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Taking full advantage of the stock market and investing with confidence are common goals for new and old investors, and Zacks Premium offers many 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? 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 ScoreFor value investors, it's all about finding good stocks at good prices, and discovering which companies are trading under their true value before the broader market catches on. The Value Style Score utilizes ratios like P/E, PEG, Price/Sales, Price/Cash Flow, and a host of other multiples to help pick out 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 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 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.

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.

As mentioned above, the Scores are designed to work with the Zacks Rank, so any change to a company's earnings outlook should be a deciding factor when picking which stocks to buy.

For instance, a stock with a #4 (Sell) or #5 (Strong Sell) rating, even one that boasts Scores of A and B, still has a downward-trending earnings forecast, and a much greater likelihood its share price will decline as well.

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

Stock to Watch: PBF Energy (PBF - Free Report) PBF Energy Inc. is a leading independent refiner of crude oil based in Parsippany, New Jersey. Through six oil refineries and associated infrastructure in the United States, the company produces unbranded transportation fuels, heating oil, petrochemical feedstocks, lubricants and other petroleum products. The refineries can collectively process about 1,000,000 barrels of crude oil per day.

PBF is a #1 (Strong Buy) on the Zacks Rank, with a VGM Score of A.

Additionally, the company could be a top pick for growth investors. PBF has a Growth Style Score of B, forecasting year-over-year earnings growth of 364.9% for the current fiscal year.

Four analysts revised their earnings estimate upwards in the last 60 days for fiscal 2026. The Zacks Consensus Estimate has increased $3.95 to $10.94 per share. PBF boasts an average earnings surprise of +113.3%.

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

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

Shares of this home construction supplier have returned -11.6% over the past month versus the Zacks S&P 500 composite's +0.6% change. The Zacks Building Products - Wood industry, to which Louisiana-Pacific belongs, has gained 0.2% over this period. Now the key question is: Where could the stock be headed in the near term?

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

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

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

For the current quarter, Louisiana-Pacific is expected to post earnings of $0.61 per share, indicating a change of -38.4% from the year-ago quarter. The Zacks Consensus Estimate remained unchanged over the last 30 days.

The consensus earnings estimate of $1.93 for the current fiscal year indicates a year-over-year change of -27.2%. This estimate has changed -3.5% over the last 30 days.

For the next fiscal year, the consensus earnings estimate of $3.98 indicates a change of +106.3% from what Louisiana-Pacific is expected to report a year ago. Over the past month, the estimate has changed -3.2%.

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

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

12 Month EPS

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

For Louisiana-Pacific, the consensus sales estimate for the current quarter of $683 million indicates a year-over-year change of -9.5%. For the current and next fiscal years, $2.57 billion and $3.03 billion estimates indicate -5% and +17.8% changes, respectively.

Last Reported Results and Surprise HistoryLouisiana-Pacific reported revenues of $574 million in the last reported quarter, representing a year-over-year change of -20.7%. EPS of $0.38 for the same period compares with $1.27 a year ago.

Compared to the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $572.45 million, the reported revenues represent a surprise of +0.27%. The EPS surprise was +322.22%.

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

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

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

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

Louisiana-Pacific 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.

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

24.7.2026 18:02

Index DAX +1,36 % na 25099 b.

Německé akcie měřené indexem DAX uzavřely obchodní týden pozitivně.

Největší růst zaznamenaly akcie SAP (+9,3 %), dále Siemens Healthineers (+3,0 %) a Fresenius (+2,2 %). Naopak nejvíce oslabily akcie Volkswagen (-2,0 %), Infineon Technologies (-1,7 %) a Adidas (-1,6 %).

Evropský index STOXX 600 se pohybuje v kladném teritoriu a posiluje o 0,81 %. V rámci sektorů se nejvíce daří finančnímu sektoru (+1,35 %), průmyslu (+1,18 %) a nezbytné spotřebě (+1,15 %). Naopak ztrácí pouze sektor energetiky (-0,97 %).

Index DAX +1,36 % na 25099 b. Nejsilnější akcie Změna Nejslabší akcie Změna SAP (SAP) +9,3 % Volkswagen (VOW3) -2,0 % Siemens Healthineers (SHL) +3,0 % Infineon Technologies (IFX) -1,7 % Fresenius (FRE) +2,2 % Adidas (ADS) -1,6 % Deutsche Bank (DBK) +2,1 % Brenntag (BNR) -0,7 % Rheinmetall AG (RHM) +2,0 % Qiagen (QIA) -0,7 %
Zdroj: Bloomberg

Marek Krejčiřík
Fio banka, a.s.
Prohlášení

Array Technologies, Inc. (ARRY - Free Report) has been on a downward spiral lately with significant selling pressure. After declining 26.9% over the past four weeks, the stock looks well positioned for a trend reversal as it is now in oversold territory and there is strong agreement among Wall Street analysts that the company will report better earnings than they predicted earlier.

We use Relative Strength Index (RSI), one of the most commonly used technical indicators, for spotting whether a stock is oversold. This is a momentum oscillator that measures the speed and change of price movements.

RSI oscillates between zero and 100. Usually, a stock is considered oversold when its RSI reading falls below 30.

Technically, every stock oscillates between being overbought and oversold irrespective of the quality of their fundamentals. And the beauty of RSI is that it helps you quickly and easily check if a stock's price is reaching a point of reversal.

So, by this measure, if a stock has gotten too far below its fair value just because of unwarranted selling pressure, investors may start looking for entry opportunities in the stock for benefiting from the inevitable rebound.

However, like every investing tool, RSI has its limitations, and should not be used alone for making an investment decision.

Here's Why ARRY Could Experience a TurnaroundThe RSI reading of 29.73 for ARRY is an indication that the heavy selling could be in the process of exhausting itself, so the stock could bounce back in a quest for reaching the old equilibrium of supply and demand.

This technical indicator is not the only factor that calls for a potential rebound for the stock. There is a fundamental indicator as well. A strong agreement among sell-side analysts covering ARRY in raising earnings estimates for the current year has led to an increase in the consensus EPS estimate by 1.8% over the last 30 days. And an upward trend in earnings estimate revisions usually translates into price appreciation in the near term.

Moreover, ARRY currently has a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), which means it is in the top 5% of more than 4,000 stocks that we rank based on trends in earnings estimate revisions and EPS surprises. This is a more conclusive indication of the stock's potential turnaround in the near term. You can see the complete list of today's Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) stocks here >>>> .

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

Shares of this solar technology company have returned -17.6% over the past month versus the Zacks S&P 500 composite's +0.6% change. The Zacks Solar industry, to which Enphase Energy belongs, has lost 17.8% over this period. Now the key question is: Where could the stock be headed in the near term?

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

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

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.

Enphase Energy is expected to post earnings of $0.46 per share for the current quarter, representing a year-over-year change of -33.3%. Over the last 30 days, the Zacks Consensus Estimate has changed -2.8%.

For the current fiscal year, the consensus earnings estimate of $2.1 points to a change of -29.1% from the prior year. Over the last 30 days, this estimate has changed -2.3%.

For the next fiscal year, the consensus earnings estimate of $2.53 indicates a change of +20.4% from what Enphase Energy is expected to report a year ago. Over the past month, the estimate has remained unchanged.

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

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

For Enphase Energy, the consensus sales estimate for the current quarter of $292.17 million indicates a year-over-year change of -19.6%. For the current and next fiscal years, $1.22 billion and $1.34 billion estimates indicate -17% and +9.9% changes, respectively.

Last Reported Results and Surprise HistoryEnphase Energy reported revenues of $282.9 million in the last reported quarter, representing a year-over-year change of -20.6%. EPS of $0.47 for the same period compares with $0.68 a year ago.

Compared to the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $283.56 million, the reported revenues represent a surprise of -0.23%. The EPS surprise was +9.3%.

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

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

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

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.

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

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

Key Takeaways Better-than-expected Q2 earnings, policy support and geopolitical tensions lift defense outlook.LMT, RTX and NOC delivered Q2 earnings beats, highlighting resilient defense demandETFs like ITA, XAR and PPA offer diversified exposure to the defense sector's strong outlook Geopolitical tensions have been a significant headwind for financial markets in 2026, with the conflict in the Middle East fueling uncertainty and volatility. Yet, the same backdrop has created a favorable environment for the defense sector, supported by expectations of higher military spending.

With military exchanges between Washington and Tehran becoming more intense, the risk of a broader regional conflict has increased. The concerns of a wider regional war have been reinforced after President Trump stated that a decision on launching a "massive attack" on Iran is imminent, as the Middle East conflict spread to the Red Sea, as quoted on CNBC.

The defense sector remains well-positioned in the current environment, as it has historically outperformed during periods of heightened geopolitical tensions and increased military activity. At the same time, President Trump has urged defense contractors to expand manufacturing capacity and increase weapons production.

The industry's outlook has been further strengthened by policy support. The U.S. House of Representatives advanced the fiscal 2027 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), authorizing a record $1.15 trillion in military spending, as per Reuters.

Adding to the positive backdrop, several defense companies delivered robust second-quarter 2026 earnings.

Earnings in FocusBelow, we have discussed in brief the second-quarter results of a few renowned U.S. Aerospace – Defense industry players.

Lockheed MartinLockheed Martin (LMT - Free Report) reported second-quarter 2026 adjusted earnings of $7.94 per share, which beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $7.22 by 10%. The bottom line increased 8.9% from the year-ago quarter's reported figure of $7.29.

Net sales were $20.06 billion, which beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $19.34 billion by 3.7%. The top line inched up 10.5% from $18.16 billion reported in the year-ago quarter. The year-over-year improvement was driven by higher sales growth registered by LMT’s business segments.

LMT’s backlog, as of June 28, 2026, was $230.42 billion compared with $193.62 billion as of Dec. 31, 2025. The Aeronautics segment accounted for $54.36 billion of the total backlog amount, while the Missiles and Fire Control segment contributed $87.88 billion. The Rotary and Mission Systems segment contributed $48.45 billion, while the Space unit accounted for $39.72 billion.

The company has a Momentum Score of A. LMT came up with second-quarter 2026 earnings on July 23, before market open and gained around 10.54% on the same day.

RTX CorporationRTX Corporation’s (RTX - Free Report) second-quarter 2026 adjusted earnings per share (EPS) of $1.89 beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.66 by 13.9%. The bottom line improved 21.1% from the year-ago quarter’s level of $1.56.

Revenues rose 14.5% year over year to $24.71 billion and beat the consensus mark of $22.83 billion by 8.2%. Growth was supported by higher commercial aftermarket and defense demand. Organic sales advanced 16% in the quarter.

Backlog climbed 22% to $289 billion. The company secured $43 billion of new awards during the quarter, including nearly $20 billion at Raytheon. The total backlog comprised $170 billion of commercial orders and $119 billion of defense orders, providing strong visibility into future production requirements.

RTX has a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) with a VGM Score of C. The company released second-quarter 2026 earnings on July 23, before market open and gained around 7.3% on the same day.

Northrop GrummanNorthrop Grumman (NOC - Free Report) reported second-quarter 2026 adjusted earnings of $7.68 per share, which beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $6.84 by 12.3%. The bottom line, however, declined 5.8% from the year-ago quarter’s level of $8.15.

NOC’s total sales of $10.88 billion in the second quarter beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $10.80 billion by 0.7%. The top line also improved 5.1% from $10.35 billion reported in the year-ago quarter. Total operating income during the quarter was $1.10 billion, reflecting a significant decrease from $1.43 billion in the prior-year quarter.

The company’s total backlog was $95.68 billion at the end of the second quarter compared with $95.61 billion at the end of first-quarter 2026.

The company has a Momentum Score of A. NOC came up with second-quarter 2026 earnings on July 21, before market open and has since gained around 10%.

Defense ETFs to ConsiderFor investors looking to bet on second-quarter results as well as the continued surge in military spending, the following Defense ETFs provide a great opportunity.

Investors can consider iShares U.S. Aerospace & Defense ETF (ITA - Free Report) , Invesco Aerospace & Defense ETF (PPA - Free Report) , SPDR S&P Aerospace & Defense ETF (XAR - Free Report) , Global X Defense Tech ETF (SHLD - Free Report) , First Trust Indxx Aerospace & Defense ETF (MISL - Free Report) and U.S. Global Technology and Aerospace & Defense ETF (WAR - Free Report) .

Shares of Gentex (GNTX - Free Report) have been struggling lately and have lost 7.6% over the past four weeks. However, a hammer chart pattern was formed in its last trading session, which could mean that the stock found support with bulls being able to counteract the bears. So, it could witness a trend reversal down the road.

While the formation of a hammer pattern is a technical indication of nearing a bottom with potential exhaustion of selling pressure, rising optimism among Wall Street analysts about the future earnings of this maker of automatic-dimming rearview mirrors and other products is a solid fundamental factor that enhances the prospects of a trend reversal for the stock.

Understanding Hammer Chart and the Technique to Trade ItThis is one of the popular price patterns in candlestick charting. A minor difference between the opening and closing prices forms a small candle body, and a higher difference between the low of the day and the open or close forms a long lower wick (or vertical line). The length of the lower wick being at least twice the length of the real body, the candle resembles a 'hammer.'

In simple terms, during a downtrend, with bears having absolute control, a stock usually opens lower compared to the previous day's close, and again closes lower. On the day the hammer pattern is formed, maintaining the downtrend, the stock makes a new low. However, after eventually finding support at the low of the day, some amount of buying interest emerges, pushing the stock up to close the session near or slightly above its opening price.

When it occurs at the bottom of a downtrend, this pattern signals that the bears might have lost control over the price. And, the success of bulls in stopping the price from falling further indicates a potential trend reversal.

Hammer candles can occur on any timeframe -- such as one-minute, daily, weekly -- and are utilized by both short-term as well as long-term investors.

Like every technical indicator, the hammer chart pattern has its limitations. Particularly, as the strength of a hammer depends on its placement on the chart, it should always be used in conjunction with other bullish indicators.

Here's What Increases the Odds of a Turnaround for GNTXThere has been an upward trend in earnings estimate revisions for GNTX lately, which can certainly be considered a bullish indicator on the fundamental side. That's because a positive trend in earnings estimate revisions usually translates into price appreciation in the near term.

The consensus EPS estimate for the current year has increased 0.4% over the last 30 days. This means that the Wall Street analysts covering GNTX are majorly in agreement about the company's potential to report better earnings than what they predicted earlier.

If this is not enough, you should note that GNTX currently has a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy), which means it is in the top 20% of more than 4,000 stocks that we rank based on trends in earnings estimate revisions and EPS surprises. And stocks carrying a Zacks Rank #1 or 2 usually outperform the market. You can see the complete list of today's Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) stocks here >>>> .

Moreover, a Zacks Rank of 2 for Gentex is a more conclusive indication of a potential trend reversal, as the Zacks Rank has proven to be an excellent timing indicator that helps investors identify precisely when a company's prospects are beginning to improve.

Miso Robotics stock: Is an IPO coming soon?Gentex NASDAQ: GNTX reported second-quarter 2026 net sales of $651.3 million, down 1% from $657.9 million a year earlier, as lower automotive revenue in several international markets was partly offset by North American strength, higher vehicle content in Europe and growth in non-automotive businesses.

Automotive revenue declined about 3% year over year to $560.1 million, reflecting lower light-vehicle production and reduced shipments of base auto-dimming mirrors. President and CEO Steve Downing said revenue in China fell 20% from the prior-year period amid tariff-related market disruptions, while Europe, Japan and Korea also recorded lower revenue. North American demand remained comparatively strong.

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Analysts Recommend These Stocks To Cushion The Automotive SlumpDespite sales coming in below the company’s forecast, Gentex posted net income attributable to the company of $114.7 million, up 19% from $96 million in the second quarter of 2025. Diluted earnings per share rose to a record second-quarter $0.54 from $0.43. On a non-GAAP basis, adjusted diluted EPS was $0.58, compared with $0.50 a year earlier.

Margins Benefit From Tariff Reimbursements and Mix Second-quarter gross margin rose 280 basis points year over year to 37%. The result included approximately $18 million of IEEPA tariff reimbursements that reduced cost of goods sold. Gentex received about $38 million in total reimbursements during the quarter, with the remaining roughly $20 million reducing inventory held on the balance sheet rather than benefiting gross margin.

Downing said gross margin also benefited from product mix, operational execution and improving profitability in the company’s other-products category. Those gains were partly offset by higher commodity costs, lower sales and higher precious-metals costs. Excluding the $18 million reimbursement benefit, gross margin improved about 50 basis points sequentially from the first quarter.

Income from operations increased 19% to $141.3 million. Adjusted operating expenses were $99.3 million, compared with $97.5 million in the prior-year quarter. The company’s effective tax rate was 16.5%, versus 17.2% a year earlier.

Audio and Other Products Expand Non-automotive revenue accounted for approximately 14% of total company sales during the quarter. Premium audio revenue rose 16% to $51.7 million, driven by powered systems and the Onkyo brand, according to Vice President of Finance and CFO Kevin Nash.

Revenue in the other-products category increased 12% to $39.4 million. The category includes aerospace products, fire-protection devices, medical technologies, biometric solutions and automotive aftermarket products. Nash said growth was led by aerospace products, biometrics and accessory revenues.

Chief Operating Officer and Chief Technology Officer Neil Boehm said more than 75% of Gentex’s automotive product launches during the quarter incorporated advanced features, including HomeLink, Full Display Mirror, in-cabin monitoring and advanced exterior auto-dimming mirrors.

The company began shipping Full Display Mirror products on the Jeep Recon and Infiniti QX65, as well as to McLaren for its W1, Toyota for the Century SUV, and Subaru for the Trailseeker and Uncharted nameplates. Gentex also began shipping driver-monitoring and in-cabin-monitoring systems to BMW for the iX3 and Kia for the EV2.

Morocco Facility Planned for European Demand Gentex said it is establishing a manufacturing plant in Morocco to support European customers seeking more localized production. The company has signed a letter of intent, selected a location and received Moroccan government support for creating the local entity. Initial customer requests could include base electrochromic mirrors and advanced electronic modules, with a targeted start of production in 2028.

Downing said the move was driven by European customers’ requests for local support for vehicles built and sold in the region. He said Gentex has received several customer commitments and expects the plant initially to transition final assembly work from the United States before potentially supporting existing and new programs.

The company said its core technologies would continue to come from existing facilities and that it does not expect the Moroccan expansion to create a large increase in operating expenses or excess capacity at its core plants.

Gentex also said it expects to announce its first advanced electronics contract-manufacturing award by the end of the next quarter, with production targeted for late 2028 or early 2029. Downing said the initial award could represent $100 million to $200 million in revenue, with additional opportunities potentially becoming larger after 2029.

Guidance Maintained for Revenue, Updated for Margins and Spending Gentex maintained its full-year 2026 consolidated revenue outlook of $2.65 billion to $2.75 billion. The company raised its gross-margin forecast to 34.5% to 35.5%, lowered expected operating expenses to $405 million to $415 million, and reduced its estimated tax rate to 16% to 17%.

The company also lowered projected capital expenditures to $115 million to $125 million, while maintaining depreciation and amortization guidance of $100 million to $110 million. Gentex continues to expect 2027 revenue of $2.8 billion to $2.9 billion.

Management’s production assumptions call for global light-vehicle production to decline about 2% in the third quarter and 3% for full-year 2026. For 2027, global production is expected to be relatively flat, although Gentex anticipates continued weakness in its primary automotive markets of North America, Europe, Japan and Korea.

Downing said the company expects second-half growth to be supported by additional Full Display Mirror launches and increasing production of driver-monitoring and in-cabin-monitoring systems. He also cited future contributions from dimmable visors, sunroofs, fourth-generation Full Display Mirror products and expanded premium-audio offerings.

Gentex generated preliminary operating cash flow of $180.9 million in the second quarter, up from $166.1 million a year earlier. Capital expenditures fell to $19.2 million from $31.1 million, resulting in free cash flow of $161.7 million, up about 20% year over year. During the quarter, the company repurchased 2.7 million shares for $66 million at an average price of $24.48 per share.

About Gentex (NASDAQ:GNTX)Gentex Corporation NASDAQ: GNTX is a global technology company specializing in the design and manufacture of automotive and aerospace products. The company's primary business centers on automatic-dimming rearview mirrors, advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS), and camera-based driver monitoring technologies. In the automotive sector, Gentex supplies exterior and interior mirrors with integrated electronics, connectivity features, and safety capabilities to many of the world's leading original equipment manufacturers (OEMs).

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 Gentex Right Now?Before you consider Gentex, 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 Gentex wasn't on the list.

While Gentex currently has a Hold rating among analysts, top-rated analysts believe these five stocks are better buys.

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For new and old investors, taking full advantage of the stock market and investing with confidence are common goals. Zacks Premium provides lots of 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.

Zacks Premium also includes 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 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 ScoreFor value investors, it's all about finding good stocks at good prices, and discovering which companies are trading under their true value before the broader market catches on. The Value Style Score utilizes ratios like P/E, PEG, Price/Sales, Price/Cash Flow, and a host of other multiples to help pick out 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 trading is all about taking advantage of upward or downward trends in a stock's price or earnings outlook, and these investors live by the saying "the trend is your friend." The Momentum Style Score can pinpoint good times to build a position in a stock, using factors like one-week price change and the monthly percentage change in earnings estimates.

VGM ScoreWhat if you like to use all three types of investing? The VGM Score is a combination of all Style Scores, making it one of the most comprehensive indicators to use with the Zacks Rank. It rates each stock on their combined weighted styles, which helps narrow 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.

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.

To have the best chance of big returns, you'll want to always consider stocks with a Zacks Rank #1 or #2 that also have Style Scores of A or B, which will give you the highest probability of success. If you're looking at stocks with a #3 (Hold) rank, it's important they have Scores of A or B as well to ensure as much upside potential as possible.

As mentioned above, the Scores are designed to work with the Zacks Rank, so any change to a company's earnings outlook should be a deciding factor when picking which stocks to buy.

For instance, a stock with a #4 (Sell) or #5 (Strong Sell) rating, even one that boasts Scores of A and B, still has a downward-trending earnings forecast, and a much greater likelihood its share price will decline as well.

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

Stock to Watch: W.R. Berkley (WRB - Free Report) Founded in 1967 and based in Greenwich, CT, W.R. Berkley Corp. is a Fortune 500 company. It is one of the nation’s largest commercial lines property casualty insurance providers. The company offers a variety of insurance services from reinsurance to workers’ comp third-party administrators (TPAs) across the United States and in 87 other countries. 

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

Momentum investors should take note of this Finance stock. WRB has a Momentum Style Score of A, and shares are up 6% over the past four weeks.

For fiscal 2026, five analysts revised their earnings estimate upwards in the last 60 days, and the Zacks Consensus Estimate has increased $0.08 to $4.75 per share. WRB boasts an average earnings surprise of +8.4%.

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

Taking full advantage of the stock market and investing with confidence are common goals for new and old investors, and Zacks Premium offers many different ways to do both.

Featuring 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, the research service can help you become a smarter, more self-assured investor.

Zacks Premium includes access to the Zacks Style Scores as well.

What are the Zacks Style Scores? The Zacks Style Scores is a unique set of guidelines that rates stocks based on three popular investing types, and were developed as complementary indicators for the Zacks Rank. This combination helps investors choose securities with the highest chances of beating the market over the next 30 days.

Based on their value, growth, and momentum characteristics, each stock is assigned a rating of A, B, C, D, or F. The better the score, the better chance the stock will outperform; an A is better than a B, a B is better than a C, and so on.

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 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 ScoreWhat if you like to use all three types of investing? The VGM Score is a combination of all Style Scores, making it one of the most comprehensive indicators to use with the Zacks Rank. It rates each stock on their combined weighted styles, which helps narrow 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.

With more than 800 top-rated stocks to choose from, it can certainly feel overwhelming to pick the ones that are right for you and your investing journey.

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.

For instance, a stock with a #4 (Sell) or #5 (Strong Sell) rating, even one that boasts Scores of A and B, still has a downward-trending earnings forecast, and a much greater likelihood its share price will decline as well.

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

Stock to Watch: Capital One (COF - Free Report) Headquartered in McLean, VA, Capital One Financial Corporation was founded in 1988 and focuses primarily on consumer and commercial lending, along with deposit origination. The company offers a wide range of financial products and services to consumers, small businesses, and commercial clients across the United States through its banking and non-banking subsidiaries.

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

It also boasts a Value Style Score of A thanks to attractive valuation metrics like a forward P/E ratio of 10.03; value investors should take notice.

Four analysts revised their earnings estimate upwards in the last 60 days for fiscal 2026. The Zacks Consensus Estimate has increased $0.41 to $19.93 per share. COF boasts an average earnings surprise of +12.8%.

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

While the proven Zacks Rank places an emphasis on earnings estimates and estimate revisions to find strong stocks, we also know that investors tend to develop their own individual strategies. With this in mind, we are always looking at value, growth, and momentum trends to discover great companies.

Of these, perhaps no stock market trend is more popular than value investing, which is a strategy that has proven to be successful in all sorts of market environments. Value investors use a variety of methods, including tried-and-true valuation metrics, to find these stocks.

On top of the Zacks Rank, investors can also look at our innovative Style Scores system to find stocks with specific traits. For example, value investors will want to focus on the "Value" category. Stocks with high Zacks Ranks and "A" grades for Value will be some of the highest-quality value stocks on the market today.

One stock to keep an eye on is Molina Healthcare (MOH - Free Report) . MOH is currently sporting a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), as well as an A grade for Value. The stock holds a P/E ratio of 9.08, while its industry has an average P/E of 17.77. Over the past year, MOH's Forward P/E has been as high as 13.98 and as low as 6.48, with a median of 11.46.

Another notable valuation metric for MOH is its P/B ratio of 2.06. The P/B ratio is used to compare a stock's market value with its book value, which is defined as total assets minus total liabilities. This stock's P/B looks solid versus its industry's average P/B of 2.94. Over the past 12 months, MOH's P/B has been as high as 4.44 and as low as 1.79, with a median of 3.71.

Value investors also frequently use the P/S ratio. This metric is found by dividing a stock's price with the company's revenue. Some people prefer this metric because sales are harder to manipulate on an income statement. This means it could be a truer performance indicator. MOH has a P/S ratio of 0.23. This compares to its industry's average P/S of 0.31.

These figures are just a handful of the metrics value investors tend to look at, but they help show that Molina Healthcare is likely being undervalued right now. Considering this, as well as the strength of its earnings outlook, MOH feels like a great value stock at the moment.

Update! What Is Congress Trading So Far In 2025? Kinsale Capital Group NYSE: KNSL reported higher second-quarter operating earnings and continued underwriting profitability despite what management described as a competitive and softening excess-and-surplus, or E&S, insurance market.

Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer Michael Kehoe said diluted operating earnings per share rose 15.9% from the second quarter of 2025 to $5.54. The company generated an annualized operating return on equity of 24.4% and posted a combined ratio of 75.5% for the quarter.

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2 Real-Estate Related Stocks Showing Signs Of Being UndervaluedGross written premium declined 5% year over year, while net written premium fell 1.4%. Net earned premium increased 8.9%. Kehoe said the company is prioritizing underwriting profitability over top-line expansion as competition varies substantially by market segment.

Commercial property pressures weigh on premium Kinsale said competition was most intense in its Commercial Property Division, which writes larger layered property accounts. Kehoe said the market has experienced material rate declines and broader coverage terms, describing the environment as a buyer's market.

Don't Overlook Hidden Gem Kinsale As Rallies To New HighsAs a result, Kinsale is writing a smaller volume of business in that division. Excluding Commercial Property, gross written premium grew 3.7% in the second quarter and 4.8% in the first half of 2026.

Chief Underwriting Officer Stuart Winston said the company will not pursue growth that compromises returns. He cited favorable underwriting conditions and meaningful growth in excess casualty, commercial auto, entertainment, environmental, agribusiness casualty and energy. Construction and certain professional lines, meanwhile, remained among the areas facing softer conditions.

New-business submissions increased 6% during the quarter. Excluding Commercial Property, submissions increased 8%, with more than half of Kinsale's divisions recording double-digit submission growth. Winston said the strongest activity came from small and medium-sized accounts, particularly those with premiums of $25,000 or less. Kinsale's average premium is approximately $12,000.

The company said its combined pricing trend was in line with the MS Amlin pricing index, which showed a 5.9% decrease in the second quarter, compared with a 3.3% decrease in the first quarter.

Underwriting results and reserve position Chief Financial Officer Bryan Petrucelli said net income increased 31.1% year over year, while net operating earnings increased 13.3%. The 75.5% combined ratio included 4.5 percentage points of favorable prior-year loss reserve development, compared with 3.9 points a year earlier. Catastrophe losses accounted for 1.3 points, versus less than one point in the 2025 quarter.

The expense ratio rose to 21.7% from 20.7%, reflecting a higher net commission ratio associated with larger reinsurance retentions. Petrucelli said the increased retention represented a favorable economic trade because the higher commission ratio is more than offset by increased underwriting and investment income.

Other underwriting expenses, which Petrucelli characterized as a measure of operating efficiency, declined to 10.3% from 10.6%.

Chief Analytics and Technology Officer Salmaan Allibhai said losses came in below management's expectations during the quarter, consistent with recent quarters. He attributed the results to normal variability and business mix rather than a specific unusual factor, and said reserves remain as conservative as they have been in the company’s history.

On casualty trends, Allibhai said Kinsale estimates loss-cost trends in the mid-single digits, varying by line of business. He said the company’s concentration in smaller accounts and lower limits has limited its exposure to social inflation relative to some other insurers.

Investment income, technology and capital allocation Net investment income rose 19.9% from the prior-year quarter, driven by growth in the investment portfolio from operating cash flow. Kinsale's float, largely consisting of unpaid losses and unearned premiums, reached $3.4 billion at June 30, up from $3.1 billion at the end of 2025.

The company reported an annualized gross investment return of 4.5% for the first half, compared with 4.3% a year earlier. New-money yields averaged about 5.25%, and the fixed-maturity portfolio had an average duration of roughly 4.25 years.

Management also highlighted investments in analytics, automation and artificial intelligence. Allibhai said Kinsale has consolidated its analytics and technology operations into one team, using its 17 years of company data, third-party data sources, statistical models and machine-learning tools to refine underwriting and pricing.

The company has deployed AI tools across analytics, technology, underwriting and claims functions, including functionality integrated into proprietary underwriting worksheets. Winston said workflow improvements and technology upgrades have helped Kinsale maintain or improve service levels while expanding its product and distribution capabilities.

Kinsale introduced nine product offerings or enhancements so far in 2026. Five additional launches were described as imminent, with another 10 in the pipeline. The company appointed 24 new wholesale brokers and 176 new retail brokers to Aspera, its in-house broker for most personal lines products. Kinsale expanded its stock-repurchase authorization by $250 million, bringing total current authorization to $337 million. Kehoe said repurchases are the company’s principal capital-allocation strategy while growth is more limited, though he said expanding growth would remain the first priority as market conditions improve.

About Kinsale Capital Group (NYSE:KNSL)Kinsale Capital Group, Inc NYSE: KNSL is a specialty property and casualty insurance company headquartered in Richmond, Virginia. Established in 2009, the company focuses on underwriting complex and underserved risks across the United States. Kinsale operates through a network of wholesale brokers and independent agencies, offering tailored coverage solutions for a range of niche industries.

The company's product portfolio includes general liability, business auto, professional liability, environmental liability, inland marine, cyber liability, and other specialty lines.

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

Should You Invest $1,000 in Kinsale Capital Group Right Now?Before you consider Kinsale Capital Group, 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 Kinsale Capital Group wasn't on the list.

While Kinsale Capital Group currently has a Reduce rating among analysts, top-rated analysts believe these five stocks are better buys.

View The Five Stocks Here

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Key Takeaways OTIS trades at 16.1X forward earnings, below its five-year median and key industry benchmarks.Otis cut 2026 EPS, operating profit and free cash flow guidance while keeping net sales unchanged.OTIS faces margin pressure as earnings estimates decline despite ongoing buybacks and a higher dividend. Otis Worldwide Corporation (OTIS - Free Report) has fallen 19% year to date, putting valuation back near the center of the investment debate.

The pullback offers a lower entry multiple, but it also reflects weaker profit visibility. Investors now have to weigh the recurring Service business, cash generation and capital returns against reduced guidance and margin execution risk.

OTIS Valuation Sits Below Key Historical BenchmarksOTIS traded at 16.1X forward 12-month earnings, a discount to its five-year median of 23.01X. That gap suggests the stock already reflects a more cautious earnings outlook.

The discount also extends beyond its own history. The stock traded below the Zacks sub-industry multiple of 21.55X, the sector multiple of 21.86X and the S&P 500 multiple of 20.42X. The $76 price target was based on a 17.29X forward multiple, still below its longer-term median.

Carrier Global Corporation (CARR - Free Report) , another industrial building-systems name, offers a useful comparison because investors also evaluate its service and installed-base exposure. United Rentals, Inc. (URI - Free Report) sits in a different part of the industrial cycle, but it gives investors another read on equipment demand and construction-related spending.

Otis Guidance Cuts Weaken the Earnings CaseOtis lowered adjusted earnings per share guidance for 2026 to $4.01-$4.05 from $4.20-$4.24. Adjusted operating profit guidance was cut to about $2.4 billion from about $2.5 billion.

Adjusted free cash flow guidance also moved down to $1.50-$1.55 billion from $1.60-$1.65 billion. Net sales guidance stayed at $15.1-$15.3 billion, so the revision points less to a revenue shortfall and more to weaker conversion from sales into profit and cash flow.

OTIS Cash Returns Offer Partial Downside SupportCash returns remain part of the case for OTIS. First-half adjusted free cash flow reached $562 million, while the company repurchased roughly $800 million of shares in the first half.

The dividend was raised 5%, and the stock offered a dividend yield of 2.5%. These actions may not fully offset margin pressure, but they provide a measure of shareholder-return support while management works through cost and productivity issues.

Owens Corning Inc (OC - Free Report) , a building-products peer, is another relevant industrial comparison for investors tracking construction-linked demand and margin resilience. Its inclusion helps frame OTIS within a broader group where operating execution often matters as much as end-market exposure.

Otis Earnings Estimates and Margins Raise CautionMargin trends are the main reason the lower valuation does not automatically create a clear buying signal. Adjusted operating margin contracted 180 basis points to 15.2% in the second quarter.

Service margin fell 170 basis points to 23.2%, even as segment sales increased. New Equipment margin declined 220 basis points to 3.1%, pressured by lower volume, unfavorable pricing and adverse mix. The fiscal 2026 earnings per share estimate also fell 4.7% over four weeks, showing that expectations were still resetting.

OTIS Scores Point to a Mixed Investment SetupThe bottom line is that OTIS looks cheaper, but the discount comes with visible earnings and margin risks. A durable Service model and cash returns support the long-term profile, while guidance cuts keep near-term conviction limited.

The stock currently carries a Zacks Rank #4 (Sell). That rank weighs against treating the valuation discount as an immediate buying signal because the Zacks Rank is tied to short-term earnings estimate trends.

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

The Style Scores show a mixed setup. OTIS has a Growth Score of B and a VGM Score of B, indicating better relative characteristics on growth and the combined value, growth and momentum framework. Its Value Score of C and Momentum Score of C are more neutral, reinforcing a cautious stance until estimate trends and margins show steadier footing.

Swiss Franc Technical Forecast: USD/CHF Short-term Trade Levels USD/CHF has rallied to fresh yearly highs after breaking out of the July opening-range The rally is now approaching the upper bounds of the yearly uptrend at a major technical hurdle- inflection risk rises A sustained breakout is needed to signal the next leg higher while failure at current levels would increase the risk of a larger pullback within the prevailing uptrend. Next week's FOMC decision and U.S. inflation data could provide the catalyst for the next directional move. Resistance 8100/25 (key), 8200/15, 8333- Support 8041, 8009 (key), 7910/27 USD/CHF is attempting to register a fifth consecutive daily advance after rebounding sharply from the July opening-range low, carrying the pair towards a major technical inflection zone. The rally is pressing the upper bounds of the yearly uptrend, where multiple resistance studies converge and the risk of a larger reaction increase. A decisive close above this barrier would strengthen the broader bullish outlook and pave the way for next major leg of the rally, while rejection would keep the focus on a  potential pullback within the late-May uptrend. Battles lines drawn on the USD/CHF short-term technical charts ahead of next week's FOMC decision.

Review my latest Weekly Strategy Webinar for an in-depth breakdown of this USD/CHF setup and more. Join live on Monday’s at 8:30am EST.

Swiss Franc Price Chart – USD/CHF Daily

Chart Prepared by Michael Boutros, Sr. Technical Strategist; USD/CHF on TradingView

Technical Outlook: In last month’s Swiss Franc Short-term Outlook we noted that USD/CHF was, “testing confluent uptrend resistance and while the outlook remains constructive, the immediate focus is on a reaction off this mark into the close of the week. From a trading standpoint, losses would need to be limited to 8041 IF price is heading higher on this stretch with a close above the upper parallel needed to fuel the next major leg of the rally.” USD/CHF pulled back nearly 1.6% off those highs in the following days with price briefly registering an intraday low at 8010 into the July open before rebounding.

The recovery has now broken the monthly opening range with USD/CHF poised to mark a fifth consecutive daily advance on Friday. The rally is now approaching a major technical hurdle just higher, and the risk rises for possible price inflection into the upper bounds of the yearly uptrend.

Swiss Franc Price Chart – USD/CHF 240min

Chart Prepared by Michael Boutros, Sr. Technical Strategist; USD/CHF on TradingView

Notes: A closer look at Swisse price action shows USD/CHF continuing to trade within the confines of the ascending pitchfork we have been tracking off the late-May low. The 75% parallel now converges on key lateral resistance at the 100% extension of the January advance and the 38.2% retracement of the 2025 decline at 8200/15. Look for a larger reaction there IF reached with a topside breach / daily close above needed to fuel the next major leg of the advance. Subsequent resistance objectives are eyed at the upper parallel (currently near ~8280s) and the 2023 swing low at 8333.

Initial support rests with the monthly opening range high at 8152 and is backed by the 8100/25 pivot zone. This region is defined by the November high-day close (HDC), the 61.8% extension of the 2022 decline, the August high close and the November swing high. Near-term bullish invalidation is now raised to the objective monthly open at 8083- losses below this threshold would suggest a more significant high is in place with a break of the January high at 8041 needed to put the bears back in control.

           

Bottom line: USD/CHF has broken to fresh yearly highs with the rally now approaching major technical resistance at the upper bounds of the yearly uptrend. From a trading standpoint, look to reduce long-exposure / raise protective stops on a stretch towards the 82-handle- losses would need to be limited to 8083 IF price is heading higher on this stretch with a close above the upper parallel (on the daily chart) needed to fuel the next major leg of the rally.

Keep in mind that the FOMC rate decision is on tap Wednesday, followed by the release of the June Core Personal Consumption Expenditures (PCE) report on Thursday. As the Fed's preferred measure of underlying inflation, the PCE data will be closely scrutinized for signs that rising energy prices are beginning to filter through to broader price pressures. A stronger-than-expected reading would reinforce the case for additional policy tightening later this year, providing further support for the U.S. dollar. Fed funds futures are currently pricing a 64% probability the Fed leaves rates unchanged next week, while assigning an 80% chance of a 25-basis-point rate hike at the September meeting. Stay nimble into the release and watch the weekly closes for guidance here. Review my latest Swiss Franc Weekly Forecast for a closer look at the longer-term USD/CHF technical trade levels.

USD/CHF Key Economic Data Releases

Economic Calendar - latest economic developments and upcoming event risk.

Active Short-term Technical Charts Canadian Dollar Short-term Outlook: USD/CAD Rebound Challenges the July Downtrend Australian Dollar Outlook: AUD/USD Rally Tests Make-or-Break Resistance Japanese Yen Short-term Outlook: USD/JPY Defends the Uptrend as the Range Tightens British Pound Short-term Outlook: GBP/USD Breakout Attempts Major Trend Reversal US Dollar Short-term Outlook: USD Uptrend Faces Make-or-Break Test After CPI Euro Short-term Outlook: EUR/USD Coils Above Critical Support- Decision Time Gold Price Short-term Outlook: XAU/USD Bulls Try to Carve Out a Low After 30% Drop --- Written by Michael Boutros, Sr Technical Strategist

Follow Michael on X @MBForex

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

A Small AI Company Just Took the Stage at One of the Biggest Events in Computing, and It Points to Where Drug Discovery Is Headed

Key Takeaways United Rentals topped Q2 earnings estimates, raised its 2026 view and cited accelerating large-project demand.Specialty rental revenues rose 24.8% y/y to a record $1.43B, with growth across all seven business lines.URI lifted its gross CapEx guidance to $4.85-$5.25B as record utilization supported added fleet investment. United Rentals, Inc. (URI - Free Report) highlighted accelerating demand, record utilization and a stronger outlook during its second-quarter 2026 earnings call. Management raised its full-year guidance as large projects and customer activity exceeded prior expectations.

Executives emphasized capital discipline, specialty rental growth and operational execution as the key themes, while analyst questions focused on margins, capacity expansion and the durability of current demand trends.

URI Sees Demand Momentum ContinueCEO Matthew Flannery said that United Rentals is benefiting from strong customer activity, particularly around large projects, while its technology, service model and broad fleet offering continue to differentiate the business.

URI reported second-quarter adjusted earnings per share of $12.76, beating the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $11.67. Revenues were $4.41 billion, surpassing the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $4.24 billion.

Management pointed to construction, infrastructure and industrial activity as important contributors, with projects involving hospitals, airports, LNG terminals and data centers supporting demand.

United Rentals Expands Specialty ReachUnited Rentals said that specialty rental revenues increased 24.8% year over year to a quarterly record of $1.43 billion. The company reported growth across all seven specialty business lines.

Flannery noted that complex customer projects require broader service capabilities, supporting demand for the company’s one-stop-shop approach. Specialty offerings such as power, HVAC, tools and matting continued to gain traction.

The company also highlighted strength in power-related demand, which management said represents an important growth area with continued organic expansion opportunities.

URI Raises CapEx Behind UtilizationURI increased its gross rental capital expenditure guidance after demand exceeded earlier expectations. Management said that historically high time utilization levels supported additional fleet investment.

The company raised its gross CapEx guidance to $4.85-$5.25 billion from the prior mentioned $4.4-$4.8 billion. Net rental capital expenditure is expected to be $3.4-$3.8 billion.

Flannery said that the company is adding fleet based on confidence in project visibility rather than simply pursuing near-term revenue opportunities. Management expects large-project demand trends to continue into the following year.

United Rentals Addresses Margin PressureURI discussed margin dynamics as analysts questioned the impacts of fuel costs, delivery expenses and ancillary revenue growth. CFO William Grace said that cost execution remained a priority.

The adjusted EBITDA margin was 46.6% in the quarter. Excluding the benefits from the sale of part of the scaffolding business, management said that the underlying margin performance reflected ongoing cost actions.

Grace noted that labor, delivery and repair-related costs showed positive absorption trends, while higher ancillary and re-rent revenue growth created some margin mix pressure.

URI Highlights Capital StrengthURI maintained a focus on shareholder returns and balance sheet flexibility. The company ended the quarter with a net leverage ratio of 1.8X and total liquidity of nearly $3 billion.

Management said that it returned $998 million to shareholders year to date through share repurchases and dividends. The company expects to complete $1.5 billion in share repurchases in 2026.

The company also discussed potential credit improvement after S&P raised its outlook, while management continued to emphasize maintaining financial flexibility for growth and capital returns.

United Rentals Maintains Strategic FocusAnalysts questioned whether improving local markets, acquisitions and industry consolidation could provide additional growth opportunities. Management said that consolidation remains part of the equipment rental industry’s evolution.

Flannery said that the company continues evaluating acquisitions, particularly opportunities that expand specialty offerings or address portfolio gaps. He noted that current growth is primarily organic.

Management’s overall message centered on continued execution, disciplined investment and supporting customers through large-scale projects while preserving returns.

Zacks Rank & Style ScoresURI currently carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). The Zacks Rank focuses on earnings estimate revisions and is designed to help identify stocks with stronger potential relative performance over the next one to three months. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.

The company has a Value Score of C, a Growth Score of B, a Momentum Score of C and a VGM Score of B. Zacks Style Scores range from A to F, with stronger scores indicating more favorable characteristics for their respective investment styles.

The combination of a Zacks Rank #2 and a VGM Score of B reflects favorable characteristics across the combined value, growth and momentum measures. The Zacks Rank can change as analysts update earnings estimates following the quarterly results.

LOS ANGELES, July 24, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Schall Law Firm, a national shareholder rights litigation firm, reminds investors of a class action lawsuit against Hub Group, Inc. (“Hub” or “the Company”) (NASDAQ: HUBG) for violations of §§10(b) and 20(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and Rule 10b-5 promulgated thereunder by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

Investors who purchased the Company’s securities between April 28, 2023 and May 11, 2026, inclusive (the “Class Period”), are encouraged to contact the firm before August 28, 2026.

If you are a shareholder who suffered a loss, click here to participate.

We also encourage you to contact Brian Schall of the Schall Law Firm, 2049 Century Park East, Suite 2460, Los Angeles, CA 90067, at 310-301-3335, to discuss your rights free of charge. You can also reach us through the firm's website at www.schallfirm.com, or by email at [email protected].

The class, in this case, has not yet been certified, and until certification occurs, you are not represented by an attorney. If you choose to take no action, you can remain an absent class member.

According to the Complaint, the Company made false and misleading statements to the market. Hub suffered from material misstatements in its financial statements from Q1 2023 to Q4 2024 including its annual reports for 2023 and 2024. The Company’s misstatements included operating revenue, operating income, and revenue recognition. The Company’s financial statements from Q1 2025 to Q3 2025 contained misstatements related to the understatement of purchased transportation costs amongst other errors. Based on these facts, the Company’s public statements were false and materially misleading throughout the class period. When the market learned the truth about Hub, investors suffered damages.

Join the case to recover your losses

The Schall Law Firm represents investors around the world and specializes in securities class action lawsuits and shareholder rights litigation.

This press release may be considered Attorney Advertising in some jurisdictions under the applicable law and rules of ethics.        

CONTACT:

The Schall Law Firm
Brian Schall, Esq.,
www.schallfirm.com
Office: 310-301-3335
[email protected]

SOURCE:

 The Schall Law Firm

LOS ANGELES, July 24, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Schall Law Firm, a national shareholder rights litigation firm, reminds investors of a class action lawsuit against Insulet Corporation (“Insulet” or “the Company”) (NASDAQ: PODD) for violations of §§10(b) and 20(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and Rule 10b-5 promulgated thereunder by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

Investors who purchased the Company’s securities between February 21, 2025 and May 26, 2026, inclusive (the “Class Period”), are encouraged to contact the firm before August 31, 2026.

If you are a shareholder who suffered a loss, click here to participate.

We also encourage you to contact Brian Schall of the Schall Law Firm, 2049 Century Park East, Suite 2460, Los Angeles, CA 90067, at 310-301-3335, to discuss your rights free of charge. You can also reach us through the firm's website at www.schallfirm.com, or by email at [email protected].

The class, in this case, has not yet been certified, and until certification occurs, you are not represented by an attorney. If you choose to take no action, you can remain an absent class member.

According to the Complaint, the Company made false and misleading statements to the market. Insulet suffered from defective controls over its manufacturing processes. The Company faced increased risks of safety violations due to these deficiencies. The Company’s manufacturing problem necessitating its March 2026 Medical Device Cirrection impacted a greater number of its Pod Products than it claimed. Based on these facts, the Company’s public statements were false and materially misleading throughout the class period. When the market learned the truth about Insulet, investors suffered damages.

Join the case to recover your losses.

The Schall Law Firm represents investors around the world and specializes in securities class action lawsuits and shareholder rights litigation.

This press release may be considered Attorney Advertising in some jurisdictions under the applicable law and rules of ethics.

CONTACT:

The Schall Law Firm
Brian Schall, Esq.,
www.schallfirm.com
Office: 310-301-3335
[email protected]

SOURCE:

 The Schall Law Firm

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Investors interested in Utilities stocks should always be looking to find the best-performing companies in the group. CenterPoint Energy (CNP - Free Report) is a stock that can certainly grab the attention of many investors, but do its recent returns compare favorably to the sector as a whole? A quick glance at the company's year-to-date performance in comparison to the rest of the Utilities sector should help us answer this question.

CenterPoint Energy is a member of the Utilities sector. This group includes 111 individual stocks and currently holds a Zacks Sector Rank of #16. The Zacks Sector Rank considers 16 different groups, measuring the average Zacks Rank of the individual stocks within the sector to gauge the strength of each group.

The Zacks Rank is a proven system that emphasizes earnings estimates and estimate revisions, highlighting a variety of stocks that are displaying the right characteristics to beat the market over the next one to three months. CenterPoint Energy is currently sporting a Zacks Rank of #2 (Buy).

Over the past 90 days, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for CNP's full-year earnings has moved 0.1% higher. This shows that analyst sentiment has improved and the company's earnings outlook is stronger.

Based on the most recent data, CNP has returned 15.4% so far this year. Meanwhile, stocks in the Utilities group have gained about 8.1% on average. As we can see, CenterPoint Energy is performing better than its sector in the calendar year.

Another stock in the Utilities sector, Evergy Inc (EVRG - Free Report) , has outperformed the sector so far this year. The stock's year-to-date return is 19.5%.

For Evergy Inc, the consensus EPS estimate for the current year has increased 0% over the past three months. The stock currently has a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy).

Breaking things down more, CenterPoint Energy is a member of the Utility - Electric Power industry, which includes 63 individual companies and currently sits at #165 in the Zacks Industry Rank. This group has gained an average of 9.9% so far this year, so CNP is performing better in this area. Evergy Inc is also part of the same industry.

Investors interested in the Utilities sector may want to keep a close eye on CenterPoint Energy and Evergy Inc as they attempt to continue their solid performance.

Investors in Constellation Energy Corporation (CEG - Free Report) need to pay close attention to the stock based on moves in the options market lately. That is because the January 15, 2027 $95.00 Call had some of the highest implied volatility of all equity options today.

What is Implied Volatility?Implied volatility shows how much movement the market is expecting in the future. Options with high levels of implied volatility suggest that investors in the underlying stocks are expecting a big move in one direction or the other. It could also mean there is an event coming up soon that may cause a big rally or a huge sell off. However, implied volatility is only one piece of the puzzle when putting together an options trading strategy.

What do the Analysts Think?Clearly, options traders are pricing in a big move for Constellation Energy share, but what is the fundamental picture for the company? Currently, Constellation Energy is a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) in the Alternative Energy - Other Industry that ranks in the Bottom 38% of our Zacks Industry Rank. Over the last 60 days, no analysts have increased their estimates for the current quarter, while two have revised their estimates downward. The net effect has taken our Zacks Consensus Estimate for the current quarter to move from $2.30 per share to $2.24 per share in the same time period.

Given the way analysts feel about Constellation Energy right now, this huge implied volatility could mean there’s a trade developing. Often times, options traders look for options with high levels of implied volatility to sell premium. This is a strategy many seasoned traders use because it captures decay. At expiration, the hope for these traders is that the underlying stock does not move as much as originally expected.

The market expects AutoNation (AN - Free Report) to deliver a year-over-year decline in earnings on lower revenues when it reports results for the quarter ended June 2026. This widely-known consensus outlook is important in assessing the company's earnings picture, but a powerful factor that might influence 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 auto retailer is expected to post quarterly earnings of $5.43 per share in its upcoming report, which represents a year-over-year change of -0.6%.

Revenues are expected to be $6.97 billion, down 0.1% from the year-ago quarter.

Estimate Revisions TrendThe consensus EPS estimate for the quarter has been revised 1.08% 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 an aggregate change may not always reflect the direction of estimate revisions by each of the covering analysts.

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 AutoNation?For AutoNation, the Most Accurate Estimate is lower than the Zacks Consensus Estimate, suggesting that analysts have recently become bearish on the company's earnings prospects. This has resulted in an Earnings ESP of -0.22%.

On the other hand, the stock currently carries a Zacks Rank of #3.

So, this combination makes it difficult to conclusively predict that AutoNation 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 AutoNation would post earnings of $4.71 per share when it actually produced earnings of $4.69, delivering a surprise of -0.42%.

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.

AutoNation 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.

An Industry Player's Expected ResultsAmong the stocks in the Zacks Automotive - Retail and Whole Sales industry, Group 1 Automotive (GPI - Free Report) , is soon expected to post earnings of $10.79 per share for the quarter ended June 2026. This estimate indicates a year-over-year change of -6.3%. This quarter's revenue is expected to be $5.65 billion, down 0.9% from the year-ago quarter.

Over the last 30 days, the consensus EPS estimate for Group 1 Automotive has been revised 1.6% down to the current level. Nevertheless, the company now has an Earnings ESP of -0.03%, reflecting a lower Most Accurate Estimate.

This Earnings ESP, combined with its Zacks Rank #4 (Sell), makes it difficult to conclusively predict that Group 1 Automotive will beat the consensus EPS estimate. Over the last four quarters, the company surpassed EPS estimates just once.

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

First Hawaiian (FHB - Free Report) reported $231.27 million in revenue for the quarter ended June 2026, representing a year-over-year increase of 6.3%. EPS of $0.60 for the same period compares to $0.58 a year ago.

The reported revenue represents a surprise of +1.48% over the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $227.91 million. With the consensus EPS estimate being $0.60, the company has not delivered EPS surprise.

While investors scrutinize revenue and earnings changes year-over-year and how they compare with Wall Street expectations to determine their next move, some key metrics always offer a more accurate picture of a company's financial health.

As these metrics influence top- and bottom-line performance, comparing them to the year-ago numbers and what analysts estimated helps investors project a stock's price performance more accurately.

Here is how First Hawaiian performed in the just reported quarter in terms of the metrics most widely monitored and projected by Wall Street analysts:

Net charge-offs: 0.1% versus the three-analyst average estimate of 0.1%.Total Non-Accrual Loans and Leases: $39.5 million versus $39.42 million estimated by three analysts on average.Net interest margin: 3.3% compared to the 3.2% average estimate based on three analysts.Efficiency Ratio: 56.2% versus the three-analyst average estimate of 56.1%.Average Balance - Total Earning Assets: $21.19 billion versus the three-analyst average estimate of $21.45 billion.Total Non-Performing Assets: $39.5 million versus the three-analyst average estimate of $40.75 million.Total Noninterest Income: $60.28 million versus $54.58 million estimated by three analysts on average.Net Interest Income (FTE): $171.9 million compared to the $173.33 million average estimate based on three analysts.Net Interest Income: $170.99 million compared to the $172.67 million average estimate based on three analysts.Service charges on deposit accounts: $8.32 million versus the two-analyst average estimate of $8.28 million.Other service charges and fees: $14.41 million versus $14.01 million estimated by two analysts on average.Noninterest income- Other: $6.01 million versus the two-analyst average estimate of $2.64 million.View all Key Company Metrics for First Hawaiian here>>>

Shares of First Hawaiian have returned -2.2% over the past month versus the Zacks S&P 500 composite's +0.6% change. The stock currently has a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), indicating that it could outperform the broader market in the near term.

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

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

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

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Analyst’s Disclosure: I/we have no stock, option or similar derivative position in any of the companies mentioned, and no plans to initiate any such positions within the next 72 hours. I wrote this article myself, and it expresses my own opinions. I am not receiving compensation for it (other than from Seeking Alpha). I have no business relationship with any company whose stock is mentioned in this article.

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