The pitch for the VistaShares Target 15 Berkshire Select Income ETF (NYSEARCA:OMAH) is almost too clever to ignore. You get a portfolio built around Warren Buffett’s publicly disclosed equity book, layered with a monthly cash distribution aiming for a 15% annualized yield. Berkshire Hathaway itself famously pays no dividend, so OMAH is essentially promising to bolt an income stream onto Buffett’s stock picks and hand you a check every month. For retirees who love the holdings but hate the zero yield, it sounds like a workaround Buffett himself refused to build.
Look under the hood, and OMAH does mirror the greatest hits. As of the April 2026 filing, the fund held Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL | AAPL Price Prediction) at 9.97% of net assets, Berkshire Hathaway (NYSE:BRK.B) itself at 8.99%, and American Express (NYSE:AXP) at 8.35%, with meaningful slugs of Occidental Petroleum (NYSE:OXY), Coca-Cola (NYSE:KO), Chevron (NYSE:CVX), Bank of America (NYSE:BAC), Moody’s (NYSE:MCO), and Kraft Heinz (NASDAQ:KHC). That is a recognizable Berkshire silhouette. Total net assets sat near $748.6 million, so this is a real fund with real scale.
Where the 15% Actually Comes From Here is the part the marketing skims over. Those underlying holdings throw off maybe 1% to 2% in cash dividends. The rest of the 15% target has to come from somewhere, and the somewhere is a short-dated call-writing overlay plus, when the math is short, return of capital. The N-PORT snapshot shows 74 derivative positions, structured as call spreads and outright short calls against the biggest names in the book. Selling calls generates premium. It also caps how much you can participate when a stock rips higher.
The VistaShares prospectus is refreshingly blunt about the rest. Distributions “may include amounts classified as return of capital,” which the document defines as “a return of a shareholder’s invested capital rather than income or profits.” It goes further: “To the extent that distributions exceed the Fund’s total returns, such payments will reduce the Fund’s net asset value.” If the strategy does not earn the 15%, the fund fills the gap by handing you back your own money and calling it a distribution. Do that long enough and NAV grinds lower, which means each future 15% target is being calculated off a smaller base.
What OMAH’s Returns Actually Show OMAH launched in March 2025. Since inception, the ETF has paid monthly, most recently $0.23138 per share on June 30, 2026, with trailing 12-month distributions totaling $2.83514. On a total-return basis (dividends reinvested), OMAH is up about 16% since its March 5, 2025 launch, and shares closed recently at roughly $19. Over that same stretch, Berkshire’s own B shares are down roughly 4%, so the income overlay has actually rescued a stretch where owning Buffett directly hurt.
Fine. But zoom out and the mechanics still bite. The 0.98% expense ratio is steep for what is, at its core, a Berkshire clone plus a call-writing program. And the capped upside is not theoretical. When AAPL or GOOGL (NASDAQ:GOOGL) runs past the short strike, OMAH surrenders the difference. Over a normal Buffett-holdings decade, that giveback compounds.
Who This Fits, and Who It Fools OMAH earns a spot in a portfolio only if you truly want monthly cash from a Berkshire-flavored basket and you accept two things. The 15% is a target rather than a guarantee, and part of it is often your own principal being recycled with a nicer label. For a retiree carving out a 5% to 10% income sleeve, that trade can be worth it, particularly in flat years for Berkshire.
For anyone treating the 15% as safe yield or expecting the total return of holding BRK.B outright over a long horizon, look elsewhere. A cheaper large-cap dividend ETF, or simply owning BRK.B and selling shares as needed, will usually get you closer to Buffett’s actual compounding, minus the return-of-capital sleight of hand.
Contact [email protected] for any questions or corrections.
Why Otis Worldwide Stock Keeps Going UpOtis Worldwide NYSE: OTIS reported stronger second-quarter organic sales growth in 2026, driven by its service business, but lowered parts of its profit outlook as investments in service quality, retention initiatives and productivity pressures weighed on margins.
Chair, CEO and President Judy Marks said the company delivered “a solid quarter with a significant step-up in organic sales growth,” citing accelerating service revenue, improving new equipment trends and strong cash generation. Net sales were $3.9 billion, with organic sales up 6%.
Get Otis Worldwide alerts:
Why Investors Can Ride Otis Worldwide Stock for a Long TimeAdjusted operating profit declined by $32 million in the quarter, excluding a $7 million foreign exchange tailwind, as higher volume and price were offset by inflation, mix and productivity impacts. Adjusted operating margin fell 180 basis points to 15.2%, while adjusted earnings per share declined 4%, or $0.04, due to operational performance, partially offset by favorable foreign exchange rates.
Service Growth Leads Results, But Margins Decline Otis’ service segment remained the company’s main growth driver. Cristina Mendez, executive vice president and chief financial officer, said service organic sales rose 9% in the quarter, with growth across all lines of business and regions.
Maintenance and repair organic sales increased 6%, including 3% maintenance growth and 12% repair growth. Mendez said repair delivered its strongest performance in the past 10 quarters. Modernization organic sales increased 24%, which she described as the highest growth rate since Otis’ spin-off.
Modernization orders rose 9% in the quarter, helped by significant growth in China and low-single-digit growth in EMEA and Asia Pacific, partly offset by a mid-single-digit decline in the Americas due to a difficult comparison with the prior year. Modernization backlog increased 26% year-over-year at constant currency.
Despite the revenue growth, service operating margin declined 170 basis points from a year earlier to 23.2%. Service operating profit rose $16 million at constant currency to $599 million, as higher volume and pricing more than offset labor costs, strategic investments, productivity headwinds, material costs and unfavorable mix.
Marks said service margins were pressured by labor and material cost increases as Otis ramps operations to execute its repair and modernization backlog. She said the company expects margins to recover in coming quarters as service revenue growth continues.
New Equipment Shows Signs of Stabilization New equipment organic sales declined 1% in the quarter, which Mendez said was the lowest rate of decline in the past nine quarters. Growth in the Americas and Asia Pacific was more than offset by lower sales in China and EMEA.
Americas new equipment sales increased 10%, supported by backlog conversion and orders growth from prior periods. Asia Pacific sales grew in the low single digits, driven by strength in Japan and India and partly offset by lower sales in Korea. EMEA sales declined 4%, primarily due to weakness in the Middle East and Southern Europe. China new equipment sales declined in the high teens, consistent with the backlog decline, though Mendez said the region showed slight sequential improvement.
New equipment orders declined 5% year-over-year. Double-digit growth in the Americas and low-single-digit growth in EMEA were more than offset by declines in Asia Pacific, due to tough comparisons, and in China. New equipment backlog increased 4% year-over-year at constant currency, or 9% excluding China.
New equipment operating profit declined $30 million at constant currency to $40 million, and margin fell 220 basis points to 3.1%. Mendez said the decline reflected lower volume, unfavorable price and mix.
Service Quality Investments Affect Outlook Otis said it is investing in service quality as part of a broader effort to improve customer retention and strengthen its operating model. Marks said the company previously outlined a plan to invest $50 million in service excellence and pricing during 2026. Otis invested $15 million in the second quarter and $30 million in the first half, with another $20 million expected in the second half.
Marks said service quality metrics improved in territories targeted by the program, with the company’s service quality index up seven points in those operating territories. She said some territories also showed retention improvement, though overall retention excluding China was down in the quarter.
Marks said the timing of retention benefits has shifted, prompting Otis to temper its AI micro-pricing implementation in maintenance. She said the company continues to see strong results from micro-pricing in repair, where pricing actions flow through more quickly because repair backlog is typically executed within one or two months.
Mendez said Otis had expected $50 million of incremental price impact this year, including $35 million from repair and $15 million from maintenance. The repair portion remains in the outlook, while the maintenance micro-pricing upside is being balanced against retention concerns.
Otis also cited productivity and cost headwinds. Mendez said the company now anticipates an additional $50 million impact versus its prior outlook, with $30 million related to temporary ramp-up costs for resources and higher labor rates to accelerate execution, and $20 million tied to material inflation and service quality investments.
Full-Year Guidance Revised Otis maintained its 2026 sales outlook, continuing to expect net sales of $15.1 billion to $15.3 billion and organic sales growth in the low- to mid-single-digit range. Marks said the company still expects the global new equipment market to stabilize, with growth in all regions except China, and expects modernization to remain robust with double-digit growth across all regions.
However, Mendez said Otis now expects adjusted operating profit to range from down $30 million to flat on an actual currency basis, and down $45 million to down $15 million at constant currency. The revised outlook reflects retention and tempered maintenance micro-pricing impacts, as well as productivity and cost headwinds.
Adjusted free cash flow is now expected to be between $1.5 billion and $1.55 billion. Adjusted EPS is expected to be in a range of $4.01 to $4.05, reflecting the lower operating profit outlook and a $0.04 negative impact from foreign exchange.
For the third quarter, Mendez said service organic sales are expected to remain strong at mid-single-digit growth, driven mainly by repair and modernization. New equipment organic sales are expected to continue improving sequentially. She said total adjusted operating profit is expected to be roughly flat year-over-year in the third quarter, while adjusted EPS is expected to decline at a level similar to the first half due to tax rate timing.
Cash Flow and Capital Returns Remain Priorities Otis generated adjusted free cash flow of $290 million in the second quarter, up 19% from a year earlier. Marks said the company’s cash generation allows it to invest in growth and strategic investments, including the acquisition of a majority stake in WeMaintain, while returning capital to shareholders.
In the first half of 2026, Otis repurchased approximately $800 million of shares and raised its dividend by 5%, returning more than $1.1 billion to shareholders.
Marks said Otis remains confident in its strategy, pointing to revenue growth, improving service quality metrics and progress on operational initiatives. She said the company is working to standardize field and sales processes across its 1,400 operating territories through a service operating model aimed at improving frontline execution.
“While the timing of retention benefits has shifted and we have observed headwinds in productivity and cost, we are as confident as ever in our strategy and our service flywheel,” Marks said.
About Otis Worldwide (NYSE:OTIS)Otis Worldwide Corporation is a manufacturer, installer and servicer of vertical transportation systems, including elevators, escalators and moving walkways. The company designs and supplies new equipment for commercial, residential and industrial buildings, and provides ongoing maintenance and repair services aimed at maximizing equipment availability and safety. Otis also offers modernization solutions to upgrade aging systems and improve performance, accessibility and energy efficiency.
In addition to new equipment sales, a significant portion of Otis's business derives from long-term service contracts and responsive maintenance work.
This instant news alert was generated by narrative science technology and financial data from MarketBeat in order to provide readers with the fastest reporting and unbiased coverage. Please send any questions or comments about this story to [email protected].
Should You Invest $1,000 in Otis Worldwide Right Now?Before you consider Otis Worldwide, you'll want to hear this.
MarketBeat keeps track of Wall Street's top-rated and best performing research analysts and the stocks they recommend to their clients on a daily basis. MarketBeat has identified the five stocks that top analysts are quietly whispering to their clients to buy now before the broader market catches on... and Otis Worldwide wasn't on the list.
While Otis Worldwide currently has a Hold rating among analysts, top-rated analysts believe these five stocks are better buys.
View The Five Stocks Here
Robotics and automation are rapidly becoming essential infrastructure across healthcare, manufacturing, logistics, and many other industries.
"Physical AI" is coming to the United States, and there are four ways that investors can gain exposure to this new robotics revolution. Plus, learn which seven companies are most positioned to benefit as intelligent robots enter the workforce.
Analyst’s Disclosure: I/we have a beneficial long position in the shares of AEHR either through stock ownership, options, or other derivatives. I wrote this article myself, and it expresses my own opinions. I am not receiving compensation for it (other than from Seeking Alpha). I have no business relationship with any company whose stock is mentioned in this article.
Seeking Alpha's Disclosure: Past performance is no guarantee of future results. No recommendation or advice is being given as to whether any investment is suitable for a particular investor. Any views or opinions expressed above may not reflect those of Seeking Alpha as a whole. Seeking Alpha is not a licensed securities dealer, broker or US investment adviser or investment bank. Our analysts are third party authors that include both professional investors and individual investors who may not be licensed or certified by any institute or regulatory body.
Analyst’s Disclosure: I/we have no stock, option or similar derivative position in any of the companies mentioned, and no plans to initiate any such positions within the next 72 hours. I wrote this article myself, and it expresses my own opinions. I am not receiving compensation for it (other than from Seeking Alpha). I have no business relationship with any company whose stock is mentioned in this article.
Seeking Alpha's Disclosure: Past performance is no guarantee of future results. No recommendation or advice is being given as to whether any investment is suitable for a particular investor. Any views or opinions expressed above may not reflect those of Seeking Alpha as a whole. Seeking Alpha is not a licensed securities dealer, broker or US investment adviser or investment bank. Our analysts are third party authors that include both professional investors and individual investors who may not be licensed or certified by any institute or regulatory body.
Retirees living off a portfolio care about one thing above all: when the checks show up. The five names below all pay monthly, and the anchor of the group, Realty Income (NYSE:O | O Price Prediction), has now declared unbroken monthly payments documented back to at least 1999, an income streak few dividend stocks on any US exchange can match. Yields here range from mid-single digits to double digits, but yield is only half the story. What follows is a safety-first read on each name, with the coverage math, balance sheet, and track record that determine whether that monthly deposit keeps landing.
Realty Income (O) Realty Income trades near $65.53 with a monthly dividend of $0.271 per share and an annualized forward payout of $3.252 per share. That puts the current yield in high-yield territory rather than ultra-high-yield, and for most retirees that is the point: you are buying the most durable monthly check in the group.
Safety leads the case. First-quarter AFFO of $1.13 per share, up 6.6% year over year, easily covers the current run-rate dividend, and management raised 2026 AFFO guidance to $4.41 to $4.44 per share. Portfolio occupancy sits at 98.9% with lease recapture of 103.4%, and net debt to adjusted EBITDAre improved to 5.2x from 5.4x. Behind the numbers is the record: 670 consecutive monthly dividends and, per the company, 114 consecutive quarterly increases.
The bull case for income investors is boring in the best way. Realty Income deployed $2.8 billion at a 7.1% initial cash yield in Q1, and 2026 investment guidance was raised to $9.5 billion, which supports continued small monthly dividend bumps. The risk to watch: client concentration, with the top 20 tenants representing 35.8% of annualized base rent, plus impairments of $129.3 million in the quarter tied to weaker credits.
Main Street Capital (MAIN) Main Street Capital (NYSE:MAIN) is an internally managed business development company yielding 5.73% at a recent price of $55.49. The regular monthly dividend was recently raised to $0.265 per share, layered on top of a $0.30 supplemental paid roughly every quarter.
On safety, distributable net investment income of $1.00 per share in Q1 2026 lines up with the monthly dividends paid, and management describes DNII as significantly exceeding the regular monthly payout. Net asset value per share ticked up to $33.46, non-accruals sit at just 1.2% of the portfolio at fair value, and the operating expense ratio is an industry-lean 1.3% of assets. Full-year 2025 ROE ran at 17.1%. On track record: MAIN has paid monthly dividends without interruption for 17+ years with no cuts, and the base has climbed from $0.24 in 2024 to $0.26 in 2026.
The bull case is a rare combination of monthly base, quarterly supplementals, and a trailing 12-month dividend total of $4.30 per share. Risk to acknowledge: falling benchmark rates compress floating-rate income, and shares trade at 1.605 times book value, so premium-to-NAV compression is a real drawdown risk if credit sours.
AGNC Investment (AGNC) AGNC Investment (NASDAQ:AGNC) is the ultra-high-yield of the group. At a recent $11.18 and an annualized dividend of $1.44 per share, the mortgage REIT’s yield sits comfortably above the 6% ultra-high-yield line. The $0.12 monthly dividend has now been held steady since March 2020.
On coverage, net spread plus dollar roll income was $0.42 per share in Q1 2026, versus roughly $0.36 in quarterly dividends, and net interest spread widened to 2.06%. For 2025, AGNC posted an economic return on tangible common equity of 22.7% and a total stock return of 34.8% with dividends reinvested. Balance sheet: $94.7 billion portfolio, 7.4x leverage, 83% hedge coverage. Track record is not spotless (the 2020 cut from $0.16 to $0.12 is a matter of record), but the current payout has been durable for six years.
Act now: the analyst who called NVIDIA in 2010 just named his top 10 AI stocks — and Realty Income didn't make the cut. Grab the names FREE today.
The bull case for income investors is that AGNC funds a genuine double-digit yield out of net spread income while managing hedges actively. The risk: book value volatility. Tangible book fell 5.6% to $8.38 in Q1 2026, and the economic return was -1.6% as Agency MBS spreads widened. When spreads move against the book, principal takes the hit.
Gladstone Investment (GAIN) Gladstone Investment (NASDAQ:GAIN) is a smaller buyout-focused BDC yielding 5.79% on the regular monthly, with a recent price of $16.49. The $0.08 monthly distribution has been in place since 2023, and the model layers in periodic supplementals sourced from realized buyout gains, including a $0.9375 supplemental with a July 15, 2026 ex-date.
The safety read is nuanced. Regular monthly coverage runs tight: adjusted NII of $0.20 per share in fiscal Q4 supports the $0.24 quarterly regular, and supplementals from exits have historically filled any gap. Portfolio fair value stands at 124.4% of cost, the weighted-average yield on interest-bearing investments is 12.9%, and NAV per share climbed to $16.78, up 23.8% year over year. Shares trade near 0.988 times book.
Bull case: you effectively own a monthly-paying private equity vehicle. Realized gains from exits like the KBK Industries sale ($17.3 million realized gain) get returned to shareholders as special distributions. Risk to weigh: 52.5% of debt investments sit at a rate floor, so a lower SOFR trims income, and the J.R. Hobbs restructuring caused a $29.9 million realized loss, a reminder that lower-middle-market credit can gap down.
Gladstone Land (LAND) Gladstone Land (NASDAQ:LAND) is the ultra-high-yield of the REIT group, yielding 6.47% at a recent price of $8.68. The farmland REIT owns 98,688 acres concentrated in fresh produce, almonds, and pistachios, and pays a $0.0467 monthly distribution with a $0.5604 annualized forward rate. Monthly payments have been maintained with an unbroken cadence through the entire tracked period.
Coverage is where the caveat leads. FY 2025 AFFO of $0.39 per share did not cover the annualized common distribution of $0.5604, though revenue is Q4-concentrated because of participation-rent structures. Q1 2026 AFFO grew to $0.08 per share, up 35.1% year over year. The balance sheet is a real strength: nearly 100% of debt is fixed rate, with more than $145 million of available capital and over $110 million in unencumbered properties. Shares trade at 0.543 times book.
Bull case: a hard-asset monthly payer with almost no floating-rate debt exposure at a time when the 10-year Treasury sits at 4.55%. Risk: occupancy has slipped to 94.9%, management is considering additional property sales, and until AFFO catches up to the distribution rate, the ultra-high-yield here demands the closest monitoring in this group.
Building the Monthly Paycheck Together, these five names give a retiree twelve deposits a year across triple-net retail, lower-middle-market credit and equity, Agency mortgages, buyout gains, and US farmland. Realty Income anchors the group on safety, MAIN offers the strongest coverage and growth combination, AGNC delivers the biggest headline yield with the biggest book-value swings, GAIN sweetens the base with realized-gain supplementals, and LAND is the highest-yielding hard-asset piece with the tightest coverage. Weighting them by safety rather than by yield is how a nest egg turns into a paycheck that keeps arriving.
Act now: the analyst who called NVIDIA in 2010 just named his top 10 AI stocks — and Realty Income didn't make the cut. Grab the names FREE today.
Generac Holdings is transitioning from residential generators to a power solutions provider, with Commercial & Industrial (C&I) now the primary growth driver. Management guides for mid-teens revenue growth and gradual margin expansion, targeting $6.4 billion in revenue by 2028, underpinned by strong data center demand. The C&I segment is expected to grow 20-25% annually through 2028 but operates at lower margins than residential. Modest margin improvement is anticipated as scale increases.
, /PRNewswire/ -- The Law Offices of Frank R. Cruz announces that investors with losses related to Hub Group, Inc. ("Hub Group" or the "Company") (NASDAQ: HUBG) have opportunity to lead the securities fraud class action lawsuit.
IF YOU ARE AN INVESTOR WHO SUFFERED A LOSS IN HUB GROUP, INC. (HUBG), CLICK HERE BEFORE AUGUST 28, 2026 (THE LEAD PLAINTIFF DEADLINE) TO PARTICIPATE IN THE ONGOING SECURITIES FRAUD LAWSUIT.
What Is The Lawsuit About?
The complaint filed alleges that, between April 28, 2023 and May 11, 2026, Defendants failed to disclose to investors that: (1) the Company's financial statements prepared for the periods from Q1 2023 to Q4 2024 contained material misstatements caused by the premature and incorrect recognition of certain transactions; (2) the Company's financial statements prepared for the periods from Q1 2025 to Q3 2025 contained material misstatements caused by the understatement of purchased transportation costs and accounts payable; and (3) as a result, Defendants' positive statements about the Company's business, operations, and prospects were materially misleading and/or lacked a reasonable basis at all relevant times.
Contact Us To Participate or Learn More:
If you wish to learn more about this action, or if you have any questions concerning this announcement or your rights or interests with respect to these matters, please contact us.
The Law Offices of Frank R. Cruz,
Email us at: [email protected]
Call us at: 310-914-5007
Visit our website at: www.frankcruzlaw.com
Follow us for updates on Twitter: twitter.com/FRC_LAW.
If you inquire by email, please include your mailing address, telephone number, and number of shares purchased.
To be a member of the class action you need not take any action at this time; you may retain counsel of your choice or take no action and remain an absent member of the class action.
This press release may be considered Attorney Advertising in some jurisdictions under the applicable law and ethical rules.
SOURCE The Law Offices of Frank R. Cruz, Los Angeles
New York, New York--(Newsfile Corp. - July 22, 2026) - Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC, a nationally recognized investor-rights law firm, announces that a class action lawsuit has been filed against Hub Group, Inc. (NASDAQ: HUBG) and certain of its officers.
This lawsuit seeks to recover damages against Defendants for alleged violations of the federal securities laws on behalf of all persons and entities that purchased or otherwise acquired Hub Group securities between April 28, 2023 and May 11, 2026, both dates inclusive (the "Class Period"). Such investors are encouraged to join this case by visiting the firm's site: bgandg.com/HUBG.
Hub Group Case Details
The Complaint alleges that throughout the Class Period, Defendants made materially false and misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that:
Hub Group's financial statements prepared for the periods from Q1 2023 to Q4 2024, including its annual reports for 2023 and 2024, contained material misstatements caused by the premature and incorrect recognition of certain transactions concerning, among other things, the Company's operating revenue, operating income, revenue recognition, effectiveness of internal controls and procedures, and drivers of financial results and growth; Hub Group's financial statements prepared for the periods from Q1 2025 to Q3 2025 contained material misstatements caused by the understatement of purchased transportation costs and accounts payable concerning, among other things, the Company's operating expenses, purchased transportation and warehousing expenses, operating income, effectiveness of internal disclosure controls and procedures, and drivers of financial results and growth; and as a result of the foregoing, Defendants' positive statements about the Company's business, operations, and prospects lacked a reasonable basis and were materially false and misleading at all relevant times.What's Next for Hub Group Investors?
A class action lawsuit has already been filed. If you wish to review a copy of the Complaint, you can visit the firm's site: bgandg.com/HUBG, or you may contact Peretz Bronstein, Esq. or his Client Relations Manager, Nathan Miller, of Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC at 917-590-0911. If you suffered a loss in Hub Group you have until August 28, 2026, to request that the Court appoint you as lead plaintiff. Your ability to share in any recovery doesn't require that you serve as lead plaintiff.
No Cost to Hub Group Investors
We, Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman LLC, represent investors in class actions on a contingency fee basis. That means we will ask the court to reimburse us for out-of-pocket expenses and attorneys' fees, usually a percentage of the total recovery, only if we are successful.
Why Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC for Hub Group Securities Class Action?
Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC is a nationally recognized firm that represents investors in securities fraud class actions and shareholder derivative suits. Our firm has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for investors nationwide. More at www.bgandg.com
"Our practice centers on restoring investor capital and ensuring corporate accountability, which serves to uphold the essential integrity of the marketplace," said Peretz Bronstein, Founding Partner of Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC.
Follow us for updates on LinkedIn, X, Facebook, or Instagram.
Attorney advertising.
Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes.
To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/303516
Source: Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC
Ready to Announce with Confidence? Send us a message and a member of our TMX Newsfile team will contact you to discuss your needs.
New York, New York--(Newsfile Corp. - July 22, 2026) - Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC, a nationally recognized investor-rights law firm, announces that a class action lawsuit has been filed against Insulet Corporation (NASDAQ: PODD) and certain of its officers.
This lawsuit seeks to recover damages against Defendants for alleged violations of the federal securities laws on behalf of all persons and entities that purchased or otherwise acquired Insulet securities between May 21, 2025 and May 26, 2026, both dates inclusive (the "Class Period"). Such investors are encouraged to join this case by visiting the firm's site: bgandg.com/PODD.
Insulet Case Details
The complaint alleges that, throughout the Class Period, Defendants made materially false and misleading statements regarding the Company's business, operations, and compliance policies. Specifically, the Complaint alleges that Defendants made false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that:
Insulet's manufacturing controls and procedures were defective; the foregoing created a foreseeable heightened risk that one or more Insulet products would be found to be in violation of applicable safety regulations and/or pose a risk of injury; and as a result, Defendants' public statements were materially false and misleading at all relevant times.What's Next for Insulet Investors?
A class action lawsuit has already been filed. If you wish to review a copy of the Complaint, you can visit the firm's site: bgandg.com/PODD, or you may contact Peretz Bronstein, Esq. or his Client Relations Manager, Nathan Miller, of Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC at 917-590-0911. If you suffered a loss in Insulet you have until August 31, 2026, to request that the Court appoint you as lead plaintiff. Your ability to share in any recovery doesn't require that you serve as lead plaintiff.
No Cost to Insulet Investors
We, Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman LLC, represent investors in class actions on a contingency fee basis. That means we will ask the court to reimburse us for out-of-pocket expenses and attorneys' fees, usually a percentage of the total recovery, only if we are successful.
Why Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC for Insulet Securities Class Action?
Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC is a nationally recognized firm that represents investors in securities fraud class actions and shareholder derivative suits. Our firm has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for investors nationwide. More at www.bgandg.com
"Our practice centers on restoring investor capital and ensuring corporate accountability, which serves to uphold the essential integrity of the marketplace," said Peretz Bronstein, Founding Partner of Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC.
Follow us for updates on LinkedIn, X, Facebook, or Instagram.
Attorney advertising.
Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes.
To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/303938
Source: Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC
Ready to Announce with Confidence? Send us a message and a member of our TMX Newsfile team will contact you to discuss your needs.
RPM International's Blowout Quarter Sparks a 15% Rally RPM International NYSE: RPM reported record fiscal fourth-quarter results, with management saying each of its three segments increased sales and adjusted EBIT despite inflation, supply chain disruption and continued softness in do-it-yourself consumer markets.
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Frank Sullivan said the company’s Construction Products Group and Performance Coatings Group continued to lead growth by focusing on maintenance and restoration, higher-growth end markets and “system selling,” an approach that combines multiple RPM products into broader engineered solutions. Sullivan said the quarter marked the 16th time in the past 18 quarters that RPM achieved record adjusted EBIT results.
Get RPM International alerts:
RPM International Thrives in Rate-Cut Driven Construction Rally“Our associates demonstrated their ability to adapt to increased global uncertainty, procure raw materials, continue implementing operational efficiency improvements, and serve customers with high-quality products and services,” Sullivan said.
Construction and coatings businesses lead growth Michael Laroche, vice president, controller and chief accounting officer, said consolidated sales rose 7.2% to a record, driven by engineered solutions for high-performance buildings and infrastructure projects, acquisitions and pricing actions intended to offset inflation. Adjusted EBIT and adjusted EPS also reached records, according to Laroche.
RPM International Pulls Back Critical Levels; Is It Time To Buy?Laroche said all international regions posted double-digit growth, led by emerging markets, while North American sales rose 5% on strength in turnkey and system solutions for high-performance buildings. Growth in Europe was driven by mergers and acquisitions, and foreign currency translation also helped sales in most countries outside the United States.
Within the Construction Products Group, Laroche said sales reached a record on broad-based strength, led by the concrete admixtures business. Demand was strongest in roofing and wall systems for high-performance buildings, including data centers and infrastructure projects. Volume growth and operational efficiencies helped lift adjusted EBIT to a record.
The Performance Coatings Group also posted record sales, with growth led by infrastructure project solutions, food coatings and ingredients, emerging markets, and fireproofing systems for high-performance buildings. Adjusted EBIT reached a record, though results were partly offset by a $3.2 million bad debt expense tied to a customer bankruptcy.
Consumer segment improves despite weak DIY demand RPM’s Consumer Group delivered record sales and higher adjusted EBIT, with results helped by acquisitions and pricing. Laroche said DIY end markets remained soft, while MAP operational improvements, including SG&A-focused optimization actions, more than offset lower fixed-cost absorption from reduced volumes and inflation. Adjusted EBIT excluded a $9.7 million non-cash impairment charge related to the Color Group.
During the question-and-answer portion of the call, Sullivan said Consumer unit volume in the quarter was down about 2% to 3%, while Construction Products and Performance Coatings saw low- to mid-single-digit unit volume growth. He said the Consumer segment benefited from The Pink Stuff and Ready Seal acquisitions, but DIY takeaway has been weak for roughly two years.
“It does feel like after two years of a pretty steady single-digit negative declines in consumer takeaway and volume impact, that we’re hitting bottom,” Sullivan said. He added that he did not yet see evidence of a “robust rebound.”
Raw material inflation remains a focus Management said raw material inflation and supply availability remain key considerations for fiscal 2027. Sullivan said RPM’s center-led procurement team helped the company secure supply and limit exposure to spot-price volatility. He said price-cost mix was slightly favorable in the fourth quarter, with businesses implementing price increases where needed.
For the first quarter of fiscal 2027, RPM expects raw material inflation of 5% to 6%, with pricing up by a similar dollar amount. For the second quarter, inflation could reach 6% to 8%, Sullivan said. The company expects price increases, including in Consumer, to recover gross margin percentage lost in the first quarter as the year progresses.
Sullivan said supply availability improved overall, but a fire at a supplier’s plant has caused tightness in propylene oxide-derived raw materials in North America. He also noted tight MDI supplies due to supplier issues. In response to an analyst question, Sullivan said the supplier fire would have some negative cost impact and could affect first-quarter sales growth in Tremco Roofing, but he described the issue as temporary.
Cash flow, buybacks and acquisitions Matt Schlarb, vice president of investor relations and sustainability, said RPM generated $899 million of operating cash flow in fiscal 2026, the second-highest amount in company history. The company returned $349 million to shareholders through dividends and share repurchases, up more than 7% from the prior year.
Schlarb said RPM’s board authorized a $700 million increase to its share repurchase program, in addition to $115 million remaining under a prior authorization. Sullivan said during the Q&A that the company’s stronger balance sheet and improved cash generation give it more capital to deploy, including for acquisitions and potentially more opportunistic repurchases.
Capital expenditures totaled about $224 million for the year, slightly below the prior year. Schlarb cited investments including a shared European distribution center and a new operating facility in India. RPM also spent $202 million on acquisitions, including Kalzip, a metal roofing and facades company acquired by the Construction Products Group in the fourth quarter. Schlarb said RPM expects Kalzip to be margin accretive once fully integrated over the next couple of years.
Fiscal 2027 outlook calls for growth amid volatility Chief Financial Officer Russell Gordon said RPM expects first-quarter sales to rise in the mid-single-digit range, with all segments expected to grow at a similar pace. Adjusted EBITDA is also expected to increase in the mid-single-digit range.
For full-year fiscal 2027, RPM forecast sales growth of 3% to 7% and adjusted EBITDA growth of 5% to 10%. Gordon said the company expects Consumer end markets to stabilize, though he noted RPM has the least visibility in that segment. He said price-cost is expected to be somewhat negative in the first half of the year before becoming more neutral in the second half as additional pricing takes effect and inflation moderates.
RPM also expects previously announced SG&A optimization actions to generate about $75 million in benefits during fiscal 2027, partly offset by higher healthcare and benefits expenses. Sullivan said RPM has trained 620 associates through its Green Belt efficiency program, which has developed a pipeline of more than $30 million of additional savings. The company plans to provide more detail on its MAP 3.0 strategic plan at an investor day on Nov. 9.
Asked whether the fiscal 2027 outlook represented a new growth algorithm for RPM, Sullivan said the company could generate mid-single-digit revenue growth and double-digit earnings growth “in a period of stability.” However, he said the current environment remains volatile due to geopolitical developments, oil prices, trade flows, transportation costs and tariffs.
About RPM International (NYSE:RPM)RPM International Inc is a global holding company whose subsidiaries specialize in the manufacture and marketing of high-performance coatings, sealants, building materials, and specialty chemicals. Through its two principal operating segments—Performance Coatings and Industrial Coatings—RPM serves a diverse range of end markets, including construction, consumer products, industrial maintenance, and specialty applications.
The company's Performance Coatings segment offers a broad portfolio of architectural coatings, waterproofing systems, and specialty building products used by contractors, builders, and homeowners.
This instant news alert was generated by narrative science technology and financial data from MarketBeat in order to provide readers with the fastest reporting and unbiased coverage. Please send any questions or comments about this story to [email protected].
Should You Invest $1,000 in RPM International Right Now?Before you consider RPM International, you'll want to hear this.
MarketBeat keeps track of Wall Street's top-rated and best performing research analysts and the stocks they recommend to their clients on a daily basis. MarketBeat has identified the five stocks that top analysts are quietly whispering to their clients to buy now before the broader market catches on... and RPM International wasn't on the list.
While RPM International currently has a Moderate Buy rating among analysts, top-rated analysts believe these five stocks are better buys.
View The Five Stocks Here
MarketBeat just released its list of the 7 hottest IPOs expected to hit Wall Street in 2026. See which companies are preparing to go public and why investors are watching closely.
LOS ANGELES, July 22, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Portnoy Law Firm advises HCA Healthcare, Inc., (“HCA" or the "Company") (NYSE: HCA) investors that the firm has initiated an investigation into possible securities fraud, and may file a class action on behalf of investors.
Investors are encouraged to contact attorney Lesley F. Portnoy, by phone 844-767-8529 or email: [email protected], to discuss their legal rights, or join the case via https://portnoylaw.com/hca-healthcare-inc. The Portnoy Law Firm can provide a complimentary case evaluation and discuss investors’ options for pursuing claims to recover their losses.
On July 14, 2026, HCA Healthcare published a press release outlining its preliminary operational and financial performance for the second quarter of 2026. Within the release, the enterprise significantly downgraded its full-year 2026 earnings outlook, attributing the reduction to an adverse shift in its payer breakdown. This trend was spurred by a surge in uninsured patient visits—largely stemming from individuals losing coverage through health insurance marketplaces—which erased roughly $400 million in quarterly revenue. Consequently, HCA revised its full-year earnings forecast downward to a range of $28.70 to $30.50 per share, while tightening its revenue guidance to between $77 billion and $79.5 billion (compared to its previous projection of $76.5 billion to $80 billion). Adjusted EBITDA expectations were also scaled back to $15.4 billion–$16.1 billion, down from the prior target of $15.55 billion–$16.45 billion.
Following these disclosures, HCA Healthcare’s equity value dropped by $27.14 per share, or 6.95%, settling at $363.60 at the close of trading on July 14, 2026.
The Portnoy Law Firm represents investors in pursuing claims caused by corporate wrongdoing. The Firm’s founding partner has recovered over $5.5 billion for aggrieved investors. Attorney advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes.
Lesley F. Portnoy, Esq.
Admitted CA, NY and TX Bar [email protected]
310-692-8883
www.portnoylaw.com
Key Takeaways Dycom's backlog reached $11.9 billion, up 46.5%, with a strong 2.2x book-to-bill ratio.Fiber projects and Power Solutions are expanding DY's role across the data center infrastructure ecosystem.Dycom raised fiscal 2027 revenue guidance to $7.38-$7.65 billion as AI infrastructure demand accelerates. Dycom Industries, Inc. (DY - Free Report) appears increasingly well-positioned to benefit from the convergence of Artificial Intelligence (AI), data center expansion and fiber infrastructure spending. The rapid growth of AI workloads is intensifying demand for data center capacity, while hyperscalers and other customers continue investing in the networks needed to connect these facilities with businesses and homes.
Dycom's latest results highlight the strength of this opportunity. Fiscal 2027 first-quarter contract revenues jumped 56.1% year over year to $1.96 billion, while organic growth was 24.7%. Total backlog reached a record $11.9 billion, up 46.5%, with a 2.2x book-to-bill ratio. Customers are also extending contract durations to secure Dycom's skilled workforce, providing greater visibility into future growth.
The Communications segment remains a key beneficiary of fiber-to-the-home, long-haul and middle-mile infrastructure projects. Meanwhile, Building Systems is expanding its role in the data center ecosystem. Power Solutions delivered strong first-quarter performance, and DY’s pending $275 million acquisition of National Technology Integrators is expected to add structured cabling, security and advanced audiovisual capabilities.
The strategy could create a more comprehensive offering spanning data center racks, electrical systems, fiber networks and connections to businesses and homes. Management's raised fiscal 2027 revenue outlook of $7.38-$7.65 billion further reflects confidence in the demand environment.
With AI and data center investment accelerating alongside fiber deployments, Dycom's expanding capabilities, record backlog and strategic M&A could position it to capture a larger share of America's digital infrastructure buildout.
Dycom, Quanta and Sterling: Is AI Fueling a Backlog Bonanza?Dycom is well-positioned to benefit from surging demand for AI-driven data centers, power infrastructure and fiber connectivity, alongside other market peers like Quanta Services, Inc. (PWR - Free Report) and Sterling Infrastructure, Inc. (STRL - Free Report) .
Quanta offers broader exposure to the power grid and energy infrastructure needed to support data center growth, while its diversified platform benefits from rising electricity demand. Sterling, meanwhile, is positioned to capitalize on data center site development and digital infrastructure construction, with backlog growth providing visibility into future projects.
Dycom stands out for its record $11.9 billion backlog and 2.2x book-to-bill ratio, supported by robust fiber-to-the-home, long-haul and middle-mile demand. Its expansion into data center electrical work through Power Solutions and the pending National Technology Integrators acquisition strengthens its end-to-end digital infrastructure capabilities. While all three companies have strong secular tailwinds, DY’s combination of fiber exposure, expanding data center capabilities and record backlog gives it a compelling growth profile as AI infrastructure investment accelerates.
DY Stock’s Price Performance & Valuation TrendShares of this specialty contracting firm have gained 15% in the past six months, outperforming the Zacks Building Products - Heavy Construction industry, the broader Zacks Construction sector and the S&P 500 index.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
DY stock is currently trading at a premium compared with its industry peers, with a forward 12-month price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio of 23.45, as shown in the chart below.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Earnings Estimate Trend Favors DycomDycom’s earnings estimates for fiscal 2027 and fiscal 2028 have trended upward over the past 60 days to $16.35 per share and $19.95 per share, respectively. The estimated figures for fiscal 2027 and fiscal 2028 imply year-over-year growth of 36.6% and 22%, respectively.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Dycom stock currently sports a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.
Key Takeaways OZK posted Q2 EPS of $1.49, beating estimates, but shares fell nearly 1.3%.OZK's fee income rose 21%, while NII declined 1.2% year over year.Higher provisions, rising expenses and weaker credit quality remained key headwinds. Bank OZK (OZK - Free Report) reported second-quarter 2026 earnings per share (EPS) of $1.49, which surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.46. However, the bottom line declined 5.7% year over year from $1.58.
Results benefited from higher non-interest income and deposit balances. Progress in the strategic diversification of the loan portfolio also provided support. However, a higher provision for credit losses, rising expenses, lower net interest income (NII) and weakening credit quality were headwinds. Given the concern, OZK shares lost nearly 1.3% during yesterday's trading session.
Net income available to common shareholders was $163.3 million, down 8.7% from the year-ago quarter’s $178.9 million. Our estimate for the metric was $158.3 million.
OZK’s Revenues & Expenses RiseNet revenues were $430.02 million, up 0.5% year over year. The top line missed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $432.02 million.
NII was $392.1 million, down 1.2% year over year. Our estimate for the metric was $397.3 million.
The net interest margin (NIM), on a fully-taxable-equivalent basis, contracted 12 basis points year over year to 4.24%. Our estimate for NIM was 4.13%.
Non-interest income was $37.9 million, up 21% from the year-ago quarter. The increase reflected growth in deposit-related fees, loan-related fees and other income. Our estimate for the metric was $32.7 million.
Non-interest expenses were $170.6 million, up 11.4% from the prior-year quarter. The increase was due to higher salaries and employee benefits, net occupancy and equipment costs and other operating expenses. We expected this metric to be $166.4 million.
Bank OZK’s efficiency ratio was 39.16%, up from 35.46% in the year-ago quarter, indicating reduced profitability.
OZK’s Loan Balances Decline & Deposits RiseAs of June 30, 2026, total loans were $32.6 billion, down 1.3% from the prior quarter. Total deposits were $34 billion, reflecting increases of 0.7% sequentially. Our estimates for total loans and deposits were $33.7 billion and $34.7 billion, respectively.
OZK’s Credit Quality WeakensNet charge-offs to average total loans grew to 0.69% from 0.10% in the year-ago quarter. Provision for credit losses was $45.6 million, rising 29.5% year over year. We projected provisions of $52.3 million.
The ratio of non-performing loans to total loans was 0.92% as of June 30, 2026, up from 0.18% a year ago. The non-performing assets-to-total assets ratio increased to 1.42% from 0.53%.
Profitability Ratios Decline for Bank OZKAt the end of the second quarter, return on average assets was 1.60%, down from 1.81% in the year-earlier quarter. Return on average common equity also declined to 11.14% from 12.98%.
Bank OZK’s Capital DeploymentDuring the second quarter, the company authorized a new $200 million share repurchase program through July 1, 2027, replacing the previous $200 million authorization announced in June 2025.
Bank OZK also increased its quarterly common stock dividend by 9.3% year over year to 47 cents per share, marking its 64th consecutive quarterly dividend increase.
Our Take on Bank OZKBank OZK continues to benefit from strong growth in non-interest income, record deposit balances and ongoing diversification of its loan portfolio, particularly through the expansion of its Corporate & Institutional Banking business. Management also remains optimistic about achieving stronger loan growth over the long term as diversification efforts continue. However, elevated operating expenses, higher provisions, declining NII and deteriorating asset quality remain key headwinds.
Bank OZK Price, Consensus and EPS SurpriseThe company currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
Performances of Other BanksFirst Horizon Corporation (FHN - Free Report) posted second-quarter 2026 earnings per share of 54 cents, surpassing the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 52 cents. This compares favorably with 45 cents in the year-ago quarter.
FHN’s results benefited from higher NII and non-interest income, along with a lower provision for credit losses. Higher loan and deposit balances also provided support. However, rising expenses and weaker capital ratios were headwinds.
Citizens Financial Group (CFG - Free Report) reported second-quarter 2026 earnings per share of $1.30, which surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.25. The metric rose 41% from the year-ago quarter.
CFG’s results benefited from a rise in NII and non-interest income. Growth in loan and deposit balances and an improvement in credit quality were also encouraging. However, a rise in expenses and a weaker capital position were major headwinds.
Key Takeaways Post Holdings is rebuilding its pet food portfolio as weak dry dog food demand weighs on results.POST expects the Nutrish relaunch to support improving category trends by the fourth quarter of fiscal 2026.POST is refining pricing on key brands to stabilize volumes and strengthen pet food performance. Post Holdings, Inc. (POST - Free Report) is rebuilding its pet food business through the Nutrish relaunch alongside targeted pricing actions across selected brands. The company indicated that category demand has been weaker than anticipated, with dry dog food experiencing particular softness. As dry dog food accounts for approximately 60% of its portfolio, weakness in that category has weighed on pet food performance.
The Nutrish relaunch is expected to take most of the third quarter of fiscal 2026 to be fully reflected across the market, particularly in the food channel. The relaunch features updated positioning, packaging and price points as part of the brand's refresh. Management reported encouraging sequential improvement at a major retailer where the rollout is complete, indicating a positive early response. The company expects Nutrish's performance to improve to roughly flat or slight year-over-year growth by the fourth quarter of fiscal 2026.
Post Holdings noted that price increases on roughly one-third of the 9Lives brand resulted in higher-than-expected price elasticity and the loss of placement at a couple of retailers. The company believes the issue can be addressed using the same approach applied to Gravy Train, combining short-term price rollbacks with longer-term price-pack architecture adjustments. The company noted that Gravy Train is now growing about 40% in pounds at one of its largest retailers following those changes.
Overall, Post Holdings is rebuilding its pet food portfolio through disciplined brand repositioning and pricing adjustments. The company expects these initiatives to strengthen brand performance and support improving category trends as the Nutrish relaunch reaches broader distribution.
The Zacks Rundown for POSTShares of this Zacks Rank #4 (Sell) company have lost 10% in the past six months compared with the industry’s 3.2% decline.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
From a valuation standpoint, POST trades at a forward price-to-earnings ratio of 10.66, lower than the industry’s average of 14.55.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for POST’s current and next fiscal year earnings implies a year-over-year increase of 4.7% and 11.8%, respectively.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Stocks to ConsiderSome better-ranked stocks have been discussed below:
United Natural Foods Inc. (UNFI - Free Report) distributes natural, organic, specialty, produce, and conventional grocery and non-food products in the United States and Canada. It presently has a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for UNFI’s current fiscal-year sales indicates a decline of 2.1%, and the same for earnings indicates growth of 254.9% from the prior-year reported levels. UNFI delivered a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of nearly 30%, on average.
Medifast, Inc. (MED - Free Report) operates as a health and wellness company that provides habit-based and coach-guided lifestyle solutions to address obesity and support a healthy life in the United States. MED currently carries a Zacks Rank of 1.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for MED's current fiscal-year sales and earnings implies a decline of 25.9% and 140.2%, respectively, from the year-ago actuals. MED delivered a trailing four-quarter negative earnings surprise of 635%, on average.
Mama’s Creations, Inc. (MAMA - Free Report) , together with its subsidiaries, manufactures and markets fresh deli-prepared foods in the United States. MAMA currently carries a Zacks Rank of 2 (Buy).
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for MAMA's current fiscal-year sales & earnings implies growth of 30% and 73.3%, respectively, from the year-ago actuals. MAMA delivered a trailing four-quarter negative earnings surprise of 129.2%, on average.
1:00pm: And then there's Alphabet Alphabet Inc (NASDAQ:GOOG) (Alphabet Inc (NASDAQ:GOOG)) reports second-quarter results after Wednesday's close, with Wall Street bracing for a print that could either validate the company's AI spending spree or intensify investor unease about it.
Bank of America is firmly in the bullish camp, reiterating its Buy rating and raising earnings estimates ahead of the print. The bank projects revenue of $102.1 billion and EPS of $8.38, both well above Street consensus of $101 billion and $2.90.
Much of that EPS gap traces to an estimated $80 billion boost to operating income from the revaluation of Alphabet's stake in Anthropic, whose valuation climbed from $380 billion in the first quarter to $965 billion in the second.
Capital spending remains the swing factor. Alphabet already guided full-year 2026 capex to $180 billion to $190 billion, and Bank of America thinks that range could climb another 5%, to $190 billion to $200 billion, given accelerating AI demand and rising memory costs.
12:05pm: Tesla's question mark Tesla Inc (NASDAQ:TSLA) (Tesla Inc (NASDAQ:TSLA)) reports second-quarter results after the bell Wednesday, and the numbers investors already have in hand tell a split story: a blowout on deliveries, a question mark on spending.
The bigger debate on the call is likely to center on what Tesla is doing with its money, and its robots. The company set aside a $25 billion capital budget for 2026 to fund AI infrastructure and Optimus development, a spending pace analysts expect to push free cash flow to roughly negative $3.25 billion for the quarter.
Shares were flat Wednesday heading into the release.
11:00am: Supermicro surges Super Micro Computer Inc (NASDAQ:SMCI) (Super Micro Computer Inc (NASDAQ:SMCI)) shares opened about 20% higher on Tuesday after the company released preliminary fourth quarter fiscal 2026 results showing significantly stronger-than-expected gross margins and a record order backlog, despite revenue tracking near the low end of its guidance.
The AI server maker said revenue for the quarter ended June 30 is expected to be near the lower end of its previously issued guidance range of $11.0 billion to $12.5 billion. Wall Street analysts had been expecting revenue of about $11.73 billion.
The company also reported receiving more than $60 billion in new orders during the quarter, lifting its backlog to a record level at the end of fiscal 2026. Supermicro said the orders are expected to be delivered over future quarters.
10am: Dow opens higher, Nasdaq hit by semis selling There has been another uneven open on Wall Street, with investors selling out of technology stocks ahead of key earnings from Alphabet and Tesla after the close.
The Dow Jones has opened up 225 points, or 0.4%, while the Nasdaq fell 0.2%, with the S&P 500 oscillating around the flatline.
Industrial and defensive names led the Dow gains, with Honeywell, Verizon, 3M and Chevron the top risers.
Meanwhile, the Nasdaq's fall resulted from declines in semiconductor and AI-linked stocks, with AppLovin, SanDisk, Workday, Palantir and Lam Research leading falls as investors take profits after the rally yesterday.
An exception is Super Micro Computer, which jumped over 20% after the company released preliminary results showing significantly stronger-than-expected gross margins and a record order backlog, despite revenue tracking near the low end of its guidance.
8.10am: Tech stocks to see Wall Street open lower Wall Street stocks looked set for a weaker open on Wednesday as investors lock in profits in technology stocks ahead of crucial earnings from Google owner Alphabet and Tesla, while escalating tensions in the Middle East push oil prices to six-week highs.
Dow Jones futures were down 0.2%, while the S&P 500 was called 0.4% lower and the hardest hit is expected to be the Nasdaq, where futures have dropped 1%, with chipmakers leading the pre-market declines after a sharp rebound in the previous session.
The cautious mood follows a strong rally the day before, when the Dow Jones rose 380 points, or 0.7%, to 52,443, the S&P 500 gained 0.9% to 7,546, and the Nasdaq climbed 1.3% to 29,316, helped by a powerful recovery in semiconductor stocks after weeks of heavy selling.
Earnings from Alphabet and Tesla are due after the bell, with analysts seeing these as key tests for the artificial intelligence trade.
Markets will be watching Alphabet for updates on AI-related capital spending and monetisation, while Tesla's results are expected to provide fresh detail on autonomous driving, robotics and vehicle demand.
Results from Texas Instruments, IBM and ServiceNow will also be closely watched in the evening, while Philip Morris, GE Vernova and AT&T report before the opening bell.
Chip stocks were under pressure in pre-market trading as investors took profits following a 5.5% jump in the sector the previous session.
Semiconductor stocks have been under heavy pressure in recent weeks as hedge funds aggressively unwound crowded AI trades, driving the sector around 25% below its early June peak.
Tuesday's rebound came as "the Momo guys [momentum traders] ran out of stock to sell, so the pressure was off," said market strategist Kenny Polcari at Slatestone Wealth, suggesting the wave of forced selling may have largely run its course.
Meanwhile, Brent crude traded above $94 a barrel after another night of US strikes on Iranian targets and renewed threats to shipping routes in the Middle East from Yemen.
The stronger oil price has revived concerns that inflation could prove more persistent, complicating the Federal Reserve's policy outlook just as investors had begun to scale back expectations of further interest-rate increases.
"10 straight days of US strikes and continued attacks on military targets have kept a geopolitical premium firmly embedded in oil prices and that will become more of an issue next month and the months after," said Polcari.
There is little in the way of economic data due on Wednesday, putting more of the onus on corporate earnings and developments in the Middle East.
Super Micro (SMCI) has seen a significant increase in its stock price, rising 25% after announcing its Q4 guidance. The mixed preannouncement has been positive
Marley Kayden discusses Super Micro's (SMCI) preliminary fourth quarter results and the company's optimistic outlook on doubling gross margins. She explains Super Micro's commentary which cites strong customer demand and favorable product mix@ProsperTradingAcademy's Scott Bauer walks us through an example options trade for the AI server stock.
Key Takeaways Super Micro Computer raised Q4 gross margin guidance to 15-17% after reporting more than $60B in new orders.SMCI's record backlog and early AI server launches support demand across future quarters.Super Micro Computer said AI GPU platforms generated more than 80% of Q3 fiscal 2026 revenues. Super Micro Computer’s (SMCI - Free Report) shares climbed 16% in the pre-market hours on July 22 after the company released a preliminary business update for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2026, reporting more than $60 billion in new orders during the quarter. The company said these orders are expected to be delivered over future quarters and that its backlog reached a record level at the end of fiscal 2026.
The company now expects a gross margin of 15% to 17% for the fourth quarter, up from its previous guidance of 8.2% to 8.4%, primarily due to a favorable customer and product mix. Super Micro Computer also estimated that fourth-quarter revenues will be near the low end of its previously issued guidance of $11 billion to $12.5 billion.
Super Micro Computer is one of the first companies to bring new AI servers to market, including systems built on NVIDIA’s GB300 NVL72, HGX B300 and RTX6000Pro platforms, as well as AMD MI350/355 systems. This early availability gives Super Micro Computer a big edge in a fast-moving AI market. Customers who need powerful computing systems quickly for AI training and inference are more likely to choose Super Micro Computer.
The company is also preparing for next-generation NVIDIA, AMD, Intel and ARM AGI CPU platforms. Being first with new technologies helps it win large orders and build stronger customer relationships. This “time-to-market” advantage sets Super Micro Computer apart from traditional server makers like Dell and HPE, who typically move slowly. The company is already delivering these systems in high volumes worldwide.
Super Micro Computer’s DCBBS simplifies how data centers are built. It combines servers, racks, power systems, cooling and networking into a complete package. This helps customers save up to 30% in total costs and build data centers faster, sometimes in weeks instead of months. The offering includes the company’s latest liquid cooling technology (DLC-2), which reduces power and water use. DCBBS also includes software and support so that customers don’t have to manage multiple vendors.
Super Micro Computer’s deep penetration in handling AI workloads is likely to continue driving its top-line growth. SMCI derives a major portion of its revenue from AI-focused systems. These include servers built to handle GPU-heavy workloads needed for training and running AI models. AI GPU-related platforms contributed more than 80% of third-quarter fiscal 2026 revenues. This shows that the company has become a top vendor for AI infrastructure.
How Competitors Fare Against SMCIBig players like Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE - Free Report) and Dell Technologies (DELL - Free Report) are competing with SMCI in this space.
Dell Technologies is a major supplier of servers and storage systems, with a broad customer base across enterprises and cloud providers. Its scale, established distribution and service offerings give it an edge in winning large contracts. However, Dell Technologies has not grown as quickly as SMCI in AI-specific systems; its ability to bundle hardware with services makes it a strong rival.
Hewlett Packard Enterprise is also expanding aggressively into AI and high-performance computing. Its GreenLake platform provides customers with flexible, cloud-like consumption models, which can be attractive to enterprises. Hewlett Packard Enterprise’s focus on hybrid cloud and AI workloads positions it as a direct competitor in areas where SMCI is seeking growth through its DCBBS strategy.
Hewlett Packard Enterprise offers a range of servers, including HPE ProLiant, HPE Synergy, HPE BladeSystem and HPE Moonshot servers. Dell Technologies has built the Dell AI Factory in collaboration with NVIDIA. Dell Technologies also collaborated with Red Hat Enterprise Linux AI for Dell PowerEdge servers.
SMCI’s Price Performance, Valuation and EstimatesShares of Super Micro Computer have lost 12.9% year to date compared with the Zacks Computer – Storage Devices industry’s growth of 242.3%.
SMCI YTD Performance Chart
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
From a valuation standpoint, SMCI is trading at a discount at a forward 12-Month P/S multiple of 0.3X compared with the industry’s P/S multiple of 3.81X.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Super Micro Computer’s fiscal 2026 and 2027 earnings implies a year-over-year increase of approximately 24.27% and 25.9%, respectively. Earnings estimates for fiscal 2026 have been revised downward in the past seven days.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Super Micro Computer currently carries a Zacks Rank #4 (Sell).
You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
All eyes are on Super Micro Computer (NASDAQ:SMCI | SMCI Price Prediction) on Wednesday as the company disclosed preliminary fiscal Q4 2026 results with more than $60 billion in new orders received during the quarter and a record backlog. Furthermore, Super Micro guided gross margin to 15% to 17%.
That margin range is double the prior 8%-plus guidance, attributed to a favorable customer and product mix. Super Micro Computer guided revenue to near the low end of the $11 billion to $12.5 billion range, with LSEG consensus at near $11.67 billion. The company’s full results are slated to arrive on August 11, but the market is enthusiastically bidding up SMCI stock today.
Why It Matters and How the Street Is Responding The margin surprise is structurally important after governance scrutiny and dilution tied to Super Micro Computer’s June $7 billion financing raised to fund roughly $39 billion in AI-server orders. The $60 billion order figure anchors the AI-infrastructure buildout directly to Super Micro’s backlog.
Barclays raised its Super Micro Computer stock price target to $38 from $34, maintaining Equal Weight. Meanwhile, Rosenblatt lifted its SMCI target to $45 from $40 with a Buy rating, citing Super Micro’s “industry-leading” time-to-market advantage.
Super Micro Computer stock is up by a whopping 24% to $31.66 in Wednesday midday trading. Super Micro’s peers are also on the move: Dell Technologies (NYSE:DELL) stock is up 9% to $442.30, and Hewlett Packard Enterprise (NYSE:HPE) stock is up 5% to $48.84. The iShares U.S. Technology ETF (NYSEARCA:IYW) is flat at $244.02, so this doesn’t mark a full-on rally across tech stocks.
Act now: the analyst who called NVIDIA in 2010 just named his top 10 AI stocks — and Dell Technologies didn't make the cut. Grab the names FREE today.
This preliminary update precedes audited results, and Super Micro stock carries governance and dilution overhang. Investors can watch the August 11 print for confirmation of margin recovery and order-book conversion before sizing positions.
Record Backlog and Implications for SMCI Investors Super Micro Computer builds AI-optimized servers and full rack-scale systems, much of it designed around GPUs from NVIDIA (NASDAQ:NVDA), along with chips from Intel (NASDAQ:INTC) and Advanced Micro Devices (NASDAQ:AMD).
The company’s pitch has long centered on speed, getting the newest accelerators into deployable, often liquid-cooled systems faster than rivals can. That’s the “industry-leading” time-to-market edge Rosenblatt highlighted, and a record order book suggests hyperscalers and enterprises are still lining up for that capacity.
The backlog matters only if Super Micro Computer can convert it into recognized revenue at the newly guided 15% to 17% gross margin, rather than the thin 8%-plus range that had worried the Street. The guidance hints that the customer and product mix may finally be working in the company’s favor. Even so, patient investors may choose to wait for the August 11 results to confirm or deny that shift before assuming it’s durable.
Act now: the analyst who called NVIDIA in 2010 just named his top 10 AI stocks — and Dell Technologies didn't make the cut. Grab the names FREE today.
The rebound in the AI infrastructure trade offered reprieve for Wall Street, says @CharlesSchwab's Nathan Peterson. Wednesday's key headlines on Super Micro (SMCI) and Alphabet (GOOGL) earnings are now in full focus as investors wait for more inflation on the AI trade.
Super Micro's preliminary financial results provided Wall Street with even more confidence that there will continue to be incredibly strong demand for AI powered servers.
@Theotrade's Don Kaufman turns to Big Tech and high beta names for his stock picks in today's Big 3. He leans bearish on Alibaba (BABA) after the stock's recent AI-led rally, sees SpaceX (SPCX) as a long-term opportunity for investors, and warns against Super Micro (SMCI) due to controversies surrounding the company.
Super Micro Computer (NASDAQ:SMCI | SMCI Price Prediction) has become the AI infrastructure story Wall Street loves to hate. The stock sits at $24.29 as of July 20, 2026, down 17.39% year-to-date and 54.16% over the past year, even as the company guided fiscal 2026 revenue to $38.9 billion to $40.4 billion.
CEO Charles Liang says “Supermicro’s transformation into a total datacenter infrastructure provider is accelerating.” Can shares double to $50 by July 2027?
Why SMCI Shares Are Stuck Despite Triple-Digit Revenue Growth Shares are down 14.59% in the past week and 12.96% in the past month, with a beta of 1.94 amplifying every wobble in AI sentiment. The overhang is capital structure and legal noise, with demand still intact.
On July 19, one report flagged the stock trading 12% beneath June’s offer as funding concerns mount, tied to a raise of up to $7 billion to back nearly $39 billion in AI-server orders, with potential 28% share count dilution.
Add the ITC probe into Samsung memory chips Supermicro uses and the board’s independent review tied to export-control matters, and the stock trades as if growth is not real.
Wall Street Sees 54% Upside. My Model Says That’s Not Enough. The analyst consensus target sits at $37.38, based on 2 Strong Buy, 3 Buy, 11 Hold, 2 Sell, and 1 Strong Sell ratings. Our base case lands at $29.04, or 19.59% upside, with a 90% confidence score. The bull case runs to $40.91 and the bear case to $24.92.
With earnings growth contributing 3.26% YoY to the model and only 26% of analysts bullish, the setup is a classic underowned contrarian. Consensus is anchored to the last two years of scandal, not the next two of Blackwell Ultra shipments.
The Path to $50 Per Share Reaching $50 from $24.29 requires a gain of 105.8%. With forward EPS of $2.48, a price of $50 implies a forward P/E of 20x. Our base case of $29.04 already implies 11x, meaning the target needs roughly 10x of additional multiple expansion.
Act now: the analyst who called NVIDIA in 2010 just named his top 10 AI stocks — and Super Micro Computer didn't make the cut. Grab the names FREE today.
Q3 FY2026 delivered revenue of $10.24 billion, up 122.68% YoY, with non-GAAP EPS of $0.84 comfortably beating expectations and GAAP gross margin recovering to 9.9% from 6.3%.
Catalysts are stacking: the NVIDIA Vera Rubin NVL4 DCBBS blueprint, the ten new Rear Door Heat Exchanger liquid cooling models, and Liang’s confirmation of “more than $13B in Blackwell Ultra orders”. If EPS scales into the order book, a 20x multiple looks normal. The risk: dilution from the $7B raise resets per-share math before earnings catch up.
Where SMCI Trades Today vs Its Earnings Power At $24.29 against forward EPS of $2.48, SMCI trades at roughly 10x forward earnings. That is a hardware-cycle multiple for a company growing revenue triple digits.
The stock sits 40% below its 52-week high of $62.36 and only modestly above the low of $19.48. Long-term holders still sit on a 1,171.29% ten-year return. The current setup rhymes with prior AI-cycle drawdowns that eventually re-rated hard.
Is $50 Realistic? My Verdict Getting to $50 by July 2027 requires a 105.8% gain and a re-rate to 20x forward earnings.
Three things need to go right: the export-control review closes without material findings, the $7B raise executes without excess dilution, and Blackwell Ultra revenue converts the order book into shipped, margin-accretive product. A drawn-out ITC ruling against Samsung suppliers derails it. We’ve outlined the blueprint for how Super Micro Computer could reach $50 in 2027.
Act now: the analyst who called NVIDIA in 2010 just named his top 10 AI stocks — and Super Micro Computer didn't make the cut. Grab the names FREE today.
Analyst’s Disclosure: I/we have no stock, option or similar derivative position in any of the companies mentioned, and no plans to initiate any such positions within the next 72 hours. I wrote this article myself, and it expresses my own opinions. I am not receiving compensation for it (other than from Seeking Alpha). I have no business relationship with any company whose stock is mentioned in this article.
Seeking Alpha's Disclosure: Past performance is no guarantee of future results. No recommendation or advice is being given as to whether any investment is suitable for a particular investor. Any views or opinions expressed above may not reflect those of Seeking Alpha as a whole. Seeking Alpha is not a licensed securities dealer, broker or US investment adviser or investment bank. Our analysts are third party authors that include both professional investors and individual investors who may not be licensed or certified by any institute or regulatory body.
MGM Buyout: The House Doesn't Always WinStifel Financial NYSE: SF reported what executives described as the strongest first half in the company’s history, with second-quarter revenue and earnings rising from a year earlier as wealth management, investment banking and net interest income all contributed to growth.
Chairman and CEO Ron Kruszewski said the firm is delivering on the plan it outlined at the start of 2026: growing revenue, expanding its loan book, increasing treasury deposits, improving operating leverage and deploying excess capital. “Six months into the year, we’re doing what we said we would do,” Kruszewski said on the company’s earnings call.
Get Stifel Financial alerts:
MarketBeat Week in Review – 03/16 - 03/20Second-quarter net revenue totaled $1.45 billion, up 13% from a year earlier. Non-GAAP earnings per share were $1.42, up 25%. Kruszewski said both metrics represented the company’s second-highest second-quarter results ever. For the first half, Stifel generated record net revenue of $2.9 billion, up 15% from its prior record, and earnings per share of $2.87, up 28% from its prior record. Return on tangible common equity was approximately 24% for both the quarter and the first half, while tangible book value per share increased 15% from the prior year.
Wealth Management Revenue Hits Record Chief Financial Officer Jim Marischen said Global Wealth Management generated record net revenue of $957 million, up 13% year over year. Results were driven by transactional revenue, growth in net interest income and higher asset management revenue.
Stifel Financial: A Wealth Manager’s Stock for Wealth InvestorsTotal client assets stood at $580 billion, while fee-based assets were $240 billion, up 12% and 16%, respectively, as Stifel benefited from stronger equity markets and net new asset growth. Excluding the impact of assets associated with the sale of SIA, total client assets and fee-based assets increased more than 14% and 19%, respectively, Marischen said.
Stifel also continued to grow its balance sheet, increasing its loan book by $2.6 billion during the quarter. Marischen said that included an incremental $2 billion in fund banking loans. The company remains on pace to meet its full-year guidance of up to $4 billion of loan growth.
Based on loan growth and a stable net interest margin, Marischen said Stifel expects third-quarter net interest income in the range of $290 million to $300 million. Over the past year, combined wealth management and treasury deposits increased by approximately $3.3 billion, including a more than $1 billion increase in sweep deposits and a $3.8 billion increase in treasury deposits, partially offset by a decline in Stifel Smart Rate balances.
Investment Banking Drives Institutional Growth Stifel’s Institutional Group posted revenue of $481 million, up 15% from a year earlier and the segment’s second-strongest second quarter in company history. First-half institutional revenue rose 21%, driven by a more than 43% increase in investment banking revenue.
Firmwide investment banking revenue totaled $332 million in the second quarter, up 42% year over year. Advisory revenue increased 24% to $157 million, with strength in financials, industrials and technology. Capital raising revenue rose 121% to $102 million, supported by issuer engagement in healthcare, industrials, energy and financials. Fixed income underwriting revenue increased 18% to $64 million, driven by public finance activity and higher corporate issuance.
Marischen said Stifel remains the No. 1 negotiated issue manager in public finance by deal count, with a 14% market share year to date. He said investment banking and advisory pipelines remain “very strong,” with active strategic dialogue and a reopened new issue market. Financial sponsor activity remains below historical levels, which executives said could provide upside if it recovers.
Transactional revenue declined 19% year over year, primarily due to lower fixed income revenue. Marischen noted that the prior-year period benefited from a roughly $30 million gain in the company’s aircraft business. Excluding that gain, results would have been relatively comparable to a year ago. Equity transactional revenue fell 4%, reflecting the impact of Stifel’s European restructuring.
Expenses, Capital Deployment and Buybacks Stifel continued to emphasize expense discipline. Marischen said the company lowered its compensation ratio to 57%, down 50 basis points sequentially from the first quarter and below consensus expectations. He attributed the improvement to the strong operating environment, the European reorganization and the sale of SIA. Assuming market conditions hold up, he said Stifel expects additional compensation flexibility in the second half and could land in the midpoint to lower half of its full-year compensation ratio guidance range of 56.5% to 57.5%.
Non-compensation expenses totaled $309 million, up 11% year over year, with the increase tied largely to business growth, including higher investment banking gross-ups, credit provisions, advertising and data processing. The operating non-compensation ratio was 19.6%, within the company’s full-year guidance range of 18% to 20%.
Stifel also deployed capital through business reinvestment, share repurchases and dividends. Kruszewski said those actions totaled more than $500 million in the second quarter. The company repurchased 2.4 million shares during the quarter and had 7.8 million shares remaining under its current authorization at quarter-end.
Marischen said Stifel ended the quarter with a Tier 1 leverage ratio of 11.2% and a Tier 1 risk-based capital ratio of 17.3%, reflecting deliberate capital deployment into loan growth. Based on a 10% Tier 1 leverage target, the company had nearly $480 million of excess capital after funding loan growth and repurchases.
AI Viewed as Productivity Tool, Not Replacement Kruszewski spent part of the call addressing artificial intelligence, saying he does not view AI as a replacement for financial advisors or other professionals. Instead, he described it as a productivity accelerator that can help bankers evaluate more opportunities, research analysts uncover more insights and advisors spend more time with clients.
“Markets sometimes confuse access to information with judgment,” Kruszewski said. “AI is making information more abundant. That only increases the value of judgment, trust, and relationships.”
He said advisor recruiting remains highly competitive despite market concerns that AI could diminish the value of financial advice. Stifel was ranked No. 1 in employee advisor satisfaction by J.D. Power for the fourth consecutive year, a recognition Kruszewski said reflected the firm’s focus on supporting advisors.
Executives Point to Constructive Second Half Looking ahead, Kruszewski said the broader market remains constructive, though volatility and geopolitical uncertainty remain risks. He said the economy is healthy, client dialogue is high and capital markets activity continues to broaden.
In response to analyst questions, Kruszewski said he remains optimistic about investment banking momentum across Stifel’s diversified platform, including healthcare, industrials, technology and energy. He added that bank M&A activity remains muted relative to longer-term expectations, but active dialogue continues.
On acquisitions, Kruszewski said Stifel remains disciplined and evaluates opportunities based on return on invested capital. Given current valuations in financial services, he said one of the most attractive uses of capital remains investing in Stifel’s own business and repurchasing shares when management sees a disconnect between the company’s outlook and its stock price.
“We’re building a stronger, more valuable Stifel,” Kruszewski said. “While we’re proud of what we’ve accomplished in the first half of the year, we’re even more excited about where we’re headed.”
About Stifel Financial (NYSE:SF)Stifel Financial Corp. is a diversified financial services holding company headquartered in St. Louis, Missouri. Founded in 1890, the firm has grown into a full‐service brokerage and investment banking organization serving individual investors, corporations and institutions. Through its principal subsidiary, Stifel, Nicolaus & Company, Incorporated, the company delivers a broad array of financial products and services backed by research‐driven insights.
The firm's main business activities are organized into two core segments: Private Client Group and Institutional Group.
This instant news alert was generated by narrative science technology and financial data from MarketBeat in order to provide readers with the fastest reporting and unbiased coverage. Please send any questions or comments about this story to [email protected].
Should You Invest $1,000 in Stifel Financial Right Now?Before you consider Stifel Financial, you'll want to hear this.
MarketBeat keeps track of Wall Street's top-rated and best performing research analysts and the stocks they recommend to their clients on a daily basis. MarketBeat has identified the five stocks that top analysts are quietly whispering to their clients to buy now before the broader market catches on... and Stifel Financial wasn't on the list.
While Stifel Financial currently has a Moderate Buy rating among analysts, top-rated analysts believe these five stocks are better buys.
View The Five Stocks Here
The AI wave will soon hit public markets with Anthropic and OpenAI set to go public later this year. However, you don't have to wait to invest. This report shows seven AI stocks that you can buy today while the big model providers get ready to go public.
Key Takeaways Marathon Petroleum benefits from scale, integrated logistics and premium fuel investments.HF Sinclair is favored for crude flexibility, refinery upgrades and valuation advantage.DINO trades at a lower forward price-to-sales ratio and has strategic margin expansion projects. Marathon Petroleum Corporation (MPC - Free Report) and HF Sinclair Corporation (DINO - Free Report) are two prominent independent U.S. refiners, but they differ significantly in scale, operational reach and growth strategies. Marathon Petroleum leverages one of the nation's largest refining systems, an extensive logistics network and strategic investments in higher-value fuel production to drive resilient earnings and margin expansion. HF Sinclair, meanwhile, focuses on optimizing its regional refining footprint through crude flexibility, targeted capacity enhancements and cost-efficiency initiatives. Both companies stand to benefit from favorable refining fundamentals, including steady transportation fuel demand and supportive crack spreads, while navigating industry headwinds such as commodity price volatility, regulatory pressures and maintenance-related disruptions. Comparing their refining strengths, growth initiatives and operational risks provides valuable insight into which stock is better positioned to deliver sustainable long-term shareholder value.
The Case for Marathon Petroleum StockMarathon Petroleum's refining business remains anchored by one of the largest and most sophisticated refining systems in the United States, with nearly 3 million barrels per day of refining capacity spread across the Gulf Coast, Mid-Continent and West Coast. Its integrated network of refineries, pipelines, terminals and barges enables efficient movement of crude oil and intermediate products, allowing the company to maximize utilization and capture higher-margin opportunities across regions. In the first quarter of 2026, the refining segment demonstrated strong operational execution with 89% refinery utilization and an industry-leading 99% margin capture despite completing nearly 40% of its annual turnaround program. These capabilities, combined with disciplined commercial execution and a diversified crude sourcing strategy centered on the United States and Canada, provide resilience against global supply disruptions and support consistent refining profitability.
Marathon Petroleum is well positioned to further strengthen its refining franchise as it is investing in high-return projects that enhance product flexibility and increase exposure to premium transportation fuels. The expansion of jet fuel production capacity at the Garyville refinery, ongoing yield improvement initiatives at El Paso and additional jet fuel flexibility at Robinson position the company to benefit from rising global aviation demand. Its growing international LPG trading business and expanding export capabilities further diversify revenue streams, while integration with MPLX's logistics infrastructure enhances feedstock access, market reach and operational efficiency. These initiatives should improve refining margins and reinforce the company's competitive position over the long term.
However, Marathon Petroleum's refining business remains exposed to volatile crude oil prices, fluctuating crack spreads and changing fuel demand, while refinery turnarounds and unplanned outages can temporarily weigh on throughput and earnings. The company also faces rising regulatory compliance costs tied to emissions and fuel standards, particularly in California. Intense competition, evolving crude differentials and geopolitical uncertainties may further pressure refining margins. To maintain its competitive edge, Marathon Petroleum must continue executing efficiently, sustaining high refinery utilization, controlling costs and generating strong returns from its ongoing capital investments.
The Case for HF Sinclair StockHF Sinclair's refining business is supported by a diversified network of seven complex refineries with a combined crude processing capacity of 678,000 barrels per stream day across key U.S. markets. Its ability to process discounted heavy and sour crude oils into higher-value products such as gasoline, diesel and jet fuel enhances margin potential. An extensive midstream network of pipelines, terminals and storage assets further strengthens feedstock flexibility and distribution efficiency, while geographic proximity to major crude supply hubs such as Cushing, the Permian Basin and Canadian sources provides reliable access to cost-advantaged crude.
The company, at the same time, is taking several strategic initiatives to enhance its refining profitability. Management continues to focus on increasing throughput, enhancing crude optimization and reducing operating costs through targeted capital projects. The El Dorado vacuum furnace project is expected to improve reliability and allow an additional 10,000 barrels per day of heavy crude processing, while the Puget Sound refinery upgrade provides greater flexibility to shift production between diesel and jet fuel depending on market conditions. Strong refining margins, favorable summer fuel demand and the absence of major turnarounds after the third quarter position the company to capture improved market conditions.
Despite these strengths, HF Sinclair's refining business remains exposed to several challenges. Profitability is highly dependent on volatile crude oil prices, crack spreads and refined product demand, making earnings susceptible to unfavorable market swings. Planned refinery turnarounds and unexpected maintenance activities can temporarily reduce throughput and increase operating costs. The business also faces competitive pressure from larger Gulf Coast refiners with lower production costs, while geopolitical conflicts, supply chain disruptions and crude market volatility can affect feedstock availability and pricing. Additionally, increasingly stringent environmental regulations and renewable fuel compliance requirements could raise operating expenses and capital investment needs over time.
Price Performance ComparisonIn the past six months, MPC and DINO have posted nearly identical stock performances, with shares surging 82.4% and 83.5%, respectively.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Valuation ComparisonFrom a valuation perspective — in terms of forward price-to-sales ratio — HF Sinclair is trading at a discount of 0.55X compared with Marathon Petroleum’s 0.68X.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
EPS EstimatesAccording to the Zacks Consensus Estimate, MPC’s earnings are set to rise 234.8% year over year in 2026.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
The same for DINO’s 2026 EPS indicates a year-over-year increase of 113.6%.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Summing UpBoth Marathon Petroleum and HF Sinclair are well-positioned to benefit from favorable refining fundamentals, supported by resilient fuel demand, healthy crack spreads and ongoing operational improvements.
Marathon Petroleum stands out for its industry-leading scale, integrated logistics network and high refinery utilization. Moreover, its investments in premium fuel production and exports should support long-term growth, supporting its Zacks Rank #3 (Hold).
HF Sinclair, however, appears better positioned overall, driven by its sharper focus on margin expansion through crude flexibility, targeted refinery upgrades, disciplined cost optimization and improving throughput. Its ability to process discounted heavy crude, combined with attractive valuation, strategic capital projects and strong earnings leverage to favorable market conditions, provides a compelling risk-reward profile, justifying its Zacks Rank #2 (Buy).
While Marathon offers stability and scale, HF Sinclair's combination of operational catalysts, efficiency initiatives and valuation advantage makes it a more attractive refining investment at current levels.
You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
Looking for a stock that has been consistently beating earnings estimates and might be well positioned to keep the streak alive in its next quarterly report? Norfolk Southern (NSC - Free Report) , which belongs to the Zacks Transportation - Rail industry, could be a great candidate to consider.
When looking at the last two reports, this railroad has recorded a strong streak of surpassing earnings estimates. The company has topped estimates by 10.70%, on average, in the last two quarters.
For the most recent quarter, Norfolk Southern was expected to post earnings of $2.51 per share, but it reported $2.65 per share instead, representing a surprise of 5.58%. For the previous quarter, the consensus estimate was $2.78 per share, while it actually produced $3.22 per share, a surprise of 15.83%.
Price and EPS Surprise
Thanks in part to this history, there has been a favorable change in earnings estimates for Norfolk Southern lately. In fact, the Zacks Earnings ESP (Expected Surprise Prediction) for the stock is positive, which is a great indicator of an earnings beat, particularly when combined with its solid Zacks Rank.
Our research shows that stocks with the combination of a positive Earnings ESP and a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) or better produce a positive surprise nearly 70% of the time. In other words, if you have 10 stocks with this combination, the number of stocks that beat the consensus estimate could be as high as seven.
The Zacks Earnings ESP compares the Most Accurate Estimate to the Zacks Consensus Estimate for the quarter; the Most Accurate Estimate is a version of the Zacks Consensus whose definition is related to change. The idea here is that analysts revising their estimates right before an earnings release have the latest information, which could potentially be more accurate than what they and others contributing to the consensus had predicted earlier.
Norfolk Southern currently has an Earnings ESP of +0.21%, which suggests that analysts have recently become bullish on the company's earnings prospects. This positive Earnings ESP when combined with the stock's Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) indicates that another beat is possibly around the corner. We expect the company's next earnings report to be released on July 23, 2026.
Investors should note, however, that a negative Earnings ESP reading is not indicative of an earnings miss, but a negative value does reduce the predictive power of this metric.
Many companies end up beating the consensus EPS estimate, but that may not be the sole basis for their stocks moving higher. On the other hand, some stocks may hold their ground even if they end up missing the consensus estimate.
Because of this, it's really important to check a company's Earnings ESP ahead of its quarterly release to increase the odds of success. Make sure to utilize our Earnings ESP Filter to uncover the best stocks to buy or sell before they've reported.
Quantum computing offers the promise of being the next big technological breakthrough after artificial intelligence (AI). The technology has drawn the interest of the U.S. government, which has been investing in the sector. Meanwhile, investors can buy the stocks of several public companies that are attempting to develop fault-tolerant quantum computers using a variety of different techniques.
Five of the best-known pure plays in the space are IonQ (IONQ -1.18%), Quantinuum (QNT -6.44%), Rigetti Computing (RGTI +0.13%), Infleqtion (INFQ +3.94%), and D-Wave Quantum (QBTS -1.57%). Let's consider which of these quantum stocks looks like the best buy.
Today's Change
(
-1.18
%) $
-0.42
Current Price
$
35.09
All quantum computers are built around qubits, which are extremely sensitive to even the slightest external interference. As a result, their computations have high error rates. The error-reduction and error-correction problems are among the chief challenges faced by every company trying to make quantum computing practical.
The two companies at the forefront of accuracy, though, are IonQ and Quantinuum. Both companies use trapped-ion technology: Each qubit in their computers is made out of an individual charged atom (aka, an ion). This method results in qubits that are more stable than qubits created using other techniques. The result is that IonQ has achieved 99.99% 2-qubit gate fidelity (a standard metric for quantum computing accuracy), while Quantinuum sits at 99.92%.
The companies differ primarily in how they hold their qubits in place. IonQ uses a combination of lasers and microwave antennas built into its chips, while Quantinuum employs only lasers, arguing that microwave antennas slow computational speed too much.
Quantinuum is known for its comprehensive software stack, while IonQ has been developing an entire quantum ecosystem, having made acquisitions in quantum sensing, networking, and satellite transmission. It is even in the process of acquiring quantum chip foundry SkyWater Technology, a deal that will enable it to manufacture its own chips in-house and become vertically integrated.
Rigetti Computing
Today's Change
(
0.13
%) $
0.02
Current Price
$
15.30
Rigetti is pursuing one of the more common approaches to quantum computing: superconducting qubits. These are electronic circuits that can be made in conventional semiconductor fabs. While they must be brought to temperatures near absolute zero in order to operate, which requires expensive dilution refrigerators, they are controlled by microwave pulses, and the qubits don't need bulky lasers to hold them in place.
The big advantage is that this technique provides much faster speeds than trapped-ion and other approaches. The disadvantage is that Rigetti lags in accuracy, with 2-qubit fidelity currently around 99.1% for its new Cepheus-1-108Q system. While that may sound close to the level that IonQ has reached, in the world of computing, it is considered way behind.
Image source: Getty Images.
Infleqtion Infleqtion has carved out a niche in quantum sensing and precision timing tools, giving it a solid revenue base as it pursues the development of a fault-tolerant quantum system using neutral-atom technology. Similar to trapped-ion technology, it creates each qubit out of an individual atom. But because it uses atoms that are not charged, they don't repel each other. This allows neutral-atom systems to operate with higher qubit densities.
Right now, Infleqtion's technology sits between trapped-ion and superconductor techniques. Its technology is faster than the trapped-ion approach but much slower than superconducting qubits. Meanwhile, the 99.73% 2-gate fidelity it recorded in 2024 is much better than Rigetti's but still meaningfully trails its trapped-ion peers.
D-Wave Quantum
Today's Change
(
-1.57
%) $
-0.28
Current Price
$
17.52
D-Wave Quantum has established itself as a leader in quantum annealing, which offers a niche solution for solving optimization problems. Because the technology is more mature and less complex, the company has already started to commercialize its systems, which can be particularly useful for certain industries like finance and logistics, where finding the most efficient solutions to complex problems (or even a solution that's close to the best) can provide a company with competitive advantages.
Meanwhile, following its acquisition of Quantum Circuits, D-Wave is looking to apply what it learned in developing quantum annealing to superconducting qubit architecture. It plans to use Fluxonium qubits, which can remain in their quantum states longer, and a dual-rail gate-model processor with built-in error detection. It believes that by combining these technologies, it can create a system with the accuracy of a trapped-ion system and the speed of superconducting qubits.
The verdict Ultimately, for those who want to invest in this still-speculative technology, taking a basket approach could prove to be a wise course, as no one knows yet which of the many qubit technologies will reach fault tolerance and commercial viability first. However, if I could only invest in one quantum stock, it would be IonQ. It has the accuracy lead today, and I think its ecosystem and vertically integrated approach should give it an advantage.
Key Takeaways Webster Financial posted Q2 adjusted EPS of $1.60, missing estimates despite year-over-year growth.WBS grew loans, deposits and non-interest income, while expenses rose and net interest margin narrowed.Webster Financial's Santander acquisition cleared more approvals and is expected to close in 2H 2026. Webster Financial Corporation (WBS - Free Report) posted adjusted earnings per share (EPS) of $1.60 for the second quarter of 2026, marginally missing the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.61. However, the reported figure compared favorably with the EPS of $1.52 reported a year ago.
Results were affected by an increase in non-interest expenses and contraction in net interest margin. Nonetheless, net interest income (NII) and non-interest income rose. Higher loan and deposit balances and a decline in provision were encouraging, too.
Results excluded transaction expenses. After considering these, net income applicable to common shareholders (GAAP basis) was $249.4 million, down 0.9% from the prior-year quarter.
WBS’ Q2 Revenues & Expenses Increase Y/YTotal revenues came in at $740 million, missing the consensus mark of $749.32 million by 1.3%. The metric rose 3.4% year over year.
NII increased 1.9% year over year to $632.7 million. The net interest margin was 3.26%, down 18 basis points.
Non-interest income was $107.2 million, up 13.3% from the year-ago quarter’s reported figure of $94.7 million. The increase was primarily driven by other miscellaneous income and higher loan and lease-related fees.
Non-interest expenses were $385 million, up 11.4% from the year-ago quarter. In the second quarter of 2026, the figure included $8.7 million in transaction expenses. The rise was primarily caused by higher compensation and benefit costs.
The efficiency ratio was 47.74% compared with 45.40% in the prior-year quarter. An increase in the efficiency ratio indicates a decline in profitability.
WBS’ Balance Sheet ExpandsPeriod-end loans and leases grew 1.1% sequentially to $57.9 billion. Commercial loans and leases increased $450.6 million, commercial real estate loans rose $224 million and residential mortgages were relatively stable. Consumer loans declined $54.9 million.
Total deposits increased 1.8% from the prior quarter to $70.3 billion. The rise was primarily driven by brokered certificates of deposit and interest-bearing checking balances, partially offset by lower money market and health savings account deposits.
The loan-to-deposit ratio was 82.3%, up from 80.9% in the year-ago quarter. Total borrowings were $4.5 billion, down 3.2% year over year.
Webster Financial’s Credit Quality: Mixed BagTotal non-performing assets were $430.2 million as of June 30, 2026, down 19.9% from the year-ago quarter. Allowance for loan losses was 1.25% of total loans, down from 1.35% reported in the second quarter of 2025.
The ratio of net charge-offs to annualized average loans was 0.30%, up from 0.27% in the year-ago period.
The provision for credit losses was $31.5 million, down 32.3% year over year. Past-due loans and leases totaled $117.3 million, up from $54.8 million a year ago, primarily due to commercial real estate loans.
WBS’ Capital Ratios ImproveAs of June 30, 2026, the Tier 1 risk-based capital ratio was 12.17%, up from 11.86% as of June 30, 2025. The total risk-based capital ratio was 14.13%, up from the prior-year quarter’s 14.05%.
The common equity Tier 1 ratio was 11.69%, up from 11.35% in the year-ago quarter. The tangible common equity ratio was 7.60% compared with 7.46% a year earlier.
Tangible book value per common share rose to $38.81 from $35.13 in the prior-year quarter.
Webster Financial’s Profitability Ratios DeclineReturn on average assets was 1.19%, down from 1.29% in the prior-year quarter. At the end of the second quarter, the return on average common stockholders’ equity was 10.73%, down from 11.31% in the prior-year quarter.
Return on average tangible common stockholders’ equity was 16.67%, down from 17.96% a year ago.
WBS’ Santander Deal ProgressesWebster Financial’s proposed acquisition by Banco Santander received approval from WBS’ stockholders, the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency and the European Central Bank. The transaction remains subject to customary closing conditions, including approval from the Federal Reserve Board, and is expected to close in the second half of 2026.
Under the agreement, Webster Financial’s shareholders will receive $48.75 in cash and 2.0548 Banco Santander ordinary shares, delivered as American Depository Receipts, for each WBS share. In light of the proposed transaction, Webster Financial will no longer provide a forward-looking financial outlook.
Our Take on Webster FinancialWebster Financial’s second-quarter results reflected continued balance-sheet growth, higher NII and solid growth in non-interest income. Lower provision expenses and a substantial decline in non-performing assets were positives.
However, higher operating expenses, margin compression and an increase in past-due loans remain areas to monitor. Further, the modest earnings and revenue misses may dampen investor sentiment. With the Santander transaction advancing through the regulatory process, deal completion remains the key near-term focus for WBS.
Webster Financial currently carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
Performance of Other Bank StocksWaFd Inc.’s (WAFD - Free Report) third-quarter fiscal 2026 (ended June 30) adjusted earnings of 81 cents per share lagged the Zacks Consensus Estimate by a penny. However, the bottom line jumped 11% year over year.
WAFD’s results were hurt by a substantial rise in provisions and higher expenses. Further, lower loan and deposit balances acted as a spoilsport. These were partially offset by higher net interest income and non-interest income.
Citizens Financial Group (CFG - Free Report) reported second-quarter 2026 earnings per share of $1.30, which surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.25. The metric rose 41% from the year-ago quarter.
CFG’s results benefited from a rise in net interest income (NII) and non-interest income. Growth in loan and deposit balances and an improvement in credit quality were also encouraging. However, a rise in expenses and a weaker capital position were major headwinds.
4 Buy-and-Hold-Forever Stocks Available at a BargainAlaska Air Group NYSE: ALK reported a second-quarter loss but told analysts that improving revenue trends, completed integration work and easing fuel costs position the company for a stronger second half of 2026.
Ryan St. John, vice president of finance, planning and investor relations, said Air Group reported a second-quarter GAAP net loss of $76 million. Excluding special items, the company posted an adjusted net loss of $102 million.
Get Alaska Air Group alerts:
Boeing Gets $50B in March Orders—Is BA Stock a Buy Now?Ben said the company “beat our initial guidance for the second quarter” but was “not satisfied” with a loss during what is typically one of the airline’s strongest quarters. He attributed much of the pressure to fuel, saying prices were up nearly 70% year over year. He added that Alaska returned to profitability in June with a double-digit pretax margin despite the elevated fuel environment.
“Absent the fuel spike, this would have been a solidly profitable quarter,” Ben said, adding that the company saw strengthening unit revenue, improving unit costs and continued demand through the quarter.
Revenue Strengthened Through the Quarter Despite Bad Headlines, Boeing Still Wins Billion Dollar ContractsAndrew said second-quarter revenue rose to $4.1 billion, up 10% year over year, while capacity grew 1%. Unit revenue increased 8.6%, including what the company described as a three-point drag from historic Hawaii rainstorms.
Andrew said unit revenue accelerated each month of the quarter, rising 5.5% in April, 8.8% in May and 11% in June. Total June revenue was up 13.2%, contributing to the company’s return to profitability for that month.
The company pointed to several factors behind the revenue improvement, including the move to a single reservation system, the launch of European service, Asia service, adoption of Atmos Rewards and strong operational performance.
Managed corporate revenue also improved. Andrew said Portland and San Diego managed corporate share increased by five points and four points, respectively. Portland exceeded 50% share of managed corporate revenue, which Andrew called a historic milestone. In Seattle, managed corporate passenger volume exceeded system trends with 9% growth, supported by new service to major international markets including London, Tokyo and Incheon.
Loyalty, Premium and International Growth Highlighted Alaska executives said loyalty and premium revenue were important contributors to the quarter. Andrew said co-brand remuneration reached $663 million, up 19% year over year. Active Atmos members increased 15%, while attrition fell more than 30%.
In Hawaii, the company said loyalty growth outpaced system performance, with a 73% year-over-year increase in new cardholders and a 34% increase in members in the Huaka'i by Hawaiian community.
Premium revenue rose 15% in the quarter and now represents 35% of total revenue, Andrew said. He added that more than half of every revenue dollar now comes from outside the main cabin.
Ben said the company’s first long-haul international routes from Seattle are “off to a strong start.” He said new Rome, London and Reykjavik routes are each carrying 50% or more Atmos members, which he described as an early sign of loyalty demand for the expansion.
Andrew said the international launch has been encouraging, noting that the company recently turned on its ability to sell in the United Kingdom and sees additional opportunity to grow international premium cabin share.
Integration Milestone Completed Ben described the quarter as “one of the most consequential and strategically important quarters” in the company’s history. Alaska completed its migration to a single passenger service system and established what he called the industry’s first dual-brand passenger service system platform.
The company said it maintained strong operations during the transition. Ben said Alaska led the industry in on-time performance year to date and improved five points year over year in the second quarter.
Guest satisfaction improved after the reservation cutover, Ben said, rising seven points from the prior quarter. Hawaii improved 10 points. He also said Starlink Wi-Fi is improving the onboard experience, with guest satisfaction on Starlink-equipped flights 20% higher than on non-equipped flights. About one-third of the fleet is now equipped, with the remainder expected by 2027.
Ben said cabin retrofits across the company’s 737 fleet are complete, adding 1.3 million incremental first and premium class seats. Demand is absorbing the additional capacity, he said, as reflected in the increase in premium revenue.
Cargo Expansion and Fleet Changes Alaska also highlighted cargo as a strategic growth area. Ben said the company restructured its Amazon flying under a more profitable contract and is adding four Boeing 737-800 freighters for deployment across Hawaii and Alaska.
During the question-and-answer session, Shane Tackett, president of Alaska Airlines and CFO, said the aircraft will be owned by Alaska and operated under its own brand, not under a CMI or ACMI arrangement. Two are expected to be used in Alaska and two in Hawaii.
Ben also said the company plans to retire the 717 fleet beginning in 2028 and transition Neighbor Island flying to Boeing 737s, citing improved reliability, economics and cargo capability.
Outlook: Stronger Second Half Expected Shane said second-quarter unit costs excluding fuel rose 6.5% year over year. He said that result included transitory items such as elevated crew training costs tied to the 787 fleet ramp, employee recognition expense related to the passenger service system milestone and comparisons against aircraft sale gains in 2025. Excluding those items, core cost growth was in the low- to mid-single digits.
The company ended the quarter with $3.8 billion in total liquidity after raising $1 billion through a $500 million senior unsecured note offering and a $500 million term loan. Shane said the financing was intended to keep liquidity near the top of the company’s target range as it navigates fuel volatility.
Alaska guided third-quarter capacity growth of about 2% to 3%, with all growth coming from intercontinental flying. Full-year capacity growth is expected to be around 2%, at the low end of the original 2% to 3% guidance range.
Shane said economic fuel cost averaged $4.43 per gallon in the second quarter, slightly better than the company’s $4.50 guidance. For the third quarter, Alaska expects fuel price per gallon of $3.75 and earnings between breakeven and $1 per share.
The company said demand remains durable, with bookings into the summer peak and early fall pacing well. Andrew said unit revenue is running in the mid-teens year over year and that the company expects third-quarter system unit revenue to increase in the low double digits.
Executives said they plan to provide an update on full-year earnings guidance at an Investor Day scheduled for Sept. 29 in Seattle.
About Alaska Air Group (NYSE:ALK)Alaska Air Group is a publicly traded holding company headquartered in Seattle, Washington, that operates two main airlines—Alaska Airlines and Horizon Air. Through these carriers, the company offers scheduled passenger and cargo services across a network spanning the United States, Canada and Mexico. Its core business activities include domestic and international air transportation, loyalty program management under the Mileage Plan brand, and ancillary revenue streams such as baggage fees, in-flight sales and code-share partnerships with other global airlines.
The roots of Alaska Air Group trace back to the foundation of its flagship carrier, Alaska Airlines, in 1932.
This instant news alert was generated by narrative science technology and financial data from MarketBeat in order to provide readers with the fastest reporting and unbiased coverage. Please send any questions or comments about this story to [email protected].
Should You Invest $1,000 in Alaska Air Group Right Now?Before you consider Alaska Air Group, you'll want to hear this.
MarketBeat keeps track of Wall Street's top-rated and best performing research analysts and the stocks they recommend to their clients on a daily basis. MarketBeat has identified the five stocks that top analysts are quietly whispering to their clients to buy now before the broader market catches on... and Alaska Air Group wasn't on the list.
While Alaska Air Group currently has a Moderate Buy rating among analysts, top-rated analysts believe these five stocks are better buys.
View The Five Stocks Here
Enter your email address and we’ll send you MarketBeat’s list of ten stocks set to soar in Summer 2026, despite the threat of tariffs and what's happening in Iran. These ten stocks are incredibly resilient and are likely to thrive in any economic environment.
Key Takeaways Alaska Air's Q2 loss beat estimates as fuel expense surged 86%, adding about $600 million in costs.Unit revenue rose 8.6%, supported by higher yields, premium demand, corporate sales and loyalty growth.Alaska Air expects Q3 earnings from breakeven to $1 per share as fuel costs ease from Q2 levels. Alaska Air Group, Inc. (ALK - Free Report) reported a second-quarter 2026 adjusted loss of 92 cents per share, narrower than the Zacks Consensus Estimate of a 97-cent loss, with an average surprise of 5.2%. The company had posted adjusted earnings of $1.78 per share a year earlier.
Operating revenues increased 9.7% year over year to $4.07 billion but missed the consensus mark of $4.10 billion by 0.7%. Revenue per available seat mile rose 8.6%, while an 85% increase in economic fuel cost weighed heavily on profitability.
ALK's Unit Revenue Growth Supports the Top LinePassenger revenues increased 9% year over year to $3.64 billion. Loyalty program other revenues climbed 23% to $258 million, while cargo and other revenues advanced 17% to $163 million, reflecting strength across the company’s diversified revenue streams.
Premium revenues grew 15%, managed corporate revenues rose 30% and loyalty cash remuneration increased 19%. However, historic rainstorms in Hawai‘i disrupted spring-break travel and reduced system unit revenues by approximately 3 percentage points during the quarter.
Alaska Air Sees Yield Gains Despite Softer TrafficConsolidated traffic, measured in revenue passenger miles, declined 0.8% while capacity increased 1%. The load factor fell 1.6 percentage points to 82.3% as passenger volumes decreased 1.2% to 15.1 million.
Yield increased 9.6% to 18.21 cents, and passenger revenue per available seat mile rose 7.5% to 14.99 cents. Total revenue per available seat mile reached 16.72 cents, up from 15.39 cents a year earlier, as stronger pricing offset weaker traffic trends.
ALK Faces a Sharp Increase in Fuel ExpenseTotal operating expenses surged 24% to $4.23 billion. Aircraft fuel expense increased 86% to $1.31 billion as economic fuel cost rose to $4.43 per gallon from $2.39. The increase added approximately $600 million of fuel expense during the quarter.
Wages and benefits rose 6% to $1.24 billion, while landing fees and other rentals increased 10%. Other operating expenses climbed 22%. These increases more than offset lower special-item costs and a slight decline in third-party regional carrier expenses.
Alaska Air Keeps Core Costs Below Prior GuidanceCost per available seat mile excluding fuel, freighter costs, performance-based pay and special items increased 6.5% to 11.40 cents. This was better than the company’s prior expectation for high-single-digit growth.
Around 2.5 percentage points of the increase came from transitory factors. These included an employee recognition award tied to completing a single passenger service system, the absence of prior-year aircraft sale gains and crew training costs for the international widebody expansion.
ALK's Profitability Weakens Under Fuel PressureThe adjusted pretax loss was $176 million against adjusted pretax income of $295 million a year ago. Adjusted pretax margin fell to negative 4.3% from positive 8%. Adjusted net loss totaled $102 million versus adjusted net income of $215 million.
On a reported basis, Alaska Air recorded an operating loss of $168 million against an operating income of $277 million. GAAP net loss was $76 million, or 68 cents per share, against net income of $172 million, or $1.42 per share, in the prior-year quarter.
Alaska Air Strengthens Liquidity as Leverage RisesOperating cash flow totaled $185 million during the second quarter and $606 million for the first six months of 2026. The company ended June with $3.8 billion in available liquidity after completing $1 billion of financing during the quarter.
Cash and cash equivalents stood at $1.06 billion, while marketable securities totaled $1.60 billion. Long-term debt and finance leases increased to $5.78 billion from $4.83 billion as of 2025-end. Adjusted net debt to EBITDAR rose to 4.8 times from 2.9 times, while debt to capitalization increased to 65%.
ALK Expects a Third-Quarter Earnings InflectionFor the third quarter of 2026, Alaska Air expects adjusted earnings between breakeven and $1 per share. The Zacks Consensus Estimate is currently pegged at $1.41 per share. Capacity is projected to rise 2%-3%, with nearly all growth coming from long-haul international flights out of Seattle.
Unit revenue is forecast to increase in the low double digits, while non-fuel unit costs are expected to rise in the low to mid-single digits. The outlook assumes an economic fuel cost of $3.75 per gallon, below the second quarter’s level, as refining margins moderate.
Currently, Alaska Air carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
Q2 Performances of Other Transportation CompaniesDelta Air Lines (DAL - Free Report) reported second-quarter 2026 earnings (excluding 88 cents from non-recurring items) of $1.56 per share, beating the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.51. Earnings declined in double digits (% wise) from a year ago as sharply higher fuel costs pressured profitability.
Revenues rose on a year-over-year basis to $17.67 billion but missed the consensus estimate of $17.76 billion. Broad demand strength lifted adjusted total revenue per available seat mile, or TRASM, 12.4%, while premium and diversified revenue streams continued to expand.
United Airlines Holdings, Inc. (UAL - Free Report) ) reported second-quarter 2026 adjusted earnings of $1.99 per share, down 48.6% year over year but above the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.92 by 3.7%.
Operating revenues rose 16% to $17.67 billion and were essentially in line with the $17.68-billion consensus mark. A 12.1% increase in total revenue per available seat mile, or TRASM, and broad-based gains across premium, loyalty and cargo revenues supported the top line despite sharply higher fuel costs.
J.B. Hunt Transport Services, Inc. (JBHT - Free Report) reported second-quarter 2026 earnings of $1.91 per share, up 45.8% from $1.31 a year ago. The figure beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.71 by 11.7%.
Operating revenues climbed 19.4% year over year to $3.50 billion and surpassed the consensus mark of $3.19 billion by 9.5%. Higher volumes and pricing across several businesses supported growth, led by a 10% increase in Intermodal loads.
Key Takeaways Hartford is expected to report revenue growth in Q2, but EPS is projected to decline year over year.HIG may benefit from higher premiums, fee income and investment income across key business segments.Hartford faces pressure from higher costs, weaker combined ratios and fewer policies in force. The Hartford Insurance Group, Inc. (HIG - Free Report) is set to report second-quarter 2026 results on July 23, after the closing bell. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for the to-be-reported quarter’s earnings is currently pegged at $3.13 per share on revenues of $5.2 billion.
The second-quarter earnings estimate has witnessed no upward estimate revisions against one downward movement over the past seven days. Meanwhile, the bottom-line projection indicates a year-over-year decline of 8.2%. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for quarterly revenues suggests year-over-year growth of 6%.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
For the current year, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for Hartford’s revenues is pegged at $21 billion, implying a rise of 4.8% year over year. However, the consensus mark for current-year EPS is pegged at $12.74, implying a fall of around 5.1% on a year-over-year basis.
HIG beat the consensus estimate for earnings in three of the last four quarters and missed once, with the average surprise being 16.5%.
Q2 Earnings Whispers for HIGOur proven model does not predict an earnings beat for Hartford Insurance this time. The combination of a positive Earnings ESP and a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), 2 (Buy) or 3 (Hold) increases the odds of an earnings beat, which is not the case here.
HIG has an Earnings ESP of -3.95% and currently carries a Zacks Rank #4 (Sell). You can uncover the best stocks to buy or sell before they’re reported with our Earnings ESP Filter.
What’s Shaping HIG’s Q2 Results?The Zacks Consensus Estimate for net premiums earned for the second quarter indicates 4.5% growth year over year. Also, the consensus estimate indicates an 8.2% increase in fee income in the quarter under review.
The consensus estimate for Business Insurance’s net investment income is $507.7 million, indicating 13.1% growth from the year-ago quarter’s figure. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for net investment income in the Personal Insurance business is pegged at $66.3 million, which indicates a 9.2% increase from the prior-year quarter’s reported figure.
The consensus mark for the Employee Benefits business’ revenues is pegged at $1.8 billion, indicating a 3.8% rise from the prior-year quarter's figure.
However, the bottom line is expected to have been pressured by higher insurance operating costs and other expenses. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Hartford’s Personal Insurance combined ratio for the quarter under review is pegged at 96.5%, indicating deterioration from the prior-year reported figure of 94.1%. Also, the same for the Business Insurance combined ratio is pegged at 91.9%, up from 87% a year ago.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Hartford’s homeowners’ policies in force for the quarter under review indicates a decline of 0.6% year over year. Also, the consensus estimate indicates a 10.8% year-over-year decline in automobile policies in force.
Stocks That Warrant a LookWhile an earnings beat looks uncertain for HIG, here are some companies from the broader Finance space 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 around:
Skyward Specialty Insurance Group, Inc. (SKWD - Free Report) has an Earnings ESP of +1.39% and carries a Zacks Rank #3 at present. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Skyward Specialty Insurance Group’s earnings for the to-be-reported quarter is pegged at $1.15 per share, indicating 29.2% year-over-year growth. The consensus estimate for revenues is pegged at $459.6 million. SKWD beat earnings estimates in each of the past four quarters, with the average surprise being 17%.
American Express Company (AXP - Free Report) currently has an Earnings ESP of +1.15% and a Zacks Rank #3.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for American Express’ bottom line for the to-be-reported quarter is pegged at $4.41 per share, indicating 8.1% year-over-year growth. It beat earnings estimates in three of the past four quarters and missed once, with the average surprise being 4%. The consensus estimate for AXP’s revenues is pegged at $19.6 billion.
Aon plc (AON - Free Report) has an Earnings ESP of +0.24% and carries a Zacks Rank #3 at present.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Aon’s bottom line for the to-be-reported quarter is pegged at $3.77 per share, indicating 8% year-over-year growth. It beat earnings estimates in each of the past four quarters, with the average surprise being 3.1%. The consensus estimate for AON’s revenues is pegged at $4.3 billion.
[url="]Robbins LLP[/url] reminds stockholders that a class action was filed on behalf of all investors who purchased or otherwise acquired Peabody Energy Corpo
New York, New York--(Newsfile Corp. - July 22, 2026) - Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC, a nationally recognized investor-rights law firm, announces that a class action lawsuit has been filed against Peabody Energy Corporation (NYSE: BTU) and certain of its officers.
This lawsuit seeks to recover damages against Defendants for alleged violations of the federal securities laws on behalf of all persons and entities that purchased or otherwise acquired Peabody Energy securities between October 14, 2024 and May 4, 2026, both dates inclusive (the "Class Period"). Such investors are encouraged to join this case by visiting the firm's site: bgandg.com/BTU.
Peabody Energy Case Details
The Complaint alleges that, throughout the Class Period, Defendants made materially false and misleading statements and/or failed to disclose:
The true state of Centurion mine's commissioning challenges, including unanticipated electrical and mechanical problems, roof control deterioration, and floor softening that made the March 2026 longwall production deadline unachievable.That Defendants' repeated assurances that Centurion was "on time and on budget" and "ahead of schedule" were materially false and misleading.That the mine's production shortfalls would materially impact Peabody's full-year 2026 financial results, including an $80 million EBITDA impact in the first quarter alone.On March 30, 2026 and May 5, 2026, Peabody disclosed the true scope of Centurion's problems, slashing its full-year sales outlook from 3.5 million to 2.5 million tons and increasing cost guidance to $123-$133 per ton.
Following this news, BTU fell approximately 9.7% on March 30, 2026, and an additional 5.7% on May 5, 2026, declining from $39.50 to $25.00 per share, a cumulative decline of approximately 37%.
What's Next for Peabody Energy Investors?
A class action lawsuit has already been filed. If you wish to review a copy of the Complaint, you can visit the firm's site: bgandg.com/BTU. or you may contact Peretz Bronstein, Esq. or his Client Relations Manager, Nathan Miller, of Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC at 917-590-0911. If you suffered a loss in Peabody Energy you have until August 24, 2026, to request that the Court appoint you as lead plaintiff. Your ability to share in any recovery doesn't require that you serve as lead plaintiff.
No Cost to Peabody Energy Investors
We, Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman LLC, represent investors in class actions on a contingency fee basis. That means we will ask the court to reimburse us for out-of-pocket expenses and attorneys' fees, usually a percentage of the total recovery, only if we are successful.
Why Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC for Peabody Energy Securities Class Action?
Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC is a nationally recognized firm that represents investors in securities fraud class actions and shareholder derivative suits. Our firm has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for investors nationwide. More at www.bgandg.com.
"Our practice centers on restoring investor capital and ensuring corporate accountability, which serves to uphold the essential integrity of the marketplace," said Peretz Bronstein, Founding Partner of Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC.
Attorney advertising.
Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes.
To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/303066
Source: Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC
Ready to Announce with Confidence? Send us a message and a member of our TMX Newsfile team will contact you to discuss your needs.
NEW YORK, July 22, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC, a nationally recognized investor-rights law firm, announces that a class action lawsuit has been filed against Peabody Energy Corporation (NASDAQ: BTU) and certain of its officers.
This lawsuit seeks to recover damages against Defendants for alleged violations of the federal securities laws on behalf of all persons and entities that purchased or otherwise acquired Peabody Energy securities between October 14, 2024 and May 4, 2026, both dates inclusive (the “Class Period”). Such investors are encouraged to join this case by visiting the firm’s site: bgandg.com/BTU.
Peabody Energy Case Details
The Complaint alleges that, throughout the Class Period, Defendants made materially false and misleading statements and/or failed to disclose:
(1) The true state of Centurion mine's commissioning challenges, including unanticipated electrical and mechanical problems, roof control deterioration, and floor softening that made the March 2026 longwall production deadline unachievable.
(2) That Defendants' repeated assurances that Centurion was "on time and on budget" and "ahead of schedule" were materially false and misleading.
(3) That the mine's production shortfalls would materially impact Peabody's full-year 2026 financial results, including an $80 million EBITDA impact in the first quarter alone.
On March 30, 2026 and May 5, 2026, Peabody disclosed the true scope of Centurion's problems, slashing its full-year sales outlook from 3.5 million to 2.5 million tons and increasing cost guidance to $123–$133 per ton.
Following this news, BTU fell approximately 9.7% on March 30, 2026, and an additional 5.7% on May 5, 2026, declining from $39.50 to $25.00 per share, a cumulative decline of approximately 37%.
What's Next for Peabody Energy Investors?
A class action lawsuit has already been filed. If you wish to review a copy of the Complaint, you can visit the firm’s site: bgandg.com/BTU. or you may contact Peretz Bronstein, Esq. or his Client Relations Manager, Nathan Miller, of Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC at 917-590-0911. If you suffered a loss in Peabody Energy you have until August 24, 2026, to request that the Court appoint you as lead plaintiff. Your ability to share in any recovery doesn't require that you serve as lead plaintiff.
No Cost to Peabody Energy Investors
We, Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman LLC, represent investors in class actions on a contingency fee basis. That means we will ask the court to reimburse us for out-of-pocket expenses and attorneys’ fees, usually a percentage of the total recovery, only if we are successful.
Why Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC for Peabody Energy Securities Class Action?
Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC is a nationally recognized firm that represents investors in securities fraud class actions and shareholder derivative suits. Our firm has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for investors nationwide. More at www.bgandg.com
"Our practice centers on restoring investor capital and ensuring corporate accountability, which serves to uphold the essential integrity of the marketplace," said Peretz Bronstein, Founding Partner of Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC.
Follow us for updates on LinkedIn, X, Facebook, or Instagram.
Contact Info
Peretz Bronstein, Esq. or Nathan Miller
Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC
917-590-0911 | [email protected]
Attorney advertising.
Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes.
LOS ANGELES, July 22, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Glancy Prongay Wolke & Rotter LLP reminds investors of the upcoming August 24, 2026 deadline to file a lead plaintiff motion in the class action filed on behalf of investors who purchased or otherwise acquired Peabody Energy Corporation (“Peabody” or the “Company”) (NYSE: BTU) common stock between October 14, 2024 to May 4, 2026, inclusive (the “Class Period”).
IF YOU SUFFERED A LOSS ON YOUR PEABODY INVESTMENTS, CLICK HERE TO INQUIRE ABOUT POTENTIALLY PURSUING CLAIMS TO RECOVER YOUR LOSS UNDER THE FEDERAL SECURITIES LAWS.
What Happened?
On March 30, 2026, Peabody issued a press release with lowered guidance concerning its Centurion mine’s first quarter 2026 output due to mining commissioning challenges.
On this news, Peabody’s stock price fell $3.82, or 9.7%, to close at $35.68 per share on March 30, 2026, thereby injuring investors.
Then, on May 5, 2026, Peabody disclosed that it had failed to complete its goal to fully ramp-up Centurion by March 2026 and that it was cutting guidance related to full year metallurgical segment volumes to reflect the increased cost and substantial volume decrease.
On this news, Peabody’s stock price fell $1.52, or 5.7%, to close at $25.00 per share on May 5, 2026, thereby injuring investors further.
What Is The Lawsuit About?
The complaint filed in this class action alleges that throughout the Class Period, Defendants made materially false and/or misleading statements, as well as failed to disclose material adverse facts about the Company’s business, operations, and prospects. Specifically, Defendants failed to disclose to investors that: (1) Peabody’s overly optimistic March 2026 Centurion ramp-up date and promises regarding the Company’s inflated guidance fell short of reality when numerous issues at Centurion caused a significant delay to the mine’s ramp-up and Peabody’s first quarter metallurgical segment volumes; and (2) as a result, Defendants’ positive statements about the Company’s business, operations, and prospects were materially misleading and/or lacked a reasonable basis at all relevant times.
If you purchased or otherwise acquired Peabody common stock during the Class Period, you may move the Court no later than August 24, 2026 to request appointment as lead plaintiff in this putative class action lawsuit.
Contact Us To Participate or Learn More:
If you wish to learn more about this action, or if you have any questions concerning this announcement or your rights or interests with respect to these matters, please contact us:
Charles Linehan, Esq.,
Glancy Prongay Wolke & Rotter LLP,
1925 Century Park East, Suite 2100,
Los Angeles California 90067
Email: [email protected]
Telephone: 310-201-9150,
Toll-Free: 888-773-9224
Visit our website at www.glancylaw.com.
Follow us for updates on LinkedIn, Twitter, or Facebook.
If you inquire by email, please include your mailing address, telephone number and number of shares purchased.
To be a member of the class action you need not take any action at this time; you may retain counsel of your choice or take no action and remain an absent member of the class action.
This press release may be considered Attorney Advertising in some jurisdictions under the applicable law and ethical rules.
Contact Us:
Glancy Prongay Wolke & Rotter LLP,
1925 Century Park East, Suite 2100
Los Angeles, CA 90067
Charles Linehan
Email: [email protected]
Telephone: 310-201-9150
Toll-Free: 888-773-9224
Visit our website at: www.glancylaw.com.
If you are looking for a stock that has a solid history of beating earnings estimates and is in a good position to maintain the trend in its next quarterly report, you should consider GlobalFoundries Inc. (GFS - Free Report) . This company, which is in the Zacks Electronics - Semiconductors industry, shows potential for another earnings beat.
This company has an established record of topping earnings estimates, especially when looking at the previous two reports. The company boasts an average surprise for the past two quarters of 15.65%.
For the last reported quarter, GlobalFoundries came out with earnings of $0.4 per share versus the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $0.35 per share, representing a surprise of 14.29%. For the previous quarter, the company was expected to post earnings of $0.47 per share and it actually produced earnings of $0.55 per share, delivering a surprise of 17.02%.
Price and EPS Surprise
With this earnings history in mind, recent estimates have been moving higher for GlobalFoundries. In fact, the Zacks Earnings ESP (Expected Surprise Prediction) for the company is positive, which is a great sign of an earnings beat, especially when you combine this metric with its nice Zacks Rank.
Our research shows that stocks with the combination of a positive Earnings ESP and a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) or better produce a positive surprise nearly 70% of the time. In other words, if you have 10 stocks with this combination, the number of stocks that beat the consensus estimate could be as high as seven.
The Zacks Earnings ESP compares the Most Accurate Estimate to the Zacks Consensus Estimate for the quarter; the Most Accurate Estimate is a version of the Zacks Consensus whose definition is related to change. The idea here is that analysts revising their estimates right before an earnings release have the latest information, which could potentially be more accurate than what they and others contributing to the consensus had predicted earlier.
GlobalFoundries currently has an Earnings ESP of +0.33%, which suggests that analysts have recently become bullish on the company's earnings prospects. This positive Earnings ESP when combined with the stock's Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) indicates that another beat is possibly around the corner. We expect the company's next earnings report to be released on August 5, 2026.
Investors should note, however, that a negative Earnings ESP reading is not indicative of an earnings miss, but a negative value does reduce the predictive power of this metric.
Many companies end up beating the consensus EPS estimate, but that may not be the sole basis for their stocks moving higher. On the other hand, some stocks may hold their ground even if they end up missing the consensus estimate.
Because of this, it's really important to check a company's Earnings ESP ahead of its quarterly release to increase the odds of success. Make sure to utilize our Earnings ESP Filter to uncover the best stocks to buy or sell before they've reported.
Whether it's through stocks, bonds, ETFs, or other types of securities, all investors love seeing their portfolios score big returns. However, when you're an income investor, your primary focus is generating consistent cash flow from each of your liquid investments.
Cash flow can come from bond interest, interest from other types of investments, and, of course, dividends. A dividend is the distribution of a company's earnings paid out to shareholders; it's often viewed by its dividend yield, a metric that measures a dividend as a percent of the current stock price. Many academic studies show that dividends account for significant portions of long-term returns, with dividend contributions exceeding one-third of total returns in many cases.
Based in Conshohocken, Hamilton Lane (HLNE - Free Report) is in the Finance sector, and so far this year, shares have seen a price change of -37.25%. Currently paying a dividend of $0.60 per share, the company has a dividend yield of 2.85%. In comparison, the Financial - Investment Management industry's yield is 2.8%, while the S&P 500's yield is 1.35%.
Looking at dividend growth, the company's current annualized dividend of $2.40 is up 11.1% from last year. Over the last 5 years, Hamilton Lane has increased its dividend 5 times on a year-over-year basis for an average annual increase of 11.96%. Looking ahead, future dividend growth will be dependent on earnings growth and payout ratio, which is the proportion of a company's annual earnings per share that it pays out as a dividend. Hamilton Lane's current payout ratio is 37%, meaning it paid out 37% of its trailing 12-month EPS as dividend.
HLNE is expecting earnings to expand this fiscal year as well. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2026 is $6.33 per share, representing a year-over-year earnings growth rate of 7.29%.
Investors like dividends for a variety of different reasons, from tax advantages and decreasing overall portfolio risk to considerably improving stock investing profits. However, not all companies offer a quarterly payout.
Big, established firms that have more secure profits are often seen as the best dividend options, but it's fairly uncommon to see high-growth businesses or tech start-ups offer their stockholders a dividend. Income investors must be conscious of the fact that high-yielding stocks tend to struggle during periods of rising interest rates. That said, they can take comfort from the fact that HLNE is not only an attractive dividend play, but is also a compelling investment opportunity with a Zacks Rank of #2 (Buy).
Have you been searching for a stock that might be well-positioned to maintain its earnings-beat streak in its upcoming report? It is worth considering Mercury Systems (MRCY - Free Report) , which belongs to the Zacks Aerospace - Defense Equipment industry.
When looking at the last two reports, this maker of processing systems and software has recorded a strong streak of surpassing earnings estimates. The company has topped estimates by 239.29%, on average, in the last two quarters.
For the last reported quarter, Mercury Systems came out with earnings of $0.27 per share versus the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $0.06 per share, representing a surprise of 350.00%. For the previous quarter, the company was expected to post earnings of $0.07 per share and it actually produced earnings of $0.16 per share, delivering a surprise of 128.57%.
Price and EPS Surprise
With this earnings history in mind, recent estimates have been moving higher for Mercury Systems. In fact, the Zacks Earnings ESP (Expected Surprise Prediction) for the company is positive, which is a great sign of an earnings beat, especially when you combine this metric with its nice Zacks Rank.
Our research shows that stocks with the combination of a positive Earnings ESP and a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) or better produce a positive surprise nearly 70% of the time. In other words, if you have 10 stocks with this combination, the number of stocks that beat the consensus estimate could be as high as seven.
The Zacks Earnings ESP compares the Most Accurate Estimate to the Zacks Consensus Estimate for the quarter; the Most Accurate Estimate is a version of the Zacks Consensus whose definition is related to change. The idea here is that analysts revising their estimates right before an earnings release have the latest information, which could potentially be more accurate than what they and others contributing to the consensus had predicted earlier.
Mercury Systems has an Earnings ESP of +2.67% at the moment, suggesting that analysts have grown bullish on its near-term earnings potential. When you combine this positive Earnings ESP with the stock's Zacks Rank #3 (Hold), it shows that another beat is possibly around the corner.
Investors should note, however, that a negative Earnings ESP reading is not indicative of an earnings miss, but a negative value does reduce the predictive power of this metric.
Many companies end up beating the consensus EPS estimate, but that may not be the sole basis for their stocks moving higher. On the other hand, some stocks may hold their ground even if they end up missing the consensus estimate.
Because of this, it's really important to check a company's Earnings ESP ahead of its quarterly release to increase the odds of success. Make sure to utilize our Earnings ESP Filter to uncover the best stocks to buy or sell before they've reported.
Investors in Ulta Beauty, Inc. (ULTA - Free Report) need to pay close attention to the stock based on moves in the options market lately. That is because the Sep 18, 2026 $310 Call had some of the highest implied volatility of all equity options today.
What is Implied Volatility?Implied volatility shows how much movement the market is expecting in the future. Options with high levels of implied volatility suggest that investors in the underlying stocks are expecting a big move in one direction or the other. It could also mean there is an event coming up soon that may cause a big rally or a huge sell-off. However, implied volatility is only one piece of the puzzle when putting together an options trading strategy.
What do the Analysts Think?Clearly, options traders are pricing in a big move for Ulta Beauty shares, but what is the fundamental picture for the company? Currently, Ulta Beauty is a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) in the Retail – Miscellaneous industry that ranks in the Top 22% of our Zacks Industry Rank. Over the last 60 days, two analysts have increased their earnings estimates for the current quarter, while eight analysts have revised their estimates downward. The net effect has taken our Zacks Consensus Estimate for the current quarter from $6.25 per share to $6.16 in that period.
Given the way analysts feel about Ulta Beauty right now, this huge implied volatility could mean there’s a trade developing. Oftentimes, options traders look for options with high levels of implied volatility to sell premium. This is a strategy many seasoned traders use because it captures decay. At expiration, the hope for these traders is that the underlying stock does not move as much as originally expected.
Momentum investing revolves around the idea of following a stock's recent trend in either direction. In "long context," investors will be essentially be "buying high, but hoping to sell even higher." With this methodology, taking advantage of trends in a stock's price is key; once a stock establishes a course, it is more than likely to continue moving that way. The goal is that once a stock heads down a fixed path, it will lead to timely and profitable trades.
Even though momentum is a popular stock characteristic, it can be tough to define. Debate surrounding which are the best and worst metrics to focus on is lengthy, but the Zacks Momentum Style Score, part of the Zacks Style Scores, helps address this issue for us.
Below, we take a look at Okta (OKTA - Free Report) , a company that currently holds a Momentum Style Score of B. We also talk about price change and earnings estimate revisions, two of the main aspects of the Momentum Style Score.
It's also important to note that Style Scores work as a complement to the Zacks Rank, our stock rating system that has an impressive track record of outperformance. Okta currently has a Zacks Rank of #2 (Buy). Our research shows that stocks rated Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) and #2 (Buy) and Style Scores of "A or B" outperform the market over the following one-month period.
You can see the current list of Zacks #1 Rank Stocks here >>>
Set to Beat the Market?Let's discuss some of the components of the Momentum Style Score for OKTA that show why this cloud identity management company shows promise as a solid momentum pick.
A good momentum benchmark for a stock is to look at its short-term price activity, as this can reflect both current interest and if buyers or sellers currently have the upper hand. It is also useful to compare a security to its industry, as this can help investors pinpoint the top companies in a particular area.
For OKTA, shares are up 7.73% over the past week while the Zacks Security industry is up 7.66% over the same time period. Shares are looking quite well from a longer time frame too, as the monthly price change of 19.93% compares favorably with the industry's 17.87% performance as well.
While any stock can see its price increase, it takes a real winner to consistently beat the market. That is why looking at longer term price metrics -- such as performance over the past three months or year -- can be useful as well. Shares of Okta have increased 85.97% over the past quarter, and have gained 48.15% in the last year. On the other hand, the S&P 500 has only moved 6.61% and 20.33%, respectively.
Investors should also pay attention to OKTA's average 20-day trading volume. Volume is a useful item in many ways, and the 20-day average establishes a good price-to-volume baseline; a rising stock with above average volume is generally a bullish sign, whereas a declining stock on above average volume is typically bearish. OKTA is currently averaging 3,020,678 shares for the last 20 days.
Earnings OutlookThe Zacks Momentum Style Score also takes into account trends in estimate revisions, in addition to price changes. Please note that estimate revision trends remain at the core of Zacks Rank as well. A nice path here can help show promise, and we have recently been seeing that with OKTA.
Over the past two months, 13 earnings estimates moved higher compared to none lower for the full year. These revisions helped boost OKTA's consensus estimate, increasing from $3.79 to $3.83 in the past 60 days. Looking at the next fiscal year, 11 estimates have moved upwards while there have been 1 downward revision in the same time period.
Bottom LineTaking into account all of these elements, it should come as no surprise that OKTA is a #2 (Buy) stock with a Momentum Score of B. If you've been searching for a fresh pick that's set to rise in the near-term, make sure to keep Okta on your short list.
Evercore ISI’s Mark Mahaney raised the bar on Alphabet (NASDAQ:GOOGL | GOOGL Price Prediction) ahead of Wednesday night’s Q2 2026 earnings report, telling CNBC viewers that Search needs to hold 17%+ growth and Google Cloud needs to accelerate well past 70%. That is a demanding checklist for a company with a $4.29 trillion market cap, with the stock up 83.14% in the past year.
Google Search Must Repeat Its Strongest Growth in Years Mahaney’s first hurdle is holding the line on ad-driven search. “Search revenue last quarter positively surprised 17%, strongest growth in years. We need a repeat of that, probably at least this quarter, so 17% or greater,” he said.
That reference point comes from Alphabet’s Q1 2026 report, where Google Search & Other revenue reached $60.399 billion. CEO Sundar Pichai attributed the strength to “AI experiences driving usage, queries at an all time high.” Mahaney also flagged that a little bit of softness in advertising at the end of the March quarter did not come through in the June quarter, signaling a strong ad backdrop that reads through positively to Meta as well.
YouTube ads are expected to grow about 11% year over year, roughly in line with the $9.883 billion, 11% YoY result from Q1. This is steady growth, but it’s likely not going to be meaningful enough to drive the stock’s reaction after earnings.
Evercore Says Google Cloud Must Accelerate Beyond 70% Growth The higher hurdle is Google Cloud. Google Cloud posted $20.028 billion in Q1 with 63% growth. Mahaney is asking for further acceleration from a base that has already climbed sharply through 2025 and 2026. “That cloud segment last quarter shocked people with 63%. I think the bar this quarter has got to be north, well north of 70%,“ Mahaney said.
As a comparison, Microsoft (NASDAQ:MSFT) is seeing the same challenge. Azure last posted 40% YoY growth, with Microsoft Cloud revenue of $49.10 billion. Mahaney effectively wants to see Google Cloud grow at nearly double the pace of the market leader.
Act now: the analyst who called NVIDIA in 2010 just named his top 10 AI stocks — and Google didn't make the cut. Grab the names FREE today.
Alphabet’s $185 Billion Spending Plan Raises the Stakes The cloud number matters because Alphabet’s spending plan has ballooned. “They sort of shocked people by saying that they’re going to spend $185, $195 billion this year. And they said on the March quarter call that in the following year, capex next year is going to grow significantly,“ Mahaney said.
Alphabet saw $35.674 billion in Q1 capex alone, more than doubling YoY. To justify it, investors want visibility. The cloud backlog stood at $400 billion last quarter. Mahaney thinks this can work for Alphabet stock as long as they show strong growth numbers: “The stock can still work in that environment, but you better have a very strong Google Cloud number, and you better have a very strong backlog number.”
Key Takeaways Evercore’s Mahaney will be looking for Alphabet to post Search growth of at least 17%, Google Cloud growth well above 70%, and another increase in cloud backlog.
Those numbers will help determine whether Alphabet’s massive AI spending is producing enough demand to justify the cost. If growth falls short of these high expectations, the stock could decline even after reporting strong results.
Act now: the analyst who called NVIDIA in 2010 just named his top 10 AI stocks — and Google didn't make the cut. Grab the names FREE today.
, /PRNewswire/ -- WEC Energy Group Inc. (NYSE: WEC) will issue its 2026 second-quarter earnings news release before the stock market opens Wednesday, July 29. A conference call for investors and security analysts is scheduled for the same day at 1 p.m. Central time.
Detailed financial information will be available on the WEC Energy Group website by 6:30 a.m. Central time July 29.
To listen to webcast
Go to wecenergygroup.com. Under 'Webcasts,' select 'Q2 Earnings' at any point within 15 minutes of the start of the call. To listen to conference call
Conference ID: 3088105 Live: 888-330-2443. International: 240-789-2728 Replay: 800-770-2030. International: 647-362-9199 (replay available for two weeks following event)
WEC Energy Group (NYSE: WEC), based in Milwaukee, is one of the nation's premier energy companies, serving 4.8 million customers in Wisconsin, Illinois, Michigan and Minnesota.
The company's principal utilities are We Energies, Wisconsin Public Service, Peoples Gas, North Shore Gas, Michigan Gas Utilities, Minnesota Energy Resources and Upper Michigan Energy Resources. Another major subsidiary, We Power, designs, builds and owns electric generating plants. In addition, WEC Infrastructure LLC owns a fleet of renewable generation facilities in states ranging from South Dakota to Texas.
WEC Energy Group (wecenergygroup.com) is a Fortune 500 company and a component of the S&P 500. The company has approximately 31,000 stockholders of record, 7,000 employees and more than $52 billion of assets.
Key Takeaways Vertiv is expanding AI-ready cooling production in Italy to support rising high-density data center demand. Vertiv raised 2026 sales guidance to $13.5B-$14.0B with 29%-31% organic sales growth vs. 2025. VRT faces growing AI infrastructure competition from Super Micro Computer and Amphenol. Vertiv (VRT - Free Report) is benefiting from the surging global demand for AI-ready data centers, which require advanced cooling and power infrastructure to support increasingly dense and complex compute workloads. The company’s strategic investment in expanding global manufacturing capacity has been a major growth driver.
Building on this momentum, the company recently announced investments at its Tognana campus near Padua, Italy, to expand manufacturing and testing capabilities for AI-ready data center cooling systems.
The expansion is expected to double regional chiller production capacity by the end of 2026 and add a large-scale testing laboratory in early 2027 to validate chillers integrated with liquid cooling systems under high-density AI workloads. The investment strengthens Vertiv's ability to meet growing demand for AI and high-performance computing infrastructure while accelerating product development, testing and customer deployment of advanced thermal management solutions.
Vertiv’s expanding portfolio and acquisitions have been a major growth driver. The company’s acquisitions, such as PurgeRite, ThermoKey and BMarko Structures and Strategic Thermal Labs, are expected to strengthen its capabilities and market reach. In the first quarter of 2026, acquisitions contributed 4% to revenues.
Vertiv’s expanding AI data center footprint and manufacturing capacity signal further upside potential. Management raised 2026 guidance, pointing to sustained market momentum and accelerating capacity expansion. Vertiv now expects net sales of $13.5 billion to $14.0 billion, with organic net sales growth of 29% to 31% compared with 2025.
VRT Suffers From Stiff CompetitionVertiv’s AI infrastructure solutions are facing increasing competition from Super Micro Computer (SMCI - Free Report) and Amphenol (APH - Free Report) . Both Super Micro Computer and Amphenol are expanding their offerings to support high-density, AI-driven data center deployments.
Super Micro Computer’s expanding portfolio has been noteworthy. The company recently expanded its AI infrastructure portfolio through collaborations with AMD, Arm and NVIDIA, introducing new rack-scale platforms and data center blueprints designed to accelerate the deployment of large-scale agentic AI workloads.
Amphenol is benefiting from the surge in demand for AI infrastructure, which has become a transformative force for the company’s growth and market positioning. In the first quarter of 2026, IT datacom represented about 41% of sales and grew 81% organically year over year. This robust performance was driven by accelerating investments in AI data centers and the company’s ability to capture a significant share of this unique interconnect opportunity.
Vertiv’s Share Price Performance, Valuation, and EstimatesVRT’s shares have surged 88% year to date compared with the broader Zacks Computer & Technology sector’s 12.1% rise. The Zacks Computers - IT Services industry declined 24.8% in the same time frame.
VRT Stock's Performance
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Vertiv stock is trading at a premium, with a trailing 12-month Price/Book of 27.55X compared with the Computer and Technology sector’s 10.24X. VRT has a Value Score of D.
VRT's Valuation
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2026 earnings is pegged at $6.38 per share, which has increased by a couple of pennies over the past 30 days. This indicates a 51.90% increase from the reported figure of 2025.
Vertiv currently carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
Arrowhead Pharmaceuticals surged nearly 20% after strong Phase 3 results for plozasiran in severe hypertriglyceridemia, showing 79–81% triglyceride reductions and significant acute pancreatitis risk reduction. Plozasiran's quarterly dosing, robust efficacy, and favorable safety profile position ARWR to challenge Ionis's Tryngolza in the lucrative sHTG market, with regulatory filings planned before year-end. ARWR's TRIM platform is attracting major partnerships and milestone payments, with a pipeline spanning obesity, cardiovascular, and metabolic diseases, supporting long-term revenue growth potential.
Investors with an interest in Chemical - Diversified stocks have likely encountered both Innospec (IOSP - Free Report) and Air Products and Chemicals (APD - Free Report) . But which of these two stocks is more attractive to value investors? We'll need to take a closer look to find out.
We have found that the best way to discover great value opportunities is to pair a strong Zacks Rank with a great grade in the Value category of our Style Scores system. The Zacks Rank favors stocks with strong earnings estimate revision trends, and our Style Scores highlight companies with specific traits.
Right now, Innospec is sporting a Zacks Rank of #2 (Buy), while Air Products and Chemicals has a Zacks Rank of #3 (Hold). The Zacks Rank favors stocks that have recently seen positive revisions to their earnings estimates, so investors should rest assured that IOSP has an improving earnings outlook. But this is just one piece of the puzzle for value investors.
Value investors are also interested in a number of tried-and-true valuation metrics that help show when a company is undervalued at its current share price levels.
Our Value category highlights undervalued companies by looking at a variety of key metrics, including the popular P/E ratio, as well as the P/S ratio, earnings yield, cash flow per share, and a variety of other fundamentals that have been used by value investors for years.
IOSP currently has a forward P/E ratio of 17.48, while APD has a forward P/E of 22.43. We also note that IOSP has a PEG ratio of 2.33. This figure is similar to the commonly-used P/E ratio, with the PEG ratio also factoring in a company's expected earnings growth rate. APD currently has a PEG ratio of 2.69.
Another notable valuation metric for IOSP is its P/B ratio of 1.56. The P/B is a method of comparing a stock's market value to its book value, which is defined as total assets minus total liabilities. By comparison, APD has a P/B of 3.64.
These metrics, and several others, help IOSP earn a Value grade of B, while APD has been given a Value grade of D.
IOSP sticks out from APD in both our Zacks Rank and Style Scores models, so value investors will likely feel that IOSP is the better option right now.
Key Takeaways Retirement growth is supported by strong sales, high retention and the successful OneAmerica acquisitionInvestment Management benefits from fee-based revenue growth and the Allianz Global Investors partnership.VOYA continues returning capital through buybacks and dividends, backed by strong excess capital generation. Shares of Voya Financial, Inc. (VOYA - Free Report) have gained 35.7% in the past year, outperforming the industry’s growth of 10.8%. The stock closed at $98.25 on Tuesday, near its 52-week high of $103.85, reflecting investor confidence.
Growth in the Retirement and Investment Management businesses, improved Employee Benefits segments' performance, strategic acquisitions and partnerships, record net flows and strong excess capital generation are driving the stock. The momentum is likely to continue, supported by sustained strength in its core businesses, strategic acquisitions and ongoing share repurchases.
Shares of Voya Financial have outperformed its peers, including Reinsurance Group of America, Incorporated (RGA - Free Report) , Primerica, Inc. (PRI - Free Report) and Brighthouse Financial, Inc (BHF - Free Report) , which have gained 21.4%, 15.7% and 25.7%, respectively, in the past year.
VOYA’s Attractive ValuationVoya Financial shares are trading at a price-to-book value of 1.38X, lower than the industry average of 2.33X.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
VOYA’s Growth ProjectionThe Zacks Consensus Estimate for Voya Financial’s 2026 earnings per share (EPS) indicates a year-over-year increase of 6.2%. The consensus estimate for revenues is pegged at $1.33 billion, implying a year-over-year decline of 2.5%. The consensus estimate for 2027 EPS and revenues indicates an increase of 19.3% and 9.1%, respectively, from the corresponding 2026 estimates.
Earnings have grown 8.8% in the past five years, better than the industry average of 5.9%. The expected long-term earnings growth rate is 11.6%.
Mixed Analyst Sentiment on VOYAThe Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2026 has moved south 2.1%, while 2027 earnings have moved north 1.7%, in the past 30 days.
Factors Acting in Favor of VOYAVOYA’s earnings are driven by its solid segmental performances across Retirement, Investment Management and Employee Benefits segments. These businesses represent higher-growth, capital-light and higher-return units, bolstering the company’s solid presence in the market.
The Retirement segment is experiencing significant growth, driven by higher revenues, favorable market impacts, higher alternative investment income, active portfolio management, positive defined contribution flows and disciplined management of spend. Management expects strong commercial momentum in retirement, driven by robust sales, more than 95% retention and new plan implementations.
Management described the OneAmerica retirement acquisition as highly successful, generating returns above 30%. It has meaningfully strengthened the scale and earnings power of the Retirement business, which now serves nearly 10 million Retirement accounts.
The Investment Management segment should benefit from higher investment capital returns, primarily driven by overall market performance, higher fee-based revenues, strong commercial momentum and disciplined management of spend. Voya Financial remains confident of sustaining more than 2% organic growth. Management also highlighted continued strength in retail income and growth strategies. VOYA is constantly taking strategic steps to ramp up growth in its Investment Management segment. Voya Financial’s long-term strategic partnership with Allianz Global Investors has added scale and diversification to Voya Investment Management.
The Employee Benefits segment of the insurer is likely to gain from improving Stop Loss underwriting and pricing, reserve releases, margin recovery, a smaller block of business, lower premium-driven expenses, favorable Group Life claims experience, higher alternative investment income and active portfolio management.
The company’s capital levels remain strong. In the first quarter of 2026, VOYA generated approximately $200 million of excess capital and returned that amount to shareholders through share repurchases and dividends. It also executed an additional $150 million of share repurchases in the second quarter, with $413 million remaining under its authorization. Supported by strong free cash flow generation, ROE above 18% and disciplined capital deployment, the company remains well positioned to enhance shareholder value.
Risks for VOYAThe company plans to invest up to $75 million of excess capital in 2026 to strengthen its wealth management platform. These investments are expected to create a near-term earnings drag and reduce Retirement segment margins by about 200 basis points.
VOYA faces intense competition from broker-dealers, financial advisors, diversified financial institutions and start-up financial services providers, which could result in increased pricing pressure on certain products and services.
Voya Financial's long-term debt rose to $1.9 billion in the first quarter of 2026, up 26% from year-end 2025, causing the financial leverage ratio to deteriorate 220 basis points year over year to 29.7%. Higher leverage could weigh on future earnings and returns.
ConclusionVoya Financial is well-positioned for strong earnings growth across all three business segments, positive net flows, favorable retention and strategic partnerships. It should continue to benefit from financial flexibility and effective capital deployment. However, high competition and rising debt remain concerns.
Given the mixed analyst sentiment, it is wise to retain this Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) stock. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
Key Takeaways WEN maintained its 2026 adjusted EBITDA outlook of $460-$480 million despite a $13.2 million Q1 decline.Wendy's company-operated restaurants outperformed the broader U.S. system by 310 basis points in Q1.WEN expects global systemwide sales to return to growth in the second half as Project Fresh gains traction. The Wendy's Company (WEN - Free Report) is advancing its Project Fresh turnaround strategy amid persistent traffic pressure, intense value competition and elevated restaurant costs. U.S. same-restaurant sales declined 7.8% in the first quarter of 2026, primarily because of lower traffic, severe weather and adjustments to restaurant operating hours. Wendy’s nevertheless maintained its full-year outlook and expects sequential quarterly improvement, with global systemwide sales returning to growth in the second half as its turnaround initiatives gain traction.
Project Fresh focuses on strengthening brand relevance, restaurant execution and franchisee economics. Wendy’s introduced its Biggie Deals platform at $4, $6 and $8 price points to provide consistent everyday value while reinforcing product quality. The company also upgraded its core hamburger offerings, completed a significant enhancement to its spicy chicken sandwich and strengthened its innovation process. Customer-segmentation insights and a more audience-based marketing approach are expected to improve advertising effectiveness and strengthen customer engagement as the year progresses.
Early operational indicators support the strategy’s potential. Company-operated restaurants, which have fully implemented the operating playbook, outperformed the broader U.S. system by 310 basis points during the first quarter. Restaurants with the highest customer-satisfaction scores also generated same-restaurant sales that were approximately 400-500 basis points stronger than those of the lowest-performing locations. Wendy’s is expanding training, performance-management programs, order-accuracy technology and restaurant-cleanliness initiatives to extend these operational gains across the franchise system.
The path to EBITDA stabilization, however, remains dependent on a meaningful improvement in restaurant-level performance. First-quarter adjusted EBITDA declined $13.2 million year over year to $111.3 million, reflecting weaker company-operated restaurant margins, lower franchise royalty revenues and higher spending on brand revitalization, field support and international expansion. Wendy’s maintained its full-year adjusted EBITDA outlook of $460-$480 million and expects a U.S. company-operated restaurant margin of 13%, plus or minus 50 basis points. Lower-income consumer pressure, beef inflation and labor-rate increases remain headwinds, while system optimization is expected to create a $15-$20 million adjusted revenue headwind in 2026.
Wendy’s ability to generate EBITDA progress amid weak traffic will likely depend on whether Project Fresh can sustain stronger restaurant execution, improve customer engagement and translate better service levels into a sustained improvement in same-restaurant sales. These factors can support restaurant margins, franchise royalty revenues and operating leverage, making disciplined execution central to the company’s turnaround in a challenging QSR environment.
WEN’s Competitor LandscapeStarbucks Corporation (SBUX - Free Report) provides a relevant turnaround benchmark for Wendy’s because it is using service execution, menu innovation and loyalty engagement to rebuild transactions while navigating continued investment pressure. Under its Back to Starbucks strategy, the company is strengthening staffing, scheduling, technology and coffeehouse leadership through Green Apron Service, while its Grow reporting system is reinforcing more consistent store-level execution. Starbucks is also using a redesigned Rewards program, faster menu innovation and coffeehouse upgrades to increase engagement across morning and afternoon occasions. These efforts helped drive U.S. comparable sales growth of 7.1%, led by transaction growth of more than 4%, while consolidated operating margin expanded 110 basis points to 9.4% in the second quarter of fiscal 2026.
McDonald’s Corporation (MCD - Free Report) provides a closer operating comparison because it competes directly in the burger QSR category and is using value, marketing and menu innovation to protect traffic in a pressured consumer environment. Its “3 for 3” strategy combines McValue’s under-$3 items and meal deals across dayparts with culturally relevant campaigns and full-margin beef and chicken limited-time offerings. McDonald’s is also expanding its beverage platform through McCafé refreshers and crafted sodas. This approach supported U.S. comparable sales growth of 3.9%, favorable comparable sales and guest-count performance relative to close competitors and continued market-share strength during the first quarter of 2026.
Against this backdrop, Wendy’s faces a more demanding recovery than its larger peers. Starbucks is already translating stronger service execution and loyalty engagement into transaction-led growth, while McDonald’s is using its scale, value architecture and marketing reach to protect traffic and market share. Wendy’s competitive position will depend on whether Biggie Deals and its upgraded core menu can narrow the traffic gap while broader adoption of the Project Fresh operating playbook strengthens franchisee economics.
WEN’s Price Performance, Valuation & EstimatesShares of Wendy’s have gained 10.1% in the past three months against the industry’s 5% drop.
WEN Three-Month Price Performance
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
From a valuation standpoint, WEN trades at a forward price-to-sales (P/S) multiple of 0.65, below the industry’s average of 3.28.
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 has a Zacks Rank #4 (Sell).
You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
Key Takeaways Baker Hughes has beaten earnings estimates in four straight quarters, averaging a 14.61% surprise.Q2 EPS is pegged at 51 cents and revenue at $6.49B, down 19.1% and 6.1% year over year, respectively.Higher oil prices and the Iran war are expected to have supported demand for Baker Hughes' services. Baker Hughes (BKR - Free Report) is set to report second-quarter 2026 results on July 26.
In the last reported quarter, its earnings of 58 cents per share beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 50 cents, driven by solid performance from the Industrial & Energy Technology business segment. The oilfield service player’s earnings beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate in each of the trailing four quarters, delivering an average surprise of 14.61%. This is depicted in the graph below:
Estimate Trend for BKRThe Zacks Consensus Estimate for second-quarter earnings per share of 51 cents has been revised upward over the past seven days. The estimated figure indicates a 19.1% decline from the prior-year reported number.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for revenues of $6.49 billion implies a 6.1% decrease from the year-ago recorded figure.
Factors to Consider for BKRTo have an idea of how oil prices behaved in the June quarter, let's analyze the commodity prices from the data provided by the U.S. Energy Information Administration (“EIA”). The average Cushing, OK, WTI spot prices for April, May and June of this year were $100.32 per barrel, $102.13 per barrel and $84.81 per barrel, respectively, per EIA data. Commodity prices were $63.54 per barrel, $62.17 per barrel and $68.17 per barrel, respectively, in April, May and June of 2025, according to the EIA.
A constructive oil-price backdrop, driven by the Iran war, aided the exploration and production businesses in the June quarter of this year. This, in turn, is expected to have backed demand for Baker Hughes’ oilfield services.
Earnings WhispersOur proven model indicates an earnings beat for BKR this time around. The combination of a positive Earnings ESP and a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), 2 (Buy), or 3 (Hold) increases the chances of an earnings beat. That is the case here, as you will see below.
Earnings ESP: BKR has an Earnings ESP of +1.84%. You can uncover the best stocks to buy or sell before they are reported with our Earnings ESP Filter.
Zacks Rank: BKR currently carries a Zacks Rank #3.
Other Stocks to ConsiderHere are some other stocks that you may want to consider, as these too have the right combination of elements to post an earnings beat this reporting cycle.
NOV Inc. (NOV - Free Report) currently has an Earnings ESP of +19.69% and a Zacks Rank #2. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.
NOV is scheduled to release second-quarter earnings on July 28. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for NOV’s earnings is pegged at 16 cents per share, implying a 44.8% decrease from the prior-year reported figure.
Enbridge Inc. (ENB - Free Report) currently has an Earnings ESP of +2.27% and a Zacks Rank #3.
Enbridge is scheduled to release second-quarter earnings on July 31. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for ENB’s earnings is pegged at 44 cents per share, indicating a 6.4% decline from the prior-year reported figure.
Cactus, Inc. (WHD - Free Report) currently has an Earnings ESP of +7.04% and a Zacks Rank #2.
WHD is scheduled to release second-quarter earnings on July 29. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Cactus’ earnings is pegged at 71 cents per share, implying a 7.58% increase from the prior-year reported figure.
