EVANSVILLE, Ind., Sept. 09, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- (NASDAQ: ONB) – Old National Bank (“Old National”) has named Katie Florig as the next President and Tom Weizenegger as the next Chief Investment Officer of 1834, a division of Old National.
1834 is a boutique-style experience with integrated, customized wealth advisory and investment management services for high-net-worth individuals and institutions, including:
Wealth Planning;Investment Management;Trust & Fiduciary Services;Estate Planning & Administration;Private Banking;Specialized Services, including Business Succession Planning, Executive Compensation Planning and Philanthropy Services; andInstitutional Services for businesses and nonprofits, including Investment Management, Retirement Plan Services,1 Corporate Trust Services and Philanthropy & Endowment Services. In her role as President of 1834, Katie Florig is responsible for the strategic growth of the wealth advisory and trust and estate business. She will lead a tenured team of wealth advisors and trust officers throughout the Old National footprint. Prior to this role, she served as the 1834 Regional Executive for the Chicagoland region.
In his role as Chief Investment Officer, Tom Weizenegger will lead a team of investment professionals and portfolio managers who bring together the firm’s investment guidance across asset allocation, manager research, and security selection to build portfolios that are tailored to achieve client objectives. Prior to this role, he served as 1834’s Managing Director of Investment Management.
“I am energized with how we continue to strengthen our Wealth Management business,” said Chady AlAhmar, CEO of Wealth Management at Old National. “These new leadership announcements reflect our commitment to thoughtful succession planning, organizational alignment, and continued investment in the future of Wealth Management. I am excited about the opportunities ahead and confident that Katie and Tom will help us continue delivering exceptional outcomes for our clients and team members.”
Learn more about 1834 at 1834.com.
Bios
Chady AlAhmar
Katie Florig
Tom Weizenegger
Photos: Individual photos available upon request.
ABOUT OLD NATIONAL
Old National Bancorp (NASDAQ: ONB) is the holding company of Old National Bank. As the sixth largest commercial bank headquartered in the Midwest, Old National proudly serves clients primarily in the Midwest and Southeast. With approximately $74 billion of assets and $41 billion of assets under management, Old National ranks among the top 25 banking companies headquartered in the United States. Tracing our roots to 1834, Old National focuses on building long-term, highly valued partnerships with clients while also strengthening and supporting the communities we serve. In addition to providing extensive services in consumer and commercial banking, Old National offers comprehensive wealth management and capital markets services. For more information and financial data, please visit Investor Relations at oldnational.com. In 2026, Points of Light named Old National to “The Civic 50” for the third consecutive year – an honor recognizing the 50 most community-minded companies in the United States – and also named Old National the Financials Sector Leader among nominated banks and financial services organizations.
ABOUT 1834
1834, a division of Old National Bank is a boutique-style firm that offers integrated, customized wealth advisory and investment management services for high-net-worth individuals and institutions. The service model for 1834 includes a single point of contact with a tenured wealth advisor paired with direct consultation from an expanded team of in-house wealth professionals, including trust officers, financial planners, private bankers and portfolio managers. 1834 has offices throughout the Midwest and Southeast as well as Naples, Fla., and Scottsdale, Ariz., and boasts more than 100 team members. For more information, visit 1834.com.
Investment instruments utilized by 1834 are not insured by the FDIC nor any other government agency, are not deposits or other obligations of 1834, Old National Wealth Management, Old National Bank, its parent company or affiliates, and involve investment risk including the possible loss of principal invested.
1Advisory services are offered through 1834 Investment Advisors Co., an SEC registered investment advisor and a wholly owned subsidiary of Old National Bancorp. The custodial/trustee services are offered through 1834, a division of Old National Bank.
It doesn't matter your age or experience: taking full advantage of the stock market and investing with confidence are common goals for all investors. Luckily, Zacks Premium offers several different ways to do both.
The research service features daily updates of the Zacks Rank and Zacks Industry Rank, full access to the Zacks #1 Rank List, Equity Research reports, and Premium stock screens, all of which will help you become a smarter, more confident investor.
It also includes access to the Zacks Style Scores.
What are the Zacks Style Scores? The Zacks Style Scores is a unique set of guidelines that rates stocks based on three popular investing types, and were developed as complementary indicators for the Zacks Rank. This combination helps investors choose securities with the highest chances of beating the market over the next 30 days.
Based on their value, growth, and momentum characteristics, each stock is assigned a rating of A, B, C, D, or F. The better the score, the better chance the stock will outperform; an A is better than a B, a B is better than a C, and so on.
The Style Scores are broken down into four categories:
Value ScoreFor value investors, it's all about finding good stocks at good prices, and discovering which companies are trading under their true value before the broader market catches on. The Value Style Score utilizes ratios like P/E, PEG, Price/Sales, Price/Cash Flow, and a host of other multiples to help pick out the most attractive and discounted stocks.
Growth ScoreWhile good value is important, growth investors are more focused on a company's financial strength and health, and its future outlook. The Growth Style Score takes projected and historic earnings, sales, and cash flow into account to uncover stocks that will see long-term, sustainable growth.
Momentum ScoreMomentum investors, who live by the saying "the trend is your friend," are most interested in taking advantage of upward or downward trends in a stock's price or earnings outlook. Utilizing one-week price change and the monthly percentage change in earnings estimates, among other factors, the Momentum Style Score can help determine favorable times to buy high-momentum stocks.
VGM ScoreWhat if you like to use all three types of investing? The VGM Score is a combination of all Style Scores, making it one of the most comprehensive indicators to use with the Zacks Rank. It rates each stock on their combined weighted styles, which helps narrow down the companies with the most attractive value, best growth forecast, and most promising momentum.
How Style Scores Work with the Zacks Rank The Zacks Rank is a proprietary stock-rating model that harnesses the power of earnings estimate revisions, or changes to a company's earnings expectations, to help investors build a successful portfolio.
#1 (Strong Buy) stocks have produced an unmatched +23.8% average annual return since 1988, which is more than double the S&P 500's performance over the same time frame. However, the Zacks Rank examines a ton of stocks, and there can be more than 200 companies with a Strong Buy rank, and another 600 with a #2 (Buy) rank, on any given day.
With more than 800 top-rated stocks to choose from, it can certainly feel overwhelming to pick the ones that are right for you and your investing journey.
That's where the Style Scores come in.
To maximize your returns, you want to buy stocks with the highest probability of success. This means picking stocks with a Zacks Rank #1 or #2 that also have Style Scores of A or B. If you find yourself looking at stocks with a #3 (Hold) rank, make sure they have Scores of A or B as well to ensure as much upside potential as possible.
The direction of a stock's earnings estimate revisions should always be a key factor when choosing which stocks to buy, since the Scores were created to work together with the Zacks Rank.
Here's an example: a stock with a #4 (Sell) or #5 (Strong Sell) rating, even one with Style Scores of A and B, still has a downward-trending earnings outlook, and a bigger chance its share price will decrease too.
Thus, the more stocks you own with a #1 or #2 Rank and Scores of A or B, the better.
Stock to Watch: Boot Barn (BOOT - Free Report) Boot Barn Holdings, Inc. is the largest lifestyle retailer in the United States, specializing in western and work-related footwear, apparel, and accessories. Founded in 1978 and headquartered in Irvine, California, the company serves customers through an integrated network of brick-and-mortar stores and e-commerce platforms. At the end of the first quarter of fiscal 2027, Boot Barn operated 566 stores across 49 states and complemented its physical presence with a nationwide digital platform that supports services such as buy online, pick up in store, curbside pickup, ship-from-store and in-store returns.
BOOT is a #2 (Buy) on the Zacks Rank, with a VGM Score of B.
Additionally, the company could be a top pick for growth investors. BOOT has a Growth Style Score of B, forecasting year-over-year earnings growth of 22.6% for the current fiscal year.
For fiscal 2027, six analysts revised their earnings estimate upwards in the last 60 days, and the Zacks Consensus Estimate has increased $0.46 to $9.01 per share. BOOT boasts an average earnings surprise of +11.4%.
With a solid Zacks Rank and top-tier Growth and VGM Style Scores, BOOT should be on investors' short list.
The S&P 500 index is already a bit tech-heavy, with over a third of its constituents in the sector, but it's about to see that number pushed higher with four new AI stocks set to be added to the index later this month. Let's take a look at the S&P's newest members and whether investors should buy, hold, or pass on these stocks.
Sandisk One of the best-performing stocks in the market this year, Sandisk (SNDK +1.97%) has been riding the memory supercycle to huge revenue growth and a robust gross margin. The company is a pure-play NAND (flash) memory maker and has benefited from the current supply-demand imbalance in the industry.
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NAND supply remains constrained as the big three memory makers continue to put most of their efforts and resources into DRAM (dynamic random access memory) and specifically high bandwidth memory (HBM). At the same time, demand for flash continues to soar from the need for massive solid-state drives (SSDs) that store training data.
Sandisk has started to lock up customers with long-term deals for the first time ever, and AI seems to have potentially brought with it a structural shift where the typical boom-bust cycles are no longer the norm. Trading at a forward P/E of 5, the stock looks like a solid hold, with the NAND cycle looking like it will last longer than most expect.
Palo Alto Networks After Anthropic's Mythos model revealed extensive previously unknown software vulnerabilities, the importance of cybersecurity in the AI era took center stage. Palo Alto Networks (PANW -0.80%) is one of the leaders in AI security, and its earlier decision to stop selling point solutions and have customers consolidate on one of its platforms has been paying off.
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As a leader in next-generation security, Palo Alto has a bright future. However, the stock is extremely pricey, trading at a forward price-to-sales ratio (P/S) of 19, based on fiscal 2027 (ending September 2027) estimates, while growing its revenue by 34% last quarter. That's just too pricey in my book, and as such, I'd pass.
Dell AI data centers require more than just AI chips, and Dell Technologies (DELL +2.35%) has been benefiting by delivering customers custom end-to-end solutions with ongoing support. Its AI Factory includes everything from hardware -- like servers, networking equipment, power, cooling, storage, and data management infrastructure -- to software and security services. It also includes edge devices like PCs.
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The company is seeing surging revenue, up 58% last quarter, and it sees full-year revenue climbing 69%. Traditional servers and networking revenue skyrocketed 122%, while storage was up 26% and client solutions rose 20%. While Dell is a top-tier systems integrator with deep supply-chain scale and high-value enterprise services, it still functions largely as a hardware pass-through, and its 21% gross margin reflects that reality.
An investment in the stock largely comes down to the company continuing to ride the AI infrastructure wave and continuing to benefit from operating leverage as it scales. With the AI boom looking like it still has legs, the stock looks like a buy.
Image source: Getty Images.
Arista Networks Arista Networks (ANET +0.11%) is benefiting from AI chip clusters growing in size and complexity and the need to better manage AI networks. The company is a close partner with Broadcom, where it assembles its networking components together and layers on its Extensible Operating System (EOS) software platform so customers can easily manage their networks.
Microsoft and Meta Platforms are two of Arista's largest customers, and it's benefiting from their aggressive spending on AI infrastructure. However, it said it now has hundreds of customers that have adopted its solutions, up from only four or five in 2024. Arista grew its revenue by 38% last quarter and now expects its revenue to climb by 40% this year.
Despite the company's momentum, with the shares trading at a forward P/E of 37, based on 2027 analyst estimates, I'd pass on the stock at this time.
Key Takeaways ANET's 2026 sales and EPS estimates imply 39.1% and 35.6% growth, with EPS estimates up 11.3%.IBM's 2026 sales and EPS estimates imply 4.3% and 6.4% growth, while EPS estimates fell 0.7%.Arista surged 29.4% over the past year, while IBM fell 9.7%; IBM trades at a lower forward P/E. Arista Networks, Inc. (ANET - Free Report) and International Business Machines Corporation (IBM - Free Report) are leading players in the enterprise IT infrastructure and are benefiting from the rise of AI (artificial intelligence) and cloud computing. Arista offers one of the broadest product lines of data center and campus Ethernet switches and routers in the industry. It provides routing and switching platforms with industry-leading capacity, low latency, port density and power efficiency.
IBM offers cloud and data solutions that aid enterprises in digital transformation. In addition to hybrid cloud services, the company provides advanced information technology solutions, computer systems, quantum computing and supercomputing solutions, enterprise software, storage systems and microelectronics.
With a focus on hybrid cloud and AI, both IBM and Arista are strategically positioned in the cloud infrastructure market, with overlapping presence in networking infrastructure, enterprise IT solutions and cloud/data-center ecosystems. Let us delve a little deeper into the companies’ competitive dynamics to understand which of the two is relatively better placed in the industry.
The Case for ANETArista holds a leadership position in 100-gigabit Ethernet switches and is increasingly gaining market traction in 200- and 400-gigabit high-performance switching products. It is witnessing solid demand trends among enterprise customers backed by its multi-domain modern software approach, which is built upon its unique and differentiating foundation, the single EOS (Extensible Operating System) and CloudVision stack. Arista has made several additions to its multi-cloud and cloud-native software product family with CloudEOS Edge. It has introduced new cognitive Wi-Fi software that delivers intelligent application identification, automated troubleshooting and location services. The versatility of Arista’s unified software stack across various use cases, including WAN routing, campus and data center infrastructure, sets it apart from other competitors in the industry.
In addition to high capacity and easy availability, its cloud networking solutions promise predictable performance and programmability, enabling integration with third-party applications for network management, automation and orchestration. The company boasts a comprehensive portfolio with the right network architecture for client-to-campus data center cloud and AI networking, backed by three guiding principles. These include best-in-class, highly proactive products with resilience and zero-touch automation, with predictive client-to-cloud one-click operations with granular visibility and prescriptive insights for deeper AI algorithms. Arista is likely to benefit from its software-driven, data-centric approach, which helps customers build their cloud architecture and enhance the cloud experience they offer their clients.
However, Arista remains plagued by high operating costs. Total operating expenses in the second quarter of 2026 increased around 17.7% to $532.3 million, owing to higher headcount, new product introduction costs and higher variable compensation expenditures. Moreover, the redesign of products and their supply chain mechanism have eroded margins. Research & development costs rose to $348.2 million from $296.5 million. Lingering supply bottlenecks for advanced products, a concentrated customer base and stiff competition from other networking & cloud native infrastructure vendors are other headwinds for ANET.
The Case for IBMIBM is poised to benefit from healthy demand trends for hybrid cloud and AI, which drive the Software and Consulting segments. The company’s growth is expected to be aided by analytics, cloud computing and security in the long term. With a surge in traditional cloud-native workloads and associated applications, along with a rise in generative AI deployment, there is a radical expansion in the number of cloud workloads that enterprises are currently managing. This has resulted in heterogeneous, dynamic and complex infrastructure strategies, which have led firms to undertake a cloud-agnostic and interoperable approach to highly secure multi-cloud management, translating into a healthy demand for IBM hybrid cloud solutions.
In addition, the buyout of HashiCorp has significantly augmented IBM’s capabilities to assist enterprises in managing complex cloud environments. HashiCorp’s toolsets complement IBM Red Hat’s portfolio, bringing additional functionalities for cloud infrastructure management and bolstering its hybrid multi-cloud approach.
Despite solid hybrid cloud and AI traction, IBM is facing stiff competition from Amazon.com, Inc.’s (AMZN - Free Report) AWS and Microsoft Corporation’s (MSFT - Free Report) Azure. Increasing pricing pressure is eroding margins, and profitability has trended down over the years, barring occasional spikes. The company faces a potent threat from AI firm Anthropic as the latter’s Claude Code tool can modernize legacy COBOL systems — a foundational programming language deeply embedded in IBM’s mainframe ecosystem. With Claude Code proposing to substantially automate code exploration, documentation, refactoring and security analysis, it threatened to reduce enterprises’ reliance on specialized legacy service providers like IBM, putting its sustenance at stake.
How Do Zacks Estimates Compare for ANET & IBM?The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Arista’s 2026 sales and EPS implies year-over-year growth of 39.1% and 35.6%, respectively. The EPS estimates have trended up 11.3% over the past 60 days.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for IBM’s 2026 sales and EPS indicates year-over-year growth of 4.3% and 6.4%, respectively. The EPS estimates have declined 0.7% over the past 60 days.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Price Performance & Valuation of IBM & ANETOver the past year, IBM has plummeted 9.7% against the industry’s growth of 196.1%. ANET has surged 29.4% over the same period.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
IBM looks more attractive than Arista from a valuation standpoint. Going by the price/earnings ratio, IBM’s shares currently trade at 17.93 forward earnings, significantly lower than Arista’s 41.49.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
ANET or IBM: Which is the Better Pick?Arista currently carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy), while IBM has a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
Both companies expect their sales and profits to improve in 2026. Arista has better price performance and better estimate revisions compared with IBM, although it is a bit expensive in terms of the valuation metric. Arista has shown steady revenue and EPS growth for years, while IBM has been facing a bumpy road.
Investors looking for the "next wave" in AI and cloud infrastructure may lean toward Arista, while those seeking a broad, resilient tech play may favor IBM. However, with a better Zacks Rank and emerging growth opportunities in AI and cloud infrastructure, Arista seems to have an edge over IBM and appears to be a better investment option at the moment.
Cronos, the Layer 1 network associated with Crypto.com, has released its official accounting of the August 30 attack on Tectonic. The review confirms that more than $9 million extracted during the incident remains outside the chain’s reach.
Validators later rolled the ledger back and reversed most of the damage, but assets that had already left Cronos could not be restored.
The attacker inflated the price of TONIC, Tectonic’s thinly traded governance token, then posted that inflated token as collateral.
Using the distorted valuation, the attacker borrowed about $120.4 million across nine of Tectonic’s lending markets.
The protocol’s price feed tracked the manipulated market, allowing the borrower to pull stablecoins, bitcoin, ether and other liquid assets far beyond TONIC’s real tradable depth.
Operators identified the irregular activity about 36 minutes after it started.
Validators then halted block production at height 90,907,150. After reaching consensus, they restored the chain to block 90,896,188—the last height recorded before the first malicious transactions.
That decision discarded 10,961 blocks, or one hour and 54 minutes of history.
Every transaction packed into that window, related to the exploit or not, was erased.
Balances that had remained on Cronos returned to their earlier state, reversing roughly $111.2 million of the borrowed value.
The remaining $9.19 million—about 7.6 percent of the $120.4 million total—had already been moved off the network through bridges and other outbound routes before the halt.
Those funds sit on other chains and therefore fall outside the rollback.
Cronos stated that the departed sum has not been recovered and is beyond the restoration’s reach.
The episode illustrates a hard limit of chain-level emergency measures.
A coordinated rollback can rewrite history inside one network, but it cannot reach assets once they have crossed a bridge.
Earlier on-chain estimates had placed the escaped amount closer to $6 million–$8.3 million; the official figure is now higher.
The same intervention also cancelled legitimate activity that happened to fall inside the discarded window, an unavoidable cost of resetting the entire chain rather than targeting individual addresses.
Tectonic, previously the largest lending protocol on Cronos, saw its total value locked collapse around the attack.
The network itself resumed block production later on August 30 after the pre-exploit state was restored.
Cronos has said it is coordinating with exchanges and investigators to trace the outbound transfers, but recovery of the escaped $9.19 million remains uncertain.
The case adds to a wider pattern of price-manipulation attacks against DeFi lenders that accept low-liquidity tokens as collateral.
Here, a thin TONIC market, a relatively generous collateral factor, and a price feed that followed the manipulated pool created the opening. The rapid halt limited further leakage, yet it could not close the gap left by funds that had already departed.
It doesn't matter your age or experience: taking full advantage of the stock market and investing with confidence are common goals for all investors. Luckily, Zacks Premium offers several different ways to do both.
The popular research service can help you become a smarter, more self-assured investor, giving you access to daily updates of the Zacks Rank and Zacks Industry Rank, the Zacks #1 Rank List, Equity Research reports, and Premium stock screens.
Zacks Premium also includes the Zacks Style Scores.
What are the Zacks Style Scores? Developed alongside the Zacks Rank, the Zacks Style Scores are a group of complementary indicators that help investors pick stocks with the best chances of beating the market over the next 30 days.
Based on their value, growth, and momentum characteristics, each stock is assigned a rating of A, B, C, D, or F. The better the score, the better chance the stock will outperform; an A is better than a B, a B is better than a C, and so on.
The Style Scores are broken down into four categories:
Value ScoreFor value investors, it's all about finding good stocks at good prices, and discovering which companies are trading under their true value before the broader market catches on. The Value Style Score utilizes ratios like P/E, PEG, Price/Sales, Price/Cash Flow, and a host of other multiples to help pick out the most attractive and discounted stocks.
Growth ScoreGrowth investors are more concerned with a stock's future prospects, and the overall financial health and strength of a company. Thus, the Growth Style Score analyzes characteristics like projected and historic earnings, sales, and cash flow to find stocks that will see sustainable growth over time.
Momentum ScoreMomentum trading is all about taking advantage of upward or downward trends in a stock's price or earnings outlook, and these investors live by the saying "the trend is your friend." The Momentum Style Score can pinpoint good times to build a position in a stock, using factors like one-week price change and the monthly percentage change in earnings estimates.
VGM ScoreIf you want a combination of all three Style Scores, then the VGM Score will be your friend. It rates each stock on their combined weighted styles, helping you find the companies with the most attractive value, best growth forecast, and most promising momentum. It's also one of the best indicators to use with the Zacks Rank.
How Style Scores Work with the Zacks Rank The Zacks Rank, which is a proprietary stock-rating model, employs earnings estimate revisions, or changes to a company's earnings expectations, to make building a winning portfolio easier.
Investors can count on the Zacks Rank's success, with #1 (Strong Buy) stocks producing an unmatched +23.8% average annual return since 1988, more than double the S&P 500's performance. But the model rates a large number of stocks, and there are over 200 companies with a Strong Buy rank, plus another 600 with a #2 (Buy) rank, on any given day.
With more than 800 top-rated stocks to choose from, it can certainly feel overwhelming to pick the ones that are right for you and your investing journey.
That's where the Style Scores come in.
To have the best chance of big returns, you'll want to always consider stocks with a Zacks Rank #1 or #2 that also have Style Scores of A or B, which will give you the highest probability of success. If you're looking at stocks with a #3 (Hold) rank, it's important they have Scores of A or B as well to ensure as much upside potential as possible.
As mentioned above, the Scores are designed to work with the Zacks Rank, so any change to a company's earnings outlook should be a deciding factor when picking which stocks to buy.
A stock with a #4 (Sell) or #5 (Strong Sell) rating, for instance, even one with Scores of A and B, will still have a declining earnings forecast, and a greater chance its share price will fall too.
Thus, the more stocks you own with a #1 or #2 Rank and Scores of A or B, the better.
Stock to Watch: Teradata (TDC - Free Report) Teradata offers an open and connected hybrid cloud analytics and data platform for AI. The hybrid cloud platform, named Teradata Vantage, help enterprises solve business problems with Teradata’s capabilities to provide harmonized data, trusted AI, and faster innovation, at scale.
TDC is a #3 (Hold) on the Zacks Rank, with a VGM Score of A.
Additionally, the company could be a top pick for growth investors. TDC has a Growth Style Score of A, forecasting year-over-year earnings growth of 5% for the current fiscal year.
Four analysts revised their earnings estimate upwards in the last 60 days for fiscal 2026. The Zacks Consensus Estimate has increased $0.06 to $2.71 per share. TDC boasts an average earnings surprise of +27.5%.
With a solid Zacks Rank and top-tier Growth and VGM Style Scores, TDC should be on investors' short list.
Core & Main (CNM - Free Report) came out with quarterly earnings of $0.94 per share, beating the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $0.93 per share. This compares to earnings of $0.87 per share a year ago. These figures are adjusted for non-recurring items.
This quarterly report represents an earnings surprise of +1.08%. A quarter ago, it was expected that this distributor of water and fire protection products would post earnings of $0.7 per share when it actually produced earnings of $0.72, delivering a surprise of +2.86%.
Over the last four quarters, the company has surpassed consensus EPS estimates three times.
Core & Main, which belongs to the Zacks Manufacturing - Tools & Related Products industry, posted revenues of $2.15 billion for the quarter ended July 2026, surpassing the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 0.17%. This compares to year-ago revenues of $2.09 billion. The company has topped consensus revenue estimates two times over the last four quarters.
The sustainability of the stock's immediate price movement based on the recently-released numbers and future earnings expectations will mostly depend on management's commentary on the earnings call.
Core & Main shares have lost about 15.2% since the beginning of the year versus the S&P 500's gain of 12.1%.
What's Next for Core & Main?While Core & Main has underperformed the market so far this year, the question that comes to investors' minds is: what's next for the stock?
There are no easy answers to this key question, but one reliable measure that can help investors address this is the company's earnings outlook. Not only does this include current consensus earnings expectations for the coming quarter(s), but also how these expectations have changed lately.
Empirical research shows a strong correlation between near-term stock movements and trends in earnings estimate revisions. Investors can track such revisions by themselves or rely on a tried-and-tested rating tool like the Zacks Rank, which has an impressive track record of harnessing the power of earnings estimate revisions.
Ahead of this earnings release, the estimate revisions trend for Core & Main was mixed. While the magnitude and direction of estimate revisions could change following the company's just-released earnings report, the current status translates into a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) for the stock. So, the shares are expected to perform in line with the market in the near future. You can see the complete list of today's Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
It will be interesting to see how estimates for the coming quarters and the current fiscal year change in the days ahead. The current consensus EPS estimate is $0.96 on $2.15 billion in revenues for the coming quarter and $3.15 on $7.88 billion in revenues for the current fiscal year.
Investors should be mindful of the fact that the outlook for the industry can have a material impact on the performance of the stock as well. In terms of the Zacks Industry Rank, Manufacturing - Tools & Related Products is currently in the top 24% of the 250 plus Zacks industries. Our research shows that the top 50% of the Zacks-ranked industries outperform the bottom 50% by a factor of more than 2 to 1.
Apogee Enterprises (APOG - Free Report) , another stock in the broader Zacks Industrial Products sector, has yet to report results for the quarter ended August 2026.
This glass products company is expected to post quarterly earnings of $0.59 per share in its upcoming report, which represents a year-over-year change of -39.8%. The consensus EPS estimate for the quarter has remained unchanged over the last 30 days.
Apogee Enterprises' revenues are expected to be $362.61 million, up 1.2% from the year-ago quarter.
Analyst’s Disclosure: I/we have no stock, option or similar derivative position in any of the companies mentioned, and no plans to initiate any such positions within the next 72 hours. I wrote this article myself, and it expresses my own opinions. I am not receiving compensation for it (other than from Seeking Alpha). I have no business relationship with any company whose stock is mentioned in this article.
Seeking Alpha's Disclosure: Past performance is no guarantee of future results. No recommendation or advice is being given as to whether any investment is suitable for a particular investor. Any views or opinions expressed above may not reflect those of Seeking Alpha as a whole. Seeking Alpha is not a licensed securities dealer, broker or US investment adviser or investment bank. Our analysts are third party authors that include both professional investors and individual investors who may not be licensed or certified by any institute or regulatory body.
Komerční banka uzavřela 3. září 2026 smlouvu se svou mateřskou společností Société Générale o poskytnutí podřízeného úvěru ve výši 200 mil. EUR s úrokovou sazbou EURIBOR 1M plus 1,61 %, který se stane součástí regulatorního kapitálu Tier 2. Úvěr byl poskytnut 8. září 2026 s desetiletou splatností, přičemž banka má možnost jej po pěti letech předčasně splatit (call opce). Podle vyjádření banky odpovídá zvýšení regulatorního kapitálu z titulu přijatého úvěru přibližně 0,78 % konsolidovaných rizikově vážených aktiv k 30. červnu 2026.
Akcie Komerční banky Akcie Komerční banky (BAAKOMB) na pražské burze dnes oslabily o 0,92 % na 1 075 Kč, na RM-SYSTÉMu pak na 1 077 Kč.
Zdroj: Komerční banka
Michal Bárta
Fio banka, a.s.
Prohlášení
Související odkazy Komerční banka: mBank zvyšuje cílovou cenu akcií na 1 218,76 Kč a doporučení na „Buy“ Komerční banka: UBS snižuje cílovou cenu na 1 120 Kč při novém doporučení „Neutral“ KB: Ipopema Securities zvyšuje cílovou cenu na 1 218 Kč při novém doporučení „Accumulate“ Komerční banka: Citi zvyšuje cílovou cenu na 1 062 Kč při zachování doporučení „neutral“ Komerční banka za 2Q 2026 reportovala čistý zisk 4,5 mld. Kč
Here at Zacks, we focus on our proven ranking system, which places an emphasis on earnings estimates and estimate revisions, to find winning stocks. But we also understand that investors develop their own strategies, so we are constantly looking at the latest trends in value, growth, and momentum to find strong companies for our readers.
Looking at the history of these trends, perhaps none is more beloved than value investing. This strategy simply looks to identify companies that are being undervalued by the broader market. Value investors rely on traditional forms of analysis on key valuation metrics to find stocks that they believe are undervalued, leaving room for profits.
In addition to the Zacks Rank, investors looking for stocks with specific traits can utilize our Style Scores system. Of course, value investors will be most interested in the system's "Value" category. Stocks with "A" grades for Value and high Zacks Ranks are among the best value stocks available at any given moment.
Newmark Group (NMRK - Free Report) is a stock many investors are watching right now. NMRK is currently sporting a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) and an A for Value. The stock is trading with a P/E ratio of 11.12, which compares to its industry's average of 12.14. NMRK's Forward P/E has been as high as 12.04 and as low as 6.63, with a median of 9.56, all within the past year.
Value investors also love the P/S ratio, which is calculated by simply dividing a stock's price with the company's sales. Some people prefer this metric because sales are harder to manipulate on an income statement. This means it could be a truer performance indicator. NMRK has a P/S ratio of 0.75. This compares to its industry's average P/S of 1.92.
These figures are just a handful of the metrics value investors tend to look at, but they help show that Newmark Group is likely being undervalued right now. Considering this, as well as the strength of its earnings outlook, NMRK feels like a great value stock at the moment.
Axon Enterprise, Inc. (NASDAQ:AXON) shares are trading sideways Wednesday. They have found support at an important price level. They may even be about to reverse and head higher. This is why we have made Axon the Stock of the Day.
Successful traders understand market dynamics and principles. One is that certain price levels matter more than others.
As you can see on the chart, the $505 level has been important for Axon. Over the past year, it has served as both support and resistance.
In March 2025, the stock was trending lower. More shares were for sale than being bought. Sellers were forced to undercut each other to attract buyers. This forced the shares into a downtrend.
When they reached the $505 level, the buyers came out of the woodwork. Sellers could sell all they wanted to without pushing the price lower.
After the shares rallied, some of those who sold decided their decision was a mistake. Some decided to buy their shares back if they could do so at their selling price.
When the shares dropped back to $505 in July 2025, they placed buy orders. These orders created support.
After support broke, many people who bought shares at it regretted doing so. Some decided to exit their positions at breakeven if possible. When the shares rallied back to $505 in June, they placed sell orders. These orders created resistance.
Now this important level is support again.
When the resistance at $505 broke, some people who sold there regretted it and decided to buy their shares back if they could get them at the same price they sold them for.
Now that Axon is back to $505, they are placing buy orders. They have created support.
Good traders know some price levels matter more than others. Axon’s chart shows a clear example of this.
Image: Shutterstock
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Kelley Steven-Waiss, Director of FormFactor (FORM +2.54%), reported a sale of 2,100 shares of common stock on Sept. 3, 2026, according to a recent SEC Form 4 filing.
Transaction summaryMetricValueTransaction value$201,810Shares sold (directly held)2,100Post-transaction shares (directly held)24,426Post-transaction value$2.3 millionTransaction value based on SEC Form 4 weighted average sale price ($96.10); post-transaction value based on Sept. 3, 2026, market close ($96.76).
Key questionsWhat was the scale of this disposition relative to the insider's total equity?
The sale involved 2,100 shares, which equaled 8% of the 26,526 shares held directly by the Director before the filing.How was the transaction priced relative to current market levels?
Shares were sold at $96.10 per share on Sept. 3, 2026, while the stock was priced at $103.90 as of the Sept. 4, 2026, market close.Does the insider maintain significant remaining exposure to the company?
The insider continues to hold 24,426 shares directly, representing a total post-transaction value of $2.3 million based on the market close on the date of the sale.Company OverviewMetricValueShare Price (as of market close 2026-09-04)$103.90Market Capitalization$8.8 billionRevenue (TTM)$902.2 millionNet Income (TTM)$115.5 millionCompany SnapshotFormFactor designs, manufactures, and globally distributes advanced test and measurement solutions for the semiconductor industry, with primary revenue streams from its Probe Cards and Systems divisions, which serve semiconductor manufacturers and research institutions.The company generates revenue through the sale of specialized probe card components used to verify integrated circuit functionality and through complementary test and measurement systems that support semiconductor manufacturing and validation processes.FormFactor's primary customers are leading semiconductor manufacturers and research institutions that require advanced testing solutions to ensure product quality and performance across diverse integrated-circuit applications.FormFactor is an established semiconductor test solutions provider headquartered in Livermore, California, with a workforce of 2,153 employees and a market capitalization of $8.8 billion. The company maintains a competitive position through specialized expertise in probe card technology and test systems, serving as a critical infrastructure provider within the semiconductor manufacturing ecosystem. With TTM revenue of $902.2 million and net income of $115.5 million, FormFactor demonstrates strong operational performance and profitability within its specialized market segment.
Premium Feature
Moneyball Superscore
79/100
Today's Change
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2.54
%) $
2.79
Current Price
$
112.65
What this transaction means for investorsOn Sept. 3, Steven-Waiss sold 2,100 shares in a transaction that was valued at approximately $202,000. Looking at the details of the transaction, however, this largely appears to be a routine sale. Over the last 12 months, shares of FormFactor have skyrocketed 284.3%. In comparison, the S&P 500 is up 17.4% over the same period. With how high the stock price has climbed, it isn't out of the ordinary that an insider may consider taking some gains off the table.
In addition, while 2,100 shares were sold, Steven-Waiss still holds more than 24,000 shares. Retaining that number of shares indicates continued alignment with FormFactor's future success, again suggesting this is most likely just a routine sale and not something shareholders should be overly worried about.
For what could be ahead for FormFactor, analysts appear bullish. Of the 10 who cover the stock, the median one-year price target is $165, according to CNN. From the price as of this writing, $111.88, that would represent a potential gain of 47.4%. The group's highest price target, $175, is slightly more bullish, implying a 56.4% gain. The group's lowest price target, $100, would represent a 10.6% loss.
As the quantum computing industry matures, companies have begun to diverge in terms of stock performance. Firms that have recently been struggling are down sharply—D-Wave Quantum Inc. NASDAQ: QBTS, for example, has seen its shares plunge by 33% year to date (YTD), partly due to an earnings report that many investors found concerning.
But even some companies with apparent strong sales momentum, such as IonQ Inc. NYSE: IONQ, have had a tough time—IONQ's shares are down about 11% YTD despite its successes.
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In this environment, investors might seek out alternatives in lesser-known or newly public quantum rivals.
For instance, the French firm Pasqal NASDAQ: PSQL, which became available on the Nasdaq in late August 2026, may appeal as one of the newest entrants in the space. This and other smaller firms can offer unique advantages in terms of technological diversification, sales potential, and more.
Of course, smaller names have the possibility of being even more speculative than better-established firms that are struggling. With that trade-off in mind, here are three under-the-radar quantum stocks that could reward investors willing to stomach the volatility.
Pasqal Enters an Increasingly Crowded FieldPasqal is a quantum hardware company focused on neutral-atom processors. With an eye toward applications involving optimization, simulation, and machine learning, the firm is entering a highly competitive space that features a growing number of rivals. Key to Pasqal's success, therefore, will be whether it can differentiate itself.
Pasqal Today$8.01 -0.03 (-0.42%)
As of 11:48 AM Eastern
This is a fair market value price provided by Massive. Learn more.
$7.30▼
$24.69$20.00
With its neutral-atom approach, Pasqal does set itself apart from most of the field, although its peer Infleqtion Inc. NYSE: INFQ is perhaps closest in terms of technological approach.
Neutral-atom tech has exciting potential when it comes to scalability, but what really helps Pasqal make a name for itself is its combination of both analog and digital execution.
The firm has also focused on optimization and simulation, rather than trying to make its hardware into a universal solution for all imaginable quantum problems—this may help it cater to a growing commercial base over time.
Still, the fact that the company is so new to the Nasdaq means that it is largely unproven in the market. With little to go on in terms of past performance metrics, investors should view PSQL as a high-risk, high-reward play and a very speculative bet for now.
FormFactor Rides Quantum's Growth From the SidelinesInvestors seeking alternative exposure to quantum tech might look beyond pure-play quantum firms to companies like FormFactor Inc. NASDAQ: FORM, which provides critical testing and measurement services that help quantum computing firms meet their production goals. FormFactor is thus not a quantum company, per se, but is nonetheless closely tied to the industry while also offering exposure outside it.
FormFactor Today
$114.00 +4.14 (+3.77%)
As of 11:49 AM Eastern
This is a fair market value price provided by Massive. Learn more.
$29.21▼
$160.2778.03
$127.45
This has paid off in terms of performance: FORM shares are up 98% YTD, and the company posted impressive top- and bottom-line beats in the latest quarter, including a 32% year over year (YOY) improvement to revenue.
This is the sort of profitability and sales growth that most firms in the pure-play quantum category are still searching for.
FormFactor is likely to benefit from continued growth in the quantum space, making it a solid, if indirect, choice for quantum investors.
Keysight Has the Opportunity to Be a Major Picks-and-Shovels PlayKeysight Technologies NYSE: KEYS is another non-traditional way to access the quantum space. The company provides design, test, measurement, and optimization solutions for electronics and communications firms, and its electronic design automation and control tools are becoming increasingly important for quantum companies.
Keysight Technologies Today
KEYS
Keysight Technologies
$330.49 -2.93 (-0.88%)
As of 11:49 AM Eastern
This is a fair market value price provided by Massive. Learn more.
$158.79▼
$374.9645.35
$392.83
Like FormFactor, Keysight's unique niche has led to stellar results in recent periods. The last quarter saw record performance ahead of guidance, including a 56% YOY improvement to orders, 36% YOY growth in revenue, and a 79% YOY earnings per share (EPS) increase. Margins are expanding, management is raising its outlook, and the company is seeing benefits across business lines ranging from aerospace and defense to AI.
Among these firms, Keysight perhaps provides the least direct exposure to the quantum computing industry. Investors seeking more targeted exposure may want to look elsewhere. However, Wall Street's rosy assessment of KEYS shares—12 Buy ratings against just two Holds, plus a healthy bit of predicted upside—on top of 63% YTD share price improvement, helps to make the company an attractive prospect overall.
To the extent that Keysight can continue to set itself up as a picks-and-shovels play for quantum computing, alongside its vital role in AI and multiple other high-growth industries, the company may be able to continue this trajectory as the quantum world becomes more solidified among a dedicated customer base.
Should You Invest $1,000 in Pasqal Right Now?Before you consider Pasqal, you'll want to hear this.
MarketBeat keeps track of Wall Street's top-rated and best performing research analysts and the stocks they recommend to their clients on a daily basis. MarketBeat has identified the five stocks that top analysts are quietly whispering to their clients to buy now before the broader market catches on... and Pasqal wasn't on the list.
While Pasqal currently has a Buy rating among analysts, top-rated analysts believe these five stocks are better buys.
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Important Notice Regarding Alleged Disciplined Bidding and Project Control Misrepresentations. The complaint alleges Primoris investors suffered losses after assurances about fixed-price renewable energy project estimating and controls were called into question.
, /PRNewswire/ -- Levi & Korsinsky, LLP notifies investors in Primoris Services Corporation (NYSE: PRIM) that a class action lawsuit has been filed on behalf of shareholders who purchased securities between August 5, 2025 and June 22, 2026. Find out if you could qualify to recover your losses. You may also contact Joseph E. Levi, Esq. at [email protected] or (212) 363-7500.
PRIM shares declined 21.6%, or $23.39 per share, on June 23, 2026 after Primoris announced that an internal review identified substantial challenges, cost overruns, and delays affecting six renewable energy projects. Applications to serve as lead plaintiff must be filed by September 21, 2026.
According to the lawsuit, Primoris emphasized "disciplined bidding," "well-developed estimating processes," effective project controls, and reliable risk management for fixed-price renewable energy projects. The complaint alleges those representations were materially misleading because the Company's estimating, cost-to-complete forecasting, and project oversight processes were deficient.
Because Primoris performed substantial renewable energy work under fixed-price contracts, the lawsuit contends that accurate estimates were central to margins, project profitability, and reported financial results. As alleged, investors overpaid while the risks tied to project cost overruns were understated.
How Estimating Deficiencies Allegedly Affected Reported Financials
Primoris used a cost-to-cost input method to recognize revenue over time based on costs incurred relative to total estimated costs at completion. The complaint alleges that deficient estimates caused expected project costs to be understated and expected project profitability to be overstated.
"This case presents important questions about disciplined bidding and project controls disclosure obligations in the infrastructure construction sector. As alleged, investors were asked to rely on assurances about estimating processes while significant renewable project cost risks were not fully disclosed." -- Joseph E. Levi, Esq.
Key Disciplined Bidding Allegations for Shareholders
Primoris allegedly described its bidding and execution approach as disciplined while significant renewable project risks were building. The lawsuit contends fixed-price renewable contracts placed cost-overrun exposure largely on the Company. The complaint alleges cost-to-complete forecasting deficiencies affected estimates of project profitability. Challenging soil conditions and unfavorable weather allegedly revealed shortcomings in project oversight and execution controls. The lawsuit contends investors were not fully informed that multiple significant renewable projects were experiencing execution problems. The Fixed-Price Renewables Factor
The lawsuit contends that the renewable energy business was a major contributor to Primoris' Energy segment and overall financial performance. In that context, alleged failures in estimating and project controls were relevant not only to operations, but also to disclosures concerning project execution and financial outlook.
Submit your information here or call (212) 363-7500.
Levi & Korsinsky, LLP | Top 50 Securities Firm | (212) 363-7500 | www.zlk.com
Frequently Asked Questions About the PRIM Lawsuit
Q: What is the PRIM class action lawsuit about? A: A securities class action has been filed against Primoris Services Corporation (NYSE: PRIM) alleging materially false and misleading statements between August 5, 2025 and June 22, 2026. The complaint alleges the Company overstated the strength of its disciplined bidding, estimating processes, and project controls for fixed-price renewable energy projects.
Q: What specific misstatements does the PRIM lawsuit allege? A: The complaint alleges Primoris made materially false or misleading statements regarding disciplined bidding, well-developed estimating processes, project execution, cost forecasting, and risk controls. The lawsuit contends those statements lacked a reasonable basis because multiple renewable energy projects were allegedly experiencing cost overruns, delays, and execution challenges.
Q: How much did PRIM stock drop? A: Shares fell approximately 21.6%, a decline of $23.39 per share, after Primoris announced that an internal review identified substantial challenges, cost overruns, and delays affecting six renewable energy projects.
Q: What court was the PRIM class action filed in? A: The case was filed in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Texas, Dallas Division, and asserts claims under the federal securities laws.
Q: Who may be eligible in the PRIM investor lawsuit? A: Investors who purchased PRIM stock or securities between August 5, 2025 and June 22, 2026 and suffered financial losses may be eligible. Eligibility is based on purchase date and documented losses, not on whether shares are still held.
Q: What is a lead plaintiff and why does it matter? A: A lead plaintiff is the investor appointed by the court to represent the class. Lead plaintiffs are typically investors with significant documented losses and may help oversee the litigation on behalf of other class members.
Q: What if I already sold my PRIM shares, can I still recover losses? A: Yes. Eligibility is based on when shares were purchased and whether losses were suffered. Investors who bought during the Class Period and later sold at a loss may still be included in the class.
Q: What does it cost me to participate? A: There is no upfront cost to participate as a class member. Securities class actions are generally handled on a contingency basis, and any attorneys' fees and expenses awarded to class counsel are subject to court approval.
CONTACT:\
Levi & Korsinsky, LLP\
Joseph E. Levi, Esq.\
Ed Korsinsky, Esq.\
33 Whitehall Street, 27th Floor\
New York, NY 10004\
[email protected]\
Tel: (212) 363-7500\
Fax: (212) 363-7171
Attorney Advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes.
For new and old investors, taking full advantage of the stock market and investing with confidence are common goals. Zacks Premium provides lots of different ways to do both.
The popular research service can help you become a smarter, more self-assured investor, giving you access to daily updates of the Zacks Rank and Zacks Industry Rank, the Zacks #1 Rank List, Equity Research reports, and Premium stock screens.
Zacks Premium includes access to the Zacks Style Scores as well.
What are the Zacks Style Scores? Developed alongside the Zacks Rank, the Zacks Style Scores are a group of complementary indicators that help investors pick stocks with the best chances of beating the market over the next 30 days.
Based on their value, growth, and momentum characteristics, each stock is assigned a rating of A, B, C, D, or F. The better the score, the better chance the stock will outperform; an A is better than a B, a B is better than a C, and so on.
The Style Scores are broken down into four categories:
Value ScoreFor value investors, it's all about finding good stocks at good prices, and discovering which companies are trading under their true value before the broader market catches on. The Value Style Score utilizes ratios like P/E, PEG, Price/Sales, Price/Cash Flow, and a host of other multiples to help pick out the most attractive and discounted stocks.
Growth ScoreGrowth investors are more concerned with a stock's future prospects, and the overall financial health and strength of a company. Thus, the Growth Style Score analyzes characteristics like projected and historic earnings, sales, and cash flow to find stocks that will see sustainable growth over time.
Momentum ScoreMomentum investors, who live by the saying "the trend is your friend," are most interested in taking advantage of upward or downward trends in a stock's price or earnings outlook. Utilizing one-week price change and the monthly percentage change in earnings estimates, among other factors, the Momentum Style Score can help determine favorable times to buy high-momentum stocks.
VGM ScoreIf you want a combination of all three Style Scores, then the VGM Score will be your friend. It rates each stock on their combined weighted styles, helping you find the companies with the most attractive value, best growth forecast, and most promising momentum. It's also one of the best indicators to use with the Zacks Rank.
How Style Scores Work with the Zacks Rank A proprietary stock-rating model, the Zacks Rank utilizes the power of earnings estimate revisions, or changes to a company's earnings outlook, to help investors create a successful portfolio.
#1 (Strong Buy) stocks have produced an unmatched +23.8% average annual return since 1988, which is more than double the S&P 500's performance over the same time frame. However, the Zacks Rank examines a ton of stocks, and there can be more than 200 companies with a Strong Buy rank, and another 600 with a #2 (Buy) rank, on any given day.
But it can feel overwhelming to pick the right stocks for you and your investing goals with over 800 top-rated stocks to choose from.
That's where the Style Scores come in.
To maximize your returns, you want to buy stocks with the highest probability of success. This means picking stocks with a Zacks Rank #1 or #2 that also have Style Scores of A or B. If you find yourself looking at stocks with a #3 (Hold) rank, make sure they have Scores of A or B as well to ensure as much upside potential as possible.
The direction of a stock's earnings estimate revisions should always be a key factor when choosing which stocks to buy, since the Scores were created to work together with the Zacks Rank.
A stock with a #4 (Sell) or #5 (Strong Sell) rating, for instance, even one with Scores of A and B, will still have a declining earnings forecast, and a greater chance its share price will fall too.
Thus, the more stocks you own with a #1 or #2 Rank and Scores of A or B, the better.
Stock to Watch: Casey's General Stores (CASY - Free Report) Founded in 1968 and based in Ankeny, IA, Casey's General Stores, Inc. operates convenience stores primarily under the Casey's and Casey's General Store names in 19 states, mainly Iowa, Missouri and Illinois. As of April 30, 2026, the company operated 2,944 stores. Approximately 71% of all stores were located in areas with populations of fewer than 20,000 people.
CASY is a #3 (Hold) on the Zacks Rank, with a VGM Score of A.
Additionally, the company could be a top pick for growth investors. CASY has a Growth Style Score of A, forecasting year-over-year earnings growth of 10.7% for the current fiscal year.
For fiscal 2027, two analysts revised their earnings estimate upwards in the last 60 days, and the Zacks Consensus Estimate has increased $0.07 to $21.21 per share. CASY boasts an average earnings surprise of +17.5%.
With a solid Zacks Rank and top-tier Growth and VGM Style Scores, CASY should be on investors' short list.
Casey's General Stores Inc (NASDAQ:CASY) shares fell around 15% on Wednesday after the convenience-store operator's inside same-store sales growth of 3.2% fell short of expectations, overshadowing a quarter that beat on revenue, earnings and EBITDA.
The company, the third-largest convenience-store retailer in the United States, reported first-quarter fiscal 2027 revenue of $5.68 billion, ahead of estimates of $5.57 billion.
Earnings per share came in at $7.37, above the $6.75 expected and up 27.7% year over year.
EBITDA reached $485.1 million, topping estimates of $478 million and rising 17.1% from a year earlier.
Casey's affirmed its full-year fiscal 2027 guidance, including EBITDA growth of 8% to 10%, inside same-store sales growth of 2% to 5%, an inside margin above 42%, same-store fuel gallons sold ranging from down 1% to up 1%, and total operating expenses rising 5% to 7%. The company also reiterated plans to spend approximately $800 million on the purchase of property and equipment.
By segment, net revenue was $492.6 million from prepared food and dispensed beverage, $1.28 billion from grocery and general merchandise, $3.72 billion from fuel, and $176.0 million from other sources.
Inside margin was 42.2%, up 30 basis points year over year. Fuel margin came in at 47.8 cents per gallon, while same-store fuel gallons sold declined 0.3%.
Analysts at Jefferies said it was a strong quarter for Casey's, noting that comp growth and margin expansion were solid even as prepared food comps matched expectations and grocery and other categories came in roughly a point below consensus.
The firm said elevated expectations heading into the print, combined with the stock's strong year-to-date performance, left little room for anything short of a standout result.
Jefferies added that higher fuel prices may be limiting consumer budgets, a trend it said it is also observing among Casey's peers.
Swap on Monad, one of the fastest EVM chains, move assets cross-chain without a bridge, provide liquidity through Aqua and access Monad through every 1inch API.
Fast chains need fast, efficient trading infrastructure. That is why 1inch has integrated Monad, a high-performance EVM chain built around 300ms blocks, 600ms finality and fees at fractions of a cent.
What is Monad?Monad combines full EVM compatibility with a design built for high throughput. The network targets up to 10,000 transactions per second, with transactions confirming in under a second. And it already has significant DeFi activity.
As of early September, Monad held around $956 mln in TVL, while daily DEX volume ranged from roughly $200 mln to $340 mln, according to DefiLlama. Daily active addresses stood at around 22,000-27,000.
Aggregation, however, still represents only a small part of that activity. Aggregators routed around $4.6 mln-$11 mln per day, or roughly 2%-3% of total DEX volume. Some activity may be boosted by bots and incentives, but the network has already developed a sizable trading ecosystem.
Now, 1inch brings its routing and execution infrastructure to that market.
With Monad support, you can swap assets on the network directly through the 1inch dApp or 1inch Wallet.
Intent-based swaps let you specify the outcome you want while competing resolvers fill the order. For users, that means no gas fees and built-in MEV protection.
Monad already supports a broad range of assets, including:
MON and wrapped MON (WMON)Stablecoins including USDC, USDT0, AUSD, USDe and GHOMajor assets including WETH, WBTC, cbBTC and wstETHMonad ecosystem assets such as aprMON, sMON, gMON, APR and CHOGNative USDC, available through Circle CCTP, also provides a familiar stablecoin route for capital moving into and around the ecosystem.
Move assets to Monad without a bridgeGetting onto a new chain traditionally means finding a bridge, moving assets across and then opening another interface to make the trade you actually wanted.
1inch cross-chain swaps remove those extra steps.
You can swap an asset on another supported network directly for an asset on Monad in one cross-chain transaction. There is no need to interact with a traditional bridge, and the process remains self-custodial end to end.
That makes Monad accessible not only to traders already active there, but also to existing 1inch users looking to move liquidity onto the network.
One more chain, one connected DeFi experienceMonad is built around speed. 1inch makes that speed accessible across a broader DeFi environment.
Whether you are trading directly on Monad, moving assets there from another chain, providing liquidity through Aqua or adding Monad to an application through 1inch APIs, the network is now part of the same 1inch experience.
Explore Monad on 1inch.
Disclaimer: This content is provided for informational purposes only. Nothing in this material constitutes financial, investment, legal or tax advice, or a recommendation to enter into any transaction. Providing liquidity involves risk, including the possible loss of all funds involved. Fees are not guaranteed.
Under the “AI crypto” label, search engines lump together networks that do not do the same job. Some sell an intelligence market, others graphics rendering, software agents, or model training.
A dated reference point to measure the gap: on July 29, 2026, Qubic put its outsourced computing offer into production on its mainnet, according to the recap the project published on August 6, 2026; that same week, the Render network completed 98.4% of its token migration to Solana. Two announcements, two distinct businesses. This article compares five networks by function, with stated criteria, rather than by market performance.
There is no single category of “AI crypto.” Qubic uses mining for model training, Bittensor runs a decentralized intelligence market, Fetch.ai develops autonomous agents, Render supplies GPU resources, and NEAR wants to become a transaction infrastructure for AI agents. Comparing them therefore depends first on the intended use, rather than on their market capitalization.
Key Points Five “AI crypto” networks compared by function, not by price: Qubic (training via mining), Bittensor (intelligence market), Fetch.ai (agents), Render (rendering and GPU compute), NEAR (L1 for agents). Qubic (QUBIC) put its outsourced computing into production on mainnet on July 29, 2026; uPoW consensus, 676 Computors (451 quorum), 15.52M TPS certified by CertiK (April 2025, test peak). Bittensor (TAO): market cap ~$3.43B (April 2026), 128 subnets capped. Fetch.ai (FET): ~$549M (April 2026), ASI rebrand still pending. Render (RENDER): ~$718.7M (August 2026), 98.4% migration to Solana. NEAR: ~$2.5B (mid-2026), “AI agents” pivot. Price and market-cap figures are dated, given as orders of magnitude, not a buy recommendation. The five criteria in this comparison None of these projects is presented here as “best.” Each is described according to five objective criteria, the same for all: the building block it occupies in the AI stack (compute, training, inference, rendering, agents), the technical mechanism that produces it, verifiable traction on a given date, dependence on another ecosystem, and known limitations.
Data self-reported by a project is flagged as such; validations from named third parties (auditors, journals, fund managers) are flagged as well. Market-cap and price figures move from one day to the next: they are dated, and serve to indicate an order of magnitude, not to recommend a purchase.
How does Qubic use mining to train AI? Building block Qubic holds a position the other four do not claim in the same way: training neural networks directly through mining work. Its consensus, Useful Proof of Work (uPoW), a variant of proof of work in which miners’ computation serves a useful task instead of solving puzzles with no other purpose, directs that power toward model training, the Aigarth project.
Mechanism The network is validated by 676 Computors, a set of nodes recomposed at each epoch based on mining performance; 451 of them must agree to validate. Qubic does not store transaction history but a balance ledger (Spectrum), in a so-called tick-based model with no virtual machine. Outsourced computing has been in production on mainnet since July 29, 2026, according to the Qubic recap of August 6, 2026 (data self-reported by the project).
Traction Qubic highlights a throughput of 15.52 million transactions per second certified by auditor CertiK. That figure dates from April 2025 and corresponds to a test peak, never to sustained daily throughput: it should be cited with that caveat. On the research side, the project claims a score of 0.28 on the ARC-AGI-3 reasoning test, up from 0.18% in July 2026; these scores are self-reported and should be checked against the official leaderboard. The related work (Multi-Neuraxon) was published in the proceedings of the AGI-26 conference by Springer and awarded at IEEE AMLDS 2026 in Osaka, two named third-party endorsements. A second halving occurred at epoch 227, on August 19, 2026, raising the token burn rate from 55% to 77.5% of the weekly emission.
Dependency Own chain (Layer 1). The bridge to Ethereum (QBridge, via Vottun) is in production; the bridge to Solana (Avicenne) has been paused since July 2026 and should not be presented as imminent.
Limitations The main documented objection concerns decentralization. Several analyses note that a fixed set of 676 Computors with a high quorum makes coordination easier but opens a risk of capture, all the more so as the project remains led by its founder and as a governance component, the Arbitrator, controls critical levers (the Computors list, network parameters). Qubic responds that the Computors are selected on merit and recomposed at each epoch, and that the Arbitrator caps at 225 the number of identities a single entity may hold. Liquidity is a second limitation: QUBIC trades mostly on mid-tier platforms, with no top-tier listing to date.
How does Bittensor and its intelligence market work? Building block Bittensor is a market: it pays out in TAO for the production of “machine intelligence,” spread across specialized subnets, each in a distinct AI task (language-model pretraining, confidential inference, data, oracles).
Mechanism Since the overhaul known as Dynamic TAO, each subnet has its own token, called Alpha, and its own liquidity pool; it is the market, not the validators, that decides through these tokens which subnets receive the most daily TAO emissions. The network caps the number of active subnets, set at 128 in early 2026, with an extension planned toward 256.
Traction As of March 25, 2026, the combined market cap of subnet tokens reached about $1.12 billion, close to 27% of TAO’s. The number of active subnets, around 32 in early 2025, quadrupled in a year. An April 2026 guide put TAO at around $317 for an indicative market cap of about $3.43 billion. Grayscale filed a Bittensor trust application, and spot TAO ETFs have been filed, with a decision expected by observers by the end of 2026.
Dependency Own chain. Bittensor is not built on another L1.
Limitations Real usefulness remains uneven from one subnet to another: several analyses note that long-term value will depend on subnets’ ability to generate sustained revenue, not just a narrative. The first emission reduction (halving) of December 2025 brought TAO’s schedule closer to Bitcoin’s, without guaranteeing demand.
What is Fetch.ai for in the AI-agent economy? Building block Fetch.ai provides autonomous economic agents, software endowed with a cryptographic identity that negotiate and transact on a user’s behalf. The project is today one of the pillars of the Artificial Superintelligence Alliance (ASI), formed in 2024 from the merger of the Fetch.ai, SingularityNET and Ocean Protocol tokens, with CUDOS as compute partner.
Mechanism The whole is anchored by the FET token. A point readers often get wrong: the ticker change from FET to ASI was proposed on a one-to-one basis, but it has not happened; as of September 3, 2026, the asset still trades under the FET ticker on major platforms. Ocean Protocol withdrew from the alliance in October 2025, leaving Fetch.ai, SingularityNET and CUDOS.
Traction As of April 1, 2026, FET was worth about $0.24 for an indicative market cap of about $549 million, down roughly 92.7% from its all-time high. Circulating supply, as of mid-2026, was about 2.26 billion tokens out of a maximum of about 2.72 billion, close to 83%. The alliance touts a product catalog (the ASI:One agentic platform, ASI-1 models, ASI:Cloud compute, the ASI:Chain chain targeted for late 2026 or early 2027).
Dependency Alliance ecosystem: the token consolidates four original communities, which is both its argument (a full stack, from model to chain) and its fragility.
Limitations The FET-to-ASI rebrand has been “pending” for more than a year, and Ocean’s departure is a reminder that “one alliance, one token” remains an unresolved coordination problem. The metrics to watch are the number of active agents deployed and the volume of paid inference, not the narrative.
Is Render a GPU rendering network or a true AI crypto? Building block Render connects creators who need graphics compute power with node operators who rent out their idle GPUs. It is, originally, a 3D rendering and visual-effects network that is extending its offer toward compute and inference for AI.
Mechanism The RENDER token pays for rendering jobs and rewards GPU providers, under a so-called Burn-and-Mint Equilibrium model: tokens are burned as jobs are executed, which ties token supply to the network’s real activity.
Traction As of August 1, 2026, RENDER was worth about $1.39 for a market cap of about $718.7 million (rank 102), down roughly 89% from its March 2024 high. The network announced in July 2026 that it had migrated 98.4% of its tokens to Solana, following a community vote initiated back in 2023. At the Breakpoint 2025 conference it presented an AI compute subnet called Dispersed, marking its extension beyond rendering.
Dependency Solana, now the token’s main chain after the migration from Ethereum (via Polygon for part of the historical path).
Limitations Graphics rendering and large-model training are not the same business: Render’s extension into AI compute is real but recent, and several analyses note that value capture by the token remains uncertain against centralized cloud providers.
Why is NEAR repositioning toward AI agents? Building block NEAR is a general-purpose Layer 1 blockchain, launched around scalability through sharding (Nightshade), that is repositioning itself as an execution layer for the “agent economy”: it wants to become the default rail for AI agents transacting across chains.
Mechanism Two building blocks carry this shift: NEAR Intents, goal-driven transactions executed across chains, and chain abstraction, which lets users manage assets on several networks without handling bridges. A “fee switch” activated in 2026 directs part of the revenue from these executions toward NEAR buybacks.
Traction As of mid-2026, NEAR showed a market cap of about $2.5 billion. The token had risen about 115% over the 90 days before the end of May 2026, driven by this AI narrative. A sign of the network’s standing in the sector: in its second-quarter 2026 rebalancing, Grayscale’s Decentralized AI fund trimmed its position but kept NEAR as its top holding, at about 31.35%, ahead of Bittensor and Render.
Dependency Own chain, with an explicitly multi-chain thesis (chain abstraction assumes routing activity from other networks).
Limitations The AI pivot is recent. A July 2026 analysis noted an average throughput of 7,000 to 12,000 transactions per day across the ecosystem’s applications: the open question is whether the “agent rail” thesis translates into measurable adoption, or remains a narrative valuation.
So which AI crypto does what in 2026? Qubic stands out for model training via mining.
Bittensor runs a decentralized market for intelligence services.
Fetch.ai develops infrastructure meant for autonomous agents.
Render mainly supplies GPU resources from its historical rendering business.
NEAR aims to provide the blockchain infrastructure that lets agents transact.
Functional summary table NetworkPositioningAI building blockMechanismChainDated tractionMain limitationQubicTrainingNeural networksuPoWL1Compute live 07/29/26Decentralization of the 676 Computors and the Arbitrator’s roleBittensorAI marketSubnetsDynamic TAOL1128 subnetsUneven real usefulness across subnetsRenderGPURendering/computeBurn-and-MintSolana98.4% migrationExtension into AI compute still recentFetch.aiAgentsAutonomous agentsFET/ASIASI$549M AprilASI Alliance coordination and ASI rebrand still pendingNEARInfrastructureAgentsIntentsL1~$2.5BReal adoption of the AI-agent positioning still to be proven The next test for these five networks will therefore not be their valuation alone. It will be about measuring how much compute, how many agents, inferences or AI services their architectures actually produce. For Qubic, one of the next verifiable points will notably be the comparison of its self-reported ARC-AGI-3 score against the benchmark’s official leaderboard.
FAQ What is Qubic's Useful Proof of Work (uPoW)? It is a consensus derived from proof of work in which miners’ computation trains neural networks (the Aigarth project), instead of solving puzzles with no purpose.
What is Aigarth? Qubic’s AI research initiative, powered by mining; it claims an ARC-AGI-3 score of 0.25% (self-reported, in strict offline mode).
Which AI crypto shows the highest throughput? Qubic highlights 15.52M TPS certified by CertiK (April 2025), but this is a test peak, not sustained daily throughput.
Bittensor or Qubic: what is the functional difference? Bittensor is an intelligence market in subnets that rewards AI production; Qubic embeds model training in the act of mining itself.
Has the FET-to-ASI token rebrand happened? No. As of September 3, 2026, the asset still trades under the FET ticker on major platforms.
Qubic or Bittensor: which AI crypto actually trains models? Qubic trains models directly in its mining: its Useful Proof of Work (uPoW) consensus directs miners’ power toward training neural networks, the Aigarth project. Bittensor, for its part, is a market that pays out in TAO for subnets producing AI work, without tying training to consensus.
What is the difference between Render and Qubic for AI compute? Render rents out idle GPU power, originally for graphics rendering, with a recent extension toward compute and AI inference. Qubic is not a rental market: its uPoW consensus embeds model training (Aigarth) in the very act of mining. Two distinct approaches to compute.
Which AI crypto specializes in autonomous agents? Fetch.ai (FET) is the project most directly specialized in autonomous agents: software with a cryptographic identity that negotiate and transact on a user’s behalf, within the Artificial Superintelligence Alliance (ASI). NEAR positions itself instead as an execution layer for these agents rather than as an agent provider.
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Independent author, specialized in decentralized artificial intelligence and crypto ecosystems. I analyze projects by what they actually do, not by the noise around them.
Under the “AI crypto” label, search engines lump together networks that do not do the same job. Some sell an intelligence market, others graphics rendering, software agents, or model training.
A dated reference point to measure the gap: on July 29, 2026, Qubic put its outsourced computing offer into production on its mainnet, according to the recap the project published on August 6, 2026; that same week, the Render network completed 98.4% of its token migration to Solana. Two announcements, two distinct businesses. This article compares five networks by function, with stated criteria, rather than by market performance.
There is no single category of “AI crypto.” Qubic uses mining for model training, Bittensor runs a decentralized intelligence market, Fetch.ai develops autonomous agents, Render supplies GPU resources, and NEAR wants to become a transaction infrastructure for AI agents. Comparing them therefore depends first on the intended use, rather than on their market capitalization.
Key Points Five “AI crypto” networks compared by function, not by price: Qubic (training via mining), Bittensor (intelligence market), Fetch.ai (agents), Render (rendering and GPU compute), NEAR (L1 for agents). Qubic (QUBIC) put its outsourced computing into production on mainnet on July 29, 2026; uPoW consensus, 676 Computors (451 quorum), 15.52M TPS certified by CertiK (April 2025, test peak). Bittensor (TAO): market cap ~$3.43B (April 2026), 128 subnets capped. Fetch.ai (FET): ~$549M (April 2026), ASI rebrand still pending. Render (RENDER): ~$718.7M (August 2026), 98.4% migration to Solana. NEAR: ~$2.5B (mid-2026), “AI agents” pivot. Price and market-cap figures are dated, given as orders of magnitude, not a buy recommendation. The five criteria in this comparison None of these projects is presented here as “best.” Each is described according to five objective criteria, the same for all: the building block it occupies in the AI stack (compute, training, inference, rendering, agents), the technical mechanism that produces it, verifiable traction on a given date, dependence on another ecosystem, and known limitations.
Data self-reported by a project is flagged as such; validations from named third parties (auditors, journals, fund managers) are flagged as well. Market-cap and price figures move from one day to the next: they are dated, and serve to indicate an order of magnitude, not to recommend a purchase.
How does Qubic use mining to train AI? Building block Qubic holds a position the other four do not claim in the same way: training neural networks directly through mining work. Its consensus, Useful Proof of Work (uPoW), a variant of proof of work in which miners’ computation serves a useful task instead of solving puzzles with no other purpose, directs that power toward model training, the Aigarth project.
Mechanism The network is validated by 676 Computors, a set of nodes recomposed at each epoch based on mining performance; 451 of them must agree to validate. Qubic does not store transaction history but a balance ledger (Spectrum), in a so-called tick-based model with no virtual machine. Outsourced computing has been in production on mainnet since July 29, 2026, according to the Qubic recap of August 6, 2026 (data self-reported by the project).
Traction Qubic highlights a throughput of 15.52 million transactions per second certified by auditor CertiK. That figure dates from April 2025 and corresponds to a test peak, never to sustained daily throughput: it should be cited with that caveat. On the research side, the project claims a score of 0.28 on the ARC-AGI-3 reasoning test, up from 0.18% in July 2026; these scores are self-reported and should be checked against the official leaderboard. The related work (Multi-Neuraxon) was published in the proceedings of the AGI-26 conference by Springer and awarded at IEEE AMLDS 2026 in Osaka, two named third-party endorsements. A second halving occurred at epoch 227, on August 19, 2026, raising the token burn rate from 55% to 77.5% of the weekly emission.
Dependency Own chain (Layer 1). The bridge to Ethereum (QBridge, via Vottun) is in production; the bridge to Solana (Avicenne) has been paused since July 2026 and should not be presented as imminent.
Limitations The main documented objection concerns decentralization. Several analyses note that a fixed set of 676 Computors with a high quorum makes coordination easier but opens a risk of capture, all the more so as the project remains led by its founder and as a governance component, the Arbitrator, controls critical levers (the Computors list, network parameters). Qubic responds that the Computors are selected on merit and recomposed at each epoch, and that the Arbitrator caps at 225 the number of identities a single entity may hold. Liquidity is a second limitation: QUBIC trades mostly on mid-tier platforms, with no top-tier listing to date.
How does Bittensor and its intelligence market work? Building block Bittensor is a market: it pays out in TAO for the production of “machine intelligence,” spread across specialized subnets, each in a distinct AI task (language-model pretraining, confidential inference, data, oracles).
Mechanism Since the overhaul known as Dynamic TAO, each subnet has its own token, called Alpha, and its own liquidity pool; it is the market, not the validators, that decides through these tokens which subnets receive the most daily TAO emissions. The network caps the number of active subnets, set at 128 in early 2026, with an extension planned toward 256.
Traction As of March 25, 2026, the combined market cap of subnet tokens reached about $1.12 billion, close to 27% of TAO’s. The number of active subnets, around 32 in early 2025, quadrupled in a year. An April 2026 guide put TAO at around $317 for an indicative market cap of about $3.43 billion. Grayscale filed a Bittensor trust application, and spot TAO ETFs have been filed, with a decision expected by observers by the end of 2026.
Dependency Own chain. Bittensor is not built on another L1.
Limitations Real usefulness remains uneven from one subnet to another: several analyses note that long-term value will depend on subnets’ ability to generate sustained revenue, not just a narrative. The first emission reduction (halving) of December 2025 brought TAO’s schedule closer to Bitcoin’s, without guaranteeing demand.
What is Fetch.ai for in the AI-agent economy? Building block Fetch.ai provides autonomous economic agents, software endowed with a cryptographic identity that negotiate and transact on a user’s behalf. The project is today one of the pillars of the Artificial Superintelligence Alliance (ASI), formed in 2024 from the merger of the Fetch.ai, SingularityNET and Ocean Protocol tokens, with CUDOS as compute partner.
Mechanism The whole is anchored by the FET token. A point readers often get wrong: the ticker change from FET to ASI was proposed on a one-to-one basis, but it has not happened; as of September 3, 2026, the asset still trades under the FET ticker on major platforms. Ocean Protocol withdrew from the alliance in October 2025, leaving Fetch.ai, SingularityNET and CUDOS.
Traction As of April 1, 2026, FET was worth about $0.24 for an indicative market cap of about $549 million, down roughly 92.7% from its all-time high. Circulating supply, as of mid-2026, was about 2.26 billion tokens out of a maximum of about 2.72 billion, close to 83%. The alliance touts a product catalog (the ASI:One agentic platform, ASI-1 models, ASI:Cloud compute, the ASI:Chain chain targeted for late 2026 or early 2027).
Dependency Alliance ecosystem: the token consolidates four original communities, which is both its argument (a full stack, from model to chain) and its fragility.
Limitations The FET-to-ASI rebrand has been “pending” for more than a year, and Ocean’s departure is a reminder that “one alliance, one token” remains an unresolved coordination problem. The metrics to watch are the number of active agents deployed and the volume of paid inference, not the narrative.
Is Render a GPU rendering network or a true AI crypto? Building block Render connects creators who need graphics compute power with node operators who rent out their idle GPUs. It is, originally, a 3D rendering and visual-effects network that is extending its offer toward compute and inference for AI.
Mechanism The RENDER token pays for rendering jobs and rewards GPU providers, under a so-called Burn-and-Mint Equilibrium model: tokens are burned as jobs are executed, which ties token supply to the network’s real activity.
Traction As of August 1, 2026, RENDER was worth about $1.39 for a market cap of about $718.7 million (rank 102), down roughly 89% from its March 2024 high. The network announced in July 2026 that it had migrated 98.4% of its tokens to Solana, following a community vote initiated back in 2023. At the Breakpoint 2025 conference it presented an AI compute subnet called Dispersed, marking its extension beyond rendering.
Dependency Solana, now the token’s main chain after the migration from Ethereum (via Polygon for part of the historical path).
Limitations Graphics rendering and large-model training are not the same business: Render’s extension into AI compute is real but recent, and several analyses note that value capture by the token remains uncertain against centralized cloud providers.
Why is NEAR repositioning toward AI agents? Building block NEAR is a general-purpose Layer 1 blockchain, launched around scalability through sharding (Nightshade), that is repositioning itself as an execution layer for the “agent economy”: it wants to become the default rail for AI agents transacting across chains.
Mechanism Two building blocks carry this shift: NEAR Intents, goal-driven transactions executed across chains, and chain abstraction, which lets users manage assets on several networks without handling bridges. A “fee switch” activated in 2026 directs part of the revenue from these executions toward NEAR buybacks.
Traction As of mid-2026, NEAR showed a market cap of about $2.5 billion. The token had risen about 115% over the 90 days before the end of May 2026, driven by this AI narrative. A sign of the network’s standing in the sector: in its second-quarter 2026 rebalancing, Grayscale’s Decentralized AI fund trimmed its position but kept NEAR as its top holding, at about 31.35%, ahead of Bittensor and Render.
Dependency Own chain, with an explicitly multi-chain thesis (chain abstraction assumes routing activity from other networks).
Limitations The AI pivot is recent. A July 2026 analysis noted an average throughput of 7,000 to 12,000 transactions per day across the ecosystem’s applications: the open question is whether the “agent rail” thesis translates into measurable adoption, or remains a narrative valuation.
So which AI crypto does what in 2026? Qubic stands out for model training via mining.
Bittensor runs a decentralized market for intelligence services.
Fetch.ai develops infrastructure meant for autonomous agents.
Render mainly supplies GPU resources from its historical rendering business.
NEAR aims to provide the blockchain infrastructure that lets agents transact.
Functional summary table NetworkPositioningAI building blockMechanismChainDated tractionMain limitationQubicTrainingNeural networksuPoWL1Compute live 07/29/26Decentralization of the 676 Computors and the Arbitrator’s roleBittensorAI marketSubnetsDynamic TAOL1128 subnetsUneven real usefulness across subnetsRenderGPURendering/computeBurn-and-MintSolana98.4% migrationExtension into AI compute still recentFetch.aiAgentsAutonomous agentsFET/ASIASI$549M AprilASI Alliance coordination and ASI rebrand still pendingNEARInfrastructureAgentsIntentsL1~$2.5BReal adoption of the AI-agent positioning still to be proven The next test for these five networks will therefore not be their valuation alone. It will be about measuring how much compute, how many agents, inferences or AI services their architectures actually produce. For Qubic, one of the next verifiable points will notably be the comparison of its self-reported ARC-AGI-3 score against the benchmark’s official leaderboard.
FAQ What is Qubic's Useful Proof of Work (uPoW)? It is a consensus derived from proof of work in which miners’ computation trains neural networks (the Aigarth project), instead of solving puzzles with no purpose.
What is Aigarth? Qubic’s AI research initiative, powered by mining; it claims an ARC-AGI-3 score of 0.25% (self-reported, in strict offline mode).
Which AI crypto shows the highest throughput? Qubic highlights 15.52M TPS certified by CertiK (April 2025), but this is a test peak, not sustained daily throughput.
Bittensor or Qubic: what is the functional difference? Bittensor is an intelligence market in subnets that rewards AI production; Qubic embeds model training in the act of mining itself.
Has the FET-to-ASI token rebrand happened? No. As of September 3, 2026, the asset still trades under the FET ticker on major platforms.
Qubic or Bittensor: which AI crypto actually trains models? Qubic trains models directly in its mining: its Useful Proof of Work (uPoW) consensus directs miners’ power toward training neural networks, the Aigarth project. Bittensor, for its part, is a market that pays out in TAO for subnets producing AI work, without tying training to consensus.
What is the difference between Render and Qubic for AI compute? Render rents out idle GPU power, originally for graphics rendering, with a recent extension toward compute and AI inference. Qubic is not a rental market: its uPoW consensus embeds model training (Aigarth) in the very act of mining. Two distinct approaches to compute.
Which AI crypto specializes in autonomous agents? Fetch.ai (FET) is the project most directly specialized in autonomous agents: software with a cryptographic identity that negotiate and transact on a user’s behalf, within the Artificial Superintelligence Alliance (ASI). NEAR positions itself instead as an execution layer for these agents rather than as an agent provider.
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Independent author, specialized in decentralized artificial intelligence and crypto ecosystems. I analyze projects by what they actually do, not by the noise around them.
India’s Financial Intelligence Unit has issued non-compliance notices to 15 crypto service providers and ordered action to take down their apps and URLs in India for operating without meeting the country’s anti-money laundering requirements.
Summary
India’s FIU issued non compliance notices to 15 offshore crypto platforms, including Weex, Blofin, WOO X and WhiteBIT. The watchdog sought takedown action against the platforms’ apps and URLs for operating without meeting PMLA requirements. Crypto platforms serving Indian customers must register with FIU IND regardless of whether they have a physical presence in the country. The action follows earlier enforcement against major offshore exchanges, including Binance, which later registered and paid a 188.2 million rupee penalty. The Financial Intelligence Unit-India said Tuesday that the notices were issued under Section 13 of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, naming Weex, Blofin, Rezorex, Bitunix, DigiFinex, Toobit, XT.com, Latoken, WOO X, Pionex, ChangeNow, SimpleSwap, Fixedfloat, WhiteBIT and Guardarian.
FIU targets 15 crypto platforms over PMLA compliance Alongside the compliance notices, FIU-IND issued takedown notices covering the applications and URLs used by the 15 platforms after finding that they were operating illegally without complying with provisions of the PMLA.
The action was taken under powers linked to Section 79(3)(b) of the Information Technology Act and the Information Technology rules amended in 2025.
India brought virtual digital asset service providers under its anti-money laundering and counter-financing of terrorism framework in March 2023. The requirements apply to businesses offering crypto-to-fiat exchange, digital asset transfers, custody and other services that provide control over virtual assets.
Platforms carrying out those activities for Indian users must register with FIU-IND as reporting entities and follow requirements covering record keeping, reporting and other compliance obligations under the PMLA.
Physical presence in India does not determine whether the rules apply. An offshore company serving Indian customers can fall within the framework even if it has no office or legal entity in the country.
The latest action follows a series of measures that have expanded FIU oversight of crypto transactions. In June, the watchdog sought OTC transaction records exceeding $10,000 from at least three major exchanges, with platforms required to preserve relevant records dating back to January 2026.
The requested information included beneficial ownership details, intermediaries involved in private transactions and information about the entities behind the deals.
Earlier this year, FIU-IND tightened crypto KYC rules for service providers operating in the country. The framework included stronger identity checks, record-keeping requirements and suspicious transaction reporting obligations.
Offshore crypto activity remains under scrutiny in India The enforcement action comes days after The Economic Times reported that some Indian crypto users were moving stablecoins such as Tether’s USDT to overseas gift card services.
According to the report, platforms based in countries including Sweden, Germany and Singapore allow users to convert cryptocurrency into gift cards that can then be spent in India on goods including groceries, fuel and gold.
Such transactions can take place without users first moving their crypto through a domestic exchange, according to the report.
Offshore trading has remained a concern for Indian authorities as they try to track crypto transactions for tax and compliance purposes. In July, crypto.news previously reported that Indian tax authorities had raised concerns over trading through offshore exchanges, private wallets and peer-to-peer transactions.
India has since expanded parts of its international tax reporting framework to cover specified crypto assets, central bank digital currencies and some digital money products. Under updated tax reporting rules, financial institutions face revised account identification and tax residency verification requirements.
The measures form part of a regulatory structure in which India taxes crypto transactions while requiring platforms serving local customers to meet financial crime and reporting rules.
Crypto gains are subject to a 30% tax, while a 1% tax deducted at source applies to qualifying virtual digital asset transactions.
India has previously blocked major offshore exchanges FIU-IND used a similar enforcement route against larger offshore exchanges in December 2023, when it issued show-cause notices to nine platforms for failing to comply with the country’s registration requirements.
Binance, KuCoin, Huobi, Kraken, Gate.io, Bittrex, Bitstamp, MEXC Global and Bitfinex were among the exchanges targeted at the time.
Authorities subsequently sought restrictions on access to their websites. By January 2024, access to several exchanges had been blocked in India, while their apps faced restrictions on major mobile app stores.
KuCoin later registered with FIU-IND and resolved its earlier non-compliance after paying a penalty. Binance followed after months of regulatory discussions.
In June 2024, FIU-IND imposed a 188.2 million rupee penalty, equivalent to roughly $2.25 million at the time, on Binance for operating in India without meeting its anti-money laundering obligations.
The exchange later completed its FIU registration in August 2024 and resumed operations in India after a seven-month restriction. Its registration made the platform subject to the reporting and compliance requirements applied to other registered crypto businesses serving the country.
Bybit later went through a similar process. The exchange paid a 92.7 million rupee penalty after authorities cited persistent non-compliance and subsequently secured FIU registration.
FIU warns users about crypto and NFT risks The latest notice extends enforcement to a group dominated by smaller and medium-sized offshore platforms, including exchanges as well as services that facilitate swaps and other digital asset transactions.
FIU-IND did not announce financial penalties against the 15 companies in Tuesday’s release. Its action covered non-compliance notices and requests to take down public access to their applications and URLs.
The watchdog separately cautioned users about the risks associated with cryptocurrency products and non-fungible tokens, noting that such products remain unregulated in India.
“It is pertinent to mention for the safety and awareness of general public that the Crypto products and NFTs are unregulated and can be highly risky,” FIU-IND said. “There may be no regulatory recourse for any loss from such transactions.”
PANews, September 9 – According to CoinDesk, India's Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU-IND) has issued violation notices to 15 offshore crypto platforms, accusing them of providing services to Indian clients without complying with anti-money laundering rules. The named platforms include Weex, Blofin, Rezorex, Bitunix, DigiFinex, Toobit, XT.com, Latoken, WOO X, Pionex, ChangeNow, SimpleSwap, Fixedfloat, WhiteBIT, and Guardarian. The FIU also warned the public that crypto products and NFTs are "unregulated and extremely high-risk."
In March 2023, India brought crypto platforms under the same anti-money laundering rules as banks, requiring platforms serving Indian clients to register with the FIU, maintain records, verify users, and report suspicious activities, regardless of whether they have an office in India.
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VGM ScoreIf you want a combination of all three Style Scores, then the VGM Score will be your friend. It rates each stock on their combined weighted styles, helping you find the companies with the most attractive value, best growth forecast, and most promising momentum. It's also one of the best indicators to use with the Zacks Rank.
How Style Scores Work with the Zacks Rank The Zacks Rank, which is a proprietary stock-rating model, employs earnings estimate revisions, or changes to a company's earnings expectations, to make building a winning portfolio easier.
#1 (Strong Buy) stocks have produced an unmatched +23.8% average annual return since 1988, which is more than double the S&P 500's performance over the same time frame. However, the Zacks Rank examines a ton of stocks, and there can be more than 200 companies with a Strong Buy rank, and another 600 with a #2 (Buy) rank, on any given day.
But it can feel overwhelming to pick the right stocks for you and your investing goals with over 800 top-rated stocks to choose from.
That's where the Style Scores come in.
To have the best chance of big returns, you'll want to always consider stocks with a Zacks Rank #1 or #2 that also have Style Scores of A or B, which will give you the highest probability of success. If you're looking at stocks with a #3 (Hold) rank, it's important they have Scores of A or B as well to ensure as much upside potential as possible.
Since the Scores were created to work together with the Zacks Rank, the direction of a stock's earnings estimate revisions should be a key factor when choosing which stocks to buy.
A stock with a #4 (Sell) or #5 (Strong Sell) rating, for instance, even one with Scores of A and B, will still have a declining earnings forecast, and a greater chance its share price will fall too.
Thus, the more stocks you own with a #1 or #2 Rank and Scores of A or B, the better.
Stock to Watch: OSI Systems (OSIS - Free Report) OSI Systems, Inc. designs and manufactures specialized electronic systems and components for security, defense/aerospace, and healthcare end markets. Headquartered in Hawthorne, CA, the company combines equipment sales with services and software tied to its installed base. OSI maintains global R&D, manufacturing, and service capabilities and serves customers in more than 170 countries. The company reports three segments: Security, Optoelectronics & Manufacturing, and Healthcare.
OSIS is a #3 (Hold) on the Zacks Rank, with a VGM Score of A.
It also boasts a Value Style Score of B thanks to attractive valuation metrics like a forward P/E ratio of 17.92; value investors should take notice.
Two analysts revised their earnings estimate upwards in the last 60 days for fiscal 2027. The Zacks Consensus Estimate has increased $0.00 to $11.40 per share. OSIS boasts an average earnings surprise of +2.3%.
With a solid Zacks Rank and top-tier Value and VGM Style Scores, OSIS should be on investors' short list.
Kevin S. Blair, Chief Executive Officer of Pinnacle Financial Partners, Inc. (PNFP -0.97%), purchased 2,565 shares of common stock on Sept. 1, 2026, according to a recent SEC Form 4 filing.
Transaction summaryMetricValueShares purchased2,565Transaction value$250,000Post-transaction shares (directly held)152,397Post-transaction value$14.8 millionTransaction value based on SEC Form 4 weighted average purchase price ($97.48); post-transaction value based on September 01, 2026, market close ($97.03).
Key questionsWhat does this purchase indicate about executive sentiment?
The direct acquisition of ~$250,000 in equity by Kevin S. Blair increases his direct position to 152,397 shares, representing a 2% expansion of his prior holdings. This move suggests a deployment of personal capital into the company's regional banking platform.How does the current valuation compare to the transaction price?
Kevin S. Blair executed the purchase at $97.48 per share, while the stock was priced at $97.03 as of the Sept. 1, 2026, market close.What is the insider's total equity exposure following this trade?
Kevin S. Blair now maintains a direct equity position of 152,397 shares with a market value of $14.79 million as of the Sept. 1, 2026, market close. This direct stake constitutes his entire reported common stock holdings, as no indirect ownership through entities or trusts was disclosed in the filing.Company OverviewMetricValueShare Price (as of market close 2026-09-01)$97.03Market Capitalization$15.0 billionRevenue (TTM)$4.9 billionNet Income (TTM)$821.1 millionCompany SnapshotPinnacle Financial Partners operates as a bank holding company, offering comprehensive deposit products, including savings, checking, money market, and certificate of deposit accounts, as well as an extensive commercial and consumer lending portfolio across the United States.The company generates revenue through traditional banking operations, including net interest income from lending activities, deposit-related fees, and loan origination services, serving as a regional financial intermediary.Pinnacle Financial Partners serves commercial enterprises, small to mid-sized businesses, and retail customers seeking diversified banking solutions and credit facilities across its operating footprint.Pinnacle Financial Partners, Inc. is a regional bank holding company with $15.0 billion in market capitalization and $4.9 billion in TTM revenue, operating 8,433 employees across the United States. The company maintains a diversified business model centered on deposit gathering and lending, positioning itself as a significant regional financial services provider with a demonstrated TTM net income of $821.1 million.
What this transaction means for investorsSometimes, insider transactions are hard to read. When an insider sells shares, it could be for any number of reasons. However, when insiders purchase shares, their intent is more clear: They believe the stock is headed higher. Nevertheless, retail investors would be wise to return to fundamentals to determine whether a stock is a good fit for their portfolios. Therefore, let's have a closer look at Pinnacle Financial Partners (PNFP).
To start, let's review how PNFP stock has performed in recent years. Since 2021, the stock has generated a total return of 12%, equating to a compound annual growth rate of 2.3%. The S&P 500, meanwhile, has delivered an 82% total return, with a 12.7% CAGR. In short, PNFP has significantly underperformed the S&P 500, and, by extension, the stock market.
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Turning to fundamentals, the vast majority look solid. Let's start with revenue, which has grown to $5.2 billion, a five-year high. The company's deposit base has also crossed over $100 billion, following the integration of Synovus Financial earlier this year. Net Interest Margin (NIM), a key measure for any regional bank, stands at 3.44%.
On the other hand, and despite its underperformance relative to the broader market, value-oriented investors may note that PFNP's current price-to-earnings (P/E) multiple stands at 13.7x, which is slightly more than some other regional banks. In other words, it could be argued that the stock is still trading at a slight premium despite its underperformance.
In summary, PFNP's fundamentals and price history paint a mixed picture. The company boasts good metrics, and insider buying from the CEO indicates that management strongly believes in the stock. However, its valuation is slightly elevated, and its past performance doesn't inspire much confidence that the stock can significantly outperform the broader market. Investors seeking exposure to a regional bank may adopt a wait-and-see approach following PFNP's acquisition of Synovus.
ABM Industries Inc (NYSE:ABM) posted better-than-expected earnings for the third quarter on Tuesday.
The company posted adjusted earnings of $1.04 per share, beating market estimates of $1.01 per share. The company’s sales came in at $2.317 billion, versus expectations of $2.310 billion.
ABM narrowed its fiscal 2026 adjusted EPS guidance to $3.95-$4.10 from $3.85-$4.15. The analyst estimate is $3.98.
“Our third quarter results reflected strong operational and financial performance, including record quarterly revenue, robust EPS growth and substantial cash generation. Our team executed well and delivered on our expectations despite a backdrop of macro uncertainty and adverse timing of certain projects,” said Scott Salmirs, President and Chief Executive Officer.
ABM shares gained 0.2% to trade at $50.65 on Wednesday.
These analysts made changes to their price targets on ABM following earnings announcement.
Freedom Capital Markets analyst David Silver maintained the stock with a Buy and raised the price target from $55 to $58. Baird analyst Andrew Wittmann maintained the stock with a Neutral and raised the price target from $48 to $53. Trending
Considering buying ABM stock? Here’s what analysts think:
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Papa John's President and Chief Executive Officer Todd Allan Penegor and former Chief Financial Officer Ravi Thanawala are named as individual defendants in a securities class action alleging they portrayed the Company's strategic transformation as working while North American comparable sales allegedly deteriorated.
, /PRNewswire/ -- Levi & Korsinsky, LLP alerts investors in Papa John's International, Inc. (NASDAQ: PZZA) that two senior officers, President and Chief Executive Officer Todd Allan Penegor and former Chief Financial Officer Ravi Thanawala, are named as individual defendants facing control person claims under Section 20(a) in a pending securities class action covering purchases between August 7, 2025 and August 5, 2026. Find out if you may be eligible to recover losses. You may also contact Joseph E. Levi, Esq. at [email protected] or (212) 363-7500.
PZZA INVESTOR ALERT
The action centers on the August 6, 2026 announcement in which Papa John's cut its 2026 North American comparable sales outlook from a 3% decline at the midpoint to an annual decline of 6-8% and suspended its dividend. PZZA fell $5.11 per share, or about 17.18%, to close at $24.64. The window to apply for lead plaintiff closes on November 2, 2026.
The Named Individual Defendants
Penegor served as President, Chief Executive Officer, and a Director for the entire Class Period. Thanawala served as Chief Financial Officer and EVP International until November 18, 2025, then as Chief Financial Officer and President of the North American business until June 30, 2026, remaining in an advisory capacity through July 31, 2026. Both are alleged to have possessed the power and authority to control the content of the Company's SEC reports, press releases, and presentations to securities analysts and institutional investors.
Alleged Control Person Liability
Authority over the content and timing of quarterly earnings releases and the North American comparable sales guidance issued during the Class Period. Access to internal reporting on transaction trends, promotional spending, and innovation pipeline performance before those figures reached the investing public. Signature and certification authority over periodic SEC filings under Sections 302 and 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act. The ability, as alleged, to prevent or correct statements characterizing the transformation as delivering sustainable, profitable growth. Oversight of roughly $22 million in supplemental marketing and franchisee subsidies tied to the 2026 promotional and innovation calendar. Under Section 20(a) of the Exchange Act, officers alleged to have controlled a company that violated Section 10(b) may be held jointly liable for resulting investor losses. Sarbanes-Oxley Certification Obligations
Sarbanes-Oxley certifications require signing officers to attest that periodic reports contain no untrue statement of material fact. The complaint contends those certifications were inaccurate because the transformation was allegedly taking longer than expected and ultimately required a sharp pivot toward promotional discounting that was not disclosed to shareholders.
"Corporate officers have a duty to ensure their companies' public statements are accurate and complete. The complaint contends that shareholders were told the transformation was working while conditions allegedly pointed toward continued market share losses. Section 20(a) exists so that the individuals who controlled those disclosures can be held accountable." -- Joseph E. Levi, Esq.
Submit your information to learn more or call (212) 363-7500.
Levi & Korsinsky, LLP is a nationally recognized shareholder rights firm. Over the past 20 years, the firm has secured hundreds of millions of dollars for aggrieved shareholders. Ranked in ISS Top 50 for seven consecutive years.
Frequently Asked Questions About the PZZA Lawsuit
Q: Who are the defendants named in the PZZA lawsuit? A: The complaint names Papa John's International, Inc. and individual defendants who were senior investors during the class period, including Todd Allan Penegor and Ravi Thanawala.
Q: What court was the PZZA class action filed in? A: The case was filed in the United States District Court for the Western District of Kentucky, Louisville Jury Division, governed by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.
Q: What is the PZZA class action lawsuit about? A: A securities class action has been filed against Papa John's International, Inc. (NASDAQ: PZZA) alleging materially false and misleading statements between August 7, 2025 and August 5, 2026. Shares fell approximately 17.18% after the Company disclosed an 8.3% decrease in North American comparable sales, the suspension of its dividend, and a reduction of its 2026 North American outlook to a 6-8% annual decline. Investors who purchased shares during the Class Period and suffered losses may be eligible to seek compensation.
Q: What is a lead plaintiff and why does it matter? A: A lead plaintiff is the investor appointed by the court to represent the entire class. Lead plaintiffs are typically investors with the largest documented losses. Being appointed does not increase individual recovery but gives direct oversight of how the case is run.
Q: What do PZZA investors need to do right now? A: Investors may gather brokerage records showing purchase dates, share quantities, and prices paid. Submit your information for a no-cost, no-obligation evaluation of your potential recovery. No immediate action is required to remain eligible as an absent class member.
Q: What if I already sold my PZZA shares -- can I still recover losses? A: Yes. Eligibility is based on when you purchased, not whether you still hold the shares. Investors who bought during the Class Period and sold at a loss may still be eligible to participate.
Q: Do I need to go to court or give testimony? A: No. The overwhelming majority of class members never appear in court or give depositions. If there is a settlement or recovery, eligible class members generally submit a claim form to seek their portion.
Q: What does it cost me to participate? A: There is no upfront cost to submit your information and review whether you may be eligible to recover. Should you choose to participate in the securities class action, they are generally handled on a contingency basis, with any attorneys' fees and expenses subject to court approval.
CONTACT:\
Levi & Korsinsky, LLP\
Joseph E. Levi, Esq.\
Ed Korsinsky, Esq.\
33 Whitehall Street, 27th Floor\
New York, NY 10004\
[email protected]\
Tel: (212) 363-7500\
Fax: (212) 363-7171
Attorney Advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes.
LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Glancy Prongay Wolke & Rotter LLP, a leading national shareholder rights law firm, today announced that it has commenced an investigation on behalf of Papa John’s International, Inc. (“Papa John’s” or the “Company”) (NASDAQ: PZZA) investors concerning the Company’s possible violations of the federal securities laws.
IF YOU ARE AN INVESTOR WHO LOST MONEY ON PAPA JOHN’S INTERNATIONAL, INC. (PZZA), CLICK HERE TO INQUIRE ABOUT POTENTIALLY PURSUING CLAIMS TO RECOVER YOUR LOSS.
What Happened?
On August 6, 2026, Papa Johns issued its second quarter 2026 financial results, reporting an 8.3% decline in North American comparable sales. The Company also reduced its fiscal 2026 outlook, expecting “global system-wide sales to decline between 2% and 4% compared to last year and adjusted EBITDA between $180 million to $190 million,” and suspended its quarterly dividend. During the related conference call, CEO Todd Allan Penegor stated that “it’s clear that our transformation is taking longer than expected” and “we must execute better and move faster.”
On this news, Papa Johns’ stock price fell $5.11 or 17.18%, to close at $24.64 per share on August 6, 2026, thereby injuring investors.
Contact Us To Participate or Learn More:
If you wish to learn more about this action, or if you have any questions concerning this announcement or your rights or interests with respect to these matters, please contact us.
Charles Linehan, Esq.,
Glancy Prongay Wolke & Rotter LLP,
1925 Century Park East, Suite 2100,
Los Angeles California 90067
Email: [email protected]
Telephone: 310-201-9150 (Toll-Free: 888-773-9224)
Visit our website at www.glancylaw.com.
Follow us for updates on LinkedIn, Twitter, or Facebook.
Whistleblower Notice
Persons with non-public information regarding Papa John’s International, Inc. should consider their options to aid the investigation or take advantage of the SEC Whistleblower Program. Under the program, whistleblowers who provide original information may receive rewards totaling up to 30 percent of any successful recovery made by the SEC. For more information, call Charles H. Linehan at 310-201-9150 or 888-773-9224 or email [email protected].
About Glancy Prongay Wolke & Rotter LLP
Glancy Prongay Wolke & Rotter LLP (“GPWR”) is a premier law firm representing investors and consumers in securities litigation and other complex class action litigation. GPWR has been consistently ranked in the Top 50 Securities Class Action Settlements by ISS Securities Class Action Services. In 2018, GPWR was ranked a top five law firm in number of securities class action settlements, and a top six law firm for total dollar size of settlements.
With four offices across the country, GPWR’s nearly 40 attorneys have won groundbreaking rulings and recovered billions of dollars for investors and consumers in securities, antitrust, consumer, and employment class actions. GPWR’s lawyers have handled cases covering a wide spectrum of corporate misconduct and relating to nearly all industries and sectors. GPWR’s past successes have been widely covered by leading news and industry publications such as The Wall Street Journal, The Financial Times, Bloomberg Businessweek, Reuters, the Associated Press, Barron’s, Investor’s Business Daily, Forbes, and Money.
This press release may be considered Attorney Advertising in some jurisdictions under the applicable law and ethical rules.
It doesn't matter your age or experience: taking full advantage of the stock market and investing with confidence are common goals for all investors. Luckily, Zacks Premium offers several different ways to do both.
The research service features daily updates of the Zacks Rank and Zacks Industry Rank, full access to the Zacks #1 Rank List, Equity Research reports, and Premium stock screens, all of which will help you become a smarter, more confident investor.
It also includes access to the Zacks Style Scores.
What are the Zacks Style Scores? The Zacks Style Scores, developed alongside the Zacks Rank, are complementary indicators that rate stocks based on three widely-followed investing methodologies; they also help investors pick stocks with the best chances of beating the market over the next 30 days.
Each stock is given an alphabetic rating of A, B, C, D or F based on their value, growth, and momentum qualities. With this system, an A is better than a B, a B is better than a C, and so on, meaning the better the score, the better chance the stock will outperform.
The Style Scores are broken down into four categories:
Value ScoreValue investors love finding good stocks at good prices, especially before the broader market catches on to a stock's true value. Utilizing ratios like P/E, PEG, Price/Sales, Price/Cash Flow, and many other multiples, the Value Style Score identifies the most attractive and most discounted stocks.
Growth ScoreWhile good value is important, growth investors are more focused on a company's financial strength and health, and its future outlook. The Growth Style Score takes projected and historic earnings, sales, and cash flow into account to uncover stocks that will see long-term, sustainable growth.
Momentum ScoreMomentum traders and investors live by the saying "the trend is your friend." This investing style is all about taking advantage of upward or downward trends in a stock's price or earnings outlook. Employing factors like one-week price change and the monthly percentage change in earnings estimates, the Momentum Style Score can indicate favorable times to build a position in high-momentum stocks.
VGM ScoreWhat if you like to use all three types of investing? The VGM Score is a combination of all Style Scores, making it one of the most comprehensive indicators to use with the Zacks Rank. It rates each stock on their combined weighted styles, which helps narrow down the companies with the most attractive value, best growth forecast, and most promising momentum.
How Style Scores Work with the Zacks Rank The Zacks Rank is a proprietary stock-rating model that harnesses the power of earnings estimate revisions, or changes to a company's earnings expectations, to help investors build a successful portfolio.
It's highly successful, with #1 (Strong Buy) stocks producing an unmatched +23.8% average annual return since 1988. That's more than double the S&P 500. But because of the large number of stocks we rate, there are over 200 companies with a Strong Buy rank, plus another 600 with a #2 (Buy) rank, on any given day.
With more than 800 top-rated stocks to choose from, it can certainly feel overwhelming to pick the ones that are right for you and your investing journey.
That's where the Style Scores come in.
To maximize your returns, you want to buy stocks with the highest probability of success. This means picking stocks with a Zacks Rank #1 or #2 that also have Style Scores of A or B. If you find yourself looking at stocks with a #3 (Hold) rank, make sure they have Scores of A or B as well to ensure as much upside potential as possible.
The direction of a stock's earnings estimate revisions should always be a key factor when choosing which stocks to buy, since the Scores were created to work together with the Zacks Rank.
A stock with a #4 (Sell) or #5 (Strong Sell) rating, for instance, even one with Scores of A and B, will still have a declining earnings forecast, and a greater chance its share price will fall too.
Thus, the more stocks you own with a #1 or #2 Rank and Scores of A or B, the better.
Stock to Watch: Hanover Insurance Group (THG - Free Report) The Hanover Insurance Group, Inc. is a U.S. property and casualty insurance holding company that sells through independent agents and brokers. The company is organized as a Delaware corporation (1995) and traces its roots to 1852. Its principal executive offices are in Worcester, MA. Operations include The Hanover Insurance Company and Citizens Insurance Company of America, among other subsidiaries.
THG is a #1 (Strong Buy) on the Zacks Rank, with a VGM Score of B.
Momentum investors should take note of this Finance stock. THG has a Momentum Style Score of B, and shares are up 1.1% over the past four weeks.
For fiscal 2026, five analysts revised their earnings estimate upwards in the last 60 days, and the Zacks Consensus Estimate has increased $1.79 to $20.17 per share. THG boasts an average earnings surprise of +27.3%.
With a solid Zacks Rank and top-tier Momentum and VGM Style Scores, THG should be on investors' short list.
Pankaj Sharma, Chief Business Officer at Remitly Global (RELY -2.05%), sold 21,000 shares of common stock on Aug. 28, 2026, according to a recent SEC Form 4 filing.
Transaction summaryMetricValueTransaction value$554,000Shares sold21,000Post-transaction shares (directly held)716,022Post-transaction value$19 millionTransaction value based on SEC Form 4 weighted average sale price ($26.39); post-transaction value based on Aug. 28, 2026, market close ($26.55).
Key questionsWhat was the regulatory context of this transaction?
This sale was executed automatically pursuant to a Rule 10b5-1 trading plan that Sharma adopted on Nov. 18, 2025, which allows insiders to set up a predetermined schedule for selling company stock.How does this sale affect the executive's total equity exposure?
Following the sale of 21,000 shares, the executive maintains a significant direct position of 716,022 shares, representing a market value of $19 million as of the Aug. 28, 2026, market close.What is the recent market performance of Remitly Global equity?
As of the transaction date on Aug. 28, 2026, Remitly Global shares delivered a total return of 44% over the past year, while the company continues to provide digital financial services for international money transfers in nearly 150 countries.Company OverviewMetricValueShare Price (as of market close 2026-08-28)$26.55Market Capitalization$5.2 billionRevenue (TTM)$1.8 billionNet Income (TTM)$305 millionCompany SnapshotRemitly Global operates a digital financial services platform specializing in international money transfers and remittances, generating revenue primarily from transaction fees and foreign exchange margins. Remitly is available in 130+ countries.The company employs a direct-to-consumer digital model that enables people to send money to their families in emerging markets, leveraging technology to reduce costs and improve accessibility relative to traditional remittance providers.Remitly's primary customer base consists of individuals in developed markets who regularly transfer funds to family members in developing economies, with particular concentration in Latin America, Asia, and Africa.Remitly Global is a leading digital remittance platform serving the global diaspora market with approximately $1.8 billion in TTM revenue and $305 million in net income, demonstrating strong profitability within the fintech infrastructure sector. The company has achieved a market valuation of $5.2 billion, reflecting investor confidence in the secular growth trends within cross-border payments. With 3,200 employees, Remitly maintains a competitive advantage through its technology-driven platform, which delivers faster, more transparent, and lower-cost remittance solutions than traditional money transfer operators.
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What this transaction means for investorsOn Aug. 28, Sharma sold 21,000 shares in a transaction valued at approximately $554,000. On the surface, that sounds like a lot of stock to dispose of, which could make shareholders worry that it signals something may be amiss with the company. But with the available details and some context, this appears to be just a routine sale. For instance, while Sharma sold 21,000 shares, the insider still holds 716,022 shares. That shows continued alignment with Remitly's near- and long-term success.
Also, it's important to consider the stock price's performance. Thus far in 2026, Remitly shares are up nearly 80% as of this writing. In comparison, the S&P 500 is up 12.1%. With such a strong performance, it would make sense that an insider may want to take some of those gains off the table. And finally, this trade was also established under a plan created all the way back in November 2025. That shows this wasn't a knee-jerk or rushed decision, as the trading plan was established almost a full year ago. Taken together, this sale is indicative of routine activity and not something for shareholders to worry about.
Chewy’s Growth Engine Is Stronger Than the Market ThinksChewy NYSE: CHWY reported second-quarter fiscal 2026 net sales of $3.33 billion, up 7.3% from a year earlier and at the high end of its guidance range, as active customer growth, higher spending per customer and Autoship sales supported results amid continued pressure on pet-sector discretionary spending.
Chief Executive Officer Sumit Singh said the broader pet market did not experience a meaningful consumer recovery during the quarter, though conditions also did not worsen from the trends seen at the end of the first quarter. He said Chewy continued to outperform the broader pet category by roughly two to three times and gain market share.
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From CrowdStrike to Chewy, These Tanking Stocks Are Announcing BuybacksExcluding contributions from acquired businesses SmartPak and Modern Animal, organic net sales rose 5.7% year over year. The company ended the quarter with 21.7 million active customers, an increase of 3.8%, while net sales per active customer reached $602.
Autoship customer sales climbed 9.3% to $2.8 billion and represented 84.6% of total net sales. Singh said the recurring-sales model remains a key source of revenue durability, while Chewy continued to add customers, improve retention, reactivate lapsed customers and expand engagement across its ecosystem.
Consumer Spending Remains Selective Chewy Gobbles up Market Share in 2026: Poised to Advance in Q2Chewy said pressure on discretionary purchases and premiumization continued during the quarter, affecting both Consumables and Hardgoods. Singh said consumers remained focused on core food, medications and health-oriented products, while treats and toppers were more exposed to discretionary spending pressures.
Chief Financial Officer Chris Deppe said treats sales growth slowed more sharply than sales of core food. Still, he said industry data indicated that the broader Consumables market was roughly flat year over year, while Chewy delivered mid-single-digit growth in the category. Hardgoods sales increased in the mid-teens, supported by assortment and merchandising improvements, according to the company.
Singh said pet-industry conditions reflected both consumer pressures and softness in dog adoption and household formation. He added that Chewy does not expect pricing to provide a material benefit to sales growth this year, though the company also does not anticipate broad category deflation or irrational promotional activity.
Profitability Exceeds Expectations, With Timing Benefits Adjusted EBITDA totaled $227 million, representing a 6.8% margin and exceeding Chewy’s prior guidance of 6.3% to 6.4%. Adjusted net income was $149 million, or $0.36 per diluted share.
Deppe said essentially all of the outperformance relative to the company’s margin expectations came from timing-related and discrete benefits. About $10 million of the benefit came primarily from tariff refunds received earlier than anticipated and rebates that shifted from the second half into the second quarter. The quarter also included more than $5 million of benefits from gift-card breakage, inventory adjustments and vendor-funded merchandising activity.
Gross margin was 30.4%, flat year over year and up 30 basis points from the first quarter. Deppe said the company expects gross margin to decline modestly sequentially in the third quarter, in line with seasonal patterns, although it expects gross margin to expand for the full year at a more moderate pace than in fiscal 2025.
Non-GAAP selling, general and administrative expense was 18.4% of sales, compared with 19.1% a year earlier. The company cited improved fulfillment-center utilization, lower variable costs to serve, headcount discipline, automation and AI-enabled productivity as drivers of 70 basis points of year-over-year SG&A leverage.
Health, Acquisitions and AI Remain Strategic Priorities Chewy said its health businesses continued to expand. The Chewy Vet Care clinic portfolio delivered triple-digit revenue growth, while the company said Modern Animal performed ahead of its expectations following its acquisition. Chewy completed the $400 million Modern Animal acquisition during the quarter.
Singh said Modern Animal and Chewy Vet Care offer complementary capabilities, unit economics and telehealth offerings. SmartPak, Chewy’s equine, farm and exotics business, also performed ahead of expectations. The business recorded its seventh consecutive quarter of mid-double-digit year-over-year sales growth, according to Singh.
The company also highlighted progress in deploying artificial intelligence across customer service, pharmacy and veterinary operations. Chewy launched its AI-powered customer assistant, Kai, to a select group of mobile-app users. Singh said about 30% of chats were resolved through self-service for common requests involving orders, returns, Autoship and account management.
Chewy also began using AI tools for customer-care agents and pharmacy workflows, while its Callie voice capability is supporting appointment confirmations, scheduling and follow-ups at select Chewy Vet Care locations. The company expects AI initiatives to generate low tens of millions of dollars in cost savings during fiscal 2026 and about $50 million on an annualized basis in fiscal 2027.
Singh cautioned that AI savings should not be viewed as a standalone amount that will flow directly to the bottom line, as the company expects the efficiencies to offset ordinary cost pressures and potentially fund growth investments.
Guidance Raised and Narrowed Chewy raised and narrowed its fiscal 2026 outlook, citing more stable consumer trends, continued market-share gains and better-than-expected contributions from SmartPak and Modern Animal. The company now expects full-year net sales of $13.46 billion to $13.57 billion, representing growth of 6.8% to 7.7%.
Organic net sales are expected to grow 5.5% to 6.3% for the year. The company said the midpoint of the forecast does not assume a meaningful improvement in consumer conditions.
Full-year adjusted EBITDA margin is expected to be 6.7% to 6.8%, compared with prior guidance of 6.6% to 6.8%. At the midpoint, the outlook implies adjusted EBITDA of $912 million and more than 100 basis points of year-over-year margin expansion. Third-quarter net sales are projected at $3.323 billion to $3.358 billion, with adjusted EBITDA margin of 6.6% to 6.7% and adjusted diluted earnings per share of about $0.39. Chewy generated $90 million in free cash flow during the quarter and ended the period with $612 million in cash equivalents and marketable securities, as well as more than $1 billion in total available liquidity. The company issued $600 million in term loans and repurchased $200 million of stock, buying back 9.9 million shares during the quarter.
About Chewy (NYSE:CHWY)Chewy, Inc NYSE: CHWY is a leading e-commerce retailer specializing in pet food, supplies and services. The company offers a comprehensive assortment of products for dogs, cats, fish, birds and other small animals, including prescription medications, veterinary health products, grooming essentials and toys. Through its online platform and mobile app, Chewy provides an intuitive shopping experience with features such as Autoship, ensuring regular deliveries of pet essentials at schedule intervals.
Founded in 2011 by Ryan Cohen and Michael Day, Chewy initially operated under the name Mr.
This instant news alert was generated by narrative science technology and financial data from MarketBeat in order to provide readers with the fastest reporting and unbiased coverage. Please send any questions or comments about this story to [email protected].
Should You Invest $1,000 in Chewy Right Now?Before you consider Chewy, you'll want to hear this.
MarketBeat keeps track of Wall Street's top-rated and best performing research analysts and the stocks they recommend to their clients on a daily basis. MarketBeat has identified the five stocks that top analysts are quietly whispering to their clients to buy now before the broader market catches on... and Chewy wasn't on the list.
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Chewy (CHWY - Free Report) reported $3.33 billion in revenue for the quarter ended July 2026, representing a year-over-year increase of 7.3%. EPS of $0.36 for the same period compares to $0.33 a year ago.
The reported revenue represents a surprise of +0.42% over the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $3.32 billion. With the consensus EPS estimate being $0.36, the company has not delivered EPS surprise.
While investors scrutinize revenue and earnings changes year-over-year and how they compare with Wall Street expectations to determine their next move, some key metrics always offer a more accurate picture of a company's financial health.
As these metrics influence top- and bottom-line performance, comparing them to the year-ago numbers and what analysts estimated helps investors project a stock's price performance more accurately.
Here is how Chewy performed in the just reported quarter in terms of the metrics most widely monitored and projected by Wall Street analysts:
Active customers: 21,705 versus the five-analyst average estimate of 21,662.Net sales per active customer: $602.00 compared to the $602.92 average estimate based on four analysts.Net Sales- Hardgoods: $395.8 million compared to the $384.21 million average estimate based on three analysts. The reported number represents a change of +14.4% year over year.Net Sales- Consumables: $2.23 billion compared to the $2.25 billion average estimate based on three analysts. The reported number represents a change of +3.9% year over year.View all Key Company Metrics for Chewy here>>>
Shares of Chewy have returned +3.6% over the past month versus the Zacks S&P 500 composite's -0.4% change. The stock currently has a Zacks Rank #4 (Sell), indicating that it could underperform the broader market in the near term.
Chewy (CHWY -9.18%) stock is falling today on the heels of the company's latest quarterly report. The pet products e-commerce specialist's share price was down 7.7% as of 11 a.m. ET. The S&P 500 was down 0.3% at the same point in the daily session, and the Nasdaq Composite was down 0.5%.
The broader market is seeing moderate bearish momentum today as investors react to macroeconomic concerns, and Chewy's latest quarterly report has also failed to spur net buying action. As of this writing, the stock is now down roughly 35% year to date.
Image source: Getty Images.
Chewy's quarterly results weren't bad Before the market opened this morning, Chewy published results for the second quarter of its current fiscal year -- a period that ended on Aug. 2. The company's non-GAAP (adjusted) earnings per share of $0.36 in the period were in line with the average Wall Street analyst estimate, and sales of $3.33 billion topped the average forecast by roughly $10 million. Revenue increased roughly 7.4% year over year despite a challenging retail backdrop, and the company's gross margin of 30.4% matched last quarter's level.
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What's next for Chewy? While Chewy stock is getting hit with sell-offs today, the company actually raised its full-year sales guidance. Management now expects full-year sales to come in between $13.46 billion and $13.57 billion -- up from its previous target for sales between $13.4 billion and $13.55 billion.
Even though the midpoint of the company's new guidance range exceeded the average analyst target of $13.48 billion in sales for the fiscal year, Chewy is seeing a valuation pullback today. The pet-products retailer has continued to execute efficiently even as consumer pressures are leading to more cautious spending in the category. Still, investors are concerned about what the macro backdrop means for the business's near-term performance.
Keith Noonan has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Chewy. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
Chewy Inc (NYSE:CHWY) reported second-quarter revenue and profit above Wall Street estimates on Thursday, even as shares fell 8.6% after the pet products retailer's free cash flow missed expectations.
Revenue rose 7.3% year-over-year to $3.33 billion, edging past the $3.32 billion analysts had forecast. Adjusted earnings per share came in at $0.36, up 9.1% from a year earlier.
Adjusted EBITDA climbed 23.7% to $226.7 million, topping estimates of $211 million, while adjusted EBITDA margin expanded 90 basis points to 6.8%, also ahead of forecasts.
Gross margin held steady at 30.4% year-over-year, and net margin improved 40 basis points to 2.4%. Free cash flow fell 15.5% to $89.5 million, well short of the $133 million analysts had expected.
Active customers grew 3.8% to 21.705 million.
Analysts at Jefferies said the company's base business, excluding acquisitions, is holding up, which they said should be viewed favorably given softer macroeconomic commentary in the prior quarter. However, they noted that one-time items and timing factors contributed to the profit beat, and that guidance pointing to stable core growth alongside heavy reinvestment means the results are not as strong as headline numbers suggest.
The analysts said Chewy's capital deployment toward expanding its addressable market in veterinary and equestrian categories is a sensible move, and that its artificial intelligence and membership initiatives show promise, though the timing of when those investments will generate higher returns remains uncertain.
Sometimes, a stock’s first reaction tells only part of the story. On Aug. 30, Elon Musk said Space Exploration Technologies Corp. (NASDAQ:SPCX) would begin manufacturing gas turbine blades and vanes in-house, calling the move a way to bring new turbines online up to 18 months faster. Investors immediately focused on the competitive threat, sending Howmet Aerospace Inc. (NYSE:HWM) shares sharply lower.
The selloff was significant. Howmet fell more than 10% at the close on Sept. 4 and is down 18.4% over the past month, even though the stock remains up roughly 29% over the past year.
The market’s concern was straightforward: if one of the world’s most valuable industrial companies starts making its own turbine blades, could incumbent suppliers eventually lose business?
Then came GE Aerospace’s response.
GE Aerospace (NYSE:GE) announced it will acquire precision casting specialist Consolidated Precision Products (CPP) for $11.75 billion, describing the business as strategically important to securing future engine production. Rather than suggesting turbine blade manufacturing is becoming less valuable, the deal points in the opposite direction: one of the industry’s largest manufacturers is spending billions to secure access to one of its most constrained components.
That aligns with what JPMorgan analyst Seth Seifman sees as the bigger takeaway.
While GE’s acquisition initially raised concerns that the company could rely less on suppliers such as Howmet over time, Seifman argues the industry remains constrained by limited casting capacity.
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CPP currently supplies only about a quarter of GE’s requirements, GE expects to continue sourcing blades from third parties, and demand for advanced airfoils is projected to grow roughly 30% through 2030. In other words, GE is buying capacity because it cannot simply manufacture enough of these parts overnight.
Howmet ConcernsThat distinction matters for investors.
The market initially treated Musk’s announcement and GE’s acquisition as separate competitive threats to companies like Howmet. But together, they may tell a different story. Both SpaceX and GE are investing to secure turbine blade production instead of assuming sufficient capacity already exists.
Reuters reported that precision castings have remained one of aerospace’s biggest production bottlenecks since the pandemic, while industry executives continue to describe turbine blade manufacturing as one of the most technically demanding areas of industrial production.
Existing supply agreements also mean GE is expected to continue purchasing blades from suppliers including Howmet for years to come.
What Investors Should WatchThe real question may not be whether new competitors enter the turbine blade market, but whether anyone can build enough capacity to satisfy demand.
GE’s $11.75 billion acquisition suggests that buying scarce manufacturing capability may be faster than building it from scratch. If that proves true, the long-term investment case for turbine blade manufacturers could depend less on defending market share and more on expanding production in an industry where demand continues to outpace supply.
Generative AI (GenAI) is gaining practical applications across the Medical Instruments industry, moving beyond its experimental phase. Companies are using it to generate synthetic medical images, simulate disease progression, create potential drug molecules and predicttheir effects, helping accelerate the drug development process.In McKinsey’s fourth-quarter 2025 survey, 50% of U.S. healthcare leaders reported GenAI implementation, while more than 80% had deployed initial use cases. Although administrative efficiency has the greatest perceived potential, clinical productivity became the most widely adopted GenAI application among care organizations.
Meanwhile, the FDA recently released a discussion paper, Considerations for the Regulation of Generative AI-Enabled Medical Devices, highlighting the technology’s potential benefits and risks. GenAI-enabled devices could transform patient care but may also introduce risks that differ from traditional software and AI-enabled devices. The paper seeks stakeholder input on these challenges and regulatory approaches.The European Union AI Act (EU AI Act) 2024 also introduced strict requirements for high-risk AI systems, including AI-based medical software.
Fortune Business Insights projects the global AI in the healthcare market to expand at a CAGR of 43.9% through 2026-2034. Despite industry pressures, Veracyte (VCYT - Free Report) , Globus Medical (GMED - Free Report) and UFP Technologies (UFPT - Free Report) are well-positioned to benefit from continued AI adoption.
Industry Description The Zacks Medical - Instruments industry is highly fragmented, with participants engaged in research and development (R&D) in therapeutic areas. This FDA-regulated sector encompasses a vast array of products, from transcatheter valves and orthopedic devices to advanced imaging equipment and robotics. Recent trends highlight the integration of AI in diagnostics, the expansion of telemedicine, the rise of robotic-assisted surgeries and developments in 3D printing, continuous glucose monitoring systems and gene editing. The rise of GenAI is also reshaping MedTech, from speeding up patient recruitment to optimizing trial designs and improving regulatory processes. The FDA’s Total Product Life Cycle approach supports faster development of safe and effective medical devices critical to public health.
3 Trends Shaping the Future of the Medical Instruments Industry GenAI Revolution: Over the past couple of years, there has been a significant increase in the adoption of GenAI within the medical instrument space, with hyper-personalization being the primary feature of GenAI-driven treatment options. GenAI, while analyzing vast and complex genetic and molecular data, is expected to help healthcare reach new heights in terms of predictive treatment options and smart hospital systems. According to Zion Market Research, global GenAI in the healthcare market is projected to expand at a CAGR of 31.4% between 2026 and 2034. Growth is supported by the increasing use of AI-powered medical imaging, accelerated drug discovery, automated clinical documentation and growing physician burnout, which is boosting demand for intelligent workflow tools across hospitals, pharmaceutical companies and payers globally.The application of AI in the diagnostics space is growing enormously, with the market expected to witness a CAGR of 28.6% through 2026-2034.
M&A Trend: The medical instrument space has been benefiting from the ongoing merger and acquisition (M&A) trend. Smaller and midsized companies are turning to consolidation to gain scale and strengthen their competitive position, while larger players are pursuing acquisitions to enter niche markets and add specialized products and technologies to their portfolios. According to PWC’s Medtech: US Deals 2026 midyear outlook, Medtech M&A entered the second half of 2026 with continued momentum, supported by investment in innovation-led areas such as cardiovascular and neurostimulation, expansion into connected care and workflow platforms and continued carve-outs, take-privates, and other portfolio reshaping activity.Deal value reached $36.5 billion in the first half, following a decade-high level of M&A activity in 2025. Notable transactions included Boston Scientific’s $15 billion agreement to acquire Penumbra and Danaher’s $10 billion acquisition of Masimo. Medtronic also recently completed its $650 million acquisition of SPR Therapeutics, Inc., consisting of an upfront cash payment.
Business Trend Disruption: The IMF’s July 2026 World Economic Outlook projects global growth of 3% in 2026 and 3.4% in 2027, below the 3.5% average observed in 2024-25 but broadly unchanged from its April forecast on a cumulative basis. The slowdown reflects the drag from the Middle East conflict, partly offset by stronger demand from the global technology cycle as AI advances and adoption The effects vary across countries, depending largely on their exposure to the conflict and their role in the technology supply chain. Global headline inflation is expected to rise from 4.1% in 2025 to 4.7% in 2026 before easing to 3.9% in 2027. The projections were revised slightly higher from April, suggesting that the disinflation trend that began in early 2024 has stalled. The possibility of renewed Middle East conflict looms large and could extend commodity price volatility, disrupt supply chains, raise prices and weigh on financial conditions.
Zacks Industry Rank Indicates Bright Prospects The Zacks Medical Instruments industry’s Zacks Industry Rank, which is basically the average of the Zacks Rank of all the member stocks, indicates upbeat near-term prospects. The industry, housed within the broader Zacks Medical sector, currently carries a Zacks Industry Rank #99, which places it in the top 40% of 248 Zacks industries. Our research shows that the top 50% of the Zacks-ranked industries outperform the bottom 50% by a factor of more than 2 to 1.
We will present a few stocks that have the potential to outperform the market based on a strong earnings outlook. It is worth taking a look at the industry’s shareholder returns and current valuation first.
Industry Underperforms S&P 500 & Sector The industry has lagged the Zacks S&P 500 composite and the sector over the past year. The industry has declined 2.5% against the broader sector’s rise of 11.8%. The S&P 500 has returned 19% in a year.
1-Year Price Performance
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Industry's Current Valuation On the basis of the forward 12-month price-to-earnings (P/E), which is commonly used for valuing medical stocks, the industry is currently trading at 25.97X compared with the broader industry’s 21.30X and the S&P 500’s 20.09X.
Over the past five years, the industry has traded as high as 41.07X, as low as 24.72X and at the median of 31.39X, as the charts show below.
Price-to-Earnings Forward 12 Months (F12M)
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Price-to-Earnings Forward 12 Months (F12M)
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
3 Stocks to Buy Right Now Veracyte: Based in California, Veracyte is a cancer diagnostics company, offering tests for prostate, thyroid, bladder and breast cancer. In the United States, it provides laboratory-developed tests through CLIA-certified labs in South San Francisco and San Diego, while the Prosigna breast cancer test is available internationally through laboratories and hospitals as an in vitro diagnostic. Its Afirma test leads the thyroid nodule molecular diagnostics market, driven by greater use among existing physicians, an expanding ordering-physician base and market share gains.
Veracyte sports a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) at present. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for the company’s 2026 EPS and revenues calls for 8.4% and 14.4% growth, respectively.
You can see the complete list of today's Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.
Price & Consensus: VCYT
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Globus Medical: Based in Pennsylvania, Globus Medical is a renowned musculoskeletal technology company, advancing care throughout spine, orthopedic trauma, joint reconstruction, biomaterials and enabling technologies. In 2023, the company expanded its spine business through the NuVasive merger and broadened into neuromodulation and pain treatment with the Nevro acquisition in 2025. Globus Medical’s International sales represented 21% of total net sales in the first half of 2026, spanning 61 countries outside the United States.
At present, GMED carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). The Zacks Consensus Estimate calls for 25.4% EPS growth and 8.8% revenue growth for the company in 2026.
Price & Consensus: GMED
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
UFP Technologies: Massachusetts-based UFP is a contract development and manufacturing organization specializing in comprehensive solutions for medical devices, sterile packaging and other advanced engineered custom products. The company’s single-use and single-patient products support minimally invasive surgery, infection prevention, wound care, wearables and orthopedic care. UFP boasts a strong acquisition pipeline, completing three deals in the second quarter of 2026 and recently expanding its capabilities through the acquisition of CI Medical.
Presently, UFPT carries a Zacks Rank #2. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for the company’s 2026 EPS and revenue implies 8% and 9.1% growth, respectively.
Price & Consensus: UFPT
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Key Takeaways Raymond James gained 17.2% in three months, outpacing its industry and the broader market.RJF benefits from record PCG revenues, acquisitions and improving IB fees.Elevated expenses and volatile brokerage revenues remain key hurdles despite RJF's attractive valuation. Supported by a strong operating performance, shares of Raymond James (RJF - Free Report) have gained 17.2% over the past three months, outperforming the industry’s 11.8% growth and the S&P 500 index’s 5.3% rally.
Also, if we compare RJF’s price performance with two of its close peers, Morgan Stanley (MS - Free Report) and Evercore (EVR - Free Report) , it appears that the stock has performed better than both MS and EVR. Over the past three months, MS shares have gained 4.6%, while the EVR stock has lost 13.2%.
3-Month Price Performance
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Does the RJF stock have more upside left despite recent strength in price? Let us find out.
Factors Supporting Raymond JamesStrong Private Client Group (PCG) Performance: Raymond James’ PCG segment is a key growth engine, with net revenues seeing an 11.4% compound annual growth rate (CAGR) over fiscal 2021-2025 and maintaining momentum through the first nine months of fiscal 2026. Particularly, in the fiscal third quarter of this year, PCG generated record net revenues of $2.84 billion, up 14% year over year, supported by higher client assets, market appreciation, strong retention and continued net new asset growth.
PCG assets under administration reached a record $1.86 trillion, while domestic net new assets totaled $21.7 billion in the quarter.
Robust adviser recruiting and high retention should continue supporting asset and revenue growth, reinforcing PCG’s position as a major contributor to Raymond James’ long-term performance.
Strategic Acquisitions: Raymond James has built a strong record of using acquisitions and partnerships to broaden its capabilities across wealth management, asset management and capital markets.
The May 2026 acquisition of Clark Capital added roughly $47 billion of combined assets under management and non-discretionary assets, strengthening the firm’s wealth-focused investment platform. The GreensLedge investment (March 2026) enhanced Raymond James’ capital-markets capabilities.
In fiscal 2024, the company announced a partnership with Eldridge Industries. In fiscal 2023, it acquired Canada-based Solus Trust Company Limited, while in fiscal 2022, it acquired SumRidge Partners, TriState Capital Holdings and the U.K.-based Charles Stanley Group PLC. These transactions have expanded Raymond James’ presence in private credit, trust services and international wealth management.
With ample capital and liquidity available for deployment, continued strategic acquisitions could strengthen the PCG and Asset Management franchises and support long-term earnings growth.
Investment Banking (IB) Recovery: Raymond James’ IB business has regained momentum after a sharp slowdown in fiscal 2022 (IB fees in the Capital Markets segment declined 4%) and 2023 (declined 41%).
IB fees rebounded in fiscal 2024 (increased 7%) and continued to improve through fiscal 2025 and the first nine months of fiscal 2026 as deal-making conditions became more supportive.
Now, although the timing of deal closures remains uncertain, management sees meaningful upside potential as valuation gaps narrow and transaction activity improves. A healthier M&A backdrop and Raymond James’ expanded capital-markets capabilities should support growth in IB fees.
Consistent Capital Returns: Raymond James has maintained a shareholder-friendly capital distribution policy, supported by a strong balance sheet and healthy earnings generation. The company has regularly increased its dividend over the past decade, including an 8% hike announced in December 2025.
It also authorized up to $2 billion of share repurchases in the first quarter of fiscal 2026, with $1.1 billion still available as of June 30, 2026.
With strong capital ratios, excess liquidity and a relatively modest payout ratio, Raymond James appears well-positioned to sustain dividends and buybacks, while continuing to invest in growth.
Raymond James Stock Is UndervaluedRJF’s 12-month forward price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio of 13.72X is slightly below the industry’s 14.14X. This indicates that its shares are trading at a discount.
P/E (F12M) Ratio
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Morgan Stanley has a forward 12-month P/E of 16.65X, while Evercore is trading at 13.13X. This implies that while RJF is more expensive than EVR, it is cheaper than MS.
Headwinds for RJF StockCapital Markets Volatility: Raymond James’ brokerage revenues remain sensitive to capital-market activity, making this revenue stream inherently volatile. While elevated trading activity during the pandemic boosted brokerage fees, subsequent normalization weighed on the results.
Despite a recovery in fiscal 2025 and the first nine months of fiscal 2026, brokerage fees in the Capital Markets segment declined at a 3.8% CAGR over the four fiscal years ended 2025.
Given the unpredictable nature of market activity and the possibility of trading volumes normalizing further, sustained growth in brokerage revenues remains uncertain, which could pressure Capital Markets revenues.
Expense Growth: Raymond James’ non-interest expenses witnessed a 9.2% CAGR over fiscal 2021-2025, with the uptrend continuing through the first nine months of fiscal 2026. Compensation remains a major cost driver, while continued investments in technology, adviser recruiting, acquisitions and regulatory compliance are likely to keep expenses elevated.
The company spends more than $1.1 billion annually on technology, including automation and artificial intelligence (AI) initiatives, adding to near-term costs despite potential long-term efficiency benefits.
Management continues to expect fiscal 2026 non-compensation expenses of $2.3 billion, even after incorporating costs related to the Clark Capital and GreensLedge acquisitions. Persistently high expense growth could therefore limit operating leverage and make margin expansion difficult, especially if revenue growth moderates.
Final Thoughts on Raymond James StockSolid IB business prospects, organic and inorganic growth efforts to diversify operations and a strong balance sheet will likely keep aiding RJF’s financials. An attractive valuation is another positive.
Moreover, analysts are optimistic regarding the company’s earnings growth prospects. Over the past seven days, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for the company’s fiscal 2026 and fiscal 2027 earnings have been revised higher.
Estimate Revision Trend
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
However, unsustainable brokerage fee income, on account of normalizing client activity and elevated expenses are roadblocks. Thus, taking into consideration the concerns, investors should not rush to buy the RJF stock at the moment. However, those who already own the stock should hold on to it for long-term gains.
Currently, Raymond James carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
C.H. Robinson Worldwide faces headline risk from a $604 million verdict, but insurance and fault allocation significantly limit direct financial exposure. Montgomery v. Caribe Transport II increases legal risk for brokers, but the true impact will be revealed through CHRW's 2027 insurance renewal, not immediate litigation outcomes. CHRW has achieved mid-cycle margins and productivity gains despite freight market weakness, driven by automation and cost reductions, positioning the business for future upside.
In this video, I will cover recent updates on Meta, Anthropic, and Nvidia, and explain why I remain bullish on SoFi (SOFI -3.47%) despite the negative sentiment surrounding it. Watch the short video to learn more, consider subscribing, and click the special offer link below.
*Stock prices used were from the trading day of Sep. 1, 2026. The video was published on Sep. 1, 2026.
Neil Rozenbaum has positions in Meta Platforms and SoFi Technologies. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Meta Platforms and Nvidia. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. Neil is an affiliate of The Motley Fool and may be compensated for promoting its services. If you choose to subscribe through his link, he will earn some extra money that supports his channel. His opinions remain his own and are unaffected by The Motley Fool.
For new and old investors, taking full advantage of the stock market and investing with confidence are common goals. Zacks Premium provides lots of different ways to do both.
Featuring daily updates of the Zacks Rank and Zacks Industry Rank, full access to the Zacks #1 Rank List, Equity Research reports, and Premium stock screens, the research service can help you become a smarter, more self-assured investor.
It also includes access to the Zacks Style Scores.
What are the Zacks Style Scores? Developed alongside the Zacks Rank, the Zacks Style Scores are a group of complementary indicators that help investors pick stocks with the best chances of beating the market over the next 30 days.
Each stock is assigned a rating of A, B, C, D, or F based on their value, growth, and momentum characteristics. Just like in school, an A is better than a B, a B is better than a C, and so on -- that means the better the score, the better chance the stock will outperform.
The Style Scores are broken down into four categories:
Value ScoreValue investors love finding good stocks at good prices, especially before the broader market catches on to a stock's true value. Utilizing ratios like P/E, PEG, Price/Sales, Price/Cash Flow, and many other multiples, the Value Style Score identifies the most attractive and most discounted stocks.
Growth ScoreWhile good value is important, growth investors are more focused on a company's financial strength and health, and its future outlook. The Growth Style Score takes projected and historic earnings, sales, and cash flow into account to uncover stocks that will see long-term, sustainable growth.
Momentum ScoreMomentum traders and investors live by the saying "the trend is your friend." This investing style is all about taking advantage of upward or downward trends in a stock's price or earnings outlook. Employing factors like one-week price change and the monthly percentage change in earnings estimates, the Momentum Style Score can indicate favorable times to build a position in high-momentum stocks.
VGM ScoreIf you want a combination of all three Style Scores, then the VGM Score will be your friend. It rates each stock on their combined weighted styles, helping you find the companies with the most attractive value, best growth forecast, and most promising momentum. It's also one of the best indicators to use with the Zacks Rank.
How Style Scores Work with the Zacks Rank A proprietary stock-rating model, the Zacks Rank utilizes the power of earnings estimate revisions, or changes to a company's earnings outlook, to help investors create a successful portfolio.
It's highly successful, with #1 (Strong Buy) stocks producing an unmatched +23.8% average annual return since 1988. That's more than double the S&P 500. But because of the large number of stocks we rate, there are over 200 companies with a Strong Buy rank, plus another 600 with a #2 (Buy) rank, on any given day.
With more than 800 top-rated stocks to choose from, it can certainly feel overwhelming to pick the ones that are right for you and your investing journey.
That's where the Style Scores come in.
You want to make sure you're buying stocks with the highest likelihood of success, and to do that, you'll need to pick stocks with a Zacks Rank #1 or #2 that also have Style Scores of A or B. If you like a stock that only has a #3 (Hold) rank, it should also have Scores of A or B to guarantee as much upside potential as possible.
The direction of a stock's earnings estimate revisions should always be a key factor when choosing which stocks to buy, since the Scores were created to work together with the Zacks Rank.
For instance, a stock with a #4 (Sell) or #5 (Strong Sell) rating, even one that boasts Scores of A and B, still has a downward-trending earnings forecast, and a much greater likelihood its share price will decline as well.
Thus, the more stocks you own with a #1 or #2 Rank and Scores of A or B, the better.
Stock to Watch: Equifax (EFX - Free Report) Equifax Inc. is a global data, analytics and technology company. It provides information solutions and human resources business process outsourcing services for businesses, governments and consumers. Its services are based on comprehensive databases of consumer and business information derived from numerous sources, including credit, financial assets, telecommunications and utility payments, employment, income, demographic and marketing data.
EFX is a #3 (Hold) on the Zacks Rank, with a VGM Score of B.
It also boasts a Value Style Score of B thanks to attractive valuation metrics like a forward P/E ratio of 20.08; value investors should take notice.
For fiscal 2026, three analysts revised their earnings estimate upwards in the last 60 days, and the Zacks Consensus Estimate has increased $0.00 to $8.55 per share. EFX boasts an average earnings surprise of +5%.
With a solid Zacks Rank and top-tier Value and VGM Style Scores, EFX should be on investors' short list.
Owens Corning (OC - Free Report) has been one of the most searched-for stocks on Zacks.com lately. So, you might want to look at some of the facts that could shape the stock's performance in the near term.
Shares of this construction materials company have returned -18.1% over the past month versus the Zacks S&P 500 composite's -0.4% change. The Zacks Building Products - Miscellaneous industry, to which Owens Corning belongs, has lost 8.1% over this period. Now the key question is: Where could the stock be headed in the near term?
Although media reports or rumors about a significant change in a company's business prospects usually cause its stock to trend and lead to an immediate price change, there are always certain fundamental factors that ultimately drive the buy-and-hold decision.
Earnings Estimate RevisionsHere at Zacks, we prioritize appraising the change in the projection of a company's future earnings over anything else. That's because we believe the present value of its future stream of earnings is what determines the fair value for its stock.
We essentially look at how sell-side analysts covering the stock are revising their earnings estimates to reflect the impact of the latest business trends. And if earnings estimates go up for a company, the fair value for its stock goes up. A higher fair value than the current market price drives investors' interest in buying the stock, leading to its price moving higher. This is why empirical research shows a strong correlation between trends in earnings estimate revisions and near-term stock price movements.
For the current quarter, Owens Corning is expected to post earnings of $3.20 per share, indicating a change of -12.8% from the year-ago quarter. The Zacks Consensus Estimate has changed -4.6% over the last 30 days.
For the current fiscal year, the consensus earnings estimate of $9.94 points to a change of -17.5% from the prior year. Over the last 30 days, this estimate has changed +3%.
For the next fiscal year, the consensus earnings estimate of $12.13 indicates a change of +22% from what Owens Corning is expected to report a year ago. Over the past month, the estimate has changed +1.9%.
With an impressive externally audited track record, our proprietary stock rating tool -- the Zacks Rank -- is a more conclusive indicator of a stock's near-term price performance, as it effectively harnesses the power of earnings estimate revisions. The size of the recent change in the consensus estimate, along with three other factors related to earnings estimates, has resulted in a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) for Owens Corning.
The chart below shows the evolution of the company's forward 12-month consensus EPS estimate:
12 Month EPS
Revenue Growth ForecastEven though a company's earnings growth is arguably the best indicator of its financial health, nothing much happens if it cannot raise its revenues. It's almost impossible for a company to grow its earnings without growing its revenue for long periods. Therefore, knowing a company's potential revenue growth is crucial.
In the case of Owens Corning, the consensus sales estimate of $2.63 billion for the current quarter points to a year-over-year change of -2.1%. The $9.96 billion and $10.36 billion estimates for the current and next fiscal years indicate changes of -1.5% and +4.1%, respectively.
Last Reported Results and Surprise HistoryOwens Corning reported revenues of $2.76 billion in the last reported quarter, representing a year-over-year change of +0.3%. EPS of $3.93 for the same period compares with $4.21 a year ago.
Compared to the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $2.67 billion, the reported revenues represent a surprise of +3.16%. The EPS surprise was +28.43%.
Over the last four quarters, Owens Corning surpassed consensus EPS estimates three times. The company topped consensus revenue estimates two times over this period.
ValuationNo investment decision can be efficient without considering a stock's valuation. Whether a stock's current price rightly reflects the intrinsic value of the underlying business and the company's growth prospects is an essential determinant of its future price performance.
Comparing the current value of a company's valuation multiples, such as its price-to-earnings (P/E), price-to-sales (P/S), and price-to-cash flow (P/CF), to its own historical values helps ascertain whether its stock is fairly valued, overvalued, or undervalued, whereas comparing the company relative to its peers on these parameters gives a good sense of how reasonable its stock price is.
As part of the Zacks Style Scores system, the Zacks Value Style Score (which evaluates both traditional and unconventional valuation metrics) organizes stocks into five groups ranging from A to F (A is better than B; B is better than C; and so on), making it helpful in identifying whether a stock is overvalued, rightly valued, or temporarily undervalued.
Owens Corning is graded A on this front, indicating that it is trading at a discount to its peers. Click here to see the values of some of the valuation metrics that have driven this grade.
ConclusionThe facts discussed here and much other information on Zacks.com might help determine whether or not it's worthwhile paying attention to the market buzz about Owens Corning. However, its Zacks Rank #2 does suggest that it may outperform the broader market in the near term.
A securities class action alleges Simply Good Foods' former CEO Geoff E. Tanner and CFOs Shaun P. Mara and Christopher J. Bealer certified filings that painted the $280 million OWYN integration as on track, while SMPL shareholders absorbed a decline of more than 70% and a $200 million write-down.
, /PRNewswire/ -- Levi & Korsinsky, LLP alerts investors in The Simply Good Foods Company (NASDAQ: SMPL) of a pending securities class action covering purchasers between October 24, 2024 and April 8, 2026. Find out if you may be eligible to recover losses. You may also contact Joseph E. Levi, Esq. at [email protected] or (212) 363-7500.
SMPL shares fell from $14.41 per share on April 8, 2026, to $10.44 per share on April 10, 2026, a decline exceeding 27%, or more than $10.40 per share. The Company recorded a $187 million impairment against OWYN intangible assets, bringing cumulative write-downs to $200 million on a $280 million acquisition. The window to apply for lead plaintiff closes on October 13, 2026.
The Named Individual Defendants
The action names Geoff E. Tanner, President and Chief Executive Officer from July 2023 until January 2026; Shaun P. Mara, Chief Financial Officer from October 2022 until July 2025; and Christopher J. Bealer, Chief Financial Officer since July 2025 and previously SVP Finance. Each is alleged to have signed or certified periodic reports describing the OWYN acquisition as central to the Company's strategic vision.
Sarbanes-Oxley Certification Obligations
Under Sections 302 and 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, the certifying officers attested that the Company's quarterly and annual reports did not omit material facts. The complaint charges that those filings failed to disclose already-existing integration breakdowns, departures of key OWYN personnel, and product quality problems tied to a pea protein sourcing change.
Alleged Control Person Liability Under Section 20(a)
Authority over the content of Form 10-K and Form 10-Q filings during the Class Period Certifications under Sarbanes-Oxley Sections 302 and 906 attesting to disclosure accuracy Direct participation in quarterly earnings calls addressing OWYN integration status Alleged access to internal reporting on OWYN margins, discounting, and G&A growth Alleged responsibility for risk factor language stating the Company "may not accomplish the integration of an acquired business smoothly" Alleged failure to correct prior statements as adverse conditions worsened "Corporate officers have a duty to ensure their companies' public statements are accurate and complete. The complaint here alleges that certifications continued to attest to complete disclosure even as OWYN integration problems were allegedly known internally." -- Joseph E. Levi, Esq.
Submit your information to learn more or call (212) 363-7500.
Levi & Korsinsky, LLP is a nationally recognized shareholder rights firm. Over the past 20 years, the firm has secured hundreds of millions of dollars for aggrieved shareholders. Ranked in ISS Top 50 for seven consecutive years.
Frequently Asked Questions About the SMPL Lawsuit
Q: Who are the defendants named in the SMPL lawsuit? A: The complaint names The Simply Good Foods Company and individual defendants including senior executives who signed SEC filings, made public statements, or certified financial disclosures under Sarbanes-Oxley.
Q: What specific misstatements does the SMPL lawsuit allege? A: The complaint alleges The Simply Good Foods Company made materially false or misleading statements regarding the integration and performance of the OWYN acquisition during the Class Period. When the OWYN sales contraction, $187 million impairment, and slashed fiscal 2026 outlook were disclosed, the stock price declined sharply.
Q: What court was the SMPL class action filed in? A: The case was filed in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, governed by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.
Q: What is a lead plaintiff and why does it matter? A: A lead plaintiff is the investor appointed by the court to represent the entire class. Lead plaintiffs are typically investors with the largest documented losses. Being appointed does not increase individual recovery but gives direct oversight of how the case is run.
Q: What documents do I need to to submit my information? A: Brokerage statements or trade confirmations showing purchase dates, share quantities, prices paid, and any subsequent sale dates and prices.
Q: Do I need to go to court or give testimony? A: No. The overwhelming majority of class members never appear in court or give depositions. If there is a settlement or recovery, eligible class members generally submit a claim form to seek their portion.
Q: What does it cost me to participate? A: There is no upfront cost to submit your information and review whether you may be eligible to recover. Should you choose to participate in the securities class action, they are generally handled on a contingency basis, with any attorneys' fees and expenses subject to court approval.
Q: What if I already sold my SMPL shares -- can I still recover losses? A: Yes. Eligibility is based on when you purchased, not whether you still hold the shares. Investors who bought during the Class Period and sold at a loss may still be eligible to participate.
CONTACT:
Levi & Korsinsky, LLP
Joseph E. Levi, Esq.
Ed Korsinsky, Esq.
33 Whitehall Street, 27th Floor
New York, NY 10004
[email protected]
Tel: (212) 363-7500
Fax: (212) 363-7171
Attorney Advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes.
Korn Ferry remains a Buy with ~10% upside to a $90 price target, supported by resilient executive search and improving labor market trends. KFY delivered solid Q1 results: $1.43 EPS (beat by $0.07), 7% revenue growth to $765M, and stable 17% EBITDA margins. The AMS acquisition strengthens KFY's RPO segment, offers $40M synergy potential, and is supported by a robust pre-merger balance sheet.
Texas Roadhouse (TXRH - Free Report) has been beaten down lately with too much selling pressure. While the stock has lost 12.9% over the past four weeks, there is light at the end of the tunnel as it is now in oversold territory and Wall Street analysts expect the company to report better earnings than they predicted earlier.
We use Relative Strength Index (RSI), one of the most commonly used technical indicators, for spotting whether a stock is oversold. This is a momentum oscillator that measures the speed and change of price movements.
RSI oscillates between zero and 100. Usually, a stock is considered oversold when its RSI reading falls below 30.
Technically, every stock oscillates between being overbought and oversold irrespective of the quality of their fundamentals. And the beauty of RSI is that it helps you quickly and easily check if a stock's price is reaching a point of reversal.
So, by this measure, if a stock has gotten too far below its fair value just because of unwarranted selling pressure, investors may start looking for entry opportunities in the stock for benefiting from the inevitable rebound.
However, like every investing tool, RSI has its limitations, and should not be used alone for making an investment decision.
Here's Why TXRH Could Experience a TurnaroundThe heavy selling of TXRH shares appears to be in the process of exhausting itself, as indicated by its RSI reading of 26.49. So, the trend for the stock could reverse soon for reaching the old equilibrium of supply and demand.
This technical indicator is not the only factor that calls for a potential rebound for the stock. There is a fundamental indicator as well. A strong agreement among sell-side analysts covering TXRH in raising earnings estimates for the current year has led to an increase in the consensus EPS estimate by 0.9% over the last 30 days. And an upward trend in earnings estimate revisions usually translates into price appreciation in the near term.
Moreover, TXRH currently has a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy), which means it is in the top 20% of more than 4,000 stocks that we rank based on trends in earnings estimate revisions and EPS surprises. This is a more conclusive indication of the stock's potential turnaround in the near term. You can see the complete list of today's Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) stocks here >>>> .
Scott D. Lipesky, EVP and COO of Abercrombie & Fitch (ANF +0.71%), sold 5,000 shares of Class A common stock on Aug. 28, 2026, according to a recent SEC Form 4 filing.
Transaction summaryMetricValueTransaction value$745,000Shares sold5,000Post-transaction shares (directly held)147,534Post-transaction value$21.9 millionTransaction value based on SEC Form 4 weighted average sale price ($149); post-transaction value based on Aug. 28, 2026, market close ($148.42).
Key questionsWhat was the impact on Lipesky's direct equity position?
The executive sold 5,000 shares, a 3% transaction size relative to his previous stake, while retaining a direct holding of 147,534 shares.How does the transaction price compare to the stock's recent performance?
The execution at $149 per share occurred against a backdrop of 54% share price appreciation for the company over the 12 months ending Aug. 28, 2026.What is the market value of the insider's remaining direct investment?
Based on the $148.42 market close on the transaction date, the executive's remaining direct equity stake is valued at approximately $21.9 million.Company OverviewMetricValueShare Price (as of market close 2026-08-31)$143.08Market Capitalization$6.4 billionRevenue (TTM)$5.3 billionNet Income (TTM)$536 millionCompany SnapshotAbercrombie & Fitch operates as an omnichannel apparel retailer offering clothing, personal care products, and accessories for men, women, and children across its portfolio of brands, including Abercrombie & Fitch, Abercrombie Kids, Hollister, and Gilly Hicks.The company generates revenue through a diversified distribution model encompassing company-operated retail stores, e-commerce platforms, wholesale partnerships, franchise agreements, and licensing arrangements across the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and the Asia-Pacific regions.The company targets style-conscious consumers across multiple demographic segments, from young adults and teenagers to families, through both physical retail locations and digital channels, seeking contemporary apparel and lifestyle products.Abercrombie & Fitch is a multinational omnichannel retailer with a market capitalization of $6.4 billion and TTM revenue of $5.3 billion, demonstrating significant scale within the apparel retail sector. The company leverages a multi-brand portfolio strategy to capture diverse customer segments while maintaining operational efficiency through integrated retail and digital distribution networks. ANF maintains a competitive position through brand differentiation, international expansion, and omnichannel retail capabilities that enable seamless customer engagement across geographies and sales channels.
Premium Feature
Moneyball Superscore
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Today's Change
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What this transaction means for investorsOn Aug. 28, Lipesky sold 5,000 shares in a transaction that was valued at approximately $745,000. Digging a little more into the details, however, this doesn't appear to be a sale that should worry shareholders. One reason is that the insider still holds 147,534 shares, indicating his continued alignment with Abercrombie's success.
The other reason this shouldn't cause worry for shareholders is the stock price's performance. Over the last 12 months, Abercrombie shares have climbed nearly 60%, while the S&P 500 is up 17.8% over the same period. With that price run-up, it is natural for an insider to consider taking some gains off the table. With that context, this sale appears largely routine.
For what's ahead, however, price targets suggest that potential gains over the next 12 months may not come as fast and furiously as they have over the previous 12 months. According to CNN, of the 15 analysts who cover the stock, the median price target for the next year is $165. From the price as of this writing, $151.43, reaching $165 would represent a gain of nearly 9%.
Not financial or tax advice. PANews content is strictly educational and informational and is not investment advice, financial advice, tax advice, legal advice, or a solicitation to buy or sell any digital asset, security, or financial product. Do your own research and consult qualified advisers.
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Osmosis, the prominent decentralized exchange in the Cosmos ecosystem, suspended key operations for its synthetic Bitcoin asset on September 9 after an exploit on the Nomic blockchain allowed an attacker to double-spend nBTC. The exchange froze minting, redemption, deposits, and withdrawals for alloyed BTC (allBTC) while moving to contain the damage.
An emergency upgrade managed to lock 22.65 BTC in the attacker’s address before the funds could be moved. Approximately 39.84 nBTC were compromised in the incident, meaning more than a third of the asset backing that allBTC holders were counting on was suddenly in question.
What happened and how much is at stake The exploit targeted a flaw in a custom forwarding mechanism on the Nomic chain, a Cosmos-based blockchain designed to bring Bitcoin into the broader interchain ecosystem. That flaw allowed false vouchers to be created through a double-spend of nBTC, which is essentially a wrapped representation of Bitcoin living on Nomic.
Those fraudulent vouchers then made their way to Osmosis via the Inter-Blockchain Communication (IBC) protocol. The IBC protocol itself wasn’t compromised, and Osmosis’s own systems weren’t breached directly. The vulnerability lived upstream, on Nomic’s side.
The 39.84 nBTC affected represents roughly 36% of alloyed BTC’s total backing on Osmosis. That figure accounts for approximately 30% of the total BTC exposure across the entire exchange.
Osmosis moved quickly after detecting the issue. The team paused all inflows and outflows related to allBTC and pushed through an emergency chain upgrade. That upgrade successfully froze 22.65 BTC sitting in an address linked to the attacker, preventing further extraction of the stolen funds.
Trading of BTC in existing liquidity pools has continued despite the freeze. But the suspension of minting and redemptions effectively means no one can create new allBTC or cash out existing holdings until the situation is resolved.
The recovery plan Osmosis has outlined a two-pronged approach to making affected users whole. First, the team plans to propose a governance vote to seize the 22.65 BTC currently frozen in the attacker’s address. In the Cosmos ecosystem, governance proposals can authorize on-chain actions if enough token holders vote in favor, giving the community direct say over how stolen funds are handled.
Second, Osmosis intends to tap the community pool to cover the gap between the frozen BTC and the total amount compromised. The goal is to restore the 1:1 backing of alloyed BTC, ensuring that every synthetic Bitcoin token on the platform is fully collateralized again.
A full incident report and detailed recovery plan are expected in the coming days. The timeline for restoring normal operations, including minting and redemptions, hasn’t been specified yet.
Why cross-chain bridges keep breaking The exploit targeted Nomic’s custom forwarding mechanism, exactly the type of bespoke infrastructure that tends to harbor undiscovered vulnerabilities. The IBC protocol itself can be battle-tested over time, but the custom pieces bolted onto it often haven’t faced the same scrutiny.
Alloyed BTC on Osmosis is designed to function as a unified Bitcoin asset that aggregates multiple bridged versions of BTC into a single tradeable token. But that design also means a vulnerability in any single backing asset, like nBTC from Nomic, can compromise the integrity of the whole product. In this case, nBTC represented a large enough share of allBTC’s backing that a single exploit threatened more than a third of the asset’s collateral.
What to watch from here The immediate question is whether the governance proposal to seize the frozen BTC will pass and how quickly the community pool can cover the remaining shortfall. For Osmosis users holding allBTC, minting and redemption remain frozen, and full restoration depends on governance action and community pool funding. Trading that continues in liquidity pools provides some liquidity outlet, but it is not the same as being able to freely redeem the underlying asset.
Disclosure: This article was edited by Editorial Team. For more information on how we create and review content, see our Editorial Policy.
