Market Signal Briefing

Key Takeaways Sentiment surrounding NFLX and ORCL have been rough over the last half year. NFLX dropping its WBD has helped recent performance, with favorable results from ORCL doing the same. Both have widely outperformed over the past month. A few investor-favorite stocks, namely Netflix (NFLX - Free Report) and Oracle (ORCL - Free Report) , have faced rather tough action over the past six months, with NFLX shares down 22% whereas ORCL shares have seen a 50% decline.

But over the past month, the story has been entirely different, with both seeing nice gains, as shown below.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

Sentiment is seemingly shifting on the favorites after the rough stretch, undoubtedly a welcomed development among investors. But what’s been driving the turnaround?

Netflix Drops Bid for WBDThe streaming landscape has grown quite competitive over the years, but Netflix has continued to protect its leading position by implementing several positive measures, such as doubling down on original content, exploring new revenue streams like ad-supported membership tiers, and supporting live sports events.

The company’s shares had been dragged down partly due to its intended acquisition of WBD, but that has since fizzled out, with Netflix declining to raise its offer in the wake of Paramount Skydance's (PSKY - Free Report) interest in acquiring WBD.

In a release, Netflix stated -

‘The transaction we negotiated would have created shareholder value with a clear path to regulatory approval. However, we've always been disciplined, and at the price required to match Paramount Skydance's latest offer, the deal is no longer financially attractive, so we are declining to match the Paramount Skydance bid.’

The announcement of dropping out of the deal caused shares to reverse course entirely, seeing massive gains in the days following. Downward revisions for its current fiscal year during the ‘waiting’ period were also to blame for the poor share performance, but they have since stabilized, as shown below.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

Oracle Eases FearsOracle is a global technology titan that is evolving from a database powerhouse into a leading architect of the AI era. Sentiment on the stock has been rough since reaching an all-time high in September of 2025 on the back of capital-related concerns stemming from its current data center buildout, but recent quarterly results have helped ease concerns.

Cloud revenues soared 44% to $8.9 billion in USD in its latest release, which was at the high end of its previous guidance. Importantly, its remaining Performance Obligations, or RPO, ended the quarter at $553 billion, up a staggering 325% from the same period last year and up $29 billion from last quarter.

The Cloud revenue growth rate of 44% reflected a big acceleration from the 34% rate we saw in the year-ago period, with Cloud revenues now accounting for more than half of Oracle’s overall sales. The growth acceleration in the cloud and a higher contribution of cloud revenues help underpin its investments, with shares seeing a nice post-earnings reaction as a result.

Sales growth has remained broadly strong for the tech titan, as shown below. Revenue of $17.1 billion throughout the above-mentioned quarter reflected a 21% YoY growth rate, reflecting the strongest growth we’ve seen in years from the company.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

Bottom Line

While sentiment on both Netflix (NFLX - Free Report) and Oracle (ORCL - Free Report) have been rather rough for the better part of the last year, recent developments, such as Netflix dropping its bid for WBD and Oracle posting strong cloud results that help underpin its massive investments, have helped turned the narratives around.

Key Takeaways INTC's Datacenter and AI Group revenue rose 15% sequentially, marking its strongest growth this decade.Intel's Xeon 6 chips and AI-driven server demand fueled rebound after prior supply constraints.INTC's ASIC business surged over 50% in 2025, driven by hyperscaler traction and AI networking demand. Intel Corporation (INTC - Free Report) is witnessing growing momentum in the Datacenter and AI Group. Fourth-quarter 2025 revenues were $4.74 billion, up 15% sequentially, backed by solid demand for traditional servers and storage compute led by Xeon 6 processors (code-named Granite Rapids). This was the largest sequential growth in the datacenter business this decade. In the past few quarters, the company witnessed a downtrend in the segment owing to supply chain constraints. However, during the fourth quarter, the company demonstrated a rebound with a modest net sales growth and 26.4% operating margin.

Strong momentum in the server business is a major growth driver. The Granite Rapids delivers high-performance workloads, benefiting from AI-era server refresh cycles. Sapphire Rapids and Emerald Rapids are energy-efficient CPUs that effectively support enterprise AI transitions.

AI clusters require massive interconnect bandwidth. High networking demand in the AI buildouts is driving growth in the custom Application-Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC) business. The company is gaining solid traction in the hyperscaler business. Its ASIC business grew more than 50% in 2025, and jumped 26% sequentially in the fourth quarter, reaching an annualized revenue run rate greater than $1 billion in the fourth quarter.

Per a report from Grand View Research, the AI infrastructure market was valued at $223.45 billion in 2024 and is expected to witness a compound annual growth rate of 30.4% by 2030. Intel, with its robust portfolio, is expected to gain from this market trend.

How are Competitors Faring?Intel faces competition from Advanced Micro Devices (AMD - Free Report) and Broadcom, Inc. (AVGO - Free Report) in this domain.

AMD’s footprint is strong in the data center market thanks to strong adoption of EPYC processors. It is benefiting from strong enterprise adoption, expanded cloud deployments and emerging AI use cases. Based on a strong EPYC and Instinct (AI accelerators) portfolio, AMD expects the Data Center segment revenues to grow more than 60% annually over the next three to five years and scale its AI business to tens of billions in annual revenue in 2027.

In the Custom ASIC space, Broadcom is a major competitor. It is benefiting from strong demand for its networking products and custom AI accelerators (XPUs).  For the second quarter of fiscal 2026, Broadcom expects AI revenues to surge 140% year over year to $10.7 billion as XPUs continue to gain traction among its five customers, which include Google, Meta Platforms and Anthropic.

INTC’s Price Performance, Valuation and EstimatesIntel has gained 81.8% over the past year compared with the industry’s growth of 39.1%.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

Going by the price/book ratio, the company's shares currently trade at 1.74, lower than 25.76 of the industry average.
 

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

Earnings estimates for Intel for 2026 and 2027 have declined over the past 60 days.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

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

Key Takeaways Subscription revenue growth is driven by strong demand for cloud-based HR and finance solutions.AI integration and product innovation are enhancing efficiency, productivity, and customer value.Strategic acquisitions and customer expansion are supporting the long-term revenue growth outlook. Workday, Inc. (WDAY - Free Report) is witnessing solid growth in its subscription services revenues backed by high demand for its human capital and financial management solutions. In the fourth quarter, subscription services revenues contributed $2.36 billion, up from $2.04 billion in the year-ago quarter.

There are multiple growth drivers to this top-line expansion. Strong emphasis on AI-related product innovation is a major factor. The company is embedding AI across HR & Finance workflows, generating greater value for users opting for subscription services. The AI agents, such as Payroll Agent, Planning Agent and Self-Service Agent, are ensuring productivity gains and cost reductions for customers. In the fourth quarter, Workday reported that it signed the annualized value of customer contracts worth more than $100 million.

Expansion within its customer base is a major growth engine. The company boasts an enterprise customer base of more than 11,500 worldwide. More than 65% of the Fortune 500 companies use Workday solutions.

Its strategic acquisition to expand product offerings is also driving growth. The acquisition of Sana has strengthened its AI-driven learning and employee development capabilities. The deal enhances Workday’s human capital management platform, enabling more personalized training, faster upskilling and improved workforce engagement for customers. The acquisition of Paradox and integration of Paradox’s AI agents that streamline the hiring process have also significantly boosted Workday’s portfolio.

For fiscal 2027, the company expects revenues to be between $10.64 billion and $10.66 billion, indicating 11-12% year-over-year growth. Subscription revenues are projected to be in the range of $9.93-$9.95 billion, indicating growth of 12-13% year over year.

How are Competitors Faring?Workday faces competition from SAP SE (SAP - Free Report) and Oracle, Inc (ORCL - Free Report) in this domain. SAP’s growth formula focuses on four key areas: product innovation, go-to-market transformation, business simplification and investment in people. SAP’s extensive partner ecosystem with more than 25,000 partners worldwide in more than 140 countries is a major advantage. Many customers are realizing that LLMs alone are insufficient and that real AI value requires deep business context, data and integrated applications, an area where SAP is uniquely positioned. SAP is driving growth through a differentiated AI strategy that combines Joule, its data-rich AI copilot embedded across applications; extensible, process-integrated AI agents; industry-specific AI solutions; and SAP Business Data Cloud.

Oracle's end-to-end technology stack, spanning database, applications, and infrastructure, creates unique value for enterprise customers seeking simplified vendor relationships and seamless integration. The company's ability to deliver complete solutions reduces implementation complexity and total cost of ownership. With enterprises increasingly prioritizing AI initiatives, Oracle's database solutions are becoming mission-critical infrastructure. This technological edge, combined with high switching costs and deep customer integration, positions Oracle to capture premium pricing while expanding its customer base.

Workday’s Price Performance, Valuation & EstimatesWorkday shares have lost 45.2% over the past year compared with the industry’s decline of 10.6%.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

From a valuation standpoint, WDAY trades at a forward price-to-earnings ratio of 12.7, below the industry average of 26.9.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

Earnings estimates for 2027 have remained static at $10.54 over the past 60 days, while the same for 2028 has declined 1.1% to $12.32.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

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

Key Takeaways CPAY expands via Alpha Group and AvidXchange deals to boost revenues and payments capabilities.Acquisitions are expected to add $300M revenues and about $1 in earnings per share in 2026 for CPAY.Strong FX rates, lower financing costs and ad strategies support CPAY's growth outlook. Corpay, Inc. (CPAY - Free Report) is benefiting from its multi-channel approach to market and sell its commercial payment solutions by incorporating a comprehensive digital channel, direct sales forces and partner relationships. This enables companies to automate, secure, digitize and control payments to, or on behalf of, their employees and suppliers.

Strategic acquisitions and investments have always been a strong growth catalyst for the company. It acquired Alpha Group International plc in November 2025, a European business-to-business cross-border foreign exchange solution firm, to access an international bank account product and the asset management market segment, ensuring its global customer reach. This acquisition is expected to contribute about $300 million in revenues in 2026.

In October 2025, the company acquired AvidXchange, a provider of accounts payable automation software and payment solutions, in partnership with alternative asset management firm TPG Inc., to deepen its position in the middle-market accounts payable automation and payment space. This acquisition, combined with the Alpha Group acquisition, is likely to contribute approximately $1 to CPAY’s cash earnings per share in 2026.

CPAY continues to deliver strong results in approximately equal-sized vehicle payment businesses in the United States, Europe and Brazil. It is also developing new brand advertisements to raise awareness and exploring new monetization options with its merchant or vendor bases by incorporating instant payment options, debit card payments and eChecks. Recently, it acquired a second local vehicle debt company to accelerate non-toll revenue growth in Brazil.

The current macro environment is likely to boost CPAY’s overall growth. Favorable foreign exchange rates, particularly in the first half of 2026, lower secured overnight financing rates and a constant year-over-year tax rate are collectively expected to positively impact CPAY’s bottom line.

Other Factors That Make CPAY an Attractive PickSolid Rank & VGM Score: CPAY currently carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) and has a VGM Score of B. Our research shows that stocks with a VGM Score of A or B, when combined with a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) or 2, offer the best investment opportunities for investors. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.

Northward Estimate Revisions: Over the past 60 days, seven estimates for fiscal 2026 have moved northward, reflecting analysts’ confidence in the company. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for fiscal 2026 earnings has increased 4.4% during this period.

Positive Earnings Surprise History: CPAY has an impressive earnings surprise history. The company outpaced the Zacks Consensus Estimate in three of the last four quarters and matched once, delivering an earnings surprise of 1% on average.

Strong Growth Prospects: The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Corpay’s first-quarter 2026 revenues is pegged at $1.20 billion, indicating a 19.3% increase from the year-ago quarter. For 2026, the consensus estimate is pegged at $5.28 billion, indicating a year-over-year rise of 16.5%.

The consensus estimate for first-quarter earnings is pegged at $5.44 per share, indicating 20.6% year-over-year growth. For the full year, the consensus mark is pegged at $25.86 per share, implying 30% growth from the prior year.

Other Stocks to ConsiderSome other top-ranked stocks in the broader Zacks Business Services sector are Deluxe (DLX - Free Report)  and Coherent Corp. (COHR - Free Report) .

Deluxe carries a Zacks Rank #2 at present. It has a long-term earnings growth expectation of 12%.

DLX delivered a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 15.6%, on average.

Coherent Corp. also holds a Zacks Rank of 2 at present. It has a long-term earnings growth expectation of 38.1%.

COHR beat earnings estimates in each of the last four quarters, with the earnings surprise being 7.6%, on average.

The broker retains its hold rating, warning that overall portfolio growth may stall even as the oral weight-loss pill gains traction

Jefferies has trimmed its price target on Novo Nordisk (NYSE:NVO), the Danish pharmaceutical giant, to DKK270 from DKK275, maintaining a 'hold' rating ahead of first-quarter results.

The change came as the broker flagged mounting uncertainty around GLP-1 pricing, oral Wegovy's launch trajectory and the risk that the new pill cannibalises rather than grows the overall franchise.

GLP-1 refers to glucagon-like peptide-1, the class of drugs that underpins Novo's Ozempic and Wegovy treatments for diabetes and obesity, respectively, and which has driven the company's extraordinary growth in recent years.

The central concern in the Jefferies note is that higher oral Wegovy prescription estimates for 2026, now forecast to generate around 12 billion Danish krone in first-year sales, are being largely offset by cuts to the injectable portfolio following weaker-than-expected US prescription trends.

The broker sees the total GLP-1 franchise failing to grow in aggregate, with oral uptake pulling patients away from injectable products rather than attracting new ones.

That risk is compounded by the April launch of orfoglipron, an oral obesity drug from Eli Lilly, the US pharmaceutical company and Novo's principal rival, which Jefferies warns could meaningfully decelerate momentum.

The broker also flags the potential for first-quarter guidance to be narrowed toward the top of Novo's existing range, but characterises any such move as cosmetic, having previously judged the initial guidance to be conservative.

Longer term, Jefferies draws an uncomfortable parallel with AbbVie's experience around the Humira patent cliff, noting that pharmaceutical companies facing major loss-of-exclusivity events have historically traded at 7 to 8 times earnings, suggesting meaningful further downside risk even after Novo's dramatic de-rating from a 130% sector premium to roughly in line with peers today.

The broker's downside scenario of DKK200 per share, implying a further 16% fall from the current price of DKK237.45, would be triggered by a poor oral Wegovy launch combined with convincing data from rival oral GLP-1 compounds in development.

At the current price, Novo trades on around 13 times Jefferies' 2027 earnings estimate, a level the broker considers difficult to defend without evidence that the overall GLP-1 franchise can resume growth and a credible pipeline beyond semaglutide, the active ingredient in both Ozempic and Wegovy.

NEW YORK, March 24, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) --

WHY: Rosen Law Firm, a global investor rights law firm, announces a class action lawsuit on behalf of purchasers of  securities of Hercules Capital, Inc. (NYSE: HTGC) between May 1, 2025 and February 27, 2026, inclusive (the “Class Period”). A class action lawsuit has already been filed. If you wish to serve as lead plaintiff, you must move the Court no later than May 19, 2026.

SO WHAT: If you purchased Hercules Capital securities during the Class Period you may be entitled to compensation without payment of any out of pocket fees or costs through a contingency fee arrangement.

WHAT TO DO NEXT: To join the Hercules Capital class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/submit-form/?case_id=56968 or call Phillip Kim, Esq. toll-free at 866-767-3653 or email [email protected] for information on the class action. A class action lawsuit has already been filed. If you wish to serve as lead plaintiff, you must move the Court no later than May 19, 2026. A lead plaintiff is a representative party acting on behalf of other class members in directing the litigation.

WHY ROSEN LAW: We encourage investors to select qualified counsel with a track record of success in leadership roles. Often, firms issuing notices do not have comparable experience, resources, or any meaningful peer recognition. Be wise in selecting counsel. The Rosen Law Firm represents investors throughout the globe, concentrating its practice in securities class actions and shareholder derivative litigation. Rosen Law Firm has achieved, at that time, the largest ever securities class action settlement against a Chinese Company. Rosen Law Firm was Ranked No. 1 by ISS Securities Class Action Services for number of securities class action settlements in 2017. The firm has been ranked in the top 4 each year since 2013 and has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for investors. In 2019 alone the firm secured over $438 million for investors. In 2020, founding partner Laurence Rosen was named by law360 as a Titan of Plaintiffs’ Bar. Many of the firm’s attorneys have been recognized by Lawdragon and Super Lawyers.

DETAILS OF THE CASE: According to the lawsuit, throughout the Class Period, defendants made false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that: (1) Hercules Capital overstated the due diligence with which it conducted its deal sourcing and/or loan origination process; (2) Hercules Capital overstated the due diligence with which it conducted its portfolio valuation process; (3) Hercules Capital reported misclassified portfolio investments; (4) as a result of the foregoing, Hercules Capital overstated and/or misrepresented its portfolio valuations; and (5) as a result of the foregoing, defendants’ positive statements about Hercules Capital’s business, operations, and prospects were materially misleading and/or lacked a reasonable basis. When the true details entered the market, the lawsuit claims that investors suffered damages.

To join the Hercules Capital class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/submit-form/?case_id=56968 or call Phillip Kim, Esq. toll-free at 866-767-3653 or email [email protected] for information on the class action.

No Class Has Been Certified. Until a class is certified, you are not represented by counsel unless you retain one. You may select counsel of your choice. You may also remain an absent class member and do nothing at this point. An investor’s ability to share in any potential future recovery is not dependent upon serving as lead plaintiff.

Follow us for updates on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-rosen-law-firm, on Twitter: https://twitter.com/rosen_firm or on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rosenlawfirm/.

Attorney Advertising. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.

Contact Information:

        Laurence Rosen, Esq.
        Phillip Kim, Esq.
        The Rosen Law Firm, P.A.
        275 Madison Avenue, 40th Floor
        New York, NY 10016
        Tel: (212) 686-1060
        Toll Free: (866) 767-3653
        Fax: (212) 202-3827
        [email protected]
        www.rosenlegal.com

Stablecoin issuer Circle is tumbling after competitor Tether announced it has hired an unnamed Big Four accounting firm to audit its USDT reserves for the first time.

The shares were last down by 19%, marking the stock's worst day ever. Previously, its steepest dive was June 27, when it sunk 15.5%.

USDT is the largest stablecoin in the market with $184 billion in market cap, according to CryptoQuant. However, it has been mired in controversy for years because Tether promised transparency through quarterly "attestations" but has never provided a full, formal audit. That made many investors and regulators worried that USDT reserves were too opaque or would not meet audit standards.

Stablecoins are cryptocurrencies that peg their prices to an underlying asset, usually the U.S. dollar, and are often backed by dollar deposits, short-term U.S. Treasurys and similar cash equivalents. As they're designed to be less volatile than most cryptocurrencies, audits help ensure the stability is really there.

"The engagement of a Big Four underscores its commitment to providing deep assurance that USDT is fully backed, highly liquid, and operated with world-class risk management," the company said in a statement. "By formally engaging a Big Four audit firm, Tether is taking one of the most important steps, strengthening its position as the global leader in transparency, assurance, and regulatory readiness."

The move also dragged down Coinbase, which is the main distribution platform for USDC. Shares were last down 9%.

Circle surged in popularity last year following its successful IPO, and its USDC coin is widely viewed as more institutional grade than Tether as it undergoes full audits annually by Deloitte and also issues monthly attestations. USDC is the second largest stablecoin with a market cap of $78.6 billion.

Tether's USDT was created in 2014 to be pegged to the value of the U.S. dollar and was the only stablecoin on the market for years before U.S.-regulated alternatives like Circle's USDC cropped up. It has remained the most popular and dominant stablecoin despite controversy and regulatory scrutiny over the years.

Stablecoins including USDT have been primarily for trading and as collateral in decentralized finance (DeFi). Crypto investors watch them closely for evidence of demand, liquidity and activity in the market. In the past year, however, banks, fintech companies and other brands have been drawn to their ability to move dollars quickly and cheaply across borders.

—CNBC's Nick Wells contributed reporting.

Nike stock price has crashed to an important support level, and technicals suggest that it may drop further in the coming weeks or months. NKE has dropped in the last five consecutive weeks, reaching its lowest level since April 15 last year.

An updated edition of the February 3, 2026 article.

A rising aging population is becoming one of the most powerful long-term investment themes in healthcare. While many investors focus on pharmaceutical companies, biotech firms and medical device makers, another segment is quietly benefiting from the same demographic shift — healthcare real estate and senior care services. As the global population aged 60 and above continues to grow over the next decade, demand is rising not just for medical treatments but also for senior housing, assisted living, rehabilitation and long-term care facilities. This structural demand is positioning healthcare REITs (real estate investment trusts) and senior care operators at the center of the longevity economy.

Companies such as Ventas (VTR - Free Report) , Welltower (WELL - Free Report) , CareTrust REIT (CTRE - Free Report) and Omega Healthcare Investors (OHI - Free Report) are benefiting from this trend by expanding senior housing portfolios, improving occupancy and strengthening cash flows tied to demographic-driven demand. Let’s delve deeper.

Healthcare REITsHealthcare REITs and operators own and manage the properties, leases and services that generate steady, demographic-driven cash flows. The senior housing industry continues to expand due to aging populations, rising life expectancy and growing demand for assisted living, memory care and long-term care services. At the same time, new construction in senior housing has remained relatively limited in recent years due to higher financing and construction costs. This combination of rising demand and constrained supply is supporting occupancy growth and rental income for existing properties.

In the United States, senior housing REITs are benefiting from improving occupancy levels and limited new supply, which supports rental growth and margin expansion. Welltower and Ventas, for example, have continued increasing their exposure to senior housing and have positioned their long-term growth strategies around the silver economy and demographic-driven demand.

Operators and Care-Focused REITsAt the operating level, companies like Ensign, Omega and CareTrust are directly tied to the everyday care needs of an aging population. Longer life expectancy is driving sustained demand for skilled nursing, post-acute rehabilitation and long-term care services as seniors increasingly live with chronic and complex medical conditions.

Ensign benefits through the direct operation of skilled nursing and senior living facilities, while Omega and CareTrust benefit as property owners that lease skilled nursing and transitional care facilities to operators that depend on stable occupancy and reimbursement flows. Unlike innovation-driven healthcare segments, these business models focus on essential care capacity and service delivery that cannot be delayed or replaced, making them more stable and demographic-driven.

Ready to uncover more transformative thematic investment ideas? Explore 30 cutting-edge investment themes with Zacks Thematic Screens and discover your next big opportunity.

4 Seniors & Aging Demographics Stocks in the SpotlightVentas is a healthcare real estate investment trust (REIT) that is engaged in acquisition, ownership and leasing of senior housing communities, outpatient medical buildings, research centers, hospitals and other healthcare facilities located in North America and the U.K. Through Ventas’ senior housing operating portfolio (SHOP), it owns and invests in senior housing communities across the United States and Canada. The senior housing communities in its SHOP segment include independent living communities, assisted living communities, memory care communities and continuing care retirement communities.

Per the company’s fourth-quarter 2025 earnings release, Ventas delivered strong performance in its senior housing operating portfolio, driven by occupancy gains, rate growth and operating leverage. The SHOP segment reported strong same-store cash NOI growth and meaningful occupancy improvement year over year, reflecting continued recovery in senior housing fundamentals.

The company also continued investing in senior housing assets and highlighted favorable demographic trends and limited new supply as key drivers supporting long-term growth in senior housing demand. Hence, Ventas appears well positioned for a compelling multiyear growth opportunity supported by improving operating performance, rising senior population and constrained new supply in its markets. The stock currently holds a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy).

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

Welltower, as a REIT, has SHO (operated through RIDEA structures — a structure authorized by the REIT Investment Diversification and Empowerment Act of 2007) properties that include senior apartments, independent living/continuing care retirement communities, assisted living, independent supportive living communities and care homes, with and without nursing.

In January 2025, it announced the formation of a private funds management business and further launched its first fund, Senior Housing Funds I LP. The fund was formed to invest in stable or near-stable senior housing properties in the United States. In the fourth quarter of 2025, the company closed this inaugural private fund with approximately $2.5 billion of total equity commitments and also launched a Seniors Housing Debt Fund, expanding its capital-light funds management platform. Stronger demographics and increasing penetration rates have favorably positioned the SHO portfolio for long-term growth. 

The company also provided 2026 guidance, indicating continued earnings growth supported by strong senior housing operating trends and investment activity. Welltower currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold).

CareTrust has expanded its portfolio over the past two years in ways closely aligned with aging demographics and rising demand for senior care real estate. The company has continued acquiring skilled nursing and senior housing properties under long-term triple-net lease structures, which support stable rental income and predictable cash flows.

In 2025, CareTrust deployed significant capital into acquisitions and investments across skilled nursing and senior housing assets, including multiple portfolio transactions and its entry into the senior housing operating portfolio (SHOP) segment through the acquisition of assisted living and memory care communities. The company announced in January 2026 the acquisition of six skilled nursing facilities in the Mid-Atlantic region. These investments are part of the company’s broader strategy of expanding its skilled nursing and senior housing portfolio through acquisitions, investments and operator partnerships, further deepening its exposure to long-term care real estate tied to aging demographic trends.

CareTrust carries a Zacks Rank #3.

Omega is consistently showcasing improved operating metrics and investment activity tied to facilities serving the aging population. The company focuses primarily on skilled nursing and long-term care facilities leased to operators under long-term agreements, generating stable rental income tied to healthcare real estate demand.

In its fourth-quarter and full-year 2025 earnings release, Omega reported continued investment activity and portfolio growth, including approximately $334 million in new investments. The company reported higher revenues, net income and adjusted funds from operations compared with the prior year period, supported by acquisitions, portfolio management and operator performance improvements.

These developments, along with continued investments in skilled nursing and long-term care facilities and ongoing portfolio management, indicate that Omega is leveraging demographic trends toward greater skilled nursing and post-acute care needs, supporting stable income streams anchored in essential healthcare real estate services for the aging population.

The stock currently has a Zacks Rank #4 (Sell).

JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon said Tuesday that while the war in Iran poses near-term risks, it may ultimately improve the prospects for lasting peace in the Middle East.

"I think the Iran war makes it a better chance in the long run — it's probably riskier in the short run, because we don't know the outcome of it," Dimon told Palantir executive Mike Gallagher at a conference held in Washington, D.C.

The key shift, according to Dimon, is a convergence of interests among regional powers. Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, the U.S. and Israel all want permanent peace, he said, adding that Gulf states in particular have shown a willingness to move in that direction.

"The attitude is not what the attitude was 20 years ago," Dimon said. "They all want it."

Dimon, who leads the world's largest bank by market cap, also tied his analysis directly to economics, arguing that foreign direct investment — which had been flowing into the region for years — will dry up without stability.

"They can't have neighbors lobbing ballistic missiles into their data centers," he said.

This story is developing. Please check back for updates.

Key Takeaways Argan is set to report Q4 FY2026 results, with revenue growth expected but EPS projected to decline.AGX's top line may benefit from AI, data center demand and strength across Power, Industrial and Telecom.Higher SG&A costs and project timing issues are likely to weigh on profitability despite demand tailwinds. Argan, Inc. (AGX - Free Report) is scheduled to report its fourth-quarter fiscal 2026 results on March 26, after market close.

In the last reported quarter, the company’s earnings and revenues topped the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 19.2% and 5.1%, respectively. On a year-over-year basis, the bottom line grew 8.5%, while the top line declined 2.3%.

How are Estimates Placed for AGX Stock?The Zacks Consensus Estimate for fiscal fourth-quarter earnings per share (EPS) has remained unchanged at $1.99 over the past 60 days. The revised estimate indicates 10.4% year-over-year decline.

The consensus estimate for revenues is pegged at $255 million, indicating a 9.7% year-over-year rise from $232.5 million.

Factors Likely to Have Shaped Argan’s Q4 PerformanceArgan’s top-line performance in the fiscal fourth quarter is expected to have benefited from the increasing demand for its capabilities due to the growth in AI and data center projects. The urgency in the market’s demand is expected to have stemmed from the retirement of many natural gas-fired and coal plants, alongside an incremental public funding environment. This growth is visible in the increased contributions from AGX’s three reportable segments, Power Services (contributing 77.8% of third-quarter fiscal 2026 revenues), Industrial Services (19.7%) and Telecom Services (2.5%).

However, the timing of work performed and project mix in a few recently received awards are expected to have pulled back the prospects to some extent.

Meanwhile, Argan’s bottom line is expected to have declined year over year because of elevated selling, general and administrative expenses alongside ongoing macro uncertainties. Although increases in expenses are concerning for bottom-line growth, the increasing top line and favorable market demand trends are likely to have somewhat offset these adversities.

What the Zacks Model Says for ArganOur proven model does not conclusively predict an earnings beat for Argan this time around. The combination of a positive Earnings ESP and a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), 2 (Buy) or 3 (Hold) increases the odds of an earnings beat. This is not the case here, as you will see below.

AGX’s Earnings ESP: The company has an Earnings ESP of 0.00%. You can uncover the best stocks before they’re reported with our Earnings ESP Filter.

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

Stocks With the Favorable CombinationHere are some companies in the Zacks Construction sector, which per our model, have the right combination of elements to post an earnings beat in the respective quarters to be reported.

AECOM (ACM - Free Report) has an Earnings ESP of +5.66% and a Zacks Rank of 2 at present.

AECOM reported better-than-expected earnings in three of the last four quarters and missed on the remaining occasion, the average surprise being 2.2%. AECOM’s earnings for the second quarter of fiscal 2026 are expected to grow 27.2% from the prior year.

United Rentals, Inc. (URI - Free Report) currently has an Earnings ESP of +0.58% and a Zacks Rank of 3.

United Rentals’ earnings for the first quarter of 2026 are expected to increase 2% year over year. United Rentals reported better-than-expected earnings in one of the last four quarters and missed on the remaining three occasions, the average negative surprise being 3.4%.

Masco Corporation (MAS - Free Report) currently has an Earnings ESP of +0.10% and a Zacks Rank of 3.

Masco reported better-than-expected earnings in two of the trailing four quarters and missed on the other two occasions, the average surprise being 3.8%. Masco’s earnings for the first quarter of 2026 are expected to increase year over year by 1.2%.

C3.ai, Inc. AI has plunged 16.3% since reporting its third-quarter fiscal 2026 earnings performance, underperforming the Zacks Computers - IT Services industry, the broader Zacks Computer and Technology sector and the S&P 500 index. In the third-quarter fiscal 2026, AI reported a loss per share of 40 cents, wider than the Zacks Consensus Estimate of loss per share of 29 cents and loss per share of 12 cents reported a year ago.

For investors seeking momentum, Innovator Equity Defined Protection ETF - 2 Yr to April 2026 (AAPR - Free Report) is probably on the radar now. The fund just hit a 52-week high and is up 15.2% from its 52-week low price of $24.93 per share.

But are there more gains in store for this ETF? Let’s take a quick look at the fund and its near-term outlook to get a better sense of where it might head.

AAPR in FocusIt provides investors with returns that match the upside price return of the SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust, up to the upside cap of 18.00%, while providing a buffer against 100% of SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust losses, over the period from April 1, 2024, through March 31, 2026. The product charges 79 basis points (bps) in annual fees (See: All Defined Outcome ETFs here).

What Led to the Rise?AAPR ETF offers investors a structured way to gain equity exposure with built-in downside protection, which makes it attractive in volatile markets. Amid growing uncertainty across the global supply chain due to the intensifying Middle East conflict, investors are increasingly turning to protective ETFs such as AAPR, a trend that has likely helped the fund reach a new 52-week high.

More Gains Ahead?AAPR may continue its strong performance in the near term, with a positive weighted alpha of 9.28 (as per Barchart.com), which suggests a further rally.

Key Takeaways Altria expands on! PLUS nicotine pouches nationwide, boosting its smoke-free product rollout.on! PLUS gains FDA pilot authorization, offers flavors, strengths and NICOSLIK tech features.Altria builds on prior e-commerce and select market sales with broader U.S. retail expansion. Altria Group, Inc. (MO - Free Report) continues to advance its smoke-free strategy as the nicotine landscape shifts toward non-combustible alternatives. With adult consumers increasingly seeking smoke-free options, the company is accelerating innovation and distribution across its oral nicotine portfolio to capture this evolving demand.

In line with this effort, Altria announced the nationwide retail expansion of its next-generation on! PLUS nicotine pouches, developed by the Helix Innovations unit. The rollout marks a key milestone in broadening access to smoke-free products, with wholesale shipments beginning March 16, 2026, and products expected to reach participating retailers across the United States starting March 23.

on! PLUS stands out as the first nicotine pouch product authorized under the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s pilot program aimed at expediting premarket tobacco product application reviews. The product is available in three flavors - Mint, Tobacco and Wintergreen - and in two nicotine strengths, 6 mg and 9 mg. It also incorporates proprietary NICOSLIK technology and includes a built-in disposal compartment, reflecting a focus on both user experience and responsible consumption.

The national expansion builds on earlier availability through e-commerce channels and select retail markets, including North Carolina, Florida and Texas. Management highlighted that the launch supports its broader “Moving Beyond Smoking” vision, emphasizing innovation, product quality and adherence to science-based regulatory standards as demand for smoke-free alternatives rises.

Altria’s push into nicotine pouches supports its expanding smoke-free portfolio, a key long-term growth driver. The company has secured FDA authorizations for multiple on! PLUS variants and continues to invest in product development and regulatory progress. While cigarette volumes remain under pressure, oral nicotine products are contributing to category growth, with on! shipment volumes rising about 11% in 2025. Backed by its earnings outlook and ongoing investments in smoke-free products, the company remains focused on navigating the evolving U.S. nicotine market.

Altria’s Zacks Rank & Share Price PerformanceShares of this Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) company have gained 9.2% in the past three months against the broader Consumer Staples sector and the S&P 500 index’s decline of 0.1% and 6.1%, respectively. MO has also outperformed the industry’s growth of 2.1% during the same period.

MO Stock's Past 3-Month Performance
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

Is Altria a Value Play Stock?MO trades at a forward price-to-earnings ratio of 11.4X, down from the industry’s average of 14.45X and notably below the sector average of 16.24. This valuation positions the stock at a modest discount relative to both its direct peers and the broader consumer staples sector.

MO P/E Ratio (Forward 12 Months)
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

Better-Ranked StocksThe Hershey Company (HSY - Free Report) engages in the manufacture and sale of confectionery products and pantry items in the United States and internationally. It sports a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) at present. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Hershey’s current financial-year sales and earnings indicates growth of 4.8% and 30.1%, respectively, from the prior-year reported levels. HSY delivered a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 17.2%, on average.

Mama's Creations, Inc. (MAMA - Free Report) manufactures and markets fresh deli-prepared foods in the United States. At present, MAMA flaunts a Zacks Rank #1. Mama's Creations delivered a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 133.3%, on average.

The consensus estimate for Mama's Creations’ current fiscal-year sales and earnings implies growth of 39.9% and 44.4%, respectively, from the year-ago figures.

US Foods Holding Corp. (USFD - Free Report) engages in the marketing, sale and distribution of fresh, frozen and dry food and non-food products to foodservice customers in the United States. USFD currently carries a Zacks Rank of 2 (Buy). US Foods Holding delivered a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 2.2%, on average.

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for US Foods Holding’s current fiscal-year sales and earnings implies growth of 5.4% and 20.9%, respectively, from the year-ago figures.

Key Takeaways AOK and peers draw interest as geopolitical tensions drive a shift toward safer ETF strategies. Conservative ETFs focus on capital preservation via bonds, dividends, and low-volatility equities. Quarter-end rebalancing and oil shocks may boost demand for defensive funds like AOK. Global geopolitical volatility, driven by the intensifying conflict between the United States, Israel, and Iran, has cast a long shadow over financial markets this March. For investors, the combination of regional instability and global macroeconomic uncertainty, characterized by structural slowdown witnessed in major economies and sticky inflation, is increasingly worrisome.

Against this backdrop, investors unwilling to take on high-risk equity exposure find themselves at a critical crossroads, turning to conservative exchange-traded funds (ETFs) as a relatively safe haven in a volatile financial landscape.

Now before we delve deep into the specifics of these ETFs, we must analyze the rationale behind this shifting spotlight and why now is the perfect time for a pivot toward conservative ETFs, so investors can make an informed decision.

The Rationale Behind the Spotlight on Conservative ETFsConservative ETFs are designed to prioritize capital preservation and steady income over aggressive growth. Rather than aiming for high growth through volatile stocks, these funds typically focus on high-quality bonds, dividend-paying blue-chip companies, and low-volatility equities. The rationale is simple — to provide a smoother investment journey with reduced downside risk. 

In the current climate, this ‘safe bet’ approach is more than just a defensive crouch — it is a logical response to a unique crisis and provides a compelling case for safety-focused investors.

What began as a crisis primarily affecting the oil market has, over nearly a month, spread its impact across industries ranging from semiconductors to automotive. 

Notably, even investors with a higher risk appetite may be turning more conservative as they recognize that a prolonged conflict could disrupt AI and technology manufacturing hubs in Asia, which rely heavily on Middle Eastern energy and raw materials.

Why Timing Matters Now?We are emphasizing conservatism at this juncture as markets approach a critical inflection point. As March draws to a close, so does the first quarter—a period when many institutional investors rebalance their portfolios. 

Historically, such rebalancing can amplify market volatility. By allocating to conservative ETFs before month-end, investors can position themselves ahead of this potential turbulence.

With the full economic impact of the Strait of Hormuz disruptions yet to be priced into cyclical stocks, shifting to defensive positions offers a logical, data-driven strategy—allowing investors to prioritize capital preservation before quarterly earnings begin to reflect these supply-chain pressures.

Conservative ETFs benefit from flight-to-quality — as volatility spikes, the demand for these stable assets increases, potentially driving up their value while the broader market corrects. By moving before April begins, you position your portfolio to absorb the shocks of a possible "second energy crisis" that is already driving Brent crude toward the $120 mark, with some experts like Wood Mackenzie fearing the oil price might touch as high as $200 a barrel this year.

Conservative ETFs to Consider NowIf you are looking to stabilize your portfolio this week, before April ends, the following ETFs offer a factual hedge against ongoing volatility:

iShares Core 30/70 Conservative Allocation ETF (AOK - Free Report)

This fund, with net assets worth $744.8 million, offers exposure to equity and fixed income funds intended to represent a conservative target risk allocation strategy. AOK has gained 9% over the past year. 

The fund charges 15 basis points (bps) as fees. 

Brinsmere Fund - Conservative ETF (TBFC - Free Report)

This fund, with net assets worth $338.1 million, seeks to generate long-term capital appreciation in a manner that is consistent with capital preservation. TBFC has rallied 10.2% over the past year. 

The fund charges 44 bps as fees. 

FundX Conservative ETF (XRLX - Free Report)

This fund, with net assets worth $48 million, seeks growth and stability. XRLX has gained 5.4% over the past year. 

The fund charges 120 bps as fees. 

The Nikkei 225 is on a three-week losing streak. (Kazuhiro NOGI / AFP via Getty Images)

Japan is becoming an attractive place to invest thanks to improving business conditions. Companies are focusing more on profits and returning cash to shareholders through dividends and buybacks, while a weaker yen helps boost earnings for exporters.

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Brewer, Attorneys & Counselors announce industry expert in Foster v. WPP, Nick Manning, published an analysis related to the lawsuit, which is currently pending in New York Supreme Court. The analysis is available on Mr. Manning's LinkedIn. Mr. Manning is the founder of Encyclomedia International and Non-Executive Chairman of Media Marketing Compliance (MMC), and previously served as Chief Strategy Officer at Ebiquity and co-founded Manning Gottlieb OMD. The case.

Nexteer Automotive Group Limited (NTXVF) Q4 2025 Earnings Call March 24, 2026 8:00 AM EDT

Company Participants

Tony Wang
Robin Milavec - President, CTO, Interim Global COO & Executive Board Director
Michael Bierlein - Senior VP & Global CFO

Conference Call Participants

Shelley Wang - Morgan Stanley, Research Division

Presentation

Operator

Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to Nexteer Automotive Group Limited 2025 Annual Results Conference Call. [Operator Instructions]

I would now like to turn the conference call over to Investor Relations Director, Mr. Tony Wang. Please go ahead.

Tony Wang

Okay. Thank you, Jamie. Again, welcome, everyone, to our earnings call for the full year of 2025. We made the announcement of our annual results this evening, Hong Kong time. Before we begin today's call, I would like to remind you that this presentation contains a safe harbor statement. For additional information, please refer to the content in the second page of our slides.

The presentation accompanying today's call are available on our company's website. Please visit nexteer.com to download slides if you have not done yet.

Joining us today are Robin Milavec, Executive Board Director, President, CTO and Interim Global COO; Mike Bierlein, Senior Vice President and CFO. Starting the presentation, Robin and Mike will provide the business and financial highlights, respectively. And then we will open the lines for your questions.

Please follow the limit of 2 questions per person. With that, let me turn the call over to our President, Robin.

Robin Milavec
President, CTO, Interim Global COO & Executive Board Director

Thank you, Tony, and hello to everybody online today. I'll begin with an overview of our business performance and strategic progress, and then I'll hand it over to Mike Bierlein, our Chief Financial Officer, and he will walk you through our financial results and 2026 outlook.

Faruqi & Faruqi, LLP Securities Litigation Partner James (Josh) Wilson Encourages Investors Who Suffered Losses In Pomdoctor To Contact Him Directly To Discuss Their Options

If you purchased or acquired securities in Pomdoctor between October 9, 2025 and December 11, 2025 and would like to discuss your legal rights, call Faruqi & Faruqi partner Josh Wilson directly at 877-247-4292 or 212-983-9330 (Ext. 1310).

[You may also click here for additional information]

NEW YORK, March 24, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Faruqi & Faruqi, LLP, a leading national securities law firm, is investigating potential claims against Pomdoctor Limited (“Pomdoctor” or the “Company”) (NASDAQ: POM) and reminds investors of the April 13, 2026 deadline to seek the role of lead plaintiff in a federal securities class action that has been filed against the Company.

Faruqi & Faruqi is a leading national securities law firm with offices in New York, Pennsylvania, California and Georgia. The firm has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for investors since its founding in 1995. See www.faruqilaw.com.

As detailed below, the complaint alleges that the Company and its executives violated federal securities laws by making false and/or misleading statements and/or failing to disclose that: (1) that PomDoctor was the subject of a fraudulent stock promotion scheme involving social media based misinformation and impersonated financial professionals; (2) that insiders and/or affiliates used offshore or nominee accounts to facilitate the coordinated dumping of shares during a price inflation campaign; (3) that PomDoctor’s public statements and risk disclosures omitted any mention of the false rumors and artificial trading activity driving the stock price; and (4) that, as a result of the foregoing, Defendants’ positive statements about the Company’s business, operations, and prospects were materially misleading and/or lacked a reasonable basis.

Pomdoctor experienced a significant decline in its share price between December 10 and December 11, 2025. The company’s stock closed at approximately $0.50 per share on December 10, 2025, before falling to about $0.38 per share at the close of trading on December 11, 2025, representing a decline of roughly $0.12 per share, or approximately 24%, in a single trading session. The drop followed heightened volatility and selling pressure in the stock, amid broader investor concerns regarding Pomdoctor’s financial performance and valuation.

The court-appointed lead plaintiff is the investor with the largest financial interest in the relief sought by the class who is adequate and typical of class members who directs and oversees the litigation on behalf of the putative class. Any member of the putative class may move the Court to serve as lead plaintiff through counsel of their choice, or may choose to do nothing and remain an absent class member. Your ability to share in any recovery is not affected by the decision to serve as a lead plaintiff or not.  

Faruqi & Faruqi, LLP also encourages anyone with information regarding Pomdoctor’s conduct to contact the firm, including whistleblowers, former employees, shareholders and others.

To learn more about the Pomdoctor class action, go to www.faruqilaw.com/POM or call Faruqi & Faruqi partner Josh Wilson directly at 877-247-4292 or 212-983-9330 (Ext. 1310).

Follow us for updates on LinkedIn, on X, or on Facebook.

Attorney Advertising. The law firm responsible for this advertisement is Faruqi & Faruqi, LLP (www.faruqilaw.com). Prior results do not guarantee or predict a similar outcome with respect to any future matter. We welcome the opportunity to discuss your particular case. All communications will be treated in a confidential manner.

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/7f60c456-51b6-4096-a862-d5d3beda6cc5

Key Takeaways Energy Fuels reported a 16% revenue drop to $65.9M in 2025 due to a sharp fall in mineral sands sales.UUUU's uranium revenues rose 31% to $50.1M as volumes climbed despite lower realized prices.Energy Fuels secured new contracts, targeting up to 5.29M pounds in deliveries through 2032. Energy Fuels (UUUU - Free Report) reported a 16% decline in revenues to $65.9 million in 2025. This was mainly due to a 60% decline in Heavy Mineral Sands revenues following the completion of mining activities at Kwale. However, uranium revenues increased 31% year over year to $50.1 million, providing a strong offset.  

The company sold 650,000 pounds of uranium in 2025 at an average realized price of $74.21 per pound. This included 350,000 pounds sold on the spot market at $76.90 and 300,000 pounds under long-term contracts at $71.06.

In comparison, Energy Fuels had sold 450,000 pounds of uranium at a weighted average price of $84.23 per pound in 2024.  While volumes increased in 2025, the impact of this benefit on the company’s revenues was partially offset by a decline in realized prices.

The company expects to mine 2-2.5 million pounds of uranium in 2026, and process between 1.5 million and 2.5 million pounds of finished uranium. Sales are projected at 1.5-2 million pounds under existing contracts and spot market sales. 

As of 2025-end, Energy Fuels held 810,000 pounds of finished uranium and a total of 2.18 million pounds of finished and contained inventory. This provides the company a buffer for near-term contracted deliveries of 620,000–880,000 pounds in 2026. 

During the fourth quarter of 2025, the company secured two additional long-term agreements with U.S. nuclear utilities, bringing its total to six contracts. These agreements cover deliveries from 2026 to 2032, with 3.21 million pounds of committed base sales and potential total deliveries ranging from 3.71 million to 5.29 million pounds, depending on customer options. 

Existing inventories, purchases and new production will be sufficient to meet the company’s contract requirements through 2026 and over the life of the supply contracts. The company also intends to make discretionary spot sales in 2026 and beyond, to capitalize on higher uranium prices. 

Looking ahead, UUUU’s revenues are expected to improve, supported by higher uranium production volumes and a growing contribution from long-term contracts. Upside potential remains tied to stronger uranium prices and increased spot market activity.

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Energy Fuels’ 2026 revenues implies 123% growth and for 2027, indicates growth of 53%.

Revenue Performances of Peers in 2025Ur-Energy (URG - Free Report) reported a 19% year-over-year decline in revenues to $27 million in 2025. Ur-Energy sold 440,000 pounds of uranium in 2025, at an average price of $61.77 per pound. The company had sold 570,000 pounds of uranium in 2024 at $58.15 per pound. Lower volumes, somewhat offset by higher prices, led to the overall decline in Ur-Energy’s revenues.  

Centrus Energy (LEU - Free Report) reported total revenues of $448.7 million in 2025, marking a modest 2% year-over-year increase. The Low-Enriched Uranium segment’s revenues were $346 million for the year, a 1% decline year over year. Of this, uranium revenues were only $47.5 million, which marked a 54% plunge from $103.1 million in 2024, reflecting lower uranium sales volumes during 2025. In contrast, Separative Work Units’ revenues rose 21% to $298.7 million as 23% rise in SWU volumes sold was offset by a 1% decline in average realized prices. 

The Technical Solutions segment’s revenues increased 11% year over year to $102.5 million. Centrus Energy expects 2026 revenues between $425 million and $475 million. At the midpoint, this implies relatively flat performance compared with 2025.

UUUU’s Price Performance, Valuation & EstimatesEnergy Fuels shares have gained 314.7% in a year compared with the industry’s 36.3% growth.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

UUUU is trading at a forward 12-month price/sales multiple of 25.57X, a significant premium to the industry’s 3.91X.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Energy Fuels’ fiscal 2026 earnings is a loss of six cents per share. The 2027estimate is earnings of 13 cents per share.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

The earnings estimates for UUUU for both 2026 and 2027 have moved down over the past 60 days. This is shown in the chart below. 

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

The company currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). 

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

Key Takeaways MP Materials emerges as a stronger pick due to valuation and a clearer profitability outlook in 2026.MP doubled NdPr output to 2,599 MTs and secured major deals, including Apple supply and DoW partnership.Energy Fuels expands uranium and REE capacity but saw 2025 revenue drop and wider net loss. Energy Fuels (UUUU - Free Report) and MP Materials (MP - Free Report) are two US-based companies poised to play key roles in America’s efforts to build a secure domestic supply chain for rare earth elements (REEs) and other critical minerals.

Lakewood, CO- based Energy Fuels, with a market capitalization of $4.3 billion, is a leading uranium producer.  It owns the White Mesa Mill in Utah, the only fully licensed and operating conventional uranium processing facility in the United States. In addition to uranium, the mill has been repurposed to produce advanced rare earth element products, expanding Energy Fuels’ exposure to critical minerals.

Las Vegas, NV-based MP Materials is the largest producer of rare earth materials in the Western Hemisphere with a market capitalization of $9.5 billion. It operates the Mountain Pass Rare Earth Mine and Processing Facility, the only rare earth mining and processing site of scale in North America. 

REEs being critical inputs across many existing and emerging clean-tech applications, their demand is expected to increase manifold. For investors seeking to capitalize on this growth, the question is which stock they should put their bets on. To make an informed decision, let us analyze their fundamentals, growth potential and key challenges for UUUU and MP.

The Case for Energy FuelsEnergy Fuels has produced nearly two-thirds of all uranium in the United States since 2017 and continues to scale production as well as develop REE capabilities, backed by its debt-free balance sheet. 

Energy Fuels mined material containing roughly 1.72 million pounds of uranium from the Pinyon Plain, La Sal and Pandora mines in 2025, exceeding the guidance range of 0.875-1.44 million pounds. The company expects to mine 2-2.5 million pounds of uranium in 2026, and process between 1.5 million and 2.5 million pounds of finished uranium. The company plans to sell 1.5-2 million pounds of uranium in 2026 under existing contracts and spot market sales.

Energy Fuels’ fiscal 2025 revenues were $65.9 million, down 16% year over year. This was primarily due to a 60% decline in HMS sales in 2025 as a result of fewer product sales following the completion of mining activities at Kwale and the reclamation advanced.  The company reported a net loss per share of 38 cents in 2025 compared with a loss of 28 cents per share in 2024.

Energy Fuels’ unit economics are improving as finished inventory costs fell to $43 per pound at year-end 2025 and are projected to fall into the low $30 range during 2026. At Pinyon Plain, cash costs are currently between $23 and $30 per pound, with higher-grade ore expected to further reduce costs as processing ramps up. This is expected to boost its margins.

The company has six uranium supply contracts with U.S. nuclear utilities covering deliveries from 2026 to 2032, with 3.21 million pounds of committed base sales and potential total deliveries ranging from 3.71 million to 5.29 million pounds, depending on customer options. Existing inventories, purchases and new production will be sufficient to meet contract requirements through 2026 and over the life of the supply contracts. The company also plans to make discretionary spot sales in 2026 and beyond, to capitalize on any pickup in uranium prices. 

Energy Fuels’ near-term growth is supported by standby projects like Nichols Ranch ISR and Whirlwind, which could collectively add up to 500,000 pounds of annual uranium output within six–12 months of a “go” decision. Large-scale projects, including Roca Honda, Sheep Mountain and Henry Mountains–Bullfrog, hold nearly 70 million pounds of uranium resources, with the potential to deliver up to 6 million pounds of annual production, underpinning significant future supply growth.

The company, meanwhile, is developing significant REE capabilities. In December, the 99.9% purity dysprosium oxide produced at its White Mesa Mill passed the stringent quality check requirements of a major South Korean permanent magnet manufacturer. This follows the earlier qualification of its Neodymium and praseodymium (NdPr) oxide for use in NdFeB magnet applications.

Energy Fuels is planning a Phase 2 expansion of REE processing at White Mesa, increasing NdPr oxide capacity from roughly 1,000 tons per year to more than 6,000 tons annually. With an estimated capital cost of $410 million and projected all-in production costs of $29.39/kg NdPr equivalent, the company expects its REE operations to rank among the lowest-cost producers globally. Energy Fuels has also inked a deal to acquire Australian Strategic Materials, a leading producer of REE (rare earth element) metals and alloys.  Expected to close in the first half of this year, the deal will help create the largest, fully integrated REE "mine-to-metal and alloy" producer outside of China.

The Case for MP MaterialsThe company owns and operates the Mountain Pass Rare Earth Mine and Processing Facility, the only large-scale rare earth mining and processing site in North America. 

2025 was a pivotal year for MP Materials, highlighted by a long-term agreement to supply US-made recycled rare earth magnets to Apple and a public-private partnership with the U.S. Department of War to accelerate a fully integrated domestic magnet supply chain. Backed by government incentives, the company will construct the second domestic magnet manufacturing facility (the 10X Facility) in Northlake, TX, which will lift U.S. magnet capacity to 10,000 metric tons and serve defense and commercial markets. MP also expects to extend the lifespan of Mountain Pass through further exploration and enhanced processing.

The company was awarded a $200 million incentive package, anchored by the Texas Semiconductor Innovation Fund (“TSIF”) grant, for the new facility. 
MP Materials has doubled its NdPr (Neodymium-Praseodymium) oxide production at Mountain Pass to a record 2,599 MTs in 2025. The company also produced a record 50,692 MTs of REO in concentrate, a 12% increase year over year. It also produced its first magnets on commercial-scale equipment at the Independence facility.

The company also signed a significant long-term NdPr offtake agreement with a new customer, one of America's leading technology and industrial companies. It has direct strategic agreements with four of the world's leading manufacturers across automotive, consumer electronics and physical AI.

MP Material’s revenues increased 10% year over year to $224.4 million in 2025 on higher NdPr oxide and metal revenues as well as revenues from the sales of magnetic precursor products, with no comparable revenues in the prior year. Adjusted earnings per share in 2025 were a loss of 24 cents, an improvement from the loss of 44 cents in 2024. This was driven by the NdPr price floor protection agreement with the DoW, which commenced on Oct. 1, 2025, as well as the commencement of magnetic precursor product sales. This was somewhat offset by higher legal costs, as well as increased advanced projects and development expenses, which included transaction costs associated with the DoW agreements and securing financing.  

How do Estimates Compare for UUUU & MP?The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Energy Fuels’ fiscal 2026 earnings is a loss of six cents per share compared to the 38 cents per share loss in 2025. The 2027 estimate is earnings of 13 cents per share.

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for MP Materials’ fiscal 2026 earnings is pegged at earnings of 35 cents per share, compared to the loss of 24 cents reported in fiscal 2025. The estimate for fiscal 2027 for MP Materials is pegged at earnings of $1.13 per share, indicating 221% year-over-year growth.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

The estimates for Energy Fuels for 2026 have been revised upward, while the same for 2027 have remained unchanged over the past 60 days. The earnings estimates for MP Materials for both 2026 and 2027 have moved down over the past 60 days. This is shown in the chart below. 

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

MP & UUUU: Price Performance & ValuationEnergy Fuels stock has gained 314.9% in the past year compared with MP Materials’ 101.3% rise.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

Energy Fuels is currently trading at a forward 12-month price-to-sales ratio of 24.11X. Meanwhile, MP Materials is trading lower at a forward 12-month price-to-sales ratio of 18.30X.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

Energy Fuels or MP Materials: Which Stock is the Better Pick?MP Materials continues to deliver strong production growth while advancing its vertical integration strategy. Its position as the only fully integrated rare earth producer in the United States, combined with strategic partnerships and government backing, supports its long-term growth outlook.
Energy Fuels, on the other hand, offers a diversified play on both uranium and rare earths, providing exposure to two critical and fast-growing markets.

Both stocks currently carry a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold), so choosing one seems difficult. While Energy Fuels stands out in terms of stock performance, MP Materials’ more attractive valuation and clearer path to profitability in 2026 give it an edge at present.

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

Figma, Inc. has pulled back well below IPO levels, presenting a contrarian entry point as growth and guidance outperformed expectations. FIG delivered 40% YoY Q4 revenue growth and guided 30% for FY2025, with strong gross margins (86% Q4, 88% FY) and robust retention metrics. Adoption of AI features and a new seat-and-credit pricing model are driving expansion, with 75% of large customers now consuming AI credits weekly.

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Analyst’s Disclosure: I/we have no stock, option or similar derivative position in any of the companies mentioned, but may initiate a beneficial Long position through a purchase of the stock, or the purchase of call options or similar derivatives in STUB over the next 72 hours. I wrote this article myself, and it expresses my own opinions. I am not receiving compensation for it (other than from Seeking Alpha). I have no business relationship with any company whose stock is mentioned in this article.

Seeking Alpha's Disclosure: Past performance is no guarantee of future results. No recommendation or advice is being given as to whether any investment is suitable for a particular investor. Any views or opinions expressed above may not reflect those of Seeking Alpha as a whole. Seeking Alpha is not a licensed securities dealer, broker or US investment adviser or investment bank. Our analysts are third party authors that include both professional investors and individual investors who may not be licensed or certified by any institute or regulatory body.

Fort Lauderdale, FL, March 24, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Life Extension, a top brand in vitamins and supplements, has tapped Ryan Thompson as its new Vice President of Business Development, overseeing its partnerships and retail sales and operations. Thompson previously led Amazon’s Health and Wellness category management team.

According to Life Extension Chief Executive Officer Paul Gilner, Thompson’s experience in wellness and ecommerce will facilitate the company’s growth. “Ryan has the experience and knowledge to help Life Extension provide a superior, consistent end-to-end experience to help both the company and our customers to thrive,” he said.

In addition to Amazon, Thompson has held roles at Revlon, driving the growth of their online premium beauty business, and Walmart eCommerce, managing their Sports Nutrition category. Thompson received both his bachelor’s and master's degrees from Duke University.
“I’ve always been drawn to mission-driven companies, and Life Extension is unmatched in its commitment to helping people live healthier, longer lives,” Thompson said. “I'm eager to lead the Sales and Business Development teams here to advance that mission.”

Life Extension’s complete product offering includes over 350 supplements across more than 40 health categories. It also offers laboratory testing and free educational resources, including Life Extension Magazine®, wellness blogs, and the Live Foreverish podcast.

About Life Extension® 
For more than 40 years, Life Extension has pursued innovative advances in health, conducting rigorous clinical trials and setting some of the most demanding standards in the industry to offer a full range of quality vitamins and nutritional supplements and blood-testing services. Life Extension’s Wellness Specialists provide personalized counsel to help customers choose the right products for optimal health, nutrition and personal care. To learn more, visit LifeExtension.com.

Life Extension Vice President of Business Development Ryan Thompson

Life Extension Vice President of Business Development Ryan Thompson Life Extension, a top brand in vitamins and supplements, has tapped Ryan Thompson as its new Vice Pr...

Key Takeaways NVIDIA leads AI chip market, with Q4 fiscal 2026 revenues up 73% and EPS rising 82% year over year.NVDA's data center revenues soared 75% YOY, driven by strong Blackwell GPU platform demand.NVIDIA's growth outlook tops Synopsys, with fiscal 2027 revenues and EPS seen surging 63% and 66.7%. Synopsys, Inc. (SNPS - Free Report) and NVIDIA Corporation (NVDA - Free Report) are two critical pillars of the artificial intelligence (AI)-driven chip ecosystem. Both companies are benefiting from the same powerful trend — surging demand for chips used for handling artificial intelligence (AI) workloads and high-performance computing (HPC).

While NVIDIA designs the powerful graphics processing units (GPUs) that run advanced AI models, Synopsys provides advanced engineering and simulation software used in chip design and product development.

Though the two companies are well-positioned to benefit from the surging demand for AI and HPC, their financial performance, growth strategies and valuations offer different risk-reward profiles for investors. Let’s see which stock is a better investment option right now.

The Case for Synopsys StockSynopsys continues to benefit from the ongoing AI infrastructure boom, which is driving strong demand for chip design tools and engineering software. In the last reported financial results for first-quarter fiscal 2026, the company’s revenues jumped 65.5% year over year to $2.41 billion, while non-GAAP earnings per share (EPS) soared 24.4% to $3.77.

Synopsys remains well-positioned for long-term growth. It is tapping into several major trends that should drive demand for its products over the next few years, particularly the growing need for AI-driven semiconductor design. Synopsys’ AI-driven electronic design automation (EDA) tools like Synopsys.ai, Fusion Compiler, PrimeTime, IC Validator and StarRC are being rapidly adopted as customers are experiencing massive productivity gains from their implementation.

Synopsys is also expanding in the AI cluster interconnect market with launches, including Ultra Accelerator Link and Ultra Ethernet IP solutions. It’s expected to benefit from the expanding Data Center Interconnect market, which is projected to reach $25.89 billion by 2030, witnessing an 11% CAGR from 2025 to 2030, per a report by MarketsAndMarkets.

Synopsys’ software-based verification tools are gaining traction at both traditional semiconductor and emerging system companies. Since advanced nodes require precise verification, sign-off and simulation, directly boosting software demand and licensing revenues, many companies are adopting SNPS’ EDA products.

Nonetheless, not everything is firing at full speed. Synopsys’ Design IP segment is in a transition phase, with revenues declining 6.5% year over year and expected to remain muted in fiscal 2026. As Design IP is a resource-heavy business, lower revenues directly impact profitability. In the first quarter of fiscal 2026, the segment’s operating margin slipped to 16.2% from 29.1% in the year-ago quarter. With IP expected to go through a muted year in fiscal 2026, near-term margin recovery looks unlikely.

While AI-related demand is strong, non-AI markets such as automotive and industrial remain soft, limiting broader growth momentum. Geopolitical risks, including China-related headwinds and export restrictions, also add uncertainty.

The Case for NVIDIA StockNVIDIA remains the backbone of the AI boom, with its GPUs powering everything from cloud data centers to self-driving vehicles. The company continues to dominate the AI infrastructure market, driven by explosive demand from cloud providers and enterprises. In the fourth quarter of fiscal 2026, NVIDIA’s revenues surged 73% year over year to $68.13 billion, while non-GAAP EPS jumped 82% to $1.62.

The company’s new GPU architectures, Hopper 300 and Blackwell, are rapidly gaining adoption as customers race to expand AI capabilities. The Blackwell Ultra and Vera Rubin platforms could further cement NVIDIA’s leadership as the AI hardware race intensifies.

NVIDIA’s most powerful growth engine continues to be its Data Center business. In the fourth quarter of fiscal 2026, the segment generated $62.31 billion in revenues, representing 91.5% of total sales. This marked a staggering 75% year-over-year increase and 22% sequential growth.

The robust performance was mainly driven by higher shipments of the Blackwell GPU computing platforms that are used for the training and inference of large language models, recommendation engines and generative AI applications.

With AI adoption accelerating across industries, NVIDIA's stronghold in data centers makes it a critical beneficiary of this trend. The company’s leadership in AI chip development positions it well for sustained revenue growth in this segment.

SNPS vs. NVDA: Which Has the Stronger Growth Outlook?Both companies will benefit from the surging demand for AI chips, but NVIDIA’s growth profile appears stronger in the near term. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for NVDA’s current fiscal-year 2027 revenues and EPS indicates a year-over-year surge of 63% and 66.7%, respectively. For fiscal 2028, the top and bottom lines are projected to grow 29.7% and 30.6%, respectively.

By contrast, current fiscal-year 2026 estimates for Synopsys point to more modest revenue growth of 36.4% and an 11.8% increase in EPS. For fiscal 2027, the top and bottom lines are projected to rise 10.3% and 17.6%, respectively.

While SNPS’ trajectory is promising, NVIDIA continues to capture a larger share of the AI hardware spend, particularly from hyperscalers and enterprise clients, which are investing heavily in generative AI infrastructure.

SNPS vs. NVDA: Price Performance & Valuation CheckShares of NVIDIA have outperformed Synopsys over the past year. NVIDIA shares have risen 44.6% in the trailing 12 months, while Taiwan Semiconductor has declined 5.4%.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

On the valuation front, Synopsys trades at a forward 12-month price-to-earnings (P/E) multiple of 28.04, higher than NVIDIA’s 21.18.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

Conclusion: NVDA Is a Better Bet Than SNPSAlthough both Synopsys and NVIDIA are set to capitalize on rising AI infrastructure spending, weakness in SNPS’ Design IP business, shrinking margins, rising competition and lofty valuations make it less attractive than NVDA.

NVIDIA is the clear leader in AI hardware. A robust product lineup, an unmatched software ecosystem and a stronger growth profile make NVIDIA a better investment choice in the AI chip race today. The company also has a faster growth profile than Synopsys.

Considering all the factors, we believe NVIDIA is the smarter choice today for investors seeking a solid AI play.

NVDA sports a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), making it a clear winner over Synopsys, which has a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) at present. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.