Track market-moving stories before they get noisy

Sandisk (SNDK +6.77%) has been, by far, the best-performing stock in the S&P 500 this year. The flash memory maker has benefited from the ever-growing demand for memory and storage from AI data centers. The deep imbalance between supply and demand has allowed the company to boost its prices to a remarkable degree, and buyers keep snapping up its products.

And memory prices could surge even higher: Morningstar analyst William Kerwin expects to see that they rose by more than 100% overall in Sandisk's just-ended fiscal 2026, and predicts a nearly 100% rise from there in its fiscal 2027.

There's no doubt that's incredibly good for Sandisk's business. But the stock market is always forward-looking. Investors need to ask whether that predicted growth is already priced into the stock and whether the company can exceed expectations.

Image source: Getty Images.

Is Sandisk stock a buy right now? The memory market has a history of being extremely cyclical. When memory is in short supply, prices soar, and producers commit to building new fabrication facilities to meet demand. But as those fabs come online, the market tends to get hit with a glut of supply, and memory prices plunge. In just a few years, companies can go from extremely profitable, like Sandisk is today, to making pennies per share or even losing money.

Sandisk hasn't been trading as a stand-alone company for long -- it was spun off from Western Digital in February 2025 -- so there's not a lot of history to go on. But after that spinoff, Sandisk released some data that gave investors a good look at what a down cycle can look like for the company. It went from a $1 billion net profit in fiscal 2022 to a $2 billion net loss in fiscal 2023. It was still a loss-making operation in fiscal 2024 and fiscal 2025. It wasn't until the current fiscal year that Sandisk began to see demand spike and prices shoot higher, resulting in a strong gross margin and total profits.

When the current cycle collapses, Sandisk could sink back toward unprofitable territory. The company is investing significant amounts in its own operations and its joint venture with Kioxia. It also spends a steady amount -- over $1 billion per year -- on research and development. Those costs are unlikely to change even when revenue starts declining. They didn't in 2023 or 2024.

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Despite management's efforts to mitigate downside risk by signing long-term contracts with large buyers of its memory products, it could face significant pressure on profits as the supply-and-demand imbalance evens out. The long-term trend is for Sandisk to charge less per terabyte of memory over time. So, demand for storage will have to significantly outpace price declines over time, given the company's additional overhead and production costs.

Sandisk stock has sold off by more than 25% from its peak amid a broader semiconductor stock decline. Despite the lower price per share, it still looks fairly expensive for a cyclical stock near the peak of its earnings cycle. Despite the potential for memory prices to double again in the coming year, investors need to consider what comes when the supply-and-demand equilibrium swings back in the other direction. Indeed, Wall Street's estimates for Micron's fiscal 2028 earnings are currently below those for fiscal 2027. And 2029 could see a huge revenue collapse. At the current price, the stock looks far too expensive to take that long-term risk.

With all the excitement around Space Exploration Technologies, or SpaceX, still fresh in investors' minds, it's understandable if Tesla (TSLA 2.18%) has somewhat faded from investor attention. However, that shouldn't detract from the fact that there's been news on the company recently, some of it good, some bad, and more to come in the near term.

First, the bad news on Tesla Tesla is behind schedule on its robotaxi rollout. While recognizing that the rollout is not entirely under the company's control, the reality is that investors key in on what management tells them. Unfortunately, Tesla is not a company known for underpromising and overdelivering, especially when it comes to the robotaxi rollout.

Image source: The Motley Fool.

Back on an earnings call in July 2025, CEO Elon Musk said, "I think we'll probably have autonomous ride-hailing in probably half the population of the U.S. by the end of the year." Furthermore, going back to the fourth-quarter earnings presentation in January, the company said the robotaxi "status" for seven cities was "H1 2026." That was later changed to "ramping unsupervised" for Dallas and Houston, and "preparations underway" for Phoenix, Miami, Orlando, Tampa, and Las Vegas.

Having passed the half-year mark, only Miami has been added to the list of cities with unsupervised robotaxis (and only in a limited section of Miami), after Dallas and Houston were added in the first quarter and Austin in the last quarter.

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Does it matter? Whichever way you look at it, Tesla is behind management's previous proclamations on timelines. This matters because investors pencil in the company's earnings and cash flows based on these projections, which then need to be pushed back when timelines are not met. As such, it's not surprising that Tesla's stock price is down 6.7% as of this writing in 2026.

Moreover, investors will need to be patient with robotaxi as Musk was clear in the last earnings call in April that "I think it's not going to make sense for us to deploy unsupervised FSD or robotaxi large scale when we know that there are major architectural improvements to the software that can improve safety," and this implies waiting for v15 of its full-self driving (FSD) software, which Musk expects "hopefully by the end of this year, but certainly by early next year."

Clearly, the key question regarding the robotaxi during the upcoming earnings call is the current status of v15 FSD.

Image source: Tesla.

Tesla's second-quarter delivery total of more than 480,000 blew away the Wall Street consensus of about 406,000. While the bears will be quick to remind the bulls that Tesla isn't a car company (a long-held bullish argument), the reality is that it is good news for Tesla.

Not only does it confirm that the company has moved past the Model Y refresh issue that slowed sales last year, but it also shows it's retaining its market position even as rivals are scaling back their EV plans after failing to gain market share.

Moreover, some back-of-the-envelope calculations show that the 74,000 extra units above Wall Street estimates (assuming an average revenue per unit of $43,000) will result in $3.18 billion in "extra revenue." Given that Tesla's operating cash flow margin was about 15.6% in 2025 and assuming the extra deliveries are capital-spending-neutral, this could result in $500 million in "extra" free cash flow.

That will help derisk Tesla's capital spending plans, which include $25 billion in 2026. As such, the good news on deliveries helps derisk the company's plans.

Earnings season is about to begin, and Delta Air Lines (DAL 1.51%) is one of the first big names up. The carrier reports second-quarter results Friday, July 10, before the market opens, among the earliest S&P 500 companies to do so. With the stock up about 35% this year as of this writing, is it worth buying ahead of the report?

Let's look at what Delta told investors last quarter, what it has guided for this one, and how the valuation stacks up.

Image source: Getty Images.

What Delta set up last quarter When Delta reported March-quarter results in April, the headline was demand. Adjusted revenue rose 9.4% year over year to a record $14.2 billion for the period, and adjusted earnings per share came in at $0.64. Free cash flow was a healthy $1.2 billion. The company also kept paying down debt, trimming adjusted net debt to $13.5 billion, below where it stood in 2019.

More important for Friday is what management guided toward for the June quarter. Delta called for revenue up in the low teens year over year, an operating margin of 6% to 8%, and adjusted earnings per share of $1.00 to $1.50. It expects to lead the industry with about $1 billion in profit for the quarter.

CEO Ed Bastian struck a confident tone.

"In the June quarter, we expect to lead the industry with $1 billion of profit," he said in the company's March-quarter release. He added that while a recent fuel spike is pressuring earnings, "this environment ultimately reinforces Delta's leadership."

That last point is the swing factor. Delta's June-quarter guidance already bakes in higher fuel costs. It assumed all-in fuel of about $4.30 per gallon, and management responded by pulling back on capacity growth to protect margins. So the question Friday isn't just how strong demand was. It's whether Delta held its profit line against a costlier fuel backdrop.

It's also worth remembering how Delta makes its money. Beyond main-cabin ticket sales, the airline leans on a lucrative co-branded credit card program and a growing premium-cabin business. Those higher-margin revenue streams are a big reason Delta consistently out-earns the rest of the industry, and they're part of why management can guide to a $1 billion quarter even with fuel working against it.

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Does the setup make the stock a buy? Here's where valuation comes in, and it's the most compelling part of the story. At about $92 per share, Delta trades at roughly 13 times trailing earnings. That's well below the broader market's multiple of more than 20. Rival United Airlines is cheaper still, at about 12 times earnings. In other words, the market is pricing airlines like cyclical, low-quality businesses even as Delta generates industry-leading profits and real free cash flow.

That gap is the bull case. If Delta keeps producing $1 billion quarters and paying down debt, a low-teens earnings multiple looks too cheap for the strongest operator in the group. And the company has given itself levers to defend margins, from cutting capacity to recapturing fuel costs, instead of leaning on strong demand alone.

But should you buy specifically to catch Friday's report?

I'd be careful there. No one can know how a stock will react to a single earnings release, and buying just ahead of one is closer to a coin flip than an investment. Delta delivered last quarter's results within its own guidance despite a fuel spike, but a soft read on demand or an ugly fuel number could send shares lower regardless of how cheap they look.

Overall, I think Delta is an attractive stock at about 13 times earnings for investors willing to hold through the sector's cyclical swings. But the decision shouldn't hinge on Friday's report. Only consider the stock if you like the business and its valuation from a long-term perspective, because there's no way to know how the stock will react after the earnings report drops.

Shares of Palantir Technologies (PLTR 1.57%) got pummeled during the first six months of 2026, with shares plunging 34%, according to data provided by S&P Global Market Intelligence. That's a far cry from the 10% gains of the S&P 500.

Artificial intelligence (AI) stocks have been taking a breather over the past year as investors have grown more discriminating, casting a wary eye on stocks with frothy valuations and looking for the "next big thing." However, Palantir's stellar results and its lower stock price have combined to bring its valuation back to Earth, making the price more reasonable than it's been in some time.

Is the worst over? Let's take a look.

Image source: Getty Images.

The numbers paint a compelling picture Since the start of this year, Palantir has delivered two quarterly financial reports, and each has been better than the last.

For the fourth quarter -- which was reported in early February -- Palantir delivered record revenue that surged 70% year over year and 19% quarter over quarter to $1.4 billion. This marked the 10th successive quarter of accelerating growth. This drove adjusted earnings per share (EPS) of $0.25.

Driving the results was demand for the company's Artificial Intelligence Platform (AIP). U.S. government revenue of $507 million climbed 66% to $570 million, while U.S. commercial revenue -- which includes AIP -- soared 137% to $507 million. Perhaps more telling was Palantir's remaining performance obligation (RPO), commonly called backlog, which surged 143% to $4.21 billion. This shows the company is building a solid foundation for the future.

Palantir's first-quarter results, reported in May, were even better. Revenue jumped 85% year over year to $1.63 billion -- marking the company's highest-ever year-over-year growth rate. This fueled adjusted EPS that surged 154% to $0.33.

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While U.S. government revenue grew an impressive 84% year over year, U.S. commercial revenue flew even higher, soaring 133% year over year, as demand for AIP continued to lead the way. At the same time, its RPO jumped 134%. Its Rule of 40 score, which illustrates the balance between the company's strong growth and increasing profitability, reached rarified territory of 145% -- when any number above 40% is considered healthy.

Not only is Palantir attracting new customers, but is also expanding its relationships with existing users, as evidenced by its net dollar retention rate of 150%. Put another way, existing customers spent 50% more, on average, in Q1 than in the year-ago quarter.

Investors have been watching closely over the past year, concerned that AI adoption had peaked, but the evidence clearly suggests otherwise. Palantir increased its full-year 2026 financial guidance and is now anticipating 71% revenue growth, up from its earlier forecast of 61% issued earlier this year.

To the untrained eye, the stock appears somewhat pricey, selling for 149 times earnings -- but that doesn't account for Palantir's accelerating high-double-digit growth. Using the more appropriate price/earnings-to-growth (PEG) ratio -- which factors in the company's phenomenal growth rate -- returns a multiple of 0.52, when any number less than 1 signals an undervalued stock.

Taken together, Palantir's stellar track record, accelerating growth, and moderating valuation make the case that the stock is a buy.

Space Exploration Technologies (SPCX 1.02%), or SpaceX as most know the company, recently became the largest IPO in history. But investors may not realize just how little of the company is currently trading on the market. SpaceX sold 555.6 million shares to public investors, which sounds like a lot, but it's not. That's only about 4% of the total company.

Major investors, employees, and insiders own the rest. That includes CEO Elon Musk, who owns approximately 42% of the company through a combination of more than 4.8 billion shares and stock options. However, Musk is bound to an extended lockup provision that prevents him from selling any of his shares until June of next year, or 366 days after the IPO.

Here's a look at how these provisions might affect SpaceX stock between now and then.

Image source: The Motley Fool.

SpaceX structured its lockup window to minimize volatility Musk and his companies have an enormous following, especially among individual investors. SpaceX tried to account for this when it planned out its lockup periods. Lockups prevent insiders and major investors from dumping shares on the market once a company goes public. Typical lockups expire after 180 days, but SpaceX has staggered its lockups to minimize volatility in its share price.

There are multiple lockups, not including the extended lockup Musk is subject to.

Investors can sell up to 20% of their stock shortly following SpaceX's second-quarter earnings report, its first since the IPO. Another 28% unlocks following the company's third-quarter earnings report. Investors might be able to sell more, based on how the stock is trading at the time.

Additionally, shares will steadily unlock in 7% increments, regardless of share price, on days 70, 90, 105, 120, and 135 after the IPO. Any remaining shares, excluding the extended lockup, unlock at the traditional 180 days.

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Musk's eventual lockup expiration could weigh on an expensive stock The important point here is that the number of shares available for trading will increase significantly over the next six months. Although it's unlikely that Musk will dump his stake next year, even trimming it to monetize some of his fortune could continue to push lots of new shares into the market a year after the IPO, after a ton of stock has already flooded the market. That could weigh on the share price without sufficient demand to absorb all those additional shares.

It's not the only factor. SpaceX went public amid a ton of hype and excitement, which drove the stock's valuation to pretty lofty heights. The stock still trades at over 100 times its 2025 revenue of $18.6 billion. In other words, there's a ton of room for shares to fall if sentiment turns south. It's a risk worth considering when deciding whether to buy the stock.

GE Aerospace (NYSE:GE) will release its second quarter earnings report before the opening bell on Thursday, July 16.

Analysts expect the Evendale, Ohio-based company to report quarterly earnings of $1.86 per share, up from $1.66 per share in the year-ago period. The consensus estimate for GE Aerospace’s quarterly revenue is $11.82 billion. It reported $10.15 billion last year, according to Benzinga Pro.

On June 25, GE Aerospace declared a 47 cents per share dividend.

Shares of GE Aerospace fell 3% to close at $356.03 on Wednesday.

Benzinga readers can access the latest analyst ratings on the Analyst Stock Ratings page. Readers can sort by stock ticker, company name, analyst firm, rating change or other variables.

Let’s have a look at how Benzinga’s most-accurate analysts have rated the company in the recent period.

Considering buying GE stock? Here’s what analysts think:

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© 2026 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.

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The logo of Xiaomi appears on a new‑generation SU7 electric sedan ahead of a launch event in Beijing, China, March 19, 2026. REUTERS/Maxim Shemetov/File Photo Purchase Licensing Rights, opens new tab

CompaniesBEIJING, July 9 (Reuters) - China's Xiaomi (1810.HK), opens new tab on Thursday unveiled an SUV series named Sky Nomad, accelerating the technology company's push into automobiles as growth slows in ​its mainstay smartphone market.

The extended-range electric vehicle (EREV) series, branded Xiaomi Pengcheng ‌in Chinese, will comprise "smart, versatile, spacious" SUVs, CEO Lei Jun said on his Weibo micro-blog account along with a teaser poster of one of the vehicles.

Make sense of global markets with the Trading Day newsletter. Sign up here.

EREVs are a type ​of plug-in hybrid that sit between conventional petrol-electric hybrids and battery-only ​vehicles, using a combustion engine as a generator to extend battery ⁠driving range.

Xiaomi's announcement represents expansion beyond battery-powered sedans and crossovers into a ​category popularised by models from automakers such as Li Auto (2015.HK), opens new tab.

With its SU7 sedan ​and YU7 crossover, Xiaomi's EV business has become a revenue pillar over the past two years.

The consumer electronics firm expanded into cars in search of new revenue drivers as ​growth slowed worldwide in the mature smartphone and home appliance markets.

However, the ​auto business remains costly for the tech firm due to the heavy investment needed and narrower ‌profit ⁠margins.

Xiaomi pitches its cars as a high-tech Chinese alternative to models from Tesla (TSLA.O), opens new tab, pitting its SU7 and YU7 lines against the U.S. EV maker's Model 3 and Model Y.

As of the end of June, Xiaomi had delivered 258,232 ​YU7 crossovers in China ​since the model's ⁠June 2025 launch, compared with 471,207 Model Y vehicles sold in the country over the same period, showed data ​from auto information and trading platform DCar.

Xiaomi has locked-in ​orders for ⁠existing models but faces a slowing domestic market and has yet to export its vehicles, unlike many domestic peers. The company plans to launch vehicles in Europe ⁠next ​year.

"They (car owners) want their car to be a ​second home. For them, a car is not merely a means of transport but another moving ​space," Lei said.

Reporting by Ju-min Park and Qiaoyi Li; Editing by Christopher Cushing

Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles., opens new tab

After several years of underperforming the market, Iovance Biotherapeutics (IOVA 1.61%) is finally bouncing back. The biotech company's shares have soared 74% this year. However, the stock still looks pretty cheap -- it is trading for just under $5 apiece. And for what it's worth, several Wall Street analysts think it could rise even more. Its average price target (according to Yahoo! Finance) is $8.80. Should investors rush to buy the company's shares?

Image source: The Motley Fool.

A high-risk, high-reward play Iovance Biotherapeutics developed Amtagvi, an approved medicine for treating melanoma. Amtagvi is manufactured from patients' own cancer-fighting cells, which are harvested, grown in a lab, and then reinserted back into the patient. Amtagvi's sales are growing at a good clip. In the first quarter, Iovance Biotherapeutics' revenue (mostly from this product) increased 45% year over year to $71.4 million. Meanwhile, Iovance Biotherapeutics is making progress in regions outside the U.S. It earned approval for Amtagvi in Canada last year, and could see the medicine's sales improve meaningfully as it ramps up commercial efforts in the country.

Further, Iovance Biotherapeutics could obtain approval for Amtagvi in several other countries, including across the European Union. Launching the medicine in these regions would significantly expand its addressable opportunity, likely even more so than the Canadian market. Elsewhere, the company is making clinical progress. Iovance Biotherapeutics is developing Amtagvi for the treatment of endometrial cancer. The company also boasts several other pipeline candidates. Provided the biotech company can earn significant clinical wins over the next few years while also making solid commercial progress with Amtagvi, it could maintain the momentum it has had so far this year.

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However, several factors could derail Iovance Biotherapeutics' plans, including the very real risk of clinical or regulatory setbacks every drugmaker faces. It has already encountered several. For instance, Iovance Biotherapeutics announced earlier this year that it was withdrawing its regulatory application for Amtagvi in the United Kingdom due to "procedural reasons," although it said it would resubmit it promptly. Beyond potential regulatory roadblocks, there is a much bigger issue with the Company. The medicines it develops are complex to manufacture and administer.

It takes about a month for Amtagvi to be manufactured after patients' cells have been harvested. And before receiving treatment, they have to undergo chemotherapy. Can Iovance Biotherapeutics eventually turn a profit, given that its therapies are so complex and expensive to administer? It's not clear that it can, and the company's bull case depends on a lot of things going right. Iovance Biotherapeutics may maintain its momentum if it continues to post strong financial results while eventually earning new approvals and label expansions. But the company is trading at a low price for a reason, and it could fall much further if it faces headwinds. So, Iovance Biotherapeutics is fairly risky, and only investors comfortable with volatility should consider initiating a position.

Modular and scalable test facility drives innovation for electric thrust reverser actuation systems

, /PRNewswire/ -- Collins Aerospace, an RTX (NYSE: RTX) business, announced today its Engineering Center of Excellence in Wolverhampton, U.K. is fully operational, advancing next-generation electric thrust reverser actuation systems (elecTRAS™). The CoE is home to a new state-of-the-art, modular and scalable test facility designed to facilitate innovation in aircraft actuation system design, testing and certification.

With a more streamlined solution, elecTRAS supports the elimination of actuation hydraulic interfaces and fluids and facilitates a 15-20% reduction of the nacelle actuation weight at the integrated aircraft system level. Wolverhampton's advanced testing capabilities simulate real-world conditions for aircraft components, actuators, subsystems, and full systems. By integrating early-stage test results into system analysis, potential issues are resolved quickly, reducing delays and enhancing distinctive design scalability for future applications.

"Our Engineering Center of Excellence reflects RTX's commitment to delivering innovative, efficient and cost-effective solutions for the aerospace industry," said Ajay Mahajan, president of Advanced Structures at Collins Aerospace. "This unique modular approach supports the industry's transition to more-electric systems, aligning with original equipment manufacturers' forward-looking goals while improving fuel efficiency, operational performance, and ease of maintenance." The Wolverhampton test capability spans from modules to integrated systems. This allows for scalability and interchangeability, reducing development time and cost while enabling the facility to support multiple programs and system variants.

Co-located elecTRAS systems and nacelle actuation design expertise streamlines development and fosters efficient collaboration. Highly skilled engineers at the facility are driving innovation in electric systems, smart algorithms, and motor control architecture, while continuing to support current fleets. Already in use on the Airbus A350 family, Collins' elecTRAS technology has logged more than 15 million flight hours and 2.2 million flight cycles on more than 700 aircraft as of 2025.

About Collins Aerospace

Collins Aerospace, an RTX business, provides advanced aerospace and defense solutions across avionics, aircraft interiors, aerostructures and engine components, mission systems, and power and control systems. Our global employees are dedicated to delivering innovative technologies to enhance aircraft performance, passenger comfort, operational safety and reliability.

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

, /PRNewswire/ -- Sempra Infrastructure, a subsidiary of Sempra (NYSE: SRE), today announced that the ECA LNG Phase 1 project in Ensenada, Mexico, has safely and successfully loaded and shipped its first cargo of liquefied natural gas (LNG), an important milestone toward full commercial operations.

ECA First Cargo

"At a time of increased uncertainty in the global LNG trade, we are excited to begin shipping a new and reliable source of natural gas from North America's Pacific Coast to customers around the globe," said Justin Bird, chief executive officer of Sempra Infrastructure. "This achievement underscores the exceptional talent of the entire ECA LNG Phase 1 team and our company's steadfast commitment to safe and strong project execution."

"The start-up of ECA LNG, whose strategic location provides privileged access to Asian markets, strengthens the quality of our integrated LNG portfolio in North America. TotalEnergies is pleased to contribute to the project's ramp-up by exporting its first LNG cargoes," said Patrick Pouyanné, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of TotalEnergies.

Once the facility begins commercial operations, ECA LNG Phase 1 will be the first LNG liquefaction facility on Mexico's Pacific Coast. Due to its strategic location, it creates a competitive advantage for shippers from the facility, who have the unique ability to export U.S. natural gas to Asia and other Pacific Basin markets through the shortest shipping route, thus reducing transportation times, costs and uncertainty while providing customers with greater access to competitively priced U.S. natural gas.

ECA LNG Phase 1 is a joint venture with TotalEnergies and consists of a single liquefaction train with nameplate capacity of 3.25 million tonnes per annum (Mtpa) of LNG. The project is supported by long-term sale and purchase agreements with TotalEnergies and Mitsui & Co.

The project is expected to reach substantial completion in the summer of 2026, with sales under long-term sale and purchase agreements commencing shortly thereafter, when the facility begins commercial operations. A second and significantly larger phase is also under active development at the same site.

The ECA LNG facility is a cornerstone of Sempra Infrastructure's dual-coast LNG portfolio. With projects along the U.S. Gulf Coast and Mexico's Pacific Coast, Sempra Infrastructure offers customers the flexibility and reliability needed to meet growing demand for competitively priced U.S. natural gas.

About Sempra Infrastructure

Sempra Infrastructure, headquartered in Houston, is focused on delivering energy for a better world by developing, building, operating and investing in modern energy infrastructure, such as LNG, energy networks and low-carbon solutions that are expected to play a crucial role in the energy systems of the future. Through the combined strength of its assets in North America, Sempra Infrastructure is connecting customers to safe and reliable energy and advancing energy security. Sempra Infrastructure is a subsidiary of Sempra (NYSE: SRE), a leading utility growth company. For more information, visit SempraInfrastructure.com or connect with Sempra Infrastructure on social media @SempraInfra.

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements are based on assumptions about the future, involve risks and uncertainties, and are not guarantees. Future results may differ materially from those expressed or implied in any forward-looking statement. These forward-looking statements represent our estimates and assumptions only as of the date of this press release. We assume no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statement as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

In this press release, forward-looking statements can be identified by words such as "believe," "expect," "intend," "anticipate," "contemplate," "plan," "estimate," "project," "forecast," "envision," "should," "could," "would," "will," "confident," "may," "can," "potential," "possible," "proposed," "in process," "construct," "develop," "opportunity," "preliminary," "pro forma," "strategic," "initiative," "target," "outlook," "optimistic," "poised," "positioned," "maintain," "continue," "progress," "advance," "goal," "aim," "commit," or similar expressions, or when we discuss our guidance, priorities, strategies, goals, vision, mission, projections, intentions or expectations.

Factors, among others, that could cause actual results and events to differ materially from those expressed or implied in any forward-looking statement include: decisions, audits, investigations, inquiries, regulations, legislative actions, denials or revocations of permits, consents, approvals or other authorizations, and other actions, including the failure to honor contracts and commitments, by the (i) Comisión Nacional de Energía, U.S. Department of Energy, U.S. Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, U.S. Internal Revenue Service and other regulatory bodies and (ii) U.S., Mexico and states, counties, cities and other jurisdictions therein and in other countries where we do business; the success of business development efforts, construction projects, acquisitions, divestitures and other significant transactions such as the planned sale of a portion of Sempra's equity interest in Sempra Infrastructure Partners, including risks related to, as applicable, (i) being able to reach a positive final investment decision, (ii) negotiating pricing and other terms in definitive contracts, (iii) completing construction projects or other transactions on schedule and budget, (iv) realizing anticipated benefits from any of these efforts if completed, (v) obtaining regulatory and other approvals and (vi) third parties honoring their contracts and commitments, including with respect to closing or post-closing payments; changes to our capital expenditure plans and their potential impact on growth; changes, due to evolving economic, political and other factors and increasing geopolitical instability as a result of wars or other conflicts in various parts of the world, to (i) trade and other foreign policy, including the imposition of tariffs by the U.S. and foreign countries (and uncertainty related to the implementation and enforceability thereof), and (ii) laws and regulations, including those related to tax and the energy industry in the U.S. and Mexico; litigation, arbitration, property disputes and other proceedings; cybersecurity threats, including by nation-state actors, of ransomware or other attacks on our systems, the energy grid or our other infrastructure, or the systems of third parties with which we conduct business; the availability, uses, sufficiency, and cost of capital resources and our ability to borrow money or otherwise raise capital on favorable terms and meet our obligations, which can be affected by, among other things, (i) actions by credit rating agencies to downgrade our credit ratings or place those ratings on negative outlook, (ii) instability in the capital markets, and (iii) fluctuating interest rates and inflation; the impact on our ability to pass through higher costs to customers due to volatility in inflation, interest rates, commodity prices, tariff rates, and foreign currency exchange rates; the impact of climate policies, laws, rules, regulations, trends and required disclosures, including actions to reduce or eliminate reliance on natural gas, the risk of nonrecovery for stranded assets, and uncertainty related to emerging technologies; weather, natural disasters, pandemics, accidents, equipment failures, explosions, terrorism, information system outages or other events, such as work stoppages, that disrupt our operations, damage our facilities or systems, cause the release of harmful materials or fires or subject us to liability for damages, fines and penalties, some of which may not be recoverable through insurance or may impact our ability to obtain satisfactory levels of affordable insurance; the availability of natural gas and natural gas transportation capacity, including disruptions caused by failures in the pipeline and storage systems or limitations on the injection and withdrawal of natural gas from storage facilities; and other uncertainties, some of which are difficult to predict and beyond our control.

These risks and uncertainties are further discussed in the reports that Sempra has filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). These reports are available through the EDGAR system free-of-charge on the SEC's website, www.sec.gov, and on Sempra's website, www.sempra.com. Investors should not rely unduly on any forward-looking statements.

Sempra Infrastructure Partners and its subsidiaries, and the Sempra Texas utilities (Oncor and Sharyland Utilities) are not the same companies as the Sempra California utilities, SDG&E or SoCalGas, nor are they regulated by the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC).

SOURCE Sempra Infrastructure

Ford Motor (F - Free Report) ) has quietly become one of the more intriguing turnaround stories in the automotive sector.

Fresh off announcing a long-term strategic partnership with Micron Technology (MU - Free Report) ), Ford has joined its semiconductor partner on the coveted Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) list, thanks to favorable earnings estimate revisions.

The combination of strengthening fundamentals, improving supply-chain security, and growing exposure to next-generation vehicle technology may warrant a closer look from investors.

Ford and Micron Strengthen Their PartnershipEarlier this week, Ford and Micron announced a Strategic Customer Agreement (SCA) designed to secure a long-term supply of automotive memory and storage solutions for Ford's next generation of connected and software-defined vehicles.

Under the agreement, Micron will expand production of key automotive memory products while continuing to invest in U.S.-based manufacturing capacity, including its Dynamic Random Access Memory (DRAM) facility in Virginia.

The agreement represents more than just another supplier relationship.

To that point, modern vehicles require much more memory than previous generations as advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS), infotainment platforms, over-the-air software updates, and AI-powered computing continue to become standard features.

As vehicles increasingly resemble computers on wheels, dependable access to advanced memory chips becomes a competitive advantage.

Ford isn't the only Detroit automaker strengthening ties with Micron. General Motors (GM - Free Report) ), whose stock currently sports a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy), has also collaborated with the memory-chip maker to help secure advanced automotive memory and storage solutions for its next-generation vehicle platforms.

The parallel partnerships highlight how leading automakers are prioritizing resilient semiconductor supply chains as connected vehicles, ADAS, and software-defined architectures require increasingly sophisticated memory technology.

Ford CEO Jim Farley noted that producing the high-volume vehicles of the future requires a resilient domestic supply chain, while Micron CEO Sanjay Mehrotra emphasized that intelligent, data-intensive vehicles will continue driving demand for advanced memory and storage solutions.

Why the Partnership Really MattersThe automotive industry learned a costly lesson during the semiconductor shortages that followed the pandemic.

Production delays and factory shutdowns highlighted the risks of relying on fragmented global supply chains for critical components.

Ford's agreement with Micron seeks to reduce those risks by providing greater supply assurance for future vehicle programs while supporting domestic semiconductor manufacturing.

The partnership should also support Ford's broader transition toward software-defined vehicles, electric vehicles (EVs), and autonomous driving technologies, all of which require significantly greater computing power and memory content than traditional automobiles.

Although the agreement alone won't transform Ford's financial performance overnight, it reduces a key operational risk while positioning the company to better compete as automotive technology continues to evolve.

Ford's Earnings Outlook Is ImprovingPerhaps even more encouraging for investors is Ford's improving earnings outlook.

The stock has recently climbed to a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) as analysts have become increasingly optimistic about the auto giant’s earnings prospects.

Positive earnings estimate revisions often reflect growing confidence in improving profitability, stronger execution, or favorable business trends, making them one of the more powerful indicators followed by the Zacks Rank system.

Ford now joins Micron in obtaining a strong buy rating, indicating Wall Street has become increasingly constructive on both companies for very different reasons.

For Micron, optimism has centered on booming AI-driven memory demand. For Ford, improving earnings expectations appear to reflect stronger operating fundamentals and increased confidence in management's execution.

As shown below, Ford’s FY26 and FY27 EPS estimates have ticked higher over the last 60 days and have now spiked 31% and 28% from a year ago, respectively. 

The Micron partnership is reason to believe this reassuring trend could continue, especially as Ford’s supply chain and operational execution are likely to strengthen.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

Ford’s annual earnings are now expected to spike 50% this year and are projected to increase another 12% in FY27 to $1.83 per share.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

Ford Stock Still Offers Intriguing ValueDespite improving sentiment, Ford continues to trade at a relatively inexpensive valuation compared to the broader market.

Ford’s stock remains well below the earnings multiples typically assigned to many technology and growth companies, providing investors with a margin of safety should operating results continue improving, and the company’s outlook is indeed lifted by its Micron partnership.  

Ford also generates meaningful automotive cash flow while investing heavily in EVs, software, and manufacturing modernization.

If management can successfully balance those investments with continued profitability in its traditional truck and commercial vehicle businesses, the current valuation could prove attractive for long-term investors.

At $13 a share, Ford stock trades at 8X forward earnings and just 0.2X forward sales. This is notably beneath its Zacks Automotive-Domestic Industry averages of 18X (P/E) and 0.6X (P/S), respectively, while offering even sharper discounts to the benchmark S&P 500.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

While GM trades at a cheaper forward earnings multiple of 5X, Ford's 4% annual dividend yield could make its investment story, including its new partnership with Micron, more compelling for long-term investors. Ford's dividend yield also stands well above the S&P 500's average of roughly 1.03%, with GM’s at 0.95%.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

Bottom LineFord's new strategic partnership with Micron is another indication that the automaker is positioning itself for the next generation of intelligent, software-driven vehicles. More importantly, the agreement strengthens supply-chain resilience at a time when advanced semiconductors are becoming increasingly critical to automotive production.

While the Micron partnership alone isn't a reason to buy Ford stock, it complements an improving fundamental outlook. With Ford now joining Micron on the coveted Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) list, supported by favorable earnings estimate revisions, investors looking for an attractively valued industrial turnaround may find that Ford deserves renewed attention.

In the latest close session, Kyndryl Holdings, Inc. (KD - Free Report) was down 3.39% at $11.97. The stock trailed the S&P 500, which registered a daily loss of 0.28%. On the other hand, the Dow registered a loss of 1.09%, and the technology-centric Nasdaq increased by 0.2%.

The company's shares have seen an increase of 7.46% over the last month, surpassing the Business Services sector's gain of 3.35% and the S&P 500's gain of 1.64%.

The investment community will be paying close attention to the earnings performance of Kyndryl Holdings, Inc. in its upcoming release. The company is slated to reveal its earnings on August 5, 2026. The company is expected to report EPS of $0.03, down 91.89% from the prior-year quarter. Meanwhile, the latest consensus estimate predicts the revenue to be $3.68 billion, indicating a 1.74% decrease compared to the same quarter of the previous year.

For the entire fiscal year, the Zacks Consensus Estimates are projecting earnings of $1.9 per share and a revenue of $14.76 billion, representing changes of +30.14% and -2.19%, respectively, from the prior year.

Any recent changes to analyst estimates for Kyndryl Holdings, Inc. should also be noted by investors. Recent revisions tend to reflect the latest near-term business trends. Hence, positive alterations in estimates signify analyst optimism regarding the business and profitability.

Research indicates that these estimate revisions are directly correlated with near-term share price momentum. We developed the Zacks Rank to capitalize on this phenomenon. Our system takes these estimate changes into account and delivers a clear, actionable rating model.

The Zacks Rank system, which varies between #1 (Strong Buy) and #5 (Strong Sell), carries an impressive track record of exceeding expectations, confirmed by external audits, with stocks at #1 delivering an average annual return of +25% since 1988. The Zacks Consensus EPS estimate remained stagnant within the past month. Currently, Kyndryl Holdings, Inc. is carrying a Zacks Rank of #5 (Strong Sell).

In terms of valuation, Kyndryl Holdings, Inc. is presently being traded at a Forward P/E ratio of 6.52. For comparison, its industry has an average Forward P/E of 17.29, which means Kyndryl Holdings, Inc. is trading at a discount to the group.

The Technology Services industry is part of the Business Services sector. This industry, currently bearing a Zacks Industry Rank of 110, finds itself in the top 45% echelons of all 250+ industries.

The Zacks Industry Rank gauges the strength of our industry groups by measuring the average Zacks Rank of the individual stocks within the groups. Our research shows that the top 50% rated industries outperform the bottom half by a factor of 2 to 1.

Be sure to use Zacks.com to monitor all these stock-influencing metrics, and more, throughout the forthcoming trading sessions.

For the quarter ended May 2026, Levi Strauss (LEVI - Free Report) reported revenue of $1.56 billion, up 8% over the same period last year. EPS came in at $0.28, compared to $0.22 in the year-ago quarter.

The reported revenue represents a surprise of +2.52% over the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.52 billion. With the consensus EPS estimate being $0.24, the EPS surprise was +16.67%.

While investors closely watch year-over-year changes in headline numbers -- revenue and earnings -- and how they compare to Wall Street expectations to determine their next course of action, some key metrics always provide a better insight into a company's underlying performance.

Since these metrics play a crucial role in driving the top- and bottom-line numbers, comparing them with the year-ago numbers and what analysts estimated about them helps investors better project a stock's price performance.

Here is how Levi Strauss performed in the just reported quarter in terms of the metrics most widely monitored and projected by Wall Street analysts:

Geographic Revenues- Americas: $815 million versus $785.03 million estimated by four analysts on average. Compared to the year-ago quarter, this number represents a +9% change.Geographic Revenues- Beyond Yoga: $43 million compared to the $39.46 million average estimate based on four analysts.Geographic Revenues- Asia: $284 million versus the four-analyst average estimate of $275.26 million. The reported number represents a year-over-year change of +10.1%.Geographic Revenues- Europe: $420 million compared to the $423.58 million average estimate based on four analysts. The reported number represents a change of +4.2% year over year.Total Levi?s Brands Net Revenues: $1.52 billion versus $1.48 billion estimated by four analysts on average. Compared to the year-ago quarter, this number represents a +7.8% change.View all Key Company Metrics for Levi Strauss here>>>

Shares of Levi Strauss have returned +4.6% over the past month versus the Zacks S&P 500 composite's +1.6% change. The stock currently has a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy), indicating that it could outperform the broader market in the near term.

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Target is reorganizing its strategy team, a group that helps the company set priorities, Bloomberg reported Wednesday (July 8).

The move included the elimination of some roles on the team, the report said, citing an internal memo and saying the document’s contents were confirmed by Target.

The company aims to “better align resources, reduce duplication and strengthen talent deployment,” the memo said, per the report.

Target CEO Michael Fiddelke, who assumed that role on Feb. 1, said during a Feb. 4 company town hall event that he aims to improve the retailer’s merchandise, in-store experiences and technology.

The company had announced about six months earlier, in August, that Fiddelke would become its new CEO. Fiddelke had been with Target for 20 years and was most recently the company’s chief operating officer.

Christine Leahy, lead independent director of Target’s board, said in an August press release that Fiddelke “is the right leader to return Target to growth, refocus and accelerate the company’s strategy, and reestablish Target’s position as a leader in the highly dynamic and fast-moving retail environment.”

PYMNTS reported in March that Target’s fourth quarter marked an inflection point, as the firm made gains in eCommerce, same-day delivery expansion and stepped-up artificial intelligence personalization.

Fiddelke said in an earnings release that the company seeks to deliver “an elevated and differentiated shopping experience, advancing our use of technology.”

In March, Target said it plans to add 30 new stores this year and 300 by 2035 to support its growth priorities. The retailer also plans to remodel more than 130 stores this year.

The store openings and remodels are supported by Target’s $5 billion capital investment plan for 2026.

Later in March, Target said it was lowering prices on 3,000 items in another move to support the company’s long-term, sustainable growth.

The company said the price reductions would generally be between 5% and 20% and would span select items across apparel, home, shoes and “everyday essentials” such as baby items, household essentials and pantry staples.

When Target released first quarter earnings in May, it said its 6.7% uptick in net sales reversed several quarters of declines.

In the latest trading session, Shopify (SHOP - Free Report) closed at $119.22, marking a -2.18% move from the previous day. The stock fell short of the S&P 500, which registered a loss of 0.28% for the day. At the same time, the Dow lost 1.09%, and the tech-heavy Nasdaq gained 0.2%.

The cloud-based commerce company's shares have seen an increase of 10.38% over the last month, surpassing the Computer and Technology sector's loss of 1.22% and the S&P 500's gain of 1.64%.

Market participants will be closely following the financial results of Shopify in its upcoming release. The company is predicted to post an EPS of $0.39, indicating a 11.43% growth compared to the equivalent quarter last year. Simultaneously, our latest consensus estimate expects the revenue to be $3.43 billion, showing a 28.03% escalation compared to the year-ago quarter.

Looking at the full year, the Zacks Consensus Estimates suggest analysts are expecting earnings of $1.83 per share and revenue of $14.71 billion. These totals would mark changes of +56.41% and +27.26%, respectively, from last year.

It is also important to note the recent changes to analyst estimates for Shopify. Such recent modifications usually signify the changing landscape of near-term business trends. As a result, upbeat changes in estimates indicate analysts' favorable outlook on the business health and profitability.

Our research demonstrates that these adjustments in estimates directly associate with imminent stock price performance. To utilize this, we have created the Zacks Rank, a proprietary model that integrates these estimate changes and provides a functional rating system.

The Zacks Rank system, which varies between #1 (Strong Buy) and #5 (Strong Sell), carries an impressive track record of exceeding expectations, confirmed by external audits, with stocks at #1 delivering an average annual return of +25% since 1988. The Zacks Consensus EPS estimate remained stagnant within the past month. Currently, Shopify is carrying a Zacks Rank of #1 (Strong Buy).

Looking at its valuation, Shopify is holding a Forward P/E ratio of 66.52. This expresses a premium compared to the average Forward P/E of 16.05 of its industry.

Meanwhile, SHOP's PEG ratio is currently 1.92. The PEG ratio is akin to the commonly utilized P/E ratio, but this measure also incorporates the company's anticipated earnings growth rate. The Internet - Services was holding an average PEG ratio of 1.58 at yesterday's closing price.

The Internet - Services industry is part of the Computer and Technology sector. At present, this industry carries a Zacks Industry Rank of 112, placing it within the top 46% of over 250 industries.

The Zacks Industry Rank is ordered from best to worst in terms of the average Zacks Rank of the individual companies within each of these sectors. Our research shows that the top 50% rated industries outperform the bottom half by a factor of 2 to 1.

Ensure to harness Zacks.com to stay updated with all these stock-shifting metrics, among others, in the next trading sessions.

First Solar (FSLR - Free Report) ended the recent trading session at $224.30, demonstrating a -1.5% change from the preceding day's closing price. This move lagged the S&P 500's daily loss of 0.28%. Elsewhere, the Dow saw a downswing of 1.09%, while the tech-heavy Nasdaq appreciated by 0.2%.

The stock of largest U.S. solar company has fallen by 13.15% in the past month, lagging the Oils-Energy sector's loss of 4.3% and the S&P 500's gain of 1.64%.

Analysts and investors alike will be keeping a close eye on the performance of First Solar in its upcoming earnings disclosure. The company is predicted to post an EPS of $2.85, indicating a 10.38% decline compared to the equivalent quarter last year. Meanwhile, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for revenue is projecting net sales of $1.06 billion, down 3.31% from the year-ago period.

For the full year, the Zacks Consensus Estimates are projecting earnings of $17.61 per share and revenue of $5.1 billion, which would represent changes of +23.93% and -2.21%, respectively, from the prior year.

It is also important to note the recent changes to analyst estimates for First Solar. These revisions help to show the ever-changing nature of near-term business trends. Consequently, upward revisions in estimates express analysts' positivity towards the business operations and its ability to generate profits.

Our research shows that these estimate changes are directly correlated with near-term stock prices. We developed the Zacks Rank to capitalize on this phenomenon. Our system takes these estimate changes into account and delivers a clear, actionable rating model.

The Zacks Rank system, spanning from #1 (Strong Buy) to #5 (Strong Sell), boasts an impressive track record of outperformance, audited externally, with #1 ranked stocks yielding an average annual return of +25% since 1988. Within the past 30 days, our consensus EPS projection remained stagnant. First Solar currently has a Zacks Rank of #3 (Hold).

Investors should also note First Solar's current valuation metrics, including its Forward P/E ratio of 12.93. For comparison, its industry has an average Forward P/E of 20.25, which means First Solar is trading at a discount to the group.

It's also important to note that FSLR currently trades at a PEG ratio of 0.5. This metric is used similarly to the famous P/E ratio, but the PEG ratio also takes into account the stock's expected earnings growth rate. The Solar was holding an average PEG ratio of 0.93 at yesterday's closing price.

The Solar industry is part of the Oils-Energy sector. Currently, this industry holds a Zacks Industry Rank of 88, positioning it in the top 36% of all 250+ industries.

The Zacks Industry Rank assesses the vigor of our specific industry groups by computing the average Zacks Rank of the individual stocks incorporated in the groups. Our research shows that the top 50% rated industries outperform the bottom half by a factor of 2 to 1.

Make sure to utilize Zacks.com to follow all of these stock-moving metrics, and more, in the coming trading sessions.

Honeywell logo is seen in this illustration taken July 26, 2025. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration Purchase Licensing Rights, opens new tab

July 8 (Reuters) - Automation firm Honeywell Technologies (HON.O), opens new tab on Wednesday raised ​its second-half and full-year profit ‌targets for 2026 after completing a one-for-two reverse stock split.

The company, ​formerly Honeywell, proceeded with ​the split after spinning off and ⁠listing its aerospace arm, ​Honeywell Aerospace (HONA.O), opens new tab, late last month.

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Honeywell Technologies ​expects second-half adjusted earnings per share in the range of $4.40 to $4.70, ​compared with $2.20 to $2.35 earlier.

For the full ​year, it raised its adjusted EPS ‌target ⁠to $7.90 to $8.30, compared with an earlier forecast of $3.95 to $4.15.

Its second-half and full-year sales and ​segment margin ​targets ⁠remained unchanged.

Honeywell's three-way split into Honeywell Technologies, ​Solstice Advanced Materials (SOLS.O), opens new tab ​and ⁠Honeywell Aerospace was announced last year, amid pressure ⁠from ​activist investor Elliott ​Investment Management.

Reporting by Nandan Mandayam in ​Bengaluru; Editing by Jonathan Ananda

Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles., opens new tab

Booking Holdings (BKNG - Free Report) closed at $174.29 in the latest trading session, marking a -4.21% move from the prior day. The stock's change was less than the S&P 500's daily loss of 0.28%. At the same time, the Dow lost 1.09%, and the tech-heavy Nasdaq gained 0.2%.

Heading into today, shares of the online booking service had gained 10.95% over the past month, outpacing the Retail-Wholesale sector's gain of 0.18% and the S&P 500's gain of 1.64%.

Analysts and investors alike will be keeping a close eye on the performance of Booking Holdings in its upcoming earnings disclosure. The company's earnings report is set to go public on August 4, 2026. The company's upcoming EPS is projected at $2.47, signifying a 11.26% increase compared to the same quarter of the previous year. Simultaneously, our latest consensus estimate expects the revenue to be $7.19 billion, showing a 5.74% escalation compared to the year-ago quarter.

For the full year, the Zacks Consensus Estimates are projecting earnings of $10.44 per share and revenue of $29.4 billion, which would represent changes of +14.47% and +9.23%, respectively, from the prior year.

Investors should also note any recent changes to analyst estimates for Booking Holdings. Such recent modifications usually signify the changing landscape of near-term business trends. Therefore, positive revisions in estimates convey analysts' confidence in the business performance and profit potential.

Empirical research indicates that these revisions in estimates have a direct correlation with impending stock price performance. To utilize this, we have created the Zacks Rank, a proprietary model that integrates these estimate changes and provides a functional rating system.

The Zacks Rank system, ranging from #1 (Strong Buy) to #5 (Strong Sell), possesses a remarkable history of outdoing, externally audited, with #1 stocks returning an average annual gain of +25% since 1988. Over the last 30 days, the Zacks Consensus EPS estimate has witnessed an unchanged state. Right now, Booking Holdings possesses a Zacks Rank of #2 (Buy).

Looking at valuation, Booking Holdings is presently trading at a Forward P/E ratio of 17.43. This valuation marks no noticeable deviation compared to its industry average Forward P/E of 17.43.

Also, we should mention that BKNG has a PEG ratio of 1.09. The PEG ratio is akin to the commonly utilized P/E ratio, but this measure also incorporates the company's anticipated earnings growth rate. As of the close of trade yesterday, the Internet - Commerce industry held an average PEG ratio of 1.09.

The Internet - Commerce industry is part of the Retail-Wholesale sector. At present, this industry carries a Zacks Industry Rank of 181, placing it within the bottom 27% of over 250 industries.

The Zacks Industry Rank gauges the strength of our individual industry groups by measuring the average Zacks Rank of the individual stocks within the groups. Our research shows that the top 50% rated industries outperform the bottom half by a factor of 2 to 1.

To follow BKNG in the coming trading sessions, be sure to utilize Zacks.com.

Flutter's logo is pictured on a smartphone in this illustration taken, December 4, 2021. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration Purchase Licensing Rights, opens new tab

CompaniesJuly 8 (Reuters) - Michael Burry, the investor famed for predicting and profiting from the 2008 U.S. housing market collapse, has bought shares ​of sports-betting platforms Flutter Entertainment (FLTRF.L), opens new tab and DraftKings (DKNG.O), opens new tab, wagering regulatory scrutiny ‌will eventually curb the threat posed by prediction markets.

Burry said on Wednesday he bought Flutter at about $107 a share and DraftKings "in the low $26s." Together, the investments ​make up a full-sized position weighted roughly 60/40 toward ​Flutter, though the investor said he may make each a full ⁠position in the future.

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Prediction markets are the main threat ​facing the two companies, Burry said in a post on his website, ​because their event contracts can be offered nationwide under Commodity Futures Trading Commission oversight while avoiding state gaming taxes.

Prediction markets let traders buy and ​sell contracts tied to the outcome of events, including sports, ​elections and economic data.

Burry said these platforms operate in a loophole alongside a ‌heavily ⁠regulated and taxed gambling industry. "I believe that the political climate will not tolerate this," he wrote, adding that he expects prediction markets to eventually be brought under regulation and taxation.

Shares of Flutter, ​down 50% this ​year as ⁠of last close, remain attractive because the company is a strong business with significant scale despite ​past capital misallocation, while DraftKings, whose shares are ​down 21%, is ⁠inflecting as an operating business, the investor said.

Meanwhile, Burry also said he bought more JD.com shares at $27.58, calling it one of his top ⁠three ​positions, and that he expects Hong Kong and ​Chinese stocks to benefit as AI and memory-chip enthusiasm unwinds in South Korea ​and Japan.

Reporting by Pragyan Kalita in Bengaluru; Editing by Jonathan Ananda

Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles., opens new tab

ST. LOUIS, July 08, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- BellRing Brands, Inc. (NYSE:BRBR) today announced it will release its financial results for the third quarter of fiscal year 2026 and its fiscal year 2026 outlook on August 4, 2026, at 7:00 a.m. ET. The release will be followed by a conference call at 8:30 a.m. ET to discuss the results and outlook. Michael C. Axelrod, announced today as the Company’s next President and Chief Executive Officer effective July 29, 2026, and Paul A. Rode, Chief Financial Officer, will participate in the call.

Interested parties may join the conference call by registering in advance at the following link: BellRing Q3 2026 Earnings Conference Call. Upon registration, participants will receive a dial-in number and a unique passcode to access the conference call. Interested parties are invited to listen to the webcast of the conference call, which can be accessed by visiting the Investor Relations section of BellRing’s website at www.bellring.com. A webcast replay also will be available for a limited period on BellRing’s website in the Investor Relations section.

About BellRing Brands, Inc.

BellRing Brands, Inc. (NYSE: BRBR) is a dynamic and fast-growing consumer brands business with the purpose of Changing Lives with Good Energy. Focused on growing the proactive wellness category, the company’s brands include Premier Protein, the #1 ready-to-drink protein and proactive wellness brand, and Dymatize, the brand behind the #1 hydrolyzed protein powder. A culture-driven, pure-play company, BellRing Brands believes nutrition is at the core of a healthy world and produces products with best-in-class nutritional profiles and exceptional flavors. Its products are distributed in over 90 countries across club, mass, food, eCommerce, specialty, drug and convenience. To learn more visit www.bellring.com.

Contact:
Investor Relations
Jennifer Meyer
[email protected]
(415) 814-9388

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Well-Positioned to Continue Leading Innovation, Capturing Growth and Executing with Excellence.​

ARLINGTON, Va.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--AeroVironment, Inc. (“AV”) (NASDAQ: AVAV) today hosted its 2026 Investor Day during which AV’s leadership team outlined its growth strategy and introduced new fiscal year 2030 financial targets.

“At AV, we are driving the business forward as a stronger, more resilient company than ever,” said Wahid Nawabi, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer at AV. “We look forward to leading product innovation, scaling our capacity to capture demand across multiple domains, and continuing to execute with excellence for the remainder of the decade. Two years ago, we outlined an ambitious set of strategic objectives designed to accelerate growth and we’ve delivered on several of these initiatives, giving us momentum for the road ahead. We will leverage AV's proven business model to commercialize new technologies across a broader global and commercial customer base. The fiscal year 2030 financial targets we provided today underscore our confidence in our ability to create long-term value for our shareholders.” ​

AV introduced fiscal year 2030 financial targets and expects to achieve:

$3.5 - $4.0 billion in revenue, a 15% - 20% organic CAGR, driven by market expansion and leadership 7% - 9% investment in R&D to accelerate innovation and keep AV ahead of competition 18% - 20% adjusted EBITDA margins driven by operational excellence and sustainable profitability A webcast replay and presentation used in today’s event are available on the Investor Relations section of www.avinc.com.

ABOUT AEROVIRONMENT, INC.

AeroVironment (“AV”) (NASDAQ: AVAV) is a defense technology leader delivering integrated capabilities across air, land, sea, space, and cyber. The company develops and deploys autonomous systems, precision strike systems, counter-UAS technologies, space-based platforms, directed energy systems, and cyber and electronic warfare capabilities—built to meet the mission needs of today’s warfighter and tomorrow’s conflicts. With a national manufacturing footprint and a deep innovation pipeline, AV delivers proven systems and future-defining capabilities with speed, scale, and operational relevance.

For more information visit: www.avinc.com.

SAFE HARBOR STATEMENT

This press release contains "forward-looking statements" as that term is defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements include, without limitation, any statement that may predict, forecast, indicate or imply future results, performance or achievements, and may contain words such as “will,” “believe,” “anticipate,” “expect,” “estimate,” “intend,” “project,” “plan,” or words or phrases with similar meaning. Forward-looking statements are based on current expectations, forecasts and assumptions that involve risks and uncertainties, including, but not limited to, economic, competitive, governmental and technological factors outside of our control, that may cause our business, strategy or actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking statements.

Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, the impact of our ability to successfully close and integrate acquisitions into our operations and avoid disruptions from acquisition transactions that will harm our business; the recording of goodwill and other intangible assets as part of acquisitions that are subject to potential impairments in the future and any realization of such impairments; any actual or threatened disruptions to our relationships with our distributors, suppliers, customers and employees, including shortages in components for our products, whether due to restrictions and sanctions imposed by foreign governments or otherwise; the ability to timely and sufficiently integrate international operations into our ongoing business and compliance programs; reliance on sales to the U.S. government, including uncertainties in classification, pricing or potentially burdensome imposed terms for certain types of government contracts; availability of U.S. government funding for defense procurement and R&D programs; our ability to win U.S. and international government R&D and procurement programs, including foreign military financing aid; changes in the timing and/or amount of government spending, including due to continuing resolutions and/or changing government priorities; adverse impacts of any U.S. government shutdown; our ability to realize the anticipated benefits of the BlueHalo transaction or other acquisitions; our ability to execute contracts for anticipated sales, perform under such contracts and other existing contracts and obtain new contracts; risks related to our international business, including compliance with export control laws; the extensive and increasing regulatory requirements governing our contracts with the U.S. government and international customers; the consequences to our financial position, business and reputation that could result from failing to comply with applicable law, regulatory requirements, and contractual obligations; unexpected technical and marketing difficulties inherent in major research and product development efforts; the impact of potential security and cyber threats or the risk of unauthorized access to and resulting misuse of our, our customers’ and/or our suppliers’ information and systems; failure to remain a market innovator, to create new market opportunities or to expand into new markets; our ability to increase production capacity to support anticipated growth; unexpected changes in significant operating expenses, including components and raw materials; failure to develop new products or integrate new technology into current products; any increase in litigation activity or unfavorable results in legal proceedings, including pending class actions, or litigation that may arise from or in conjunction with our recent acquisitions; our ability to respond and adapt to legal, regulatory and government budgetary changes; our ability to comply with the covenants in our loan documents, outstanding convertible notes or acquisition and merger agreements for acquisitions; our ability to attract and retain skilled employees, including retention of employees of acquired companies; the impact of inflation; and general economic and business conditions in the United States and elsewhere in the world; and the failure to establish and maintain effective internal control over financial reporting. For a further list and description of such risks and uncertainties, see the reports we file with the Securities and Exchange Commission. We do not intend, and undertake no obligation, to update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

More News From AeroVironment, Inc.

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Levi Strauss beat Wall Street's quarterly expectations on the top and bottom lines on Wednesday, leading the retailer to increase its guidance and its dividend. 

The denim maker is now expecting full-year adjusted earnings per share to be between $1.46 and $1.52, up from a prior range of between $1.42 and $1.48. At the high end, that's ahead of expectations of $1.50 per share, according to LSEG. 

Levi also raised its top-line outlook and is now expecting full-year sales to rise between 7% and 7.5%, compared with a prior range of between 5.5% and 6.5%. That's ahead of expectations of 6.6%, according to LSEG. About half of that growth is expected to come from higher prices and the other half is expected to come from unit sales, said finance chief Harmit Singh. 

Here's how Levi did in its second fiscal quarter compared with what Wall Street was anticipating, based on a survey of analysts by LSEG:

Earnings per share: 28 cents adjusted vs. 24 cents expectedRevenue: $1.56 billion vs. $1.52 billion expectedDespite the results, Levi's shares dropped more than 5% in extended trading.

The company's reported net income for the three-month period that ended May 31 was $87.3 million, or 22 cents per share, compared with $67 million, or 17 cents per share, a year earlier. 

Sales rose to $1.56 billion, up about 8% from $1.45 billion a year earlier.

In an interview with CNBC, CEO Michelle Gass said the company's core consumer is proving to be resilient — even in the face of higher gas prices. She said about two-thirds of the quarter's sales growth came from units — not just higher prices — giving the company the confidence to raise guidance and its dividend.

"Our demand remains healthy," Gass said. "We're seeing strength across our key segments of consumers, so we have our core Levi's, but we're also seeing strength in signature, as well as our new premium blue tab." 

Key Takeaways QUBT acquired NHanced to expand U.S. semiconductor manufacturing and accelerate Fab 2 rollout. Quantum Computing secured a Planck Dynamics deal for five NeuraWave systems, with 2026 delivery expected. QUBT is broadening its quantum portfolio through manufacturing expansion and edge AI initiatives. Quantum Computing Inc. (QUBT - Free Report) or "QCi" has pursued several strategic initiatives to strengthen its manufacturing capabilities and broaden its quantum technology portfolio. The company acquired NHanced Semiconductors, Inc. (NHanced), for a combination of cash and QCi stock valued at $73.1 million, subject to customary adjustments and up to an additional $72.0 million if certain performance targets are achieved. 

This acquisition marks a significant step in QCi's strategy to build a stronger domestic semiconductor manufacturing base. The acquisition builds on the successful launch of Fab 1 in Tempe, AZ, and accelerates the rollout of Fab 2, allowing the company to scale its manufacturing capacity years ahead of its original plan.

Also, photonic reservoir computing has emerged as an important computing architecture for edge AI, enabling efficient processing of data directly at the point of generation. Driven by this demand, QCi recently received a purchase order and entered into a framework agreement with Planck Dynamics to deploy QCi’s NeuraWave photonic reservoir computer as a foundational platform for next-generation AI applications. Under the terms of the agreement, QCi received an initial purchase order for five NeuraWave systems, with delivery expected during 2026. 

Peer UpdateD-Wave Quantum Inc. (QBTS - Free Report) announced its forthcoming gate-model quantum computing simulator, which is expected to be the first of its kind designed for error-aware programming. QBTS continues to advance its annealing platform through Advantage2 and the Leap cloud service. 

Rigetti Computing, Inc. (RGTI - Free Report) announced that it has signed a letter of intent (LOI) with the U.S. Department of Commerce for an award of up to $100 million in funding over three years to accelerate superconducting quantum computing R&D. Rigetti achieved a two-qubit gate fidelity as high as 99.9% at 28-nanosecond gate speed on a prototype platform using its new proprietary adiabatic CZ scheme.

QUBT’s Share Price PerformanceOver the past year, QCi’s shares have plunged 55.1% compared with the industry’s 16.3% decline. 

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QUBT’s Expensive ValuationQUBT currently trades at a forward 12-month price-to-sales (P/S) of 71.25X compared with the industry’s median of 5.25X.

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QUBT Stock Estimate TrendIn the past 30 days, QCi’s loss per share estimate for 2026 has remained unchanged at 14 cents. 

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QUBT currently carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.

The "Magnificent Seven" plan to spend more than $700 billion on artificial intelligence capital expenditures this year, a big step up from the $400 billion or so the group spent in 2025.

In 2025, whenever hyperscalers announced plans to increase their AI-related capex, their stocks surged. But now, that spending has become a major point of contention in the market, primarily because investors are worried that the returns on these massive investments may not live up to the hype.

In particular, investors are worried that hyperscalers may overbuild AI infrastructure. Meta Platforms (META 1.91%) CEO Mark Zuckerberg may have just given us a big hint about how valid those concerns might be.

Image source: Getty Images.

Meta's new cloud infrastructure plan could be a tell Recently, Meta announced it is launching a new cloud business that will lease its excess compute capacity to external customers. Shares popped on the news, as it could lead to immediate revenue from the company's new data center builds, which investors are already clamoring to see, given the size of Meta's capex.

Meta has guided for capital expenditures of $125 billion to $145 billion this year, most of which will cover "additional data center costs to support future-year capacity."

The announcement is big news in the AI narrative because back in the third quarter of 2025, Zuckerberg implied that his company wouldn't become a supplier of compute unless it overbuilt AI infrastructure:

Now, I mean, it's of course possible to overshoot that, right? And if we do, I mean, this is what I mentioned in my comments, then we see that there's just a lot of demand for other new things that we build internally, externally. Like, almost every week, people come to us from outside the company asking us to stand up an API service or asking if we have different compute that they could get from us. And we haven't done that yet, but obviously, if you got to a point where you overbuilt, you could have that as an option.

Now, it's not a total surprise, as Zuckerberg has been hinting that Meta might begin leasing compute, and the stock has struggled this year. Even after the rally on the cloud announcement, the stock was still down about 9.5% year to date as of July 6.

Does this signal a massive overbuild? As with everything else in AI, it's hard to provide a definitive answer on whether we are at the beginning of a massive overbuild in AI infrastructure. After all, consider that Space Exploration Technologies recently raised nearly $86 billion in its massive IPO, partly on the thesis that it will deploy an enormous constellation of data center satellites in orbit.

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Zuckerberg also does not necessarily view the current situation as an outright infrastructure overbuild; rather, it is that the company has gotten ahead of schedule in building what it will require. On the company's third-quarter 2025 earnings call, he also said that the worst-case scenario is that Meta has built some of its AI data center capacity a few years in advance. In this scenario, while those assets would experience some loss and depreciation, the company will eventually utilize the compute.

Additionally, rental prices for most graphics processing units (GPUs), even older models, appear to be on the rise, suggesting that demand for compute remains strong.

All that said, investors should continue to weigh the evidence carefully on both sides of the debate, and understand that the narrative could break in either direction. Furthermore, the hyperscalers have not yet spent the full $700 billion that they've allocated to capital expenditures this year. They could easily revise their AI capex guidelines should conditions require it.

If there is a pullback in spending, while investors in individual "Magnificent Seven" stocks may feel relieved, the market could view it as a major red flag for the entire AI trade.

Perhaps this scenario has been somewhat priced into these stocks, given the group's struggles thus far this year, but it's a risk investors need to be cognizant of, and Zuckerberg may have given the market a glimpse of what's to come.

Key Takeaways Visa is expanding beyond cards with account transfers, real-time payments and digital currency capabilities.V grew fiscal Q2 2026 revenues 17%, with value-added services revenues rising 27% to $3.3 billion.Visa Direct, tokenization, open banking and AI fraud tools support its evolving multi-rail network. Visa Inc. (V - Free Report) is steadily expanding beyond its traditional card network into a broader payments platform that supports multiple ways to move money. Along with card payments, the company is expanding its capabilities across account-to-account transfers, real-time payments, cross-border transactions and digital currencies. This strategy allows consumers, businesses and financial institutions to choose the most efficient payment method while remaining connected to Visa's network.

Visa has been strengthening this transformation through several initiatives. It continues to expand Visa Direct, enabling faster domestic and cross-border money transfers for consumers and businesses. It is also investing in tokenization, open banking capabilities, AI-powered fraud prevention and stablecoin settlement to support new payment methods. These efforts are making its network more flexible as digital commerce and payment preferences continue to evolve.

The strategy is also translating into solid financial performance. In fiscal second-quarter 2026, net revenues rose 17% year over year, supported by a 9% increase in payment volume on a constant-dollar basis, healthy cross-border activity and higher processed transactions. Value-added services revenues climbed 27% year over year to $3.3 billion, highlighting the growing contribution of value-added services alongside its core payments business.

As businesses and consumers increasingly seek faster and more flexible ways to move money, Visa's multi-rail network could help deepen customer relationships, expand its role across global payment flows and support sustainable long-term growth. This broader approach also positions Visa to benefit as payment technologies and customer needs continue to evolve.

How Are Visa's Competitors Positioned?Some of Visa's key competitors in the payments space are Mastercard Incorporated (MA - Free Report) and American Express Company (AXP - Free Report) .

Mastercard continues to broaden its payments platform beyond traditional card transactions through real-time payments, bank transfers and blockchain-based payment rails. In the first quarter of 2026, MA's value-added services and solutions revenues increased 22% year over year, highlighting the growing contribution of services alongside its core payments business.

American Express is expanding its digital payments ecosystem through tokenization, digital wallet integrations, commercial payment solutions and AI-driven security. In the first quarter of 2026, AXP's network volumes rose 11% year over year to $486.3 billion, reflecting healthy consumer and commercial spending.

Visa’s Price Performance, Valuation & EstimatesVisa’s shares have risen 0.5% year to date against the industry’s 9.9% decline.

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From a valuation standpoint, V trades at a forward price-to-earnings ratio of 24.41, well above the industry average of 18.29. V carries a Value Score of D.

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The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Visa’s fiscal 2026 earnings implies a 14.2% jump from the year-ago period’s level.

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Visa stock currently carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.