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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.

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.

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.

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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.

Investors might want to bet on Asana, Inc. (ASAN - Free Report) , as it has been recently upgraded to a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). This upgrade is essentially a reflection of an upward trend in earnings estimates -- one of the most powerful forces impacting stock prices.

The Zacks rating relies solely on a company's changing earnings picture. It tracks EPS estimates for the current and following years from the sell-side analysts covering the stock through a consensus measure -- the Zacks Consensus Estimate.

Individual investors often find it hard to make decisions based on rating upgrades by Wall Street analysts, since these are mostly driven by subjective factors that are hard to see and measure in real time. In these situations, the Zacks rating system comes in handy because of the power of a changing earnings picture in determining near-term stock price movements.

Therefore, the Zacks rating upgrade for Asana basically reflects positivity about its earnings outlook that could translate into buying pressure and an increase in its stock price.

Most Powerful Force Impacting Stock PricesThe change in a company's future earnings potential, as reflected in earnings estimate revisions, and the near-term price movement of its stock are proven to be strongly correlated. The influence of institutional investors has a partial contribution to this relationship, as these big professionals use earnings and earnings estimates to calculate the fair value of a company's shares. An increase or decrease in earnings estimates in their valuation models simply results in higher or lower fair value for a stock, and institutional investors typically buy or sell it. Their transaction of large amounts of shares then leads to price movement for the stock.

Fundamentally speaking, rising earnings estimates and the consequent rating upgrade for Asana imply an improvement in the company's underlying business. Investors should show their appreciation for this improving business trend by pushing the stock higher.

Harnessing the Power of Earnings Estimate RevisionsAs empirical research shows a strong correlation between trends in earnings estimate revisions and near-term stock movements, tracking such revisions for making an investment decision could be truly rewarding. Here is where the tried-and-tested Zacks Rank stock-rating system plays an important role, as it effectively harnesses the power of earnings estimate revisions.

The Zacks Rank stock-rating system, which uses four factors related to earnings estimates to classify stocks into five groups, ranging from Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) to Zacks Rank #5 (Strong Sell), has an impressive externally-audited track record, with Zacks Rank #1 stocks generating an average annual return of +25% since 1988. You can see the complete list of today's Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here >>>> .

Earnings Estimate Revisions for AsanaThis company is expected to earn $0.38 per share for the fiscal year ending January 2027, which represents no year-over-year change.

Analysts have been steadily raising their estimates for Asana. Over the past three months, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for the company has increased 25.2%.

Bottom LineUnlike the overly optimistic Wall Street analysts whose rating systems tend to be weighted toward favorable recommendations, the Zacks rating system maintains an equal proportion of "buy" and "sell" ratings for its entire universe of more than 4,000 stocks at any point in time. Irrespective of market conditions, only the top 5% of the Zacks-covered stocks get a "Strong Buy" rating and the next 15% get a "Buy" rating. So, the placement of a stock in the top 20% of the Zacks-covered stocks indicates its superior earnings estimate revision feature, making it a solid candidate for producing market-beating returns in the near term.

You can learn more about the Zacks Rank here >>>

The upgrade of Asana to a Zacks Rank #2 positions it in the top 20% of the Zacks-covered stocks in terms of estimate revisions, implying that the stock might move higher in the near term.

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 Helen of Troy Limited (NASDAQ: HELE) 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 Helen of Troy securities between April 24, 2024 and October 8, 2025, both dates inclusive (the "Class Period"). Such investors are encouraged to join this case by visiting the firm's site: bgandg.com/HELE.

Helen of Troy Case Details

The Complaint alleges that, throughout the Class Period, Defendants made materially false and misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that:

Helen of Troy overstated the success and benefits of its Project Pegasus initiative, touting the "fuel" it was generating while downplaying issues such as "implementation hiccups" at its Tennessee distribution center and assuring investors that the project was progressing and delivering cost-saving efficiencies; in reality, Project Pegasus was not delivering the efficiencies Defendants claimed, as the Company lacked sufficient resources and budget to achieve its stated restructuring and cost-savings goals; and as a result, Defendants' statements about the Company's business, operations, and prospects were materially false and misleading at all relevant times.What's Next for Helen of Troy 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/HELE, 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 Helen of Troy 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 Helen of Troy 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 Helen of Troy 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/300154

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.

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AST SpaceMobile, Inc. (“[url="]AST SpaceMobile[/url]”) (NASDAQ: ASTS), the company building the first and only space-based cellular broadband network acces

Mobileye Global (MBLY - Free Report) closed the last trading session at $8.95, gaining 7.3% over the past four weeks, but there could be plenty of upside left in the stock if short-term price targets set by Wall Street analysts are any guide. The mean price target of $13.15 indicates a 46.9% upside potential.

The average comprises 25 short-term price targets ranging from a low of $8.00 to a high of $27.00, with a standard deviation of $5.01. While the lowest estimate indicates a decline of 10.6% from the current price level, the most optimistic estimate points to a 201.7% upside. More than the range, one should note the standard deviation here, as it helps understand the variability of the estimates. The smaller the standard deviation, the greater the agreement among analysts.

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

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

Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise

Here's What You Should Know About Analysts' Price TargetsAccording to researchers at several universities across the globe, a price target is one of many pieces of information about a stock that misleads investors far more often than it guides. In fact, empirical research shows that price targets set by several analysts, irrespective of the extent of agreement, rarely indicate where the price of a stock could actually be heading.

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

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

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

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

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

Over the last 30 days, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for the current year has increased 1.5%, as one estimate has moved higher compared to no negative revision.

Moreover, MBLY currently has a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), which means it is in the top 5% of more than 4,000 stocks that we rank based on four factors related to earnings estimates. Given an impressive externally-audited track record, this is a more conclusive indication of the stock's potential upside in the near term. You can see the complete list of today's Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) stocks here >>>> .

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

DPZ's order growth, expanding digital reach and global store openings support its outlook, but ticket pressure, promotions and costs cloud visibility.

As federal agencies rapidly adopt agentic AI systems capable of acting autonomously, a new [url="]Booz Allen[/url] survey released today reveals a growing gap

Key Takeaways Petrobras awarded SBM Offshore contracts for SEAP-I and SEAP-II FPSOs in the Sergipe-Alagoas Basin.PBR's two FPSOs will each produce 120,000 barrels of oil per day, with delivery planned for 2030 and 2031.SBM Offshore will build and operate the FPSOs using its Fast4Ward platform to streamline execution. Petrobras (PBR - Free Report) is advancing Brazil’s offshore energy expansion with the award of contracts to SBM Offshore for two new Floating Production, Storage and Offloading (“FPSO”) units in the Sergipe-Alagoas Basin, according to ShippingTelegraph. The SEAP-I (P-81) and SEAP-II (P-87) projects are expected to play a key role in developing deepwater oil and gas resources and enhancing the country’s offshore production capabilities.

The agreement reinforces the long-standing relationship between Petrobras and SBM Offshore, combining the Brazilian energy company’s ambitious offshore development strategy with the contractor’s expertise in designing and operating large-scale FPSOs.

SBM Offshore to Design, Build and Operate Both FPSOsUnder the contracts, SBM Offshore will oversee the engineering, construction and operation of the two production vessels. While the Petrobras-led consortia will own the FPSOs, SBM Offshore will manage their operations and maintenance under separate agreements spanning an initial period of 6.5 years.

This model allows Petrobras to focus on field development while relying on an experienced offshore specialist to ensure efficient day-to-day operations. It also highlights the industry's growing preference for partnerships that combine technical innovation with long-term operational support.

Fast4Ward Platform to Streamline Project ExecutionA defining feature of both projects is the use of SBM Offshore’s Fast4Ward program, which introduces standardized hull designs to simplify construction and reduce project timelines.

The company will deploy its 11th and 12th multipurpose new-build hulls for the SEAP-I and SEAP-II units, respectively. By using a proven design platform, engineering teams can focus on integrating field-specific processing systems without starting every project from scratch.

This standardized approach has become increasingly valuable as offshore developments move into deeper waters and require more sophisticated production facilities. Key benefits of the Fast4Ward concept include accelerated project execution, greater reliability and more efficient construction schedules.

SEAP-II Will Prioritize High-Capacity Gas ProcessingThe first vessel scheduled for delivery is SEAP-II (P-87), which is expected to enter service in 2030.

Designed to produce up to 120,000 barrels of oil per day, the FPSO will also feature an associated gas treatment capacity of 425 million standard cubic feet per day and a water injection system capable of handling 120,000 barrels per day.

The unit will operate approximately 80 kilometers offshore in water depths of around 2,500 meters, demonstrating the advanced engineering required for Brazil’s ultra-deepwater developments.

Its robust gas processing capability reflects Petrobras’ broader strategy of maximizing natural gas recovery alongside crude oil production, helping supply additional gas to regional markets.

SEAP-I Focuses on Long-Term Reservoir PerformanceThe second production vessel, SEAP-I (P-81), is scheduled for delivery in 2031 and will be deployed roughly 100 kilometers from Brazil’s coastline in similarly deep waters.

Like its sister vessel, it will produce 120,000 barrels of oil per day, but the design places greater emphasis on reservoir support through an enhanced 200,000 barrels per day water injection capacity. It will also process 355 million standard cubic feet of associated gas per day, ensuring efficient resource utilization throughout the project's operational life.

The complementary design of the two FPSOs allows Petrobras to optimize production across different field conditions while maintaining operational flexibility.

Why the Sergipe-Alagoas Basin MattersAlthough Brazil’s pre-salt fields often receive the most attention, the Sergipe-Alagoas Basin has steadily emerged as one of the country’s most promising offshore regions.

Located off Brazil’s northeastern coast, the basin offers significant untapped hydrocarbon potential that can diversify national production and support energy demand. Petrobras' continued investment in SEAP-I and SEAP-II reinforces its commitment to advancing offshore resource development beyond the legacy producing assets.

The projects are also expected to contribute to regional economic activity by creating opportunities across engineering, marine services, logistics and offshore support industries during both construction and operational phases.

Partnership Built on Offshore ExpertiseThe latest awards further strengthen the collaboration between Petrobras and SBM Offshore, which has delivered numerous FPSO projects for Brazil over the years.

Commenting on the announcement, SBM Offshore chief executive officer Øivind Tangen said the contracts reaffirm its long-term partnership with Petrobras. Tangen noted that the advanced gas treatment systems required for these developments align with SBM Offshore’s technical expertise and will help increase gas availability in northeastern Brazil.

The continued collaboration reflects the confidence both companies place in proven engineering solutions for increasingly complex offshore environments.

Supporting Brazil’s Next Phase of Offshore GrowthThe SEAP-I and SEAP-II developments illustrate how Brazil continues to invest in modern offshore infrastructure capable of supporting future production while improving operational efficiency.

As energy companies place greater emphasis on maximizing resource recovery and reducing environmental impact, advanced FPSOs have become central to offshore development strategies. Their ability to process oil and gas directly at sea reduces the need for extensive fixed infrastructure and enables production from remote deepwater reservoirs that would otherwise remain uneconomical.

For Petrobras, these projects represent another step toward expanding production capacity while strengthening domestic gas supply. For SBM Offshore, they reinforce its position as one of the industry's leading FPSO providers, with a proven track record of delivering complex offshore solutions.

With construction set to begin in the coming years and deliveries targeted for 2030 and 2031, the two FPSOs are poised to become important assets in Brazil’s evolving offshore energy landscape, supporting production growth and reinforcing the country's position as one of the world's leading deepwater oil and gas producers.

PBR's Zacks Rank & Key PicksCurrently, PBR has a Zacks Rank #5 (Strong Sell).

Investors interested in the energy sector might consider some better-ranked stocks, such as Par Pacific (PARR - Free Report) , Cheniere Energy (LNG - Free Report) , both sporting a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), and Delek US Holdings (DK - Free Report) , carrying a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) at present. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.

Par Pacific is valued at 3.82 billion. It is a diversified energy company that owns and operates petroleum refineries, logistics assets and retail fuel businesses across the United States. Par Pacific focuses on refining, transporting and marketing fuel products while serving regional markets with reliable energy solutions.

Cheniere Energy is valued at $55.03 billion. It is a leading U.S. producer and exporter of liquefied natural gas (“LNG”), supplying energy to customers across more than 40 international markets. Cheniere Energy operates major LNG export terminals in Louisiana and Texas and focuses on providing reliable, lower-carbon energy solutions

Delek US Holdings is valued at $3.88 billion. It is a diversified downstream energy company engaged in petroleum refining, renewable fuels, asphalt production and logistics operations. Delek US Holdings operates multiple refineries in the United States and is committed to delivering safe, reliable energy while investing in cleaner energy initiatives.

Nebius Group (NBIS, Financials), an Amsterdam-based artificial intelligence computing infrastructure provider, jumped around 7% in premarket trading after Nvidi

Wall Street expects a year-over-year increase in earnings on lower revenues when Expand Energy (EXE - 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 oil and gas company is expected to post quarterly earnings of $1.16 per share in its upcoming report, which represents a year-over-year change of +5.5%.

Revenues are expected to be $2.01 billion, down 0.4% from the year-ago quarter.

Estimate Revisions TrendThe consensus EPS estimate for the quarter has been revised 3.46% 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 Expand Energy?For Expand Energy, the Most Accurate Estimate is lower than the Zacks Consensus Estimate, suggesting that analysts have recently become bearish on the company's earnings prospects. This has resulted in an Earnings ESP of -1.82%.

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

So, this combination makes it difficult to conclusively predict that Expand Energy 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 Expand Energy would post earnings of $3.69 per share when it actually produced earnings of $3.83, delivering a surprise of +3.79%.

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.

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

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

CEO Michael Intrator says the global AI build-out requires capital on a scale rarely seen, but that he is on the “right side” of a generational change.

Key Takeaways Navitas Semiconductor is shifting toward AI infrastructure and high-power markets to drive growth.NVTS launched new GaN and SiC products as customers advance AI power projects toward commercialization.NVTS expects higher Q2 2026 revenues and margins as AI infrastructure demand continues to expand. Navitas Semiconductor (NVTS - Free Report) is making AI infrastructure the main focus of its business. The company has shifted away from its mobile and low-end consumer business and is now focused on high-power markets, including AI data centers and grid infrastructure. Management said AI is driving demand for its gallium nitride (GaN) and silicon carbide (SiC) power chips, while robust demand in AI infrastructure is helping the company return to revenue growth.

The shift is already showing results. First-quarter 2026 revenues increased 18% sequentially to $8.6 million. Revenues from high-power markets grew 35% year over year and now account for most of the company's revenues. Further, the AI infrastructure business, which includes AI data centers and grid infrastructure revenues, grew 50% sequentially, and the company expects this business to continue growing through the rest of 2026.

Navitas Semiconductor is also introducing new products for AI power systems. During the first quarter, it launched a 20-kilowatt GaN platform for AI data centers and new Gen 5 SiC products for AI power supplies. Management said customers are evaluating these products, and several projects have moved from device testing to board-level testing. The company believes offering both GaN and SiC products helps it support a wider range of AI power applications.

Management expects AI infrastructure to remain its largest growth opportunity. As AI data centers require more power, demand for efficient power chips is expected to increase. The company expects second-quarter 2026 revenues to grow 16% on a sequential basis, while gross margins are expected to improve 75 basis points sequentially. As AI infrastructure spending continues to grow, Navitas remains well-positioned to benefit from higher demand for its GaN and SiC products.

How Competitors Fare Against NVTSThe company faces strong competition from ON Semiconductor (ON - Free Report) and STMicroelectronics (STM - Free Report) in the race to supply high-voltage solutions for AI data centers.

In June 2026, ON Semiconductor introduced GaNEXUS, a new GaN power semiconductor portfolio designed for AI data centers, industrial automation, robotics and energy infrastructure applications. This new portfolio includes GaNEXUS FETs with voltage ratings from 40V to 650V, along with 650V GaNEXUS Smart devices that include built-in protection features to simplify system design and improve reliability. The new devices provide faster switching speeds, lower switching losses, higher power density and better thermal performance than conventional silicon-based power devices to help customers build smaller and more efficient power systems.

STMicroelectronics introduced new 700V GaN power semiconductors in May 2026, designed to improve energy efficiency and power density in AI servers, robotics, industrial systems and advanced consumer applications. The new PowerGaN devices are designed for high-voltage power supplies and support reliable operation in high-power applications. The devices should help improve power conversion efficiency beyond what is possible with conventional silicon-based technologies.

NVTS' Price Performance, Valuation & EstimatesShares of Navitas Semiconductor have rallied 61.6% year to date compared with the Zacks Electronics – Semiconductors industry’s growth of 27.4%.

NVTS YTD Price Return Performance
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

From a valuation standpoint, Navitas Semiconductor trades at a forward price-to-sales ratio of 45.27X, significantly higher than the industry’s average of 12.80X.

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

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Navitas Semiconductor’s 2026 bottom line is pegged at a loss of 17 cents per share. The estimates for 2026 loss per share have remained unchanged over the past 30 days.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

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

IREN Today

$42.08 +1.88 (+4.66%)

As of 12:41 PM Eastern

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

52-Week Range$14.72▼

$76.87P/E Ratio87.28

Price Target$82.36

IREN Limited NASDAQ: IREN recently sent a signal to the broader equity markets. A $2.8 billion contract haul does not just change a quarterly earnings trajectory.

It entirely rewrites the fundamental valuation matrix of the underlying business. IREN’s stock price jumped nearly 20% on the news, erasing a brutal trailing 30-day drawdown and closing above $40 per share. The market is waking up to a stark reality.

Get IREN alerts:

The underlying infrastructure operator is no longer a legacy Bitcoin (BTC) miner tethered to the cyclical volatility of digital assets. IREN Limited is morphing into a tier-one artificial intelligence (AI) compute provider.

Crypto Volatility Meets Cloud StabilityThe valuation disconnect between legacy digital asset operations and utility-grade cloud hosting is profound. When you sit down to build a discounted cash flow model, projecting daily digital asset mining revenue introduces high variables. Institutional capital historically applies heavy discount rates to those models to account for the unpredictable nature of block rewards and underlying asset price swings. High-performance computing and artificial intelligence cloud hosting command premium multiples based on sticky, recurring revenue and long-term counterparty agreements. IREN Limited is actively bridging that gap, forcing an immediate revaluation.

Compiling the Code on $2.8 Billion in AI ContractsThe catalyst driving this repricing is an influx of multi-year artificial intelligence cloud services contracts totaling $2.8 billion. The agreements push the 2026 annualized run-rate revenue target from $3.7 billion to over $4 billion. More importantly, approximately 85% of the newly revised $4 billion annualized target is already under contract.

Revenue visibility changes how analysts evaluate long-term equity growth. Moving from daily digital asset revenue to a weighted-average contract term of four years transforms the balance sheet. The customer base now includes heavyweights like Microsoft NASDAQ: MSFT, NVIDIA NASDAQ: NVDA, Perplexity, and Figure AI.

Microsoft acts as the anchor hyperscaler, having initiated a $9.7 billion, five-year agreement in late 2025. When entities of this caliber sign multi-year deals, it serves as supreme technical validation. It proves the infrastructure built by IREN Limited meets tier-one commercial standards for uptime, cooling, and latency.

Building out self-hosted cloud capacity is brutally capital-intensive, requiring immense upfront expenditures on advanced silicon. IREN Limited successfully negotiated customer prepayments covering approximately 45% of the associated capital expenditures for graphics processing units. Securing customer-funded infrastructure growth reduces net funding requirements and drastically accelerates the timeline to achieve free cash flow positivity.

Overclocking the Balance Sheet With $2.6 BillionScaling self-built artificial intelligence cloud capacity from three megawatts to a targeted 480 megawatts for delivery by the end of 2026 requires staggering amounts of capital. The baseline balance sheet shows $2.21 billion in cash and cash equivalents, providing substantial liquidity. The mechanism behind that liquidity reveals a highly sophisticated corporate finance strategy.

In May 2026, IREN Limited priced an upsized $2.6 billion convertible senior notes offering due in 2033, carrying a remarkably low 1.00% interest rate. Securing low-cost debt is the lifeblood of physical infrastructure expansion. It provides immediate liquidity for the subsequent 1.2-gigawatt target in 2027 without tapping traditional, high-yield credit markets, which would drag down net margins.

Convertible debt often triggers panic over equity dilution, a fear recently exacerbated by a retention equity package granted to the co-CEOs that resulted in a 6% aggregate stake. Management actively hedged the underlying equity against convertible debt by executing $174.5 million in capped call transactions.

A capped call is an options strategy utilized by corporations to offset potential dilution when debt holders inevitably convert their notes into shares. By executing these transactions, the dilution threshold is pushed out to $110.30 per share. This financial engineering neutralizes the near-term dilution overhang, allowing the $2.6 billion war chest to fund the 480-megawatt expansion without punishing current shareholders. Options chain data reveals heavy institutional speculation targeting that exact conversion price, exhibiting extreme implied volatility skew as sophisticated capital front-runs the upside repricing.

Re-Routing the Multiples: The Neocloud Server RackOverall MarketRank™62nd Percentile

Analyst RatingModerate Buy

Upside/Downside98.9% Upside

Short Interest LevelBearish

Dividend StrengthN/A

News Sentiment0.40 Insider TradingN/A

Proj. Earnings GrowthGrowing

See Full Analysis

Evaluating IREN’s stock requires looking past the backward-looking metrics. The trailing price-to-earnings ratio is elevated at 83.75, following a slight third-quarter earnings miss of negative 25 cents per share. Traditional value screens flag this as expensive. Fundamental analysis of rapidly transitioning businesses requires evaluating forward-looking annualized run-rate revenue relative to enterprise value.

Legacy data center real estate investment trusts offer consistent dividend yields and mature margins, which earn them premium valuation multiples. The neocloud sector is aggressively attempting to command those same multiples. The broader macro environment confirms this revaluation framework. Competitors are executing similar maneuvers. Hut 8 Corp. NASDAQ: HUT fully commercialized its one-gigawatt Texas campus by signing a second 15-year, $9.8 billion lease. TeraWulf Inc. NASDAQ: WULF executed a 20-year, $19 billion lease with Anthropic.

These decadal leases demonstrate that long-term, fixed-cost power agreements command heavy premiums when redirected toward specialized compute. As IREN Limited phases out legacy mining operations and transitions entirely to high-margin infrastructure, the price-to-earnings ratio will naturally compress through sheer earnings growth, driving the multiple expansion that retail and institutional investors are currently chasing.

Avoiding System Failure in Local Interconnection QueuesThe transition presents structural risks. The primary bottleneck for artificial intelligence is no longer purely silicon procurement, but rather localized grid congestion and power availability. Regional energy headwinds present structural risks to expected margin profiles.

If the 480-megawatt capacity rollout faces interconnection delays due to transformer shortages or grid instability, revenue realization will slip. The neocloud model also faces long-term structural risks if hyperscalers accelerate the construction of proprietary, off-grid data centers, potentially compressing third-party operators' future pricing power.

These macro headwinds inadvertently strengthen the underlying thesis. If power is scarce and grid interconnection queues stretch for years, existing, fully energized sites become exponentially more valuable. Securing 1.2 gigawatts of energized capacity creates an almost insurmountable barrier to entry for new competitors.

Pressing Enter on the Physical Economy ShiftThe transition from digital asset generation to enterprise-grade artificial intelligence infrastructure requires flawless execution, substantial capital, and highly vetted counterparties. The recent $2.8 billion contract expansion fundamentally de-risks the revenue model over the next four years.

Cautious investors may prefer to monitor the ongoing 480-megawatt deployment for any grid interconnection delays before initiating a position. Those prioritizing structural shifts in the physical economy might view current volatility as an opportunity, adding the stock to their watchlists as the broader market slowly prices in the eventual shift toward a legacy data center valuation matrix.

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

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Tesla, Nvidia, and Google helped shape the last era of market growth, but the next wave could come from a new group of companies. Inside this report, you’ll find 7 stocks that could play a major role in the next tech-driven market boom.

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

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

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POET Technologies (NASDAQ:POET) builds optical interposers and photonic engines that let hyperscale data centers move data with light instead of copper. Revenue jumped 201.86% year over year in Q1 2026, yet shares are stuck at $8.33. Can POET shares hit $25 by 2027?

Why POET Shares Are Stuck Despite Explosive Revenue Growth The setup looks bullish on paper. POET is up 18.01% YTD, but the recent price action has broken down badly: down 6.63% in the past week and down 38.52% over the past month.

Multiple class action complaints filed in late June 2026 allege POET misrepresented its Passive Foreign Investment Company status, and separate filings tie in a confidentiality breach by CFO Thomas Mika that reportedly caused Celestial AI (now part of Marvell) to cancel purchase orders.

CEO Mika announced his retirement on July 8, 2026. Add a $400 million direct offering announced July 8 and dilution fear stacks on governance fear. Beta of 0.764 understates the actual volatility here.

Wall Street Sees Roughly 110% Upside. Our Model Says More The Street’s consensus 12-month target sits at $17.50, backed by one Buy rating, zero Holds, and zero Sells. Bullish sentiment among covering analysts is 100%. Our base case for 2027 is more aggressive at $22.23, implying 166.87% upside, with a bull case of $22.89 and a bear case of $16.61. Confidence on that base case is moderate at 0.5.

Wall Street anchors too heavily on the single covering analyst and ignores the Lumilens deal’s optionality. With only one sell-side voice, the consensus is thin. That gap is exactly why a $25 stretch target is worth stress testing.

The Path to $25 Per Share Reaching $25 from today’s price of $8.33 would require a gain of 200.1%. With forward EPS of -$0.88, a price of $25 implies a forward P/E of -28x. That number is not usable in a traditional sense because POET is not yet profitable. The story rests on revenue scale rather than P/E compression.

The bull thesis: POET converts its Lumilens design win into recurring revenue as its Malaysia facility ramps to high-volume 800G production in Q3 2026 and targets more than 30,000 optical engine shipments in 2026.

Act now: the analyst who called NVIDIA in 2010 just named his top 10 AI stocks — and Poet Technologies didn't make the cut. Grab the names FREE today.

CEO Suresh Venkatesan called it “an important commercial milestone… establishes the framework for what we believe could become a substantial long-term supplier relationship supporting frontier AI infrastructure”.

Risk: continued dilution or a customer qualification miss guts the ramp.

Where POET Trades Today vs Its Earnings Power POET is a revenue-scale story, not yet a P/E story. It trades at a price-to-book multiple of about 3x, below the semiconductor industry average, with roughly $430 million in cash providing runway.

Shares sit inside a 52-week range of $3.87 to $20.81, closer to the lows than the highs. The 10-year total return is a modest 10.78%. It is a call option on Malaysia execution and AI networking demand. If the 800G ramp lands and Lumilens scales, the current market cap looks small versus the revenue POET could book by late 2027.

Is $25 Realistic? Here’s My Take Hitting $25 by 2027 requires a gain of 200.1% from here, a stretch scenario rather than a base case.

Three things need to go right: the Malaysia facility must hit high-volume 800G production on schedule, Lumilens must convert its $50 million initial order into follow-on business, and the class action overhang must fade. What derails it is another dilutive raise before revenue scales. We’ve outlined the blueprint for how Poet Technologies could reach $25 in 2027.

Act now: the analyst who called NVIDIA in 2010 just named his top 10 AI stocks — and Poet Technologies didn't make the cut. Grab the names FREE today.

Contact [email protected] for any questions or corrections.

Operator

Good morning, everyone, and welcome to the Paramount Skydance Corporation Annual Meeting. Kevin, you may begin.

Kevin Creighton
EVP of Corporate Finance & Investor Relations

This is Kevin Creighton, EVP of Investor Relations and Corporate Finance. The meeting will now officially come to order. We'll proceed with the business of the meeting as set forth in the information statement we filed with the SEC on June 29, 2026.

The only item on today's agenda is to present the results of an action by written consent of certain of our stockholders. Acting by written consent and effective as of today, the holders of 100% of our Class A common stock elected the following 10 individuals to our Board of Directors: David Ellison, Andrew Brandon-Gordon, Barbara M. Byrne, Andrew Campion, Gerald Cardinale, Safra A. Catz, Justin G. Hamill, Sherry Lansing, Paul Marinelli and John L. Thornton. Each of these individuals will serve until the next annual election of Directors by stockholders, or until his or her successor is duly elected and qualified.

Additionally, pursuant to this action by written consent, the holders ratified the selection by the Audit Committee of our Board of Directors of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP to serve as our independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year 2026. We expect to report the results of this stockholder written consent in a filing with the SEC within 4 business days.

As previously disclosed, we have provided the opportunity for stockholders to submit questions in advance of the meeting. Having not received any questions from our stockholders and with no other business pending before the stockholders, I will now officially adjourn today's meeting. Thank you.

LOS ANGELES, July 21, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Schall Law Firm, a national shareholder rights litigation firm, reminds investors of a class action lawsuit against Futu Holdings Limited (“Futu” or “the Company”) (NASDAQ: FUTU) for violations of §§10(b) and 20(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and Rule 10b-5 promulgated thereunder by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

Investors who purchased the Company’s securities between May 24, 2023 and May 27, 2026, inclusive (the “Class Period”), are encouraged to contact the firm before August 25, 2026.

If you are a shareholder who suffered a loss, click here to participate.

We also encourage you to contact Brian Schall of the Schall Law Firm, 2049 Century Park East, Suite 2460, Los Angeles, CA 90067, at 310-301-3335, to discuss your rights free of charge. You can also reach us through the firm's website at www.schallfirm.com, or by email at [email protected].

The class, in this case, has not yet been certified, and until certification occurs, you are not represented by an attorney. If you choose to take no action, you can remain an absent class member.

According to the Complaint, the Company made false and misleading statements to the market. Futu failed to maintain compliance with the China Securities Regulatory Commission (“CSRC”). The Company was likely to face regulatory action in China due to its failure to comply with CSRC regulations. Based on these facts, the Company’s public statements were false and materially misleading throughout the class period. When the market learned the truth about Futu, investors suffered damages.

Join the case to recover your losses

The Schall Law Firm represents investors around the world and specializes in securities class action lawsuits and shareholder rights litigation.

This press release may be considered Attorney Advertising in some jurisdictions under the applicable law and rules of ethics.        

CONTACT:

The Schall Law Firm
Brian Schall, Esq.,
www.schallfirm.com
Office: 310-301-3335
[email protected]

SOURCE:

The Schall Law Firm

The market expects Seagate (STX - 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 electronic storage maker is expected to post quarterly earnings of $5.10 per share in its upcoming report, which represents a year-over-year change of +96.9%.

Revenues are expected to be $3.49 billion, up 43% 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 Seagate?For Seagate, the Most Accurate Estimate is higher than the Zacks Consensus Estimate, suggesting that analysts have recently become bullish on the company's earnings prospects. This has resulted in an Earnings ESP of +1.75%.

On the other hand, the stock currently carries a Zacks Rank of #1.

So, this combination indicates that Seagate 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 Seagate would post earnings of $3.5 per share when it actually produced earnings of $4.10, delivering a surprise of +17.14%.

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.

Seagate 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.

The price trend for ams-OSRAM AG Unsponsored ADR (AMSSY - Free Report) has been bearish lately and the stock has lost 18.3% over the past week. However, the formation of a hammer chart pattern in its last trading session indicates that the stock could witness a trend reversal soon, as bulls might have gained significant control over the price to help it find support.

While the formation of a hammer pattern is a technical indication of nearing a bottom with potential exhaustion of selling pressure, rising optimism among Wall Street analysts about the future earnings of this company is a solid fundamental factor that enhances the prospects of a trend reversal for the stock.

What is a Hammer Chart and How to Trade It?This is one of the popular price patterns in candlestick charting. A minor difference between the opening and closing prices forms a small candle body, and a higher difference between the low of the day and the open or close forms a long lower wick (or vertical line). The length of the lower wick being at least twice the length of the real body, the candle resembles a 'hammer.'

In simple terms, during a downtrend, with bears having absolute control, a stock usually opens lower compared to the previous day's close, and again closes lower. On the day the hammer pattern is formed, maintaining the downtrend, the stock makes a new low. However, after eventually finding support at the low of the day, some amount of buying interest emerges, pushing the stock up to close the session near or slightly above its opening price.

When it occurs at the bottom of a downtrend, this pattern signals that the bears might have lost control over the price. And, the success of bulls in stopping the price from falling further indicates a potential trend reversal.

Hammer candles can occur on any timeframe -- such as one-minute, daily, weekly -- and are utilized by both short-term as well as long-term investors.

Like every technical indicator, the hammer chart pattern has its limitations. Particularly, as the strength of a hammer depends on its placement on the chart, it should always be used in conjunction with other bullish indicators.

Here's What Makes the Trend Reversal More Likely for AMSSYAn upward trend in earnings estimate revisions that AMSSY has been witnessing lately can certainly be considered a bullish indicator on the fundamental side. That's because empirical research shows that trends in earnings estimate revisions are strongly correlated with near-term stock price movements.

The consensus EPS estimate for the current year has increased 190.9% over the last 30 days. This means that the Wall Street analysts covering AMSSY are majorly in agreement about the company's potential to report better earnings than what they predicted earlier.

If this is not enough, you should note that AMSSY currently has a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy), which means it is in the top 20% of more than 4,000 stocks that we rank based on trends in earnings estimate revisions and EPS surprises. And stocks carrying a Zacks Rank #1 or 2 usually outperform the market. You can see the complete list of today's Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) stocks here >>>> .

Moreover, a Zacks Rank of 2 for ams-OSRAM AG Unsponsored ADR is a more conclusive indication of a potential trend reversal, as the Zacks Rank has proven to be an excellent timing indicator that helps investors identify precisely when a company's prospects are beginning to improve.

Elon Musk warned that investors betting against SpaceX have little chance of survival — even as short sellers boosted their wagers against the company to about one-third of its publicly tradable shares ahead of several key catalysts.

About 206 million SpaceX shares are now sold short, representing roughly 32% of the company's publicly tradable float and about $25 billion in notional bearish bets, according to estimates from S3 Partners. That's up from about 185 million shares, or 29% of the float, just last week, and marks a dramatic increase from an estimated 40 million shares, or roughly 5% to 7% of the float, about a month ago.

"We continue to see short sellers adding exposure ahead of several key upcoming catalysts, including the company's first earnings report as a public company and subsequent lock-up expirations," Matthew Unterman, head of research at S3, told CNBC.

Musk responded to the growing short interest in a post on X, predicting investors betting against the company would ultimately lose.

"The survival probability of firms who maintain a significant short position in SpaceX over time is very low," Musk wrote. "I said SpaceX will be worth more than Earth if we achieve our goals. Obviously true."

SpaceX one month

SpaceX confirmed Tuesday that it will release its first quarterly earnings report as a public company after U.S. markets close on Aug. 4. The results will give investors their first detailed look at SpaceX's performance since its initial public offering and could provide a fresh test for both bulls and short sellers.

The growing bearish position comes as investors weigh SpaceX's long-term prospects against its valuation and the possibility of additional shares becoming available after lock-up restrictions expire. Bulls point to the company's leadership in launch services, Starlink's expansion, and its artificial intelligence ambitions, while skeptics have questioned how much future growth is already reflected in the stock.

SpaceX shares rose about 7% on Tuesday, on pace to snap a seven-session losing streak after analysts at Macquarie reiterated their outperform rating and urged investors to buy the recent weakness. The stock climbed to around $128, though it remains below its $135 IPO price following a sharp post-listing pullback.

Key Takeaways Middle East tensions lifted oil prices while AI-led tech weakness dragged broader markets lower. Oil and shipping ETFs DBO, USO and BWET surged on escalating Strait of Hormuz tensions.WEAT climbed on Black Sea and Australian supply concerns, while VXX rose as volatility spiked. Wall Street delivered a downbeat performance last week. The S&P 500 Index fell 1.6%, the Dow Jones fell 0.9%, the Nasdaq Composite plunged about 2.9% and the Russell 2000 retreated 0.5% last week.

The renewed geopolitical tensions in the Middle East and the tech slump mainly led to the slump. Oil prices jumped last week, with the United States Oil Fund LP (USO - Free Report) gaining 10.7% due to the flare-up in tensions between the United States and Iran.

Hormuz Tensions DeepenPresident Trump announced last week that the United States would reimpose a blockade of the Strait of Hormuz and levy a 20% fee on cargo passing through the strategic waterway, escalating tensions in the Middle East.

The blockade began on July 14, 2026, with U.S. Central Command saying it would enforce restrictions on vessels traveling to or from Iranian ports and coastal areas (read: Leveraged Oil ETFs Likely to Surge as Hormuz Tensions Deepen).

Vessel traffic through the Strait of Hormuz has declined since then, as escalating U.S.-Iran tensions prompt shipowners to avoid the key energy corridor. Lloyd’s List Intelligence recorded just 53 vessel transits in the week through July 20, down 66% from 157 the previous week, as quoted on CNBC.

Moreover, the U.S. military said a service member was killed after an Iranian attack in northern Iraq on Saturday, a day after an attack on a base in Jordan killed two U.S. soldiers, as quoted on BBC.

Inside the Tech SelloffsInvestors are becoming increasingly cautious about the AI trade as concerns over the sustainability of corporate spending on AI weigh on sentiment. The technology sector, particularly semiconductor stocks, has led the recent market weakness as rising concerns over AI-related capital expenditures and rich valuations dampen investor sentiment.

AI Inflation Fears IntensifyRising expectations that AI could fuel inflation are expected to keep investors on edge. Goldman Sachs cautions that the rapid adoption of AI is likely to fuel inflation globally as supply struggles to keep pace with soaring demand for critical AI components, including memory chips and semiconductors.  The United States is likely to be hit the hardest, as quoted on Business Insider.

SK Hynix’s Shares Flat SK Hynix's recent U.S. debut has sparked a wave of new leveraged ETFs likeDirexion Daily SK Hynix Bull 2X ETF (SKHL). However, SK Hynix Inc – ADR (SKHY - Free Report) shares remained flat (read: Tap SK Hynix's Memory Leadership With These New Leveraged ETFs).

SpaceX NosedivesShares of another recent IPO hot-star, SpaceX (SPCX - Free Report) , also slumped 14% last week. On July 16, SpaceX's Starship rocket triggered a last-second ‌abort before liftoff its 13th flight test from Texas, which wiped off about $100 billion from the company's market value, per Reuters, as quoted on Yahoo Finance.

ETF Winners Against this backdrop, below we highlight a few winning ETFs of last week.

EnergyInvesco DB Oil Fund (DBO - Free Report) – Up 10.9%

United States Oil Fund LP (USO - Free Report) – Up 10.7%

VanEck Oil Refiners ETF (CRAK - Free Report) – Up 7.8%

Oil prices rose last week as the war between the United States and Iran intensified, fueling concerns over disruptions to energy shipments through the Strait of Hormuz. President Trump announced last week that the United States would reimpose a blockade of the Strait of Hormuz and levy a 20% fee on cargo passing through the strategic waterway, escalating tensions in the Middle East.

Shipping Breakwave Tanker Shipping ETF (BWET - Free Report) – Up 11.9%

Due to the crisis in the Strait of Hormuz, shipping routes were disrupted, driving a sharp surge in freight rates. This has strengthened the investment case for BWET. Broader disruptions across global trade lanes have supported shipping stocks this year, with elevated shipping rates in recent months positioning the fund as a clear beneficiary.

Wheat Teucrium Wheat Fund (WEAT - Free Report) – Up 6.5%

Wheat prices hit a two-year high last week as traders locked in profits. The Russia-Ukraine conflict showed no signs of easing, with Russian forces resuming strikes on Ukrainian port infrastructure along the Black Sea coast in response to recent Ukrainian attacks on Russian vessels in the Sea of Azov and the Black Sea, per Trading Economics.

Plus, the USDA reported that U.S. wheat net export sales of 235,100 metric tons for the week ended July 9 were below market expectations. Meanwhile, supply concerns emerged in Australia – one of the world’s largest wheat exporters – due to hotter and drier conditions, Trading Economics noted.

Volatility iPath Series B S&P 500 VIX Short-Term Futures ETN (VXX - Free Report) – Up 5.1%

AI jitters, oil risks and inflation fears caused massive volatility last week, causing stocks to slump. The CBOE Volatility Index (VIX), which reflects market expectations of near-term volatility, jumped more than 12% last week, highlighting growing investor anxiety and expectations for heightened market volatility.

SpaceX SPCX shares jumped more than 6% on Tuesday, snapping a seven-session losing streak after Macquarie reiterated its bullish stance on the stock, saying the recent correction offers investors an attractive entry point into what it describes as a long-term infrastructure and artificial intelligence leader.

The rally lifted the stock to around $127, although it remains below its $135 initial public offering price after a gradual post-listing decline.

Macquarie said the recent weakness has created a disconnect between the company's market valuation and its long-term growth prospects, particularly in AI.

SpaceX shares have been under pressure since their record IPO on June 12 and remain more than 20% below their debut closing price despite Tuesday's rebound.

The stock also suffered a setback last week after the company's 13th Starship test flight was aborted less than a second before liftoff because several engines failed to ignite.

Macquarie analysts, led by Paul Golding, believe those near-term issues have not altered the company's long-term investment case.

Reaffirming an Outperform rating and a 12-month price target of $250, the brokerage said investors continue to underestimate SpaceX's artificial intelligence opportunity in addition to its core aerospace business.

"We see significant upside from AI optionality; achieving only a fraction of terminal compute ambitions could justify valuation above current levels," the analysts wrote.

According to Macquarie, the recent selloff presents a rare opportunity to buy what it describes as a category-defining infrastructure platform at a significant discount to its intrinsic value.

Attention is now turning to Aug. 4, when SpaceX is scheduled to report quarterly earnings for the first time as a publicly traded company.

The earnings release will also trigger the first phase of the company's staggered IPO lock-up expiration.

Unlike the standard six-month lock-up period used in most listings, SpaceX adopted a phased structure intended to reduce the risk of heavy insider selling.

Following the earnings release, insiders will be permitted to sell up to 20% of their eligible locked-up holdings, representing as many as 911.5 million shares.

An additional 10% of locked-up shares could become eligible for sale if the stock trades at least 30% above its IPO price for five of the ten trading sessions leading up to the earnings report.

The approaching lock-up has become another focal point for investors after a sustained decline in the share price.

The recent weakness has also attracted bearish investors.

Short interest has climbed to roughly one-third of SpaceX's public float in recent weeks as traders positioned for further downside.

Because only a limited portion of shares is available for trading before the lock-up expires, increased short selling has amplified volatility.

Chief Executive Elon Musk dismissed those bearish bets in a post on X on Monday.

"The survival probability of firms who maintain a significant short position in SpaceX over time is very low," Musk wrote.

While Macquarie believes the recent correction has created an attractive buying opportunity, not all analysts agree.

Former hedge fund manager Whitney Tilson argued last week that the stock remains expensive despite the sharp decline.

"Don't even think about bottom-fishing this one, as it still trades at 92 times trailing revenues," Tilson wrote.

"That means it's still nearly 10 times overvalued, given that I think a generous multiple for the stock would be 10 times revenues."

The contrasting views highlight the debate surrounding SpaceX following its blockbuster IPO, with bulls focusing on its long-term AI and space ambitions while skeptics argue the valuation still leaves little room for execution missteps.