Track market-moving stories before they get noisy

The U.S. Third Circuit Court of Appeals reversed a key ‌New Jersey water permit for U.S. energy company Williams Cos' (WMB.N) long-delayed Northeast Supply Enhancement (NESE) natural gas pipeline project in Pennsylvania, New Jersey and New York.

The court said in a ruling on Tuesday that it granted petitions by environmental groups, vacated the Water Quality Certification and remanded the case to the ​New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP).

A coalition of environmental groups filed a lawsuit last November against the NJDEP for unjustifiably ​approving the certification for NESE, after first rejecting the project in 2019 for failure to demonstrate compliance ⁠with state water quality standards.

“When the water quality certificate was denied in 2019, that should have been the end of it," ​said Charlie Kratovil, Central Jersey Organizer at Food & Water Watch, one of the environmental groups opposing the project.

Officials at Williams were not immediately ​available for comment.

NESE is a roughly $1 billion project under construction by Williams' Transcontinental Gas Pipe Line Co (Transco) unit that would expand the existing Transco gas pipe. NESE includes the construction of an offshore pipe in the Raritan Bay between New Jersey and New York.

The environmental groups contended that the underwater segment ​would require dredging the bay floor, stirring up sediment containing toxic contaminants like mercury and PCBs (Polychlorinated biphenyls), which could pose risks ​to human health and marine habitats.

Williams officially broke ground on NESE in Brooklyn, New York, in April 2026.

In addition to NESE, Williams is also developing another ‌long-delayed ⁠gas pipe in the region, Constitution Pipeline from Pennsylvania to New York.

Both projects were controversial in part because they were previously rejected by state environmental regulators and canceled by Williams in past years before U.S. President Donald Trump sought their revival after returning to office in 2025.

Williams canceled Constitution in 2020 and NESE in 2024 after years of fighting for permits, especially water permits, from state regulators ​in New York and New Jersey.

In ​May 2025, the Trump administration ⁠used New York's reconsideration of Williams' proposed gas pipes in the state as part of a deal with New York Governor Kathy Hochul to lift a federal ban on construction of Norwegian energy ​firm Equinor's (EQNR.OL) Empire Wind offshore wind farm off New York.

Hochul did not agree to approve either ​pipe project but ⁠said the state would work with the U.S. administration and private entities on projects that meet the legal requirements under New York law.

Williams said on its website that it targeted completion of NESE in the fourth quarter of 2027 and Constitution in the fourth quarter of 2028.

NESE ⁠is designed ​to move around 0.4 billion cubic feet per day (bcfd) of gas from Pennsylvania, ​across New Jersey and into New York.

Constitution, which is not under construction, is designed to move around 0.65 bcfd of gas from Pennsylvania to New York.

One billion ​cubic feet of gas is enough to supply around five million U.S. homes for a day.

Key Takeaways Manufacturing remains in expansion, with new orders, production and exports supporting future activity.Caterpillar's record $72B backlog and capacity expansion position it for rising demand across key markets.Watts Water's record Q2 results benefited from pricing, higher volumes and growing data center demand. U.S. manufacturing activity remained in expansion territory for the eighth consecutive month in August, despite persistent trade uncertainty, elevated input costs and geopolitical tensions. Three of four key demand indicators, New Orders, Backlog of Orders and New Export Orders, remained in expansion. Meanwhile, the Customers’ Inventories Index stayed in “too low” territory or below 50%, which is generally viewed as supportive of future production.

The improving manufacturing backdrop is also supporting the Industrial Products sector, which is witnessing positive estimate revisions for the third quarter. Per the latest Earnings Trends report, the sector is expected to deliver earnings growth of 12.9% in the third quarter and 11.6% in 2026. It is one of the nine sectors expected to post double-digit growth this year.  Against this backdrop, it would be ideal to invest in industrial stocks like Caterpillar (CAT - Free Report) , Kubota (KUBTY - Free Report) , Nordson (NDSN - Free Report) , Zebra Technologies (ZBRA - Free Report) and Watts Water Technologies (WTS - Free Report) .

Manufacturing Activity Remains in ExpansionThe ISM Manufacturing PMI was 54.6% in August, dipping one percentage point from July’s 55.6%. Despite this, August marked the eighth consecutive month of manufacturing growth, following a 10-month period of contraction. Despite the moderation, the sector remained in expansion for the eighth straight month following 10 consecutive months of contraction. Five of the six largest manufacturing industries expanded, led by transportation equipment, petroleum and coal products, computer and electronic products, machinery, and food, beverage and tobacco products.

The New Orders Index declined to 53.7% from 56.7% but remained in expansion for the eighth consecutive month. The Production Index held at a strong 58.3%, extending its expansion streak to 10 months. The Backlog of Orders Index was 51.8%, while new export orders edged up to 53.2%, expanding for the second consecutive month. 

The Employment Index slipped to 51.2% from 52.8%, but remained in expansion territory for the second consecutive month. Only one of the six largest manufacturing industries reported higher employment, pointing to a more cautious approach toward hiring across the sector. Still, the overall employment reading suggests that manufacturers are not yet broadly cutting workforce levels as production remains healthy. 

The Inventories Index was 50.6% in August, down 0.6 percentage points compared with 51.2% in July. The Customers’ Inventories Index rose to 42.8% in August from 40.7% in July, and remained in “too low” territory in August. This is generally positive for future production as manufacturers may need to replenish inventories as demand improves.

Cost pressures continue to challenge manufacturers. The Prices Index remained elevated at 71.1%, indicating higher raw-material prices for the 23rd consecutive month. Steel, aluminum, copper, electrical components and electronic components were among the materials reported as rising in price or facing supply constraints. Tariffs and geopolitical tensions are adding to cost pressures and could weigh on margins. In response, industry participants are focusing on pricing actions, cost optimization, productivity gains and diversification of supplier networks to offset these pressures. 

Outlook Remains Constructive, but Risks PersistOverall, the trend so far this year points to a continued manufacturing recovery. Lean customer inventories, expanding new orders and sustained production provide a positive foundation for future activity. At the same time, elevated input costs, tariffs, supply-chain challenges and geopolitical uncertainty could limit the pace of improvement. ISM's 2026 forecast calls for 8.4% growth in manufacturing revenues, 4.9% growth in capital expenditures and a 9.7% increase in production capacity, supporting the case for industrial stocks positioned to benefit from renewed manufacturing investment.

5 Industrial Products Stocks to BuyCaterpillar: The company ended the second quarter of 2026 with a record backlog of $72 billion, 92% higher than last year. It is positioned to benefit from several secular growth trends, including U.S. infrastructure spending, mining demand related to the energy transition, automation adoption, data center expansion and sustainability investments. To capitalize on rising power-generation and oil-and-gas demand, CAT will restart production of its 10-megawatt gas engine platform. It plans to bring about 1.5 gigawatts of capacity back online. It is also expanding turbine capacity and has repurposed a 250,000-square-foot facility in Wamego, KS. CAT is simultaneously investing in services, e-commerce, sustainability, electrification and other digital initiatives. 

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Caterpillar’s current-year earnings moved up 9.7% in the past 60 days. The consensus mark indicates year-over-year growth of 43.4%. The company has a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 18.1%, on average. Caterpillar has an estimated long-term growth of 21.1% and currently sports a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.

Kubota: The company is benefiting from strength in construction equipment, particularly in North America, along with improving prospects in Europe and continued growth in India. Disciplined fixed-cost management and profitability improvement measures are expected to support profitability.  Agricultural machine automation is one of the key pillars of these initiatives. The company is expanding its product lineup, adding a variety of attachments to meet customer needs. 

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Kubota’s earnings for fiscal 2026 has moved up 36% over the past 60 days and suggests year-over-year growth of 40%. The company has a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 41.7%, on average. It has an estimated long-term earnings growth rate of 10% and currently carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy).

Nordson:  The company is poised to gain from its diversified business structure, which helps mitigate the adverse impact of weakness in one end market with strength across the others. Over time, Nordson has been capitalizing on acquisitions by penetrating unexplored markets and expanding its product lines. Nordson remains committed to rewarding its shareholders through dividend payments and share buybacks.

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Nordson for fiscal 2026 earnings has moved up 2% over the past 60 days and suggests year-over-year growth of 15.6%. The company has a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 32.4%, on average. It has an estimated long-term earnings growth rate of 13% and currently carries a Zacks Rank of 2.

Zebra Technologies: The company is benefiting from broad demand across retail, manufacturing and healthcare, with mobile computing, printing, machine vision and RFID supporting growth across both segments. Its integrated hardware, software and services portfolio is deepening customer adoption of automation and AI-enabled workflows, while Elo Touch and Photoneo expand its addressable opportunities. Healthy cash generation continues to support share repurchases and investment, while device upgrade cycles and growing software adoption strengthen the longer-term outlook. Its expanding transportation and logistics pipeline also supports future growth opportunities. 

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Zebra Technologies for fiscal 2026 earnings has moved up 9% over the past 60 days. The estimate suggests year-over-year growth of 28.2%. The company has a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 15.5%, on average. It currently carries a Zacks Rank of 2.

Zebra Technologies Corporation Price and Consensus

Zebra Technologies Corporation price-consensus-chart | Zebra Technologies Corporation Quote

Watts Water Technologies: The company completed five acquisitions in 2025 to broaden its product set, extend market reach and increase nonresidential exposure. The acquired businesses are performing well and remain on track to achieve or exceed targeted synergies through the One Watts performance system. Watts Water's second-quarter 2026 results benefited from favorable pricing, higher volumes and data center demand, which helped drive record sales, operating income and earnings per share. Data center cooling is emerging as a growth avenue as liquid cooling adoption, new products and broader customer relationships expand the opportunity. A healthy balance sheet supports capacity investments, selective M&A and shareholder returns. 

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Watts Water Technologies for fiscal 2026 earnings has moved up 4.7% over the past 60 days and the estimate suggests year-over-year growth of 20.5%. The company has a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 10.4%, on average. It has an estimated long-term earnings growth rate of 8% and currently carries a Zacks Rank of 2.

Shares of Marqeta (MQ - Free Report) have gained 4.4% over the past four weeks to close the last trading session at $16.26, but there could still be a solid upside left in the stock if short-term price targets of Wall Street analysts are any indication. Going by the price targets, the mean estimate of $20.5 indicates a potential upside of 26.1%.

The mean estimate comprises 10 short-term price targets with a standard deviation of $3.34. While the lowest estimate of $17.00 indicates a 4.6% increase from the current price level, the most optimistic analyst expects the stock to surge 72.2% to reach $28.00. It's very important to note the standard deviation here, as it helps understand the variability of the estimates. The smaller the standard deviation, the greater the agreement among analysts.

While the consensus price target is a much-coveted metric for investors, solely banking on this metric to make an investment decision may not be wise at all. That's because the ability and unbiasedness of analysts in setting price targets have long been questionable.

But, for MQ, 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.

Here's Why There Could be Plenty of Upside Left in MQAnalysts' 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 23.7%, as two estimates have moved higher compared to no negative revision.

Moreover, MQ 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 MQ could gain, the direction of price movement it implies does appear to be a good guide.

A single trading session erased more than a third of UWM Holdings' market value after the Company reported a $603.2 million interest rate derivatives loss, with the securities class action alleging investors were never told the Company had taken an over-hedged MSR position tied to the failed Two Harbors deal.

, /PRNewswire/ -- Levi & Korsinsky, LLP alerts investors in UWM Holdings Corporation (NYSE: UWMC) of a pending securities class action filed on behalf of shareholders who purchased securities between March 9, 2026 and August 5, 2026. Find out if you may qualify to recover losses. You may also contact Joseph E. Levi, Esq. at [email protected] or (212) 363-7500.

UWMC shares fell $0.64, or 34.78%, to close at $1.20 on August 6, 2026, on unusually heavy trading volume. Shares had traded as high as $4.04 on March 10, 2026, a Class Period peak. Investors have until October 13, 2026 to seek lead plaintiff status.

The Market Reaction to the August Disclosure

After the market closed on August 5, 2026, UWM reported second quarter results that included a $603.2 million interest rate derivatives loss, a $451.9 million quarterly net loss, and a 43.6% year-over-year decline in total equity. The following morning, during the Company's earnings call, management described the position as "over-hedged" in connection with the terminated Two Harbors Investment Corp. transaction, a deal originally valued at $1.3 billion. Trading volume spiked as the stock repriced.

How the Repricing Compares to Class Period Highs

Class Period high: $4.04 per share on March 10, 2026 Closing price after the disclosure: $1.20 per share on August 6, 2026 Single-session decline: $0.64 per share, or 34.78% Reported interest rate derivatives loss: $603.2 million Reported second quarter net loss: $451.9 million Reported year-over-year decline in total equity: 43.6% The complaint asserts that these figures reflect the removal of artificial inflation from the share price once information about the hedging position reached the market.

What the Complaint Says Was Missing From Prior Statements

The action charges that, during the Class Period, the Company did not disclose that it had departed from its longstanding practice of not hedging mortgage servicing rights, that the position taken ahead of the Two Harbors transaction was excessive, and that purported risk mitigation had instead created an excess hedging exposure. The pleading asserts that positive statements about the Company's business and prospects were therefore materially misleading or lacked a reasonable basis.

"When companies fail to disclose material information, shareholders may suffer significant losses. The complaint here alleges that UWMC investors were not told the Company had taken a hedging position outside its stated business model before a $603.2 million derivatives loss was reported." -- Joseph E. Levi, Esq.

Submit your information here or call (212) 363-7500.

ABOUT THE FIRM — For over two decades, Levi & Korsinsky has represented shareholders in securities class actions. Ranked in ISS Top 50 for seven consecutive years. Investors who suffered losses have until October 13, 2026 to seek appointment as lead plaintiff.

Frequently Asked Questions About the UWMC Lawsuit

Q: How much did UWMC stock drop? A: Shares fell approximately 34.78%, a decline of $0.64 per share, to close at $1.20 on August 6, 2026. Investors who purchased shares during the Class Period at artificially inflated prices and suffered losses may be eligible to seek compensation.

Q: When did UWM Holdings Corporation allegedly mislead investors? A: The Class Period runs from March 9, 2026 to August 5, 2026. The complaint alleges that corrective disclosures revealed information that caused a significant stock decline.

Q: What court was the UWMC class action filed in? A: The case was filed in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, governed by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.

Q: What do UWMC investors need to do right now? A: Investors may gather brokerage records showing purchase dates, share quantities, and prices paid. Submit your information for a no-cost, no-obligation evaluation of your potential recovery. No immediate action is required to remain eligible as an absent class member.

Q: What is a lead plaintiff and why does it matter? A: A lead plaintiff is the investor appointed by the court to represent the entire class. Lead plaintiffs are typically investors with the largest documented losses. Being appointed does not increase individual recovery but gives direct oversight of how the case is run.

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

Q: Do I need to go to court or give testimony? A: No. The overwhelming majority of class members never appear in court or give depositions. If there is a settlement or recovery, eligible class members generally submit a claim form to seek their portion.

Q: What does it cost me to participate? A: There is no upfront cost to submit your information and review whether you may be eligible to recover. Should you choose to participate in the securities class action, they are generally handled on a contingency basis, with any attorneys' fees and expenses subject to court approval.

CONTACT:
Levi & Korsinsky, LLP
Joseph E. Levi, Esq.
Ed Korsinsky, Esq.
33 Whitehall Street, 27th Floor
New York, NY 10004
[email protected]
Tel: (212) 363-7500
Fax: (212) 363-7171

Attorney Advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes.

SOURCE Levi & Korsinsky, LLP

Emcor Group (EME - Free Report) has recently been on Zacks.com's list of the most searched stocks. Therefore, you might want to consider some of the key factors that could influence the stock's performance in the near future.

Shares of this construction and maintenance company have returned -5.4% over the past month versus the Zacks S&P 500 composite's -0.4% change. The Zacks Building Products - Heavy Construction industry, to which Emcor Group belongs, has lost 11.9% over this period. Now the key question is: Where could the stock be headed in the near term?

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

Revisions to Earnings EstimatesHere at Zacks, we prioritize appraising the change in the projection of a company's future earnings over anything else. That's because we believe the present value of its future stream of earnings is what determines the fair value for its stock.

We essentially look at how sell-side analysts covering the stock are revising their earnings estimates to reflect the impact of the latest business trends. And if earnings estimates go up for a company, the fair value for its stock goes up. A higher fair value than the current market price drives investors' interest in buying the stock, leading to its price moving higher. This is why empirical research shows a strong correlation between trends in earnings estimate revisions and near-term stock price movements.

For the current quarter, Emcor Group is expected to post earnings of $8.31 per share, indicating a change of +26.5% from the year-ago quarter. The Zacks Consensus Estimate has changed -0% over the last 30 days.

The consensus earnings estimate of $33.04 for the current fiscal year indicates a year-over-year change of +27.7%. This estimate has changed +0.6% over the last 30 days.

For the next fiscal year, the consensus earnings estimate of $37.14 indicates a change of +12.4% from what Emcor Group is expected to report a year ago. Over the past month, the estimate has changed +2.8%.

With an impressive externally audited track record, our proprietary stock rating tool -- the Zacks Rank -- is a more conclusive indicator of a stock's near-term price performance, as it effectively harnesses the power of earnings estimate revisions. The size of the recent change in the consensus estimate, along with three other factors related to earnings estimates, has resulted in a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) for Emcor Group.

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

12 Month EPS

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

In the case of Emcor Group, the consensus sales estimate of $5.21 billion for the current quarter points to a year-over-year change of +21%. The $20.32 billion and $22.41 billion estimates for the current and next fiscal years indicate changes of +19.6% and +10.3%, respectively.

Last Reported Results and Surprise HistoryEmcor Group reported revenues of $5.15 billion in the last reported quarter, representing a year-over-year change of +19.8%. EPS of $9.06 for the same period compares with $6.72 a year ago.

Compared to the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $4.73 billion, the reported revenues represent a surprise of +8.99%. The EPS surprise was +25.31%.

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

ValuationNo investment decision can be efficient without considering a stock's valuation. Whether a stock's current price rightly reflects the intrinsic value of the underlying business and the company's growth prospects is an essential determinant of its future price performance.

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

As part of the Zacks Style Scores system, the Zacks Value Style Score (which evaluates both traditional and unconventional valuation metrics) organizes stocks into five groups ranging from A to F (A is better than B; B is better than C; and so on), making it helpful in identifying whether a stock is overvalued, rightly valued, or temporarily undervalued.

Emcor Group is graded D on this front, indicating that it is trading at a premium to its peers. Click here to see the values of some of the valuation metrics that have driven this grade.

ConclusionThe facts discussed here and much other information on Zacks.com might help determine whether or not it's worthwhile paying attention to the market buzz about Emcor Group. However, its Zacks Rank #1 does suggest that it may outperform the broader market in the near term.

While the proven Zacks Rank places an emphasis on earnings estimates and estimate revisions to find strong stocks, we also know that investors tend to develop their own individual strategies. With this in mind, we are always looking at value, growth, and momentum trends to discover great companies.

Of these, value investing is easily one of the most popular ways to find great stocks in any market environment. Value investors use fundamental analysis and traditional valuation metrics to find stocks that they believe are being undervalued by the market at large.

Luckily, Zacks has developed its own Style Scores system in an effort to find stocks with specific traits. Value investors will be interested in the system's "Value" category. Stocks with both "A" grades in the Value category and high Zacks Ranks are among the strongest value stocks on the market right now.

One stock to keep an eye on is CNO Financial Group (CNO - Free Report) . CNO is currently holding a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) and a Value grade of A.

Another notable valuation metric for CNO is its P/B ratio of 1.52. 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. This stock's P/B looks attractive against its industry's average P/B of 2.70. CNO's P/B has been as high as 1.75 and as low as 1.31, with a median of 1.50, over the past year.

Value investors also use the P/S ratio. The P/S ratio is calculated as price divided by sales. This is a preferred metric because revenue can't really be manipulated, so sales are often a truer performance indicator. CNO has a P/S ratio of 1.1. This compares to its industry's average P/S of 1.11.

These are only a few of the key metrics included in CNO Financial Group's strong Value grade, but they help show that the stock is likely undervalued right now. When factoring in the strength of its earnings outlook, CNO looks like an impressive value stock at the moment.

IQVIA Holdings Inc. (“IQVIA”) NYSE:IQV today announced that its wholly owned subsidiary, IQVIA Inc. (the “Issuer”), intends to raise $2,000,000,000 through an offering of senior notes due 2034 (the “Notes”).

The proceeds from the Notes offering will be used to redeem in full the Issuer’s Senior 5.000% Notes due 2026, to repay a portion of the outstanding indebtedness under the Issuer’s revolving credit facility and to pay fees and expenses related to the Notes offering. The consummation of the Notes offering is subject to market and other customary conditions.

This press release does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy the Notes, nor shall there be any offer, solicitation or sale of the Notes in any state or other jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful. The Notes to be offered have not been registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), or the securities laws of any other jurisdiction and may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an applicable exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act. The Notes are being offered only to persons reasonably believed to be qualified institutional buyers in the United States in reliance on Rule 144A under the Securities Act and outside the United States only to non-U.S. investors pursuant to Regulation S under the Securities Act. Any offer of the Notes will be made only by means of a private offering memorandum.

About IQVIA

IQVIA NYSE:IQV is a leading global provider of clinical research services, commercial insights and healthcare intelligence to the life sciences and healthcare industries. IQVIA’s portfolio of solutions are powered by IQVIA Connected Intelligence™ to deliver actionable insights and services built on high-quality health data, Healthcare-grade AI®, advanced analytics, the latest technologies and extensive domain expertise. IQVIA is committed to using AI responsibly, with AI-powered capabilities built on best-in-class approaches to privacy, regulatory compliance and patient safety, and delivering AI to the high standards of trust, scalability and precision demanded by the industry. With approximately 94,000 employees in over 100 countries, including experts in healthcare, life sciences, data science, technology and operational excellence, IQVIA is dedicated to accelerating the development and commercialization of innovative medical treatments to help improve patient outcomes and population health worldwide.

IQVIA is a global leader in protecting individual patient privacy. The company uses a wide variety of privacy enhancing technologies and safeguards to protect individual privacy while generating and analyzing information on a scale that helps healthcare stakeholders identify disease patterns and correlate with the precise treatment path and therapy needed for better outcomes. IQVIA’s insights and execution capabilities help biotech, medical device and pharmaceutical companies, medical researchers, government agencies, payers and other healthcare stakeholders tap into a deeper understanding of diseases, human behaviors and scientific advances, in an effort to advance their path toward cures.

Forward Looking Statements

Certain statements in this press release are forward-looking statements. These statements involve a number of risks, uncertainties and other factors, including the failure to consummate the Notes offering, and potential changes in market conditions that could cause actual results to differ materially.

IQVIAFIN

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260909467171/en/

Disclosures I/we have no positions in any stocks mentioned, and have no plans to buy any new positions in the stocks mentioned within the next 72 hours.

Click for the complete disclosure

, /PRNewswire/ -- West Virginia American Water is pleased to announce a $275,000 water infrastructure project on Thompson Avenue in Bluefield.

"Ongoing, proactive investments are critical to help maintain and improve the reliability and resiliency of our systems," said Scott Wyman, President of West Virginia American Water. "This infrastructure upgrade project on Thomspon Avenue will help maintain safe, reliable water service for the Bluefield community."

The project will take place on Thompson Avenue, from Walton Avenue to Maryland Avenue. Crews will replace 600 feet of aging pipe with 2-inch PVC main, with work scheduled to be completed by the end of October. Final street restoration will be completed in fall 2026. Work will occur Monday through Friday between 7:30 a.m. and 5:30 p.m., and traffic restrictions will be in place for the duration of the project.

This infrastructure upgrade project is part of West Virginia American Water's plan to invest more than $129 million in ongoing infrastructure upgrades across the state in 2026, supporting the economic health of communities across the company's service area. Economic impact studies show that for every $1 million invested in water infrastructure, upwards of 10 jobs are generated throughout local economies.

Over the past decade, West Virginia American Water has invested over $805 million in infrastructure projects and capital upgrades to address aging infrastructure across the Mountain State, including more than 168 miles of new water main. To learn more about these ongoing investments, visit the company's interactive upgrade map.

During construction, customers may experience temporary service interruptions, discolored water, and/or lower than normal water pressure. Crews will work as quickly as possible to shorten the length of these temporary inconveniences. To report water related emergencies such as leaks, main breaks or other service disruptions, customers can submit a service request on the company's website. 

About American Water 
American Water (NYSE: AWK) is the largest regulated water and wastewater utility company in the United States. With a history dating back to 1886, and celebrating 140 years in 2026, We Keep Life Flowing® by providing safe, clean, reliable and affordable drinking water and wastewater services to approximately 14 million people with regulated operations in 14 states and on 19 military installations. American Water's approximately 7,000 talented professionals leverage their significant expertise and the company's national size and scale to achieve excellent outcomes for the benefit of customers, employees, investors and other stakeholders.

For more information, visit amwater.com and join American Water on LinkedIn, Facebook, X and Instagram.

About West Virginia American Water
West Virginia American Water, a subsidiary of American Water, is the largest regulated water utility in the state with approximately 315 dedicated employees working to provide safe, clean, reliable and affordable water and wastewater services to approximately 610,000 people.

SOURCE American Water

Tariff tantrums and general weakness in the clothing retailer space have constricted shares in American Eagle Outfitters (AEO) throughout most of 2026. Rick Ducat highlights the key support and resistance levels to watch in the stock chart, including what he calls the "ultimate line in the sand" for support that will signal further downside action if broken.

9.13K Followers

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 BE 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.

Key Takeaways Bloom Energy will join the S&P 500 on Sept. 21, spotlighting ETFs holding the fuel cell giant.Bloom Energy posted record $1.07 billion in Q2 revenues, up 166% year over year, driven by product sales. ETFs like HYDR rank Bloom Energy as their top holding, with weights ranging from 5% to 17%. In a significant development for the artificial intelligence (AI)-led power revolution, Bloom Energy (BE - Free Report) has been officially named to join the benchmark S&P 500 index, a change that will take effect prior to the market open on Sept. 21, 2026. Following the announcement, Bloom Energy's stock rallied sharply at the bourses, as high as 9.6% on Sept. 8. 

This milestone achievement also places a bright spotlight on exchange-traded funds (ETFs) that offer exposure to this fuel cell giant, with these funds now poised to benefit from the heightened institutional demand and rebalancing flows that typically accompany an index inclusion of this magnitude.

To understand why this event is so pivotal for ETF investors, one must first look at the extraordinary fundamentals that propelled Bloom Energy into the large-cap league, and why a diversified ETF approach might be the most prudent strategy for navigating its high-growth trajectory.

What Fueled Bloom Energy’s S&P 500 Ascent?Bloom Energy's meteoric rise to the S&P 500 is a testament to its strategic positioning at the intersection of the AI boom and America’s strained power grid. The company has become a direct play on the insatiable energy demands of AI data centers, offering solid-oxide fuel cells as a quicker, on-site power solution that bypasses the years-long wait for traditional grid connections.

The company's recent financial performance has been nothing short of spectacular, which in turn helped its promotion to the prestigious S&P 500 index. 

Evidently, BE reported record revenues of $1.07 billion in the second quarter of 2026 and registered a staggering 166% year-over-year increase, driven by a 215% surge in product revenues.

The primary catalyst accelerating Bloom’s top-line growth is the skyrocketing power demand from AI data centers. As regional electrical grids face severe capacity constraints, major hyperscalers and utility operators are increasingly turning to Bloom Energy’s solid-oxide fuel cell systems for rapid, on-site, off-grid power generation.

Will Bloom Energy Maintain Its Momentum?Bloom Energy's growth trajectory remains strongly supported by fundamental catalysts. The short-term price target for BE, offered by 22 analysts, stands at $274.86, pointing to a potential upside of approximately 8.70% from its current trading level. 

This momentum is further bolstered by Bloom Energy’s management raising its full-year 2026 revenue guidance to a range of $3.9 billion to $4.2 billion, reflecting a 100% year-over-year growth rate at the midpoint. Driving this outlook are transformative commercial milestones, including a landmark partnership with Oracle to deliver up to 2.8 gigawatts of fuel cell capacity, alongside a fivefold expansion of its funding framework with Brookfield Asset Management to $25 billion.

Provided these initiatives are successfully executed, the robust demand for rapid, on-site energy solutions should help keep Bloom Energy's long-term stock performance buoyant.

The Case for ETF-Based ExposureDespite BE's bright operational outlook, direct stock ownership exposes investors to elevated valuation risks. 

The share price's recent surge of almost 10% indicates that market participants have already priced in much of the optimism surrounding its S&P 500 inclusion. 

Further, Bloom Energy trades at a price-to-earnings ratio of 67.99—a steep premium compared to the S&P 500 average of 20.09—while also facing broader sector risks like industry-wide supply chain bottlenecks. 

In this environment, investing through an exchange-traded fund offers a more prudent strategy. An ETF will allow investors to capture Bloom Energy's index-inclusion tailwinds and high-growth trajectory while spreading downside risk across complementary holdings in the clean technology, grid infrastructure, and industrial sectors.

ETFs in the SpotlightTaking into consideration the aforementioned discussion, investors looking to gain exposure to Bloom Energy through a safer, diversified approach may add the following ETFs to their watchlist and invest in them if it seems fit:

Global X Hydrogen ETF (HYDR - Free Report)

This fund, with net assets worth $110.3 million, offers exposure to 25 companies involved in hydrogen production, the integration of hydrogen into energy systems and the development/manufacturing of hydrogen fuel cells, electrolyzers, and other technologies related to the utilization of hydrogen as an energy source. Of these, Bloom Energy holds the first spot with 17.21% weightage. 

HYDR has surged 45.6% year to date and charges 50 basis points (bps) in fees. It traded at a volume of 0.04 million shares in the last trading session. 

iShares Global Clean Energy ETF (ICLN - Free Report)

This fund, with net assets worth $2.10 billion, offers exposure to 105 global companies involved in clean energy. Of these, Bloom Energy holds the first spot with an 8.51% weight. 

ICLN has risen 11.4% year to date and charges 38 bps in fees. It traded at a good volume of 11.18 million shares in the last trading session. 

Global X U.S. Electrification ETF (ZAP - Free Report)

This fund, with net assets worth $471.2 million, offers exposure to 45 companies that are involved in conventional electricity generation, transmission, and distribution; alternative electricity generation and technology solutions; and the modernization, development, manufacturing, or implementation of grid infrastructure and smart grid technology. Of these, Bloom Energy holds the first spot with 5.53% weightage. 

ZAP has rallied 11.4% year to date and charges 50 bps in fees. It traded at a volume of 0.14 million shares in the last trading session.

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Troy Ruhanen to Retire; Andrew Robertson Appointed CEO of Omnicom Advertising

, /PRNewswire/ -- Omnicom (NYSE: OMC), the world's leading marketing and sales company, today announced that Troy Ruhanen, President and Chief Executive Officer of Omnicom Advertising, has decided to retire following a distinguished career spanning more than twenty years in leadership roles across Omnicom. Ruhanen's decision follows the successful integration of Omnicom Advertising after the combination of Omnicom and Interpublic, which established a strong foundation for the future.

"Troy has been an exceptional leader whose impact on Omnicom and our industry cannot be overstated. His leadership was instrumental in bringing together our combined organization while strengthening our ability to serve clients and create opportunities for our people. We are grateful for his many contributions and wish him every success in retirement," said John Wren, Chairman and CEO of Omnicom.

Andrew Robertson, currently Chairman of BBDO Worldwide, has been appointed Chief Executive Officer of Omnicom Advertising, effective immediately. Having spent more than two decades as a leader within Omnicom, Robertson brings valuable expertise, long-standing client relationships with marquee global brands, and a demonstrated track record of building high-performing teams. He will work closely with Ruhanen during the transition to ensure a seamless hand-off.

"Andrew is a proven leader with a deep understanding of Omnicom, our clients, and our industry. I look forward to working with him on the continued development of our advertising group, particularly his commitment to ensuring creativity remains at the core of what we do as we advance our AI and technology capabilities," added Wren.

Omnicom Advertising continues to set industry benchmarks, recently welcoming Subway, American Express, and BBVA as new clients while all three of its creative networks ranked in the top 10 at Cannes Lions this year. Its visionary client work has allowed Omnicom to be recognized as the World's Most Effective Holding Group in the Effie Index for three years in a row, and its agencies have consistently been recognized by Fast Company as among the Most Innovative Companies for the past eight years.

"It has been the privilege of a lifetime to work alongside some of the most talented people in our industry. I am incredibly proud of what we have accomplished together. With the integration complete, this is the right moment for me to retire. I have profound confidence in Andrew and our leadership team," said Ruhanen.

"Our plan is clear," said Robertson. "Secure a disproportionate share of the world's most exciting creative and strategic minds, equip them - through Omni - with the industry's most advanced AI enabled tools and data, to deliver exceptional results for a client list that is the envy of our competitors."

About Omnicom Advertising
Omnicom Advertising (OA), the creative agency services capability of Omnicom (NYSE: OMC), aligns leading creative networks; BBDO, McCann and TBWA with creative boutiques such as Goodby, Silverstein & Partners, Deutsch, GSD&M and MARTIN, among others. By bringing these agency brands under one leadership, OA allows them to leverage their collective strength today and tomorrow, to deliver the best, most impactful, creative experiences in the industry. This new connected capability unites more than 20,000 creative minds around the globe on a mission to build distinction for almost two thirds of the world's biggest brands (Interbrand, Best Global Brands 2025). 

About Omnicom
Omnicom (NYSE: OMC) is the world's leading marketing and sales company, built for intelligent growth in the next era. Powered by Omni and its proprietary data and identity, Omnicom's Connected Capabilities unite the company's world‑class agency brands, exceptional talent, and deep domain expertise across media, commerce, consulting, precision marketing, advertising, production, health, public relations, branding, and experiential to address clients' most critical growth priorities. For more information, visit www.omc.com.

SOURCE Omnicom Group Inc.

New York, New York--(Newsfile Corp. - September 9, 2026) - Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC, a nationally recognized investor-rights law firm, announces that a class action lawsuit has been filed against Celsius Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ: CELH) 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 Celsius securities between February 21, 2025 and June 3, 2026, both dates inclusive (the "Class Period"). Such investors are encouraged to join this case by visiting the firm's site: bgandg.com/cases/celsius-holdings-inc-celh-class_action_lawsuit.

Celsius Case Details

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

Alani Nu products did not adequately disclose the cardiac risks associated with their consumption; by marketing Alani Nu beverages to consumers under the age of 18, the Company targeted individuals who were particularly susceptible to the products' known health risks; consequently, there was a material risk that consumers of Alani Nu products could suffer potentially fatal adverse health events; the disclosure of these risks was likely to significantly harm the Company's business and reputation; and as a result, Defendants' positive statements concerning the Company's business, operations, compliance policies, and prospects were materially false and misleading and/or lacked a reasonable basis.What's Next for Celsius 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/cases/celsius-holdings-inc-celh-class_action_lawsuit, 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 Celsius you have until November 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 Celsius 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 Celsius 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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To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/313262

Source: Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC

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Shares in the five most prominent quantum computing companies are rising today despite a larger market pullback. The stock price jump in the companies controlling the nascent technology comes after three of the companies secured hundreds of millions in funding from the U.S. government.

FICO Educational Analytics Challenge Returns for Fourth Year, Tasking Students with Building AI to Detect Cyber Attacks Global analytics software leader FICO (NYSE: FICO) announced its FICO Educational Analytics Challenge is returning for a fourth year, providing students at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) direct, practical exposure to the work of professional data scientists. The program pairs classroom theory with hands-on AI model-building, giving students real skills training they can carry into a career. For this fall semester, FICO welcomes back Alabama A&M University, Dillard University, Morehouse College and Fayetteville State University. The program is led by FICO’s Chief Analytics Officer, Dr. Scott Zoldi, and FICO’s team of data scientists who will spearhead weekly instruction and mentor participants throughout the semester.

In its fourth year, the Fall 2026 program challenges students to address cybersecurity vulnerabilities by designing and training their own machine learning systems capable of spotting network intrusions before they cause damage. Participants will study various types of intrusion, ranging from denial-of-service attacks and botnets to ransomware and crypto mining, before applying their learnings and models to real-world cybersecurity scenarios. Through this hands-on approach, FICO is helping cultivate the intrusion-detection expertise the data science field will increasingly depend on. FICO has spent decades pioneering Responsible AI models that today's financial institutions rely on to prevent cybercrimes. In addition to hands-on learning and advanced curriculum, FICO provides financial grants to support students at participating universities.

"The Analytics Challenge has pushed our students to think critically about how AI models are built and the importance of applying AI responsibly," said Dennis Sigur Jr., assistant professor of computer science at Dillard University. “This fall, our students are excited to apply real-world skills that will prepare them for meaningful careers in analytics and data science while building solutions that address a cybersecurity threat that only continues to grow.”

“As cyber threats become more sophisticated, so must the people building the systems that defend against them,” said Dr. Zoldi. “Through this program, students learn and design AI models that must make decisions on first seen and evolving cyber-attacks with sophisticated unsupervised AI. It’s the kind of hands-on, high-stakes practical work that prepares them for a career in analytics, and we’re proud to help guide them through it and influence data science curriculum at the same time.”

The HBCU Data Science Consortium (DSC) is a collaboration of leaders in academia, industry and government formed to address today's data challenges. FICO's partnership with the DSC builds on existing work with Dr. Velma Latson, co-executive director of the DSC. Through this partnership, FICO data scientists mentor students and support the development of university analytics curricula at institutions without formal data science programs. The goal is to strengthen the pipeline of diverse data science talent entering the field, while giving students hands on experience in Responsible AI and real-world analytics they can carry into their careers.

"FICO continues to be on the forefront of innovation and technology advancements," said Dr. Latson. "As a professor and now through my work with the DSC, I have the unique opportunity to help other universities adopt the program and witness the impact firsthand, as I have the last three years. The program provides an invaluable opportunity for students to gain hands-on experience with AI, as well as for faculty to identify and fill gaps in data science curriculum and help ready their students for the workforce."

FICO also provides resources for students regarding workforce and career development.

Solving diverse problems demands a field of practitioners as diverse as the data itself. FICO remains a proud participant in the HBCU Partnership Challenge, an initiative of the Bipartisan Historically Black Colleges and Universities Caucus led by Congresswoman Alma Adams and Congressman French Hill. Through the HBCU Partnership Challenge, FICO continues to build strategic, lasting relationships with HBCUs while broadening the talent pipeline into the data science industry.

To learn more about the FICO Educational Analytics Challenge, including how to get involved, visit: https://www.fico.com/en/feac

About FICO

FICO (NYSE: FICO) powers decisions that help people and businesses around the world prosper. Founded in 1956, the company is a pioneer in the use of predictive analytics and data science to improve operational decisions. FICO holds more than 200 U.S. and foreign patents on technologies that increase profitability, customer satisfaction and growth for businesses in financial services, insurance, telecommunications, health care, retail and many other industries. Using FICO solutions, businesses in more than 80 countries do everything from protecting 4 billion payment cards from fraud, to improving financial inclusion, to increasing supply chain resiliency. The FICO® Score, used by 90% of top U.S. lenders, is the standard measure of consumer credit risk in the U.S. and has been made available in over 40 other countries, improving risk management, credit access and transparency.

Learn more at https://www.fico.com/en

Join the conversation at https://x.com/FICO_corp & https://www.fico.com/blogs/

For FICO news and media resources, visit https://www.fico.com/en/newsroom

FICO is a registered trademark of Fair Isaac Corporation in the U.S. and other countries.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260909432469/en/

Disclosures I/we have no positions in any stocks mentioned, and have no plans to buy any new positions in the stocks mentioned within the next 72 hours.

Click for the complete disclosure

BALA CYNWYD, Pa., Sept. 09, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Brodsky & Smith reminds investors of the following investigations. If you own shares and wish to discuss the investigation, contact Jason Brodsky ([email protected]) or Marc Ackerman ([email protected]) at 855-576-4847. There is no cost or financial obligation to you.

Live audio webcast available on September 9, 2026, from 11:30 a.m. to 12:05 p.m.

The recommendations of Wall Street analysts are often relied on by investors when deciding whether to buy, sell, or hold a stock. Media reports about these brokerage-firm-employed (or sell-side) analysts changing their ratings often affect a stock's price. Do they really matter, though?

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

Hercules Capital currently has an average brokerage recommendation (ABR) of 1.50, on a scale of 1 to 5 (Strong Buy to Strong Sell), calculated based on the actual recommendations (Buy, Hold, Sell, etc.) made by 10 brokerage firms. An ABR of 1.50 approximates between Strong Buy and Buy.

Of the 10 recommendations that derive the current ABR, seven are Strong Buy and one is Buy. Strong Buy and Buy respectively account for 70% and 10% of all recommendations.

Brokerage Recommendation Trends for HTGC

Check price target & stock forecast for Hercules Capital here>>>

The ABR suggests buying Hercules Capital, but making an investment decision solely on the basis of this information might not be a good idea. According to several studies, brokerage recommendations have little to no success guiding investors to choose stocks with the most potential for price appreciation.

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

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

With an impressive externally audited track record, our proprietary stock rating tool, the Zacks Rank, which classifies stocks into five groups, ranging from Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) to Zacks Rank #5 (Strong Sell), is a reliable indicator of a stock's near-term price performance. So, validating the Zacks Rank with ABR could go a long way in making a profitable investment decision.

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

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

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

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

Furthermore, the different grades of the Zacks Rank are applied proportionately across all stocks for which brokerage analysts provide earnings estimates for the current year. In other words, at all times, this tool maintains a balance among the five ranks it assigns.

Another key difference between the ABR and Zacks Rank is freshness. The ABR is not necessarily up-to-date when you look at it. But, since brokerage analysts keep revising their earnings estimates to account for a company's changing business trends, and their actions get reflected in the Zacks Rank quickly enough, it is always timely in indicating future price movements.

Is HTGC a Good Investment?In terms of earnings estimate revisions for Hercules Capital, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for the current year has remained unchanged over the past month at $1.95.

Analysts' steady views regarding the company's earnings prospects, as indicated by an unchanged consensus estimate, could be a legitimate reason for the stock to perform in line with the broader market in the near term.

The size of the recent change in the consensus estimate, along with three other factors related to earnings estimates, has resulted in a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) for Hercules Capital. You can see the complete list of today's Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) stocks here >>>>

It may therefore be prudent to be a little cautious with the Buy-equivalent ABR for Hercules Capital.

Momentum investing is essentially the opposite of the tried-and-tested Wall Street adage -- "buy low and sell high." Investors following this investing style typically avoid betting on cheap stocks and waiting long for them to recover. They believe instead that one could make far more money in lesser time by "buying high and selling higher."

Everyone likes betting on fast-moving trending stocks, but it isn't easy to determine the right entry point. These stocks often lose momentum when their future growth potential fails to justify their swelled-up valuation. In that phase, investors find themselves invested in shares that have limited to no upside or even a downside. So, betting on a stock just by looking at the traditional momentum parameters could be risky at times.

A safer approach could be investing in bargain stocks with recent price momentum. While the Zacks Momentum Style Score (part of the Zacks Style Scores system) helps identify great momentum stocks by paying close attention to trends in a stock's price or earnings, our 'Fast-Paced Momentum at a Bargain' screen comes handy in spotting fast-moving stocks that are still attractively priced.

There are several stocks that currently pass through the screen and ChargePoint Holdings, Inc. (CHPT - Free Report) is one of them. Here are the key reasons why this stock is a great candidate.

A dash of recent price momentum reflects growing interest of investors in a stock. With a four-week price change of 49.4%, the stock of this company is certainly well-positioned in this regard.

While any stock can see a spike in price for a short period, it takes a real momentum player to deliver positive returns for a longer time frame. CHPT meets this criterion too, as the stock gained 30.1% over the past 12 weeks.

Moreover, the momentum for CHPT is fast paced, as the stock currently has a beta of 1.77. This indicates that the stock moves 77% higher than the market in either direction.

Given this price performance, it is no surprise that CHPT has a Momentum Score of A, which indicates that this is the right time to enter the stock to take advantage of the momentum with the highest probability of success.

In addition to a favorable Momentum Score, an upward trend in earnings estimate revisions has helped CHPT earn a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). Our research shows that the momentum-effect is quite strong among Zacks Rank #1 and #2 stocks. That's because as covering analysts raise their earnings estimates for a stock, more and more investors take an interest in it, helping its price race to keep up. You can see the complete list of today's Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) stocks here >>>>

Most importantly, despite possessing fast-paced momentum features, CHPT is trading at a reasonable valuation. In terms of Price-to-Sales ratio, which is considered as one of the best valuation metrics, the stock looks quite cheap now. CHPT is currently trading at 0.53 times its sales. In other words, investors need to pay only 53 cents for each dollar of sales.

So, CHPT appears to have plenty of room to run, and that too at a fast pace.

In addition to CHPT, there are several other stocks that currently pass through our 'Fast-Paced Momentum at a Bargain' screen. You may consider investing in them and start looking for the newest stocks that fit these criteria.

This is not the only screen that could help you find your next winning stock pick. Based on your personal investing style, you may choose from over 45 Zacks Premium Screens that are strategically created to beat the market.

However, keep in mind that the key to a successful stock-picking strategy is to ensure that it produced profitable results in the past. You could easily do that with the help of the Zacks Research Wizard. In addition to allowing you to backtest the effectiveness of your strategy, the program comes loaded with some of our most successful stock-picking strategies.

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Key Takeaways MGIC Investment expects new business and solid persistency to support its insurance-in-force portfolio. Declining claims can strengthen MTG's balance sheet and improve its financial profile. MTG repurchased 13.8 million shares for $369.2 million and paid $66.8 million in dividends. MGIC Investment Corporation (MTG - Free Report) hit a 52-week high of $31.89 on Sept. 8. Shares closed at $30.66, and the stock is trading above the 50-day and 200-day simple moving averages (SMAs) of $29.89 and $27.78, respectively, indicating solid upward momentum. The SMA is a widely used technical analysis tool for predicting future price trends by analyzing historical price data.

With a market capitalization of $6.28 billion, the average volume of shares traded in the last three months was 1.76 million.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

Price Performance of MTGShares of MGIC Investment have risen 8% in the past year compared with the industry's growth of 9.1%.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

MTG Shares Are AffordableMGIC Investment shares are trading at a price-to-book value of 1.25X, lower than the industry average of 2.7X, the Finance sector’s 4.55X and the Zacks S&P 500 Composite’s 7.23X. Its pricing, at a discount to the industry average, gives a better entry point to investors. The stock has a Value Score of B. This style score helps find the most attractive value stocks. 

Shares of Enact Holdings, Inc. (ACT - Free Report) , Assurant, Inc. (AIZ - Free Report) and Radian Group Inc. (RDN - Free Report) are also trading at a discount to the industry average.

MTG’s Favorable Return on CapitalThe return on invested capital (ROIC) has been increasing over the last few quarters, as the company has raised its capital investment during the same period. This reflects MTG’s efficiency in utilizing funds to generate income. ROIC was 10.2% in the trailing 12 months, better than the industry average of 1.9%.

MTG’s Growth Projection EncouragesThe Zacks Consensus Estimate for MGIC Investment's 2026 earnings per share indicates a year-over-year increase of 3.2%. The consensus estimate for 2027 earnings per share and revenues indicates an increase of 5.9% and 3.1%, respectively, from the corresponding 2026 estimates.

Earnings have increased 13.1% in the past five years, better than the industry average of 10.7%.

Earnings Surprise HistoryMGIC Investment surpassed earnings estimates in each of the last four quarters, the average being 9.93%.

Optimistic Analyst Sentiment on MTGEach of the four analysts covering the stock has raised estimates for 2026, and two analysts for 2027 over the past 60 days. Thus, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2026 and 2027 moved 6.2% and 4.9% north, respectively, in the last 60 days.

Factors Driving MTGNew business and solid annual persistency should drive the insurance-in-force portfolio. A higher level of new and existing home sales, an increased percentage of homes purchased for cash, and an improved level of refinance activity should help MGIC Investment grow.

MTG has been witnessing a declining pattern of claim filings. A decline in losses and claims will strengthen the balance sheet and improve this mortgage insurer’s financial profile.

Management expects the mortgage market to remain broadly similar to recent conditions because affordability remains stretched and refinancing activity is constrained by rates. This backdrop limits near-term portfolio growth, but sustained purchase demand should continue to provide MGIC with opportunities to replenish runoff and preserve its premium base.

MTG maintains substantial capacity above mortgage-insurance capital requirements. As of June 30, 2026, MGIC had $5.6 billion of PMIERs Available Assets and $2.7 billion of excess over Minimum Required Assets, equal to 194% net sufficiency.

MGIC Investment continues to return excess capital through repurchases and dividends when business growth does not require the full amount of capital generated. In the first half of 2026, the company repurchased 13.8 million shares for $369.2 million and paid $66.8 million of common dividends.

Management said it is broadly targeting repurchases near net income in the current environment, indicating that capital returns should remain an important use of excess capital while insurance-in-force growth remains limited.

Wrapping UpHigher premiums, higher levels of home sales and new business will continue to induce growth for MGIC Investment. As part of wealth distribution to shareholders, MTG also engages in share buybacks, reflecting capital strength, financial results, and share price levels that are expected to be attractive to generate long-term value for shareholders.

Coupled with solid growth projections, attractive valuations, and a favorable ROIC as well as optimistic analyst sentiment, the time appears right for potential investors to bet on this Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) insurer. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.

The Broadband Infrastructure Project Ensures More Rural Floridians Can Access America’s Smartest and Most Reliable Converged WiFi Network

MOORE HAVEN, Fla.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Comcast announced today Xfinity and Comcast Business reliable, high-speed Internet services are now available to more than 2,800 homes and businesses in Glades County, including more than 2,100 locations that previously lacked access to broadband. The project is made possible through a public-private partnership with the state and includes locations in and around the communities of Lakeport, Moore Haven, Ortona and Sarasota Colony.

“This is a major step forward for our community,” said State Rep. Kaylee Tuck. “Reliable Internet access creates new opportunities for our families, students, and small businesses, and helps position Glades County for long-term success. We appreciate Comcast’s investment and their commitment to supporting our community’s future.”

Residents can visit Xfinity.com and businesses should visit ComcastBusiness.com to see if services are available at their address. Xfinity brings Internet, mobile, entertainment, and smart home services into one simple, seamless solution – giving customers more speed, savings, and control over their connected lives. Glades County now joins more than 65 million homes and businesses nationwide with access to a network that fuels innovation, productivity, and everyday connection.

“We’re proud to expand Internet access across Southwest Florida, including in Glades County, where our network is opening new opportunities for residents, businesses and community organizations,” said Kristeen Cominiello, Senior Vice President of Comcast’s Florida Region. “With Xfinity, customers get fast, reliable Internet, mobile savings, entertainment, millions of WiFi hotspots and built-in protection with Xfinity Shield. Comcast Business gives local organizations the connectivity and cybersecurity solutions they need to grow and succeed. This investment reflects our commitment to Glades County and its future.”

Comcast’s expansion in Glades County is part of the company’s latest Florida investments, which also include network builds in Bradford, Columbia, Highlands, Lake, Leon, Miami-Dade, Nassau, Putnam and St. Johns counties.

Xfinity Brings Full Suite of Residential Services to Glades County
Comcast is bringing its full suite of residential Xfinity services to Glades County, including high-speed Internet, streaming, mobile, voice, and home security – delivering reliable, connected experiences for today’s consumers at home or on the go.

Xfinity Internet: Speed, Reliability, and Coverage. With multi-gig speeds, 99.9% reliability, and powerful WiFi that reaches every corner of the home, Xfinity powers streaming, gaming, and video calls – simply and seamlessly. Xfinity Home Solutions: Protection Beyond Connectivity. Powered by Comcast’s advanced network and Xfinity Gateway technology, WiFi Shield is built into our connectivity experience and leverages AI capabilities to transform WiFi into a protection platform for the home. Shield Select offers additional self-monitored security features, while Xfinity Home Security provides the ultimate peace of mind with professionally monitored protection. Xfinity Mobile: Most Reliable Network. Fraction of the Cost. Xfinity Mobile delivers reliable, lightning‑fast speeds – up to 1 Gig – at home and on the go. And now, new customers can get one line free for a full year when they sign up for a qualifying Xfinity Internet plan. Xfinity TV: All Entertainment. One Powerful Platform. Xfinity brings together live TV, streaming, sports, and on-demand content in one easy-to-use experience. With the award-winning Xfinity Voice Remote, finding a show, channel, or game is fast, easy, and frustration-free. Comcast Business: Technology Solutions for Businesses of Any Size
Comcast Business delivers powerful, secure, and always-on connectivity tailored to meet the needs of businesses – whether small startups or growing enterprises. With fast, reliable Internet and advanced networking solutions like SD-WAN, cloud connectivity, and unified communications, Comcast Business helps organizations stay connected, protected, and ready to scale.

For businesses on the move, Comcast Business Mobile offers fast, dependable 5G, flexible data plans, and access to over 23 million WiFi hotspots nationwide. With features like 4K streaming, advanced spam call blocking, and twice-a-year phone upgrades, it’s a mobile solution designed to keep teams productive – wherever business takes them.

What It Means for the Glades County Community
Comcast’s commitment to communities goes beyond building the network and aims to increase economic mobility for the local community and its residents. That’s why Comcast created Internet Essentials, a broadband adoption program that offers eligible households low-cost, high-speed Internet and affordable computers. Additionally, Comcast has made significant investments into Florida nonprofits focused on helping people build digital skills, expanding WiFi-connected Lift Zones, and funding connectivity and Internet adoption programs.

About Comcast Corporation
Comcast Corporation (Nasdaq: CMCSA) is a global media and technology company. From the connectivity and platforms we provide, to the content and experiences we create, our businesses reach hundreds of millions of customers, viewers, and guests worldwide. We deliver world-class broadband, wireless, and video through Xfinity, Comcast Business, and Sky; produce, distribute, and stream leading entertainment, sports, and news through brands including NBC, Telemundo, Universal, Peacock, and Sky; and bring incredible theme parks and attractions to life through Universal Destinations & Experiences. Visit www.comcastcorporation.com for more information.

Blackstone Secured Lending Fund offers a compelling high-income opportunity, supported by a $13.4B portfolio with 96.8% first-lien secured debt. BXSL's diversified portfolio, improving borrower health, and declining nonaccruals underpin downside protection and attractive risk-adjusted returns. At a 0.96x price-to-NAV and 12.6% yield, expectations for a dividend cut appear priced in.

Lululemon (LULU - Free Report) has been one of the most searched-for stocks on Zacks.com lately. So, you might want to look at some of the facts that could shape the stock's performance in the near term.

Shares of this athletic apparel maker have returned -17.9% over the past month versus the Zacks S&P 500 composite's -0.4% change. The Zacks Textile - Apparel industry, to which Lululemon belongs, has lost 7.1% over this period. Now the key question is: Where could the stock be headed in the near term?

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

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

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

Lululemon is expected to post earnings of $1.36 per share for the current quarter, representing a year-over-year change of -47.5%. Over the last 30 days, the Zacks Consensus Estimate has changed -61.5%.

The consensus earnings estimate of $9.49 for the current fiscal year indicates a year-over-year change of -28.4%. This estimate has changed -20.2% over the last 30 days.

For the next fiscal year, the consensus earnings estimate of $9.55 indicates a change of +0.7% from what Lululemon is expected to report a year ago. Over the past month, the estimate has changed -17%.

Having a strong externally audited track record, our proprietary stock rating tool, the Zacks Rank, offers a more conclusive picture of a stock's price direction in the near term, since it effectively harnesses the power of earnings estimate revisions. Due to the size of the recent change in the consensus estimate, along with three other factors related to earnings estimates, Lululemon is rated Zacks Rank #5 (Strong Sell).

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

12 Month EPS

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

For Lululemon, the consensus sales estimate for the current quarter of $2.31 billion indicates a year-over-year change of -9.9%. For the current and next fiscal years, $10.62 billion and $10.73 billion estimates indicate -4.3% and +1.1% changes, respectively.

Last Reported Results and Surprise HistoryLululemon reported revenues of $2.42 billion in the last reported quarter, representing a year-over-year change of -4.3%. EPS of $2.06 for the same period compares with $3.1 a year ago.

Compared to the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $2.47 billion, the reported revenues represent a surprise of -2.07%. The EPS surprise was +15.08%.

The company beat consensus EPS estimates in each of the trailing four quarters. The company topped consensus revenue estimates three times over this period.

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

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

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

Lululemon is graded B on this front, indicating that it is trading at a discount to its peers. Click here to see the values of some of the valuation metrics that have driven this grade.

ConclusionThe facts discussed here and much other information on Zacks.com might help determine whether or not it's worthwhile paying attention to the market buzz about Lululemon. However, its Zacks Rank #5 does suggest that it may underperform the broader market in the near term.

Investors in Credit Acceptance Corporation (CACC - Free Report) need to pay close attention to the stock based on moves in the options market lately. That is because the Oct 16, 2026 $220 Put had some of the highest implied volatility of all equity options today.

What is Implied Volatility?Implied volatility shows how much movement the market is expecting in the future. Options with high levels of implied volatility suggest that investors in the underlying stocks are expecting a big move in one direction or the other. It could also mean there is an event coming up soon that may cause a big rally or a huge sell-off. However, implied volatility is only one piece of the puzzle when putting together an options trading strategy.

What do the Analysts Think?Clearly, options traders are pricing in a big move for Credit Acceptance shares, but what is the fundamental picture for the company? Currently, Credit Acceptance is a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) in the Financial - Consumer Loans industry that ranks in the Top 35% of our Zacks Industry Rank. Over the last 60 days, one analyst has increased the earnings estimate for the current quarter, while none have revised their estimates downward. The net effect has taken our Zacks Consensus Estimate for the current quarter from $12.04 per share to $12.21 in that period.

Given the way analysts feel about Credit Acceptance right now, this huge implied volatility could mean there’s a trade developing. Oftentimes, options traders look for options with high levels of implied volatility to sell premium. This is a strategy many seasoned traders use because it captures decay. At expiration, the hope for these traders is that the underlying stock does not move as much as originally expected.