Track market-moving stories before they get noisy

Key Takeaways Alibaba's operating cash flow fell 53% in FY26 as investment spending accelerated.Free cash flow swung to an RMB46.6 billion outflow from an RMB73.9 billion inflow.Cloud revenues accelerated, but sustained AI spending could keep free cash flow under pressure. Alibaba's (BABA - Free Report) weakening cash flow could become a headwind to its long-term growth potential if heavy investments continue to outpace cash generation. The company generated solid revenue growth in fiscal 2026, but its cash generation deteriorated sharply as it accelerated spending on AI infrastructure, cloud capacity, quick commerce and the Qwen AI ecosystem. Operating cash flow declined 53% year over year in fiscal 2026, while free cash flow swung to an outflow of RMB46.6 billion from an inflow of RMB73.9 billion a year earlier. This decline is primarily due to investments in quick commerce, cloud infrastructure and Qwen user acquisition, underscoring that these initiatives remain strategic priorities despite near-term financial pressure.

At the same time, management indicated that AI demand will require an even larger data center footprint over the next five years, implying sustained capital commitments that could keep free cash flow under pressure. Although Alibaba maintains a strong balance sheet, including RMB520.8 billion of cash and other liquid investments, continued negative free cash flow may eventually reduce financial flexibility if investment returns take longer to materialize.

On the positive side, Cloud Intelligence revenues continue to accelerate, supported by robust AI adoption, suggesting these investments could generate meaningful long-term returns. However, investors should closely monitor whether improving cloud monetization and operating efficiencies can offset persistent cash outflows. Until Alibaba demonstrates consistent recovery in ‘free cash flow’ alongside AI-driven revenue growth, cash flow weakness will likely remain a significant negative factor affecting its long-term investment potential.

How Does Alibaba Stack Up Against Its Main Rivals?Alphabet (GOOGL - Free Report) generates substantially stronger operating cash flow than Alibaba, enabling larger AI and cloud investments without compromising financial flexibility. Alphabet produced $39.1 billion in operating cash flow in the second quarter of 2026 while expanding AI infrastructure and strengthening its global monetization engine. Alphabet's diversified Search, YouTube and Cloud businesses provide durable competitive advantages, whereas Alibaba's free cash flow remains under pressure from aggressive AI investment.

Amazon (AMZN - Free Report) enjoys a stronger cash flow profile than Alibaba, supporting massive AI infrastructure spending backed by customer commitments and long-term returns. Amazon continues funding AWS, custom chips and logistics expansion while expecting future free cash flow acceleration. Amazon benefits from diversified businesses, scale and enterprise demand.

BABA’s Share Price Performance, Valuation & EstimatesBABA shares have declined 21.4% year to date compared with the industry’s fall of 4.1%.

BABA’s YTD Price Performance
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

From a valuation standpoint, BABA is currently trading at a price-to-book ratio of 1.7, below the sector’s average of 4.23. The company carries a Value Score of C.

BABA’s Valuation
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for fiscal 2027 and 2028 EPS has been revised downward over the past 30 and 60 days. The company has also missed earnings expectations in each of the trailing four quarters, with an average negative surprise of 37.65%.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

Mark Cuban and Michal Burry warn the AI boom is dangerously reliant on Nvidia By You're currently following this author! Want to unfollow? Unsubscribe via the link in your email.

Mark Cuban (left) and Michael Burry. Bloomberg/Getty Images; Astrid Stawiarz/Getty Images Mark Cuban and Michael Burry just sounded the alarm on Nvidia's sprawling web of AI deals.

Cuban struck a worried tone on X after another user wrote that Nvidia, by financing its customers' purchases of its graphics chips for their data center buildouts, is acting as a "backstop" and making itself vulnerable to an AI downturn.

"This is so analogous to the dot com burst," the tech billionaire and former "Shark Tank" investor wrote in a Tuesday post. "But instead of IPOs, Nvidia is the 'ipo,' funding everyone and anyone."

Cuban was referring to the popularity of going public during the internet bubble as a way for startups to raise cash and secure rich valuations — and saying that Nvidia has replaced the stock market in that role during this tech boom.

"One breakthrough in another chip provider, or a misstep, and it all could crumble," he wrote on X. "It's truly scary."

As far as Nvidia subsidizing everyone. You are right on. But that feeds the credit problem, far beyond oracle.

You never know where an exogenous change is going to come from. This is so analogous to the dot com burst. But instead of IPOs, Nvidia is the “ipo” , funding…

— Mark Cuban (@mcuban) July 28, 2026 Nvidia has struck deals worth hundreds of billions of dollars with numerous players in the AI ecosystem, including OpenAI, Microsoft, CoreWeave, and SK Hynix.

Cuban seems concerned that the chipmaker is so deeply intertwined with its customers that if it runs into problems, the damage could spread far and fast, creating painful and widespread fallout.

Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang himself, speaking during a company meeting in November, acknowledged Nvidia's linchpin role by pointing to online memes about the company propping up the AI boom, the stock market, and the global economy.

"We're basically holding the planet together — and it's not untrue," Huang said.

Shares of Nvidia were trading 2% lower on Wednesday, leaving them down 18% from their May peak. But they're still up around 13-fold since the start of 2023.

Nvidia didn't immediately respond to a request for comment from Business Insider.

"Biblical proportions"Burry, the investor of "The Big Short" fame, issued a similar warning to Cuban in a late Tuesday post on X.

"There is a reason $NVDA's 5 year credit default swaps are going parabolic," he wrote, attaching a chart showing the price of buying insurance against Nvidia defaulting on its debts has roughly doubled within the past two months.

"All this overreaching by #nvda to push the circular spending to biblical proportions," he added, suggesting that markets are pricing in a greater risk of Nvidia failing to meet its financial commitments because it's overextending itself with too many deals.

Michael Burry posted about Nvidia "circular spending" on X.  @michaeljburry/X Burry's iconic "Big Short" centered on buying credit default swaps to bet against subprime mortgage bonds during the mid-2000s housing bubble. The instruments surged in value once mortgage defaults began spiking, resulting in a huge windfall for Burry and his clients.

Both Cuban and Burry have taken aim at aspects of the AI boom in recent weeks.

Cuban cautioned on a podcast that companies are overbuilding AI infrastructure that will become more efficient over time, resulting in excess capacity. He quipped that a lot of the buildings will be converted into pickleball courts.

Similarly, Burry has said that tech giants are overinvesting in microchips and data centers that will quickly become obsolete, dragging out depreciation to inflate their earnings, and signing "give-and-take" deals to keep fueling hype around AI.

Burry, who pivoted from running a hedge fund to writing about his personal portfolio last winter, wrote in January that he was short Nvidia because it was "entirely dependent on hyperscaler spending, and I do not see how that math works."

In a July 24 post, Burry wrote that he bolstered his Nvidia short and holds bearish puts on the stock "in good size." He believes that much of its demand doesn't stem from end customers, much of it is financed and kept off its balance sheet, and "future revenues are majority financed in a circular arrangement," he wrote.

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Theron Mohamed You're currently following this author! Want to unfollow? Unsubscribe via the link in your email.

Theron Mohamed is a London-based correspondent on the Trending team at Business Insider. His coverage spans finance, investing, wealth, markets, and the economy.Theron joined BI in 2019 as a reporter at Markets Insider and rose to the rank of correspondent before moving to the Trending team in 2024. He previously covered tech, media, and telecom stocks for Investors Chronicle magazine and had a brief stint on the Financial Times' Data team. He interned at the Wall Street Journal in New York where he primarily wrote for Heard on the Street.Theron has freelanced for The Independent, The Telegraph, WIRED, and several smaller publications. He holds an undergraduate degree in geography from the London School of Economics, and a master's degree in journalism from Columbia University.Theron often covers Warren Buffett, Michael Burry, Jeremy Grantham and other top-flight investors. He also writes about the world's wealthiest people and shares financial advice from all manner of rich and successful people.Email Theron at [email protected] and follow him on X @theron_mohamed.Expertise

Corporate financeStocks and investingWealth and philanthropyBusiness historyUS economyWarren Buffett and Berkshire HathawayPopular articlesAl Pacino says he went from $50 million to broke, joining a long list of stars who've experienced money troublesAn oil tycoon sold his company for $26 billion this year — but died before the deal closedWarren Buffett drinks 5 cans of Coke a day — here's why he switched from Pepsi after nearly 50 yearsMeet the 16 people in the $100 billion club — who are jointly worth more than Amazon or Google'Big Short' investor Michael Burry kept quiet, piled into China tech, and won big with a stock bet in 2024Bill Gates' former assistant is worth $154 billion — and could soon be richer than the Microsoft cofounderHoward Schultz talked about Steve Jobs, trademarking the latte, and Starbucks' problems in a marathon interviewWarren Buffett just made a rare trip to Tokyo. Here's the story of a disastrous sushi dinner that made him swear off Japanese food forever.21 states where recession bells are ringing after unemployment jumpsWarren Buffett is building the Noah's Ark of rainy-day funds. Here's why he's stacked up more than $300 billion.The 'Shark Tank' star Kevin O'Leary warns couples not to combine finances: 'I don't care how in love you are'The Waltons are once again the world's wealthiest family, beating out Gulf royalty and fashion dynasties

Finance Tech Mark Cuban More Shark Tank AI Data Centers IPO Investing Stocks

Key Takeaways PepsiCo's international organic revenue rose 7%, extending mid-single-digit growth to 21 quarters.PepsiCo reaffirmed 2026 organic revenue growth of 2-4% and core EPS growth of 5-7%.PepsiCo's North America organic revenue fell 0.5% as affordability and cost pressures persisted. PepsiCo Inc. (PEP - Free Report) enters the second half of 2026 with durable global brands, better international volumes and reaffirmed financial guidance.

The investment debate is more balanced in North America, where soft demand, affordability spending and input-cost pressure continue to test near-term execution.

PepsiCo Builds on a Diversified Global PortfolioPepsiCo operates in more than 200 countries and territories with a portfolio that spans beverages and convenient foods. Its brands include Pepsi, Gatorade, Lay’s, Doritos, Cheetos, Quaker and Mountain Dew, giving the company multiple demand channels across daily consumption occasions.

Its six reporting segments further reduce reliance on one geography or category. PepsiCo Foods North America and PepsiCo Beverages North America cover the United States and Canada, while International Beverages Franchise, Europe, the Middle East and Africa, Latin America Foods and Asia Pacific Foods broaden the growth base.

The Coca-Cola Company (KO - Free Report) remains a relevant benchmark because it also sells beverages in more than 200 countries and territories. Keurig Dr Pepper Inc. (KDP - Free Report) , with its North American beverage portfolio and distribution network, offers another comparison point for investors tracking category demand and flavor innovation.

PEP Leans on International Markets for GrowthInternational markets were PepsiCo’s clearest growth engine in the second quarter of 2026. International organic revenue increased 7%, marking the 21st consecutive quarter of at least mid-single-digit organic revenue growth.

The strength was broad based. International Beverages Franchise organic revenues rose 9%, Europe, the Middle East and Africa grew 6%, Latin America Foods increased 4% and Asia Pacific Foods advanced 9%. Asia Pacific Foods also delivered 10% organic volume growth, the strongest volume performance among the reported segments.

PepsiCo Uses Productivity to Support EarningsPepsiCo’s second-quarter net revenues rose 6.4% to $24.18 billion, while organic revenues increased 2.4%. Core operating profit increased 4% and core earnings per share grew 4%, showing that productivity and pricing helped support earnings despite a tougher cost environment.

Automation, digitalization and supply-chain simplification remain central to that support. These initiatives are intended to offset inflation, help fund brand investment and preserve flexibility as management expects higher input-cost inflation in the second half of 2026.

PEP Balances Innovation With AffordabilityPepsiCo is expanding in functional hydration, protein offerings, zero-sugar beverages, permissible snacks and portion-control formats. These categories align with consumer demand for better-for-you choices while allowing the company to refresh established brands.

Affordability is the other side of the strategy. PepsiCo is using price-pack adjustments and spending behind value-oriented offerings to reach budget-conscious consumers, especially in North America. That focus helped convenient foods gain volume share, but the region still showed softer financial trends.

PepsiCo’s Signals Point to Near-Term CautionPepsiCo’s long-term global strengths remain visible, but the stock’s near-term setup is cautious. North America organic revenue declined 0.5% in the second quarter, PepsiCo Foods North America revenues fell 2%, and PepsiCo Beverages North America organic growth was only 1% despite reported revenue growth of 7%.

The company reaffirmed its 2026 outlook for organic revenue growth of 2-4% and reported net revenue growth of 4-6%. Core constant-currency earnings per share are expected to increase 4-6%, while core earnings per share are expected to rise 5-7%. Still, earnings growth is expected to be weighted toward the fourth quarter, which raises execution risk.

The stock currently carries a Zacks Rank #4 (Sell). That rank points to unfavorable earnings estimate revision trends over the next one to three months and supports caution for investors focused on near-term stock selection.

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

PepsiCo also has a Value Score of C, Growth Score of C, Momentum Score of F and VGM Score of C. These scores suggest a middle-ground valuation and growth profile, while the weak momentum reading reinforces the more cautious near-term signal despite PepsiCo’s durable global brand base.

Qualcomm stock price continued its strong downward trend this week, reaching its lowest level since April 30. QCOM has plunged by over 37% from its highest point this year, with its market capitalization falling from $265 billion to $171 billion. 

Qualcomm’s crash has coincided with the ongoing sell-off among other semiconductor companies. The VanEck Semiconductor (SMH) ETF has dropped from $671 to $529, while the iShares PHLX SOX Semiconductor Sector ETF (SOXX) has pulled back from a high of $655 to $490 today. 

QCOM stock has been in a strong bearish trend in the past few months as semiconductor and memory companies came under pressure. Nvidia, the biggest name in the industry, remains down by over 17% from its peak. Other companies like Intel and AMD have plunged in this period.

Qualcomm stock will be in the spotlight as the company publishes its financial results. Analysts expect the upcoming results to show that its revenue dropped by 6.68% last quarter to $9.6 billion. Also, its earnings-per-share (EPS) is expected to drop from $2.77 to $2.22. 

Qualcomm plans to address the revenue weakness by hiking prices. Media reports suggest that the company plans to boost prices for all chips going out in September this year. This is important as its products power most devices like smartphones, tablets, and some laptops.

According to Bloomberg, the company says that the price hikes are necessary as it has exhausted its ability to absorb costs from its suppliers. Also, it has faced its hard to find alternative suppliers to lower its prices. 

The price increases should help to support the stock in the near future as analysts predict that its full-year revenue will be lower than what it made a year earlier. Analysts expect the revenue to drop by 3.50% to $42.6 billion this year, followed by $44.18 billion next year.

The risk, however, is that soaring prices may lead to lower demand for smartphones and other devices. 

Third-party data shows that the company has become a bargain. It has a forward price-to-earnings ratio of 15, lower than the sector median of 23. The iShares Semiconductor ETF (SOXX), which tracks the biggest semiconductor companies, has a price-to-earnings ratio of 67. 

Qualcomm also has a forward price-to-cash flow ratio of 12.90, also lower than the sector median of 18.7. 

The options market expects the company to be highly volatile, with the implied volatility rising to 123%. Its put/call open interest has moved to 0.55, a sign that more investors see the stock rising. 

Qualcomm stock chart | Source: TradingView

Qualcomm share price has plunged from a high of $260 in May to the current $162. Technicals suggest that the stock has more downside. For example, the Percentage Price Oscillator (PPO) has continued falling. Also, the Relative Strength Index (RSI) has continued falling and is nearing the oversold level of 30. The RSI suggests that it has more downside before it becomes oversold.

On the positive side, the stock has formed a falling wedge pattern, which is made up of two falling and converging trendlines. This pattern often leads to a bullish breakout.

As such, these technicals suggest that the stock will be highly volatile after its earnings report. The key levels to watch will be at $150 and $180. 

Chord Energy Corporation (CHRD - Free Report) is expected to deliver a year-over-year increase in earnings on higher revenues when it reports results for the quarter ended June 2026. This widely-known consensus outlook gives a good sense of the company's earnings picture, but how the actual results compare to these estimates is a powerful factor that could impact its near-term stock price.

The earnings report, which is expected to be released on August 5, might help the stock move higher if these key numbers are better than expectations. On the other hand, if they miss, the stock may move lower.

While management's discussion of business conditions on the earnings call will mostly determine the sustainability of the immediate price change and future earnings expectations, it's worth having a handicapping insight into the odds of a positive EPS surprise.

Zacks Consensus EstimateThis company is expected to post quarterly earnings of $6.68 per share in its upcoming report, which represents a year-over-year change of +273.2%.

Revenues are expected to be $1.43 billion, up 20.8% from the year-ago quarter.

Estimate Revisions TrendThe consensus EPS estimate for the quarter has been revised 20.68% lower over the last 30 days to the current level. This is essentially a reflection of how the covering analysts have collectively reassessed their initial estimates over this period.

Investors should keep in mind that an aggregate change may not always reflect the direction of estimate revisions by each of the covering analysts.

Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise

Earnings WhisperEstimate revisions ahead of a company's earnings release offer clues to the business conditions for the period whose results are coming out. This insight is at the core of our proprietary surprise prediction model -- the Zacks Earnings ESP (Expected Surprise Prediction).

The Zacks Earnings ESP compares the Most Accurate Estimate to the Zacks Consensus Estimate for the quarter; the Most Accurate Estimate is a more recent version of the Zacks Consensus EPS estimate. The idea here is that analysts revising their estimates right before an earnings release have the latest information, which could potentially be more accurate than what they and others contributing to the consensus had predicted earlier.

Thus, a positive or negative Earnings ESP reading theoretically indicates the likely deviation of the actual earnings from the consensus estimate. However, the model's predictive power is significant for positive ESP readings only.

A positive Earnings ESP is a strong predictor of an earnings beat, particularly when combined with a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), 2 (Buy) or 3 (Hold). Our research shows that stocks with this combination produce a positive surprise nearly 70% of the time, and a solid Zacks Rank actually increases the predictive power of Earnings ESP.

Please note that a negative Earnings ESP reading is not indicative of an earnings miss. Our research shows that it is difficult to predict an earnings beat with any degree of confidence for stocks with negative Earnings ESP readings and/or Zacks Rank of 4 (Sell) or 5 (Strong Sell).

How Have the Numbers Shaped Up for Chord Energy Corporation?For Chord Energy Corporation, the Most Accurate Estimate is the same as the Zacks Consensus Estimate, suggesting that there are no recent analyst views which differ from what have been considered to derive the consensus estimate. This has resulted in an Earnings ESP of 0%.

On the other hand, the stock currently carries a Zacks Rank of #4.

So, this combination makes it difficult to conclusively predict that Chord Energy Corporation will beat the consensus EPS estimate.

Does Earnings Surprise History Hold Any Clue?While calculating estimates for a company's future earnings, analysts often consider to what extent it has been able to match past consensus estimates. So, it's worth taking a look at the surprise history for gauging its influence on the upcoming number.

For the last reported quarter, it was expected that Chord Energy Corporation would post earnings of $3.35 per share when it actually produced earnings of $4.56, delivering a surprise of +36.12%.

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

Bottom LineAn earnings beat or miss may not be the sole basis for a stock moving higher or lower. Many stocks end up losing ground despite an earnings beat due to other factors that disappoint investors. Similarly, unforeseen catalysts help a number of stocks gain despite an earnings miss.

That said, betting on stocks that are expected to beat earnings expectations does increase the odds of success. This is why it's worth checking a company's Earnings ESP and Zacks Rank ahead of its quarterly release. Make sure to utilize our Earnings ESP Filter to uncover the best stocks to buy or sell before they've reported.

Chord Energy Corporation doesn't appear a compelling earnings-beat candidate. However, investors should pay attention to other factors too for betting on this stock or staying away from it ahead of its earnings release.

Expected Results of an Industry PlayerW&T Offshore (WTI - Free Report) , another stock in the Zacks Oil and Gas - Exploration and Production - United States industry, is expected to report loss per share of $0 for the quarter ended June 2026. This estimate points to a year-over-year change of +100%. Revenues for the quarter are expected to be $151.55 million, up 23.9% from the year-ago quarter.

The consensus EPS estimate for W&T has been revised 12.5% lower over the last 30 days to the current level. However, a higher Most Accurate Estimate has resulted in an Earnings ESP of +633.32%.

When combined with a Zacks Rank of #3 (Hold), this Earnings ESP indicates that W&T will most likely beat the consensus EPS estimate. Over the last four quarters, the company surpassed consensus EPS estimates two times.

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

Key Takeaways Gilead to report Q2 results on Aug. 4, with HIV therapies likely to remain the primary growth driver.GILD raised 2026 Yeztugo sales guidance after a strong launch and improved HIV market trends.Gilead expects Cell Therapy sales to face competitive pressure, while Trodelvy demand remains solid. Biotech bigwig Gilead Sciences, Inc. (GILD - Free Report) is scheduled to report second-quarter results on Aug. 4, after market close. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for sales and loss per share is pegged at $7.37 billion and $7.07, respectively.

Bottom-line estimate for 2026 has decreased to a loss of 78 cents from earnings of 8 cents per share over the past 60 days.

The EPS estimate for 2027 has increased to $9.73 from $9.58 in the said time frame.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

GILD’s Earnings Surprise HistoryGILD has a good track record. Its earnings beat estimates in three of the trailing four quarters and missed in the remaining one, delivering an average surprise of 6.75%. In the last reported quarter, the company’s earnings beat estimates by 7.41%.

What Our Model Predicts for GILDPer our proven model, 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. However, that is not the case here, as you can see below.

Earnings ESP for GILD is -0.75%. The company currently carries a Zacks Rank #3. You can uncover the best stocks to buy or sell before they're reported with our Earnings ESP Filter.

Factors Influencing GILD’s Q2 ResultsGilead has a market-leading HIV franchise, led by flagship HIV therapies — Biktarvy and Descovy.

Biktarvy is the top revenue generator for GILD. Per the company, Biktarvy accounts for more than 52% of the treatment market in the United States, and continues to be the market leader in major markets around the world.

Gilead’s HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) portfolio comprises daily oral Descovy and the first and only twice-yearly injectable Yeztugo.

Descovy’s performance continues to be strong, primarily driven by higher demand and average realized price.

The top-line estimate for Biktarvy and Descovy is pegged at $3.6 billion and $750 million, respectively, and our model estimate for the same is pinned at $3.7 billion and $701 million.

Yeztugo raked in sales of $166 million in the first quarter. Following better-than-expected first-quarter results and improving market trends, Gilead raised its 2026 sales guidance for Yeztugo to $1 billion, signaling the product’s potential to achieve blockbuster status in its first full year on the market.

Consequently, Yeztugo sales likely recorded strong growth in the second quarter.

Driven by increased Yeztugo sales expectations and strong first-quarter HIV performance, Gilead now projects total 2026 HIV sales growth of approximately 8%, up from its prior guidance of 6% issued in February. The updated outlook includes an estimated 2% headwind related to the U.S. government’s Medicaid drug pricing agreement and proposed Affordable Care Act changes.

The Liver Disease portfolio includes drugs for chronic hepatitis C virus, chronic hepatitis B virus and chronic hepatitis delta virus.

Sales from this franchise have likely increased in the second quarter, driven by higher demand for Livdelzi (seladelpar) for the treatment of primary biliary cholangitis.  

Veklury sales likely remained highly variable.

Cell Therapy product sales (Yescarta and Tecartus) have likely decreased in the to-be-reported quarter due to competitive headwinds, both in the United States and internationally.

The Zacks Consensus Estimate and our model estimate for Cell Therapy product sales are pinned at $417 million and $419 million, respectively.

Trodelvy, indicated for second-line metastatic triple-negative breast cancer and pre-treated HR+/HER2- metastatic breast cancer, likely experienced strong demand in the second quarter, similar to the first quarter. The Zacks Consensus Estimate and our estimate for Trodelvy sales are pinned at $448 million and $427 million, respectively.

R&D expenses might have increased in the second quarter, caused by higher investment in virology clinical manufacturing, partially offset by lower oncology clinical study activity. SG&A expenses, too, must have increased, reflecting higher investments in sales and marketing to support commercial launches.

GILD’s Price Performance and ValuationShares of GILD have risen 9.4% year to date compared with the industry’s growth of 2%. The stock has outperformed the sector and the S&P 500 in this time frame.

GILD's Outperforms Industry, Sector & S&P 500 Index 
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

Going by the price/earnings ratio, GILD’s shares currently trade at 25.48X forward earnings, higher than its mean of 12.01X but lower than 19.11X for the large-cap pharma industry.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

Investment Thesis for GILDGilead Sciences has a market-leading HIV portfolio that continues to deliver strong growth, supported by sustained demand for its flagship therapies. The company's ongoing innovation in HIV treatment has been well received by investors, while the strong initial launch of Yeztugo has provided an additional boost to the franchise.

Gilead is also investing to further strengthen its HIV leadership through internal pipeline development and its collaboration with Merck (MRK - Free Report) . Potential approvals of new HIV therapies should reinforce the company's dominant position in the market.

Beyond HIV, Gilead is making steady progress in diversifying its revenue base. Strong uptake of Livdelzi has strengthened its liver disease portfolio.

In oncology, Trodelvy continues to gain market share in second-line metastatic breast cancer and recently secured FDA approval for an expanded label in the first-line treatment of adults with unresectable locally advanced or metastatic triple-negative breast cancer (mTNBC).

This followed a similar label expansion by the European Commission, significantly broadening Trodelvy's addressable market by moving the therapy into the first-line setting, where treatment options have historically been limited. These developments support Gilead's strategy of building a stronger oncology franchise and reducing its dependence on HIV revenues.

The company's strategic acquisitions and partnerships further enhance its long-term growth prospects. However, Gilead's Cell Therapy franchise, comprising Yescarta and Tecartus, continues to face competitive pressures in both the United States and Europe, which might have weighed on recent sales. Despite these challenges, the strength of Gilead's HIV business, expanding oncology portfolio and disciplined business development strategy position the company for sustained long-term growth.

Stay Invested in GILD StockContinued innovation across Gilead's HIV portfolio should drive sustained growth despite intensifying competition from GSK plc (GSK - Free Report) .

GSK continues to expand its HIV business, fueled by strong demand for its long-acting injectable therapies, Cabenuva and Apretude, as well as Dovato, which have more than offset the ongoing decline in Triumeq sales.

Gilead's strategic acquisitions and partnerships to diversify its revenue base further strengthen its long-term growth outlook.

However, we recommend that prospective investors adopt a wait-and-watch approach, as Gilead's Cell Therapy business continues to face competitive pressures.

For existing shareholders, holding the stock appears prudent, supported by the company's solid HIV franchise, pipeline strength and attractive dividend yield.

Resources Investor Relations Journalists Agencies Client Login Send a Release News Products Contact , /PRNewswire/ -- W.W. Grainger, Inc. (NYSE: GWW) announced today that its board of directors approved a quarterly cash dividend of $2.49 per share. The dividend is payable on September 1, 2026, to shareholders of record on August 10, 2026.

This dividend reflects Grainger's ongoing commitment to delivering long-term value to shareholders and maintaining a disciplined capital allocation strategy.

About Grainger
W.W. Grainger, Inc., is a leading broad line distributor with operations primarily in North America and Japan. At Grainger, We Keep the World Working® by serving more than 4.6 million customers worldwide with maintenance, repair and operating (MRO) products and value-added solutions delivered through innovative technology and deep customer expertise. Known for its commitment to service and purpose-driven culture, the Company reported 2025 revenue of $17.9 billion. For more information, visit www.grainger.com.

SOURCE W.W. Grainger, Inc.

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Key Takeaways Albemarle and Rio Tinto are well-positioned to benefit from rising lithium demand.ALB focuses on capacity expansion, cost cuts and strong cash flow to support growth.RIO advances major lithium projects, boosts output and leverages a strong balance sheet. Albemarle Corporation (ALB - Free Report) and Rio Tinto Group (RIO - Free Report) are prominent players in the lithium space. Both companies are well-positioned to gain from robust long-term growth in lithium demand from electric vehicles (EVs) and energy storage systems.

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

Let’s dive deep and closely compare the fundamentals of these two lithium producers to determine which one is a better investment option now in the prevailing lithium market environment.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The company remains focused on maintaining its dividend payout. It has raised its quarterly dividend for the 30th straight year. ALB offers a dividend yield of 1.4% at the current stock price.

The Case for RIORio Tinto holds one of the world’s largest lithium portfolios and a robust pipeline of development projects, positioning it well to benefit from the growing demand for lithium.  RIO produces lithium using several established methods, including direct lithium extraction (“DLE”) from brines, traditional pond-based brine extraction and hard-rock mining. The company also manufactures a broad suite of lithium products, including lithium chloride, lithium carbonate, lithium hydroxide, and spodumene concentrate.

RIO is expanding its lithium extraction capabilities through a new partnership with ILiAD Technologies, a leader in DLE technology. The collaboration supports the company’s efforts to enhance operational efficiency while improving sustainability and cost-effectiveness. ILiAD’s technology allows the extraction of high-purity lithium chloride from a wide range of lithium-rich brine resources and complements RIO’s existing DLE operations at Fénix and Rincon.

RIO is making progress with its high-value lithium projects. The fully owned Rincon Lithium Project in Argentina remains on track, with commissioning of the starter plant already being completed and ramp-up currently in progress, with full capacity expected by the end of 2026. RIO is investing $2.5 billion to expand Rincon, which has a capacity of 60,000 tons of battery-grade lithium carbonate annually with a 40-year mine life. First production from the project is expected in 2028, followed by a three-year ramp-up to full capacity. Rio Tinto has secured a $1.175 billion financing package from international lenders to support the development of the Rincon project.

The Fénix expansion project and Sal de Vida in Argentina, with a capital cost of $0.7 billion each, have achieved first production ahead of schedule. The Nemaska Lithium project, in which Rio Tinto now holds a 53.9% stake with the Government of Québec retaining the balance, is a fully integrated spodumene-to-lithium hydroxide development project comprising the lithium hydroxide plant in Bécancour and the Whabouchi spodumene mine with a production capacity of 32,000 tons. RIO initially acquired a 50% interest in Nemaska Lithium through the buyout of Arcadium in March 2025.

At Bécancour, engineering has been completed, with construction at more than 70%. RIO has decided to slow the pace of construction of the project during 2026, but remains fully committed to advancing the project. It expects construction to ramp up following optimization works and does not envision major changes to the project’s overall timeline.

RIO has a robust balance sheet and generates strong cash flows, which allow it to make investments in projects while driving shareholder returns. RIO generated a strong operating cash flow of $9.2 billion in the six months ended June 30, 2026, up 32% year over year. Free cash flow surged 75% year over year to roughly $3.8 billion. The company ended the period with cash and cash equivalents, and other short-term, highly liquid investments, totaling $9.1 billion.

Rio Tinto has a policy of returning 40-60% of its underlying earnings, with a 10-year track record of dividend payout at the top end of the range. It has declared an interim ordinary dividend of $3.4 billion, up 43% year over year, with a payout ratio of 50%. It offers a dividend yield of 5.5% at the current stock price.

ALB & RIO: Price Performance, Valuation & Other ComparisonsThe ALB stock is down 20% year to date, while RIO has gained 14.5%.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

ALB is currently trading at a forward price-to-sales ratio of 2.11. RIO is currently trading at a forward price-to-sales ratio of 1.84, below ALB.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

ALB’s long-term debt-to-capitalization is around 15.2%, lower than RIO’s 24.6%.  

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

How the Zacks Consensus Estimate Compares for ALB & RIOThe Zacks Consensus Estimate for ALB’s 2026 sales implies year-over-year growth of 18.9%. The same for EPS suggests a 1,727.9% year-over-year rise. The EPS estimates for 2026 have been trending higher over the past 60 days.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

The consensus estimate for RIO’s 2026 sales and EPS implies a year-over-year rise of 14% and 27.7%, respectively. The EPS estimates for 2026 have been trending southward over the past 60 days.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

ALB or RIO: Which Stock Holds the Edge?Both ALB and RIO currently carry a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold), so picking one stock is not easy. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.

ALB and RIO stand to benefit from higher lithium demand, driven by EVs and energy storage. Albemarle is benefiting from higher lithium volumes on project ramp-ups and actions to boost global lithium conversion capacity and productivity. RIO is advancing major lithium projects to boost output and leveraging a strong balance sheet. ALB's higher earnings growth projections suggest that it may offer better investment prospects in the current market environment. ALB’s lower leverage also suggests lower financial risks. Investors seeking exposure to the lithium space might consider Albemarle as the more favorable option at this time.

Key Takeaways AMC is adding more premium auditoriums to capitalize on demand for enhanced moviegoing experiences.AMC is growing loyalty, subscriptions and higher-margin food and beverage sales to boost guest spending.Premium formats helped drive record quarterly revenues and adjusted EBITDA as AMC gained market share. AMC Entertainment Holdings, Inc. (AMC - Free Report) delivered a record second quarter in 2026, indicating that its next growth phase could be fueled by expanding the premium screen portfolio rather than a strong movie slate alone.

The company outpaced the broader box office recovery by gaining market share and reporting record revenues of $1.6 billion and adjusted EBITDA of $321.4 million. Management credited premium offerings, disciplined cost controls and continued investments in the guest experience for the strong performance.

A major contributor to this momentum is the rapid expansion of premium large format and extra-large format auditoriums. Although these premium screens account for only about 8% of AMC's global screen base, they generated more than half of ticket sales during the opening weekend of The Odyssey. AMC now operates nearly 750 premium auditoriums across IMAX, Dolby Cinema, Prime, ScreenX, 4DX, XL and other formats. Management also plans to add another 100 to 250 premium auditoriums over the next two to four years while keeping capital spending disciplined through partner funding.

The strategy extends beyond premium screens. AMC is upgrading high-traffic theaters with Club Rocker seating while expanding its A List subscription program and loyalty platform. The company is also growing higher-margin food, beverage and merchandise sales, helping increase spending per guest and strengthen customer engagement.

With a healthier balance sheet, disciplined capital allocation and growing demand for premium experiences, AMC appears well positioned to convert stronger box office trends into sustainable earnings and cash flow growth. If movie attendance remains healthy, the company's premium screen strategy could become a key driver of its next growth phase.

Cinemark and Marcus Challenge AMC in Premium MoviegoingAmong AMC's closest rivals, Cinemark Holdings (CNK - Free Report) has expanded its premium moviegoing strategy through XD premium large format auditoriums, luxury recliner seating and upgraded food and beverage offerings. Cinemark is also maintaining disciplined capital spending while leveraging a stronger balance sheet. These investments have helped Cinemark increase per-patron spending and compete more effectively for moviegoers seeking a premium theater experience.

The Marcus Corporation (MCS - Free Report) is pursuing a similar strategy with its UltraScreen DLX and SuperScreen DLX formats, recliner upgrades and enhanced dining options. The company is also strengthening customer engagement through loyalty initiatives designed to encourage repeat visits. While Marcus operates a smaller theater network than AMC, its emphasis on premium experiences mirrors the industry's shift toward higher value offerings.

As exhibitors increasingly focus on premium formats and enhanced amenities rather than expanding theater counts, AMC, Cinemark and Marcus are likely to compete for customers willing to pay more for superior technology, comfort and an elevated moviegoing experience.

AMC’s Price Performance, Valuation & EstimatesShares of AMC have surged 92.1% in the past six months against the industry’s 3.5% decline.

AMC’s Price Performance
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

From a valuation standpoint, AMC trades at a forward price-to-sales (P/S) multiple of 0.43X, below the industry’s average of 2.74X.

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

The consensus estimate for AMC’s 2026 loss per share indicates a 77.1% year-over-year improvement.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

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

Broadcom Today

$373.24 -7.67 (-2.01%)

As of 12:29 PM Eastern

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

52-Week Range$281.61▼

$495.00Dividend Yield0.70%

P/E Ratio61.91

Price Target$493.24

Broadcom NASDAQ: AVGO is back in the news with another multi-billion-dollar semiconductor deal. However, this time, Broadcom is not on the receiving end of the commitment. Broadcom and memory chip giant Samsung Electronics OTCMKTS: SSNLF have announced a five-year agreement valued at over $200 billion, under which Broadcom will purchase various chips from Samsung.

Although this is money going out rather than coming in, there are still real positives to take away from the deal. Most notably, the agreement aids Broadcom in capitalizing on its AI chip demand by locking down the supply of a vital component. Let's dive into the details and what it means for Broadcom going forward.

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Broadcom and Samsung’s Memory Pact: Securing Supply to Realize GrowthThe deal contains two primary components, which Samsung outlines in the corresponding press release. Part one relates to memory, where “Samsung and Broadcom plan to pursue a strategic collaboration for the supply of industry-leading memory solutions, including High Bandwidth Memory (HBM), supporting Broadcom’s next-generation AI accelerators.”

Here, Broadcom is securing supply for Samsung’s HBM, which is a critical component within AI accelerators. This deal comes amid a drastic shortage in HBM as well as other memory products. For Broadcom, investors can think of this deal as a necessary evil as the company looks to execute on its massive AI accelerator opportunity.

Notably, the firm expects its AI semiconductor revenue to grow by more than 200% year over year (YOY) to $16 billion. With 10 gigawatts of data center commitments from large language model developers, Broadcom may have a path to generate $200 billion in AI semiconductor revenue in 2027 or beyond.

However, HBM is a non-negotiable component within AI accelerators. Without it, the vast majority of Broadcom’s AI semiconductor opportunity could go out the window. In turn, Broadcom needs to ensure it locks in HBM supply, especially given NVIDIA's NASDAQ: NVDA massive HBM purchases.

Another potential benefit of its multi-year agreement with Samsung is that it could help the firm shield itself from HBM price volatility. Memory prices have seen dramatic upward swings, with HBM prices reportedly increasing by 20% in Q1 alone. The deal could potentially cap future increases, helping to prevent margin contraction at Broadcom.

Broadcom Follows in NVIDIA’s Memory FootstepsSpeaking of NVIDIA, the company recently announced a similar partnership. NVIDIA and SK hynix NASDAQ: SKHY entered a $500 billion deal that “allows NVIDIA to secure a stable supply of next-generation AI memory." The deal also includes a two-gigawatt data center deployment, where SK Group, SK hynix’s parent company, will use NVIDIA's Vera Rubin systems. In this sense, a significant amount of revenue may also flow NVIDIA’s way. However, the overwhelming majority of the deal is likely centered around buying HBM from SK hynix.

Broadcom is clearly not alone in feeling the need to pay up for HBM, showing that it is acting strategically to further its interests.

Broadcom Eyes Samsung’s Advanced PackagingThe second part of the deal surrounds Samsung’s foundry, where it makes non-memory chips. Here, the collaboration “focuses on Samsung’s 2-nanometer (nm) and below process technologies for Broadcom’s products, including Wireless Broadband Communications (WBC) solutions. The collaboration is expected to extend to advanced packaging technologies built on Samsung’s 2nm process, including 2.3D and 2.5D integration, to enable higher-performance and more power-efficient AI and networking silicon.”

Overall MarketRank™100th Percentile

Analyst RatingModerate Buy

Upside/Downside29.5% Upside

Short Interest LevelHealthy

Dividend StrengthStrong

News Sentiment1.33 Insider TradingSelling Shares

Proj. Earnings Growth71.19%

See Full Analysis

The Wireless Broadband Communications piece does not appear AI-related. Rather, it likely refers to Broadcom’s wireless and smartphone chip business. Producing these chips with Samsung may relate to Broadcom fulfilling its $30 billion deal with Apple NASDAQ: AAPL to supply wireless chips.

However, the advanced packaging portion is AI-related. Advanced packaging is also critical to building advanced AI chips as it combines HBM with computing components. This part of the agreement suggests that Broadcom is considering using Samsung’s advanced packaging technology for its AI chips. However, the release only says that the agreement is “expected to extend” into advanced packaging, indicating that nothing is set in stone.

This is notable, considering that Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing NYSE: TSM has dominated the advanced packaging market. TSMC's advanced packaging is also facing significant supply shortages. In this context, it makes sense for Broadcom to explore Samsung as an alternative advanced packaging supplier. If Samsung’s advanced packaging capabilities prove to be adequate for Broadcom’s needs, the company may be able to sell more chips than it otherwise could.

Broadcom and Samsung: Do the Advanced Packaging Stars Align?Broadcom is taking the necessary steps to execute its long-term data center opportunity. Going forward, investors may monitor whether Broadcom mentions margin benefits due to its long-term deal with Samsung. Additionally, it is worth monitoring whether Broadcom actually adopts Samsung’s advanced packaging technology and if management sees this benefiting the firm’s growth.

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Key Takeaways Cummins reports Q2 2026 results on Aug. 4, with consensus EPS of $7.33 and revenues of $9.33 billion.CMI raised FY2026 outlooks for Distribution, Power Systems, Engine and Components after strong Q1.CMI is expected to post growth in Engine and Power Systems, while Components and Accelera may decline. Cummins Inc. (CMI - Free Report) is slated to release second-quarter 2026 results on Aug. 4, before market open. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for the to-be-reported quarter’s earnings per share (EPS) and revenues is pegged at $7.33 and $9.33 billion, respectively.

For the second quarter, the consensus estimate for Cummins’ earnings has moved down 15 cents over the past 30 days. Its bottom-line estimates imply growth of 14% from the year-ago reported numbers.

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for CMI's quarterly revenues implies a year-over-year rise of 7.9%. The company's earnings beat estimates in each of the trailing four quarters, delivering an average surprise of 17.15%. This is depicted in the graph below:

Q1 HighlightsCummins delivered adjusted earnings of $6.15 per share in the first quarter of 2026, which increased 3.2% year over year and 9.8% above the Zacks Consensus Estimate. Revenues of $8.40 billion rose 2.7% from the year-ago quarter and topped the consensus mark by 0.9%. The quarter reflected solid execution in key end markets, highlighted by an adjusted EBITDA margin of 17.7% of sales.

Things to NoteCummins continues to benefit from rising demand for backup power in data centers and other mission-critical settings, which is supporting the Distribution and Power Systems segments. In first-quarter 2026, Distribution revenues increased and Power Systems delivered record EBITDA dollars, reflecting higher volumes, pricing and operational execution, because of which the company raised its full-year 2026 outlook for the Distribution and Power Systems segments.

The company now expects Distribution revenues to grow 9-14%, up from the previous estimate of 5-10%. CMI expects Power Systems revenues to grow 14-19%, up from the previous estimate of 12-17%. It also lifted Power Systems & Distribution EBITDA margin guidance to about 25-26% and 13.7-14.7%, up from the previous estimate of 23-24% and 13.25-14.25%, respectively.

For full-year 2026, the company also increased its Engine business revenue growth forecast to 7-12% compared with its earlier outlook of flat to 5% growth. It raised its EBITDA margin projection to a range of 12.5-13.5%, representing a 50-basis-point increase at the midpoint. It has raised its forecast for the Components business for 2026 and expects revenues now to be up 5% to 10%, up from prior guidance of flat to up 5%. The stronger outlook is primarily supported by improved expectations for North America heavy- and medium-duty truck demand, particularly in the first half of the year.

Expected growth across Distribution, Power Systems, Engine and Components segments in full-year 2026 is likely to have boosted Cummins’ performance in the second quarter.

Let’s have a look at our estimates for CMI’s segmental performance.

We expect Engine revenues to be $3.22 billion, suggesting an 11.2% year-over-year increase. For the Power Systems segment, we project sales of $2.1 billion, indicating an 11.2% year-over-year increase. We expect Components sales to be $2.67 billion, suggesting a decline of 1.5% year over year. For the Distribution segment, we project sales of $3.3 billion, indicating a 7.5% year-over-year increase. We expect Accelera revenues to be $71 million, implying a 32.4% year-over-year decline.

Our estimate for the Engine segment’s EBITDA is $454 million, which suggests a rise of 13.6% year over year. We expect the Power Systems segment’s EBITDA to be $519 million, suggesting a rise of 20.7% year over year. Our estimate for the Component segment’s EBITDA is pegged at $385.9 million, suggesting a decline of 2.8% year over year. We expect the Distribution segment’s EBITDA to be $485.9 million, indicating a 9.2% year-over-year decline.

Earnings WhispersOur proven model predicts an earnings beat for Cummins for the quarter to be reported, as it has the right combination of the two key ingredients. A positive Earnings ESP, combined with a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), 2 (Buy) or 3 (Hold), increases the odds of an earnings beat. This is the case here.

Earnings ESP: CMI has an Earnings ESP of +0.78%. This is because the Most Accurate Estimate is pegged higher than the Zacks Consensus Estimate. You can uncover the best stocks to buy or sell before they’re reported with our Earnings ESP Filter.

Zacks Rank: It currently carries a Zacks Rank #3. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.

Earnings Releases From Auto SpaceGeneral Motors Company (GM - Free Report) reported second-quarter 2026 adjusted earnings of $3.57 per share, up 41.3% year over year. The figure beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $3.13 by 14.06%. Revenues increased 1.9% to $48.03 billion and surpassed the consensus estimate of $46.56 billion by 3.15%. Strong pricing, lower costs and disciplined incentives supported results. General Motors raised its full-year adjusted EBIT guidance to $14-$16 billion from $13.5-$15.5 billion. Adjusted earnings are now projected at $12-$14 per share, up from the prior range of $11.50-$13.50.

Tesla, Inc. (TSLA - Free Report) reported second-quarter 2026 adjusted earnings of 33 cents per share, which declined 17.5% year over year. The figure missed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 50 cents by 34%. Revenues advanced 25.5% to $28.24 billion and surpassed the consensus estimate of $25.81 billion by 9.41%. Tesla expects 2026 capital expenditures to exceed $25 billion and rise further over the next two to three years.

Genuine Parts (GPC - Free Report) reported second-quarter 2026 adjusted earnings of $2.15 per share, beating the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $2.10 by 2.38%. The bottom line increased 2.4% from $2.10 in the year-ago quarter. Revenues rose 6% year over year to $6.54 billion and surpassed the consensus estimate of $6.39 billion by 2.36%. Genuine Parts reaffirmed its 2026 adjusted earnings guidance of $7.50-$8 per share and total sales growth outlook of 3-5.5%. Genuine Parts ended June with $2.3 billion of liquidity, including $559 million in cash.

Key Takeaways Accenture launched an AI-powered Radisson hotel discovery app in ChatGPT for search and booking. The app uses live availability, pricing, amenities, property details, location insights and maps. Future upgrades may add personalization, loyalty recognition, in-chat booking and AI concierge services. Accenture (ACN - Free Report) has partnered with Radisson Hotel Group to launch an AI-powered hotel discovery app in ChatGPT, enabling travelers to move seamlessly from trip planning to hotel search, comparison and booking through natural language conversations.

Accessible as @RadissonHotels in ChatGPT, the app allows users to discover more than 1,000 Radisson Hotels properties across over 100 countries. By starting a ChatGPT conversation with @RadissonHotels, travelers can request recommendations for trips, such as family-friendly stays in Amsterdam or hotels near the Eiffel Tower in Paris that offer gym and spa facilities. The app provides relevant hotel recommendations featuring live room availability, pricing, amenities, property information, location insights and interactive maps. Once a selection is made, users are directed to the Radisson Hotels website to complete their reservation.

As more travelers rely on AI to research destinations, evaluate options and organize trips, hospitality providers are increasingly required to ensure their offerings remain discoverable, accurate and actionable during the planning stage. Accenture’s Consumer Pulse Research indicates that 87% of travelers are willing to use AI-powered travel agents to identify the most suitable options, while 71% expect AI to influence at least half of their hotel or airline spending over the next year.

The partnership began with Radisson Hotel Group adopting an MCP accelerator within Accenture’s AI Merchant Center, an agentic readiness and intelligence platform. The solution helped organize, validate and optimize the company's hotel content, inventory, pricing and booking data for AI-driven discovery. Accenture also designed the user experience and integrated the app with Radisson Hotel Group’s existing systems to deliver real-time hotel information. The companies plan to further enhance the platform with personalized recommendations, loyalty recognition, in-chat booking, reservation management, itinerary modifications and AI concierge services.

For Accenture, the collaboration reinforces its leadership in generative AI and agentic commerce while demonstrating the practical value of the AI Merchant Center platform. The project highlights Accenture’s ability to help enterprises modernize customer engagement, accelerate AI adoption and create new digital commerce channels. Successful deployment of the solution is expected to strengthen Accenture’s credentials in the hospitality sector and support future AI transformation opportunities across travel and other consumer-facing industries.

The ChatGPT app also supports Radisson Hotel Group’s broader digital transformation and direct booking strategy. Accenture has already assisted the company in modernizing the digital and data infrastructure, consolidating its brands onto a unified global platform and enabling more personalized marketing across the portfolio of more than 1,000 hotels. Extending this foundation to ChatGPT is expected to help Radisson Hotel Group remain visible, relevant and easily bookable as traveler preferences continue to evolve.

Taking a Look at Similar AI-Powered DealsSalesforce (CRM - Free Report) is participating in a similar hospitality-focused AI initiative with Minor Hotels, alongside Google Cloud, OneTrust and Deloitte. The companies are developing a global data and AI platform that will connect more than 640 Minor Hotels properties, unify guest information and support AI-driven personalization. Salesforce’s Agentforce Marketing capabilities are anticipated to help the hotel operator deliver more relevant communications and experiences throughout the customer journey.

Like Accenture’s collaboration with Radisson Hotel Group, the project involving Salesforce demonstrates how enterprise technology providers are helping hospitality companies modernize legacy systems, use real-time data more effectively and create increasingly personalized digital interactions for travelers.

Choice Hotels International (CHH - Free Report) has also entered into a comparable collaboration with Amazon Web Services (“AWS”) to integrate artificial intelligence across its operations. The initiative is intended to move AI beyond isolated experiments and deploy it at an enterprise scale, supporting enhanced guest experiences, hotel management and organizational efficiency. By integrating AI into core functions such as guest personalization, pricing and operations, Choice Hotels aims to improve both customer experience and internal efficiency. Importantly, this strategy extends beyond AWS.

Choice Hotels is building a broader ecosystem of AI partnerships, including collaborations with Google for AI-powered travel discovery and participation in OpenAI’s ChatGPT advertising pilot. This multi-platform approach indicates a forward-looking strategy as travel search and booking increasingly shift toward AI-driven and conversational interfaces.

Price Performance, Valuation & EstimatesAccenture has lost nearly 40% in the past year, underperforming its industry.

1-Year Price ComparisonImage Source: Zacks Investment Research

From a valuation standpoint, ACN trades at a forward price-to-sales ratio of 1.44, way below the industry’s 11.14.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

See how the Zacks Consensus Estimate for ACN’s earnings has been revised over the past 90 days.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

ACN’s Zacks RankACN currently carries a Zacks Rank #4 (Sell).

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

Key Takeaways Nucor reported record steel mill shipments of 7.1 million tons for the second consecutive quarter.NUE expects 2026 shipment growth near the high end of its 5% to 10% range.Nucor's West Virginia sheet mill project remains on schedule, with shipments ramping in early 2027. Nucor Corporation (NUE - Free Report) used its second-quarter earnings call to emphasize continued demand strength, expanding capacity and progress on major growth projects. Management highlighted record steel mill shipments, strong backlogs and investments aimed at increasing long-term earnings capacity.

The company also raised confidence in the second half of 2026, pointing to higher realized pricing, stable volumes and contributions from recently completed projects.

NUE Highlights Broad-Based Demand StrengthChairman and CEO Leon Topalian said Nucor delivered another strong quarter with improved earnings across all three operating segments. The company reported adjusted earnings of $4.84 per diluted share on net sales of $10.40 billion, while the Zacks Consensus Estimate called for EPS of $4.57 and revenues of $10.06 billion.

Topalian noted that steel mill shipments reached a record 7.1 million tons for the second consecutive quarter. He attributed the performance to strong end-market demand and prior investments that expanded Nucor’s steelmaking capabilities.

The CEO also emphasized that backlogs continued to build across the business, reflecting customer momentum in multiple sectors of the economy. He highlighted demand from infrastructure, energy, manufacturing and other industrial markets as key drivers.

Nucor Advances Major Growth ProjectsPresident and COO Stephen Laxton said Nucor’s West Virginia sheet mill project remained on schedule and within budget. The company began commissioning key equipment and expects commercial shipments to begin ramping in early 2027.

Laxton said other projects, including galvanizing lines, coating operations and towers and structures facilities, were progressing as planned. Several recently completed projects, including the Lexington micro mill and Kingman melt shop, reached EBITDA-positive run rates.

Management expects these investments to support future earnings growth as capacity ramps. The company said capital expenditures remain targeted at approximately $2.5 billion for 2026, with about 60% allocated toward growth projects.

NUE Sees Supportive Market BackdropLaxton said Nucor expects 2026 shipment growth to finish near the high end of its previously indicated 5% to 10% range. He pointed to continued strength in sheet, plate, bar and structural products.

Sheet demand remains supported by energy, advanced manufacturing and data center activity, according to Noah Hanners, Executive Vice President of Sheet Products. He also noted that reshoring activity is creating additional opportunities in areas such as automotive supply.

Management said industry demand growth remains around 2% for 2026, with several end markets positioned for continued strength over the next few years.

Nucor Discusses Capital Allocation PlansTopalian said Nucor remains focused on its strategy of growing the core business while expanding beyond traditional steel operations. He said future opportunities will focus on areas connected to long-term trends such as energy infrastructure and downstream products.

The CEO said the company would remain disciplined on acquisitions and pursue opportunities only when they can create value above the cost of capital. He added that excess cash would continue to be returned to shareholders if attractive investments were unavailable.

Chief financial officer Jack Sullivan said Nucor returned $479 million to shareholders during the quarter through dividends and share repurchases, representing 41% of quarterly net earnings.

NUE Faces Analyst Questions on Growth OutlookA Wells Fargo analyst asked about the potential impact of new projects and whether strong demand could offset typical fourth-quarter seasonality. Topalian responded that several projects were already contributing and that additional facilities should add value as they ramp.

A JPMorgan analyst questioned the sustainability of demand trends into the second half of 2026. Laxton said demand drivers remained broad, including infrastructure, energy investment and data center development, while acknowledging normal seasonal patterns.

Analysts also asked about the West Virginia mill ramp. Hanners said the focus will be on safe, reliable production, with utilization expected to reach about 50% by the end of the first year.

Nucor Maintains Strategic Focus AheadNucor entered the second half of 2026 with management focused on execution, capacity expansion and maintaining financial flexibility. Topalian said the company’s operating platform and broad product portfolio provide a foundation for continued investment.

The company’s outlook reflects confidence in demand across several markets while continuing to manage project ramp costs and raw material pressures. Management expects third-quarter consolidated earnings to increase, supported by pricing improvements and stronger steel products results.

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

The Zacks Rank focuses on earnings estimate revisions and is designed to help identify stocks with stronger potential performance over the next one to three months. The Rank can change as analysts update earnings expectations following new results.

The company has a Value Score of B, Growth Score of B, Momentum Score of F and VGM Score of B. Zacks Style Scores range from A to F, with stronger scores indicating more favorable characteristics for the corresponding investing style.

Key Takeaways State Street agreed to acquire Santander CACEIS Latam Securities Services to expand in Latin America.STT will add about $470B in AUC and $225B in AUA, strengthening custody and fund administration.State Street expects the deal to enhance services across Brazil, Mexico and Colombia, pending 2027 close. State Street Corporation (STT - Free Report) has signed an initial agreement to acquire Santander CACEIS Latam Securities Services, a joint venture (JV) owned by Santander Group and CACEIS. This is part of the company’s effort to expand its investment servicing footprint across Latin America.

The JV oversees approximately $470 billion in assets under custody (“AUC”) and $225 billion in assets under administration (“AUA”) as of June 30, 2026. The transaction will strengthen State Street’s presence in Brazil, Mexico and Colombia by expanding its custody, foreign exchange, fund administration and other middle- and back-office services. This will enable the company to better serve both regional and global institutional investors.

The financial terms of the deal have not been revealed yet. It is expected to be closed sometime in 2027, subject to regulatory approvals, employee consultation processes and other customary closing conditions.

Following the completion, State Street plans to retain the JV’s experienced local workforce and continue operating through its existing market licenses and regulatory frameworks. The company expects the combination of its global servicing platform with the JV’s local expertise to strengthen its ability to support clients with cross-border investment needs while expanding access to fast-growing Latin American markets.

Our Take on State Street’s Global Expansion StrategyThe impending acquisition is in line with State Street’s strategy of expanding its global investment servicing franchise through targeted acquisitions. It will strengthen the company’s presence across Brazil, Mexico and Colombia, further broadening its footprint in Latin America’s largest institutional investment markets.

State Street also continues to expand through new investment servicing mandates and rising client assets. As of June 30, 2026, the company reported record assets under custody and/or administration (AUC/A) of $57.86 trillion and record assets under management (AUM) of $6.28 trillion. This reflects continued business wins, client inflows and favorable market conditions.

Additionally, STT remains focused on investing in technology and enhancing its end-to-end servicing capabilities to support long-term revenue growth.

Over the past month, shares of State Street have gained 7.6%, outperforming the industry's growth of 5.3% 

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

At present, STT sports a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.

Business Restructuring Steps Taken by Other Financial FirmsLast week, HSBC Holdings plc (HSBC - Free Report) agreed to sell its Singapore life and health insurance business to Allianz SE for $2.09 billion.

The divestiture aligns with HSBC's broader simplification and restructuring strategy of streamlining operations, exiting non-core businesses, redeploying capital to higher-return opportunities, and strengthening its core wealth management and wholesale banking franchises across Asia.

Earlier this month, Northern Trust Corporation (NTRS - Free Report) agreed to sell its guardianship services business to Wintrust Financial Corporation's subsidiary, Wintrust Private Trust Company.

The divestiture aligns with NTRS' broader strategy of strengthening its core wealth management, asset servicing, and asset management businesses while streamlining its portfolio and focusing investments on areas with stronger long-term growth potential.

Key Takeaways CrowdStrike is replacing multiple security tools with the Falcon platform across enterprise customers.CRWD is expanding customer spending through Falcon Flex and broader adoption of Falcon modules.CrowdStrike added platform wins spanning SIEM, identity, cloud security and AI-powered security operations. CrowdStrike (CRWD - Free Report) is winning more customers that want to replace multiple cybersecurity products with a single platform. Instead of buying separate tools for endpoint security, SIEM, cloud security, identity protection and vulnerability management, customers are moving these functions to the Falcon platform. This bodes well for CrowdStrike’s prospects as it increases revenues from each customer while reducing the number of vendors customers need to manage.

The company shared several examples during the first quarter of fiscal 2027. A major fuel retailer selected CrowdStrike to replace its legacy SIEM platform, its endpoint detection and response solution and software from a network security vendor. The customer also chose the Falcon platform to build its AI-powered security operations center. This deal shows that CrowdStrike is replacing several security products with one platform instead of competing for a single product.

CrowdStrike is also expanding its business with existing customers. During the quarter, a U.S. government agency replaced its legacy antivirus, operating system endpoint detection and vulnerability management tools with the Falcon platform across more than 200,000 devices. In another deal, a large U.S. healthcare company purchased Falcon Next-Gen Identity and SGNL to control what AI agents can access across its systems. These deals show that customers continue to add more Falcon products after adopting the platform.

Platform consolidation is also supported by Falcon Flex subscription model, which allows customers to adopt additional CrowdStrike products under a single agreement. As organizations add identity, cloud security, SIEM and AI security to their existing Falcon deployments, CrowdStrike can increase customer spending without relying only on new customer additions. If this trend continues, platform consolidation could remain an important driver of the company's recurring revenue growth.

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for fiscal 2027 and 2028 revenues indicates a year-over-year increase of around 23.5% and 21.6%, respectively.

How Competitors Fare Against CRWDCompetitors like Palo Alto Networks (PANW - Free Report) and SentinelOne (S - Free Report) are also gaining ground through platform expansion and AI innovation.

In the third quarter of fiscal 2026, Palo Alto Networks saw robust growth in its Next-Gen Security ARR, which increased 60% year over year. The growth was driven by increased customer adoption of PANW’s advanced cybersecurity offerings, including its AI-driven XSIAM platform, SASE and software firewalls.

Though comparatively a small competitor, SentinelOne posted first-quarter fiscal 2027 year-over-year growth of 23% in its ARR. The growth was fueled by the rising adoption of SentinelOne’s AI-first Singularity platform and Purple AI.

CRWD’s Price Performance, Valuation and EstimatesShares of CrowdStrike have jumped 56.6% in the year-to-date period compared with the Zacks Security industry’s return of 54.8%.

CRWD YTD Price Return Performance
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

From a valuation standpoint, CrowdStrike trades at a forward price-to-sales ratio of 28.19, significantly higher than the industry’s average of 17.38. The Zacks Value Score of F also suggests that CRWD stock is overvalued.

CRWD Forward 12-Month P/S Ratio
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for CrowdStrike’s fiscal 2027 and 2028 earnings indicates year-over-year growth of 32.3% and 27.2%, respectively. The estimates for fiscal 2027 have remained unchanged over the past 30 days, while the same for fiscal 2028 have been revised upward by a penny over the past 30 days.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

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

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

Key Takeaways Biogen beat Q2 earnings and revenue estimates as growth drugs lifted sales.BIIB raised 2026 revenue and adjusted EPS guidance on stronger growth product performance.Biogen faced weaker MS and biosimilar sales while higher R&D and acquisition costs weighed on earnings. Biogen (BIIB - Free Report) reported second-quarter 2026 adjusted earnings per share (EPS) of $3.60, which significantly beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $3.04 per share. Earnings declined 34% year over year due to deal-related charges and increased R&D costs. In the second quarter, Biogen recorded IPR&D, upfront and milestone expenses of approximately $164 million.

Total revenues during the quarter came in at $2.74 billion, up 3% year over year on a reported basis and 2% on a constant-currency basis. Revenues beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $2.50 billion.

Lower sales of key multiple sclerosis drugs were offset by higher revenues from new drugs, Skyclarys, Qalsody and Zurzuvae and contributions from the newly acquired drugs, Empaveli and Syfovre, from the Apellis acquisition that closed in May 2026. Spinraza’s sales also improved in the second quarter.

BIIB’s Q2 Revenue BreakdownProduct revenues increased 2% year over year to $1.92 billion. Revenues from anti-CD20 therapeutic programs grew 10% to $513.5 million, driven by royalties on Ocrevus sales and Biogen’s share of profits from Roche’s (RHHBY - Free Report) Rituxan, Gazyva and Lunsumio.

Contract manufacturing, royalty and other revenues declined 1% to $242.4 million. Alzheimer’s collaboration revenues advanced 16% to $63.7 million.

Alzheimer’s collaboration revenues include Biogen’s 50% share of net product revenues and cost of sales (including royalties) from Alzheimer’s disease (AD) drug Leqembi (lecanemab), which has been developed in collaboration with Eisai.

Eisai recorded nearly $184 million in global revenues from Leqembi sales in the second quarter, up 15% year over year and around 10% sequentially, driven by demand growth globally. The drug’s U.S. sales were $97 million.

Biogen's Growth Drugs Gain GroundRare disease revenues rose 11% to $601.7 million.

Spinraza sales increased 2% to $401.9 million as demand and stocking for the high-dose regimen offset unfavorable shipment timing in some international markets. The figure beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $379 million.

A higher dose regimen of Spinraza, which reduces the dosing frequency, was recently approved in the United States, Japan and the EU. The high-dose Spinraza improves Biogen’s competitiveness in a highly competitive area. Biogen said that conversion to the high-dose regimen has been better than expected.

Rare disease drug Skyclarys revenues surged 29% to $167.9 million on higher global demand. Skyclarys’ revenues beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $155 million.

Qalsody sales increased 59.5% year over year to $31.9 million, driven by demand growth.

Zurzuvae generated $70.8 million, up 53% year over year and 28% sequentially, reflecting demand growth.

Biogen has a collaboration with Supernus Pharmaceuticals (SUPN - Free Report) for Zurzuvae. Biogen and Supernus Pharmaceuticals equally share profits and losses for the commercialization of Zurzuvae in the United States. In outside U.S. markets, Biogen records product sales (excluding Japan, Taiwan and South Korea) and pays royalties to Supernus.

Biosimilar revenues fell 15.9% to $152.8 million, reflecting lower sales of Benepali, Imraldi and Flixabi.

Syfovre and Empaveli contributed $97.4 million and $30.4 million, respectively, to Biogen’s reported revenues in the second quarter.

BIIB's Legacy MS Portfolio Remains Under PressureMultiple sclerosis product revenues declined 13% year over year to $963.3 million due to generic competition for Tecfidera globally and Tysabri in Europe and rising competitive pressure in the MS market.

Vumerity revenues fell 7.4% to $196.5 million due mainly to inventory dynamics. This metric missed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $205 million.

Tecfidera sales plunged 53% to $90.9 million due to generic erosion globally. The drug’s sales also missed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $103 million.

Tysabri revenues slipped 0.8% year over year to $450.8 million. The drug’s sales beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $375 million.

Combined Avonex and Plegridy sales declined 8.8% to $225.1 million.

Biogen's Operating Costs RiseAdjusted research and development expenses increased 24% to $489.5 million. The increase reflected higher clinical-trial spending on felzartamab, salanersen and litifilimab, the inclusion of Apellis operating costs and lower research funding from Royalty Pharma.

Adjusted selling, general and administrative expenses rose 17% to $679.6 million. The increase was driven by Apellis’ commercial and management operations and higher spending to support product launches.

BIIB Ups 2026 Revenue and EPS OutlookBiogen raised its revenue guidance for the year due to expected higher revenues from growth products. Biogen now expects 2026 revenues to increase by a mid-single-digit percentage from 2025. This is in contrast to the company’s earlier expectation of a mid-single-digit constant-currency decline.

The company raised its underlying adjusted earnings guidance to a range of $15.85-$16.85 per share from the prior expectation of $15.25 to $16.25 per share.

Combined adjusted R&D and SG&A costs are expected to be between $2.65 billion and $2.70 billion for the second half of 2026.

Other Key Announcements in Q2 ReleaseBiogen announced that BIIB091 achieved proof of concept in a phase II study for relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis. The company will evaluate the next development steps for the asset.

BIIB also exercised its option and in-licensed worldwide rights from partner Ionis (IONS - Free Report) to develop and commercialize BIIB147, a phase I-ready antisense therapy targeting stathmin 2 pre-mRNA in broad amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Biogen paid Ionis a $15 million one-time license fee.

Our Take on BIIB’s ResultsBiogen delivered a strong second-quarter performance, beating estimates for both earnings and revenues. Revenues from Biogen’s growth products (Empaveli, Qalsody, Skyclarys, Spinraza, Syfovre, Vumerity, Zurzuvae plus Alzheimer’s revenues from the Leqembi collaboration) rose 24% year over year and surpassed the legacy multiple sclerosis portfolio.

The company also raised its sales and earnings guidance due to an improved underlying business outlook. Shares rose 1.5% in pre-market trading, backed by the better-than-expected results and guidance raise.

So far this year, the stock has risen 16.9% compared with the industry’s 4.5% growth.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

Biogen has also strengthened its mid-to-late-stage neurology and immunology pipeline lately with M&A deals. Biogen expects five registrational readouts from its late-stage pipeline over the next four quarters.

However, the company continues to face pressure from declining multiple sclerosis and biosimilar sales, while higher research, commercial and acquisition-related costs weigh on earnings. Biogen’s near-term profitability remains affected by acquired in-process research and development charges and dilution from the Apellis transaction.

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

Key Takeaways GLW's Springboard plan targets $20B, $30B and $40B sales run rates by 2026, 2028 and 2030, respectively. Optical Communications sales rose 32% year over year, driven by AI and data center demand. Corning discussed Amazon and NVIDIA agreements supporting optical capacity expansion. Corning Incorporated (GLW - Free Report) used its second-quarter 2026 earnings call to highlight accelerating demand from artificial intelligence infrastructure and the progress on its upgraded Springboard growth plan.

Management emphasized expanding optical opportunities, customer partnerships and improving financial performance while outlining a longer-term path toward higher sales and profitability.

GLW Advances Springboard Growth StrategyCEO Wendell Weeks said Corning is entering a new phase of growth as the company executes its Springboard 20-30-40 plan. The strategy targets annualized sales run rates of $20 billion by the end of 2026, $30 billion by 2028 and $40 billion by 2030.

Weeks highlighted that the company expects sales growth to accelerate, with a projected 19% sales CAGR from the fourth quarter of 2026 through the fourth quarter of 2030. Management also expects earnings to grow faster than sales.

The company’s updated strategy is supported by investments in optical communications, photonics and other growth platforms. Management said the plan is designed to improve returns on invested capital and increase free cash flow over time.

Corning Benefits From AI Infrastructure DemandCorning reported strong momentum in Optical Communications, where sales increased 32% year over year to $2.07 billion. Enterprise Networks sales rose 65%, driven by demand for Gen AI-related products and data center infrastructure.

Weeks said AI networking requirements are creating opportunities beyond traditional GPU growth. He pointed to larger AI clusters, bandwidth requirements and the adoption of optical technologies in scale-up networks as drivers of future demand.

The CEO also discussed the potential expansion of Corning’s Photonics platform, which management believes could become a $10 billion market access platform by 2030 as optical technologies move further into advanced computing systems.

GLW Expands Customer PartnershipsCorning highlighted several major customer relationships supporting its growth outlook. Management discussed agreements with Amazon and NVIDIA tied to optical connectivity and expanded manufacturing capacity.

CFO Edward Schlesinger said long-term customer agreements are becoming an increasingly important part of the company’s capacity expansion strategy. These agreements help align investment decisions with customer demand.

During Q&A, a Wolfe Research analyst asked about the scale of long-term agreements within optical businesses. Weeks responded that major capacity expansions will increasingly be supported by these arrangements.

Corning Improves Profitability ProfileFor the second quarter, Corning delivered core sales of $4.74 billion, up 17% year over year, while core EPS increased 30% to 78 cents. Earnings per share beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 76 cents, while revenues beat the consensus mark of $4.60 billion. Core gross margin expanded to 39.6% and core operating margin reached 20.9%.

Schlesinger said Optical Communications achieved record profitability, with segment net income increasing 77% year over year to $438 million. He attributed margin improvement to stronger demand for innovative products.

The company also reported adjusted free cash flow of $1.42 billion during the quarter. Management said it expects free cash flow growth to continue while investing in expansion opportunities.

GLW Addresses Market Risks and OutlookManagement expects third-quarter core sales of $4.9 billion to $5 billion, representing approximately 16% year-over-year growth. Core EPS is expected to reach 85 cents to 89 cents, up about 28% year over year.

During Q&A, a Bank of America analyst questioned whether the third-quarter outlook implied slower growth after strong Enterprise performance. Schlesinger said the guidance was intended to reflect continued year-over-year growth and ongoing strength in Enterprise demand.

Management also noted pressure from memory pricing in handheld markets and muted automotive conditions, while expecting Gorilla Glass and other innovation-driven products to outperform broader market trends.

Corning Maintains Focus on Long-Term ExpansionCorning’s management emphasized that AI infrastructure remains a central growth opportunity, with Enterprise Networks and Photonics positioned as key contributors to future expansion.

The company continues to balance near-term execution with long-term investments, including higher capital spending to support optical capacity. Management expects to invest approximately $2 billion in capital expenditures during 2026.

The overall message from the call was centered on scaling new growth platforms, strengthening customer relationships and improving profitability as Corning advances its Springboard objectives.

Zacks Rank and Style Score SignalsCorning currently carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy), indicating that earnings estimate revisions are favorable compared with lower-ranked stocks. The Zacks Rank is designed to help identify stocks with stronger potential performance based on earnings estimate trends. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.

The stock has a Value Score of D, Growth Score of B, Momentum Score of F and a VGM Score of C. Zacks Style Scores use grades from A to F, with stronger scores reflecting more favorable characteristics within each investment style category.

The combination of a Zacks Rank #2 and individual Style Scores provides investors with additional context, though the Zacks Rank can change as analysts update earnings estimates following new company developments.
 

The INJ price has spent much of 2026 trapped between the $3 and $5 range, leading some to assume ecosystem development has slowed and it is the cause of muted price action. The governance record tells a different story. Injective has activated its IIP-677 interoperability mainnet upgrade (v1.20.3) while another core proposal, IIP-678, is already moving through the voting process.

The latest upgrade follows earlier architectural expansions, including the Vulcan (IIP-650) upgrade and MultiVM rollouts, signaling that protocol development continues despite muted price action.

Interoperability Upgrade Moves Network ForwardThe approved IIP-677 proposal passed with 72% “Yes” votes after a four-day voting period. It commits the network to version v1.20.3, introducing targeted improvements aimed at strengthening Loading profile preview network operations, protocol reliability, market infrastructure, and cross-chain interoperability.

The upgrade also seeks to integrate transfers from additional blockchains, enabling smoother asset movement into the Injective ecosystem while improving operational efficiency and network security.

Earlier Vulcan enhancements had already introduced native canonical USDC settlement, reduced transaction fees, expanded real-world asset (RWA) markets, and deployed a next-generation oracle engine alongside refined exchange, insurance, and oracle modules supporting faster buyback and burn cycles.

Another Governance Vote Remains OpenDevelopment hasn’t paused there. IIP-678 remains under active voting until July 31, focusing on recovering an expired IBC light client connected to the QUAD Core chain. The proposal replaces the expired client with an active substitute while maintaining the existing connection and channel.

According to the current vote tally, Abstain holds 52.81%, while Yes accounts for 47.18%. Whether that balance changes before voting closes remains to be seen.

Revenue Keeps Rising Despite Flat PriceThe INJ price may appear less interesting to many, but protocol activity paints another picture. Injective’s governance page has progressed from approximately IIP-615 earlier this year to IIP-678, reflecting more than 60 governance proposals during 2026.

Meanwhile, Token Terminal reports approximately $3.0 million in protocol revenue over the past 365 days, generated through its dual-chain architecture. Revenue combines burn auctions on Injective Cosmos and EIP-1559 base fee burns on Injective EVM, highlighting continued protocol activity even while the INJ price remains range-bound.

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In its upcoming report, Marriott International (MAR - Free Report) is predicted by Wall Street analysts to post quarterly earnings of $3.06 per share, reflecting an increase of 15.5% compared to the same period last year. Revenues are forecasted to be $7.26 billion, representing a year-over-year increase of 7.6%.

The consensus EPS estimate for the quarter has been revised 0.1% lower over the last 30 days to the current level. This reflects how the analysts covering the stock have collectively reevaluated their initial estimates during this timeframe.

Prior to a company's earnings release, it is of utmost importance to factor in any revisions made to the earnings projections. These revisions serve as a critical gauge for predicting potential investor behaviors with respect to the stock. Empirical studies consistently reveal a strong link between trends in earnings estimate revisions and the short-term price performance of a stock.

While it's common for investors to rely on consensus earnings and revenue estimates for assessing how the business may have performed during the quarter, exploring analysts' forecasts for key metrics can yield valuable insights.

That said, let's delve into the average estimates of some Marriott metrics that Wall Street analysts commonly model and monitor.

Analysts forecast 'Revenues- Gross fee revenues' to reach $1.56 billion. The estimate indicates a change of +11.3% from the prior-year quarter.

Based on the collective assessment of analysts, 'Revenues- Net fee revenues' should arrive at $1.53 billion. The estimate points to a change of +11.7% from the year-ago quarter.

Analysts' assessment points toward 'Revenues- Owned, leased, and other revenue' reaching $442.44 million. The estimate suggests a change of +0.3% year over year.

The collective assessment of analysts points to an estimated 'Revenues- Franchise fees' of $1.01 billion. The estimate points to a change of +17.3% from the year-ago quarter.

It is projected by analysts that the 'Comparable Systemwide International Properties - Worldwide - REVPAR' will reach 139 . Compared to the current estimate, the company reported 136 in the same quarter of the previous year.

The average prediction of analysts places 'Rooms - Total' at 1,811,109 . Compared to the current estimate, the company reported 1,735,819 in the same quarter of the previous year.

According to the collective judgment of analysts, 'Rooms - Owned/Leased' should come in at 13,729 . The estimate is in contrast to the year-ago figure of 14,206 .

Analysts predict that the 'Rooms - Franchised' will reach 1,213,083 . The estimate compares to the year-ago value of 1,138,838 .

Analysts expect 'Rooms - Owned/Leased - US & Canada' to come in at 5,539 . The estimate compares to the year-ago value of 5,539 .

The consensus among analysts is that 'Rooms - Owned/Leased - Total International' will reach 8,389 . Compared to the present estimate, the company reported 8,667 in the same quarter last year.

The consensus estimate for 'Comparable Systemwide US & Canada Properties - U.S. & Canada - REVPAR' stands at $148.17 . The estimate compares to the year-ago value of $142.78 .

The combined assessment of analysts suggests that 'Comparable Systemwide International Properties - Asia Pacific excluding China - REVPAR' will likely reach $134.76 . Compared to the present estimate, the company reported $127.23 in the same quarter last year.

View all Key Company Metrics for Marriott here>>>

Over the past month, Marriott shares have recorded returns of +3.5% versus the Zacks S&P 500 composite's +1.9% change. Based on its Zacks Rank #3 (Hold), MAR will likely exhibit a performance that aligns with the overall market in the upcoming period. You can see the complete list of today's Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) stocks here >>>> .

Rocket Lab stock is showing downward bias. Where are RKLB shares going? What Does Rocket Lab’s $266 Million Space Force Contract Mean?Rocket Lab was awarded a $266 million U.S. Space Force contract for 12 suborbital launches, with missions expected to start no earlier than the end of 2026 and work running through Dec. 31, 2028 at the Pacific Spaceport Complex in Alaska. The deal also includes options for six additional HASTE missions (up to 18 total), adding upside tied to follow-on demand rather than a one-time program.

Rocket Lab’s initial read-through earlier this week was bullish, with shares up in Monday’s premarket after the company awarded its largest launch contract to date. The market’s quick fade since then highlights a "good news vs. positioning" setup as traders weigh timing (late-2026 start) against today’s risk appetite.

Rocket Lab Stock: Key Technical Levels To WatchDespite the contract headline, the chart is still in "repair mode," with the stock at $63.50 trading 18.9% below its 20-day SMA ($78.08) and 18.6% below its 200-day SMA ($77.82). It’s also 37.1% below the 50-day SMA ($100.66), which is a clean read that intermediate momentum has been hit hard and overhead supply is likely heavy on rebounds.

MACD is the better momentum lens here: it’s below its signal line and the histogram is negative, which suggests upside pressure is fading unless buyers can reclaim that baseline. Put simply, when MACD sits under the signal line, rallies tend to struggle to "stick" because momentum is cooling versus the prior upswing.

The longer-term structure is mixed: the 20-day SMA is below the 50-day SMA (bearish), but the 50-day SMA remains above the 200-day SMA (a bullish longer-term backdrop that’s been damaged, not fully broken). Key turning points line up with that story—RKLB set its 52-week high at $151.00 in May, then put in a swing low in July, leaving a wide band of potential resistance from prior buyers looking to get back to even.

Key Resistance: $75.00 — a round-number area just below the 20-day average zone where rebounds can stall as overhead supply shows up Key Support: $56.00 — a nearby prior demand area that becomes the key reference if the pullback extends toward the lower end of the recent range Rocket Lab Stock Price Action Wednesday MorningRKLB Stock Price Activity: Rocket Lab shares were down 2.16% at $62.51 Wednesday morning, according to Benzinga Pro data.

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Analysts on Wall Street project that Willis Towers Watson (WTW - Free Report) will announce quarterly earnings of $3.13 per share in its forthcoming report, representing an increase of 9.4% year over year. Revenues are projected to reach $2.43 billion, increasing 7.4% from the same quarter last year.

Over the past 30 days, the consensus EPS estimate for the quarter has been adjusted upward by 0.3% to its current level. This demonstrates the covering analysts' collective reassessment of their initial projections during this period.

Before a company announces its earnings, it is essential to take into account any changes made to earnings estimates. This is a valuable factor in predicting the potential reactions of investors toward the stock. Empirical research has consistently shown a strong correlation between trends in earnings estimate revisions and the short-term price performance of a stock.

While it's common for investors to rely on consensus earnings and revenue estimates for assessing how the business may have performed during the quarter, exploring analysts' forecasts for key metrics can yield valuable insights.

With that in mind, let's delve into the average projections of some Willis Towers Watson metrics that are commonly tracked and projected by analysts on Wall Street.

The consensus estimate for 'Revenue- Health, Wealth and Career' stands at $1.26 billion. The estimate indicates a year-over-year change of +7%.

Analysts' assessment points toward 'Revenue- Reimbursable expenses and other' reaching $29.99 million. The estimate suggests a change of +24.9% year over year.

Analysts expect 'Revenue- Segment Revenue' to come in at $2.40 billion. The estimate indicates a year-over-year change of +7.6%.

It is projected by analysts that the 'Revenue- Risk and Broking' will reach $1.13 billion. The estimate indicates a year-over-year change of +8.4%.

According to the collective judgment of analysts, 'Segment Operating Income- Risk and Broking' should come in at $242.99 million. Compared to the current estimate, the company reported $222.00 million in the same quarter of the previous year.

Analysts forecast 'Segment Operating Income- Health, Wealth and Career' to reach $308.66 million. Compared to the present estimate, the company reported $280.00 million in the same quarter last year.

View all Key Company Metrics for Willis Towers Watson here>>>

Shares of Willis Towers Watson have experienced a change of +21% in the past month compared to the +1.9% move of the Zacks S&P 500 composite. With a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold), WTW is expected to mirror the overall market performance in the near future. You can see the complete list of today's Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) stocks here >>>> .

Analysts on Wall Street project that XPO (XPO - Free Report) will announce quarterly earnings of $1.49 per share in its forthcoming report, representing an increase of 41.9% year over year. Revenues are projected to reach $2.28 billion, increasing 9.7% from the same quarter last year.

The current level reflects an upward revision of 1.5% in the consensus EPS estimate for the quarter over the past 30 days. This demonstrates how the analysts covering the stock have collectively reappraised their initial projections over this period.

Before a company announces its earnings, it is essential to take into account any changes made to earnings estimates. This is a valuable factor in predicting the potential reactions of investors toward the stock. Empirical research has consistently shown a strong correlation between trends in earnings estimate revisions and the short-term price performance of a stock.

While investors typically rely on consensus earnings and revenue estimates to gauge how the business may have fared during the quarter, examining analysts' projections for some of the company's key metrics often helps gain a deeper insight.

Given this perspective, it's time to examine the average forecasts of specific XPO metrics that are routinely monitored and predicted by Wall Street analysts.

The consensus estimate for 'Revenue- European Transportation Segment' stands at $881.05 million. The estimate points to a change of +4.8% from the year-ago quarter.

Analysts predict that the 'Revenue- North American Less-Than-Truckload Segment' will reach $1.39 billion. The estimate suggests a change of +12% year over year.

The collective assessment of analysts points to an estimated 'Adjusted operating ratio' of 80.2%. Compared to the current estimate, the company reported 82.9% in the same quarter of the previous year.

The consensus among analysts is that 'Number of working days' will reach 64 . The estimate is in contrast to the year-ago figure of 64 .

Analysts' assessment points toward 'Shipments per day' reaching 51,843 . Compared to the present estimate, the company reported 50,782 in the same quarter last year.

It is projected by analysts that the 'Gross revenue per hundredweight (excluding fuel surcharges)' will reach $26.08 . Compared to the current estimate, the company reported $24.99 in the same quarter of the previous year.

Analysts forecast 'Gross revenue per hundredweight (including fuel surcharges)' to reach $32.43 . Compared to the current estimate, the company reported $29.23 in the same quarter of the previous year.

Analysts expect 'Average weight per shipment' to come in at $1311.4 pounds. The estimate compares to the year-ago value of $1335.0 pounds.

The combined assessment of analysts suggests that 'Net revenue per shipment' will likely reach $424.75 . The estimate compares to the year-ago value of $384.13 .

The average prediction of analysts places 'Pounds per day' at 68 millions of pounds. Compared to the present estimate, the company reported 68 millions of pounds in the same quarter last year.

According to the collective judgment of analysts, 'Adjusted EBITDA- European Transportation Segment' should come in at $42.26 million. Compared to the present estimate, the company reported $44.00 million in the same quarter last year.

Based on the collective assessment of analysts, 'Adjusted EBITDA- North American Less-Than-Truckload Segment' should arrive at $366.72 million. Compared to the present estimate, the company reported $300.00 million in the same quarter last year.

View all Key Company Metrics for XPO here>>>

Over the past month, shares of XPO have returned -0.3% versus the Zacks S&P 500 composite's +1.9% change. Currently, XPO carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy), suggesting that it may outperform. the overall market in the near future. You can see the complete list of today's Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) stocks here >>>> .

Expedia (EXPE - Free Report) is expected to deliver a year-over-year increase in earnings on higher revenues when it reports results for the quarter ended June 2026. This widely-known consensus outlook gives a good sense of the company's earnings picture, but how the actual results compare to these estimates is a powerful factor that could impact its near-term stock price.

The earnings report, which is expected to be released on August 5, might help the stock move higher if these key numbers are better than expectations. On the other hand, if they miss, the stock may move lower.

While the sustainability of the immediate price change and future earnings expectations will mostly depend on management's discussion of business conditions on the earnings call, it's worth handicapping the probability of a positive EPS surprise.

Zacks Consensus EstimateThis online travel company is expected to post quarterly earnings of $5.45 per share in its upcoming report, which represents a year-over-year change of +28.5%.

Revenues are expected to be $4.18 billion, up 10.5% from the year-ago quarter.

Estimate Revisions TrendThe consensus EPS estimate for the quarter has been revised 0.56% lower over the last 30 days to the current level. This is essentially a reflection of how the covering analysts have collectively reassessed their initial estimates over this period.

Investors should keep in mind that an aggregate change may not always reflect the direction of estimate revisions by each of the covering analysts.

Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise

Earnings WhisperEstimate revisions ahead of a company's earnings release offer clues to the business conditions for the period whose results are coming out. This insight is at the core of our proprietary surprise prediction model -- the Zacks Earnings ESP (Expected Surprise Prediction).

The Zacks Earnings ESP compares the Most Accurate Estimate to the Zacks Consensus Estimate for the quarter; the Most Accurate Estimate is a more recent version of the Zacks Consensus EPS estimate. The idea here is that analysts revising their estimates right before an earnings release have the latest information, which could potentially be more accurate than what they and others contributing to the consensus had predicted earlier.

Thus, a positive or negative Earnings ESP reading theoretically indicates the likely deviation of the actual earnings from the consensus estimate. However, the model's predictive power is significant for positive ESP readings only.

A positive Earnings ESP is a strong predictor of an earnings beat, particularly when combined with a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), 2 (Buy) or 3 (Hold). Our research shows that stocks with this combination produce a positive surprise nearly 70% of the time, and a solid Zacks Rank actually increases the predictive power of Earnings ESP.

Please note that a negative Earnings ESP reading is not indicative of an earnings miss. Our research shows that it is difficult to predict an earnings beat with any degree of confidence for stocks with negative Earnings ESP readings and/or Zacks Rank of 4 (Sell) or 5 (Strong Sell).

How Have the Numbers Shaped Up for Expedia?For Expedia, the Most Accurate Estimate is higher than the Zacks Consensus Estimate, suggesting that analysts have recently become bullish on the company's earnings prospects. This has resulted in an Earnings ESP of +4.21%.

On the other hand, the stock currently carries a Zacks Rank of #2.

So, this combination indicates that Expedia will most likely beat the consensus EPS estimate.

Does Earnings Surprise History Hold Any Clue?Analysts often consider to what extent a company has been able to match consensus estimates in the past while calculating their estimates for its future earnings. So, it's worth taking a look at the surprise history for gauging its influence on the upcoming number.

For the last reported quarter, it was expected that Expedia would post earnings of $1.41 per share when it actually produced earnings of $1.96, delivering a surprise of +39.01%.

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

Bottom LineAn earnings beat or miss may not be the sole basis for a stock moving higher or lower. Many stocks end up losing ground despite an earnings beat due to other factors that disappoint investors. Similarly, unforeseen catalysts help a number of stocks gain despite an earnings miss.

That said, betting on stocks that are expected to beat earnings expectations does increase the odds of success. This is why it's worth checking a company's Earnings ESP and Zacks Rank ahead of its quarterly release. Make sure to utilize our Earnings ESP Filter to uncover the best stocks to buy or sell before they've reported.

Expedia appears a compelling earnings-beat candidate. However, investors should pay attention to other factors too for betting on this stock or staying away from it ahead of its earnings release.

Expected Results of an Industry PlayerUnited Parks & Resorts (PRKS - Free Report) , another stock in the Zacks Leisure and Recreation Services industry, is expected to report earnings per share of $1.62 for the quarter ended June 2026. This estimate points to a year-over-year change of +11.7%. Revenues for the quarter are expected to be $485.23 million, down 1% from the year-ago quarter.

The consensus EPS estimate for United Parks & Resorts has been revised 1.5% higher over the last 30 days to the current level. However, a lower Most Accurate Estimate has resulted in an Earnings ESP of -12.72%.

When combined with a Zacks Rank of #5 (Strong Sell), this Earnings ESP makes it difficult to conclusively predict that United Parks & Resorts will beat the consensus EPS estimate. The company could not beat consensus EPS estimates in any of the last four quarters.

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

Wall Street analysts forecast that Vertex Pharmaceuticals (VRTX - Free Report) will report quarterly earnings of $4.85 per share in its upcoming release, pointing to a year-over-year increase of 7.3%. It is anticipated that revenues will amount to $3.23 billion, exhibiting an increase of 8.8% compared to the year-ago quarter.

Over the past 30 days, the consensus EPS estimate for the quarter has been adjusted upward by 0.9% to its current level. This demonstrates the covering analysts' collective reassessment of their initial projections during this period.

Before a company announces its earnings, it is essential to take into account any changes made to earnings estimates. This is a valuable factor in predicting the potential reactions of investors toward the stock. Empirical research has consistently shown a strong correlation between trends in earnings estimate revisions and the short-term price performance of a stock.

While investors usually depend on consensus earnings and revenue estimates to assess the business performance for the quarter, delving into analysts' forecasts for certain key metrics often provides a more comprehensive understanding.

That said, let's delve into the average estimates of some Vertex metrics that Wall Street analysts commonly model and monitor.

Analysts' assessment points toward 'Revenues- Product revenues, net' reaching $3.24 billion. The estimate points to a change of +10.1% from the year-ago quarter.

Based on the collective assessment of analysts, 'Revenues by Product- Other product revenues' should arrive at $133.50 million. The estimate indicates a change of -43.5% from the prior-year quarter.

The collective assessment of analysts points to an estimated 'Revenues by Product- Trikafta/Kaftrio' of $2.45 billion. The estimate points to a change of -3.9% from the year-ago quarter.

Analysts forecast 'Revenues by Product- ALYFTREK' to reach $529.27 million. The estimate indicates a change of +237.5% from the prior-year quarter.

View all Key Company Metrics for Vertex here>>>

Over the past month, shares of Vertex have returned -1.3% versus the Zacks S&P 500 composite's +1.9% change. Currently, VRTX carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold), suggesting that its performance may align with the overall market in the near future. You can see the complete list of today's Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) stocks here >>>> .

Key Takeaways EIX is expected to post Q2 earnings of $1.02 per share, up 5.2% year over year.Revenues are projected at $4.72 billion, reflecting 3.9% growth from the prior year.Grid upgrades, rate-base growth and cost controls are likely to support quarterly performance. Edison International (EIX - Free Report) is scheduled to release second-quarter 2026 results on July 30, after market close. The company delivered an earnings surprise of 7.58% in the last reported quarter.

Let’s discuss the factors that are likely to be reflected in the upcoming quarterly results.

Factors That are Likely to Have Impacted EIX’s Q2 PerformanceEdison International’s continued investments in grid modernization, wildfire mitigation and infrastructure upgrades are likely to have supported its second-quarter performance. Ongoing spending on system hardening and grid improvement projects is expected to have strengthened operational reliability and supported the company’s long-term growth.

Strong revenue expectations, supported by the continued implementation of Southern California Edison’s approved General Rate Case, are likely to have contributed to the company’s earnings growth in the to-be-reported quarter. Continued recovery of authorized investments is also expected to have supported financial performance.

Increasing electricity demand driven by electrification is likely to have supported Edison International’s revenues during the second quarter. Continued rate-base growth is also expected to have aided the company’s overall performance.

Ongoing cost-control measures and operational efficiency initiatives are likely to have strengthened Edison International’s overall earnings performance in the second quarter.

EIX’s Q2 ExpectationsThe Zacks Consensus Estimate for earnings is pegged at $1.02 per share, indicating a year-over-year increase of 5.2%.

The same for revenues is pinned at $4.72 billion, implying 3.9% growth year over year.

What Our Quantitative Model PredictsOur proven model predicts an earnings beat for Edison International this time around. 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 the case here, as you will see below.

Earnings ESP: The company’s Earnings ESP is +4.66%. You can uncover the best stocks before they’re reported with our Earnings ESP Filter.

Zacks Rank: Currently, Edison International carries a Zacks Rank of 2.

Other Stocks to ConsiderInvestors may consider the following players from the same industry, as these also have the right combination of elements to post an earnings beat this reporting cycle.

Ameren (AEE - Free Report) is slated to report its second-quarter 2026 results on July 30, after market close. It has an Earnings ESP of +0.19% and a Zacks Rank of 2 at present.

AEE’s long-term (three to five years) earnings growth rate is 7.7%. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for earnings is pegged at $1.08 per share, which suggests a year-over-year rise of 6.9%.

The Southern Company (SO - Free Report) is scheduled to report its second-quarter 2026 results on July 30, before market open. It has an Earnings ESP of +1.16% and a Zacks Rank of 3 at present.

SO’s long-term earnings growth rate is 11.4%. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for earnings stands at $1.01 per share, which implies a year-over-year increase of 11%.

Vistra (VST - Free Report) is slated to report its second-quarter 2026 results on Aug. 7, before market open. It has an Earnings ESP of +19.75% and a Zacks Rank of 3 at present.

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for revenues stands at $6.38 billion, which suggests a year-over-year rise of 50.1%. The consensus estimate for earnings stands at $2.41 per share, which suggests a year-over-year rise of 138.6%.