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 At Week 52, Taltz and Zepbound maintained or further improved psoriasis or psoriatic arthritis disease activity from Week 36, when statistically superior improvements versus Taltz alone were observed in the TOGETHER-PsO and TOGETHER-PsA trials

Systemic inflammation and metabolic outcomes continued to improve or were sustained at one year with Taltz and Zepbound compared to Taltz alone in pre-specified, exploratory endpoints

Data from first-of-their-kind studies contribute to the understanding of immunometabolic health

, /PRNewswire/ -- Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE: LLY) today announced 52-week results from TOGETHER-PsO and TOGETHER-PsA, two novel open-label Phase 3b clinical trials evaluating the concomitant use of Taltz (ixekizumab) and Zepbound (tirzepatide) compared to Taltz alone in adults with moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis (PsO) or active psoriatic arthritis (PsA), respectively, and obesity or overweight with at least one additional weight-related comorbid condition. At the previously reported Week 36 primary endpoint, Taltz and Zepbound showed statistically superior improvements in disease activity and metabolic outcomes compared to Taltz alone in both trials. New data show these improvements were maintained or further improved through Week 52, with no new safety concerns identified.

"The primary results from these first-of-their-kind studies were already remarkable, showing that Taltz and Zepbound used together improved outcomes for patients with psoriatic disease and obesity. What's especially exciting now is seeing those improvements further deepened or sustained at one year, across disease activity, inflammation and metabolic outcomes," said Mark Genovese, M.D., senior vice president of Lilly Immunology development. "People living with the cumulative burden of psoriatic disease and obesity are too often treated with separate, disconnected approaches. These data showing durable results across multiple measures support a comprehensive approach that can potentially address immunometabolic health for patients living with these chronic diseases."

Psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis are immune-mediated diseases that are often linked with metabolic dysfunction, including obesity.1,2 In the U.S., approximately 61% of people with psoriasis and 65% of people with psoriatic arthritis also have obesity or overweight with at least one weight-related comorbidity,1,2 which is often associated with poorer treatment outcomes.3-5 At baseline, the mean body mass index (BMI) of participants was 39.2 in TOGETHER-PsO and 37.6 in TOGETHER-PsA.

"Psoriatic disease is often accompanied by obesity or overweight, which can make treatment goals related to the skin and joints harder to reach," said Joseph F. Merola, M.D. MMSc, a Dermatologist, Rheumatologist, President of the Psoriasis and Psoriatic Arthritis Clinics Multicenter Advancement Network (PPACMAN), co-president of the Group for Research and Assessment of Psoriasis and Psoriatic Arthritis (GRAPPA), and President of the Rheumatology-Dermatology Society. "In psoriatic arthritis, the greater improvements in disease activity seen with Taltz and Zepbound in the first month, before clinically meaningful weight loss occurred, continued through one year. In psoriasis, the durability of complete skin clearance at one year represents real, lasting progress for patients. Paired with continued metabolic improvements, these findings show what may be possible when treating psoriatic disease and obesity concurrently."

At Week 52, the following were observed:*

Primary outcome: The primary multi-component outcome continued to improve through Week 52 in each trial. In TOGETHER-PsO, the primary outcome was Psoriasis Area Severity Index (PASI) 100 plus at least 10% weight loss (achieved by 30.6% of patients with Taltz plus Zepbound at Week 52 vs. 4.4% for Taltz alone). In TOGETHER-PsA, the primary outcome was an at least 50% reduction in PsA disease activity based on American College of Rheumatology 50 (ACR50) plus at least 10% weight loss (achieved by 39.2% of patients with Taltz and Zepbound at Week 52 vs. 1.7% for monotherapy). PsO disease activity key secondary outcome: In TOGETHER-PsO, the percentage of patients receiving Taltz and Zepbound who achieved the highest bar of complete skin clearance (PASI 100) was maintained (40.5% at Week 52 vs. 29.1% for Taltz monotherapy). PsA disease activity key secondary outcome: In TOGETHER-PsA, the proportion of patients achieving ACR50 with Taltz and Zepbound further increased (43.7% at Week 52 vs.15.7% for Taltz monotherapy). This builds on the ACR50 improvements with Taltz and Zepbound compared to Taltz alone seen as early as Week 4, before clinically meaningful weight loss was observed. Systemic inflammation: Treatment with Taltz and Zepbound also led to deeper improvements in systemic inflammation over time in both trials, as measured by high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP). Metabolic outcomes: Improvements in BMI, blood pressure, glucose, HbA1c, triglycerides, and total cholesterol with Taltz and Zepbound compared to Taltz monotherapy were sustained or further improved. *Week 52 analyses are pre-specified, exploratory objectives without multiplicity control. Comparisons between timepoints are descriptive and not tested or controlled for multiplicity.

Adverse events in participants treated with Taltz and Zepbound together were generally mild to moderate, and the types of adverse events were consistent with the known safety profile of each medicine. In the concomitant treatment arm in both trials, the adverse events reported in ≥5% of participants were nausea, diarrhea, constipation, injection site reactions, vomiting, dizziness and headache.

Taltz is a monoclonal antibody that selectively binds with interleukin 17A (IL-17A) cytokine and inhibits its interaction with the IL-17 receptor. Taltz is the only biologic with data supporting a potential comprehensive treatment approach alongside an incretin therapy for people with psoriasis or psoriatic arthritis who also have obesity or overweight. Zepbound is the only FDA-approved dual GIP (glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide) and GLP-1 (glucagon-like peptide-1) receptor agonist obesity management medication.

Detailed 52-week results from TOGETHER-PsO and TOGETHER-PsA will be presented at future medical meetings and published in peer-reviewed journals.

About the TOGETHER-PsO and TOGETHER-PsA Trials
TOGETHER-PsO (NCT06588283) and TOGETHER-PsA (NCT06588296) are 52-week Phase 3b, randomized, multicenter, assessor-blinded, open-label studies assessing the efficacy and safety of concomitant administration of Taltz and Zepbound compared with Taltz alone in adults with psoriatic disease and obesity or overweight with at least one additional weight-related comorbid condition. TOGETHER-PsO enrolled 274 adults with moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis, and TOGETHER-PsA enrolled 271 adults with active psoriatic arthritis. Participants were randomized 1:1 to receive either Taltz alone or concomitantly with Zepbound, both administered subcutaneously, and received counseling on a reduced-calorie diet and increased physical activity. The primary objectives at Week 36 are the proportion of participants achieving both PASI 100 and ≥10% weight reduction in TOGETHER-PsO and both ACR50 and ≥10% weight reduction in TOGETHER-PsA. Participants were required to have a BMI ≥30 kg/m², or ≥27 to <30 kg/m² with at least one weight-related comorbidity.

About Taltz (ixekizumab)6
Taltz is a monoclonal antibody that selectively binds with interleukin 17A (IL-17A) cytokine and inhibits its interaction with the IL-17 receptor. IL-17A is a naturally occurring cytokine that is involved in normal inflammatory and immune responses. Taltz inhibits the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines and chemokines. Taltz is approved to treat adults with active psoriatic arthritis and adults and children 6 years and older with moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis who are candidates for systemic therapy or phototherapy. Additionally, Taltz is approved for adults with active ankylosing spondylitis, and adults with active non-radiographic axial spondyloarthritis with objective signs of inflammation.

About Zepbound (tirzepatide) injection7
Zepbound (tirzepatide) is the first and only dual GIP (glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide) and GLP-1 (glucagon-like peptide-1) receptor agonist obesity medication. Zepbound tackles an underlying cause of excess weight. It reduces appetite and how much you eat. Zepbound is indicated for adults with obesity, or some adults who are overweight and also have at least one weight-related medical problem, to lose weight and keep it off. Additionally, Zepbound is FDA-approved to treat adults with moderate-to-severe obstructive sleep apnea and obesity. Zepbound should be used with a reduced calorie diet and increased physical activity.

TALTZ INDICATIONS AND SAFETY SUMMARY
Taltz® (tȯl-ts) is an injectable medicine used to treat:

People 6 years of age and older with moderate to severe plaque psoriasis who may benefit from taking injections or pills (systemic therapy) or treatment using ultraviolet or UV light (phototherapy). Adults with active psoriatic arthritis. Adults with active ankylosing spondylitis. Adults with active non-radiographic axial spondyloarthritis with objective signs of inflammation. It is not known if Taltz is safe and effective in children for conditions other than plaque psoriasis or in children under 6 years of age.

Warnings - Taltz affects the immune system. It may increase your risk of infections, some people have had serious infections, including tuberculosis (TB), and infections caused by bacteria, fungi, or viruses that can spread throughout the body. Some people have been hospitalized from these infections. Do not use Taltz if you have any symptoms of infection, unless your doctor tells you to. If you have a symptom after starting Taltz, call your doctor right away.

Your doctor should check you for TB before you start Taltz, and watch you closely for signs of TB during and after treatment with Taltz. If you have TB, or had it in the past, your doctor may treat you for it before you start Taltz.

Do not use Taltz if you have had a serious allergic reaction to ixekizumab or any other ingredient in Taltz, such as: swelling of your eyelids, lips, mouth, tongue or throat, trouble breathing, feeling faint, throat or chest tightness, or skin rash. Get emergency help right away if you have any of these reactions. See the Medication Guide that comes with Taltz for a list of ingredients.

Severe skin reactions that look like eczema can happen during treatment with Taltz from days to months after your first dose and can sometimes lead to hospitalization. Your doctor may temporarily stop treatment with Taltz if you develop severe skin reactions. Tell your doctor if you have any of the following: redness or rash, itching, patches, your skin is dry or feels like leather, blisters or abrasions that ooze or become crusty, small bumps or plaques with scale or crusting.

Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis (inflammatory bowel disease) can start or get worse with Taltz use. Tell your doctor if you have any of these symptoms or if they get worse: stomach pain, diarrhea, and weight loss.

You should not get live vaccines while taking Taltz. You should get the vaccines you need before you start Taltz.

Common side effects
The most common side effects of Taltz include:

Injection site reactions Nausea Upper respiratory infections Fungal skin infections Tell your doctor if you have any side effects. You can report side effects at 1-800-FDA-1088 or www.fda.gov/medwatch.

Before using
Before you use Taltz, review these questions with your doctor:

Are you being treated for an infection? Do you have an infection that does not go away or keeps coming back? Do you have TB or have you been in close contact with someone with TB? Do you have possible symptoms of an infection such as fever, cough, sores, diarrhea, or other symptoms? Ask your doctor about other possible symptoms. Do you have Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis? Tell your doctor if:

You need any vaccines or have had one recently. You take prescription or over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, or herbal supplements. You are pregnant or planning to become pregnant. It is not known if Taltz can harm an unborn baby. Pregnancy Exposure Registry: There is a pregnancy registry to collect information about women who are exposed to Taltz during pregnancy. The purpose of this registry is to collect information about the health of you and your baby. If you become pregnant while taking Taltz, you are encouraged to enroll in the pregnancy registry by calling 1-800-284-1695 or by visiting online at http://www.pregnancyregistry.lilly.com. You are breastfeeding or planning to breastfeed. It is not known if Taltz passes into breastmilk. How to take
See the instructions for use that come with Taltz. There you will find information about how to store, prepare, and inject Taltz. Adults may self-inject after receiving training from a healthcare provider.

For children 6 to 17 years of age:

If your child's healthcare provider decides that you may give Taltz injections at home, you should receive training on the right way to prepare and inject Taltz. Do not try to give Taltz to your child until you have been shown how to inject Taltz. Children should not inject themselves with Taltz. You or an adult caregiver should prepare and give Taltz injections to your child. Learn more
Taltz is a prescription medicine available as a 80 mg/mL, 40 mg/0.5mL, 20 mg/0.25mL injection. For more information, call 1-800-545-5979 or go to taltz.lilly.com.

This summary provides basic information about Taltz but does not include all information known about this medicine. Read the information that comes with your prescription each time your prescription is filled. This information does not take the place of talking with your doctor. Be sure to talk to your doctor or other healthcare provider about Taltz and how to take it. Your doctor is the best person to help you decide if Taltz is right for you.

IX CON BS 20AUG2024

ZEPBOUND INDICATIONS AND SAFETY SUMMARY WITH WARNINGS
Zepbound® (ZEHP-bownd) is an injectable prescription medicine used with a reduced-calorie diet and increased physical activity to help adults with:

obesity, or some adults with overweight who also have weight-related medical problems, to lose excess body weight and keep the weight off.  moderate-to-severe obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and obesity to improve their OSA. Zepbound contains tirzepatide and should not be used with other tirzepatide-containing products or any GLP-1 receptor agonist medicines. It is not known if Zepbound is safe and effective for use in children.

Warnings - Zepbound may cause tumors in the thyroid, including thyroid cancer. Watch for possible symptoms, such as a lump or swelling in the neck, hoarseness, trouble swallowing, or shortness of breath. If you have any of these symptoms, tell your healthcare provider.

Do not use Zepbound if you or any of your family have ever had a type of thyroid cancer called medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC). Do not use Zepbound if you have Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia syndrome type 2 (MEN 2). Do not use Zepbound if you have had a serious allergic reaction to tirzepatide or any of the ingredients in Zepbound. KwikPen®: Do not share your KwikPen with other people, even if the pen needle has been changed. You may give other people a serious infection or get a serious infection from them.

Zepbound may cause serious side effects, including:
Severe stomach problems. Stomach problems, sometimes severe, have been reported in people who use Zepbound. Tell your healthcare provider if you have stomach problems that are severe or will not go away.

Dehydration leading to kidney problems. Diarrhea, nausea, and vomiting may cause a loss of fluids (dehydration), which may cause kidney problems. It is important for you to drink fluids to help reduce your chance of dehydration. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you have nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea that does not go away.

Gallbladder problems. Gallbladder problems have happened in some people who use Zepbound. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you get symptoms of gallbladder problems, which may include pain in your upper stomach (abdomen), fever, yellowing of skin or eyes (jaundice), or clay-colored stools.

Inflammation of the pancreas (pancreatitis). Stop using Zepbound and call your healthcare provider right away if you have severe pain in your stomach area (abdomen) that will not go away, with or without nausea or vomiting. You may feel the pain from your abdomen to your back.

Serious allergic reactions. Stop using Zepbound and get medical help right away if you have any symptoms of a serious allergic reaction, including swelling of your face, lips, tongue or throat, problems breathing or swallowing, severe rash or itching, fainting or feeling dizzy, or very rapid heartbeat.

Low blood sugar (hypoglycemia). Your risk for getting low blood sugar may be higher if you use Zepbound with medicines that can cause low blood sugar, such as a sulfonylurea or insulin. Signs and symptoms of low blood sugar may include dizziness or light-headedness, sweating, confusion or drowsiness, headache, blurred vision, slurred speech, shakiness, fast heartbeat, anxiety, irritability, mood changes, hunger, weakness or feeling jittery.

Changes in vision in patients with type 2 diabetes. Tell your healthcare provider if you have changes in vision during treatment with Zepbound.

Food or liquid getting into the lungs during surgery or other procedures that use anesthesia or deep sleepiness (deep sedation). Zepbound may increase the chance of food getting into your lungs during surgery or other procedures. Tell all your healthcare providers that you are taking Zepbound before you are scheduled to have surgery or other procedures.

Common side effects
The most common side effects of Zepbound include nausea, diarrhea, vomiting, constipation, stomach (abdominal) pain, indigestion, injection site reactions, feeling tired, allergic reactions, belching, hair loss, and heartburn. These are not all the possible side effects of Zepbound. Talk to your healthcare provider about any side effect that bothers you or doesn't go away.

Tell your doctor if you have any side effects. You can report side effects at 1-800-FDA-1088 or www.fda.gov/medwatch. 

Before using Zepbound 

Your healthcare provider should show you how to use Zepbound before you use it for the first time.  Talk to your healthcare provider about low blood sugar and how to manage it. Tell your healthcare provider if you are taking medicines to treat diabetes including an insulin or sulfonylurea.  If you take birth control pills by mouth, talk to your healthcare provider before you use Zepbound. Birth control pills may not work as well while using Zepbound. Your healthcare provider may recommend another type of birth control for 4 weeks after you start Zepbound and for 4 weeks after each increase in your dose of Zepbound. Review these questions with your healthcare provider: 

❑ Do you have other medical conditions, including problems with your pancreas, or severe problems with your stomach, such as slowed emptying of your stomach (gastroparesis) or problems digesting food?
❑ Do you take diabetes medicines, such as insulin or sulfonylureas?
❑ Do you have a history of diabetic retinopathy?
❑ Are you scheduled to have surgery or other procedures that use anesthesia or deep sleepiness (deep sedation)?
❑ Do you take any other prescription medicines or over-the-counter drugs, vitamins, or herbal supplements?
❑ Are you pregnant, plan to become pregnant, breastfeeding, or plan to breastfeed? Zepbound may harm your unborn baby. Tell your healthcare provider if you become pregnant while using Zepbound. Zepbound may pass into your breast milk. You should talk with your healthcare provider about the best way to feed your baby while using Zepbound.

Pregnancy Exposure Registry: There will be a pregnancy exposure registry for women who have taken Zepbound during pregnancy. The purpose of this registry is to collect information about the health of you and your baby. Talk to your healthcare provider about how you can take part in this registry, or you may contact Lilly at 1-800-LillyRx (1-800-545-5979). How to take 

Read the Instructions for Use that come with Zepbound. Use Zepbound exactly as your healthcare provider says. Use Zepbound with a reduced-calorie diet and increased physical activity. Inject Zepbound under the skin (subcutaneously) of your stomach (abdomen), thigh, or 
have another person inject in the back of the upper arm. Do not inject ZEPBOUND into a muscle (intramuscularly) or vein (intravenously). Use Zepbound 1 time each week, at any time of the day.  Change (rotate) your injection site with each weekly injection. Do not use the same site for each injection. If you take too much Zepbound, call your healthcare provider, call the Poison Help line at 1-800-222-1222 or go to the nearest hospital emergency room right away.

Zepbound is approved as a 2.5 mg, 5 mg, 7.5 mg, 10 mg, 12.5 mg, and 15 mg injection.

Learn more
Zepbound is a prescription medicine. For more information, call 1-800-LillyRx (1-800-545-5979) [or go to www.zepbound.lilly.com].

This summary provides basic information about Zepbound but does not include all information known about this medicine. Read the information that comes with your prescription each time your prescription is filled. This information does not take the place of talking with your healthcare provider. Be sure to talk to your healthcare provider about Zepbound and how to take it. Your healthcare provider is the best person to help you decide if Zepbound is right for you.

ZP CON BS 25FEB2026
Zepbound®, its delivery device base and KwikPen® are registered trademarks owned or licensed by Eli Lilly and Company, its subsidiaries, or affiliates.

About Lilly
Lilly is a medicine company turning science into healing to make life better for people around the world. We've been pioneering life-changing discoveries for 150 years, and today our medicines help tens of millions of people across the globe. Harnessing the power of biotechnology, chemistry and genetic medicine, our scientists are urgently advancing new discoveries to solve some of the world's most significant health challenges: redefining diabetes care; treating obesity and curtailing its most devastating long-term effects; advancing the fight against Alzheimer's disease; providing solutions to some of the most debilitating immune system disorders; and transforming the most difficult-to-treat cancers into manageable diseases. With each step toward a healthier world, we're motivated by one thing: making life better for millions more people. That includes delivering innovative clinical trials that reflect the diversity of our world and working to ensure our medicines are accessible and affordable. To learn more, visit Lilly.com and Lilly.com/news, or follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn. P-LLY

Trademarks and Trade Names 
All trademarks or trade names referred to in this press release are the property of the company, or, to the extent trademarks or trade names belonging to other companies are references in this press release, the property of their respective owners. Solely for convenience, the trademarks and trade names in this press release are referred to without the ® and ™ symbols, but such references should not be construed as any indicator that the company or, to the extent applicable, their respective owners will not assert, to the fullest extent under applicable law, the company's or their rights thereto. We do not intend the use or display of other companies' trademarks and trade names to imply a relationship with, or endorsement or sponsorship of us by, any other companies.

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements 
This press release contains forward-looking statements (as that term is defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995) about Taltz (ixekizumab) as a treatment for moderate to severe plaque psoriasis and active psoriatic arthritis and Zepbound (tirzepatide) as a treatment for adults with obesity or overweight, and potential comprehensive treatment strategies for patients with psoriatic disease and obesity, and reflects Lilly's current beliefs and expectations. However, as with any pharmaceutical product, there are substantial risks and uncertainties in the process of drug research, development and commercialization. Among other things, there is no guarantee that future study results will be consistent with the results to date, or that Lilly will execute its strategies as planned. For further discussion of these and other risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ from Lilly's expectations, see Lilly's Form 10-K and Form 10-Q filings with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission. Except as required by law, Lilly undertakes no duty to update forward-looking statements to reflect events after the date of this release.

References
1 Armstrong et al, Addressing the Obesity-Psoriasis Connection: Prevalence, Incidence, and Comorbidity Insights from a Large US Population of 19.9 Million (2018-2024). Presented at Maui Derm, 2026.
2 Estimated from a large real-world population of care-seeking adults in the US in 2024, Truveta (data on file). Comorbidities include atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD), type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), dyslipidemia, hypertension, obstructive sleep apnea (OSA).
3 Enos, Clinton W. et al. Comorbid obesity and history of diabetes are independently associated with poorer treatment response to biologics at 6 months: A prospective analysis in Corrona Psoriasis Registry. Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, Volume 86, Issue 1, 68 - 76.
4 Proft F, et al. Nat Rev Rheumatol. 2026 Feb;22(2):132-144.
5 di Minno MN, et al. Arthritis Care Res (Hoboken). 2013;65(1):141-147. 
6 Taltz. Prescribing Information. Lilly USA, LLC.
7 Zepbound. Prescribing Information. Lilly USA, LLC.

SOURCE Eli Lilly and Company

Key Takeaways Medtronic expects Q1 growth across Cardiovascular, Neuroscience, MedSurg and Diabetes.MDT's Cardiovascular growth may be led by PFA momentum and strength in Cardiac Rhythm Management.MDT's MiniMed launches and sensor integrations are expected to boost Diabetes revenues. Medtronic plc (MDT - Free Report) is slated to report its first-quarter fiscal 2027 results on Sept. 1, before the opening bell.

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for the company’s first-quarter earnings per share (EPS) suggests 10.3% year-over-year growth to $1.39. The estimate has remained constant in the past 60 days. The consensus mark for first-quarter revenues currently stands at $9.47 billion, implying a 10.4% increase over the prior-year period. 

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Medtronic has a solid earnings surprise history, beating estimates in each of the past four quarters, with an average surprise of 2.3%.

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Q1 Earnings Whispers for MDTPer our proven model, a stock with a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), 2 (Buy) or 3 (Hold), along with a positive Earnings ESP, has a higher chance of beating estimates. This is not the case here, as you can see below.

Earnings ESP: Medtronic has an Earnings ESP of 0.00%. You can uncover the best stocks to buy or sell before they are reported with our Earnings ESP Filter.

Zacks Rank: The company currently carries a Zacks Rank #3. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks Rank #1 stocks here.

Factors Likely to Have Shaped MDT’s Q1 PerformanceCardiovascularThe segment is likely to have witnessed a solid performance across both U.S. and international markets. Within this, Cardiac Ablation Solutions (“CAS”) is expected to have remained the key growth driver, supported by momentum in the pulsed field ablation portfolio, which grew 145% in the previous quarter. The launch of the Sphere-9 catheter in Japan may have also strengthened Medtronic’s position in the region. 

The company has also begun the global rollout of Prism-2, its next-generation mapping software, which offers improved navigation through hybrid impedance and magnetic mapping. In June 2026, Medtronic announced strategic investments in two privately held companies focused on the development of intracardiac echocardiography (ICE) catheter technologies, which may have provided an additional boost to revenues. 

Cardiac Rhythm Management may also have contributed, driven by Micra leadless pacemakers, Aurora implantable cardioverter defibrillator (EV-ICD) system and the SelectSecure 3830 lead.

In Structural Heart, revenues are expected to have benefited from continued international strength as well as stabilizing U.S. procedure volumes. Growth in the Symplicity Spyral renal denervation system, guide catheters and balloons, as well as Endovenous growth in Peripheral Vascular Health, may have boosted Coronary & Peripheral Vascular sales.

The Zacks Consensus Estimate implies Cardiovascular revenues will increase 15.2% year over year.

NeuroscienceMedtronic continues to invest across its Neuroscience portfolio to advance pipeline innovation and support long-term growth. Within this, Cranial and Spinal Technologies results in the fiscal first quarter may benefit from the continued adoption of the AiBLE ecosystem, with Core Spine and Neurosurgery also likely contributing to growth. The commercial rollout of the Stealth AXiS surgical system may have further advanced. In June, Medtronic received the CE mark for the ear, nose and throat indications, expanding the platform’s reach.

Neuromodulation performance is expected to have been led by the Inceptiv closed-loop spinal cord stimulator, the Percept RC neurostimulator with BrainSense technology, and Interventional products.

Medtronic completed two acquisitions within this business. The Scientia Vascular acquisition in June adds a portfolio of guidewires and catheters to its existing neurovascular product lineup, while the July acquisition of SPR Therapeutics, Inc. (SPR) expands its ability to serve patients across the pain care continuum.

The Zacks Consensus Estimate expects Neuroscience revenues to grow 10.7% year over year.

Medical Surgical (MedSurg)In the fiscal first quarter, MedSurg performance is expected to have been driven by solid growth in Advanced Energy and Wound Management, alongside higher contribution from the Hugo robotic-assisted surgery system. However, similar to recent trends, continued pressure on U.S. bariatric surgery procedure volumes may have partially offset this growth.

Endoscopy is likely to have been a growth driver, with sales benefiting from strong adoption of Endoflip in the United States and Western Europe, as well as from U.S. market share gains of the Nexpowder hemostasis system. Acute Care and Monitoring may have gained from strength in Nellcor pulse oximetry, respiratory and airways and in perioperative.

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for MedSurg’s revenues suggests a 7.6% year-over-year increase.

DiabetesMiniMed, Medtronic’s diabetes business, completed an initial public offering in March, with approximately 10% of its ownership sold and its shares beginning to trade on the Nasdaq Global Select Market. Medtronic continues to hold approximately 90% ownership in MiniMed.

In the first quarter of fiscal 2027, the business is likely to have witnessed robust international contributions from the continued adoption of the MiniMed 780G Automated Insulin Delivery (AID) system, including the Simplera Sync and Guardian 4 continuous glucose monitoring sensors and Extended Infusion Sets. U.S. momentum may also have continued following the late-2025 launches of the Simplera Sync and Abbott’s Instinct sensors. 

The quarter also saw several key developments. MiniMed announced the commercial availability of MiniMed Flex, its smallest app-controlled insulin pump powered by the advanced SmartGuard algorithm. The system is FDA cleared for people with type 1 diabetes aged 7 years and older, as well as adults aged 18 years and older with insulin-requiring type 2 diabetes and is paired with the Simplera Sync sensor. MiniMed Flex is also now available to Medicare and Medicare Advantage beneficiaries.

MiniMed launched the MiniMed 780G system integrated with Abbott’s Instinct sensor and the MiniMed Go system with the Instinct Go sensor in Europe. Together, these developments are expected to have strongly boosted overall revenues in the quarter.

The Zacks Consensus Estimate suggests Diabetes revenues will grow 15.1% year over year.

MDT Stock Price PerformanceOver the past three months, Medtronic shares have outperformed the industry and the broader Medical sector.

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The stock has also fared better than major peers like Boston Scientific (BSX - Free Report) , whose shares fell 2%, while Edward Lifesciences (EW - Free Report) gained 4.8%. Boston Scientific’s second-quarter 2026 revenues and EPS surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 1.1% and 3.6%, respectively. However, the company lowered its 2026 sales and earnings outlook after slower WATCHMAN demand, U.S. electrophysiology share losses and limited operating leverage weakened near-term visibility. Meanwhile, Edwards’ second-quarter revenues and EPS topped the consensus mark by 2.4% and 6.8%, respectively.

MDT’s ValuationMedtronic trades at a forward five-year Price/Earnings (P/E) of 14.98X, lower than its median of 15.73X and the industry average of 17.74X.

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EndnoteMedtronic’s upcoming fiscal first-quarter results are expected to reflect ongoing momentum in CAS, as well as strength in businesses such as Cardiac Rhythm Management and Cranial and Spinal Technologies. At the same time, the company is also advancing its M&A and venture initiatives, targeting higher-growth segments to accelerate innovation.

While current indicators do not point to a strong earnings beat, the company has a consistent earnings surprise history, which is encouraging. Medtronic’s recent stock performance has been impressive, outpacing the key benchmarks and peers. Existing MDT shareholders should consider holding their positions, supported by the company’s attractive valuation.  

Key Takeaways Medtronic's Cardiovascular business grew 9.3% organically in fiscal 2026, led by strong rhythm growth.MDT's Hypertension momentum builds as Symplicity Spyral gains access and procedures double after the NCD.Medtronic faces tariff costs and currency risks, with fiscal 2027 guidance signalling a revenue drag. Medtronic plc (MDT - Free Report) is well-poised for growth in the upcoming quarters due to strong momentum in its Cardiovascular businesses, both in the United States and internationally. In Neuroscience, the company is investing across the portfolio to advance pipeline innovation and long-term growth. Medtronic’s Hypertension business could benefit from a large unmet need as renal denervation moves into broader use. Yet, macroeconomic pressures and adverse foreign exchange impacts may weigh on the company’s results.

Over the past year, this Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) stock has gained 0.1% against the industry’s 23.1% decline and the S&P 500 composite’s 20.2% rise.

The renowned medical device company has a market capitalization of $116.67 billion. Medtronic has an earnings yield of 6.5% compared with the industry’s yield of 2.6%. MDT’s earnings surpassed estimates in each of the trailing four quarters, delivering an average surprise of 2.3%.

Let’s delve deeper.

Tailwinds for MDTMarket Share Gain Within Cardiovascular to Continue: Medtronic is expanding its global foothold within the Cardiovascular business. Fiscal 2026 Cardiovascular revenues grew 9.3% organically, while fourth-quarter revenues rose 10.1% organically, led by 18.2% growth in Cardiac Rhythm & Heart Failure. Cardiac Ablation Solutions delivered 78% growth, including 124% growth in the United States, and gained 8 U.S. share points.

Cardiac Rhythm Management grew in the mid-single digits, supported by Micra, the SelectSecure 3830 lead, Aurora EV-ICD and OmniaSecure. Peripheral Vascular Health also benefits from the full market release of Liberant mechanical thrombectomy and Neuroguard IEP carotid stenting. These platforms support continued share capture across several cardiovascular categories, while fiscal 2027 commentary calls for Cardiovascular performance broadly in line with fiscal 2026.

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Neuroscience Portfolio Shows Growth Prospects: Medtronic’s Neuroscience portfolio remains broad, with growth opportunities across Cranial & Spinal Technologies, Specialty Therapies and Neuromodulation. Fiscal 2026 Neuroscience revenues rose 3.1% organically, and fourth-quarter growth was 3% organically, led by 6% growth in international markets. Within CST, Core Spine grew 6% in the fourth quarter, supported by ModuleX expansion and distributor conversions.

Stealth AXiS secured FDA clearance for spine, cranial and ENT indications and CE Mark for spine and cranial indications, which broadens the platform’s contribution to AiBLE. Specialty Therapies grew 3.4% organically in the fourth quarter, while Neurovascular rose 6% as hemorrhagic products advanced 11% with Neuroguard and Artisse adoption. In Pelvic Health, Altaviva is gaining traction, with active implanters up threefold sequentially and patients treated up 2.5 times. In Neuromodulation, SPR Therapeutics and ViaVerte expand Medtronic’s reach into chronic pain therapies and BVNA.

Hypertension, A New Focus Area: Medtronic’s Hypertension business is entering a broader commercial ramp-up through the Symplicity Spyral renal denervation procedure. The final Medicare National Coverage Determination enabled broader access, and procedure momentum improved after reimbursement clarity. Management noted that average weekly procedures doubled after the NCD, and Symplicity is now annualizing at $100 million.

The company estimates roughly 18 million people in the United States live with uncontrolled hypertension despite multiple medications. Long-term data in more than 2,000 patients showed sustained mean systolic BP reductions of 13.3 millimeters of mercury in ambulatory settings and 18.1 millimeters of mercury in office settings in three years. This evidence, combined with expanding reimbursement and patient demand, supports management’s view that renal denervation can become a multi-billion-dollar opportunity over time.

Downsides for MDTMacroeconomic Issues Hamper Market Growth: Medtronic’s operations remain vulnerable to cost inflation, reimbursement constraints, geopolitical disruption and changing global trade policies. Tariffs impacted the business by 80 basis points (bps) in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2026 after a 110 bps impact in the third quarter. For fiscal 2027, management expects tariff impact on the cost of goods sold (COGS) of approximately $250 million, up $65 million year over year, with no government refund assumed.

Exposure to Currency Movement: Medtronic generates a large portion of sales internationally, leaving reported results sensitive to exchange rates. Foreign exchange added $819 million to fiscal 2026 revenues, but fiscal 2027 guidance assumes a neutral to $100 million revenue drag.

MDT Stock Estimate TrendThe Zacks Consensus Estimate for Medtronic’s fiscal 2027 earnings per share (EPS) has remained constant at $5.94 in the past 30 days.

The consensus estimate for the company’s fiscal 2027 revenues is pegged at $38.64 billion, implying a 6.3% increase from the year-ago reported number.

Key PicksSome better-ranked stocks in the broader medical space are Globus Medical (GMED - Free Report) , Veracyte (VCYT - Free Report) and Teleflex (TFX - Free Report) .

Globus Medical has an earnings yield of 5.8% compared to the industry’s negative 1.7% yield. Its earnings surpassed estimates in each of the trailing four quarters, with the average surprise being 27.9%. GMED shares have rallied 35.1% against the industry’s 3.5% decline over the past year.

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

Veracyte, sporting a Zacks Rank #1, has an earnings yield of 4.6% against the industry’s negative 1.7% yield. Shares of the company have risen 47.8% against the industry’s 3.5% plunge. VCYT’s earnings outpaced estimates in each of the trailing four quarters, the average surprise being 41.8%. 

Teleflex, carrying a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy), has an estimated long-term earnings growth rate of 20.7% compared with the industry’s 12.8% growth. Its earnings beat estimates in three of the trailing four quarters and missed on one occasion, the average surprise being 3.2%. TFX shares have rallied 9.9% against the industry’s 3.5% fall over the past year.

Beacon Pointe Advisors LLC trimmed its stake in shares of Union Pacific Corporation (NYSE:UNP – Free Report) by 3.5% during the 2nd quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 49,545 shares of the railroad operator’s stock after selling 1,780 shares during the quarter. Beacon Pointe Advisors LLC’s holdings in Union Pacific were worth $13,474,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently bought and sold shares of UNP. Tucker Asset Management LLC bought a new position in Union Pacific in the 4th quarter worth $25,000. SWAN Capital LLC boosted its stake in shares of Union Pacific by 2,575.0% during the 4th quarter. SWAN Capital LLC now owns 107 shares of the railroad operator’s stock valued at $25,000 after purchasing an additional 103 shares in the last quarter. Wiser Advisor Group LLC purchased a new position in shares of Union Pacific during the second quarter valued at about $30,000. Scarborough Advisors LLC bought a new position in Union Pacific in the first quarter worth about $27,000. Finally, Cornerstone Financial Management LLC purchased a new stake in Union Pacific in the fourth quarter worth about $27,000. Institutional investors own 80.38% of the company’s stock.

More Union Pacific News Here are the key news stories impacting Union Pacific this week:

Positive Sentiment: New analyst coverage adds support: Erste Group Bank AG initiated coverage of Union Pacific with a “buy” rating, signaling confidence in the railroad’s valuation and outlook. Erste Group Bank coverage Positive Sentiment: Dividend and earnings backdrop remains favorable: Union Pacific is being highlighted as a dividend-growth railroad, and recent quarterly results showed earnings and revenue above analyst expectations, with revenue up year over year. These factors reinforce the company’s appeal to income and quality-focused investors. Dividend-paying railroad stocks Neutral Sentiment: Merger application advances: Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern submitted expanded customer protections to the Surface Transportation Board, including broader eligibility for committed gateway pricing. The proposed terms could improve the prospects for approval of the first single-line transcontinental railroad network, although the transaction remains subject to a lengthy regulatory review. Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern merger protections Neutral Sentiment: Management will address investors: CEO Jim Vena and CFO Jennifer Hamann are scheduled to participate in a Bernstein Research fireside chat on September 1. Investors may look for updates on merger strategy, rail efficiency and operating trends. Union Pacific Bernstein fireside chat Negative Sentiment: Regulatory and efficiency risks remain: The companies continue defending the merger against opponents’ challenges, while new analysis describes Union Pacific as facing a fresh test of rail efficiency. Any tougher STB scrutiny or evidence of operational weaknesses could temper merger-driven optimism. Merger application regulatory review Wall Street Analyst Weigh In Several research analysts have recently issued reports on UNP shares. Bank of America increased their target price on Union Pacific from $301.00 to $334.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research report on Thursday, July 23rd. Wells Fargo & Company reissued an “overweight” rating and set a $335.00 price objective (up from $315.00) on shares of Union Pacific in a research report on Friday, July 24th. Erste Group Bank assumed coverage on shares of Union Pacific in a report on Thursday. They set a “buy” rating on the stock. Stephens upgraded shares of Union Pacific to a “strong-buy” rating in a research note on Wednesday, July 8th. Finally, Benchmark boosted their price objective on shares of Union Pacific from $325.00 to $335.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research note on Friday, July 24th. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, fourteen have assigned a Buy rating and six have given a Hold rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $320.89. Check Out Our Latest Research Report on Union Pacific

Union Pacific Stock Performance UNP stock opened at $307.82 on Friday. The stock’s 50 day simple moving average is $291.07 and its 200 day simple moving average is $269.81. The company has a current ratio of 0.99, a quick ratio of 0.82 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.40. Union Pacific Corporation has a 12-month low of $210.84 and a 12-month high of $315.99. The stock has a market capitalization of $182.87 billion, a PE ratio of 24.92, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 3.12 and a beta of 0.96.

Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP – Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Thursday, July 23rd. The railroad operator reported $3.41 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $3.26 by $0.15. The business had revenue of $6.86 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $6.72 billion. Union Pacific had a return on equity of 38.46% and a net margin of 28.85%.The company’s quarterly revenue was up 11.5% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter last year, the company earned $3.03 EPS. As a group, research analysts forecast that Union Pacific Corporation will post 13.01 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Union Pacific Increases Dividend The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, September 30th. Stockholders of record on Monday, August 31st will be issued a dividend of $1.42 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, August 31st. This is a positive change from Union Pacific’s previous quarterly dividend of $1.38. This represents a $5.68 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.8%. Union Pacific’s dividend payout ratio is presently 44.70%.

Insiders Place Their Bets In related news, EVP Eric J. Gehringer sold 2,991 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, June 3rd. The shares were sold at an average price of $263.96, for a total transaction of $789,504.36. Following the transaction, the executive vice president owned 43,012 shares in the company, valued at $11,353,447.52. This represents a 6.50% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. 0.22% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

Union Pacific Profile (Free Report)

Union Pacific Corporation (NYSE: UNP) is one of the largest freight railroad companies in the United States. Its principal operating subsidiary, Union Pacific Railroad, has roots that trace back to the Pacific Railway Act of 1862 and the construction of the first transcontinental rail link completed in 1869. The company is headquartered in Omaha, Nebraska, and operates as a holding company for rail transportation and related services.

Union Pacific’s core business is the movement of freight by rail across an extensive rail network serving the western two‑thirds of the United States.

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Shares of HDFC Bank, India's largest private sector lender, rose 2.5% Monday before paring gains, after Chief Executive Sashidhar Jagdishan made a surprise announcement about exiting the bank after the end of his term in October.

Analysts believe that the successor's profile could offer the bank re-rating potential, especially as the stock has been battered since the start of the year. As per LSEG data, shares of HDFC have tanked 27% since the start of the year compared with an 8% drop of the benchmark Nifty 50 index.

The next chief executive will need to accelerate growth, improve deposit mobilization and returns, and rebuild confidence around governance and senior-management stability, global brokerage Nomura said in a report on Sunday.

"A credible successor could become a meaningful rerating catalyst," it said but added that the stock would "remain under pressure in the near term" until there is clarity on the next chief executive and the direction in which he will steer the bank.

This is the second time this year that the bank has been embroiled in a leadership crisis. In March, the bank's part-time chair Atanu Chakraborty resigned after flagging governance and ethical concerns within the institution.

"Despite persuasion, Mr. Jagdishan reiterated his decision to not seek reappointment," HDFC said in a release on Saturday, adding it will "fast-track the process for selection and appointment of his successor."

Succession planKaizad Bharucha, the deputy managing director of the bank, is the most likely internal choice to replace Jagdishan, Citi and Jefferies said in their latest reports.

Some of the other candidates named in the Jefferies report on Monday include Anup Bagchi, CEO ICICI Pru Life; Paresh Sukthankar, former deputy MD at HDFC Bank; Vibha Padalkar, chief executive of HDFC Life; and Amitabh Chaudhry, CEO, Axis Bank.

Jefferies, which continues to have a buy rating on HDFC Bank, said that the uncertainty over leadership "can lift cost of equity, leading to lower valuation" but said that after the share drop earlier this year the "risk-reward is balanced," at a price-to-book ratio of 1.5 times.

Citi in its report on Sunday said that the new CEO needs to demonstrate strategic competence to deliver a credible path to scale up net interest margins and return on assets and a decisive growth trajectory with market share gain.

During Jagdishan's tenure, HDFC Bank completed a $40 billion takeover of the country's largest mortgage lender, the synergies from which are yet to be fully realized, as per analysts.

, /CNW/ -- Royal Bank of Canada (TSX: RY) (NYSE: RY) announced today that its board of directors has declared a quarterly common share dividend of $1.76 per share, payable on or after November 24, 2026, to common shareholders of record at the close of business on October 26, 2026.

The board also declared a dividend for the following Non-Cumulative First Preferred Shares, payable on or after November 24, 2026, to shareholders of record at the close of business on October 26, 2026.

Series BO of $0.3678125 per share The board also declared dividends for the following Non-Cumulative First Preferred Shares, payable on or after November 24, 2026, to shareholders of record at the close of business on November 17, 2026.

Series BW of $33.49 per share For further information, please contact:

Investor Contact:
Asim Imran, Investor Relations, [email protected], 416-955-7804

Media Contact:
Heather Colquhoun, Financial Communications, [email protected], 437-994-5044

SOURCE Royal Bank of Canada

VIG, VYM, and VYMI: Which Vanguard Dividend ETF Is Right for You?Royal Bank Of Canada NYSE: RY reported record third-quarter earnings of CAD 6 billion, up 11% from a year earlier, as broad-based revenue growth across its banking, wealth management and capital-markets businesses supported profitability.

Diluted earnings per share were CAD 4.23, while adjusted diluted EPS was CAD 4.28, also up 11% year over year. Chief Executive Officer Dave McKay said revenue rose 9%, supported by client activity, a diversified business mix and a favorable market backdrop. The bank generated adjusted operating leverage of 2.4% and reported an adjusted efficiency ratio of 52%.

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BitMine’s Ethereum Bet Is Only Part of the StoryRBC’s return on equity was 17.9%, while its Common Equity Tier 1 capital ratio remained at 13.5%. The bank generated 80 basis points of capital internally during the quarter and deployed 85 basis points through business growth, dividends and share repurchases. RBC repurchased 5.6 million shares for approximately CAD 1.6 billion during the period.

Growth Across Major Businesses Personal Banking produced CAD 1.9 billion of earnings, with Canadian personal-banking net income down 1% year over year. Revenue reached a record and increased 4%, while net interest income rose 5%. Excluding the effect of lower purchase price adjustments related to RBC’s acquisition of HSBC Bank Canada, personal-banking net interest income increased 8%, driven by 4% loan growth and higher margins.

3 High-Risk Stocks That Soared in 2025 But Can Still Fly HigherMcKay said sequential mortgage growth reached 1.8%, the strongest level since the HSBC Canada acquisition. Credit-card balances increased 7% from the prior year, while the combined total of average retail deposits and mutual-fund assets under administration increased 8%, or CAD 47 billion. RBC also cited record new-account acquisition at its Avion Rewards program.

Commercial Banking reported record net income of CAD 936 million, up 12% from a year earlier. Revenue increased 5%, driven mainly by higher volumes and margins. Deposits rose 9% year over year and 6% sequentially, while loans increased 4% year over year and 1% sequentially. The segment’s loan-to-deposit ratio improved three percentage points to 58%.

Commercial Banking Group Head Sean Amato-Gauci said loan growth accelerated during the quarter, with July representing the business’s strongest monthly growth in a year. He cited activity in agriculture, healthcare, the public sector and certain real-estate categories. He also said RBC’s HSBC client-retention trends were below the attrition levels modeled during due diligence.

Capital Markets and Wealth Set Records Capital Markets posted record net income of CAD 1.5 billion, up 16% from the prior year, with record pre-provision, pre-tax earnings of CAD 2 billion. Global markets revenue increased 11%, supported by equities trading and non-trading and financing portfolios, partly offset by weaker rates-trading activity amid muted client demand.

Corporate and investment-banking revenue rose 16%, including a 23% gain in investment-banking revenue. McKay said higher origination and merger-and-acquisition activity contributed to RBC’s market share reaching 2.1% over the past 12 months. Lending and transaction-banking revenue rose 10%, helped by loan and deposit growth.

Group Head of Capital Markets Derek Neldner said the artificial-intelligence capital-expenditure cycle is creating opportunities across technology, data centers, power, energy and critical minerals. He said RBC is using lending relationships to support investment banking, transaction banking, trading and wealth-management activity.

Wealth Management earned CAD 1.4 billion, up 32% year over year, as revenue reached a record and the segment’s pre-tax margin rose four percentage points to 29.3%. Non-interest income grew 16%, supported by market appreciation, positive net sales, new assets and increased transaction activity. Canadian and U.S. wealth-management assets under administration increased 20% and 14%, respectively.

RBC Direct Investing benefited from nearly 40% year-over-year growth in trading volumes. Group Head of Wealth Management and Insurance Neil McLaughlin said the bank does not expect a required step-up in investment spending to sustain current growth, noting that technology and artificial-intelligence initiatives are being funded within the existing investment envelope.

Transaction Banking and U.S. Expansion RBC said it is building a global transaction-banking business intended to provide an integrated offering for commercial and wholesale clients operating across borders. McKay said the effort will combine the bank’s existing technology platforms and enable a more focused global go-to-market strategy.

Neldner said RBC expects to make organizational changes over the next 60 to 90 days while seeking to avoid disrupting momentum in existing businesses. The bank plans to introduce performance indicators over time to track the broader transaction-banking initiative.

In the United States, City National Bank earned $184 million during the quarter, supported by 8% loan growth and 5% deposit growth. RBC said its U.S. region efficiency ratio improved to 75% year to date, closer to its target in the low-70% range. McKay said the company sees substantial organic growth opportunities at City National, including expansion into the Southeast and potentially Texas, as well as product cross-selling to wealth clients.

Credit Trends and Outlook Chief Risk Officer Graeme Hepworth said RBC retained elevated weightings to downside scenarios in its provisioning process because of geopolitical tensions and uncertain trade policy. The bank recorded CAD 21 million, or one basis point, of provisions on performing loans.

Provisions on impaired loans were 35 basis points, up one basis point from the prior quarter. Gross impaired loans rose CAD 353 million, led by Capital Markets and Wealth Management, partly offset by lower impaired loans in Commercial Banking. RBC took an additional CAD 120 million provision related to a previously impaired utility-sector borrower because of increased uncertainty surrounding resolution of that exposure.

Hepworth said retail-credit indicators were showing signs of stabilization, though delinquencies in unsecured products, particularly credit cards, remained elevated. RBC expects full-year 2026 provisions on impaired loans to remain within its previously guided range.

Looking ahead, RBC reiterated its full-year targets. It said all-bank net interest income excluding trading was up 7% year to date and remained on track for its mid-single-digit growth guidance. The bank expects Canadian banking margins to be relatively stable in the fourth quarter, as structural tailwinds are offset by competition for mortgages and term deposits. RBC also continues to expect positive all-bank operating leverage for the full year.

About Royal Bank Of Canada (NYSE:RY)Royal Bank of Canada NYSE: RY is a diversified financial services company and one of Canada's largest banks. Founded in 1864 in Halifax, Nova Scotia, the firm is now headquartered in Toronto, Ontario. It provides a broad range of banking and financial services to individuals, businesses, and institutional clients through a network of branches, digital platforms and international offices.

RBC operates across several principal business segments including personal and commercial banking, wealth management, insurance, investor and treasury services, capital markets, and global asset management.

This instant news alert was generated by narrative science technology and financial data from MarketBeat in order to provide readers with the fastest reporting and unbiased coverage. Please send any questions or comments about this story to [email protected].

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

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As mentioned on the occasion of the presentation of the 2nd Quarter 2026 Results, TotalEnergies (Paris:TTE) LSE:TTE NYSE:TTE confirms that the transfer of its 10% interest in Arctic LNG 2 to NordLine (a Novatek subsidiary) has been completed. TotalEnergies is therefore no longer a shareholder in Arctic LNG 2.

As part of the transfer agreement, TotalEnergies retains its rights to be reimbursed by Arctic LNG 2 for its share of the loans provided by the shareholders to the project, for an amount of around US$ 1.3 billion. Such reimbursement might be implemented in the future subject to applicable sanctions.

About TotalEnergies

TotalEnergies is a global integrated multi-energy company that produces and markets energies: oil and biofuels, natural gas, biogas and low-carbon hydrogen, renewables and electricity. Our more than 100,000 employees are committed to providing as many people as possible with energy that is more affordable, more available and more sustainable. Present in around 120 countries, TotalEnergies places sustainable development at the heart of its strategy, its projects and its operations.

@TotalEnergiesTotalEnergiesTotalEnergiesTotalEnergies

Cautionary Note

The terms “TotalEnergies”, “TotalEnergies company” or “Company” in this document are used to designate TotalEnergies SE and the consolidated entities that are directly or indirectly controlled by TotalEnergies SE. Likewise, the words “we”, “us” and “our” may also be used to refer to these entities or to their employees. The entities in which TotalEnergies SE directly or indirectly owns a shareholding are separate legal entities. This document may contain forward-looking information and statements that are based on a number of economic data and assumptions made in a given economic, competitive and regulatory environment. They may prove to be inaccurate in the future and are subject to a number of risk factors. Neither TotalEnergies SE nor any of its subsidiaries assumes any obligation to update publicly any forward-looking information or statement, objectives or trends contained in this document whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Information concerning risk factors, that may affect TotalEnergies’ financial results or activities is provided in the most recent Universal Registration Document, the French-language version of which is filed by TotalEnergies SE with the French securities regulator Autorité des Marchés Financiers (AMF), and in the Form 20-F filed with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260826448824/en/

Expansion to boost production capacity for critical defense systems and create 100 high-skill jobs

, /PRNewswire/ -- Raytheon, an RTX (NYSE: RTX) business, has completed a 17,000 square-foot expansion of its Forest, Mississippi manufacturing facility. Supported by a $50 million capital investment, the project will boost production capacity for critical electronic warfare and radar systems and is expected to create 100 high-skill jobs by 2028.

"Completing this expansion underscores our long-term commitment to Forest and the state of Mississippi," said Barbara Borgonovi, president of Naval Power at Raytheon. "Together with state and local partners, we're building the workforce, infrastructure and capabilities needed to boost production in support of critical national defense programs."

Raytheon's Forest site now encompasses 445,000 square feet of manufacturing space, making it one of the largest defense manufacturing plants in the state. Over the past decade, the company has completed three facility expansions totaling $280 million in capital investment, including a 20,000 square‑foot addition in 2013 and a 50,000 square‑foot radar production and testing facility completed in 2020.

The most recent expansion will serve as a hub for production, test and integration of Next Generation Jammer Mid-Band (NGJ-MB) pods for the U.S. Navy and Australian government, as well as other airborne radar programs, further strengthening Mississippi's role in supporting critical defense capabilities for the United States and its allies.

"Raytheon's expansion is not only a great economic development win for Mississippi but also an important investment in America's national security. I'm incredibly proud of the role Mississippi plays in defending our nation and supporting the men and women who protect our freedoms. This project will build on our state's proud legacy while bringing 100 high-skill jobs to Forest. It's another big win for Scott County and Mississippi." – Mississippi Governor Tate Reeves

"Rebuilding the American Arsenal creates more opportunities and more jobs right here at home. Today, our partners at Raytheon are expanding their manufacturing capacity and bringing 100 new jobs to Forest, Mississippi. These are critical jobs modernizing our military and supporting our troops – work Mississippi families can be proud of." – U.S. Senator Roger Wicker, Chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee

For 40 years, Raytheon has been part of the Forest community and continues to invest in opportunities that strengthen the region's workforce, education system and local support networks.

About Raytheon
Raytheon, an RTX business, is a leading provider of defense solutions to help the U.S. government, our allies and partners defend their national sovereignty and ensure their security. For more than 100 years, Raytheon has developed new technologies and enhanced existing capabilities in integrated air and missile defense, smart weapons, missiles, advanced sensors and radars, interceptors, space-based systems, hypersonics and missile defense across land, air, sea and space.

About RTX
With more than 180,000 global employees, we push the limits of technology and science to redefine how we connect and protect our world. With industry-leading capabilities, we advance aviation, engineer integrated defense systems for operational success, and develop next-generation technology solutions and manufacturing to help global customers address their most critical challenges. The company, with 2025 sales of more than $88 billion, is headquartered in Arlington, Virginia.

For questions or to schedule an interview, please contact [email protected].

SOURCE RTX

Buy the Dip or Run: 3 Software Stocks Down 50% Face Their Moment of TruthServiceNow NYSE: NOW Chief Financial Officer Gina Mastantuono said the company sees artificial intelligence as an expansion opportunity rather than a source of budget pressure, citing customer demand for AI-enabled workflow automation and the company’s own reported efficiency gains.

Speaking with Deutsche Bank Software Equity Research’s Brad Zelnick, Mastantuono said ServiceNow’s platform architecture—built around a single data model, architecture and platform—positions the company to help enterprises apply AI across functions including IT, human resources, finance, legal and customer service.

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MarketBeat Week in Review – 07/27- 07/31“In an AI world, autonomous work is more important than ever,” Mastantuono said. She pointed to billions of workflows and trillions of annual transactions on the platform, arguing that ServiceNow has the context, data and governance controls needed to help customers automate more work.

AI Spending and Internal Efficiency Mastantuono acknowledged that businesses are increasing spending on AI tokens and that some companies may be reducing spending in other areas to accommodate those costs. However, she said ServiceNow is not seeing its business crowded out when its products demonstrate rapid value creation.

Is the Market Mispricing ServiceNow's AI Future?She said ServiceNow grew top-line revenue 23% in the second quarter while keeping headcount flat for the year, including the effects of acquisitions. The company expects to generate $500 million of AI-related efficiencies this year, according to Mastantuono.

“We’re seeing a lot of customers lean into a labor pool dollar budget for spend,” she said, describing productivity gains as a source of funding for software investments.

Mastantuono also said ServiceNow’s AI business crossed $1 billion in the second quarter and remained on track for the company’s previously stated $1.5 billion full-year target.

Growth Priorities and Capital Allocation The CFO reiterated that organic innovation remains ServiceNow’s first capital-allocation priority, followed by tuck-in acquisitions and talent acquisitions. She also highlighted the company’s focus on shareholder returns, noting that ServiceNow completed a $2 billion share repurchase in the first quarter and had more than $4 billion remaining under its authorization.

ServiceNow’s long-term growth plan includes AI, security and risk, data and analytics, and customer relationship management. Mastantuono said the company expects its security and risk, data and analytics, and CRM portfolios to each grow more than 25% over a three-year period. The company has also said it expects AI to account for 30% of revenue by 2030.

She said the company’s AI-native bundles offer customers multiple entry points, from basic AI capabilities to its higher-end Prime package. ServiceNow has continued to see price increases of more than 30% for Prime, while other packages have generated uplifts between 20% and 30%, depending on bundling, she said.

Control Tower, Security and Data Mastantuono described ServiceNow’s AI Control Tower as a vendor-agnostic governance layer that can connect to multiple models, hyperscalers, software providers and data sources. She said customers want flexibility rather than dependence on a single AI vendor, while CFOs are seeking tools to manage AI spending and measure return on investment.

Control Tower can help companies monitor spending, governance and controls, including a “kill switch” for AI systems that behave improperly, she said.

In cybersecurity, Mastantuono said ServiceNow’s security and risk business surpassed $1 billion in annual contract value during the third quarter of the prior year. Following the acquisitions of Armis and Veza, she said ServiceNow is now a top-eight security provider globally and can offer customers capabilities spanning detection, alerting, decision-making and remediation.

She added that the acquired businesses exceeded their plans in their first quarter under ServiceNow and helped drive demand for the company’s core security and risk, configuration management database and IT operations management offerings.

Data and analytics is another strategic focus, according to Mastantuono. She said ServiceNow’s Workflow Data Fabric and connectors are intended to let customers use data from across their organizations regardless of where it resides, combining that information with AI, workflow and security tools.

CRM, Customer Use Cases and Public Sector Mastantuono said ServiceNow’s CRM business has surpassed $2 billion and that its acquisition of Logik.ai has expanded its configure-price-quote capabilities. She said the company can offer quote, fulfillment and service functions on one platform.

She highlighted early AI customer deployments, including the City of Raleigh’s use of ServiceNow’s Level 1 specialist. According to Mastantuono, Raleigh achieved 98% accuracy and automated 65% of requests without human intervention within 10 to 15 weeks. In another 12-week pilot, a customer generated more than $5 million in efficiency benefits from one Level 1 specialist use case, she said.

Mastantuono also said ServiceNow sees a growing opportunity in U.S. federal agencies and the broader public sector as organizations modernize systems and pursue AI-driven productivity. The company overachieved its federal plan in the second quarter and entered the second half with a strong pipeline, she said.

Looking ahead, Mastantuono said ServiceNow plans to address a wider range of small and medium-sized businesses with a forthcoming product designed for that market. She also said the company has built six businesses with more than $1 billion in revenue internally, underscoring its continued emphasis on organic innovation.

About ServiceNow (NYSE:NOW)ServiceNow NYSE: NOW is a cloud computing company that builds enterprise software to manage digital workflows and automate business processes. Its offerings are designed to replace manual work and legacy systems with cloud-based, service-oriented applications that support IT operations, customer service, human resources, security response and other enterprise functions.

The company's flagship product family is the Now Platform, a suite of subscription software and platform services that includes IT Service Management (ITSM), IT Operations Management (ITOM), IT Business Management (ITBM), Customer Service Management (CSM), HR Service Delivery, Security Operations and Asset Management.

This instant news alert was generated by narrative science technology and financial data from MarketBeat in order to provide readers with the fastest reporting and unbiased coverage. Please send any questions or comments about this story to [email protected].

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Investors spent months betting that AI would cannibalize enterprise software giants, but Salesforce and ServiceNow just reported quarters that turned that fear inside out. The question now is whether these results signal a permanent reversal or just a temporary reprieve.

Salesforce (NYSE:CRM | CRM Price Prediction) and ServiceNow (NYSE:NOW) just torched the SaaSpocalypse thesis. Both reported blowout quarters and stocks ripped: CRM jumped 22.58% on earnings day, and NOW has climbed 25.14% over the last month. Investors feared AI would replace enterprise software. These results argue the opposite: AI is expanding the platforms, not eating them.

Agentforce Broke Out, AI Control Tower Went Standard Salesforce delivered $11.35 billion in revenue, up 10.8% year-over-year, with subscription and support revenue of $10.82 billion, up 12%. The real story sits inside the AI stack. Agentforce ARR crossed $1.5 billion, growing over 240% year-over-year, and combined Agentforce plus Data 360 ARR reached nearly $3.9 billion. Marc Benioff was blunt on the call: “this nonsense of this SaaSpocalypse, I think it’s time for it to stop.”

ServiceNow’s Q2 was arguably louder. Revenue of $3.987 billion grew 24.01% year-over-year, ServiceNow AI ACV crossed $1.00 billion, and agentic deployments increased ninefold over nine months. Bill McDermott framed the platform as “one platform, one system of action, any cloud, any agent, any workflow, any model, governed, secured, and accountable.”

Driver Salesforce ServiceNow Revenue growth 10.8% 24.01% Flagship AI metric Agentforce ARR $1.5B, +240% ServiceNow AI ACV crossed $1B Current RPO $33.5B, +14% $13.2B, +21% System of Record vs. System of Action Salesforce is doubling down on being the trusted data spine for every agent. Benioff introduced Headless 360 and ClaudeForce with Anthropic, described as “the number one AI meeting the number one CRM,” making Salesforce data accessible through Claude, ChatGPT, Slack, and Teams. Salesforce is returning capital aggressively: a $25 billion accelerated share repurchase cut the diluted share count meaningfully.

ServiceNow chose governance and cybersecurity. More than 500 customers are live on AI Control Tower, and McDermott wants to move ServiceNow from the number eight company in cybersecurity toward the top, backed by the Armis, Veza, and Moveworks acquisitions. One caveat: Q2 benefited from U.S. Federal on-premise revenue pulled forward from Q3.

Next Test Is Sustained Organic Growth Salesforce raised FY27 revenue guidance to $46.10 billion to $46.40 billion, but only $100 million of the raise came from organic performance. I want to see Agentforce credit refills, currently 50% of bookings, keep compounding. For ServiceNow, the pivot to 50% of net new business already non-seat based matters because it undercuts the AI-kills-seats fear head on.

Why I Lean Toward ServiceNow, But Own the Case for Both I find ServiceNow the sharper AI story right now. Growing 24% at nearly $16 billion in subscription revenue with an operating model targeting Rule of 60 is rare. If you want a defensive AI compounding platform with heavy buybacks and a cheaper multiple, Salesforce fits. The $5.90 EPS was inflated by $2.53 per share of strategic investment gains, so I want a cleaner quarter before calling the reacceleration real. Either way, the SaaSpocalypse thesis just took a serious hit.

Contact [email protected] for any questions or corrections.

Intuit (NASDAQ:INTU) reported fiscal 2026 revenue growth of 14% and said it is shifting investment and execution in fiscal 2027 toward acquiring more new customers, after results showed slower growth in parts of its QuickBooks and TurboTax businesses.

For the full year, GAAP and non-GAAP diluted earnings per share each increased 20%, while the company again expanded operating margin. Intuit’s “big bets” in assisted tax, money and mid-market collectively grew 34% and accounted for 30% of full-year revenue, Chief Executive Officer Sasan Goodarzi said.

“Our results highlighted areas where we need to further evolve,” Goodarzi said, pointing specifically to the need to grow new customers faster in key parts of the business. The company is broadening its focus from scaling services for its existing customer base to also increasing new-to-the-franchise acquisition and market share. Fourth-Quarter Results and Segment Performance Fourth-quarter revenue was $4.4 billion, up 14% year over year. GAAP operating income was $475 million, compared with $339 million a year earlier, while non-GAAP operating income rose 43% to $1.4 billion. GAAP diluted earnings per share was $1.34, compared with $1.35 in the prior-year quarter, and non-GAAP diluted EPS rose 47% to $4.03.

Global Business Solutions revenue increased 16% for fiscal 2026. Excluding Mailchimp, the segment grew 18% for the full year and 15% in the fourth quarter. Online ecosystem revenue excluding Mailchimp rose 23% for the year and 20% in the fourth quarter.

QuickBooks Online Advanced and Intuit Enterprise Suite online ecosystem revenue grew 38% in the fourth quarter, while online ecosystem revenue for small businesses and the rest of the customer base rose 14%. QuickBooks Online Accounting revenue increased 20% in the quarter and 23% for the year.

Online services revenue grew 15% in the fourth quarter, or 21% excluding Mailchimp, driven by Money and Payroll offerings. Total online payment volume, including Bill Pay, rose 32% in the quarter and 30% for the year to more than $225 billion. QuickBooks Capital loan volume increased 54% to $1.9 billion in the fourth quarter.

However, total online paying customers grew 3% at the end of fiscal 2026, about two percentage points slower than the prior year, according to Goodarzi. U.S. QuickBooks Online customers grew 6%, excluding self-employed customers.

QuickBooks Customer Acquisition Push Intuit plans to widen the entry point to its business platform through QuickBooks Free and QuickBooks Lite. Goodarzi said that, as of the prior month, more than 20,000 customers were actively using QuickBooks Free or had converted to paid offerings, with monetization coming from payments adoption and upgrades.

The company also intends to invest more directly in acquiring mid-market customers. Mid-market customers increased 28% in fiscal 2026, although roughly three-quarters of additions came from upgrades or desktop migrations from within Intuit’s existing franchise. New-to-the-franchise mid-market customers grew more than 30%, while Intuit Enterprise Suite annualized revenue surpassed $145 million in the fourth quarter, four times the prior-year level.

Goodarzi said Intuit sees a nearly $90 billion mid-market total addressable market and nearly $200 billion of addressable opportunity across the business platform. Construction-focused offerings were among the company’s cited growth drivers: the Construction Edition added 19 percentage points of growth in QuickBooks Online Advanced customer additions in construction, while new Enterprise Suite construction contracts rose 20%.

Intuit also highlighted adoption of its AI-driven offerings. The company said millions of customers are using AI-native experiences, getting paid four days faster and reducing manual work by 30%. More than 75% of Intuit Enterprise Suite customers use AI agents monthly, according to Goodarzi.

TurboTax Adjusts to Lower-Cost Competition Consumer segment revenue increased 11% for fiscal 2026 and 14% in the fourth quarter to $930 million. TurboTax revenue grew 7% for the year, while TurboTax Live revenue rose 37% and customers increased 38%.

Goodarzi said Intuit lost “quality DIY customers” to lower-cost tax providers and identified price as the top reason customers leave TurboTax. The company plans to make TurboTax’s entry-level experience more competitive on price, expand distribution through leading large-language-model experiences and payroll-provider partnerships, and introduce more AI-native tax features.

Intuit said it is prepared to accept lower initial DIY tax average revenue per customer in exchange for acquiring and retaining more customers, increasing its share of IRS e-filers and building lifetime value across TurboTax and Credit Karma. Customers using both products generate about twice the average revenue of single-product customers, Goodarzi said, while Credit Karma members filing through TurboTax increased more than 50% during the year.

Credit Karma revenue grew 20% for the full year, supported by personal loans, auto insurance and credit cards. Consumer money revenue grew 26%, and Intuit delivered more than $29 billion in fast-money tax refunds during the tax season, up 79%.

Fiscal 2027 Outlook and Capital Allocation Chief Financial Officer Sandeep Aujla said fiscal 2027 guidance reflects deliberate investments in customer growth and market share, but also implies slower total company revenue growth. Intuit expects fiscal 2027 revenue of $23.279 billion to $23.512 billion, representing growth of 9% to 10%.

Global Business Solutions revenue is expected to grow 13% to 14%. Consumer segment revenue is expected to grow 4% to 6%. TurboTax revenue is expected to grow 2% to 3%, reflecting lower DIY tax ARPC as Intuit adjusts pricing and packaging. TurboTax Live revenue is expected to grow in the mid-teens. Credit Karma revenue is expected to grow 11% to 13%. GAAP diluted EPS is projected at $20.12 to $20.36, while non-GAAP diluted EPS is projected at $22.88 to $23.12. Desktop Ecosystem revenue is expected to decline in the low single digits as customers migrate to online products. Mailchimp, which will become a separate reportable segment beginning in fiscal 2027, is expected to have revenue that is flat to down 1%.

Intuit ended the quarter with $7.2 billion in cash and investments and $7.7 billion of debt. The company repurchased $5.5 billion of stock during fiscal 2026, up 96% from the prior year, and its board approved a quarterly dividend of $1.38 per share, up 15% year over year and payable Oct. 16, 2026.

Aujla said Intuit’s long-term goal remains durable double-digit company revenue growth. The company expects Global Business Solutions revenue to grow at a 10% to 15% compound annual rate over the next three years, while consumer revenue is expected to grow at a 4% to 8% compound annual rate.

About Intuit (NASDAQ:INTU) Intuit Inc (NASDAQ: INTU) is a financial software company headquartered in Mountain View, California, that develops and sells cloud-based financial management and compliance products for individuals, small businesses, self-employed workers and accounting professionals. Founded in 1983 by Scott Cook and Tom Proulx, the company has grown from desktop tax and accounting software into a diversified provider of online financial tools. As of my latest update, Sasan Goodarzi serves as Chief Executive Officer.

Intuit’s product portfolio includes QuickBooks, its flagship accounting and business-management platform that offers bookkeeping, payroll, payments and invoicing capabilities; TurboTax, a tax-preparation and filing service aimed at individual taxpayers; and Mint, a consumer personal-finance and budgeting app.

When a deeply entrenched market leader sheds nearly half its value in a matter of months, the broader market often starts pricing in a structural breakdown. For software giant Intuit Inc. NASDAQ: INTU, a year-to-date decline approaching 48% has left many investors questioning the durability of its flagship accounting and tax franchises.

Intuit Today

$358.06 0.00 (0.00%)

As of 08/28/2026 04:00 PM Eastern

$252.84▼

$705.081.54%

21.70

$434.68

Following a soft fiscal 2027 guidance update, Wall Street rushed to adjust price targets, citing competition in the do-it-yourself tax space and a sluggish outlook for Mailchimp. Looking past the headline, pessimism reveals a different story.

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Management is executing a deliberate, near-term operational reset designed to recapture top-of-funnel market share and realign core accounting practices. While this pivot is weighing on the valuation today, underlying double-digit growth in the mid-market ecosystem, combined with aggressive share repurchases and structural margin protection, suggests the market may be overdiscounting Intuit's fundamental durability.

Wall Street May Be Reading Intuit’s Reset Too HarshlyNavigating a corporate transition requires distinguishing between a broken business model and a misunderstood strategic pivot. Intuit recently closed out its fiscal 2026 with strong fourth-quarter results, delivering $4.35 billion in revenue and adjusted earnings of $4.03 per share, easily clearing consensus estimates.

The market reaction, however, was anchored entirely to the fiscal 2027 outlook. Management guided for top-line revenue growth of 9% to 10%, a notable deceleration from the 14% growth achieved in the prior year. The resulting sell-off dragged Intuit stock down to a forward price-to-earnings ratio near 16.4, a contraction for an enterprise historically commanding a premium software multiple.

Valuation compression of this magnitude often implies permanent market share loss or deteriorating cash flows. Yet, analyzing the underlying mechanics of the newly issued guidance provides a completely different picture, one of a management team willing to accept short-term optical pain to secure long-term ecosystem dominance.

Intuit Takes the Short-Term Hit to Rebuild the FunnelA significant portion of the earnings reset stems from a fundamental accounting realignment rather than a deterioration in cash flow. Intuit is no longer excluding stock-based compensation from its non-GAAP profitability metrics.

This shift creates an optical hit of approximately $5.81 per share to the upcoming year's guidance. While the inclusion of stock-based compensation lowers reported non-GAAP earnings, it provides a much more transparent view of true operating costs. Intuit management is actively mitigating dilution fears by committing to scale stock-based compensation down to about 8% of total revenue by fiscal 2030.

Beyond the accounting adjustments, Intuit is aggressively overhauling its consumer tax strategy. Pricing pressure from low-cost competitors has steadily siphoned away quality do-it-yourself tax customers. In response, leadership is deliberately sacrificing near-term average revenue per customer to rebuild the top of the sales funnel.

By lowering initial pricing thresholds, TurboTax revenue growth will likely remain muted at around 2%-3% in the upcoming fiscal year. Sacrificing immediate margins to acquire customers is a classic software-as-a-service playbook, provided Intuit can monetize those users elsewhere.

Intuit is proving it can do just that. Credit Karma members filing through TurboTax rose approximately 50% year-over-year, demonstrating strong cross-platform cooperation. Acquiring a do-it-yourself tax customer at a lower margin can be highly profitable when that same customer subsequently uses Credit Karma for personal loans or credit cards.

This top-of-funnel strategy also extends to the business segment. The recent rollout of QuickBooks Free and QuickBooks Lite generated roughly 20,000 active or upgraded users within its first month. By capturing entrepreneurs at the very beginning of their business lifecycle, Intuit locks them into an ecosystem that can scale alongside their operational needs.

At the same time, Intuit is spinning Mailchimp out into a standalone reporting segment, bracing for flat growth as it digests higher effective prices and persistent churn, effectively isolating the slower-growth unit from the core operations.

The Business Segment Still Supports the Bull CaseWhile the consumer tax segment undergoes a pricing reset and Mailchimp faces restructuring, the core business-to-business ecosystem remains robust. Global Business Solutions revenue, excluding Mailchimp, expanded by roughly 20% in the fourth quarter. The most compelling fundamental data point lies within the mid-market segment. Combined customer growth across QuickBooks Online Advanced and Intuit Enterprise Suite hit roughly 28%.

This growth is partially fueled by a planned migration of legacy desktop users to cloud-based platforms. Optically, a decline in desktop revenue can look like customer churn, but it actually reflects a structural upgrade in lifetime customer value as users transition to higher-tier, recurring-revenue software.

Intuit is also quietly building a substantial economic moat through artificial intelligence (AI). An estimated 75% of Intuit Enterprise Suite customers now interact with Intuit AI agents monthly. Embedding artificial intelligence into daily accounting, payroll, and invoicing workflows creates exceptionally high switching costs.

Competitors attempting to lure away these mid-market clients face the challenge of replacing a highly automated, deeply integrated financial operating system. This level of stickiness helps justify the strategic patience required while Intuit resets its lower-end consumer funnels.

Intuit's Aggressive Capital Defense100th Percentile

Hold

21.4% Upside

Healthy

Strong

0.55 Selling Shares

12.61%

See Full Analysis

Transitioning a highly scaled software platform requires capital discipline, especially when deliberately slowing top-line growth to acquire market share. To protect operating margins during this reset, Intuit executed an approximate 17% workforce reduction. These efficiency gains provide the financial padding necessary to redeploy capital into targeted sales, marketing, and product innovation without eroding the bottom line.

Management's confidence in forward cash flow generation is evident in its capital return program. Intuit authorized and executed an approximate $5.5 billion in share repurchases over the last fiscal year, representing an almost 96% increase from the prior period. Paired with a 15% increase in the quarterly dividend, which now yields a nearly 1.40% at a sustainable 29% payout ratio, Intuit is providing tangible downside protection for shareholders as the strategic pivot takes root.

Filing the Final Return on Intuit's Growth StrategyThe upcoming September investor day serves as the next major catalyst for Intuit. Management will have the opportunity to map out the exact return-on-investment timeline for its top-of-funnel customer acquisition strategy and to demonstrate the monetization roadmap for its expanding artificial intelligence capabilities.

Investors analyzing the current landscape might view the severe valuation discount as a compelling entry point, provided Intuit continues executing its mid-market and cross-platform growth initiatives. While Wall Street focuses on the immediate sting of guidance resets and accounting shifts, the underlying metrics suggest Intuit is working to fortify a durable, highly cash-generative ecosystem built to compete through the next cycle of financial software.

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Key Takeaways Broadcom's AI semiconductor revenues surged 143% to $10.8B, with $16B expected in fiscal Q3.Custom XPUs and networking are benefiting from hyperscaler demand and six core AI customer engagements.NVIDIA and AMD are expanding AI infrastructure platforms, intensifying competition for Broadcom. Broadcom’s (AVGO - Free Report) Semiconductor Solutions business is being driven primarily by surging demand for AI infrastructure and is helping the company manage competition from NVIDIA (NVDA - Free Report) and Advanced Micro Devices (AMD - Free Report) . Semiconductor Solutions revenues jumped 79% year over year to a record $15 billion in the second quarter of fiscal 2026, with AI semiconductor revenues jumping 143% to $10.8 billion. AI semiconductor bookings exceeded $30 billion in the reported quarter, considerably higher than shipments, indicating strong demand visibility. Broadcom expects AI semiconductor revenues to reach $16 billion in the third quarter of fiscal 2026, indicating more than 200% year-over-year growth.

The Semiconductor Solutions segment is benefiting from strong demand for Broadcom’s custom XPUs as hyperscalers and frontier AI companies increasingly develop specialized processors for training and inference. The company has long-term engagements with six core AI customers. Broadcom has entered into a multi-generation TPU and networking agreement with Google, while Anthropic is expected to access an additional 5 gigawatts of next-generation TPU-based compute beginning in 2027. OpenAI production is scheduled to begin in late 2026, while Meta has committed to multiple generations of MTIA XPUs.

Broadcom’s leadership in networking products is complementing XPU growth because increasingly large AI clusters require high-bandwidth connectivity between accelerators. Networking accounted for almost 40% of Broadcom’s AI semiconductor revenues in the second quarter of fiscal 2026. AVGO’s portfolio includes 200G and 400G SerDes, Ethernet and PCI Express switches, Tomahawk 6 100-terabit Ethernet switches, co-packaged optics, DSPs, lasers and Jericho fabric solutions. These technologies support both scale-up connectivity inside racks and scale-out connectivity across large AI data centers.

Increasing consumption of AI tokens by enterprises and consumers is driving frontier-model providers to add substantial compute capacity. Broadcom expects this demand to remain strong through 2027 and 2028 as AI workloads expand. The company is also developing its AI XPV platform with Apollo, Blackstone and other investors, targeting more than 20 gigawatts of compute capacity through 2028, which should support greater deployment of Broadcom XPUs and networking chips.

AVGO Faces Tough Competition in the Semiconductor MarketBroadcom is facing stiff competition from NVIDIA and AMD in the semiconductor space.

NVIDIA is intensifying competitive pressure on Broadcom by expanding beyond GPUs into a complete AI-infrastructure platform encompassing CPUs, scale-up and scale-out networking, systems and software. NVIDIA’s Vera Rubin platform combines Vera CPUs, Rubin GPUs, NVLink, InfiniBand or Ethernet and other accelerators, increasing its revenue opportunity per gigawatt from about $18 billion with Hopper to $40 billion with Vera Rubin.

AMD is also becoming a stronger alternative to Broadcom as it expands from CPUs and GPUs into rack-scale AI infrastructure. AMD’s Helios platform integrates EPYC Venice CPUs, MI450-Series GPUs, Pensando networking and ROCm software, creating a more complete AI system competing for the same hyperscaler and frontier-model infrastructure spending targeted by Broadcom’s custom accelerators and networking portfolio.

AVGO’s Share Price Performance, Valuation & EstimatesBroadcom shares have appreciated 6.2% year to date, underperforming the broader Zacks Computer and Technology sector’s return of 15.4%.

AVGO Stock Lags Sector
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

The AVGO stock is trading at a premium, with a forward 12-month price/sales of 10.38X compared with the broader sector’s 6.31X. Broadcom has a Value Score of D.

AVGO Stock Has a Stretched Valuation
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for fiscal 2026 earnings is pegged at $11.74 per share, unchanged over the past 30 days, suggesting 72.14% growth from the figure reported in fiscal 2025.

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

Broadcom Inc (NASDAQ:AVGO) stock fell more than 1.50% on Friday as new semiconductor tariff uncertainty pressured chip stocks and added another risk to the AI infrastructure supply chain.

Technology dropped 1.31%, making it the worst-performing sector, while the S&P 500 slipped just 0.14%. Six sectors traded lower, with the advance-decline ratio at 0.8.

Tariff Uncertainty Pressures Semiconductor StocksThe Trump administration is reportedly considering expanding semiconductor-related tariffs to a broader range of technology products, potentially including laptops, gaming consoles and data-center servers.

The proposal has raised concerns that higher costs and tighter supply could affect the ongoing AI infrastructure buildout.

The White House pushed back on the reports, saying tariff coverage should be considered "baseless speculation" unless officially announced. It also said the administration is pursuing a "nimble, nuanced, and multi-faceted approach" aimed at bringing critical manufacturing back to the U.S.

Broader market sentiment also remained defensive, with the Nasdaq down 0.61% and the Russell 2000 falling 1.26%.

Broadcom slightly outperformed the broader Technology sector but still moved lower alongside other large-cap semiconductor stocks exposed to AI infrastructure demand.

Earnings & Analyst OutlookThe countdown is on: Broadcom is set to report earnings on September 2, 2026 (confirmed).

EPS Estimate: $3.16 (Up from $1.69 YoY) Revenue Estimate: $29.44 Billion (Up from $15.95 Billion YoY) Valuation: P/E of 61.8x (Indicates premium valuation relative to peers) Analyst Consensus & Recent Actions: Broadcom stock carries a Buy rating with an average price forecast of $511.13 (45 analysts), with targets ranging from $400.00 to $582.00. Recent analyst moves include:

RBC Capital: Sector Perform (Maintains Forecast to $400.00) (August 26) BMO Capital: Initiated with Outperform (Forecast $455.00) (August 21) Erste Group: Downgraded to Hold (July 7) Top ETF Exposure iShares Semiconductor ETF (NASDAQ:SOXX): 8.12% Weight First Trust NASDAQ Technology Dividend Index Fund (NASDAQ:TDIV): 8.05% Weight Invesco PHLX Semiconductor ETF (NASDAQ:SOXQ): 9.94% Weight Significance: Because AVGO carries such a heavy weight in these funds, any significant inflows or outflows for these ETFs will likely force automatic buying or selling of the stock.

AVGO Price Action: Broadcom shares were down 1.52% to $365.89 at the time of publication on Friday, according to Benzinga Pro data.

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Alamar Capital Management LLC bought a new stake in Broadcom Inc. (NASDAQ:AVGO – Free Report) in the second quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm bought 1,680 shares of the semiconductor manufacturer’s stock, valued at approximately $635,000.

A number of other hedge funds have also made changes to their positions in AVGO. Fullerton Advisors LLC lifted its holdings in Broadcom by 1.3% in the first quarter. Fullerton Advisors LLC now owns 1,989 shares of the semiconductor manufacturer’s stock worth $616,000 after acquiring an additional 25 shares during the last quarter. NORTHSTAR ASSET MANAGEMENT Co boosted its position in shares of Broadcom by 0.5% in the 1st quarter. NORTHSTAR ASSET MANAGEMENT Co now owns 5,350 shares of the semiconductor manufacturer’s stock valued at $1,656,000 after purchasing an additional 25 shares during the period. RFG Holdings Inc. lifted its holdings in shares of Broadcom by 0.3% in the first quarter. RFG Holdings Inc. now owns 8,499 shares of the semiconductor manufacturer’s stock valued at $2,631,000 after purchasing an additional 26 shares in the last quarter. Yukon Wealth Management Inc. grew its holdings in shares of Broadcom by 1.1% during the 1st quarter. Yukon Wealth Management Inc. now owns 2,501 shares of the semiconductor manufacturer’s stock valued at $774,000 after acquiring an additional 26 shares in the last quarter. Finally, NerdWallet Wealth Partners LLC grew its position in Broadcom by 2.6% in the second quarter. NerdWallet Wealth Partners LLC now owns 1,057 shares of the semiconductor manufacturer’s stock worth $399,000 after acquiring an additional 27 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 76.43% of the company’s stock.

More Broadcom News Here are the key news stories impacting Broadcom this week:

Positive Sentiment: Mizuho remains bullish ahead of earnings, citing Broadcom’s nearly uninterrupted 30-quarter earnings track record, deeply negative investor sentiment, and the possibility that CEO Hock Tan will directly address concerns about custom ASIC competition and Google’s in-house chips. Mizuho is bullish on Broadcom ahead of Sept. 2 earnings Positive Sentiment: Broadcom’s partnership with OpenAI on the Jalapeño inference chip highlights demand for specialized AI infrastructure. OpenAI says the chip can deliver substantially better performance per watt than comparison systems, potentially supporting Broadcom’s custom-chip and networking growth. Why BNP thinks Jalapeño could benefit Broadcom stock Positive Sentiment: Analysts argue Broadcom offers a better AI risk-reward profile than AMD because of its broader exposure across custom accelerators, networking, and infrastructure software, along with a comparatively lower valuation. Broadcom vs. AMD: Which AI Chip Stock Has the Better Risk-Reward? Positive Sentiment: A new Kyndryl collaboration expands VMware Cloud Foundation’s reach among enterprise customers, reinforcing Broadcom’s private-cloud and software modernization strategy. Broadcom Kyndryl partnership Neutral Sentiment: Royal Bank of Canada reiterated its “Sector Perform” rating, suggesting balanced expectations rather than a strong near-term catalyst. Royal Bank of Canada reiterates Sector Perform Negative Sentiment: Broadcom is reportedly considering $70 billion to $80 billion of debt financing for an AI chip-related transaction involving companies including Anthropic. The potential borrowing could accelerate growth but raises leverage, execution, and repayment risks. Broadcom nears $70B debt financing deal Negative Sentiment: Investors remain concerned that Google’s and other hyperscalers’ internally designed chips could pressure Broadcom’s custom-silicon revenue. Competition from Marvell, NVIDIA, and AMD adds to the risk, while Broadcom’s elevated earnings multiple leaves less room for disappointment. Marvell and Google custom silicon deal Broadcom Stock Performance Shares of AVGO stock opened at $368.79 on Friday. Broadcom Inc. has a 12 month low of $287.17 and a 12 month high of $495.00. The company has a current ratio of 2.24, a quick ratio of 2.01 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.71. The firm has a fifty day simple moving average of $385.07 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $376.26. The firm has a market capitalization of $1.75 trillion, a PE ratio of 61.47, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.71 and a beta of 1.45. Broadcom (NASDAQ:AVGO – Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Wednesday, June 3rd. The semiconductor manufacturer reported $2.44 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $2.40 by $0.04. The firm had revenue of $22.19 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $22.13 billion. Broadcom had a return on equity of 41.61% and a net margin of 38.85%.The company’s revenue was up 47.9% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business earned $1.58 EPS. Analysts forecast that Broadcom Inc. will post 10.24 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Broadcom Announces Dividend The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, June 30th. Stockholders of record on Monday, June 22nd were given a dividend of $0.65 per share. This represents a $2.60 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.7%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, June 22nd. Broadcom’s dividend payout ratio is currently 43.33%.

Insider Activity at Broadcom In other news, Director Justine Page sold 1,602 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, June 29th. The shares were sold at an average price of $373.86, for a total transaction of $598,923.72. Following the completion of the sale, the director owned 17,426 shares in the company, valued at $6,514,884.36. This trade represents a 8.42% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available at this hyperlink. Also, Director Gayla J. Delly sold 1,890 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction on Wednesday, July 8th. The stock was sold at an average price of $385.38, for a total value of $728,368.20. Following the completion of the sale, the director directly owned 31,326 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $12,072,413.88. This represents a 5.69% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. In the last 90 days, insiders have sold 61,644 shares of company stock worth $24,016,214. 1.90% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

Analyst Ratings Changes A number of analysts have weighed in on AVGO shares. Cantor Fitzgerald reissued an “overweight” rating and issued a $525.00 price target on shares of Broadcom in a report on Thursday, June 4th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft reaffirmed a “buy” rating and set a $515.00 price target (up from $430.00) on shares of Broadcom in a research report on Thursday, June 4th. Bank of America upped their target price on Broadcom from $450.00 to $530.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a report on Thursday, June 4th. Truist Financial raised their target price on shares of Broadcom from $545.00 to $550.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research note on Thursday, June 4th. Finally, Evercore reaffirmed an “outperform” rating and set a $582.00 price objective on shares of Broadcom in a research report on Tuesday, May 19th. Twenty-nine equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and four have given a Hold rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $491.97.

Read Our Latest Research Report on Broadcom

Broadcom Profile (Free Report)

Broadcom Inc (NASDAQ: AVGO) is a global technology company that designs, develops and supplies semiconductor and infrastructure software solutions for a broad range of markets. The company’s semiconductor business provides components and systems for wired and wireless communications, enterprise and cloud storage, networking and broadband access, serving original equipment manufacturers, cloud service providers, telecommunications carriers and industrial customers worldwide. Broadcom is headquartered in Irvine, California, and operates globally with research, development and sales organizations across North America, Europe and Asia.

On the semiconductor side, Broadcom’s portfolio includes system-on-chip (SoC) and application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC) solutions, radio-frequency and connectivity components, Ethernet switching and PHY devices, storage adapters and controllers, optical transceivers and other networking silicon.

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A senior Honda (7267.T) executive said the Japanese automaker might not build an eighth assembly plant in ​North America unless a key trade deal is extended.

The Trump administration is ‌currently negotiating with Canada and Mexico over the fate of the free trade deal known as USMCA.

Honda Executive Vice President Noriya Kaihara told reporters at a roundtable in Washington the automaker ​is close to full production capacity in North America and needs a ​new factory.

However, "if there is no USMCA agreement in the future, we ⁠may have to change our direction," Kaihara said, adding the company will need ​to make a decision within a year or two and would like the plant ​to be running by around 2030.

He said currently Honda is not passing on the costs of tariffs to buyers in North America. The U.S. imposed 50% tariffs on $20 billion of Canadian products ​on Saturday, and Canada said it was retaliating effective September 8.

Last year, Hyundai Motor ​told the administration that uncertainty about USMCA was delaying its investment decisions.

"Early confirmation of USMCA's extension ‌would ⁠immediately unlock over $20 billion in new American investments," the automaker said in November. "Every month of ambiguity slows job creation, site selection and technology development."

With interest in Honda's hybrid and other fuel-efficient models soaring as oil prices have remained high since the ​start of the U.S. ​war with Iran, ⁠the automaker had its best July in seven years, with car sales up 36%.

Honda in May scrapped its long-term EV sales ​target, including its goal of having EVs make up a ​fifth of ⁠its new car sales in 2030. It now plans 15 new hybrids by 2030.

The Japanese automaker indefinitely suspended its Canada EV project, an $11 billion investment plan to produce ⁠EVs ​and batteries. It also cancelled three planned EVs for ​the U.S. market.

Last year, Honda said it was shifting production of its U.S.-bound five-door Civic hybrid model ​from Japan to Indiana.

Bank of Nova Scotia purchased a new stake in shares of The Charles Schwab Corporation (NYSE:SCHW – Free Report) in the 2nd quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm purchased 16,667 shares of the financial services provider’s stock, valued at approximately $3,780,000.

Other large investors also recently bought and sold shares of the company. State Street Corp increased its holdings in Charles Schwab by 1.0% in the 3rd quarter. State Street Corp now owns 73,156,290 shares of the financial services provider’s stock worth $6,984,231,000 after acquiring an additional 691,671 shares in the last quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC grew its position in shares of Charles Schwab by 0.3% in the fourth quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 37,667,640 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $3,747,646,000 after purchasing an additional 98,242 shares during the period. Franklin Resources Inc. increased its stake in shares of Charles Schwab by 0.3% during the fourth quarter. Franklin Resources Inc. now owns 30,184,369 shares of the financial services provider’s stock worth $3,015,720,000 after purchasing an additional 78,020 shares in the last quarter. Primecap Management Co. CA increased its stake in shares of Charles Schwab by 9.7% during the fourth quarter. Primecap Management Co. CA now owns 23,276,071 shares of the financial services provider’s stock worth $2,325,512,000 after purchasing an additional 2,066,884 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Fisher Asset Management LLC raised its position in shares of Charles Schwab by 0.8% during the 4th quarter. Fisher Asset Management LLC now owns 21,818,514 shares of the financial services provider’s stock worth $2,179,888,000 after purchasing an additional 171,926 shares during the last quarter. 84.38% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth Several equities research analysts have commented on SCHW shares. TD Cowen boosted their price objective on Charles Schwab from $108.00 to $109.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research note on Friday, May 15th. UBS Group set a $135.00 target price on Charles Schwab in a research report on Monday, August 3rd. Morgan Stanley lifted their price target on Charles Schwab from $133.00 to $136.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a research note on Monday, July 27th. Argus lifted their price target on Charles Schwab from $108.00 to $114.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research note on Thursday, July 23rd. Finally, Wolfe Research reiterated an “outperform” rating and set a $127.00 price target on shares of Charles Schwab in a research report on Tuesday, July 21st. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, sixteen have assigned a Buy rating, two have issued a Hold rating and one has assigned a Sell rating to the company’s stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $121.17.

Check Out Our Latest Analysis on SCHW Insider Buying and Selling In related news, insider Nigel J. Murtagh sold 32,947 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction dated Monday, July 27th. The stock was sold at an average price of $104.01, for a total value of $3,426,817.47. Following the transaction, the insider owned 57,972 shares in the company, valued at $6,029,667.72. The trade was a 36.24% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website. The transaction was executed under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plan. Also, Director Paula A. Sneed sold 5,263 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, August 7th. The shares were sold at an average price of $107.15, for a total value of $563,930.45. Following the completion of the transaction, the director directly owned 91,711 shares in the company, valued at approximately $9,826,833.65. The trade was a 5.43% decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale is available in the SEC filing. Insiders have sold a total of 398,984 shares of company stock valued at $41,699,569 over the last ninety days. Company insiders own 6.30% of the company’s stock.

Charles Schwab Stock Performance Shares of Charles Schwab stock opened at $112.43 on Wednesday. The Charles Schwab Corporation has a 52 week low of $83.96 and a 52 week high of $114.53. The business’s fifty day simple moving average is $102.42 and its 200-day simple moving average is $96.22. The firm has a market cap of $194.43 billion, a PE ratio of 20.44, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.85 and a beta of 0.76. The company has a quick ratio of 0.64, a current ratio of 0.64 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.52.

Charles Schwab (NYSE:SCHW – Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Tuesday, July 21st. The financial services provider reported $1.62 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.56 by $0.06. The firm had revenue of $7.07 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $6.90 billion. Charles Schwab had a net margin of 38.79% and a return on equity of 24.53%. The firm’s revenue for the quarter was up 20.9% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter last year, the firm earned $1.14 EPS. Equities analysts forecast that The Charles Schwab Corporation will post 6.46 earnings per share for the current year.

Charles Schwab Dividend Announcement The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, August 28th. Stockholders of record on Friday, August 14th will be given a dividend of $0.32 per share. This represents a $1.28 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.1%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, August 14th. Charles Schwab’s payout ratio is currently 23.27%.

Charles Schwab Profile (Free Report)

Charles Schwab Corporation (NYSE: SCHW) is a diversified financial services firm that provides brokerage, banking, wealth management and advisory services to individual investors, independent investment advisors and institutional clients. Its primary offerings include retail brokerage accounts, online trading platforms, Schwab-branded mutual funds and exchange-traded funds (ETFs), retirement plan services, custodial services for independent Registered Investment Advisors (RIAs), and banking products through Charles Schwab Bank.

See Also Five stocks we like better than Charles Schwab Pathward’s Credit Scare Tests Its Comeback Story Wiring the AI Boom: Rumble’s $13.7B Pivot StoneX: Too Far Too Fast? DICK’s Sporting Goods Faces Pain Now for a Bigger Prize Want to see what other hedge funds are holding SCHW? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for The Charles Schwab Corporation (NYSE:SCHW – Free Report).

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Schwab just handed 39.9 million account holders a path to trading Solana, Avalanche, and Chainlink, but a listing and a demand event are very different things, and the real price mover that day had nothing to do with Schwab.

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Charles Schwab (NYSE:SCHW | SCHW Price Prediction) said on August 27, 2026 that it will add Solana (CRYPTO:SOL), Avalanche (CRYPTO:AVAX), and Chainlink (CRYPTO:LINK) Solana, Avalanche and Chainlink to its retail crypto trading platform “in the coming months.” None of the three are live yet. Trades on Schwab Crypto will carry a fee of 75 basis points, or 0.75% of the dollar value of each trade, a basis point being one hundredth of a percentage point. SOL changed hands at $106.4 as of 14:43 UTC on August 28, 2026. Shares of Schwab traded at $109.33, up 1.18% on the day. So a major brokerage is opening a door. The question is how many of it’s users will walk through that door.

What Schwab Actually Announced Schwab Crypto began rolling out to retail clients in May 2026, offering direct Bitcoin and Ether trading through Schwab’s website, mobile app and thinkorswim. The August announcement extends that shelf to three additional tokens: SOL, AVAX, and LINK. A spot listing is simply the ability for a client to buy or sell the asset outright through the broker; it is not the broker itself buying the token.

The reach sounds enormous. As of July 31, 2026, Schwab held $13.04 trillion in client assets across 39.9 million active brokerage accounts. That is client money Schwab custodies, not Schwab’s own balance sheet. For the firm’s own scale, Schwab reported record second-quarter net revenue of $7.1 billion and net income of $2.8 billion. The 39.9 million account figure also is not the addressable base for crypto. Schwab Crypto is available in all US states except New York and Louisiana, is not offered in US territories or internationally, and runs through Charles Schwab Premier Bank, with affiliated brokerage Charles Schwab & Co. performing certain operational functions on the bank’s behalf. A resident of Manhattan with a Schwab account cannot use it.

CEO Rick Wurster, describing the broader business on the Q2 call, said “Schwab’s leading value proposition continued to resonate in 2Q26, as investors opened 1.4 million new brokerage accounts and brought $120 billion in core net new assets to the firm.” The quote is about accounts and assets. It does not mention crypto revenue, crypto adoption, or any commitment by Schwab to hold digital assets on its own balance sheet.

Reality Check on Token Demand A listing is a distribution plan, not adoption. Schwab is not buying SOL, not holding SOL, and not committing any client capital to SOL. Clients may use it. They may not. The announcement did not say that any client has requested SOL, did not project trading volumes, did not name a custody counterparty for the new tokens, and did not disclose a timeline beyond “coming months.” Schwab said it plans to add more digital assets over time but did not specify which assets it is considering. Companies that want to advertise token demand say so. Schwab did not.

The competitive backdrop matters. Direct spot crypto access is already available through Coinbase, Kraken, Robinhood, Fidelity and others. Schwab’s 0.75% per-trade fee is a meaningful spread against crypto-native venues that typically charge far less. Schwab is competing on trust, custody, and consolidated statements, not price.

There is also a confounding catalyst on SOL specifically. The same day Schwab announced, Solana held a governance vote on SIMD-0550 and SIMD-0553, proposals to overhaul SOL tokenomics by cutting future emissions and increasing burns. Emissions are newly minted tokens; burns permanently remove tokens from circulation. Coverage of the potential effect varied: CoinDesk on August 4, 2026 reported a proposal to raise daily SOL burns from roughly $47,000 to roughly $650,000; Startup Fortune on August 25, 2026 reported the vote could erase roughly $1.36 billion in future SOL supply; BeInCrypto and investx on August 27, 2026 reported roughly $1.5 billion in future emissions cut. These are different outlets with different estimates. The tokenomics vote actually changes SOL supply. The Schwab listing does not.

Some outlets reported SOL jumping 13% on August 27 around the joint news, but that appears to describe an intraday move, not a verified daily change. The verified figures tell a more complicated story. SOL is up 17.22% over one week and up 49.27% over one month, but down 11.72% year to date and down 48.77% over the past year. The token is rallying off a much weaker twelve months. AVAX tells a harsher version of the same story, at $7.43 and down 69.8% year over year. LINK sits at $11.84, down 52.47% year over year.

What Schwab Gains, What the Tokens Gain Schwab gains a defensive product line. Trading revenue reached $1.215 billion in Q2 2026, up 28%, and daily average trades hit a record 11.9 million, up 57% year over year. Adding SOL, AVAX and LINK gives active clients a reason not to open a second account at Coinbase or Robinhood. At 75 basis points per trade, incremental crypto volume is high-margin for Schwab, even if daily volumes are modest.

The tokens gain a marketing headline. They do not gain a buyer. Nothing in the announcement obligates a single Schwab client to purchase SOL, AVAX or LINK, and Schwab has not disclosed any principal position of its own. For an investor who already holds SOL, the read is that a US-regulated brokerage broadening spot access is a modest structural positive over years, not a demand event. The tokenomics vote is the near-term supply-side variable worth tracking; the Schwab listing is not.

Falsifiable triggers to watch: whether SIMD-0550 and SIMD-0553 pass and are implemented, when Schwab actually flips SOL, AVAX and LINK live on the platform, and whether Schwab discloses any crypto-specific revenue line or trading volumes in a future earnings release. If Schwab breaks out crypto trading and the number is material, this listing became real. If the tokens go live and the company never mentions them again, the announcement was a checkbox, not a catalyst.

Contact [email protected] for any questions or corrections.

BNP Paribas cut its stake in shares of Stryker Corporation (NYSE:SYK – Free Report) by 90.2% during the second quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 1,713 shares of the medical technology company’s stock after selling 15,825 shares during the period. BNP Paribas’ holdings in Stryker were worth $539,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

A number of other hedge funds also recently bought and sold shares of the company. VanderPol Investments L.L.C. boosted its holdings in shares of Stryker by 1.4% during the fourth quarter. VanderPol Investments L.L.C. now owns 2,084 shares of the medical technology company’s stock worth $732,000 after purchasing an additional 28 shares during the period. KCM Investment Advisors LLC increased its stake in Stryker by 1.5% in the 4th quarter. KCM Investment Advisors LLC now owns 1,857 shares of the medical technology company’s stock valued at $653,000 after buying an additional 28 shares during the period. Rossby Financial LCC increased its stake in Stryker by 6.6% in the 4th quarter. Rossby Financial LCC now owns 451 shares of the medical technology company’s stock valued at $159,000 after buying an additional 28 shares during the period. Tcfg Wealth Management LLC lifted its position in Stryker by 2.7% in the 3rd quarter. Tcfg Wealth Management LLC now owns 1,091 shares of the medical technology company’s stock worth $403,000 after buying an additional 29 shares in the last quarter. Finally, ICW Investment Advisors LLC boosted its stake in shares of Stryker by 0.6% during the 4th quarter. ICW Investment Advisors LLC now owns 5,096 shares of the medical technology company’s stock valued at $1,791,000 after buying an additional 30 shares during the period. 77.09% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In SYK has been the subject of several recent research reports. Sanford C. Bernstein set a $410.00 price objective on Stryker in a report on Friday, May 1st. Weiss Ratings reaffirmed a “hold (c)” rating on shares of Stryker in a research note on Friday, July 31st. Wolfe Research lowered Stryker from an “outperform” rating to a “peer perform” rating in a report on Thursday, August 13th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lowered their price target on Stryker from $400.00 to $350.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a research note on Friday, July 31st. Finally, The Goldman Sachs Group restated a “neutral” rating and issued a $361.00 price objective on shares of Stryker in a report on Friday, May 1st. One research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, seventeen have issued a Buy rating and six have assigned a Hold rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, Stryker presently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $386.28.

View Our Latest Stock Analysis on SYK Stryker Stock Up 2.9% SYK opened at $331.32 on Friday. The business has a 50 day moving average of $329.10 and a 200-day moving average of $331.47. The stock has a market capitalization of $127.08 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 34.33, a P/E/G ratio of 2.05 and a beta of 0.76. The company has a current ratio of 2.16, a quick ratio of 1.33 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.59. Stryker Corporation has a 1-year low of $281.00 and a 1-year high of $396.86.

Stryker (NYSE:SYK – Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, July 30th. The medical technology company reported $3.69 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $3.49 by $0.20. Stryker had a net margin of 14.43% and a return on equity of 23.63%. The firm had revenue of $6.59 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $6.58 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm posted $3.13 EPS. The business’s revenue for the quarter was up 9.4% on a year-over-year basis. Stryker has set its FY 2026 guidance at 14.950-15.100 EPS. As a group, sell-side analysts anticipate that Stryker Corporation will post 15.02 earnings per share for the current year.

Stryker Dividend Announcement The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, October 30th. Stockholders of record on Wednesday, September 30th will be issued a dividend of $0.88 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Wednesday, September 30th. This represents a $3.52 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.1%. Stryker’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 36.48%.

Insider Activity In other Stryker news, insider Dylan Bram Crotty sold 441 shares of Stryker stock in a transaction on Friday, August 21st. The stock was sold at an average price of $328.61, for a total value of $144,917.01. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider owned 6,102 shares in the company, valued at approximately $2,005,178.22. The trade was a 6.74% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Also, Director Ronda E. Stryker sold 300,000 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction on Tuesday, August 18th. The stock was sold at an average price of $335.90, for a total value of $100,770,000.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the director directly owned 2,301,375 shares in the company, valued at approximately $773,031,862.50. This represents a 11.53% decrease in their position. Additional details regarding this sale are available in the official SEC disclosure. Over the last 90 days, insiders sold 351,267 shares of company stock worth $118,197,701. Insiders own 4.60% of the company’s stock.

About Stryker (Free Report)

Stryker Corporation is a global medical technology company that designs, manufactures and markets a broad range of products and services for use in hospitals, surgeons’ offices and other healthcare facilities. Its primary business activities span orthopedics (including joint replacement implants, trauma and extremities products), surgical equipment and operating room technologies (such as visualization, navigation and powered instruments), neurotechnology and spine solutions, and patient-handling and emergency medical equipment.

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Key Takeaways Scotts Miracle-Gro lifted fiscal 2026 adjusted EPS guidance to $4.30-$4.45 on improving margins. U.S. Consumer sales rose 2.1%, while segment profit increased 6.1% through nine months. Scotts Miracle-Gro cut leverage to 3.78 as EBITDA grew and cash flow supported debt reduction. The Scotts Miracle-Gro Company (SMG - Free Report) has been benefiting from U.S. Consumer growth, margin expansion, supply chain savings, e-commerce momentum and debt reduction despite seasonal demand pressures. However, higher transportation and commodity costs, weak lawn demand, elevated capital spending and residual divestiture-related volatility could weigh on margins, cash flexibility and earnings growth.

The company’s shares have gained 0.2% over a year compared with the industry’s 3.7% rise.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

Let’s find out why SMG stock is worth retaining for now.

Growth, Margin Expansion and Deleveraging Support OutlookScotts Miracle-Gro continues to benefit from its U.S. Consumer franchise, supply chain savings and a mix shift toward higher-margin branded products. In the first nine months of fiscal 2026, U.S. Consumer sales rose 2.1%, segment profit increased 6.1% and adjusted gross margin improved 110 basis points (bps) to 35.8%. Management raised fiscal 2026 adjusted EPS guidance to $4.30-$4.45 and kept expectations for low-single-digit U.S. Consumer sales growth, at least a 32% adjusted gross margin and mid-single-digit adjusted EBITDA growth. Its longer-term framework still targets roughly $1 billion of incremental sales and $1 billion of EBITDA around 2030 through innovation, pricing, e-commerce and disciplined tuck-in acquisitions.

The company’s portfolio holds leading positions across fertilizers, grass seed, spreaders, mulch, soils, plant food and rodent control within an addressable do-it-yourself (DIY) market of about $12 billion. Branded point-of-sale (POS) for the first nine months of fiscal 2026 rose 1.4% in dollars and 2.3% in units, while e-commerce POS advanced 27% and 33%, respectively. New products across lawns, organics, indoor gardening and controls, together with targeted younger-consumer marketing, support broader category penetration over time.

Scotts Miracle-Gro’s leverage ratio was 3.78 at the end of the third quarter of fiscal 2026, down from 4.15 a year earlier, as year-to-date adjusted EBITDA increased by $31 million and free cash flow continued to be directed toward debt reduction. Third-quarter interest expense fell to $28 million as average borrowings and borrowing rates declined. Management maintained fiscal 2026 free cash flow guidance of $275 million and a year-end leverage target in the high 3s, supporting further balance sheet improvement.

SMG Balances Liquidity and Capital ReturnsScotts Miracle-Gro’s liquidity remained adequate, supported by $195.2 million of cash generated from operations in the first nine months of fiscal 2026, broadly in line with $197.2 million a year earlier. Cash and cash equivalents were $27.7 million on June 27, 2026, while total debt was approximately $2.11 billion. The company continued to return capital to shareholders, paying $116.3 million in dividends during the first nine months. Although SMG maintains a $500 million share repurchase authorization, it did not buy back shares under the program during the period.

Cost Headwinds and Seasonal Demand Challenge SMG’s Growth Higher transportation costs remained a drag in the third quarter of fiscal 2026, when adjusted gross margin declined 100 bps to 31.3%. Supply chain savings produced favorable material costs, but those benefits were net of higher commodity costs. Property, plant and equipment spending rose 16% to $63.1 million in the first nine months of fiscal 2026 as automation, enterprise resource planning (ERP) modernization and distribution investments continue. These outlays can limit cash flexibility even as management targets at least a 32% adjusted gross margin for fiscal 2026.

U.S. Consumer sales rose 0.3% in the third quarter of fiscal 2026, while segment profit declined 2.3% as gross margin fell. Branded Lawns POS was down 1% in both dollars and units year to date, with unfavorable May weather offsetting e-commerce growth and pricing. Earnings therefore remain exposed to seasonal demand as growth initiatives are executed.

The Hawthorne operating divestiture is complete, but the transaction still carries financial volatility. Scotts Miracle-Gro recorded a $101.8 million loss on the North American sale in the first nine months of fiscal 2026 and a $15.7 million unrealized loss on Vireo equity securities in the third quarter. Non-cash consideration therefore leaves residual exposure to Vireo’s valuation.

The Scotts Miracle-Gro Company Price and ConsensusSMG’s Zacks Rank & Key Picks

SMG currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold).

Some better-ranked stocks in the Consumer Staples space are Archer Daniels Midland Company (ADM - Free Report) , The Chefs' Warehouse, Inc. (CHEF - Free Report) and The Vita Coco Company, Inc. (COCO - Free Report) . ADM, CHEF and COCO currently carry a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for ADM’s current-year earnings stands at $5.22 per share, implying a 52.2% year-over-year increase. Its earnings beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate in each of the trailing four quarters, with the average surprise being 11.3%.

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for CHEF’s current-year earnings is pegged at $2.54 per share, implying a 33.7% year-over-year increase. Its earnings beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate in each of the trailing four quarters, with the average surprise being 30.4%.

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for COCO’s current-year earnings is pegged at $1.96 per share, indicating a 64.7% year-over-year increase. Its earnings beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate in three of the trailing four quarters while missing once, with the average surprise being 21.9%.

Key Takeaways Air Products raised fiscal 2026 adjusted earnings guidance to $13.39-$13.49 per share.APD has a roughly $3 billion industrial gas project backlog, mainly supporting electronics customers.Productivity actions and headcount cuts are expected to support margins and $250 million in annual savings. Air Products and Chemicals, Inc. (APD - Free Report) is benefiting from investments in high-return projects, new business deals, acquisitions and productivity initiatives.

We are positive about APD’s prospects and believe that the time is right for you to add the stock to the portfolio, as it looks promising and is poised to carry the momentum ahead.

Let's see what makes APD stock an attractive investment option at the moment.

Positive Analyst Sentiment for APD StockEarnings estimates for APD have been going up over the past 60 days. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for fiscal 2026 has increased by 1.6%. The consensus estimate for fiscal 2027 has also been revised 1.5% upward over the same time frame. The favorable estimate revisions instill investor confidence in the stock.

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for APD’s fiscal 2026 earnings is pegged at $13.43, suggesting a 11.6% increase from the previous year’s tally. Earnings are projected to increase by 7.5% in fiscal 2027.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

APD’s Positive Earnings Surprise HistoryAir Products has outpaced the Zacks Consensus Estimate in three of the trailing four quarters. In this time frame, it has delivered an earnings surprise of roughly 2.9%, on average.

APD’s Superior Return on Equity (ROE)ROE is a measure of a company’s efficiency in utilizing shareholders’ funds. ROE for the trailing 12-months for Air Products is 16.9%, above the industry’s level of 7.6%.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

Upbeat OutlookAir Products raised its fiscal 2026 adjusted earnings guidance to $13.39-$13.49 per share from the prior range of $13.00-$13.25. For the fourth quarter of fiscal 2026, Air Products expects adjusted earnings of $3.55-$3.65 per share, implying 5-8% growth from the prior-year period. The growth is expected to be supported by new asset contributions, pricing actions and productivity initiatives.

High-Return Projects & Productivity Actions Aid Air ProductsAir Products is well-placed to gain from its investments in high-return industrial gas projects and productivity measures. It remains focused on its gasification strategy and is executing its key growth projects. These projects are expected to be accretive to earnings and cash flows.

The company has an industrial gas backlog of roughly $3 billion in projects, mainly supporting electronics customers. It plans to invest about $1.5 billion annually in traditional industrial gas projects.

Air Products is currently pursuing the NEOM green hydrogen project in Saudi Arabia. The project is expected to supply up to 1.2 million tons per year of renewable ammonia. Air Products and Yara International have finalized a marketing and distribution agreement for renewable ammonia from the project. Under the deal, Yara will transport and market green ammonia not sold by Air Products as renewable hydrogen.

Air Products is also driving productivity to improve its cost structure. It is seeing the positive impacts of its productivity actions. Benefits from additional productivity and cost improvement programs are likely to support its margins moving ahead. The company also remains focused on improving pricing amid an inflationary environment. Air Products is also taking action to right-size the organization through headcount reductions and expects these reductions to result in $250 million in annual cost savings once completed. It has already realized roughly $75 million in savings from headcount reductions, as divulged in its fiscal third-quarter earnings call.

APD’s Zacks Rank & Key PicksAPD currently carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy).

Other top-ranked stocks in the Basic Materials space are Worthington Steel, Inc. (WS - Free Report) , Carpenter Technology Corporation (CRS - Free Report) and Avient Corporation (AVNT - Free Report) . WS currently carries a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), while CRS and AVNT carry a Zacks Rank #2 each. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for WS’s current-year earnings stands at $3.4 per share, implying a 52.5% year-over-year increase. Its earnings beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate in two of the trailing four quarters and missed twice, with the negative average surprise being 13.8%.

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for CRS’s current fiscal-year earnings is pegged at $13.08 per share, implying a 21.6% year-over-year increase. Its earnings beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate in all of the trailing four quarters, with the average surprise being 8.4%.

 The Zacks Consensus Estimate for AVNT’s current-year earnings is pegged at $3.2 per share, indicating a 13.5% year-over-year increase. Its earnings beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate in all of the trailing four quarters, with the average surprise being 3.4%.

Ancora Advisors LLC acquired a new position in shares of Illinois Tool Works Inc. (NYSE:ITW – Free Report) in the second quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm acquired 1,909 shares of the industrial products company’s stock, valued at approximately $516,000.

Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently bought and sold shares of the company. BlackRock Inc. acquired a new position in Illinois Tool Works in the 2nd quarter valued at about $6,296,349,000. Norges Bank purchased a new stake in shares of Illinois Tool Works during the fourth quarter worth about $808,351,000. Bank of New York Mellon Corp acquired a new position in shares of Illinois Tool Works in the second quarter valued at approximately $603,166,000. Legal & General Group Plc purchased a new position in shares of Illinois Tool Works during the second quarter valued at approximately $500,748,000. Finally, Deutsche Bank AG acquired a new stake in Illinois Tool Works during the second quarter worth approximately $221,746,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 79.77% of the company’s stock.

Illinois Tool Works Stock Performance Shares of NYSE:ITW opened at $280.19 on Friday. The business has a 50-day moving average of $279.88 and a two-hundred day moving average of $271.50. The firm has a market capitalization of $79.80 billion, a PE ratio of 25.40, a P/E/G ratio of 4.76 and a beta of 0.99. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.26, a current ratio of 1.11 and a quick ratio of 0.81. Illinois Tool Works Inc. has a 12 month low of $238.82 and a 12 month high of $303.15.

Illinois Tool Works (NYSE:ITW – Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, July 28th. The industrial products company reported $2.84 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $2.80 by $0.04. Illinois Tool Works had a net margin of 19.39% and a return on equity of 101.72%. The firm had revenue of $4.30 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $4.19 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the company posted $2.58 earnings per share. Illinois Tool Works’s revenue was up 6.1% compared to the same quarter last year. Illinois Tool Works has set its FY 2026 guidance at 11.350-11.550 EPS. As a group, research analysts forecast that Illinois Tool Works Inc. will post 11.45 earnings per share for the current year. Illinois Tool Works Increases Dividend The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, October 9th. Shareholders of record on Wednesday, September 30th will be issued a $1.72 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, September 30th. This represents a $6.88 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.5%. This is a boost from Illinois Tool Works’s previous quarterly dividend of $1.61. Illinois Tool Works’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 58.39%.

Insider Buying and Selling at Illinois Tool Works In other Illinois Tool Works news, Director Jennifer F. Scanlon purchased 806 shares of Illinois Tool Works stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, June 2nd. The stock was purchased at an average price of $247.99 per share, with a total value of $199,879.94. Following the completion of the acquisition, the director owned 1,652 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $409,679.48. This trade represents a 95.27% increase in their position. The purchase was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Also, CAO Matteo C. Pigozzo sold 277 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Thursday, August 13th. The stock was sold at an average price of $289.22, for a total transaction of $80,113.94. Following the transaction, the chief accounting officer directly owned 3,394 shares in the company, valued at $981,612.68. The trade was a 7.55% decrease in their position. Additional details regarding this sale are available in the official SEC disclosure. 0.83% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In A number of research analysts have weighed in on ITW shares. Wolfe Research reissued an “underperform” rating and set a $286.00 price target on shares of Illinois Tool Works in a research note on Thursday, July 9th. Truist Financial upped their target price on Illinois Tool Works from $280.00 to $301.00 and gave the company a “hold” rating in a research note on Thursday, July 2nd. Robert W. Baird increased their target price on Illinois Tool Works from $278.00 to $297.00 and gave the stock a “neutral” rating in a research report on Wednesday, July 29th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised their price target on Illinois Tool Works from $310.00 to $350.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a research note on Wednesday, July 29th. Finally, UBS Group reaffirmed a “neutral” rating and set a $300.00 price objective on shares of Illinois Tool Works in a research note on Wednesday, July 29th. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, six have given a Hold rating and five have given a Sell rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, Illinois Tool Works has a consensus rating of “Reduce” and a consensus target price of $281.25.

View Our Latest Report on Illinois Tool Works

Illinois Tool Works Profile (Free Report)

Illinois Tool Works Inc (ITW) is a diversified industrial manufacturer that designs and produces a broad array of engineered products, consumables and related service solutions for industrial customers. Its offerings span engineered fastening systems, specialty components, industrial equipment, welding products, foodservice and packaging equipment, adhesives and polymer products, and test-and-measurement technologies. These products are used as critical inputs by customers across automotive, construction, electronics, foodservice, maintenance and other industrial end markets.

The company operates a decentralized business model in which independently managed businesses focus on niche product lines and close customer relationships.

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New digitally enabled support experience helps manufacturers address skills gaps, simplify updates and resolve issues faster

, /PRNewswire/ -- Rockwell Automation, Inc. (NYSE: ROK), the world's largest company dedicated to industrial automation and digital transformation, today announced the launch of TechConnectIQ℠ Support, a modernized remote support experience designed to help manufacturers reduce downtime, speed time to resolution and simplify software and firmware updates.

Rockwell Automation expands remote support with launch of TechConnectIQ As manufacturing environments become more complex and on-site experts harder to staff, Rockwell TechConnectIQ makes it easier for maintenance, engineering and operations teams to get the help they need when issues arise. The new experience provides faster access to Rockwell's technical expertise and digital resources, helping teams stay productive and respond more effectively to challenges.

TechConnectIQ Support is available now for single-site contract customers in North America, with additional regions planned for 2027. Available 24x7x365, Rockwell's technical support engineers assist with installation, configuration, troubleshooting and issue resolution across industrial automation systems. The service also reduces the need for on-site field visits and helps teams work more efficiently through improved access to knowledge and updates.

"Manufacturers are being asked to do more with fewer resources and support needs to keep pace," said Matt Fordenwalt, senior vice president, Lifecycle Services, at Rockwell Automation. "TechConnectIQ brings together our expertise and AI capabilities to help customers stay productive when on-site resources are limited."

Key benefits of this new offering include:

Real-time access to specialists through web-based tools with scheduled callbacks and live support Improved data visibility via the myRockwellAutomation TechConnect hub, including installed base and support history Simplified support structure with consolidated hardware and software coverage and three support tiers: Basic, Standard and Professional AI-support tools including federated search, augmented reality guidance and instructional videos to assist with maintenance and remote support tasks "For more than 20 years, customers have relied on Rockwell's TechConnect service to keep their operations running," said Bill Prather, lead product manager for production optimization at Rockwell Automation. "TechConnectIQ builds on that trusted foundation and reflects what customers told us they need today. We modernized the experience while maintaining the reliability they expect from Rockwell."

Learn more about TechConnectIQ Support on Rockwell's website.

About Rockwell Automation
Rockwell Automation, Inc. (NYSE: ROK), is a global leader in industrial automation and digital transformation. We connect the imaginations of people with the potential of technology to expand what is humanly possible, making the world more productive and more sustainable. Headquartered in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Rockwell Automation employs approximately 26,000 problem solvers dedicated to our customers in more than 100 countries as of fiscal year end 2025. To learn more about how we are bringing the Connected Enterprise® to life across industrial enterprises, visit www.rockwellautomation.com.

SOURCE Rockwell Automation, Inc.

Key Takeaways Pembina shares rose 10.4% in six months, outpacing the broader energy sector's 9.7% gain.PBA's 2026 earnings estimate is pegged at $2.23 per share, indicating 17.4% YoY growth.Pembina targets 5%-7% annual fee-based adjusted EBITDA per-share growth through 2030. Pembina Pipeline Corporation (PBA - Free Report) has posted an impressive performance over the past six months, with its shares rising 10.4%. This gain outperformed the broader energy sector’s growth of 9.7% and the sub-industry’s fall of 1.6% during the same time period. Pembina’s stronger upward momentum reflects greater investor confidence and more consistent resilience.

PBA Stock Price Change Over the Past Six Months
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

As one of Canada’s premier energy infrastructure companies, Pembina maintains a vast network of pipelines, gas gathering and processing facilities, liquids infrastructure, storage assets and export terminals. Its integrated business model provides end-to-end services that connect production sites with key markets across North America and beyond. Backed largely by long-term, fee-based agreements, Pembina generates stable and predictable cash flows while maintaining a strong focus on operational safety, reliability and disciplined capital allocation. The company continues to invest in strategic infrastructure projects aimed at supporting resource development, improving market connectivity and reinforcing its competitive position in a changing global energy environment.

For investors, the central question is whether the stock’s recent strong performance justifies maintaining a position for additional upside or warrants a reassessment of valuation levels. Evaluating Pembina’s financial strength, favorable industry dynamics and long-term growth opportunities can provide valuable insight into whether the stock remains an attractive holding.

Key Drivers Behind the Recent Surge of PBA StockA Positive 2026 Earnings Estimate: The Zacks Consensus Estimate for PBA’s 2026 earnings is pegged at $2.23 per share, indicating 17.4% year-over-year growth. The positive earnings estimate outlook makes the stock attractive for investors.

PBA’s Earnings Estimate Overview
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

Integrated Network Broadens Monetization: Pembina spans gathering, processing, transportation, fractionation, exports and marketing, allowing volumes to generate value across multiple stages of the chain. Management expects Western Canadian growth in oil, gas, condensate, LNG, petrochemicals and data-center demand to create linked opportunities across these assets. This integration supports capital-efficient expansions using existing infrastructure and reinforces Pembina’s ability to capture incremental basin volumes.

Greenlight Adds a Contracted Demand Platform:The 932-megawatt Greenlight Electricity Center extends Pembina into gas-fired power for data centers. The project is underpinned by a 20-year agreement with Meta and is expected to generate about C$310 million of annual adjusted EBITDA net to Pembina after entering service in the second half of 2030. Management is also advancing a potential second phase and additional gas-to-power opportunities.

Visible Fee-Based Growth Pipeline:Pembina has sanctioned the Greenlight Electricity Center and Heartland Extraction Plant while advancing Cedar LNG and other expansions. Management targets 5-7% compound annual fee-based adjusted EBITDA per-share growth through 2030. Its August 2026 plan indicates C$7-C$8 billion of cash flow after dividends through 2030, with sanctioned growth funded within free cash flow and leverage guardrails. Management also estimates growth could create about C$3 billion of incremental debt capacity within its target leverage range.

Risks That May Limit PBA's UpsideLarge Debt Remains a Constraint: Pembina carried C$19.8 billion of long-term debt at June 30, 2026. Management targets proportionately consolidated debt-to-adjusted EBITDA of 3.5x-4.25x and expects growth to remain within those guardrails, but the absolute debt load leaves less flexibility if capital requirements rise or project cash flows are delayed.

Marketing Earnings Remain Commodity-Sensitive: Pembina’s fee-based model limits direct commodity exposure, but Marketing & New Ventures still varies with NGL frac spreads, crude prices and export economics. Second-quarter 2026 benefited from wider NGL frac spreads and higher prices, while management said commodity prices remain a primary factor determining the 2026 guidance range. About 90% of third-quarter frac-spread exposure is hedged versus only 40% in the fourth quarter.

Major Projects Carry Execution Risk: Pembina’s growth plan relies on Cedar LNG, Greenlight, Heartland Extraction Plant and additional pipeline expansions reaching service on schedule and within planned capital. Cedar LNG is targeted for late 2028, Heartland for late 2029 and Greenlight for the second half of 2030. Delays, cost escalation or commercial setbacks could defer expected fee-based cash flows and reduce project returns.

Asset Upkeep Requires Sustained Spending: Pembina expects C$210 million of non-recoverable sustaining capital in its 2026 capital program and plans higher integrity and maintenance spending in the second half of 2026. Management also identifies the third quarter as its highest operating-expense period. These recurring requirements support reliability but can reduce cash available for discretionary uses when growth investment is also elevated.

Pembina: The Final WordPembina appears well-positioned with its integrated midstream network, contracted growth projects and expanding NGL, LNG and gas-to-power platforms supporting a visible path to higher fee-based cash flows. Recent project execution also reinforces management’s ability to add capacity within its financial guardrails and deepen customer relationships.

However, the company still carries a large debt load, retains exposure to commodity-sensitive marketing earnings and faces an uneven near-term earnings cadence. Its longer-term outlook also depends on timely delivery of several capital projects and continued Western Canadian production growth. With durable infrastructure advantages and new demand opportunities offset by financing, execution and market risks, a wait-and-see approach appears prudent for this company, allowing investors to participate in structural upside while waiting for clearer earnings traction.

PBA’s Zacks Rank & Key PicksCurrently, PBA has a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold).

Investors interested in the energy sector may consider some top-ranked stocks like Delek US Holdings, Inc. (DK - Free Report) , Drilling Tools International Corporation (DTI - Free Report) and HF Sinclair Corporation (DINO - Free Report) , each sporting a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) at present. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.

Brentwood, TN-based Delek US Holdings is an independent refiner, transporter and marketer of petroleum products. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for DK’s 2026 earnings indicates 53% year-over-year growth.

Drilling Tools International is a global oilfield services provider focused on supplying downhole tools used in horizontal and directional drilling. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for DTI’s current quarter earnings indicates 200% year-over-year growth.

HF Sinclair is an independent energy company producing and marketing gasoline, diesel, jet fuel, renewable diesel, lubricants and specialty products. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for DINO’s 2026 earnings indicates 134.2% year-over-year growth.