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11.8.2026 18:46, BAACEZ

Nic nového k transformaci ČEZu dnes v průběhu dne ani na konferenčním hovoru s managementem nezaznělo. Management sdělil, že proces je v běhu a vše jde dle plánu. De facto tak nyní probíhá převod jednotlivých firem ze zákaznického segmentu do nově vzniklé dceřiné společnosti ČEZ Energy, resp. probíhá příprava jejich oceňování a příprava optimalizace kapitálové struktury.

Aktuální informace tak nezazněly ani k transferu dluhu, nebo-li otázka jaká část dluhu připadne na ČEZ Energy zatím není zodpovězena. Dle managementu se toto téma nadále analyzuje a diskutuje. ČEZ aktuálně operuje s čistým dluhem kolem 200 mld. Kč.

Náš pohled: Modelově lze rozdělit čistý dluh mezi výrobní část a zákaznickou část (ČEZ Energy) rovnoměrně, když provozní ziskovost obou částí je ze střednědobého pohledu přibližně vyrovnaná. Na druhou stranu zákaznické byznysy generující relativně stabilní ziskovost (cash flow) obecně řečeno snesou větší míru zadlužení, resp. ratingové agentury právě v kontextu stability hospodaření tolerují tomuto typu společností větší míru čistého dluhu. Dokážeme si tedy představit, že ČEZ Energy může být zadlužen i v rozmezí 2,5 – 3x EBITDA, což by indikovalo čistý dluh přesahující 100 mld. Kč, resp. v intervalu 130 – 150 mld. Kč. Na skutečnost si budeme muset ještě počkat. Management potvrdil termín 1Q 2027 ohledně převodu aktiv a závazků do ČEZ Energy.

Již v době zveřejnění na začátku letošního června nás zaujala jedna akvizice v ESCO službách (segment prodej), konkrétně koupě německého dodavatele tepla a energetických služeb Techem Solutions. Díky této firmě spravující energetické zdroje o celkovém výkonu 539 MW a obsluhující více než 2600 zákazníků by se měl stát německý prodejní segment ČEZu robustnějším s potenciálem stabilnější profitability a cash flow. Management zatím na konferenčním hovoru nebyl konkrétní kolik tato akvizice přispěje do výsledků ČEZu. Akvizice ještě není vypořádána, její dokončení se předpokládá ve 2H 2026. Detailnější vhled do čísel tak zřejmě uvidíme až v březnu při zveřejnění výhledu na rok 2027. Každopádně tato akvizice má z našeho pohledu potenciál zase o něco zatraktivnit prodejní, resp. zákaznický segment a vylepšit jeho EBITDA.

Na hovoru nás zaujal dotaz týkající se rizika možného znovuzavedení „windfal tax“ s ohledem na blízkovýchodní krizi a růst cen komodit. Management sdělil, že nevidí žádné náznaky opětovného zavedení mimořádné daně. Aktuální situace je dle něho výrazně odlišná oproti roku 2022, kdy panovala bezprecedentní situace na komoditních trzích vlivem konfliktu na Ukrajině.

Na hovoru jsme se dotkli i dopadu sucha na evropské jaderné bloky. ČEZu konkrétně nehrozí žádné mimořádné odstávky jaderných reaktorů kvůli suchu. ČEZ disponuje dostatečnými vodními kapacitami pro chlazení svých bloků, v tomto směru je jeho produkce z jádra dostatečně robustní.

Akcie ČEZ (BAACEZ) dnes na pražské burze poklesly o 0,65 % na 1376 Kč, na RM-SYSTÉMu oslabily o 0,72 % na 1371 Kč.

Jan Raška, analytik, Fio banka, a.s.

HighPeak Energy, Inc. Insiders Continue To Buy HighPeak Energy NASDAQ: HPK reported second-quarter results marked by production above its guidance range, lower-than-guided lease operating expenses and sequential growth in adjusted EBITDA and free cash flow, according to management’s earnings call.

President and CEO Michael Hollis said production was essentially flat from the first quarter and again exceeded the high end of the company’s guidance. For the first six months of 2026, production averaged 45,500 barrels of oil equivalent per day, while unit lease operating expense averaged $7.56 per BOE, approximately 13% below the midpoint of full-year guidance.

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“Our team went out and executed,” Hollis said, citing production performance, cost control and capital discipline. The company generated approximately $281 million of EBITDAX in the first half, he said.

Completion Activity Accelerated, Second-Half Spending Expected to Fall HighPeak said it accelerated a portion of completion activity into the second quarter to take advantage of favorable frac pricing and continue work with a simul-frac crew that management said had delivered improved efficiencies, faster cycle times and lower costs.

The company drilled 17 of its planned 29 wells during the first half of the year and completed 24 of its planned 33 wells. It also turned 20 wells in line, putting it on track toward its full-year target of 37 wells turned in line.

Hollis said the acceleration caused first-half capital spending to reach the mid- to upper-60% range of the annual budget, compared with an original expectation that about 60% of annual capital would be spent during the first half. HighPeak invested $185.9 million during the first six months, according to management.

Management characterized the spending shift as a timing decision rather than an increase to the budget. With more development activity completed earlier in the year, HighPeak expects capital spending to decline materially in the second half while production remains strong.

During the question-and-answer session, Hollis said the company completed 69% of its planned completion work in the first half. He added that HighPeak expects fewer frac-related production impacts during the remainder of the year.

“We think volumes will stay strong throughout the last half of the year,” Hollis said, adding that the company expects to generate significant free cash flow at reasonable oil prices.

Workover Program Supported Production Management highlighted its workover program as a contributor to second-quarter production. Hollis said HighPeak evaluated wells across its asset base and deployed relatively modest capital to return production to service and improve well productivity.

The company said workovers can offer quick paybacks and capital-efficient returns compared with drilling new wells. Workover costs are generally recorded in lease operating expenses when they involve required well interventions, while mini-stimulation work intended to increase reserves is captured as capital spending, Hollis said.

Hollis told analysts that the company had addressed much of the inventory of wells that could be quickly brought forward for workovers during the first half. However, he said workover opportunities will continue as wells require maintenance and interventions over time.

The workover activity also affected the company’s production mix in the second quarter. HighPeak’s oil percentage declined to 64%, below its guided 67% to 68% range, as completion activity temporarily affected higher-oil-cut wells and workovers brought back older wells with higher gas content.

For the remainder of the year, Hollis said he expects the oil cut to move closer to 67%.

Hedging and Balance Sheet Approach Stronger realized oil prices and stable production supported sequential increases in adjusted EBITDA and free cash flow, despite approximately $55 million of net cash hedge losses during the second quarter, Hollis said.

The company said a larger percentage of expected production is exposed to spot commodity prices. At the same time, it retains oil hedges primarily in the mid-$60-per-barrel range to provide downside protection.

HighPeak also added NYMEX WTI roll swaps to manage calendar-spread exposure and Waha basis swaps to reduce exposure to West Texas natural-gas pricing volatility, management said.

Hollis said the company had $146 million of cash at quarter-end and plans to make scheduled term-loan amortization payments of $30 million per quarter beginning at the end of the third quarter. While HighPeak expects to generate more than enough cash at current oil prices to meet that requirement, he said management will be cautious about accelerating repayments because prepayments cannot be reborrowed.

“We will definitely do the $30 million a quarter,” Hollis said. “We will have enough cash on hand to be able to weather any kind of variability over the next year or so.”

Gas Realizations Improve Following Weak Second Quarter HighPeak said it experienced a negative $1.50-per-Mcf gas realization in the second quarter amid weak Waha pricing, though Hollis described that result as comparatively favorable versus many public peers.

Looking ahead, he said the Gulf Coast Express expansion had helped narrow Waha differentials closer to negative $1 per Mcf, compared with negative $3 to negative $5 per Mcf previously. HighPeak expects better gas realizations during the rest of 2026 and at least through the first half of 2027.

Management said gas takeaway capacity has not constrained its operations. “We have not had one Mcf that we wasn’t able to put into a pipe,” Hollis said, though he noted the company had at times effectively paid for gas transportation because of depressed pricing.

For 2027, Hollis said the company’s setup should resemble 2026 in terms of capital requirements and production volumes. He said drilling efficiencies could result in two additional drilled-but-uncompleted wells moving into next year.

About HighPeak Energy (NASDAQ:HPK)HighPeak Energy, Inc NASDAQ: HPK is a Delaware‐incorporated independent oil and natural gas exploration and production company. The firm focuses on the acquisition, development and exploitation of onshore petroleum assets in the continental United States. Its operations encompass the full upstream value chain, including exploration, drilling, completion and production activities aimed at maximizing hydrocarbon recovery and operational efficiency.

The company’s primary business activities include identifying and acquiring conventional and unconventional oil and gas properties, applying advanced drilling and completion technologies, and managing midstream logistics to optimize product flow.

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

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Key Takeaways ASTS targets about 45 BlueBird satellites in orbit by early 2027 as production ramps toward six per month.Scaled beta is targeted for later in 2026, with roughly 25 satellites enabling about half-day U.S. coverage.Three U.S. government awards carry more than $100 million of funded near-term value expected in 2026 and 2027. AST SpaceMobile, Inc. (ASTS - Free Report) used its second-quarter 2026 call to sharpen the timeline for network deployment and beta service while expanding its government ambitions. CFO Andrew Johnson said the company targets about 45 BlueBird satellites in orbit by early 2027.

ASTS reported second-quarter 2026 loss of 44 cents per share, wider than the Zacks Consensus Estimate of a loss of 28 cents. The company’s second-quarter revenues were $31.5 million, which missed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $34.1 million by 7.60%. Executive VP, CFO and chief legal officer Andrew Johnson nevertheless maintained full-year revenue guidance of $150 million to $200 million.

ASTS Builds Toward the 45-Satellite ThresholdFounder, chairman and CEO Abel Avellan said ASTS has 13 spacecraft in orbit, with BlueBirds 14 through 16 nearing shipment and BlueBirds 17 through 46 in production or assembly.

CEO Abel Avellan said production is ramping toward six fully assembled satellites per month. CFO Andrew Johnson tied that cadence to the target of approximately 45 BlueBirds in orbit by early 2027.

President and chief strategy officer Scott Wisniewski said scaled beta capability is targeted for later in 2026. In Q&A, he said roughly 25 satellites would provide about half-day U.S. coverage.

AST SpaceMobile Expands Its Spectrum ReachCEO Abel Avellan said AST SpaceMobile is building toward roughly 100 MHz of spectrum access in the United States and more than 60 MHz globally, combining MNO partner and controlled MSS spectrum.

CEO Abel Avellan said the platform can tune about 1,150 MHz across low- and mid-band spectrum. Its ASIC is in full production and designed for up to 10 GHz of processing bandwidth per satellite.

CEO Abel Avellan said the ASIC should nearly double the 98.9 Mbps peak data speed demonstrated on Block 1 BlueBirds, with further user-experience gains targeted through AI-enabled spectrum management.

ASTS Retains Its Full-Year Revenue OutlookCFO Andrew Johnson said revenue should rise sequentially in each quarter of 2026, with the full year weighted toward the fourth quarter. Gateway deliveries and U.S. government milestones remain core drivers.

CFO Andrew Johnson kept the $150 million to $200 million full-year range and cited potential upside from initial commercial service revenues.

For the third quarter, CFO Andrew Johnson guided adjusted operating expenses excluding adjusted cost of revenues to $105 million to $115 million and capital expenditures to $350 million to $425 million.

AST SpaceMobile Broadens Government OpportunityPresident Scott Wisniewski said three recent U.S. government awards carry more than $100 million of funded near-term value expected during 2026 and 2027, extending work from development toward larger operational programs.

CEO Abel Avellan highlighted the preliminary J-LEO selection with Rakuten, valued at up to approximately $1 billion in non-dilutive, non-debt government capital, pending approvals and final agreements.

In investor Q&A, President Scott Wisniewski said the government opportunity could begin scaling in 2027 toward a recurring multibillion-dollar annual opportunity across communications, radar and other applications.

ASTS Q&A Tests the 2027 Revenue RampA William Blair analyst asked about 2027 revenues. President Scott Wisniewski reiterated the goal of approaching $1 billion in the first full year of commercial service and said government could contribute as much as half of next year’s revenues.

A Cantor Fitzgerald analyst pressed on the components. President Scott Wisniewski said gateway revenues should exceed $100 million, while commercial service revenues should begin when service starts and then ramp.

A BofA Securities analyst focused on launch capacity. President Scott Wisniewski said ASTS has 10 launches booked with two providers and is targeting an average cadence of every month or two.

AST SpaceMobile Keeps Execution at the CenterCEO Abel Avellan centered his message on converting manufacturing scale, spectrum access and MNO relationships into network availability. AST SpaceMobile now has more than 60 MNO partners covering over three billion subscribers.

CFO Andrew Johnson paired that rollout with elevated investment while holding the 2026 revenue target. The deployment schedule and fourth-quarter-weighted revenue ramp remain key second-half milestones.

President Scott Wisniewski emphasized government demand and commercial activation. Near-term execution centers on satellites, gateways, beta readiness and contracted program milestones.

ASTS Rank and Style Scores Stay MixedASTS carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold), with a Value Score of F, Growth Score of F, Momentum Score of D and VGM Score of F. Under the Zacks Style Score framework, A and B are stronger grades, and top-ranked stocks paired with A or B Style Scores are the preferred combinations. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.

For potential near-term performance, this profile is less favorable than those preferred Rank-and-Style pairings. The Zacks Rank can change as earnings estimates are revised after the just-reported results, so the signal should be viewed as current rather than fixed.

Key Takeaways TEM raised 2026 revenue guidance to $1.595B-$1.605B as Q2 sales rose 22% to $382.5M.TEM sees xT CDx pricing adding about $85M in annual revenues from 2027 after FDA approval.TEM's Data Licensing and Modeling revenues grew 36%, while MRD volume rose 38% sequentially to 9,000 tests. Tempus AI, Inc. (TEM - Free Report) used its second quarter of 2026 earnings call to frame growth around oncology testing, data demand and reimbursement-driven pricing while outlining a measured approach to molecular residual disease.

TEM’s second-quarter 2026 revenues of $382.49 million topped the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $380.95 million. The non-GAAP loss of 4 cents per share was narrower than the Zacks Consensus Estimate loss of 13 cents.

CEO Eric Lefkofsky and CFO James Rogers focused on visibility, FDA-linked pricing gains and cash generation.

TEM Raises 2026 Revenue OutlookTEM raised 2026 revenue guidance to $1.595 billion-$1.605 billion, representing about 25% growth, while maintaining adjusted EBITDA guidance at roughly $65 million. The forecast excludes the Personalis transaction.

TEM’s second-quarter Diagnostics revenues increased 20% to $289.3 million, while Data and Applications revenues climbed 28% to $93.2 million.

Lefkofsky cited accelerating comprehensive genomic profiling and data demand. Oncology volume grew 31% year over year, while hereditary revenues increased 5% against what he described as a strong comparison period.

Tempus Quantifies FDA Pricing UpsideThe CEO said FDA approval for tumor-only xT CDx should lift average selling prices by an estimated $200, translating to about $85 million of annual revenue uplift beginning in 2027.

Lefkofsky said approval of the liquid biopsy test xF — expected in the latter half of 2027 — could add another $550 million of ASP uplift. He anticipates about $400 million of combined xT CDx and xF revenue uplift in 2028.

A BTIG analyst asked about xF pricing. CFO James Rogers said TEM is assuming a $7,500 ADLT price, while CEO Eric Lefkofsky linked the higher expectation to pricing for comparable liquid biopsy products.

TEM Deepens Data and AI EngagementData Licensing and Modeling revenues grew 36% year over year, and TEM signed roughly $200 million of new Data and Applications licenses. The company delivered the first version of its oncology foundation model to AstraZeneca.

Lefkofsky said the model met AstraZeneca's acceptance criteria on response prediction tasks, including blinded clinical-trial data. He said it can now serve as a foundation for broader research and development work.

A Mizuho analyst asked about AstraZeneca beyond 2026. The CEO said projects already extend into 2027 and expects the company to remain a large client, with a similar amount of data and revenue next year.

Tempus Sets a Measured MRD RampMRD volume reached about 9,000 tests in the second quarter, up 38% from roughly 6,500 in the first quarter, although only about 10% of TEM's sales force sells the Personalis test.

A Morgan Stanley analyst asked about reimbursement economics. CFO James Rogers said additional covered indications should lift ASPs over time, while broader commercial access can expand volume.

CEO Eric Lefkofsky said TEM plans to accelerate selling once ASPs approach breakeven rather than maximize volume while margins are negative. He also said the company intends to use debt for a large portion of the Personalis consideration to limit dilution.

TEM Targets Cash Flow ImprovementTEM completed a $460 million offering of 0.0% convertible senior notes due 2032 and used proceeds to repay an Ares Capital loan. Lefkofsky said the refinancing should save more than $30 million in annual interest expense.

Adjusted EBITDA was $8 million, improving $13.6 million year over year, while operating cash use improved to negative $7.5 million. Cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities ended June at $820.7 million.

TEM's growing gross profit base gives it room to redirect variable spending toward commercial investment while maintaining progress toward positive EBITDA and free cash flow.

Tempus Keeps Focus on ExecutionCEO Eric Lefkofsky emphasized sustaining oncology and data growth, converting regulatory approvals into better pricing, broadening MRD as reimbursement supports the economics and continuing profitability improvement.

CFO James Rogers added specificity around the $7,500 xF pricing assumption and the path to better Personalis ASPs. Key operating milestones center on pricing implementation, xF approval, data-contract execution and MRD reimbursement.

TEM's Zacks Rank & Style ScoresTEM currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). Under the Zacks Style Scores framework, a #3-ranked stock can be held, but stronger A or B scores are preferable when evaluating value, growth or momentum characteristics. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.

TEM has an F grade for Value Score, Growth Score, Momentum Score and VGM Score, the weakest grade in the Style Score hierarchy. The Zacks Rank can change as earnings estimates are revised after the just-reported results.

Key Takeaways Pagaya gained 10.4% in a week after record revenues, stronger earnings and improving operating trends.Pagaya raised $3.7 billion across six ABS transactions and added 11 investors to its funding network.Higher funding costs, investment losses and partner concentration could limit further gains. Pagaya Technologies Ltd. (PGY - Free Report) shares gained 10.4% in the past week, putting the focus on whether the rebound can extend. The move comes after stronger second-quarter 2026 results and improving operating trends, but a one-week gain alone does not establish a specific catalyst.

The shares have also gained 18.3% in the past four weeks and 59.6% in the past 12 weeks. The broader advance raises a key question: Can improving profitability, deeper funding and partner momentum remain durable enough to support further gains?

3-Month Price Performance
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

PGY’s Weekly Gain Raises the Sustainability QuestionPGY’s recent price performance is notable because it has occurred alongside firmer business trends. Still, the 10.4% one-week increase should be viewed as part of a larger rebound rather than proof that a particular event will drive the stock higher.

The key test is whether operating progress continues to support earnings. The investment case points to stronger profitability, partner momentum and improving funding depth as supports, while flagging macro, credit and concentration risks.

Pagaya’s Earnings Growth Supports the RallyPagaya reported record second-quarter revenue and other income of $387 million, up 19% year over year, while GAAP net income reached $45.3 million. Adjusted earnings per share came in at $1.07, above the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 71 cents.

The beat was not isolated. PGY topped earnings expectations in each of the trailing four quarters, with an average positive surprise of 43.5%.

Earnings Surprise History
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

Analysts seem optimistic regarding PGY’s earnings growth prospects. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for the company’s 2026 and 2027 earnings increased by 15.2% and 11%, respectively over the past 30 days.

Estimate Revision Trend
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

PGY’s Funding Depth Could Extend the UpsideFunding remains an important part of the sustainability argument. Pagaya raised a record $3.7 billion across six ABS transactions in the second quarter and added 11 investors, bringing its funding network to 174 investors.

The funding mix is also becoming more flexible, with 40% of funding coming through non-prefunded ABS products, alongside forward-flow and revolving structures. Amongst PGY’s key peers, Affirm Holdings, Inc. (AFRM - Free Report) uses technology, proprietary underwriting and third-party capital to support its pay-over-time platform, while Enova International, Inc. (ENVA - Free Report) operates an online lending platform powered by analytics and machine learning. Both AFRM and ENVA provide context for technology-driven consumer finance.

Pagaya’s Risks Could Limit Further GainsHigher benchmark rates remain a key risk because they can raise funding costs and pressure securitization economics. Pagaya’s FRLPC as a percentage of network volume fell 61 basis points year over year to 4.2% in the second quarter, partly because of tighter ABS pricing tied to higher cost of capital.

Investment volatility and concentration also warrant attention. Pagaya recorded an $80.3 million year-to-date loss on investments in the first half of 2026, while reliance on a limited number of partners creates network volume and revenue concentration risk. If funding costs remain elevated or partner execution weakens, revenue per unit of network volume could face pressure.

PGY’s Strong Rank Meets Mixed Style SignalsThe sustainability case remains constructive but not one-sided. Strong earnings growth, funding depth and partner expansion provide support, while FRLPC pressure and credit, investment and concentration risks could temper the upside.

PGY currently carries a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), with a Value Score of B, Growth Score of A, Momentum Score of B and VGM Score of A. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.

The Zacks Rank is designed to help assess expected stock performance over the next one to three months, while the Style Scores complement it by measuring value, growth and momentum characteristics. These signals are supportive context, but they do not make continued gains certain.

Key Takeaways Aptiv cut 2026 sales and EPS guidance despite a Q2 earnings beat and stronger profitability.China schedule changes, launch delays and software timing drove a $300 million guidance reduction.Aptiv's non-automotive revenues rose 12%, while new commercial awards totaled about $5 billion. Aptiv PLC (APTV - Free Report) cleared second-quarter earnings expectations, but the quarter’s more consequential signal came from a reduced 2026 outlook. The change shifts attention from margin execution toward demand, customer mix and program timing.

The question for investors is how much of the second-half pressure proves temporary. China schedule cuts, delayed launches and software timing now sit against improving non-automotive growth and new commercial awards.

APTV’s Q2 Beat Came With a Revenue MissAdjusted earnings were $1.63 per share, topping the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.42 by 14.8% and increasing 24.4% year over year. Stronger operating profitability, lower interest expense and a reduced share count supported the gain.

Revenues rose 2.3% to $3.27 billion but missed the consensus mark of $3.32 billion by 1.4%. Adjusted revenue growth was 2%, while non-automotive revenues increased 12%, producing a mixed quarter despite stronger profitability.

Aptiv Cut 2026 Sales and Earnings GuidanceAptiv now expects 2026 revenues of $12.6-$12.8 billion, down from its prior range of $12.8-$13.2 billion. Adjusted earnings are projected at $5.60-$5.80 per share compared with the previous $5.70-$6.10 range.

The company also expects third-quarter revenues of $3.12-$3.22 billion and adjusted earnings of $1.25-$1.35 per share. The reduced full-year ranges place second-half demand, launch execution and revenue timing at the center of the 2026 outlook.

China and Timing Delays Pressure APTV’s OutlookThe $300 million reduction at the midpoint of full-year revenue guidance reflects three main items. About $150 million relates to customer production schedule changes tied primarily to China, $100 million to launch and ramp delays and $50 million to software revenue timing.

Second-quarter China adjusted revenues rose 5% even as regional vehicle production declined 3%. For the second half, Aptiv cited weaker domestic China schedules and lower European OEM exports to China as headwinds.

Aptiv’s Diversification Softens the BlowNon-automotive revenues grew 12% in the second quarter, and Aptiv secured about $5 billion of new commercial awards, including $2.4 billion in Intelligent Systems and $2.5 billion in Engineered Components. The company also reported progress in robotics, drones, energy storage, aerospace and defense.

Mobileye Global Inc. (MBLY - Free Report) offers a relevant industry comparison because its business centers on advanced driver-assistance and autonomous-driving technologies. BorgWarner Inc. (BWA - Free Report) provides another automotive technology reference point, with propulsion product leadership and an explicit focus on customer and geographic diversity.

APTV’s Signals Keep the Focus on ExecutionThe bottom line is that Aptiv’s earnings beat showed better profitability, but the lowered outlook and estimate revisions keep execution in focus. Over the past 60 days, earnings estimates for 2026 and 2027 have been revised downward 10% and 4.9%, respectively, to $5.69 and $6.62.

                                                                 Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

Aptiv currently carries a Zacks Rank #5 (Strong Sell).

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

APTV carries a Value Score of A, Growth Score of D, Momentum Score of B and VGM Score of B. The favorable Value, Momentum and VGM readings do not override the Rank, because Style Scores are designed to complement it. The Growth Score of D and negative estimate revisions keep earnings stabilization central to the near-term picture.

The momentum behind artificial intelligence (AI)-linked nuclear energy stocks hit a brick wall in July, sending high-flying names like Oklo (OKLO +4.34%) into a nose-dive.

Shares of the nuclear energy start-up tumbled 25.8% last month, according to data provided by S&P Global Market Intelligence. By the end of July, the drop had wiped about 80% of the stock's value from its October 2025 peak of $193.84.

For a company promising to fuel the AI build-out with fast-fission reactors, winning important approvals from the Department of Energy (DOE), and securing massive partnerships, the sudden mid-summer fallout left many investors asking where the power went.

Image source: Getty Images.

The Oklo stock sell-off Oklo is building fast-fission nuclear power plants called Aurora powerhouses and is still a pre-revenue company.

The nuclear energy stock didn't fall because the company is falling apart. It fell because investors are demanding proof of execution, especially after the company missed a July 4 deadline of achieving criticality (a nuclear reactor reaching a self-sustaining nuclear fission chain reaction) at its first reactor. That was a deadline set by the DOE.

Instead, on July 23, Oklo received start-up authorization for its Groves Isotope Test Reactor, clearing the way for fuel loading and testing.

The missed deadline coincided with a sell-off across the advanced nuclear space, hitting early stage small and modular reactor developers hardest.

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Shares of Nuscale Power, for instance, fell around 16% in July. In contrast, nuclear energy companies like Constellation Energy and Vistra, which are actually operating large fleetS of nuclear reactors and powering up data centers, logged smaller losses, with Vistra falling only 1% in July. That divergence proves the market wasn't questioning nuclear energy's potential amid the AI boom, but trimming stakes in companies that haven't built anything yet.

The only thing you should know before buying Oklo stock Oklo achieved first criticality at its Groves Isotope Test Reactor on Aug 6, making it the first reactor under the DOE's Reactor Pilot Program to achieve criticality on private land built on a greenfield site from scratch.

Isotopes are chemical elements used for cancer treatment, medical imaging, industrial radiography, and space exploration. Oklo is among the few companies developing a domestic supply chain for isotopes.

Oklo shares rallied after the update, which coincided with its second-quarter earnings release, but seem to be struggling to sustain momentum.

Oklo's Q2 net loss doubled to $48.5 million, with earnings of $0.28 per share missing analysts' estimates by a wide margin. Oklo also raised its full-year cash-use guidance, now expecting to burn $120 million to $150 million in operating activities and $400 million to $500 million in capital spending, both well above prior targets.

Analysts are debating Oklo's costs and cash burn. Analysts from Truist Securities, for instance, just cut the stock's price target to $51 per share from $55 a share.

Oklo doesn't expect to deploy its first Aurora powerhouse before 2028, and is itself calling that target "ambitious", citing a range of "supply chain, construction, macroeconomic, and design complexities."

That's not analyst skepticism. It is the company's own risk estimate, and something anyone who wants to invest in Oklo stock should bear in mind.

Key Takeaways Encore raised 2026 EPS guidance to $13-$14, including a $1-per-share refinancing cost.ECPG lifted 2026 global collections guidance to $2.80-$2.85 billion, implying 8%-10% growth.Encore expects refinancing to save about $15 million annually, though borrowings reached $4.18 billion. Encore Capital Group, Inc. (ECPG - Free Report) raised key parts of its 2026 outlook after a strong first half, putting more weight on collections growth and operating execution. The revised guidance improves visibility into the earnings path.

The higher bar also increases the importance of delivery. Funding costs, leverage and rising legal collection expenses remain meaningful constraints as investors assess whether recent operating momentum can translate into sustained earnings growth.

Encore Capital Raises the Bar for 2026Encore now expects 2026 earnings of $13-$14 per share, up from its prior projection of about $13. The new range signals greater confidence in full-year performance after the first half.

The guidance includes $1 per share of refinancing costs absorbed in the second quarter. That makes the increase more notable because the higher range already incorporates the refinancing-related earnings drag.

The Zacks Consensus Estimate points to a clear earnings step-up. Earnings are projected to increase from $10.91 per share in 2025 to $13.52 in 2026 and $14.64 in 2027.

Earnings Estimates
 

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

Estimate revisions add to that momentum. The current year earnings estimate has increased 3.9% over the past four weeks, suggesting analysts have become more constructive as collections and portfolio revenues improve.

Earnings Estimate Revision Trend
 

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

ECPG's Collections Outlook Moves HigherManagement raised 2026 global collections guidance to $2.80-$2.85 billion, implying growth of 8%-10% year over year. The prior outlook called for about $2.8 billion, or 8% growth.

Second-quarter global collections rose 13% to a record $737 million. The result followed strong first-half execution and supports the view that recent portfolio purchases and collection improvements are translating into higher collections.

Driven by this momentum, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for sales reflects a year-over-year rise of 8.9% in 2026 and 2.1% in 2027.

Sales Estimates
 

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

Encore Capital's Refinancing Adds a Funding TailwindEncore's May refinancing is expected to save about $15 million in annual interest expense. Lower financing costs can provide earnings support as the company continues deploying capital into receivable portfolios.

The benefit comes with an important offset. Encore expects 2026 interest expense, including other income, of about $295 million, underscoring the funding sensitivity of a business that relies on borrowings to finance portfolio purchases.

ECPG's U.S. Supply Supports Portfolio DeploymentEncore maintained its 2026 portfolio purchase outlook of $1.4-$1.5 billion. Management continues to see favorable U.S. supply, supported by elevated revolving credit balances and charge-offs, while Midland Credit Management's scale, analytics and collection capabilities help it target attractive returns.

PRA Group, Inc. (PRAA - Free Report) , another buyer and collector of nonperforming loan portfolios, said second-quarter 2026 portfolio income increased 7% to $267.8 million, driven by strong recent purchases at improved returns. Capital One Financial Corporation (COF - Free Report) , a major U.S. card lender, reports delinquency and charge-off trends that provide another read on the consumer-credit backdrop influencing future debt-sale supply.

Encore Capital Still Faces Cost and Leverage RisksLegal collection expenses increased 25.8% year over year in the first half of 2026. If collections growth slows, that faster-growing cost line could pressure operating leverage and cash efficiency.

Borrowings reached $4.18 billion at June 30, 2026. The company also remains heavily dependent on U.S. conditions, with Midland Credit Management accounting for 85.2% of first-half global portfolio purchasing dollars. Higher funding costs or weaker U.S. collections could therefore make the raised outlook harder to achieve.

How ECPG's Ratings Fit the Raised OutlookThe bottom line is that the raised outlook strengthens near-term earnings visibility, but execution still matters. ECPG currently carries a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), which is supportive of the stock's near-term earnings-revision picture. Like Encore Capital, PRA Group also sports a Zacks Rank #1, while Capital One carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.

Its Style Scores are mixed. ECPG has a Value Score of B, Growth Score of F, Momentum Score of C and VGM Score of F. The favorable Value Score complements the top Zacks Rank, while the weaker Growth and VGM Scores argue for monitoring whether improved guidance translates into durable growth rather than assuming the outlook upgrade settles the investment case.

There’s a version of the CoreWeave story where everything is going right.

Revenue is more than doubling year over year. The contracted backlog stands near $100 billion. Fleet capacity is effectively sold out, pricing is holding, and the customer list reads like a directory of the frontier AI industry.

And yet the stock has fallen more than 30% over the past year and sits about 50% below its all-time high. When the operating story and the share price diverge this sharply, it usually means the market is asking a question the income statement hasn’t answered yet.

CoreWeave gets its next chance this evening after the closing bell. What does the report actually hinge on?

Image Source: StockCharts

What Tuesday Is Supposed to Look LikeThe Zacks Consensus Estimate calls for a second-quarter loss of $1.17 per share on revenues of $2.5 billion. That revenue figure implies growth of roughly 109% year over year — a genuinely extraordinary number for a company of this size — and sits comfortably within management’s own guidance band of $2.45 to $2.6 billion.

The bottom line is where the discomfort lives. That $1.17/share loss estimate has widened 14.71% over the past 60 days and represents a deterioration of more than 300% from the year-ago figure. Analysts, in other words, have spent the last two months marking their loss expectations lower, not higher.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

The track record heading in is mixed. CoreWeave has missed the Zacks Consensus Estimate in three of the trailing four quarters while beating once, with an average surprise of 3.8%. Our proven model does not predict an earnings beat this time around, and the stock carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold).

That combination isn’t a forecast of disaster — it simply means the statistical edge you’d want heading into a volatile print isn’t present. And volatile it should be: options markets are pricing in a post-earnings move of roughly 15.5% in either direction.

The Number That Actually MattersRevenue will grab the headline, but remaining performance obligations — the contracted revenue CoreWeave (CRWV - Free Report) has signed but not yet recognized — is the metric that will move the stock. As of the first quarter, that backlog stood at $99.4 billion, anchored by relationships with OpenAI, Meta, Microsoft, and Anthropic, alongside newer engagements with firms like Cline and Perplexity.

The bull case rests entirely on conversion. Revenue only gets recognized once data center capacity is delivered and switched on, not when a contract is signed. CoreWeave has surpassed a gigawatt of active power with more than 3.5 gigawatts contracted, targeting 8 gigawatts by 2030, and its first self-build facility is expected online later this year.

If that capacity arrives on schedule, the backlog converts and the margin profile steepens dramatically. Watch for the updated backlog figure Tuesday; growth from $99.4 billion would signal demand is still outrunning capacity, while a flat or declining number would raise harder questions.

The Balance Sheet Has Become the StoryHere’s what changed this year. CoreWeave built its position by borrowing aggressively — against future revenue and against the GPUs themselves — and that worked beautifully while the narrative was pure growth.

But things become problematic once interest expense starts consuming the income statement. The company closed the first quarter with roughly $25 billion in debt after raising $8.5 billion in new debt during the quarter alone, and interest expense is expected to climb to as much as $730 million in the second quarter.

Management also raised full-year capital expenditure guidance to $31–$35 billion, citing higher component costs and the spending required to bring new capacity online. That component-cost pressure is the same memory and semiconductor inflation showing up across the AI infrastructure complex — CoreWeave is paying more for the same compute.

The market’s reaction to the first-quarter report in May was instructive: revenue beat, but light second-quarter guidance combined with a higher capex forecast sent shares down around 11%. Investors have made clear they now want to see spending convert to cash.

What’s Genuinely WorkingOn the positive side, CoreWeave demonstrated real technical leadership in the MLPerf Training v6.0 benchmark, training the DeepSeek-V3 671B model in just 2.02 minutes, and it became the first AI cloud provider to complete system-level validation of Nvidia’s Vera Rubin NVL72 architecture.

Nvidia itself increased its investment in the company to $2 billion earlier this year — meaningful validation from the supplier that knows this market best. Adding to the bullish narrative, S&P Global has upgraded the company’s credit rating.

Bottom LineThere’s no denying that the risks are real. Customer concentration remains significant, with a handful of large AI companies driving most of the revenue — and one of them, Meta, has signaled ambitions to expand into cloud infrastructure itself, which would turn a major customer into a competitor.

Profitability remains elusive while insider selling has continued. Tuesday’s report won’t settle the debate, but it will move the goalposts.

Key Takeaways Figma raised 2026 revenue guidance after its first full quarter of AI credit monetization.More than 80% of Figma paid customers above $10,000 ARR consumed AI credits weekly; NDR held at 136%.FIG guided Q3 revenues to $373M-$375M as unmonetized beta products continued to pressure gross margin. Figma, Inc. (FIG - Free Report) used its second-quarter 2026 earnings call to frame AI consumption as the next expansion layer on top of seat growth, while noting that several new AI products still do not draw paid credits.

Management raised its 2026 revenue outlook after the first full quarter of AI credit monetization, but analysts focused on the modest sequential third-quarter guide and the gross-margin cost of funding beta products before monetization.

Figma Sees AI Monetization BroadeningCEO Dylan Field said the second quarter marked Figma’s first full quarter of AI monetization and described adoption as following a familiar pattern: concentrated usage among power users that broadens across organizations.

CFO Praveer Melwani said more than 80% of paid customers with over $10,000 in ARR were consuming AI credits weekly. Net dollar retention remained 136%, while roughly two-thirds of those customers added full seats at renewal.

Non-GAAP EPS of 8 cents topped the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 4 cents. Revenues of $370.10 million exceeded the consensus mark of $350.80 million and rose 48% year over year.

FIG Expands the Full-Stack Creation PushField positioned Code Layers, Figma Make and the MCP server as core pieces of Figma’s move toward a full-stack creation canvas. Write-to-Figma MCP usage rose 75% quarter over quarter.

Management also highlighted Motion, Shaders and Weave as tools extending the platform beyond interface design into animation, visual effects and AI-generated media.

More than 50% of paid customers above $10,000 in ARR were using the Figma agent weekly by July 31. More than 20% of weekly credit-consuming users on paid plans were exclusively using credits through the agent.

Figma Balances AI Costs With Margin DisciplineMelwani said non-GAAP gross profit rose 40% year over year to $314 million, while non-GAAP gross margin reached 85%, up 2.5 percentage points sequentially.

He emphasized model routing, provider optimization and first-party models as levers for lowering inference costs. Field said cost improvements would not come at the expense of quality or latency.

The agent, Make on local code, Motion, generative plugins and Code Layers do not yet consume paid credits while in beta or early access. Management said that can pressure gross margin before monetization begins.

FIG Guidance Faces Sequential Growth ScrutinyFigma guided third-quarter revenues to $373-$375 million, implying 36% year-over-year growth at the midpoint. Full-year guidance rose $40 million to $1.463-$1.467 billion, or 39% growth at the midpoint.

Goldman Sachs and Citigroup analysts pressed management on the limited sequential increase implied by third-quarter guidance. Melwani said the outlook reflects high-visibility trends and begins to lap the March 2025 pricing changes.

In response to JPMorgan, Melwani said the full-year outlook does not include revenues from products still in beta or early access that are not drawing paid credits. Figma will incorporate them only after observing monetization.

Figma Deepens Enterprise ExpansionMelwani said paid customers with more than $10,000 in ARR increased 34% year over year to 15,964, while customers above $100,000 in ARR rose 46% to 1,635. International revenues grew 50%.

He also cited enterprise customers increasing AI commitments after productivity gains and broader adoption. One technology infrastructure customer increased its purchased credit commitment fivefold from its first add-on within the quarter.

Asked by RBC whether new products drive new logos or expansion, Melwani said the larger opportunity currently centers on adding paid seats within existing enterprise plans, while the lower end has also seen stronger customer acquisition.

FIG Keeps Investment Ahead of Near-Term MarginManagement maintained full-year non-GAAP operating income guidance of $125-$135 million, equal to a 9% operating margin at the midpoint, despite raising revenue guidance.

Melwani said Figma will keep investing in product and go-to-market capacity where it can strengthen long-term advantage, even at a temporary margin cost. He also said AI tools have allowed the company to hire fewer people than originally planned.

Zacks Signals for FigmaFIG carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). Its Momentum Score of B is the strongest Style Score, while the Value Score is F, the Growth Score is D and the VGM Score is F.

Zacks Style Scores complement the rank, with A and B grades preferred alongside Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) or 2. FIG’s profile therefore combines a favorable rank and Momentum reading with weak Value, Growth and VGM signals. The Zacks Rank can change as earnings estimates are revised after the just-reported results. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.

Harrow NASDAQ: HROW reported second-quarter revenue of $70.7 million, up 11% from a year earlier and about 60% sequentially, as the ophthalmic pharmaceutical company said it entered the second half of 2026 with stronger demand across several products, improved pricing and expanded commercial infrastructure.

First-half revenue totaled about $115 million, which Chief Executive Officer Mark L. Baum said was below the company’s expectations entering the year, primarily because of the net revenue impact from VEVYE. Harrow nevertheless reiterated its full-year guidance for revenue of $350 million to $365 million and adjusted EBITDA of $80 million to $100 million.

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The outlook implies second-half revenue of roughly $235 million to $250 million. President and Chief Financial Officer Andrew Boll said the company expects sequential revenue growth in both the third and fourth quarters, with the larger increase expected in the fourth quarter.

Second-Quarter Results and Margin Outlook VEVYE generated quarterly revenue of $29.4 million, up nearly 58% year over year. Baum said prescriptions increased 21% sequentially, while the prescriber base expanded 15%. The product ended June with a 14.6% share of the branded dry eye market, according to IQVIA data cited by Chief Commercial Officer Patrick Sullivan.

Harrow changed VEVYE business rules at the end of April, reducing co-pay card utilization and improving the product’s average selling price, according to management. Boll said the company expects additional pricing improvement in the second half as the updated rules apply for a full period, patients meet annual deductibles and expanded commercial coverage takes effect.

IHEEZO generated $15.6 million in second-quarter revenue, largely from wholesaler stocking orders for a new five-pack presentation. Revenue lagged underlying demand because distributors were selling through previously acquired inventory, Boll said. Unit demand reached a quarterly record of 65,477 units, up 44% sequentially and 34% year over year.

Management said IHEEZO channel inventory has normalized, and approximately 25% higher net pricing became effective July 1. Baum said the product’s gross margin exceeds 90% and should make a significant contribution to second-half revenue growth and profitability.

The specialty portfolio and TRIESENCE contributed approximately $11 million of revenue, while the compounded portfolio contributed $14.6 million. TRIESENCE demand rose 162% year over year to 14,529 units, with 54% of demand coming from ocular surgery, Sullivan said.

GAAP gross margin was 71% in the quarter. Harrow expects gross margins to return toward the high-70% range in the second half, supported by IHEEZO’s normalizing revenue cycle, rising revenue, VEVYE growth and product mix.

SG&A expense was $53.3 million, reflecting commercial investments made during the quarter. Excluding employees expected to join through the pending TYRVAYA transaction, Boll said base SG&A is expected to remain approximately flat for the rest of 2026. Adjusted EBITDA was negative $1.2 million, and Harrow ended the quarter with $83.9 million in cash and cash equivalents.

Commercial Expansion and Product Drivers Harrow formally launched BYOOVIZ on July 1, following modest stocking activity during the second quarter. Management said early physician engagement has been encouraging and that the biosimilar product fits within the company’s retinal commercial organization.

The company also cited the relaunch of VERKAZIA, a permanent J-code for IOPIDINE effective July 1, and an expanded Access Plus commercial organization as incremental growth drivers. Harrow tripled its surgical commercial organization during the second quarter to support TRIESENCE, though management said the new representatives remain early in their productivity ramp.

For IHEEZO, Baum said Harrow is concentrating on in-office retina and other procedures following the loss of pass-through reimbursement in cataract surgery on April 1. He said the company estimates it has less than 2% share of its overall addressable IHEEZO market and sees more than 10 million annual procedures across intravitreal injections and other in-office uses as opportunities.

Harrow also secured expanded commercial coverage for VEVYE through a top-three pharmacy benefit manager, effective Aug. 1. Baum said the agreement opens access to “many millions” of commercial lives that had previously been blocked, though he did not disclose formulary positioning. Management said the company expects the coverage agreement to improve unit revenue for VEVYE.

Pending TYRVAYA Acquisition Subject to closing, Harrow plans to acquire global rights to TYRVAYA, a dry eye treatment approved in the U.S. and China and under regulatory review in five additional countries. The company expects to use $30 million of cash on hand for the upfront consideration.

Management expects only a modest TYRVAYA revenue contribution in 2026 due to the anticipated timing of closing and integration. For 2027, Boll said Harrow expects TYRVAYA to generate more than $30 million in revenue and be financially accretive. The company anticipates that adding commercial personnel from Viatris Eye Care will increase annualized SG&A by about $20 million once fully integrated.

Sullivan said TYRVAYA would complement VEVYE by offering a drop-free treatment option, including for contact lens wearers. Harrow expects to integrate experienced dry eye sales representatives from Viatris during the fourth quarter, with the added team supporting both products.

Pipeline Updates Chief Scientific Officer Amir Shojaei said Harrow has secured a pre-new drug application meeting with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for G-MELT, or MELT-300, scheduled for early in the fourth quarter. The company remains on track to submit a new drug application during the first half of 2027.

G-MELT is being developed as an IV-free, opioid-free procedural sedation option. Assuming a successful regulatory review, Harrow continues to target potential FDA approval in the first half of 2028 and a commercial launch later that year.

Harrow is also advancing YOCHIL, or MELT-210, an orally disintegrating midazolam tablet under development for pediatric patients undergoing diagnostic and therapeutic endoscopic procedures. Shojaei said the company completed an end-of-phase II meeting with the FDA earlier this year and continues to target an NDA submission in 2027.

In addition, Harrow said its QUELL study of IHEEZO is enrolling and is expected to complete enrollment later in 2026, with results anticipated by year-end. The double-masked controlled trial is evaluating anesthetic effect and patient outcomes compared with subconjunctival lidocaine in intravitreal injection procedures.

About Harrow (NASDAQ:HROW)Harrow Health, Inc NASDAQ: HROW is a U.S.-based commercial-stage biopharmaceutical company specializing in ophthalmic therapeutics and diagnostics. The company focuses on the development, manufacturing and distribution of proprietary, generic and branded eye care products designed to treat a range of ocular conditions, including glaucoma, ocular hypertension, dry eye disease and other anterior segment disorders.

Through its wholly owned affiliate ImprimisRx, Harrow Health offers a direct-to-physician model for customized formulations as well as low-cost generic alternatives.

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

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Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL | AAPL Price Prediction) has already pushed iPhone prices higher by as much as $300 in response to what CEO Tim Cook described as a “100-year flood” in memory prices. According to a new TrendForce smartphone industry report published August 10, 2026, that squeeze is only beginning.

The Memory Math Is Getting Ugly TrendForce estimates memory’s share of the iPhone Pro bill of materials has climbed from roughly 10% a year ago on the iPhone 17 Pro to about 34% in Q3 2026, and is expected to exceed 40% in the first half of 2027. For the iPhone 18 Pro 256GB, TrendForce estimates the BOM cost will rise about 38% year over year. Contract memory prices have risen five to sevenfold since the start of 2025.

TrendForce’s conclusion: “escalating component costs, led by memory, are expected to significantly raise production expenses for Apple’s next iPhone 18 series… making higher retail prices unavoidable. Apple may offset some of these costs by reducing gross margins to prevent weakening consumer demand.”

How Exposed Is Apple? Every meaningful Apple product contains memory, and iPhone alone generated $54.25 billion in the June quarter, part of $109.42 billion in total revenue. Cook flagged the pressure on the March-quarter call: “For the June quarter, we expect significantly higher memory costs… beyond the June quarter, we believe memory costs will drive an increasing impact on our business.” June-quarter gross margin guidance was set at 47.5% to 48.5%. Jefferies downgraded Apple to Underperform with a $263.66 target, citing “rising memory costs and the cancellation of an ‘all-glass iPhone’ that would have helped increase average selling prices.” Apple shares trade at $306.32, up 13.7% year to date.

Who Benefits, Who Bleeds Memory suppliers are printing money. Micron Technology (NASDAQ:MU) posted fiscal Q3 revenue of $41.456 billion, up 345.7% year over year, with GAAP gross margin of 84.6%. CFO Mark Murphy said Q2 DRAM prices rose in the mid-sixties percentage range and NAND prices in the high-seventies percentage range. CEO Sanjay Mehrotra warned Micron is only fulfilling “50% to two-thirds” of key customer demand. Shares are up 201.86% year to date. South Korea’s SK Hynix, the other major DRAM supplier to Apple, is capturing similar gains.

The pain sits with chip vendors whose volumes depend on smartphone units. Qualcomm (NASDAQ:QCOM) saw handset revenue drop to $5.086 billion, down 20% year over year, with operating income falling 41.13%. CEO Cristiano Amon acknowledged a “challenging memory and supply environment” and said Qualcomm is taking pricing actions to reflect higher input costs. Shares are down 4.21% year to date.

The Contrarian Long-Term Case Apple can absorb the hit by trimming gross margins where rivals cannot. Android vendors in entry-level and mid-range tiers face a harsher squeeze, and TrendForce expects global smartphone production to stay under pressure. If weaker competitors are forced into steeper hikes or discontinue lines running at negative gross margins, Apple could gain share. If memory pricing normalizes, the $300 already baked into iPhone shelf prices becomes pure margin recovery.

Contact [email protected] for any questions or corrections.

Nokia Corp (NYSE:NOK) stock is trading higher on Tuesday, driven by sustained artificial intelligence data center demand and a raised full-year profit outlook. Investors are actively re-evaluating the company beyond its traditional telecom focus and pricing it as a key beneficiary of the artificial intelligence boom.

The Nasdaq is down 0.03% while the S&P 500 has gained 0.08%.

• Nokia stock is surging to new heights today. What’s fueling NOK momentum?

Q2 Earnings BeatIn late July, Nokia reported second-quarter results that topped consensus estimates. Net sales rose 8% year-over-year to 4.82 billion euros ($5.60 billion), while adjusted earnings reached eight cents per unit, beating the seven cent expectation. Network Infrastructure revenue grew 12%, propelled by Optical Networks (+19%) and IP Networks (+15%).

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AI Infrastructure GrowthCEO Justin Hotard highlighted Nokia’s expanding reach into AI infrastructure. AI and Cloud revenue doubled (+103%) to represent 9.3% of total sales, backed by 2.8 billion euros in new AI and cloud orders.

Supply Chain StrategyTo address memory shortages expected through 2027, Hotard outlined plans to secure long-term supply deals, adjust product designs, and pass higher costs to buyers.

Nokia Stock: Key Technical Levels To WatchFrom a longer-term view, Nokia is still digesting a huge 12-month run (up 128.41%), but the more recent trend has been choppy: the stock is trading 2.9% below its 20-day SMA and 22.8% below its 50-day SMA, which indicates the intermediate trend remains pressured. At the same time, it’s sitting just 0.5% above its 200-day SMA, putting the stock right on a key "line in the sand" that often decides whether a pullback becomes a deeper trend break.

Key Resistance: $10 — Round-number area where rebounds can stall, especially with the stock still below key shorter-term averages. Key Support: $8 — Nearby level that lines up with a prior buyer-defense zone if the rebound fails. NOK Stock Price Activity: Nokia shares were up 3.56% at $9.46 at the time of publication on Tuesday, according to Benzinga Pro data.

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NVIDIA (NASDAQ:NVDA | NVDA Price Prediction) and Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL) just delivered earnings that frame the two dominant bets in tech today.

Nvidia posted $81.61B in Q1 FY27 revenue with Data Center at $75.25B. Apple countered with $109.4 billion in Q3 FY26 revenue and its strongest June quarter ever. One sells the shovels. The other sells the finished product.

AI Factories Carry Nvidia. iPhone and Services Carry Apple. Nvidia’s quarter was almost entirely a Data Center story. Compute rose 77% and networking, powered by InfiniBand, NVLink and Spectrum-X, jumped 199%. Jensen Huang told investors “the buildout of AI factories, the largest infrastructure expansion in human history, is accelerating at extraordinary speed.”

Hyperscalers still represent roughly 50% of that segment, with sovereign AI programs and enterprise deployments filling in behind them. Non-GAAP gross margin hit 75%, and free cash flow reached $48.55B.

Apple’s engine looked different. iPhone revenue climbed to $54.252 billion, Services set a June quarter record at $30.7 billion, and paid subscriptions crossed 1.5 billion.

Tim Cook called it “our strongest June quarter ever, with double-digit revenue growth across iPhone, Mac and Services, and in every geographic segment.” A tariff refund added roughly 2 percentage points to gross margin and $0.11 to EPS, which is a one-time gift worth remembering.

Picks and Shovels vs. the Consumer Ecosystem Lens NVIDIA Apple Core Bet AI factories, agentic compute iPhone cycle, Services, on-device Siri AI Growth Rate +85.2% YoY revenue +16.36% YoY revenue Gross Margin ~75% non-GAAP ~50.1% Key Vulnerability China export controls, zero H20 revenue Memory cost inflation, tariff policy Nvidia is scaling Blackwell 300, Vera Rubin and BlueField-4 into every hyperscaler and sovereign AI cluster. Apple is monetizing an installed base above 2.5 billion active devices while rolling out Siri AI to WWDC26 developers.

Cook framed the differentiator as “the unique combination of massive unified memory bandwidth, industry-leading power-efficient performance, and deep on-device intelligence.”

Kevan Parekh flagged a “100-year flood on the memory pricing” that could pressure September quarter margins to 47%-48%. Nvidia has its own supply worry: $119B in purchase commitments tied to TSMC capacity.

The Next Test Is Guidance Nvidia guided Q2 FY27 to $91B in revenue, excluding any China Data Center compute. Prediction markets on Polymarket now imply a 97.2% probability that Data Center clears $80B, but only 19.5% for $90B. That is a narrow beat lane.

Apple guided September quarter growth of 9%-11%, constrained by advanced-node SoC supply that Cook attributed to “a demand forecast issue” rather than a shortage. I want to see whether Siri AI actually pulls subscribers up the iCloud+ stack, and whether Nvidia’s networking growth holds once Blackwell shipments normalize.

Why I Lean Nvidia for Growth, Apple for Ballast If I had to pick one, I would still tilt toward Nvidia for the growth sleeve. A P/E of 34 against +85% revenue growth and 75% margins looks rich, yet the earnings power is compounding faster than the multiple.

Apple, trading at a P/E of 36, fits the defensive investor better. The $62.094 billion in nine-month buybacks and the Services flywheel offer stability that Nvidia cannot match. If memory costs stay elevated into 2027, or China export rules loosen for H20, my ranking could flip fast.

Contact [email protected] for any questions or corrections.

The next AI winner may not be the company with the biggest model. It could be the company that figures out how to get more useful AI for every dollar it spends. Nvidia Corp. (NASDAQ:NVDA) is helping shape that shift by powering more efficient, task-specific AI systems that aim to squeeze more performance out of every GPU cycle.

DigitalOcean Holdings Inc. (NYSE:DOCN) CEO Paddy Srinivasan told Benzinga in an exclusive email interview that AI builders are increasingly mixing different models for different jobs rather than relying exclusively on expensive frontier systems from companies such as OpenAI and Anthropic.

"We believe in: right model, right cost, for every task," Srinivasan said.

He pointed to healthcare AI company Hippocratic AI as an example, saying AI builders like Hippocratic "get better intelligence per dollar" as they optimize across models.

Hippocratic’s connection to Nvidia makes that strategy particularly interesting. Nvidia says Hippocratic’s Polaris architecture runs more than 25 task-specific AI models on Nvidia H200 GPUs, while its TensorRT-LLM software makes those models faster, smaller and more efficient, lowering costs and allowing more conversations to run on the same hardware.

The AI Model Doesn’t Have to Be the Most ExpensiveSrinivasan said frontier models are typically needed for only about 25% of the job, mainly the hardest reasoning or specialized use cases. The remaining 75% can often be handled by open-weight models, which can offer lower-cost alternatives for less demanding tasks.

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That creates a different optimization problem for AI companies.

Instead of asking which model is the smartest, they can ask which model is smart enough for a particular task at the right price.

"Most AI Native companies today are already multi-model," Srinivasan said. "They all have a mixture of models and route specific prompts to the right model."

DigitalOcean’s Inference Engine is designed to route workloads based on factors including performance, latency, cost and customer preference.

Hippocratic Shows Why Nvidia’s Hardware MattersHippocratic is a useful example because its healthcare AI requires real-time responses while handling safety-sensitive conversations.

The company’s Polaris system runs on Nvidia H200 GPUs and uses more than a trillion parameters across its model constellation. The goal isn’t simply to use the most powerful hardware or model available. It is to make the entire system more efficient so Hippocratic can handle more interactions without proportionally increasing its computing costs.

That is the strategy behind Srinivasan’s "intelligence per dollar" argument.

‘Intelligence Per Dollar’ Could Become the New AI MetricNvidia itself has increasingly emphasized the economics of AI, often focusing on concepts like performance per dollar and the cost efficiency of AI compute to describe the value businesses can get from their computing investments.

That could change how investors view the AI race.

The industry’s first phase was dominated by model size, training costs and the race to build increasingly powerful systems. As AI moves into everyday business applications, however, the economics of actually running those models become harder to ignore.

If companies can use a mix of models and optimize the infrastructure underneath them, the winners may not necessarily be the companies with the biggest AI models.

They could be the companies that figure out how to get the most useful intelligence for every dollar of compute.

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Target announced it has appointed its first ever chief artificial intelligence officer on Tuesday in the retailer's latest bet to capitalize on the AI boom.

The company named Chandhu Nair as its chief AI officer and senior vice president and also announced Purvi Shah as the company's senior vice president of user experience.

"The most meaningful AI stories won't be about what happens in a lab," Nair said in a statement. "They'll be about what happens on the front line – how we make shopping easier for a guest, give a team member a better tool, make a business decision with more confidence or bring a new idea to market faster."

Nair previously worked at home improvement retailer Lowe's as the company's senior vice president of stores, data, AI and innovation. He has also held roles at Staples and Gap.

In his statement, Nair said he's focused on a "more coordinated approach" to AI for Target, including improving how the retailer manages inventory or enabling faster decisions.

As it looks to win back shoppers and investors, the company has been investing in generative AI, including a tool called Target Trend Brain, which helps the retailer get ahead of trends and identify the styles, colors and materials that customers will be searching for. And last holiday season, Target launched a new conversational AI program to help customers find the right gift for the people on their shopping lists.

The Tuesday announcement comes as many major retailers have been racing to keep up with the AI boom and integrate it into their business strategies.

Target's rival Walmart has been rolling out AI tools and agents across its stores and supply chains to enhance the customer experience and make its internal employee processes more efficient. Gap announced a partnership with Google's Gemini earlier this year, and Best Buy has collaborations in place with OpenAI and Google.

Retail company executives have been sizing up the AI transition and how it will evolve in the coming years. Former Walmart CEO Douglas McMillon told CNBC's "Squawk Box" in December that he decided to hand over the reins of the global retailer to someone "faster" who could tap into the ways AI could accelerate the business. John Furner took over the post from McMillon in February.

"About a year ago, I really started feeling like this next run, you could see what agentic commerce was going to look like, the vision for AI shopping, and I started thinking about everything that needs to happen over the next few years, and it really caused me to think that now was the right time [to step down]," McMillon said at the time.

Key Takeaways McDonald's delayed its 50,000-store target to 2028 while prioritizing returns and quality over unit growth.U.S. comparable sales rose just 0.8% as value execution and marketing challenges weighed on traffic.McDonald's still plans roughly 2,600 gross restaurant openings in 2026, its fastest growth period yet. McDonald's Corporation (MCD - Free Report) is taking a slightly more measured approach to restaurant expansion, pushing its goal of reaching 50,000 locations globally to 2028 from the end of 2027. The shift may raise concerns that growth is losing momentum, but management characterized the move as a disciplined adjustment rather than a change in its long-term expansion strategy.

Management said cumulative inflation in development costs and a more pressured consumer environment prompted a review of the restaurant pipeline. The company is prioritizing attractive returns and quality of new locations over simply adding units. Importantly, McDonald’s still expects to open roughly 2,600 gross restaurants in 2026, which management described as the fastest period of restaurant growth in its history.

The more notable growth concern currently lies in the U.S. business. Second-quarter U.S. comparable sales increased just 0.8%, as inconsistent execution of value offerings, reduced digital promotions and an overly crowded marketing calendar weighed on traffic. U.S. comparable sales were also slightly negative in July, indicating that the recovery could take time.

Still, management remains confident in the growth opportunity. New beverages are generating encouraging incremental traffic and higher checks, while the upcoming McDonald’s > NEXT strategy is designed to improve food quality, hospitality and restaurant productivity.

QSR and YUM Maintain Aggressive Restaurant GrowthMcDonald’s is moderating its expansion pace, but competitors continue to pursue substantial unit growth. The owner of Burger King, Tim Hortons, Popeyes and Firehouse Subs, Restaurant Brands International (QSR - Free Report) targets 5% or more net restaurant growth by 2028. Restaurant Brands International’s strategy combines new-store development with investments in existing locations, particularly Burger King’s U.S. turnaround program.

Through KFC, Taco Bell, Pizza Hut and Habit Burger & Grill, Yum! Brands (YUM - Free Report) has an even larger global footprint, with more than 63,000 restaurants across 155 countries and territories. Yum! Brands’ franchise-heavy model continues to support international expansion and provides significant scope for adding units.

Against this backdrop, McDonald’s decision to move its 50,000-store milestone to 2028 reflects a more selective approach rather than an abandonment of growth. Management emphasized that inflation-driven development costs and softer consumer conditions require greater focus on returns. With about 2,600 gross openings still expected in 2026, MCD’s expansion engine remains active.

MCD’s Price Performance, Valuation & EstimatesMcDonald’s shares have lost 17.6% in the past six months, underperforming the Zacks Retail - Restaurants industry, the broader Retail and Wholesale sector and the S&P 500 index.

Price Performance
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

In terms of its forward 12-month price-to-earnings ratio, MCD is trading at 20.23, down from the industry’s 21.65.

MCD P/E (F12M)
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

MCD’s earnings estimates for 2026 and 2027 have trended downward in the past 30 days. The revised estimates for 2026 and 2027 imply year-over-year growth of 5.6% and 8.1%, respectively.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

MCD currently carries a Zacks Rank #4 (Sell).

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

Beyond Meat Inc. (NASDAQ:BYND) shares are trading lower after the company announced a 1-for-30 reverse stock split.

Beyond Meat stock is testing key support levels. Why did BYND hit a new low? Shares to Trade Split-Adjusted August 14 Under BYNDAt a special meeting on November 19, 2025, stockholders approved 30 potential amendments, from which the board selected a 1‑for‑30 reverse stock split. The move is intended to help the company regain compliance with Nasdaq’s minimum bid price requirement for continued listing on the Nasdaq Global Select Market.

Under the split, every 30 shares of common stock outstanding will be automatically reclassified and combined into one share. No fractional shares will be issued; instead, shares will be rounded up to the nearest whole share.

The reverse stock split is expected to become effective at 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on August 13, with shares expected to begin trading on a split-adjusted basis at market open on August 14 under the existing ticker “BYND” and a new CUSIP number. As part of the reverse split, the number of authorized shares of common stock will be reduced from 3 billion to 100 million.

“We believe the reverse stock split is an important step toward maintaining our Nasdaq listing and better positioning our stock for long-term investor participation,” said Ethan Brown, President and CEO of Beyond Meat.

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Beyond Meat Shares FallBYND Price Action: At the time of publication, Beyond Meat shares are trading 14.04% lower at 44 cents, according to data from Benzinga Pro.

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Oracle Corp (NYSE:ORCL) stock traded lower by almost 4% on Tuesday as traders fade the latest rebound into overhead resistance levels, even while the broader risk tone stays constructive. The Nasdaq is up 0.06% while the S&P 500 has gained 0.08%, and Technology is higher by 0.31%, leaving ORCL as a clear laggard versus its peer group.

BNP Paribas analyst Stefan Slowinski said Oracle remains well positioned in a supplier-friendly AI infrastructure market, with attractive contract economics and a potential free-cash-flow inflection beginning in fiscal 2029.

BNP Paribas Sees Stronger Oracle Cash Flow PathSlowinski said BNP Paribas came away more positive on Oracle’s path toward a sharp free-cash-flow inflection in fiscal 2029 after speaking with the company’s investor relations team.

The analyst said Oracle continues to expect absolute capital spending to peak in fiscal 2027 or fiscal 2028 before potentially declining materially in fiscal 2029. That shift could help the company move past the most capital-intensive phase of its AI infrastructure buildout.

He said consensus fiscal 2027 operating cash flow of about $46 billion and S&P Global’s $48 billion to $53 billion estimate may be too low.

Slowinski said those estimates imply little underlying operating-cash-flow growth versus fiscal 2026 after adjusting for $20 billion to $25 billion of customer prepayments, even as Oracle adds more than $20 billion in incremental revenue in fiscal 2027 at likely 60% to 70% EBITDA margins.

AI Contract Economics Remain AttractiveThe analyst said Oracle’s cost-plus contracts help preserve targeted gross margins of 30% to 40% despite component inflation.

He also said Oracle’s bring-your-own-hardware contracts could offer better economics than traditional AI infrastructure deals.

Slowinski estimates those contracts could generate gross margins above 50%, require up to 75% less capital spending and produce roughly 70% internal rates of return in a best-case scenario.

Financing Plans Support BuildoutThe analyst said Oracle reiterated plans to raise $40 billion of capital in fiscal 2027, including a previously announced $20 billion equity ATM program and another $20 billion of capital that has not yet been defined as debt, equity or a mix.

He said Oracle’s nearly $90 billion of cumulative financing across fiscal 2026 and fiscal 2027 may be enough to fund the current investment cycle until the business becomes cash generative and self-sustaining from fiscal 2029 onward.

Earnings & Analyst OutlookLooking further out, the next major catalyst for the stock arrives with the September 8, 2026 (estimated) earnings report.

EPS Estimate: $1.67 (Up from $1.47 YoY) Revenue Estimate: $19.13 Billion (Up from $14.93 Billion YoY) Valuation: P/E of 25.9x (Indicates premium valuation relative to peers) Analyst Consensus & Recent Actions: The stock carries a Buy rating with an average price forecast of $258.50 (range: $145.00 to $400.00) across 50 analysts. Recent analyst moves include:

UBS: Buy (Lowers Forecast to $245.00) (August 6) CLSA: Initiated with Hold (Forecast $145.00) (July 20) Bernstein: Outperform (Raises Forecast to $325.00) (June 11) Top ETF Exposure iShares Expanded Tech-Software Sector ETF (BATS:IGV): 5.87% Weight First Trust Dow Jones Internet Index Fund (NYSE:FDN): 4.30% Weight First Trust NASDAQ Technology Dividend Index Fund (NASDAQ:TDIV): 5.21% Weight Significance: Because ORCL carries such a heavy weight in these funds, any significant inflows or outflows for these ETFs will likely force automatic buying or selling of the stock.

Price ActionORCL Stock Price Activity: Oracle shares were down 3.65% at $145.57 at the time of publication on Tuesday, according to Benzinga Pro data.

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By PYMNTS  |  August 11, 2026

 | 

Businesses can now use their Square Credit Card to pay vendors that don’t accept cards, as well as those that do, Square said in a Tuesday (Aug. 11) press release.

This enhanced Bill Pay feature lets sellers pay rent, insurance, marketing expenses and other vendor expenses, regardless of whether the vendors accept cards. Square routes the money to the vendor’s choice of a direct deposit into their bank account (ACH) or a check in the mail, according to the release.

Square Bill Pay provides an alternative to solutions that come with additional costs or require small business owners to spend their cash on hand, Andrea Raj, head of product for Square Banking, said in the release.

“We built the opposite,” Raj said. “Pay vendors on time, keep cash longer, and earn the right rewards for it, all in one place and while saving on fees. That’s only possible because it’s built into the platform sellers already run their business on.”

Square also announced Tuesday that the refreshed Square Credit Card now offers unlimited 3% cash back on Square Bill Pay transactions and 1.5% cash back on all other purchases. Sellers can redeem the rewards as cash deposits into their Square Savings account, statement credit or free processing, according to the release.

The new features join the existing benefits of the Square Credit Card, which include a dynamic credit line, no personal guarantee, no annual fees, no late fees and no foreign transaction fees, per the release.

Square and parent company Block have launched several other solutions for businesses in recent months.

In June, Square Financial Services launched a deposit tier that pays a higher APY to Square sellers who maintain a daily balance of $10,000 or more in their Square Savings account.

In May, Square and Homegrown announced that they partnered on a pilot program designed to offer expansion capital through flexible financing for Square sellers that have two or more locations and are ready to open another one.

In March, Square said it had begun extending credit to more sellers after improving its underwriting models to assess the creditworthiness of those with non-standard revenue patterns, including project-based earners, seasonal operators and businesses that are new to Square.

For all PYMNTS B2B coverage, subscribe to the daily B2B Newsletter.

For the quarter ended June 2026, Sea Limited Sponsored ADR (SE - Free Report) reported revenue of $7.8 billion, up 45.6% over the same period last year. EPS came in at $0.86, compared to $0.85 in the year-ago quarter.

The reported revenue represents a surprise of +6.39% over the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $7.34 billion. With the consensus EPS estimate being $1.00, the EPS surprise was -14%.

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 Sea Limited performed in the just reported quarter in terms of the metrics most widely monitored and projected by Wall Street analysts:

Revenue- Other Services: $50.77 million versus $48.94 million estimated by two analysts on average. Compared to the year-ago quarter, this number represents a +9.2% change.Adjusted EBITDA- Unallocated expenses: $-9.75 million compared to the $-10.78 million average estimate based on two analysts.Adjusted EBITDA- Other Services: $-46.23 million versus $-20.84 million estimated by two analysts on average.View all Key Company Metrics for Sea Limited here>>>

Shares of Sea Limited have returned +3.7% over the past month versus the Zacks S&P 500 composite's +2.5% change. The stock currently has a Zacks Rank #4 (Sell), indicating that it could underperform the broader market in the near term.

Key Takeaways Republic Services' second-quarter revenues rose 4.6% as core pricing offset a 1.6% volume decline.2026 earnings are projected at $7.26 per share, with current-year sales expected to grow 4.5%.Republic returned $1.04 billion to shareholders as adjusted free cash flow reached $1.58 billion. Republic Services, Inc. (RSG - Free Report) is sustaining revenue growth through disciplined pricing, even as volumes remain soft in parts of the business. Cash generation and shareholder returns add support to the investment case.

The trade-off is valuation. RSG carries premiums to key benchmarks while liquidity, leverage and construction-sensitive volumes remain constraints.

RSG Pricing Strength Keeps Revenue Growth IntactSecond-quarter revenues rose 4.6% year over year to $4.43 billion. Core price increased total revenues 5.3%, while core pricing on related-business revenues advanced 6.4%, offsetting a 1.6% total-volume decline.

Large-container volume fell 2.2% amid continued softness in construction activity. Pricing discipline is also visible at peer WM (WM - Free Report) , which reported first-quarter 2026 core price growth of 6.3%. That makes WM a useful peer reference for RSG's pricing-led growth model.

RSG Earnings Growth Remains Positive but ModerateAdjusted second-quarter earnings increased 4.5% to $1.85 per share. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2026 earnings is $7.26 per share, rising to $8.02 for 2027.

Projected sales growth for the current fiscal year is 4.5%. The combination points to continued growth, but not the kind of acceleration that by itself resolves the valuation question.

Republic Trades at a Premium to Key BenchmarksRSG trades at 14.71X trailing 12-month enterprise value to earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization, above the Zacks sub-industry's 12.5X. Its 27.74X forward price-to-earnings multiple also exceeds the S&P 500 comparison of 20.81X.

                                                                           Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

                                                                           Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

The stock's five-year median enterprise value to earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization multiple is 15.01X, so the current level is not unusual for RSG itself. Waste Connections, Inc. (WCN - Free Report) , another waste-services peer, raised its full-year outlook after second-quarter 2026 results, making it a relevant sector comparison.

RSG Liquidity and Volume Risks Limit the UpsideRepublic's current ratio was 0.64 at the end of the second quarter, below the industry average of 1.08. Total debt stood at $14.2 billion and leverage was about 2.6 times.

Volume remains another constraint. Residential volume declined 4.3% because of known contract losses, while permitting uncertainty and intense competition can add costs or restrict operating flexibility.

RSG Capital Returns Support Per-Share ValueRepublic returned $1.04 billion to shareholders in the first half of 2026. That included $651 million of share repurchases and $385 million of dividends.

The company also raised its quarterly dividend by 4.5 cents to 67 cents per share, marking its 23rd consecutive annual dividend increase. Adjusted free cash flow reached $1.58 billion in the first half, giving the capital-return program a solid cash-flow foundation.

RSG's Hold Signal Matches a Balanced SetupRSG's pricing, cash flow and capital returns remain supportive, but the premium valuation and softer volumes argue for a measured view rather than an aggressive entry point.

The stock currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.

RSG also has a Value Score of C, Growth Score of C, Momentum Score of D and VGM Score of C. Style Scores complement the Zacks Rank, and these middling-to-weaker grades do not add a strong positive signal. For investors assessing whether to buy now or wait, the current profile supports patience while execution and valuation remain in focus.

Bumble is officially giving up on the rule that made it, well, Bumble.

The dating app announced Tuesday that anyone in a match can now send the first message, ending the women-message-first requirement that has been one of the company’s defining features for more than a decade. 

Bumble is also giving matches 72 hours to respond, up from 24, in an effort to take some of the pressure out of coming up with a response in a short time frame. The longer window gives people more flexibility to reply, rather than feeling like they need to check the app constantly or risk a match disappearing.

The change marks a pretty significant shift for Bumble, which built its brand around putting women in control of heterosexual dating conversations. When the app launched in 2014, Bumble was positioned as the more considerate alternative to Tinder, with women deciding whether a conversation would begin and, ideally, avoiding some of the unsolicited messages and general weirdness that had become synonymous with dating apps.

Bumble founder and CEO Whitney Wolfe Herd framed the new update as an evolution rather than a retreat from the company’s original mission.

“While women making the first move was a radical idea, being women-first was never about prescribing just one way to connect. It was about designing an experience with women’s needs in mind to create better outcomes for everyone,” Herd said in a statement. 

And, apparently, plenty of women are ready for this change. According to Bumble’s survey data, 66% of women surveyed said they prefer men to send the first message, with many saying it would make dating feel less stressful. Additionally, more than half of members surveyed said the longer response window improved their experience.

“Today, our community is asking for more flexibility, less pressure, and more opportunities to create real, meaningful connections, and that is what this new experience provides. This evolution isn’t a departure from our founding vision, but the realization of it,” Herd added. 

The change also isn’t coming completely out of nowhere. Bumble began loosening its original rules in 2024 with “Opening Moves,” a feature that allowed women to set a question on their profile that a man could answer. 

The change also arrives as Bumble tries to turn around a business that has been struggling to regain its footing. The company’s second-quarter earnings report last week showed revenue dropping 15.2% year over year to $210.5 million, while the company expects its number of paying customers to decline in the third quarter.

Over the past several quarters, Bumble has tried to address a broader slowdown in online dating, as the industry wrestles with user fatigue, an increasingly crowded market, and the reality that swiping through hundreds of profiles isn’t necessarily anyone’s idea of a great time. The company recently revealed it’s exploring a swipe-free future, along with more in-person events and AI features to garner more traction, especially among Gen Z users. 

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Lauren covers media, streaming, apps and platforms at TechCrunch.

You can contact or verify outreach from Lauren by emailing [email protected] or via encrypted message at laurenforris22.25 on Signal.

HomeEarnings AnalysisBasic Materials

SummaryFreeport's Q2 results were bullish: production and sales exceeded estimates, unit cash costs fell to $1.92/lb, and Grasberg recovery ramped up faster than I expected.Growth initiatives, including leaching optimization and Bagdad expansion, could boost U.S. copper output by 60% by 2030, providing a significant future catalyst.FCX stock is +37% YTD and +70% over the past year, as higher realized copper prices outweighed a 20% pullback in the price of gold and the Grasberg disaster.Despite a strong balance sheet and near-record copper prices, FCX faces commodity price and Grasberg execution risks, and the current valuation tempers new buying.I reiterate my HOLD rating on Freeport but reserve the right to upgrade should Grasberg ramp-up continue successfully in Q3 and the copper price stays near an all-time record high. Four 9's Purity Gold Bars

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The stock of miner Freeport-McMoRan (FCX) is +37% YTD despite the fact that the gold rally stalled this year and the shiny metal is down ~20% from its springtime high over $5,000/oz (see chart

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Analyst’s Disclosure: I/we have a beneficial long position in the shares of FCX, COP either through stock ownership, options, or other derivatives. 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.

I am an electronics engineer, not a CFA. The information and data presented in this article were obtained from company documents and/or sources believed to be reliable, but have not been independently verified. Therefore, the author cannot guarantee their accuracy. Please do your own research and contact a qualified investment advisor. I am not responsible for the investment decisions you make.

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.

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Plug Power (NASDAQ:PLUG) stock is rising 10% to $2.32 Tuesday morning after the hydrogen fuel cell maker reported Q2 2026 results Monday after the close. The report showed a sharp margin turnaround, disciplined cost cuts, and a raised full-year revenue outlook that reset the narrative on Plug Power’s long-running transformation effort.

The move looks company-specific rather than thematic. Shares of fuel-cell sector peers FuelCell Energy (NASDAQ:FCEL) and Bloom Energy (NYSE:BE) are up only 2% to $20.18 and $214.36, respectively, and the Global X Hydrogen ETF (NASDAQ:HYDR) is climbing 2% to $44.26. Plug Power’s outperformance suggests traders are rewarding company-specific results.

Plug Power stock still trades near multi-year lows. The shares are down 91.5% over the past five years, so today’s pop reflects fresh optimism about the margin trajectory rather than a full recovery in the equity.

Margin Turnaround Fuels the Pop Plug Power reported Q2 2026 revenue of $178.3 million, topping estimates of $168.8 million. The company’s gross margin improved to approximately breakeven from -31% a year ago, while operating expenses fell 50% year over year (YoY) on cost discipline and asset monetization.

The company raised its full-year 2026 revenue growth guidance to a range of 15% to 16% and reiterated its target of reaching positive EBITDAS (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, amortization, and stock-based compensation) in Q4 2026. Plug Power’s management cited asset-monetization moves generating $80 million of near-term liquidity toward a $275 million total target.

Operational highlights added to the optimism. Plug Power deployed 1,666 GenDrive fuel cell units, up 125% YoY, while service revenue grew 82% YoY with a 27% positive service margin. Electrolyzer project wins across Europe and Australia rounded out the commercial update.

Plug Power CEO Jose Luis Crespo framed the quarter as evidence of a broader turnaround, stating: “Our second quarter results demonstrate that Plug is executing its transformation into a stronger, more efficient and profitable company.”

Peers Rise in Sympathy FuelCell Energy stock and Bloom Energy shares are getting a modest read-through bid rather than trading on their own news. Both companies operate in the hydrogen and stationary fuel cell space, and both have benefited over the past year from the AI data center power narrative. Year to date (YTD), FuelCell Energy stock is up 178% and Bloom Energy shares have climbed 146%, while Plug Power stock remains a long-term laggard.

The Global X Hydrogen ETF offers the thematic backdrop. It’s a narrow, unleveraged thematic fund holding hydrogen and fuel cell names, with Plug Power, FuelCell Energy, and Bloom Energy among its largest U.S. positions. That concentration is worth noting for investors sizing exposure, since a handful of small-cap names can drive much of the daily move. A 2% gain against Plug Power stock’s 10% pop underscores that today is largely a single-name story.

Keep the balance in view on Plug Power; the company remains deeply unprofitable. Plug Power’s GAAP EPS came in at -$0.14, missing analyst estimates of -$0.08, though it improved from -$0.20 a year earlier. The margin trajectory is encouraging, but the path to sustained profitability isn’t yet proven.

What To Watch Traders can watch for whether Plug Power stock holds today’s gains into the close and whether analyst notes ratify the raised outlook. The bigger test arrives in the third and fourth quarters, when Plug Power’s second-half-weighted revenue cadence and positive EBITDAS target for Q4 2026 have to face real numbers rather than commentary.

The hydrogen ETF’s muted move is a useful tell. If the theme were re-rating today, HYDR and the peer names would be closer to Plug Power stock’s 10% jump. For now, this looks like a margin-turnaround story trading on its own merits, with liquidity from asset sales providing a bridge to the promised Q4 2026 inflection.

Investors weighing exposure to Plug Power can consider modest position sizing given the company’s history of losses, execution risk on asset monetization, and the still-unproven path to profitability. The story is improving, but it’s early.

Contact [email protected] for any questions or corrections.