NEW YORK, July 21, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC, a nationally recognized investor-rights law firm, announces that a class action lawsuit has been filed against AeroVironment, Inc. (NASDAQ: AVAV) and certain of its officers.
This lawsuit seeks to recover damages against Defendants for alleged violations of the federal securities laws on behalf of all persons and entities that purchased or otherwise acquired AeroVironment securities between June 25, 2025 and March 10, 2026, both dates inclusive (the “Class Period”). Such investors are encouraged to join this case by visiting the firm’s site: bgandg.com/AVAV.
AeroVironment Case Details
The Complaint alleges that, throughout the Class Period, Defendants made materially false and misleading statements regarding the Company’s business, operations, and prospects. Specifically, the Complaint alleges that Defendants made false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that:
(1) AeroVironment understated the likelihood that it would imminently face competition from other vendors for the work it performed in connection with the SCAR program and the U.S. Space Force’s ongoing efforts to modernize the SCN;
(2) accordingly, Defendants overstated AeroVironment’s business and financial prospects; and
(3) as a result, Defendants’ public statements were materially false and misleading at all relevant times.
What's Next for AeroVironment Investors?
A class action lawsuit has already been filed. If you wish to review a copy of the Complaint, you can visit the firm’s site: bgandg.com/AVAV. or you may contact Peretz Bronstein, Esq. or his Client Relations Manager, Nathan Miller, of Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC at 917-590-0911. If you suffered a loss in AeroVironment you have until July 27, 2026, to request that the Court appoint you as lead plaintiff. Your ability to share in any recovery doesn't require that you serve as lead plaintiff.
No Cost to AeroVironment Investors
We, Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman LLC, represent investors in class actions on a contingency fee basis. That means we will ask the court to reimburse us for out-of-pocket expenses and attorneys’ fees, usually a percentage of the total recovery, only if we are successful.
Why Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC for AeroVironment Securities Class Action?
Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC is a nationally recognized firm that represents investors in securities fraud class actions and shareholder derivative suits. Our firm has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for investors nationwide. More at www.bgandg.com
"Our practice centers on restoring investor capital and ensuring corporate accountability, which serves to uphold the essential integrity of the marketplace," said Peretz Bronstein, Founding Partner of Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC.
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Contact Info
Peretz Bronstein, Esq. or Nathan Miller
Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC
917-590-0911 | [email protected]
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Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes.
WHY: Rosen Law Firm, a global investor rights law firm, reminds purchasers of securities of AeroVironment, Inc. (NASDAQ: AVAV) between June 25, 2025 and March 10, 2026, inclusive (the “Class Period”), of the important July 27, 2026 lead plaintiff deadline.
SO WHAT: If you purchased AeroVironment 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 AeroVironment class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/cases/aerovironment-inc/join 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 July 27, 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. Many of these firms do not actually litigate securities class actions, but are merely middlemen that refer clients or partner with law firms that actually litigate the cases. 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 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 billions 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) AeroVironment understated the likelihood that it would imminently face competition from other vendors for the work it performed in connection with the U.S. Space Force’s Satellite Communication Augmentation Resources (“SCAR”) program and the U.S. Space Force’s ongoing efforts to modernize the Satellite Control Network (“SCN”); (2) accordingly, defendants overstated AeroVironment’s business and financial prospects; and (3) as a result, defendants’ public statements were materially false and misleading at all relevant times. When the true details entered the market, the lawsuit claims that investors suffered damages.
To join the AeroVironment class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/cases/aerovironment-inc/join 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
MarketBeat Week in Review – 04/20 - 04/24Valmont Industries NYSE: VMI reported higher second-quarter 2026 sales and earnings, driven by strength in its Infrastructure segment, particularly North America Utility and Coatings, while Agriculture remained pressured by weaker equipment demand and delayed projects in the Middle East.
President and CEO Avner Applbaum said the company delivered “a strong second quarter” reflecting execution of its strategy. He cited a 6.5% increase in net sales, a 130-basis-point expansion in adjusted operating margin and a 25.8% increase in adjusted earnings per share. Based on the results, Valmont raised its full-year sales and earnings outlook.
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1 Stock Is Powering the AI Boom and the Next Farm Supercycle“Infrastructure delivered another high-quality quarter, led by 34% growth in North America Utility and 17% growth in Coatings,” Applbaum said. He added that commercial execution, pricing discipline and investments in capacity and throughput helped convert customer demand into profitable growth.
Infrastructure Strength Drives Revenue Growth Executive Vice President and CFO John Schwietz said consolidated net sales rose 6.5% year over year to $1.12 billion. Operating income increased to $166.1 million, while operating margin expanded to 14.8%. Diluted earnings per share rose 25.8% to $6.14. Schwietz said the tax rate remained steady at approximately 26%.
Investing in Sustainable Solutions: 2 Top Water Tech StocksInfrastructure sales increased 14.8% year over year to $879 million. North America Utility sales rose 33.9%, driven by higher pricing and volume growth. Applbaum said demand in Utility continues to be supported by investment in grid modernization, power demand, data centers and electrification, adding that customer discussions suggest the market is in the early stages of a multiyear investment cycle.
North America Coatings sales increased 16.6%, supported by infrastructure and data center demand. Applbaum said the Coatings business is benefiting from higher internal volumes and growing third-party infrastructure demand, supported by Valmont’s galvanizing network.
North America Lighting and Transportation sales declined 2.4% due to lower volumes. Applbaum said Transportation markets remain healthy, while Lighting is being affected by softer residential and commercial construction activity. North America Telecom sales fell 26.1% as carrier spending slowed following the peak of the 5G deployment cycle.
International Infrastructure sales increased 7.4%, helped by favorable foreign exchange and a slight increase in volume. Applbaum said Valmont is pursuing initiatives to strengthen its international businesses, though he described the process as still in its early stages.
Agriculture Margins Improve Despite Lower Sales Agriculture sales declined 15.8% year over year to $244 million. North America sales decreased 2.3%, with reduced volumes partly offset by favorable pricing. International Agriculture sales dropped 28.9%, primarily due to lower Middle East volumes. Schwietz said that outside the Middle East, international Agriculture sales were relatively flat.
Despite the sales decline, Agriculture operating margin improved 90 basis points to 16.5%. Schwietz attributed the improvement to disciplined cost and risk management, and said the actions taken position the segment to expand margins when agricultural markets recover.
Applbaum said global agriculture market conditions remain challenging. In North America, tighter farm economics continue to constrain capital spending. In Brazil, a recently announced government crop plan reduced financing rates for irrigation equipment, but total funding allocated to irrigation is below last year’s level. In the Middle East, the ongoing conflict is causing delays in certain customer projects.
Valmont said it is focusing on higher-value opportunities within Agriculture, including aftermarket and technology solutions. Applbaum said aftermarket parts sales grew approximately 6% in the quarter, while technology services increased 7%, despite softer equipment demand.
Company Raises 2026 Outlook Valmont raised its full-year 2026 net sales guidance to a range of $4.3 billion to $4.45 billion. At the midpoint, Schwietz said that represents approximately 6.7% revenue growth for the year. The company increased its Infrastructure sales outlook to a range of $3.4 billion to $3.5 billion, while maintaining its Agriculture outlook.
The company also raised its diluted earnings per share outlook to a range of $22.25 to $23.50. At the midpoint, Schwietz said the guidance represents nearly 20% growth in adjusted EPS. He said the higher earnings outlook reflects continued strength in North America Utility and Coatings, supported by volume growth and favorable pricing.
Schwietz said raw material and freight costs are expected to remain elevated through the rest of the year, but pricing actions and operational execution are expected to support Infrastructure operating margins at levels consistent with the first half of 2026. In Agriculture, he said margins are expected to moderate in the second half due to normal seasonality.
Valmont maintained its capital expenditure outlook of $170 million to $200 million, with spending weighted toward the second half of the year as it continues investing in capacity expansion.
Cash Flow and Capital Allocation Valmont generated operating cash flow of $148 million in the quarter and ended the period with approximately $139 million in cash. Schwietz said net debt leverage remained close to one times.
The company invested $36 million in capital expenditures during the quarter, primarily to support Utility capacity expansion. It also repaid the remaining $60 million outstanding on its revolving credit facility and returned $75 million to shareholders, including $60 million of share repurchases and $15 million in dividends. At quarter end, approximately $451 million remained available under Valmont’s share repurchase authorization.
Management Addresses Telecom, Inflation and Utility Demand During the question-and-answer portion of the call, CJS Securities analyst Chris Moore asked about visibility in Telecom following the segment’s weaker quarter. Applbaum said Telecom is a quick-turn business with limited backlog visibility and that Valmont did not anticipate the second-quarter softness at the start of the year. He said carriers have shifted spending and are being more disciplined with capital allocation. Valmont now expects Telecom to be down in the teens for the year.
Asked about Agriculture in the Middle East, Applbaum said Valmont manufactures from its Dubai facility and has a flexible model to scale for projects. However, he said regional activity is currently minimal due to the conflict, with customers delaying projects. He said the long-term demand for food security in the region remains compelling.
Stifel analyst Nathan Jones asked whether Valmont was seeing signs of improvement in Agriculture. Applbaum said he would not characterize the market as showing “green shoots,” but said the company is seeing stabilization outside the Middle East. Schwietz said a 16% margin is sustainable for a second quarter in Agriculture, though margins are expected to move into the low teens in the back half of the year due to seasonality.
In response to questions about Infrastructure margins, Schwietz said sequential growth in Infrastructure was driven mostly by price, with a volume component. He said material cost inflation accelerated in the second quarter and is expected to affect the third quarter as well. Later, he said steel was up 27% to 30% year to date and diesel was up 45% year to date, depending on the measure used.
Applbaum said the inflationary pressure is manageable and does not change customer demand, Valmont’s competitive position or its long-term margin trajectory. He also said demand remains strong across transmission, distribution and substations in the Utility business, with capacity constraints more important than demand limitations in determining growth.
About Valmont Industries (NYSE:VMI)Valmont Industries, Inc NYSE: VMI is a diversified industrial manufacturer specializing in infrastructure and agricultural products. Headquartered in Omaha, Nebraska, the company engages in the design, production and distribution of engineered products that support water management, power transmission, lighting and traffic infrastructure. Valmont's solutions range from center-pivot and lateral-move irrigation systems to utility poles, transmission towers, lighting structures and highway traffic signal support structures.
The company operates through several core business segments.
This instant news alert was generated by narrative science technology and financial data from MarketBeat in order to provide readers with the fastest reporting and unbiased coverage. Please send any questions or comments about this story to [email protected].
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Live Nation Entertainment Inc (NYSE:LYV) is expected to report continued growth in its upcoming earnings, with UBS analysts forecasting double-digit revenue and adjusted operating income (AOI) growth for the full year as demand for live events remains resilient.
UBS expects Live Nation to benefit from strong global attendance trends, with fan growth across major venues supporting more than 12% growth in total revenue and AOI in 2026. The analysts expect Concerts and Sponsorship to remain the main growth drivers, while Ticketing AOI growth is expected to remain limited due to actions aimed at reducing secondary market activity, along with ongoing investments in artificial intelligence and legal costs.
The analysts highlighted Live Nation’s Venue Nation expansion as a potential long-term growth driver, noting the company is progressing toward its goal of adding around 20 owned and operated venues by the end of 2026. Recent venue openings, including Morton Hall and Mystic Lake Amphitheater, are expected to support additional fan growth and margin expansion.
UBS pointed to industry data as evidence of continued demand for live entertainment. Based on BEA data, U.S. live entertainment spending excluding sports increased 6% year over year in the second quarter through May, compared with 3% growth in the first quarter, slightly outperforming overall recreational spending.
Pollstar data showed Live Nation’s global show sell-through rate exceeded 95% in the second quarter, compared with roughly 80% for other promoters, UBS noted. The company’s average ticket price was $119 during the period, 19% above peers. International markets showed particularly strong performance, with sell-through rates reaching 97%, including 99% in Canada and Europe-based markets, 98% in Mexico and 96% in the UK.
For the second quarter, UBS expects Live Nation’s revenue to increase 8.8% year over year, while AOI is forecast to remain broadly flat at $800 million. The analysts expect Concert revenue to rise 9%, although Concert AOI is projected to decline approximately 9% to $327 million due to a higher mix of third-party venues and a shift toward arena and amphitheater events compared with stadium shows.
UBS expects concert attendance to remain strong, with fan growth of 7% year over year to 47 million despite the impact of the World Cup. Revenue per fan growth is expected to slow to 2% from 5% in the first quarter due to a lower proportion of stadium events.
Sponsorship and advertising is expected to remain a key contributor, with UBS forecasting 14% year-over-year growth in revenue and EBITDA. The analysts noted that Live Nation’s new Spotify partnership is expected to begin contributing in the second half of the year.
Ticketing is expected to see more muted growth as Live Nation continues measures to reduce secondary market activity, including identity verification, account limits and changes to its inventory management tools. UBS expects ticket sales and AOI growth of 1% and 1.6%, respectively, with growth trends expected to improve in the second half as comparisons become easier.
For 2026, UBS expects Live Nation’s total revenue to grow 12% year over year, compared with 9% growth in 2025. The analysts forecast 13% growth in Concert revenue, 15% growth in Sponsorship and 6% growth in Ticketing, supported by a strong slate of tours, festivals and venue expansion.
UBS expects AOI growth to accelerate to 14% in 2026 from 10% in 2025, driven by projected growth of 23% in Concerts and 16% in Sponsorship, while Ticketing AOI growth is expected to remain modest at 3.5%.
The company continues to face regulatory scrutiny, with UBS noting that Live Nation is awaiting judicial review of its settlement with the U.S. Department of Justice under the Tunney Act. State attorneys general are also seeking discovery related to the settlement terms. In addition, Live Nation is seeking to overturn a federal jury verdict from April, with a hearing scheduled for July 29.
UBS wrote that while the outcome of the legal proceedings remains uncertain, the range of potential outcomes has narrowed, with the focus shifting toward behavioral remedies and monetary settlements rather than a structural break-up of the company.
UBS maintained a positive view on Live Nation shares, raising its price target to $208 from $181, above current levels of about $177. The analysts cited improving estimates and a valuation of roughly 16 times forward AOI, which they said remains in line with the company’s expected growth profile.
Live Nation will report its Q2 earnings on July 30.
Hasbro Inc (NASDAQ:HAS) raised its full-year revenue and profit forecasts on Tuesday after second-quarter results topped Wall Street estimates, powered by a record quarter for its Magic: The Gathering trading card franchise.
The toymaker posted adjusted earnings of $1.28 per share, beating analyst estimates of $1.13, while revenue climbed 16% year-over-year to $1.14 billion, ahead of the $1.06 billion expected by analysts.
Shares of Hasbro rose 10% in Tuesday morning trading.
Magic: The Gathering revenue surged 32% to top $500 million in a single quarter for the first time in the franchise's more than 30-year history, driven by demand for its Marvel Super Heroes and Secrets of Strixhaven sets. The Wizards of the Coast and Digital Gaming segment, which includes Magic, grew 27% to $664 million in revenue, with operating profit up 12% to $270 million. Mobile game Monopoly Go contributed $44 million in revenue for the quarter.
Consumer Products revenue rose 5% despite a roughly $25 million hit from a previously disclosed cyberattack that also added $11 million in expenses, the company said. Entertainment segment revenue fell 20%.
“Revenue exceeded Street expectations, though profitability remained pressured by tariff expense, entertainment-related mix shifts, and normal seasonality,” Jefferies said of the segment. “Notably, management estimated the cyber event reduced revenue by approximately $25M during the quarter, suggesting underlying demand was somewhat stronger than reported.”
Hasbro recorded a $56 million impairment tied to its digital games business during the quarter. The company returned $133 million to shareholders and paid down $55 million in debt, and said it plans to lean further into its $1 billion share repurchase authorization.
For the full year, Hasbro now expects revenue growth of 5% to 7% on a constant currency basis, up from its prior forecast of 3% to 5%. The company raised its adjusted operating margin outlook to 25% to 26%, from 24% to 25% previously, and now sees adjusted EBITDA of $1.45 billion to $1.5 billion, up from $1.4 billion to $1.45 billion.
Hasbro (HAS +8.06%) has a huge hit on its hands, and it's carrying the stock higher today. The global game and entertainment company raised full-year guidance after it reported a strong second quarter.
Hasbro stock jumped on the news, rising 10.1% as of 10:47 a.m. ET.
Image source: Getty Images.
Hasbro's magic Hasbro's results were largely driven by its Wizards of the Coast and Digital Gaming segment. The Wizards subsidiary has a huge hit on its hands with the Magic: The Gathering game. Revenue from the game soared 32% year over year, breaking $500 million in the quarter for just the first time in its 30-year history.
Expansion releases for the game are driving sales. That included Marvel Super Heroes, released in June, and Secrets of Strixhaven, released in April. For context, Hasbro's Monopoly Go! game contributed just $44 million of revenue in Q2.
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Investors buying Hasbro stock are really investing in the Magic franchise at this point. And the company believes it has staying power. Management increased full-year revenue, adjusted operating income, and profit guidance following the strong results.
In addition to its growth prospects, Hasbro can also be considered an income stock. Even after today's price jump, the stock yields over 3%, and management also allocates excess cash to share repurchases. Many investors are finding a place for it in their portfolios today.
Howard Smith has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool recommends Hasbro. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
Hasbro, Inc. delivered strong Q2 results, driven by MAGIC franchise growth and a resilient consumer products segment. Wizards & Digital revenue surged 27%, with MAGIC: The Gathering remaining a secular growth engine and supporting upgraded full-year guidance. Improved balance sheet, robust free cash flow, and leverage below 2x enable accelerated buybacks and secure a 3.4% dividend yield.
Key Takeaways Hasbro's Q2 revenues rose 16.2% to $1.14 billion, while adjusted EPS of $1.28 beat estimates.Wizards' revenues jumped 27% to $663.8 million, led by Magic and growth in digital and licensed gaming.Hasbro raised its FY26 revenue growth outlook to 5-7% and adjusted EBITDA to $1.45-$1.50 billion. Hasbro, Inc. (HAS - Free Report) reported second-quarter fiscal 2026 results, with earnings and revenues beating the Zacks Consensus Estimate. The top line increased year over year, while the bottom line declined from the previous year.
The quarter benefited from record performance at Wizards of the Coast, led by Magic: The Gathering, along with growth in Consumer Products and a favorable business mix. However, higher tariff costs, disruption related to unauthorized network access, increased operating expenses and weakness in the Entertainment segment partly offset these gains.
HAS’ Q2 Earnings & RevenuesIn second-quarter fiscal 2026, HAS reported adjusted earnings of $1.28 per share, which declined 1.5% year over year but surpassed the consensus mark of $1.17 by 9.4%.
Net revenues increased 16.2% year over year to $1.14 billion and topped the consensus estimate of $1.05 billion by 8.94%.
Hasbro’s Wizards Segment Powers GrowthWizards of the Coast and Digital Gaming revenues increased 27% year over year to $663.8 million. The segment’s performance was driven by strength in Magic: The Gathering and continued growth across digital and licensed gaming. Our model predicted the segment’s revenues to be $564 million.
Operating profit increased 12% to $270 million, while margin declined to 40.7% from 46.3% due to higher investments and a $56 million digital games impairment.
HAS’ Consumer Products Results Stay MixedConsumer Products revenues increased 5% year over year to $463 million despite disruption from unauthorized network access. Growth was supported by Star Wars, Marvel and broader category momentum. Our model predicted the segment’s revenues to be $453.7 million.
The segment posted an adjusted operating loss of $7.5 million versus an adjusted operating profit of $1.2 million a year ago, pressured by tariffs, an unfavorable mix, higher costs and seasonality.
Hasbro’s Entertainment Segment Faces Timing PressureEntertainment revenues declined 20% year over year to $12.8 million, reflecting the nature and timing of deals. Our model predicted the segment’s revenues to be $19.1 million.
Adjusted operating profit declined 15% to $8.6 million. Despite the lower profit, the adjusted operating margin expanded to 67.2% from 63.1%, supported by the mix of recognized deals.
HAS’ Profitability Reflects Volume and Mix BenefitsAdjusted operating profit increased 14% year over year to $282.2 million, driven by higher sales volume and favorable business mix. Adjusted EBITDA rose 9.4% to $330 million. Our estimate for the metric was $300.7 million.
The adjusted operating margin declined 40 basis points to 24.8% from 25.2%. Benefits from volume, mix, royalties and cost savings were offset by higher operating expenses, changes in the gross-to-net sales rate and nonrecurring items.
Hasbro’s Balance Sheet and Capital AllocationCash and cash equivalents were $880.5 million at quarter-end, up from $546.9 million a year earlier. Short-term investments totaled $497.7 million, while inventories declined to $353.2 million from $417.1 million. Long-term debt decreased to $3.04 billion from $3.32 billion.
Hasbro returned $133 million to its shareholders through dividends and share repurchases during the quarter and deployed $55 million toward debt reduction. The company paid $99 million in dividends and declared a quarterly dividend of 70 cents per share.
HAS Raises FY26 OutlookManagement now expects fiscal 2026 revenues to increase 5-7% in constant currency, up from its prior projection of 3-5% growth.
The adjusted operating margin is expected to be 25-26%, compared with the previous forecast of 24-25%. Adjusted EBITDA is projected between $1.45 billion and $1.50 billion, up from the earlier range of $1.40 billion to $1.45 billion.
Hasbro intends to continue investing in its core businesses, returning capital through dividends and share repurchases, and reducing debt.
HAS’ Zacks Rank & Other Key PicksCurrently, Hasbro has a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy).
Some other top-ranked stocks from the Consumer Discretionary sector:
Flexsteel Industries, Inc. (FLXS - Free Report) currently flaunts a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks Rank #1 stocks here.
The company delivered a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 59%, on average. FLXS stock has surged 88.8% in the year-to-date period. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Flexsteel’s fiscal 2026 sales and EPS implies growth of 3.8% and 14.6%, respectively, from the year-ago levels.
The Marcus Corporation (MCS - Free Report) currently sports a Zacks Rank #1. The company delivered a trailing four-quarter negative earnings surprise of 40.4%, on average. MCS stock has jumped 49.5% in the year-to-date period.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Marcus’ 2026 sales and EPS indicates an increase of 6.2% and 211.8%, respectively, from the year-ago levels.
Vince Holding Corp. (VNCE - Free Report) currently carries a Zacks Rank of 2. The company delivered a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 635.7%, on average. VNCE stock has rallied 56.4% in the year-to-date period.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Vince Holding’s 2026 sales and EPS implies growth of 7.2% and 34.1%, respectively, from the year-ago levels.
Analyst’s Disclosure: I/we have no stock, option or similar derivative position in any of the companies mentioned, and no plans to initiate any such positions within the next 72 hours. I wrote this article myself, and it expresses my own opinions. I am not receiving compensation for it (other than from Seeking Alpha). I have no business relationship with any company whose stock is mentioned in this article.
Seeking Alpha's Disclosure: Past performance is no guarantee of future results. No recommendation or advice is being given as to whether any investment is suitable for a particular investor. Any views or opinions expressed above may not reflect those of Seeking Alpha as a whole. Seeking Alpha is not a licensed securities dealer, broker or US investment adviser or investment bank. Our analysts are third party authors that include both professional investors and individual investors who may not be licensed or certified by any institute or regulatory body.
ToplineThe first month of World Cup competition drove a record-breaking 2.8 million people to sign up for Fox One, the streaming service with exclusive rights to broadcast the tournament in English, according to new data from streaming market research firm Antenna.
Lionel Messi of Argentina during the World Cup.
Getty Images
Key FactsFOX One added 2.8 million new sign-ups in June alone, Antenna reports, which doesn’t account for anyone who signed up to watch in the tournament’s last three weeks.
The opening day of the tournament, June 11, drove 400,000 sign-ups on its own and 93% of June’s gross additions were brand-new subscribers to the service.
The June surge is more than 2.5 times the previous monthly best for Fox One, which added 1.1 million subscribers in January when it broadcast some Wild Card matchups of the NFL playoffs and the NFC Championship game.
How people signed up for FOX One also changed significantly in June: sign ups directly through Fox accounted for 40% of new users and Amazon Channels, which had accounted for a majority of new sign-ups from launch last August through May, dropped to just 19%.
WHAT TO WATCH FORHow many people unsubscribe. Now that the World Cup is over, Antenna notes it’s possible the service could see a major drop in its numbers. It’s likely Fox One will see some of its new cohort stay on for Fox-licensed NFL games this season, but Fox won't broadcast its first football game of the year until the Patriots vs. Lions matchup in Germany on Nov. 15. Fox will also broadcast the Eagles vs. Cowboys game on Thanksgiving Day, select Wild Card games, a divisional game and the NFC Championship game.
key backgroundEnglish broadcasting rights for the men’s World Cup were exclusively held by Fox, which paid $485 million for the privilege. Linear TV viewers could watch the games on the main Fox broadcast network (a free, over-the-air channel), its dedicated sports cable channel FS1 or via the Fox One service. The World Cup’s opening match between Mexico and South Africa drew over 1.2 billion viewers worldwide, including 6.3 million on Fox channels to make it the most-watched U.S. telecast of a World Cup opening match in history. An estimated 2 million people watched the final game between Spain and Argentina, though final numbers have not yet been reported.
SURPRISING FACTThere were 9,722 people who watched all 48 initial World Cup matches on Fox and FS1, according to Nielsen data. There are 104 total games in a tournament, and Nielsen hasn’t yet said how many people managed to tune in for all of them.
TANGENTThis year’s World Cup stirred up controversy as the first tournament to include “hydration breaks.” Following the sweltering 2025 FIFA Club World Cup in the U.S. last year, where temperatures topped 100 degrees, FIFA introduced mandatory three-minute hydration breaks midway through the two halves of each game. The breaks were criticized for interrupting the flow of the game for both players and viewers, who had their televisions switched over to ads during the stoppage. The ads were allowed to begin 20 seconds after the referee blew the whistle for the break and had to end 30 seconds before play started again, which meant there was room for eight extra 30-second ad slots per match. BBC Sport reported that an average 30-second World Cup ad slot on Fox Sports cost between $200,000 and $300,000 each—rising to $750,000 during USA matches and the final stages.
BIG NUMBER$250 million. That’s how much ad revenue was likely generated during hydration breaks in the U.S. alone.
Rather than betting on whichever model wins, the neocloud theme focuses on the contracted GPU capacity and data‑center power the AI models require.
NBIS stock is climbing. See the chart and price action here. Nebius and IREN Monetize AI Capex AltStreet’s AI infrastructure guide makes the case that the real bottleneck in AI is shifting from algorithms to bankable compute: power‑dense data centers, racks of H‑class GPUs and long‑term offtake contracts that look more like midstream energy than venture‑style software.
Anthropic’s commitment to purchasing $30 billion of Azure compute capacity, with up to one gigawatt of infrastructure, illustrates the scale of demand now flowing into the GPUaaS and neocloud stack.
Nebius has built a hyperscale backlog with Microsoft and Meta while increasingly pivoting to an asset‑light model, using third‑party‑financed data centers and a $775 million asset‑backed facility secured on deployed GPUs and contracted cash flows.
IREN has signed multi‑billion‑dollar AI infrastructure deals that push its year‑end cloud ARR guidance above $4 billion, with customer prepayments covering a significant slice of its own capex.
Neoclouds Offer Leveraged Exposure to the AI Build‑OutInvestors have begun to treat these stocks as critical AI‑infrastructure players rather than crypto proxies, rewarding companies that secure multi‑year AI data‑center and neocloud services agreements.
The common thread is that these businesses monetize hyperscaler AI capex through contracted GPU and power capacity, increasingly supported by asset‑backed debt and customer prepayments.
In a market where AI narratives are crowded, framing Nebius, IREN, Hut 8 and Cipher as contract‑anchored compute landlords sharpens the investment case and ties upside directly to the multi‑trillion‑dollar data‑center build now underway.
Photo: Asef2425 / Shutterstock
This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.
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NEW YORK, July 21, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Pomerantz LLP announces that a class action lawsuit has been filed against Verra Mobility Corporation (“Verra” or the “Company”) (NASDAQ: VRRM). Such investors are advised to contact Danielle Peyton at [email protected] or 646-581-9980, (or 888.4-POMLAW), toll-free, Ext. 7980. Those who inquire by e-mail are encouraged to include their mailing address, telephone number, and the number of shares purchased.
The class action concerns whether Verra and certain of its officers and/or directors have engaged in securities fraud or other unlawful business practices.
You have until August 4, 2026, to ask the Court to appoint you as Lead Plaintiff for the class if you purchased or otherwise acquired Verra securities during the Class Period. A copy of the Complaint can be obtained at www.pomerantzlaw.com.
[Click here for information about joining the class action]
On May 26, 2026, Verra disclosed receipt of a termination notice effective September 2026 from Avis Budget Group – historically, one of Verra’s largest customers – regarding the companies’ contract. Verra also announced that it is taking immediate actions to cut costs, adapt operations, and reposition its business. Verra also revised its 2026 outlook, despite confirming all 2026 guidance metrics just 20 days earlier.
On this news, Verra’s stock price fell $9.23 per share, or 70.57%, to close at $3.85 per share on May 27, 2026.
Pomerantz LLP, with offices in New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, London, Paris, and Tel Aviv, is acknowledged as one of the premier firms in the areas of corporate, securities, and antitrust class litigation. Founded by the late Abraham L. Pomerantz, known as the dean of the class action bar, Pomerantz pioneered the field of securities class actions. Today, more than 85 years later, Pomerantz continues in the tradition he established, fighting for the rights of the victims of securities fraud, breaches of fiduciary duty, and corporate misconduct. The Firm has recovered numerous multimillion-dollar damages awards on behalf of class members. See www.pomlaw.com.
Attorney advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes.
Investors looking for stocks in the Utility - Electric Power sector might want to consider either Exelon (EXC) or Pinnacle West (PNW). But which of these two stocks presents investors with the better value opportunity right now?
Looking for a stock that has been consistently beating earnings estimates and might be well positioned to keep the streak alive in its next quarterly report? Ingersoll Rand (IR - Free Report) , which belongs to the Zacks Manufacturing - General Industrial industry, could be a great candidate to consider.
This maker of flow control and compression equipment has an established record of topping earnings estimates, especially when looking at the previous two reports. The company boasts an average surprise for the past two quarters of 4.77%.
For the most recent quarter, Ingersoll was expected to post earnings of $0.74 per share, but it reported $0.77 per share instead, representing a surprise of 4.05%. For the previous quarter, the consensus estimate was $0.91 per share, while it actually produced $0.96 per share, a surprise of 5.49%.
Price and EPS Surprise
Thanks in part to this history, there has been a favorable change in earnings estimates for Ingersoll lately. In fact, the Zacks Earnings ESP (Expected Surprise Prediction) for the stock is positive, which is a great indicator of an earnings beat, particularly when combined with its solid Zacks Rank.
Our research shows that stocks with the combination of a positive Earnings ESP and a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) or better produce a positive surprise nearly 70% of the time. In other words, if you have 10 stocks with this combination, the number of stocks that beat the consensus estimate could be as high as seven.
The Zacks Earnings ESP compares the Most Accurate Estimate to the Zacks Consensus Estimate for the quarter; the Most Accurate Estimate is a version of the Zacks Consensus whose definition is related to change. The idea here is that analysts revising their estimates right before an earnings release have the latest information, which could potentially be more accurate than what they and others contributing to the consensus had predicted earlier.
Ingersoll currently has an Earnings ESP of +0.61%, which suggests that analysts have recently become bullish on the company's earnings prospects. This positive Earnings ESP when combined with the stock's Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) indicates that another beat is possibly around the corner. We expect the company's next earnings report to be released on July 30, 2026.
When the Earnings ESP comes up negative, investors should note that this will reduce the predictive power of the metric. But, a negative value is not indicative of a stock's earnings miss.
Many companies end up beating the consensus EPS estimate, though this is not the only reason why their shares gain. Additionally, some stocks may remain stable even if they end up missing the consensus estimate.
Because of this, it's really important to check a company's Earnings ESP ahead of its quarterly release to increase the odds of success. Make sure to utilize our Earnings ESP Filter to uncover the best stocks to buy or sell before they've reported.
New York, New York--(Newsfile Corp. - July 21, 2026) - Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC, a nationally recognized investor-rights law firm, announces that a class action lawsuit has been filed against Calix, Inc. (NYSE: CALX) and certain of its officers.
This lawsuit seeks to recover damages against Defendants for alleged violations of the federal securities laws on behalf of all persons and entities that purchased or otherwise acquired Calix securities between January 28, 2026 and April 21, 2026, both dates inclusive (the "Class Period"). Such investors are encouraged to join this case by visiting the firm's site: bgandg.com/CALX.
Calix Case Details
The Complaint alleges that throughout the Class Period, defendants failed to disclose to investors:
the Company's first quarter margins had significantly benefited from advanced purchasing of memory components; that the Company's advanced supply of memory components was dwindling; that, as a result, the Company was experiencing negative margin pressure as it was forced to purchase memory components at rising market prices; and that, as a result of the foregoing, Defendants' positive statements about the Company's margins, business, operations, and prospects were materially misleading and/or lacked a reasonable basis.What's Next for Calix Investors?
A class action lawsuit has already been filed. If you wish to review a copy of the Complaint, you can visit the firm's site: bgandg.com/CALX, or you may contact Peretz Bronstein, Esq. or his Client Relations Manager, Nathan Miller, of Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC at 917-590-0911. If you suffered a loss in Calix you have until July 27, 2026, to request that the Court appoint you as lead plaintiff. Your ability to share in any recovery doesn't require that you serve as lead plaintiff.
No Cost to Calix Investors
We, Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman LLC, represent investors in class actions on a contingency fee basis. That means we will ask the court to reimburse us for out-of-pocket expenses and attorneys' fees, usually a percentage of the total recovery, only if we are successful.
Why Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC for Calix Securities Class Action?
Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC is a nationally recognized firm that represents investors in securities fraud class actions and shareholder derivative suits. Our firm has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for investors nationwide. More at www.bgandg.com
"Our practice centers on restoring investor capital and ensuring corporate accountability, which serves to uphold the essential integrity of the marketplace," said Peretz Bronstein, Founding Partner of Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC.
Follow us for updates on LinkedIn, X, Facebook, or Instagram.
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Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes.
To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/299465
Source: Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC
Ready to Announce with Confidence? Send us a message and a member of our TMX Newsfile team will contact you to discuss your needs.
New York, New York--(Newsfile Corp. - July 21, 2026) - WHY: Rosen Law Firm, a global investor rights law firm, reminds purchasers of securities of Calix, Inc. (NYSE: CALX) between January 28, 2026 and April 21, 2026, inclusive (the "Class Period"), of the important July 27, 2026 lead plaintiff deadline.
SO WHAT: If you purchased Calix 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 Calix class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/cases/calix-inc/join 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 July 27, 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. Many of these firms do not actually handle securities class actions, but are merely middlemen that refer clients or partner with law firms that actually litigate the cases. 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 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 billions 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) Calix's first quarter margins had significantly benefited from advanced purchasing of memory components; (2) Calix's advanced supply of memory components was dwindling; (3) as a result, Calix was experiencing negative margin pressure as it was forced to purchase memory components at rising market prices; and (4) as a result of the foregoing, defendants' positive statements about Calix's margins, 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 Calix class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/cases/calix-inc/join 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.
-------------------------------
To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/305954
Source: The Rosen Law Firm PA
Ready to Announce with Confidence? Send us a message and a member of our TMX Newsfile team will contact you to discuss your needs.
Key Takeaways Calix is expanding its AI-native platform to grow recurring software and managed-services revenues.CALX posted Q2 revenues of $293.3M, up 21% year over year, with record software and services revenues.Calix sees growth from AI, Wi-Fi 7, 50G-PON and cross-selling, while margins face ongoing pressure. Calix, Inc. (CALX - Free Report) has steadily evolved from a broadband equipment supplier into a platform company built around AI-native software, cloud applications and managed services. That transition is reshaping its revenue mix as communications providers seek integrated solutions that improve subscriber acquisition, retention and network operations.
Investors are now balancing accelerating revenue growth against profitability headwinds. While software adoption and recurring revenue continue to strengthen, margin pressure and execution risks remain central to the investment story.
How Calix Is Expanding Its PlatformCalix has broadened its portfolio beyond intelligent broadband appliances by combining cloud software, Customer Success services, SmartLife managed offerings and AI-native capabilities within the Calix One platform. Agentic AI is designed to automate marketing, customer support and operational workflows for broadband providers.
That integrated approach encourages customers to adopt multiple software and managed-service offerings alongside hardware deployments, creating deeper relationships and increasing recurring revenue opportunities. Ciena Corporation (CIEN - Free Report) is also expanding software capabilities around network infrastructure, highlighting the sector's shift toward platform-based networking solutions.
CALX Revenue Growth Gains MomentumSecond-quarter revenue reached $293.3 million, increasing 21% year over year and 5% sequentially. Appliance revenue climbed to $242.8 million, while software and services generated a record $50.5 million as customer adoption expanded.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Calix added 14 new service-provider customers during the quarter and increased remaining performance obligations to a record $386.4 million, providing greater visibility into future recurring revenue. These trends point to healthy demand across both hardware and software businesses.
Calix Faces Margin and Execution RisksGross margin remains under pressure from higher memory component costs, pricing dynamics and continued investment in AI development. Longer enterprise deployment cycles also make revenue timing less predictable and can delay operating leverage.
Management also expects BEAD-funded broadband projects to contribute more gradually than originally anticipated. Slower software attachment rates or extended customer deployment timelines could further postpone profitability improvements. ADTRAN Holdings, Inc. (ADTN - Free Report) operates in many of the same broadband markets, underscoring the competitive environment for next-generation network infrastructure.
CALX Catalysts Investors Should WatchFuture growth drivers include broader adoption of the AI-native Calix One platform, expanding deployments of Wi-Fi 7 and standards-based 50G-PON technology, and continued growth in recurring cloud software and managed services.
Cross-selling additional software to existing appliance customers and management's expectation for continued revenue expansion could gradually improve the quality and predictability of revenue if execution remains on track.
How CALX Rating Signals Fit the StoryCALX currently carries a Zacks Rank #5 (Strong Sell), reflecting cautious expectations for near-term earnings performance despite improving business fundamentals.
You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
The Growth Score of A and VGM Score of B recognize attractive business expansion characteristics, while the Value Score of D indicates less favorable valuation attributes. Together, these metrics illustrate the balance between meaningful long-term opportunities and the execution and profitability challenges that investors continue to monitor.
CALX beat Q2 expectations with record software revenue and stronger recurring growth, but valuation, margin pressure and execution risks keep investors cautious.
NEW YORK, July 21, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Pomerantz LLP announces that a class action lawsuit has been filed against Calix, Inc. (“Calix” or the “Company”) (NYSE: CALX). Such investors are advised to contact Danielle Peyton at [email protected] or 646-581-9980, (or 888.4-POMLAW), toll-free, Ext. 7980. Those who inquire by e-mail are encouraged to include their mailing address, telephone number, and the number of shares purchased.
The class action concerns whether Calix and certain of its officers and/or directors have engaged in securities fraud or other unlawful business practices.
You have until July 27, 2026, to ask the Court to appoint you as Lead Plaintiff for the class if you purchased or otherwise acquired Calix securities during the Class Period. A copy of the Complaint can be obtained at www.pomerantzlaw.com.
[Click here for information about joining the class action]
On April 21, 2026, after the market closed, Calix reported results for the first quarter of 2026 earnings, including that “[n]on-GAAP gross margin was 57.2%, a decrease of 80 basis points sequentially.” Further, the Company reported gross margin guidance for the second quarter of 2026 is “55.8% (at the midpoint) is down 140 basis points from the previous quarter. This decline is primarily due the increase in memory component costs.” In an accompanying earnings call on the same day, Calix’s Chief Financial Officer, Cory Sindelar, said that “advanced purchasing had allowed us to avoid higher memory component costs during the first quarter. However, that advanced supply has run its course, and we now face market prices.” Sindelar further revealed that, “reflecting the effects of higher memory component costs,” “[f]or the year, we expect our non-GAAP gross margin to decline between 50 and 150 basis points.”
On this news, Calix’s stock price fell $6.93 per share, or 13.98%, to close at $42.65 per share on April 22, 2026.
Pomerantz LLP, with offices in New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, London, Paris, and Tel Aviv, is acknowledged as one of the premier firms in the areas of corporate, securities, and antitrust class litigation. Founded by the late Abraham L. Pomerantz, known as the dean of the class action bar, Pomerantz pioneered the field of securities class actions. Today, more than 85 years later, Pomerantz continues in the tradition he established, fighting for the rights of the victims of securities fraud, breaches of fiduciary duty, and corporate misconduct. The Firm has recovered numerous multimillion-dollar damages awards on behalf of class members. See www.pomlaw.com.
Attorney advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes.
Key Takeaways Calix is embedding AI across its platform to automate broadband marketing, support and operations.CALX is expanding Wi-Fi 7 and 50G-PON offerings to support next-generation fiber networks.Calix is growing recurring software revenue, though margins face cost and execution pressures. Broadband providers are increasingly moving beyond traditional networking hardware toward integrated platforms that combine artificial intelligence, cloud software and managed services. This shift is reshaping how communications providers deploy, operate and monetize fiber networks.
Calix, Inc. (CALX - Free Report) is positioning itself at the center of that transition by expanding AI-native capabilities while building a larger base of recurring software revenue, even as execution challenges remain.
Calix Pushes AI Into Broadband OperationsCalix has embedded AI-native capabilities throughout its Calix One platform, including Agent Workforce Cloud, intelligent automation and cloud-based applications. These tools help service providers automate marketing campaigns, customer support workflows and network operations while improving subscriber experiences.
Integrated appliances, cloud software and managed services are designed to help broadband providers acquire customers, reduce churn and increase average revenue per subscriber through AI-driven insights.
CALX Expands Next Generation NetworksBeyond software, Calix continues expanding its broadband infrastructure portfolio with Wi-Fi 7 products and standards-based 50G-PON support. These technologies enable providers to increase network capacity without rebuilding existing fiber infrastructure.
The strategy aligns with broader industry modernization efforts. Ciena Corporation (CIEN - Free Report) is also benefiting from demand for higher-capacity optical networking, highlighting the industry's continued investment in next-generation fiber deployments.
Calix Builds More Recurring RevenueCloud software, SmartLife managed services and customer success offerings are becoming a larger part of the business mix. Record remaining performance obligations and continued software growth support greater revenue visibility over time.
Cross-selling additional software and managed services to existing appliance customers provides another avenue for recurring revenue expansion. ADTRAN Holdings, Inc. (ADTN - Free Report) likewise serves broadband providers, although Calix places greater emphasis on integrated software and managed-service adoption.
CALX Trends Meet Real Execution ChallengesDespite favorable technology trends, execution remains important. Longer enterprise deployment cycles, slower software attachment rates and delayed realization of federally supported broadband projects can postpone revenue and margin improvements.
Higher memory costs, pricing dynamics and continued AI investment also pressure gross margins, limiting near-term operating leverage despite improving revenue growth.
How CALX Rating Signals Reflect Industry TrendsCALX currently carries a Zacks Rank #5 (Strong Sell), reflecting cautious expectations for near-term earnings performance.
You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
At the same time, the Growth Score of A and VGM Score of B recognize favorable business expansion characteristics supported by AI adoption, fiber modernization and recurring software opportunities. The Value Score of D suggests valuation remains less attractive, illustrating the balance between promising long-term industry trends and near-term execution risks.
Key Takeaways IPG Photonics' shares are up 36.7% year to date as medical, semiconductor and laser demand improves. The acquisition supports IPGP's shift toward higher-value medical and application-specific laser systems. IPGP expects Q2 2026 revenues of $260M-$290M, with consensus sales growth of 11.35%. Shares of IPG Photonics (IPGP - Free Report) have gained 36.7% in the year-to-date period, outperforming the broader Zacks Computer and Technology sector's 12.1% growth. The outperformance can be attributed to the company’s strategic initiatives and improving market conditions across welding, cutting, marking, medical applications and advanced technologies, such as directed energy systems.
The strategic focus on developing innovative lasers and photonic solutions to expand into medical micromachining and advanced applications bodes well for IPGP.
The company’s strategic expansion into the medical market has been a key catalyst. In the first quarter of 2026, IPGP reported significant year-over-year growth in medical revenues, driven by sales to a new customer and the continued delivery of clinically meaningful outcomes.
IPGP Expands Portfolio Through AcquisitionsIPGP’s expansion in the medical market through acquisitions and innovation has been noteworthy. In July 2026, the company announced a binding offer to acquire Lumibird Medical for €300 million, plus an earnout of up to €50 million, marking a significant expansion into higher-growth medical applications. The transaction combines IPGP's leadership in urology lasers with Lumibird Medical's strong ophthalmology franchise, creating a broader medical laser platform. The deal is expected to expand IPGP's addressable market by nearly $1 billion and be accretive to gross margin, EBITDA and adjusted earnings per share.
The acquisition reinforces IPGP's Advanced Solutions strategy, which targets approximately $5 billion in higher-growth medical, semiconductor, defense and scientific markets. The transaction broadens its healthcare portfolio, reduces reliance on cyclical industrial markets and accelerates its transition toward higher-value laser systems and application-specific solutions.
IPGP Benefits From Growing Medical & Semiconductor DemandThe Lumibird Medical acquisition builds on strong momentum in IPGP's medical business. A strong 2026 medical backlog and several expected product launches in 2026 and 2027 indicate continued momentum. The addition of Lumibird Medical's ophthalmology portfolio to the company's established urology business further expands its healthcare customer base and strengthens one of its fastest-growing end markets.
Beyond healthcare, IPGP continues to benefit from rising semiconductor demand driven by AI infrastructure investments, graphics processing unit (GPU) deployments and high-bandwidth memory production. The company is gaining traction with leading semiconductor equipment manufacturers across lithography, metrology and inspection applications, creating another long-term growth opportunity.
IPGP's Strong Q2 2026 OutlookIPGP's expanding medical business, improving semiconductor exposure and continued innovation across industrial laser applications position the company for sustained long-term growth.
For the second quarter of 2026, IPGP expects revenues to be between $260 and $290 million.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for second-quarter 2026 revenues is pegged at $279.17 million, indicating year-over-year growth of 11.35%.
The consensus estimate for second-quarter 2026 earnings is pegged at 40 cents per share, unchanged over the past 30 days, indicating year-over-year growth of 33.33%.
IPGP's Zacks Rank & Stocks to ConsiderCurrently, IPG Photonics carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold).
Digital Turbine (APPS - Free Report) , Dell Technologies (DELL - Free Report) and Analog Devices (ADI - Free Report) are some better-ranked stocks that investors can consider in the broader Zacks Computer and Technology sector. Digital Turbine, Dell Technologies and Analog Devices sport a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) each at present. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.
APPS shares have rallied 66.8% in the year-to-date period. The long-term earnings growth rate for Digital Turbine is pegged at 18.98%.
DELL shares have surged 203.3% in the year-to-date period. The long-term earnings growth rate for Dell Technologies is pegged at 26.35%.
Shares of ADI have gained 37.3% in the year-to-date period. The long-term earnings growth rate for Analog Devices is pegged at 28.76%.
All of a sudden, photonics seems to be one of the hottest fields among tech enthusiasts. Optical and photonics technology is massively important for AI applications that must field tremendous data throughput that exceeds the limits of traditional wiring. With photonics, data can be zipped through fiber-optic networks at far higher throughput than copper allows, with the added benefits of low latency and better energy efficiency.
Beyond its applications today, photonics may become even more important in the coming years. The reason for this is that many of the benefits that photonics technology provides to AI applications have the same value for quantum technology. For investors, an alternative to picking up pure-play quantum tech firms like IonQ Inc. NYSE: IONQ—even for all the many reasons these companies may appeal to those with a healthy appetite for risk—is to look at companies making photonics tools that could power next-gen quantum tech down the line.
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Lumentum's Major Rally May Pose Valuation Concerns, But Revenue Momentum Is RealLumentum Holdings Inc. NASDAQ: LITE is a photonic technologies firm that got off to a strong start to the year and done a fairly good job of maintaining that momentum. Overall, LITE stock has doubled year to date (YTD), despite some horizontal trading in the last several months.
Lumentum Today
$836.90 +71.35 (+9.32%)
As of 01:33 PM Eastern
This is a fair market value price provided by Massive. Learn more.
52-Week Range$97.55▼
$1,085.68P/E Ratio154.37
Price Target$1,012.67
While the massive rally has not helped alleviate concerns about Lumentum's valuation—the firm currently trades at nearly 142x earnings—analysts are still largely optimistic about its prospects going forward. Two-thirds of the 21 analyst ratings for LITE shares are Buys, and Wall Street anticipates more than 32% more in possible upside to come.
Lumentum's capacity to weather the storm in recent weeks, as AI stocks have taken a hit, is impressive but perhaps not surprising given the massive success the company has seen in recent periods. In the latest quarter, for example, Lumentum boosted revenue by about 90% year over year (YOY) to $808 million, with a strong non-GAAP operating margin coming in at 32.2% as well. Management expects another record quarter, with no signs of slowing sales momentum.
A Smaller Alternative That Has Room to GrowAt a $4-billion market cap, IPG Photonics Corp. NASDAQ: IPGP is just a fraction of the size of the $60-billion behemoth Lumentum, but that doesn't mean investors should overlook this fast-growing alternative. IPGP shares are up about 37% YTD as the firm reported a strong quarter earlier in the year. Q1 2026 revenue was $265 million, a 17% YOY improvement, and bookings improved as well. Adjusted earnings per share (EPS) of 29 cents more than tripled YOY, thanks in large part to the strength of IPG's industrial solutions business.
IPG Photonics Today
$103.30 +5.40 (+5.51%)
As of 01:32 PM Eastern
This is a fair market value price provided by Massive. Learn more.
52-Week Range$71.35▼
$155.82P/E Ratio149.43
Price Target$137.17
IPG has the benefit of multiple angles within the photonics space, and its products and services also cover medical, semiconductor, defense, and other applications. This helps make the firm resilient in the face of sector-wide turmoil, but it doesn't help IPG deal with ongoing tariff headwinds.
Nonetheless, a strong balance sheet including $813 million in cash and short-term investments as of the end of the last quarter should give IPG the necessary runway to continue to support expansion, which will be vital if the firm hopes to compete with larger players in the years to come. With only nine analyst ratings, IPGP shares are not nearly as well covered as rivals like LITE. However, two-thirds of analysts view IPGP stock as a Buy, with about 40% in predicted upside.
A Speculative Play With Big Defense PlansnLight Today
$75.33 +7.03 (+10.28%)
As of 01:32 PM Eastern
This is a fair market value price provided by Massive. Learn more.
52-Week Range$18.51▼
$86.95Price Target$80.94
nLight Inc. NASDAQ: LASR is comparable in size to IPG, though its 100% YTD return outshines its competitor's. This company reported 55% YOY revenue gains in the latest quarter, although at an absolute level, sales were much more modest: nLight saw $80.2 million in revenue for the period. Margins and adjusted EBITDA were also strong, a sign that the company should be able to continue strengthening its balance sheet.
As a pre-profit company, nLight necessarily carries a higher level of risk than the other firms on this list.
Still, a massive new contract with the Pentagon should help to firm up the company's defense-focused business for some time to come. Regardless, investors should view this play as more speculative than other photonics businesses.
That doesn't stop analysts from adopting a bullish viewpoint. LASR has 11 Buy ratings and a single Sell, and analysts see moderate upside even after its sizable rally YTD.
Should You Invest $1,000 in Lumentum Right Now?Before you consider Lumentum, you'll want to hear this.
MarketBeat keeps track of Wall Street's top-rated and best performing research analysts and the stocks they recommend to their clients on a daily basis. MarketBeat has identified the five stocks that top analysts are quietly whispering to their clients to buy now before the broader market catches on... and Lumentum wasn't on the list.
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Key Takeaways Tenet Healthcare reports Q2 results on July 24, with estimates calling for 1.5% EPS and 2.3% revenue growth.THC's Ambulatory Care business is expected to benefit from same-facility revenue growth and acquisitions.Tenet Healthcare faces pressure from lower patient days, shorter stays and higher costs. Hospital operator Tenet Healthcare Corporation (THC - Free Report) is set to report second-quarter 2026 results on July 24, 2026, before the opening bell. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for the to-be-reported quarter’s earnings is currently pegged at $4.08 per share on revenues of $5.39 billion.
The second-quarter earnings estimate has decreased 3 cents over the past 60 days. Yet, the bottom-line projection indicates a year-over-year increase of 1.5%. Also, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for quarterly revenues suggests year-over-year growth of 2.3%.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
For full-year 2026, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for Tenet Healthcare’s revenues is pegged at $21.98 billion, implying a rise of 3.1% year over year. The consensus mark for 2026 earnings per share is pegged at $17.50, indicating a jump of 4.3% on a year-over-year basis.
Tenet Healthcare beat the consensus estimate for earnings in each of the trailing four quarters, with the average surprise being 20.6%, as you can see below.
Q2 Earnings Whispers for THCHowever, our proven model does not conclusively predict an earnings beat for the company 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. That’s not the case here.
THC has an Earnings ESP of 0.00% and carries a Zacks Rank #4 (Sell). You can uncover the best stocks to buy or sell before they’re reported with our Earnings ESP Filter.
What’s Shaping THC’s Q2 Results?The Zacks Consensus Estimate for adjusted patient admissions in total hospital operations suggests a 2.2% year-over-year decline. However, on the same hospital basis, the consensus estimate for adjusted patient admissions indicates a 1% increase from a year ago. The consensus mark for net patient revenues per adjusted admission in the second quarter signals a 10.2% year-over-year increase.
Meanwhile, the Ambulatory Care business is likely to have gained from strong growth in consolidated same-facility net patient service revenues, contributions from facility acquisitions and an expansion of service lines. Our model estimate for the Ambulatory Care segment’s net operating revenues suggests 7.8% growth from the prior-year quarter’s figure, whereas the consensus estimate indicates an 8.4% increase. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for adjusted EBITDA from Ambulatory Care operations suggests 5.1% year-over-year growth.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Hospital Operations and Services revenues for the second quarter is pegged at just a little over $4 billion, indicating a 0.1% increase from the year-ago period. However, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for adjusted EBITDA from the segment suggests a 2.8% year-over-year fall.
Both the consensus estimate and our model estimate suggest that second-quarter total hospital patient days have decreased 3% year over year. Both the Zacks Consensus Estimate and our model estimate for the average length of stay in total hospital indicate a 0.2% decrease from a year ago. Also, with increased utilization, costs are expected to have increased in the second quarter, making an earnings beat uncertain.
Stocks That Warrant a LookWhile an earnings beat looks uncertain for Tenet Healthcare, here are some companies from the broader Medical space that you may want to consider, as our model shows that these have the right combination of elements to post an earnings beat this time around:
ProMIS Neurosciences, Inc. (PMN - Free Report) has an Earnings ESP of +13.30% and a Zacks Rank #2. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for ProMIS’ bottom line for the to-be-reported quarter of a loss of $1.45 indicates an 80% year-over-year improvement. It has witnessed one upward revision against no downward movement over the past 60 days.
Alcon Inc. (ALC - Free Report) has an Earnings ESP of +3.13% and a Zacks Rank of 2.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Alcon’s bottom line for the to-be-reported quarter indicates a 1.3% increase from a year ago. The company’s earnings beat estimates in three of the trailing four quarters and missed once, with an average surprise of 3.7%. The consensus estimate for ALC’s revenues is pegged at $2.77 billion, signaling a 7.3% increase.
Cardinal Health, Inc. (CAH - Free Report) has an Earnings ESP of +1.24% and a Zacks Rank of 2.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Cardinal Health’s bottom line for the to-be-reported quarter suggests 16.4% year-over-year growth. Its earnings beat estimates in each of the past four quarters, with an average surprise of 10.3%. CAH’s revenues for the to-be-reported quarter are pegged at $65.61 billion, a 9.1% increase from the year-ago period.
Viper Energy offers a compelling royalty model, strong cash flow, and shareholder-friendly capital returns, but current valuation limits its appeal. VNOM trades at 17x forward earnings with a 5%+ yield, but peers like Black Stone Minerals and Dorchester Minerals offer higher yields and cheaper multiples. Recent asset sales improved VNOM's balance sheet, enabling debt reduction, dividend hikes, and aggressive buybacks, but production growth appears well priced in.
NEW YORK, July 21, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Pomerantz LLP is investigating claims on behalf of investors of Certara, Inc. (“Certara” or the “Company”) (NASDAQ: CERT). Such investors are advised to contact Danielle Peyton at [email protected] or 646-581-9980, ext. 7980.
The investigation concerns whether Certara and certain of its officers and/or directors have engaged in securities fraud or other unlawful business practices.
[Click here for information about joining the class action]
On May 11, 2026, Certara reported its first quarter 2026 financial results. Certara disclosed that services revenue declined 4% year-over-year to $57.2 million, while services bookings declined 14% year-over-year to $66.6 million. In discussing the quarter, Certara said that it saw “softer performance from Tier 1 customers in MIDD services” and that services performance was “mixed.” The Company also announced its exit from the regulatory business in their service segment. I n response to a question about consistency between software and services performance, Certara said that there had been “a lot of inconsistency and back and forth” over the last few quarters.
On this news, Certara’s stock price fell $1.18 per share, or approximately 19%, to close at $5.13 on May 11, 2026.
Then, on June 17, 2026, Certara announced that John Gallagher, the Company’s Chief Financial Officer, had notified Certara of his intent to resign from his office effective as of the end of the day on July 14, 2026.
On this news, Certara’s stock price fell $0.49 per share, or 8.13%, to close at $5.54 per share on June 18, 2026.
Pomerantz LLP, with offices in New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, London, Paris, and Tel Aviv, is acknowledged as one of the premier firms in the areas of corporate, securities, and antitrust class litigation. Founded by the late Abraham L. Pomerantz, known as the dean of the class action bar, Pomerantz pioneered the field of securities class actions. Today, more than 85 years later, Pomerantz continues in the tradition he established, fighting for the rights of the victims of securities fraud, breaches of fiduciary duty, and corporate misconduct. The Firm has recovered numerous multimillion-dollar damages awards on behalf of class members. See www.pomlaw.com.
Attorney advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes.
Investors looking for stocks in the Technology Services sector might want to consider either Duolingo, Inc. (DUOL - Free Report) or Amplitude, Inc. (AMPL - Free Report) . But which of these two stocks is more attractive to value investors? We'll need to take a closer look to find out.
There are plenty of strategies for discovering value stocks, but we have found that pairing a strong Zacks Rank with an impressive grade in the Value category of our Style Scores system produces the best returns. The Zacks Rank is a proven strategy that targets companies with positive earnings estimate revision trends, while our Style Scores work to grade companies based on specific traits.
Currently, Duolingo, Inc. has a Zacks Rank of #2 (Buy), while Amplitude, Inc. has a Zacks Rank of #3 (Hold). This means that DUOL's earnings estimate revision activity has been more impressive, so investors should feel comfortable with its improving analyst outlook. But this is only part of the picture for value investors.
Value investors also try to analyze a wide range of traditional figures and metrics to help determine whether a company is undervalued at its current share price levels.
The Style Score Value grade factors in a variety of key fundamental metrics, including the popular P/E ratio, P/S ratio, earnings yield, cash flow per share, and a number of other key stats that are commonly used by value investors.
DUOL currently has a forward P/E ratio of 47.70, while AMPL has a forward P/E of 208.51. We also note that DUOL has a PEG ratio of 1.02. This figure is similar to the commonly-used P/E ratio, with the PEG ratio also factoring in a company's expected earnings growth rate. AMPL currently has a PEG ratio of 5.02.
Another notable valuation metric for DUOL is its P/B ratio of 4.51. The P/B is a method of comparing a stock's market value to its book value, which is defined as total assets minus total liabilities. By comparison, AMPL has a P/B of 4.69.
These metrics, and several others, help DUOL earn a Value grade of B, while AMPL has been given a Value grade of D.
DUOL has seen stronger estimate revision activity and sports more attractive valuation metrics than AMPL, so it seems like value investors will conclude that DUOL is the superior option right now.
NEW YORK, July 21, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Pomerantz LLP is investigating claims on behalf of investors of Elastic N.V. (“Elastic” or the “Company”) (NYSE: ESTC). Such investors are advised to contact Danielle Peyton at [email protected] or 646-581-9980, ext. 7980.
The investigation concerns whether Elastic and certain of its officers and/or directors have engaged in securities fraud or other unlawful business practices.
[Click here for information about joining the class action]
On June 24, 2026, Elastic disclosed in a filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) that, in connection with “a plan . . . intended to simplify team structures, reduce organizational complexity, improve decision-making speed, reallocate resources towards key growth areas, and invest in the skills and capabilities needed to support the Company's ongoing growth”, Elastic “expects to reduce its workforce by approximately 7%.” The Company said that it “expects to incur total non-recurring cash charges of approximately $22 million to $25 million under the plan, which will primarily consist of employee-related costs, including severance and other termination benefits.” In the same press release, Elastic disclosed that “Ken Exner, the Company’s Chief Product Officer, notified the Company of his decision to resign from his position as Chief Product Officer”, effective July 17, 2026.
On this news, Elastic’s stock price fell $5.11 per share, or 8.7%, to close at $53.60 per share on June 25, 2026.
Pomerantz LLP, with offices in New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, London, Paris, and Tel Aviv, is acknowledged as one of the premier firms in the areas of corporate, securities, and antitrust class litigation. Founded by the late Abraham L. Pomerantz, known as the dean of the class action bar, Pomerantz pioneered the field of securities class actions. Today, more than 85 years later, Pomerantz continues in the tradition he established, fighting for the rights of the victims of securities fraud, breaches of fiduciary duty, and corporate misconduct. The Firm has recovered numerous multimillion-dollar damages awards on behalf of class members. See www.pomlaw.com.
Attorney advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes.
The market expects Hanover Insurance Group (THG - Free Report) to deliver a year-over-year decline in earnings on higher revenues when it reports results for the quarter ended June 2026. This widely-known consensus outlook is important in assessing the company's earnings picture, but a powerful factor that might influence its near-term stock price is how the actual results compare to these estimates.
The earnings report, which is expected to be released on July 28, might help the stock move higher if these key numbers are better than expectations. On the other hand, if they miss, the stock may move lower.
While the sustainability of the immediate price change and future earnings expectations will mostly depend on management's discussion of business conditions on the earnings call, it's worth handicapping the probability of a positive EPS surprise.
Zacks Consensus EstimateThis insurance company is expected to post quarterly earnings of $3.88 per share in its upcoming report, which represents a year-over-year change of -10.8%.
Revenues are expected to be $1.73 billion, up 4.4% from the year-ago quarter.
Estimate Revisions TrendThe consensus EPS estimate for the quarter has been revised 0.25% lower over the last 30 days to the current level. This is essentially a reflection of how the covering analysts have collectively reassessed their initial estimates over this period.
Investors should keep in mind that an aggregate change may not always reflect the direction of estimate revisions by each of the covering analysts.
Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise
Earnings WhisperEstimate revisions ahead of a company's earnings release offer clues to the business conditions for the period whose results are coming out. Our proprietary surprise prediction model -- the Zacks Earnings ESP (Expected Surprise Prediction) -- has this insight at its core.
The Zacks Earnings ESP compares the Most Accurate Estimate to the Zacks Consensus Estimate for the quarter; the Most Accurate Estimate is a more recent version of the Zacks Consensus EPS estimate. The idea here is that analysts revising their estimates right before an earnings release have the latest information, which could potentially be more accurate than what they and others contributing to the consensus had predicted earlier.
Thus, a positive or negative Earnings ESP reading theoretically indicates the likely deviation of the actual earnings from the consensus estimate. However, the model's predictive power is significant for positive ESP readings only.
A positive Earnings ESP is a strong predictor of an earnings beat, particularly when combined with a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), 2 (Buy) or 3 (Hold). Our research shows that stocks with this combination produce a positive surprise nearly 70% of the time, and a solid Zacks Rank actually increases the predictive power of Earnings ESP.
Please note that a negative Earnings ESP reading is not indicative of an earnings miss. Our research shows that it is difficult to predict an earnings beat with any degree of confidence for stocks with negative Earnings ESP readings and/or Zacks Rank of 4 (Sell) or 5 (Strong Sell).
How Have the Numbers Shaped Up for Hanover Insurance?For Hanover Insurance, the Most Accurate Estimate is higher than the Zacks Consensus Estimate, suggesting that analysts have recently become bullish on the company's earnings prospects. This has resulted in an Earnings ESP of +2.39%.
On the other hand, the stock currently carries a Zacks Rank of #2.
So, this combination indicates that Hanover Insurance will most likely beat the consensus EPS estimate.
Does Earnings Surprise History Hold Any Clue?Analysts often consider to what extent a company has been able to match consensus estimates in the past while calculating their estimates for its future earnings. So, it's worth taking a look at the surprise history for gauging its influence on the upcoming number.
For the last reported quarter, it was expected that Hanover Insurance would post earnings of $4.14 per share when it actually produced earnings of $5.25, delivering a surprise of +26.81%.
Over the last four quarters, the company has beaten consensus EPS estimates four times.
Bottom LineAn earnings beat or miss may not be the sole basis for a stock moving higher or lower. Many stocks end up losing ground despite an earnings beat due to other factors that disappoint investors. Similarly, unforeseen catalysts help a number of stocks gain despite an earnings miss.
That said, betting on stocks that are expected to beat earnings expectations does increase the odds of success. This is why it's worth checking a company's Earnings ESP and Zacks Rank ahead of its quarterly release. Make sure to utilize our Earnings ESP Filter to uncover the best stocks to buy or sell before they've reported.
Hanover Insurance appears a compelling earnings-beat candidate. However, investors should pay attention to other factors too for betting on this stock or staying away from it ahead of its earnings release.
An Industry Player's Expected ResultsKinsale Capital Group, Inc. (KNSL - Free Report) , another stock in the Zacks Insurance - Property and Casualty industry, is expected to report earnings per share of $5.09 for the quarter ended June 2026. This estimate points to a year-over-year change of +6.5%. Revenues for the quarter are expected to be $475.6 million, up 1.2% from the year-ago quarter.
The consensus EPS estimate for Kinsale Capital Group has remained unchanged over the last 30 days. However, a higher Most Accurate Estimate has resulted in an Earnings ESP of +1.33%.
This Earnings ESP, combined with its Zacks Rank #3 (Hold), suggests that Kinsale Capital Group will most likely beat the consensus EPS estimate. The company beat consensus EPS estimates in each of the trailing four quarters.
Stay on top of upcoming earnings announcements with the Zacks Earnings Calendar.
New York, New York--(Newsfile Corp. - July 21, 2026) - Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC, a nationally recognized investor-rights law firm, announces that a class action lawsuit has been filed against Badger Meter, Inc. (NYSE: BMI) and certain of its officers.
This lawsuit seeks to recover damages against Defendants for alleged violations of the federal securities laws on behalf of all persons and entities that purchased or otherwise acquired Badger Meter securities between April 18, 2024 and April 16, 2026, both dates inclusive (the "Class Period"). Such investors are encouraged to join this case by visiting the firm's site: bgandg.com/BMI.
Badger Meter Case Details
The Complaint alleges that, throughout the Class Period, Defendants made materially false and misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that:
the Company's reported strong financial results did not reflect "ongoing favorable industry trends," "secular growth drivers," or "solid operating execution," as represented, but were instead unsustainable; Defendants' statements touting "strong" demand, "robust order pacing," and a "strong bid pipeline" overstated the true state of the Company's demand environment and ability to generate continued sales and earnings growth; and contrary to Defendants' claims that the Company possessed a "long runway" for growth, the Company's growth prospects were materially overstated, such that Defendants lacked a reasonable basis for their positive statements about the Company's business, operations, and future prospects.What's Next for Badger Meter Investors?
A class action lawsuit has already been filed. If you wish to review a copy of the Complaint, you can visit the firm's site: bgandg.com/BMI, or you may contact Peretz Bronstein, Esq. or his Client Relations Manager, Nathan Miller, of Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC at 917-590-0911. If you suffered a loss in Badger Meter you have until August 3, 2026, to request that the Court appoint you as lead plaintiff. Your ability to share in any recovery doesn't require that you serve as lead plaintiff.
No Cost to Badger Meter Investors
We, Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman LLC, represent investors in class actions on a contingency fee basis. That means we will ask the court to reimburse us for out-of-pocket expenses and attorneys' fees, usually a percentage of the total recovery, only if we are successful.
Why Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC for Badger Meter Securities Class Action?
Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC is a nationally recognized firm that represents investors in securities fraud class actions and shareholder derivative suits. Our firm has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for investors nationwide. More at www.bgandg.com
"Our practice centers on restoring investor capital and ensuring corporate accountability, which serves to uphold the essential integrity of the marketplace," said Peretz Bronstein, Founding Partner of Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC.
Follow us for updates on LinkedIn, X, Facebook, or Instagram.
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Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes.
To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/300227
Source: Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC
Ready to Announce with Confidence? Send us a message and a member of our TMX Newsfile team will contact you to discuss your needs.
, /PRNewswire/ -- Glancy Prongay Wolke & Rotter LLP announces that investors with losses have opportunity to lead the securities fraud class action lawsuit against Badger Meter, Inc. ("Badger Meter" or the "Company") (NYSE:BMI).
IF YOU SUFFERED A LOSS ON YOUR BADGER METER INVESTMENTS, CLICK HERE BEFORE AUGUST 3, 2026 (LEAD PLAINTIFF DEADLINE) TO PARTICIPATE IN THE SECURITIES FRAUD LAWSUIT
What Is The Lawsuit About?
The complaint filed alleges that, between April 18, 2024 and April 16, 2026, Defendants failed to disclose to investors that: (1) Badger Meter's financial results during the Class Period were at least partially attributable to the Company's practice of pulling-forward customer orders to recognize revenue early, which concealed weakening demand and deteriorating near-term order trends; (2) this practice also depleted revenue otherwise available for future periods, ultimately causing the disappointing financial results the Company later reported; and (3) as a result, Defendants' positive statements about the Company's business, operations, and prospects were materially misleading and/or lacked a reasonable basis at all relevant times.
Contact Us To Participate or Learn More:
If you wish to learn more about this action, or if you have any questions concerning this announcement or your rights or interests with respect to these matters, please contact us.
Charles Linehan, Esq.,
Glancy Prongay Wolke & Rotter LLP,
1925 Century Park East, Suite 2100,
Los Angeles California 90067
Email: [email protected]
Telephone: 310-201-9150 (Toll-Free: 888-773-9224)
Visit our website at www.glancylaw.com.
Follow us for updates on LinkedIn, Twitter, or Facebook.
If you inquire by email, please include your mailing address, telephone number and number of shares purchased.
To be a member of the class action you need not take any action at this time; you may retain counsel of your choice or take no action and remain an absent member of the class action.
This press release may be considered Attorney Advertising in some jurisdictions under the applicable law and ethical rules.
Contact Us:
Glancy Prongay Wolke & Rotter LLP,
1925 Century Park East, Suite 2100,
Los Angeles, CA 90067
Charles Linehan
Email: [email protected]
Telephone: 310-201-9150
Toll-Free: 888-773-9224
Visit our website at: www.glancylaw.com.
NEW YORK, July 21, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC, a nationally recognized investor-rights law firm, announces that a class action lawsuit has been filed against Badger Meter, Inc. (NYSE: BMI) and certain of its officers.
This lawsuit seeks to recover damages against Defendants for alleged violations of the federal securities laws on behalf of all persons and entities that purchased or otherwise acquired Badger Meter securities between April 18, 2024 and April 16, 2026, both dates inclusive (the “Class Period”). Such investors are encouraged to join this case by visiting the firm’s site: bgandg.com/BMI.
Badger Meter Case Details
The Complaint alleges that, throughout the Class Period, Defendants made materially false and misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that:
(1) the Company’s reported strong financial results did not reflect “ongoing favorable industry trends,” “secular growth drivers,” or “solid operating execution,” as represented, but were instead unsustainable; (2) Defendants’ statements touting “strong” demand, “robust order pacing,” and a “strong bid pipeline” overstated the true state of the Company’s demand environment and ability to generate continued sales and earnings growth; and (3) contrary to Defendants’ claims that the Company possessed a “long runway” for growth, the Company’s growth prospects were materially overstated, such that Defendants lacked a reasonable basis for their positive statements about the Company’s business, operations, and future prospects.
What's Next for Badger Meter Investors?
A class action lawsuit has already been filed. If you wish to review a copy of the Complaint, you can visit the firm’s site: bgandg.com/BMI. or you may contact Peretz Bronstein, Esq. or his Client Relations Manager, Nathan Miller, of Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC at 917-590-0911. If you suffered a loss in Badger Meter you have until August 3, 2026, to request that the Court appoint you as lead plaintiff. Your ability to share in any recovery doesn't require that you serve as lead plaintiff.
No Cost to Badger Meter Investors
We, Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman LLC, represent investors in class actions on a contingency fee basis. That means we will ask the court to reimburse us for out-of-pocket expenses and attorneys’ fees, usually a percentage of the total recovery, only if we are successful.
Why Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC for Badger Meter Securities Class Action?
Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC is a nationally recognized firm that represents investors in securities fraud class actions and shareholder derivative suits. Our firm has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for investors nationwide. More at www.bgandg.com
"Our practice centers on restoring investor capital and ensuring corporate accountability, which serves to uphold the essential integrity of the marketplace," said Peretz Bronstein, Founding Partner of Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC.
Follow us for updates on LinkedIn, X, Facebook, or Instagram.
Contact Info
Peretz Bronstein, Esq. or Nathan Miller
Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC
917-590-0911 | [email protected]
Attorney advertising.
Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes.
NEW YORK, July 21, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Pomerantz LLP announces that a class action lawsuit has been filed against Badger Meter, Inc. (“Badger Meter” or the “Company”) (NYSE: BMI). Such investors are advised to contact Danielle Peyton at [email protected] or 646-581-9980, (or 888.4-POMLAW), toll-free, Ext. 7980. Those who inquire by e-mail are encouraged to include their mailing address, telephone number, and the number of shares purchased.
The class action concerns whether Badger Meter and certain of its officers and/or directors have engaged in securities fraud or other unlawful business practices.
You have until August 3, 2026, to ask the Court to appoint you as Lead Plaintiff for the class if you purchased or otherwise acquired Badger Meter securities during the Class Period. A copy of the Complaint can be obtained at www.pomerantzlaw.com.
[Click here for information about joining the class action]
On April 17, 2026, Badger Meter reported its first quarter 2026 financial results. Among other items, Badger Meter reported earnings per share of $0.93, missing consensus estimates by $0.26, and revenue of $202.03 million, missing consensus estimates by $28.58 million. Badger Meter disclosed that its utility water sales declined 10% year-over-year, reflecting project timing and softer short cycle municipal customer ordering.
On this news, Badger Meter’s stock price fell $36.75 per share, or 24.13%, to close at $115.54 per share on April 17, 2026.
Pomerantz LLP, with offices in New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, London, Paris, and Tel Aviv, is acknowledged as one of the premier firms in the areas of corporate, securities, and antitrust class litigation. Founded by the late Abraham L. Pomerantz, known as the dean of the class action bar, Pomerantz pioneered the field of securities class actions. Today, more than 85 years later, Pomerantz continues in the tradition he established, fighting for the rights of the victims of securities fraud, breaches of fiduciary duty, and corporate misconduct. The Firm has recovered numerous multimillion-dollar damages awards on behalf of class members. See www.pomlaw.com.
Attorney advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes.
Wall Street expects a year-over-year increase in earnings on higher revenues when Teradyne (TER - Free Report) reports results for the quarter ended June 2026. While this widely-known consensus outlook is important in gauging the company's earnings picture, a powerful factor that could impact its near-term stock price is how the actual results compare to these estimates.
The earnings report, which is expected to be released on July 28, might help the stock move higher if these key numbers are better than expectations. On the other hand, if they miss, the stock may move lower.
While management's discussion of business conditions on the earnings call will mostly determine the sustainability of the immediate price change and future earnings expectations, it's worth having a handicapping insight into the odds of a positive EPS surprise.
Zacks Consensus EstimateThis maker of wireless products, data storage and equipment to test semiconductors is expected to post quarterly earnings of $2.04 per share in its upcoming report, which represents a year-over-year change of +257.9%.
Revenues are expected to be $1.22 billion, up 86.4% from the year-ago quarter.
Estimate Revisions TrendThe consensus EPS estimate for the quarter has remained unchanged over the last 30 days. This is essentially a reflection of how the covering analysts have collectively reassessed their initial estimates over this period.
Investors should keep in mind that the direction of estimate revisions by each of the covering analysts may not always get reflected in the aggregate change.
Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise
Earnings WhisperEstimate revisions ahead of a company's earnings release offer clues to the business conditions for the period whose results are coming out. Our proprietary surprise prediction model -- the Zacks Earnings ESP (Expected Surprise Prediction) -- has this insight at its core.
The Zacks Earnings ESP compares the Most Accurate Estimate to the Zacks Consensus Estimate for the quarter; the Most Accurate Estimate is a more recent version of the Zacks Consensus EPS estimate. The idea here is that analysts revising their estimates right before an earnings release have the latest information, which could potentially be more accurate than what they and others contributing to the consensus had predicted earlier.
Thus, a positive or negative Earnings ESP reading theoretically indicates the likely deviation of the actual earnings from the consensus estimate. However, the model's predictive power is significant for positive ESP readings only.
A positive Earnings ESP is a strong predictor of an earnings beat, particularly when combined with a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), 2 (Buy) or 3 (Hold). Our research shows that stocks with this combination produce a positive surprise nearly 70% of the time, and a solid Zacks Rank actually increases the predictive power of Earnings ESP.
Please note that a negative Earnings ESP reading is not indicative of an earnings miss. Our research shows that it is difficult to predict an earnings beat with any degree of confidence for stocks with negative Earnings ESP readings and/or Zacks Rank of 4 (Sell) or 5 (Strong Sell).
How Have the Numbers Shaped Up for Teradyne?For Teradyne, the Most Accurate Estimate is higher than the Zacks Consensus Estimate, suggesting that analysts have recently become bullish on the company's earnings prospects. This has resulted in an Earnings ESP of +0.59%.
On the other hand, the stock currently carries a Zacks Rank of #2.
So, this combination indicates that Teradyne will most likely beat the consensus EPS estimate.
Does Earnings Surprise History Hold Any Clue?While calculating estimates for a company's future earnings, analysts often consider to what extent it has been able to match past consensus estimates. So, it's worth taking a look at the surprise history for gauging its influence on the upcoming number.
For the last reported quarter, it was expected that Teradyne would post earnings of $2.11 per share when it actually produced earnings of $2.56, delivering a surprise of +21.33%.
Over the last four quarters, the company has beaten consensus EPS estimates four times.
Bottom LineAn earnings beat or miss may not be the sole basis for a stock moving higher or lower. Many stocks end up losing ground despite an earnings beat due to other factors that disappoint investors. Similarly, unforeseen catalysts help a number of stocks gain despite an earnings miss.
That said, betting on stocks that are expected to beat earnings expectations does increase the odds of success. This is why it's worth checking a company's Earnings ESP and Zacks Rank ahead of its quarterly release. Make sure to utilize our Earnings ESP Filter to uncover the best stocks to buy or sell before they've reported.
Teradyne appears a compelling earnings-beat candidate. However, investors should pay attention to other factors too for betting on this stock or staying away from it ahead of its earnings release.
Stay on top of upcoming earnings announcements with the Zacks Earnings Calendar.
Momentum investing is all about the idea of following a stock's recent trend, which can be in either direction. In the "long context," investors will essentially be "buying high, but hoping to sell even higher." And for investors following this methodology, taking advantage of trends in a stock's price is key; once a stock establishes a course, it is more than likely to continue moving in that direction. The goal is that once a stock heads down a fixed path, it will lead to timely and profitable trades.
Even though momentum is a popular stock characteristic, it can be tough to define. Debate surrounding which are the best and worst metrics to focus on is lengthy, but the Zacks Momentum Style Score, part of the Zacks Style Scores, helps address this issue for us.
Below, we take a look at Genworth Financial (GNW - Free Report) , which currently has a Momentum Style Score of B. We also discuss some of the main drivers of the Momentum Style Score, like price change and earnings estimate revisions.
It's also important to note that Style Scores work as a complement to the Zacks Rank, our stock rating system that has an impressive track record of outperformance. Genworth Financial currently has a Zacks Rank of #2 (Buy). Our research shows that stocks rated Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) and #2 (Buy) and Style Scores of "A or B" outperform the market over the following one-month period.
You can see the current list of Zacks #1 Rank Stocks here >>>
Set to Beat the Market?Let's discuss some of the components of the Momentum Style Score for GNW that show why this financial services company shows promise as a solid momentum pick.
Looking at a stock's short-term price activity is a great way to gauge if it has momentum, since this can reflect both the current interest in a stock and if buyers or sellers have the upper hand at the moment. It is also useful to compare a security to its industry, as this can help investors pinpoint the top companies in a particular area.
For GNW, shares are up 9.67% over the past week while the Zacks Insurance - Life Insurance industry is up 2.22% over the same time period. Shares are looking quite well from a longer time frame too, as the monthly price change of 12.98% compares favorably with the industry's 5.35% performance as well.
While any stock can see a spike in price, it takes a real winner to consistently outperform the market. Shares of Genworth Financial have increased 13.48% over the past quarter, and have gained 36.67% in the last year. In comparison, the S&P 500 has only moved 4.95% and 19.48%, respectively.
Investors should also take note of GNW's average 20-day trading volume. Volume is a useful item in many ways, and the 20-day average establishes a good price-to-volume baseline; a rising stock with above average volume is generally a bullish sign, whereas a declining stock on above average volume is typically bearish. Right now GNW is averaging 2,959,660 shares for the last 20 days..
Earnings OutlookThe Zacks Momentum Style Score encompasses many things, including estimate revisions and a stock's price movement. Investors should note that earnings estimates are also significant to the Zacks Rank, and a nice path here can be promising. We have recently been noticing this with GNW.
Over the past two months, 1 earnings estimate moved higher compared to none lower for the full year. This revision helped boost GNW's consensus estimate, increasing from $0.44 to $1.10 in the past 60 days. Looking at the next fiscal year, 1 estimate has moved upwards while there have been no downward revisions in the same time period.
Bottom LineTaking into account all of these elements, it should come as no surprise that GNW is a #2 (Buy) stock with a Momentum Score of B. If you've been searching for a fresh pick that's set to rise in the near-term, make sure to keep Genworth Financial on your short list.
The market expects Landstar System (LSTR - Free Report) to deliver a year-over-year increase in earnings on higher revenues when it reports results for the quarter ended June 2026. This widely-known consensus outlook is important in assessing the company's earnings picture, but a powerful factor that might influence its near-term stock price is how the actual results compare to these estimates.
The earnings report, which is expected to be released on July 28, might help the stock move higher if these key numbers are better than expectations. On the other hand, if they miss, the stock may move lower.
While management's discussion of business conditions on the earnings call will mostly determine the sustainability of the immediate price change and future earnings expectations, it's worth having a handicapping insight into the odds of a positive EPS surprise.
Zacks Consensus EstimateThis freight shipper and warehouser is expected to post quarterly earnings of $1.42 per share in its upcoming report, which represents a year-over-year change of +18.3%.
Revenues are expected to be $1.32 billion, up 9.2% from the year-ago quarter.
Estimate Revisions TrendThe consensus EPS estimate for the quarter has been revised 4.9% higher over the last 30 days to the current level. This is essentially a reflection of how the covering analysts have collectively reassessed their initial estimates over this period.
Investors should keep in mind that an aggregate change may not always reflect the direction of estimate revisions by each of the covering analysts.
Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise
Earnings WhisperEstimate revisions ahead of a company's earnings release offer clues to the business conditions for the period whose results are coming out. This insight is at the core of our proprietary surprise prediction model -- the Zacks Earnings ESP (Expected Surprise Prediction).
The Zacks Earnings ESP compares the Most Accurate Estimate to the Zacks Consensus Estimate for the quarter; the Most Accurate Estimate is a more recent version of the Zacks Consensus EPS estimate. The idea here is that analysts revising their estimates right before an earnings release have the latest information, which could potentially be more accurate than what they and others contributing to the consensus had predicted earlier.
Thus, a positive or negative Earnings ESP reading theoretically indicates the likely deviation of the actual earnings from the consensus estimate. However, the model's predictive power is significant for positive ESP readings only.
A positive Earnings ESP is a strong predictor of an earnings beat, particularly when combined with a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), 2 (Buy) or 3 (Hold). Our research shows that stocks with this combination produce a positive surprise nearly 70% of the time, and a solid Zacks Rank actually increases the predictive power of Earnings ESP.
Please note that a negative Earnings ESP reading is not indicative of an earnings miss. Our research shows that it is difficult to predict an earnings beat with any degree of confidence for stocks with negative Earnings ESP readings and/or Zacks Rank of 4 (Sell) or 5 (Strong Sell).
How Have the Numbers Shaped Up for Landstar?For Landstar, the Most Accurate Estimate is lower than the Zacks Consensus Estimate, suggesting that analysts have recently become bearish on the company's earnings prospects. This has resulted in an Earnings ESP of -0.66%.
On the other hand, the stock currently carries a Zacks Rank of #3.
So, this combination makes it difficult to conclusively predict that Landstar will beat the consensus EPS estimate.
Does Earnings Surprise History Hold Any Clue?Analysts often consider to what extent a company has been able to match consensus estimates in the past while calculating their estimates for its future earnings. So, it's worth taking a look at the surprise history for gauging its influence on the upcoming number.
For the last reported quarter, it was expected that Landstar would post earnings of $1.11 per share when it actually produced earnings of $1.16, delivering a surprise of +4.50%.
Over the last four quarters, the company has beaten consensus EPS estimates three times.
Bottom LineAn earnings beat or miss may not be the sole basis for a stock moving higher or lower. Many stocks end up losing ground despite an earnings beat due to other factors that disappoint investors. Similarly, unforeseen catalysts help a number of stocks gain despite an earnings miss.
That said, betting on stocks that are expected to beat earnings expectations does increase the odds of success. This is why it's worth checking a company's Earnings ESP and Zacks Rank ahead of its quarterly release. Make sure to utilize our Earnings ESP Filter to uncover the best stocks to buy or sell before they've reported.
Landstar doesn't appear a compelling earnings-beat candidate. However, investors should pay attention to other factors too for betting on this stock or staying away from it ahead of its earnings release.
Stay on top of upcoming earnings announcements with the Zacks Earnings Calendar.
Wall Street expects a year-over-year decline in earnings on higher revenues when Ashland (ASH - Free Report) reports results for the quarter ended June 2026. While this widely-known consensus outlook is important in gauging the company's earnings picture, a powerful factor that could impact its near-term stock price is how the actual results compare to these estimates.
The stock might move higher if these key numbers top expectations in the upcoming earnings report, which is expected to be released on July 28. On the other hand, if they miss, the stock may move lower.
While management's discussion of business conditions on the earnings call will mostly determine the sustainability of the immediate price change and future earnings expectations, it's worth having a handicapping insight into the odds of a positive EPS surprise.
Zacks Consensus EstimateThis chemical company is expected to post quarterly earnings of $1.03 per share in its upcoming report, which represents a year-over-year change of -1%.
Revenues are expected to be $486.24 million, up 5% from the year-ago quarter.
Estimate Revisions TrendThe consensus EPS estimate for the quarter has been revised 1.55% higher over the last 30 days to the current level. This is essentially a reflection of how the covering analysts have collectively reassessed their initial estimates over this period.
Investors should keep in mind that the direction of estimate revisions by each of the covering analysts may not always get reflected in the aggregate change.
Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise
Earnings WhisperEstimate revisions ahead of a company's earnings release offer clues to the business conditions for the period whose results are coming out. Our proprietary surprise prediction model -- the Zacks Earnings ESP (Expected Surprise Prediction) -- has this insight at its core.
The Zacks Earnings ESP compares the Most Accurate Estimate to the Zacks Consensus Estimate for the quarter; the Most Accurate Estimate is a more recent version of the Zacks Consensus EPS estimate. The idea here is that analysts revising their estimates right before an earnings release have the latest information, which could potentially be more accurate than what they and others contributing to the consensus had predicted earlier.
Thus, a positive or negative Earnings ESP reading theoretically indicates the likely deviation of the actual earnings from the consensus estimate. However, the model's predictive power is significant for positive ESP readings only.
A positive Earnings ESP is a strong predictor of an earnings beat, particularly when combined with a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), 2 (Buy) or 3 (Hold). Our research shows that stocks with this combination produce a positive surprise nearly 70% of the time, and a solid Zacks Rank actually increases the predictive power of Earnings ESP.
Please note that a negative Earnings ESP reading is not indicative of an earnings miss. Our research shows that it is difficult to predict an earnings beat with any degree of confidence for stocks with negative Earnings ESP readings and/or Zacks Rank of 4 (Sell) or 5 (Strong Sell).
How Have the Numbers Shaped Up for Ashland?For Ashland, the Most Accurate Estimate is higher than the Zacks Consensus Estimate, suggesting that analysts have recently become bullish on the company's earnings prospects. This has resulted in an Earnings ESP of +3.47%.
On the other hand, the stock currently carries a Zacks Rank of #3.
So, this combination indicates that Ashland will most likely beat the consensus EPS estimate.
Does Earnings Surprise History Hold Any Clue?While calculating estimates for a company's future earnings, analysts often consider to what extent it has been able to match past consensus estimates. So, it's worth taking a look at the surprise history for gauging its influence on the upcoming number.
For the last reported quarter, it was expected that Ashland would post earnings of $0.97 per share when it actually produced earnings of $0.91, delivering a surprise of -6.19%.
Over the last four quarters, the company has beaten consensus EPS estimates just once.
Bottom LineAn earnings beat or miss may not be the sole basis for a stock moving higher or lower. Many stocks end up losing ground despite an earnings beat due to other factors that disappoint investors. Similarly, unforeseen catalysts help a number of stocks gain despite an earnings miss.
That said, betting on stocks that are expected to beat earnings expectations does increase the odds of success. This is why it's worth checking a company's Earnings ESP and Zacks Rank ahead of its quarterly release. Make sure to utilize our Earnings ESP Filter to uncover the best stocks to buy or sell before they've reported.
Ashland appears a compelling earnings-beat candidate. However, investors should pay attention to other factors too for betting on this stock or staying away from it ahead of its earnings release.
Stay on top of upcoming earnings announcements with the Zacks Earnings Calendar.
Magnolia Oil & Gas Corporation (NYSE: MGY) shares fell about 3% on Tuesday after the company announced a definitive agreement to acquire private equity-backed WildFire Energy for approximately $4 billion.
The transaction, which has been unanimously approved by Magnolia’s board of directors, is expected to expand the company’s position in South Texas and more than double its footprint in the Giddings field.
WildFire Energy, founded in partnership with Warburg Pincus, Kayne Anderson and its management team in 2019, is an independent oil and gas producer focused on assets in the Austin Chalk, Eagle Ford and Woodbine formations.
The company currently produces about 53,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day, with approximately 70% of production weighted toward oil, across roughly 810,000 net acres. WildFire has expanded through acquisitions, including the purchase of Hawkwood Energy in 2021, as well as organic development.
Magnolia said the acquisition will strengthen its position in the South Texas region by adding a large-scale asset base and increasing its development inventory.
WildFire CEO Anthony Bahr highlighted the company’s growth since its formation and said the transaction would create further opportunities for the combined business.
“We are excited for the opportunities ahead for Magnolia and believe this transaction positions the asset for continued success,” Bahr said.
Warburg Pincus Managing Director Ryan Dalton wrote that WildFire had developed into a large-scale energy platform through acquisitions and operational execution.
“WildFire represents a rare combination of high-quality underdeveloped assets, market opportunity and a strong management team with the unique capabilities to acquire, optimize and scale oil and gas assets,” Dalton said.
The transaction is expected to close in the third quarter.
If you are looking for a stock that has a solid history of beating earnings estimates and is in a good position to maintain the trend in its next quarterly report, you should consider Church & Dwight (CHD - Free Report) . This company, which is in the Zacks Consumer Products - Staples industry, shows potential for another earnings beat.
This maker of household and personal products has seen a nice streak of beating earnings estimates, especially when looking at the previous two reports. The average surprise for the last two quarters was 2.27%.
For the last reported quarter, Church & Dwight came out with earnings of $0.95 per share versus the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $0.93 per share, representing a surprise of 2.15%. For the previous quarter, the company was expected to post earnings of $0.84 per share and it actually produced earnings of $0.86 per share, delivering a surprise of 2.38%.
Price and EPS Surprise
For Church & Dwight, estimates have been trending higher, thanks in part to this earnings surprise history. And when you look at the stock's positive Zacks Earnings ESP (Expected Surprise Prediction), it's a great indicator of a future earnings beat, especially when combined with its solid Zacks Rank.
Our research shows that stocks with the combination of a positive Earnings ESP and a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) or better produce a positive surprise nearly 70% of the time. In other words, if you have 10 stocks with this combination, the number of stocks that beat the consensus estimate could be as high as seven.
The Zacks Earnings ESP compares the Most Accurate Estimate to the Zacks Consensus Estimate for the quarter; the Most Accurate Estimate is a version of the Zacks Consensus whose definition is related to change. The idea here is that analysts revising their estimates right before an earnings release have the latest information, which could potentially be more accurate than what they and others contributing to the consensus had predicted earlier.
Church & Dwight has an Earnings ESP of +0.65% at the moment, suggesting that analysts have grown bullish on its near-term earnings potential. When you combine this positive Earnings ESP with the stock's Zacks Rank #3 (Hold), it shows that another beat is possibly around the corner. The company's next earnings report is expected to be released on July 31, 2026.
When the Earnings ESP comes up negative, investors should note that this will reduce the predictive power of the metric. But, a negative value is not indicative of a stock's earnings miss.
Many companies end up beating the consensus EPS estimate, but that may not be the sole basis for their stocks moving higher. On the other hand, some stocks may hold their ground even if they end up missing the consensus estimate.
Because of this, it's really important to check a company's Earnings ESP ahead of its quarterly release to increase the odds of success. Make sure to utilize our Earnings ESP Filter to uncover the best stocks to buy or sell before they've reported.
LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Law Offices of Frank R. Cruz Encourages Planet Fitness, Inc. (PLNT) Shareholders To Inquire About Securities Fraud Class Action.
NEW YORK, July 21, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Pomerantz LLP announces that a class action lawsuit has been filed against Planet Fitness, Inc. (“Planet Fitness” or the “Company”) (NYSE: PLNT). Such investors are advised to contact Danielle Peyton at [email protected] or 646-581-9980, (or 888.4-POMLAW), toll-free, Ext. 7980. Those who inquire by e-mail are encouraged to include their mailing address, telephone number, and the number of shares purchased.
The class action concerns whether Planet Fitness and certain of its officers and/or directors have engaged in securities fraud or other unlawful business practices.
You have until September 14, 2026, to ask the Court to appoint you as Lead Plaintiff for the class if you purchased or otherwise acquired Planet Fitness securities during the Class Period. A copy of the Complaint can be obtained at www.pomerantzlaw.com.
[Click here for information about joining the class action]
On May 7, 2026, Planet Fitness reported its first quarter 2026 financial results and updated its full-year outlook. Among other items, Planet Fitness disclosed that “2026 is off to a slower than expected start from a net member growth perspective” as the Company faced “internal and external headwinds during our peak sign-up period.” The Company further disclosed that it was pausing its planned national Black Card price increase pending a broader pricing review. In addition, Planet Fitness stated that, based on “lower net joins than planned in the first quarter” and the decision to pause the Black Card price increase, it was reducing several of its 2026 growth expectations. The Company lowered expected system-wide same club sales growth to approximately 1%, compared to its prior guidance of 4% to 5%; revenue growth to approximately 7%, compared to prior guidance of approximately 9%; adjusted EBITDA growth to approximately 6%, compared to prior guidance of approximately 10%; adjusted net income to a decrease of approximately 2%, compared to prior guidance of 4% to 5% growth; and adjusted diluted EPS growth to approximately 4%, compared to prior guidance of 9% to 10%.
On this news, Planet Fitness’s stock price fell $19.95 per share, or 31.19%, to close at $44.01 per share on May 7, 2026.
Pomerantz LLP, with offices in New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, London, Paris, and Tel Aviv, is acknowledged as one of the premier firms in the areas of corporate, securities, and antitrust class litigation. Founded by the late Abraham L. Pomerantz, known as the dean of the class action bar, Pomerantz pioneered the field of securities class actions. Today, more than 85 years later, Pomerantz continues in the tradition he established, fighting for the rights of the victims of securities fraud, breaches of fiduciary duty, and corporate misconduct. The Firm has recovered numerous multimillion-dollar damages awards on behalf of class members. See www.pomlaw.com.
Attorney advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes.
FICO’s Big Dip Could Be the Best Buying Chance of the YearEquifax NYSE: EFX reported second-quarter 2026 revenue of $1.7 billion, up 11% on a reported basis and 10% in constant currency, as growth in Workforce Solutions and U.S. mortgage-related revenue helped offset pressure from higher interest rates and weaker conditions in some international markets.
Chief Executive Officer Mark Begor said revenue was $5 million above the midpoint of the company’s April guidance. Excluding FICO mortgage royalties, reported revenue increased about 7%. Adjusted EBITDA was $552 million, up about 10.5%, and adjusted earnings per share were $2.25, up 13% and $0.05 above the April guidance midpoint. The company said adjusted EBITDA margin excluding FICO was nearly 35%, up 120 basis points from a year earlier.
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3 Stocks Just Announced Intentions to Buyback Near 10% of SharesTrevor Burns, senior vice president of investor relations, noted at the start of the call that the company recorded a $40 million charge, net of insurance proceeds, for a legal settlement tied to claims related to a previously disclosed coding issue. The company’s comments on EPS, EBITDA margin and cash conversion referred to non-GAAP measures.
Workforce Solutions benefits from diversified markets Workforce Solutions revenue increased 7%, with Begor citing better-than-expected performance in Verification Services diversified markets. Talent Solutions and consumer lending were both up high double digits in the quarter. Talent volumes increased mid-single digits despite what the company described as a decline in the overall market during the first two months of the quarter.
4 Undervalued Growth Stocks to Buy and Hold for the Long TermGovernment revenue in Workforce Solutions declined about 4%, which management said reflected a difficult comparison with a large 2025 win. However, Begor emphasized new commercial momentum in the government vertical. He said Workforce Solutions signed about $300 million in annual contract value over the past four months, principally with state agencies, including about $100 million in new business and $200 million in renewals.
Management said most of the benefit from the new government contracts will come in 2027, with some contribution expected in the second half of 2026. Begor said the company’s government pipeline remains about twice the level of a year ago and pointed to opportunities tied to federal and state efforts to improve income validation in Medicaid and SNAP programs.
Workforce Solutions EBITDA margin was 52.1%, consistent with the first quarter and above management’s expectations. The company also reported 10% growth in active records in The Work Number, reaching 217 million active records and 124 million current active records.
USIS grows despite softer mortgage market U.S. Information Solutions, or USIS, revenue rose 17% in the second quarter and 6% excluding FICO. Diversified markets revenue grew 6%, accelerating more than 300 basis points sequentially. Begor said B2B revenue increased 5%, supported by high single-digit growth in financial institutions and auto, while consumer direct revenue rose 11%.
USIS mortgage revenue was up 40%, or mid-single digits excluding FICO, while hard mortgage inquiries increased only 1%. Management said mortgage rates rose during the quarter, with 30-year fixed rates around 6.6% versus about 6.3% when the company issued April guidance. Begor said industry transaction volumes ran below expectations, but Equifax benefited from new products and share gains in pre-qualification and pre-approval offerings.
The company continued to highlight VantageScore adoption in mortgage following the Federal Housing Finance Agency’s activation of VantageScore use for more than 20 mortgage lenders in April. Begor said second-quarter VantageScore volume was almost three times the first-quarter level, with 2.2 million transactions. About 1,200 lenders pulled a free VantageScore alongside a paid FICO score from Equifax, while about 100 smaller non-GSE lenders and home equity lenders used VantageScore exclusively at a $1 price point.
Begor said Equifax plans to maintain the $1 VantageScore price through the end of 2027 to encourage adoption. Chief Financial Officer John Gamble said the company’s guidance assumes Equifax will continue to calculate and sell FICO scores for all mortgage credit transactions in 2026, with limited VantageScore revenue.
International growth slows; Mexico acquisition planned International revenue rose about 4% in constant currency. Asia Pacific delivered high single-digit growth, Canada grew mid-single digits, and Latin America and Europe posted low single-digit growth. Begor said market headwinds in Canada and the U.K. weighed on growth. International EBITDA margin was 27.6%, up 120 basis points from a year earlier, helped by technology savings from the company’s cloud transformation and cost management.
Equifax also discussed its recently announced agreement to acquire Círculo de Crédito, a credit bureau in Mexico, for an enterprise value of $750 million. Begor described Círculo as the fastest-growing credit bureau in Mexico and said it is licensed to operate both consumer and commercial credit bureau services. The company expects the acquisition to close in the fourth quarter, subject to customary closing conditions and regulatory approvals, and to be accretive in the first year.
Management said the purchase price represents an 11.7 times EBITDA multiple based on expected 2026 EBITDA, or about 9.4 times including expected run-rate savings. Begor said Círculo has more than 1,700 customers and 2 billion trade lines covering 80 million validated identities in Mexico, with strength in alternative data such as gig economy transactions and utility payment history.
AI initiatives drive higher savings target Equifax used much of the call to discuss artificial intelligence initiatives tied to its EFX 2028 strategy. Begor said the company launched 54 new products with AI capabilities embedded in their architecture during the first half of the year, contributing to a 16% Vitality Index in the quarter. He also highlighted products such as Ignite AI Advisor and Equifax IQ, which are designed to help customers use Equifax data and analytics through AI-enabled decisioning tools.
The company doubled its AI productivity goal to $150 million in run-rate savings from 2026 through 2028, up from the $75 million target it discussed earlier this year. Begor said savings are expected from operations, technology, product development and support functions. Gamble said the savings for 2026 are already reflected in the company’s guidance and will affect both operating expense and capital spending.
Begor said Equifax is deploying AI in call centers, document processing, software development, IT operations, cybersecurity, cloud cost optimization and corporate functions such as finance, legal and human resources. He said the company remains in the “early innings” of AI adoption and expects additional opportunities to grow revenue and reduce costs.
Guidance held on reported basis Equifax maintained its full-year 2026 financial guidance on a reported basis, while raising constant-currency guidance in line with the second-quarter revenue beat. Gamble said the benefit from second-quarter outperformance was offset by weaker foreign exchange.
For 2026, the company expects revenue growth of 7.2% to 8.4% excluding FICO mortgage royalties, adjusted EBITDA margin expansion excluding FICO of about 75 basis points and free cash flow of more than $1 billion with cash conversion of at least 100%.
For the third quarter, Equifax expects revenue of $1.68 billion to $1.71 billion, up almost 10% on a reported basis at the midpoint. Excluding FICO mortgage scores, reported revenue is expected to rise about 7% at the midpoint. The company expects third-quarter adjusted EPS of $2.15 to $2.25 and adjusted EBITDA of $547 million to $564 million.
Equifax returned $366 million to shareholders during the second quarter, including $300 million of share repurchases and $66 million of dividends. Begor said the company expects to complete the Círculo acquisition while continuing share repurchases in the second half of 2026 at a slower pace than in the first half, while keeping leverage below three times EBITDA.
About Equifax (NYSE:EFX)Equifax Inc NYSE: EFX is a global data, analytics and technology company that specializes in consumer and commercial credit reporting, decisioning tools and identity solutions. Headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, Equifax is one of the three major consumer credit reporting agencies in the United States and provides credit information and related services to lenders, employers, governments and consumers worldwide.
The company's offerings include consumer credit reports and scores, credit monitoring and identity protection services, and a range of business-oriented products for risk management, fraud detection and compliance.
This instant news alert was generated by narrative science technology and financial data from MarketBeat in order to provide readers with the fastest reporting and unbiased coverage. Please send any questions or comments about this story to [email protected].
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Key Takeaways USIS revenues rose 17%, led by a 40% jump in mortgage revenues and wider VantageScore adoption.Workforce Solutions gained 7%, though operating and adjusted EBITDA margins declined y/y.Equifax doubled its AI savings target to $150 million and agreed to acquire Circulo de Credito. Equifax Inc. (EFX - Free Report) has reported second-quarter 2026 adjusted earnings of $2.25 per share, up 12.5% year over year. The figure beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $2.21 by 1.8%.
Revenues increased 10.6% year over year to $1.7 billion and surpassed the consensus mark by a slight margin. Strong growth in U.S. Information Solutions (USIS), mortgage services and verification offerings supported the results. The company’s new-product Vitality Index was 16%.
EFX share price has increased marginally over the past three months against an 8.2% dip in its industry and a 4.5% rally of the Zacks S&P 500 composite.
EFX’s Workforce Solutions Revenues Rise 7%Workforce Solutions revenues increased 7% year over year to $705.4 million. Verification Services revenues advanced 7% to $607.6 million, aided by high-double-digit growth in Talent Solutions and Consumer Lending. Workforce Solutions mortgage revenues rose 8%.
Employer Services revenues increased 3% to $97.8 million. The Government business signed new contracts and renewals totaling roughly $300 million in annual contract value during the first half of 2026. About $100 million represented new business, while approximately $200 million came from renewals.
The segment’s operating margin contracted to 44.9% from 46.4% a year earlier. The adjusted EBITDA margin declined to 52.1% from 53.3%, indicating that revenue growth did not fully translate into margin expansion.
Equifax’s USIS Growth Accelerates on Mortgage DemandUSIS revenues climbed 17% year over year to $611.6 million. Online Information Solutions revenues increased 19% to $545.4 million, while Financial Marketing Services revenues grew 4% to $66.2 million.
USIS mortgage revenues rose 40%, benefiting from share gains and the increased adoption of the company’s mortgage scoring products. About 1,300 mortgage lenders were using VantageScore by July 2026, while second-quarter VantageScore transactions totaled 2.2 million, nearly three times the first-quarter level.
The segment’s operating margin was 22.5%, down slightly from 22.6% in the prior-year quarter. The adjusted EBITDA margin fell to 32.8% from 35%, reflecting the impacts of FICO-related mortgage royalty expenses despite strong revenue growth.
EFX’s International Business Gains Across Key MarketsInternational revenues rose 8% on a reported basis and 4% in local currency to $383.1 million. The Asia Pacific delivered the strongest reported rally, with revenues increasing 17% to $99.7 million. Local-currency growth was 7%, driven by Online B2B and commercial offerings.
Latin America revenues advanced 9% on a reported basis and 3% in local currency to $109 million. Canada revenues grew 6% to $73.3 million, while Europe revenues increased 2% on a reported basis and 1% in local currency to $101.1 million.
The international operating margin expanded to 12.1% from 10.9%. The adjusted EBITDA margin improved 120 basis points to 27.6%, supported by operating leverage and continued new product execution.
Equifax’s Profitability Benefits From Revenue GrowthAdjusted EBITDA increased 10.6% year over year to $552.1 million. The adjusted EBITDA margin remained flat at 32.5%. Excluding FICO mortgage royalties, management indicated that the adjusted EBITDA margin expanded 120 basis points.
Reported net income attributable to Equifax declined 3.9% to $183.9 million. GAAP diluted earnings increased to $1.54 per share from $1.53, helped by a lower diluted share count.
The quarter included a $40-million pre-tax charge, net of expected insurance recoveries, related to a legal settlement associated with a previously disclosed coding issue. Acquisition-related amortization expenses totaled $61.2 million.
EFX Strengthens AI Efforts & Expands in MexicoThe company doubled its 2026-2028 AI-driven cost and capital savings target to $150 million. Equifax is deploying artificial intelligence across product development, technology, operations and support functions to improve productivity, speed and accuracy.
EFX also signed an agreement to acquire Circulo de Credito for an enterprise value of $750 million. The Mexico-based credit bureau generated approximately $134 million in revenues in the 12 months ended June 2026, representing 31% growth, and recorded an adjusted EBITDA margin of roughly 46%. The transaction is expected to close in the fourth quarter of 2026 and be accretive to adjusted earnings in the first year.
Equifax Maintains Its 2026 Revenue OutlookFor the third quarter of 2026, management expects revenues between $1.68 billion and $1.71 billion, suggesting growth of 8.7-10.7%. The guided range’s midpoint ($1.69 billion) meets the current Zack Consensus Estimate.
Adjusted earnings are projected between $2.15 and $2.25 per share. The midpoint ($2.2) of the outlook is marginally lower than the consensus estimate of $2.21. Adjusted EBITDA is expected to be $547-$564 million.
Equifax maintained its full-year revenue guidance of $6.71-$6.78 billion, implying growth of 10.5-11.6%. The guidance’s midpoint ($6.75 billion) is slightly above the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $6.74 billion.
Adjusted earnings are anticipated between $8.39 and $8.69 per share. The midpoint ($8.54) of the outlook is lower than the consensus estimate of $8.56. Adjusted EBITDA is forecast at $2.10-$2.16 billion.
The company expects more than $1 billion in free cash flow and cash conversion above 100% for 2026. During the second quarter, it returned $366 million to shareholders, including $300 million in share repurchases and $66 million in dividends.
Equifax carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) at present. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
Earnings SnapshotFactSet Research Systems Inc. (FDS - Free Report) reported third-quarter fiscal 2026 adjusted earnings of $4.53 per share, beating the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $4.44 by 2%. The figure increased 6.1% from the year-ago quarter.
Revenues of $622.9 million surpassed the consensus mark of $617.2 million by 0.9% and rose 6.4% year over year.
Paychex, Inc. (PAYX - Free Report) posted solid fourth-quarter fiscal 2026 results. Adjusted earnings of $1.32 per share surpassed the consensus estimate of $1.31 by a slight margin and increased 11% from the year-ago quarter.
PAYX’s total revenues of $1.61 billion rose 12% year over year and beat the consensus estimate by a slight margin.
The market expects Arch Capital Group (ACGL - Free Report) to deliver a year-over-year decline in earnings on lower revenues when it reports results for the quarter ended June 2026. This widely-known consensus outlook is important in assessing the company's earnings picture, but a powerful factor that might influence its near-term stock price is how the actual results compare to these estimates.
The earnings report, which is expected to be released on July 28, might help the stock move higher if these key numbers are better than expectations. On the other hand, if they miss, the stock may move lower.
While management's discussion of business conditions on the earnings call will mostly determine the sustainability of the immediate price change and future earnings expectations, it's worth having a handicapping insight into the odds of a positive EPS surprise.
Zacks Consensus EstimateThis property and casualty insurer is expected to post quarterly earnings of $2.45 per share in its upcoming report, which represents a year-over-year change of -5%.
Revenues are expected to be $4.59 billion, down 3.5% from the year-ago quarter.
Estimate Revisions TrendThe consensus EPS estimate for the quarter has been revised 1.34% lower over the last 30 days to the current level. This is essentially a reflection of how the covering analysts have collectively reassessed their initial estimates over this period.
Investors should keep in mind that an aggregate change may not always reflect the direction of estimate revisions by each of the covering analysts.
Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise
Earnings WhisperEstimate revisions ahead of a company's earnings release offer clues to the business conditions for the period whose results are coming out. This insight is at the core of our proprietary surprise prediction model -- the Zacks Earnings ESP (Expected Surprise Prediction).
The Zacks Earnings ESP compares the Most Accurate Estimate to the Zacks Consensus Estimate for the quarter; the Most Accurate Estimate is a more recent version of the Zacks Consensus EPS estimate. The idea here is that analysts revising their estimates right before an earnings release have the latest information, which could potentially be more accurate than what they and others contributing to the consensus had predicted earlier.
Thus, a positive or negative Earnings ESP reading theoretically indicates the likely deviation of the actual earnings from the consensus estimate. However, the model's predictive power is significant for positive ESP readings only.
A positive Earnings ESP is a strong predictor of an earnings beat, particularly when combined with a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), 2 (Buy) or 3 (Hold). Our research shows that stocks with this combination produce a positive surprise nearly 70% of the time, and a solid Zacks Rank actually increases the predictive power of Earnings ESP.
Please note that a negative Earnings ESP reading is not indicative of an earnings miss. Our research shows that it is difficult to predict an earnings beat with any degree of confidence for stocks with negative Earnings ESP readings and/or Zacks Rank of 4 (Sell) or 5 (Strong Sell).
How Have the Numbers Shaped Up for Arch Capital?For Arch Capital, the Most Accurate Estimate is lower than the Zacks Consensus Estimate, suggesting that analysts have recently become bearish on the company's earnings prospects. This has resulted in an Earnings ESP of -2.52%.
On the other hand, the stock currently carries a Zacks Rank of #3.
So, this combination makes it difficult to conclusively predict that Arch Capital will beat the consensus EPS estimate.
Does Earnings Surprise History Hold Any Clue?Analysts often consider to what extent a company has been able to match consensus estimates in the past while calculating their estimates for its future earnings. So, it's worth taking a look at the surprise history for gauging its influence on the upcoming number.
For the last reported quarter, it was expected that Arch Capital would post earnings of $2.45 per share when it actually produced earnings of $2.50, delivering a surprise of +2.04%.
Over the last four quarters, the company has beaten consensus EPS estimates four times.
Bottom LineAn earnings beat or miss may not be the sole basis for a stock moving higher or lower. Many stocks end up losing ground despite an earnings beat due to other factors that disappoint investors. Similarly, unforeseen catalysts help a number of stocks gain despite an earnings miss.
That said, betting on stocks that are expected to beat earnings expectations does increase the odds of success. This is why it's worth checking a company's Earnings ESP and Zacks Rank ahead of its quarterly release. Make sure to utilize our Earnings ESP Filter to uncover the best stocks to buy or sell before they've reported.
Arch Capital doesn't appear a compelling earnings-beat candidate. However, investors should pay attention to other factors too for betting on this stock or staying away from it ahead of its earnings release.
An Industry Player's Expected ResultsAnother stock from the Zacks Insurance - Property and Casualty industry, Cincinnati Financial (CINF - Free Report) , is soon expected to post earnings of $1.82 per share for the quarter ended June 2026. This estimate indicates a year-over-year change of -7.6%. Revenues for the quarter are expected to be $3.01 billion, up 8.4% from the year-ago quarter.
The consensus EPS estimate for Cincinnati Financial has remained unchanged over the last 30 days. However, a higher Most Accurate Estimate has resulted in an Earnings ESP of +7.22%.
When combined with a Zacks Rank of #2 (Buy), this Earnings ESP indicates that Cincinnati Financial will most likely beat the consensus EPS estimate. The company beat consensus EPS estimates in each of the trailing four quarters.
Stay on top of upcoming earnings announcements with the Zacks Earnings Calendar.
Wall Street expects a year-over-year increase in earnings on higher revenues when Seacoast Banking (SBCF - Free Report) reports results for the quarter ended June 2026. While this widely-known consensus outlook is important in gauging the company's earnings picture, a powerful factor that could impact its near-term stock price is how the actual results compare to these estimates.
The earnings report, which is expected to be released on July 28, might help the stock move higher if these key numbers are better than expectations. On the other hand, if they miss, the stock may move lower.
While management's discussion of business conditions on the earnings call will mostly determine the sustainability of the immediate price change and future earnings expectations, it's worth having a handicapping insight into the odds of a positive EPS surprise.
Zacks Consensus EstimateThis holding company for Seacoast National Bank is expected to post quarterly earnings of $0.60 per share in its upcoming report, which represents a year-over-year change of +15.4%.
Revenues are expected to be $207.23 million, up 36.9% from the year-ago quarter.
Estimate Revisions TrendThe consensus EPS estimate for the quarter has been revised 1.06% higher over the last 30 days to the current level. This is essentially a reflection of how the covering analysts have collectively reassessed their initial estimates over this period.
Investors should keep in mind that the direction of estimate revisions by each of the covering analysts may not always get reflected in the aggregate change.
Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise
Earnings WhisperEstimate revisions ahead of a company's earnings release offer clues to the business conditions for the period whose results are coming out. Our proprietary surprise prediction model -- the Zacks Earnings ESP (Expected Surprise Prediction) -- has this insight at its core.
The Zacks Earnings ESP compares the Most Accurate Estimate to the Zacks Consensus Estimate for the quarter; the Most Accurate Estimate is a more recent version of the Zacks Consensus EPS estimate. The idea here is that analysts revising their estimates right before an earnings release have the latest information, which could potentially be more accurate than what they and others contributing to the consensus had predicted earlier.
Thus, a positive or negative Earnings ESP reading theoretically indicates the likely deviation of the actual earnings from the consensus estimate. However, the model's predictive power is significant for positive ESP readings only.
A positive Earnings ESP is a strong predictor of an earnings beat, particularly when combined with a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), 2 (Buy) or 3 (Hold). Our research shows that stocks with this combination produce a positive surprise nearly 70% of the time, and a solid Zacks Rank actually increases the predictive power of Earnings ESP.
Please note that a negative Earnings ESP reading is not indicative of an earnings miss. Our research shows that it is difficult to predict an earnings beat with any degree of confidence for stocks with negative Earnings ESP readings and/or Zacks Rank of 4 (Sell) or 5 (Strong Sell).
How Have the Numbers Shaped Up for Seacoast Banking?For Seacoast Banking, the Most Accurate Estimate is lower than the Zacks Consensus Estimate, suggesting that analysts have recently become bearish on the company's earnings prospects. This has resulted in an Earnings ESP of -1.12%.
On the other hand, the stock currently carries a Zacks Rank of #2.
So, this combination makes it difficult to conclusively predict that Seacoast Banking will beat the consensus EPS estimate.
Does Earnings Surprise History Hold Any Clue?While calculating estimates for a company's future earnings, analysts often consider to what extent it has been able to match past consensus estimates. So, it's worth taking a look at the surprise history for gauging its influence on the upcoming number.
For the last reported quarter, it was expected that Seacoast Banking would post earnings of $0.58 per share when it actually produced earnings of $0.62, delivering a surprise of +6.90%.
Over the last four quarters, the company has beaten consensus EPS estimates three times.
Bottom LineAn earnings beat or miss may not be the sole basis for a stock moving higher or lower. Many stocks end up losing ground despite an earnings beat due to other factors that disappoint investors. Similarly, unforeseen catalysts help a number of stocks gain despite an earnings miss.
That said, betting on stocks that are expected to beat earnings expectations does increase the odds of success. This is why it's worth checking a company's Earnings ESP and Zacks Rank ahead of its quarterly release. Make sure to utilize our Earnings ESP Filter to uncover the best stocks to buy or sell before they've reported.
Seacoast Banking doesn't appear a compelling earnings-beat candidate. However, investors should pay attention to other factors too for betting on this stock or staying away from it ahead of its earnings release.
Expected Results of an Industry PlayerAmeris Bancorp (ABCB - Free Report) , another stock in the Zacks Banks - Southeast industry, is expected to report earnings per share of $1.66 for the quarter ended June 2026. This estimate points to a year-over-year change of +4.4%. Revenues for the quarter are expected to be $322.17 million, up 6.8% from the year-ago quarter.
The consensus EPS estimate for Ameris Bancorp has been revised 0.4% lower over the last 30 days to the current level. However, a higher Most Accurate Estimate has resulted in an Earnings ESP of +0.20%.
When combined with a Zacks Rank of #4 (Sell), this Earnings ESP makes it difficult to conclusively predict that Ameris Bancorp will beat the consensus EPS estimate. The company beat consensus EPS estimates in each of the trailing four quarters.
Stay on top of upcoming earnings announcements with the Zacks Earnings Calendar.
Key Takeaways MasTec acquired Superior for about $1.65B to expand electrical contracting capabilities and scale.MTZ adds nearly 3,000 employees to support larger, more complex mission-critical infrastructure projects.Superior strengthens MTZ's platform for growing demand across data centers, power and critical infrastructure. MasTec, Inc. (MTZ - Free Report) has completed the acquisition of The Superior Group, a full-service electrical contractor focused on critical infrastructure, in a transaction valued at approximately $1.65 billion. The deal expands MasTec's capabilities in electrical contracting and adds nearly 3,000 employees, strengthening its ability to execute larger and more complex projects. The acquisition also aligns with rising investment in data centers, power systems and other mission-critical infrastructure, where demand for skilled contractors continues to grow.
Superior Acquisition Expands MTZ's Infrastructure PlatformThe addition of Superior broadens MasTec's presence across mission-critical infrastructure by combining the former's electrical expertise with the latter's existing operations. The expanded platform is expected to improve MasTec's ability to support projects both inside and outside data center facilities while serving customers across power and other critical infrastructure markets. The acquisition also brings an experienced leadership team, which could enhance execution capabilities as project sizes and customer requirements continue to increase.
The transaction also advances MasTec's strategy of building a larger infrastructure capacity platform to serve accelerating demand for data centers, power and other mission-critical infrastructure. The company believes the combined operations will strengthen its ability to support customers across these markets while maintaining a disciplined approach to capital allocation.
MTZ Benefits From Growing Infrastructure DemandGrowing investment in AI-driven data centers, grid modernization, communications networks and power infrastructure is creating a favorable environment for infrastructure contractors. MasTec is benefiting from these trends through its broad capabilities across communications, power delivery, clean energy and infrastructure markets. The company also sees increasing opportunities in mission-critical projects, where demand for integrated construction and project management services continues to rise.
Strong customer demand is supporting healthy project activity across these end markets. As of March 31, 2026, MasTec reported a record 18-month backlog of approximately $20.3 billion, up 28% year over year and 7% sequentially. The company believes the diversified platform, growing project pipeline and integrated service offerings position it well to capitalize on rising infrastructure spending. The acquisition of Superior further complements these capabilities by expanding MasTec's electrical contracting expertise in mission-critical infrastructure.
MTZ Price PerformanceShares of this Florida-based infrastructure construction company have surged 37.6% in the past six months, outperforming the Zacks Building Products - Heavy Construction industry, the broader Zacks Construction sector and the S&P 500 index.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
MasTec Stock’s Zacks Rank & Other Key PicksMasTec currently flaunts a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy).
Here are some other top-ranked stocks from the same sector.
Argan, Inc. (AGX - Free Report) currently sports a Zacks Rank 1. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.
Argan delivered a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 40.5%, on average. The stock has surged 58.4% in the past six months. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Argan’s fiscal 2027 sales and EPS indicates growth of 38% and 29.4%, respectively, from a year ago.
Sterling Infrastructure, Inc. (STRL - Free Report) presently flaunts a Zacks Rank of 1. It has a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 29.1%, on average. Shares of Sterling have risen 78.6% in the past six months.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Sterling’s 2026 sales and EPS indicates growth of 59.2% and 75.7%, respectively, from the prior-year levels.
Dycom Industries, Inc. (DY - Free Report) currently sports a Zacks Rank of 1. It delivered a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 25%, on average. Dycom stock has gained 8.2% in the past six months.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Dycom’s fiscal 2027 sales and EPS implies an increase of 37.2% and 36.6%, respectively, from a year ago.
Investors looking for stocks in the Consumer Products - Staples sector might want to consider either Newell Brands (NWL - Free Report) or Procter & Gamble (PG - Free Report) . But which of these two stocks presents investors with the better value opportunity right now? Let's take a closer look.
We have found that the best way to discover great value opportunities is to pair a strong Zacks Rank with a great grade in the Value category of our Style Scores system. The proven Zacks Rank emphasizes companies with positive estimate revision trends, and our Style Scores highlight stocks with specific traits.
Newell Brands has a Zacks Rank of #2 (Buy), while Procter & Gamble has a Zacks Rank of #4 (Sell) right now. This means that NWL's earnings estimate revision activity has been more impressive, so investors should feel comfortable with its improving analyst outlook. However, value investors will care about much more than just this.
Value investors are also interested in a number of tried-and-true valuation metrics that help show when a company is undervalued at its current share price levels.
Our Value category grades stocks based on a number of key metrics, including the tried-and-true P/E ratio, the P/S ratio, earnings yield, and cash flow per share, as well as a variety of other fundamentals that value investors frequently use.
NWL currently has a forward P/E ratio of 9.03, while PG has a forward P/E of 21.21. We also note that NWL has a PEG ratio of 6.27. This metric is used similarly to the famous P/E ratio, but the PEG ratio also takes into account the stock's expected earnings growth rate. PG currently has a PEG ratio of 7.42.
Another notable valuation metric for NWL is its P/B ratio of 0.93. Investors use the P/B ratio to look at a stock's market value versus its book value, which is defined as total assets minus total liabilities. By comparison, PG has a P/B of 6.43.
Based on these metrics and many more, NWL holds a Value grade of A, while PG has a Value grade of D.
NWL is currently sporting an improving earnings outlook, which makes it stick out in our Zacks Rank model. And, based on the above valuation metrics, we feel that NWL is likely the superior value option right now.
Key Takeaways Omnicell reports Q2 2026 results on July 30, with revenues seen rising 6.6% and EPS expected to grow 6.7%. OMCL may benefit from OmniSphere adoption, customer wins and Titan XT traction across health systems. Omnicell's Product and Services revenue growth is expected to reflect demand and recurring software momentum. Omnicell (OMCL - Free Report) is set to release second-quarter 2026 results on July 30, before market open.
In the last reported quarter, the company posted adjusted earnings per share (EPS) of 55 cents, which surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 66.67%. Omnicell beat on earnings in three of the trailing four quarters and missed on one occasion, the average surprise being 34.65%.
OMCL’s Q2 EstimatesThe Zacks Consensus Estimate for revenues is pegged at $309.6 million, which suggests 6.6% growth from the year-ago reported figure.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for earnings is pinned at 48 cents per share, which implies a 6.7% rise from the year-ago recorded actuals.
Estimate Revision Trend Ahead of OMCL’s Q2 EarningsEstimates for second-quarter earnings have remained unchanged at 48 cents per share in the past 30 days.
Here’s a brief overview of the company’s performance leading up to this announcement.
Factors Shaping OMCL’s Q2 PerformanceThe company is expected to have delivered another quarter of solid growth, supported by continued execution of its Connected Devices strategy and expanding recurring revenue streams. Demand is likely to have remained strong across inpatient and outpatient pharmacies as well as broader patient care settings, reflecting continued adoption of Omnicell's medication management solutions.
Second-quarter revenue growth is also expected to have been supported by increasing penetration of OmniSphere, a cloud-native medication management platform, as healthcare providers continue to prioritize enterprise-wide automation, workflow optimization and data-driven medication management.
The second-quarter top line is also likely to have benefited from continued customer wins among large and complex health systems. The recently launched Titan XT next-generation automated dispensing system is expected to have gained further commercial traction, supported by its integration with the OmniSphere platform. The combined offering is likely to have strengthened Omnicell's value proposition by providing enterprise-wide visibility, guided clinical workflows and a modern cloud-based infrastructure designed for large healthcare organizations.
From a segment perspective, Product revenues are expected to have benefited from sustained demand for the Connected Devices portfolio across both North America and international markets, supported by ongoing capital investments from healthcare providers.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Product revenues indicates 5.2% year-over-year growth for the second quarter.
Service revenues are likely to have remained on a growth trajectory, supported by higher recurring software and service revenues, including continued momentum in Specialty Pharmacy Services. This growth is expected to have been driven by increasing customer adoption of subscription-based and technology-enabled medication management solutions.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Services revenues indicates 5% year-over-year growth for the second quarter.
Omnicell, Inc. Price and EPS SurpriseWhat Our Quantitative Model Predicts for OMCLPer our proven model, stocks with a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), 2 (Buy) or 3 (Hold), along with a positive Earnings ESP, have a higher chance of beating estimates. However, this is not the case here, as you can see below:
Earnings ESP: Omnicell has an Earnings ESP of 0.00%. You can uncover the best stocks to buy or sell before they’re reported with our Earnings ESP Filter.
Zacks Rank: The company currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.
Top MedTech PicksHere are some medical stocks worth considering, as these have the right combination of elements to post an earnings beat this time around:
Hinge Health Inc. (HNGE - Free Report) has an Earnings ESP of +4.24% and a Zacks Rank #1 at present. The company is expected to release second-quarter 2026 results soon.
In the trailing four quarters, HINGE delivered an average earnings surprise of 179.54%. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for second-quarter EPS implies a decrease of 11.9% from the year-ago quarter’s figure.
Neurocrine Biosciences (NBIX - Free Report) has an Earnings ESP of +40.60% and a Zacks Rank #1 at present. The company is expected to release second-quarter 2026 results soon.
NBIX’s earnings surpassed estimates in three of the trailing four quarters and missed in one, the average surprise being 9.08%. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for the company’s second-quarter EPS calls for an increase of 112.3% from the year-ago quarter’s figure.
West Pharmaceutical Services (WST - Free Report) has an Earnings ESP of +1.09% and a Zacks Rank #2 at present. The company is slated to release second-quarter 2026 results on July 23.
WST’s earnings beat estimates in each of the trailing four quarters, the average surprise being 19.37%. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for WST’s second-quarter EPS implies a rise of 13% from the year-ago reported figure.
The market expects Werner Enterprises (WERN - Free Report) to deliver a year-over-year increase in earnings on higher revenues when it reports results for the quarter ended June 2026. This widely-known consensus outlook is important in assessing the company's earnings picture, but a powerful factor that might influence its near-term stock price is how the actual results compare to these estimates.
The earnings report, which is expected to be released on July 28, might help the stock move higher if these key numbers are better than expectations. On the other hand, if they miss, the stock may move lower.
While the sustainability of the immediate price change and future earnings expectations will mostly depend on management's discussion of business conditions on the earnings call, it's worth handicapping the probability of a positive EPS surprise.
Zacks Consensus EstimateThis transportation company is expected to post quarterly earnings of $0.22 per share in its upcoming report, which represents a year-over-year change of +100%.
Revenues are expected to be $932.4 million, up 23.8% from the year-ago quarter.
Estimate Revisions TrendThe consensus EPS estimate for the quarter has been revised 6.56% higher over the last 30 days to the current level. This is essentially a reflection of how the covering analysts have collectively reassessed their initial estimates over this period.
Investors should keep in mind that the direction of estimate revisions by each of the covering analysts may not always get reflected in the aggregate change.
Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise
Earnings WhisperEstimate revisions ahead of a company's earnings release offer clues to the business conditions for the period whose results are coming out. This insight is at the core of our proprietary surprise prediction model -- the Zacks Earnings ESP (Expected Surprise Prediction).
The Zacks Earnings ESP compares the Most Accurate Estimate to the Zacks Consensus Estimate for the quarter; the Most Accurate Estimate is a more recent version of the Zacks Consensus EPS estimate. The idea here is that analysts revising their estimates right before an earnings release have the latest information, which could potentially be more accurate than what they and others contributing to the consensus had predicted earlier.
Thus, a positive or negative Earnings ESP reading theoretically indicates the likely deviation of the actual earnings from the consensus estimate. However, the model's predictive power is significant for positive ESP readings only.
A positive Earnings ESP is a strong predictor of an earnings beat, particularly when combined with a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), 2 (Buy) or 3 (Hold). Our research shows that stocks with this combination produce a positive surprise nearly 70% of the time, and a solid Zacks Rank actually increases the predictive power of Earnings ESP.
Please note that a negative Earnings ESP reading is not indicative of an earnings miss. Our research shows that it is difficult to predict an earnings beat with any degree of confidence for stocks with negative Earnings ESP readings and/or Zacks Rank of 4 (Sell) or 5 (Strong Sell).
How Have the Numbers Shaped Up for Werner?For Werner, the Most Accurate Estimate is higher than the Zacks Consensus Estimate, suggesting that analysts have recently become bullish on the company's earnings prospects. This has resulted in an Earnings ESP of +4.35%.
On the other hand, the stock currently carries a Zacks Rank of #2.
So, this combination indicates that Werner will most likely beat the consensus EPS estimate.
Does Earnings Surprise History Hold Any Clue?While calculating estimates for a company's future earnings, analysts often consider to what extent it has been able to match past consensus estimates. So, it's worth taking a look at the surprise history for gauging its influence on the upcoming number.
For the last reported quarter, it was expected that Werner would post a loss of$0.03 per share when it actually produced earnings of $0.02, delivering a surprise of +166.67%.
Over the last four quarters, the company has beaten consensus EPS estimates two times.
Bottom LineAn earnings beat or miss may not be the sole basis for a stock moving higher or lower. Many stocks end up losing ground despite an earnings beat due to other factors that disappoint investors. Similarly, unforeseen catalysts help a number of stocks gain despite an earnings miss.
That said, betting on stocks that are expected to beat earnings expectations does increase the odds of success. This is why it's worth checking a company's Earnings ESP and Zacks Rank ahead of its quarterly release. Make sure to utilize our Earnings ESP Filter to uncover the best stocks to buy or sell before they've reported.
Werner appears a compelling earnings-beat candidate. However, investors should pay attention to other factors too for betting on this stock or staying away from it ahead of its earnings release.
Stay on top of upcoming earnings announcements with the Zacks Earnings Calendar.
Analyst’s Disclosure: I/we have no stock, option or similar derivative position in any of the companies mentioned, and no plans to initiate any such positions within the next 72 hours. I wrote this article myself, and it expresses my own opinions. I am not receiving compensation for it (other than from Seeking Alpha). I have no business relationship with any company whose stock is mentioned in this article.
Seeking Alpha's Disclosure: Past performance is no guarantee of future results. No recommendation or advice is being given as to whether any investment is suitable for a particular investor. Any views or opinions expressed above may not reflect those of Seeking Alpha as a whole. Seeking Alpha is not a licensed securities dealer, broker or US investment adviser or investment bank. Our analysts are third party authors that include both professional investors and individual investors who may not be licensed or certified by any institute or regulatory body.
