreciation and amortization' will reach $377.40 million.

View all Key Company Metrics for Ventas here>>>

Over the past month, Ventas shares have recorded returns of +12% versus the Zacks S&P 500 composite's +0.6% change. Based on its Zacks Rank #3 (Hold), VTR will likely exhibit a performance that aligns with the overall market in the upcoming period. You can see the complete list of today's Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) stocks here >>>> .

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Nebius Group‘s (NASDAQ:NBIS | NBIS Price Prediction) shares are down 9% in Friday morning trading, sliding to $200.60 after closing Thursday at $220.97. The drop caps a whipsaw stretch for the AI neo-cloud specialist, which is still up 135% year to date (YTD) despite giving back 24% over the past month.

The pullback comes against a jittery macro backdrop, with high-multiple AI infrastructure names under pressure as investors rotate out of the most speculative corners of the trade. Nebius, which had been one of the year’s best-performing neo-clouds, is bearing the brunt of that repositioning today.

Risk-Off Tape Hits the Most Speculative AI Names There isn’t a clean Nebius-specific catalyst driving today’s move. Nebius stock is falling alongside a broader high-multiple tech pullback, with the NASDAQ 100 down moderately as investors trim exposure to the most richly valued corners of the AI trade.

The setup is classic profit-taking. Nebius shares are up 277% over the past year, and the CBOE Volatility Index or VIX jumped 12% on Thursday to 18.7, its highest close in that recent window. When volatility spikes, high-beta names with high multiples tend to get hit first; notably, Nebius’s trailing 12-month P/E ratio is 75.87x.

The fundamentals underneath Nebius remain intact. The company’s Q1 2026 revenue grew 279.6% year over year (YoY) to $399 million, and management guided FY2026 revenue to $3 billion to $3.4 billion. Nebius’s revenue outlook is backstopped by anchor customer commitments and strategic capital from top-tier AI partners.

Neo-Clouds Fall Hardest, Diversified Names Hold Up The split across the AI cloud group is telling. CoreWeave (NASDAQ:CRWV), another pure-play neo-cloud business, is also getting hit hard. CoreWeave shares are down 7% to $75.15, extending a rough stretch that has left the stock down 38% over the past year despite a $99.4 billion revenue backlog.

The more diversified cloud names are absorbing the tape far better. Cloudflare (NYSE:NET) shares are roughly flat at $263.48, keeping Cloudflare stock up 33% year to date. Snowflake (NYSE:SNOW) shares are trading at $269.65, 2% higher on the session, with Snowflake stock still up 23% YTD.

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Oracle (NYSE:ORCL) stock appears to be in a holding pattern today. Oracle shares are off 1% to $118.80, with ORCL stock down 39% YTD even as the company’s cloud infrastructure business grew 93% YoY last quarter. The read-through: today’s move looks like a valuation reset in the highest-beta AI infrastructure plays rather than a repricing of the AI cloud sector broadly.

Cloud Theme Exposure and Concentration For investors thinking about sector exposure without the single-stock volatility, a broad cloud computing ETF like the First Trust Cloud Computing ETF (NASDAQ:SKYY) offers diversified exposure to the theme. Note, however, that pure neo-clouds like Nebius and CoreWeave may be only lightly represented; SKYY is still a concentrated, single-theme fund, so position sizing matters.

Overall, analyst sentiment on Nebius remains constructive. The Wall Street consensus price target sits at $258.13, with nine Buy or Strong Buy ratings against one Sell. Meanwhile, CoreWeave’s target of $138.03 implies significant upside from current levels as well. These price targets should be kept in mind if you’re considering individual AI-cloud stocks and/or a fund like SKYY.

What to Watch Investors can watch for whether Nebius stock stabilizes above the $179 area that anchored its Q1 filing price, and whether the VIX cools back below 17 into next week. If risk appetite returns, the pure neo-clouds tend to snap back the fastest. Should volatility keep building, expect more of the same rotation into steadier cloud names.

The bigger picture for Nebius hasn’t changed: multi-billion-dollar customer commitments, a rapidly scaling AI cloud segment, and contracted power capacity that keeps expanding into year-end. Today’s drawdown is a tape story, not a thesis story.

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Wall Street analysts forecast that Fortinet (FTNT - Free Report) will report quarterly earnings of $0.75 per share in its upcoming release, pointing to a year-over-year increase of 17.2%. It is anticipated that revenues will amount to $1.88 billion, exhibiting an increase of 15.4% compared to the year-ago quarter.

The consensus EPS estimate for the quarter has been revised 0.6% lower over the last 30 days to the current level. This reflects how the analysts covering the stock have collectively reevaluated their initial estimates during this timeframe.

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

While it's common for investors to rely on consensus earnings and revenue estimates for assessing how the business may have performed during the quarter, exploring analysts' forecasts for key metrics can yield valuable insights.

That said, let's delve into the average estimates of some Fortinet metrics that Wall Street analysts commonly model and monitor.

Analysts' assessment points toward 'Revenue- Services' reaching $1.24 billion. The estimate suggests a change of +10.9% year over year.

Analysts predict that the 'Revenue- Product' will reach $633.38 million. The estimate suggests a change of +24.5% year over year.

The average prediction of analysts places 'Revenue- Services- Security subscription' at $723.10 million. The estimate points to a change of +12.2% from the year-ago quarter.

The consensus among analysts is that 'Revenue- Services- Technical support and other' will reach $526.55 million. The estimate points to a change of +10.5% from the year-ago quarter.

Based on the collective assessment of analysts, 'Total billings (Non-GAAP)' should arrive at $2.14 billion. The estimate compares to the year-ago value of $1.78 billion.

The consensus estimate for 'Gross profit- Product Non-GAAP' stands at $432.99 million. Compared to the present estimate, the company reported $345.20 million in the same quarter last year.

The collective assessment of analysts points to an estimated 'Gross profit- Service Non-GAAP' of $1.07 billion. Compared to the present estimate, the company reported $984.70 million in the same quarter last year.

The combined assessment of analysts suggests that 'Gross profit- Product' will likely reach $412.00 million. Compared to the present estimate, the company reported $343.00 million in the same quarter last year.

It is projected by analysts that the 'Gross profit- Services' will reach $1.07 billion. Compared to the current estimate, the company reported $972.10 million in the same quarter of the previous year.

View all Key Company Metrics for Fortinet here>>>

Over the past month, Fortinet shares have recorded returns of +1.1% versus the Zacks S&P 500 composite's +0.6% change. Based on its Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), FTNT will likely outperform the overall market in the upcoming period. You can see the complete list of today's Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) stocks here >>>> .

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Key Takeaways Brent Crude Slides Below $100/bbl, Pre-Markets AdvanceAXP, NEE, SLB and VZ Beat on Earnings, Mixed on RevenuesS&P Flash PMI Due After the Open, Along with New Home Sales Friday, July 24th, 2026

Pre-market activity is seeing some buying activity after Thursday’s big drop in all major indexes. We still see violence in Iran, with the U.S. dropping bombs overnight for the 13th-straight day. Iran has rejected a cease-fire agreement brought forth by neighboring Iraq. The end of this turmoil does not appear to be in sight.

Nevertheless, spot oil prices have cooled from yesterday, -3% on both WTI and Brent crude, to $89 per barrel (/bbl) and $97/bbl, respectively. The international Brent index pushing over $100 yesterday was a strong catalyst for the market selloff. Unfortunately, save any new serious peace talks, we can expect the dance at these levels to continue.

Bond yields are not fluctuating quite the same way: they’ve risen over the past week and stayed there: +4.68% on the 10-year is the highest of President Trump’s second term so far. Same with the 2-year yield, which stands at +4.33% currently. Historically, the bond yield flexes much muscle in expressing its approval, or lack thereof, of economic conditions. It pays to keep an eye on these charts.

Q2 Earnings Reports Ahead of the Open: AXP, NEE & More
American Express (AXP - Free Report) , as per usual, outperformed earnings expectations this morning, reporting $4.53 per share versus a consensus estimate of $4.41. Revenues were breakeven at $19.64 billion in its Q2. AmEx’s high-end Platinum card became the credit card giant’s fastest growing product, depicting continued strength from the high-end consumer. That said, shares are -4% in early trading, deepening the -8% losses since the start of the year. For more on AXP’s earnings, click here.

NextEra Energy (NEE - Free Report) reported mixed quarterly results this morning, reporting earnings of $1.15 per share versus $1.09 projected, for a +5.5% positive earnings surprise and year over year growth of a solid dime per share. Revenues, however, came in well short of estimates to $7.53 billion in the quarter. Forward guidance was in line with previous Zacks consensus. Yet increased demand has set the stock in positive territory pre-market on the news.

Oilfield services major SLB Corp. (SLB - Free Report) , formerly Schlumberger, beat earnings estimates by 4 cents to $0.55 per share this morning, with Q2 revenues of $8.97 billion outpacing forecasts by +3%, and up nicely from $8.55 billion reported in the year-ago quarter. Shares are up +4% in today’s pre-market, adding to the solid +23% gains year to date. For more on SLB’s earnings, click here.

Verizon (VZ - Free Report) put up mixed Q2 results this morning, beating on the bottom line by 3 cents with earnings of $1.30 per share (8 cents higher than the year-ago quarter) while revenues of $34.25 billion came up short of estimates by -3%. Post-paid phone adds was a highlight in the company’s report, and shares are up modestly in today’s pre-market, adding to the +7.6% gains year to date. For more on VZ’s earnings, click here.

What to Expect from the Stock Market Today
After the opening bell this morning, S&P flash Services PMI for July will be released. Expectations are for a slight increase to 51.5, as the final FIFA World Cup matches saw higher demand for services in New York/New Jersey, Houston, Seattle and elsewhere. Also S&P flash Manufacturing PMI is also expected to increase half a point to 54.4. The prior month’s flash number had been revised downward fairly drastically in its final to 53.9, so these figures appear fairly active currently.

New Home Sales for June also hit the tape after today’s open. Analysts expect a rebound off lows in May not seen since the start of the year, from 580K to 606K seasonally adjusted, annualized units. It’s no secret new home sales have faced significant headwinds over the past couple years, but we look for signs of lasting improvement. The 2026 high was 664 seasonally adjusted, annualized units.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Wall Street expects a year-over-year increase in earnings on higher revenues when T. Rowe Price (TROW - Free Report) reports results for the quarter ended June 2026. While this widely-known consensus outlook is important in gauging the company's earnings picture, a powerful factor that could impact its near-term stock price is how the actual results compare to these estimates.

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

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

Zacks Consensus EstimateThis financial services firm is expected to post quarterly earnings of $2.52 per share in its upcoming report, which represents a year-over-year change of +12.5%.

Revenues are expected to be $1.92 billion, up 11.6% from the year-ago quarter.

Estimate Revisions TrendThe consensus EPS estimate for the quarter has been revised 5.17% higher over the last 30 days to the current level. This is essentially a reflection of how the covering analysts have collectively reassessed their initial estimates over this period.

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

Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise

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

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

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

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

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

How Have the Numbers Shaped Up for T. Rowe?For T. Rowe, the Most Accurate Estimate is the same as the Zacks Consensus Estimate, suggesting that there are no recent analyst views which differ from what have been considered to derive the consensus estimate. This has resulted in an Earnings ESP of 0%.

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

So, this combination makes it difficult to conclusively predict that T. Rowe will beat the consensus EPS estimate.

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

For the last reported quarter, it was expected that T. Rowe would post earnings of $2.37 per share when it actually produced earnings of $2.52, delivering a surprise of +6.33%.

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

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

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

T. Rowe doesn't appear a compelling earnings-beat candidate. However, investors should pay attention to other factors too for betting on this stock or staying away from it ahead of its earnings release.

Expected Results of an Industry PlayerAmong the stocks in the Zacks Financial - Investment Management industry, Virtus Investment Partners (VRTS - Free Report) , is soon expected to post earnings of $6.15 per share for the quarter ended June 2026. This estimate indicates a year-over-year change of -1.6%. This quarter's revenue is expected to be $187.15 million, down 2% from the year-ago quarter.

Over the last 30 days, the consensus EPS estimate for Virtus has been revised 2.4% up to the current level. Nevertheless, the company now has an Earnings ESP of 0.00%, reflecting an equal Most Accurate Estimate.

When combined with a Zacks Rank of #2 (Buy), this Earnings ESP makes it difficult to conclusively predict that Virtus will beat the consensus EPS estimate. Over the last four quarters, the company surpassed consensus EPS estimates two times.

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

Key Takeaways Carrier's second-quarter net sales are expected to decline 1.5% year over year to $6.02 billion.Weak residential and light commercial demand in key regions is likely to pressure Carrier's top line.Higher input costs, European promotions and tariff risks are expected to weigh on CARR's Q2 earnings. Carrier Global Corporation (CARR - Free Report) is scheduled to report its second-quarter 2026 results on July 28, before the opening bell.

In the last reported quarter, the company’s adjusted earnings per share (EPS) and net sales topped the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 14% and 6.1%, respectively. Year over year, the bottom line declined 12.3%, but the top line grew 2%.

CARR’s earnings surpassed estimates in three of the trailing four quarters and missed on the remaining occasion, with an average surprise of 7.8%.

How are Estimates Placed for CARR Stock?The Zacks Consensus Estimate for second-quarter EPS has inched up to 83 cents from 82 cents in the past 30 days. However, the estimated figure indicates a 9.8% decline from the year-ago quarter’s earnings of 92 cents per share.

The consensus estimate for net sales is pegged at $6.02 billion, indicating a decline of 1.5% from the prior-year quarter’s level.

Factors at Play for Carrier’s Q2 ResultsSales

The top-line performance of Carrier is expected to have tumbled year over year due to the ongoing softness in the residential and light commercial businesses, particularly in the Americas. This demand weakness is also likely to have stretched to China as well as Europe, which has likely witnessed more sales decline in the commercial businesses during the second quarter.

The company is likely to have been facing weakness in multiple traditional HVAC markets at the same time, mainly concerned with residential demand, which has resulted in soft contributions from its four reportable segments, including Climate Solutions Americas (contributed 46.8% to first-quarter 2026 sales), Climate Solutions Europe (24.2%), Climate Solutions Asia Pacific, Middle East & Africa (15.6%) and Climate Solutions Transportation (13.3%).

Sales from the Transportation segment are likely to have tumbled in the second quarter because of unfavorable year-over-year comparisons and the inorganic moves undertaken by CARR in reshaping its business portfolio. Although the organic sales are encouraging, these aspects are likely to have primarily resulted in the year-over-year decline.

For the second quarter, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for net sales from Americas, Europe, Asia Pacific, Middle East & Africa and Transportation business segments under Climate Solutions is pegged at $3.17 billion, $1.19 billion, $862 million and $719 million, reflecting year-over-year declines from $3.25 billion, $1.25 billion, $882 million and $726 million, respectively.

Earnings

Carrier is expected to report a year-over-year bottom-line downturn in the second quarter, due to the reduced leverage from declining top-line growth and higher input costs, indicating that maintaining price-cost balance is being difficult. Moreover, elevated European promotions and tariff risks are likely to have added to the year-over-year decline.

What the Zacks Model Indicates for CARROur proven model does not predict an earnings beat for Carrier this time around. The combination of a positive Earnings ESP and a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), 2 (Buy) or 3 (Hold) increases the odds of an earnings beat. However, it is not the case this time around.

CARR’s Earnings ESP: The company has an Earnings ESP of -3.24%. You can uncover the best stocks before they’re reported with our Earnings ESP Filter.

CARR’s Zacks Rank: The stock currently has a Zacks Rank of 2. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.

Stocks Poised to Beat EarningsHere are some companies in the Zacks Construction sector, which according to our model, have the right combination of elements to post an earnings beat.

Boise Cascade Company (BCC - Free Report) has an Earnings ESP of +6.50% and a Zacks Rank of 2 at present.

Boise Cascade’s earnings beat estimates in two of the last four quarters, missed on one occasion and met on the remaining occasion, the average surprise being 40.8%. The company’s earnings for the second quarter of 2026 are expected to decline 25% year over year.

Amentum Holdings, Inc. (AMTM - Free Report) currently has an Earnings ESP of +3.18% and a Zacks Rank of 2.

Amentum’s earnings beat estimates in each of the last four quarters, the average surprise being 4%. The company’s earnings for the second quarter of 2026 are expected to increase 12.5% year over year.

CRH plc (CRH - Free Report) has an Earnings ESP of +4.08% and a Zacks Rank of 3.

CRH’s earnings beat estimates in two of the last four quarters, missed on one occasion and met on the remaining occasion, the average surprise being 0.7%. The company’s earnings for the second quarter of 2026 are expected to inch up 1% year over year.

VANCOUVER, Wash.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--ZoomInfo (NASDAQ: GTM), the all-in-one AI GTM platform, has reported that demandDrive, an outsourced sales development and demand generation firm, attributes millions of dollars in annual recurring revenue to the way it now finds and prioritizes buyers, according to the company. demandDrive runs prospecting, outbound, and lead generation programs on behalf of other companies, serving mid-market clients across business services. It sells a consultative model th.

VANCOUVER, Wash.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--ZoomInfo (NASDAQ: GTM), the all-in-one AI GTM platform, has reported that PayIt, a platform that modernizes payments between governments and residents, reduced the size of its marketing and sales database by about one-third and saved tens of thousands of dollars in the process, according to the company. PayIt lets state and local agencies collect property taxes, tolls, utilities, and parking tickets, serving jurisdictions that cover more than 100 million peopl.

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

Over the past month, shares of this company have returned -1.3%, compared to the Zacks S&P 500 composite's +0.6% change. During this period, the Zacks Gaming industry, which DraftKings falls in, has lost 0.8%. The key question now is: What could be the stock's future direction?

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

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

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

DraftKings is expected to post earnings of $0.22 per share for the current quarter, representing a year-over-year change of -42.1%. Over the last 30 days, the Zacks Consensus Estimate has changed -1%.

For the current fiscal year, the consensus earnings estimate of $1.09 points to a change of +65.2% from the prior year. Over the last 30 days, this estimate has changed -10.4%.

For the next fiscal year, the consensus earnings estimate of $1.8 indicates a change of +65.4% from what DraftKings is expected to report a year ago. Over the past month, the estimate has changed +1.1%.

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

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

12 Month EPS

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

For DraftKings, the consensus sales estimate for the current quarter of $1.53 billion indicates a year-over-year change of +0.8%. For the current and next fiscal years, $6.79 billion and $7.76 billion estimates indicate +12.1% and +14.3% changes, respectively.

Last Reported Results and Surprise HistoryDraftKings reported revenues of $1.65 billion in the last reported quarter, representing a year-over-year change of +16.8%. EPS of $0.2 for the same period compares with $0.12 a year ago.

Compared to the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.64 billion, the reported revenues represent a surprise of +0.12%. The EPS surprise was -9.09%.

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

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

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

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

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

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

The upcoming report from Lam Research (LRCX - Free Report) is expected to reveal quarterly earnings of $1.69 per share, indicating an increase of 27.1% compared to the year-ago period. Analysts forecast revenues of $6.67 billion, representing an increase of 29% year over year.

The consensus EPS estimate for the quarter has undergone an upward revision of 1.3% in the past 30 days, bringing it to its present level. This represents how the covering analysts, as a whole, have reassessed their initial estimates during this timeframe.

Before a company announces its earnings, it is essential to take into account any changes made to earnings estimates. This is a valuable factor in predicting the potential reactions of investors toward the stock. Empirical research has consistently shown a strong correlation between trends in earnings estimate revisions and the short-term price performance of a stock.

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

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

Analysts expect 'Revenue- Customer support-related revenue and other' to come in at $2.13 billion. The estimate suggests a change of +22.7% year over year.

The collective assessment of analysts points to an estimated 'Revenue- Systems' of $4.55 billion. The estimate points to a change of +32.2% from the year-ago quarter.

The consensus estimate for 'Leading- and non-leading-edge equipment and upgrade Revenue - Memory' stands at 40.0%. Compared to the current estimate, the company reported 41.0% in the same quarter of the previous year.

According to the collective judgment of analysts, 'Leading- and non-leading-edge equipment and upgrade Revenue - Logic/integrated device manufacturing' should come in at 6.6%. Compared to the current estimate, the company reported 7.0% in the same quarter of the previous year.

The combined assessment of analysts suggests that 'Leading- and non-leading-edge equipment and upgrade Revenue - Foundry' will likely reach 53.4%. The estimate is in contrast to the year-ago figure of 52.0%.

View all Key Company Metrics for Lam Research here>>>

Shares of Lam Research have demonstrated returns of -20.4% over the past month compared to the Zacks S&P 500 composite's +0.6% change. With a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy), LRCX is expected to beat the overall market performance in the near future. You can see the complete list of today's Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) stocks here >>>> .

[url="]Texas A&M Engineering Experiment Station[/url] (TEES) has selected [url="]Dell Technologies[/url] (NYSE: DELL) to design and build the Innovative Growth

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

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

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

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

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

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

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

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

YTD Performance Chart
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

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

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

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

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

It doesn't matter your age or experience: taking full advantage of the stock market and investing with confidence are common goals for all investors. Luckily, Zacks Premium offers several different ways to do both.

The popular research service can help you become a smarter, more self-assured investor, giving you access to daily updates of the Zacks Rank and Zacks Industry Rank, the Zacks #1 Rank List, Equity Research reports, and Premium stock screens.

It also includes access to the Zacks Style Scores.

What are the Zacks Style Scores? The Zacks Style Scores, developed alongside the Zacks Rank, are complementary indicators that rate stocks based on three widely-followed investing methodologies; they also help investors pick stocks with the best chances of beating the market over the next 30 days.

Each stock is given an alphabetic rating of A, B, C, D or F based on their value, growth, and momentum qualities. With this system, an A is better than a B, a B is better than a C, and so on, meaning the better the score, the better chance the stock will outperform.

The Style Scores are broken down into four categories:

Value ScoreFinding good stocks at good prices, and discovering which companies are trading under their true value, are what value investors like to focus on. So, the Value Style Score takes into account ratios like P/E, PEG, Price/Sales, Price/Cash Flow, and a host of other multiples to highlight the most attractive and discounted stocks.

Growth ScoreGrowth investors are more concerned with a stock's future prospects, and the overall financial health and strength of a company. Thus, the Growth Style Score analyzes characteristics like projected and historic earnings, sales, and cash flow to find stocks that will see sustainable growth over time.

Momentum ScoreMomentum investors, who live by the saying "the trend is your friend," are most interested in taking advantage of upward or downward trends in a stock's price or earnings outlook. Utilizing one-week price change and the monthly percentage change in earnings estimates, among other factors, the Momentum Style Score can help determine favorable times to buy high-momentum stocks.

VGM ScoreIf you like to use all three kinds of investing, then the VGM Score is for you. It's a combination of all Style Scores, and is an important indicator to use with the Zacks Rank. The VGM Score rates each stock on their shared weighted styles, narrowing down the companies with the most attractive value, best growth forecast, and most promising momentum.

How Style Scores Work with the Zacks Rank A proprietary stock-rating model, the Zacks Rank utilizes the power of earnings estimate revisions, or changes to a company's earnings outlook, to help investors create a successful portfolio.

#1 (Strong Buy) stocks have produced an unmatched +23.94% average annual return since 1988, which is more than double the S&P 500's performance over the same time frame. However, the Zacks Rank examines a ton of stocks, and there can be more than 200 companies with a Strong Buy rank, and another 600 with a #2 (Buy) rank, on any given day.

This totals more than 800 top-rated stocks, and it can be overwhelming to try and pick the best stocks for you and your portfolio.

That's where the Style Scores come in.

To maximize your returns, you want to buy stocks with the highest probability of success. This means picking stocks with a Zacks Rank #1 or #2 that also have Style Scores of A or B. If you find yourself looking at stocks with a #3 (Hold) rank, make sure they have Scores of A or B as well to ensure as much upside potential as possible.

The direction of a stock's earnings estimate revisions should always be a key factor when choosing which stocks to buy, since the Scores were created to work together with the Zacks Rank.

A stock with a #4 (Sell) or #5 (Strong Sell) rating, for instance, even one with Scores of A and B, will still have a declining earnings forecast, and a greater chance its share price will fall too.

Thus, the more stocks you own with a #1 or #2 Rank and Scores of A or B, the better.

Stock to Watch: DocuSign (DOCU - Free Report) Founded in 2003 and headquartered in San Francisco, Docusign is a global provider of cloud-based software. The company’s Docusign Agreement Cloud is a cloud software suite that automates and connects the entire agreement process.

DOCU is a #3 (Hold) on the Zacks Rank, with a VGM Score of A.

Additionally, the company could be a top pick for growth investors. DOCU has a Growth Style Score of A, forecasting year-over-year earnings growth of 18.2% for the current fiscal year.

Seven analysts revised their earnings estimate upwards in the last 60 days for fiscal 2027. The Zacks Consensus Estimate has increased $0.11 to $4.54 per share. DOCU boasts an average earnings surprise of +8.7%.

With a solid Zacks Rank and top-tier Growth and VGM Style Scores, DOCU should be on investors' short list.

Wall Street analysts forecast that Carvana (CVNA - Free Report) will report quarterly earnings of $0.42 per share in its upcoming release, pointing to a year-over-year increase of 61.5%. It is anticipated that revenues will amount to $6.97 billion, exhibiting an increase of 43.9% compared to the year-ago quarter.

The consensus EPS estimate for the quarter has undergone a downward revision of 0.3% in the past 30 days, bringing it to its present level. This represents how the covering analysts, as a whole, have reassessed their initial estimates during this timeframe.

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

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

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

Based on the collective assessment of analysts, 'Sales and operating revenues- Retail vehicle sales, net' should arrive at $4.97 billion. The estimate suggests a change of +46% year over year.

The combined assessment of analysts suggests that 'Sales and operating revenues- Other sales and revenues' will likely reach $559.44 million. The estimate indicates a change of +36.1% from the prior-year quarter.

Analysts expect 'Sales and operating revenues- Wholesale sales and revenues' to come in at $1.28 billion. The estimate suggests a change of +25% year over year.

Analysts predict that the 'Per retail unit gross profit - Total' will reach $6796.56 . The estimate compares to the year-ago value of $7426.00 .

It is projected by analysts that the 'Unit sales - Retail vehicle unit sales' will reach 198,190 . The estimate is in contrast to the year-ago figure of 143,280 .

The consensus estimate for 'Per retail unit gross profit - Retail vehicle' stands at $3282.16 . Compared to the current estimate, the company reported $3636.00 in the same quarter of the previous year.

Analysts forecast 'Per retail unit gross profit - Other' to reach $2853.86 . The estimate is in contrast to the year-ago figure of $2869.00 .

The average prediction of analysts places 'Per unit revenue - Wholesale vehicles' at $11079.20 . The estimate is in contrast to the year-ago figure of $10746.00 .

The consensus among analysts is that 'Per unit revenue - Retail vehicles' will reach $25395.83 . Compared to the present estimate, the company reported $23765.00 in the same quarter last year.

The collective assessment of analysts points to an estimated 'Unit sales - Wholesale vehicle unit sales' of 97,755 . Compared to the current estimate, the company reported 72,770 in the same quarter of the previous year.

According to the collective judgment of analysts, 'Markets at end of period (metropolitan statistical areas)' should come in at 317 . Compared to the current estimate, the company reported 316 in the same quarter of the previous year.

Analysts' assessment points toward 'Per retail unit gross profit - Wholesale' reaching $952.00 . The estimate is in contrast to the year-ago figure of $921.00 .

View all Key Company Metrics for Carvana here>>>

Over the past month, Carvana shares have recorded returns of -9.1% versus the Zacks S&P 500 composite's +0.6% change. Based on its Zacks Rank #3 (Hold), CVNA will likely exhibit a performance that aligns with the overall market in the upcoming period. You can see the complete list of today's Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) stocks here >>>> .

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

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

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

Zacks Consensus EstimateThis fuel cell technology company is expected to post quarterly loss of $0.04 per share in its upcoming report, which represents a year-over-year change of +50%.

Revenues are expected to be $26.97 million, up 51.2% from the year-ago quarter.

Estimate Revisions TrendThe consensus EPS estimate for the quarter has remained unchanged over the last 30 days. This is essentially a reflection of how the covering analysts have collectively reassessed their initial estimates over this period.

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

Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise

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

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

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

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

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

How Have the Numbers Shaped Up for Ballard?For Ballard, the Most Accurate Estimate is higher than the Zacks Consensus Estimate, suggesting that analysts have recently become bullish on the company's earnings prospects. This has resulted in an Earnings ESP of +30.77%.

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

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

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

For the last reported quarter, it was expected that Ballard would post a loss of$0.06 per share when it actually produced a loss of -$0.04, delivering a surprise of +33.33%.

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

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

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

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

An Industry Player's Expected ResultsAmong the stocks in the Zacks Utility - Electric Power industry, Exelon (EXC - Free Report) , is soon expected to post earnings of $0.44 per share for the quarter ended June 2026. This estimate indicates a year-over-year change of +12.8%. This quarter's revenue is expected to be $5.69 billion, up 4.8% from the year-ago quarter.

Over the last 30 days, the consensus EPS estimate for Exelon has been revised 3.6% down to the current level. Nevertheless, the company now has an Earnings ESP of -1.15%, reflecting a lower Most Accurate Estimate.

This Earnings ESP, combined with its Zacks Rank #2 (Buy), makes it difficult to conclusively predict that Exelon will beat the consensus EPS estimate. The company beat consensus EPS estimates in each of the trailing four quarters.

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

In its upcoming report, Robinhood Markets, Inc. (HOOD - Free Report) is predicted by Wall Street analysts to post quarterly earnings of $0.39 per share, reflecting a decline of 7.1% compared to the same period last year. Revenues are forecasted to be $1.22 billion, representing a year-over-year increase of 23.6%.

The consensus EPS estimate for the quarter has been revised 5.9% higher over the last 30 days to the current level. This reflects how the analysts covering the stock have collectively reevaluated their initial estimates during this timeframe.

Before a company announces its earnings, it is essential to take into account any changes made to earnings estimates. This is a valuable factor in predicting the potential reactions of investors toward the stock. Empirical research has consistently shown a strong correlation between trends in earnings estimate revisions and the short-term price performance of a stock.

While it's common for investors to rely on consensus earnings and revenue estimates for assessing how the business may have performed during the quarter, exploring analysts' forecasts for key metrics can yield valuable insights.

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

Analysts predict that the 'Revenues- Net interest revenues' will reach $369.23 million. The estimate suggests a change of +3.4% year over year.

The consensus among analysts is that 'Revenues- Transaction-based revenues' will reach $693.85 million. The estimate suggests a change of +28.7% year over year.

Analysts expect 'Revenues- Other revenues' to come in at $146.29 million. The estimate points to a change of +57.3% from the year-ago quarter.

The average prediction of analysts places 'Revenues- Transaction-based- Other' at $155.16 million. The estimate indicates a change of +223.3% from the prior-year quarter.

The collective assessment of analysts points to an estimated 'Revenues- Net interest revenues- Securities lending, net' of $15.52 million. The estimate indicates a year-over-year change of -71.3%.

It is projected by analysts that the 'Revenues- Net interest revenues- Interest on segregated cash, securities, and deposits' will reach $50.32 million. The estimate suggests a change of -34.7% year over year.

Based on the collective assessment of analysts, 'Revenues- Transaction-based- Cryptocurrencies' should arrive at $92.21 million. The estimate indicates a change of -42.4% from the prior-year quarter.

Analysts forecast 'Revenues- Transaction-based- Equities' to reach $114.44 million. The estimate indicates a change of +73.4% from the prior-year quarter.

Analysts' assessment points toward 'Revenues- Transaction-based- Options' reaching $314.31 million. The estimate indicates a year-over-year change of +18.6%.

The combined assessment of analysts suggests that 'Revenues- Net interest revenues- Margin interest' will likely reach $210.19 million. The estimate indicates a change of +84.4% from the prior-year quarter.

According to the collective judgment of analysts, 'Funded Customers' should come in at 27.83 million. Compared to the current estimate, the company reported 26.50 million in the same quarter of the previous year.

The consensus estimate for 'Total Platform Assets - Total' stands at $352.12 billion. Compared to the present estimate, the company reported $278.60 billion in the same quarter last year.

View all Key Company Metrics for Robinhood Markets here>>>

Over the past month, Robinhood Markets shares have recorded returns of +8.7% versus the Zacks S&P 500 composite's +0.6% change. Based on its Zacks Rank #3 (Hold), HOOD will likely exhibit a performance that aligns with the overall market in the upcoming period. You can see the complete list of today's Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) stocks here >>>> .

Analysts on Wall Street project that Chipotle Mexican Grill (CMG - Free Report) will announce quarterly earnings of $0.32 per share in its forthcoming report, representing a decline of 3% year over year. Revenues are projected to reach $3.32 billion, increasing 8.4% from the same quarter last year.

Over the last 30 days, there has been no revision in the consensus EPS estimate for the quarter. This signifies the covering analysts' collective reconsideration of their initial forecasts over the course of this timeframe.

Before a company announces its earnings, it is essential to take into account any changes made to earnings estimates. This is a valuable factor in predicting the potential reactions of investors toward the stock. Empirical research has consistently shown a strong correlation between trends in earnings estimate revisions and the short-term price performance of a stock.

While investors typically rely on consensus earnings and revenue estimates to gauge how the business may have fared during the quarter, examining analysts' projections for some of the company's key metrics often helps gain a deeper insight.

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

Analysts expect 'Revenue- Food and beverage' to come in at $3.31 billion. The estimate points to a change of +8.7% from the year-ago quarter.

Analysts predict that the 'Revenue- Delivery service' will reach $16.02 million. The estimate suggests a change of +2.5% year over year.

Analysts' assessment points toward 'Company-operated restaurants at end of period' reaching 4,160 . The estimate compares to the year-ago value of 3,839 .

Analysts forecast 'Company-operated restaurants opened' to reach 75 . Compared to the present estimate, the company reported 61 in the same quarter last year.

It is projected by analysts that the 'Company-operated restaurants at beginning of period' will reach 4,090 . Compared to the current estimate, the company reported 3,781 in the same quarter of the previous year.

The average prediction of analysts places 'Average restaurant sales - TTM' at $3.09 million. Compared to the present estimate, the company reported $3.14 million in the same quarter last year.

View all Key Company Metrics for Chipotle here>>>

Chipotle shares have witnessed a change of -0.8% in the past month, in contrast to the Zacks S&P 500 composite's +0.6% move. With a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold), CMG is expected closely follow the overall market performance in the near term. You can see the complete list of today's Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) stocks here >>>> .