Track market-moving stories before they get noisy

Archrock Inc. (AROC - Free Report) is one of the stocks most watched by Zacks.com visitors lately. So, it might be a good idea to review some of the factors that might affect the near-term performance of the stock.

Shares of this natural gas compression services business have returned -2% over the past month versus the Zacks S&P 500 composite's +0.3% change. The Zacks Oil and Gas - Field Services industry, to which Archrock Inc. belongs, has remained unchanged over this period. Now the key question is: Where could the stock be headed in the near term?

While media releases or rumors about a substantial change in a company's business prospects usually make its stock 'trending' and lead to an immediate price change, there are always some fundamental facts that eventually dominate the buy-and-hold decision-making.

Earnings Estimate RevisionsRather than focusing on anything else, we at Zacks prioritize evaluating the change in a company's earnings projection. This is because we believe the fair value for its stock is determined by the present value of its future stream of earnings.

Our analysis is essentially based on how sell-side analysts covering the stock are revising their earnings estimates to take the latest business trends into account. When earnings estimates for a company go up, the fair value for its stock goes up as well. And when a stock's fair value is higher than its current market price, investors tend to buy the stock, resulting in its price moving upward. Because of this, empirical studies indicate a strong correlation between trends in earnings estimate revisions and short-term stock price movements.

Archrock Inc. is expected to post earnings of $0.46 per share for the current quarter, representing a year-over-year change of +18%. Over the last 30 days, the Zacks Consensus Estimate remained unchanged.

For the current fiscal year, the consensus earnings estimate of $1.9 points to no change from the prior year. Over the last 30 days, this estimate has remained unchanged.

For the next fiscal year, the consensus earnings estimate of $2.29 indicates a change of +20.2% from what Archrock Inc. is expected to report a year ago. Over the past month, the estimate has remained unchanged.

With an impressive externally audited track record, our proprietary stock rating tool -- the Zacks Rank -- is a more conclusive indicator of a stock's near-term price performance, as it effectively harnesses the power of earnings estimate revisions. The size of the recent change in the consensus estimate, along with three other factors related to earnings estimates, has resulted in a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) for Archrock Inc..

The chart below shows the evolution of the company's forward 12-month consensus EPS estimate:

12 Month EPS

Projected Revenue GrowthEven though a company's earnings growth is arguably the best indicator of its financial health, nothing much happens if it cannot raise its revenues. It's almost impossible for a company to grow its earnings without growing its revenue for long periods. Therefore, knowing a company's potential revenue growth is crucial.

In the case of Archrock Inc., the consensus sales estimate of $390.4 million for the current quarter points to a year-over-year change of +1.9%. The $1.55 billion and $1.64 billion estimates for the current and next fiscal years indicate changes of +4.2% and +5.6%, respectively.

Last Reported Results and Surprise HistoryArchrock Inc. reported revenues of $373.77 million in the last reported quarter, representing a year-over-year change of +7.7%. EPS of $0.42 for the same period compares with $0.42 a year ago.

Compared to the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $376.69 million, the reported revenues represent a surprise of -0.78%. The EPS surprise was -10.64%.

Over the last four quarters, Archrock Inc. surpassed consensus EPS estimates three times. The company topped consensus revenue estimates three times over this period.

ValuationWithout considering a stock's valuation, no investment decision can be efficient. In predicting a stock's future price performance, it's crucial to determine whether its current price correctly reflects the intrinsic value of the underlying business and the company's growth prospects.

Comparing the current value of a company's valuation multiples, such as its price-to-earnings (P/E), price-to-sales (P/S), and price-to-cash flow (P/CF), to its own historical values helps ascertain whether its stock is fairly valued, overvalued, or undervalued, whereas comparing the company relative to its peers on these parameters gives a good sense of how reasonable its stock price is.

The Zacks Value Style Score (part of the Zacks Style Scores system), which pays close attention to both traditional and unconventional valuation metrics to grade stocks from A to F (an A is better than a B; a B is better than a C; and so on), is pretty helpful in identifying whether a stock is overvalued, rightly valued, or temporarily undervalued.

Archrock Inc. is graded C on this front, indicating that it is trading at par with its peers. Click here to see the values of some of the valuation metrics that have driven this grade.

ConclusionThe facts discussed here and much other information on Zacks.com might help determine whether or not it's worthwhile paying attention to the market buzz about Archrock Inc.. However, its Zacks Rank #3 does suggest that it may perform in line with the broader market in the near term.

Alaska Air Group, Inc. posted Q2 2026 results with revenue up to $4.07B, but bottom line losses worsened due to surging fuel costs from the Iran war. Despite cost-cutting successes and structural improvements, ALK's profitability deteriorated, with net losses of $76M and adjusted EBITDAR falling to $1.04B. Fuel costs soared to 32.1% of revenue ($4.43/gallon), overwhelming gains from premium, cargo, and loyalty revenues; Q3 guidance remains pressured by high fuel prices.

Shares of Patterson-UTI (PTEN - Free Report) have gained 4.6% over the past four weeks to close the last trading session at $10.53, but there could still be a solid upside left in the stock if short-term price targets of Wall Street analysts are any indication. Going by the price targets, the mean estimate of $13.25 indicates a potential upside of 25.8%.

The mean estimate comprises 14 short-term price targets with a standard deviation of $2.56. While the lowest estimate of $10.00 indicates a 5% decline from the current price level, the most optimistic analyst expects the stock to surge 80.4% to reach $19.00. It's very important to note the standard deviation here, as it helps understand the variability of the estimates. The smaller the standard deviation, the greater the agreement among analysts.

While the consensus price target is highly sought after by investors, the ability and unbiasedness of analysts in setting price targets have long been questionable. And investors making investment decisions solely based on this tool would arguably do themselves a disservice.

But, for PTEN, an impressive average price target is not the only indicator of a potential upside. Strong agreement among analysts about the company's ability to report better earnings than they predicted earlier strengthens this view. While a positive trend in earnings estimate revisions doesn't gauge how much a stock could gain, it has proven to be powerful in predicting an upside.

Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise

Here's What You May Not Know About Analysts' Price TargetsAccording to researchers at several universities across the globe, a price target is one of many pieces of information about a stock that misleads investors far more often than it guides. In fact, empirical research shows that price targets set by several analysts, irrespective of the extent of agreement, rarely indicate where the price of a stock could actually be heading.

While Wall Street analysts have deep knowledge of a company's fundamentals and the sensitivity of its business to economic and industry issues, many of them tend to set overly optimistic price targets. Are you wondering why?

They usually do that to drum up interest in shares of companies that their firms either have existing business relationships with or are looking to be associated with. In other words, business incentives of firms covering a stock often result in inflated price targets set by analysts.

However, a tight clustering of price targets, which is represented by a low standard deviation, indicates that analysts have a high degree of agreement about the direction and magnitude of a stock's price movement. While that doesn't necessarily mean the stock will hit the average price target, it could be a good starting point for further research aimed at identifying the potential fundamental driving forces.

That said, while investors should not entirely ignore price targets, making an investment decision solely based on them could lead to disappointing ROI. So, price targets should always be treated with a high degree of skepticism.

Here's Why There Could be Plenty of Upside Left in PTENAnalysts' growing optimism over the company's earnings prospects, as indicated by strong agreement among them in revising EPS estimates higher, could be a legitimate reason to expect an upside in the stock. That's because empirical research shows a strong correlation between trends in earnings estimate revisions and near-term stock price movements.

For the current year, four estimates have moved higher over the last 30 days compared to no negative revision. As a result, the Zacks Consensus Estimate has increased 42%.

Moreover, PTEN currently has a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy), which means it is in the top 20% of more than 4,000 stocks that we rank based on four factors related to earnings estimates. Given an impressive externally-audited track record, this is a more conclusive indication of the stock's potential upside in the near term. You can see the complete list of today's Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) stocks here >>>> .

Therefore, while the consensus price target may not be a reliable indicator of how much PTEN could gain, the direction of price movement it implies does appear to be a good guide.

The market expects National Fuel Gas (NFG - Free Report) to deliver a year-over-year decline in earnings on higher revenues when it reports results for the quarter ended June 2026. This widely-known consensus outlook is important in assessing the company's earnings picture, but a powerful factor that might influence its near-term stock price is how the actual results compare to these estimates.

The earnings report, which is expected to be released on July 29, 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 energy company is expected to post quarterly earnings of $1.47 per share in its upcoming report, which represents a year-over-year change of -10.4%.

Revenues are expected to be $564.39 million, up 6.1% from the year-ago quarter.

Estimate Revisions TrendThe consensus EPS estimate for the quarter has been revised 0.8% higher 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 the direction of estimate revisions by each of the covering analysts may not always get reflected in the aggregate change.

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. Our proprietary surprise prediction model -- the Zacks Earnings ESP (Expected Surprise Prediction) -- has this insight at its core.

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 National Fuel Gas?For National Fuel Gas, 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 +2.15%.

On the other hand, the stock currently carries a Zacks Rank of #3.

So, this combination indicates that National Fuel Gas 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 National Fuel Gas would post earnings of $2.85 per share when it actually produced earnings of $2.71, delivering a surprise of -4.91%.

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.

National Fuel Gas 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.

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

Analysts on Wall Street project that Columbia Banking (COLB - Free Report) will announce quarterly earnings of $0.73 per share in its forthcoming report, representing a decline of 4% year over year. Revenues are projected to reach $688.41 million, increasing 34.7% from the same quarter last year.

The consensus EPS estimate for the quarter has been revised 1.9% 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 announcement, it is crucial to consider revisions to earnings estimates. This serves as a significant indicator for predicting potential investor actions regarding the stock. Empirical research has consistently demonstrated a robust correlation between trends in earnings estimate revision 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 Columbia Banking metrics that Wall Street analysts commonly model and monitor.

The consensus among analysts is that 'Average Balance - Total interest-earning assets' will reach $60.69 billion. Compared to the present estimate, the company reported $47.87 billion in the same quarter last year.

The combined assessment of analysts suggests that 'Efficiency Ratio' will likely reach 52.8%. Compared to the present estimate, the company reported 54.3% in the same quarter last year.

The consensus estimate for 'Net Interest Margin' stands at 4.0%. Compared to the present estimate, the company reported 3.8% in the same quarter last year.

Analysts' assessment points toward 'Total non-performing loans and leases' reaching $267.74 million. Compared to the current estimate, the company reported $177.43 million in the same quarter of the previous year.

It is projected by analysts that the 'Total non-performing assets' will reach $270.77 million. The estimate compares to the year-ago value of $180.25 million.

Analysts expect 'Net Interest Income' to come in at $603.86 million. The estimate is in contrast to the year-ago figure of $446.45 million.

Analysts predict that the 'Total noninterest income' will reach $83.68 million. The estimate is in contrast to the year-ago figure of $64.46 million.

The collective assessment of analysts points to an estimated 'Service charges on deposits' of $20.35 million. The estimate compares to the year-ago value of $19.67 million.

Based on the collective assessment of analysts, 'Net interest income (FTE)' should arrive at $605.01 million. The estimate is in contrast to the year-ago figure of $447.55 million.

The average prediction of analysts places 'Financial services and trust revenue' at $15.11 million. Compared to the present estimate, the company reported $5.84 million in the same quarter last year.

View all Key Company Metrics for Columbia Banking here>>>

Columbia Banking shares have witnessed a change of +5.1% in the past month, in contrast to the Zacks S&P 500 composite's +0.3% move. With a Zacks Rank #4 (Sell), COLB is expected underperform the overall market performance in the near term. You can see the complete list of today's Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) stocks here >>>> .

Analysts on Wall Street project that Universal Health Services (UHS - Free Report) will announce quarterly earnings of $5.66 per share in its forthcoming report, representing an increase of 5.8% year over year. Revenues are projected to reach $4.52 billion, increasing 5.5% from the same quarter last year.

The consensus EPS estimate for the quarter has remained unchanged over the last 30 days. This represents how the covering analysts, as a whole, have reassessed their initial estimates during this timeframe.

Prior to a company's earnings announcement, it is crucial to consider revisions to earnings estimates. This serves as a significant indicator for predicting potential investor actions regarding the stock. Empirical research has consistently demonstrated a robust correlation between trends in earnings estimate revision 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.

In light of this perspective, let's dive into the average estimates of certain Universal Health Services metrics that are commonly tracked and forecasted by Wall Street analysts.

It is projected by analysts that the 'Net Revenues- Acute care hospital services' will reach $2.55 billion. The estimate suggests a change of +6.1% year over year.

The average prediction of analysts places 'Net Revenues- Behavioral health services' at $1.98 billion. The estimate points to a change of +5.6% from the year-ago quarter.

The consensus estimate for 'Admissions - Acute - Same facility basis' stands at 86,913 . The estimate is in contrast to the year-ago figure of 84,529 .

Analysts' assessment points toward 'Admissions - Behavioral health' reaching 122,248 . Compared to the present estimate, the company reported 118,974 in the same quarter last year.

The consensus among analysts is that 'Operating Income- Behavioral Health Care Services' will reach $392.94 million. The estimate is in contrast to the year-ago figure of $396.46 million.

Analysts forecast 'Operating Income- Acute Care Hospital Services' to reach $264.64 million. Compared to the present estimate, the company reported $225.22 million in the same quarter last year.

View all Key Company Metrics for Universal Health Services here>>>

Shares of Universal Health Services have experienced a change of +2.8% in the past month compared to the +0.3% move of the Zacks S&P 500 composite. With a Zacks Rank #4 (Sell), UHS is expected to underperform the overall market in the near future. You can see the complete list of today's Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) stocks here >>>> .

NEW YORK, July 22, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Bernstein Liebhard LLP, a nationally acclaimed investor rights law firm, reminds Peabody Energy Corporation (“Peabody Energy” or the “Company”) (NYSE: BTU) investors of the August 24, 2026 deadline involving a securities fraud class action lawsuit commenced against the Company.

Should You Join The Peabody Energy Class Action Lawsuit:

Do you, or did you, own shares of Peabody Energy Corporation (NYSE: BTU)?
Did you purchase your shares between October 14, 2024 and May 4, 2026, inclusive?
Did you lose money in your investment in Peabody Energy Corporation?
Investors are encouraged to act promptly and submit a form at Peabody Energy Corporation Shareholder Class Action Lawsuit or contact Investor Relations Manager Peter Allocco at (212) 951-2030 or [email protected].

If you wish to serve as lead plaintiff for the Class, you must file papers by August 24, 2026. A lead plaintiff is a representative party acting on other class members’ behalf in directing the litigation. Your ability to share in any recovery doesn’t require that you serve as lead plaintiff. If you choose to take no action, you may remain an absent class member.

All representation is on a contingency fee basis. Shareholders pay no fees or expenses.

About The Lawsuit:

A lawsuit was filed on behalf of investors (the “Class”) who purchased or acquired the common stock of Peabody Energy between October 14, 2024 and May 4, 2026, inclusive, alleging violations of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 against the Company and certain of its senior officers.

The lawsuit alleges that defendants made materially false and misleading statements and omissions regarding the Company’s business operations, growth prospects, and financial stability. As a result of these alleged misrepresentations, Peabody Energy common stock traded at artificially inflated prices during the Class Period. When the truth was disclosed, investors allegedly suffered significant losses.

About Bernstein Liebhard:

Since 1993, Bernstein Liebhard LLP has recovered over $3.5 billion for its clients. In addition to representing individual investors, the Firm has been retained by some of the largest public and private pension funds in the country to monitor their assets and pursue litigation on their behalf. As a result of its success litigating hundreds of class actions, the Firm has been named to The National Law Journal’s “Plaintiffs’ Hot List” thirteen times and listed in The Legal 500 for sixteen consecutive years.

ATTORNEY ADVERTISING. © 2026 Bernstein Liebhard LLP. The law firm responsible for this advertisement is Bernstein Liebhard LLP, 10 East 40th Street, New York, New York 10016, (212) 779-1414. Prior results do not guarantee or predict a similar outcome with respect to any future matter.

Contact Information:

Peter Allocco
Investor Relations Manager
Bernstein Liebhard LLP
https://www.bernlieb.com
(212) 951-2030
[email protected]

Executive Accountability: Marc E. Hathhorn's Centurion Mine Assurances Allegedly Cost Peabody Energy Investors Millions as Equipment He Personally Vouched for Failed Underground

, /PRNewswire/ -- Levi & Korsinsky, LLP notifies investors that Marc E. Hathhorn, former President of Global Operations at Peabody Energy Corporation (NYSE: BTU), is named as a defendant in a securities class action covering purchases between October 14, 2024 and May 4, 2026. Shareholders who lost money on BTU may find out if you qualify to recover losses from this action or contact Joseph E. Levi, Esq. at [email protected] or (212) 363-7500.

Peabody Energy shares fell from a high of $39.50 on March 27, 2026 to $25.00 following the March 30 and May 5, 2026 corrective disclosures, a total decline of $14.50 per share (36.7%) across both corrective events. The lead plaintiff deadline is August 24, 2026.

Marc E. Hathhorn's Role During the Class Period

The complaint identifies Hathhorn as the President of Global Operations at Peabody Energy from the start of the Class Period through October 31, 2024. In this capacity, Hathhorn was the senior executive directly responsible for overseeing Centurion mine development and operations. He served as the primary spokesperson for the Centurion project during a critical Special Call on October 14, 2024, where he personally delivered assurances about the mine's progress and timeline to investors and analysts.

Unlike other named defendants who addressed Centurion as part of broader corporate earnings updates, Hathhorn's statements were operational and specific. He was the executive closest to the ground-level realities at the mine site.

What Hathhorn Allegedly Told Investors

During the October 14, 2024 Special Call, the action alleges Hathhorn made several material representations:

Stated development was advancing "on time and on budget towards full-scale long-haul production in March 2026" Personally vouched for the equipment, claiming equipment delivery risk was "behind us" and the conveyance system was "brand new" and "performing well" Dismissed execution risk by stating: "Obviously, there's risk, but I feel good" and "I feel very confident that March 2026, will have the longwall getting" Assured investors the coal seam's "geological stability" would provide "a consistent and continuous coal face that minimizes operational disruptions" The lawsuit contends these statements were materially misleading. When the full truth emerged on May 5, 2026, the Company disclosed that 8-year-old unused mining equipment suffered unanticipated electrical and mechanical failures underground, and that the very roof conditions Hathhorn characterized as geologically stable had in fact deteriorated due to moisture accumulation and floor softening.

Hathhorn's Alleged Knowledge and Operational Authority

As pleaded in the complaint, Hathhorn possessed the power and authority to control the contents of Peabody Energy's public statements about Centurion mine operations. The action asserts he had access to material non-public information about operational conditions at the mine site and knew that adverse facts had not been disclosed to investors. His detailed, first-person descriptions of equipment readiness and geological conditions went beyond general corporate optimism and into specific operational representations that the lawsuit alleges were false when made.

Section 20(a) Context for Hathhorn

Hathhorn is named under Section 20(a) of the Securities Exchange Act as an alleged controlling person of Peabody Energy. The complaint charges that by virtue of his senior operational role, Hathhorn had the power to influence and control the Company's public disclosures about Centurion's development timeline, equipment readiness, and geological conditions.

"Individual officers who sign SEC certifications bear personal responsibility for the accuracy of corporate disclosures. When senior executives make specific operational assurances about equipment performance and geological stability, investors are entitled to rely on those statements being grounded in fact." -- Joseph E. Levi, Esq.

LEAD PLAINTIFF DEADLINE: August 24, 2026

Speak with an attorney about Hathhorn's alleged role in your BTU losses or call (212) 363-7500.

ABOUT LEVI & KORSINSKY, LLP — Over the past 20 years, Levi & Korsinsky has secured hundreds of millions of dollars for aggrieved shareholders. The firm has extensive expertise in complex securities litigation and a team of over 70 employees. For seven consecutive years, Levi & Korsinsky has ranked in ISS Securities Class Action Services' Top 50 Report. Investors who suffered losses have until August 24, 2026 to seek appointment as lead plaintiff.

Frequently Asked Questions About the BTU Lawsuit

Q: Who is Marc E. Hathhorn and why is he named as a defendant? A: Marc E. Hathhorn served as President of Global Operations at Peabody Energy from the start of the Class Period through October 31, 2024. He is named because he allegedly made specific, material misrepresentations about the Centurion mine's equipment readiness and operational timeline during a Special Call with investors.

Q: What is the BTU class action lawsuit about? A: A securities class action has been filed against Peabody Energy Corporation (NYSE: BTU) alleging materially false and misleading statements between October 14, 2024 and May 4, 2026. Shares fell approximately 36.7% after the truth was revealed, causing significant losses for shareholders.

Q: Who is eligible to join the BTU investor lawsuit? A: Investors who purchased BTU stock or securities between October 14, 2024 and May 4, 2026 and suffered financial losses may be eligible. Eligibility is based on purchase date and documented losses, not on whether you still hold the shares.

Q: What if I already sold my BTU shares -- can I still recover losses? A: Yes. Eligibility is based on when you purchased, not whether you still hold them. Investors who bought during the class period and sold at a loss may still participate.

Q: What does it cost me to participate? A: Nothing. Securities class actions are handled on a pure contingency basis. No upfront fees, no retainer, no out-of-pocket costs.

Q: What do BTU investors need to do right now? A: Gather brokerage records including purchase dates, share quantities, and prices paid. Contact Levi & Korsinsky for a free, no-obligation evaluation at [email protected] or (212) 363-7500. No immediate action is required to remain eligible as a class member.

Q: How long will the lawsuit take to resolve? A: Securities class actions typically take two to four years from initial filing to resolution.

CONTACT:

Levi & Korsinsky, LLP

Joseph E. Levi, Esq.

33 Whitehall Street, 27th Floor

New York, NY 10004

[email protected]

Tel: (212) 363-7500

Fax: (212) 363-7171

SOURCE Levi & Korsinsky, LLP

As the latest earnings season unfolds, investor attention is once again turning toward the Consumer Staples sector, a defensive corner of the market that has historically demonstrated resilience during periods of economic uncertainty.

Companies in this space continue to benefit from relatively stable demand for everyday essentials, including packaged foods, beverages, household products and personal-care items. Although consumers remain selective with their spending, staple categories have generally held up well, supported by strong brands, broad distribution networks and the non-discretionary nature of their products.

According to the latest Zacks Earnings Outlook, the Consumer Staples sector is expected to witness 1.5% earnings growth this earnings cycle, with revenues likely to advance 4.8%.

Cost Pressures & Value-Seeking Trends Likely to Shape ResultsThis earnings season, investors will closely assess how companies are balancing persistent cost pressures with evolving consumer behavior. While inflation has moderated from its recent peaks, commodity costs remain elevated across several categories, including cocoa, edible oils, energy and transportation.

Geopolitical uncertainty and tariff-related costs continue to create volatility across global supply chains. Many companies have responded by strengthening sourcing strategies, improving manufacturing efficiency, optimizing product portfolios and intensifying productivity initiatives to protect profitability.

Another key theme is the industry's shift from relying primarily on pricing to generating more balanced growth through innovation, distribution expansion and volume recovery. Consumer demand has become increasingly value-oriented, prompting companies to emphasize affordable pack sizes, premium innovations with differentiated value propositions and greater exposure to fast-growing channels such as club stores, convenience outlets and e-commerce.

At the same time, disciplined inventory management, operational improvements and targeted marketing investments are helping many consumer staple companies maintain healthy margins despite a challenging operating backdrop.

Finding Potential Earnings WinnersPinpointing stocks that may outperform earnings expectations can be challenging, but the Zacks methodology helps streamline the selection process. Using the Zacks Stock Screener, we have identified several consumer staple stocks that appear favorably positioned to exceed the Zacks Consensus Estimate this earnings season.

Our research shows that for stocks with the combination of a positive Earnings ESP and a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), 2 (Buy) or 3 (Hold), the chance of an earnings surprise is as high as 70%. You can uncover the best stocks to buy or sell before they’re reported with our Earnings ESP Filter.

3 Consumer Staples Stocks Poised to Beat EstimatesLamb Weston Holdings, Inc. (LW - Free Report) enters the earnings season with improving momentum in North America, where customer wins, share gains and strong retention are supporting volumes. The company’s Focus to Win strategy is also yielding benefits through better plant execution, tighter capital discipline and cost savings that are running ahead of plan. Management raised the midpoint of its fiscal 2026 sales and adjusted EBITDA outlook, reflecting confidence in underlying execution. 

International conditions remain challenging because of excess capacity, weak restaurant traffic and unfavorable mix, but ongoing production curtailments and cost actions should help protect profitability and keep Lamb Weston well-positioned. LW currently has an Earnings ESP of +3.56% and a Zacks Rank #3. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for fourth-quarter fiscal 2026 earnings per share (EPS) has risen by a penny to 61 cents in the past 30 days. Lamb Weston has a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 23.5%, on average. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.

Mondelez International, Inc. (MDLZ - Free Report) currently has an Earnings ESP of +0.38% and a Zacks Rank #3. The company appears well-positioned heading into earnings, supported by resilient global snacking demand, strong emerging-market growth and improving trends across several developed markets. MDLZ continues to invest in brand building, innovation and distribution expansion, with a particular emphasis on high-growth channels such as club, convenience and discount stores.

Momentum in chocolate, biscuits and candy, along with solid performance in India, Brazil, China and Southeast Asia, provides broad-based support for the top line. Cocoa-cost phasing remains a near-term earnings headwind, but management expects the pressure to ease sequentially. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for second-quarter 2026 EPS has remained unchanged at 67 cents in the past 30 days. Mondelez has a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 5.4%, on average.

Church & Dwight Co., Inc. (CHD - Free Report) has an Earnings ESP of +0.65% and a Zacks Rank #3 at present.  CHD enters the earnings season with solid operating momentum, driven by volume-led organic growth, distribution gains and a steady pipeline of innovation. ARM & HAMMER, THERABREATH, HERO and other key brands continue to gain traction, while e-commerce now represents a meaningful share of consumer sales.

Productivity initiatives and portfolio improvements are supporting margin expansion and helping offset inflation and tariff-related costs. Although higher transportation, marketing and SG&A expenses may pressure near-term earnings, strong brand execution and broad-based distribution gains leave Church & Dwight well-placed. The consensus mark for second-quarter 2026 EPS has remained unchanged at 89 cents in the past 30 days. Church & Dwight has a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 6.5%, on average. 

Wall Street expects a year-over-year increase in earnings on higher revenues when Cactus, Inc. (WHD - Free Report) reports results for the quarter ended June 2026. While this widely-known consensus outlook is important in gauging the company's earnings picture, a powerful factor that could impact its near-term stock price is how the actual results compare to these estimates.

The earnings report, which is expected to be released on July 29, 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 $0.71 per share in its upcoming report, which represents a year-over-year change of +7.6%.

Revenues are expected to be $400.62 million, up 46.4% from the year-ago quarter.

Estimate Revisions TrendThe consensus EPS estimate for the quarter has been revised 1.79% higher 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. Our proprietary surprise prediction model -- the Zacks Earnings ESP (Expected Surprise Prediction) -- has this insight at its core.

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 Cactus?For Cactus, 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 +7.04%.

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

So, this combination indicates that Cactus 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 Cactus would post earnings of $0.65 per share when it actually produced earnings of $0.70, delivering a surprise of +7.69%.

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.

Cactus 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.

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

Lennox International (LII - Free Report) is expected to deliver a year-over-year decline 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 stock might move higher if these key numbers top expectations in the upcoming earnings report, which is expected to be released on July 29. 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 manufacturer of furnaces, air conditioners and other products is expected to post quarterly earnings of $7.65 per share in its upcoming report, which represents a year-over-year change of -2.2%.

Revenues are expected to be $1.56 billion, up 4.2% from the year-ago quarter.

Estimate Revisions TrendThe consensus EPS estimate for the quarter has been revised 0.68% higher 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 Lennox?For Lennox, 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 +1.26%.

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

So, this combination indicates that Lennox 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 Lennox would post earnings of $3.16 per share when it actually produced earnings of $3.35, delivering a surprise of +6.01%.

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.

Lennox 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.

An Industry Player's Expected ResultsCarrier Global (CARR - Free Report) , another stock in the Zacks Building Products - Air Conditioner and Heating industry, is expected to report earnings per share of $0.83 for the quarter ended June 2026. This estimate points to a year-over-year change of -9.8%. Revenues for the quarter are expected to be $6.02 billion, down 1.5% from the year-ago quarter.

The consensus EPS estimate for Carrier Global has been revised 0.4% lower over the last 30 days to the current level. However, a lower Most Accurate Estimate has resulted in an Earnings ESP of -3.24%.

When combined with a Zacks Rank of #2 (Buy), this Earnings ESP makes it difficult to conclusively predict that Carrier Global will beat the consensus EPS estimate. Over the last four quarters, the company surpassed consensus EPS estimates three times.

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

The Auto-Tires-Trucks group has plenty of great stocks, but investors should always be looking for companies that are outperforming their peers. Is Federal Signal (FSS - Free Report) one of those stocks right now? A quick glance at the company's year-to-date performance in comparison to the rest of the Auto-Tires-Trucks sector should help us answer this question.

Federal Signal is a member of our Auto-Tires-Trucks group, which includes 104 different companies and currently sits at #12 in the Zacks Sector Rank. The Zacks Sector Rank gauges the strength of our 16 individual sector groups by measuring the average Zacks Rank of the individual stocks within the groups.

The Zacks Rank is a successful stock-picking model that emphasizes earnings estimates and estimate revisions. The system highlights a number of different stocks that could be poised to outperform the broader market over the next one to three months. Federal Signal is currently sporting a Zacks Rank of #2 (Buy).

Over the past 90 days, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for FSS' full-year earnings has moved 4.8% higher. This is a sign of improving analyst sentiment and a positive earnings outlook trend.

Based on the latest available data, FSS has gained about 6.8% so far this year. At the same time, Auto-Tires-Trucks stocks have lost an average of 12.1%. This means that Federal Signal is outperforming the sector as a whole this year.

One other Auto-Tires-Trucks stock that has outperformed the sector so far this year is Polaris Inc (PII - Free Report) . The stock is up 16.1% year-to-date.

Over the past three months, Polaris Inc's consensus EPS estimate for the current year has increased 2.6%. The stock currently has a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy).

To break things down more, Federal Signal belongs to the Automotive - Domestic industry, a group that includes 17 individual companies and currently sits at #105 in the Zacks Industry Rank. On average, stocks in this group have lost 13% this year, meaning that FSS is performing better in terms of year-to-date returns. Polaris Inc is also part of the same industry.

Federal Signal and Polaris Inc could continue their solid performance, so investors interested in Auto-Tires-Trucks stocks should continue to pay close attention to these stocks.

This post may contain links from our sponsors and affiliates, and Flywheel Publishing may receive compensation for actions taken through them.

For value investors who don’t believe the AI bubble is bursting, starting with the semiconductor industry, some of the harder-hit names within the space might be worth a closer look. Undoubtedly, there’s more to dip-buying than simply going for the biggest (or close to it) dips in any given sell-off.

Either way, I do view shares of Marvell (NASDAQ:MRVL | MRVL Price Prediction) as enticing, especially since they’ve already shed just over 40% from peak to trough while the broader semiconductor industry fell a hair north of 20%, with the iShares Semiconductor ETF (NASDAQ:SOXX) just making it into a bear market.

Not to discount how painful bear markets can be, but whenever you have an industry-wide lift-off and doubling in under a year’s time, perhaps a brutal bear market is the kind of “correction” that you’d want to see. Whether it takes an AI bubble off the table entirely remains the big question, but either way, the relief rally enjoyed in recent sessions could go either way.

As a slate of big Magnificent Seven quarterly earnings results comes up, they could set the tone for the rest of the semi space, especially as hints of future spending get dropped. In my view, one thing that keeps getting CapEx from the big AI hyperscalers (and beyond) is custom silicon.

The custom silicon tailwind is still going strong Firms are taking command when it comes to their silicon futures, and I just don’t see that changing, especially when you consider the kinds of gross margins that the GPU makers, most notably Nvidia (NASDAQ:NVDA), have been generating in recent years.

That’s where the opportunity seems to lie in these early days of the AI race. And if Nvidia’s CEO Jensen Huang is right in that semiconductors could become the largest industry in the world, I do think that custom silicon ought to remain a top priority of tech firms that hope to win the AI race.

Undoubtedly, it’s expensive enough to stay competitive in the AI race, especially given the costs of hardware. For the firms looking to take control of their own silicon, though, I do see the economics getting better over time. Whether it’s hyperscaler custom silicon, AI labs getting into custom silicon, or software design firms getting in the game, it’s clear that the custom silicon tailwind might be one of the fiercest in all of the industry.

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For investors who view the latest semi drop as another window to buy, I think Marvell stands out as a name that could be in for the biggest recovery bounce. Indeed, high beta works both ways, with Marvell sporting a 2.20 beta and a fierce surge of 6.7% on Tuesday’s recovery session.

Of course, cyclicality applies across the broad semi scene and, in that regard, Marvell might not be deserving of a free pass if the semis move south. Whether the semis are in for a steeper correction from here (a 50% dip in the broader industry certainly isn’t off the table) or not, companies have the incentive to make the investments so that they don’t have to pay the so-called Nvidia tax forever.

The fast-growing CXL market is a driver With UBS recently shining light on the company’s CXL (Compute Express Link) business, citing a $4.5 billion total addressable market (TAM) by year-end, reaching as high as $10 billion by 2030, the firm views Marvell as a standout name worthy of a big price target upgrade. With a $340 target, which now implies a 64% gain, it certainly seems like Marvell is one of the more underestimated plays as the XPU continues moving at full speed.

Could CXL be the next big catalyst? Given the memory chip bottleneck and focus on greater efficiencies across AI, I do think UBS is spot on to raise the bar on Marvell shares, given the tailwind, which I think might still be underrated by investors, especially amid the latest industry-wide panic.

While Marvell won’t be a name for everyone, I do see it as having a unique and powerful slate of catalysts, which might just take the stock right back to new highs. With a capital-light model and all the essential tools needed for custom AI silicon, especially as inference takes off, Marvell remains a name that’s worth hanging in for the ride, at least according to most analysts.

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Contact [email protected] for any questions or corrections.

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My brokerage app knows the Marvell ticker by heart. When a stock I have been accumulating drops 33.02% in a month and the underlying business keeps accelerating, the decision writes itself.

That is the single factor pulling me back to Marvell Technology (NASDAQ:MRVL | MRVL Price Prediction): the market handed me a discount on an AI infrastructure semiconductor pure-play whose numbers still point the right direction. Shares closed at $207.96, well below the 52-week high of $329.80. Yet year to date the stock is up 145.07%, up 185.25% over one year, and up 1,811.10% over ten. This is a violent repricing inside a long uptrend, and I am adding to my cost basis at these prices.

The Data Behind My Conviction Marvell’s most recent quarter (Q1 FY2027) posted revenue of $2.418 billion, up 27.6% year over year and ahead of consensus. Data center revenue reached $1.833 billion, 76% of the total, up 27% year over year and 11% sequentially. Free cash flow more than doubled to $483.1 million, up 126.8%, while cash on the balance sheet climbed to $3.84 billion. Full fiscal 2026 revenue landed at $8.195 billion, up 42%, and the company repurchased $2.04 billion of stock during that year.

Management is guiding Q2 FY27 revenue to $2.7 billion, roughly 35% year-over-year growth, and CEO Matt Murphy said Marvell is “significantly raising Marvell’s revenue outlook for both fiscal 2027 and fiscal 2028” on “exceptional AI-related bookings.” He expects growth to accelerate each quarter through fiscal 2027. Trailing P/E sits at 65, while forward P/E drops to 47, indicating the earnings ramp is driving valuation.

Why Marvell Stands Out Every AI investor first reaches for mega-cap chip generalists. Marvell offers a concentrated bet on AI datacenter plumbing: custom XPU and XPU-attach silicon, plus 800G and 1.6T scale-out optics, 51.2T Ethernet scale-out switches, and scale-up NPO and CPO optical solutions. At a market cap of roughly $175 billion, every incremental hyperscaler design win moves the needle in a way it cannot at a generalist ten times the size. The Celestial AI and XConn acquisitions that closed in February 2026 add photonic fabric and chiplet connectivity directly to that thesis.

The Risk I Cannot Ignore With 76% of revenue from data center and a small group of hyperscalers driving most of that, customer concentration is the real risk. If a major customer moves silicon fully in-house, this thesis takes a hit. Q1 also included a $331.8 million contingent consideration charge that pushed GAAP net income down 80.6% year over year. That is acquisition-related accounting noise rather than operating deterioration, and the raised multi-year guidance tells me the bookings pipeline is deep enough to absorb any single customer’s platform decisions.

Why the Buy Button Stays Active Analyst consensus sits at a $253.69 target with 7 strong buy, 31 buy, 5 hold, and 1 strong sell ratings behind it. Marvell is compounding revenue in the high 20s heading toward the mid 30s, generating record cash, buying back stock, and sitting inside the fastest capex cycle of my investing life. The market decided it was too expensive. I decided it was on sale, and the buy button stays lit until the story changes.

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Contact [email protected] for any questions or corrections.

In its upcoming report, Brown & Brown (BRO - Free Report) is predicted by Wall Street analysts to post quarterly earnings of $1.08 per share, reflecting an increase of 4.9% compared to the same period last year. Revenues are forecasted to be $1.72 billion, representing a year-over-year increase of 34%.

Over the last 30 days, there has been a downward revision of 0.2% in the consensus EPS estimate for the quarter, leading to its current level. This signifies the covering analysts' collective reconsideration of their initial forecasts over the course of 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 investors typically use consensus earnings and revenue estimates as a yardstick to evaluate the company's quarterly performance, scrutinizing analysts' projections for some of the company's key metrics can offer a more comprehensive perspective.

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

The consensus estimate for 'Revenues- Investment income' stands at $24.70 million. The estimate indicates a change of -29.4% from the prior-year quarter.

The consensus among analysts is that 'Revenues- Commissions and fees' will reach $1.70 billion. The estimate indicates a year-over-year change of +36.3%.

Based on the collective assessment of analysts, 'Total revenues- Retail' should arrive at $984.73 million. The estimate indicates a year-over-year change of +41.3%.

The combined assessment of analysts suggests that 'Total revenues- Other' will likely reach $17.50 million. The estimate points to a change of -30% from the year-ago quarter.

Analysts expect 'Total Organic growth' to come in at 0.9%. The estimate compares to the year-ago value of 3.6%.

View all Key Company Metrics for Brown & Brown here>>>

Over the past month, shares of Brown & Brown have returned +10.3% versus the Zacks S&P 500 composite's +0.3% change. Currently, BRO 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 >>>> .

The market expects WEC Energy Group (WEC - Free Report) 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 is important in assessing the company's earnings picture, but a powerful factor that might influence its near-term stock price is how the actual results compare to these estimates.

The earnings report, which is expected to be released on July 29, 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 electricity and natural gas provider is expected to post quarterly earnings of $0.81 per share in its upcoming report, which represents a year-over-year change of +6.6%.

Revenues are expected to be $2.07 billion, up 3.1% from the year-ago quarter.

Estimate Revisions TrendThe consensus EPS estimate for the quarter has been revised 5.26% 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 WEC Energy?For WEC Energy, the Most Accurate Estimate is lower than the Zacks Consensus Estimate, suggesting that analysts have recently become bearish on the company's earnings prospects. This has resulted in an Earnings ESP of -0.83%.

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

So, this combination makes it difficult to conclusively predict that WEC Energy 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 WEC Energy would post earnings of $2.33 per share when it actually produced earnings of $2.45, delivering a surprise of +5.15%.

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.

WEC Energy 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 PlayerDTE Energy (DTE - Free Report) , another stock in the Zacks Utility - Electric Power industry, is expected to report earnings per share of $1.14 for the quarter ended June 2026. This estimate points to a year-over-year change of -16.2%. Revenues for the quarter are expected to be $3.51 billion, up 2.7% from the year-ago quarter.

Over the last 30 days, the consensus EPS estimate for DTE Energy has been revised 4.7% up to the current level. Nevertheless, the company now has an Earnings ESP of 0.00%, reflecting an equal Most Accurate Estimate.

This Earnings ESP, combined with its Zacks Rank #3 (Hold), makes it difficult to conclusively predict that DTE Energy will 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.

Investors often turn to recommendations made by Wall Street analysts before making a Buy, Sell, or Hold decision about a stock. While media reports about rating changes by these brokerage-firm employed (or sell-side) analysts often affect a stock's price, do they really matter?

Before we discuss the reliability of brokerage recommendations and how to use them to your advantage, let's see what these Wall Street heavyweights think about Vertiv Holdings Co. (VRT - Free Report) .

Vertiv currently has an average brokerage recommendation (ABR) of 1.46, on a scale of 1 to 5 (Strong Buy to Strong Sell), calculated based on the actual recommendations (Buy, Hold, Sell, etc.) made by 26 brokerage firms. An ABR of 1.46 approximates between Strong Buy and Buy.

Of the 26 recommendations that derive the current ABR, 19 are Strong Buy and two are Buy. Strong Buy and Buy respectively account for 73.1% and 7.7% of all recommendations.

Brokerage Recommendation Trends for VRT

Check price target & stock forecast for Vertiv here>>>

While the ABR calls for buying Vertiv, it may not be wise to make an investment decision solely based on this information. Several studies have shown limited to no success of brokerage recommendations in guiding investors to pick stocks with the best price increase potential.

Do you wonder why? As a result of the vested interest of brokerage firms in a stock they cover, their analysts tend to rate it with a strong positive bias. According to our research, brokerage firms assign five "Strong Buy" recommendations for every "Strong Sell" recommendation.

This means that the interests of these institutions are not always aligned with those of retail investors, giving little insight into the direction of a stock's future price movement. It would therefore be best to use this information to validate your own analysis or a tool that has proven to be highly effective at predicting stock price movements.

Zacks Rank, our proprietary stock rating tool with an impressive externally audited track record, categorizes stocks into five groups, ranging from Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) to Zacks Rank #5 (Strong Sell), and is an effective indicator of a stock's price performance in the near future. Therefore, using the ABR to validate the Zacks Rank could be an efficient way of making a profitable investment decision.

Zacks Rank Should Not Be Confused With ABRIn spite of the fact that Zacks Rank and ABR both appear on a scale from 1 to 5, they are two completely different measures.

The ABR is calculated solely based on brokerage recommendations and is typically displayed with decimals (example: 1.28). In contrast, the Zacks Rank is a quantitative model allowing investors to harness the power of earnings estimate revisions. It is displayed in whole numbers -- 1 to 5.

Analysts employed by brokerage firms have been and continue to be overly optimistic with their recommendations. Since the ratings issued by these analysts are more favorable than their research would support because of the vested interest of their employers, they mislead investors far more often than they guide.

In contrast, the Zacks Rank is driven by earnings estimate revisions. And near-term stock price movements are strongly correlated with trends in earnings estimate revisions, according to empirical research.

In addition, the different Zacks Rank grades are applied proportionately to all stocks for which brokerage analysts provide current-year earnings estimates. In other words, this tool always maintains a balance among its five ranks.

There is also a key difference between the ABR and Zacks Rank when it comes to freshness. When you look at the ABR, it may not be up-to-date. Nonetheless, since brokerage analysts constantly revise their earnings estimates to reflect changing business trends, and their actions get reflected in the Zacks Rank quickly enough, it is always timely in predicting future stock prices.

Is VRT a Good Investment?In terms of earnings estimate revisions for Vertiv, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for the current year has increased 0.3% over the past month to $6.38.

Analysts' growing optimism over the company's earnings prospects, as indicated by strong agreement among them in revising EPS estimates higher, could be a legitimate reason for the stock to soar in the near term.

The size of the recent change in the consensus estimate, along with three other factors related to earnings estimates, has resulted in a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) for Vertiv. You can see the complete list of today's Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) stocks here >>>>

Therefore, the Buy-equivalent ABR for Vertiv may serve as a useful guide for investors.

[url="]Arrowhead Pharmaceuticals, Inc.[/url] (NASDAQ: ARWR) today announced topline results for the global Phase 3 SHASTA-3 and SHASTA-4 clinical studies of pl

Key Takeaways Ally Financial's Q2 adjusted earnings per share missed estimates despite rising 22% year over year.Higher expenses and credit-loss provisions weighed on results despite stronger financing revenues.Loans, deposits and net interest margin increased, and non-performing loans declined. Shares of Ally Financial (ALLY - Free Report) lost 2.4% during yesterday’s trading session after reporting lower-than-expected results. The company’s second-quarter 2026 adjusted earnings of $1.21 per share lagged the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.25. However, the bottom line reflected a 22% jump from the year-ago quarter.

 Results were primarily hampered by higher expenses and provisions. However, growth in net financing revenues and other revenues, an increase in loan balances and an improvement in net interest margin (NIM) offered support to some extent.

After considering non-recurring items, net income attributable to common shareholders (GAAP basis) was $367 million, up 13.3% from the prior-year quarter.

Ally Financial’s Revenues Improve, Expenses RiseTotal quarterly GAAP net revenues were $2.29 billion, up 9.8% from the prior-year quarter. Also, the top line beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $2.21 billion. Adjusted total revenues were $2.28 billion, up 10.3% year over year.

 Net financing revenues grew 11.1% year over year to $1.68 billion. The rise was primarily driven by growth in retail and commercial auto assets. NIM (excluding OID) was 3.63%, up 18 basis points year over year.

Total other revenues were $602 million, up 6.4% from $566 million in the prior-year quarter. Adjusted other revenues were $573 million, up 7.9% year over year, driven by momentum across diversified revenue streams, including Insurance, SmartAuction and Passthrough programs.

Total non-interest expenses increased 4.5% to $1.32 billion from $1.26 billion in the prior-year quarter. The rise reflected higher compensation and benefits, insurance losses and other operating expenses.

The adjusted efficiency ratio was 48.7%, down from 50.9% in the year-ago period. A fall in the efficiency ratio indicates an improvement in profitability.

ALLY’s Loans & Deposit Balances RiseAs of June 30, 2026, total finance receivables and loans, net of allowance, amounted to $140.1 billion, up 2.7% sequentially.

Deposits also increased marginally on a sequential basis to $154.1 billion.

Ally Financial’s Credit Quality: Mixed BagNon-performing loans were $1.23 billion as of June 30, 2026, down 9.8% year over year.

In the reported quarter, Ally Financial recorded net charge-offs of $394 million, up 7.7% from the prior-year quarter.

Provision for credit losses increased 12% year over year to $430 million. The rise reflected a CECL reserve build related to asset growth, partly offset by continued improvement in credit trends.

Capital Ratios of ALLY ImproveAs of June 30, 2026, the total capital ratio was 13.2%, unchanged from the prior-year period. The tier 1 capital ratio was 11.4%, also unchanged year over year.

The common equity tier 1 (CET1) capital ratio increased to 10.1% from 9.9% in the prior-year period. The tangible common equity-to-tangible assets ratio was 6.7%.

Update on ALLY’s Share RepurchasesDuring the quarter, the company repurchased $148 million worth of shares.

Our View on Ally FinancialALLY’s strong growth in core revenues, improving efficiency and solid loan originations reflect the benefits of its focused strategy and balance sheet repositioning efforts. The company’s expanding deposit base will likely support profitability. However, elevated provisions for credit losses, an uncertain credit environment and a mounting expense base may act as near-term headwinds.
 

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

Earnings Dates & Expectations of ALLY's PeersHere are some of Ally Financial’s peers that are yet to come out with quarterly numbers.

OneMain Holdings (OMF - Free Report) is slated to announce second-quarter 2026 numbers on July 29.

In the past week, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for OneMain’s quarterly earnings has remained unchanged at $1.40. This implies a 3.5% decrease from the prior-year reported number.

Navient (NAVI - Free Report) is scheduled to announce quarterly numbers on Aug. 6.

In the past seven days, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for Navient’s quarterly earnings has remained unchanged at 19 cents. This indicates a 9.5% decline from the prior-year reported number.

3 Oil & Gas Gear Makers With Triple-Digit EPS Growth ForecastsWeatherford International NASDAQ: WFRD reported second-quarter 2026 revenue of $1.105 billion, adjusted EBITDA of $223 million and adjusted free cash flow of $139 million, as management said the oilfield services company held margins steady despite operational disruptions tied to conflict in the Middle East and softer activity in several markets.

President and CEO Girish Saligram said adjusted EBITDA margin was 20.2% in the quarter, while adjusted free cash flow conversion reached 62.3% of adjusted EBITDA. He said the company was “especially pleased” with margin and cash performance given a challenging backdrop that included Middle East activity not returning to pre-conflict levels, activity declines in Indonesia, pricing pressure in some areas and a union strike in Norway.

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Oilfield Services Growing Faster Than Wider Energy Sector“Despite those incremental pressures, our team rallied to deliver EBITDA margins north of 20% and essentially flat to Q1,” Saligram said. He also cited working capital execution, including strong payments from Weatherford’s largest customer in Mexico, as a key driver of cash flow.

Middle East disruptions weigh on outlook Saligram said the Middle East was the most visibly affected region in the quarter, with activity suspensions, project deferrals and logistical disruptions that began in March continuing through much of the period. Freight and logistics costs remained elevated, peaking in May before beginning to moderate, he said.

2 Energy Mid-Caps Expected To Post Monster Earnings GrowthThe company previously estimated a first-half profit impact of $30 million to $50 million from the regional conflict. Saligram said the first-half impact was within that range, but that the full-year effect is expected to increase following recent flare-ups, and Weatherford has incorporated that into its guidance.

In response to a question from Citigroup analyst Scott Gruber, Saligram said the financial impact does not appear to be increasing at the moment and is moderating, though he cautioned that the situation remains uncertain. He said Saudi Arabia had started to return to normalcy before the latest flare-up, while Oman remained broadly stable. He identified Bahrain, Qatar, Iraq and Kuwait as areas that had seen more disruption and delay.

Weatherford also saw revenue decline in Saudi Arabia following the conclusion of its LSTK contract, an effect Saligram said will be more visible in the second half. He said the company remains interested in growth in Saudi Arabia but is comfortable not having an LSTK contract given market pricing levels.

Guidance revised, cash flow outlook raised Executive Vice President and CFO Anuj Dhruv said Weatherford generated $139 million of adjusted free cash flow in the second quarter, compared with adjusted free cash flow conversion of 31.1% in the second quarter of 2025 and 36.5% in the first quarter of 2026. He attributed the improvement primarily to working capital release, continued collections, including from the company’s key customer in Mexico, and lower capital expenditures.

Dhruv said adjusted net working capital as a percentage of revenue improved sequentially by about 90 basis points to 27%, marking the second consecutive quarter of improvement. Capital expenditures were $42 million, or 3.8% of revenue, down about $12 million from the prior-year quarter.

Weatherford returned $36 million to shareholders during the quarter, including $20 million in dividends and $16 million in share repurchases. Since launching its shareholder return program, the company has returned more than $370 million through buybacks and dividends, Dhruv said.

At quarter-end, Weatherford had about $1.14 billion of cash and restricted cash, total liquidity of $1.7 billion and a net leverage ratio of 0.34 times.

For the third quarter, Weatherford expects:

Revenue of $1.105 billion to $1.155 billion; Adjusted EBITDA of $235 million to $265 million; Adjusted free cash flow of more than $100 million. For full-year 2026, the company now expects revenue of $4.54 billion to $4.80 billion and adjusted EBITDA of $951 million to $1.046 billion. Weatherford raised its adjusted free cash flow conversion outlook to the mid-to-high 40% range, up from its prior outlook, while forecasting an effective tax rate in the low-to-mid 20% range.

Regional and segment trends mixed Latin America revenue declined sequentially, driven primarily by Mexico, where activity came in below expectations as several wells were deferred and Weatherford’s largest customer in the country continued to prioritize spending, Saligram said. However, collections from that customer were strong, and the company has aligned its cost structure and footprint in Mexico to current activity levels.

During the Q&A, Saligram said Pemex appears to have reached “a point of stability,” adding that Weatherford is not betting on a major increase in activity but sees potential for mid-to-high single-digit growth in 2027 and beyond. Dhruv said the second quarter marked the third consecutive quarter of sizable collections from Pemex and said the company is cautiously optimistic that trend will continue.

In Europe, Sub-Saharan Africa and Russia, revenue grew sequentially on higher activity, though a labor strike in Norway affected activity late in the quarter and is expected to remain a headwind into the third quarter.

By segment, Weatherford said:

Well Construction and Completions revenue declined 5% year over year, primarily due to lower activity in the Middle East and North Africa, partly offset by higher completions activity in Latin America; Drilling and Evaluation revenue declined 13% year over year, mainly from lower wireline and drilling-related services activity in MENA, partly offset by higher managed pressure drilling activity in Europe, Sub-Saharan Africa and Russia; Production and Intervention revenue declined 3% year over year, primarily due to lower artificial lift activity in North America and Latin America. Contracts, NCS acquisition and redomestication plans Saligram highlighted several contract awards, particularly in deepwater markets. In Brazil, Weatherford received offshore well intervention and managed pressure drilling awards from Constellation Oil Services, Ventura Offshore and Valaris. In West Africa, Noble Corporation awarded multiple managed pressure drilling contracts and a global aftermarket agreement in Nigeria, while Esso Exploration and Production Nigeria awarded Weatherford a deepwater integrated completions contract. Chevron awarded a five-year framework contract in Australia for tubular running services, casing accessories and other tools tied to a deepwater development project.

Beyond deepwater, Saligram said Kuwait Oil Company awarded two five-year contracts for cementation products and completion services, while PTTEP awarded a 22-month downhole deployment valve contract in Thailand. Petroleum Development Oman awarded Weatherford a three-year integrated drilling services contract covering 247 wells in the Marmul Field.

Weatherford also discussed its definitive agreement to acquire NCS Multistage, which Saligram said expands the company’s completions portfolio and increases exposure to unconventional resources. The transaction is expected to close in the second half of 2026, subject to regulatory approvals and customary closing conditions. Weatherford expects at least $15 million of annual cost synergies within 18 months of closing.

Saligram said the deal is “at its core, a distribution play,” with NCS bringing differentiated technology and Weatherford offering a customer base across six continents. In response to analyst questions, he said the focus is less on increasing North American exposure and more on scaling NCS technologies globally, including in Argentina, the Middle East and other unconventional markets.

Saligram also updated investors on Weatherford’s proposed redomestication to the United States. A prior proposal to redomesticate to Texas received more than 60% support from votes cast but fell short of the 75% threshold required under Irish law. Weatherford has since introduced a proposal to redomesticate to Delaware, with special shareholder meetings scheduled for Sept. 3. The company continues to expect $20 million to $30 million of annual cash savings beginning in 2027, subject to approvals.

Management emphasizes margins and cash discipline Throughout the call, management emphasized that Weatherford would prioritize returns over lower-margin revenue. In response to Barclays analyst David Anderson, Saligram said the company recognizes that top-line growth is needed over the long term, but it will walk away from contracts that do not provide the right returns unless they offer strategic capability benefits.

Saligram said Weatherford sees a multi-year demand cycle forming around energy security, though the timing and pace have been affected by geopolitical events and demand uncertainty. He said national oil companies and governments are increasingly anchoring investment programs around security of supply, including gas programs, deepwater projects and domestic production initiatives.

“The recovery will be progressive, and we are managing the company accordingly,” Saligram said.

About Weatherford International (NASDAQ:WFRD)Weatherford International NASDAQ: WFRD is a global oilfield services company specializing in the development, design and manufacturing of equipment and technologies for oil and natural gas drilling, evaluation, completion and production. The company’s core offerings include well construction services such as directional drilling and wellbore positioning, well completion solutions that encompass sand control and zonal isolation technologies, and production enhancement services involving artificial lift systems and well intervention tools.

In addition to its comprehensive service lines, Weatherford provides a range of drilling optimization and reservoir evaluation products.

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

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

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Earnings are arguably the most important single number on a company's quarterly financial report. Wall Street clearly dives into all of the other metrics and management's input, but the EPS figure helps cut through all the noise.

The earnings figure itself is key, of course, but a beat or miss on the bottom line can sometimes be just as, if not more, important. Therefore, investors should consider paying close attention to these earnings surprises, as a big beat can help a stock climb and vice versa.

The ability to identify stocks that are likely to top quarterly earnings expectations can be profitable, but it's no simple task. Here at Zacks, our Earnings ESP filter helps make things easier.

The Zacks Earnings ESP, ExplainedThe Zacks Earnings ESP, or Expected Surprise Prediction, aims to find earnings surprises by focusing on the most recent analyst revisions. The basic premise is that if an analyst reevaluates their earnings estimate ahead of an earnings release, it means they likely have new information that could possibly be more accurate.

Now that we understand the basic idea, let's look at how the Expected Surprise Prediction works. The ESP is calculated by comparing the Most Accurate Estimate to the Zacks Consensus Estimate, with the percentage difference between the two giving us the Zacks ESP figure.

In fact, when we combined a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) or better and a positive Earnings ESP, stocks produced a positive surprise 70% of the time. Perhaps most importantly, using these parameters has helped produce 28.3% annual returns on average, according to our 10 year backtest.

Most stocks, about 60%, fall into the #3 (Hold) category, and they are expected to perform in-line with the broader market. Stocks with a #2 (Buy) and #1 (Strong Buy) rating, or the top 15% and top 5% of stocks, respectively, should outperform the market, with Strong Buy stocks outperforming more than any other rank.

Should You Consider Baker Hughes?Now that we understand what the ESP is and how beneficial it can be, let's dive into a stock that currently fits the bill. Baker Hughes (BKR - Free Report) earns a #3 (Hold) right now and its Most Accurate Estimate sits at $0.52 a share, just four days from its upcoming earnings release on July 26, 2026.

By taking the percentage difference between the $0.52 Most Accurate Estimate and the $0.51 Zacks Consensus Estimate, Baker Hughes has an Earnings ESP of +1.84%. Investors should also know that BKR is one of a large group of stocks with positive ESPs. Make sure to utilize our Earnings ESP Filter to uncover the best stocks to buy or sell before they've reported.

BKR is part of a big group of Oils and Energy stocks that boast a positive ESP, and investors may want to take a look at Halliburton (HAL - Free Report) as well.

Halliburton is a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) stock, and is getting ready to report earnings on October 20, 2026. HAL's Most Accurate Estimate sits at $0.61 a share 90 days from its next earnings release.

For Halliburton, the percentage difference between its Most Accurate Estimate and its Zacks Consensus Estimate of $0.60 is +1.18%.

Because both stocks hold a positive Earnings ESP, BKR and HAL could potentially post earnings beats in their next reports.

Find Stocks to Buy or Sell Before They're ReportedUse the Zacks Earnings ESP Filter to turn up stocks with the highest probability of positively, or negatively, surprising to buy or sell before they're reported for profitable earnings season trading. Check it out here >>

Jabil: AI Infrastructure Play Is Becoming More Than Just A Cycle

Wall Street expects a year-over-year increase in earnings on higher revenues when Cognizant (CTSH - Free Report) reports results for the quarter ended June 2026. While this widely-known consensus outlook is important in gauging the company's earnings picture, a powerful factor that could impact its near-term stock price is how the actual results compare to these estimates.

The earnings report, which is expected to be released on July 29, 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 information technology consulting and outsourcing firm is expected to post quarterly earnings of $1.38 per share in its upcoming report, which represents a year-over-year change of +5.3%.

Revenues are expected to be $5.48 billion, up 4.5% from the year-ago quarter.

Estimate Revisions TrendThe consensus EPS estimate for the quarter has been revised 0.18% 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 the direction of estimate revisions by each of the covering analysts may not always get reflected in the aggregate change.

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. Our proprietary surprise prediction model -- the Zacks Earnings ESP (Expected Surprise Prediction) -- has this insight at its core.

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 Cognizant?For Cognizant, the Most Accurate Estimate is lower than the Zacks Consensus Estimate, suggesting that analysts have recently become bearish on the company's earnings prospects. This has resulted in an Earnings ESP of -1.45%.

On the other hand, the stock currently carries a Zacks Rank of #3.

So, this combination makes it difficult to conclusively predict that Cognizant will 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 Cognizant would post earnings of $1.33 per share when it actually produced earnings of $1.40, delivering a surprise of +5.26%.

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.

Cognizant 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.

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

Whether you're a growth, value, income, or momentum-focused investor, building a successful investment portfolio takes skill, research, and a little bit of luck.

But what's the best way to find the right combination of stocks? Because funding things like your retirement, your kids' college tuition, or your short- and long-term savings goals will definitely require significant returns.

Enter the Zacks Rank.

What is the Zacks Rank?A unique, proprietary stock-rating model, the Zacks Rank uses earnings estimate revisions, or changes to a company's earnings expectations, to help investors create a winning portfolio.

There are four main factors behind the Zacks Rank: Agreement, Magnitude, Upside, and Surprise.

Agreement is the extent to which all brokerage analysts are revising their earnings estimates in the same direction. The greater the percentage of analysts revising their estimates higher, the better chance the stock will outperform.

Magnitude is the size of the recent change in the consensus estimate for the current and next fiscal years.

Upside is the difference between the most accurate estimate, which is calculated by Zacks, and the consensus estimate.

Surprise is made up of a company's last few quarters' earnings per share surprises; companies with a positive earnings surprise are more likely to beat expectations in the future.

Each factor is given a raw score, which is recalculated every night and compiled into the Zacks Rank. Utilizing this data, stocks are put into five different groups: Strong Buy, Buy, Hold, Sell, and Strong Sell.

The Power of Institutional InvestorsThe Zacks Rank also allows individual investors, or retail investors, to benefit from the power of institutional investors.

Institutional investors are the professionals who manage the trillions of dollars invested in mutual funds, investment banks, and hedge funds. Studies have shown that these investors can and do move the market due to the large amounts of money they invest with. Because of this, the market tends to move in the same direction as institutional investors.

In order to figure out the fair value of a company and its shares, these investors will build valuation models focused on earnings and earnings expectations. Because if you raise estimates for the bottom line, it creates a higher fair value for a company.

With these changes, institutional investors will act, usually buying stocks with rising estimates and selling those with falling estimates. An increase in earnings expectations can potentially lead to higher stock prices and bigger gains for the investor.

Retail investors who get in at the first sign of upward revisions have a distinct advantage over larger investors since it can often take weeks, if not months, for an institutional investor to build a position. They'll also benefit from the expected institutional buying that could follow.

Not only can the Zacks Rank help you take advantage of trends in earnings estimate revisions, but it can also provide a way to get into stocks that are highly sought after by professionals.

How to Invest with the Zacks RankThe Zacks Rank is known for transforming investment portfolios. In fact, a portfolio of Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) stocks has beaten the market in 26 of the last 32 years, with an average annual return of +23.94%.

Moreover, stocks with a new #1 (Strong Buy) ranking have some of the biggest profit potential, while those that fell to a #4 (Sell) or #5 (Strong Sell) have some of the worst.

Let's take a look at Carpenter Technology (CRS - Free Report) , which was added to the Zacks Rank #1 list on July 16, 2026. Philadelphia, PA-based Carpenter Technology Corporation is a producer and distributor of premium specialty alloys, including titanium alloys, powder metals, stainless steels, alloy steels, and tool steels as well as drilling tools. The company’s provides solutions for critical applications across diversified end-use markets - Aerospace and Defense (accounting for around 50.1% of the company’s revenues), Energy (5.3%), Transportation (3%), Medical (10.3%), Industrial and Consumer (12.3%) and Distribution (2.9%).

For fiscal 2026, four analysts revised their earnings estimate upwards in the last 60 days, and the Zacks Consensus Estimate has increased $0.09 to $10.58 per share. CRS boasts an average earnings surprise of 9%.

Earnings are expected to grow 41.4% for the current fiscal year, while revenue is projected to increase 8.5%.

CRS has been moving higher over the past four weeks as well, up 1.9% compared to the S&P 500's gain of 0.3%.

Bottom LineWith a #1 (Strong Buy) ranking, positive trend in earnings estimate revisions, and strong market momentum, Carpenter Technology should be on investors' shortlist.

If you want even more information on the Zacks Ranks, or one of our many other investing strategies, check out the Zacks Education home page.

Discover Today's Top StocksOur private Zacks #1 Rank List, based on our quantitative Zacks Rank stock-rating system, has more than doubled the S&P 500 since 1988. Applying the Zacks Rank in your own trading can boost your investing returns on your very next trade. See Today's Zacks #1 Rank List >>

Company Teases Transformational Product Functionality in Lead-up to Annual Customer Conference

, /PRNewswire/ -- Blackbaud (NASDAQ: BLKB), the world's leading provider of AI-powered solutions for social impact, today announced multiple new agents within its Agents for Good™ suite—building on the success of the Development Agent—as well as several other AI-driven product enhancements, all of which are planned for delivery as part of a reimagined Blackbaud operating system for social impact.

"The solutions we're delivering today have been trusted by our customers for decades, but we've now completely rebuilt them under the surface to transform what's possible—especially with AI agents," said Mike Gianoni, president, CEO and vice chairman of the board of directors of Blackbaud. "We are connecting every product and learning from every interaction with AI that gets smarter over time. We're giving customers greater clarity on what to do next, more capacity to take action, and the confidence to leverage intelligent systems without sacrificing human judgment. There is no more powerful AI engine for social impact than Blackbaud."

Embedded, Trustworthy, Effective Agentic AI
Earlier this year, Blackbaud launched Agents for Good™, the first-ever digital teammates native to a social impact-specific platform, to help close capacity gaps commonly experienced by social impact teams. The first of these agents, the Development Agent, allows Blackbaud customers to execute fully autonomous donor engagement workflows under human supervision.

Even in the early stages of adoption, customers are experiencing success in engaging a broader donor base without increasing staff headcount. The Development Agent identifies every potential or dormant donor who is not in a major gift officer portfolio and executes a personalized, brand-aligned, multi-touch engagement sequence. Its reply rate is 76 times the industry average, and it has a message open rate 10 points higher than the industry average, leading to an attributable gift size that is 39% higher.

"We're using the Development Agent to accelerate donor connections and make those connections more impactful in a shorter period," said Brian Otis, vice president for university advancement at the University of New Haven. "This will help us accelerate fundraising across all levels."

Building on the success of the Development Agent, Blackbaud announced today four new Agents for Good planned for the coming month that expand beyond the development office:

The Data Health Agent, which will run autonomously within fundraising solutions to identify duplicate records, confirm contact information and resolve constituent life changes, helping the development office run more curated and targeted campaigns. The Admissions Agent, which will support independent K–12 schools by guiding families through the process, allowing all schools to offer a high-touch, personalized admissions experience that previously only the most well-resourced institutions could achieve, resulting in more complete applications. The Digital Marketing Agent, a sector-specific marketing agent, which will help plan campaigns intelligently, from audience selection and content creation to real-time campaign optimization across channels. The Accounts Payable Agent, the first autonomous AI agent within Blackbaud Financial Edge NXT®, which will help accounts payable teams reduce manual work across each payment cycle by supporting policy-based processing, improving operational efficiency and enabling teams to scale capacity seamlessly. Blackbaud Agents for Good stand apart because they are embedded directly in the solutions customers already trust and use every day, reducing the data gaps and security risks created by bolt-on agents.

AI-Powered Product Enhancements 
AI innovation across Blackbaud's platform extends beyond Agents and includes AI-powered enhancements for products across the portfolio, including powerful updates announced today for Financial Edge NXT®.

AI Document Intelligence that processes invoices in seconds, addressing one of the most labor-intensive tasks in finance operations while reducing the risk of data-entry errors. AI Document Intelligence extracts key details from invoices and receipts and then generates draft records automatically, directly removing hours of manual data entry, while keeping teams in control of every review and approval. Import Mapping Assistant that eliminates friction when importing budgets, payables or other data by automatically matching incoming fields to the correct Financial Edge NXT® fields for improved data quality at a fraction of the time. AI Anomaly Detection & Reconciliation Assistants that deliver continuous oversight, reviewing transactions and identifying unusual activity, potential errors, duplicate payments, misclassifications or suspicious patterns. This helps teams catch issues as they happen, rather than after the books are closed. Bridging the AI Effectiveness Gap
Blackbaud is the only AI solutions provider that combines the sector's richest social impact signal graph, embedded sector context, and purpose-built governance—all of which lead to better outcomes for customers. Better outcomes build trust over time, and trust makes organizations willing to let systems act on their behalf, under their oversight.

This foundation of trust is an important component of Blackbaud's mission to help social impact organizations deliver more impact with AI. Recent research from the Blackbaud Institute reveals that AI is now a common part of work across the social sector: most professionals in the field are using AI in their work, with half of them saying they use it more than they did the year prior. However, only a small percentage of organizations are realizing significant dividends on their AI investment; most organizations are held back by gaps between adoption and effective use.

Delivering trusted, transformational AI capabilities is one way Blackbaud is helping the sector close the gap between AI adoption and measurable impact. The other is with the AI Coalition for Social Impact, which last week opened the free, product-agnostic AI for Social Impact Certification Program, designed specifically to help social impact professionals adopt AI effectively and responsibly. Thousands of social impact professionals have already registered for the course.

Blackbaud will unveil full details of its reimagined connected system, along with more exciting product news and announcements, at bbcon 2026, taking place Sept. 29-Oct. 1 in Columbus, Ohio.

About Blackbaud
Blackbaud (NASDAQ: BLKB) is the world's leading provider of AI-powered solutions for social impact. Serving nonprofits, educational institutions, companies committed to corporate social responsibility, and individual change makers, Blackbaud propels impact at scale with the sector's most intelligent solutions for fundraising and engagement, education solutions, financial management and CSR and grantmaking. With the deepest expertise powered by the world's largest philanthropic data set, the most connected workflows, and the most powerful impact network, Blackbaud's solutions are building a future where resources are unleashed at the speed of need. Blackbaud has been recognized by Fast Company, Newsweek, Quartz, Forbes and more for AI innovation, responsible leadership and workplace excellence. Blackbaud has operations in the United States, Australia, Canada, Costa Rica, India and the United Kingdom, supporting users in 100+ countries. Learn more at www.blackbaud.com or follow us on X/Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram and Facebook.

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Forward-looking Statements
Except for historical information, all of the statements, expectations and assumptions contained in this news release are forward-looking statements that involve a number of risks and uncertainties, including statements regarding expected benefits of products and product features. Although Blackbaud attempts to be accurate in making these forward-looking statements, it is possible that future circumstances might differ from the assumptions on which such statements are based. In addition, other important factors that could cause results to differ materially include the following: general economic risks; uncertainty regarding increased business and renewals from existing customers; continued success in sales growth; management of integration of acquired companies and other risks associated with acquisitions; risks associated with successful implementation of multiple integrated software products; the ability to attract and retain key personnel; risks associated with management of growth; lengthy sales and implementation cycles; technological changes that make our products and services less competitive; and the other risk factors set forth from time to time in the SEC filings for Blackbaud, copies of which are available free of charge at the SEC's website at www.sec.gov or upon request from Blackbaud's investor relations department. All Blackbaud product names appearing herein are trademarks or registered trademarks of Blackbaud, Inc.

SOURCE Blackbaud