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Key Takeaways Truist's Q2 earnings are expected to rise 18.7%, with sales projected to increase 4.5%.Strong loan demand and stable funding costs are expected to lift TFC's NII 1.3% y-o-y to $3.63 billion.Fee income is projected to grow, while expenses and non-performing assets are expected to rise. Truist Financial (TFC - Free Report) is scheduled to report second-quarter 2026 results on July 17 before the opening bell. The overall impressive lending scenario in the quarter is likely to have supported the company’s net interest income (NII).

Per the Fed’s latest data, the demand for commercial and industrial (C&I) loans (accounting for almost 50% of TFC’s total loans and leases held for investment) was robust in the to-be-reported quarter. Demand for consumer loans (almost 40% of total loans) was solid.

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for TFC’s average earning assets for the quarter is pegged at $488.4 billion, indicating a 1.5% rise from the prior-year quarter.

In the second quarter, the Federal Reserve kept interest rates unchanged and signaled a hike later in the year. This, along with strong loan demand, decent economic growth and stabilizing funding/deposit costs, is expected to have driven Truist’s net interest income (NII) higher. The consensus estimate for NII is pegged at $3.63 billion, implying a 1.3% increase.

Management anticipates NII to increase approximately 1% sequentially, primarily driven by one additional day and increased client deposit balances.

Other Factors to Impact Truist’s Q2 EarningsNon-Interest Income: Though mortgage rates increased in the second quarter to the mid-6% range, they were lower than the prior-year quarter level. Hence, refinancing activities and origination volume were decent. Thus, Truist’s mortgage banking income is expected to have risen. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for the metric of $121.2 million indicates a 23.6% jump from the prior-year quarter.

Higher client activity and volatility in the capital markets, along with industry-wide decent deal-making activities, in the to-be-reported quarter are expected to have supported TFC’s corresponding fee income. The consensus estimate for investment banking and trading income of $336.7 million indicates a year-over-year jump of 64.2%.

The strong lending backdrop is likely to have supported Truist’s lending-related fees. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for the same is $100.2 million, indicating a rise of 1.2%. As the U.S. markets witnessed investor rotation amid the changing macro environment, there has been a rise in asset inflows. The consensus estimate for wealth management income of $375.6 million suggests an increase of 7.9%.

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for total non-interest income is pegged at $1.56 billion, which indicates an 11.6% rise from the prior-year quarter.

Management expects non-interest income to decline almost 1% sequentially due to Investment Banking and Trading income, partially offset by higher other income and card and treasury management fees.

Expenses: Truist has been witnessing a continued rise in overall non-interest expenses over the past several quarters because of investments in technology, inflationary pressure and expansion efforts. A similar trend is expected to have continued in the second quarter.

Management expects GAAP non-interest expenses to rise 3-4% from $3 billion in the first quarter of 2026. This will be due to higher personal costs.

Asset Quality: Truist is unlikely to have set aside a substantial amount for potential loan delinquencies, given the modest improvement in the operating environment, supported by resilient economic growth, broadly stable credit conditions and the announced ceasefire in the Middle East. However, robust lending and persistently higher inflation are likely to have weighed on provision numbers.

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for total non-accrual loans and leases of $2.16 billion suggests a 71.4% year-over-year jump. The consensus estimate for total non-performing assets is $2.23 billion, indicating a 69.5% surge.

Truist’s Q2 Earnings & Sales ExpectationsThe Zacks Consensus Estimate for TFC’s earnings of $1.08 per share has remained unchanged over the past seven days. This indicates growth of 18.7% from the year-ago reported number.
 

The consensus estimate for sales is pegged at $5.21 billion, suggesting a 4.5% rise. The company expects revenues to remain relatively stable at $5.2 billion sequentially.

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

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

Earnings ESP: The Earnings ESP for Truist is +0.23%.

Zacks Rank: TFC currently carries a Zacks Rank #3.

TFC’s Peers Worth ConsideringHere are a couple of Truist’s peer bank stocks that you may want to consider, as our model shows that these have the right combination of elements to post an earnings beat this time:

U.S. Bancorp (USB - Free Report) is scheduled to announce second-quarter 2026 results on July 16. The company carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) and has an Earnings ESP of +0.34% at present. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.

Quarterly earnings estimates for U.S. Bancorp have been revised upward to $1.28 over the past week.

The Earnings ESP for M&T Bank (MTB - Free Report) is +0.13%, and it carries a Zacks Rank #2. The company is slated to report second-quarter 2026 numbers tomorrow.

Over the past seven days, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for M&T Bank’s quarterly earnings has remained unchanged at $4.66.

Key Takeaways Wendy's is using Project Fresh to enhance menu quality, operations and customer satisfaction.WEN is growing digital sales with AI-powered recommendations and expanding its international footprint.Management expects improving execution and easing cost pressures to support margin recovery. The Wendy's Company (WEN - Free Report) continues to face margin headwinds, but management believes its comprehensive turnaround strategy, dubbed Project Fresh, could gradually improve profitability as the year unfolds. While first-quarter performance remained under pressure, executives pointed to encouraging operational improvements that could support both sales and margins over time.

During the quarter, U.S. company-operated restaurant margin fell to 11.4%, reflecting softer customer traffic, elevated beef costs, investments in food quality upgrades and labor inflation. Adjusted EBITDA also declined as the company stepped up spending on marketing, field support and international expansion. Despite these challenges, Wendy’s maintained its full-year outlook, signaling confidence that conditions will improve in the second half.

Project Fresh is central to that recovery. Wendy’s is upgrading the core menu with improved hamburger buns, enhanced condiments and a revamped spicy chicken sandwich while strengthening value offerings through its Biggie Deals platform. At the same time, WEN is focusing on cleaner restaurants, better order accuracy and enhanced employee training, areas where company-operated restaurants have already outperformed the broader system. Management believes stronger execution will increase customer satisfaction, encourage repeat visits and ultimately lift restaurant economics.

Digital initiatives are also contributing to the turnaround. U.S. digital sales increased, supported by AI-powered recommendations in the mobile app and continued investments in the digital ordering experience. Meanwhile, Wendy’s is expanding internationally, highlighted by a franchise agreement to develop up to 1,000 restaurants in China, providing an additional long-term growth avenue.

Although commodity inflation, especially beef costs and cautious consumer spending remain near-term risks, Wendy’s expects improving sales trends, better operational execution and easing cost pressures later in the year to support margin recovery. If Project Fresh continues to gain traction, the company could gradually rebuild profitability while laying the foundation for sustainable long-term growth.

Peers Are Also Balancing Costs With Operational ImprovementsWendy's turnaround efforts mirror broader trends across the quick-service restaurant industry, where operators are working to protect margins while navigating inflation and cautious consumer spending. McDonald's (MCD - Free Report) continues to focus on affordability through value offerings while leveraging its vast digital ecosystem, loyalty program and operational efficiencies to offset higher labor and commodity costs. Its scale and strong franchise network have helped McDonald's preserve profitability despite a challenging demand environment.

Restaurant Brands International (QSR - Free Report) , the parent of Burger King, is pursuing a similar strategy through its "Reclaim the Flame" initiative. The company is investing in restaurant modernization, improved operations and targeted marketing to strengthen guest traffic and franchisee economics. Menu innovation and digital expansion also remain as Restaurant Brands International's key priorities for driving profitable growth.

Compared with these rivals, Wendy's differentiates itself through Project Fresh, which combines menu quality upgrades, operational improvements and system optimization. While margin pressure remains in the near term, the successful execution of these initiatives could help Wendy's narrow the profitability gap with larger competitors over time.

WEN’s Price Performance, Valuation & EstimatesShares of Wendy’s have dropped 31.6% in the past year compared with the industry’s 6.5% decline.

Price Performance
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

From a valuation standpoint, WEN trades at a forward price-to-sales (P/S) multiple of 0.64, below the industry’s average of 3.37.

WEN’s P/S Ratio (Forward 12-Month) vs. Industry
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for WEN’s 2026 earnings per share (EPS) implies a year-over-year decline of 34.1%. The EPS estimates for 2026 have remained unchanged in the past 30 days.

EPS Trend of WEN Stock
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

WEN’s Zacks RankWEN stock currently carries a Zacks Rank #4 (Sell).

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

Key Takeaways Quanta is benefiting as utilities expand transmission networks and increase long-term capital spending.PWR is working with utilities on multiyear capital planning and integrated infrastructure solutions.Quanta ended Q1 with a record $48.5B backlog, including a 12-month backlog of $28.2B, up 45.4%. Quanta Services, Inc. (PWR - Free Report) is well positioned to benefit from rising utility infrastructure spending as power companies expand their networks to support growing electricity demand. Utilities are increasing long-term capital investments as transmission systems grow in scale and technology-driven power demand accelerates, creating favorable conditions for infrastructure providers with broad execution capabilities. This environment aligns well with Quanta's integrated business model and expanding role in large utility infrastructure programs.

Quanta has strengthened its position by becoming more deeply involved in customers' long-term capital planning rather than participating only at the project bidding stage. The company is increasingly working alongside utilities as they develop multiyear capital programs, allowing it to provide integrated engineering, procurement, construction and supply-chain solutions across large and complex infrastructure projects. This approach also supports greater execution certainty, helping customers manage labor availability, project schedules and supply-chain challenges more effectively.

The company's expanding role in utility infrastructure programs is also improving long-term project visibility. Management indicated that customer relationships have evolved into broader strategic partnerships, with a growing share of work being negotiated directly as infrastructure programs become larger and more complex. Quanta ended the first quarter with a record backlog of $48.5 billion, up from $35.3 billion a year ago, including a 12-month backlog of $28.2 billion, up 45.4%, reinforcing strong multiyear revenue visibility.

As utilities continue investing in transmission networks and broader capital programs, Quanta's integrated service offering, long-standing customer relationships and growing participation in multiyear infrastructure planning position it to benefit from sustained utility infrastructure spending.

How Does Quanta Compare With Infrastructure Peers?Quanta has established a leading position in North America's power infrastructure market, benefiting from growing investments in grid modernization, transmission expansion and electrification. As investors assess whether the company can sustain the long-term growth, comparisons with EMCOR Group, Inc. (EME - Free Report) and MasTec, Inc. (MTZ - Free Report) highlight its differentiated exposure to the evolving utility infrastructure landscape.

EMCOR is also benefiting from robust demand across electrical and mechanical construction, supported by data centers, manufacturing, health care and institutional projects. The company ended the first quarter with remaining performance obligations of $15.62 billion, reflecting strong project visibility. However, EMCOR’s growth remains more closely tied to building construction and facility-related services than utility transmission infrastructure.

MasTec is a closer peer, with exposure to power delivery, telecom, clean energy, pipeline and data center infrastructure. The company reported a record backlog of $20.3 billion and continues to benefit from investments in grid reliability, transmission expansion and AI-driven electricity demand. However, Quanta's integrated solutions platform, manufacturing investments and strong backlog position it to capture a broader share of North America's multiyear grid modernization opportunity.

PWR’s Price Performance, Valuation & EstimatesPWR stock has rallied 53.2% in the year-to-date (“YTD”) period, outperforming the Zacks Engineering - R and D Services industry, the broader Construction sector and the S&P 500 index.

PWR YTD Share Price Performance
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

From a valuation standpoint, PWR trades at a forward 12-month price-to-earnings ratio of 42.16X, well above the industry’s 28.47X, as shown below.

PWR Valuation
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Quanta’s 2026 earnings per share has remained unchanged at $14.03 in the past 30 days. This indicates expected earnings growth of 30.5% year over year.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

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

Key Takeaways TT is benefiting from strong commercial HVAC demand and accelerating enterprise bookings growth.TT's Stellar Energy integration added nearly $1 billion to its backlog, boosting modular cooling leadership.TT continues returning capital through dividends and buybacks while maintaining strong liquidity. Shares of Trane Technologies plc (TT - Free Report) have had a decent run over the past three months. The stock has risen 3.8% compared with the industry's 6.6% growth. The Zacks S&P 500 composite rose 7.8% during the said time frame.

TT has a Growth Score of B. This style score condenses key financial metrics to reflect a fair sense of the quality and sustainability of its growth.

The company’s second-quarter 2026 earnings are expected to increase 9.5% year over year. Earnings for 2026 and 2027 are projected to rise 13.6% and 13.9% year over year, respectively. Revenues are expected to increase 9% in 2026 and 8.4% in 2027.

Factors That Bode Well for TTTrane Technologies benefits from robust demand for its customer-centric solutions, especially commercial HVAC. Rising global energy demand and the need for high-performance buildings support strong long-term growth for the company. TT is driving growth by catering to this demand with its energy-efficient HVAC systems, smart controls and sustainable climate solutions. TT reported that enterprise organic bookings growth was 24% year over year in the first quarter of 2026. Commercial HVAC bookings in the Americas rose approximately 40% year over year during the same period.

The company is also driving growth from rising data center demand as clients build out specialized cooling and infrastructure to power the rapid growth of artificial intelligence (AI) and cloud computing. During the latest quarterly earnings conference, management stated that the February 2026 integration of Stellar Energy Americas, Inc. boosted the backlog by nearly $1 billion and solidified Trane Technologies’ market leadership in the rapidly expanding modular cooling sector.

The company has demonstrated a strong commitment to its shareholders through consistent dividend payments and share repurchases, despite the fluctuations in its cash position. TT paid dividends of $683.7 million, $757.5 million and $837.3 million, while repurchasing shares worth $669.3 million, $1.3 billion and $1.5 billion in 2023, 2024 and 2025, respectively. This consistency underscores its dedication to creating long-term value for investors.

TT had a current ratio (a measure of liquidity) of 1.1 in the first quarter of 2026, which improved marginally from the preceding quarter's 1.09 due to an increase in cash reserves. A current ratio above 1 enables the company to pay off short-term obligations efficiently.

Key Risks to WatchTrane Technologies relies on its supply chain for essential commodities, mainly steel and non-ferrous metals. Thus, rising commodity prices, such as steel costs, can inflate expenses, squeeze profit margins and erode revenues and cash flow.

Global technology service providers operate in a fiercely competitive landscape. TT faces stiff competition in the HVAC market from firms such as Honeywell International, Siemens and Carrier. This competition fuels innovation across the industry while driving pricing pressures. Ongoing technology investments increase the challenge of maintaining profitability while competing for growth.

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

Stocks to ConsiderA couple of better-ranked stocks in the Technology Services industry are Coherent Corp. (COHR - Free Report) and V2X, Inc. (VVX - Free Report) .

Coherent Corp. sports a Zacks Rank #1 at present. It has a long-term earnings growth expectation of 46.8%. COHR’s earnings beat estimates in three of the last four reported quarters and matched once, with an average surprise of 6.2%.

V2X, Inc. also flaunts a Zacks Rank of 1 at present. It has a long-term earnings growth expectation of 20.4%. VVX delivered a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 22.8%, on average.

Key Takeaways FTI Consulting's Q1'26 revenues rose 9.5%, reaffirming the guidance of $3.94-$4.10B.FCN ended Q1'26 with $198M in cash, no current debt and a 2.3 current ratio.FTI Consulting repurchased shares worth $126.8M in Q1'26, while cash flow and rising costs remain risks. FTI Consulting, Inc. (FCN - Free Report) shares have slipped 1.2% in the past year. While the shares have experienced a slight dip, the industry has plummeted 42.3%. The Zacks S&P 500 Composite has rallied 26.3% over the same period.

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2026 revenues is pegged at $4 billion. The figure is expected to increase 6.2% year over year. For 2027, the consensus estimate is pinned at $4.3 billion, suggesting a 7.3% rise from the preceding year’s actual.

For EPS, the consensus mark for 2026 is pegged at $9.1, indicating a 3.1% year-over-year rally. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2027 EPS is set at $11.29. The figure is expected to grow 24.1% from the preceding year’s actual.

Factors That Augur Well for FCN’s SuccessDiversification & International Operations Aid Top Line: FCN’s diversification mitigates the impacts of macroeconomic headwinds, crises, events and changes in a particular practice, industry, or country. In 2025, the company generated 37% of its revenues from international operations. The recent performance paints a growth picture, wherein FCN generated $983.3 million in revenues in the first quarter of 2026, up 9.5% year over year. Management is optimistic and banking on the growth trajectory, reaffirming its 2026 revenue guidance of $3.94-$4.10 billion.

Robust Liquidity Position: The company ended 2025 with a current ratio of 1.56, a figure that bodes well with investors as it highlights FCN’s ability to pay off short-term obligations with ease. The company held this performance as it recorded a current ratio of 2.3 during the first quarter of 2026, outpacing the industry average of 1.15. FCN’s liquidity relies on its strong balance sheet position that ended the first quarter of 2026 with a cash chest of $198 million against no current debt.

                                                                  Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

Shareholder-Friendly Actions: In 2023, 2024 and 2025, the company repurchased shares worth $21 million, $10.2 million and $858.7 million, respectively. This initiative instills investor confidence. We expect investors to have been flattered by FCN repurchasing 787,098 shares during the first quarter of 2026 for $126.8 million. The company’s bottom line moved up to $1.9 from the year-ago quarter’s $1.74 despite lower net income, highlighting the success of its buyback strategy that supported per-share value.

Risks Faced by FTI ConsultingCash Flow Contraction: FCN experienced substantial turbulence in cash flow flexibility during 2025. The company ended 2025 with an operating cash flow of $152.1 million, down from the preceding year’s $395.1 million due to higher forgivable loan issuances, compensation and income tax payments. This drag in the operational cash flow led to a decline in the free cash flow to $93.6 million in 2025 from the preceding year’s $360.2 million.

On a similar note, the company reported a severe cash depletion during 2025, as evidenced by a 59.9% year-over-year drag in cash and cash equivalents.

Bottom-Line Shoulders Cost Pressure: During 2025, FCN experienced a 14.5% year-over-year jump in operating expenses, demonstrating an acceleration from a 7.7% year-over-year increase in 2024. This substantial rise has been primarily caused by $54.7 million year-over-year growth in direct costs of revenues and special charges of $25.3 million in 2025, exceeding growth of three times from the preceding year. This rising cost structure left an imprint on the company’s profitability, as net income declined by $9.2 million or 3.3%, year over year in 2025.

Nil Dividend: FCN has never declared a dividend and currently does not have any plan to pay out cash dividends on common stock. Therefore, the only way for investors to gain is price appreciation, which is not a guaranteed phenomenon. Hence, investors seeking income are expected to refrain from investing in this stock.

FCN’s Zacks Rank & Stocks to ConsiderThe company has a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) at present.

Some better-ranked stocks from the broader Zacks Business Services sector are Coherent Corp. (COHR - Free Report) and Conduent (CNDT - Free Report) , currently sporting a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.

Coherent Corp has a long-term earnings growth expectation of 46.8%. Coherent Corp delivered a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 6.2%, on average.

Conduent has a long-term earnings growth expectation of 8%. Conduent delivered a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 4%, on average.

Wedbush is making a bold call on memory chip maker Sandisk NASDAQ: SNDK. The firm aggressively raised its targets for revenue, earnings, and stock price, citing pricing trends and a high likelihood that management had underestimated the strength.

Sandisk Today

$1,736.40 +62.43 (+3.73%)

As of 10:11 AM Eastern

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

52-Week Range$40.10▼

$2,354.39P/E Ratio60.33

Price Target$1,765.19

Wedbush hiked its revenue and earnings targets by quadruple-digit basis points, pushed both above consensus, and warned that even these aggressive moves may understate the company's strength.

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As it stands, Wedbush sees revenue approaching $9 billion for the fiscal 4th quarter, earnings per share exceeding $37.50, and the strengths persisting into subsequent years.

The long-term forecast echoes one issued by SK hynix's NASDAQ: SKHY CEO, suggesting that memory chip market constraints will persist at least until 2028, as capacity ramps take time and demand is just that high.

As it stands, consensus forecasts suggest revenue of $8.33 billion and adjusted earnings per share of $34, representing more than 11,000% growth over the prior year.

Sandisk Stock Can Double in Price From HereSandisk Stock Forecast Today12-Month Stock Price Forecast:
$1,765.19
5.45% Upside

Moderate Buy
Based on 25 Analyst Ratings

Current Price$1,673.97High Forecast$3,250.00Average Forecast$1,765.19Low Forecast$235.00Sandisk Stock Forecast Details

Wedbush isn’t the only analyst doubling down on their Sandisk targets in early Q3. Analyst trends include increasing coverage, firming sentiment, a Moderate Buy consensus rating, an 84% Buy-side bias among 25 analysts tracked, and an uptrend in the consensus price target.

As aggressive as Wedbush’s 62% price target increase, its $2,000 forecast falls far short of the high-end range. Revisions in early July put this market in the $3,000 to $3,200 range, sufficient for nearly 100% upside from mid-July support targets. The likely outcome is that Sandisk’s upcoming earnings report will trigger another wave of upgrades and revisions, keeping the uptrend intact.

Institutional activity aligns with bullish analyst activity and the stock's price upswing. The group owns nearly 80% of the shares and has been buying at a rate of more than $2 per $1 over the trailing 12 months. While profit-taking was the highlight in Q2 2026, the group resumed accumulation in early Q3, underpinning market support in the $1,650 to $1,750 range. With this in play, investors can assume downside risk is limited ahead of the release. The risk is that the upcoming release will fall short of loftiest expectations, setting the stage for continued market consolidation.

The technical outlook is bullish. The SNDK market has been strengthening since the IPO, gained traction in late 2025, and has been in rally mode since. The story as of mid-July is that a near-term peak was reached and price correction ensued, setting up the pre-earnings opportunity. Signals, including MACD convergence, suggest the recent high will be at least retested and that higher highs are likely.

Why Is Sandisk Important to AI? Non-Volatile Memory StorageSandisk is important to AI because of memory. Its NAND Flash and solid-state drives provide permanent, non-volatile (not requiring power to retain data) memory storage critical to AI applications. While DRAM provides ultra-fast workspace directly connected to the processor, Sandisk products serve as the reservoir from which DRAM pulls the information it needs. Without it, there is no way to store the massive amounts of data being created, much less use it effectively. The takeaway is that Sandisk has transitioned from a legacy consumer brand that made flash drives to an AI-critical infrastructure provider with a custom suite of AI-enabling products.

Sandisk has three major catalysts this year that will mark milestones in its transition to AI infrastructure pure-play status. The first is the launch of high-bandwidth flash memory, intended to alleviate bottlenecks in data transfer within the data center. The first engineering samples are expected to ship later this year and are viewed as a validation achievement.

The second catalyst is locking in long-term contracts. Until now, memory was sold largely on a spot basis, but Sandisk is following industry suit, shifting to a more visible contract model—each design win equates to margin lock-in and reduced cyclicality, improving visibility for investors. The final catalyst is the upcoming release and guidance, expected to build on strengths revealed in the record-setting Q3 release.

Sandisk’s biggest risk is competition. The flash and NAND memory markets are highly competitive, with players like Samsung Electronics OTCMKTS: SSNLF commanding market share. The risk is that one of its competitors emerges with better technology, usurping the existing opportunity. The caveat is that demand dynamics suggest ample room for numerous players. Valuation is also a risk, with the stock trading at approximately 25x this year's earnings forecast, which reflects robust growth. Forecasts suggest the valuation falls as low as 8x as soon as next year.

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

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Shares of Nvidia (NVDA +0.42%) have risen by an impressive 380% over the past three years, fueled by the artificial intelligence (AI)-driven demand for its data center chips. However, the stock has been in a rut lately, rising just 12% in 2026, as of this writing.

The surprising thing to note here is that Nvidia stock is struggling to break out despite sustaining impressive revenue and earnings growth, driven by its continued dominance in the lucrative AI accelerator market. However, the world's largest company by market cap can easily step on the gas once again.

In fact, Nvidia could witness a solid increase in its stock price by the end of the decade. Let's see why that may be the case.

Image source: The Motley Fool.

Nvidia's massive addressable market points toward solid long-term growth Nvidia's foundry partner TSMC recently noted that the global semiconductor market's revenue could reach a whopping $1.5 trillion in 2030. The Taiwan-based foundry giant had previously anticipated $1 trillion in semiconductor revenue by the end of the decade. However, AI-fueled demand for chips led to a substantial upgrade to its guidance.

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TSMC points out that AI and high-performance computing (HPC) chips will account for 55% of this lucrative opportunity. That puts Nvidia's addressable opportunity in the AI data center chip market at an impressive $825 billion. For comparison, Nvidia's data center revenue in fiscal 2026 (which ended in January this year) was $193.7 billion.

It is worth noting that $162.3 billion of its fiscal 2026 data center revenue came from sales of compute chips, while the rest was from networking components. So, there is still a lot of room for Nvidia to boost its data center chip revenue over the next five years, especially considering that it is the dominant player in this market with an estimated 80% share.

However, analysts believe that Nvidia's AI data center chip market share may have peaked. That's not surprising, as competitors Advanced Micro Devices and Broadcom have been making solid strides in this space. Additionally, Nvidia's customers, which include both hyperscalers and pure-play AI companies, have been designing in-house chips to lower operating costs.

That's why Nvidia's AI chip market share is anticipated to decline to 75% this year. Let's assume Nvidia continues to lose ground in AI chips for the next four years and ends up at just 50% market share in 2030; it can still generate more than $400 billion in data center chip revenue in 2030 (based on the $825 billion market size estimated above).

That's almost 2.5x the data center compute revenue it generated in fiscal 2026. At the same time, investors shouldn't forget that Nvidia's data center networking revenue is growing at a much faster pace than compute. The company reported a 142% year-over-year increase in networking revenue in fiscal 2026 to $31.4 billion. It has started fiscal 2027 on a stronger note in this segment, with networking revenue tripling year-over-year to $14.8 billion.

Nvidia sells networking hardware, such as Ethernet and InfiniBand switches, and also offers software platforms to help developers program and manage networks. What's worth noting is that demand for these networking switches is increasing rapidly due to AI and HPC. The InfiniBand market, for instance, is expected to clock 36% annual growth over the next five years, according to Mordor Intelligence. It could generate more than $164 billion in revenue in 2031.

Meanwhile, the data center switch market is projected to exceed $100 billion in revenue by 2030, according to Dell'Oro Group. Ethernet switches are expected to dominate this space. The pace at which Nvidia's networking revenue is growing suggests the company is capturing a larger share of this space, which could pave the way for significant growth in this business segment over the next five years.

In all, Nvidia's data center addressable opportunity, including both networking and compute, could surpass $1 trillion by the end of the decade. That's why there has been a significant jump in Nvidia's consensus revenue growth projections through fiscal 2029.

Data by YCharts

The company's earnings growth potential suggests it can become a multibagger Nvidia's impressive top-line growth is all set to filter down to the bottom line. Analysts are projecting an 88% spike in Nvidia's earnings in fiscal 2027 (ending in January 2027) to $8.97 per share. This will be followed by robust double-digit growth over the next two fiscal years.

Data by YCharts

Assuming Nvidia's bottom line grows by even 15% a year in fiscal years 2030 and 2031, its earnings per share could reach $21.24 by the end of the decade (as its fiscal 2031 will end in January 2031). If this AI stock trades at 27 times earnings at that time (in line with the tech-laden Nasdaq-100 index's forward earnings multiple), its stock price could reach $573. That's almost 2.8x Nvidia's current stock price.

As Nvidia trades at just 24 times forward earnings, investors are getting a solid deal on this growth stock, which they should consider grabbing, given the potential upside it could deliver through 2030.

United Airlines has a new way to entice customers to pay more on board: no middle seat neighbor.

The carrier said Tuesday that one of the rows on its Airbus A321XLRs will have an empty middle seat with a tray table for the aisle- and window-seat customers to share. The seats, which are in the extra legroom section, go on sale later this year so it's not clear just how much more United will charge. It said it could later add them to other aircraft beyond those new, long-range narrow-body planes.

The new upsell is just one of many airlines are throwing out to get customers to pay more to fly. Last week, Delta Air Lines joined United in launching basic business-class and premium economy fares that don't come with perks that used to be included in the ticket. For example, Delta will no longer include access to its top-tier Delta One lounge or seat selection with its cheapest long-haul business class tickets.

Read more CNBC airline newsDelta launches ‘basic business’ fares without lounge access, seat selectionRecord heat, crowds drive offseason boom in international travelDelta expects higher airfare to last, bringing 2026 profit goal in reach'Bring 'em on': Delta wants United's crown over the Pacific, tooSpirit's collapse, high fuel prices test limits of summer vacation spendingMeet the pilots flying Spirit Airlines' yellow jets to the desertUnited in March also said it plans to launch a set of three economy seats that can be converted into a bed, which it's calling the "Relax Row" on some of its wide-body planes.

Airlines have spent years adding more premium-class seats to make bigger business-class cabins where spending has been more resilient. The bottlenecks of ever-more-elaborate seats have even delayed deliveries of new planes.

Oracle stock continued its strong freefall this week, reaching its lowest level since April last year. ORCL has slumped by over 62% from its all-time high, with Larry Ellison’s net worth plunging by $60 billion this year to $187 billion. It has become one of the top laggards in the AI space.

ORCL stock has been in a steep decline despite being one of the top beneficiaries of the artificial intelligence boom. Its most recent financial results showed that its revenue and backlog continued rising.

Its revenue jumped by 21% to $19.2 billion in the fiscal fourth quarter, with its cloud infrastructure figure rising by 93% to $5.8 billion. Its cloud apps revenue jumped by 10% to $4.1 billion.

For the year, its revenue jumped by 17% to $67 billion, with its operating cash flow rising by 54% to $32 billion.

Most importantly, the company’s RPO or backlog, jumped by $85 billion in Q4 to $638 billion, with its top clients including companies like Applied Intuition, SoundHound (SOUN), Admiral, and Kobalt. 

Wall Street analysts are bullish on the company, with the revenue estimate for the first fiscal quarter being $19.12 billion, up by 28% YoY. Its annual revenue is expected to jump 32% this year to $90 billion, followed by $130 billion next year.

Despite this growth, analysts are still concerned about Oracle’s huge debt load and its overreliance on OpenAI. Of its huge RPO, $300 billion of it comes from OpenAI, a company whose growth has started slowing amid rising competition from Anthropic. The contract will start in 2027, with OpenAI buying massive amounts of AI compute.

Most importantly, there are concerns about its massive debt load and soaring capital expenditure. Its capex jumped by 162% in the last fiscal year, with its free cash flow coming in at negative $24 billion.

The company’s debt has also jumped, and this trend will continue. It ended the last year with $130 billion in debt, with the company planning to raise $40 billion through debt and equity. It raised $43 billion in debt sales and $5 billion in equity.

Investors are concerned about its soaring debt, which has pushed its yields higher. TradingView data shows that the yield of its 2034 bonds jumped to 6.518% from the year-to-date low of 5.34%. Its 2038 bonds are yielding 6.70%, while its 2027 ones are yielding 4.56%.

Still, on the positive side, the ongoing Oracle stock crash has made it a bargain, with most analysts having a favorable rating. Keycorp recently reiterated its overweight rating, while Wedbush’s Dan Ives placed a target of $240.

Bernstein has a target of $325, while Wolfe Research placed a target of $225. MarketBeat data shows that the average target for the stock is $268. 

Oracle stock chart | Source: TradingView

The daily chart shows that the ORCL stock has slumped in the past few months, moving from a high of $346.23 on September 10 last year to the current $131.5.

It recently crossed the crucial support level of $134.95, its lowest level in February and April this year.

The stock has dropped below all moving averages and the oversold level of the Murrey Math Lines tool. It also remains below the Supertrend indicator.

Therefore, the waning sentiment will likely push it lower, potentially to $120 or even $100. However, in the long term, the stock will bounce back as investors rotate from semiconductor names to hyperscalers.

The logo of Gilead Sciences Inc is pictured during a news conference in New Delhi September 15, 2014. Picture taken September 15, 2014. REUTERS/Anindito Mukherjee Purchase Licensing Rights, opens new tab

CompaniesJuly 14 (Reuters) - Researchers in the Democratic Republic of Congo said on Tuesday they have started enrolling participants in a trial testing Gilead ​Sciences' (GILD.O), opens new tab experimental antiviral obeldesivir as a post-exposure treatment for the ‌ongoing Bundibugyo Ebola outbreak in Congo and Uganda.

Congo's National Institute for Biomedical Research and France's ANRS Emerging Infectious Diseases — with support from humanitarian aid groups, ​Alliance for International Medical Action (ALIMA) and Medecins Sans Frontieres — are ​leading the trial in Ituri province, the epicentre of the ⁠outbreak, the agencies said in a joint statement.

Keep up with the latest medical breakthroughs and healthcare trends with the Reuters Health Rounds newsletter. Sign up here.

Here are some ​details:

The trial is designed to assess whether post-exposure treatment can reduce the risk ​of developing Ebola infection after contact with the virus.

The study aims to enroll about 1,000 people aged 12 years and older, who had high-risk exposure to ​a confirmed Ebola case within the previous five days but ​have not developed symptoms.

Participants will be monitored daily for 21 days, with a final ‌follow-up ⁠at 42 days.

Obeldesivir has shown activity against filoviruses, including the Bundibugyo Ebola virus, in pre-clinical studies.

The project has received initial funding of 3.4 million euros ($3.87 million) from the Global Health EDCTP3 partnership supported ​by the European ​Commission, and $1 million ⁠from the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention.

Africa CDC also helped secure an additional $5 million in ​funding commitments from South Africa and the Democratic ​Republic of ⁠Congo.

The study also includes a separate compassionate-use protocol under which Gilead's injectable antiviral remdesivir would be given to children under 12 years and ⁠pregnant ​or breastfeeding women exposed to the virus.

The ​outbreak has led to 1,963 confirmed cases in Congo, including 719 deaths, according to government ​data.

($1 = 0.8777 euros)

Reporting by Siddhi Mahatole in Bengaluru; Editing by Shilpi Majumdar

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

Key Takeaways Albemarle shares fell 25.5% in a month as weaker lithium prices pressured the stock.ALB is expanding lithium capacity, improving productivity and cutting costs to support growth.Albemarle expects lithium demand to witness a 10-20% CAGR from 2025 to 2030, led by storage. Albemarle Corporation’s (ALB - Free Report) shares have tumbled 25.5% in the past month, underperforming the Zacks Chemical - Diversified industry and the S&P 500’s declines of 6.7% and 0.1%, respectively. 

Falling lithium market prices are weighing on the ALB stock lately. Lithium prices have pulled back amid slowing demand for electric vehicles (EVs) in China, an inventory glut and prospects of increased supply from mine restarts and capacity additions. EV orders have slowed in China, the world’s biggest lithium consumer, while demand in energy storage systems remains healthy.

Meanwhile, China’s battery giant Contemporary Amperex Technology Co., Limited (CATL) has reportedly secured a safety production permit to resume production at its Jianxiawo lithium mine, with operations expected to resume soon. CATL suspended operations at the mine in August 2025, following the expiry of its mining permit. Mineral Resources has also announced the restart of operations at its fully-owned Bald Hill lithium mine in Western Australia. The mine was placed on care and maintenance in November 2024 amid weak lithium market conditions.

ALB’s One-month Price Performance Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

Reflecting the retreat in lithium prices, ALB stock broke below its 50-day simple moving average (SMA) on May 15, 2026. It also slipped below its 200-day SMA on June 23, 2026. Nonetheless, the 50-day SMA is reading higher than the 200-day SMA following a golden crossover on Sept. 3, 2025.

Albemarle Trades Below 50-Day SMA Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

Let’s take a look at ALB’s fundamentals to analyze the stock better.

Growing Lithium Demand and Productivity Aid ALBAlbemarle is well-placed to gain from long-term growth in the battery-grade lithium market. The market for lithium batteries and energy storage remains strong, offering significant opportunities for the company to develop innovative products and expand capacity. Lithium demand is expected to grow on the back of significant global EV penetration.

ALB expects lithium demand to witness a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 10-20% from 2025 to 2030. Stationary storage is expected to be a significant driver for lithium demand along with EVs. Albemarle expects demand to grow roughly 15-40% this year. Demand indicators stayed positive in the first quarter of 2026, with global Energy Storage Systems production rising 117% year over year.

The company is strategically executing its projects aimed at boosting its global lithium conversion capacity. It remains focused on investing in high-return projects to drive productivity. Healthy customer demand, capacity expansion and plant productivity improvements are supporting its volumes. ALB saw higher sales volumes (up 14% year over year) in its Energy Storage unit in the first quarter on the strength of its integrated conversion facilities.

The Salar yield improvement project in Chile has achieved a 50% operating rate, and the ramp-up continues to deliver encouraging outcomes. ALB has started the environmental permitting process for a commercial direct lithium extraction project at Salar de Atacama. The ramp-up at the Meishan lithium conversion facility in China is also progressing ahead of schedule.

Albemarle is taking aggressive cost-saving and productivity actions. The company delivered roughly $450 million in cost and productivity improvements for full-year 2025, having surpassed its initial target of $300-$400 million. It expects additional cost and productivity improvements of $100-$150 million in 2026, with $40 million already delivered this year. ALB is taking actions to maintain its competitive position, including the initiation of a comprehensive review of cost and operating structure, optimization of the conversion network and reduction of capital expenditure.

ALB’s Strong Financial Health Supports Capital AllocationAlbemarle remains committed to driving shareholder value by leveraging healthy cash flows and strong liquidity. Its operating cash flow was around $1.3 billion in 2025, up roughly 86% from the prior-year period. At the end of the first quarter, ALB had liquidity of around $2.7 billion, including cash and cash equivalents of around $1.1 billion. ALB generated an operating cash flow of $346 million and free cash flow of $248 million in the quarter.

The company paid down $1.3 billion of outstanding debt in March 2026, reducing annual interest expense by roughly $60 million. This followed the successful divestments of the controlling stake in Ketjen and its 50% interest in the Eurecat joint venture, which together generated $670 million in pre-tax proceeds.

The company remains focused on maintaining its dividend payout. It has raised its quarterly dividend for the 30th straight year. ALB offers a dividend yield of 1.3% at the current stock price. Its peers, Sociedad Quimica y Minera de Chile S.A. (SQM - Free Report) and Rio Tinto Group (RIO - Free Report) , have a dividend yield of 3.6% and 5.6%, respectively.

ALB’s Earnings Estimates NorthboundThe Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2026 for ALB has been revised upward over the past 60 days. The consensus estimate for second-quarter 2026 has been going up over the same time frame.

 The Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2026 earnings is currently pegged at $13.06, suggesting a year-over-year increase of 1,735.2%. Earnings are expected to increase roughly 2,818.2% in the second quarter.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

A Look at ALB’s ValuationALB is currently trading at a forward price-to-sales ratio of 2.34, above the industry’s 0.88. It is trading at a modest discount to Sociedad Quimica and at a premium to Rio Tinto. Both Albemarle and Sociedad Quimica currently have a Value Score of C, while Rio Tinto has a Value Score of B.

ALB’s P/S F12M Vs. Industry, SQM and RIO Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

How Should Investors Play ALB Stock?Albemarle is gaining from increased lithium volumes, supported by project ramp-ups, ongoing efforts to expand its global lithium conversion capacity and productivity improvement initiatives. The company remains well-positioned to benefit from the long-term expansion of the battery-grade lithium market. Robust growth prospects and rising earnings estimates are some other positives. Although ALB trades at a premium valuation, its strong fundamentals and earnings growth potential justify the higher multiple. Notwithstanding the recent pullback in lithium prices, we advise investors to bet on this Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) stock now, as it has solid earnings growth prospects.

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

Clinical outcomes: Diranersen demonstrated efficacy across all studied doses at 18 months, with consistent results across multiple prespecified clinical endpoints; the 60 mg dose showed the strongest response with slowing of clinical decline on the cognitive endpoints—42% on ADAS-Cog13 and 50% on MMSE—alongside a 26% slowing on CDR-SBBiomarker response: Diranersen is the first tau-directed therapy to demonstrate robust reductions in both CSF total tau, with mean reductions of 50–65%, and brain tau pathology, as measured by PET, across all studied doses in a Phase 2 studyDose response: CDR-SB results favored diranersen versus placebo across all studied doses; higher doses were not associated with greater slowing of declineMechanism of action: Distinct from other tau-lowering approaches, diranersen targets MAPT mRNA to reduce the production of all tau isoforms, lowering both intracellular and extracellular tau protein CAMBRIDGE, Mass., July 14, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Biogen Inc. (Nasdaq: BIIB) today announced data from the Phase 2 CELIA study evaluating diranersen, an investigational antisense oligonucleotide (ASO) therapy targeting tau, in individuals with early Alzheimer’s disease. The data, presented at the Alzheimer’s Association International Conference (AAIC) 2026, expand upon previously reported topline results and demonstrate a combination of meaningful clinical efficacy and robust biomarker effects, providing Phase 2 proof of concept for diranersen’s tau-directed mechanism of action. Based on the growing and consistent body of evidence from the Phase 1b and Phase 2 studies, Biogen plans to advance diranersen into confirmatory Phase 3 development.1

“The CELIA data provide some of the clearest evidence that reducing tau pathology can translate into clinically meaningful benefit,” said Professor Cath Mummery, Professor of Clinical Neurology at the UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology and Consultant Neurologist at University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. “The magnitude of tau reduction and cognitive benefit observed in CELIA is among the most compelling reported to date in Alzheimer’s disease drug development and supports advancing diranersen to Phase 3 development.”

“The CELIA clinical, biomarker, and safety data presented at AAIC provide proof of concept and important evidence of diranersen’s novel tau-reduction mechanism of action translating into clinical benefit. If confirmed in Phase 3, diranersen could represent an important new therapeutic approach targeting one of the core pathologies of Alzheimer's disease,” said Priya Singhal, M.D., M.P.H., Executive Vice President and Head of Development at Biogen. “Patients and families urgently need new approaches that address the complexity of Alzheimer’s disease. We look forward to working with health authorities and the broader Alzheimer’s community as diranersen advances to Phase 3.”

Diranersen demonstrated efficacy across all studied doses at 18 months, with consistent efficacy across multiple prespecified secondary endpoints, including the Clinical Dementia Rating Sum of Boxes (CDR-SB), a global measure of cognition and daily function; ADAS-Cog13 and MMSE, measures of cognition; modified iADRS and ADCOMS, composite measures of cognition, function, and disease progression; as well as the individual cognitive and functional domains of CDR-SB. Diranersen 60 mg administered intrathecally every six months (n=60) showed the strongest response at 18 months. Compared with placebo (n=115), diranersen 60 mg demonstrated slowing of clinical decline by 0.54 points (26%) on CDR-SB; 42% on ADAS-Cog13; 50% on MMSE; 30% on modified iADRS; and 23% on ADCOMS. The majority of these endpoint differences achieved nominal statistical significance compared with placebo.

Clinical effects were also observed in the other studied dose regimens. Compared with placebo, diranersen 115 mg administered intrathecally every six months (n=115) and diranersen 115 mg administered intrathecally every three months (n=116) demonstrated slowing of clinical decline by 0.28 and 0.18 points (14% and 9%) on CDR-SB; 32% and 29% on ADAS-Cog13; 34% and 38% on MMSE; 29% and 18% on modified iADRS; and 21% and 7% on ADCOMS, respectively. At 18 months, no separation from placebo was observed across dose groups on ADCS-ADL-MCI, a measure of daily functioning, and longer-term follow-up continues to assess whether a longer duration of diranersen therapy impacts this endpoint. Of note, while ADCS-ADL-MCI results were inconsistent across dose regimens, slowing of functional decline based on the functional domains of CDR-SB favored diranersen across all studied doses.  

CELIA was designed with a primary endpoint of dose response on CDR-SB at 18 months to investigate whether higher doses of diranersen could provide greater clinical benefit. As previously disclosed, this was not observed, and the study did not meet its primary endpoint.

Diranersen demonstrated target engagement and robust reductions in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) total tau across all studied doses, with mean reductions of 50–65% from baseline. In the tau PET imaging substudy (n=131), decreases from baseline were seen across all evaluated brain regions for all diranersen doses. Diranersen is the first tau-directed therapy to demonstrate reductions in both CSF total tau and brain tau pathology, as measured by PET, across all studied doses in a Phase 2 study.

Diranersen was generally well tolerated. During the placebo-controlled period, most participants who experienced adverse events had events that were mild or moderate in severity, non-serious, and did not result in treatment discontinuation or study withdrawal. The most frequent adverse events were procedural pain, post-lumbar puncture syndrome, and confusional state. Most adverse events of confusional state occurred within a few days of dosing and resolved within a week. Among participants who completed the placebo-controlled period, more than 90% elected to continue into the extension study. Amyloid-related imaging abnormalities (ARIA) are not anticipated with diranersen based on its tau-targeting mechanism of action, and the results from CELIA are consistent with that expectation.

The study enrolled a population representative of early Alzheimer’s disease, with baseline characteristics generally balanced across treatment groups. Participants had a mean age of 68 years, 51% were female, and 60% were classified as having mild cognitive impairment, with 40% having mild Alzheimer’s disease dementia. ApoE4 carriers represented approximately 69% of participants, including 23% homozygotes.

Additional analyses and data from CELIA and the ongoing long-term extension study will be presented at future scientific conferences.

A Media Snippet accompanying this announcement is available by clicking on this link.

Educational Program on Tau in Alzheimer’s Disease
At AAIC, Biogen is hosting an interactive booth offering an immersive journey into the role of tau in Alzheimer’s disease, from pathology to clinical presentation. Biogen is also expanding its educational efforts with a new e-learning module on KnowTau.com, building on the resources already available.

For more information, please see the AAIC 2026 program and visit the Biogen AAIC booth.

About diranersen (BIIB080)
Diranersen (BIIB080) is an investigational antisense oligonucleotide (ASO) therapy designed to target microtubule-associated protein tau (MAPT) mRNA to reduce the production of tau protein. Unlike many investigational approaches that have focused on targeting extracellular tau, diranersen is designed to reduce both intracellular and extracellular tau.

Diranersen is being investigated as a potential treatment for early Alzheimer’s disease. In 2025, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) granted Fast Track designation to diranersen for the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease.

In December 2019, Biogen exercised a license option with Ionis Pharmaceuticals and obtained a worldwide, exclusive, royalty-bearing license to develop and commercialize diranersen. Diranersen was discovered by Ionis.   

About the CELIA Study
CELIA is a global Phase 2 randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, dose-ranging study evaluating the efficacy, safety, and tolerability of diranersen in individuals with early Alzheimer’s disease. The study enrolled 416 participants with mild cognitive impairment due to Alzheimer’s disease or mild Alzheimer’s disease dementia. All participants enrolled in CELIA had not previously received anti-amyloid therapy.

The study evaluated three doses of diranersen administered intrathecally over an 18-month placebo-controlled treatment period: 60 mg every six months, 115 mg every six months, and 115 mg every three months.

The primary endpoint of CELIA was assessment of dose response for change from baseline on the Clinical Dementia Rating–Sum of Boxes (CDR-SB) at Week 76. Secondary and exploratory endpoints included additional clinical, biomarker, and imaging measures, including cerebrospinal fluid tau biomarkers and tau positron emission tomography (PET). Additional information on the study design is available in the ClinicalTrials.gov listing for the CELIA study.

An ongoing long-term extension (LTE) study is continuing to evaluate the long-term safety, tolerability, and durability of diranersen’s clinical benefit in early Alzheimer’s disease.

About Biogen
Founded in 1978, Biogen is a leading biotechnology company that pioneers innovative science to deliver new medicines to transform patients’ lives and to create value for shareholders and our communities. We apply deep understanding of human biology and leverage different modalities to advance first-in-class treatments or therapies that deliver superior outcomes. Our approach is to take bold risks, balanced with return on investment to deliver long-term growth.

We routinely post information that may be important to investors on our website at www.biogen.com. Follow us on social media - Facebook, LinkedIn, X, YouTube.

Biogen Safe Harbor 
This news release contains forward-looking statements, including, among others, relating to: the potential benefits, efficacy and safety of diranersen; the potential that, if confirmed in Phase 3, diranersen could represent a new therapeutic approach targeting one of the core pathologies of Alzheimer's disease; potential regulatory discussions, submissions, decisions and approvals and the timing thereof; the anticipated benefits, risks and potential of our collaboration arrangements; the potential of our commercial business and pipeline programs, including diranersen; and risks and uncertainties associated with drug development and commercialization. These forward-looking statements may be accompanied by such words as “aim,” “anticipate,” “assume,” “believe,” “contemplate,” “continue,” “could,” “estimate,” “expect,” “forecast,” “goal,” “guidance,” “hope,” “intend,” “may,” “objective,” “outlook,” “plan,” “possible,” “potential,” “predict,” “project,” “prospect,” “should,” “target,” “will,” “would” or the negative of these words or other words and terms of similar meaning. Drug development and commercialization involve a high degree of risk, and only a small number of research and development programs result in commercialization of a product. Results in early-stage clinical trials may not be indicative of full results or results from later stage or larger scale clinical trials and do not ensure regulatory approval. You should not place undue reliance on these statements. Given their forward-looking nature, these statements involve substantial risks and uncertainties that may be based on inaccurate assumptions and could cause actual results to differ materially from those reflected in such statements.

These forward-looking statements are based on management’s current beliefs and assumptions and on information currently available to management. Given their nature, we cannot assure that any outcome expressed in these forward-looking statements will be realized in whole or in part. We caution that these statements are subject to risks and uncertainties, many of which are outside of our control and could cause future events or results to differ materially from those stated or implied in this document, including, among others, uncertainty of our long-term success in developing, licensing, or acquiring other product candidates or additional indications for existing products; expectations, plans, prospects and timing of actions relating to product approvals, approvals of additional indications for our existing products, sales, pricing, growth, reimbursement and launch of our marketed and pipeline products; the potential impact of increased product competition in the biopharmaceutical and healthcare industry, as well as any other markets in which we compete, including increased competition from new originator therapies, generics, prodrugs and biosimilars of existing products and products approved under abbreviated regulatory pathways; our ability to effectively implement our corporate strategy; difficulties in obtaining and maintaining adequate coverage, pricing, and reimbursement for our products; the drivers for growing our business, including our dependence on collaborators and other third parties for the development, regulatory approval, and commercialization of products and other aspects of our business, which are outside of our full control; risks related to commercialization of biosimilars, which is subject to such risks related to our reliance on third-parties, intellectual property, competitive and market challenges and regulatory compliance; the risk that positive results in a clinical trial may not be replicated in subsequent or confirmatory trials or success in early stage clinical trials may not be predictive of results in later stage or large scale clinical trials or trials in other potential indications; risks associated with clinical trials, including our ability to adequately manage clinical activities, unexpected concerns that may arise from additional data or analysis obtained during clinical trials, regulatory authorities may require additional information or further studies, or may fail to approve or may delay approval of our drug candidates; and the occurrence of adverse safety events, restrictions on use with our products, or product liability claims; and any other risks and uncertainties that are described in reports we have filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, which are available on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov. 

These statements speak only as of the date of this press release and are based on information and estimates available to us at this time. Should known or unknown risks or uncertainties materialize or should underlying assumptions prove inaccurate, actual results could vary materially from past results and those anticipated, estimated or projected. Investors are cautioned not to put undue reliance on forward-looking statements. A further list and description of risks, uncertainties and other matters can be found in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2025 and in our subsequent reports on Form 10-Q. Except as required by law, we do not undertake any obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statements whether as a result of any new information, future events, changed circumstances or otherwise. 

Digital Media Disclosure 
From time to time we have used, or expect in the future to use, our investor relations website (investors.biogen.com), the Biogen LinkedIn account (linkedin.com/company/biogen-) and the Biogen X account (https://x.com/biogen) as a means of disclosing information to the public in a broad, non-exclusionary manner, including for purposes of the SEC’s Regulation Fair Disclosure (Reg FD). Accordingly, investors should monitor our investor relations website and this social media channel in addition to our press releases, SEC filings, public conference calls and webcasts, as the information posted on them could be material to investors. 

Reference:

Shulman M, Wu S, Ziogas N, et al. Exploratory analyses of clinical outcomes from the BIIB080 phase 1b study in mild Alzheimer’s disease. Nature Aging. 2026;6:445-453. https://doi.org/10.1038/s43587-025-01031-9. Accessed July 2026.

Key Takeaways Trade Desk sees CTV as a major long-term growth driver as advertisers shift from linear TV.TTD said Disney, NBCUniversal and Netflix are advancing CTV advertising through programmatic efforts.TTD said video, including CTV, made up a low-50% share of business in first-quarter 2026. The Trade Desk, Inc. (TTD - Free Report) is benefiting from the continued momentum in connected TV (CTV), which remains one of the company's key long-term growth drivers. On the last earnings call, management highlighted that the transition of linear television to CTV is still in its early stages, creating a significant opportunity as advertisers increasingly shift toward data-driven advertising.

The company noted that the total addressable market for advertising continues to expand, supported by trends such as retail media, AI-powered search and chatbots, while the migration from linear TV to CTV further strengthens its long-term outlook. Despite a more challenging macroeconomic environment marked by geopolitical tensions, tariffs and economic uncertainty, Trade Desk believes sophisticated advertisers are becoming more deliberate and data-driven, creating opportunities for its platform.

TTD highlighted that premium publishers are increasingly embracing programmatic advertising, better data and improved supply chains to enhance advertising effectiveness. Disney, one of the largest CTV advertising publishers, continues to benefit from biddable programmatic advertising, lower ad loads and a direct relationship with Trade Desk. NBCUniversal is also supporting initiatives that improve CTV price discovery and advertiser signals, while Netflix continues to expand its advertising capabilities through technological enhancements with Trade Desk. Management stated that these developments reinforce the value of premium inventory and support greater advertiser participation across CTV.

Trade Desk also emphasized that improvements in advertising measurement are expected to support broader adoption of premium channels, such as CTV and audio. The company believes traditional last-touch attribution methods have limited the effectiveness of branding campaigns and premium inventory. As advertisers adopt more advanced measurement approaches and AI-driven decision-making, management expects greater investment in CTV campaigns that focus on long-term brand building rather than simply optimizing for lower-funnel metrics.

The company's first-quarter 2026 performance also reflected the continued strength of CTV. Management stated that CTV growth remained strong, supported by the ongoing shift away from linear television and increasing decisioned inventory from major publishers. Video, including CTV, represented a low-50% share of the company's business during the quarter and continued to increase as a percentage of total channel mix. Going ahead, Trade Desk plans to continue investing in AI-driven decisioning, retail media, CTV and identity while strengthening its platform to support long-term growth and help advertisers achieve measurable outcomes.

Taking a Look at TTD’s CompetitorsPubMatic, Inc. (PUBM - Free Report) is gaining from accelerating AI adoption, expanding CTV and mobile app advertising, and a more diversified demand-side platform (DSP) base. Its AI-powered AgenticOS and Agentic advertising solutions are driving new revenue streams, improving campaign automation and increasing customer adoption. Growth in emerging revenues, CTV, mobile apps and Commerce Media, supported by partnerships with Amazon, Walmart Connect and PayPal, is strengthening the company's growth profile. PubMatic's owned infrastructure and AI-driven efficiencies are lowering costs and expanding margins, while its broader publisher network, global expansion and growing mid-market DSP relationships position the company for sustained double-digit revenue growth.

Amazon (AMZN - Free Report) is gaining from aggressive international expansion, a diversified business model and broad-based AI adoption across its operations. International growth is being supported by continued investments in logistics infrastructure across Asia, Europe and Latin America, driving higher sales and improving profitability. Amazon Web Services remains a key growth engine, benefiting from rising cloud and AI demand, while the advertising business continues expanding as brands increase spending on its platform. The company is also integrating AI across AWS, logistics and e-commerce operations, enhancing efficiency, strengthening customer experiences and supporting long-term revenue growth and margin expansion across its businesses.

TTD’s Price Performance, Valuation and EstimatesShares of TTD have plunged 75.3% in the past year against the Zacks Internet -Services industry’s rise of 83.9%.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

Valuation-wise, TTD seems attractive, as suggested by the Value Score of B. From a valuation standpoint, TTD trades at a forward price-to-sales of 2.78X, lower than the industry’s average of 7.63X.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for TTD’s earnings has been revised upward over the past 30 days.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

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

The new logo of SLB is seen in this undated handout image obtained by Reuters on October 19, 2022. SLB/Handout via REUTERS THIS IMAGE HAS BEEN SUPPLIED BY A THIRD PARTY. MANDATORY CREDIT. Purchase Licensing Rights, opens new tab

CompaniesJuly 14 (Reuters) - SLB (SLB.N), opens new tab said on Tuesday it has partnered with Liberty Energy (LBRT.N), opens new tab to supply modular ​parts and power to data centers, ‌as the oilfield services firms look to tap surging demand from the AI boom.

The Reuters Power Up newsletter provides everything you need to know about the global energy industry. Sign up here.

Under the deal, ​SLB said it would design and ​supply modular and prefabricated components for data ⁠center projects, while Liberty will provide natural ​gas-fired power generation.

The deal reflects a broader push ​by oilfield contractors to supply power equipment, turbines and data solutions.

SLB is already a design partner for modular ​AI data centers built on Nvidia (NVDA.O), opens new tab technology, ​and is working with the U.S. chip firm to ‌create ⁠a platform, AI Factory for Energy, to help oil and gas producers and power companies apply AI to vast troves of ​operational data.

SLB ​has shipped ⁠more than 1.3 GW of prefabricated modular data center infrastructure since ​April 2024 and expects cumulative deliveries ​to ⁠exceed 2 GW globally by year-end. Liberty plans to deploy about 3 GW of ⁠power ​projects by 2029.

SLB sold its North ​American hydraulic fracturing business to Liberty in 2020.

Reporting by ​Katha Kalia in Bengaluru; Editing by Vijay Kishore

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

Key Takeaways MU expanded its AI memory and storage portfolio for training and inference workloads.AMAT introduced new AI chip manufacturing systems for DRAM and advanced packaging.CSCO raised 2026 revenue guidance on AI infrastructure demand and expanded its NVIDIA partnership. Technology stocks have been taking a beating lately. However, the information technology sector has outperformed its peers and has primarily been responsible for the broader market rally over the past three years.

Artificial intelligence (AI), especially generative AI, stocks have emerged as the industry’s darling as their widespread adoption has been boosting Wall Street. The space is poised to get a further boost with the advent of agentic AI, while tech companies continue to pump billions of dollars into AI infrastructure.

Needless to say, the AI boom is far from over, and there’s still a lot of room to play, as the recent decline appears to be temporary. We have identified three AI-driven stocks that are poised to excel in the second half of 2026.

These three stocks are Micron Technology, Inc (MU - Free Report) , Applied Materials, Inc. (AMAT - Free Report) and Cisco Systems, Inc. (CSCO - Free Report) . Each of our picks currently carries a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.

Micron TechnologyMicron Technology, through its global brands, namely Micron, Crucial and Ballistix, markets high-performance memory and storage technologies, including Dynamic Random Access Memory (DRAM), NAND flash memory, NOR Flash and other technologies. The company’s solutions are used in leading-edge computing, consumer, networking, mobile, automotive, industrial and data center products. 

Micron Technology recently announced that it has reached a deal with Anthropic to co-design next-generation AI memory and storage architectures. The strategic partnership includes a long-term supply arrangement, Micron's investment in Anthropic's Series H funding round and deployment of Claude AI across Micron's engineering and manufacturing operations.

The company also recently launched its expanded portfolio of AI-optimized memory and storage products, which includes HBM4, a 256GB SOCAMM2 module, 256GB DDR5 RDIMMs, and the 245TB Micron 6600 ION SSD. The new range of products is aimed at boosting AI training and inference workloads from data centers to edge devices.

The company’s third-quarter fiscal 2026 revenue outlook of around $33.5 billion reflects strong AI infrastructure spending.

Moreover, Micron has a debt-to-equity ratio of 5.1%, which is lower than the Computer - Integrated System industry’s 36.8%. The company’s ROE stands at 72.4% compared to the sub-industry’s 22.1%.  The company has an expected earnings growth rate of more than 100% for the current year. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for current-year and next-quarter earnings has improved 26.1% and 46.3%, respectively, over the last 60 days.

Applied Materials, Inc.Applied Materials is a leading supplier of equipment used to manufacture semiconductor devices, flat panel displays and solar photovoltaic products. Applied Materials has given a boost to its AI semiconductor development through innovations in materials engineering, advanced packaging, and memory technologies.

The company earlier this year introduced new deposition, etch, and materials-modification systems to boost next-generation AI chips, including 2nm-and-beyond logic technologies.  Applied Materials has also announced the acquisition of NEXX in a bid to expand its advanced packaging capabilities. The technology will help larger AI accelerator designs using chiplets, HBM stacks, and advanced substrates, giving more powerful AI systems.

Last month, Applied Materials introduced new semiconductor manufacturing systems that are focused on DRAM and advanced packaging for AI chips. These will allow higher-yield HBM stacking and improved AI accelerator performance.

The Zacks Rank #1 company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 22%, which is lower than the Electronics-Semiconductors industry’s 66.3%. The company’s ROE stands at 37% compared to the sub-industry’s 35.2%. The company has an expected earnings growth rate of 28.8% for the current year. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for current-year and next-quarter earnings has improved 8.7% and 8.6%, respectively, over the last 60 days.

Cisco Systems, Inc.Cisco Systems has given a boost to its AI strategy by developing secure, high-performance networking infrastructure for the AI era. Last year, the Zacks Rank #1 company expanded its partnership with NVIDIA Corporation (NVDA - Free Report) , combining Cisco Silicon One networking technology with NVIDIA Spectrum-X to come up with AI-ready data center architectures.

Cisco also launched the Cisco Secure AI Factory with NVIDIA, integrating networking, security, and AI infrastructure solutions to simplify enterprise AI deployment. Earlier, Cisco introduced AI-ready data center innovations, including AI PODs, Unified Nexus Dashboard improvements and Spectrum-X integration.

Cisco Systems raised its 2026 revenue guidance to $62.8-$63.0 billion, driven by solid demand for AI data-center infrastructure and massive cloud-provider orders.

Cisco has a debt-to-equity ratio of 39.6%, which is lower than the Computer-Networking industry’s 44.7%%. The company’s ROE stands at 34.3% compared to the sub-industry’s 27.9%. The company has an expected earnings growth rate of 12.3% for the current year. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for current-year and next-quarter earnings has improved 2.6% and 5.5%, respectively, over the last 60 days.

New Annual AI Security Report 2026 documents live intrusions run by AI, a vulnerability window compressed from days to hours, and high-risk enterprise AI interactions doubling year-on-year

, /PRNewswire/ -- Check Point Software Technologies Ltd. (NASDAQ: CHKP), a pioneer and global leader in cyber security solutions, today published its Annual AI Security Report 2026 from Check Point Research, documenting a decisive shift over the past twelve months: artificial intelligence has moved from assisting attackers to operating attacks. Where AI once helped criminals prepare, it now runs live intrusions with minimal human direction, compressing the time defenders have to respond and opening new attack surfaces across the enterprise, as enterprise adoption of AI outpaces AI governance controls.

The report is grounded in real incidents, telemetry, and original case studies from the past year, and sets out what has changed for defenders as AI participates directly at every stage of the attack chain. As enterprises accelerate spending on AI infrastructure, the same systems they are investing in are becoming the attack surface, widening the gap between AI adoption and the controls needed to secure it. Read the full Check Point Annual AI Security Report 2026 for the complete findings and defender guidance.

Key findings from the Annual AI Security Report 2026:

AI is now operating attacks, not just enabling them. Researchers documented intrusions in which AI ran exploitation workflows autonomously, generating thousands of executed commands across dozens of sessions with minimal human direction between steps. In one breach of nine Mexican government agencies, a single operator ran two commercial AI tools together, Claude Code to break in and explore networks and GPT-4.1, generating 5,317 AI-executed commands across 34 attack sessions, to analyze stolen data and task follow-on activity, according to industry reports. Regulators are responding to an AI-compressed vulnerability window. AI can now turn a fresh vulnerability disclosure into a working exploit within hours, prompting government authorities to shorten mandated remediation timelines to as little as 12 hours for the most critical internet-facing systems. Detections of long, malicious prompt-injection payloads rose roughly fivefold between March and May 2026. The sharp increase in large malicious payloads is consistent with indirect prompt injection becoming a routine attack path and operational enterprise risk rather than a theoretical one, as AI itself becomes an attack surface. Identity can no longer be trusted as standalone security control. Voice, face, documents, and real-time video can now be convincingly synthesized, with highly trained reviewers only correctly detecting approximately 41% of AI-generated faces. This will force organisations to move beyond visual verification towards stronger identity assurance, MFA and out-of-band verification methods. High-risk enterprise AI prompts doubled over the year, from roughly one in every 50 interactions to one in every 25. The average organization now runs ten AI applications a month, many without formal approval, while between 87% and 93% experience at least one high-risk AI interaction, monthly. Most enterprise data exposure comes from ordinary, approved use, not from attacks, as employees share more context than they realize to get a useful answer. Lotem Finkelstein, Vice President, Check Point Research, said:

"A year ago we described AI as a force multiplier for attackers. What we documented this year is more significant: AI has crossed into the live attack chain and is now running operations as a sole operation, that once required a skilled team. The expertise barrier that separated capable attackers from the rest is disappearing, and defenders can no longer assume a human is setting the pace on the other side. The organizations that stay ahead will be the ones that govern how AI is used, secure the AI systems they now depend on, and defend at machine speed rather than human speed."

What defenders can do

The report frames the response around three imperatives, mirroring Check Point's approach to securing the age of AI:

Security for AI: protect the AI systems you now depend on. AI agents and applications are targets as much as tools. Check Point governs how agents interact with prompts, tools, and data in real time, red teams AI applications before attackers can, and makes the full AI attack surface visible before an outsider maps it first. Security by AI: match the speed of AI-powered attacks. Intrusions now span dozens of targets at once, with AI handling the work between check-ins. Check Point ThreatCloud AI runs threat prevention at machine speed across networks, email, endpoints, mobile, and cloud, detecting and blocking without waiting for a human in the loop. Security with AI: govern how AI is used across the workforce. Much of the exposure in the report never came from an attack. Check Point Workforce AI Security discovers sanctioned and unsanctioned AI use and applies real-time data loss prevention to generative AI prompts, while Exposure Management closes the external gap where credentials and data are already leaking. To read the full findings, access the AI Security Report 2026 from Check Point Research.

Follow Check Point Research via:

Blog: https://research.checkpoint.com/

X: https://x.com/_cpresearch_

About Check Point Research

Check Point Research provides leading cyber threat intelligence to Check Point Software customers and the greater intelligence community. The Research team collects and analyzes global cyber-attack data stored on ThreatCloud AI to keep hackers at bay while ensuring all Check Point products are updated with the latest protections. The team consists of over 100 analysts and researchers cooperating with other security vendors, law enforcement, and various Computer Emergency Response Teams (CERTs).

About Check Point Software Technologies Ltd.

Check Point Software Technologies Ltd. (www.checkpoint.com) is a global cyber security leader protecting more than 100,000 organizations worldwide. Its mission is to secure enterprises' AI transformation. With a prevention-first approach and an open ecosystem architecture, Check Point helps organizations block advanced threats, prioritize exposures, and automate security operations across complex digital environments. The unified architecture simplifies protection across hybrid networks, multi-cloud environments, digital workspaces, and AI systems. Structured around four strategic pillars, Hybrid Mesh Network Security, Workspace Security, Exposure Management, and AI Security, Check Point delivers consistent protection and visibility across multivendor environments, enabling organizations to reduce risk, improve efficiency, and accelerate innovation without increasing complexity.

Legal Notice Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements generally relate to future events or our future financial or operating performance. Forward-looking statements in this press release include, but are not limited to, statements related to our expectations regarding future growth, the expansion of Check Point's industry leadership, the enhancement of shareholder value and the delivery of an industry-leading cyber security platform to customers worldwide. Our expectations and beliefs regarding these matters may not materialize, and actual results or events in the future are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results or events to differ materially from those projected. The forward-looking statements contained in this press release are also subject to other risks and uncertainties, including those more fully described in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including our Annual Report on Form 20-F filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 17, 2025. The forward-looking statements in this press release are based on information available to Check Point as of the date hereof, and Check Point disclaims any obligation to update any forward-looking statements, except as required by law.

SOURCE Check Point Software Technologies

Key Takeaways Williams signed a $5.34B Blackstone-led deal for a 49% stake in five Power Innovation projects.WMB retains 51% ownership and control while reducing capital needs and preserving balance sheet flexibility.WMB reaffirmed 2026 guidance and expects to leverage the midpoint to improve to about 3.6x after the deal. Williams Companies, Inc. (WMB - Free Report) has announced a landmark $5.34 billion investment agreement led by Blackstone Credit & Insurance, with additional participation from Apollo and insurance vehicles and accounts managed by KKR. The strategic partnership represents one of the most significant capital commitments supporting behind-the-meter energy infrastructure in recent years, reinforcing Williams’ leadership in delivering reliable natural gas-powered energy solutions for rapidly growing electricity demand across the United States.

The transaction highlights growing institutional confidence in Williams' expanding Power Innovation platform, which combines natural gas infrastructure, power generation expertise and long-term project execution capabilities to support industrial facilities, data centers and AI-driven energy requirements.

Williams Strengthens Its Power Innovation BusinessWilliams has structured the agreement to accelerate development across its five announced Power Innovation projects: Socrates, Apollo, Aquila, Socrates the Younger and Neo. These projects collectively represent a major step toward meeting America's increasing demand for dependable, dispatchable power.

Under the agreement, Blackstone and its investment partners will acquire a 49% noncontrolling equity interest in these five projects while WMB retains a 51% ownership stake along with complete commercial and operational control. This ownership structure allows WMB to continue directing project execution while benefiting from substantial external capital to fund future expansion.

The investment package includes $4.4 billion, representing 49% of expected total growth capital expenditures, along with approximately $900 million in additional consideration paid to Williams. Cash distributions will follow the ownership split, with Williams receiving 51% and Blackstone-led investors receiving 49%.

Importantly, Williams also negotiated a buyout option between years seven and 14, enabling it to repurchase the investor stake based on the outstanding investment balance. This preserves significant long-term value creation opportunities while reducing near-term financing requirements.

Power Innovation Projects Position WMB for Long-Term GrowthWilliams continues expanding its Power Innovation platform, which has already announced more than 2.6 gigawatts (“GW”) of capacity while advancing a development backlog exceeding 6 GW.

These behind-the-meter energy projects are specifically designed to provide reliable power directly to customers, reducing dependence on increasingly constrained electric grids. As demand accelerates from artificial intelligence (“AI”) infrastructure, advanced manufacturing, industrial operations and large-scale computing facilities, behind-the-meter power generation has become a critical component of America's evolving energy landscape.

Williams' integrated business model provides a competitive advantage by combining every major component of the natural gas value chain, including production connectivity, transportation infrastructure, storage capabilities, power generation development and long-term operational expertise.

With more than 100 years of experience executing large-scale infrastructure projects, Williams offers customers a turnkey energy solution that few competitors can match.

Financial Benefits Improve Williams' Capital StructureBeyond supporting project development, the agreement significantly strengthens Williams' financial position.

By bringing in institutional equity partners, Williams reduces its direct capital exposure while limiting the need for additional corporate debt financing. The Blackstone investment will be reflected as a noncontrolling interest within Williams' financial reporting, preserving its balance sheet flexibility.

This structure enhances project-level returns while allowing Williams to continue pursuing additional high-value infrastructure opportunities. It also supports management's long-term leverage objective of maintaining debt within a 3.5x to 4x adjusted EBITDA range.

The transaction provides an efficient funding mechanism that balances shareholder value creation with prudent financial discipline, positioning Williams to capitalize on expanding opportunities across the North American energy sector.

Williams Reaffirms 2026 Financial GuidanceAlongside announcing the investment agreement, Williams reaffirmed the previously issued 2026 financial guidance, reflecting continued confidence in its operating performance and growth trajectory.

The company expects adjusted EBITDA to remain within the upper half of its previously announced range of $8.05 billion to $8.35 billion.

Williams also continues estimating growth capital expenditures between $7 billion and $7.6 billion, while maintenance capital expenditures are expected to be in the range of $850 million to $950 million.

Following the transaction, the company's projected 2026 leverage ratio midpoint has improved to approximately 3.6x, reflecting the positive impact of the Blackstone-led investment on Williams' capital structure.

All other per-share financial guidance remains unchanged, demonstrating management's confidence in ongoing business performance.

Growing Demand for AI Infrastructure Supports Williams' ExpansionAI is becoming one of the largest drivers of electricity demand across North America. Massive data centers require continuous, high-capacity power supplies that traditional electric grids often struggle to deliver within required timelines.

Williams' Power Innovation platform directly addresses this challenge by developing behind-the-meter energy facilities capable of providing reliable, dedicated electricity to large commercial customers.

Natural gas continues to play a central role in ensuring grid reliability while supporting renewable energy integration. Williams' existing pipeline network and infrastructure assets create significant advantages in delivering fuel supply directly to these new generation facilities.

As AI adoption accelerates and industrial electrification expands, demand for dependable energy infrastructure is expected to remain strong for years to come, creating substantial growth opportunities for companies with integrated natural gas and power generation capabilities.

WMB Positions for the Next Phase of Energy Infrastructure DevelopmentThe Blackstone-led investment represents more than a financing transaction — it marks a strategic milestone in Williams' evolution as a leading developer of integrated energy infrastructure.

Retaining majority ownership and operational control while securing billions of dollars in committed growth capital enables Williams to accelerate project execution without placing excessive pressure on its balance sheet.

With institutional support from Blackstone, Apollo and KKR, Williams is well positioned to expand the growing Power Innovation portfolio, capitalize on rising electricity demand and strengthen its role in delivering reliable energy solutions for AI infrastructure, industrial development and the broader U.S. economy.

As energy consumption continues rising alongside technological innovation, Williams' combination of financial flexibility, infrastructure expertise and integrated natural gas capabilities establishes it as a key participant in the next generation of American energy investment.

WMB's Zacks Rank & Key PicksCurrently, WMB has a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold).

Investors interested in the energy sector might consider some better-ranked stocks, such as Par Pacific (PARR - Free Report) , Paramount Resources (PRMRF - Free Report) , both sporting a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), and Cenovus Energy (CVE - Free Report) , carrying a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) at present. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.

Par Pacific is valued at 3.3 billion. It is an energy company that owns and operates refining, logistics and retail assets. Par Pacific operates across Hawaii, the Pacific Northwest and the Rocky Mountain region.

Paramount Resources is valued at $2.9 billion. It is a Canadian energy producer focused on the exploration, development and production of natural gas, crude oil and natural gas liquids. Paramount Resources operates in Western Canada.

Cenovus Energy is valued at $49.12 billion. It is an integrated Canadian energy company engaged in oil sands production, conventional oil and natural gas development, refining and downstream operations. Cenovus Energy operates across North America.

, /PRNewswire/ -- Thomson Reuters Corporation (TSX/Nasdaq: TRI) today announced that it has signed a definitive agreement to enter into a joint venture with KKR, a leading global investment firm. As part of the transaction, Thomson Reuters will sell a 51% stake in its Global Print business to capital accounts advised by KKR. Thomson Reuters will receive approximately $500 million in gross proceeds at closing and will retain a 49% equity interest in the joint venture. Thomson Reuters will also maintain intellectual property rights and full editorial control over its content portfolio. This new joint venture will hold an exclusive license to distribute the content in print and on ProView, Global Print's eBook platform.

The Thomson Reuters Global Print business provides legal and tax information in print format and via ProView to customers around the world and provides commercial printing services to a wide range of book publishers.

"Thomson Reuters has built a highly regarded, trusted print platform that has become the gold standard for printed reference materials," said KKR Partner Brian Dillard, Co-Chief Investment Officer for Global Atlantic. "Building on KKR's experience with helping global corporations unlock value in their businesses, we see a compelling opportunity both to support the Global Print business as a standalone proposition and to help Thomson Reuters optimize its portfolio of businesses."

"The Global Print business has a long and respected history of serving legal and tax professionals with trusted printed reference materials," said Steve Hasker, President and CEO of Thomson Reuters. "We believe this transaction with KKR provides our Global Print business with the focused investment, operational capabilities, and independence to thrive as a standalone business, while ensuring that Thomson Reuters printed content continues to reach the professionals who depend on it. At the same time, it sharpens Thomson Reuters focus on providing innovative fiduciary-grade AI solutions for the legal, tax, audit and compliance industries."

Closing of the transaction is subject to specified regulatory approvals and customary closing conditions. The transaction is not subject to any financing conditions. As part of the transaction, Thomson Reuters has agreed to provide certain financial support designed to give KKR a minimum return on its equity investment in the joint venture under certain circumstances. Thomson Reuters expects the transaction to close in the fourth quarter of 2026.

Centerview Partners LLC is serving as financial advisor to Thomson Reuters.

About Thomson Reuters Global Print Business 
Thomson Reuters Global Print business is a leading provider of information, primarily in print format and via ProView to legal and tax professionals, governments, law schools, and corporations. Global Print also leverages its capabilities through offering commercial printing services to a wide range of book publishers including those in trade, government, associations, faith-based organizations, universities and children's books. The business serves customers primarily in the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom.

About Thomson Reuters
Thomson Reuters (TSX/Nasdaq: TRI) informs the way forward by bringing together the trusted content and technology that people and organizations need to make the right decisions. The company serves professionals across legal, tax, audit, accounting, compliance, government, and media. Its products combine highly specialized software and insights to empower professionals with the data, intelligence, and solutions needed to make informed decisions, and to help institutions in their pursuit of justice, truth and transparency. Reuters, part of Thomson Reuters, is a world leading provider of trusted journalism and news. For more information, visit thomsonreuters.com.

About KKR
KKR is a leading global investment firm that offers alternative asset management as well as capital markets and insurance solutions. KKR aims to generate attractive investment returns by following a patient and disciplined investment approach, employing world-class people, and supporting growth in its portfolio companies and communities. KKR sponsors investment funds that invest in private equity, credit and real assets and has strategic partners that manage hedge funds. KKR's insurance subsidiaries offer retirement, life and reinsurance products under the management of Global Atlantic Financial Group. References to KKR's investments may include the activities of its sponsored funds and insurance subsidiaries. For additional information about KKR & Co. Inc. (NYSE: KKR), please visit KKR's website at www.kkr.com. For additional information about Global Atlantic Financial Group, please visit Global Atlantic Financial Group's website at www.globalatlantic.com.

SPECIAL NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
Certain statements in this news release are forward-looking, including Steve Hasker's remarks, and Thomson Reuters current expectations regarding the timing for closing of the transaction. The words "will", "expect", "believe" and similar expressions identify forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are based on certain assumptions and reflect our company's current expectations. While Thomson Reuters believes that it has a reasonable basis for making forward-looking statements in this news release, they are not a guarantee of future performance or outcomes and there is no assurance that any of the other events described in any forward-looking statement will materialize.

Forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks, uncertainties and assumptions that could cause actual results or events to differ materially from current expectations, including the parties' ability to receive regulatory approvals and satisfy conditions to closing as well as other factors discussed in materials that Thomson Reuters from time to time files with, or furnishes to, the Canadian securities regulatory authorities and the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Many of these risks, uncertainties and assumptions are beyond Thomson Reuters control and the effects of them can be difficult to predict. You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements which reflect expectations only as of the date of this news release. Except as may be required by applicable law, Thomson Reuters disclaims any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements.

CONTACTS

MEDIA
KKR
Kenny Juarez
[email protected]

Thomson Reuters
Kat Hanley
Corporate Communications
 [email protected]

INVESTORS
Thomson Reuters
Gary E. Bisbee, CFA
Head of Investor Relations
[email protected]

SOURCE Thomson Reuters

HCA Healthcare Inc logo is seen displayed in this illustration taken April 10, 2023. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration Purchase Licensing Rights, opens new tab

CompaniesJuly 14 (Reuters) - HCA Healthcare (HCA.N), opens new tab lowered ​its annual profit forecast on Tuesday, ‌weighed by an increase in the number of uninsured patients, primarily of those who lost ​coverage under the so-called "Obamacare" plans.

Shares of ​HCA fell nearly 10% in premarket ⁠trading.

Keep up with the latest medical breakthroughs and healthcare trends with the Reuters Health Rounds newsletter. Sign up here.

As subsidies under Affordable Care Act ​or 'Obamacare' plans expire this year, hospitals like ​HCA face declining patient volumes for elective surgeries and diagnostics, even as costs increase from providing ​uncompensated care to more uninsured patients.

For ​the second quarter, the hospital operator saw a 2.5% ‌increase ⁠in same facility admissions, while inpatient and outpatient surgeries declined.

HCA sees annual profit per share between $28.7 and $30.5, compared with its ​previous forecast ​range ⁠of $29.1 to $31.5.

The hospital chain also narrowed its annual revenue forecast to ​a range of $77 billion to $79.5 ​billion, ⁠compared with its previous expectation between $76.5 billion and $80 billion.

The company reported preliminary second-quarter revenue of $20.23 billion, higher ⁠than ​analysts' average expectation of $19.43 ​billion, according to data compiled by LSEG.

Reporting by Christy ​Santhosh in Bengaluru; Editing by Leroy Leo

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

NEW YORK, July 14, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Virtu Financial, Inc. (NYSE: VIRT) (the “Company”), a global market maker, broker and leading provider of global financial services technology, today announced preliminary estimates of its results of operations for the quarter ended June 30, 2026 in connection with the commencement of marketing of incremental term loans in the amount of $400 million (the “Incremental Term Loans”). The Incremental Term Loans would increase the total term loan balance under the Company’s senior secured credit facility to $1,930 million (the “Term Loans”).

Actual results for the second quarter 2026 are scheduled to be reported on July 30, 2026.

On a preliminary estimated basis:

Virtu expects its results of operations for the quarter ended June 30, 2026 to reflect:

Net income of $285 million; Normalized Adjusted Net Income1 of $292 millionBasic and diluted earnings per share of $1.63; Normalized Adjusted EPS1 of $1.82Trading income, net, of $857 million; Adjusted Net Trading Income1 of $718 million Average daily Adjusted NTI1 of $11.6 million Adjusted EBITDA1 of $437 million
Note 1: Non-GAAP financial measures. Please see “Non-GAAP Financial Measures and Other Items” for more information.

The preliminary financial and other data set forth above has been prepared by, and is the responsibility of our management. The foregoing information and estimates have not been compiled or examined by our independent registered public accounting firm nor have our independent registered public accounting firm performed any procedures with respect to this information or expressed any opinion or any form of assurance of such information. In addition, the foregoing information and estimates are subject to revision as we prepare our consolidated financial statements and other disclosures as of and for the three months ended June 30, 2026, including all disclosures required by U.S. GAAP. Because we have not completed our normal quarterly closing and review procedures for the three months ended June 30, 2026, and subsequent events may occur that require material adjustments to these results, the final results and other disclosures for the three months ended June 30, 2026, may differ materially from these estimates. These estimates should not be viewed as a substitute for full financial statements prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP or as a measure of performance. In addition, these estimated results of operations for the three months ended June 30, 2026, are not necessarily indicative of the results to be achieved for any future period. See “Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-looking Statements” These estimated results of operations should be read together with subsequent filings and announcements, including any subsequent press release announcing the Company’s earnings for the quarter ended June 30, 2026, and our consolidated financial statements and related notes to be filed on Form 10-Q on or before August 10, 2026.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures and Other Items

To supplement our unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements presented in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”), we use the following non-GAAP measures of financial performance:

“Adjusted Net Trading Income”, which is the amount of revenue we generate from our market making activities, or trading income, net, plus commissions, net and technology services, plus interest and dividends income and expense, net, less direct costs associated with those revenues, including brokerage, exchange, clearance fees and payments for order flow, net. Management believes that this measurement is useful for comparing general operating performance from period to period. Although we use Adjusted Net Trading Income as a financial measure to assess the performance of our business, the use of Adjusted Net Trading Income is limited because it does not include certain material costs that are necessary to operate our business. Our presentation of Adjusted Net Trading Income should not be construed as an indication that our future results will be unaffected by revenues or expenses that are not directly associated with our core business activities.
“EBITDA”, which measures our operating performance by adjusting Net Income to exclude Financing interest expense on long-term borrowings, Debt issue cost related to debt refinancing, prepayment, and commitment fees, Depreciation and amortization, Amortization of purchased intangibles and acquired capitalized software, and Income tax expense, and “Adjusted EBITDA”, which measures our operating performance by further adjusting EBITDA to exclude severance, transaction advisory fees and expenses, termination of office leases, charges related to share-based compensation and other expenses, which includes reserves for legal matters, and Other, net, which includes gains and losses from strategic investments and the sales of businesses.
“Normalized Adjusted Net Income”, “Normalized Adjusted Net Income before income taxes”, “Normalized provision for income taxes”, and “Normalized Adjusted EPS”, which we calculate by adjusting Net Income to exclude certain items, and other non-cash items, assuming that all vested and unvested Virtu Financial Units have been exchanged for Class A Common Stock, and applying an effective tax rate, which was approximately 24%.
Adjusted Net Trading Income, EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA, Normalized Adjusted Net Income, Normalized Adjusted Net Income before income taxes, Normalized provision for income taxes, and Normalized Adjusted EPS are non-GAAP financial measures used by management in evaluating operating performance and in making strategic decisions. Additional information provided regarding the breakdown of Total Adjusted Net Trading Income by category is also a non-GAAP financial measure but is not used by the Company in evaluating operating performance and in making strategic decisions. In addition, these non-GAAP financial measures or similar non-GAAP measures are used by research analysts, investment bankers and lenders to assess our operating performance. Management believes that the presentation of Adjusted Net Trading Income, EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA, Normalized Adjusted Net Income, Normalized Adjusted Net Income before income taxes, Normalized provision for income taxes and Normalized Adjusted EPS provide useful information to investors regarding our results of operations because they assist both investors and management in analyzing and benchmarking the performance and value of our business. Adjusted Net Trading Income, EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA, Normalized Adjusted Net Income, Normalized Adjusted Net Income before income taxes, Normalized provision for income taxes and Normalized Adjusted EPS provide indicators of general economic performance that are not affected by fluctuations in certain costs or other items. Accordingly, management believes that these measurements are useful for comparing general operating performance from period to period. Furthermore, our credit agreement contains tests based on metrics similar to Adjusted EBITDA. Other companies may define Adjusted Net Trading Income, Adjusted EBITDA, Normalized Adjusted Net Income, Normalized Adjusted Net Income before income taxes, Normalized provision for income taxes and Normalized Adjusted EPS differently, and as a result our measures of Adjusted Net Trading Income, Adjusted EBITDA, Normalized Adjusted Net Income, Normalized Adjusted Net Income before income taxes, Normalized provision for income taxes and Normalized Adjusted EPS may not be directly comparable to those of other companies. Although we use these non-GAAP financial measures as financial measures to assess the performance of our business, such use is limited because they do not include certain material costs necessary to operate our business.

Adjusted Net Trading Income, EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA, Normalized Adjusted Net Income before income taxes, Normalized provision for income taxes, Normalized Adjusted Net Income and Normalized Adjusted EPS should be considered in addition to, and not as a substitute for, Net Income in accordance with U.S. GAAP as a measure of performance. Our presentation of Adjusted Net Trading Income, EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA, Normalized Adjusted Net Income, Normalized Adjusted Net Income before income taxes, Normalized provision for income taxes and Normalized Adjusted EPS should not be construed as an indication that our future results will be unaffected by unusual or nonrecurring items. Adjusted Net Trading Income, Normalized Adjusted Net Income, Normalized Adjusted Net Income before income taxes, Normalized provision for income taxes, Normalized Adjusted EPS and our EBITDA-based measures have limitations as analytical tools, and you should not consider them in isolation or as substitutes for analysis of our results as reported under U.S. GAAP. Some of these limitations are:

they do not reflect every cash expenditure, future requirements for capital expenditures or contractual commitments;our EBITDA-based measures do not reflect the significant interest expense or the cash requirements necessary to service interest or principal payment on our debt;although depreciation and amortization are non-cash charges, the assets being depreciated and amortized will often have to be replaced or require improvements in the future, and our EBITDA-based measures do not reflect any cash requirement for such replacements or improvements;they are not adjusted for all non-cash income or expense items that are reflected in our statements of cash flows;they do not reflect the impact of earnings or charges resulting from matters we consider not to be indicative of our ongoing operations; andthey do not reflect limitations on our costs related to transferring earnings from our subsidiaries to us. Because of these limitations, Adjusted Net Trading Income, EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA, Normalized Adjusted Net Income before income taxes, Normalized provision for income taxes, Normalized Adjusted Net Income and Normalized Adjusted EPS are not intended as alternatives to Net Income as indicators of our operating performance and should not be considered as measures of discretionary cash available to us to invest in the growth of our business or as measures of cash that will be available to us to meet our obligations. We compensate for these limitations by using Adjusted Net Trading Income, EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA, Normalized Adjusted Net Income before income taxes, Normalized provision for income taxes, Normalized Adjusted Net Income and Normalized Adjusted EPS along with other comparative tools, together with U.S. GAAP measurements, to assist in the evaluation of operating performance. These U.S. GAAP measurements include Net Income, cash flows from operations and cash flow data. See below a reconciliation of each non-GAAP measure to the most directly comparable GAAP measure.

Virtu Financial, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Reconciliation to Non-GAAP Operating Data (Unaudited)

The following tables reconcile Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income to arrive at Adjusted Net Trading Income, EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA, Normalized Adjusted Net Income before income taxes, Normalized provision for income taxes, Normalized Adjusted Net Income and Normalized Adjusted EPS and selected Operating Margins.

 Three Months Ended
June 30, Six Months Ended
June 30,(in millions, except for earnings per share)2026
 2025
 2026
 2025
        Reconciliation of Trading income, net to Adjusted Net Trading Income       Trading income, net$857  $653  $1,646  $1,243 Commissions, net and technology services 180   154   366   305 Interest and dividends income 146   128   273   237 Brokerage, exchange, clearance fees and payments for order flow, net (259)  (202)  (398)  (424)Interest and dividends expense (205)  (165)  (383)  (297)Adjusted Net Trading Income$718  $568  $1,504  $1,065         Reconciliation of Net Income to EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA and Normalized Adjusted Net Income       Net income 285   293   632   483 Financing interest expense on long-term borrowings 35   33   70   62 Debt issue cost related to debt refinancing, prepayment and commitment fees 1   2   3   3 Depreciation and amortization 18   16   35   32 Amortization of purchased intangibles and acquired capitalized software 12   12   24   24 Provision for income taxes 58   54   121   88 EBITDA$409  $409  $883  $692 Severance 1   3   4   5 Termination of office leases 1   —   1   — Gain on sale of RFQ-hub —   (67)  —   (67)Other (8)  2   1   14 Share based compensation 33   23   68   44 Adjusted EBITDA$437  $369  $957  $689 Financing interest expense on long-term borrowings 35   33   70   62 Depreciation and amortization 18   16   35   32 Normalized Adjusted Net Income before income taxes$384  $321  $853  $595 Normalized provision for income taxes (1) 92   77   205   143 Normalized Adjusted Net Income$292  $244  $648  $453         Weighted Average Adjusted shares outstanding (2) 160   160   160   160         Normalized Adjusted EPS$1.82  $1.53  $4.06  $2.83                  (1) Reflects U.S. federal, state, and local income tax rate applicable to corporations of approximately 24% for all periods presented.

(2) Assumes that (1) holders of all vested and unvested non-vesting Virtu Financial Units (together with corresponding shares of the Company’s Class C common stock, par value $0.00001 per share (the “Class C Common Stock”)) have exercised their right to exchange such Virtu Financial Units for shares of Class A Common Stock on a one-for-one basis, (2) holders of all Virtu Financial Units (together with corresponding shares of the Company’s Class D common stock, par value $0.00001 per share (the “Class D Common Stock”)) have exercised their right to exchange such Virtu Financial Units for shares of the Company’s Class B common stock, par value $0.00001 per share (the “Class B Common Stock”) on a one-for-one basis, and subsequently exercised their right to convert the shares of Class B Common Stock into shares of Class A Common Stock on a one-for-one basis.

About Virtu Financial, Inc.

Virtu is a leading provider of financial services and products that leverages cutting-edge technology to deliver liquidity to the global markets and innovative, transparent trading solutions to its clients. Leveraging its global market making expertise and infrastructure, Virtu provides a robust product suite including offerings in execution, liquidity sourcing, analytics and broker-neutral, multi-dealer platforms in workflow technology. Virtu’s product offerings allow clients to trade on hundreds of venues across 50+ countries and in multiple asset classes, including global equities, ETFs, foreign exchange, futures, fixed income, cryptocurrency and myriad other commodities. In addition, Virtu’s integrated, multi-asset analytics platform provides a range of pre-, intra-, and post-trade services, data products and compliance tools that clients rely upon to invest, trade and manage risk across global markets.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This press release may contain “forward-looking statements” made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Statements regarding Virtu Financial, Inc.’s (“Virtu’s”, the “Company’s” or “our”) business that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements should not be read as a guarantee of future performance or results, and will not necessarily be accurate indications of the times at, or by which, such performance or results will be achieved. The Company assumes no obligation to update forward-looking statements to reflect actual results, changes in assumptions or changes in other factors affecting forward-looking information, and if the Company does update one or more forward-looking statements, no inference should be drawn that the Company will make additional updates with respect thereto or with respect to other forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are based on information available at the time and/or management’s good faith belief with respect to future events, and is subject to risks and uncertainties, some or all of which are not predictable or within Virtu’s control, that could cause actual performance or results to differ materially from those expressed in the statements. Those risks and uncertainties include, without limitation: fluctuations in trading volume and volatilities in the markets in which we operate; the ability of our trading counterparties, clients, and various clearing houses to perform their obligations to us; the performance and reliability of our customized trading platform; the risk of material trading losses from our market making activities; swings in valuations in securities or other instruments in which we hold positions; increasing competition and consolidation in our industry; the risk that cash flow from our operations and other available sources of liquidity will not be sufficient to fund our various ongoing obligations, including operating expenses, short-term funding requirements, margin requirements, capital expenditures, debt service and dividend payments; regulatory and legal uncertainties and other potential changes associated with our industry, particularly in light of increased attention from media, regulators and lawmakers to market structure and related issues including but not limited to the retail trading environment, wholesale market making and off exchange trading more generally and payment for order flow arrangements; potential adverse results from legal or regulatory proceedings; our ability to remain technologically competitive and to ensure that the technology we utilize is not vulnerable to security risks, hacking and cyber-attacks; risks associated with third party software and technology infrastructure. For a discussion of the risks and uncertainties which could cause actual results to differ from those contained in forward-looking statements, see Virtu’s Securities and Exchange Commission filings, including but not limited to Virtu’s Annual Report on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and Current Reports on Form 8-K filed with the SEC.

CONTACT

Investor Relations
Matthew Sandberg
[email protected]

Key Takeaways: 

Space Ground System Solutions, Inc., a wholly owned Parsons’ subsidiary, secured a five-year, $245 million contract with the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory to advance mission-critical satellite ground systems software and operations.This award continues a 30-year legacy supporting the Blossom Point Tracking Facility.Parsons is a trusted provider of end-to-end space and ground system solutions, including mission engineering, DevSecOps, and secure software-defined architectures. CHANTILLY, Va., July 14, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Space Ground System Solutions, Inc (SGSS), a wholly owned Parsons Corporation (NYSE: PSN) subsidiary, announced today that it has been awarded a $245 million indefinite delivery, indefinite quantity (IDIQ) contract from the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) to provide software development, sustainment, and operations support for critical satellite mission systems over a five-year period of performance.

Under the Blossom Point Tracking Facility Software and Operations Support contract, Parsons builds on its 30 years of continuous advancement of NRL’s government-owned applications: Neptune® Software for automated satellite command and control and ground equipment control and status, and the Virtual Mission Operations Center (VMOC®) for satellite mission management. The work includes designing, testing, maintaining, and enhancing mission-critical software modules, as well as providing configuration control and cybersecurity for space and ground systems supporting national security missions.

“Continuing our work with the Naval Research Laboratory underscores Parsons’ role in delivering resilient, mission-ready space capabilities,” said Rob McDonough, vice president of Space Operations Services at Parsons. “This award reinforces our demonstrated ability to engineer and sustain secure, software-defined mission systems that enable operational advantage in an increasingly contested space domain. We look forward to advancing innovation with NRL to ensure critical space assets remain agile, integrated, and mission focused.”

The U.S. Naval Research Laboratory is the Department of the Navy’s premier research institution and a leader in space science and technology. It has been instrumental in advancing space-based communications, surveillance, and national defense capabilities for decades. Through this partnership, Parsons will directly support NRL’s mission to innovate and transition cutting-edge technologies to operational use across the Department of War.

For more than 30 years, Parsons has been a leader in delivering end-to-end space and ground system solutions, including mission engineering, satellite communications, space domain awareness, and advanced command-and-control capabilities. The company’s expertise spans the integration of software-defined architectures, secure data transport, and real-time mission operations, enabling customers to maintain decision advantage across complex, multi-domain environments.

For more information about Parsons and its space capabilities, please visit parsons.com/space.

About Parsons
Parsons (NYSE: PSN) is a leading disruptive technology provider in the national security and global infrastructure markets, with capabilities across cyber and electronic warfare, space and missile defense, transportation, water and environment, urban development, and critical infrastructure protection. Please visit Parsons.com and follow us on LinkedIn to learn how we’re making an impact.

Forward-Looking Statements
This document contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Forward-looking statements are based on our current expectations, beliefs and assumptions, and are not guarantees of future performance. Forward-looking statements are inherently subject to uncertainties, risks, changes in circumstances, trends and factors that are difficult to predict, many of which are outside of our control. Accordingly, actual performance, results and events may vary materially from those indicated in the forward-looking statements, and you should not rely on the forward-looking statements as predictions of future performance, results or events. Numerous factors could cause actual future performance, results and events to differ materially from those indicated in the forward-looking statements, including, among others: any issue that compromises our relationships with the U.S. federal government or its agencies or other state, local or foreign governments or agencies; any issues that damage our professional reputation; changes in governmental priorities that shift expenditures away from agencies or programs that we support; our dependence on long-term government contracts, which are subject to the government’s budgetary approval process; the size of our addressable markets and the amount of government spending on private contractors; failure by us or our employees to obtain and maintain necessary security clearances or certifications; failure to comply with numerous laws and regulations; changes in government procurement, contract or other practices or the adoption by governments of new laws, rules, regulations and programs in a manner adverse to us; the termination or nonrenewal of our government contracts, particularly our contracts with the U.S. federal government; our ability to compete effectively in the competitive bidding process and delays, contract terminations or cancellations caused by competitors’ protests of major contract awards received by us; our ability to generate revenue under certain of our contracts; any inability to attract, train or retain employees with the requisite skills, experience and security clearances; the loss of members of senior management or failure to develop new leaders; misconduct or other improper activities from our employees or subcontractors; our ability to realize the full value of our backlog and the timing of our receipt of revenue under contracts included in backlog; changes in the mix of our contracts and our ability to accurately estimate or otherwise recover expenses, time and resources for our contracts; changes in estimates used in recognizing revenue; internal system or service failures and security breaches; and inherent uncertainties and potential adverse developments in legal proceedings, including litigation, audits, reviews and investigations, which may result in materially adverse judgments, settlements or other unfavorable outcomes. These factors are not exhaustive and additional factors could adversely affect our business and financial performance. For a discussion of additional factors that could materially adversely affect our business and financial performance, see the factors included under the caption “Risk Factors” in our Registration Statement on Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2025, and our other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. All forward-looking statements are based on currently available information and speak only as of the date on which they are made. We assume no obligation to update any forward-looking statement made in this press release that becomes untrue because of subsequent events, new information or otherwise, except to the extent we are required to do so by law.

Media Contact:                                        
Angie Benfield        
+1 803.334.5277
[email protected]

Investor Relations Contact:
Dave Spille
+ 1 703.775.6191
[email protected]

Contribution to flagship 6G projects underscores VIAVI's pivotal role in the next generation of connectivity

, /PRNewswire/ -- VIAVI Solutions Inc. (VIAVI) (NASDAQ: VIAV) today announced that it has been awarded $1.1 million in funding from the European Smart Networks and Services Joint Undertaking (SNS JU) and Horizon Europe to advance the SHIELD-6G project.

As telecom breaches increase in volume and the threat of quantum-enabled cyberattacks moves from theoretical to imminent, network security has become a strategic priority for operators, enterprises and governments worldwide. The SHIELD-6G project aims to develop a comprehensive AI-driven Cyber Threat Intelligence (CTI) platform for 6G networks with interoperable security, orchestration and regulatory compliance. VIAVI will develop digital twins using its TeraVM AI RAN Scenario Generator (RSG), enabling AI-driven security models to be developed, tested and validated ahead of the first commercial 6G signal going live.

As part of SHIELD-6G, VIAVI will use its AI RSG technology to support advanced security testing of 6G network environments, using AI to simulate, detect and analyze potential threats across the network. This includes generating realistic network datasets that enable intelligent anomaly detection and the continuous refinement of AI-based security mechanisms to ensure that vulnerabilities are identified and addressed before they can be exploited in live networks.

"Security for 6G networks has to be built in from day one, and that requires the ability to simulate, test and detect threats before a single commercial 6G signal goes live," said Ian Langley, Senior Vice President, Wireless, Security and Applications Business Unit, VIAVI. "Our AI RSG technology is already being used to provide the essential digital twin foundation required to better understand 6G propagation, improve energy consumption and reduce FR3 signal interference. SHIELD-6G takes that capability directly into the security domain, where the stakes are even higher. We're delighted to be involved in this latest collaboration at the forefront of global technological innovation."

SHIELD-6G is part of the highly competitive Horizon Europe SNS JU call to accelerate European 6G research and innovation, which selected 20 new 6G projects. VIAVI joins a European consortium coordinated by University College Dublin, working alongside global industry leaders including Ericsson, Nokia, THALES & THALES SIX, as well as network operators Telefónica and LMT of Latvia, bringing together the full chain of expertise needed to secure 6G networks end to end.

About VIAVI
VIAVI (NASDAQ: VIAV) is a global leader in test and measurement and optical technologies. Our test, monitoring, assurance, and resilient position, navigation and timing solutions enable and secure critical infrastructure ranging from data center ecosystems and communication networks to military, aerospace, railway and first responder communications. In addition, we develop and advance technologies used in high-volume optical applications across anti-counterfeiting, consumer electronics, aerospace, industrial and automotive end markets.

Learn more about VIAVI at www.viavisolutions.com. Follow us on VIAVI Perspectives, LinkedIn and YouTube.

Media Inquiries:
Grand Bridges
Emma Jenkins
[email protected]
+1 415 800 4529

SOURCE VIAVI Solutions

Obchodníci s akciemi společnosti Citigroup dosáhli rekordních tržeb a postavili se do čela řady klíčových obchodních divizí společnosti, které překonaly očekávání Wall Streetu. Celkově čtyři z pěti hlavních divizí společnosti – bankovnictví, služby, trhy a správa majetku – překonaly odhady analytiků sestavené agenturou Bloomberg. Zisk na akcii činil 3,15 USD, čímž překonal všech 20 odhadů analytiků. Akcie banky nicméně v premarketu reagují poklesem o 2 %.

Tržby z obchodování s akciemi ve druhém čtvrtletí meziročně vzrostly o 45 % na 2,3 miliardy dolarů, což je o přibližně 11 % více než rekordní hodnota zaznamenaná v prvních měsících tohoto roku. Banka se snaží přilákat více hedgeových fondů, aby rozšířila tuto oblast svého podnikání, která je menší než u jejích hlavních konkurentů na Wall Street.

Stejně jako v jiných velkých bankách vydělali investiční bankéři Citi nejvíce od roku 2021, kdy pandemické otřesy a extrémně nízké úrokové sazby vyvolaly v celém odvětví vlnu obchodních transakcí. V této divizi dochází k personálním změnám na manažerských pozicích poté, co se v roce 2024 ujal vedení Vis Raghavan.

Jedná se o první výsledky od doby, kdy generální ředitelka Jane Fraserová v květnu představila nové cíle ziskovosti, které u akcionářů vyvolaly obecně optimistický pohled na směřování společnosti. Cena akcií se za posledních 18 měsíců téměř zdvojnásobila, zatímco Fraserová pokračovala v již několik let trvajícím zefektivňování globálních operací Citi.

Na květnovém dni investorů generální ředitelka Citi předpověděla, že rentabilita hmotného kmenového kapitálu Citi, klíčového ukazatele ziskovosti, dosáhne do roku 2031 přibližně 14 % až 15 %. Společnost ve druhém čtvrtletí vykázala 13 %, čímž překonala odhady analytiků ve výši 11,3 %.

To posiluje dynamiku obnovy banky, která minulý měsíc sklidila pochvalu od prezidenta Donalda Trumpa na sociálních sítích. Jeho syn Eric nedávno založil ve společnosti svěřenský fond s penězi svého otce. Fraserová vyvinula soustředěné úsilí o zlepšení vztahů své společnosti ve Washingtonu.

Přestože výsledky překonaly očekávání, 45% růst zaznamenaný divizí akciového obchodování Citi byl pomalejší než u jejích větších konkurentů, jako jsou JPMorgan a Goldman Sachs, které zaznamenaly růst o 86 %, respektive 72 %.

Ukazatel efektivity banky, který udává, kolik banka utratí za každý dolar vygenerovaných tržeb, klesl na přibližně 57 %, čímž se společnost přiblížila ziskovějším konkurentům, jako je JPMorgan, jehož ukazatel v prvním čtvrtletí činil 54 %.

Přesto segment spotřebitelských karet nedosáhl odhadů analytiků, protože náklady vzrostly o 10 % oproti předchozímu roku v důsledku vyšších nákladů na odstupné. Tato divize provádí reorganizaci části svého týmu v souvislosti s integrací části karetního portfolia společnosti Barclays ve spolupráci s American Airlines.

SUGAR LAND, Texas, July 14, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Applied Optoelectronics, Inc. (NASDAQ: AAOI), a leading provider of advanced optical and HFC networking products powering AI, today announced it has begun construction on its two adjacent properties in Pearland, Texas, adding nearly 400,000 square feet of manufacturing capacity.

The buildout of these properties, located at 14621 Kirby Drive and 11555 N. Spectrum Boulevard, supports AOI’s plans to increase production of its 800G and 1.6T optical transceivers, which are a critical component of modern AI infrastructures that let network devices communicate over fiber optics, enabling fast, long-distance data transmission.

“We are proud to be part of the Pearland business ecosystem and appreciate the level of support we received from the city and economic development offices to match our manufacturing needs,” said Dr. Stefan Murry, Chief Financial Officer and Chief Strategy Officer of AOI. “As we continue to grow and expand our Houston-area footprint, Pearland offers us access to a strong workforce, excellent infrastructure, and room to scale our operations. These facilities will be instrumental in supporting our long-term growth strategy, enabling us to expand production of advanced optical transceivers and strengthen AOI's position as a key supplier to the AI and cloud infrastructure markets.”

“We’re thrilled to welcome Applied Optoelectronics to Pearland as they expand their manufacturing footprint,” said Quentin Wiltz, Mayor, City of Pearland. “This project will bring high-quality jobs, strengthen our local economy, and deepen the innovation ecosystem that makes Pearland a destination for forward-looking companies. We look forward to continuing to support AOI as they grow and thrive in our community.”

Additional Resources:

AOI Optical TransceiversAOI Newsroom About AOI  
Applied Optoelectronics, Inc. (AOI) is a leading developer and manufacturer of advanced optical and HFC networking products that are the building blocks for AI datacenters, CATV and broadband fiber access networks around the world. AOI supplies this critical infrastructure to tier-one customers across cloud computing, CATV broadband, telecom, and FTTH markets. The company has R&D facilities in Atlanta, GA, and engineering and manufacturing facilities at its corporate headquarters in Sugar Land, TX, as well as in Taipei, Taiwan and Ningbo, China. For additional information, visit www.ao-inc.com.

About PEDC
Established in 1995, the Pearland Economic Development Corporation promotes, assists, and enhances economic development activities and quality of life within Pearland, Texas. In bringing new and existing businesses to the area, the organization attracts capital investment to add to the city’s tax base and helps to increase the number of employment opportunities for residents. For more information, visit www.pearlandedc.com.

Media contacts:
Sara Cicero
[email protected]
770-331-0269

Melissa Cook
[email protected]
281-997-3003

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/f8f49ccf-861c-4173-a6db-06fbdf54ccbb

Texas Construction Hat AOI Begins Expansion of Pearland Manufacturing Campus

Branding for Nebius at the Nebius AI UK data centre, a new facility hosting NVIDIA and other computer firms, at Ark Data Centres, in Chertsey, Britain, November 6, 2025. REUTERS/Toby Melville Purchase Licensing Rights, opens new tab

July 14 (Reuters) - AI startup Reflection said on Tuesday it has signed a more than $1 billion deal ​to secure computing capacity from Nebius (NBIS.O), opens new tab, including ‌access to Nvidia's latest chips.

The move builds on Reflection's June agreement with SpaceX for computing capacity, a deal that ​media reports said would see the startup ​pay about $150 million a month through 2029.

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AI ⁠startups are racing to lock in the ​computing power needed to train and run their ​models as demand growth from businesses adopting the technology outpaces new data-center supply.

Reflection, launched by two former Google DeepMind ​researchers, develops open-source models that serve as ​an alternative to the offerings from OpenAI and Anthropic.

Open-source models, ‌typically ⁠easier to customize and cheaper to run than closed-weight rivals, have drawn growing interest as rising AI bills push businesses to cut costs. Last ​month's U.S. ​curbs on ⁠Anthropic's advanced models also exposed the risks of relying on providers that ​can be cut off overnight.

"The need ​for ⁠open models is clear, and this additional compute capacity will allow Reflection to continue to build ⁠and ​train frontier AI models at ​scale," said Reflection's chief technology officer and co-founder, Ioannis Antonoglou.

Reporting by ​Aditya Soni in Bengaluru; Editing by Shilpi Majumdar

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