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Key Takeaways Natera will use Signatera to assess AGX101 response in a Phase 1 trial for advanced solid tumors.Signatera will track ctDNA over time to assess whether molecular changes can complement imaging.AGX101 targets TM4SF1 in tumor cells and tumor-associated endothelial cells to deliver a cytotoxic payload. Natera (NTRA - Free Report) recently announced a collaboration with Angiex, Inc. to assess treatment response to AGX101, an investigational nuclear-delivered antibody-drug conjugate (ND-ADC), using its Signatera test. The Phase 1 trial is evaluating AGX101 in patients with unresectable, locally advanced or metastatic solid tumors.

Per management, Signatera can provide deeper insights into early biologic responses, helping to advance the understanding of the novel drug class. Natera looks forward to working with the Angiex team to generate molecular response data that could support the development of AGX101 and further the potential of this therapeutic approach.

NTRA Stock Trend Following the NewsFollowing the announcement, shares of NTRA inched up 0.1% at yesterday’s close. Year to date, the stock has gained 47.8% compared with the industry’s 4.1% growth and the S&P 500’s 11.6% rise.

The collaboration is a positive development for Natera as it expands the use of Signatera in an early-stage clinical program involving a novel cancer treatment approach. If longitudinal ctDNA monitoring demonstrates value alongside imaging, it could strengthen the utility of Signatera for treatment response assessment in advanced solid tumors. The collaboration also adds to Natera’s growing network of biopharma relationships, supporting broader adoption of its molecular residual disease (MRD) and molecular monitoring capabilities.

NTRA currently has a market capitalization of $48.79 billion.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

More on the NewsAGX101 is designed to target TM4SF1 and deliver a cytotoxic payload to both TM4SF1-expressing tumor cells and tumor-associated endothelial cells. This dual-targeting approach is intended to address cancer cells as well as tumor vasculature. Signatera will be used for longitudinal circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) monitoring to assess its potential role in monitoring treatment response throughout AGX101 therapy.

Natera’s Signatera test offers a personalized approach to measuring ctDNA and may serve as a complementary tool to radiologic evaluations. Tracking ctDNA levels over time could provide additional insights into treatment response, particularly in cases where imaging detects metabolic or structural changes that may not clearly indicate the presence of viable tumor.

Angiex co-founder and CEO Paul Jaminet, Ph.D., said AGX101 could provide a differentiated treatment option for patients with advanced solid tumors. The collaboration will assess whether longitudinal ctDNA measurements can complement imaging and offer deeper insights into treatment response.

Industry Prospects Favoring the MarketGoing by the data provided by Grand View Research, the global minimal residual disease testing market is predicted to be valued at $3 billion in 2026 and is expected to witness a CAGR of 13.2% through 2033.

Factors like the increasing adoption of MRD testing in oncology care, rising cancer burden, growing adoption of precision medicine and increasing use of advanced technologies like next-generation sequencing and PCR are supporting the market’s growth.

Other NewsNatera recently collaborated with Kupando Therapeutics to support a Phase 1 clinical trial evaluating circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) dynamics in patients with advanced skin cancers. The collaboration will use Natera’s Latitude tissue-free MRD test to monitor treatment response to KUP-101, Kupando’s investigational immunotherapy targeting innate immune activation.

Natera’s MRD test, Signatera, received certification as a Class C device under the European Union’s In Vitro Diagnostic Regulation (IVDR) for use across multiple types of cancer, including gastrointestinal, genitourinary, breast, skin, gynecological, head and neck, non-small cell lung cancer, diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, indolent non-Hodgkin's lymphomas and pan-cancer immunotherapy monitoring.

NTRA’s Zacks Rank & Key PicksCurrently, NTRA carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold).

Some better-ranked stocks from the broader medical space are Globus Medical (GMED - Free Report) , Veracyte (VCYT - Free Report) and West Pharmaceutical (WST - Free Report) .

Globus Medical, currently sporting a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), reported a second-quarter 2026 adjusted earnings per share (EPS) of $1.34, which surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 19.6%. Revenues of $789.6 million beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 0.4%. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.

GMED has an estimated long-term earnings growth rate of 12.4%. The company’s earnings beat estimates in each of the trailing four quarters, the average surprise being 27.9%.

Veracyte, currently flaunting a Zacks Rank #1, reported a second-quarter 2026 adjusted EPS of 54 cents, which surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 25.6%. Revenues of $150.3 million beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 4.1%.

VCYT has an estimated earnings growth rate of 8.4% for 2026. The company’s earnings beat estimates in each of the trailing four quarters, the average surprise being 41.8%.

West Pharmaceutical, carrying a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) at present, reported second-quarter 2026 adjusted EPS of $2.37, which beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 13.9%. Revenues of $872.3 million surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 4.2%.

WST has an estimated long-term earnings growth rate of 16%. WST’s earnings surpassed estimates in the trailing four quarters, the average surprise being 17.4%.

In its upcoming report, MongoDB (MDB - Free Report) is predicted by Wall Street analysts to post quarterly earnings of $1.60 per share, reflecting an increase of 60% compared to the same period last year. Revenues are forecasted to be $733.61 million, representing a year-over-year increase of 24%.

The current level reflects no revision in the consensus EPS estimate for the quarter over the past 30 days. This demonstrates how the analysts covering the stock have collectively reappraised their initial projections over this period.

Prior to a company's earnings release, it is of utmost importance to factor in any revisions made to the earnings projections. These revisions serve as a critical gauge for predicting potential investor behaviors with respect to the stock. Empirical studies consistently reveal a strong link between trends in earnings estimate revisions and the short-term price performance of a stock.

While investors typically rely on consensus earnings and revenue estimates to gauge how the business may have fared during the quarter, examining analysts' projections for some of the company's key metrics often helps gain a deeper insight.

In light of this perspective, let's dive into the average estimates of certain MongoDB metrics that are commonly tracked and forecasted by Wall Street analysts.

Analysts' assessment points toward 'Revenue- Subscription' reaching $710.67 million. The estimate suggests a change of +24.2% year over year.

The consensus among analysts is that 'Revenue- Services' will reach $21.90 million. The estimate indicates a year-over-year change of +15%.

The average prediction of analysts places 'Revenue- Subscription - Atlas-related' at $552.44 million. The estimate suggests a change of +25.9% year over year.

Analysts expect 'Revenue- Subscription - MongoDB Enterprise Advanced and other' to come in at $159.26 million. The estimate points to a change of +19.4% from the year-ago quarter.

The collective assessment of analysts points to an estimated 'MongoDB Atlas customers' of 68,939 . Compared to the present estimate, the company reported 58,300 in the same quarter last year.

View all Key Company Metrics for MongoDB here>>>

Over the past month, MongoDB shares have recorded returns of +26.5% versus the Zacks S&P 500 composite's +3.7% change. Based on its Zacks Rank #3 (Hold), MDB will likely exhibit a performance that aligns with the overall market in the upcoming period. You can see the complete list of today's Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) stocks here >>>> .

NEW YORK and SOUTH HOLLAND, Ill., Aug. 25, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Valley National Bancorp (“Valley”) (NASDAQ: VLY) and Providence Financial Corporation (“Providence”) announced today that they have entered into a definitive merger agreement whereby Valley will acquire Providence, parent company of Providence Bank & Trust. The acquisition is a continuation of Valley’s recent investments to accelerate retail and small business growth, which began with the hiring of Patrick Smith as President of Consumer Banking in September 2025. Consistent with Valley’s strategic focus to enhance its funding profile and expand in attractive target markets, Providence provides an attractive and established physical delivery channel in the Chicagoland area to supplement Valley’s existing commercial presence in the market.

Providence is a high-performing commercial bank with approximately $1.6 billion in total assets, $1.3 billion in total deposits, $1.1 billion in total loans, and $800 million in total wealth assets under management across its 14-branch network as of June 30, 2026. Providence has maintained top tier profitability, driven by its low-cost core funding base, robust net interest margin, and consistent expense control. This strategically compelling acquisition complements Valley’s existing middle market commercial banking presence in the sizable, affluent, and commercially vibrant Chicagoland area, and opens new opportunities for retail, small business, and low-cost core deposit growth in the market.

Under the terms of the merger agreement, the shareholders of Providence will receive 4.3854 shares of Valley common stock and $21.47 in cash for each share of Providence common stock they own. Total merger consideration is estimated to be $247 million, based on Valley’s closing stock price of $14.10 on August 24, 2026. The transaction is expected to be approximately 2% accretive to Valley’s earnings and less than 1% dilutive to Valley’s pro forma tangible book value at close, with an earnback period of less than 3 years.

Ira Robbins, Valley’s Chairman, President & CEO commented that, “The acquisition of Providence is in direct alignment with our strategic priorities of enhancing our core funding base, diversifying our loan portfolio and driving fee income. Under Steven Van Drunen’s leadership, Providence has evolved into a high-performing, community-focused bank in one of the most dynamic markets in the country. Providence’s conservative credit culture and high-touch, relationship-based approach align extremely well with Valley’s own value proposition.” He also stated, “We look forward to having Steven and his team join Valley where they will continue to drive growth in the Chicagoland market that they know so well. By leveraging Valley’s scale, capital strength, and comprehensive financial solutions, we believe this combination will enhance Providence’s customer experience, and accelerate growth opportunities across Chicago.”

Steven Van Drunen, President & CEO of Providence said, “We are thrilled about our combination with Valley and the opportunities to grow and deepen our relationships with our customers and the communities we serve throughout the Chicagoland area. The investments Valley has made in its people, infrastructure, and culture, position us to deliver meaningful benefits for our customers and communities. Our customers will gain access to an expanded range of financial solutions while continuing to receive the responsive, relationship-driven service and local leadership they have grown accustomed to from Providence Bank & Trust.” Following the transaction close, Mr. Van Drunen will join Valley as Market President to oversee retail and small business growth in the Chicagoland market.

Providence and Valley share a long-standing commitment to relationship-driven banking, community engagement, and stewardship. Together, they will build on the lasting impact of the Providence Bank & Trust Stewardship Program across the Chicagoland communities they serve. Valley has committed $3 million over the next three years to support Chicago-based civic, nonprofit, and community organizations.

On a pro-forma basis as of June 30, 2026, the combined company’s balance sheet would have approximately $67.9 billion in assets, $55.5 billion of deposits and $53.5 billion in loans. Following the completion of the transaction, Valley expects to have approximately $1.6 billion of deposits and $1.9 billion of loans in the Chicagoland market.

The acquisition is expected to close in early 2027, subject to standard regulatory approvals, approval of Providence’s shareholders, and the satisfaction or waiver of other customary closing conditions. An investor presentation with additional information about the transaction can be found on Valley’s website at www.valley.com.

TD Securities is serving as financial advisor to Valley and Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz is serving as legal counsel to Valley. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods, Inc., A Stifel Company, is serving as financial advisor to Providence and Dickinson Wright PLLC is serving as legal counsel to Providence.

About Valley

As the principal subsidiary of Valley National Bancorp (NASDAQ: VLY), Valley National Bank is a regional financial institution with over $66 billion in assets. Founded in 1927, Valley has more than 220 branch locations and commercial offices across New Jersey, New York, Florida, Alabama, California, Illinois, Pennsylvania and Arizona, while serving clients nationwide. Valley delivers a full range of consumer, commercial, and wealth management solutions designed to support everything from homeownership and business growth to long-term financial planning. Big enough to support complex financial needs and small enough to stay deeply connected, Valley is grounded in a relationship-led approach focused on understanding people first. That same relationship-led approach guides Valley’s commitment to community investment and responsible corporate citizenship. To learn more, visit www.valley.com or call the Valley Customer Care Center at 800-522-4100.

About Providence

Founded in 2004, Providence Bank & Trust, a high-performing commercial and stewardship bank and wholly-owned subsidiary of Providence Financial Corporation, has approximately $1.6 billion in assets and locations across the Chicagoland area and Northwest Indiana. The bank’s mission is to be genuine in their commitment to service and stewardship, with a belief that a bank can truly be more than a place to deposit money – offering meaningful financial products and services and responding promptly to the diverse and evolving needs of their customers and communities. Visit www.providence.bank for more information.

CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This communication contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 related to, among other things, Valley’s strategy, plans, beliefs, goals, intentions, and expectations regarding the proposed transaction between Valley and Providence; the issuance of common stock of Valley contemplated by the Agreement and Plan of Merger by and between Valley and Providence (the “merger agreement”); the expected filing by Valley with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) of a registration statement on Form S-4 (the “registration statement”) and a prospectus of Valley and a proxy statement of Providence to be included therein (the “proxy statement/prospectus”); its ability to achieve its financial and other strategic goals; the expected timing of completion of the proposed transaction; the expected cost savings, synergies, and other anticipated benefits from the proposed transaction; and other statements that are not historical facts. Forward-looking statements typically contain words such as “anticipate,” “believe,” “potential,” “will,” “estimate,” “plans,” “approximately,” “opportunity,” “expect,” “position,” “pro forma,” “proposed,” “intend” or similar expressions. Forward-looking statements involve certain important risks, uncertainties and other factors, any of which could cause actual results to differ materially from those in such statements. Such factors include, without limitation, the “Risk Factors” referenced in Valley’s most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2025, in its subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, including for the quarter ended June 30, 2026, and other risks and uncertainties listed from time to time in Valley’s reports and documents filed with the SEC, each of which is filed with the SEC and available in the “Financials” section of Valley’s website at https://ir.valleynationalbank.com, under the heading “SEC Filings” and in other documents Valley files with the SEC. Additional factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in forward-looking statements include: the ability to obtain required regulatory or other approvals or meet other closing conditions to the merger agreement on the expected terms and schedule; the occurrence of any event, change or other circumstances that could give rise to the termination of the merger agreement; the failure to obtain the necessary approval by the shareholders of Providence; the acquisition may not be timely completed, if at all; difficulties and delays in integrating Valley’s and Providence’s businesses or fully realizing cost savings and other benefits; the occurrence of any event, change or other circumstances that could give rise to the right of one or both of Valley and Providence to terminate the merger agreement; the outcome of any legal or regulatory proceedings that may be currently pending or later instituted against Valley or Providence; the possibility that the transaction may be more expensive to complete than anticipated, including as a result of unexpected factors or events; business disruption prior to the completion of the acquisition or following the proposed transaction; Valley’s and Providence’s ability to execute their respective business strategies; the ability by each of Valley and Providence to obtain required governmental approvals of the transaction on the timeline expected, or at all, and the risk that such approvals may result in the imposition of adverse regulatory conditions; reputational risks and risks relating to the reaction of Valley’s and Providence’s customers, employees, suppliers or other business parties to the proposed transaction, including the effects on their respective ability to attract or retain customers and key personnel; diversion of management time and attention from ongoing business operations to acquisition-related issues; the dilution caused by Valley’s issuance of additional shares of its capital stock in connection with the transaction; and general competitive, economic, political and market conditions and other factors that may affect future results of Valley and Providence. These and various other factors are discussed in Valley’s Annual Report on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, and Current Reports on Form 8-K, in each case filed with the SEC, and other reports and statements Valley has filed with the SEC. Copies of the SEC filings for Valley may be downloaded from the Internet at no charge from https://ir.valleynationalbank.com.

Valley can give no assurance that any goal, plan, expectation set forth in forward-looking statements can be achieved and readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such statements. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made and are based on information available at the time. Valley does not intend, and assumes no obligation, to update any forward-looking statement to reflect events or circumstances after the date on which the statement is made or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events or circumstances, except as required by applicable law. These forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and are based on expectations and assumptions Valley currently believes to be valid. Because forward-looking statements relate to future results and occurrences, many of which are outside of Valley’s control, they are subject to inherent uncertainties, risks and changes in circumstances that are difficult to predict. Many possible events or factors could adversely affect the future financial results and performance of Valley, Providence or the combined company and could cause those results or performance to differ materially from those expressed in or implied by the forward-looking statements.

Annualized, pro forma, projected, and estimated numbers are used for illustrative purposes only, are not forecasts and may not reflect actual results. Except to the extent required by applicable law or regulation, Valley disclaims any obligation to revise or publicly release any revision or update to any of the forward-looking statements included herein to reflect events or circumstances that occur after the date on which such statements were made. As forward-looking statements involve significant risks and uncertainties, caution should be exercised against placing undue reliance on such statements.

Important Additional Information and Where to Find It

Valley intends to file with the SEC a registration statement on Form S-4 to register the shares of Valley common stock to be issued to the shareholders of Providence in connection with the proposed transaction. The registration statement will include a proxy statement/prospectus, which will be sent to the shareholders of Providence in connection with the proposed transaction.

INVESTORS AND SECURITY HOLDERS ARE URGED TO READ THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT ON FORM S-4, THE PROXY STATEMENT/PROSPECTUS INCLUDED WITHIN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT ON FORM S-4 AND ANY OTHER RELEVANT DOCUMENTS TO BE FILED WITH THE SEC IN CONNECTION WITH THE PROPOSED TRANSACTION OR INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE INTO THE PROXY STATEMENT/PROSPECTUS, AS WELL AS ANY AMENDMENTS OR SUPPLEMENTS TO THESE DOCUMENTS, CAREFULLY AND IN THEIR ENTIRETY, WHEN THEY ARE AVAILABLE, BECAUSE THEY WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT VALLEY, PROVIDENCE AND THE PROPOSED TRANSACTION.

Investors and security holders may obtain free copies of these documents through the website maintained by the SEC at http://www.sec.gov. You will also be able to obtain these documents, when they are filed, free of charge, from Valley at https://ir.valleynationalbank.com. Copies of the proxy statement/prospectus can also be obtained, when it becomes available, free of charge, by directing a request to Valley National Bancorp, Attention: Shareholder Relations Department, 70 Speedwell Avenue, Morristown, New Jersey 07960, or by calling (973) 305-3380 or to Providence Financial Corporation, Attention; Steve VanDrunen, 630 E 162nd St, South Holland, Illinois 60473, or by calling (888) 923-5664.

Participants in the Solicitation

Valley, Providence and their respective directors and executive officers and other members of management and employees may be deemed to be participants in the solicitation of proxies from the shareholders of Providence in connection with the proposed transaction under the rules of the SEC. Certain information regarding the interests of these participants and a description of their direct and indirect interests, by security holdings or otherwise, will be included in the proxy statement/prospectus regarding the proposed transaction when it becomes available.

Information regarding Valley’s directors and executive officers is available in Valley’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2025, and Valley’s proxy statement, dated April 3, 2026, for its 2026 annual meeting of shareholders (the “Valley 2026 proxy statement”), which can be obtained free of charge through the website maintained by the SEC at http://www.sec.gov. Please refer to the sections captioned “Compensation of Directors,” “Stock Ownership of Management and Principal Shareholders,” “Item 2. Advisory Vote on our Named Executive Officer Compensation,” “Compensation Discussion and Analysis,” “Report of the Compensation Committee,” “Executive Compensation Tables,” “Equity Compensation Plan Information” and “CEO Pay Ratio” in the Valley 2026 proxy statement. Any changes in the holdings of Valley’s securities by Valley’s directors or executive officers from the amounts described in the Valley 2026 proxy statement have been reflected in Statements of Change in Ownership on Form 3, Form 4 or Form 5 filed with the SEC subsequent to the filing date of the Valley 2026 proxy statement and are available at the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov.

No Offer or Solicitation

This communication is for informational purposes only and is not intended to and does not constitute an offer to subscribe for, buy or sell, or the solicitation of an offer to subscribe for, buy or sell, or an invitation to subscribe for, buy or sell any securities or a solicitation of any vote or approval in any jurisdiction, nor shall there be any sale, issuance or transfer of securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, invitation, sale or solicitation would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such jurisdiction. No offer of securities shall be made except by means of a prospectus meeting the requirements of Section 10 of the Securities Act, and otherwise in accordance with applicable law.

Contacts:Valley National BancorpProvidence Financial CorporationTravis LanSteven G. Van DrunenSenior Executive Vice President andPresident andChief Financial OfficerChief Executive Officer973-686-5007708-333-4890

Key Takeaways Realty Income brings scale and diversification, while Regency Centers emphasizes property-level growth.Realty Income posted 98.8% occupancy and raised 2026 investment-volume guidance to $10 billion.Regency Centers has a roughly $680M pipeline and expects 3.7%-4.1% same-property NOI growth. Realty Income Corporation (O - Free Report) and Regency Centers Corporation (REG - Free Report) give investors two ways to own income-producing commercial real estate without buying properties directly. Both are S&P 500 REITs, both return cash to shareholders through regular dividends, and both rely on tenant demand, disciplined capital allocation and balance sheet access to support long-term growth. Those common traits make the comparison useful for investors seeking dependable real estate exposure.

The difference is how each company creates that income. Realty Income is a global net-lease platform with more than 15,500 properties across retail, industrial, gaming and other categories, while Regency concentrates on open-air shopping centers, with grocery-anchored neighborhood and community centers at the core of its portfolio.

Realty Income leans on scale, long leases, acquisitions and newer capital partnerships. Regency relies more heavily on leasing, rent growth, redevelopment and ground-up development. This leaves investors comparing Realty Income’s diversification and monthly dividend record with Regency’s stronger property-level growth opportunities.

The Case for ORealty Income enjoys solid scale and diversification. As of June 30, it owned or held interests in 15,588 properties leased to 1,798 clients across 92 industries, with 98.8% occupancy and an average remaining lease term of 8.6 years. This breadth reduces dependence on any single tenant, property type or market — a clear advantage over Regency’s more focused shopping-center portfolio.

The company also has considerable flexibility to pursue growth. Realty Income invested $2.6 billion during the second quarter and raised its 2026 investment-volume guidance to $10 billion. Industrial properties represented a large share of recent activity, while Europe, credit investments and the new hyperscale data-center venture broaden the opportunity set.
Management is also using private capital to reduce reliance on public-equity issuance.

Financially, Realty Income remains positioned to fund that expansion. Net debt to annualized pro forma adjusted EBITDAre was 5.4 times at quarter-end, while subsequent financing actions increased liquidity. AFFO per share rose 3.8% year over year to $1.09, and management lifted full-year AFFO guidance to $4.44-$4.45. Its 674th consecutive monthly common-stock dividend further reinforces the income case.

Still, size can make faster growth harder. Same-store rental revenues increased only 1.2% in the quarter, well below Regency’s same-property NOI growth. Realty Income’s move into industrial, data centers and private-capital vehicles can improve growth, but it also adds complexity. For investors already owning the shares, the dependable cash flows and diversification remain meaningful strengths.

The Case for REGRegency’s case begins with a narrower portfolio, but that focus is currently working in its favor. More than 85% of its centers are grocery-anchored neighborhood and community properties, placing the company close to everyday spending. Leasing demand remains broad, and the same-property leased rate is near 97%. This gives Regency a strong operating base, even though it lacks Realty Income’s sector and geographic diversification.

The more important difference is internal growth. Regency reported cash rent spreads above 10% in the second quarter and continues to add annual rent escalators to most new leases. Its signed-not-occupied pipeline represents about $41 million of base rent, providing visible future occupancy gains. Same-property NOI growth is expected at 3.7%-4.1% for 2026, materially faster than Realty Income’s recent same-store rental growth.

Regency also has a development engine that Realty Income cannot match directly. Its in-process development and redevelopment pipeline totals roughly $680 million at an estimated 9% stabilized yield, while 2026 project starts are expected to approach $400 million. Building centers at attractive yields can create value without forcing Regency to compete aggressively for acquisitions when grocery-anchored cap rates are compressing.

However, the strategy carries construction and execution risk, and Regency remains more exposed to retail conditions than Realty Income. Even so, its A-rated balance sheet, leverage within a 5.0-5.5X target range, healthy free cash flow and selective acquisition approach provide room to fund growth. With operating momentum, embedded rent increases and a visible development pipeline working together, Regency offers a strong growth setup for investors.

How Do Estimates Compare for Realty Income & Regency?The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Realty Income’s 2026 and 2027 sales implies year-over-year growth of 9.34% and 8.27%, respectively. The consensus mark for 2026 and 2027 funds from operations (FFO) per share suggests a year-over-year increase of 3.97% and 3.40%, respectively. Over the past 30 days, estimates for O’s 2026 and 2027 FFO per share have remained unchanged.

For Realty Income:

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Regency’s 2026 and 2027 sales calls for year-over-year growth of 7.10% and 3.82%, respectively. The consensus estimates for 2026 FFO per share have been revised marginally upward over the past 30 days, while estimates for 2027 have remained unchanged. The figures suggest a year-over-year increase of 4.74% and 4.85%, respectively.

For Regency:

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

Price Performance and Valuation of O & REGSo far in the year, Realty Income shares have risen 12.1%, while Regency stock has gained 11.1%. In comparison, the Zacks REIT and Equity Trust - Retail has advanced 19.5% in the same time frame. 

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

O is trading at a forward 12-month price-to-FFO — a commonly used multiple for valuing REITs — of 13.89X, which is above its three-year median of 13.24X.

Meanwhile, REG is presently trading at a forward 12-month price-to-FFO of 15.31X, which is slightly below its three-year median of 15.34X. Both O and REG carry a Value Score of D.

While Realty Income looks cheaper, the gap suggests investors are paying a modest premium for Regency’s stronger internal growth and development platform. The premium is not extreme, but it means REG needs to execute well. On this measure alone, O has the valuation advantage.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

Conclusion: REG Has the EdgeRealty Income remains a dependable REIT with exceptional scale, broad diversification, strong liquidity and a dividend record that few peers can match. Those qualities make it reasonable for existing shareholders to stay with the name, especially when income stability is the main goal.

Regency, however, has an attractive mix of property-level growth, leasing leverage and development-driven expansion. Its focused grocery-anchored portfolio is benefiting from limited supply and healthy tenant demand, while the development pipeline adds another route to earnings growth. For investors choosing between the two now, REG offers the stronger combination of operating momentum and growth potential.

While O has a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold), REG carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.

Note: Anything related to earnings presented in this write-up represent funds from operations (FFO) — a widely used metric to gauge the performance of REITs.

It has been about a month since the last earnings report for Regency Centers (REG - Free Report) . Shares have lost about 6.1% in that time frame, underperforming the S&P 500.

But investors have to be wondering, will the recent negative trend continue leading up to its next earnings release, or is Regency Centers due for a breakout? Well, first let's take a quick look at its most recent earnings report in order to get a better handle on the recent drivers for Regency Centers Corporation before we dive into how investors and analysts have reacted as of late.

Regency's Q2 FFO Beats Estimates on Leasing Momentum, '26 View RaisedRegency Centers reported second-quarter 2026 NAREIT FFO per share of $1.21, beating the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.20 by 0.8%. The metric increased 4.3% from the year-ago quarter.

Total revenues of $413.5 million rose 8.6% year over year and topped the consensus mark of $405 million by 2.1%. The results reflected solid leasing demand, with same-property NOI advancing 3.8%.

Regency Posts Healthy Property-Level GrowthSame-property base rent growth contributed 3.7% to same-property NOI growth in the reported quarter. Total NOI increased 6.8% year over year to $300.1 million, while same-property NOI reached $288.3 million.

The expense recovery ratio improved to 89.7% from 88.1% year over year. However, the NOI margin eased to 69.6% from 70.2%, as property operating expenses and real estate taxes increased from the prior-year period.

Regency Extends Leasing & Occupancy MomentumThe same-property portfolio was 96.9% leased at quarter-end, up 40 basis points (bps) year over year and 30 bps sequentially. Regency’s same-property portfolio was 94.5% commenced, rising 50 bps year over year. The 240-basis-point gap between leased and commenced occupancy remains above Regency’s historical average of roughly 180 bps, providing visibility into additional rent commencement.

Same-property anchor space, which includes spaces greater than or equal to 10,000 square feet, was 98.4% leased, an increase of 20 bps sequentially. Same-property shop space, which includes spaces less than 10,000 square feet, was 94.4% leased, up 30 bps sequentially.

The signed-not-occupied (SNO) pipeline represented approximately $41 million of annual base rent. About 69% of the associated leases are expected to commence by the end of 2026, with 91% of the pipeline located within the same-property pool.

Regency Delivers Strong Rent SpreadsDuring the second quarter, Regency executed around 2.1 million square feet of comparable new and renewal leases. Blended rent spreads were 10.4% on a cash basis and 19.5% on a straight-line basis.

For the 12 months ended June 30, 2026, the company completed about 7.1 million square feet of comparable new and renewal leasing. Cash rent spreads were 11.8%, while straight-lined spreads were 22.7%, reflecting continued pricing strength across the operating portfolio.

The sustained leasing volume supported occupancy and rent growth. It also reinforced management’s view that tenant demand remains robust across Regency’s grocery-anchored shopping centers.

Regency Advances Its Development PipelineRegency started $68 million of ground-up development and redevelopment projects during the second quarter. These starts included The Berkeley at Durbin Park, a $55 million Whole Foods and TJ Maxx-anchored ground-up development project in Jacksonville, FL.

The company also completed roughly $20 million of redevelopment projects. The in-process development and redevelopment projects pipeline totaled $680 million at Regency’s share, with 49% of the estimated costs incurred and a blended estimated yield of approximately 9%.

Regency acquired Shops at Highland Walk in Denver, CO, for around $37 million, or $7 million at its share. The 95,000-square-foot shopping center is anchored by King Soopers.

Regency Maintains Balance Sheet CapacityAs of June 30, 2026, Regency had about $1.5 billion of available capacity under its revolving credit facility. Pro-rata net debt and preferred stock to trailing 12-month operating EBITDAre improved to 5.0X from 5.2X at the end of the prior quarter.

The company’s fixed-charge coverage ratio was 4.2X. Outstanding debt totaled $5.44 billion, while cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash stood at $191.6 million at quarter-end.

Regency Raises Its 2026 OutlookRegency raised its full-year 2026 NAREIT FFO guidance to $4.84-$4.88 per share from $4.83-$4.87. The midpoint increased 1 cent to 4.86, reflecting updated expectations for non-cash revenues, including below-market rent amortization and straight-line rent reserve adjustments.

Same-property NOI growth guidance was raised to 3.7-4.1% from 3.25-3.75%. Management cited higher tenant recoveries and better average commenced occupancy as the key factors behind the improved outlook.

How Have Estimates Been Moving Since Then?Since the earnings release, investors have witnessed a downward trend in estimates revision.

VGM ScoresCurrently, Regency Centers has a subpar Growth Score of D, a grade with the same score on the momentum front. Following the exact same course, the stock was allocated a score of D on the value side, putting it in the bottom 40% for value investors.

Overall, the stock has an aggregate VGM Score of D. If you aren't focused on one strategy, this score is the one you should be interested in.

OutlookEstimates have been broadly trending downward for the stock, and the magnitude of this revision indicates a downward shift. Notably, Regency Centers has a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). We expect an in-line return from the stock in the next few months.

Key Takeaways MDU plans nearly $3.1B in capital investments through 2030 across electric, gas and pipeline projects. Bakken East Pipeline has nearly 1.2 Bcf/day contracted capacity and could require $2.7B-$3.2B. MDU expects 1-2% annual customer growth and has over 1 GW of data center load under signed agreements. MDU Resources (MDU - Free Report) benefits from strategic capital investments that strengthen its regulated utility and pipeline infrastructure, support rising customer demand and improve system reliability. These investments also strengthen rate-base growth, support timely regulatory recovery and drive revenue growth.

The company plans capital investments of nearly $3.1 billion through 2030, including about $1.1 billion in electric, $1.4 billion in natural gas distribution and $0.64 billion in pipeline investments. These projects are aimed at upgrading and modernizing infrastructure, meeting rising customer demand and supporting system reliability.

MDU also has significant pipeline growth opportunities. The proposed Bakken East Pipeline has nearly 1.2 billion cubic feet (Bcf) per day of contracted capacity and could require $2.7-$3.2 billion in additional investment if approved. The project would expand MDU’s pipeline footprint, strengthen long-term growth prospects and support earnings growth.

MDU expects its customer base to grow 1-2% annually and has more than 1 gigawatt of data center load under signed electric service agreements. Its capital investments are expected to drive long-term earnings growth of 6-8%.

Overall, capital investments can expand MDU’s regulated rate base, while regulatory mechanisms can support the timely recovery of eligible costs and returns on approved investments. This creates a foundation for revenues, cash flow and long-term earnings growth.

Capital Spending Strengthening Utility GrowthRegulated gas distribution companies are increasing capital investments to replace aging pipelines, expand distribution networks and enhance system reliability as customer demand grows. These investments can expand the regulated rate base and support long-term earnings growth through approved regulatory recovery.

ONE Gas (OGS - Free Report) plans to invest approximately $4.3 billion through 2030 in system integrity, pipeline replacements and customer extensions, supporting 7-9% annual rate-base growth and earnings.

Southwest Gas Holdings (SWX - Free Report) aims to invest $6.3 billion during 2026-2030, focused on safety, new business and system upgrades, supporting a 9.5-11.5% rate-base compound annual growth rate and customer expansion.

The Zacks Rundown on MDUMDU’s Earnings EstimatesThe Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2026 and 2027 EPS indicates a year-over-year increase of 5.38% and 7.91%, respectively.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

Debt to CapitalMDU's debt-to-capital ratio currently stands at 46.82%, lower than the gas distribution industry’s 54.52%.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

MDU’s Stock Price PerformanceIn the past year, the company’s shares have risen 23.6% compared with the industry’s 7.2% growth.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

MDU’s Zacks Rank

AeroVironment, Inc. (“AV”), a global defense technology leader, today announced that its MacCready Works advanced solutions team has been awarded a contract for the co-design and co-manufacture of three Mars helicopters for NASA’s SkyFall mission with the agency’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), taking the project from future concept to a formally funded Mars science mission and a path toward launch in late 2028.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260827821137/en/

AV's MacCready Works will design and develop three Mars helicopters for NASA's SkyFall mission, supporting a planned launch in late 2028. (Photo/AV)

SkyFall is the first mission to fly a team of three instrument-carrying helicopters on Mars, demonstrating a fully integrated system capable of autonomous atmospheric entry and powered descent.

AV and JPL are building on their experience as co‑developers of NASA’s Ingenuity Mars Helicopter, which completed 72 historic flights at Jezero Crater. Together, the teams are evolving Ingenuity‑derived designs into SkyFall: an active NASA mission under the Science Mission Directorate, optimized to deliver high‑value science for the Mars Exploration Program.

“With Ingenuity, AV and JPL proved we could fly on Mars. Now, with SkyFall, we’re taking AV’s high‑volume uncrewed systems mindset into planetary exploration and showing that Mars helicopters can be built as a repeatable product line, not a one‑off delivery,” said Jeff Rodrian, Head of MacCready Works, AV’s advanced research and development organization. “It’s also a powerful example of public‑private partnership; AV and JPL building on Ingenuity’s success to create a helicopter platform that NASA can apply to many different science missions over multiple launch windows.”

AV is leading the design and production of key elements of the SkyFall helicopters, including rotor systems, airframes, structures, avionics integration, and accommodation for multiple science payloads. JPL is leading the design and development of the power system, electronics, algorithms and software. The helicopters will carry a JPL‑designed ground‑penetrating radar (GPR) to look below the Martian surface, delivering new insight into shallow subsurface ice, central to both Mars science and future human exploration.

New to this mission is a new “SkyFall maneuver.” This technique releases the three helicopters directly from the carrier spacecraft into the Martian atmosphere, where they separate, deploy, descend, and land under their own power. By eliminating the need for a single-use lander stage or a host rover (as Ingenuity required with Perseverance), this approach significantly reduces the technical and financial risk of getting to the Martian surface.

JPL’s GPR instruments carried by the helicopters are designed to map subsurface ice at fine spatial resolution, enabling more precise assessment of where water ice is located and implications for science and future human exploration. In addition, each aircraft will host instruments that will provide data on the Martian atmosphere, dust particle transport, and other key environmental processes.

"Just like here on Earth, Mars helicopters can cover distance quickly and can go places that might be impossible to reach by ground,” said Will Pomerantz, Head of Space Ventures at AV. “The three SkyFall helicopters are going to show us parts of Mars we’ve never seen before and return mountains of data for scientists to pour over. The science community may guide these helicopters to places where the ground penetrating radar can map out the precise location of ice below the Martian surface.”

NASA currently plans a launch window in November 2028, followed by a cruise to Mars, with arrival timing tuned to local time, dust conditions, and power needs.

About AV

AeroVironment (“AV”) (NASDAQ: AVAV) is a defense technology leader delivering integrated capabilities across air, land, sea, space, and cyber. The Company develops and deploys autonomous systems, loitering munitions, counter-UAS technologies, space-based platforms, directed energy systems, and cyber and electronic warfare capabilities—built to meet the mission needs of today’s warfighter and tomorrow’s conflicts. At the core of these technologies lies AV_Halo™, a modular, mission-ready suite of AI-powered software tools that empowers warfighters and enables full-battlefield dominance: detect, decide, deliver. With a national manufacturing footprint and a deep innovation pipeline, AV delivers proven systems and future-defining capabilities at speed, scale, and operational relevance. For more information, visit www.avinc.com.

Safe Harbor Statement

Certain statements in this press release may constitute "forward-looking statements" as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements are based on current expectations, forecasts, and assumptions that involve risks and uncertainties, which could cause actual results to differ materially. Factors that may cause such differences include, but are not limited to, our ability to perform under existing contracts and obtain new ones; regulatory changes; competitor activities; market growth; product development challenges; and general economic conditions. For a more detailed discussion of these risks, please refer to AeroVironment’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. We undertake no obligation to update forward-looking statements as a result of new information or future events.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260827821137/en/

Key Takeaways ManpowerGroup shares gained 122% in six months, topping the industry's 76% rally and the S&P 500's 11.1% rise.Revenue growth accelerated to 6% in Q2'26 on a constant-currency basis, with gains across key markets.SG&A fell 6% in Q2 as revenues rose 5.8% y/y, while cost-saving efforts target $200M by 2028. ManpowerGroup (MAN - Free Report) stock has soared 122% over the past six months, outperforming the industry’s 76% rally and the Zacks S&P 500 Composite's 11.1% rise.

6-Month Share Price Performance                                                                 Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

Let us delve deeper into the factors that have contributed to the company’s outperformance.

Recovering Demand TrajectoryThe first quarter of 2026 marked ManpowerGroup's fifth consecutive quarter of year-over-year top-line growth. During the aforementioned quarter, revenues gained 3% year over year on a constant-currency basis. The growth rate accelerated to 6% year over year on a constant-currency basis in the second quarter of 2026. The company witnessed this enhancement across the United States, Latin America, APME and a few European markets, while the top-line trajectory took off across Experis and Talent Solutions.

Cost-Savings Enhance Operating LeverageManpowerGroup indulged in reducing the cost base through prudent expense management and an expansion in the global strategic transformation program targeted at stripping away structural costs and improving efficiency. This program is anticipated to generate $200 million in cost savings by 2028.

In the first quarter of 2026, this strategy resulted in cutting selling, general and administrative (SG&A) expenses by 2.2% year over year on a constant-currency basis despite a 2.9% uptick in the top line, generating operating leverage. This trend continued during the second quarter of 2026 as SG&A expenses declined 6% year over year on a constant-currency basis, while the top line gained 5.8%.

Solid Liquidity ProfileManpowerGroup’s current ratio improved to 1.04 in the second quarter of 2026 from 0.98 a year earlier, indicating an improvement in covering short-term obligations. As of June 30, total debt stood at $1.04 billion, including $456 million in notes due in 2027 and $567 million due in 2030. The sharp decline in reported long-term debt from year-end partly reflects the repayment of pre-funded 2026 notes and reclassification of 2027 maturities rather than pure deleveraging.

Current Ratio                                                                 Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

Shareholder-Friendly StrategyManpowerGroup returned $179.8 million, $140 million and $38 million through share repurchases in 2023, 2024 and 2025, whereas dividend payments totaled $144.3 million, $145.8 million and $66.7 million, respectively. This consistent return of capital underscores management's commitment to enhancing shareholder value.

Zacks Rank & Stocks to ConsiderManpowerGroup currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold).

Some better-ranked stocks in the broader Zacks Business Services sector are The Geo Group (GEO - Free Report) and Figure Technology Solutions (FIGR - Free Report) , each currently sporting a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.

The Geo Group has a long-term earnings growth expectation of 14%. GEO delivered a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 24.6%, on average.

Figure Technology Solutions has a long-term earnings growth expectation of 51.7%. FIGR delivered a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 28.2%, on average.

Morningstar, Inc. (Nasdaq: MORN), a leading provider of independent investment insights, and PitchBook, a Morningstar company and a leading private capital markets intelligence platform, today announced upcoming Model Context Protocol (MCP) integrations with Google Cloud’s Gemini Enterprise for Financial Services. Together, Morningstar and PitchBook provide a comprehensive view across public and private markets, helping investors securely access intelligence spanning investment research, fund analysis, company data, transactions, and private capital activity directly within Gemini Enterprise.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260825674797/en/

The MCP integrations coincide with Morningstar and PitchBook joining Google Cloud as launch partners for the preview of Gemini Enterprise for Financial Services, part of a series of industry offerings spotlighting AI-powered solutions across verticals. The integrations are expected to be available imminently.

When evaluating investment opportunities, conducting due diligence, monitoring portfolios, researching managers, or analyzing private market activity, professionals increasingly expect trusted intelligence to be available directly within their AI workflows. Through these integrations Morningstar and PitchBook will serve as trusted grounding sources within Gemini Enterprise, helping users access source-attributed investment intelligence while maintaining visibility into the data, research, and analysis behind AI-generated responses.

Learn more about Morningstar’s AI Solutions and PitchBook’s AI capabilities and partnerships.

At a Glance

Who: Morningstar, PitchBook, Google Cloud

What: MCP integrations with Gemini Enterprise for Financial Services

Where: Gemini Enterprise for Financial Services

Content Types: Investment data, investment research, market intelligence, private market intelligence

Why: To bring trusted, source-attributed investment intelligence into AI-powered workflows

Primary Benefit: Trusted, source-attributed answers

Intended Users: Investors and financial professionals

Availability: Upcoming; expected to be available imminently

Key Differentiator: Grounding in trusted Morningstar and PitchBook content

What Is Being Announced?

Morningstar and PitchBook are weaving investment intelligence within Google Gemini so eligible subscribers can access trusted information directly within AI-powered workflows. Morningstar provides independent data, research, ratings, and intelligence across public and private markets, helping investors make confident decisions. PitchBook, a Morningstar company, delivers comprehensive private capital markets data and research powered by its AI + HI (Artificial Intelligence + Human Insight) methodology, which combines advanced technology with human oversight to source, structure, and validate information at scale. Together, the integrations can help professionals move from questions to analysis more efficiently while maintaining transparency in the sources behind AI-generated answers.

What Users Can Do with Morningstar and PitchBook in Gemini

Eligible subscribers will be able to:

Access Morningstar public market investment data, research, analysis, and intelligence directly within Gemini EnterpriseDraw upon PitchBook's private market intelligence on companies, investors, funds, transactions, and market activityGenerate source-attributed research and analysis grounded in Morningstar and PitchBook contentAsk targeted questions about investments, markets, companies, and private capital activityIncorporate trusted investment intelligence into AI-powered workflows and agentic experiencesConduct research without switching between multiple applicationsQuotes

Seth Sprinkle, global head of AI platforms strategy and partnerships for Morningstar, said:

"Artificial intelligence is transforming how investors and financial professionals discover, evaluate, and act on information. But the value of AI depends on the quality of the information behind it. By bringing independent research and investment intelligence from Morningstar and PitchBook into Gemini Enterprise for Financial Services, we want to help investors access our insights more efficiently, while preserving transparency in the sources behind those answers."

Tom Van Buskirk, executive vice president of Technology and Engineering at PitchBook, said:

"The quality of the data grounding AI has never mattered more. We believe our AI + HI methodology, combining advanced AI with human insight, makes PitchBook a trusted grounding source for enterprise AI. Working with Google to bring that intelligence into Gemini Enterprise lets users ask harder questions and receive answers backed by intelligence from Morningstar and PitchBook."

Satish Thomas, Vice President, Google Cloud, said:

"To deliver real business impact from agentic AI, organizations need seamless access to trusted, domain-specific data. By integrating Morningstar and PitchBook into Gemini Enterprise for Financial Services, we are enabling financial professionals to accelerate investment research and make decisions with confidence."

Why This Matters

Artificial intelligence is rapidly becoming part of the investment research process, yet AI systems are only as useful as the information they can access.

For investors and financial professionals, that can create a growing need for:

Verifiable investment data and informationIndependent research and analysisSource attribution and transparencySeamless integration into daily workflowsThese Morningstar and PitchBook integrations aim to help address those needs by providing independent investment intelligence and proprietary public and private market data directly into Gemini.

Expanding Access to Trusted Intelligence Across AI Ecosystems

This announcement builds on broader efforts across Morningstar and PitchBook to make trusted investment intelligence available across leading AI platforms. The Gemini Enterprise integrations extend access to Morningstar and PitchBook connectors for public and private investment data, research, and market intelligence within one of the industry's leading enterprise AI ecosystems. The launch reinforces its strategy to pair proprietary data and human judgment with the AI platforms increasingly used by investors, dealmakers, and financial professionals.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is being announced?

Morningstar and PitchBook are launching integrations with Gemini Enterprise for Financial Services that will allow eligible subscribers to access public and private market data and investing intelligence directly within Gemini Enterprise.

What is Gemini Enterprise for Financial Services?

Gemini Enterprise for Financial Services is a solution designed to support financial services workflows.

What Morningstar content will be available in Gemini?

Eligible subscribers can access Morningstar investment data, research, ratings, and market insights within Gemini.

What PitchBook content will be available in Gemini?

Eligible subscribers can access PitchBook private market intelligence, including information about companies, investors, funds, deals, and market activity.

Why is source attribution important?

Source attribution can help users understand where information originates, helping to support greater transparency and confidence in AI-assisted research.

Who can use the integrations?

The integrations will be available for use by eligible Morningstar and PitchBook subscribers. This includes subscriptions for software products that provide individual MCP integration access, as well as enterprise licensing for clients for MCP use.

When will the integrations be available?

The integrations are expected to become available imminently.

Why does this matter for investors and financial professionals?

The integrations are designed to help bring investment intelligence directly into AI workflows, and make it easier to access information, conduct research, and make informed decisions.

About Morningstar, Inc.

Morningstar, Inc. is a leading provider of independent investment insights in North America, Europe, Australia, and Asia. The Company offers an extensive line of products and services for individual investors, financial advisors, asset managers and owners, retirement plan providers and sponsors, institutional investors in the debt and private capital markets, and alliances and redistributors. Morningstar provides data and research insights on a wide range of investment offerings, including managed investment products, publicly listed companies, private capital markets, debt securities, and real-time global market data. Morningstar also offers investment management services through its investment advisory subsidiaries, with approximately $375 billion in AUMA as of June 30, 2026. The Company operates through wholly-owned subsidiaries in 32 countries. For more information, visit www.morningstar.com/company. Follow Morningstar on X @MorningstarInc.

About PitchBook, a Morningstar company

As the pulse of private capital markets, PitchBook delivers trusted, real-time data, research, and technology to help investors, dealmakers, and innovators make decisions with confidence. Its products provide comprehensive information on companies, investors, funds, deals, and people, along with tools that help professionals analyze market activity and make informed decisions. Founded in 2007, PitchBook today serves more than 100,000 clients worldwide and is recognized as the leading source of private capital market intelligence. PitchBook has grown to over 3,000 employees across offices in Seattle, San Francisco, New York, London, Singapore, Mumbai, and other global locations.

Caution Concerning Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements as that term is used in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements are based on our current expectations about future events or future financial performance. Forward-looking statements by their nature address matters that are, to different degrees, uncertain, and often contain words such as “aim,” “designed to,” “will,” "future," "goal," "expect," "intend," "plan," "seek," "anticipate," "believe," "prospects," "continue," "strategy," "strive," "would," or the negative thereof, and similar expressions. These statements involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties that may cause the events we discuss not to occur or to differ significantly from what we expect. For us, these risks and uncertainties include, among others, risks relating to future plans, innovation, growth, capabilities, product enhancements, strategies and vision.

A more complete description of these risks and uncertainties, among others, can be found in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), including our most recent Report on Forms 10-K and 10-Q. If any of these risks and uncertainties materialize, our actual future results and other future events may vary significantly from what we expect. We do not undertake to update our forward-looking statements as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as may be required by law. You are, however, advised to review any further disclosures we make on related subjects, and about new or additional risks, uncertainties and assumptions in our future filings with the SEC on Forms 10-K, 10-Q and 8-K.

©2026 Morningstar, Inc. All rights reserved.

MORN-P

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260825674797/en/

Canada Pension Plan Investment Board acquired a new position in shares of Hasbro, Inc. (NASDAQ:HAS – Free Report) in the second quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor acquired 109,100 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $9,011,000. Canada Pension Plan Investment Board owned approximately 0.08% of Hasbro at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Huntington National Bank grew its stake in shares of Hasbro by 10.2% during the fourth quarter. Huntington National Bank now owns 1,233 shares of the company’s stock worth $101,000 after buying an additional 114 shares during the last quarter. Marathon Mission Inc. increased its holdings in shares of Hasbro by 1.4% during the second quarter. Marathon Mission Inc. now owns 9,152 shares of the company’s stock worth $756,000 after buying an additional 128 shares in the last quarter. Severin Investments LLC lifted its stake in shares of Hasbro by 3.1% in the 1st quarter. Severin Investments LLC now owns 4,595 shares of the company’s stock valued at $430,000 after acquiring an additional 137 shares during the last quarter. Root Financial Partners LLC lifted its stake in shares of Hasbro by 21.3% in the 1st quarter. Root Financial Partners LLC now owns 780 shares of the company’s stock valued at $73,000 after acquiring an additional 137 shares during the last quarter. Finally, United Capital Financial Advisors LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Hasbro by 2.2% during the 3rd quarter. United Capital Financial Advisors LLC now owns 6,500 shares of the company’s stock valued at $493,000 after acquiring an additional 139 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 91.83% of the company’s stock.

Insiders Place Their Bets In other news, insider John Hight sold 3,186 shares of Hasbro stock in a transaction on Thursday, July 30th. The shares were sold at an average price of $93.71, for a total value of $298,560.06. Following the completion of the sale, the insider owned 67,557 shares in the company, valued at $6,330,766.47. The trade was a 4.50% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through this link. Also, insider Timothy J. Kilpin sold 20,000 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction on Tuesday, July 28th. The shares were sold at an average price of $93.12, for a total transaction of $1,862,400.00. Following the transaction, the insider owned 54,229 shares in the company, valued at $5,049,804.48. The trade was a 26.94% decrease in their position. Additional details regarding this sale are available in the official SEC disclosure. The sale was made to cover tax withholding obligations related to the vesting of equity awards. Insiders have sold a total of 45,415 shares of company stock valued at $4,260,164 over the last 90 days. 0.71% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

Hasbro Stock Performance HAS stock opened at $94.23 on Friday. The firm has a market cap of $13.29 billion, a PE ratio of 16.95, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.72 and a beta of 0.47. The company has a current ratio of 1.66, a quick ratio of 1.46 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 4.16. The stock has a 50-day moving average price of $88.20 and a 200-day moving average price of $91.26. Hasbro, Inc. has a 1-year low of $69.50 and a 1-year high of $106.98. Hasbro (NASDAQ:HAS – Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Tuesday, July 21st. The company reported $1.28 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.16 by $0.12. Hasbro had a return on equity of 141.11% and a net margin of 15.97%.The company had revenue of $1.14 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $1.07 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company earned $1.30 EPS. The firm’s revenue for the quarter was up 16.2% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, equities research analysts expect that Hasbro, Inc. will post 6.18 earnings per share for the current year.

Hasbro Announces Dividend The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, September 2nd. Shareholders of record on Wednesday, August 19th will be paid a $0.70 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Wednesday, August 19th. This represents a $2.80 annualized dividend and a yield of 3.0%. Hasbro’s payout ratio is 50.36%.

Analyst Ratings Changes A number of equities research analysts recently weighed in on HAS shares. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lowered their target price on Hasbro from $125.00 to $111.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a report on Wednesday, July 22nd. Wells Fargo & Company lifted their price target on Hasbro from $85.00 to $90.00 and gave the company an “equal weight” rating in a research note on Thursday, August 20th. Wall Street Zen lowered Hasbro from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research note on Saturday, August 1st. BNP Paribas Exane lowered their price objective on Hasbro from $117.00 to $114.00 and set an “outperform” rating for the company in a research note on Wednesday, July 15th. Finally, Morgan Stanley raised their price objective on shares of Hasbro from $122.00 to $123.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a report on Thursday, May 14th. Twelve equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and four have assigned a Hold rating to the company’s stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Hasbro currently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $109.43.

Get Our Latest Stock Analysis on HAS

Hasbro Company Profile (Free Report)

Hasbro, Inc is a global play and entertainment company, known for designing, manufacturing and marketing a diverse portfolio of toys, games and consumer products. Founded in 1923 as Hassenfeld Brothers and headquartered in Pawtucket, Rhode Island, the company has grown into one of the foremost names in the toy industry, with a presence in retail, digital and entertainment channels worldwide.

The company’s brand portfolio features iconic properties such as Monopoly, Play-Doh, Nerf, My Little Pony and Transformers.

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Key Takeaways Textron delivered its 500th Cessna Citation CJ4, highlighting customer confidence in the light jet platform.The CJ4 Gen3 is expected to earn FAA certification in 2026, with Garmin avionics and Emergency Autoland.Corporate travel and special mission needs are expected to support demand for efficient, versatile light jets. Textron Inc. (TXT - Free Report) continues to strengthen its position in the business aviation market through its Textron Aviation segment, supported by the strong performance and expanding capabilities of its Cessna Citation aircraft portfolio. The company recently delivered its 500th Cessna Citation CJ4 series business jet, highlighting more than a decade of customer confidence in the light jet platform.

The milestone delivery underscores the global appeal of the Citation CJ4, which is valued for its combination of performance, efficiency and mission flexibility. The platform serves a wide range of customers and missions, including business travel, air ambulance, maritime patrol, search and rescue and aerial survey operations.

Textron is also progressing toward the launch of the Cessna Citation CJ4 Gen3, which is expected to receive Federal Aviation Administration certification in 2026. The aircraft will feature Garmin G3000 PRIME avionics and Garmin Emergency Autoland, enhancing the flight experience and safety for operators. With an expected range of 2,165 nautical miles and seating for up to 11 occupants, the CJ4 Gen3 should offer strong versatility for owner-operators and corporate customers.

Growing demand for efficient and versatile business jets, supported by corporate travel needs and increasing special mission requirements, is expected to support the light jet market. Textron's established Citation brand, global customer base and continued investment in aircraft upgrades position it well to capitalize on these trends.

Business Jet Stocks to Keep on the RadarOther aerospace companies with a strong presence in the business jet market are discussed below:

General Dynamics (GD - Free Report) : Through its Gulfstream Aerospace business, General Dynamics designs and manufactures a broad range of business jets. The company is benefiting from demand for large-cabin and long-range aircraft, supported by its growing fleet and new aircraft offerings.

The Boeing Company (BA - Free Report) : Through its Boeing Business Jets business, Boeing offers customized versions of its commercial aircraft for private and corporate customers. The company focuses on the ultra-large business jet segment, providing customers with long-range capabilities and highly customized interiors.

The Zacks Rundown for TXTShares of Textron have risen 0.9% in the past year against the Zacks aerospace-defense industry’s decline of 4%.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

From a valuation standpoint, TXT is currently trading at a forward 12-month sales multiple of 0.88X, a discount when stacked up with the industry average of 2.47X.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for TXT’s 2026 and 2027 earnings has moved south over the past 60 days.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

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

Canada Pension Plan Investment Board bought a new stake in shares of Paylocity Holding Corporation (NASDAQ:PCTY – Free Report) in the 2nd quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund bought 129,600 shares of the software maker’s stock, valued at approximately $13,547,000. Canada Pension Plan Investment Board owned approximately 0.24% of Paylocity at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other large investors have also recently made changes to their positions in the company. UBS AM A Distinct Business Unit of UBS Asset Management Americas LLC boosted its holdings in Paylocity by 5.9% during the first quarter. UBS AM A Distinct Business Unit of UBS Asset Management Americas LLC now owns 136,388 shares of the software maker’s stock worth $25,551,000 after buying an additional 7,594 shares in the last quarter. Focus Partners Wealth increased its holdings in Paylocity by 24.5% in the first quarter. Focus Partners Wealth now owns 1,365 shares of the software maker’s stock valued at $256,000 after buying an additional 269 shares in the last quarter. EverSource Wealth Advisors LLC increased its holdings in Paylocity by 537.0% in the second quarter. EverSource Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 465 shares of the software maker’s stock valued at $84,000 after buying an additional 392 shares in the last quarter. Marshall Wace LLP raised its position in shares of Paylocity by 2,782.7% in the second quarter. Marshall Wace LLP now owns 35,688 shares of the software maker’s stock worth $6,466,000 after acquiring an additional 34,450 shares during the period. Finally, Cerity Partners LLC raised its position in shares of Paylocity by 10.0% in the second quarter. Cerity Partners LLC now owns 19,241 shares of the software maker’s stock worth $3,486,000 after acquiring an additional 1,749 shares during the period. 94.76% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Insider Transactions at Paylocity In other news, CFO Ryan Glenn sold 3,345 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, August 19th. The stock was sold at an average price of $149.75, for a total value of $500,913.75. Following the transaction, the chief financial officer owned 122,563 shares in the company, valued at $18,353,809.25. This trade represents a 2.66% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through this link. The transaction was executed under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plan. Also, Director Steven I. Sarowitz sold 441 shares of Paylocity stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, August 24th. The stock was sold at an average price of $155.00, for a total value of $68,355.00. Following the completion of the sale, the director directly owned 4,472,954 shares in the company, valued at $693,307,870. This represents a 0.01% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale is available in the SEC filing. The transaction was executed under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plan. Insiders have sold a total of 30,741 shares of company stock valued at $4,621,962 in the last 90 days. Corporate insiders own 19.40% of the company’s stock.

Paylocity Stock Down 0.1% Shares of NASDAQ PCTY opened at $157.93 on Friday. The firm has a market cap of $8.38 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 31.91 and a beta of 0.48. The company’s 50-day simple moving average is $131.32 and its 200-day simple moving average is $116.22. The company has a quick ratio of 1.09, a current ratio of 1.09 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.07. Paylocity Holding Corporation has a 52-week low of $92.99 and a 52-week high of $180.86. Paylocity (NASDAQ:PCTY – Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, August 4th. The software maker reported $1.84 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.62 by $0.22. The firm had revenue of $444.73 million during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $431.46 million. Paylocity had a net margin of 15.23% and a return on equity of 27.02%. The company’s revenue for the quarter was up 11.0% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm earned $1.56 EPS. Equities analysts predict that Paylocity Holding Corporation will post 6.92 EPS for the current fiscal year.

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

Positive Sentiment: Higher long-term earnings forecasts: Zacks Research raised its FY2027 EPS estimate to $6.33 from $5.98 and its FY2028 forecast to $7.18 from $6.67. It also initiated a FY2029 estimate of $8.28 and increased several quarterly forecasts, signaling improved expectations for Paylocity’s earnings trajectory. Zacks nevertheless maintained a “Hold” rating. Zacks Research comments on Paylocity FY2029 earnings Positive Sentiment: AI recruiting traction: Paylocity’s partner HireQuotient highlighted results at Alliance Building Services, where its AI-native recruiting platform reportedly reduced manual recruiting work by 70% and cut time-to-hire by more than half. The customer example supports demand for Paylocity’s integrated human-capital-management ecosystem. Paylocity partners for AI-powered recruiting Positive Sentiment: Sector momentum: Paylocity traded higher alongside MongoDB, Datadog, Five9 and Monday.com, suggesting investor appetite for software and technology shares also contributed to the stock’s recent strength. Software stocks trade higher Neutral Sentiment: Mixed estimate revisions: Zacks slightly reduced its Q2 2028 EPS forecast to $1.57 from $1.58 and Q4 2027 to $1.39 from $1.43, partly offsetting the broader upward revisions. The current-year consensus remains approximately $6.86 per share. Neutral Sentiment: Limited insider sale: Director Steven Sarowitz sold 441 shares for approximately $68,355 under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 plan. The transaction reduced his holdings by only 0.01%, leaving him with nearly 4.47 million shares, making it unlikely to materially alter investor sentiment. Paylocity director stock sale Negative Sentiment: Valuation risk remains: With PCTY trading near its 52-week high and at roughly 32 times earnings, the stock may be vulnerable if future growth slows or estimates are revised lower. Zacks’ continued “Hold” rating reinforces that the improved outlook is not yet a broad-based bullish endorsement. Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth PCTY has been the subject of several recent analyst reports. BMO Capital Markets lifted their price target on Paylocity from $143.00 to $175.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a research note on Wednesday, August 5th. Barclays increased their price target on Paylocity from $128.00 to $154.00 and gave the stock an “equal weight” rating in a research report on Wednesday, August 5th. UBS Group raised their price objective on Paylocity from $122.00 to $128.00 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a report on Wednesday, July 22nd. Citizens Jmp cut their price objective on Paylocity from $170.00 to $150.00 and set a “market outperform” rating for the company in a research report on Friday, May 8th. Finally, BTIG Research upped their target price on Paylocity from $150.00 to $180.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research note on Wednesday, August 5th. Twelve analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and five have assigned a Hold rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $160.53.

Read Our Latest Stock Report on PCTY

Paylocity Profile (Free Report)

Paylocity (NASDAQ: PCTY) is a leading provider of cloud-based payroll and human capital management (HCM) software designed to streamline workforce administration for mid-sized organizations. The company’s integrated platform automates core functions such as payroll processing, benefits administration, time and labor tracking, and compliance management, enabling employers to manage employee data more efficiently and reduce administrative burdens.

In addition to payroll and HR capabilities, Paylocity offers talent management solutions including recruiting, onboarding, performance tracking, and learning management.

Read More Five stocks we like better than Paylocity From SaaS-pocalypse to Perfect Storm: Workday’s AI Growth Story Strengthens These 3 GARP Stocks Show Why Growth and Value Do Not Have to Clash Venture Into High-Volatility Corners of the Market With These 3 ETFs 3 Retail Stocks to Watch After a Big Consumer Earnings Week Want to see what other hedge funds are holding PCTY? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Paylocity Holding Corporation (NASDAQ:PCTY – Free Report).

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Key Takeaways VIAV's Q4 revenue rose 52.5% to $443.1M, while adjusted EPS jumped 161.5% to 34 cents.AI data centers now account for roughly half of NSE revenues, with robust growth expected to continue.VIAV guides Q1 revenue to $450M-$460M and non-GAAP EPS to 40-42 cents, both up sequentially. Viavi Solutions Inc. (VIAV - Free Report) wrapped up fiscal 2026 on a strong note, backed by robust demand across the artificial intelligence (AI) data-center ecosystem, aerospace and defense markets and contributions from the acquired Spirent businesses. The company also witnessed substantial margin expansion, highlighting improving operating leverage.

Fiscal fourth-quarter revenues surged 52.5% year over year to $443.1 million and surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $433 million. Adjusted earnings jumped 161.5% year over year to 34 cents per share, beating the consensus estimate of 30 cents by 13.3%. VIAV surpassed the consensus mark for earnings and revenues in each of the past four quarters.

Management expects the momentum to extend into fiscal 2027. Let us delve a little deeper into the factors that make VIAV an attractive investment proposition following its solid fiscal fourth-quarter performance.

AI Data Center Momentum Remains a Key CatalystViavi's expanding exposure to AI and hyperscale data centers is emerging as one of its most important growth drivers. Network and Service Enablement (NSE) revenues soared 69.2% year over year to $353.9 million in the fiscal fourth quarter, supported by demand for lab, production and field-testing products, aerospace and defense solutions and the acquired Spirent portfolio.

The data-center ecosystem now accounts for roughly half of NSE revenues, reflecting the rapid transformation of VIAV's revenue mix away from its historical dependence on telecom service-provider spending. Management expects robust data-center growth to continue over the next several quarters.

The company has also expanded its AI-networking portfolio through products such as the Ultra Ethernet Transport validation platform and the CyberFlood CF1000 400G security and application-performance testing platform. These solutions enable Viavi to benefit as hyperscalers, cloud operators and networking vendors deploy increasingly complex, high-bandwidth AI infrastructure.

Spirent Integration Strengthens VIAV's Growth ProfileThe acquisition of selected Spirent Communications businesses has significantly expanded Viavi's addressable market and technological capabilities. It has strengthened the company's position in high-speed Ethernet testing, network security, channel emulation and enterprise network validation while creating cross-selling opportunities across its existing customer base.

Spirent's contribution should increase in the near term. Management expects the acquired business to grow roughly 10% sequentially in the September quarter, while December is typically its strongest quarter because of favorable seasonality.

The combination of Viavi's optical and network-testing capabilities with Spirent's Ethernet, cybersecurity and network-validation assets provides a broader platform for addressing the increasingly sophisticated testing requirements associated with AI clusters, cloud networks and next-generation communications infrastructure.

Aerospace & Defense Provides Another Growth EngineViavi's diversification beyond traditional telecom customers is another positive. The aerospace and defense business delivered another quarter of strong year-over-year growth, driven particularly by healthy demand for positioning, navigation and timing (PNT) products.

Management expects PNT to remain a multi-year growth driver for its aerospace and defense operations. This market provides VIAV with exposure to government and defense modernization spending and reduces dependence on more cyclical carrier capital expenditures. The combination of AI data centers and aerospace and defense has materially changed the company's growth profile, providing greater diversification and improving revenue visibility.

Price PerformanceViavi has surged 244.1% in the past year compared with the industry’s growth of 189.1%. It has outperformed peers like Knowles Corporation (KN - Free Report) and Airgain, Inc. (AIRG - Free Report) . While Airgain has gained 25.3%, Knowles soared 59% over this period.

One-Year VIAV Stock Price Performance

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

Upbeat Q1 Outlook Signals Sustained MomentumManagement's first-quarter fiscal 2027 outlook reinforces the bullish growth narrative. VIAV expects revenues between $450 million and $460 million, above the $443.1 million recorded in the fiscal fourth quarter. Non-GAAP earnings are projected between 40 cents and 42 cents per share, representing another healthy sequential increase from 34 cents in the June quarter.

Management has also become more optimistic about Viavi's longer-term revenue trajectory. Given the current pace of growth, the company believes it could reach quarterly revenues of more than $500 million sometime during calendar 2027, earlier than its previous expectation of achieving that level near the end of fiscal 2028.

Moving ForwardViavi entered fiscal 2027 with considerable momentum. Strong AI data-center spending and the expanding Spirent portfolio should support continued growth in the NSE segment. At the same time, healthy aerospace and defense demand provides another secular growth avenue.

The upbeat first-quarter outlook adds further visibility to the growth story. Investors seeking exposure to the rapidly expanding AI networking and high-speed optical testing ecosystem may consider betting on VIAV for further upside.

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

, /PRNewswire/ -- AMETEK, Inc. (NYSE: AME) today announced that it has completed its previously announced acquisition of a portfolio of instrumentation businesses from Indicor, LLC, ("Indicor Instrumentation") in an all‑cash transaction valued at $5.0 billion.

Indicor Instrumentation is a group of leading businesses that design and manufacture mission-critical solutions for demanding industrial and scientific applications. Its products serve customers across attractive end markets that align closely with AMETEK's existing portfolio and generate a substantial base of recurring revenue from consumables, services and aftermarket support.

"We are excited to complete this highly strategic acquisition and to welcome the Indicor Instrumentation team to AMETEK," said David A. Zapico, AMETEK Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. "With its mission-critical solutions, deep technical expertise, and strong positions in attractive end markets, Indicor Instrumentation is an excellent fit with AMETEK. We also see meaningful opportunities to create value through integration into our proven operating model."

Indicor Instrumentation is expected to contribute approximately $350 million to AMETEK's 2026 sales and is expected to be modestly accretive to AMETEK's 2026 adjusted earnings. The Indicor Instrumentation businesses join AMETEK's Electronic Instruments Group (EIG) and Electromechanical Group (EMG) based on product offerings and market alignment.

Corporate Profile
AMETEK (NYSE: AME) is a leading global provider of industrial technology solutions serving a diverse set of attractive niche markets with annualized sales of approximately $9.0 billion. The AMETEK Growth Model integrates the Four Growth Strategies - Operational Excellence, Technology Innovation, Global and Market Expansion, and Strategic Acquisitions - with a disciplined focus on cash generation and capital deployment. AMETEK's objective is double-digit percentage growth in earnings per share over the business cycle and a superior return on total capital. Founded in 1930, AMETEK has been listed on the NYSE for over 95 years and is a component of the S&P 500. For more information, visit www.ametek.com.

Contact:
Kevin Coleman
Vice President, Investor Relations and Treasurer
[email protected]
Phone: 610-889-5247

SOURCE AMETEK, Inc.

BlackRock Inc. bought a new position in WD-40 Company (NASDAQ:WDFC – Free Report) in the second quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm bought 2,075,743 shares of the specialty chemicals company’s stock, valued at approximately $505,734,000. BlackRock Inc. owned about 15.47% of WD-40 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other hedge funds have also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Covestor Ltd grew its stake in shares of WD-40 by 9.8% during the 4th quarter. Covestor Ltd now owns 549 shares of the specialty chemicals company’s stock worth $108,000 after acquiring an additional 49 shares during the period. Oregon Public Employees Retirement Fund increased its stake in shares of WD-40 by 1.7% in the fourth quarter. Oregon Public Employees Retirement Fund now owns 3,050 shares of the specialty chemicals company’s stock worth $601,000 after purchasing an additional 50 shares in the last quarter. Versant Capital Management Inc increased its stake in shares of WD-40 by 13.7% in the second quarter. Versant Capital Management Inc now owns 474 shares of the specialty chemicals company’s stock worth $115,000 after purchasing an additional 57 shares in the last quarter. Janney Montgomery Scott LLC raised its position in shares of WD-40 by 3.3% in the fourth quarter. Janney Montgomery Scott LLC now owns 1,829 shares of the specialty chemicals company’s stock valued at $360,000 after purchasing an additional 59 shares during the period. Finally, PNC Financial Services Group Inc. raised its position in shares of WD-40 by 2.5% in the first quarter. PNC Financial Services Group Inc. now owns 2,659 shares of the specialty chemicals company’s stock valued at $542,000 after purchasing an additional 66 shares during the period. 91.52% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

Analyst Ratings Changes A number of analysts recently commented on the stock. DA Davidson upped their price target on shares of WD-40 from $270.00 to $305.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research note on Friday, July 10th. Northcoast Research raised shares of WD-40 to a “strong-buy” rating in a report on Wednesday, June 24th. Zacks Research raised shares of WD-40 from a “hold” rating to a “strong-buy” rating in a report on Tuesday, July 14th. Weiss Ratings downgraded WD-40 from a “hold (c+)” rating to a “hold (c)” rating in a research report on Tuesday, May 26th. Finally, Jefferies Financial Group reaffirmed a “hold” rating on shares of WD-40 in a report on Friday, July 10th. Two analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, two have assigned a Buy rating and two have given a Hold rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, the company presently has an average rating of “Buy” and an average target price of $305.00.

View Our Latest Research Report on WDFC Insider Buying and Selling In other WD-40 news, insider Patricia Q. Olsem sold 300 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction on Monday, August 10th. The shares were sold at an average price of $233.73, for a total value of $70,119.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider directly owned 4,774 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $1,115,827.02. This trade represents a 5.91% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this link. 0.78% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.

WD-40 Trading Down 0.5% Shares of WDFC opened at $215.89 on Tuesday. The business’s 50-day moving average price is $235.76 and its 200-day moving average price is $225.02. WD-40 Company has a twelve month low of $175.38 and a twelve month high of $298.90. The stock has a market cap of $2.90 billion, a PE ratio of 32.81 and a beta of 0.27. The company has a quick ratio of 1.95, a current ratio of 2.65 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.31.

WD-40 (NASDAQ:WDFC – Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, July 9th. The specialty chemicals company reported $2.33 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $1.58 by $0.75. The firm had revenue of $195.12 million for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $172.79 million. WD-40 had a net margin of 13.23% and a return on equity of 33.53%. The company’s revenue for the quarter was up 24.3% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the prior year, the firm posted $1.54 earnings per share. WD-40 has set its FY 2026 guidance at 6.050-6.350 EPS. On average, equities analysts forecast that WD-40 Company will post 6.24 EPS for the current fiscal year.

WD-40 Dividend Announcement The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, July 31st. Shareholders of record on Friday, July 17th were issued a $1.02 dividend. This represents a $4.08 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.9%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, July 17th. WD-40’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 62.01%.

WD-40 Company Profile (Free Report)

WD-40 Company, headquartered in San Diego, California, is best known for its flagship WD-40® Multi-Use Product, a water-displacing spray used for lubrication, rust prevention and cleaning. Since its introduction in 1953 by the Rocket Chemical Company, the WD-40 brand has become a household and industrial staple. Over time, the company has broadened its portfolio to include complementary maintenance and cleaning brands such as 3-IN-ONE® oils, Lava® hand cleaners, Solvol® solvents, Spot Shot® stain removers and X-14® cleaning products.

WD-40 Company distributes its products in more than 176 countries through retail, industrial and automotive channels.

Recommended Stories Five stocks we like better than WD-40 Visa Just Put Hims & Hers in the Penalty Box—Here’s Why It Matters Treasury Yields Are Surging Again: 3 Stocks That Could Feel the Pain Snowflake Could Be Headed for New Highs Despite Insider Selling MongoDB Is Surging—And the Next Catalyst Is Almost Here Want to see what other hedge funds are holding WDFC? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for WD-40 Company (NASDAQ:WDFC – Free Report).

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 | Source: Par Pacific Holdings, Inc.

HOUSTON, Aug. 25, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Par Pacific Holdings, Inc. (NYSE and NYSE Texas: PARR) (“Par Pacific” or the “Company”) announced today that Laramie Energy, LLC (“Laramie Energy” or the “Seller”), in which the Company owns a 46% non-controlling ownership interest, entered into a definitive agreement with a third-party purchaser (the “Purchaser”) to sell substantially all of its oil and gas assets to the Purchaser (the “Transaction”) for $485 million in cash (of which $60 million is payable on the fifth anniversary of the closing date), subject to working capital and other customary closing date adjustments. The Seller is also eligible to receive potential price-contingent earn-out payments from the Purchaser of up to an additional $65 million in the aggregate following the first through fifth anniversaries of the closing date.

In connection with the closing of the Transaction, net of Seller debt repayment and closing adjustments and fees, the Company (a) expects to receive approximately $146 million of the Transaction consideration (of which approximately $27.5 million is payable on the fifth anniversary of the closing date) and is eligible to receive up to approximately $30 million of the earn-out payments, and (b) will exit its investment in Laramie Energy.

The Transaction is expected to close by the end of 2026, subject to regulatory approvals and the satisfaction of customary closing conditions.

About Par Pacific

Par Pacific Holdings, Inc. (NYSE and NYSE Texas: PARR), headquartered in Houston, Texas, is a growing energy company providing both renewable and conventional fuels to the western United States. Par Pacific owns and operates 219,000 bpd of combined refining capacity across four locations in Hawaii, the Pacific Northwest and the Rockies, and an extensive energy infrastructure network, including 13 million barrels of storage, and marine, rail, rack, and pipeline assets. In addition, Par Pacific operates the Hele retail brand in Hawaii and the “nomnom” convenience store chain in the Pacific Northwest. More information is available at www.parpacific.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

This news release includes certain “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, which are intended to qualify for the “safe harbor” from liability established by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. All statements other than statements of historical fact are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements include, without limitation, statements about the expected timing of the closing of the Transaction and other aspects of the Transaction. Forward-looking statements are subject to certain risks, trends and uncertainties, such as the risks and uncertainties detailed in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and other documents that the Company files with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The Company cannot provide assurances that the assumptions upon which these forward-looking statements are based will prove to have been correct. Should any of these risks materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those expressed or implied in any forward-looking statements, and investors are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which are current only as of the date of this news release. Except as required by applicable law, the Company does not intend to update or revise any forward-looking statements made herein or any other forward-looking statements as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

Investor Contact:
Ashimi Patel Vitter
VP, Investor Relations & Sustainability
(832) 916-3355
[email protected]  

It has been about a month since the last earnings report for Carlisle (CSL - Free Report) . Shares have lost about 2.5% in that time frame, underperforming the S&P 500.

But investors have to be wondering, will the recent negative trend continue leading up to its next earnings release, or is Carlisle due for a breakout? Well, first let's take a quick look at the most recent earnings report in order to get a better handle on the recent drivers for Carlisle Companies Incorporated before we dive into how investors and analysts have reacted as of late.

Carlisle Q2 Earnings Beat Estimates on Record Sales, Outlook RaisedCarlisle reported second-quarter 2026 adjusted earnings of $7.03 per share, which beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $6.43 by 9.3%. The bottom line increased 12% year over year.

Revenues rose 8% year over year to a record $1.57 billion and surpassed the consensus estimate of $1.47 billion. Organic revenues rose 7.9%, while acquisitions and foreign-currency translation contributed 0.3% and 0.1%, respectively, to the top-line growth.

Segmental DiscussionCarlisle has divested its Carlisle Interconnect Technologies segment. The company now reports under the following two segments.

Revenues from the Carlisle Construction Materials segment increased 7.8% year over year to $1.18 billion. Our estimate for segmental revenues was $1.09 billion. Organic revenues rose 7.7%, driven by healthy re-roofing demand, strategic initiatives and strong commercial execution, partly offset by continued softness in commercial new construction. Adjusted EBITDA of $363 million increased 4.8% year over year.

Revenues from the Carlisle Weatherproofing Technologies segment increased 9.9% year over year to $389 million. Our estimate for segmental revenues was $350.2 million. Organic revenues rose 8.4% as share gains more than offset continued softness in residential and non-residential new construction markets. Adjusted EBITDA of $74.1 million increased 5% year over year.

Margin ProfileCarlisle’s cost of sales increased 10.3% year over year to $1.00 billion. Selling and administrative expenses rose 1.2% to $199.3 million, while research and development expenses totaled $11.4 million, up 2.7% year over year.

It recorded operating income of $352.5 million, up 5.2% year over year. However, the operating margin contracted 70 basis points to 22.4% from 23.1% in the year-ago quarter, as higher raw material and freight costs outpaced pricing realization.

Carlisle’s Balance Sheet and Cash FlowAt the end of the second quarter, Carlisle had cash and cash equivalents of $665.3 million compared with $1.11 billion at the end of 2025. Long-term debt, including the current portion, was $2.89 billion, largely unchanged from the year-end 2025 level.

In the first six months of 2026, it generated net cash of $197.1 million from operating activities compared with $288.9 million in the year-ago period.

During the same period, it paid dividends of $90.1 million, up 2% year over year. The company repurchased shares worth $500 million, down 28.6% from the prior-year period.

OutlookFor 2026, Carlisle raised its outlook. The company now expects revenues from the Carlisle Construction Materials segment to increase in the mid-single-digit range, while revenues from the Carlisle Weatherproofing Technologies segment are also projected to grow in the mid-single-digit range year over year.

For 2026, the company expects consolidated revenues to increase in the mid-single-digit range on a year-over-year basis. Adjusted EBITDA margin is projected to remain flat, while the free cash flow margin is expected to be approximately 15%.

How Have Estimates Been Moving Since Then?In the past month, investors have witnessed a downward trend in fresh estimates.

The consensus estimate has shifted -7.61% due to these changes.

VGM ScoresAt this time, Carlisle has a average Growth Score of C, though it is lagging a lot on the Momentum Score front with an F. However, the stock was allocated a score of C on the value side, putting it in the middle 20% for value investors.

Overall, the stock has an aggregate VGM Score of D. If you aren't focused on one strategy, this score is the one you should be interested in.

OutlookEstimates have been broadly trending downward for the stock, and the magnitude of these revisions indicates a downward shift. Notably, Carlisle has a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). We expect an in-line return from the stock in the next few months.

Performance of an Industry PlayerCarlisle belongs to the Zacks Diversified Operations industry. Another stock from the same industry, 3M (MMM - Free Report) , has gained 1.6% over the past month. More than a month has passed since the company reported results for the quarter ended June 2026.

3M reported revenues of $6.5 billion in the last reported quarter, representing a year-over-year change of +5.6%. EPS of $2.40 for the same period compares with $2.16 a year ago.

For the current quarter, 3M is expected to post earnings of $2.40 per share, indicating a change of +9.6% from the year-ago quarter. The Zacks Consensus Estimate has changed +0.8% over the last 30 days.

3M has a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) based on the overall direction and magnitude of estimate revisions. Additionally, the stock has a VGM Score of C.

It has been about a month since the last earnings report for F5 Networks (FFIV - Free Report) . Shares have lost about 5.1% in that time frame, underperforming the S&P 500.

But investors have to be wondering, will the recent negative trend continue leading up to its next earnings release, or is F5 due for a breakout? Before we dive into how investors and analysts have reacted as of late, let's take a quick look at the most recent earnings report in order to get a better handle on the important catalysts.

F5 Q3 Earnings and Revenues Beat EstimatesF5 delivered better-than-expected third-quarter fiscal 2026 results. The company reported third-quarter fiscal 2026 non-GAAP earnings of $4.73 per share, which increased 14% year over year. The figure surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 18.8%.

Revenues increased 11% year over year to $865 million and beat the consensus mark by 3.96%. Results benefited from 32% systems revenue growth, sustained hybrid multicloud demand and growing application security requirements. Product revenues advanced 19%, marking the eighth consecutive quarter of double-digit growth.

FFIV's Q3 Segment Revenue DetailsProduct revenues, representing 54% of total revenues, increased 19% year over year to $463 million. Systems revenues jumped 32% to $240 million as customers invested in higher-performance infrastructure, expanded data-center capacity and modernized environments for resiliency, digital sovereignty and AI workloads.

Software revenues rose 7% to $223 million. Subscription-based software revenues increased 9% to $201 million and represented 90% of software revenues. Perpetual license revenues declined 4% to $22 million. Services revenues, accounting for 46% of total revenues, grew 3% to $402 million.

F5 Benefits From Hybrid Multicloud DemandManagement highlighted expansion opportunities tied to hybrid multicloud adoption, including competitive displacements, platform consolidation and data-center buildouts. An energy and utilities provider expanded its BIG-IP footprint after moving workloads from an unstable cloud environment back to on-premises infrastructure.

F5 also secured a competitive win at a Fortune 100 technology provider seeking to strengthen delivery and security for a storage service spanning 45 data centers. The customer selected BIG-IP to support the availability, resilience and security requirements of AI and data-intensive workloads.

F5 Maintains Solid Margins and Cash FlowNon-GAAP gross margin expanded 110 basis points year over year to 84.2%, while non-GAAP operating margin increased 70 basis points to 35%.
In the third quarter of fiscal 2026, FFIV generated $316 million in operating cash flow and $281 million in free cash flow.

Cash and investments totaled $1.63 billion, up from $1.44 billion in the previous quarter. The company repurchased $100 million of shares and had $422 million remaining under its authorization.

FFIV Raises Fiscal 2026 OutlookF5 expects fourth-quarter fiscal 2026 revenues between $870 million and $890 million, implying growth of nearly 9% at the midpoint. Non-GAAP earnings are projected in the range of $4.14-$4.26 per share. Non-GAAP gross margin is expected between 83% and 84%, reflecting a favorable mix of higher-performance systems and lower component-cost increases than initially anticipated.

For fiscal 2026, management raised its revenue growth forecast to approximately 9-10% from 7-8%. The company continues to expect mid-single-digit software growth, double-digit systems growth and low-single-digit services growth. Non-GAAP earnings guidance was increased to $17.21-$17.33 per share from $16.25-$16.55.

How Have Estimates Been Moving Since Then?In the past month, investors have witnessed a upward trend in estimates revision.

VGM ScoresCurrently, F5 has a nice Growth Score of B, a score with the same score on the momentum front. However, the stock was allocated a grade of D on the value side, putting it in the bottom 40% for this investment strategy.

Overall, the stock has an aggregate VGM Score of C. If you aren't focused on one strategy, this score is the one you should be interested in.

OutlookEstimates have been trending upward for the stock, and the magnitude of these revisions looks promising. Interestingly, F5 has a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). We expect an in-line return from the stock in the next few months.

Performance of an Industry PlayerF5 is part of the Zacks Internet - Software industry. Over the past month, Calix (CALX - Free Report) , a stock from the same industry, has gained 7.4%. The company reported its results for the quarter ended June 2026 more than a month ago.

Calix reported revenues of $293.33 million in the last reported quarter, representing a year-over-year change of +21.3%. EPS of $0.47 for the same period compares with $0.33 a year ago.

For the current quarter, Calix is expected to post earnings of $0.42 per share, indicating a change of -4.6% from the year-ago quarter. The Zacks Consensus Estimate remained unchanged over the last 30 days.

The overall direction and magnitude of estimate revisions translate into a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) for Calix. Also, the stock has a VGM Score of C.

NEW YORK, Aug. 25, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Pomerantz LLP is investigating claims on behalf of investors of Azenta, Inc. (“Azenta” or the “Company”) (NASDAQ: AZTA).  Such investors are advised to contact Danielle Peyton at [email protected] or 646-581-9980, ext. 7980.

The investigation concerns whether Azenta and certain of its officers and/or directors have engaged in securities fraud or other unlawful business practices. 

[Click here for information about joining the class action]

On August 24, 2026, Azenta issued a press release announcing the resignation of John Marotta from his roles as Chief Executive Officer and as a director of the Company. 

On this news, Azenta’s stock price fell $4.52 per share, or 12.09%, to close at $32.88 per share on August 24, 2026.

Pomerantz LLP, with offices in New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, London, Paris, and Tel Aviv, is acknowledged as one of the premier firms in the areas of corporate, securities, and antitrust class litigation. Founded by the late Abraham L. Pomerantz, known as the dean of the class action bar, Pomerantz pioneered the field of securities class actions. Today, more than 85 years later, Pomerantz continues in the tradition he established, fighting for the rights of the victims of securities fraud, breaches of fiduciary duty, and corporate misconduct. The Firm has recovered numerous multimillion-dollar damages awards on behalf of class members. See www.pomlaw.com.

Attorney advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes.

CONTACT:
Danielle Peyton
Pomerantz LLP
[email protected]
646-581-9980 ext. 7980

Key Takeaways Teledyne is the better current pick, supported by stronger gains, lower valuation and rising EPS estimates.Axon's Connected Devices and Software & Services revenues rose more than 34% year over year in Q2 2026.Teledyne's $5B backlog, 1.23 book-to-bill and defense-aerospace demand support its growth outlook. Axon Enterprise, Inc. (AXON - Free Report) and Teledyne Technologies Incorporated (TDY - Free Report) are two familiar names operating in the aerospace and defense equipment industry. As rivals, both companies are engaged in manufacturing highly engineered public security and digital imaging solutions across the global markets.

Both companies have been enjoying significant growth opportunities in the public safety and surveillance industries on account of growing instances of terrorism and criminal activities across the world. Let’s take a closer look at their fundamentals, growth prospects and challenges.

The Case for AxonThe strongest driver of Axon’s business at the moment is the persistent strength in its Connected Devices segment. Strong demand for its next-generation TASER 10 products, counter-drone equipment and advanced body-worn camera, Axon Body 4, supports the segment’s growth. With upgraded features such as a bi-directional communications facility and a point-of-view camera module option, Axon Body 4 is generating significant demand. Segmental revenues surged 34.6% year over year in the second quarter of 2026, following an increase of 33% in the first quarter.

In the second quarter, revenues from the company’s TASER product line increased 20.9% year over year, driven by TASER 10, while those from the Platform Solutions product line soared 122.6%, supported by counter-drone, virtual reality and fleet. Also, revenues from Personal Sensors grew 2.8%, led by Axon Body 4.

The company is also witnessing solid momentum in its Software & Services segment. After witnessing year-over-year 35% growth in revenues in the first quarter, revenues from the segment soared 36.2% in the second quarter. Higher adoption of its premium software offerings, including Axon Fusus, the AI Era Plan and Axon 911, and solid demand for premium add-on features are driving the segment’s growth.

The company is also strengthening its position in the counter-drone space with the growing capabilities of its Dedrone offerings and Artificial Intelligence (AI)-powered command-and-control platform. After witnessing year-over-year growth of 300% in the first quarter, revenues from the Dedrone platform surpassed $100 million in the second quarter.

On the flip side, escalating costs and expenses are a concern for Axon’s margins and profitability. In second-quarter 2026, its cost of sales and SG&A expenses increased 35.2% and 20.1%, respectively, year over year. Adjusted gross margin declined 40 basis points year over year to 62.9%. Axon expects third-quarter adjusted EBITDA margin to absorb higher memory costs without the benefit of tariff refunds before margins scale in the fourth quarter.

Also, Axon had $1.75 billion of senior notes outstanding at the end of the second quarter of 2026, while cash equivalents and short-term investments were $685 million and net debt was about $1.1 billion.

The Case for TeledyneTeledyne is witnessing strong demand from the defense sector globally, driven by rising regional defense spending. The company is benefiting from robust demand for technologies like infrared imaging, machine vision, sensors, surveillance equipment and autonomous-system electronics.

A favorable macroeconomic environment and the current U.S. administration’s inclination toward increased defense spending, with the nation being the largest weapons exporter, have been aiding growth. Teledyne’s engineered systems for space applications and broad range of end-to-end undersea interconnect solutions for naval defense should significantly bolster revenues.

A steady rebound in commercial air travel continues to serve as a key growth driver for Teledyne, which supplies onboard avionics systems and ground-based applications for commercial aircraft. Per the International Air Transport Association’s (IATA) June 2026 outlook, the demand for air travel is expected to rise 2.1% in 2026, measured in Revenue Passenger Kilometers, leading to a strong aftermarket for components.

During the second quarter of 2026, Teledyne recorded higher commercial aerospace aftermarket sales, while Original Equipment Manufacturer orders for 2026 deliveries also remained strong. Exiting the second quarter, Teledyne had a backlog of around $5 billion and recorded a book-to-bill of 1.23. Sales from the Aerospace and Defense Electronics segment rose 8.2% year over year, fueled by higher sales of defense electronics and aerospace electronics.

The company continues to strengthen its portfolio with strategic acquisitions. In January 2026, Teledyne acquired DD-Scientific Holdings Limited and its subsidiary DD-Scientific Limited. The acquisition of DD-Scientific fits well with Teledyne’s long-term strategy of adding differentiated sensing and electronics businesses with strong technology content.

However, TDY experienced supply-chain challenges, including increased lead times, as well as cost inflation for parts and components, logistics and labor due to availability constraints and high demand in the recent past. This might continue to delay the company’s ability to convert backlog to revenues and negatively impact its profit margin.

Price Performance
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

In the year-to-date period, Axon shares have risen 5.2%, while Teledyne stock has gained 22.4%.

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for AXON & TDYThe Zacks Consensus Estimate for AXON’s 2026 sales and earnings per share (EPS) implies year-over-year growth of 33.4% and 15%, respectively. However, the EPS estimates for 2026 and 2027 have decreased over the past 60 days.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for TDY’s 2026 sales implies growth of 7.4% year over year, while the EPS estimate indicates an increase of 12.3%. TDY’s EPS estimates have been trending northward for both 2026 and 2027 over the past 60 days.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

Teledyne’s Valuation More Attractive Than AxonTeledyne is trading at a forward 12-month price-to-earnings ratio of 23.94X, while Axon’s forward earnings multiple sits much higher at 62.73X.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

ConclusionAxon’s strong momentum across operational segments and growing presence in the counter-drone space have been dented by rising expenses and a high debt level, which might affect its margins and performance. Also, AXON’s expensive valuation warrants a cautious approach for existing investors.

In contrast, Teledyne’s growth prospects remain solid, backed by enhanced U.S. defense funding and solid projections for commercial air travel. Additionally, TDY’s attractive valuation is more appealing and its upwardly revised earnings estimates instill confidence. Given these factors, TDY seems to be a better pick for investors than AXON currently. While TDY currently carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy), AXON has a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold).

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

Donaldson (DCI - Free Report) came out with quarterly earnings of $1.15 per share, beating the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.12 per share. This compares to earnings of $1.03 per share a year ago. These figures are adjusted for non-recurring items.

This quarterly report represents an earnings surprise of +2.68%. A quarter ago, it was expected that this maker of filtration systems would post earnings of $1.05 per share when it actually produced earnings of $1.06, delivering a surprise of +0.95%.

Over the last four quarters, the company has surpassed consensus EPS estimates three times.

Donaldson, which belongs to the Zacks Pollution Control industry, posted revenues of $1.06 billion for the quarter ended July 2026, surpassing the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 1.46%. This compares to year-ago revenues of $980.7 million. The company has topped consensus revenue estimates three times over the last four quarters.

The sustainability of the stock's immediate price movement based on the recently-released numbers and future earnings expectations will mostly depend on management's commentary on the earnings call.

Donaldson shares have added about 5.2% since the beginning of the year versus the S&P 500's gain of 12.2%.

What's Next for Donaldson?While Donaldson has underperformed the market so far this year, the question that comes to investors' minds is: what's next for the stock?

There are no easy answers to this key question, but one reliable measure that can help investors address this is the company's earnings outlook. Not only does this include current consensus earnings expectations for the coming quarter(s), but also how these expectations have changed lately.

Empirical research shows a strong correlation between near-term stock movements and trends in earnings estimate revisions. Investors can track such revisions by themselves or rely on a tried-and-tested rating tool like the Zacks Rank, which has an impressive track record of harnessing the power of earnings estimate revisions.

Ahead of this earnings release, the estimate revisions trend for Donaldson was mixed. While the magnitude and direction of estimate revisions could change following the company's just-released earnings report, the current status translates into a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) for the stock. So, the shares are expected to perform in line with the market in the near future. You can see the complete list of today's Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.

It will be interesting to see how estimates for the coming quarters and the current fiscal year change in the days ahead. The current consensus EPS estimate is $1.04 on $997.83 million in revenues for the coming quarter and $4.37 on $4.11 billion in revenues for the current fiscal year.

Investors should be mindful of the fact that the outlook for the industry can have a material impact on the performance of the stock as well. In terms of the Zacks Industry Rank, Pollution Control is currently in the bottom 14% of the 250 plus Zacks industries. Our research shows that the top 50% of the Zacks-ranked industries outperform the bottom 50% by a factor of more than 2 to 1.

Core & Main (CNM - Free Report) , another stock in the broader Zacks Industrial Products sector, has yet to report results for the quarter ended July 2026.

This distributor of water and fire protection products is expected to post quarterly earnings of $0.93 per share in its upcoming report, which represents a year-over-year change of +6.9%. The consensus EPS estimate for the quarter has remained unchanged over the last 30 days.

Core & Main's revenues are expected to be $2.14 billion, up 2.3% from the year-ago quarter.

Bank of New York Mellon Corp bought a new position in shares of Selective Insurance Group, Inc. (NASDAQ:SIGI – Free Report) in the 2nd quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm bought 489,452 shares of the insurance provider’s stock, valued at approximately $47,482,000. Bank of New York Mellon Corp owned 0.82% of Selective Insurance Group at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other hedge funds have also added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Eurizon Capital SGR S.p.A. bought a new position in shares of Selective Insurance Group during the 4th quarter worth approximately $25,000. Los Angeles Capital Management LLC bought a new stake in shares of Selective Insurance Group in the 4th quarter valued at $25,000. Amundi lifted its position in shares of Selective Insurance Group by 398.7% during the 1st quarter. Amundi now owns 389 shares of the insurance provider’s stock valued at $36,000 after acquiring an additional 311 shares during the period. IFP Advisors Inc lifted its position in shares of Selective Insurance Group by 177.5% during the 4th quarter. IFP Advisors Inc now owns 591 shares of the insurance provider’s stock valued at $49,000 after acquiring an additional 378 shares during the period. Finally, Danske Bank A S bought a new position in Selective Insurance Group during the third quarter worth $57,000. 82.88% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

Insider Transactions at Selective Insurance Group In other Selective Insurance Group news, EVP Michael H. Lanza sold 17,100 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, July 28th. The stock was sold at an average price of $94.04, for a total transaction of $1,608,084.00. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president directly owned 16,565 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $1,557,772.60. The trade was a 50.79% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Company insiders own 0.82% of the company’s stock.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth SIGI has been the subject of a number of research reports. Weiss Ratings upgraded shares of Selective Insurance Group from a “hold (c+)” rating to a “buy (b-)” rating in a report on Monday, August 17th. Oppenheimer increased their price objective on shares of Selective Insurance Group from $100.00 to $105.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a research report on Thursday, May 21st. Royal Bank Of Canada raised their target price on Selective Insurance Group from $110.00 to $115.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a research note on Monday, July 27th. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods boosted their target price on Selective Insurance Group from $101.00 to $102.00 and gave the company a “market perform” rating in a research report on Thursday, July 30th. Finally, Piper Sandler upped their price target on Selective Insurance Group from $93.00 to $103.00 and gave the stock a “neutral” rating in a research note on Wednesday, July 15th. Three analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, four have assigned a Hold rating and one has given a Sell rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has an average rating of “Hold” and a consensus target price of $100.33. Read Our Latest Research Report on Selective Insurance Group

Selective Insurance Group Stock Performance Shares of SIGI stock opened at $92.30 on Friday. The company has a current ratio of 0.29, a quick ratio of 0.29 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.26. The firm has a fifty day simple moving average of $95.18 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $87.57. Selective Insurance Group, Inc. has a 12 month low of $72.78 and a 12 month high of $100.40. The firm has a market capitalization of $5.50 billion, a PE ratio of 11.45 and a beta of 0.30.

Selective Insurance Group (NASDAQ:SIGI – Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, July 23rd. The insurance provider reported $1.95 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $1.66 by $0.29. The firm had revenue of $1.39 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $1.30 billion. Selective Insurance Group had a net margin of 9.10% and a return on equity of 14.51%. During the same period last year, the firm earned $1.31 earnings per share. Analysts forecast that Selective Insurance Group, Inc. will post 8.12 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Selective Insurance Group Dividend Announcement The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, September 1st. Investors of record on Monday, August 17th will be given a $0.43 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, August 17th. This represents a $1.72 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.9%. Selective Insurance Group’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 21.34%.

(Free Report)

Selective Insurance Group, Inc is an insurance holding company headquartered in Branchville, New Jersey. The organization traces its roots to a regional provider of property and casualty coverage and became a publicly traded holding company following its initial public offering in 1999. Since its formation, Selective has expanded through strategic acquisitions and organic growth initiatives to broaden its product offerings and strengthen its market position.

The company’s core business encompasses a broad range of property and casualty insurance products designed to serve both commercial and personal lines customers.

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Key Takeaways Mattel's Q2 net sales rose 10% to $1.13B, while adjusted EPS fell to 1 cent.MAT's adjusted gross margin fell 260 bps to 48.6% as tariffs, inflation, royalties and FX weighed.Mattel reaffirmed 2026 guidance for 3%-6% sales growth and adjusted EPS of $1.27-$1.39. Mattel, Inc. (MAT - Free Report) posted a clear split in second-quarter 2026 performance. Net sales rose 10% year over year and topped expectations, while adjusted earnings fell sharply as margin pressure and higher operating expenses weighed on profitability.

The quarter showed that revenue momentum is improving faster than earnings. That puts greater emphasis on whether second-half margin recovery can support the company’s reaffirmed full-year outlook.

Mattel's Q2 Sales Beat Masks an Earnings MissMattel reported net sales of $1.13 billion, up 10% year over year and 4.2% above the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.08 billion. Growth was led by North America, Vehicles and the Action Figures, Building Sets, Games and Other category.

Adjusted earnings were 1 cent per share, down from 21 cents a year earlier. The result missed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 3 cents by 66.7%, as higher advertising, selling and administrative expenses and weaker margins offset the benefit of higher sales.

MAT Growth Came From Vehicles and Challenger CategoriesWorldwide Vehicles gross billings increased 11% in constant currency to $463 million, mainly on Hot Wheels growth. Action Figures, Building Sets, Games and Other gross billings rose 33% in constant currency to $358 million, helped by games, Mattel163 and action figures tied to theatrical releases.

The broader competitive landscape also shows why digital and intellectual-property monetization matter. Hasbro, Inc. (HAS - Free Report) operates across physical and digital games, toys, licensed consumer products and entertainment, while Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc. (TTWO - Free Report) develops and publishes interactive entertainment through Rockstar Games, 2K and Zynga. Mattel’s expansion into digital games and entertainment increases its exposure to some of the same consumer attention channels.

Mattel's Margin Squeeze Raises the Second-Half BarAdjusted gross margin declined 260 basis points year over year to 48.6%. Tariffs reduced margin by 170 basis points, inflation by 120 basis points, higher royalties by 110 basis points and foreign exchange by 60 basis points.

Mattel163 contributed 120 basis points of benefit, while tariff-mitigation actions and Optimizing for Profitable Growth savings added another 80 basis points. Management still expects adjusted gross margin of about 50% for 2026 and sequential improvement in the second half, making cost control and mix improvement central to the earnings recovery.

MAT Keeps Its 2026 Outlook IntactManagement reaffirmed its full-year 2026 guidance despite the second-quarter earnings shortfall. Mattel continues to expect constant-currency net sales growth of 3% to 6% and adjusted operating income of $580 million to $630 million.

Adjusted earnings are still projected at $1.27 to $1.39 per share, with adjusted gross margin expected at about 50%. The guidance provides a counterweight to the weak quarterly profit result, but it also leaves execution pressure elevated because stronger second-half profitability is needed to support the full-year targets.

MAT's Hold Signal Reflects Q2 CrosscurrentsMattel’s second-quarter results support a balanced view. Sales growth accelerated and category diversification improved, but the earnings miss and margin contraction show that higher revenues are not yet converting into stronger profits.

The stock currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). Mattel also has a Value Score of A and VGM Score of B, while its Growth Score of C and Momentum Score of D are less favorable. The mix supports patience rather than a more aggressive stance until margin recovery and earnings performance become more convincing. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.

, /PRNewswire/ -- Flowers Foods, Inc. (NYSE: FLO) today announced that its board of directors has declared a quarterly dividend of $0.1250 per share, representing the 96th consecutive quarterly dividend paid by the company, which is payable on September 25, 2026, to shareholders of record on September 11, 2026.

About Flowers Foods

Headquartered in Thomasville, Ga., Flowers Foods, Inc. (NYSE: FLO) is one of the largest producers of packaged bakery foods in the United States with 2025 sales of $5.3 billion. Flowers operates bakeries across the country that produce a wide range of bakery products. Among the company's top brands are Nature's Own, Dave's Killer Bread, Canyon Bakehouse, Simple Mills, Wonder, and Tastykake. Learn more at www.flowersfoods.com.

FLO-CORP FLO-IR

Forward-Looking Statements

Statements contained in this press release and certain other written or oral statements made from time to time by Flowers Foods, Inc. (the "company", "Flowers Foods", "Flowers", "us", "we", or "our") and its representatives that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements relate to current expectations regarding our business and our future financial condition and results of operations and are often identified by the use of words and phrases such as "anticipate," "believe," "continue," "could," "estimate," "expect," "intend," "may," "plan," "predict," "project," "should," "will," "would," "is likely to," "is expected to" or "will continue," or the negative of these terms or other comparable terminology. These forward-looking statements are based upon assumptions we believe are reasonable. Forward-looking statements are based on current information and are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause our actual results to differ materially from those projected. Certain factors that may cause actual results, performance, liquidity, and achievements to differ materially from those projected are discussed in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended January 3, 2026 (the "Form 10-K") and our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") and may include, but are not limited to, (a) unexpected changes in any of the following: (1) general economic and business conditions; (2) the competitive setting in which we operate, including advertising or promotional strategies by us or our competitors, as well as changes in consumer demand; (3) interest rates and other terms available to us on our borrowings; (4) supply chain conditions and any related impact on energy and raw materials costs and availability and hedging counter-party risks; (5) relationships with or increased costs related to our employees and third-party service providers; (6) laws and regulations (including environmental and health-related issues and the impacts of tariffs, including retaliatory tariffs); and (7) accounting standards or tax rates in the markets in which we operate, (b) the loss or financial instability of any significant customer(s), including as a result of product recalls or safety concerns related to our products, (c) changes in consumer behavior, trends and preferences, including health and whole grain trends and consumer buying habits, the movement toward less expensive store branded products, and the continued reduction of purchases in the fresh packaged bread category, (d) the level of success we achieve in developing and introducing new products and entering new markets, (e) our ability to implement new technology and customer requirements as required, (f) our ability to operate existing, and any new, manufacturing lines according to schedule, (g) our ability to implement and achieve our corporate responsibility goals in accordance with regulatory requirements and the expectations of our stakeholders, suppliers, and customers; (h) our ability to execute our business strategies which may involve, among other things, (1) the ability to realize the intended benefits of completed, planned or contemplated acquisitions, dispositions or joint ventures, such as the acquisition of Simple Mills, (2) the deployment of new systems (e.g., our enterprise resource planning ("ERP") system), distribution channels and technology, and (3) an enhanced organizational structure (e.g., our sales and supply chain reorganization), (i) consolidation within the baking industry and related industries, (j) changes in pricing, customer and consumer reaction to pricing actions (including decreased volumes), and the pricing environment among competitors within the industry, (k) our ability to adjust pricing to offset, or partially offset, inflationary pressure or tariffs (including retaliatory tariffs) on the cost of our products, including ingredient and packaging costs; (l) disruptions in our direct-store-delivery distribution model, including litigation or an adverse ruling by a court or regulatory or governmental body that could affect the independent contractor classifications of the independent distributor partners ("IDPs"), and changes to our direct-store-delivery distribution model in California, (m) increasing legal complexity and legal proceedings that we are or may become subject to, (n) labor shortages and turnover or increases in employee and employee-related costs, (o) the credit, business, and legal risks associated with IDPs and customers, which operate in the highly competitive retail food and foodservice industries, (p) any business disruptions due to political instability, pandemics, armed hostilities, incidents of terrorism, natural disasters, labor strikes or work stoppages, technological breakdowns, product contamination, product recalls or safety concerns related to our products, or the responses to or repercussions from any of these or similar events or conditions and our ability to insure against such events, (q) the failure of our information technology systems to perform adequately, including any interruptions, intrusions, cyber-attacks or security breaches of such systems or risks associated with the implementation of the upgrade of our ERP system; and (r) the potential impact of climate change on the company, including physical and transition risks, our availability or restriction of resources, higher regulatory and compliance costs, reputational risks, and our availability of capital on attractive terms. The foregoing list of important factors does not include all such factors, nor does it necessarily present them in order of importance. In addition, you should consult other disclosures made by the company (such as in our other filings with the SEC or in company press releases) for other factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from those projected by the company. Refer to Part I, Item 1A., Risk Factors, of our Form 10-K, Part II, Item 1A., Risk Factors, of the Form 10-Q for the quarter ended July 18, 2026 and subsequent filings with the SEC for additional information regarding factors that could affect the company's results of operations, financial condition and liquidity. We caution you not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, as they speak only as of the date made and are inherently uncertain. The company undertakes no obligation to publicly revise or update such statements, except as required by law. You are advised, however, to consult any further public disclosures by the company (such as in our filings with the SEC or in company press releases) on related subjects.

SOURCE Flowers Foods, Inc.

Kevin Yeaman to Retire from Dolby 
Marc Whitten Named President, Chief Executive Officer and Director of Dolby

, /PRNewswire/ -- Dolby Laboratories, Inc. (NYSE: DLB), today announced a new chapter in its leadership as Kevin Yeaman retires from Dolby after nearly two decades with the company and Marc Whitten is appointed President, Chief Executive Officer and a member of Dolby Laboratories' Board of Directors.

After a thoughtful, long-term succession process Dolby Laboratories' Board appointed Marc to lead the company's next chapter. Kevin will stay on as an advisor to ensure a smooth transition.

Marc Whitten named President, Chief Executive Officer and Director of Dolby Laboratories This leadership transition comes from a position of strength and opportunity for the company. Dolby continues to be at the heart of audio and visual innovation shaping how the world creates, distributes and experiences the content people love.

"On behalf of the Board of Directors, I'd like to thank Kevin for his transformational leadership, positioning the company for future opportunities and partnership during the succession planning process and this transition," said Peter Gotcher, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Dolby Laboratories. "Kevin's vision, operational discipline and commitment to innovation have shaped Dolby into the company it is today. By continuously bringing new innovations to life, he significantly expanded the company and led the era of immersive audio and visual experiences."

"I'm deeply proud to have led Dolby through major shifts in technology and entertainment alongside such an exceptional team," said Kevin Yeaman. "Together, we changed the way the world experiences entertainment, broadened the reach of one of the world's most recognizable brands and brought Dolby to billions of people. With the company well positioned for the future, this is the right moment to pass the torch, and I do so with complete confidence in Marc and the entire team to carry the company forward."

Dolby sits at the center of multiple ecosystems and is well positioned for its next phase of growth with opportunities across its branded and patent licensing businesses, offerings for content service providers and beyond.

"Looking ahead, the Board sees significant opportunity for Dolby to expand its reach," said Gotcher. "Marc brings a combination of product vision, technological expertise and proven leadership. He has built and scaled category-defining businesses across industries, led global organizations through periods of transformation and brought together technologies, platforms and partnerships to create enduring growth. We are excited to have him lead Dolby's next chapter."

"Dolby has set the standard for how people experience sight and sound for decades and I believe the company's greatest opportunities are still ahead," said Marc Whitten. "As content, platforms and technologies continue to evolve, Dolby is uniquely positioned to matter even more for creators, partners and consumers. I'm incredibly excited to build on Dolby's strong foundation and work alongside Dolby's teams to drive innovation and create Dolby's next chapter."

Marc is a seasoned technology executive with more than three decades of experience building and scaling category-defining products and platforms across consumer electronics, entertainment, AI, robotics and mobility. Throughout his career, he has driven innovation and growth across ecosystems at some of the world's most influential companies, creating products that have improved the everyday human experience. 

Prior to Dolby, Marc held leadership roles at Meta, Cruise, Unity, Amazon, Sonos and Microsoft, where he helped develop and scale businesses including Alexa, Kindle, Fire TV, Xbox and Xbox Live.

"The inventor's culture that Ray Dolby instilled in Dolby Laboratories has been a driving force for more than six decades," said David Dolby, Director, Dolby Laboratories. "Each generation of leadership has expanded what is possible for the company. I'd like to thank Kevin for his many contributions. Our family and the Board are confident in Marc's leadership for the future."

About Dolby
Dolby Laboratories (NYSE: DLB) is a world leader in immersive entertainment. From movies and TV, to music, sports, gaming, and beyond, Dolby transforms the science of sight and sound into spectacular experiences for billions of people worldwide across all their favorite devices. We partner with artists, storytellers, and the brands you love to transform entertainment and digital experiences through groundbreaking innovations like Dolby Atmos, Dolby Vision, Dolby Cinema, and Dolby OptiView.

Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements, including statements regarding Dolby's leadership transition, future strategy, growth opportunities, market position and business outlook. These statements are based on current expectations and assumptions and are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied. Factors that could cause actual results to differ include those described in Dolby's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including the risks identified under the section captioned "Risk Factors" in Dolby's most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q. Dolby may not actually achieve the plans, intentions, or expectations disclosed in its forward-looking statements. These statements are inherently uncertain and investors are cautioned not to unduly rely upon these statements. Except as required by law, Dolby disclaims any obligation to update information contained in these forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise.

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SOURCE Dolby Laboratories, Inc.