Track market-moving stories before they get noisy

Nvidia (NVDA) stock rose toward a buy point Monday, capping off a winning August after the artificial intelligence chipmaker this month broke out following a beat-and-raise report for its second quarter.

With a market cap of $5.2 trillion, Nvidia has reclaimed its crown as the most valuable company on the stock market. Apple (AAPL) was knocked off that perch recently after the stock sold off following its earnings report in July. So, is Nvidia stock a buy or sell now?

↑
X

Chip Stocks Got Too Hot. Now What?

Franklin Equity portfolio manager Jonathan Curtis breaks down why he believes the semiconductor selloff doesn’t signal a downturn, with AI demand remaining strong, chip supply still constrained and hyperscaler spending continuing to support the trade.

0 seconds of 11 minutes, 50 secondsVolume 0%

Press shift question mark to access a list of keyboard shortcuts

Here’s How To Use IBD’s Proprietary Ratings To Find The Next Winning Stock

09:48

00:00

11:50

11:50

NOW PLAYING
Chip Stocks Got Too Hot. Now What?

On Friday, famed investor Cathie Wood's ARK Invest bought 243,707 Nvidia shares valued at around $53 million.

Late Wednesday, the AI giant posted second-quarter adjusted earnings of $2.22 a share on sales of $96 billion, up about 120% and 106% year over year, respectively. Wall Street had targeted earnings of $2.08 and $92 billion in sales. The company's current-quarter revenue projection of $108 billion topped views by $3 billion.

Management noted supply constraints through fiscal 2028 that will allow Nvidia to meet 70% of demand. Meanwhile, Chief Financial Officer Colette Kres said Nvidia's circular financing will lead to two payoffs: through its hardware sales and from its revenue share at its partners.

Partnership With Amazon
The company also solidified its partnership with Amazon (AMZN), with the e-commerce company ordering 2 million of Nvidia's processors and adopting its full-stack physical AI platform to enable its warehouse robot fleet.

Following the conference call, analysts Quinn Bolton, Neil Young and others at Needham noted that data centers – the end-market that could be Nvidia's biggest growth engine – will continue to undergo a shift toward accelerated computing and AI.

Bolton raised his targets for the third quarter to $2.46 per share and sales of $109 billion. He previously expected earnings of $2.34 and $103 billion in sales. Needham has a price target of 300 for Nvidia stock with a buy rating.

In terms of its 12-month price performance, Nvidia has outperformed just 59% of all other stocks in Investor's Business Daily's database.

Funds own 42% of the company's outstanding shares, according to IBD MarketSurge research. The stock's Accumulation/Distribution Rating of D- indicates funds have been net sellers of the stock recently. The rating measures price and volume action over the last 13 weeks.

But the AI chip behemoth has a top-level Earnings Per Share Rating of 99. Further, the stock's all-around strength, or Composite Rating, is 91.

Is Nvidia Stock A Buy?
Looking at chart signals and technical measures can help investors assess whether Nvidia stock is a buy or sell now.

Nvidia stock on Thursday broke out of a cup-with-handle with a 227.92 buy point following an earnings beat. The stock is below the pivot on Monday.

Please follow VRamakrishnan on X/Twitter for more news on the stock market today.

YOU MAY ALSO LIKE:

IBD Live: Learn And Analyze Growth Stocks With The Pros

MarketSurge: Research, Charts, Data And Coaching All In One Place

The Four Pillars Of The IBD Methodology

Copyright ©2026 Investor's Business Daily, LLC. All rights reserved. 87990cbe856818d5eddac44c7b1cdeb8

Key Takeaways BAC's NII rose 9% y/y to $31.7B in 1H26, with Q2 reaching a record $16B.Loan and deposit growth plus higher-yielding asset repricing supported Bank of America's NII gains.Bank of America expects 2026 NII growth near the upper end of its 6-8% guidance. Bank of America’s (BAC - Free Report) net interest income (NII) has maintained strong momentum so far in 2026, with the metric rising 9% year over year in the first half to $31.7 billion. Particularly, in the second quarter, NII touched a record $16 billion.

The improvement has been supported by healthy balance-sheet growth and favorable asset repricing, helping the company counter the adverse impact of relatively lower average short-term interest rates.

A key driver has been solid loan and deposit growth. In the first six months of this year, average loans and leases climbed 8.3% year over year to $1.20 trillion, with commercial lending remaining particularly strong. Meanwhile, average deposits rose 2.7% to $2.02 trillion. The expansion of lower-cost deposits, including non-interest-bearing balances, has helped support funding costs and NII.

The continued repricing of fixed-rate assets at higher yields has provided a meaningful tailwind. As lower-yielding securities and loans originated in earlier years mature, they are being replaced with assets carrying relatively better yields. These factors also helped Bank of America’s net interest yield improve to 2.08% in the second quarter from 1.94% a year earlier despite lower average short-term rates weighing on variable-rate asset yields.

The uptrend in NII is likely to continue through the remainder of 2026, although the year-over-year growth rate could moderate somewhat because of tougher comparisons in the second half. Management expects 2026 NII growth to be near the upper end of its 6-8% guidance. The outlook assumes modest loan and deposit growth during the second half and continued benefits from fixed-rate asset repricing and balance-sheet optimization.

NII Trajectory of BAC’s PeersLet us examine the NII trend of two of BAC’s closest peers, JPMorgan (JPM - Free Report) and Citigroup (C - Free Report) , over the past few years.

JPMorgan continues to benefit from an asset-sensitive balance sheet, broad loan growth and a durable deposit base. Though the company’s NII declined in 2021 due to near-zero interest rates, the metric posted a five-year (2020-2025) compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 11.8%. This was largely driven by the acquisition of First Republic Bank in 2023 and the high-interest-rate regime since 2022. This upward momentum persisted in the first half of 2026.

With interest rates less likely to move lower in the near term and a rate hike in the cards later in the year, these are likely to be positive catalysts for JPMorgan. Management raised its 2026 NII outlook to $105.5 billion from the previous target of $103 billion.

Likewise, Citigroup's spread income remains a core support for revenue growth, backed by higher loan balances and stable deposit trends. NII witnessed a three-year (ended 2025) CAGR of 6.2%, with the uptrend continuing in the first half of 2026. Citigroup expects NII, excluding Markets, to increase 5-6% in 2026, supported by loan growth and stabilizing funding dynamics.

Bank of America’s Price Performance, Valuation & EstimatesIn the past six months, BAC shares have gained 25.1% compared with the industry’s 19.4% growth.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

From a valuation standpoint, Bank of America trades at a 12-month trailing price-to-tangible book (P/TB) of 2.20X, below the industry average of 3.34.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for BAC’s 2026 and 2027 earnings implies year-over-year growth of 22.8% and 12.6%, respectively. In the past 30 days, earnings estimates for both years have been unchanged.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

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

Key Takeaways JPMorgan gained 20.6% in three months as solid operating trends and diversified revenues supported shares.JPMorgan sees 2026 NII excluding Markets near $96.5B as loans and deposits continue to expand.JPMorgan's capital strength supports a $50B buyback and a planned 10% quarterly dividend increase. Shares of JPMorgan (JPM - Free Report) have gained 20.6% over the past three months, reflecting investors’ optimism about the banking giant’s solid operating performance, diversified revenue streams and resilient balance sheet. Strength across investment banking (IB) and trading, continued growth in loans and deposits, and healthy consumer activity have supported the rally. The company’s dominant market position and ability to capitalize on favorable capital market trends continue to set it apart from peers.

Over the same time frame, its peers, Bank of America (BAC - Free Report) and Citigroup (C - Free Report) , have rallied 21% and 2.9%, respectively. Further, JPM stock has performed impressively compared with the S&P 500 Index.

3-Month Price Performance
 

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

The recent run-up, however, raises an important question for investors: Does JPMorgan still offer an attractive entry point? Let us examine the major factors investors should consider before buying the stock following the substantial rally.

JPMorgan’s Robust NII Outlook Supports Earnings ProspectsNet interest income (NII) remains an important pillar of JPMorgan’s earnings. The company continues to benefit from loan growth, a sizable deposit base and disciplined balance-sheet management, helping offset some of the pressure from lower interest rates.

In the first half of 2026, average loans increased 11% year over year, while average deposits climbed 7%. Given the solid first-half performance and a slightly hawkish Federal Reserve monetary policy stance, management now expects 2026 NII excluding Markets of approximately $96.5 billion, while total NII is projected to be roughly $105.5 billion.

JPMorgan’s massive deposit franchise remains a competitive advantage, providing relatively stable funding and supporting lending growth. Further expansion in commercial and consumer loans is expected to provide additional support to NII. Nevertheless, the direction of interest rates remains an important variable. A higher-for-longer rate backdrop could support earning asset yields, though it may hamper loan demand to some extent.

Like JPM, Bank of America and Citigroup also project NII to rise this year. Bank of America projects NII to grow in the upper end of the 6-8% range, supported by modest loan and deposit growth, fixed-rate asset repricing and balance-sheet optimization. Citigroup expects NII (excluding Markets) to increase in the 5-6% range.

IB and Markets Provide Significant Tailwinds for JPMorganOne of the strongest catalysts for JPMorgan has been the resurgence in capital markets activity. In the first half of 2026, IB fees increased 30% year over year, driven by growth across products and particularly strong equity underwriting activity. The company maintained its top position in global investment banking fees, with a 9.3% wallet share for the first half of the year.

The outlook also remains encouraging. Management noted that the IB pipeline remains robust and expects activity levels to stay healthy, although actual deal conversion will depend on market conditions. An improving environment for mergers and acquisitions, equity issuance and debt underwriting will likely help JPMorgan capitalize on its leading franchise.

Trading has been another major growth engine. Markets revenues surged 27% year over year in the first six months of 2026 to $23.6 billion. Fixed Income Markets revenues rose 20%, while Equity Markets revenues grew 14%, driven by robust client flows and strength across products and regions. Continued volatility and healthy client activity are expected to sustain trading revenues, though the exceptionally strong recent performance establishes a challenging comparison base.

Retail Banking & Wealth Management Adds Stability to JPMJPMorgan’s diversified business model reduces its reliance on any single revenue stream. Within Consumer & Community Banking, average deposits increased 3% year over year during the first half of 2026, while debit and credit card sales volumes climbed 9%. Active mobile customers were up 6%, reflecting continued investments in technology and customer acquisition.

Asset & Wealth Management is another increasingly important contributor. Segment revenues jumped 15% year over year in the first six months, supported by higher management fees, strong inflows and increased lending and brokerage activity. Assets under management reached $5.1 trillion as of June 30, 2026, up 18% year over year, while long-term net inflows totaled more than $100 billion.

These businesses provide meaningful fee-based revenues and complement JPMorgan’s traditional banking and capital markets operations, strengthening the company’s ability to navigate changing economic and interest-rate environments.

JPM’s Credit Trends Remain ManageableCredit quality is another important factor to monitor. JPMorgan recorded credit costs of $5 billion in the first six months, including $4.7 billion in net charge-offs (NCOs). The Card Services NCO rate was 3.40%, down 9 basis points year over year.

Encouragingly, management lowered its 2026 Card NCO rate expectation to approximately 3.2%, reflecting better-than-anticipated consumer credit performance. Consumer spending has remained resilient, aided by a solid labor market.

Nonetheless, credit costs deserve attention. Higher unemployment, persistent inflation and/or an economic slowdown could lead to increased delinquencies and NCOs, particularly within credit cards and other consumer portfolios. Investors should therefore watch whether the currently healthy consumer backdrop persists.

Rising Expenses Could Restrict JPM’s Operating LeverageJPMorgan continues to invest aggressively in technology, product development, marketing, branches and personnel to strengthen its long-term competitive position. These initiatives are expected to support market share gains, but they are also pushing costs higher.

First-half non-interest expenses increased 14% year over year to $54.2 billion, primarily because of higher revenue-related compensation, wage inflation, employee growth and continued investments in marketing and technology. Management now projects adjusted expenses of roughly $107.5 billion for 2026, reflecting stronger business volumes and revenue performance.

Hence, investors need to assess whether revenue growth can continue to outpace expenses. Sustained cost increases without a corresponding rise in revenues could limit operating leverage and earnings expansion.

JPM’s Fortress Balance Sheet Supports Capital ReturnsJPMorgan’s capital strength remains one of its biggest advantages. The standardized Common Equity Tier 1 ratio was 14.1% as of June 30, 2026, comfortably above its regulatory requirement.

This financial strength allows the company to invest for growth while returning capital to shareholders. JPMorgan’s board authorized a new $50-billion share repurchase program, effective July 1, 2026, and announced plans to raise the quarterly dividend 10% to $1.65 per share.

Share repurchases could provide further support to earnings per share, while dividend growth enhances JPMorgan’s appeal to income-oriented investors.

Similarly, Bank of America increased its quarterly dividend by 14% to 32 cents per share. Also, Citigroup raised its dividend by 12% to 67 cents per share.

JPMorgan’s Valuation Warrants Attention After the RallyAfter an impressive price performance over the past three months, investors should not overlook valuation. JPMorgan stock currently trades at a discount to the industry. The stock is trading at a price-to-tangible book (P/TB) of 3.33X, slightly below the industry’s 3.34X. 

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

If we compare JPM’s current valuation with that of Bank of America and Citigroup, it appears expensive. At present, Bank of America has a P/TB of 2.20X, and Citigroup is trading at a P/TB of 1.35X.

JPMorgan’s premium valuation compared with BAC and C is partly justified by its superior scale, diversified franchise, strong capital position and leading returns. Still, following the recent rally, further gains will increasingly depend on sustained earnings growth and continued strength across banking, trading and asset management operations. A weaker macroeconomic environment or slowdown in capital market activity could make the current valuation more difficult to support.

What Should Investors Do With JPM Stock?Analysts are bullish on JPMorgan’s prospects, with earnings estimates for 2026 and 2027 revised upward over the past two months. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for JPM’s 2026 and 2027 earnings implies a 22.6% and 0.3% year-over-year increase, respectively. 

Earnings Estimates
 

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

The recent share price appreciation has reduced the margin for disappointment. Elevated expenses, possible credit normalization, interest-rate uncertainty and valuation should be weighed against JPMorgan’s strong fundamentals.

Yet, JPMorgan remains one of the strongest banking franchises globally. Healthy balance-sheet growth, an encouraging NII outlook, accelerating IB activity, robust trading performance and expansion in asset and wealth management provide multiple avenues for earnings growth. Strong capital levels, substantial shareholder distributions and upward estimate revisions further reinforce the investment case.

Therefore, investors can consider buying JPM shares even after its 20.6% three-month rally. At present, JPMorgan carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.

Key Takeaways Procter & Gamble faces a $1.4B after-tax fiscal 2027 earnings headwind, equal to 56 cents per share.PG expects about $1B after tax in higher raw-material, energy, transportation and related costs.Procter & Gamble expects fiscal 2027 organic and all-in sales growth of 1-3%, with core EPS flat to up 3%. The Procter & Gamble Company (PG - Free Report) , also referred to as P&G, enters fiscal 2027 with a sizable earnings hurdle. Management expects 1% to 3% organic sales growth, but higher costs, financing expense, lower non-operating income and currency are set to weigh on profit growth.

Those pressures total about $1.4 billion after tax, or 56 cents per share, equal to an 8% drag on fiscal 2026 core EPS. Productivity and brand investment will determine how much of that burden P&G can absorb.

P&G Faces $1 Billion in Higher Input CostsThe largest headwind is an estimated $1 billion after tax from higher raw-material, energy, transportation and related costs. Much of the pressure is expected in the first half of fiscal 2027.

Management expects this cost dynamic to contribute to a decline of at least 5% in first-quarter fiscal 2027 EPS. The outlook assumes an effective Brent crude oil price of about $90 per barrel and reflects higher freight, supplier inflation and other supply-chain premiums.

PG Financing and Currency Add More PressureP&G expects higher net interest expense to reduce fiscal 2027 earnings by about $150 million after tax. Lower non-operating income is expected to create another $150 million drag.

Unfavorable foreign exchange is projected to reduce earnings by roughly $50 million after tax. Together with input costs, these items produce the estimated $1.4 billion after-tax headwind.

P&G Productivity Is the Main OffsetP&G generated about $2.8 billion of before-tax productivity improvement across cost of goods sold and selling, general and administrative expenses in fiscal 2026. Those savings equaled roughly 340 basis points and helped fund investment.

The company is also scaling Supply Chain 3.0, AI-enabled brand-building tools and automated workflows. Colgate-Palmolive Company (CL - Free Report) is using productivity while maintaining elevated advertising investment, while Kimberly-Clark Corporation (KMB - Free Report) has cited productivity gains as an offset to pricing, cost inflation and supply-chain investment. Efficiency remains a key lever across consumer staples.

PG Guidance Still Calls for Modest Sales GrowthP&G expects fiscal 2027 all-in and organic sales to rise 1% to 3%. The organic sales outlook includes a 30-50-basis-point drag from brand, product-form and go-to-market discontinuations.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

Zacks estimates call for sales growth of 1.8% in fiscal 2027. Management is targeting organic growth modestly ahead of the markets in which it competes, though slower conditions in North America and Europe limit the cushion for execution shortfalls.

P&G Reinvestment Could Keep Margins TightP&G plans to maintain spending behind product superiority, packaging and brand communication even as costs rise. That approach supports its growth model but can restrain near-term margin expansion.

The fiscal fourth quarter showed that trade-off. Core operating margin declined 130 basis points as 410 basis points of reinvestment, primarily in marketing, more than offset 300 basis points of selling, general and administrative productivity savings. Total productivity savings reached 460 basis points.

PG's Scores Reflect Near-Term Earnings RiskP&G's fiscal 2027 outlook leaves productivity, pricing and execution carrying much of the burden against a meaningful earnings headwind. Core EPS is still expected to range from unchanged to up 3% from fiscal 2026, implying $6.89 to $7.11 per share.

PG currently carries a Zacks Rank #4 (Sell), alongside a Growth Score of C, Value Score of D, Momentum Score of D and VGM Score of D. The Zacks Rank points to weaker near-term earnings-estimate trends, while the Style Scores indicate limited support from growth, value and momentum characteristics. Together, they favor a cautious near-term view without determining the stock's longer-term outcome.

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

Target is expanding its push into higher-end beauty with a new specialty-style concept that the retailer says is part of its broader effort to return to growth.

The Minneapolis-based retailer said Target Beauty Studio will launch Sept. 10 in more than 600 stores nationwide and on Target.com, bringing together more than 1,600 products from 90 prestige, emerging and international brands. More than two-thirds of the brands will be new to Target.

The rollout represents a notable expansion of Target's beauty assortment while adding features more commonly associated with specialty beauty retailers, including dedicated beauty advisers, product testing, rotating product showcases and personalized recommendations.

Target Beauty Studio will launch Sept. 10 in more than 600 stores. (David Paul Morris/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

Target said the new concept is one example of the investments it is making in merchandise and the in-store shopping experience as part of its plans to return to growth. The company operates more than 2,000 U.S. stores.

WALMART AGREES TO PAY $50M SETTLEMENT OVER ALLEGATIONS ITS PHARMACIES FILLED ILLEGAL OPIOID PRESCRIPTIONS

"When guests shop for beauty, they want to pick up their standbys while also exploring what's new and trending, and Target Beauty Studio is designed with that mix in mind," Amanda Nusz, Target's senior vice president of merchandising, essentials and beauty, said in a statement. "It's an inspiring destination to discover what's new, now and next in beauty — and a powerful example of how our merchandising authority comes to life through an elevated guest experience."

Ticker Security Last Change Change % TGT TARGET CORP. 163.18 -2.75 -1.66% The assortment will span skincare, makeup, haircare, fragrance, bath and body products, nail care and sun care. Brands joining Target include Sunday Riley and First Aid Beauty in skincare, Briogeo and Nioxin in haircare and several Korean beauty brands, including Amuse, Kaja and Rom&nd.

The announcement comes after the retailer concluded its shop-in-shop partnership with Ulta Beauty. The partnership rolled out in August 2021 and ended this month.

The assortment will span skincare, makeup, haircare, fragrance, bath and body products, nail care and sun care. (Michael Nagle/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

Target is also adding products from international brands, including Mexican beauty company SARELLY and French nail care brand Manucurist, while offering premium fragrances, styling products, sun care and self-tanning products.

Stores with Target Beauty Studio will feature a central display that rotates several times a year to highlight brands, collaborations and seasonal products. The retailer will also offer a dedicated assortment of miniature products designed to give shoppers a lower-cost way to try new items.

Target is also adding products from international brands. (Scott Olson/Getty Images)

The company is tying the concept to its Target Circle loyalty program through exclusive offers and experiences. Target said the first 100 guests at most stores during a Sept. 26 promotional event will receive a Target Circle bonus that can be used to shop Beauty Studio in stores and online.

CLICK HERE TO GET FOX BUSINESS ON THE GO

Target said Beauty Studio will continue to evolve with new brands and products, while its existing beauty assortment will remain alongside the new concept.

GSG Advisors LLC bought a new position in shares of The Home Depot, Inc. (NYSE:HD – Free Report) during the 2nd quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The firm bought 2,389 shares of the home improvement retailer’s stock, valued at approximately $843,000.

Other institutional investors have also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Bank of Nova Scotia acquired a new stake in Home Depot in the 2nd quarter valued at $118,723,000. Gator Capital Management LLC acquired a new position in shares of Home Depot during the 4th quarter worth about $3,693,000. King Luther Capital Management Corp boosted its stake in shares of Home Depot by 0.6% during the 4th quarter. King Luther Capital Management Corp now owns 1,240,478 shares of the home improvement retailer’s stock worth $426,848,000 after buying an additional 7,180 shares during the last quarter. E Fund Management Co. Ltd. bought a new position in shares of Home Depot in the 2nd quarter valued at about $3,915,000. Finally, Thompson Siegel & Walmsley LLC grew its holdings in shares of Home Depot by 320.4% in the 4th quarter. Thompson Siegel & Walmsley LLC now owns 11,292 shares of the home improvement retailer’s stock valued at $3,886,000 after acquiring an additional 8,606 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 70.86% of the company’s stock.

Key Stories Impacting Home Depot Here are the key news stories impacting Home Depot this week:

Positive Sentiment: Home Depot reported fiscal second-quarter sales of $47.86 billion, up 5.7% year over year and its strongest comparable-sales growth since 2022. Adjusted earnings of $4.92 per share exceeded the $4.73 analyst consensus, reinforcing the view that the retailer’s turnaround is gaining traction. The Home Depot Posts Record Sales Growth Amid CEO Leave Positive Sentiment: The company expanded its Magic Apron AI shopping assistant to every U.S. store. The tool provides localized product information, project guidance and store navigation through text, voice, images and multiple languages. Its potential to improve customer service, employee productivity and conversion rates supports the long-term growth narrative. The Home Depot Expands Magic Apron Neutral Sentiment: Analysts and recent commentary see significant upside if housing and remodeling demand recover, with Home Depot’s scale and professional-customer base viewed as competitive advantages. However, the stock remains below its 50-day and 200-day moving averages, indicating that investors have not fully embraced the turnaround thesis. Home Depot Turnaround Could Be Bigger Than Investors Expect Neutral Sentiment: Although Home Depot beat quarterly estimates, a reported $685 million tariff refund may have boosted results. Investors could discount part of the earnings strength if the benefit is viewed as nonrecurring. Home Depot Beat Q2 Estimates Negative Sentiment: CEO Ted Decker is on temporary medical leave, creating uncertainty around leadership even as operating performance improves. Separately, EVP Michael Rowe sold 710 shares valued at approximately $239,100, a relatively small transaction but a modest negative sentiment signal. Home Depot EVP Michael Rowe Sells Shares Wall Street Analyst Weigh In Several analysts recently issued reports on the company. Weiss Ratings upgraded Home Depot from a “hold (c-)” rating to a “hold (c)” rating in a report on Tuesday, July 7th. Bank of America assumed coverage on Home Depot in a research note on Tuesday, May 5th. They issued a “buy” rating and a $374.00 price target for the company. Jefferies Financial Group reaffirmed a “buy” rating and set a $398.00 price target on shares of Home Depot in a research report on Tuesday, August 18th. Piper Sandler dropped their price objective on Home Depot from $422.00 to $421.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, May 20th. Finally, Truist Financial increased their price objective on Home Depot from $369.00 to $373.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a report on Wednesday, August 19th. Eighteen analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, thirteen have given a Hold rating and one has assigned a Sell rating to the company’s stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $375.54. Check Out Our Latest Research Report on Home Depot

Insider Activity In other Home Depot news, EVP Michael F. Rowe sold 710 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, August 26th. The shares were sold at an average price of $336.76, for a total transaction of $239,099.60. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president directly owned 6,838 shares in the company, valued at $2,302,764.88. This trade represents a 9.41% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available at this hyperlink. Also, CFO Richard V. Mcphail sold 5,989 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, August 19th. The stock was sold at an average price of $348.40, for a total transaction of $2,086,567.60. Following the sale, the chief financial officer owned 48,104 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $16,759,433.60. This trade represents a 11.07% decrease in their ownership of the stock. Additional details regarding this sale are available in the official SEC disclosure. 0.08% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

Home Depot Trading Down 0.1% HD stock opened at $329.80 on Monday. The Home Depot, Inc. has a one year low of $289.10 and a one year high of $426.75. The stock has a market cap of $329.04 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 23.08, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 3.64 and a beta of 0.95. The company has a fifty day moving average price of $340.97 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $338.46. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.64, a current ratio of 1.08 and a quick ratio of 0.31.

Home Depot (NYSE:HD – Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, August 18th. The home improvement retailer reported $4.92 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $4.73 by $0.19. The company had revenue of $47.86 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $47.24 billion. Home Depot had a net margin of 8.41% and a return on equity of 106.42%. The company’s revenue was up 5.7% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the prior year, the firm earned $4.68 earnings per share. Home Depot has set its FY 2026 guidance at 14.690-15.278 EPS. Equities analysts anticipate that The Home Depot, Inc. will post 15 EPS for the current year.

Home Depot Announces Dividend The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, September 17th. Shareholders of record on Thursday, September 3rd will be issued a $2.33 dividend. This represents a $9.32 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.8%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, September 3rd. Home Depot’s dividend payout ratio is currently 65.22%.

Home Depot Profile (Free Report)

The Home Depot, Inc (NYSE: HD) is a leading home improvement retailer that operates large-format stores and an integrated online platform offering a broad range of products and services for do-it-yourself consumers, professional contractors and businesses. The company was founded in 1978 by Bernard Marcus and Arthur Blank and is headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia. Since opening its first stores at the end of the 1970s, Home Depot has grown into a multinational retailer known for its orange-branded stores and wide assortment of home improvement merchandise.

Home Depot’s core business includes the sale of building materials, lumber, tools, hardware, appliances, paint, plumbing and electrical supplies, lawn and garden products, and home décor.

Read More Five stocks we like better than Home Depot Strike a Balance Between Growth and Stability With These 3 Names Ready to Rally Rubrik’s AI Security Bet Could Power the Next Leg Higher Apple’s Foldable iPhone Could Be a Catalyst, But Not a Cure-All Snowflake Is Up Nearly 50% in 2026—What Are Short Sellers Betting Against?

Receive News & Ratings for Home Depot Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Home Depot and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.

D.B. Root & Company LLC bought a new stake in shares of The Home Depot, Inc. (NYSE:HD – Free Report) during the 2nd quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The fund bought 3,867 shares of the home improvement retailer’s stock, valued at approximately $1,364,000.

Other hedge funds have also made changes to their positions in the company. Brighton Jones LLC lifted its position in Home Depot by 36.5% in the 4th quarter. Brighton Jones LLC now owns 26,918 shares of the home improvement retailer’s stock worth $10,471,000 after buying an additional 7,203 shares in the last quarter. Sivia Capital Partners LLC boosted its stake in shares of Home Depot by 7.1% during the 2nd quarter. Sivia Capital Partners LLC now owns 2,598 shares of the home improvement retailer’s stock valued at $952,000 after buying an additional 173 shares during the period. Schnieders Capital Management LLC. grew its holdings in shares of Home Depot by 14.1% during the 2nd quarter. Schnieders Capital Management LLC. now owns 11,587 shares of the home improvement retailer’s stock valued at $4,248,000 after acquiring an additional 1,433 shares in the last quarter. Darwin Wealth Management LLC purchased a new position in shares of Home Depot during the 2nd quarter valued at $1,773,000. Finally, Financial Advisors Network Inc. increased its stake in shares of Home Depot by 11.3% in the second quarter. Financial Advisors Network Inc. now owns 2,368 shares of the home improvement retailer’s stock worth $868,000 after acquiring an additional 241 shares during the last quarter. 70.86% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Home Depot News Roundup Here are the key news stories impacting Home Depot this week:

Positive Sentiment: Home Depot reported fiscal second-quarter sales of $47.86 billion, up 5.7% year over year and its strongest comparable-sales growth since 2022. Adjusted earnings of $4.92 per share exceeded the $4.73 analyst consensus, reinforcing the view that the retailer’s turnaround is gaining traction. The Home Depot Posts Record Sales Growth Amid CEO Leave Positive Sentiment: The company expanded its Magic Apron AI shopping assistant to every U.S. store. The tool provides localized product information, project guidance and store navigation through text, voice, images and multiple languages. Its potential to improve customer service, employee productivity and conversion rates supports the long-term growth narrative. The Home Depot Expands Magic Apron Neutral Sentiment: Analysts and recent commentary see significant upside if housing and remodeling demand recover, with Home Depot’s scale and professional-customer base viewed as competitive advantages. However, the stock remains below its 50-day and 200-day moving averages, indicating that investors have not fully embraced the turnaround thesis. Home Depot Turnaround Could Be Bigger Than Investors Expect Neutral Sentiment: Although Home Depot beat quarterly estimates, a reported $685 million tariff refund may have boosted results. Investors could discount part of the earnings strength if the benefit is viewed as nonrecurring. Home Depot Beat Q2 Estimates Negative Sentiment: CEO Ted Decker is on temporary medical leave, creating uncertainty around leadership even as operating performance improves. Separately, EVP Michael Rowe sold 710 shares valued at approximately $239,100, a relatively small transaction but a modest negative sentiment signal. Home Depot EVP Michael Rowe Sells Shares Insider Activity at Home Depot In other Home Depot news, CFO Richard V. Mcphail sold 5,989 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction on Wednesday, August 19th. The stock was sold at an average price of $348.40, for a total value of $2,086,567.60. Following the transaction, the chief financial officer owned 48,104 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $16,759,433.60. The trade was a 11.07% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Also, EVP Michael F. Rowe sold 710 shares of the stock in a transaction on Wednesday, August 26th. The stock was sold at an average price of $336.76, for a total value of $239,099.60. Following the sale, the executive vice president owned 6,838 shares in the company, valued at $2,302,764.88. The trade was a 9.41% decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale is available in the SEC filing. 0.08% of the stock is owned by insiders. Home Depot Stock Down 0.1% Shares of NYSE:HD opened at $329.80 on Monday. The Home Depot, Inc. has a 52 week low of $289.10 and a 52 week high of $426.75. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.64, a quick ratio of 0.31 and a current ratio of 1.08. The company’s fifty day moving average is $340.97 and its 200-day moving average is $338.46. The company has a market capitalization of $329.04 billion, a PE ratio of 23.08, a P/E/G ratio of 3.64 and a beta of 0.95.

Home Depot (NYSE:HD – Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Tuesday, August 18th. The home improvement retailer reported $4.92 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $4.73 by $0.19. Home Depot had a net margin of 8.41% and a return on equity of 106.42%. The business had revenue of $47.86 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $47.24 billion. During the same quarter last year, the company posted $4.68 EPS. The firm’s revenue for the quarter was up 5.7% on a year-over-year basis. Home Depot has set its FY 2026 guidance at 14.690-15.278 EPS. Equities research analysts predict that The Home Depot, Inc. will post 15 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Home Depot Dividend Announcement The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, September 17th. Stockholders of record on Thursday, September 3rd will be paid a $2.33 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, September 3rd. This represents a $9.32 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.8%. Home Depot’s payout ratio is 65.22%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In A number of research firms have recently weighed in on HD. Citigroup cut their price target on Home Depot from $450.00 to $400.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a research note on Tuesday, May 12th. UBS Group decreased their price target on shares of Home Depot from $430.00 to $420.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a report on Wednesday, August 19th. Robert W. Baird dropped their target price on shares of Home Depot from $430.00 to $380.00 and set an “outperform” rating on the stock in a research report on Wednesday, May 20th. Piper Sandler cut their price target on Home Depot from $422.00 to $421.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a report on Wednesday, May 20th. Finally, Sanford C. Bernstein reaffirmed a “market perform” rating and set a $354.00 price objective on shares of Home Depot in a report on Wednesday, August 19th. Eighteen equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, thirteen have assigned a Hold rating and one has assigned a Sell rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $375.54.

View Our Latest Report on HD

Home Depot Company Profile (Free Report)

The Home Depot, Inc (NYSE: HD) is a leading home improvement retailer that operates large-format stores and an integrated online platform offering a broad range of products and services for do-it-yourself consumers, professional contractors and businesses. The company was founded in 1978 by Bernard Marcus and Arthur Blank and is headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia. Since opening its first stores at the end of the 1970s, Home Depot has grown into a multinational retailer known for its orange-branded stores and wide assortment of home improvement merchandise.

Home Depot’s core business includes the sale of building materials, lumber, tools, hardware, appliances, paint, plumbing and electrical supplies, lawn and garden products, and home décor.

Featured Stories Five stocks we like better than Home Depot Strike a Balance Between Growth and Stability With These 3 Names Ready to Rally Rubrik’s AI Security Bet Could Power the Next Leg Higher Apple’s Foldable iPhone Could Be a Catalyst, But Not a Cure-All Snowflake Is Up Nearly 50% in 2026—What Are Short Sellers Betting Against? Want to see what other hedge funds are holding HD? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for The Home Depot, Inc. (NYSE:HD – Free Report).

Receive News & Ratings for Home Depot Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Home Depot and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.

Shares of Novavax Inc. (NASDAQ:NVAX) are trading higher Monday morning. The stock is extending its 30% monthly gains as investors respond positively to regulatory approvals across major jurisdictions for its updated protein-based COVID-19 vaccine ahead of the 2026–2027 autumn vaccination campaign, alongside broader sector strength bolstered by positive late-stage oncology clinical trial results across the biotech landscape.

Novavax shares are climbing with conviction. Why is NVAX stock surging? Global Regulatory Clearances Validate Licensing Partnership StrategyThe momentum behind Novavax follows regulatory milestones secured late last week when the U.S. FDA granted approval for updated COVID-19 vaccines targeting dominant circulating variants.

Clearances for Novavax’s XFG-adapted Nuvaxovid vaccine alongside commercial partners Sanofi and Takeda ensure timely distribution heading into the fall immunization season.

The approvals could serve as proof of concept for Novavax’s pivoted operating model, which leverages partner infrastructure to maintain steady high-margin licensing royalties without heavy internal commercial overhead.

Competitive Landscape: Landmark Merck-Moderna Phase 3 Cancer Vaccine Milestone The broader vaccine landscape was reshaped in August by major news from Merck & Co and Moderna Inc. The two pharmaceutical giants announced that their Phase 3 INTerpath-001 clinical trial evaluating intismeran autogene (mRNA-4157), a personalized mRNA cancer vaccine, in combination with Keytruda successfully met its primary endpoint.

The combination regimen significantly improved recurrence-free survival and distant metastasis-free survival in patients with high-risk stage III/IV melanoma following surgical resection. The breakthrough late-August trial results validated mRNA technology beyond infectious disease and sparked an August rally in the State Street SPDR S&P Biotech ETF (NYSE:XBI).

Q2 Financial Beat And Executive Focus On Operational EfficiencyThe regulatory tailwinds build on Novavax’s second-quarter earnings delivered on August 6. Second-quarter revenue reached $415 million, driven by strategic milestone payments and cost-reduction initiatives, helping narrow operating losses and bolster the cash position.

During Novavax’s second-quarter earnings call, President and Chief Executive Officer John C. Jacobs emphasized the structural transformation of the business:

"Our second-quarter performance underscores the strength of our lean operating model and strategic partnerships. By combining our protein-based technology with commercial leaders like Sanofi, we are expanding global patient access while maintaining strict cost discipline and generating durable value across our broader pipeline."

NVAX Price Action: Novavax shares were up 4.10% at $9.64 at the time of publication on Monday, according to Benzinga Pro data.

Read Next

Image: Shutterstock

Market News and Data brought to you by Benzinga APIs

© 2026 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.

To add Benzinga News as your preferred source on Google, click here.

Key Takeaways Adobe's CXO portfolio gains traction as enterprises adopt AI-driven marketing tools.ADBE's CXO AI-first ARR surged fourfold year over year in second-quarter fiscal 2026.Adobe sees 80% of AEP and AEM customers using agentic capabilities. Adobe (ADBE - Free Report) is benefiting from expanding enterprise adoption of its Customer Experience Orchestration (CXO) portfolio as companies increasingly use artificial intelligence (AI) to automate marketing, personalize customer interactions and scale content creation. Adobe is positioning Adobe Experience Platform (AEP), GenStudio, Adobe Experience Manager (AEM) and CX Enterprise as key components of this strategy. Growing adoption could help Adobe capture a larger share of enterprise marketing spending while strengthening its competitive position against the likes of Salesforce (CRM - Free Report) and Microsoft (MSFT - Free Report) .

Enterprise demand for Adobe’s CXO offerings remains encouraging. GenStudio’s ending annualized recurring revenues (ARR) increased more than 25% year over year in the second quarter of fiscal 2026, while subscription revenues from AEP and native applications rose more than 30%. Ending ARR across GenStudio, AEP and applications, and AEM and agentic web offerings increased more than 20%. Notably, Customer Experience Orchestration AI-first ARR surged fourfold year over year, indicating rising monetization of Adobe’s agentic marketing capabilities.

Agentic AI adoption provides another growth avenue. More than 80% of AEP and AEM customers are using agentic capabilities, while more than 1,500 customer trials are underway across Adobe LLM Optimizer, Sites Optimizer and Brand Concierge. Adobe launched CX Enterprise, an end-to-end agentic AI system designed to manage the customer lifecycle from prospect acquisition through conversion and loyalty. CX Enterprise Coworker had more than 150 leading enterprises participating in its early-adoption program ahead of general availability.

Adobe’s expanding ecosystem could improve adoption. CX Enterprise integrates with Microsoft Copilot, Anthropic, OpenAI and Google Gemini, while Adobe’s NVIDIA partnership brings CX Enterprise Coworker capabilities to NVIDIA’s enterprise-agent platform. Leading agencies including dentsu, Havas, Omnicom, Publicis, Stagwell and WPP are standardizing on Adobe’s AI-powered capabilities. Adobe’s acquisition of Semrush expands its CXO portfolio through search-engine optimization and generative-engine optimization capabilities that complement AEM and its agentic web offerings.

ADBE Faces Tough CompetitionSalesforce is strengthening its competitive position through Agentforce, Data 360, Marketing Cloud, Service Cloud and Slack. Agentforce ARR reached $1.5 billion in the second quarter of fiscal 2027, while accounts with agents in production increased 70% sequentially. Customers generated 3.2 billion Agentforce workload units, up 97% sequentially, and bookings for Agentforce One Edition and Agentforce for Apps more than doubled. Salesforce is seeing encouraging adoption of its next-generation marketing offering, while Data 360 continues to gain momentum. This integrated data, applications and agentic architecture positions Salesforce to compete with Adobe’s CXO strategy.

Microsoft is increasing competitive pressure through Dynamics 365, Copilot and Agent 365. Agent 365 already has nearly 40 million agents registered across tens of thousands of companies, while Microsoft 365 Copilot surpassed 30 million paid seats. Microsoft is redesigning Dynamics 365 for an agent-first environment and has exposed more than 650,000 Model Context Protocol actions across sales, finance, supply chain, HR and customer service. Customer-service credit consumption increased fourfold sequentially, while Dynamics 365 revenues rose 13% year over year. Microsoft’s vast enterprise installed base and integration of CRM, ERP, Copilot and AI agents could limit Adobe’s ability to capture a larger share of enterprise CXO spending.

ADBE’s Share Price Performance, Valuation & EstimatesShares of Adobe have declined 16.7% year to date, underperforming the broader Zacks Computer and Technology sector’s 17.1% growth.

ADBE Stock’s YTD Price Performance
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

ADBE stock is trading at a discount, with a forward 12-month price-to-earnings ratio of 10.95X compared with the broader sector’s 20.76X. Adobe has a Value Score of B.

ADBE’s Valuation
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Adobe’s earnings is currently pegged at $6.08 per share, unchanged over the past 30 days, suggesting 14.50% year-over-year growth.

Key Takeaways Teva bids for BioXcel assets, including Igalmi, in a court-supervised auction process.BXCL501 is under FDA review for potential at-home treatment of acute agitation in adults.Teva would pay $57.5 million upfront, with up to $67.5 million in contingent payments. Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Limited (TEVA - Free Report) announced it has made a bid to acquire certain assets of BioXcel Therapeutics, including the Igalmi (dexmedetomidine) sublingual film.

Igalmi, the currently approved formulation of dexmedetomidine sublingual film, is indicated for the acute treatment of agitation associated with schizophrenia and bipolar I or II disorder in adults when administered under the supervision of a healthcare provider.

Teva has agreed to serve as the “stalking horse bidder” in a court-supervised auction process for the assets. The proposed transaction does not involve the complete acquisition of BioXcel as a whole. However, Teva would acquire the assets if it is selected as the successful bidder, subject to bankruptcy court approval, potential higher bids and customary closing conditions.

Year to date, shares of Teva have risen 16.7% compared with the industry’s rise of 6.4%.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

TEVA’s Potential Neuroscience OpportunityThe key asset is BXCL501, a novel, orally dissolving dexmedetomidine sublingual film that is currently under FDA review for potential at-home use in the acute treatment of agitation associated with schizophrenia or bipolar I or II disorder in adults. A decision from the regulatory body is expected on Nov. 14, 2026.

If approved, the product could potentially become the first FDA-approved at-home treatment for this condition, providing an option for patients outside traditional healthcare or hospital settings.

The proposed transaction would give Teva worldwide rights to the related assets, including the investigational formulation under FDA review for potential outpatient use.

What's Driving TEVA’s Interest?Under the above agreement, Teva would pay $57.5 million upfront for the assets, with the potential for up to an additional $67.5 million in contingent payments. The additional payments include time-based payments tied to the timing of FDA approval, potential approval delays and specified sales milestones.

The proposed transaction fits Teva’s strategy of pursuing assets that offer a strategic fit, address patient needs and have the potential to generate long-term value. Management expects that, if successful, the deal would strengthen its neuroscience portfolio while maintaining a disciplined approach to capital allocation and risk.

The move underscores Teva’s ongoing focus on targeted business development as part of its Pivot to Growth strategy.

Teva recently expanded its neuroscience pipeline through the acquisition of Emalex Biosciences, adding ecopipam, an investigational therapy being developed for treating pediatric Tourette syndrome.

In August 2026, the FDA accepted the new drug application ("NDA") seeking approval for ecopipam for the treatment of pediatric patients with Tourette syndrome.

With the FDA granting priority review to the NDA, a decision from the regulatory body is expected in late first quarter of 2027. If approved, ecopipam could become the first new Tourette syndrome therapy in more than 10 years and the first novel mechanism of action in more than 50 years.

TEVA's Zacks Rank & Stocks to ConsiderTeva currently carries a Zacks Rank #4 (Sell).

Some better-ranked stocks in the biotech sector are Repligen (RGEN - Free Report) and Anika Therapeutics (ANIK - Free Report) , both sporting a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) at present. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.

Over the past 60 days, estimates for Repligen’s 2026 earnings per share have risen from $1.99 to $2.06, while estimates for 2027 have increased from $2.57 to $2.61 during the same time. RGEN’s shares have gained 7.6% year to date.

Repligen’s earnings beat estimates in each of the trailing four quarters, with the average surprise being 16.80%.

Over the past 60 days, estimates for Anika Therapeutics’ 2026 earnings per share have risen from 41 cents to $1.05, while estimates for 2027 have increased from 46 cents to 95 cents during the same time. ANIK’s shares have surged 119.6% year to date.

Anika Therapeutics’ earnings beat estimates in each of the trailing three quarters, with the average surprise being 950.00%.

Convergence Investment Partners LLC boosted its stake in International Business Machines Corporation (NYSE:IBM – Free Report) by 45.5% in the second quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 39,218 shares of the technology company’s stock after acquiring an additional 12,272 shares during the period. International Business Machines comprises approximately 1.0% of Convergence Investment Partners LLC’s portfolio, making the stock its 12th largest position. Convergence Investment Partners LLC’s holdings in International Business Machines were worth $11,029,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other institutional investors also recently bought and sold shares of IBM. Basepoint Wealth LLC acquired a new stake in shares of International Business Machines during the fourth quarter worth $25,000. Portus Wealth Advisors LLC acquired a new position in International Business Machines during the first quarter worth $26,000. Cornerstone Financial Management LLC purchased a new position in International Business Machines in the 4th quarter valued at approximately $28,000. SWAN Capital LLC purchased a new position in International Business Machines in the 3rd quarter valued at approximately $28,000. Finally, Bare Financial Services Inc raised its position in International Business Machines by 114.6% during the second quarter. Bare Financial Services Inc now owns 103 shares of the technology company’s stock worth $29,000 after acquiring an additional 55 shares during the last quarter. 58.96% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Analysts Set New Price Targets A number of analysts recently commented on the company. BMO Capital Markets decreased their price objective on International Business Machines from $270.00 to $230.00 and set a “market perform” rating on the stock in a research note on Thursday, July 23rd. Bank of America lifted their target price on International Business Machines from $315.00 to $330.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a report on Monday, July 6th. Barclays cut their target price on shares of International Business Machines from $288.00 to $262.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a research note on Thursday, July 23rd. Oppenheimer downgraded International Business Machines from an “outperform” rating to a “market perform” rating in a research report on Wednesday, July 15th. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. lowered their target price on International Business Machines from $291.00 to $250.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a research note on Friday, July 17th. Sixteen equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, eleven have given a Hold rating and one has issued a Sell rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $265.40.

View Our Latest Research Report on International Business Machines Here are the key news stories impacting International Business Machines this week:

Positive Sentiment: IBM’s reported dual-architecture 2-nanometer mainframe processor, designed to run IBM and Arm workloads on the same core, strengthens its infrastructure strategy and could broaden demand among enterprise customers. The company also advanced modular cryogenic quantum systems and applied AI experiences, reinforcing its effort to connect mainframe, AI and quantum technologies. Is IBM’s Dual-Architecture 2nm Mainframe Reshaping The Investment Case for IBM? Positive Sentiment: Quantum computing’s potential to undermine current encryption is expected to drive post-quantum cybersecurity spending through 2030. IBM is identified as one of the companies positioned to benefit from that long-term demand. Quantum Computing Is Raising the Stakes for Cybersecurity: 5 Stocks to Watch Positive Sentiment: Recent commentary remains constructive on IBM’s valuation and income profile, suggesting investors may be willing to hold the stock while waiting for stronger growth from AI and infrastructure investments. IBM: Get Paid To Wait For Growth Neutral Sentiment: IBM’s US Open fan activations and sports-focused AI research increase visibility for its AI and cloud capabilities, but the marketing initiatives are unlikely to materially change near-term financial results. IBM Brings AI-Powered US Open Fan Experience Back to Madison Square Park Negative Sentiment: A securities law firm announced an investigation into whether IBM may have misled investors following a significant stock decline. The notice is an investor solicitation and provides no established finding of misconduct, but it adds legal and reputational uncertainty. Investor Notice: IBM Investigated for Potentially Misleading Investors Negative Sentiment: IBM’s latest quarterly revenue came in below analysts’ expectations, tempering enthusiasm around its growth outlook even though earnings per share matched consensus. This keeps execution and monetization of its AI initiatives as key investor concerns. International Business Machines Stock Performance International Business Machines stock opened at $235.78 on Monday. International Business Machines Corporation has a 12-month low of $199.19 and a 12-month high of $332.46. The company has a market capitalization of $222.14 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 20.92, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.31 and a beta of 0.70. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.63, a current ratio of 0.79 and a quick ratio of 0.74. The firm’s fifty day moving average price is $244.57 and its 200 day moving average price is $248.32.

International Business Machines (NYSE:IBM – Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, July 22nd. The technology company reported $2.93 earnings per share for the quarter, meeting analysts’ consensus estimates of $2.93. The company had revenue of $17.16 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $17.46 billion. International Business Machines had a net margin of 15.52% and a return on equity of 35.65%. The firm’s revenue for the quarter was up 1.1% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the prior year, the company posted $2.80 EPS. On average, research analysts forecast that International Business Machines Corporation will post 12.33 EPS for the current fiscal year.

International Business Machines Dividend Announcement The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, September 10th. Shareholders of record on Monday, August 10th will be paid a dividend of $1.69 per share. This represents a $6.76 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.9%. The ex-dividend date is Monday, August 10th. International Business Machines’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 59.98%.

Insider Transactions at International Business Machines In other International Business Machines news, SVP Robert David Thomas sold 25,000 shares of International Business Machines stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, August 26th. The stock was sold at an average price of $230.32, for a total transaction of $5,758,000.00. Following the sale, the senior vice president directly owned 47,800 shares in the company, valued at $11,009,296. The trade was a 34.34% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. 0.27% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

About International Business Machines (Free Report)

International Business Machines Corporation (IBM) is a global technology and consulting company headquartered in Armonk, New York. Founded in 1911 as the Computing-Tabulating-Recording Company (CTR) and renamed IBM in 1924, the company has evolved from early electromechanical machines to a diversified technology provider serving enterprises and governments worldwide. IBM is publicly traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol IBM.

IBM’s principal businesses encompass cloud computing and software, infrastructure and systems, consulting and technology services, and research and development.

Featured Stories Five stocks we like better than International Business Machines Strike a Balance Between Growth and Stability With These 3 Names Ready to Rally Rubrik’s AI Security Bet Could Power the Next Leg Higher Apple’s Foldable iPhone Could Be a Catalyst, But Not a Cure-All Snowflake Is Up Nearly 50% in 2026—What Are Short Sellers Betting Against?

Receive News & Ratings for International Business Machines Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for International Business Machines and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.

Citizens Financial Group Inc. RI acquired a new stake in shares of Caterpillar Inc. (NYSE:CAT – Free Report) during the 2nd quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The firm acquired 37,369 shares of the industrial products company’s stock, valued at approximately $39,795,000.

Other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently modified their holdings of the company. Axxcess Wealth Management LLC raised its stake in Caterpillar by 2.8% in the 4th quarter. Axxcess Wealth Management LLC now owns 22,420 shares of the industrial products company’s stock valued at $12,844,000 after acquiring an additional 604 shares during the period. DSG Capital Advisors LLC bought a new position in Caterpillar during the first quarter worth about $1,226,000. Cornerstone Planning LLC purchased a new position in shares of Caterpillar in the fourth quarter worth about $4,517,000. RiverFront Investment Group LLC raised its position in shares of Caterpillar by 21.1% in the fourth quarter. RiverFront Investment Group LLC now owns 8,915 shares of the industrial products company’s stock valued at $5,107,000 after purchasing an additional 1,552 shares during the period. Finally, Larson Financial Group LLC lifted its stake in shares of Caterpillar by 73.6% during the 4th quarter. Larson Financial Group LLC now owns 12,915 shares of the industrial products company’s stock valued at $7,399,000 after buying an additional 5,476 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 70.98% of the company’s stock.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades CAT has been the subject of a number of recent analyst reports. Royal Bank Of Canada lifted their target price on Caterpillar from $877.00 to $897.00 and gave the company a “sector perform” rating in a report on Wednesday, August 5th. Weiss Ratings upgraded shares of Caterpillar from a “buy (b-)” rating to a “buy (b)” rating in a research report on Wednesday, August 19th. HSBC increased their price objective on Caterpillar from $850.00 to $1,100.00 in a research note on Tuesday, May 5th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. boosted their price target on Caterpillar from $1,125.00 to $1,165.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a report on Wednesday, June 17th. Finally, Sanford C. Bernstein reissued a “market perform” rating and set a $1,002.00 price objective on shares of Caterpillar in a research report on Wednesday, August 5th. One analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, thirteen have given a Buy rating and eleven have assigned a Hold rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the stock currently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $995.52.

Check Out Our Latest Research Report on CAT Caterpillar Price Performance NYSE CAT opened at $800.11 on Monday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.65, a current ratio of 1.37 and a quick ratio of 0.85. Caterpillar Inc. has a 1-year low of $410.52 and a 1-year high of $1,073.46. The stock has a market capitalization of $367.79 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 34.43, a PEG ratio of 1.40 and a beta of 1.60. The business’s fifty day moving average price is $893.92 and its 200-day moving average price is $837.81.

Caterpillar (NYSE:CAT – Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Tuesday, August 4th. The industrial products company reported $8.17 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $6.22 by $1.95. The company had revenue of $20.54 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $19.34 billion. Caterpillar had a net margin of 14.51% and a return on equity of 55.53%. The firm’s quarterly revenue was up 23.7% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the prior year, the firm posted $4.72 EPS. On average, equities analysts predict that Caterpillar Inc. will post 27.14 earnings per share for the current year.

Caterpillar Increases Dividend The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, August 19th. Stockholders of record on Monday, July 20th were issued a dividend of $1.63 per share. This is a positive change from Caterpillar’s previous quarterly dividend of $1.51. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, July 20th. This represents a $6.52 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.8%. Caterpillar’s payout ratio is currently 28.06%.

Key Stories Impacting Caterpillar Here are the key news stories impacting Caterpillar this week:

Positive Sentiment: Caterpillar’s Construction Industries segment generated 35% revenue growth in the second quarter, supported by stronger demand, higher sales volumes and pricing. Digital technology and connected-equipment services could provide additional long-term growth opportunities. CAT’s Construction Revenues Up 35% in Q2: Can It Maintain This Pace? Positive Sentiment: Analysts point to favorable earnings-estimate revisions and recent price strength as potential catalysts. Caterpillar’s latest quarterly results also showed substantial year-over-year revenue and earnings growth, with results exceeding consensus expectations. Why Caterpillar (CAT) Might be Well Poised for a Surge Positive Sentiment: The company raised its quarterly dividend 8% to $1.63 per share and has now increased its annual dividend for 32 consecutive years, reinforcing Caterpillar’s appeal as an income-growth stock. However, the benefit is partly offset by the stock’s high price and consequently low yield. Caterpillar’s Dividend Case Is Stronger in 2026, But the Yield Is Holding It Back Neutral Sentiment: CEO Joe Creed is scheduled to participate in a Wells Fargo investor discussion on September 10. The event could provide updates on demand, dealer inventories and guidance, but it is not an immediate earnings catalyst. Caterpillar CEO Joe Creed to Participate in Virtual Headquarters Visit with Wells Fargo Negative Sentiment: One analysis questions whether construction demand is being driven by durable end-market activity or dealer-channel ordering. That uncertainty raises concerns about a possible slowdown or inventory adjustment after the recent surge. Is Caterpillar Stock Relying on an Artificial Demand Story? Negative Sentiment: At a valuation above 34 times earnings, Caterpillar leaves less room for disappointment. Investors are also cautious that its data-center-related exposure could face political scrutiny, while the dividend yield remains limited at the current valuation. Caterpillar Profile (Free Report)

Caterpillar Inc is a global manufacturer of construction and mining equipment, diesel and natural gas engines, industrial gas turbines and locomotives. The company’s product portfolio includes earthmoving machines such as excavators, bulldozers, wheel loaders and off‑highway trucks, as well as a range of power generation products including generator sets and power systems for industrial and commercial use. Caterpillar serves customers across heavy construction, mining, energy, transportation and related industries with both equipment and integrated technology solutions.

In addition to manufacturing, Caterpillar provides a broad range of aftermarket parts and support services, including maintenance, repair, remanufacturing and fleet management tools.

Read More Five stocks we like better than Caterpillar Strike a Balance Between Growth and Stability With These 3 Names Ready to Rally Rubrik’s AI Security Bet Could Power the Next Leg Higher Apple’s Foldable iPhone Could Be a Catalyst, But Not a Cure-All Snowflake Is Up Nearly 50% in 2026—What Are Short Sellers Betting Against? Want to see what other hedge funds are holding CAT? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Caterpillar Inc. (NYSE:CAT – Free Report).

Receive News & Ratings for Caterpillar Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Caterpillar and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.

Freestone Grove Partners LP bought a new stake in The Gap, Inc. (NYSE:GAP – Free Report) in the 2nd quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm bought 28,243 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $528,000.

Several other hedge funds have also bought and sold shares of the company. Cullen Frost Bankers Inc. bought a new position in GAP during the fourth quarter worth about $26,000. Plato Investment Management Ltd bought a new stake in GAP in the fourth quarter valued at approximately $28,000. Global Retirement Partners LLC bought a new stake in GAP in the second quarter valued at approximately $29,000. Mitsubishi UFJ Asset Management Co. Ltd. acquired a new stake in shares of GAP in the second quarter valued at approximately $50,000. Finally, Quantbot Technologies LP acquired a new stake in shares of GAP in the second quarter valued at approximately $73,000. 58.81% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

GAP News Summary Here are the key news stories impacting GAP this week:

Positive Sentiment: Quarterly earnings beat expectations: Adjusted EPS was $0.52, exceeding the $0.48 consensus estimate. Gross margin expanded 20 basis points to 41.4%, helping Gap outperform operating-profit expectations despite weaker sales. Gap names Michael Francis Old Navy CEO as quarterly profit beats estimates Positive Sentiment: Profit outlook raised: The company now expects fiscal 2026 EPS of $2.35 to $2.45, above the roughly $2.33 analyst consensus. Management cited continued momentum at the Gap brand, margin discipline and strength at Banana Republic. Gap lifts annual profit forecast on strength of namesake brand Positive Sentiment: Old Navy leadership reset: Michael Francis, a retail veteran with experience at Walmart and Target, will become Old Navy’s president and CEO on November 2, replacing Haio Barbeito. Investors appear hopeful that Francis can improve the company’s largest brand. Gap shares jump after Old Navy brings in new CEO to revive brand Positive Sentiment: Analyst support increased: TD Cowen and BTIG raised their price targets to $27 and assigned “buy” ratings. Bank of America also raised its target to $27, while Morgan Stanley lifted its target to $23 but retained an “equal weight” rating. Neutral Sentiment: Sales remained soft: Second-quarter revenue fell 2% year over year to $3.65 billion, below the $3.69 billion consensus, while comparable sales declined 1%. Full-year revenue guidance of about $15.6 billion is slightly below analyst expectations. Gap Inc. Reports Second Quarter Fiscal 2026 Results Negative Sentiment: Brand performance was uneven: Old Navy reported sluggish comparable sales, and Athleta continued to face pressure. The need for a leadership change underscores execution risks even as Gap and Banana Republic show stronger momentum. Analysts Set New Price Targets A number of research firms recently weighed in on GAP. Wells Fargo & Company boosted their target price on GAP from $22.00 to $23.00 and gave the stock a “cautious” rating in a report on Friday. Jefferies Financial Group downgraded GAP from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating and cut their price target for the company from $29.00 to $23.00 in a report on Wednesday, August 12th. Weiss Ratings cut shares of GAP from a “hold (c+)” rating to a “hold (c)” rating in a research report on Tuesday, July 28th. Bank of America lifted their price objective on shares of GAP from $26.00 to $27.00 and gave the stock a “neutral” rating in a research report on Friday. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. reiterated a “neutral” rating and issued a $27.00 price objective (down from $35.00) on shares of GAP in a report on Friday, May 29th. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, five have assigned a Buy rating, ten have issued a Hold rating and one has assigned a Sell rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has an average rating of “Hold” and a consensus price target of $27.21. View Our Latest Research Report on GAP

GAP Price Performance GAP opened at $23.48 on Monday. The stock has a fifty day moving average of $20.06 and a 200-day moving average of $22.84. The company has a market capitalization of $8.45 billion, a P/E ratio of 7.01, a P/E/G ratio of 1.36 and a beta of 2.05. The Gap, Inc. has a fifty-two week low of $18.11 and a fifty-two week high of $29.36. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.38, a quick ratio of 1.11 and a current ratio of 1.82.

GAP (NYSE:GAP – Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, August 27th. The company reported $0.52 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.48 by $0.04. GAP had a net margin of 8.14% and a return on equity of 19.72%. The business had revenue of $3.65 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $3.69 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the company posted $0.57 earnings per share. GAP’s revenue was down 2.0% compared to the same quarter last year. GAP has set its FY 2026 guidance at 2.350-2.450 EPS. On average, equities analysts expect that The Gap, Inc. will post 2.38 EPS for the current year.

GAP Dividend Announcement The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, October 28th. Shareholders of record on Wednesday, October 7th will be issued a $0.175 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Wednesday, October 7th. This represents a $0.70 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 3.0%. GAP’s payout ratio is currently 20.90%.

GAP Company Profile (Free Report)

Gap Inc is a global specialty retailer renowned for its portfolio of apparel and accessories brands, including Gap, Banana Republic, Old Navy and Athleta. The company designs, sources and markets clothing across a broad price range and style spectrum, catering to men, women and children. Its offerings extend from everyday wardrobe essentials such as denim, tees and outerwear to performance and lifestyle pieces, reflecting each brand’s distinct identity and price point.

Founded in San Francisco in 1969 by Donald and Doris Fisher, Gap Inc has grown into one of the world’s largest apparel companies.

See Also Five stocks we like better than GAP Strike a Balance Between Growth and Stability With These 3 Names Ready to Rally Rubrik’s AI Security Bet Could Power the Next Leg Higher Apple’s Foldable iPhone Could Be a Catalyst, But Not a Cure-All Snowflake Is Up Nearly 50% in 2026—What Are Short Sellers Betting Against?

Receive News & Ratings for GAP Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for GAP and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.

Beacon Pointe Advisors LLC bought a new stake in Stanley Black & Decker, Inc. (NYSE:SWK – Free Report) during the 2nd quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund bought 14,498 shares of the industrial products company’s stock, valued at approximately $1,365,000.

Other institutional investors have also bought and sold shares of the company. Chapman Financial Group LLC acquired a new stake in Stanley Black & Decker during the second quarter worth approximately $26,000. CYBER HORNET ETFs LLC acquired a new position in Stanley Black & Decker in the second quarter valued at approximately $28,000. Kovack Advisors Inc. bought a new position in shares of Stanley Black & Decker during the 4th quarter worth approximately $28,000. Motiv8 Investments LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Stanley Black & Decker during the 4th quarter worth approximately $31,000. Finally, Compass Financial Management LLC bought a new stake in shares of Stanley Black & Decker in the 2nd quarter valued at $31,000. Institutional investors own 87.77% of the company’s stock.

Stanley Black & Decker Stock Up 0.1% Stanley Black & Decker stock opened at $97.86 on Monday. The firm has a market capitalization of $14.78 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 23.87, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.31 and a beta of 1.16. The firm’s fifty day moving average price is $94.44 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $83.68. Stanley Black & Decker, Inc. has a 1-year low of $61.90 and a 1-year high of $104.68. The company has a current ratio of 1.43, a quick ratio of 0.55 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.53.

Stanley Black & Decker (NYSE:SWK – Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Wednesday, July 29th. The industrial products company reported $1.57 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.21 by $0.36. The company had revenue of $3.96 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $3.97 billion. Stanley Black & Decker had a net margin of 4.07% and a return on equity of 8.78%. The firm’s revenue for the quarter was up .4% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the previous year, the firm posted $1.08 earnings per share. Stanley Black & Decker has set its FY 2026 guidance at 4.900-5.700 EPS. On average, equities research analysts predict that Stanley Black & Decker, Inc. will post 5.57 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. Stanley Black & Decker Increases Dividend The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, September 22nd. Investors of record on Tuesday, September 8th will be given a dividend of $0.84 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, September 8th. This is a positive change from Stanley Black & Decker’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.83. This represents a $3.36 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 3.4%. Stanley Black & Decker’s payout ratio is presently 80.98%.

Analyst Ratings Changes A number of research analysts recently issued reports on SWK shares. Citigroup boosted their target price on shares of Stanley Black & Decker from $100.00 to $107.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research report on Friday, July 31st. Wall Street Zen downgraded shares of Stanley Black & Decker from a “strong-buy” rating to a “buy” rating in a research note on Saturday. The Goldman Sachs Group reiterated a “neutral” rating and set a $93.00 price objective on shares of Stanley Black & Decker in a report on Wednesday, July 29th. Wells Fargo & Company increased their price objective on shares of Stanley Black & Decker from $80.00 to $90.00 and gave the stock an “equal weight” rating in a research report on Thursday, June 18th. Finally, Morgan Stanley set a $96.00 target price on Stanley Black & Decker in a research note on Monday, August 10th. Three analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, six have issued a Hold rating and one has issued a Sell rating to the company’s stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has an average rating of “Hold” and a consensus target price of $92.25.

Get Our Latest Analysis on SWK

Stanley Black & Decker Profile (Free Report)

Stanley Black & Decker, Inc (NYSE:SWK) is a leading global manufacturer of industrial tools, engineered fastening systems, and security products. The company’s portfolio includes power tools, hand tools, accessories, and storage solutions marketed under well-known brands such as DEWALT, Stanley, Craftsman and Black & Decker. In addition to its core tools and hardware offerings, the company provides customized assembly and installation systems for the automotive, electronics and aerospace industries.

Operations are organized across three principal business segments.

Recommended Stories Five stocks we like better than Stanley Black & Decker Strike a Balance Between Growth and Stability With These 3 Names Ready to Rally Rubrik’s AI Security Bet Could Power the Next Leg Higher Apple’s Foldable iPhone Could Be a Catalyst, But Not a Cure-All Snowflake Is Up Nearly 50% in 2026—What Are Short Sellers Betting Against?

Receive News & Ratings for Stanley Black & Decker Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Stanley Black & Decker and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.

Canada Pension Plan Investment Board purchased a new position in shares of The Clorox Company (NYSE:CLX – Free Report) in the 2nd quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund purchased 32,488 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $3,101,000.

Other large investors also recently modified their holdings of the company. Caitlin John LLC lifted its position in shares of Clorox by 1,807.1% during the 4th quarter. Caitlin John LLC now owns 267 shares of the company’s stock worth $27,000 after purchasing an additional 253 shares during the last quarter. Avalon Trust Co acquired a new stake in Clorox in the second quarter valued at $29,000. Darwin Wealth Management LLC acquired a new stake in Clorox in the second quarter valued at $29,000. Root Financial Partners LLC lifted its holdings in Clorox by 83.8% during the 1st quarter. Root Financial Partners LLC now owns 318 shares of the company’s stock worth $33,000 after buying an additional 145 shares during the last quarter. Finally, SHP Wealth Management purchased a new stake in Clorox during the 4th quarter worth about $35,000. 78.53% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth CLX has been the topic of a number of recent analyst reports. Wall Street Zen downgraded Clorox from a “hold” rating to a “sell” rating in a report on Saturday, August 15th. BNP Paribas Exane decreased their target price on Clorox from $97.00 to $95.00 and set a “neutral” rating for the company in a research note on Monday, July 20th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft set a $98.00 price target on Clorox in a report on Tuesday, August 4th. Wells Fargo & Company increased their price target on shares of Clorox from $95.00 to $102.00 and gave the company an “equal weight” rating in a research note on Tuesday, August 4th. Finally, Jefferies Financial Group cut shares of Clorox from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating and cut their price objective for the stock from $125.00 to $98.00 in a report on Tuesday, July 28th. Twelve equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Hold rating and five have issued a Sell rating to the company’s stock. According to data from MarketBeat, Clorox has a consensus rating of “Reduce” and an average target price of $102.40.

Read Our Latest Research Report on CLX Clorox Stock Up 0.0% CLX opened at $102.57 on Monday. The Clorox Company has a one year low of $84.70 and a one year high of $128.90. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 15.80, a quick ratio of 0.38 and a current ratio of 0.66. The stock has a market capitalization of $12.40 billion, a P/E ratio of 21.28, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 3.21 and a beta of 0.54. The business’s 50-day simple moving average is $99.83 and its 200-day simple moving average is $102.60.

Clorox (NYSE:CLX – Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Monday, August 3rd. The company reported $1.66 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $1.64 by $0.02. The firm had revenue of $1.95 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $1.91 billion. Clorox had a return on equity of 522.23% and a net margin of 8.74%.The business’s revenue was down 2.0% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the prior year, the firm earned $2.87 EPS. Clorox has set its FY 2027 guidance at 5.700-6.000 EPS. Analysts anticipate that The Clorox Company will post 5.8 EPS for the current year.

Clorox Increases Dividend The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, August 28th. Stockholders of record on Wednesday, August 12th were issued a $1.25 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Wednesday, August 12th. This is an increase from Clorox’s previous quarterly dividend of $1.24. This represents a $5.00 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 4.9%. Clorox’s dividend payout ratio is currently 103.73%.

Clorox Profile (Free Report)

The Clorox Company is a leading manufacturer and marketer of consumer and professional products designed to help people care for their homes and live healthy, sustainable lives. Its portfolio spans cleaning and household products, food and beverages, water filtration systems and cat litter, serving both retail and institutional customers. The company’s flagship bleach and disinfecting products are well known in the United States and many international markets, where they help prevent the spread of germs in homes, hospitals, schools and businesses.

Clorox’s diverse brand lineup includes liquid bleach and surface cleaners, eco-friendly cleaning tools, food preservation and preparation items, charcoal grills and briquettes, specialty foods and beverages, pet care products and personal care lines.

See Also Five stocks we like better than Clorox Strike a Balance Between Growth and Stability With These 3 Names Ready to Rally Rubrik’s AI Security Bet Could Power the Next Leg Higher Apple’s Foldable iPhone Could Be a Catalyst, But Not a Cure-All Snowflake Is Up Nearly 50% in 2026—What Are Short Sellers Betting Against? Want to see what other hedge funds are holding CLX? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for The Clorox Company (NYSE:CLX – Free Report).

Receive News & Ratings for Clorox Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Clorox and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.

Key Takeaways Costco's Other International comps rose 11.2% in fiscal Q3, ahead of the U.S. and Canada.Management sees strong Costco expansion potential in China, Korea, Japan, Taiwan, Spain and France.Costco's China Executive Membership beat early expectations, while same-day delivery expanded in Europe. Costco Wholesale Corporation’s (COST - Free Report) international operations are emerging as a more meaningful part of its growth strategy, helped by solid comparable sales and a sizable runway for new warehouses. Other International comparable sales rose 11.2% in the third quarter of fiscal 2026, ahead of the United States at 9.4% and Canada at 10.7%. Excluding gasoline and foreign-exchange effects, Other International comps increased 5.9% versus 6.8% in the United States and 6.2% in Canada.

Performance over a broader period remains encouraging. For the first 48 weeks of fiscal 2026, Other International comparable sales advanced 9.8% versus 8.1% in both the United States and Canada. On an adjusted basis, growth was 6.5%, close to the U.S. rate of 6.7% and Canada’s 7%.

The bigger opportunity lies in expansion. Management sees strong potential in China, Korea and Japan, additional openings in Taiwan, room to grow in Spain and France and continued strength in the U.K. It expects strong international expansion over the next five to 10 years. Costco also launched Executive Membership in China, where early adoption exceeded expectations, while same-day delivery recently expanded to Spain and France.

While the United States still dominates, what particularly makes international markets important is the amount of white space still available. The combination of new-market capacity and deeper membership engagement gives international markets a growing role in the company’s overall sales mix.

How Does Costco Stack Up Against Its Industry?Costco, which competes with Dollar General Corporation (DG - Free Report) and Target Corporation (TGT - Free Report) , has seen its shares jump 9.6% year to date compared with the industry’s 8.6% rise. While Dollar General shares have fallen 7.5%, Target has surged 66.9% over the same period.
 

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

What Does Costco’s Current Valuation Suggest?From a valuation standpoint, Costco's forward 12-month price-to-earnings ratio stands at 42.00, higher than the industry’s ratio of 29.38. However, the stock is trading below its 12-month median level of 45.56, indicating some moderation in valuation.

Costco is trading at a premium to Target (with a forward 12-month P/E ratio of 16.73) and Dollar General (15.73).

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

What Do Earnings Estimates Signal for Costco?The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Costco’s current fiscal-year sales and earnings per share suggests year-over-year growth of 9.7% and 13.5%, respectively. For the next fiscal year, the consensus estimate points to sales growth of 7.8% and earnings growth of 10.2%. Over the past 30 days, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for current-year earnings has remained unchanged at $20.42, while the estimate for the next fiscal year has increased by a penny to $22.51.
 

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

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

Beacon Pointe Advisors LLC purchased a new stake in shares of W.W. Grainger, Inc. (NYSE:GWW – Free Report) in the 2nd quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The institutional investor purchased 1,536 shares of the industrial products company’s stock, valued at approximately $2,089,000.

Other institutional investors have also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Banco BTG Pactual S.A. purchased a new position in shares of W.W. Grainger during the 4th quarter valued at $1,048,000. Bank of New York Mellon Corp purchased a new stake in W.W. Grainger in the 2nd quarter worth $324,824,000. Assenagon Asset Management S.A. increased its stake in W.W. Grainger by 1,353.1% in the 2nd quarter. Assenagon Asset Management S.A. now owns 31,242 shares of the industrial products company’s stock worth $42,502,000 after buying an additional 29,092 shares in the last quarter. Meeder Asset Management Inc. bought a new stake in W.W. Grainger during the second quarter valued at about $11,591,000. Finally, Strs Ohio raised its holdings in W.W. Grainger by 253.8% during the fourth quarter. Strs Ohio now owns 3,747 shares of the industrial products company’s stock valued at $3,781,000 after acquiring an additional 2,688 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 80.70% of the company’s stock.

Analyst Ratings Changes Several analysts recently issued reports on the company. Weiss Ratings raised W.W. Grainger from a “buy (b-)” rating to a “buy (b)” rating in a research note on Friday, July 17th. Stephens downgraded W.W. Grainger from an “overweight” rating to an “equal weight” rating and set a $1,355.00 price target for the company. in a research note on Tuesday, July 14th. Oppenheimer increased their price objective on shares of W.W. Grainger from $1,350.00 to $1,375.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a report on Wednesday, August 5th. Wall Street Zen upgraded shares of W.W. Grainger from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a research report on Sunday, August 9th. Finally, Royal Bank Of Canada reduced their price objective on shares of W.W. Grainger from $1,460.00 to $1,428.00 and set a “sector perform” rating on the stock in a research report on Wednesday, August 5th. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, seven have issued a Hold rating and one has given a Sell rating to the company’s stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, W.W. Grainger presently has an average rating of “Hold” and an average target price of $1,286.62.

Read Our Latest Stock Analysis on GWW W.W. Grainger Stock Down 0.0% Shares of NYSE GWW opened at $1,305.72 on Monday. The stock has a market capitalization of $61.50 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 33.29, a P/E/G ratio of 2.32 and a beta of 1.04. W.W. Grainger, Inc. has a 12-month low of $906.52 and a 12-month high of $1,419.91. The company has a current ratio of 2.81, a quick ratio of 1.70 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.53. The firm’s 50-day moving average price is $1,342.92 and its 200-day moving average price is $1,235.14.

W.W. Grainger (NYSE:GWW – Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, August 4th. The industrial products company reported $12.01 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $11.30 by $0.71. The company had revenue of $5.02 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $4.96 billion. W.W. Grainger had a return on equity of 48.73% and a net margin of 9.92%.The firm’s revenue for the quarter was up 10.3% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the previous year, the firm posted $9.97 earnings per share. W.W. Grainger has set its FY 2026 guidance at 45.500-47.250 EPS. On average, equities research analysts anticipate that W.W. Grainger, Inc. will post 46.17 EPS for the current fiscal year.

W.W. Grainger Dividend Announcement The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, September 1st. Investors of record on Monday, August 10th will be paid a dividend of $2.49 per share. This represents a $9.96 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.8%. The ex-dividend date is Monday, August 10th. W.W. Grainger’s dividend payout ratio is 25.40%.

W.W. Grainger News Summary Here are the key news stories impacting W.W. Grainger this week:

Positive Sentiment: Zacks upgraded GWW to a No. 2 (Buy) rank, citing growing optimism about the company’s earnings prospects. Zacks rating upgrade article Positive Sentiment: Zacks Research raised multiple future EPS estimates, including FY2027 to $50.40 from $50.21 and FY2028 to $54.37 from $54.17. Estimates were also increased for Q1 2027, Q2 2027, Q4 2027 and Q2 2028, suggesting modestly improving expectations for profitability. MarketBeat analyst estimates Positive Sentiment: Grainger’s latest reported quarter exceeded expectations, with EPS of $12.01 versus the $11.30 consensus and revenue of $5.02 billion versus $4.96 billion. Revenue increased 10.3% year over year, supporting the case for continued earnings growth. Neutral Sentiment: Wall Street commentary is mixed: GWW has outperformed the broader market over the past year, but analysts remain cautious about its future upside. Barchart analyst outlook article Negative Sentiment: Valuation may be limiting enthusiasm. Grainger trades at roughly 33 times earnings, while its shares are below the 50-day moving average after approaching a 12-month high. Investors may be taking profits or demanding stronger estimate increases before bidding the stock higher. MSN analyst outlook article W.W. Grainger Profile (Free Report)

W.W. Grainger, Inc (NYSE: GWW) is an industrial supply distributor founded in 1927 and headquartered in Lake Forest, Illinois. The company supplies maintenance, repair and operations (MRO) products and services to businesses, institutions and government customers. Over its long history Grainger has developed a broad product assortment and a national distribution network that supports operations across a range of end markets, including manufacturing, healthcare, hospitality, transportation and public sector organizations.

Grainger’s product portfolio spans core categories such as electrical and lighting, safety and personal protective equipment, material handling, motors and power transmission, plumbing and HVAC, fasteners and adhesives, hand and power tools, and janitorial and facility supplies.

Featured Articles Five stocks we like better than W.W. Grainger Strike a Balance Between Growth and Stability With These 3 Names Ready to Rally Rubrik’s AI Security Bet Could Power the Next Leg Higher Apple’s Foldable iPhone Could Be a Catalyst, But Not a Cure-All Snowflake Is Up Nearly 50% in 2026—What Are Short Sellers Betting Against? Want to see what other hedge funds are holding GWW? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for W.W. Grainger, Inc. (NYSE:GWW – Free Report).

Receive News & Ratings for W.W. Grainger Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for W.W. Grainger and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.

CM Wealth Advisors LLC bought a new stake in Micron Technology, Inc. (NASDAQ:MU – Free Report) during the second quarter, according to its most recent filing with the SEC. The firm bought 742 shares of the semiconductor manufacturer’s stock, valued at approximately $856,000.

Other institutional investors have also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Brighton Jones LLC raised its stake in Micron Technology by 18.3% during the 4th quarter. Brighton Jones LLC now owns 6,318 shares of the semiconductor manufacturer’s stock valued at $532,000 after purchasing an additional 976 shares during the last quarter. Sivia Capital Partners LLC raised its position in Micron Technology by 21.7% in the 2nd quarter. Sivia Capital Partners LLC now owns 3,528 shares of the semiconductor manufacturer’s stock valued at $435,000 after purchasing an additional 628 shares during the last quarter. United Bank acquired a new position in Micron Technology during the 2nd quarter worth about $236,000. Schnieders Capital Management LLC. grew its holdings in Micron Technology by 67.9% during the 2nd quarter. Schnieders Capital Management LLC. now owns 16,984 shares of the semiconductor manufacturer’s stock worth $2,093,000 after acquiring an additional 6,867 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Sei Investments Co. increased its position in Micron Technology by 5.6% in the 2nd quarter. Sei Investments Co. now owns 405,545 shares of the semiconductor manufacturer’s stock valued at $49,987,000 after acquiring an additional 21,619 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 80.84% of the company’s stock.

Micron Technology Stock Performance NASDAQ MU opened at $932.86 on Monday. The company has a current ratio of 3.42, a quick ratio of 2.98 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.05. Micron Technology, Inc. has a 1 year low of $114.25 and a 1 year high of $1,255.00. The firm has a market capitalization of $1.05 trillion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 21.12 and a beta of 2.18. The firm’s 50 day simple moving average is $951.63 and its 200 day simple moving average is $717.04.

Micron Technology (NASDAQ:MU – Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, June 24th. The semiconductor manufacturer reported $25.11 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $21.39 by $3.72. Micron Technology had a return on equity of 71.13% and a net margin of 55.91%.The business had revenue of $41.46 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $35.91 billion. During the same period last year, the firm posted $1.91 earnings per share. Micron Technology’s revenue was up 345.8% compared to the same quarter last year. Micron Technology has set its Q4 2026 guidance at 30.000-32.000 EPS. As a group, research analysts expect that Micron Technology, Inc. will post 72.93 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. Micron Technology Dividend Announcement The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, July 21st. Stockholders of record on Monday, July 6th were paid a dividend of $0.15 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, July 6th. This represents a $0.60 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.1%. Micron Technology’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 1.36%.

Insider Activity In other Micron Technology news, EVP April S. Arnzen sold 40,000 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, July 1st. The stock was sold at an average price of $1,083.94, for a total value of $43,357,600.00. Following the sale, the executive vice president owned 85,737 shares in the company, valued at approximately $92,933,763.78. The trade was a 31.81% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this link. Also, EVP Sumit Sadana sold 15,000 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, August 18th. The shares were sold at an average price of $934.29, for a total value of $14,014,350.00. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president owned 191,021 shares in the company, valued at $178,469,010.09. The trade was a 7.28% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale is available in the SEC filing. In the last three months, insiders sold 177,204 shares of company stock worth $182,156,264. 0.24% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

Micron Technology News Summary Here are the key news stories impacting Micron Technology this week:

Positive Sentiment: AI demand is tightening memory supply. CEO Sanjay Mehrotra said data-center customers want roughly 50% more memory than Micron can currently supply, while Nvidia identified memory availability as a key constraint on AI-system growth. That supports Micron’s pricing power and demand visibility. Micron CEO AI Shift Breaks Traditional Memory Market Cycles Positive Sentiment: Nvidia’s purchasing commitments reinforce the bullish outlook. Nvidia reportedly more than doubled memory-related supplier commitments to $279 billion, potentially benefiting Micron as a major supplier. Micron also has approximately $22 billion in strategic commitments, including contracts extending through 2030. Nvidia Just Validated Micron’s Biggest AI Bull Case Positive Sentiment: Expansion plans strengthen Micron’s long-term positioning. The company is investing $10 billion in U.S. research labs, launching a $250 million venture fund and expanding its workforce-training infrastructure. President Donald Trump’s praise of Micron as one of the world’s “hottest” companies adds political visibility to the investment. Why Micron Stock Didn’t Get a Leg Up From SK Hynix’s Memory Optimism Neutral Sentiment: Analysts and bullish commentators point to surging DRAM and NAND prices, record margins and the possibility that AI demand has made memory cycles less volatile. However, much of this optimism may already be reflected in Micron’s substantial previous gains. Negative Sentiment: Profit-taking and valuation concerns are weighing on the shares. Micron has rallied sharply, encouraging investors to lock in gains even after favorable Nvidia news. A softer technology-market backdrop and concerns about potential U.S. chip tariffs are adding pressure. Why Is Micron Stock Falling Negative Sentiment: Investors remain concerned that the memory supercycle will eventually become cyclical. Increased industry capacity or new competitors could eventually reduce pricing and margins, while current supply shortages may constrain Nvidia’s shipments in the near term. Micron Stock Has Surged 220 Percent Analyst Ratings Changes Several analysts have recently commented on the stock. DA Davidson increased their price target on shares of Micron Technology from $1,500.00 to $2,000.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research note on Thursday, June 25th. Citigroup reduced their target price on Micron Technology from $1,400.00 to $1,150.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a report on Friday, August 7th. Morgan Stanley upped their price target on shares of Micron Technology from $1,050.00 to $1,200.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a report on Thursday, June 25th. Wells Fargo & Company lifted their price target on shares of Micron Technology from $1,220.00 to $1,525.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a research note on Thursday, June 25th. Finally, Sanford C. Bernstein set a $1,300.00 target price on shares of Micron Technology in a report on Monday, June 22nd. Four investment analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, thirty-one have issued a Buy rating and three have assigned a Hold rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, Micron Technology presently has an average rating of “Buy” and a consensus target price of $1,295.63.

Read Our Latest Analysis on MU

Micron Technology Profile (Free Report)

Micron Technology, Inc is a global semiconductor company that designs and manufactures memory and storage solutions. Its product portfolio includes dynamic random-access memory (DRAM), NAND flash memory, solid-state drives (SSDs), memory modules and embedded memory solutions for a wide range of computing and electronic devices. Micron supplies components used in data centers, enterprise and cloud infrastructure, client computing, mobile devices, automotive systems and industrial applications, and also markets consumer-facing products under the Crucial brand.

Founded in 1978 and headquartered in Boise, Idaho, Micron has grown into an international manufacturer with research, development and production facilities across multiple regions.

Read More Five stocks we like better than Micron Technology Strike a Balance Between Growth and Stability With These 3 Names Ready to Rally Rubrik’s AI Security Bet Could Power the Next Leg Higher Apple’s Foldable iPhone Could Be a Catalyst, But Not a Cure-All Snowflake Is Up Nearly 50% in 2026—What Are Short Sellers Betting Against?

Receive News & Ratings for Micron Technology Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Micron Technology and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.

E Fund Management Co. Ltd. bought a new stake in shares of Micron Technology, Inc. (NASDAQ:MU – Free Report) in the 2nd quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the SEC. The fund bought 118,220 shares of the semiconductor manufacturer’s stock, valued at approximately $136,460,000. Micron Technology comprises approximately 3.1% of E Fund Management Co. Ltd.’s portfolio, making the stock its 11th largest holding.

A number of other large investors also recently made changes to their positions in MU. M.E. Allison & CO. Inc. increased its holdings in Micron Technology by 0.8% in the second quarter. M.E. Allison & CO. Inc. now owns 1,324 shares of the semiconductor manufacturer’s stock valued at $1,528,000 after purchasing an additional 11 shares during the last quarter. Cherrydale Wealth Management LLC lifted its stake in Micron Technology by 1.4% in the second quarter. Cherrydale Wealth Management LLC now owns 972 shares of the semiconductor manufacturer’s stock valued at $1,122,000 after buying an additional 13 shares during the period. Bellevue Asset Management LLC boosted its holdings in Micron Technology by 25.5% during the second quarter. Bellevue Asset Management LLC now owns 64 shares of the semiconductor manufacturer’s stock worth $74,000 after buying an additional 13 shares during the last quarter. Mowery & Schoenfeld Wealth Management LLC boosted its holdings in Micron Technology by 8.8% during the second quarter. Mowery & Schoenfeld Wealth Management LLC now owns 161 shares of the semiconductor manufacturer’s stock worth $186,000 after buying an additional 13 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Red Door Wealth Management LLC boosted its holdings in Micron Technology by 0.7% during the second quarter. Red Door Wealth Management LLC now owns 1,914 shares of the semiconductor manufacturer’s stock worth $2,209,000 after buying an additional 14 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 80.84% of the company’s stock.

Micron Technology Stock Performance NASDAQ:MU opened at $932.86 on Monday. Micron Technology, Inc. has a fifty-two week low of $114.25 and a fifty-two week high of $1,255.00. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.05, a current ratio of 3.42 and a quick ratio of 2.98. The stock has a market capitalization of $1.05 trillion, a PE ratio of 21.12 and a beta of 2.18. The business’s 50-day simple moving average is $951.63 and its 200-day simple moving average is $717.04.

Micron Technology (NASDAQ:MU – Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, June 24th. The semiconductor manufacturer reported $25.11 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $21.39 by $3.72. Micron Technology had a return on equity of 71.13% and a net margin of 55.91%.The business had revenue of $41.46 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $35.91 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the firm earned $1.91 EPS. Micron Technology’s quarterly revenue was up 345.8% compared to the same quarter last year. Micron Technology has set its Q4 2026 guidance at 30.000-32.000 EPS. Sell-side analysts expect that Micron Technology, Inc. will post 72.93 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. Micron Technology Announces Dividend The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, July 21st. Stockholders of record on Monday, July 6th were issued a $0.15 dividend. This represents a $0.60 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.1%. The ex-dividend date was Monday, July 6th. Micron Technology’s dividend payout ratio is 1.36%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In A number of analysts have recently commented on the company. Morgan Stanley upped their price target on Micron Technology from $1,050.00 to $1,200.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a research note on Thursday, June 25th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft lifted their price objective on shares of Micron Technology from $1,500.00 to $1,550.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research note on Thursday, June 25th. BMO Capital Markets started coverage on shares of Micron Technology in a report on Friday, August 21st. They set an “outperform” rating and a $1,300.00 price objective for the company. Cantor Fitzgerald reaffirmed an “overweight” rating and issued a $1,500.00 target price on shares of Micron Technology in a research note on Thursday, June 25th. Finally, ThinkEquity reiterated a “buy” rating on shares of Micron Technology in a report on Monday, August 3rd. Four analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, thirty-one have given a Buy rating and three have given a Hold rating to the company’s stock. According to data from MarketBeat, Micron Technology has a consensus rating of “Buy” and an average price target of $1,295.63.

Check Out Our Latest Stock Report on MU

Key Micron Technology News Here are the key news stories impacting Micron Technology this week:

Positive Sentiment: AI demand is tightening memory supply. CEO Sanjay Mehrotra said data-center customers want roughly 50% more memory than Micron can currently supply, while Nvidia identified memory availability as a key constraint on AI-system growth. That supports Micron’s pricing power and demand visibility. Micron CEO AI Shift Breaks Traditional Memory Market Cycles Positive Sentiment: Nvidia’s purchasing commitments reinforce the bullish outlook. Nvidia reportedly more than doubled memory-related supplier commitments to $279 billion, potentially benefiting Micron as a major supplier. Micron also has approximately $22 billion in strategic commitments, including contracts extending through 2030. Nvidia Just Validated Micron’s Biggest AI Bull Case Positive Sentiment: Expansion plans strengthen Micron’s long-term positioning. The company is investing $10 billion in U.S. research labs, launching a $250 million venture fund and expanding its workforce-training infrastructure. President Donald Trump’s praise of Micron as one of the world’s “hottest” companies adds political visibility to the investment. Why Micron Stock Didn’t Get a Leg Up From SK Hynix’s Memory Optimism Neutral Sentiment: Analysts and bullish commentators point to surging DRAM and NAND prices, record margins and the possibility that AI demand has made memory cycles less volatile. However, much of this optimism may already be reflected in Micron’s substantial previous gains. Negative Sentiment: Profit-taking and valuation concerns are weighing on the shares. Micron has rallied sharply, encouraging investors to lock in gains even after favorable Nvidia news. A softer technology-market backdrop and concerns about potential U.S. chip tariffs are adding pressure. Why Is Micron Stock Falling Negative Sentiment: Investors remain concerned that the memory supercycle will eventually become cyclical. Increased industry capacity or new competitors could eventually reduce pricing and margins, while current supply shortages may constrain Nvidia’s shipments in the near term. Micron Stock Has Surged 220 Percent Insider Buying and Selling In other news, Director Lynn A. Dugle sold 1,300 shares of the stock in a transaction on Tuesday, June 30th. The shares were sold at an average price of $1,150.43, for a total transaction of $1,495,559.00. Following the completion of the sale, the director owned 17,728 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $20,394,823.04. This represents a 6.83% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this hyperlink. Also, EVP April S. Arnzen sold 40,000 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction on Wednesday, July 1st. The stock was sold at an average price of $1,083.94, for a total transaction of $43,357,600.00. Following the sale, the executive vice president owned 85,737 shares in the company, valued at approximately $92,933,763.78. The trade was a 31.81% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale is available in the SEC filing. Over the last three months, insiders have sold 177,204 shares of company stock valued at $182,156,264. 0.24% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

Micron Technology Profile (Free Report)

Micron Technology, Inc is a global semiconductor company that designs and manufactures memory and storage solutions. Its product portfolio includes dynamic random-access memory (DRAM), NAND flash memory, solid-state drives (SSDs), memory modules and embedded memory solutions for a wide range of computing and electronic devices. Micron supplies components used in data centers, enterprise and cloud infrastructure, client computing, mobile devices, automotive systems and industrial applications, and also markets consumer-facing products under the Crucial brand.

Founded in 1978 and headquartered in Boise, Idaho, Micron has grown into an international manufacturer with research, development and production facilities across multiple regions.

See Also Five stocks we like better than Micron Technology Strike a Balance Between Growth and Stability With These 3 Names Ready to Rally Rubrik’s AI Security Bet Could Power the Next Leg Higher Apple’s Foldable iPhone Could Be a Catalyst, But Not a Cure-All Snowflake Is Up Nearly 50% in 2026—What Are Short Sellers Betting Against?

Receive News & Ratings for Micron Technology Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Micron Technology and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.

Key Takeaways MercadoLibre's Brazil items sold jumped 56% year over year in Q2 2026, while FX-neutral GMV rose 39%.Brazil conversion rose 1.1 points, while items sold per unique active buyer climbed 19% year over year.MercadoLibre's Brazilian buyers shopping across at least three categories monthly rose 10 percentage points. MercadoLibre, Inc.’s (MELI - Free Report) decision to lower its free-shipping threshold in Brazil continues to yield meaningful operational benefits, driving sustained momentum across its marketplace. One year after the change, the initiative has produced a durable shift in buyer engagement, increasing conversion, purchase frequency and cross-category shopping, while unit economics continue to improve.

The company reported that items sold in Brazil rose 56% year over year in the second quarter of 2026 compared with 26% growth a year earlier, while FX-neutral GMV increased 39%.  MercadoLibre also added nearly 19 million unique active buyers globally, with fastest growth in Brazil, where management highlighted the compounding impact of the lower threshold.

Rather than providing a temporary boost, the reduced threshold triggered a lasting step-change in conversion rates, which expanded by 1.1 percentage points year over year during the quarter. Daily active users have also continued to grow faster than monthly active users in every quarter since MercadoLibre lowered its free-shipping threshold in June 2025. Items sold per unique active buyer in Brazil climbed 19% year over year, leading the company's overall consolidated 14% increase.

The share of Brazilian buyers purchasing across three or more categories monthly expanded by 10 percentage points over the past year. Newer buyer cohorts are also purchasing more items across more categories and showing higher retention than earlier cohorts. Ecosystemic user growth in Brazil accelerated to almost 50% year over year in the quarter, up from 35% before the shipping-threshold change.

MercadoLibre said that free and slow shipments are now variable contribution-positive across half of the average selling price ranges between R$19 and R$79, as scale, technology and unused logistics capacity reduce costs. MercadoLibre still faced higher shipping costs in the quarter, some of which it absorbed, but the evidence so far suggests the free-shipping move has moved beyond a short-lived promotional lift and is supporting more frequent, broader shopping behavior in Brazil.

How Does MercadoLibre Stack Up Against Its Industry?MercadoLibre, which competes with Amazon.com, Inc. (AMZN - Free Report) and Sea Limited (SE - Free Report) , has seen its shares gain 13.6% over the past three months compared with the industry’s 3.1% rise. While Amazon shares have climbed 2%, Sea Limited has rallied 25.4% in the aforementioned period.
 

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

What Does MercadoLibre's Current Valuation Suggest?From a valuation standpoint, MercadoLibre's forward 12-month price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio is 39.02, higher than the industry average of 22.13. The stock is also trading above its 12-month median level of 34.46.

MercadoLibre is trading at a premium to Amazon (forward 12-month P/E of 23.35) and Sea Limited (24.46).

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

What Do Earnings Estimates Signal for MercadoLibre?The Zacks Consensus Estimate for MercadoLibre’s current financial-year sales implies year-over-year growth of 44.6%, while the consensus estimate for earnings per share suggests a decline of 0.7%. For the next fiscal year, the consensus estimate indicates a 28.9% rise in sales and 43.3% growth in earnings.

Over the past 30 days, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for earnings per share has declined by $1.89 to $39.11 for the current fiscal year and by $3.13 to $56.05 for the next fiscal year.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

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

E Fund Management Co. Ltd. bought a new position in shares of Abbott Laboratories (NYSE:ABT – Free Report) during the 2nd quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm bought 9,773 shares of the healthcare product maker’s stock, valued at approximately $887,000.

Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also bought and sold shares of ABT. J. Stern & Co. LLP boosted its stake in Abbott Laboratories by 12,439.6% in the fourth quarter. J. Stern & Co. LLP now owns 39,319,009 shares of the healthcare product maker’s stock valued at $4,926,279,000 after acquiring an additional 39,005,451 shares during the last quarter. Norges Bank purchased a new position in Abbott Laboratories in the fourth quarter valued at approximately $2,938,892,000. Flossbach Von Storch SE bought a new position in Abbott Laboratories during the second quarter valued at $902,938,000. BlackRock Inc. raised its stake in shares of Abbott Laboratories by 4.6% in the second quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 152,563,476 shares of the healthcare product maker’s stock valued at $13,843,610,000 after buying an additional 6,769,518 shares during the period. Finally, Arrowstreet Capital Limited Partnership lifted its position in shares of Abbott Laboratories by 217.0% during the 1st quarter. Arrowstreet Capital Limited Partnership now owns 5,522,222 shares of the healthcare product maker’s stock valued at $566,967,000 after buying an additional 3,780,402 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 75.18% of the company’s stock.

Abbott Laboratories Price Performance ABT stock opened at $112.63 on Monday. The firm has a 50 day moving average of $102.61 and a 200-day moving average of $100.14. The firm has a market capitalization of $194.89 billion, a P/E ratio of 36.45, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.18 and a beta of 0.59. Abbott Laboratories has a 12 month low of $81.97 and a 12 month high of $137.49. The company has a current ratio of 1.38, a quick ratio of 0.97 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.57.

Abbott Laboratories (NYSE:ABT – Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Thursday, July 16th. The healthcare product maker reported $1.31 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.28 by $0.03. Abbott Laboratories had a net margin of 11.65% and a return on equity of 17.69%. The business had revenue of $12.59 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $12.52 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the company posted $1.26 EPS. The business’s revenue for the quarter was up 13.0% compared to the same quarter last year. Abbott Laboratories has set its Q3 2026 guidance at 1.380-1.46 EPS and its FY 2026 guidance at 5.450-5.60 EPS. As a group, sell-side analysts predict that Abbott Laboratories will post 5.52 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. Abbott Laboratories Dividend Announcement The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, August 17th. Shareholders of record on Wednesday, July 15th were paid a $0.63 dividend. This represents a $2.52 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.2%. The ex-dividend date was Wednesday, July 15th. Abbott Laboratories’s dividend payout ratio is currently 81.55%.

Trending Headlines about Abbott Laboratories Here are the key news stories impacting Abbott Laboratories this week:

Positive Sentiment: The FDA approved Abbott’s Libre Duo 10 Day Continuous Dual Glucose Ketone Monitoring System for diabetes patients age two and older. The wearable is the first of its kind to track both glucose and ketones, strengthening Abbott’s position in diabetes care and creating potential for future integration with insulin-pump systems. FDA Approves Abbott’s First Wearable Device for Dual Ketone and Glucose Tracking Positive Sentiment: Abbott received the European CE Mark for its next-generation Amulet 360 left atrial appendage occluder. The device is designed to reduce stroke risk in certain atrial-fibrillation patients and may reduce reliance on blood-thinning medication, supporting growth in Abbott’s structural-heart business. Abbott’s next-generation Amulet 360 device receives CE Mark Positive Sentiment: Analyst coverage remains supportive, with TD Cowen expecting Abbott’s stock to rise. Separately, Zacks highlighted ABT as a strong long-term momentum candidate, suggesting improving price trends and investor interest despite its premium valuation. TD Cowen Analyst Says Abbott Stock Price Expected to Rise Neutral Sentiment: Abbott’s latest reported quarter exceeded consensus estimates, with earnings and revenue growing year over year. Management’s 2026 earnings guidance also points to continued expansion, but ABT’s elevated price-to-earnings ratio leaves the stock sensitive to execution and valuation concerns. Negative Sentiment: Recent coverage noted that Abbott shares fell 2.2% in the prior session even as the broader market advanced, reflecting near-term underperformance and possible profit-taking. The stock remains well below its 12-month high, so investors may want evidence that the new devices translate into meaningful sales growth. Abbott Stock Sinks as Market Gains Analyst Ratings Changes Several equities research analysts recently weighed in on ABT shares. The Goldman Sachs Group decreased their price objective on Abbott Laboratories from $121.00 to $113.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a report on Wednesday, May 27th. Citigroup increased their target price on shares of Abbott Laboratories from $108.00 to $112.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research report on Friday, July 17th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. boosted their price target on shares of Abbott Laboratories from $110.00 to $120.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a research report on Friday, July 17th. Bank of America dropped their price target on shares of Abbott Laboratories from $120.00 to $102.00 in a research note on Friday, June 12th. Finally, Weiss Ratings upgraded shares of Abbott Laboratories from a “sell (d+)” rating to a “hold (c-)” rating in a research note on Thursday, August 6th. Three equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, twenty have assigned a Buy rating and four have assigned a Hold rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the stock has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $119.50.

Check Out Our Latest Analysis on ABT

(Free Report)

Abbott Laboratories is a global healthcare company headquartered in Abbott Park, Illinois, that develops, manufactures and markets a broad portfolio of medical products and services. Founded in 1888, Abbott operates through multiple business areas that focus on diagnostics, medical devices, nutritionals and established pharmaceuticals. The company supplies hospitals, clinics, laboratories, retailers and direct-to-consumer channels with products intended to diagnose, treat and manage a wide range of health conditions.

In diagnostics, Abbott provides laboratory and point-of-care testing platforms and assays used to detect infectious diseases, chronic conditions and biomarkers; its Alinity family of instruments and rapid-test solutions are examples of this capability.

Read More Five stocks we like better than Abbott Laboratories Strike a Balance Between Growth and Stability With These 3 Names Ready to Rally Rubrik’s AI Security Bet Could Power the Next Leg Higher Apple’s Foldable iPhone Could Be a Catalyst, But Not a Cure-All Snowflake Is Up Nearly 50% in 2026—What Are Short Sellers Betting Against? Want to see what other hedge funds are holding ABT? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Abbott Laboratories (NYSE:ABT – Free Report).

Receive News & Ratings for Abbott Laboratories Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Abbott Laboratories and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.

Advisors Capital Management LLC purchased a new position in Abbott Laboratories (NYSE:ABT – Free Report) during the second quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm purchased 48,015 shares of the healthcare product maker’s stock, valued at approximately $4,357,000.

Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently bought and sold shares of the company. MidAtlantic Capital Management Inc. bought a new position in shares of Abbott Laboratories during the fourth quarter valued at approximately $25,000. Cornerstone Financial Management LLC acquired a new position in Abbott Laboratories during the 4th quarter valued at about $25,000. Purpose Unlimited Inc. acquired a new position in shares of Abbott Laboratories during the fourth quarter valued at approximately $25,000. Portfolio Resources Advisor Group Inc. bought a new position in Abbott Laboratories during the 4th quarter valued at $26,000. Finally, Abound Financial LLC acquired a new position in shares of Abbott Laboratories in the 4th quarter worth approximately $26,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 75.18% of the company’s stock.

Analysts Set New Price Targets A number of equities analysts recently weighed in on the company. JPMorgan Chase & Co. increased their price target on Abbott Laboratories from $110.00 to $120.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a research report on Friday, July 17th. Wells Fargo & Company raised their price target on Abbott Laboratories from $109.00 to $112.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a research note on Friday, July 17th. Robert W. Baird initiated coverage on shares of Abbott Laboratories in a report on Wednesday, July 1st. They set an “outperform” rating and a $121.00 price target on the stock. Wolfe Research raised Abbott Laboratories from a “peer perform” rating to an “outperform” rating and set a $130.00 price objective on the stock in a report on Thursday, August 13th. Finally, TD Cowen boosted their target price on Abbott Laboratories from $115.00 to $135.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a report on Tuesday, August 25th. Three research analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, twenty have assigned a Buy rating and four have issued a Hold rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $119.50.

Get Our Latest Analysis on ABT Abbott Laboratories Stock Up 0.1% Shares of ABT stock opened at $112.63 on Monday. The company has a quick ratio of 0.97, a current ratio of 1.38 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.57. Abbott Laboratories has a 12 month low of $81.97 and a 12 month high of $137.49. The stock has a 50 day moving average of $102.61 and a 200-day moving average of $100.14. The firm has a market cap of $194.89 billion, a PE ratio of 36.45, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.18 and a beta of 0.59.

Abbott Laboratories (NYSE:ABT – Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, July 16th. The healthcare product maker reported $1.31 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.28 by $0.03. The company had revenue of $12.59 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $12.52 billion. Abbott Laboratories had a net margin of 11.65% and a return on equity of 17.69%. The business’s revenue was up 13.0% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm posted $1.26 EPS. Abbott Laboratories has set its Q3 2026 guidance at 1.380-1.46 EPS and its FY 2026 guidance at 5.450-5.60 EPS. On average, equities analysts predict that Abbott Laboratories will post 5.52 EPS for the current year.

Abbott Laboratories Dividend Announcement The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, August 17th. Investors of record on Wednesday, July 15th were paid a $0.63 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Wednesday, July 15th. This represents a $2.52 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.2%. Abbott Laboratories’s payout ratio is currently 81.55%.

Key Headlines Impacting Abbott Laboratories Here are the key news stories impacting Abbott Laboratories this week:

Positive Sentiment: The FDA approved Abbott’s Libre Duo 10 Day Continuous Dual Glucose Ketone Monitoring System for diabetes patients age two and older. The wearable is the first of its kind to track both glucose and ketones, strengthening Abbott’s position in diabetes care and creating potential for future integration with insulin-pump systems. FDA Approves Abbott’s First Wearable Device for Dual Ketone and Glucose Tracking Positive Sentiment: Abbott received the European CE Mark for its next-generation Amulet 360 left atrial appendage occluder. The device is designed to reduce stroke risk in certain atrial-fibrillation patients and may reduce reliance on blood-thinning medication, supporting growth in Abbott’s structural-heart business. Abbott’s next-generation Amulet 360 device receives CE Mark Positive Sentiment: Analyst coverage remains supportive, with TD Cowen expecting Abbott’s stock to rise. Separately, Zacks highlighted ABT as a strong long-term momentum candidate, suggesting improving price trends and investor interest despite its premium valuation. TD Cowen Analyst Says Abbott Stock Price Expected to Rise Neutral Sentiment: Abbott’s latest reported quarter exceeded consensus estimates, with earnings and revenue growing year over year. Management’s 2026 earnings guidance also points to continued expansion, but ABT’s elevated price-to-earnings ratio leaves the stock sensitive to execution and valuation concerns. Negative Sentiment: Recent coverage noted that Abbott shares fell 2.2% in the prior session even as the broader market advanced, reflecting near-term underperformance and possible profit-taking. The stock remains well below its 12-month high, so investors may want evidence that the new devices translate into meaningful sales growth. Abbott Stock Sinks as Market Gains (Free Report)

Abbott Laboratories is a global healthcare company headquartered in Abbott Park, Illinois, that develops, manufactures and markets a broad portfolio of medical products and services. Founded in 1888, Abbott operates through multiple business areas that focus on diagnostics, medical devices, nutritionals and established pharmaceuticals. The company supplies hospitals, clinics, laboratories, retailers and direct-to-consumer channels with products intended to diagnose, treat and manage a wide range of health conditions.

In diagnostics, Abbott provides laboratory and point-of-care testing platforms and assays used to detect infectious diseases, chronic conditions and biomarkers; its Alinity family of instruments and rapid-test solutions are examples of this capability.

Read More Five stocks we like better than Abbott Laboratories Strike a Balance Between Growth and Stability With These 3 Names Ready to Rally Rubrik’s AI Security Bet Could Power the Next Leg Higher Apple’s Foldable iPhone Could Be a Catalyst, But Not a Cure-All Snowflake Is Up Nearly 50% in 2026—What Are Short Sellers Betting Against? Want to see what other hedge funds are holding ABT? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Abbott Laboratories (NYSE:ABT – Free Report).

Receive News & Ratings for Abbott Laboratories Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Abbott Laboratories and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.

Two brutal recessions wiped out dividends across the market, yet a handful of healthcare companies kept raising their payouts through every quarter of both downturns. Here are the four names that made it happen and whether their income streaks can…

Two recessions inside two decades tested every corner of the market, and a small club of healthcare names paid you more every year through both. The 2008 to 2009 downturn and the 2020 COVID shock hit consumer spending, elective procedures, and hospital budgets, yet the four healthcare stocks below kept raising quarterly dividends the entire way. The shared hook is durability. Abbott CEO Robert Ford recently told investors that “diagnostic test results inform approximately 70% of all healthcare decisions, making testing volumes a reliable barometer of overall healthcare activity and demand,” and that demand held up in both slowdowns. Here is what the income math looks like today across four blue-chip healthcare dividend growers.

Johnson & Johnson: 64 Years of Raises and a $21 Billion FCF Machine Johnson & Johnson (NYSE:JNJ | JNJ Price Prediction) trades at $266.60 and carries a dividend yield of 1.97%, with an annualized forward payout of $5.36 per share after the April increase from $1.30 to $1.34 quarterly.

J&J ended Q2 2026 with roughly $21 billion in cash and marketable securities, guided full-year free cash flow “approaching $21 billion,” and posted year-to-date FCF of about $8.7 billion. Trailing EPS of $8.68 comfortably covers the $5.24 trailing dividend. The dividend history file shows uninterrupted quarterly payments stretching back to 1999, and management flagged 64 consecutive years of dividend increases at its Q1 earnings.

The bull case for income holders simply comes down to diversification. CFO Joe Wolk described a “broad, durable portfolio that has 28 platforms, each generating more than $1 billion in annual revenue,” and reiterated that J&J “remain[s] committed to returning capital directly to shareholders, primarily through our dividend.” Oncology is doing the heavy lifting, with Darzalex up 17.6%, Carvykti up 47.7%, and Tremfya up 71% in Q2. Shares are up 31.6% year to date.

The most visible risk with this stock seems to be Stelara as sales fell 55.7% in Q2 on biosimilar competition, a headwind that will linger into 2027.

Abbott Laboratories: A Dividend Aristocrat With a 54-Year Streak Abbott Laboratories (NYSE:ABT) trades at $110.10 after a 8.57% pullback year to date, which has lifted the yield to 2.22%. The quarterly payout rose from $0.59 to $0.63 this year, and the annualized forward is $2.52.

Abbott is a bona fide S&P 500 Dividend Aristocrat with 54 consecutive years of raises and paid its 410th consecutive quarterly dividend in August. Trailing EPS of $3.12 covers the $2.48 trailing dividend, and Q2 shareholder returns totaled $2.1 billion via dividends and buybacks. The company operates with a low 0.581 beta, useful in a defensive sleeve.

The bull case for this stock is portfolio breadth. Q2 comparable sales grew 4.8%, adjusted EPS came in at $1.31, and full-year adjusted EPS guidance was raised to $5.45 to $5.60. Continuous glucose monitoring sales cleared $2 billion in the quarter growing 9.5%, and cancer diagnostics grew 13%. Ford summed it up: “Demand for high acuity, life-saving products is very inelastic.”

The risk for Abbott is its nutrition segment which slipped 3.1%, not to mention, CGM competition from Dexcom is continuing to intensify.

Medtronic: Highest Yield in the Group, Backed by $5.4 Billion in FCF Medtronic (NYSE:MDT) is the yield leader of this bundle at 3.16%, with shares at $90.83. The board bumped the quarterly payout from $0.71 to $0.72 in June, taking the annualized forward to $2.88. Management has raised the dividend for 49 consecutive years, one shy of the 50-year Dividend King club (we ranked ten current Kings by valuation in a free report here).

Fiscal 2026 free cash flow was $5.4 billion, “the strongest it has been since 2022”, and Medtronic ended the year with $9.2 billion in cash and investments. Trailing EPS of $3.79 covers the $2.84 trailing dividend, and the forward P/E of 15 is well below Abbott’s 20 and J&J’s 23.

Q4 revenue grew 9.9%, appeasing the bulls and capping the company’s “strongest top-line performance in 10 years.” Cardiac ablation delivered 78% worldwide growth, with pulsed field ablation (PFA) up 145% globally. FY27 guidance calls for organic revenue growth of 6.75% to 7.25% and adjusted EPS of $5.90 to $6.00.

On the other hand, Medtronic absorbed roughly $185 million of tariff pressure in FY26, and the pending Diabetes business separation adds execution complexity.

Becton, Dickinson: Post-Spin Cash Machine Buyers Are Rediscovering Becton, Dickinson (NYSE:BDX) rounds out this bundle at $188.67, up 25.88% year to date, and yielding 2.23%. The quarterly dividend stepped up to $1.05 this year, with an annualized forward of $4.20. Dividend records show continuous quarterly payments and steady annual increases from $0.37 in 2010 to $1.05 in 2026, a track record that ran uninterrupted through both recessions in the file.

Year-to-date FCF was $1.7 billion, an increase of 45% versus the prior year. CFO Vitor Roque said “Year to date, we returned $3.1 billion to shareholders, including approximately $2.3 billion in share repurchases, and $0.9 billion in dividends,” while CEO Tom Polen reiterated the target of “90% free cash flow conversion… over time.” Trailing EPS of $5.82 covers the $4.19 trailing dividend, and the forward P/E of 14 is the cheapest in this group.

The bull case for Becton Dickinson is that this is the first full quarter as the more focused “new BD” after the February 2026 Biosciences and Diagnostics spinoff. Q3 revenue was $5 billion, up 4.4%, adjusted EPS was $3.23, up 4.9%, and full-year adjusted EPS guidance was raised to $12.62 to $12.72. Optionality on GLP-1 injection pens (roughly 100 agreements across novel and biosimilar programs) is a genuine growth kicker.

The risk still remains its post-spin transition. FY27 revenue is guided to low single-digit growth as the alarmist remediation headwind runs off, and net leverage sits at 2.9 times versus a 2.5 times long-term target.

Bottom Line for Income Investors These four names offer durability over headline yield. J&J, Abbott, Medtronic, and BD paid rising dividends straight through the Global Financial Crisis and the COVID shock because their cash generation runs on inelastic demand: drugs, diagnostics, devices, and the plumbing hospitals cannot skip. Medtronic delivers the fattest yield today, BD offers the lowest multiple, Abbott brings Aristocrat pedigree, and J&J anchors the group with 28 billion-dollar platforms and a 64-year raise streak. For a defensive income sleeve built to survive the next downturn, this is the healthcare shortlist.

Contact [email protected] for any questions or corrections.

CM Wealth Advisors LLC purchased a new position in Broadcom Inc. (NASDAQ:AVGO – Free Report) in the second quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm purchased 3,822 shares of the semiconductor manufacturer’s stock, valued at approximately $1,444,000. Broadcom comprises approximately 0.3% of CM Wealth Advisors LLC’s holdings, making the stock its 29th largest position.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also made changes to their positions in the stock. ROSS JOHNSON & Associates LLC raised its stake in Broadcom by 1,320.0% in the 4th quarter. ROSS JOHNSON & Associates LLC now owns 71 shares of the semiconductor manufacturer’s stock worth $25,000 after acquiring an additional 66 shares during the last quarter. Networth Advisors LLC grew its stake in Broadcom by 546.2% during the 1st quarter. Networth Advisors LLC now owns 84 shares of the semiconductor manufacturer’s stock valued at $26,000 after purchasing an additional 71 shares during the last quarter. SWAN Capital LLC increased its holdings in shares of Broadcom by 261.9% in the fourth quarter. SWAN Capital LLC now owns 76 shares of the semiconductor manufacturer’s stock valued at $26,000 after purchasing an additional 55 shares during the period. Harborfront Financial Group LLC acquired a new position in shares of Broadcom in the second quarter valued at about $38,000. Finally, Camelot Portfolios LLC purchased a new position in shares of Broadcom in the fourth quarter worth about $45,000. 76.43% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Broadcom News Roundup Here are the key news stories impacting Broadcom this week:

Positive Sentiment: Mizuho remains bullish ahead of earnings, citing Broadcom’s nearly uninterrupted 30-quarter earnings track record, deeply negative investor sentiment, and the possibility that CEO Hock Tan will directly address concerns about custom ASIC competition and Google’s in-house chips. Mizuho is bullish on Broadcom ahead of Sept. 2 earnings Positive Sentiment: Broadcom’s partnership with OpenAI on the Jalapeño inference chip highlights demand for specialized AI infrastructure. OpenAI says the chip can deliver substantially better performance per watt than comparison systems, potentially supporting Broadcom’s custom-chip and networking growth. Why BNP thinks Jalapeño could benefit Broadcom stock Positive Sentiment: Analysts argue Broadcom offers a better AI risk-reward profile than AMD because of its broader exposure across custom accelerators, networking, and infrastructure software, along with a comparatively lower valuation. Broadcom vs. AMD: Which AI Chip Stock Has the Better Risk-Reward? Positive Sentiment: A new Kyndryl collaboration expands VMware Cloud Foundation’s reach among enterprise customers, reinforcing Broadcom’s private-cloud and software modernization strategy. Broadcom Kyndryl partnership Neutral Sentiment: Royal Bank of Canada reiterated its “Sector Perform” rating, suggesting balanced expectations rather than a strong near-term catalyst. Royal Bank of Canada reiterates Sector Perform Negative Sentiment: Broadcom is reportedly considering $70 billion to $80 billion of debt financing for an AI chip-related transaction involving companies including Anthropic. The potential borrowing could accelerate growth but raises leverage, execution, and repayment risks. Broadcom nears $70B debt financing deal Negative Sentiment: Investors remain concerned that Google’s and other hyperscalers’ internally designed chips could pressure Broadcom’s custom-silicon revenue. Competition from Marvell, NVIDIA, and AMD adds to the risk, while Broadcom’s elevated earnings multiple leaves less room for disappointment. Marvell and Google custom silicon deal Insiders Place Their Bets In related news, insider Mark David Brazeal sold 25,000 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction dated Friday, July 10th. The stock was sold at an average price of $401.33, for a total value of $10,033,250.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider owned 194,989 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $78,254,935.37. This represents a 11.36% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Also, Director Harry L. You purchased 1,000 shares of the stock in a transaction on Thursday, June 11th. The shares were acquired at an average price of $373.57 per share, for a total transaction of $373,570.00. Following the transaction, the director directly owned 38,466 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $14,369,743.62. This represents a 2.67% increase in their position. The SEC filing for this purchase provides additional information. Over the last quarter, insiders sold 61,644 shares of company stock worth $24,016,214. 1.90% of the stock is owned by company insiders. Wall Street Analyst Weigh In A number of equities research analysts recently commented on the company. Dbs Bank raised Broadcom to a “moderate buy” rating in a report on Thursday, June 18th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft reiterated a “buy” rating and issued a $515.00 price target (up from $430.00) on shares of Broadcom in a report on Thursday, June 4th. Truist Financial raised their price target on shares of Broadcom from $545.00 to $550.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research report on Thursday, June 4th. Bank of America lifted their price objective on shares of Broadcom from $450.00 to $530.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research note on Thursday, June 4th. Finally, Cantor Fitzgerald reaffirmed an “overweight” rating and issued a $525.00 price objective on shares of Broadcom in a report on Thursday, June 4th. Twenty-nine investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and four have issued a Hold rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, Broadcom presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $491.97.

Read Our Latest Stock Analysis on Broadcom

Broadcom Stock Performance Shares of NASDAQ AVGO opened at $368.79 on Monday. The company has a market capitalization of $1.75 trillion, a PE ratio of 61.47, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.70 and a beta of 1.45. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.71, a quick ratio of 2.01 and a current ratio of 2.24. The company’s fifty day moving average price is $385.07 and its 200 day moving average price is $376.48. Broadcom Inc. has a 1 year low of $287.17 and a 1 year high of $495.00.

Broadcom (NASDAQ:AVGO – Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, June 3rd. The semiconductor manufacturer reported $2.44 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $2.40 by $0.04. The company had revenue of $22.19 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $22.13 billion. Broadcom had a net margin of 38.85% and a return on equity of 41.61%. The firm’s revenue for the quarter was up 47.9% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company earned $1.58 earnings per share. On average, research analysts predict that Broadcom Inc. will post 10.24 earnings per share for the current year.

Broadcom Announces Dividend The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, June 30th. Investors of record on Monday, June 22nd were paid a $0.65 dividend. This represents a $2.60 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.7%. The ex-dividend date was Monday, June 22nd. Broadcom’s payout ratio is currently 43.33%.

Broadcom Company Profile (Free Report)

Broadcom Inc (NASDAQ: AVGO) is a global technology company that designs, develops and supplies semiconductor and infrastructure software solutions for a broad range of markets. The company’s semiconductor business provides components and systems for wired and wireless communications, enterprise and cloud storage, networking and broadband access, serving original equipment manufacturers, cloud service providers, telecommunications carriers and industrial customers worldwide. Broadcom is headquartered in Irvine, California, and operates globally with research, development and sales organizations across North America, Europe and Asia.

On the semiconductor side, Broadcom’s portfolio includes system-on-chip (SoC) and application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC) solutions, radio-frequency and connectivity components, Ethernet switching and PHY devices, storage adapters and controllers, optical transceivers and other networking silicon.

Featured Stories Five stocks we like better than Broadcom Strike a Balance Between Growth and Stability With These 3 Names Ready to Rally Rubrik’s AI Security Bet Could Power the Next Leg Higher Apple’s Foldable iPhone Could Be a Catalyst, But Not a Cure-All Snowflake Is Up Nearly 50% in 2026—What Are Short Sellers Betting Against? Want to see what other hedge funds are holding AVGO? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Broadcom Inc. (NASDAQ:AVGO – Free Report).

Receive News & Ratings for Broadcom Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Broadcom and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.

Heading into the final third of the year, Cathie Wood isn't trading in her racing stripes. The founder, CEO, and chief investment officer at Ark Invest continues to outfit her collection of exchange-traded funds with aggressive growth opportunities. With most of Ark's ETFs delivering modest single-digit positive returns so far in 2026, she's not going to shy away from making moves to fine-tune her portfolios.

What is she buying these days? Nvidia (NVDA +1.07%), Broadcom (AVGO +0.28%), and Intellia Therapeutics (NTLA -1.44%) were among the half-dozen stocks on Ark Invest's shopping list on Friday. They are all existing positions. Let's take a closer look at what she may find so appealing in all three investments.

Ark Invest's Cathie Wood. Image source: Getty Images.

1. Nvidia Nvidia stock did everything it could have last week to earn its market cap crown. The only company with a market cap above $5 trillion easily exceeded expectations in Wednesday afternoon's earnings release. Revenue more than doubled for the fiscal second quarter, soaring 106% to hit a record $96.2 billion. Some figured the analysts were aiming too high with their target of 97% top-line growth.

A 117% jump in data center revenue -- accounting for 93% of the quarter's results -- led the way. It's the fourth consecutive report of sharply accelerating growth.

Q2 FY 2026: 56% Q3 FY 2026: 63% Q4 FY 2026: 73% Q1 FY 2027: 85% Q2 FY 2027: 106%

Premium Feature

Moneyball Superscore

94/100

Today's Change

(

1.07

%) $

2.33

Current Price

$

219.88

Once again, the bottom line found a way to stay ahead of the monster revenue jump. Adjusted earnings per share soared 120% to $2.22, also comfortably ahead of market expectations. As strong as the results were, its guidance was even better.

Nvidia now expects 70% in revenue growth in fiscal 2028, which starts in February. This is the real jaw-dropping announcement, as analysts were bracing for just a 45% jump on the top line next year. Wall Street pros are now scrambling to jack up their forecasts for next year. They now see Nvidia earning $15.31 a share next year, up from the $13.01 they were modeling just a week ago.

The shares rose nearly 9% on Thursday following the news, but gave back more than half of those gains on Friday. The silver lining behind the downticks is that they make the shares that much cheaper. You can now buy Nvidia for 14 times next year's adjusted earnings.

Premium Feature

Moneyball Superscore

90/100

Today's Change

(

0.28

%) $

1.03

Current Price

$

369.82

2. Broadcom Broadcom stock is another name working on its fourth straight quarter of accelerating top-line growth. The semiconductor and tech infrastructure solutions provider has seen its quarterly revenue gains rise from 20% a year ago to 48% for the fiscal second quarter, which it will report on Wednesday afternoon this week.

The streak should easily extend to five quarters of accelerating growth this week. Its revenue guidance three months ago had investors bracing for an 84% surge. Analysts are now holding out for an 85% increase with a 92% jump on the bottom line.

Is this another rerun of Nvidia last week, where a "beat and raise" performance after the market close on Wednesday finds growth forecasts outpacing the reaction on Wall Street? Broadcom trades at a reasonable 19 times next year's earnings. If it's somehow cheaper at the other end of this critical financial update, don't be surprised if Wood keeps buying.

Premium Feature

Moneyball Superscore

60/100

Today's Change

(

-1.44

%) $

-0.19

Current Price

$

12.69

3. Intellia Therapeutics The one Ark fund that is doing much better than the single-digit returns of most of the rest is the ARK Genomic Revolution ETF (ARKG -1.45%). It's up 64% so far in 2026, nearly doubling over the past year. A strong market for biotechs and gene-editing stocks has fueled monster gains for the fund.

Intellia Therapeutics is in the gene-editing space, developing next-gen treatments based on CRISPR. Despite the bullish long-term prospects for Intellia and its peers, the stock has shed more than half of its value from last October's highs (and that wasn't even the all-time high set years earlier).

It's still winning over analysts. Jonathan Miller at Evercore ISI became the last to upgrade the stock earlier this month, encouraged despite a recent pause in a critical phase 3 trial for a potential liver toxicity signal. Miller's new price target of $24 is nearly twice the stock's current price. Intellia isn't expected to turn a profit anytime soon, but flush with cash and with no debt outside of its lease obligations, it has time to see its potential blockbusters through the approval process.