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CMH Wealth Management LLC reduced its holdings in shares of Caterpillar Inc. (NYSE: CAT) by 21.2% in the third quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 2,753 shares of the industrial products company's stock after selling 740 shares during the quarter.

Diversify Advisory Services LLC bought a new position in Newmont Corporation (NYSE:NEM – Free Report) in the third quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund bought 22,048 shares of the basic materials company’s stock, valued at approximately $2,553,000.

A number of other institutional investors also recently modified their holdings of NEM. BlackRock Inc. bought a new stake in shares of Newmont during the second quarter valued at approximately $11,289,753,000. State Street Corp increased its holdings in shares of Newmont by 3.1% in the second quarter. State Street Corp now owns 52,396,702 shares of the basic materials company’s stock valued at $4,893,852,000 after purchasing an additional 1,565,716 shares in the last quarter. Bank of New York Mellon Corp raised its position in Newmont by 5.3% in the 1st quarter. Bank of New York Mellon Corp now owns 12,237,940 shares of the basic materials company’s stock worth $1,324,757,000 after purchasing an additional 615,461 shares during the last quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP raised its position in Newmont by 2.0% in the 1st quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP now owns 9,359,524 shares of the basic materials company’s stock worth $1,012,792,000 after purchasing an additional 184,586 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Amundi raised its position in Newmont by 4.4% in the 1st quarter. Amundi now owns 8,780,775 shares of the basic materials company’s stock worth $950,519,000 after purchasing an additional 372,415 shares during the last quarter. 68.85% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

Newmont News Roundup Here are the key news stories impacting Newmont this week:

Positive Sentiment: Newmont reported third-quarter adjusted EPS of $2.20, above the $1.96 consensus estimate, while revenue of $6.36 billion exceeded expectations of $6.26 billion. The company benefited from higher gold prices and stronger sales volumes. Newmont beats quarterly profit estimates on higher gold prices, Cadia recovery Positive Sentiment: Net profit rose to approximately $2.48 billion from $1.83 billion a year earlier. The results were supported by elevated gold prices, improved gold sales and recovery at the Cadia operation, reinforcing the company’s operating leverage to bullion prices. Newmont Logs Higher Profit, Revenue on Higher Gold Sales Positive Sentiment: Management said Newmont remains on track to achieve full-year 2026 production guidance and described the quarter as record-setting for adjusted net income. Investors also responded favorably to expectations that the company could return to growth in 2027. Newmont Reports Third Quarter 2026 Results Positive Sentiment: RBC Dominion Securities raised its view to “outperform” with a $155 price target, implying substantial upside from recent trading levels. Newmont also declared a quarterly dividend of approximately $0.26 per share. RBC Dominion Securities Newmont rating Neutral Sentiment: Newmont filed its September-quarter Form 10-Q, providing the detailed financial disclosures behind the earnings release. The dividend declaration and updated payment terms were also reported for the company’s CDI holders. Newmont Files September Quarter Form 10-Q Negative Sentiment: Higher costs remain a concern. Coverage noted that Newmont raised its 2026 cost outlook, which could limit the benefit of strong gold prices and reduce confidence in margins. Newmont beats third-quarter earnings expectations Negative Sentiment: Analyst sentiment was mixed: Freedom Broker maintained a “hold” rating but cut its target to $116 from $130, while National Bank Financial also lowered expectations. These cautious revisions likely tempered the positive reaction to the earnings beat. Newmont Stock Performance Shares of NEM stock opened at $113.63 on Friday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.15, a current ratio of 2.55 and a quick ratio of 2.26. The stock has a market cap of $119.73 billion, a PE ratio of 14.35, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.17 and a beta of 0.51. The stock has a 50-day moving average of $122.05 and a 200-day moving average of $111.00. Newmont Corporation has a one year low of $76.05 and a one year high of $135.29. Newmont (NYSE:NEM – Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, October 22nd. The basic materials company reported $2.20 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $1.94 by $0.26. Newmont had a net margin of 33.36% and a return on equity of 29.10%. The business had revenue of $6.36 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $6.27 billion. During the same period last year, the company posted $1.71 EPS. Newmont’s revenue for the quarter was up 15.2% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, sell-side analysts expect that Newmont Corporation will post 9.04 earnings per share for the current year.

Newmont Announces Dividend The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, December 21st. Shareholders of record on Wednesday, November 25th will be paid a $0.26 dividend. This represents a $1.04 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.9%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Wednesday, November 25th. Newmont’s dividend payout ratio is presently 13.13%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth Several research analysts have issued reports on NEM shares. Weiss Ratings raised Newmont from a “buy (b-)” rating to a “buy (b)” rating in a report on Friday, October 16th. Bank of America lowered their target price on Newmont from $157.00 to $132.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a research note on Thursday, July 9th. The Goldman Sachs Group dropped their target price on Newmont from $122.50 to $111.40 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a research report on Wednesday, July 1st. Freedom Broker restated a “hold” rating and set a $116.00 target price (down from $130.00) on shares of Newmont in a research report on Thursday. Finally, Royal Bank Of Canada upped their price target on Newmont from $135.00 to $155.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a research note on Wednesday, September 16th. Two analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, twenty have given a Buy rating and four have issued a Hold rating to the company’s stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $134.06.

Read Our Latest Report on NEM

Insider Buying and Selling at Newmont In other news, EVP Peter Toth sold 3,000 shares of Newmont stock in a transaction on Thursday, October 1st. The shares were sold at an average price of $114.81, for a total transaction of $344,430.00. Following the transaction, the executive vice president directly owned 34,315 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $3,939,705.15. This trade represents a 8.04% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink. The transaction was executed under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plan. Also, CEO Natascha Viljoen sold 3,882 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction on Thursday, October 1st. The shares were sold at an average price of $114.81, for a total transaction of $445,692.42. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer directly owned 127,471 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $14,634,945.51. This trade represents a 2.96% decrease in their position. Additional details regarding this sale are available in the official SEC disclosure. The transaction was executed under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plan. Over the last 90 days, insiders sold 35,973 shares of company stock valued at $3,927,169. Corporate insiders own 0.06% of the company’s stock.

Newmont Profile (Free Report)

Newmont Corporation (NYSE:NEM) is a global mining company primarily engaged in the exploration, development, and production of gold. The company also produces copper, silver, zinc, and lead as byproducts of its mining operations. Its activities span the full mining life cycle, including resource discovery, project development, mine operations, processing, reclamation, and closure.

Founded in 1921, Newmont has grown into one of the world’s largest gold producers. The company operates and develops mines across several regions, including North America, South America, Australia, Africa, and Papua New Guinea.

Featured Stories Five stocks we like better than Newmont Is Texas Instruments Setting Up for Its Next Big Breakout? Pegasystems’ Q3 Miss Exposed the Problem Standing Between AI and Cash Flow Lam Research’s Earnings Beat Wasn’t the Real Story—Its 2027 Outlook Was Tesla’s Flying-Car Hype Hits an Earnings Reality Check

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Key Takeaways NEM expects gold production to rise by a low- to mid-single-digit percentage in 2027 after a 2026 trough.NEM sees higher 2027 unit costs as Peasquito silver output falls and labor inflation exceeds 2026 levels.NEM plans up to $4.8B for Red Chris, targets 2033 production and expects 2027 development spending to rise.
Newmont Corporation (NEM - Free Report) expects gold production to recover in 2027 after a trough this year, but management warned that inflation and reduced silver credits could push unit costs higher.

On its third-quarter earnings call, executives also outlined a major investment at Red Chris while emphasizing shareholder returns and execution of existing mine expansions.

NEM Targets a Production Rebound in 2027Chief financial officer Brian Tabolt expects total portfolio production to rise by a low- to mid-single-digit percentage in 2027. The company remains on track for its full-year 2026 target of approximately 5.3 million attributable gold ounces.

Fourth-quarter gold production is projected at 1.4 million ounces, supported by higher-grade ore at Lihir and Tanami, Cerro Negro's Vein Zone and Ahafo North's ramp-up.

Chief executive officer Natascha Viljoen said stronger grades at Boddington and additional opportunities at Yanacocha should also support growth. She identified potential El Niño-related water shortages at Lihir as an operational risk.

Newmont Improves 2026 Costs but Flags 2027 InflationTabolt lowered full-year gold all-in sustaining cost guidance to approximately $1,520 per ounce, about 10% better than the initial outlook. Third-quarter costs were $1,454 per ounce, aided by higher co-product volumes and prices.

However, fourth-quarter costs are expected to reach approximately $1,900 per ounce as sustaining capital spending increases and silver output at Peñasquito declines.

For 2027, Tabolt anticipates higher unit costs, partly because Peñasquito's silver production is expected to fall roughly 30% from 2026. Answering a Jefferies analyst, he said labor cost escalation should exceed the approximately 3% assumption used for 2026.

NEM Details Red Chris Investment and TimelineViljoen outlined development capital of $4.2 billion to $4.8 billion for Red Chris on a 100% basis, incorporating anticipated Canadian government funding. A final investment decision is expected early in 2027, with commercial production targeted for 2033.

The initial 13-year phase is expected to produce approximately 3 million ounces of gold and 850,000 tonnes of copper. Following ramp-up, annual production is projected at 275,000 to 325,000 gold ounces and 65,000 to 85,000 tonnes of copper.

Responding to Scotiabank, Viljoen explained that revised geotechnical assumptions, a larger cave and expansion of processing capacity from 9 million to 15 million tonnes annually underpin the updated plan. She declined to break down the respective capital impacts ahead of the investment decision.

Newmont Advances Projects While Spending RisesViljoen said the Tanami Expansion 2 shaft is complete, with commercial production expected by the end of the second quarter of 2027. Cadia's PC2-3 project remains on track for completion this year.

Tabolt expects 2027 development capital to increase approximately $500 million over 2026. Responding to a Barclays analyst, Viljoen clarified that half the increase relates to Red Chris.

Declining spending on Yanacocha's water treatment plants should free approximately $200 million in 2027 and $400 million annually beginning in 2028, partially offsetting higher development investment.

NEM Maintains Buybacks Alongside Nevada DealTabolt reported third-quarter free cash flow of $1.9 billion and adjusted earnings of $2.20 per share, above the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.94. Revenue of $6.36 billion exceeded the $6.01 billion consensus.

Management said Newmont had returned approximately $1.9 billion to shareholders since its previous earnings call. Repurchases have reduced shares outstanding by roughly 10% since February 2024.

The quarter ended with $3.2 billion in net cash, before an anticipated $1.95 billion payment linked to the amended Nevada Gold Mines joint venture agreement. Management expects closure in the fourth quarter.

Newmont Balances Growth With Financial DisciplineViljoen emphasized that development projects must fit the portfolio, improve its durability and deliver compelling economics. For Red Chris, the company is targeting a double-digit internal rate of return.

Tabolt reinforced a capital allocation approach prioritizing sustaining investment, dividends, balance-sheet flexibility and share repurchases. Management's outlook combines expected production growth with warnings about inflation and cost pressures.

What NEM's Zacks Rank and Style Scores IndicateNEM currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold), reflecting a neutral near-term ranking. Its Growth Score of A contrasts with a Momentum Score of F and Value Score of C. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.

The stock's VGM Score of B reflects favorable combined style characteristics, although its Hold ranking warrants a measured assessment. The Zacks Rank can change as analysts revise earnings estimates following the reported results.

Surging oil prices are hammering cruise stocks at the worst possible moment, and one major operator carrying $15 billion in debt and a CEO who admitted the company's problems are largely self-inflicted may be running out of room to absorb…

Oil’s run to a five-month high is landing hardest on cruise operators, whose ships burn fuel that ranks among their largest operating costs. Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings (NYSE:NCLH | NCLH Price Prediction) stock is off by 6%, trading at $14.67. That’s the biggest loss among the major U.S. cruise lines and a fresh blow to Norwegian shares, which are now down 33% year to date (YTD).

Meanwhile, Royal Caribbean Group (NYSE:RCL) stock is at $275.17, down 4%, marking a smaller slide than Norwegian’s. Carnival Corporation (NYSE:CCL) shares are down 4% to $25.92, matching Royal Caribbean’s decline. With a market value of $6.74 billion, Norwegian stock trails either rival by a wide margin.

Energy producers are trading in the opposite direction. The Energy Select Sector SPDR ETF (NYSEARCA:XLE) is up 2% to $68.90, lifting its gain to 57% YTD. That’s important because energy-market dynamics can have a direct impact on cruise stocks.

Broader stocks are lower, with the SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (NYSEARCA:SPY) down 0.6% to $759.69. So, what’s weighing on cruise stocks now?

Iran Tensions Send Crude to a Five-Month High Crude oil reached a five-month high on concerns that the U.S. conflict with Iran could flare up again. The WTI crude oil price stands at $102.32 per barrel, up 2.86% over the past 24 hours. That level lifts the fuel bill that cruise operators pay to run their ships.

Fuel is one of the largest operating costs for Norwegian, Royal Caribbean and Carnival, so higher oil prices weigh on all three at once. The U.S. Energy Information Administration reported in May that the de facto closure of the Strait of Hormuz sent Brent to a high of $138 per barrel on April 7. At the pump, regular gasoline averaged $4.28 a gallon nationally as of October 19.

Norwegian’s Turnaround Meets a Fuel Squeeze Norwegian entered this oil spike already under pressure. In Q2 2026, the company’s fuel price per metric ton net of hedges rose to $888 from $659 a year earlier. Management also lowered full-year guidance at the time, cutting its adjusted EPS outlook to approximately $1.50.

A biggest balance sheet adds to the strain at Norwegian, where net leverage stood at 5.3x on $15 billion of total debt in Q2. Demand is the bigger worry at Norwegian, with Q3 2026 net yield guided down 8.9% in constant currency. John Chidsey, CEO at the time of the July 30 earnings call, stated that “the vast majority of our problems are self-inflicted.”

Cost cuts give Norwegian some relief. The company’s second-quarter adjusted EPS of $0.48 topped the $0.34 estimate. Executives identified another $100 million in annualized savings on top of $125 million announced previously.

Top-line growth adds a bright spot for Norwegian. Revenue at Norwegian rose 4.9% year over year to $2.64 billion in Q2, driven by added capacity days. That mix of solid execution and rising fuel bills leaves the case for Norwegian shares balanced between genuine progress and fresh risk.

Norwegian’s Third-Quarter Report Puts Fuel Costs to the Test Royal Caribbean and Norwegian report third-quarter results next week. Norwegian’s report could show whether its cost outlook holds up against higher fuel prices. The open variable for the Energy Select Sector SPDR ETF is the durability of crude’s rally, since the fund’s gains rest on the same move that’s hurting cruise stocks.

Riding this crude rally without a plan for the exit is the risk, and we laid out both sides, how to profit while it runs and when to step away, in a free handbook here: The Bubble Survivor’s Handbook.

This setup leaves Norwegian stock with the largest decline among the major cruise lines and a turnaround that management described in July as being in its “early stages.” Leadership expects newer savings initiatives to have limited impact on 2026 results, so investors weighing their exposure to NCLH stock need to scale their holdings carefully given Norwegian’s near-term dependence on demand and fuel trends.

Contact [email protected] for any questions or corrections.

Carnegie Investment Counsel bought a new stake in shares of Linde PLC (NASDAQ:LIN – Free Report) during the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund bought 2,257 shares of the basic materials company’s stock, valued at approximately $1,071,000.

Other hedge funds have also recently modified their holdings of the company. Flossbach Von Storch SE bought a new position in shares of Linde in the 2nd quarter worth about $438,525,000. State Street Corp lifted its position in Linde by 3.7% during the 2nd quarter. State Street Corp now owns 20,344,181 shares of the basic materials company’s stock valued at $10,558,016,000 after acquiring an additional 719,052 shares during the period. Hsbc Holdings PLC boosted its stake in Linde by 162.9% during the first quarter. Hsbc Holdings PLC now owns 1,097,110 shares of the basic materials company’s stock worth $543,951,000 after acquiring an additional 679,738 shares in the last quarter. Renaissance Technologies LLC boosted its stake in Linde by 394.8% during the first quarter. Renaissance Technologies LLC now owns 629,820 shares of the basic materials company’s stock worth $312,240,000 after acquiring an additional 502,520 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Bessemer Group Inc. boosted its stake in Linde by 2,320.1% during the first quarter. Bessemer Group Inc. now owns 464,011 shares of the basic materials company’s stock worth $230,038,000 after acquiring an additional 444,838 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 82.80% of the company’s stock.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades LIN has been the topic of a number of recent research reports. Berenberg Bank restated a “buy” rating on shares of Linde in a report on Tuesday, August 4th. Jefferies Financial Group lifted their target price on shares of Linde from $535.00 to $560.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a report on Monday, August 3rd. Barclays assumed coverage on shares of Linde in a report on Monday, October 12th. They set an “overweight” rating and a $577.00 target price for the company. Argus dropped their price target on Linde from $563.00 to $538.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a research report on Monday, September 28th. Finally, Citigroup cut their price target on Linde from $580.00 to $560.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, October 7th. Three analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, nineteen have assigned a Buy rating and two have assigned a Hold rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company presently has a consensus rating of “Buy” and a consensus target price of $547.10.

Get Our Latest Analysis on Linde Linde Stock Up 2.0% Shares of Linde stock opened at $510.36 on Friday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.51, a quick ratio of 0.75 and a current ratio of 0.88. The stock has a market capitalization of $235.27 billion, a PE ratio of 32.97, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.92 and a beta of 0.71. Linde PLC has a 52-week low of $387.78 and a 52-week high of $548.20. The company has a 50-day simple moving average of $480.03 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $498.29.

Linde (NASDAQ:LIN – Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Friday, July 31st. The basic materials company reported $4.50 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $4.49 by $0.01. Linde had a net margin of 20.43% and a return on equity of 20.09%. The firm had revenue of $9.29 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $9.02 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm posted $4.09 earnings per share. The business’s revenue was up 9.3% on a year-over-year basis. Linde has set its FY 2026 guidance at 17.700-17.900 EPS and its Q3 2026 guidance at 4.450-4.550 EPS. On average, analysts anticipate that Linde PLC will post 17.86 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Linde Announces Dividend The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, September 17th. Investors of record on Thursday, September 3rd were issued a $1.60 dividend. This represents a $6.40 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.3%. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, September 3rd. Linde’s payout ratio is presently 41.34%.

Linde Company Profile (Free Report)

Linde plc (NASDAQ:LIN) is a global industrial gases and engineering company. It produces and distributes atmospheric gases such as oxygen, nitrogen and argon, as well as hydrogen, helium, carbon dioxide and specialty gases. The company serves customers through packaged gases, bulk deliveries, on-site production and pipeline systems.

Linde’s products and services support a broad range of industries, including healthcare, food and beverage, manufacturing, chemicals, energy, refining, electronics and metals.

See Also Five stocks we like better than Linde Is Texas Instruments Setting Up for Its Next Big Breakout? Pegasystems’ Q3 Miss Exposed the Problem Standing Between AI and Cash Flow Lam Research’s Earnings Beat Wasn’t the Real Story—Its 2027 Outlook Was Tesla’s Flying-Car Hype Hits an Earnings Reality Check Want to see what other hedge funds are holding LIN? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Linde PLC (NASDAQ:LIN – Free Report).

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When deciding whether to buy, sell, or hold a stock, investors often rely on analyst recommendations. Media reports about rating changes by these brokerage-firm-employed (or sell-side) analysts often influence a stock's price, but are they really important?

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

Agnico currently has an average brokerage recommendation (ABR) of 1.58, on a scale of 1 to 5 (Strong Buy to Strong Sell), calculated based on the actual recommendations (Buy, Hold, Sell, etc.) made by 20 brokerage firms. An ABR of 1.58 approximates between Strong Buy and Buy.

Of the 20 recommendations that derive the current ABR, 13 are Strong Buy and two are Buy. Strong Buy and Buy respectively account for 65% and 10% of all recommendations.

Brokerage Recommendation Trends for AEM

Check price target & stock forecast for Agnico here>>>

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

Are you wondering why? The vested interest of brokerage firms in a stock they cover often results in a strong positive bias of their analysts in rating it. Our research shows that for every "Strong Sell" recommendation, brokerage firms assign five "Strong Buy" recommendations.

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

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

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

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

It has been and continues to be the case that analysts employed by brokerage firms are overly optimistic with their recommendations. Because of their employers' vested interests, these analysts issue more favorable ratings than their research would support, misguiding investors far more often than helping them.

On the other hand, earnings estimate revisions are at the core of the Zacks Rank. And empirical research shows a strong correlation between trends in earnings estimate revisions and near-term stock price movements.

In addition, the different Zacks Rank grades are applied proportionately to all stocks for which brokerage analysts provide current-year earnings estimates. In other words, this tool always maintains a balance among its five ranks.

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

Is AEM a Good Investment?Looking at the earnings estimate revisions for Agnico, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for the current year has declined 0.1% over the past month to $11.45.

Analysts' growing pessimism over the company's earnings prospects, as indicated by strong agreement among them in revising EPS estimates lower, could be a legitimate reason for the stock to plunge in the near term.

The size of the recent change in the consensus estimate, along with three other factors related to earnings estimates, has resulted in a Zacks Rank #4 (Sell) for Agnico. You can see the complete list of today's Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) stocks here >>>>

Therefore, it could be wise to take the Buy-equivalent ABR for Agnico with a grain of salt.

SpaceX is quietly assembling every piece it needs to become a fourth national wireless carrier, and the stocks of the three companies that would lose the most are already reacting.

A report that SpaceX (NASDAQ:SPCX | SPCX Price Prediction) wants access to 80,000 U.S. cell sites is hitting every major national wireless carrier at once. Shares of T-Mobile (NASDAQ:TMUS) fell 5% to $150.74 during morning trading, a sign of how directly the SpaceX threat lands on its wireless business.

Meanwhile, AT&T (NYSE:T) stock is down 4% to $21.79, a smaller decline that still tracks T-Mobile’s slide. Verizon Communications (NYSE:VZ) stock is trading at $43.70, down 3%, the most resilient of the national carriers.

Losses in the carriers are weighing on the sector fund that holds each of them. The Communication Services Select Sector SPDR ETF (NYSEARCA:XLC) is down 1% to $105.94; for broad-market context, the SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (NYSEARCA:SPY) is down 0.5% to $759.90.

Bloomberg Report Puts a Fourth Carrier in Play
Bloomberg reported, citing people familiar with the matter, that SpaceX is in talks with at least one major cell tower owner to secure access to a large network of U.S. cell sites. Such a deal would move SpaceX a step closer to building a fourth nationwide wireless carrier to take on AT&T, Verizon and T-Mobile in their home market. Starlink already serves over 13.6 million consumer subscribers worldwide, giving SpaceX an existing customer base to build from.

SpaceX laid the groundwork earlier this month by agreeing to acquire nationwide 800 MHz spectrum licenses to advance its Starlink Mobile strategy. When that agreement emerged, AT&T, T-Mobile and Verizon shares landed among the S&P 500’s top decliners. The tower talks would fill a separate gap, pairing that spectrum with the ground infrastructure a terrestrial carrier needs.

(we broke down why the tower owners come out ahead no matter which carrier wins this fight in a free report: SpaceX Is Coming for the Phone Companies, but the Tower Owners Win Either Way)

Why AT&T, Verizon and T-Mobile Are Falling Together
National networks at AT&T, Verizon and T-Mobile run on leased tower space, and each carrier makes recurring revenue from phone plans. Starlink delivers connectivity from satellites in orbit, so tower access would give SpaceX the ground-level footprint that space-based service lacks on its own. Adding towers to satellites and spectrum points to a fourth national competitor, which is why the three stocks are moving as a block.

A new nationwide rival would chase the same subscribers that AT&T, Verizon and T-Mobile already serve. That pressure on pricing and churn forms the bear case. Scale anchors the bull case, since AT&T runs its low-band spectrum on indoor building systems in high rises, hospitals and stadiums as well as on macro sites, a reach a newcomer would need years to duplicate.

AT&T CEO John Stankey has downplayed the spectrum threat, saying, “I wouldn’t over rotate on what I would call one carrier of low band spectrum.” Verizon CEO Dan Schulman has argued that satellites face hard limits in dense markets, stating, “It is basically not possible because of physics, not because of execution but because of physics for satellite to effectively compete against the terrestrial network in either mobility or broadband in urban and suburban geographies.” Tower access is exactly the piece that would help SpaceX work around that physical constraint.

T-Mobile’s position carries a twist, since the company already has a direct-to-cell partnership with Starlink. Chief executive Srini Gopalan has described direct-to-cell as “a technology that, in many ways, we worked with Starlink to invent,” and he’s also labeled it “a complementary category.” Those existing ties haven’t spared T-Mobile stock from the steepest drop in the sector.

Signed Tower Leases Would Raise the Stakes for Carriers
The next test for AT&T, Verizon and T-Mobile is whether SpaceX turns the talks into signed tower leases. A finished agreement would give SpaceX a ground network to pair with its satellites and spectrum, strengthening its case as a fourth carrier. Whether the Communication Services Select Sector SPDR ETF keeps trailing the SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust is worth watching as the carriers digest the report.

SpaceX expects its spectrum purchase to close in the first half of 2027, giving AT&T, Verizon and T-Mobile a defined window before that piece is in place. Position sizes should stay modest until the outcome of SpaceX’s tower talks resolves.

Contact [email protected] for any questions or corrections.

T-Mobile US (TMUS -5.08%) stock fell 5% through 11:15 a.m. Friday as investors panicked over a new report from Bloomberg:

Space Exploration Technologies (SPCX +1.66%) -- already the leading player in satellite-based communications -- is angling to lease 80,000 cellphone towers on the ground, and plans to build a fourth major mobile telecommunications company to compete with T-Mobile, Verizon, and AT&T.

Image source: Getty Images.

What's Elon Musk up to this week?You've heard the first part of this story already. Two weeks ago, SpaceX announced it's paying $8 billion to buy "up to 14 megahertz of paired spectrum in the 800 MHz band" from private equity firm Grain Management (which sounds like an agricultural concern, but apparently isn't). SpaceX predicted this purchase would "pave the way for Starlink Mobile to become a major mobile carrier in the U.S."

Now, SpaceX is taking the next logical step, leasing cellphone towers to bolster its telecom presence on the ground. Assuming the rumors are true, these towers will supplement the 15,000 direct-to-cell Starlink satellites that SpaceX is asking the FCC to let it launch. Once complete, SpaceX will have a robust ground game to cover cell calls in metropolitan areas, plus a globe-spanning satellite constellation to eliminate dead zones and give its network global reach.

TMUS T-Mobile US$150.72-$8.07 (-5.08%)

NASDAQ · As of 11:41 AM ET 10/23/26

What it means for SpaceX -- and for T-MobileIt's pretty clear why SpaceX is doing this. Judging from the numbers we saw in its most recent earnings report, SpaceX is earning 45% operating profit margins from its Starlink "Connectivity" business, versus less than a 6% margin in artificial intelligence -- and negative profits in space launch.

It makes sense SpaceX would double down on the business that's working best for it.

The bad news for T-Mobile: Its operating margins are only 22% today. With new competition from SpaceX, you can expect T-Mobile's margins to fall even further.

Rich Smith has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool recommends T-Mobile US and Verizon Communications. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

U.S. stocks traded lower this morning, with the Dow Jones falling more than 500 points on Friday.

Following the market opening Friday, the Dow traded down 1.02% to 52,328.35 while the NASDAQ dipped 0.21% to 25,953.62. The S&P 500 also fell, dropping, 0.43% to 7,630.53.

Leading and Lagging Sectors

Real estate shares jumped by 1% on Friday.

In trading on Friday, industrials stocks fell by 1.7%.

Top Headline

American Express (NYSE:AXP) shares fell around 3% after the company released results for the third quarter.

The company posted adjusted earnings of $4.68 per share, beating market estimates of $4.48 per share. The company’s sales came in at $20.062 billion, missing expectations of $20.122 billion.

Equities Trading UP
           

Mynd.ai Inc – ADR (NYSE:MYND) shares shot up 77% to $0.29. Shares of 22nd Century Group Inc (NASDAQ:XXII) got a boost, surging 49% to $0.32. 22nd Century Group shares dipped over 20% on Thursday after the company reported a quarter-over-quarter increase of its preliminary Q3 net revenue results. BIO-Key International Inc (NASDAQ:BKYI) shares were also up, gaining 31% to $3.60. BIO-key International recently secured another Middle East Government contract for its passwordless, biometric, identity and access management solutions. Equities Trading DOWN

Lunai Bioworks Inc (NASDAQ:LNAI) shares dipped 44% to $0.26 after the company announced receipt of Nasdaq determination and intention to voluntarily delist and deregister. Shares of Aardvark Therapeutics Inc (NASDAQ:AARD) were down 39% to $2.42. Aardvark Therapeutics reported exploratory data from the terminated HERO and open-label extension trials. Lakewood-amedex Biotherapeutics Inc (NASDAQ:LABT) was down, falling 30% to $0.34. The company recently announced the presentation of preclinical Nu-3 data, with the next catalyst remaining Phase 2a topline results in Q1 2027. Commodities 

In commodity news, oil traded up 2.1% to $101.55 while gold traded down 0.5% at $4,041.50.

Silver traded down 2.1% to $53.870 on Friday, while copper rose 1.1% to $6.4690.

Euro zone

European shares were lower today. The eurozone’s STOXX 600 fell 0.7%, while Spain’s IBEX 35 Index fell 0.3%, London’s FTSE 100 fell 0.6%, Germany’s DAX fell 1.1%, while France’s CAC 40 dipped 0.8%.

Asia Pacific Markets

Asian markets closed mixed on Friday, with Japan’s Nikkei 225 falling 0.34%, Hong Kong’s Hang Seng index gaining 0.69%, China’s SSE Composite Index gaining 0.89% and India’s BSE Sensex falling 0.17%.

Economics

The Michigan Consumer Sentiment index will be released today.

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Oracle (NYSE: ORCL) stock’s 49.59% price collapse from the early June highs near $250 to $125.09 at press time has, so far, failed to decisively sour the mood of Wall Street analysts, with the most recent note featuring a ‘Buy’ rating.

Oracle stock price YTD chart with performance since early June highlighted. Source: Google
Specifically, Goldman Sachs’ (NYSE: GS) Gabriela Borges issued a note on Friday, October 23, in which she gave ORCL shares a positive recommendation. Still, the steep decline left a mark as the Wall Street expert, despite staying bullish, decreased the 12-month Oracle stock price from $240 – a 91.86% upside – to $206 – a 63.88% predicted rally.

Reflecting on the change, Borges explained that, while artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructure projects and investments have been under heightened scrutiny, the technology giant’s strong remaining performance obligation (RPO) growth and heightened revenue targets for fiscal year 2027 (FY2027) provide support for the optimistic outlook.

Analysts predict Oracle stock price amidst 49% four-month crash Zooming out reveals that the market turmoil and adverse business developments regarding Oracle in particular and the AI sector as a whole left little impression on institutional experts.

Overall, ORCL stock is viewed as a ‘Strong Buy’ on Wall Street, with twenty-seven positive, four ‘Hold’, and a single ‘Sell’ recommendation issued within the last three months, per the data Finbold retrieved from TipRanks on October 23.

Similarly, the average Oracle shares price target for the next 12 months is rather high and estimates the equity will rally 96.01% to $244.89 within the timeframe. 

Wall Street sets Oracle stock price target for the next 12 months. Source: TipRanks Finally, notes issued in October proved almost universally bullish, with four out of the six revisions featuring a ‘Buy’ rating. The two outliers came in the form of RBC Capital and Yorkville Ives & Co, with both providing a ‘Hold’ recommendation but a $165 and $155 price forecast, respectively.

The optimistic standout was Cantor Fitzgerald analyst Thomas Blakey, who estimated that Oracle stock can soar 127.04% to $284 in the next 12 months.

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TikTok's U.S. entity is looking to secure multiple gigawatts of computing capacity, sources told CNBC, amid a global scramble for digital infrastructure deals.

The company, officially TikTok USDS Joint Venture, operates the social media platform in the U.S. and has sounded out opportunities to obtain capacity over the coming years, two people familiar with the discussions, who asked to remain anonymous as they weren't authorized to share the information, told CNBC.

TikTok U.S. is looking for four gigawatts of compute power by the early 2030s, one source said.

Companies across the world are looking to secure more compute capacity as artificial intelligence workloads become more prominent.

A company spokesperson told CNBC that the company "runs primarily on Oracle Cloud Infrastructure in the U.S. and Oracle will continue to be our primary cloud infrastructure provider."

Oracle Cloud Infrastructure, or OCI, typically runs in facilities that Oracle leases. CNBC has approached Oracle for comment.

There are signs TikTok U.S.' product plans could require extra compute going forward.

The company has numerous machine learning roles live on its website. A job advert posted by TikTok states that the company is "shipping a flagship B2B AI product at the frontier of large-model inference and creative automation."

TikTok U.S. localizes algorithm trainingTikTok USDS Joint Venture was established in 2026 in compliance with U.S. President Donald Trump's executive order mandating the divestiture of TikTok in the U.S. from its Chinese parent company, ByteDance.

In January, TikTok U.S. said it would "retrain, test, and update" its prized recommendation algorithm, which is built on machine learning, on U.S. user data. The company's recommendation algorithm will be "secured in Oracle's U.S. cloud environment," it said.

TikTok U.S. has three managing investors, Silver Lake, Oracle and MGX, each holding 15%. The Dell Family Office, the investment firm of Michael Dell, is also an investor. ByteDance retained 19.9% of the new entity.

Kimberly-Clark is nearing completion of its $48.7bn acquisition of Kenvue, with key regulatory approvals secured. Current earnings cover the dividend at 69%, but combined FCF only covers it at about 1.07x before $2.5bn in integration costs. Kenvue's Tylenol litigation was revived in July, and they have no reserve for it. A settlement of Zantac-size would be at $2bn and cost $2.50 per share.

Choosing between Salesforce (CRM -2.09%) and Snowflake (SNOW +1.71%) requires weighing steady profitability against explosive revenue growth. Both companies are essential players in the modern data economy but offer very different investment profiles.

Salesforce focuses on helping companies manage customer relationships through a suite of integrated software tools. Snowflake provides a cloud-native platform that allows organizations to consolidate and analyze vast amounts of data, often serving as the foundation for enterprise AI strategies.

The case for SalesforceSalesforce operates as a dominant force in the tech stocks landscape, providing software that manages sales, service, and marketing on a single platform. The company recently pivoted toward agentic AI through its Agentforce platform, which allows businesses to deploy autonomous digital workers. It serves a massive global customer base and has expanded its capabilities by acquiring data management firms like Informatica and integrating them into its core ecosystem.

In FY 2026, revenue reached nearly $41.5 billion, representing growth of approximately 9.6% over the prior year. The company demonstrated significant bottom-line improvement, reporting net income of close to $7.5 billion. This resulted in a net margin of roughly 18%, as Salesforce continues to focus on balancing expansion with disciplined expense management.

As of its January 2026 balance sheet, the debt-to-equity ratio was approximately 0.3x, which measures total debt relative to shareholder equity. The current ratio, comparing current assets to liabilities, was roughly 0.8x. Free cash flow, calculated as cash flow from operations minus capital expenditures, reached close to $14.4 billion. Note that stock-based compensation represented roughly 23.4% of operating cash flow, which inflates reported cash generation since SBC is a non-cash expense added back in the cash flow statement.

The case for SnowflakeSnowflake provides the AI Data Cloud, a platform that enables organizations to store and process data across different cloud providers. Its consumption-based model means customers pay for the resources they actually use, which appeals to businesses looking for flexibility. By early 2026, the company served over 800 of the Forbes Global 2000, emphasizing its importance to large-scale enterprises that require high-performance data engineering and analytics.

In FY 2026, revenue reached approximately $4.7 billion, showing robust growth of roughly 29.2% compared to the previous year. Despite this rapid top-line expansion, the company reported a net loss of close to $1.3 billion. This produced a net margin of roughly -28.4%, illustrating that the business is still heavily prioritizing market share gains and research over immediate GAAP profitability.

According to its January 2026 balance sheet, the debt-to-equity ratio stood at approximately 1.4x. The current ratio was close to 1.3x, suggesting a comfortable buffer of short-term assets. Free cash flow for the period was roughly $1.1 billion. Note that stock-based compensation represented roughly 130.9% of operating cash flow, meaning reported cash generation is heavily inflated by this non-cash add-back.

Risk profile comparisonSalesforce faces intense competition from large cloud providers and AI-native start-ups that could disrupt its market share. The company is also a frequent target for sophisticated cyberattacks, and any major breach could lead to significant legal liabilities. Furthermore, the integration of large acquisitions like Braze (BRZE +0.06%) or Informatica carries risks of operational disruption and could dilute value if anticipated synergies fail to materialize.

Snowflake faces competitive pressure from major public cloud providers like Microsoft (MSFT +0.74%) and Amazon (AMZN -0.43%), which offer competing data products. Its consumption-based revenue model also creates less visibility than traditional subscriptions, as customer spending can fluctuate based on macroeconomic shifts. Additionally, any security incidents involving unauthorized access to customer data can cause lasting reputational damage and lead to regulatory investigations.

Valuation comparisonSalesforce currently trades at a much lower earnings multiple than Snowflake, reflecting its more mature business model and established profitability.

MetricSalesforceSnowflakeForward P/E14.9x141.5xP/S ratio4.7x20.4xValuation metrics include sourcing from Financial Modeling Prep (FMP) and may differ from other data providers.

The P/S ratio measures a company's market value against its sales over the past twelve months. Salesforce appears more conservative on this metric, while Snowflake continues to command a premium for its higher growth rates.

Salesforce is not a business anyone should dismiss lightly, but at this stage of the AI build-out, I'd rather own the platform where data actually lives than the one that sells software on top of it. That's why my pick is Snowflake.

AI is expanding the volume of data enterprises need to store and query, and that goes directly through Snowflake's platform. The company reported its third consecutive quarter of accelerating growth in Q2 fiscal 2027, with product revenue up 37%. The momentum is looking good.

To its credit, Salesforce is profitable and returning significant cash to shareholders. It delivered a record Q2, with revenue up 11% year over year, free cash flow up 81%, and Agentforce adoption accelerating. But some of that earnings pop came from an investment windfall rather than what Salesforce actually sells.

Snowflake is still posting net losses, and patient investors need to be comfortable with that trade-off. But I'm still interested in this stock because AI is expanding its addressable market rather than threatening it. Every new model, every new agent, every new enterprise workflow means more data to store and query. For a long-term investor, owning the infrastructure that makes AI usable at scale feels like a durable position to be in.

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania--(Newsfile Corp. - October 23, 2026) - Berger Montague PC, a leading national plaintiffs' law firm, announces a class

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

Let's take a look at what these Wall Street heavyweights have to say about Costco (COST - Free Report) before we discuss the reliability of brokerage recommendations and how to use them to your advantage.

Costco currently has an average brokerage recommendation (ABR) of 1.80, on a scale of 1 to 5 (Strong Buy to Strong Sell), calculated based on the actual recommendations (Buy, Hold, Sell, etc.) made by 38 brokerage firms. An ABR of 1.80 approximates between Strong Buy and Buy.

Of the 38 recommendations that derive the current ABR, 21 are Strong Buy and five are Buy. Strong Buy and Buy respectively account for 55.3% and 13.2% of all recommendations.

Brokerage Recommendation Trends for COST

Check price target & stock forecast for Costco here>>>

While the ABR calls for buying Costco, it may not be wise to make an investment decision solely based on this information. Several studies have shown limited to no success of brokerage recommendations in guiding investors to pick stocks with the best price increase potential.

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

In other words, their interests aren't always aligned with retail investors, rarely indicating where the price of a stock could actually be heading. Therefore, the best use of this information could be validating your own research or an indicator that has proven to be highly successful in predicting a stock's price movement.

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

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

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

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

On the other hand, earnings estimate revisions are at the core of the Zacks Rank. And empirical research shows a strong correlation between trends in earnings estimate revisions and near-term stock price movements.

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

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

Is COST a Good Investment?Looking at the earnings estimate revisions for Costco, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for the current year has increased 0.8% over the past month to $22.7.

Analysts' growing optimism over the company's earnings prospects, as indicated by strong agreement among them in revising EPS estimates higher, could be a legitimate reason for the stock to soar in the near term.

The size of the recent change in the consensus estimate, along with three other factors related to earnings estimates, has resulted in a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) for Costco. You can see the complete list of today's Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) stocks here >>>>

Therefore, the Buy-equivalent ABR for Costco may serve as a useful guide for investors.

LyondellBasell (LYB) doesn't possess the right combination of the two key ingredients for a likely earnings beat in its upcoming report. Get prepared with the key expectations.

The market expects AbbVie (ABBV - Free Report) to deliver a year-over-year increase in earnings on higher revenues when it reports results for the quarter ended September 2026. This widely-known consensus outlook is important in assessing the company's earnings picture, but a powerful factor that might influence its near-term stock price is how the actual results compare to these estimates.

The earnings report, which is expected to be released on October 30, might help the stock move higher if these key numbers are better than expectations. On the other hand, if they miss, the stock may move lower.

While the sustainability of the immediate price change and future earnings expectations will mostly depend on management's discussion of business conditions on the earnings call, it's worth handicapping the probability of a positive EPS surprise.

Zacks Consensus EstimateThis drugmaker is expected to post quarterly earnings of $3.79 per share in its upcoming report, which represents a year-over-year change of +103.8%.

Revenues are expected to be $17.37 billion, up 10.1% from the year-ago quarter.

Estimate Revisions TrendThe consensus EPS estimate for the quarter has been revised 1.35% lower over the last 30 days to the current level. This is essentially a reflection of how the covering analysts have collectively reassessed their initial estimates over this period.

Investors should keep in mind that the direction of estimate revisions by each of the covering analysts may not always get reflected in the aggregate change.

Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise

Earnings WhisperEstimate revisions ahead of a company's earnings release offer clues to the business conditions for the period whose results are coming out. This insight is at the core of our proprietary surprise prediction model -- the Zacks Earnings ESP (Expected Surprise Prediction).

The Zacks Earnings ESP compares the Most Accurate Estimate to the Zacks Consensus Estimate for the quarter; the Most Accurate Estimate is a more recent version of the Zacks Consensus EPS estimate. The idea here is that analysts revising their estimates right before an earnings release have the latest information, which could potentially be more accurate than what they and others contributing to the consensus had predicted earlier.

Thus, a positive or negative Earnings ESP reading theoretically indicates the likely deviation of the actual earnings from the consensus estimate. However, the model's predictive power is significant for positive ESP readings only.

A positive Earnings ESP is a strong predictor of an earnings beat, particularly when combined with a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), 2 (Buy) or 3 (Hold). Our research shows that stocks with this combination produce a positive surprise nearly 70% of the time, and a solid Zacks Rank actually increases the predictive power of Earnings ESP.

Please note that a negative Earnings ESP reading is not indicative of an earnings miss. Our research shows that it is difficult to predict an earnings beat with any degree of confidence for stocks with negative Earnings ESP readings and/or Zacks Rank of 4 (Sell) or 5 (Strong Sell).

How Have the Numbers Shaped Up for AbbVie?For AbbVie, the Most Accurate Estimate is lower than the Zacks Consensus Estimate, suggesting that analysts have recently become bearish on the company's earnings prospects. This has resulted in an Earnings ESP of -0.26%.

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

So, this combination makes it difficult to conclusively predict that AbbVie will beat the consensus EPS estimate.

Does Earnings Surprise History Hold Any Clue?Analysts often consider to what extent a company has been able to match consensus estimates in the past while calculating their estimates for its future earnings. So, it's worth taking a look at the surprise history for gauging its influence on the upcoming number.

For the last reported quarter, it was expected that AbbVie would post earnings of $3.64 per share when it actually produced earnings of $3.65, delivering a surprise of +0.27%.

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

Bottom LineAn earnings beat or miss may not be the sole basis for a stock moving higher or lower. Many stocks end up losing ground despite an earnings beat due to other factors that disappoint investors. Similarly, unforeseen catalysts help a number of stocks gain despite an earnings miss.

That said, betting on stocks that are expected to beat earnings expectations does increase the odds of success. This is why it's worth checking a company's Earnings ESP and Zacks Rank ahead of its quarterly release. Make sure to utilize our Earnings ESP Filter to uncover the best stocks to buy or sell before they've reported.

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

An Industry Player's Expected ResultsAnother stock from the Zacks Large Cap Pharmaceuticals industry, Eli Lilly (LLY - Free Report) , is soon expected to post earnings of $5.38 per share for the quarter ended September 2026. This estimate indicates a year-over-year change of -23.4%. Revenues for the quarter are expected to be $22.11 billion, up 25.6% from the year-ago quarter.

The consensus EPS estimate for Lilly has been revised 0.1% higher over the last 30 days to the current level. However, an equal Most Accurate Estimate has resulted in an Earnings ESP of 0.00%.

This Earnings ESP, combined with its Zacks Rank #3 (Hold), makes it difficult to conclusively predict that Lilly will beat the consensus EPS estimate. The company beat consensus EPS estimates in each of the trailing four quarters.

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

It doesn't matter your age or experience: taking full advantage of the stock market and investing with confidence are common goals for all investors. Luckily, Zacks Premium offers several different ways to do both.

The research service features daily updates of the Zacks Rank and Zacks Industry Rank, full access to the Zacks #1 Rank List, Equity Research reports, and Premium stock screens, all of which will help you become a smarter, more confident investor.

Zacks Premium includes access to the Zacks Style Scores as well.

What are the Zacks Style Scores? Developed alongside the Zacks Rank, the Zacks Style Scores are a group of complementary indicators that help investors pick stocks with the best chances of beating the market over the next 30 days.

Each stock is assigned a rating of A, B, C, D, or F based on their value, growth, and momentum characteristics. Just like in school, an A is better than a B, a B is better than a C, and so on -- that means the better the score, the better chance the stock will outperform.

The Style Scores are broken down into four categories:

Value ScoreFinding good stocks at good prices, and discovering which companies are trading under their true value, are what value investors like to focus on. So, the Value Style Score takes into account ratios like P/E, PEG, Price/Sales, Price/Cash Flow, and a host of other multiples to highlight the most attractive and discounted stocks.

Growth ScoreGrowth investors are more concerned with a stock's future prospects, and the overall financial health and strength of a company. Thus, the Growth Style Score analyzes characteristics like projected and historic earnings, sales, and cash flow to find stocks that will see sustainable growth over time.

Momentum ScoreMomentum investors, who live by the saying "the trend is your friend," are most interested in taking advantage of upward or downward trends in a stock's price or earnings outlook. Utilizing one-week price change and the monthly percentage change in earnings estimates, among other factors, the Momentum Style Score can help determine favorable times to buy high-momentum stocks.

VGM ScoreIf you like to use all three kinds of investing, then the VGM Score is for you. It's a combination of all Style Scores, and is an important indicator to use with the Zacks Rank. The VGM Score rates each stock on their shared weighted styles, narrowing down the companies with the most attractive value, best growth forecast, and most promising momentum.

How Style Scores Work with the Zacks Rank A proprietary stock-rating model, the Zacks Rank utilizes the power of earnings estimate revisions, or changes to a company's earnings outlook, to help investors create a successful portfolio.

Investors can count on the Zacks Rank's success, with #1 (Strong Buy) stocks producing an unmatched +23.82% average annual return since 1988, more than double the S&P 500's performance. But the model rates a large number of stocks, and there are over 200 companies with a Strong Buy rank, plus another 600 with a #2 (Buy) rank, on any given day.

But it can feel overwhelming to pick the right stocks for you and your investing goals with over 800 top-rated stocks to choose from.

That's where the Style Scores come in.

You want to make sure you're buying stocks with the highest likelihood of success, and to do that, you'll need to pick stocks with a Zacks Rank #1 or #2 that also have Style Scores of A or B. If you like a stock that only has a #3 (Hold) rank, it should also have Scores of A or B to guarantee as much upside potential as possible.

The direction of a stock's earnings estimate revisions should always be a key factor when choosing which stocks to buy, since the Scores were created to work together with the Zacks Rank.

For instance, a stock with a #4 (Sell) or #5 (Strong Sell) rating, even one that boasts Scores of A and B, still has a downward-trending earnings forecast, and a much greater likelihood its share price will decline as well.

Thus, the more stocks you own with a #1 or #2 Rank and Scores of A or B, the better.

Stock to Watch: eBay (EBAY - Free Report) eBay Inc. operates an online commerce platform that connects buyers and sellers across a wide range of merchandise categories. The marketplace supports both fixed-price and auction-style listings and provides tools that help sellers create storefronts, manage listings and serve customers. Over time, the company has evolved from a community-based auction site into a global marketplace with operations spanning the United States and international regions.

EBAY is a #2 (Buy) on the Zacks Rank, with a VGM Score of B.

Momentum investors should take note of this Retail-Wholesale stock. EBAY has a Momentum Style Score of B, and shares are up 13.2% over the past four weeks.

For fiscal 2026, three analysts revised their earnings estimate upwards in the last 60 days, and the Zacks Consensus Estimate has increased $0.03 to $5.94 per share. EBAY boasts an average earnings surprise of +4.2%.

With a solid Zacks Rank and top-tier Momentum and VGM Style Scores, EBAY should be on investors' short list.

RH (RH - Free Report) shares ended the last trading session 9.5% higher at $140.15. The jump came on an impressive volume with a higher-than-average number of shares changing hands in the session. This compares to the stock's 2.7% gain over the past four weeks.

RH is benefiting from the expansion of its RH Estates collection, new gallery openings and international expansion plans, which are expected to support its long-term growth.

This furniture and housewares company is expected to post quarterly earnings of $0.67 per share in its upcoming report, which represents a year-over-year change of -60.8%. Revenues are expected to be $932.39 million, up 5.5% from the year-ago quarter.

Earnings and revenue growth expectations certainly give a good sense of the potential strength in a stock, but empirical research shows that trends in earnings estimate revisions are strongly correlated with near-term stock price movements.

For RH, the consensus EPS estimate for the quarter has been revised 30.6% lower over the last 30 days to the current level. And a negative trend in earnings estimate revisions doesn't usually translate into price appreciation. So, make sure to keep an eye on RH going forward to see if this recent jump can turn into more strength down the road.

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

RH belongs to the Zacks Consumer Products - Staples industry. Another stock from the same industry, Clorox (CLX - Free Report) , closed the last trading session 4.6% higher at $88.66. Over the past month, CLX has returned 1%.

Clorox's consensus EPS estimate for the upcoming report has changed -1.2% over the past month to $0.98. Compared to the company's year-ago EPS, this represents a change of +15.3%. Clorox currently boasts a Zacks Rank of #4 (Sell).

Palantir sits within striking distance of a bold year-end target, but a single earnings report on November 2 could either validate the bull case or send shares tumbling toward a very different destination.

Palantir Technologies (NASDAQ:PLTR | PLTR Price Prediction) closed at $196.19 on October 22, 2026. That is just below the $202.50 year-end target 24/7 Wall St. set in its earlier Palantir price prediction. In Friday premarket trading at $195.31, shares were up 9.9% year to date, up 11.3% over one year, and down 2.6% over the past week. Over the past 52 weeks, the stock has traded between $106.37 and $212.94.

Metric
Value

Current Price (Oct. 22 close)
$196.19

Price Target from 24/7 Wall St.
$211.98

Upside
8.1%

Model Rating
Buy

Model Confidence
0.9 (high)

Scoring the Original Thesis Against Fresh Data
The earlier call rested on three pillars:

Government contracts
Commercial AI adoption
Valuation

Government contracts have held up: second-quarter U.S. government revenue reached $809 million, up 90% year over year. Commercial AI adoption has outperformed. U.S. commercial revenue rose 149% to $764 million, net dollar retention climbed to 157%, and U.S. commercial customers grew 35% to 653.

Valuation is where the thesis took damage. The stock fell from $177.07 in mid-January to $133.02 by mid-February and stayed near that level until the August 3 report. Even after that drawdown, Palantir trades at 174 times trailing earnings and 85 times forward earnings.

How the Model Gets to $211.98
The 24/7 Wall St. price target combines three inputs: a trailing P/E value of $196.19, a forward P/E value of $172.19, and the analyst target. The forward input carries 0.5 of the weight, and the blend comes to $187.26. A proprietary factor of 1.132 then raises that figure. It credits technology-sector momentum and 215.4% earnings growth, and it is muted by a beta of 1.602, cautious retail sentiment, and a mega-cap adjustment.

The one-year bull case reaches $226.34, and the downside scenario falls to $177.11. Wall Street leans bullish, with a consensus target of $206.62.

November 2 Decides Whether the Target Holds
Palantir reports third-quarter results on Monday, November 2, after the close. Management guided to $2.160 billion to $2.164 billion in revenue and full-year sales of $8.150 billion to $8.158 billion. That full-year range implies U.S. commercial revenue above $3.424 billion. CEO Alex Karp has set a high bar: “I am driving the business to grow at a rate equal to or above what we have in U.S. commercial for the next 18 months.”

Management noted a Q3 cost ramp tied to new hires. Stock-based compensation reached $265 million last quarter, and international commercial revenue grew only 26%. Bulls point out that the extra spending funds Palantir’s Artificial Intelligence Platform (AIP) and sovereign AI capacity, while free cash flow still rose 130%. At this multiple, however, a guidance raise smaller than investors expect could drive shares toward the downside scenario.

Palantir Outgrows Snowflake but Costs More
Snowflake (NYSE:SNOW) is a useful comparison because it competes for the same enterprise data and AI budgets. Its latest quarterly revenue grew 35.1%, but it remains GAAP unprofitable.

Company
Latest Quarter Revenue Growth
Price/Free Cash Flow

Palantir
92.8%
214.88

Snowflake
35.1%
98.82

Palantir trades at roughly twice Snowflake’s cash-flow multiple, but it grows much faster and earns a GAAP profit. Next to Snowflake, the 24/7 Wall St. price target looks reasonable.

Verdict: $202.50 Remains in Reach
The prior $202.50 year-end target looks reachable. The model’s own base-case path shows $202.38 by late November. On Polymarket, traders put the odds that the stock touches $204 in October at 0.53. On November 2, the number to watch is the U.S. commercial guide. A raise well above $3.424 billion would support the target. A flat guide would put it at risk.

Palantir Price Prediction 2026–2030

Year
 24/7 Wall St. Price Target

2026
$200.93

2027
$211.98

2028
$222.11

2029
$236.32

2030
$251.45

These figures follow the model’s base-case annualized return of 6.4%. A sustained slowdown in commercial growth or compression of the multiple could pull the path sharply lower.

Contact [email protected] for any questions or corrections.

When deciding whether to buy, sell, or hold a stock, investors often rely on analyst recommendations. Media reports about rating changes by these brokerage-firm-employed (or sell-side) analysts often influence a stock's price, but are they really important?

Let's take a look at what these Wall Street heavyweights have to say about Micron (MU - Free Report) before we discuss the reliability of brokerage recommendations and how to use them to your advantage.

Micron currently has an average brokerage recommendation (ABR) of 1.26, on a scale of 1 to 5 (Strong Buy to Strong Sell), calculated based on the actual recommendations (Buy, Hold, Sell, etc.) made by 43 brokerage firms. An ABR of 1.26 approximates between Strong Buy and Buy.

Of the 43 recommendations that derive the current ABR, 35 are Strong Buy and five are Buy. Strong Buy and Buy respectively account for 81.4% and 11.6% of all recommendations.

Brokerage Recommendation Trends for MU

Check price target & stock forecast for Micron here>>>

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

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

In other words, their interests aren't always aligned with retail investors, rarely indicating where the price of a stock could actually be heading. Therefore, the best use of this information could be validating your own research or an indicator that has proven to be highly successful in predicting a stock's price movement.

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

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

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

It has been and continues to be the case that analysts employed by brokerage firms are overly optimistic with their recommendations. Because of their employers' vested interests, these analysts issue more favorable ratings than their research would support, misguiding investors far more often than helping them.

On the other hand, earnings estimate revisions are at the core of the Zacks Rank. And empirical research shows a strong correlation between trends in earnings estimate revisions and near-term stock price movements.

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

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

Is MU Worth Investing In?Looking at the earnings estimate revisions for Micron, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for the current year has increased 11.6% over the past month to $177.73.

Analysts' growing optimism over the company's earnings prospects, as indicated by strong agreement among them in revising EPS estimates higher, could be a legitimate reason for the stock to soar in the near term.

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

Therefore, the Buy-equivalent ABR for Micron may serve as a useful guide for investors.

Sea Limited (SE -1.08%) stock is plunging as the company contemplates some major changes. The company has built cloud infrastructure to better run its gaming, e-commerce, and fintech businesses, and now wants to open its cloud to external customers. Additionally, CEO Forrest Li is considering spinning off the fintech arm, Monee.

The stock has plunged on this news, losing more than 17% of its value since Oct. 15. Although the possibility of that move introduces uncertainty, I think investors should consider the drop in the retail stock a buying opportunity. Here's why.

Image source: The Motley Fool.

The uncertainty surrounding Sea Limited To be sure, Sea Limited's handling of the news surrounding its cloud and fintech moves may have fostered more uncertainty than optimism. Indeed, the demand for cloud infrastructure is massive in today's tech market, especially for AI workloads. That implies the new segment, called Sea Cloud, could perform well. Also, with competitors like Amazon and Alibaba operating cloud businesses, the move is hardly unusual.

Still, even Amazon has had to take on considerable debt to fund its build-out. That causes investors to wonder how much added cost Sea Limited is assuming. The uncertainty may increase with a potential spinoff of Monee. Monee is the company's fastest-growing segment, and Li believes this move could give it added flexibility and a stronger ability to raise capital.

However, Sea Limited benefits from synergies between Monee and the company's other segments. Li did not clarify if or how Monee would still work with Sea if it were a separate company.

Moreover, while such spin-offs usually grant shareholders shares in the new company, investors do not yet know what that allocation would look like. That fact may discourage investors from buying without the specifics of such a deal.

Why investors may want to buy anyway Whatever happens with these moves, it looks increasingly like the selling in Sea Limited stock is overdone. In the first half of 2026, it generated $14.9 billion in revenue, a 47% gain over the same period last year. Of the three segments, Monee's growth was the fastest, increasing by 58% over the same period. Still, even without Monee, this would be a fast-growing company, especially once Sea Cloud launches.

Also, its $869 million in net income for the first half of 2026 is only 7% higher than year-ago levels. Still, it invested more heavily in its operations, a move that should boost its revenue and profits in the long term. Thus, investors should probably give the company some leeway here.

$74.87-$0.82 (-1.08%)

NYSE · As of 11:33 AM ET 10/23/26

Additionally, amid the falling stock price, the company's shares sell at a price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio of 30. Considering how fast the company has grown (even without Monee), Sea Limited's stock looks like an attractive value for the money.

Consider Sea Limited stock Ultimately, the company's growth relative to valuation is alone an excellent reason to buy Sea Limited stock. Indeed, the potentially high cost of a cloud build-out may discourage investors from buying. One can say the same about the uncertainty about a potential Monee spinoff.

However, the company's revenue growth is rapid with or without Monee. When also considering its relatively low P/E ratio, investors are unlikely to go wrong if they plan to buy on the dip.

The market expects Regeneron (REGN - Free Report) to deliver a year-over-year increase in earnings on higher revenues when it reports results for the quarter ended September 2026. This widely-known consensus outlook is important in assessing the company's earnings picture, but a powerful factor that might influence its near-term stock price is how the actual results compare to these estimates.

The earnings report, which is expected to be released on October 30, might help the stock move higher if these key numbers are better than expectations. On the other hand, if they miss, the stock may move lower.

While management's discussion of business conditions on the earnings call will mostly determine the sustainability of the immediate price change and future earnings expectations, it's worth having a handicapping insight into the odds of a positive EPS surprise.

Zacks Consensus EstimateThis biopharmaceutical company is expected to post quarterly earnings of $16.08 per share in its upcoming report, which represents a year-over-year change of +35.9%.

Revenues are expected to be $4.55 billion, up 21.2% from the year-ago quarter.

Estimate Revisions TrendThe consensus EPS estimate for the quarter has been revised 36.31% higher over the last 30 days to the current level. This is essentially a reflection of how the covering analysts have collectively reassessed their initial estimates over this period.

Investors should keep in mind that an aggregate change may not always reflect the direction of estimate revisions by each of the covering analysts.

Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise

Earnings WhisperEstimate revisions ahead of a company's earnings release offer clues to the business conditions for the period whose results are coming out. This insight is at the core of our proprietary surprise prediction model -- the Zacks Earnings ESP (Expected Surprise Prediction).

The Zacks Earnings ESP compares the Most Accurate Estimate to the Zacks Consensus Estimate for the quarter; the Most Accurate Estimate is a more recent version of the Zacks Consensus EPS estimate. The idea here is that analysts revising their estimates right before an earnings release have the latest information, which could potentially be more accurate than what they and others contributing to the consensus had predicted earlier.

Thus, a positive or negative Earnings ESP reading theoretically indicates the likely deviation of the actual earnings from the consensus estimate. However, the model's predictive power is significant for positive ESP readings only.

A positive Earnings ESP is a strong predictor of an earnings beat, particularly when combined with a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), 2 (Buy) or 3 (Hold). Our research shows that stocks with this combination produce a positive surprise nearly 70% of the time, and a solid Zacks Rank actually increases the predictive power of Earnings ESP.

Please note that a negative Earnings ESP reading is not indicative of an earnings miss. Our research shows that it is difficult to predict an earnings beat with any degree of confidence for stocks with negative Earnings ESP readings and/or Zacks Rank of 4 (Sell) or 5 (Strong Sell).

How Have the Numbers Shaped Up for Regeneron?For Regeneron, the Most Accurate Estimate is lower than the Zacks Consensus Estimate, suggesting that analysts have recently become bearish on the company's earnings prospects. This has resulted in an Earnings ESP of -1.12%.

On the other hand, the stock currently carries a Zacks Rank of #3.

So, this combination makes it difficult to conclusively predict that Regeneron will beat the consensus EPS estimate.

Does Earnings Surprise History Hold Any Clue?Analysts often consider to what extent a company has been able to match consensus estimates in the past while calculating their estimates for its future earnings. So, it's worth taking a look at the surprise history for gauging its influence on the upcoming number.

For the last reported quarter, it was expected that Regeneron would post earnings of $10 per share when it actually produced earnings of $14.29, delivering a surprise of +42.90%.

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

Bottom LineAn earnings beat or miss may not be the sole basis for a stock moving higher or lower. Many stocks end up losing ground despite an earnings beat due to other factors that disappoint investors. Similarly, unforeseen catalysts help a number of stocks gain despite an earnings miss.

That said, betting on stocks that are expected to beat earnings expectations does increase the odds of success. This is why it's worth checking a company's Earnings ESP and Zacks Rank ahead of its quarterly release. Make sure to utilize our Earnings ESP Filter to uncover the best stocks to buy or sell before they've reported.

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

Expected Results of an Industry PlayerAnother stock from the Zacks Medical - Biomedical and Genetics industry, LENZ Therapeutics, Inc. (LENZ - Free Report) , is soon expected to post loss of $0.99 per share for the quarter ended September 2026. This estimate indicates a year-over-year change of -67.8%. Revenues for the quarter are expected to be $4.01 million, down 67.9% from the year-ago quarter.

The consensus EPS estimate for LENZ Therapeutics, Inc. has been revised 2.2% higher over the last 30 days to the current level. However, a higher Most Accurate Estimate has resulted in an Earnings ESP of +2.79%.

This Earnings ESP, combined with its Zacks Rank #3 (Hold), suggests that LENZ Therapeutics, Inc. will most likely beat the consensus EPS estimate. Over the last four quarters, the company surpassed consensus EPS estimates two times.

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

Axxcess Wealth Management LLC lessened its stake in Abbott Laboratories (NYSE:ABT – Free Report) by 67.8% during the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 30,628 shares of the healthcare product maker’s stock after selling 64,579 shares during the period. Axxcess Wealth Management LLC’s holdings in Abbott Laboratories were worth $3,027,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Bank of America Corp DE purchased a new stake in shares of Abbott Laboratories in the second quarter valued at approximately $1,603,607,000. Legal & General Group Plc bought a new position in Abbott Laboratories in the second quarter worth approximately $1,082,524,000. Flossbach Von Storch SE purchased a new position in Abbott Laboratories during the 2nd quarter worth $902,938,000. Jupiter Topco LLC purchased a new position in Abbott Laboratories during the 2nd quarter worth $732,788,000. Finally, BlackRock Inc. raised its position in Abbott Laboratories by 4.6% during the 2nd quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 152,563,476 shares of the healthcare product maker’s stock valued at $13,843,610,000 after purchasing an additional 6,769,518 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 75.18% of the company’s stock.

Analyst Ratings Changes Several equities research analysts have weighed in on the company. Weiss Ratings upgraded Abbott Laboratories from a “hold (c-)” rating to a “hold (c)” rating in a report on Friday, September 18th. Citigroup cut their price target on Abbott Laboratories from $125.00 to $122.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a research note on Thursday. Royal Bank Of Canada decreased their price objective on Abbott Laboratories from $130.00 to $125.00 and set an “outperform” rating for the company in a report on Thursday. Wells Fargo & Company upped their price objective on shares of Abbott Laboratories from $112.00 to $119.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a research note on Thursday. Finally, BTIG Research cut their target price on shares of Abbott Laboratories from $134.00 to $125.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a research report on Thursday. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, twenty-two have given a Buy rating and four have given a Hold rating to the company’s stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $118.32.

View Our Latest Stock Analysis on ABT Abbott Laboratories Trading Up 2.1% Shares of NYSE ABT opened at $102.64 on Friday. Abbott Laboratories has a 1-year low of $81.97 and a 1-year high of $132.02. The business has a fifty day moving average price of $105.30 and a 200 day moving average price of $98.28. The stock has a market capitalization of $177.61 billion, a P/E ratio of 18.68, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.86 and a beta of 0.59. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.57, a current ratio of 1.38 and a quick ratio of 0.97.

Abbott Laboratories (NYSE:ABT – Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Wednesday, October 21st. The healthcare product maker reported $1.42 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, meeting the consensus estimate of $1.42. The company had revenue of $13.01 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $12.99 billion. Abbott Laboratories had a return on equity of 17.97% and a net margin of 9.75%. The firm’s quarterly revenue was up 14.5% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm earned $1.30 earnings per share. Equities research analysts expect that Abbott Laboratories will post 5.52 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Abbott Laboratories Announces Dividend The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, November 16th. Stockholders of record on Thursday, October 15th will be given a $0.63 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, October 15th. This represents a $2.52 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.5%. Abbott Laboratories’s payout ratio is presently 81.55%.

Abbott Laboratories News Roundup Here are the key news stories impacting Abbott Laboratories this week:

Positive Sentiment: Abbott reported third-quarter adjusted EPS of $1.42, in line with the main consensus estimate, and revenue of $13.01 billion, slightly above the $12.99 billion estimate. Reported sales rose 14.5% year over year, while comparable sales increased 7%. Abbott third-quarter results Positive Sentiment: Abbott reaffirmed its full-year adjusted EPS guidance, and analysts continue to see upside. Wells Fargo raised its price target to $119, while Robert W. Baird raised its target to $123. Citigroup, RBC, JPMorgan, TD Cowen and BTIG lowered targets but retained bullish ratings, including “buy,” “outperform” or “overweight.” Positive Sentiment: The company received European approval for its Cologuard Plus colorectal-cancer screening test, expanding the potential market for its diagnostics portfolio. Abbott Cologuard Plus European approval Neutral Sentiment: Abbott plans a tax-free separation of its approximately $8.5 billion Nutrition business into an independent, publicly traded company by the end of 2027. Management says the move could give both businesses more focused investment strategies, but investors face execution, allocation and valuation uncertainty during the transition. Abbott Nutrition separation announcement Negative Sentiment: Abbott reduced its 2026 sales-growth outlook, citing pressure from diabetes-related pricing and weakness in parts of its electrophysiology and medical-device businesses. This softer outlook overshadowed the quarterly revenue performance and led several analysts to trim price targets. Abbott lowers 2026 sales forecast Negative Sentiment: India’s food regulator issued a notice involving infant-formula claims related to Nestlé India and Abbott, creating a limited regulatory overhang for Abbott’s Nutrition operations. India infant-formula regulatory notice Abbott Laboratories Company Profile (Free Report)

Abbott Laboratories is a global healthcare company that develops, manufactures and markets a broad range of medical products and services. Founded in 1888 by Wallace C. Abbott, the company is headquartered in Abbott Park, Illinois, and serves patients, healthcare providers and consumers in markets around the world.

Abbott operates across four principal businesses: medical devices, diagnostics, nutrition and established pharmaceutical products. Its offerings include glucose-monitoring systems such as FreeStyle Libre; cardiovascular devices, including stents and structural heart products; laboratory and point-of-care diagnostic systems; and branded generic medicines in areas such as gastroenterology, women’s health and cardiometabolic care.

The company’s nutrition portfolio includes infant and pediatric products such as Similac and PediaSure, adult nutritional products such as Ensure, and rehydration products such as Pedialyte.

Further Reading Five stocks we like better than Abbott Laboratories Is Texas Instruments Setting Up for Its Next Big Breakout? Pegasystems’ Q3 Miss Exposed the Problem Standing Between AI and Cash Flow Lam Research’s Earnings Beat Wasn’t the Real Story—Its 2027 Outlook Was Tesla’s Flying-Car Hype Hits an Earnings Reality Check Want to see what other hedge funds are holding ABT? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Abbott Laboratories (NYSE:ABT – Free Report).

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Axxcess Wealth Management LLC reduced its stake in Texas Instruments Incorporated (NASDAQ:TXN – Free Report) by 41.4% during the third quarter, according to its most recent filing with the SEC. The fund owned 8,978 shares of the semiconductor company’s stock after selling 6,332 shares during the quarter. Axxcess Wealth Management LLC’s holdings in Texas Instruments were worth $2,515,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other institutional investors have also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Crossmark Global Holdings Inc. boosted its position in Texas Instruments by 104.6% during the third quarter. Crossmark Global Holdings Inc. now owns 207,574 shares of the semiconductor company’s stock worth $58,139,000 after purchasing an additional 106,111 shares during the period. Kraft Davis & Associates LLC grew its holdings in shares of Texas Instruments by 4.4% during the third quarter. Kraft Davis & Associates LLC now owns 827 shares of the semiconductor company’s stock worth $230,000 after purchasing an additional 35 shares in the last quarter. Strengthening Families & Communities LLC increased its holdings in shares of Texas Instruments by 3.1% in the 3rd quarter. Strengthening Families & Communities LLC now owns 5,442 shares of the semiconductor company’s stock worth $1,524,000 after buying an additional 165 shares during the last quarter. Sowell Financial Services LLC increased its stake in Texas Instruments by 7.3% in the third quarter. Sowell Financial Services LLC now owns 4,950 shares of the semiconductor company’s stock valued at $1,386,000 after acquiring an additional 338 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Atticus Wealth Management LLC raised its position in Texas Instruments by 5.8% during the third quarter. Atticus Wealth Management LLC now owns 1,829 shares of the semiconductor company’s stock valued at $512,000 after purchasing an additional 101 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 84.99% of the company’s stock.

Texas Instruments Price Performance Shares of Texas Instruments stock opened at $279.50 on Friday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.72, a current ratio of 4.86 and a quick ratio of 3.44. Texas Instruments Incorporated has a one year low of $152.73 and a one year high of $334.03. The business’s 50 day simple moving average is $271.88 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $279.43. The stock has a market capitalization of $255.25 billion, a P/E ratio of 36.92, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.59 and a beta of 1.35.

Texas Instruments (NASDAQ:TXN – Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, October 21st. The semiconductor company reported $2.62 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $2.40 by $0.22. Texas Instruments had a return on equity of 41.79% and a net margin of 34.25%. The firm had revenue of $6.05 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $5.94 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm posted $1.48 earnings per share. The business’s quarterly revenue was up 27.7% compared to the same quarter last year. Analysts forecast that Texas Instruments Incorporated will post 8.49 EPS for the current year. Texas Instruments Increases Dividend The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, November 10th. Shareholders of record on Friday, October 30th will be given a dividend of $1.52 per share. This represents a $6.08 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.2%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, October 30th. This is a positive change from Texas Instruments’s previous quarterly dividend of $1.42. Texas Instruments’s dividend payout ratio is currently 86.45%.

Key Headlines Impacting Texas Instruments Here are the key news stories impacting Texas Instruments this week:

Positive Sentiment: Q3 results exceeded expectations: Revenue rose 27.7% year over year to $6.06 billion, while EPS reached $2.62 versus the $2.40 consensus estimate. Net income increased 78% to $2.43 billion, supported by broad-based growth in industrial, automotive and data-center markets. Texas Instruments third-quarter financial results Positive Sentiment: Data-center demand is accelerating: Data-center revenue grew 95% year over year, while industrial demand reached a record level. Management also highlighted improving factory utilization and capacity expansion aimed at supporting long-term cash-flow growth. Texas Instruments key takeaways Positive Sentiment: Forecasts and analyst views improved: Fourth-quarter revenue guidance was reportedly above Wall Street expectations, and JPMorgan, Stifel, Rosenblatt and Freedom Broker raised their price targets, with targets ranging from $330 to $370. Texas Instruments earnings call highlights Neutral Sentiment: Options activity increased: Traders purchased 19,194 TXN call options, approximately 7% above average daily call volume, indicating heightened interest but not necessarily a sustained change in fundamentals. Negative Sentiment: Strong results were not enough to overcome valuation concerns: With TXN trading at a high earnings multiple, investors may have expected an even stronger outlook. Analysts noted that share performance could continue to lag business results if expectations remain elevated. Texas Instruments valuation analysis Negative Sentiment: Analyst opinion remains divided: Mizuho lowered its price target to $290 and kept a neutral rating, while Wells Fargo also maintained a cautious stance. This signals that some investors view much of the recovery as already reflected in the stock. Wall Street Analyst Weigh In A number of equities analysts have recently issued reports on the company. KeyCorp upped their price objective on Texas Instruments from $390.00 to $400.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a report on Thursday, July 23rd. Susquehanna reissued a “positive” rating on shares of Texas Instruments in a report on Thursday. Zacks Research downgraded Texas Instruments from a “strong-buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research report on Monday, September 21st. Wells Fargo & Company cut their target price on Texas Instruments from $310.00 to $300.00 and set an “equal weight” rating for the company in a research note on Tuesday. Finally, Rosenblatt Securities increased their price target on shares of Texas Instruments from $350.00 to $360.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research report on Thursday. Sixteen investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, twelve have issued a Hold rating and three have issued a Sell rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, Texas Instruments has a consensus rating of “Hold” and a consensus target price of $311.39.

Check Out Our Latest Analysis on Texas Instruments

Insider Buying and Selling In other Texas Instruments news, VP Tsedeniya Abraham sold 7,000 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, August 27th. The stock was sold at an average price of $264.63, for a total value of $1,852,410.00. Following the completion of the sale, the vice president owned 23,181 shares in the company, valued at approximately $6,134,388.03. This trade represents a 23.19% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through the SEC website. 0.60% of the stock is owned by insiders.

(Free Report)

Texas Instruments Incorporated (NASDAQ:TXN) designs and manufactures analog and embedded semiconductor products used in industrial, automotive, personal electronics, communications equipment, and enterprise systems. Its analog products help manage power, sense and measure real-world signals, and support signal processing, while its embedded processing products provide computing and control functions within electronic systems.

The company offers a broad portfolio of semiconductors, including power-management devices, amplifiers, data converters, microcontrollers, processors, and connectivity products.

Recommended Stories Five stocks we like better than Texas Instruments Is Texas Instruments Setting Up for Its Next Big Breakout? Pegasystems’ Q3 Miss Exposed the Problem Standing Between AI and Cash Flow Lam Research’s Earnings Beat Wasn’t the Real Story—Its 2027 Outlook Was Tesla’s Flying-Car Hype Hits an Earnings Reality Check Want to see what other hedge funds are holding TXN? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Texas Instruments Incorporated (NASDAQ:TXN – Free Report).

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