Analog Devices za prvních šest měsíců fiskálního roku 2026 zvýšil provozní cash flow na 2,24 mld. USD, meziročně o 15 %. Firma zároveň buduje strategické zásoby pro datová centra a automatizované testovací vybavení.
Key Takeaways ADI generated $2.24B operating cash flow in fiscal 2026's first six months, up 15% year over year.Analog Devices keeps capital spending modest, supporting strong cash conversion and growth. ADI is building strategic inventory to meet demand in data center and automated test equipment markets. Analog Devices (ADI - Free Report) has a strong cash flow profile supported by high gross margins, low capital intensity and disciplined capital allocation. During the first six months of fiscal 2026, the company generated operating cash flow of $2.24 billion, up 15% year over year, while capital expenditures increased only modestly to $247 million.
Analog Devices’ operating cash flow of $5.1 billion and free cash flow were $4.6 billion on a trailing 12-month basis or 40% and 36% of revenue, respectively. This highlights ADI's ability to convert a significant portion of its revenues into cash. The improvement in operating cash flow was primarily driven by a sharp increase in profitability.
ADI's modest capital expenditure requirements, expected to remain within 4-6% of annual revenues, continue to support exceptional cash conversion. Combined with $3.4 billion in cash, net leverage of just 0.8x and disciplined shareholder distributions, ADI remains well-positioned to fund growth initiatives while maintaining one of the highest-quality cash flow profiles in the analog semiconductor industry.
However, in the past six months, ADI’s strong earnings were partially offset by a significant working capital outflow, as operating assets and liabilities consumed $799 million of cash compared with just $36 million in the prior year. Beyond this risk, Analog Devices’ higher inventories and receivables reflected strategic inventory builds and increased shipments rather than weakening demand,
ADI ended the quarter with inventory at 168 days and channel inventory stable at six to seven weeks, levels that management considers healthy and manageable. The company is intentionally building strategic inventory to support future demand, particularly as data center and automated test equipment markets continue to experience strong growth.
How Competitors Fare Against Analog DevicesAnalog Devices competes with Texas Instruments (TXN - Free Report) and Broadcom (AVGO - Free Report) in the semiconductor market. Texas Instruments competes with ADI in industrial signal chains, precision sensing and power management, especially in PLCs, factory automation and motor control.
Broadcom is strong in networking, data center, broadband, Wi-Fi, Ethernet PHYs and switches. In the communications segment, Broadcom mainly competes with its high-speed connectivity, optical/wireline networking equipment, and cable or broadband IC portfolio.
Despite strong competition from Texas Instruments and Broadcom, Analog Devices has enough scope to grow in the communications space as new 5G technology is being introduced, which gives scope for expansion to all the players.
ADI’s Price Performance, Valuation and EstimatesShares of ADI have gained 62.6% in the past 12 months compared with the Zacks Semiconductor - Analog and Mixed industry’s growth of 61.9%.
ADI Past 12-Month Performance Chart
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From a valuation standpoint, ADI trades at a forward price-to-sales ratio of 11.93X, higher than the industry’s average of 9.52X.
ADI Forward 12-Month (P/S) Valuation Chart
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The Zacks Consensus Estimate for ADI’s fiscal 2026 and 2027 earnings implies year-over-year growth of 59% and 14%, respectively. The consensus estimate for fiscal 2026 and 2027 has remained unchanged in the past 30 days.
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ADI currently sports a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
Wendy's vykázala za první čtvrtletí růst tržeb o 3 % na 540,6 milionu USD, ale čistý zisk klesl o 42 % na 22,7 milionu USD. EPS činil 0,12 USD, což je pod 0,14 USD na akcii.
Wendy's (WEN +4.10%) stock has been rallying of late, prompting some to wonder if another meme-fueled rally could be underway. The fast-food giant hasn't been taken seriously in recent years as a top investment option; in five years, its valuation has crashed by a whopping 65%.
Amid its decline this year, its dividend yield has shot up to a mouthwatering 7.1%, which is well above the S&P 500 average of only 1.1%. If the payout is safe, that could provide investors with some incentive to buy and hold. But is the dividend really sustainable, and if it is, should you buy Wendy's stock?
Image source: Getty Images.
What do the company's recent financials say? Wendy's has a payout ratio of around 73%, but it's always a good idea to look at the most recent results to get a good indication of its financial strength. Earnings, after all, can get distorted due to one-time gains or losses. Taking a closer look can be imperative to see what's really going on with the business.
During the first three months of the year, the restaurant company's revenue rose by a modest 3% to $540.6 million. While the growth was a good sign, what was problematic was the company's worsening bottom line, with net income of $22.7 million declining by a staggering 42%, as costs rose at a faster pace than revenue.
The key number to focus on is the per-share profit, which totaled $0.12. That's slightly below the $0.14 that the company pays in dividends per share. Last year, the company slashed its dividend, previously paying $0.25 per quarter. If its financials don't improve significantly, there could be another cut around the corner.
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Why I don't expect the dividend to remain this high Wendy's may offer a high yield, but I wouldn't rely on it remaining intact. Not only are its earnings per share less than what the company is paying in dividends right now, but it's also in the midst of a turnaround. The company may need to use cash flow to strengthen its business and fund expansion efforts, including opening up to 1,000 restaurants in China. Maintaining this high of a payout, or any payout at all for that matter, may not be sustainable over the long haul.
Although the yield may be tempting, minimizing risk is key for dividend investors because if that dividend income disappears, there may not be much of a reason for holding onto the stock anymore, and it could fall sharply. With falling profits and an ambitious long-term strategy ahead, staying on the sidelines and taking a wait-and-see approach with Wendy's stock may be the best move right now.
AI zvyšuje poptávku po pokročilém čipovém balení a ASE Technology v 1. čtvrtletí vykázala rekordní tržby 112,4 mld. NT$, téměř o 30 % více. Amkor také oznámila rekordní tržby 1,68 mld. USD, o 27 % vyšší.
Key Takeaways ASE Technology and Amkor are benefiting as AI demand lifts advanced chip packaging.ASE Technology's ATM revenues hit a record NT$112.4B, rising nearly 30% in Q1 2026.Amkor posted record Q1 revenues of $1.68B, up 27%, with EPS climbing to $0.33. Artificial intelligence (AI) and high-performance computing are driving unprecedented demand for advanced semiconductor packaging, making outsourced semiconductor assembly and test (OSAT) providers increasingly important to the semiconductor value chain. ASE Technology Holding (ASX - Free Report) and Amkor Technology (AMKR - Free Report) are two global leaders benefiting from this trend, with both reporting strong first-quarter 2026 results and expanding their advanced packaging capabilities.
While both companies are well-positioned to capitalize on the AI-driven packaging cycle, differences in their growth outlook, profitability and earnings trajectory could determine which stock offers superior long-term returns. Let's dive deep and closely compare the fundamentals of the two stocks to determine which one is a better investment now.
The Case for ASE Technology StockASE Technology continues to strengthen its leadership in advanced semiconductor packaging as AI demand reshapes the industry. The company reported first-quarter 2026 revenues of NT$173.7 billion, up 17% year over year, while its Assembly, Testing and Material (ATM) business delivered record revenues of NT$112.4 billion, increasing nearly 30%. Even during a seasonally weak quarter, ATM revenues grew sequentially as demand for AI-related products remained exceptionally strong. Gross margin expanded to 20.1%, and operating income jumped 81% year over year.
AI has become ASE Technology's biggest growth engine. Management noted that AI workloads are reducing the traditional seasonality of the packaging business, with strong demand across LEAP advanced packaging, traditional advanced packaging and wirebond solutions. Computing applications continue to represent a growing portion of revenues as AI accelerators, high-bandwidth memory and advanced processors require increasingly sophisticated packaging technologies.
To support future demand, ASE Technology continues to expand LEAP capacity despite higher near-term depreciation expenses. Management expects newly installed production lines to ramp up primarily during the fourth quarter, supporting sequential margin expansion through the remainder of 2026. The company also benefits from its integrated packaging, testing and EMS operations, diversified customer base and improving factory utilization, all of which strengthen its competitive position.
The primary risks stem from elevated capital expenditures, higher depreciation during capacity expansion, foreign exchange volatility and geopolitical uncertainties. Nevertheless, these appear manageable considering the robust structural demand for AI packaging.
The Case for Amkor StockAmkor has also entered 2026 with considerable momentum. First-quarter revenues reached a record $1.68 billion, increasing 27% year over year as broad-based demand lifted every major end market. Improved factory utilization, growing advanced packaging programs and disciplined execution helped earnings per share climb to 33 cents from 9 cents a year ago.
Advanced packaging remains the centerpiece of Amkor's long-term strategy. Management continues investing heavily in HDFO, flip-chip packaging and advanced testing technologies to support AI servers and data-center processors. Several AI-focused customer programs are expected to ramp up during the second half of 2026, while the company believes advanced packaging will remain its primary long-term growth engine.
Amkor is simultaneously expanding its manufacturing footprint. Construction of its advanced packaging facility in Arizona remains on schedule, while additional manufacturing capacity in Korea will support growing AI infrastructure demand. These investments strengthen relationships with leading semiconductor customers seeking geographically diversified supply chains.
However, Amkor's investment cycle also creates challenges. The company expects capital expenditures of $2.5-$3 billion this year, which will pressure free cash flow in the near term. Export controls, geopolitical uncertainty, supply constraints involving advanced silicon and substrates, and rising material costs also remain important execution risks.
ASE Technology Leads the Performance RaceBoth stocks have significantly outperformed the broader semiconductor industry this year as investors increasingly favor AI infrastructure beneficiaries. ASE Technology shares have surged 149.8% year to date, comfortably ahead of Amkor's impressive 99.4% gain. Both stocks have substantially outperformed the Zacks Electronics-Semiconductors industry's 48.6% return, the Zacks Computer and Technology sector's 13.1% gain and the S&P 500's 7.2% advance.
ASX vs AMKR Price Performance (YTD)
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The strength extends across semiconductor infrastructure stocks. Applied Materials (AMAT - Free Report) and KLA Corporation (KLAC - Free Report) have also benefited from AI-driven semiconductor investment and advanced manufacturing demand, rising 143.9% and 104.6% YTD, respectively. However, ASE Technology has delivered the strongest stock performance among this group, highlighting investor confidence in its AI packaging growth strategy.
ASX vs AMKR: Valuation ComparisonFollowing their strong rallies, both stocks trade at premiums to the industry average. ASE Technology currently trades at 35.33X forward 12-month earnings, slightly below Amkor's 37.11X, while the Zacks Electronics-Semiconductors industry trades at 33.61X.
ASX vs AMKR Valuation (P/E F12M)
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Compared with semiconductor equipment leaders AMAT (42.78X) and KLAC (50.18X), both ASE Technology and Amkor continue to command healthy valuations as investors increasingly recognize advanced packaging as one of the fastest-growing segments of the semiconductor supply chain. Even so, ASE Technology offers the more attractive valuation of the two while also providing stronger projected earnings growth.
Analysts Continue Raising Earnings EstimatesAnalysts have become increasingly optimistic about both companies, though ASE Technology enjoys stronger long-term growth expectations.
Over the past 60 days, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for ASE Technology's 2026 earnings has increased to 84 cents per share from 77 cents. Analysts expect earnings per share (EPS) to grow 47.4% on 19.6% revenue growth this year, followed by another 73.2% earnings increase on 22.4% revenue growth in 2027.
ASX Estimate Revision Trend
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Amkor has also witnessed positive estimate revisions, with the Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2026 EPS increasing to $2.08 from $1.94 over the past 60 days. Analysts currently expect 38.7% earnings growth on 13.2% revenue growth in 2026. However, growth is projected to moderate sharply in 2027, with EPS expected to increase just 3.7% on 9% revenue growth.
AMKR Estimate Revision Trend
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
ASE Technology's stronger earnings trajectory reflects its larger exposure to AI-driven advanced packaging and suggests greater operating leverage as new capacity ramps.
Which Stock Offers Better Upside?Both ASE Technology and Amkor stand to benefit from the rapid expansion of AI infrastructure, advanced chip architectures and increasing semiconductor packaging complexity. Both companies delivered impressive first-quarter results, continue investing aggressively in advanced packaging capacity and maintain strong relationships with leading semiconductor customers.
However, ASE Technology currently appears to be the stronger investment. The company offers faster revenue growth, superior margin profile, stronger AI-driven ATM momentum, a slightly lower valuation and meaningfully better long-term earnings growth expectations. Its expanding LEAP platform and improving profitability further strengthen its competitive position as AI packaging demand accelerates.
Amkor, having a favorable Zacks Rank #2 (Buy), remains a compelling long-term semiconductor packaging company with solid execution and expanding global capacity. Nevertheless, ASE Technology's stronger fundamentals and better earnings outlook give it the edge as the better chip packaging stock for investors seeking greater upside from the ongoing AI infrastructure buildout. ASE Technology currently sports a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.
Key Takeaways Humana's CenterWell posted $6.1B in Q1 2026 revenues, up 19.7%, with growth across all business lines.HUM added patients and centers via MaxHealth and expanded pharmacy services through the Cost Plus partnership.HUM expects CenterWell to generate at least $25B in 2026 revenues as it grows beyond insurance. CenterWell is playing a growing role in Humana Inc.'s (HUM - Free Report) strategy to evolve beyond its traditional health insurance business. By combining primary care, home health and pharmacy services under one platform, CenterWell helps HUM deliver more coordinated care while supporting better health outcomes and improving the overall patient experience.
The segment is also emerging as a meaningful growth driver. In the first quarter of 2026, CenterWell generated $6.1 billion in revenues, up 19.7% year over year, reflecting growth across all three business lines. Higher Medicare enrollment and continued expansion of its payor-agnostic client base contributed to the increase. HUM expects the segment’s total revenues to generate at least $25 billion in 2026.
Humana is further strengthening CenterWell's platform through strategic investments and acquisitions. During the first quarter, CenterWell Senior Primary Care recorded sequential patient growth of 110,500, including approximately 59,000 patients and 54 centers from the recent MaxHealth acquisition. The expansion broadens the company's primary care network while creating additional opportunities to deliver coordinated, value-based care. HUM is also broadening its pharmacy capabilities through its Cost Plus partnership, which aims to develop end-to-end prescription drug solutions for employers.
HUM is also improving operational efficiency by increasing automation and using AI-enabled analytics to identify care gaps, accelerate chronic disease detection and support more proactive care management. These initiatives can improve clinical outcomes while enhancing productivity across the platform. As CenterWell continues to expand its care delivery network and technology capabilities, it is evolving into a key long-term growth engine that diversifies Humana's business beyond health insurance while supporting sustainable earnings growth.
How Are Competitors Faring?Some of HUM’s major competitors in the value-based care space are UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (UNH - Free Report) and Elevance Health, Inc. (ELV - Free Report) .
UnitedHealth, through its Optum segment, is scaling AI-driven care management, pharmacy and provider solutions to improve care coordination and operational efficiency. Its integrated care model supports value-based reimbursement while diversifying revenues beyond its insurance business. UnitedHealth’s total revenues rose 2% year over year in the first quarter of 2026.
Elevance Health is pursuing a similar strategy through Carelon, its healthcare services platform. Carelon combines pharmacy, care delivery and care management capabilities to diversify revenues beyond health insurance. Elevance Health’s total operating revenues rose 1.5% year over year in the first quarter of 2026.
Humana’s Price Performance, Valuation & EstimatesShares of HUM have rallied 49.9% in the year-to-date period compared with the industry’s rise of 8.2%.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
From a valuation standpoint, Humana trades at a forward price-to-earnings ratio of 32.09, significantly above the industry average of 16.80. HUM carries a Value Score of B.
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The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Humana’s 2026 earnings is pegged at $9.01 per share, implying a 47.4% drop from the year-ago period.
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HUM stock currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
RGA těží z příznivých úmrtnostních trendů, rostoucí poptávky po penzijním risk transferu a silnějšího investičního výnosu. Akcie jsou navíc pod odvětvovým průměrem, s forward P/B 1,05x.
Key Takeaways RGA benefits from favorable mortality trends and growing demand for pension risk transfer solutions.Canada operations and longevity insurance provide diversified earnings and support long-term growth.Reinsurance Group maintains capital flexibility through buybacks, dividends and investments to fund growth. Shares of Reinsurance Group of America, Incorporated (RGA - Free Report) have gained 8.4% in the past month compared with the industry’s growth of 7.9%
RGA's recent rally has been driven by first-quarter 2026 strong earnings, favorable mortality experience, growing pension risk transfer business, higher investment income and its still-attractive valuation, which have strengthened investor sentiment.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Shares of Manulife Financial Corp. (MFC - Free Report) , Voya Financial, Inc. (VOYA - Free Report) and Sun Life Financial Inc. (SLF - Free Report) have gained 5.5%, 12.2% and 8.5%, respectively, in the past month.
RGA’s Average Target Price Suggests UpsideBased on short-term price targets offered by eight analysts, the Zacks average price target is $254.38 per share. The average suggests a potential 18.2% upside from the last closing price.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
RGA’s Attractive ValuationShares of RGA are trading at a discount to the industry. Its forward price-to-book value of 1.05X is lower than the industry average of 2.18X, the Finance sector’s 4.53X, and the Zacks S&P 500 Composite’s 7.92X. The life insurer has a Value Score of A.
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Shares of Manulife Financial and Voya Financial are also trading at a discount, whereas Sun Life Financial is trading at a premium to the industry average.
RGA’s Growth Projection EncouragesThe Zacks Consensus Estimate for Reinsurance Group’s 2026 earnings per share (EPS) indicates a year-over-year increase of 18.3%. The consensus estimate for revenues is pegged at $26.89 billion, implying a year-over-year improvement of 12.3%.
The consensus estimate for 2027 EPS and revenues indicates an increase of 6.6% and 6.5%, respectively, from the corresponding 2026 estimates.
Earnings have grown 26.7% over the past five years, outpacing the industry average of 5.9%.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2026 and 2027 has moved 2.3% and 0.8% north, respectively, over the last 60 days.
Key Points to Note for RGAReinsurance Group is a leader in the traditional United States and Latin American markets. It has successfully expanded its product line with market-leading services, capabilities, expertise and innovation. Individual mortality has matured, providing a base for stable earnings and capital generation. RGA continues to benefit from favorable mortality trends, particularly in its U.S. individual life business, which has improved underwriting profitability. The significant value embedded in the in-force business is anticipated to generate predictable long-term earnings.
In Canada, Reinsurance Group is a market leader with solid growth and profitability. It has a sizable block of in-force business, which is a significant source of future earnings. Reinsurance Group expects longevity insurance, which is projected to witness steady demand, to experience long-term growth in the Canadian market. While longevity insurance provides a diversified income source, it also acts as a hedge against the company’s large mortality position.
RGA continues to capitalize on robust demand for financial solutions. The company continues to benefit from increasing demand for pension risk transfer transactions, which has become an important long-term growth driver. Its combination of biometric underwriting expertise and asset management capabilities differentiates it from its peers and allows it to capture complex, higher-return transactions.
The company’s net investment income has been improving over the years. It witnessed a CAGR of 17.7% over the five years (2020-2025). Investment income remains supportive as new money yields continue to exceed the existing portfolio yield, improving book yields over time. Management expects variable investment income to be 7% during 2026 despite a subdued real estate environment.
RGA has also been managing capital effectively via share buybacks, dividend payments and prudent investments. As of March 31, 2026, excess capital stood at $2.4 billion, while deployable capital over the next 12 months reached $2.9 billion, providing ample flexibility to fund growth opportunities. RGA expects to return 20-30% of after-tax operating earnings to shareholders over the long term while reducing financial leverage during 2026.
Risks for RGAHigher total benefits and expenses remain concerns for RGA. In the first quarter of 2026, it increased 23.8% year over year to $6.1 billion due to higher claims and other policy benefits, interest credited, policy acquisition costs and other insurance expenses, which is weighing on margin expansion.
Reinsurance Group, being a multinational company, is exposed to foreign currency risk since exchange rates may be subject to adverse changes over time.
New regulations, including evolving capital and reinsurance requirements in the United States and the U.K., could increase compliance costs or reduce transaction economics.
ConclusionFavorable mortality experience, strong momentum in financial solutions, a diversified business, disciplined capital deployment and improving investment income should continue to favor RGA over the long term. However, higher expenses, currency exposure and regulatory changes remain risks.
Coupled with solid growth projections, attractive valuations and solid capital position, it is, therefore, wise to retain this Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) stock. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
Arm uvedl AGI CPU pro AI datová centra a říká, že poptávka už od spuštění překonala očekávání. Procesory Arm teď tvoří zhruba polovinu nasazení CPU u velkých hyperscalerů.
Key Takeaways ARM introduced the AGI CPU to improve efficiency and performance for AI data center workloads.Arm said demand has exceeded launch expectations from cloud, telecom, and enterprise AI customers.ARM noted that Arm-based processors now account for about half of CPU deployments at major hyperscalers. Arm Holdings (ARM - Free Report) is stepping up its ambitions in AI infrastructure with the Arm AGI CPU, a processor purpose-built for the emerging era of agentic AI workloads. The company believes the shift from traditional AI queries to continuously operating AI agents will significantly increase computing demand inside data centers, creating a substantial long-term growth opportunity.
The Arm AGI CPU is designed as a high-efficiency alternative to conventional x86 processors. The company says the new chip delivers meaningfully higher rack-level performance while improving overall infrastructure economics. It also believes its architecture can help customers reduce capital expenditures while scaling AI workloads more efficiently across cloud and enterprise environments.
The launch reflects Arm Holdings' broader strategy to extend beyond its traditional licensing business and strengthen its position within the AI hardware ecosystem. The company is increasingly positioning its architecture not only as a foundational technology layer but also as a scalable platform powering the next generation of AI infrastructure.
Cloud Giants Deepen Arm AdoptionMomentum behind the ARM platform continues to build among hyperscalers and AI infrastructure providers. NVIDIA (NVDA - Free Report) highlighted deeper integration of Arm-based CPUs across its next-generation AI systems and introduced its Vera CPU platform to enhance utilization and performance in AI environments. NVIDIA's expanding collaboration with Arm reinforces the growing importance of Arm-based computing within large-scale AI clusters.
Alphabet's (GOOGL - Free Report) Google is also advancing its Arm strategy by integrating custom Axion CPUs into future TPU systems. The company stated that its next-generation TPU infrastructure will replace legacy x86 host processors with Arm-based designs to improve efficiency and training economics. Google's continued commitment further reinforces confidence in Arm Holdings' expanding role within the future of cloud AI infrastructure.
Demand Pipeline Continues to StrengthenArm Holdings stated that customer demand for the AGI CPU has already exceeded its initial launch expectations, driven by interest from cloud service providers, telecom infrastructure companies, and enterprise AI customers. The company also noted that Arm-based processors now account for approximately half of CPU deployments among major hyperscale cloud providers.
Beyond Google and NVIDIA, industry leaders including AWS, Microsoft, Oracle, Samsung, Micron and SK Hynix continue expanding support for the broader Arm ecosystem. As global investment in AI infrastructure accelerates, Arm Holdings is positioning itself as a core architecture provider for the next generation of intelligent data centers.
ARM’s Price Performance, Valuation, EstimatesThe stock has gained 107% over the past year compared with the industry’s 80% growth.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
From a valuation standpoint, ARM trades at a forward price-to-sales ratio of 54.78X, well above the industry’s 9.61X. It carries a Value Score of F.
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The Zacks Consensus Estimate for the company’s fiscal 2027 earnings has remained unchanged over the past 30 days.
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ARM currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
Alto Ingredients rozšiřuje kapacitu biogenního CO2 v Columbii, Missouri, novou skladovací nádrží. V Pekinu chce více prodávat CO2 a zároveň snížit uhlíkovou intenzitu paliv pro vyšší daňové zvýhodnění podle Section 45Z.
Key Takeaways Alto Ingredients is expanding its focus on creating more value from the biogenic CO2. A third liquid CO2 storage tank in Columbia is set to expand capacity amid a tight Pacific Northwest supply.Pekin's CO2 projects could boost revenues and support greater Section 45Z tax-credit benefits. Alto Ingredients, Inc. (ALTO - Free Report) is increasingly looking beyond ethanol and positioning carbon dioxide (CO2) as a higher-value growth opportunity that could strengthen its earnings mix over time. In its first-quarter 2026 results, management highlighted investments to create greater value from its biogenic CO2 production.
One key initiative is underway at the company's Columbia facility, where a third liquid CO2 storage tank is being added to expand processing and storage capacity. The project is expected to help Alto Ingredients capitalize on strong demand in the Pacific Northwest, where supplies of premium-grade CO2 remain tight. Maintenance completed during the first quarter is also expected to improve plant reliability and support growing customer demand during the summer season.
The bigger opportunity, however, lies at Alto Ingredients' Pekin campus. Selling more liquid CO2 could increase revenues, while capturing or storing CO2 emissions could reduce the carbon intensity of its fuel production. That, in turn, could help Alto Ingredients qualify for greater benefits under the Section 45Z clean fuel tax credit program.
Management also noted that changing market conditions and evolving policy support have opened up more flexible options than before. Instead of developing a carbon capture solution entirely on its own, Alto Ingredients is evaluating opportunities with other parties that could lower capital investment requirements. The company's ongoing efforts reflect its focus on creating more value from the biogenic CO2.
What Do the Latest Metrics Say About Alto Ingredients?Alto Ingredients, which competes with Green Plains Inc. (GPRE - Free Report) and MGP Ingredients, Inc. (MGPI - Free Report) , has seen its shares rally 351.3% in the past year compared with the industry’s 5.5% growth. Shares of Green Plains have risen 150.3%, while MGP Ingredients has declined 42.8% during the same period.
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From a valuation standpoint, Alto Ingredients’ forward price-to-sales ratio of 0.4 is lower than the industry’s average of 3.11. The company is trading at a discount to Green Plains (with a forward price-to-sales ratio of 0.53) and MGP Ingredients (0.73)
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The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Alto Ingredients’ 2026 and 2027 earnings per share implies a year-over-year rise of 671.4% and 53.7%, respectively.
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Alto Ingredients currently sports a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.
CoreWeave uzavřel s Conapto colocation dohodu pro dva stockholmské kampusy napájené obnovitelnou energií. Tím rozšiřuje evropskou kapacitu AI cloudu na osm provozních lokalit v Evropě.
Key Takeaways CoreWeave signed a colocation deal with Conapto covering two renewable-powered Stockholm campuses. CRWV will deploy NVIDIA Blackwell and Vera Rubin platforms with Quantum-X800 InfiniBand networking.CoreWeave now operates eight European sites, expanding AI cloud capacity for regional customers. CoreWeave, Inc. (CRWV - Free Report) has announced a new colocation agreement with Conapto, a provider of scalable, secure and sustainable data center solutions. The partnership covers two data center campuses in Stockholm, Sweden, with initial capacity already operational at the Stockholm 4 South facility. Both campuses will be powered by renewable energy, supporting CoreWeave's efforts to expand its AI cloud infrastructure in Europe while maintaining a focus on sustainability.
The Stockholm deployment will provide AI companies and developers with access to CoreWeave's AI cloud platform, which is designed to support the growing demands of modern AI applications. The platform integrates high-performance computing, networking, storage and software orchestration, enabling customers to efficiently scale AI development and deployment. The agreement strengthens CoreWeave's ability to support customers across Europe and aligns with its measured approach to boosting its international infrastructure footprint.
The new capacity will be powered by NVIDIA Blackwell Architecture and NVIDIA Vera Rubin Platforms connected through NVIDIA Quantum-X800 InfiniBand networking. This deployment further expands CoreWeave's presence across Europe as demand from AI research labs, enterprises and developers continues to increase. With AI workloads increasingly transitioning from experimentation to production, organizations across the region require readily available, high-performance infrastructure capable of supporting large-scale deployments. The expansion also continues CoreWeave's practice of providing European customers with access to its latest available technologies.
CoreWeave also stated that nine of the world's 10 leading foundation model providers currently use its AI cloud platform. As of March 31, 2026, the company operated 49 data centers worldwide, supported by more than one gigawatt of active power and over 3.5 gigawatts of contracted power dedicated to AI workloads. With the addition of the Conapto facilities, CoreWeave now has eight operational sites across Europe.
The company highlighted the performance of its AI cloud platform, citing record MLPerf benchmark results for AI training and inference, its Platinum ranking in both SemiAnalysis ClusterMAX 1.0 and 2.0, and its top ranking for inference speed and price-performance for Moonshot AI's Kimi K2.6 and Kimi K2.7 Code models in independent benchmarking conducted by Artificial Analysis.
Taking a Look at CRWV’s CompetitorsNebius Group N.V. (NBIS - Free Report) is gaining momentum through its expanding partnership with NVIDIA, which has strengthened its position in the fast-growing AI infrastructure market. The company recently achieved NVIDIA Exemplar Cloud status for GB300 training workloads and deepened its collaboration across multiple GPU generations, enhancing its AI cloud capabilities. Strategic acquisitions, including Tavily, Eigen AI and Clarifai, have further expanded its inference, search and agentic AI offerings. Backed by strong customer demand and rapid capacity expansion to a targeted 4 GW of contracted power, Nebius is well-positioned to deliver its ambitious 2026 revenue goals while reinforcing its leadership in AI-native cloud infrastructure.
Amazon.com Inc. (AMZN - Free Report) is gaining from its aggressive international expansion, diversified business model and growing AI capabilities. The company continues expanding its logistics network across Asia, Europe and Latin America, driving higher international sales and profitability. AWS remains a major growth engine, supported by rising enterprise demand for AI services, while the advertising business continues delivering strong revenue growth. Amazon is also benefiting from partnerships with OpenAI and Anthropic, which have committed to using AWS Trainium capacity, reinforcing its AI infrastructure business. Together with AI-powered improvements across e-commerce and logistics, these initiatives strengthen Amazon's long-term growth prospects and competitive position.
CRWV Price Performance, Valuation and EstimatesShares of CoreWeave have gained 30.7% in the past six months against the Internet Software industry’s fall of 17.3%.
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In terms of Price/Book, CRWV’s shares are trading at 8.99X, higher than the Internet Software Services industry’s 4.29X.
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The Zacks Consensus Estimate for CRWV’s earnings for the current year has been revised downward over the past 60 days.
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CRWV currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
Cerebras oznámila za 1. čtvrtletí meziroční růst tržeb o 92 % na 191,3 milionu USD, ale investory zklamal výhled tržeb i tlak na marže. Akcie po zveřejnění výsledků klesly o 20 %.
Artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructure provider Cerebras Systems (CBRS +14.67%) went public last month and popped impressively on its first day of trading on May 14.
Cerebras stock popped an impressive 68% on its first day, rising significantly from its initial public offering (IPO) price of $185. However, the stock has lost 41% of its value since that pop. What's more, the company's first-quarter 2026 results, which were released on June 23, failed to arrest the slide due to disappointing revenue guidance and margin concerns.
Analysts, however, remain confident of a turnaround in Cerebras' fortunes. They anticipate a 65% surge in Cerebras stock in the coming year, as evidenced by its 12-month median price target of $300. Notably, 10 of the 11 analysts covering Cerebras rate it as a buy. So, should you capitalize on the recent slide in this AI stock and consider buying it in anticipation of solid long-term gains?
Let's find out.
Image source: The Motley Fool.
Cerebras Systems is reporting solid sales growth, but there is a problem Cerebras differentiates itself from other AI chip companies by packing 4 billion transistors into a single wafer-sized chip. For comparison, companies like Nvidia and Broadcom break down silicon wafers into graphics cards and custom AI processors. Cerebras claims that its wafer-sized chip can eliminate memory-related bottlenecks by packing in a whopping 44 gigabytes (GB) of random-access memory (RAM) and offer significantly faster transmission speeds.
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The company claims that it can offer 28x more computing power compared to Nvidia's B200 graphics processing unit (GPU), while offering 15x faster inference performance as compared to GPU-powered clouds. The good news for Cerebras is that its chips are finding favor among companies such as OpenAI and Amazon.
It has an agreement with OpenAI to deploy 750 megawatts (MW) of its chips to run inference workloads "over the next several years," valued at more than $20 billion. Amazon, meanwhile, has also entered into a multi-year partnership with Cerebras to accelerate inference workloads on Amazon Web Services, though the financial details of the deal haven't been disclosed.
These deals should help Cerebras maintain its impressive growth rate. The company's Q1 revenue increased by 92% year over year to $191.3 million. Cerebras expects an 88% year-over-year increase in revenue in the current quarter to $194 million. The company has guided for a 69% jump in full-year revenue to $860 million, which seems to have disappointed investors.
Analysts would have been satisfied with a 2026 revenue guidance of $824.8 million, but the gradual slowdown in growth the company is indicating over the course of the year hasn't gone down well with investors. Additionally, the company's non-GAAP gross margin forecast for 2026 is another reason why Cerebras stock fell 20% following its earnings report.
Cerebras reported a non-GAAP gross margin of 47% in Q1. However, it expects to report a non-GAAP gross margin of 38% to 41% for the full year. Cerebras attributes this gross margin pressure to its strategy of renting its own chip systems back from an existing customer to fulfill its contractual backlog. Cerebras points out that this margin pressure will be temporary and should ease as it brings its own data center capacity online.
Cerebras CEO Andrew Feldman pointed out on the earnings call that the company is engaged with data center builders in North America, Europe, and the Middle East. As a result, Cerebras is confident of adding new capacity quickly going forward. Once that happens, the company's margins should start getting better. Throw in the massive backlog of more than $20 billion that Cerebras reported last quarter, and it won't be surprising to see the company quickly moving toward profitability. This is what analysts are anticipating.
Data by YCharts
The valuation is a concern, but the stock could jump impressively over the next three years The biggest problem with Cerebras right now is its valuation. The stock trades at 65 times sales, and the gradual slowdown it is forecasting in top-line growth for the rest of the year doesn't justify that multiple. The U.S. tech sector, for comparison, has an average price-to-sales ratio of 9.1.
However, as Cerebras adds more data center capacity using its proprietary chips, it should be able to step on the gas once again. Not surprisingly, analysts are expecting a significant acceleration in its top-line growth in 2027 and 2028.
Data by YCharts
Cerebras can indeed achieve such stunning growth, given its backlog, thereby justifying its premium valuation. Let's say it trades at even 15 times sales after three years and achieves $7.4 billion in revenue in 2028, its market cap could increase to $111 billion. That suggests potential upside of 175% from current levels.
So, investors looking for a growth stock can consider accumulating Cerebras following its sharp pullback in recent weeks, as it can bounce back and deliver healthy gains over the next three years.
SpaceX má tři kontrakty na AI výpočetní kapacitu, které dohromady přinášejí asi 2,32 miliardy USD měsíčně, tedy 27,8 miliardy USD ročně. To více než zdvojnásobuje jeho tržby.
Space Exploration Technologies (SPCX +2.13%), better known as SpaceX, has three distinct parts of its business -- rocket launches, satellite internet, and the xAI artificial intelligence business. While the first two are certainly impressive, market-leading businesses, the AI division has produced the biggest headlines in recent months.
In fact, although xAI was the biggest drag on SpaceX's bottom line in 2025, it's starting to look like 2027 and beyond could be a very different story. Here's how SpaceX's new AI compute business has already more than doubled its revenue, where it could go from here, and why investors should pay attention.
Image source: Getty Images.
Three AI compute deals -- so far Here's a quick rundown of where SpaceX's AI compute business stands today. And keep in mind that all of this is revenue that didn't exist prior to its IPO:
First, Anthropic signed a deal to access more than 300 MW of compute capacity and more than 220,000 Nvidia GPUs at SpaceX's Colossus 1 data center. This agreement brings in $1.25 billion per month for SpaceX through May 2029. That's $18 billion per year from this deal alone. Next, Google signed a compute deal that begins in October and runs through June 2029, giving the hyperscaler access to about 110,000 Nvidia GPUs and is expected to generate $920 million in monthly revenue. Finally, the smallest of the three deals, but still a highly significant development, is a deal from fast-growing start-up Reflection AI to access Nvidia chips at SpaceX's Colossus 2 data center for $150 per month. Combined, the three deals will provide about $2.32 billion in monthly revenue, or $27.8 billion annualized. Keep in mind that SpaceX's business -- including Starlink, the rocket launches, and xAI -- combined for $18.7 billion in revenue in 2025. Even though Starlink and the rocket business continue to scale rapidly in 2026, this has more than doubled SpaceX's revenue.
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Not only has this generated revenue, but it's also an example of a savvy way to turn a problem (xAI was using only about 11% of its compute capacity for its own purposes) into a win.
Who could be next? SpaceX clearly stated in its S-1 that it "expects to enter into additional similar services contracts for compute capacity with third parties," and while this statement was made before the most recent deals, it indicates that this business could be a big part of the company's AI future.
There's no way to know who might be next, but there's no shortage of potential compute customers. Other AI providers, such as OpenAI, are an obvious example, as are hyperscalers like Microsoft (MSFT 1.22%).
Of course, companies like Microsoft, Google, and others can (and do) build their own data centers -- that's a big portion of the hundreds of billions of dollars in capital expenditures they've announced for 2026. But a capital-light approach (renting instead of owning) is likely starting to look more appealing, especially now that the AI build-out is scaling to the point where these companies are being forced to take on more debt and spend all of their free cash flow to keep up.
In addition to any of the other potential customers who will undoubtedly need more computing power in the future than they do today, it's also important to mention that there's certainly the possibility that the three existing customers could expand their deals over time. For example, Anthropic's business has grown tenfold in the past year, and if it continues to grow exponentially, the company's compute needs could get much larger.
Why is this so important? Not only have SpaceX's three AI compute deals more than doubled its revenue, but they could also be a big step forward in showing investors a path to profitability. In fact, the AI compute business has the potential to become the highest margin part of SpaceX. Consider that other GPU cloud providers like CoreWeave (CRWV 1.54%) operate at gross margins near 70%, and in SpaceX's case, margins could be even higher as SpaceX's Colossus data centers were already built and were simply underutilized. Now, Starlink has excellent margins, but the AI compute business has massive potential for both top-line growth and producing billions in free cash flow.
To be clear, even with all of this in mind, SpaceX is still not a cheap stock. Even if the company's revenue run rate reaches $50 billion by the end of 2026, it will still be valued at about 40 times sales (based on the current stock price) and will lack any established track record of profitability. So, I'm not saying that SpaceX is a buy based on its AI compute business itself. There's a lot that will need to go well throughout its business to ultimately justify the current valuation.
Having said that, the progress in the AI compute business has been impressive to say the least. If SpaceX can continue to build it out, it could be a big win for the company and its investors.
Apple (AAPL 1.31%) finds itself in a tough position. It has avoided the heavy spending associated with artificial intelligence (AI) compute build-outs. Nonetheless, the surging demand for chips from some of its "Magnificent Seven" peers has put pressure on its business. In particular, the price of memory chips has soared over the last year or so. Micron Technology just reported that prices for its DRAM memory chips climbed more than 60% from the previous quarter.
But two recent moves could help mitigate the near-term pressure of higher memory prices on Apple while benefiting patient long-term investors willing to stick with the leading smartphone maker.
Image source: Getty Images.
Apple is leaning into high memory prices While memory chip prices are soaring, Apple's latest software updates are heavily reliant on increased memory capacity for its devices. Apple rebuilt Siri using Alphabet's Gemini large language model (LLM). The new AI features demonstrated at its Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) event earlier this month are far from cutting edge, but they take advantage of the personal information and context of your iPhone, providing unique capabilities that leading AI companies can't replicate.
Under the hood, Apple is heavily focused on keeping your private data private. That means running as many queries as possible on the iPhone itself instead of sending the prompt to a remote server for processing. Apple took pains to reduce the memory requirements for on-device AI, but there's only so much it can do while providing the most useful AI features. As a result, the upgraded Siri won't work with many older iPhones.
It might seem counterintuitive to increase memory requirements for its premier software update at a time when memory prices are so high. However, the timing could prove fortuitous for Apple. The new Siri update could help drive many owners of older devices to upgrade this fall with the next iPhone release. And that gives Apple the opportunity to raise the price on the iPhone.
Indeed, Apple just announced price increases for certain MacBook and iPad units. CEO Tim Cook suggested more price hikes could be coming in a recent interview. Apple had held back on price hikes despite increased component costs for several quarters, while its biggest competitors, including Samsung Electronics, raised prices. That may have helped fuel strong iPhone sales over the last few quarters, which are up 22% through the first six months of fiscal 2026.
A price hike will allow Apple to maintain most of its gross margin, while the demand driven by the Siri upgrade should help maintain unit sales. The result should be modest revenue growth with slightly slower profit growth in fiscal 2027, but the long-term potential of the two moves could be significant.
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Thinking long term It's important to note that the memory chip market is extremely cyclical. In times of high demand, prices for memory chips climb considerably higher. However, memory chipmakers eventually add capacity, bringing supply back in line with demand and ultimately leading to lower prices. That is to say, Apple won't be stuck paying the outrageously high prices the market currently demands forever.
On the other hand, consumer prices are much stickier. While Apple has introduced some low-end models to appeal to more budget-conscious consumers, it's rarely lowered the prices of its flagship devices.
As a result, Apple should be able to produce meaningful revenue growth with minimal margin compression in the near future. And while revenue growth might slow in later years, it should drive margin expansion as memory prices decline. The recent moves leverage its strong brand and its position as the leading smartphone manufacturer to maintain steady profit growth over time.
With the stock trading around 32 times forward earnings expectations, some may see it as too expensive for a relatively slow-growing business. But Apple is demonstrating its ability to deliver steady gains without significant capital expenditures, using its massive free cash flow to buy back stock and boost earnings per share. That makes it worth paying a premium price, especially for patient, long-term investors.
Tesla v pondělí vzrostla o zhruba 4 % před čtvrtečními výsledky dodávek za 2. čtvrtletí. Náladu podpořily i komentáře Elona Muska k nové verzi Full Self-Driving.
Tesla stock TSLA jumped on Monday as investors looked ahead to the company's second-quarter delivery report later this week, while fresh comments from Chief Executive Elon Musk provided an additional boost to sentiment.
The stock rose around 4% in early trading to $396.64, recovering some ground after a difficult week for the electric vehicle maker.
The broader market was also supportive, with the S&P 500 gaining 0.8% and the Dow Jones Industrial Average advancing 0.3%.
Investors are now focused on Tesla's second-quarter delivery figures, scheduled for release on Thursday.
Analysts currently expect Tesla to report deliveries of approximately 405,000 vehicles, up from roughly 384,000 vehicles delivered during the same period a year earlier.
Part of Monday's rally appeared linked to comments Musk made on social media regarding Tesla's Full Self-Driving technology.
Musk said Tesla had begun rolling out a new version of its Full Self-Driving software for customers using AI3 hardware, the onboard computer platform introduced in 2019.
Newer Tesla vehicles are equipped with AI4 hardware, which was introduced in 2023 and offers significantly greater computing capability.
"Nice work by the [Tesla AI team]!" Musk wrote on X.
"The AI3 computer only has about 15% of the effective memory bandwidth of AI4, so this was a tough challenge," he added.
The update could potentially expand the addressable market for Tesla's Full Self-Driving subscription service by improving functionality for owners of older vehicles.
Tesla currently charges $99 per month for Full Self-Driving, which can perform most driving tasks under driver supervision.
Wall Street analysts have become increasingly optimistic about Tesla's upcoming delivery results following stronger-than-expected sales data from several key markets.
Morgan Stanley raised its second-quarter delivery forecast to approximately 413,000 vehicles from a prior estimate of roughly 373,000 units.
The firm cited stronger registration trends in Europe and improving demand in China as key drivers behind the upgrade.
According to Morgan Stanley, Europe provided the largest source of upside, with registrations running significantly above year-earlier levels as the region continued recovering from a weaker 2025.
China also showed improving momentum, with domestic sales rebounding in May after two consecutive months of annual declines.
Despite the higher delivery forecast, Morgan Stanley maintained its $415 price target and remained cautious on Tesla's energy storage business, forecasting second-quarter deployments of 11.8 gigawatt-hours compared with Street expectations of roughly 14.3 gigawatt-hours.
Barclays also raised its delivery expectations and now forecasts approximately 418,000 vehicle deliveries for the quarter.
The brokerage expects European deliveries to reach approximately 90,000 units during the quarter, representing Tesla's strongest regional performance since 2023.
China deliveries are projected at roughly 135,000 vehicles, supported by improving domestic demand and export activity.
Production is expected to reach about 430,000 vehicles during the quarter, while inventory levels remain well below the elevated build seen during the first quarter.
Barclays maintained its Equal Weight rating and $360 price target, while noting that investor attention has increasingly shifted away from Tesla's automotive operations toward its longer-term artificial intelligence initiatives.
The firm said investors remain focused on programs such as Robotaxi, Optimus, and autonomous driving technology, even as stronger vehicle deliveries remain important for generating the cash flow needed to fund those ambitions.
JPMorgan uvedla, že menší flotila robotaxi Tesly oproti Waymo je záměrná a odráží opatrný přístup firmy k nasazení. Waymo má v Texasu 640 autonomních vozidel, zatímco Tesla 84, přestože Tesla letos rozšířila své robotaxi mimo Austin do Dallasu a Houstonu. Tesla podle banky dává přednost vylepšování softwaru Full Self-Driving před rychlým rozšiřováním vozů.
In its latest autonomous vehicle roadmap, JPMorgan noted that Waymo has 640 autonomous vehicles registered in Texas, compared with just 84 for Tesla, even after Tesla expanded its robotaxi footprint beyond Austin into Dallas and Houston this year. Rather than viewing the gap as a competitive weakness, the firm argues Tesla is intentionally prioritizing software readiness over fleet expansion.
Why Tesla’s Robotaxi Fleet Is SmallerJPMorgan said Tesla has taken a deliberately measured approach to its robotaxi rollout despite investor excitement around the company’s autonomous driving ambitions.
“Our view. Tesla has been cautious in its robotaxi rollout in Austin, and more recently in Dallas and Houston,” the analysts wrote. “On the 1Q call, Tesla management talked about taking a very cautious approach to the rollout of robotaxis.”
According to the note, Tesla believes there are still “many known improvements” that can be made to its Full Self-Driving software before deploying unsupervised vehicles at scale. As a result, the company sees little value in rapidly expanding its commercial fleet while major software upgrades remain in development.
That stands in contrast to Waymo, which has aggressively expanded across Texas after launching in Austin in March 2025 and has since entered Dallas, Houston and San Antonio. Of the company’s 640 Texas autonomous vehicles, JPMorgan estimates about 594 are Jaguar I-PACEs, while 46 are the new sixth-generation Ojai robotaxis.
Tesla’s FSD Progress Could Matter More Than Fleet SizeJPMorgan argues that the robotaxi race is not simply about who has the largest fleet today.
The firm highlighted continued improvements in Tesla’s Full Self-Driving software, noting that FSD version 14.x has surpassed 2,000 miles to critical disengagement, representing roughly a 4.3-fold improvement over the approximately 460 miles achieved by version 13.x.
The analysts also pointed to Tesla’s safety statistics, which show vehicles operating with FSD (Supervised) in North America average 5.5 million miles before a major collision, more than eight times the U.S. average, while traveling about 1.6 million miles before a minor collision, roughly seven times the national average.
Cybercab Could Change The PictureWhile Waymo currently enjoys a sizeable lead in deployed robotaxis, JPMorgan believes Tesla’s strategy is geared toward a much larger rollout once its software reaches the desired level of maturity.
The firm noted that Cybercab has already entered pilot production, with volume production expected later this year, potentially setting the stage for a much faster fleet expansion than investors are seeing today.
For now, the numbers heavily favor Waymo. But JPMorgan’s takeaway is that Tesla’s smaller robotaxi fleet reflects a conscious product strategy rather than an attempt to win the deployment race as quickly as possible.
Image via Shutterstock
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Alphabet GOOG shares rose 4.1% in trading on Monday as the Google parent began its first trading session as a member of the Dow Jones Industrial Average, replacing Verizon Communications in the 30-stock benchmark.
The index change, announced last week, marks a milestone for Alphabet.
However, because the Dow is a price-weighted index rather than one weighted by market capitalization, analysts do not expect the stock to receive the same boost from passive investment flows that typically accompanies inclusion in the S&P 500.
The stock also benefited from a broader rebound in technology shares after last week's sharp selloff.
The Roundhill Magnificent Seven exchange-traded fund, which had fallen 13% in June through Friday and was on track for its worst month since its launch in April 2023, traded higher alongside several of its largest constituents.
Meta Platforms, Amazon and Tesla each rose more than 2%, while Nvidia and Microsoft gained more than 1%. Apple lagged the group with a modest 0.1% gain.
Investor sentiment was also influenced by reports that Google has limited Meta's access to its Gemini artificial intelligence models because demand exceeded available computing capacity.
According to the Financial Times, Google informed Meta around March that it could not provide all the Gemini capacity the social media company wanted to purchase.
The restrictions remain in place and have delayed some of Meta's internal AI projects while prompting the company to encourage employees to use AI tokens more efficiently.
Several other Google customers have also been affected by the capacity limits, although to a lesser extent.
Meta has faced greater disruption because of its exceptionally high demand for Google's AI models.
The restrictions highlight growing infrastructure bottlenecks across the artificial intelligence industry, where surging demand for advanced models has outpaced available computing resources despite massive investment in chips, data centres and power.
Google has moved to expand its capacity, including signing a $920 million-per-month agreement with SpaceX earlier this month to lease additional computing resources.
During Alphabet's first-quarter earnings call in April, Chief Executive Sundar Pichai acknowledged the company's capacity limitations.
"Obviously, we are compute-constrained in the near term," Pichai said. "And as an example, our Cloud revenue would have been higher if we were able to meet the demand."
Alphabet reported 63% revenue growth in its cloud computing business during the first quarter, its strongest growth since it began disclosing the figure in 2019.
The company also reported that its cloud revenue exceeded $20 billion for the first time, while its backlog of signed but undelivered cloud contracts nearly doubled quarter over quarter to more than $460 billion.
The stock has climbed 96% over the past 12 months and continues to trade about 11% above its 200-day simple moving average of $314.41, suggesting that the longer-term uptrend remains intact.
However, near-term momentum remains weaker. Alphabet is trading 2% below its 20-day simple moving average of $359.34 and 4.9% below its 50-day simple moving average of $369.57, indicating that the stock remains in a recovery phase rather than a sustained breakout.
Google Technicals The 20-day moving average also remains below the 50-day moving average, a bearish crossover that suggests recent rallies have faced stronger selling pressure than earlier in the longer-term advance.
Akcie Alphabet v pondělí vzrostly o 4 %, ale akcie dál tlačí obavy z návratnosti výdajů na AI. Firma zároveň čelí nedostatku výpočetní kapacity a rostoucím nákladům na investice.
Alphabet shares rose 4% Monday as the company officially joined the Dow Jones Industrial Average, replacing Verizon and adding a symbolic blue-chip designation.
The move comes despite continued pressure on the stock. Even with Monday's gain, Alphabet is still tracking for its worst month since February of last year, with six of the past seven weeks in the red. That marks a sharp reversal from May, when the company briefly eclipsed Nvidia after hours to become the world's most valuable company by market capitalization.
Alphabet's Dow inclusion is more symbolic than mechanical. The stock is already in the S&P 500 and Nasdaq 100, where most benchmarked assets sit, limiting the amount of forced fund buying tied to the index change.
Recent Dow additions have also struggled after joining: Nvidia, Salesforce and Apple all traded lower 60 days after entering the index.
Read more CNBC tech newsOracle stock has worst week since 2001 dot-com bust as AI financing concerns escalateOpenAI hasn't held pre-IPO investor meetings or set timeline yet, sources sayOpenAI and Anthropic face new AI reality as users shift from 'tokenmaxxing' to efficiencyOpenAI limits new AI models to 'trusted partners' at request of U.S. governmentWeakness in Google shares comes as investors question the payoff from the company's AI spending, with lower-cost Chinese models improving, Google DeepMind researchers tied to Gemini and coding tools leaving for rivals like Anthropic and OpenAI, and compute access emerging as both a customer constraint and a recruiting issue.
Alphabet reportedly does not have enough compute capacity to meet demand from enterprise customers such as Meta, and is turning to infrastructure rivals, including SpaceX, to help close the gap. Alphabet did not respond to multiple requests for comment on reports about Meta's Gemini usage.
Compute access has also become a recruiting tactic. Noam Shazeer, the former Gemini co-lead who recently left Google for OpenAI, reportedly cited reduced access to compute as part of his frustration.
At the same time, Chinese models are pushing pricing lower just as Google tries to build an enterprise business around Gemini. DeepSeek has said the fourth version of its open-source model is coming in two weeks.
That strain is now showing up on Alphabet's balance sheet.
Its cash pile is shrinking, it skipped buybacks in the first quarter for the first time in nearly a decade, and it has raised more than $140 billion in debt and equity as the AI capex race gets more expensive.
Citigroup plánuje investovat 5 miliard USD mezi lety 2026 a 2028 do technologií, marketingu a úprav poboček. Ve 1. čtvrtletí 2026 už AI používalo více než 80 % zaměstnanců a od spuštění vytvořila 42 milionů interakcí.
Key Takeaways C is increasingly using AI to boost efficiency while investing in long-term growth initiatives.C plans to invest $5B through 2026-2028 across tech, marketing and branch upgrades.C reports 80% employee using AI, with 42M interactions generated since launch, driving productivity gains. Citigroup, Inc. (C - Free Report) is increasingly using artificial intelligence (AI) to improve operating efficiency, while investing in long-term growth. Its strategy reflects a broader industry trend in which leading banks are adopting AI, automation and digital tools to reduce costs, boost productivity and enhance customer experience.
Citigroup plans to invest $5 billion between 2026 and 2028 across technology, marketing, front-office talent and branch renovations. A growing share of technology spending is being directed toward business-led initiatives that support innovation and client growth across markets, investment banking, wealth, cards and services.
AI is already delivering tangible benefits. In customer service, generative AI has reduced average call times by about 60 seconds, while CitiDirect agents have improved customer query containment rates by roughly 50%. In its credit card business, AI and machine learning have increased approval rates by approximately 100 basis points, improving underwriting decisions and customer acquisition.
Beyond customer-facing applications, AI is driving significant internal productivity gains. More than 10,000 engineers now use advanced AI tools, including agentic AI, while automated code reviews have exceeded 1.5 million, creating nearly 100,000 hours of developer capacity each week. AI has also reduced application migration times from an estimated 12 months to just four weeks. In the first quarter of 2026, more than 80% of employees adopted AI tools, generating 42 million interactions since launch. In Markets, AI processes more than 4,400 documents, creating above 1,700 hours of monthly capacity across oversight functions.
These initiatives support Citigroup's efficiency targets. Management expects the efficiency ratio to improve to 60% in 2026, with a medium-term goal of 55-60% and ultimately below 55%. The expected improvement will likely come from lower transformation costs, reduced stranded costs as legacy franchises are exited, productivity benefits from earlier investments and AI-enabled process re-engineering.
Overall, AI has become a core component of Citigroup's operating model. By improving customer service, automating technology development and streamlining internal processes, the bank is enhancing efficiency while creating capacity to invest in higher-growth businesses. As AI adoption accelerates across the banking industry, Citigroup appears well-positioned to strengthen its competitive position and deliver sustainable long-term profitability.
How Other Banks Stack Up Against Peers in Using AIOther major banks, including Goldman Sachs (GS - Free Report) and JPMorgan (JPM - Free Report) , are also investing heavily in AI to improve efficiency, personalize services and maintain a competitive advantage.
Goldman Sachs is undertaking a firmwide AI transformation to boost fee income, productivity and long-term operating leverage. Its strategy centers on “One Goldman Sachs 3.0” and the GS AI Assistant program, aiming to embed AI into core operations through streamlined processes, shared platforms, high-quality data and modernized infrastructure. While near-term AI investments may raise costs, Goldman targets a long-term efficiency ratio of 60%.
JPMorgan is leading AI-driven banking by embedding advanced models across its operations, from fraud detection and credit risk to personalized wealth management. Its AI platforms improve efficiency, compliance and customer experience, while generative tools streamline workflows. This blend of innovation and scale reinforces JPMorgan’s position as the top digital banking brand in the United States.
C’s Price Performance & Zacks RankShares of Citigroup have gained 66.5% in the past year compared with the industry’s growth of 22.5%.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Citigroup currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
Nike je před výsledky hospodaření za 4. čtvrtletí na 11letých minimech a analytici čekají tržby 10,86 miliardy USD a zisk 12 centů na akcii. JPMorgan snížil cílovou cenu na 47 USD a varuje, že obrat může trvat déle.
Nike Inc (NYSE:NKE) finds itself with shares trading at 11-year lows ahead of fourth-quarter financial results, which are set for Tuesday after market close.
Here’s a look at the apparel company’s earnings estimates, what experts are saying ahead of the report and key items to watch.
Nike Q4 Earnings EstimatesAnalysts expect Nike Q4 revenue of $10.86 billion, down from $11.1 billion in the year-ago quarter, according to Benzinga Pro data.
The company has topped revenue estimates for six straight quarters and seven of the last 10 quarters overall.
Analysts expect quarterly earnings of 12 cents per share, down from 14 cents per share a year ago.
Nike has beaten earnings-per-share estimates for 11 consecutive quarters.
What Nike Experts Are SayingJPMorgan analyst Matthew Boss lowered the price target on Nike stock from $52 to $47 ahead of the earnings report, while maintaining a Neutral rating.
The analyst lowers estimates for the quarter and said the results will likely be "in line" with previous guidance.
Boss said comments from Nike’s CEO Elliott Hill for a recent Financial Times article show the restructuring could be taking longer than hoped.
"Our recent fieldwork points to a sequential deterioration in demand in April/May," Boss said.
Freedom Capital Markets Chief Market Strategist Jay Woods said Nike shareholders "are still waiting for that turnaround."
"Will management show progress when it comes to new product launches and reconnecting with consumers?" Woods said in a weekly newsletter.
The market expert said investors should watch for cost cuts, China growth and inventory figures in the fourth quarter.
"Expectations have already been lowered, so this quarter may be less about the numbers themselves and more about whether management can convince investors the stock is ready to run again."
Woods said Nike stock broke the $42 level of support ahead of earnings, a level it would need to recapture after earnings to push to another support level of $46.
"Those longer-term shareholders hoping for a quick fix may have to wait much longer for this trend to change."
Here are recent Nike analyst ratings and their price targets:
Deutsche Bank: Maintained Hold rating, lowered price target from $51 to $43 Oppenheimer: Maintained Outperform rating, lowered price target from $120 to $60 KeyBanc: Downgraded from Overweight to Sector Weight, no price target BTIG: Maintained Bu rating, lowered price target from $75 to $55 Key Items to WatchAs mentioned by Woods above, China, inventory and cost cuts could be three key areas for investors to watch in Nike’s report Tuesday and on the conference call.
In the third quarter, revenue was flat on a year-over-year basis, with North America sales growth of 3% helping to offset a 7% decline for the Greater China region. Other international regions posted year-over-year growth in the third quarter, a key area to watch on Tuesday.
Expectations are low for Nike heading into the earnings print, which could make the stock ripe for a rally if the company beats and provides strong guidance.
With shares at 11-year lows, the stock has sold off and many investors are heading to the sidelines with the turnaround taking longer than expected.
Price ActionNike stock is up 0.5% to $40.96 on Monday versus a 52-week trading range of $40.00 to $80.17. Its stock price is down 35.2% year-to-date in 2026 and down over 40% in the last 52 weeks.
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Netflix rozšiřuje reklamní platformu Ads Suite; počet inzerentů v roce 2025 vzrostl o více než 70 % na více než 4 000. Reklamní tržby se mají v roce 2026 téměř zdvojnásobit na zhruba 3 miliardy USD.
Key Takeaways Netflix is expanding its Ads Suite to grow advertising beyond subscription revenue.NFLX's advertiser base topped 4,000 after growing more than 70% in 2025.Netflix expects its expanding ad ecosystem to support long-term revenue growth and diversification. Netflix (NFLX - Free Report) continues to strengthen its advertising platform, positioning the business as an increasingly important growth driver beyond subscription revenues. The company is expanding its in-house ad technology, broadening advertiser access and improving campaign measurement, steps expected to help it capture a larger share of the growing connected television advertising market. This complements Netflix's expanding global audience and engagement, creating a differentiated value proposition for advertisers.
The advertising business has already begun scaling meaningfully. Projections point to advertising revenues nearly doubling to around $3 billion for 2026, supported by strong advertiser adoption. The advertiser base expanded more than 70% in 2025 to over 4,000 advertisers, while programmatic buying is on track to account for more than half of the non-live advertising business, signaling improved platform adoption.
Netflix is simultaneously enhancing its proprietary Netflix Ads Suite. Updates include expanded targeting, improved frequency management across streaming services and additional audience measurement tools. The company has also broadened integrations with leading demand-side platforms, easing programmatic buying and improving campaign efficiency, investments that could strengthen advertiser retention and attract incremental ad budgets over time.
However, Netflix remains smaller in scale than entrenched connected television advertising players and sustained adoption of new formats and measurement tools will be necessary to narrow that gap.
The expanding advertising ecosystem is expected to support long-term revenue growth while diversifying Netflix's monetization model beyond subscriptions. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for second quarter 2026 revenues is pegged at $12.57 billion, indicating growth of 13.5% year over year, indicating advertising's rising role in sustaining top-line growth ahead.
Netflix faces Stiff CompetitionNetflix faces competition from peers like Roku (ROKU - Free Report) and Amazon (AMZN - Free Report) , which continue to invest in their connected TV advertising businesses. Roku is expanding its advertising platform with AI-powered optimization, identity solutions and advanced measurement capabilities to improve campaign performance. Meanwhile, Amazon is strengthening Prime Video's advertising ecosystem by leveraging its extensive ad-tech infrastructure, first-party shopping data and programmatic capabilities. While Roku and Amazon continue to broaden their advertising ecosystems, Netflix's expanding Ads Suite, growing advertiser base and rising programmatic adoption are expected to strengthen its competitive position and support long-term advertising revenue growth.
NFLX’s Price Performance, Valuation & EstimatesShares of Netflix have dropped 21.3% in the year-to-date period compared with the broader Zacks Consumer Discretionary sector’s decline of 9.5%.
NFLX’s YTD Price Performance
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
From a valuation standpoint, Netflix appears overvalued, trading at a forward 12-month price-to-sales ratio of 5.72X, higher than the industry's 3.98X. NFLX carries a Value Score of D.
NFLX’s Valuation
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2026 earnings is pegged at $3.60 per share. This indicates a 42.29% increase from the previous year.
NFLX currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
SEC uložila Merrill Lynch, součásti Bank of America, pokutu 7,5 milionu USD za neúplné hlášení podezřelých transakcí. Firma neoznámila řadu SAR mezi dubnem 2020 a zářím 2024.
Signage is seen at the headquarters of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) in Washington, D.C., U.S., May 12, 2021. Picture taken May 12, 2021. REUTERS/Andrew Kelly Purchase Licensing Rights, opens new tab
CompaniesJune 29 (Reuters) - The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission fined Bank of America's (BAC.N), opens new tab Merrill Lynch unit $7.5 million on Monday for failing to file numerous reports meant to flag money laundering and other suspicious client activity.
Merrill neither admitted nor denied wrongdoing in accepting the civil fine over failures to file numerous suspicious activity reports (SARs) from April 2020 to September 2024.
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The case stemmed from Merrill's reliance on Bank of America's transaction monitoring software to comply with the federal Bank Secrecy Act, which requires broker-dealers to file SARs with the U.S. Treasury Department’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network.
According to the SEC, the software aggregated potentially suspicious events into "event groups" and assigned them "risk scores."
The SEC said Merrill investigated only event groups with risk scores of at least 20 for possible SAR filings, even though its internal analyses showed that some event groups with risk scores below 20 would trigger SAR filings if investigated.
Merrill cooperated with the SEC probe, and filed numerous SARs after lowering the threshold for internal reviews of suspicious events, the regulator said.
In a statement, Charlotte, North Carolina-based Bank of America said it maintains rigorous anti-money laundering practices, and continually reviews its anti-money laundering systems to detect and report suspicious activity.
Reporting by Jonathan Stempel in New York. Editing by Mark Potter and Chizu Nomiyama
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CHMP doporučil schválení rozšířeného použití Tecvayli od Johnson & Johnson v kombinaci s Darzalex SC pro dospělé s relabujícím nebo refrakterním mnohočetným myelomem po alespoň jedné předchozí léčbě. Kombinace snížila riziko progrese nemoci nebo úmrtí o 83,4 %.
Key Takeaways JNJ won CHMP backing for Tecvayli plus Darzalex SC in adults with RRMM after at least one prior therapy.Tecvayli plus Darzalex SC cut the risk of disease progression or death by 83.4% versus standard care.JNJ reported 83.3% overall survival at three years for the combination in the MajesTEC-3 study. Johnson & Johnson (JNJ - Free Report) announced that the European Medicines Agency’s (EMA) Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) has recommended approval for the expanded use of Tecvayli (teclistamab) in multiple myeloma.
The CHMP has now recommended approval of Tecvayli in combination with the Darzalex subcutaneous (daratumumab SC) formulation for the treatment of adult patients with relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma (RRMM) who have received at least one prior therapy.
The latest CHMP nod was based on data from the phase III MajesTEC-3 study, which evaluated the safety and efficacy of Tecvayli in combination with Darzalex SC versus the investigator’s choice of Darzalex SC and dexamethasone with either pomalidomide or bortezomib (DPd/DVd) in patients who have received one to three prior lines of therapy.
Data from the same showed that, at nearly three years of follow-up, treatment with the combo of Tecvayli plus Darzalex SC led to an 83.4% reduction in the risk of disease progression or death versus the current standard of care. The combo of Tecvayli plus Darzalex SC demonstrated 83.3% overall survival versus 65% for the standard of care at three years.
The safety profile of Tecvayli plus Darzalex SC was similar to the well-known profiles of the individual therapies.
JNJ’s Price PerformanceYear to date, shares of J&J have rallied 24.4% compared with the industry’s growth of 13.1%.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
JNJ’s Ongoing Activities With TecvayliTecvayli is currently approved in Europe for treating patients with RRMM who have received at least three prior therapies, including an immunomodulatory agent, a proteasome inhibitor and an anti-CD38 antibody and have shown disease progression on the last therapy.
In March 2026, JNJ submitted a type II variation application to the EMA seeking approval of Tecvayli as a monotherapy for the treatment of adult patients with RRMM who have received at least one prior therapy.
Tecvayli is approved in the United States for the treatment of RRMM, both as monotherapy in heavily pretreated patients and in combination therapy in earlier treatment lines. The FDA granted accelerated approval in October 2022 for adults with RRMM who had received at least four prior lines of therapy.
The FDA approved Tecvayli in combination with Darzalex Faspro for the treatment of adults with RRMM who have received at least one prior line of therapy, including an immunomodulatory agent and a proteasome inhibitor, in March 2026.
Tecvayli is one of J&J’s new cancer drugs that is making meaningful contributions to the company’s top line. The drug recorded sales worth $202 million in the first quarter of 2026, up 33.5% year over year, driven by launch uptake, share gains from continued expansion into the community setting and the launch of Tecvayli plus Darzalex Faspro for relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma.
JNJ’s Zacks Rank & Stocks to ConsiderJ&J currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold).
Some better-ranked stocks in the biotech sector are Kiniksa Pharmaceuticals (KNSA - Free Report) , Immunocore (IMCR - Free Report) and Liquidia Corporation (LQDA - Free Report) , each currently sporting a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.
Over the past 60 days, estimates for Kiniksa Pharmaceuticals’ 2026 EPS have increased from $1.09 to $1.24. Over the same period, EPS estimates for 2027 have risen from $1.54 to $1.70. KNSA shares have surged 43.5% year to date.
Kiniksa Pharmaceuticals’ earnings beat estimates in two of the trailing four quarters and missed in the remaining two quarters, with the average surprise being 1.53%.
Over the past 60 days, estimates for Immunocore’s 2026 bottom line have improved from a loss of 88 cents per share to earnings of 6 cents. Over the same period, EPS estimates for 2027 have risen from 24 cents to 87 cents. IMCR stock has lost 11% year to date.
Immunocore’s earnings beat estimates in three of the trailing four quarters, while missing the same on the remaining occasion, with the average surprise being 46.66%.
Over the past 60 days, estimates for Liquidia’s 2026 earnings per share have risen from $1.50 to $2.97, while estimates for 2027 have increased from $2.91 to $4.81 during the same time. LQDA shares have surged 126.7% year to date.
Liquidia’s earnings beat estimates in three of the trailing four quarters, while missing the same on the remaining occasion, with the average surprise being 54.40%.
Zano oznámilo hard fork HF6 na bloku 3 833 000, očekávaný mezi 25. a 27. srpnem 2026. Upgrade přidá Gateway Addresses a obousměrný cross-chain přístup k DeFi.
Zano sets block height for Hard Fork 6, expected August 25-27, bringing Gateway Addresses and two-way cross-chain access to the privacy blockchain.
A privacy-focused blockchain is about to become a lot easier for the rest of crypto to work with, without giving up what makes it private in the first place.
Zano, a cryptocurrency network built around strong transaction privacy, has announced the block height at which its sixth hard fork will activate.
The upgrade, known as HF6, is scheduled to go live at block 3,833,000, expected between August 25 and 27, 2026.
Wallets, miners, node operators, and infrastructure providers now have a concrete deadline to upgrade ahead of the fork. The updated wallet is already live.
The problem HF6 is solvingZano's privacy model has historically made it difficult for exchanges, decentralized exchanges, bridges, and other platforms to integrate with the network using their standard workflows.
The way private blockchains handle balances and transaction tracking does not map cleanly onto how most crypto infrastructure is built.
HF6 addresses this directly by introducing Gateway Addresses, a new account-based address type that gives services a directly trackable balance and instant sync.
This makes it significantly easier for third-party platforms to connect to native ZANO and Confidential Assets, while leaving standard private Zano addresses completely unchanged for regular users.
"Hard Fork 6 could make a real difference for Zano's adoption, as it opens an easier path for ZANO into DeFi liquidity pools and broader exchange listings," said Quinten van Welzen, Head of Growth at Zano.
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"Zano is already in touch with platforms including Thorchain and other DEXs about post-HF6 integrations."
Cross-chain without a bridgeHF6 also makes Zano's Bridgeless integration two-way for the first time. Native ZANO and supported Confidential Assets will be able to move outward to Ethereum, TON, and Solana, while external assets will be able to move into Zano.
This gives ZANO a non-custodial path into public-chain liquidity, and users can return to Zano whenever they want private transactions again.
Trending on TheStreet Roundtable:Analyst sends blunt message on Elon Musk's Bitcoin tiesEx-Trump advisor unveils new Bitcoin price targetAnalyst issues bold call on Cathie Wood's favorite crypto stockWhat else is changing under the hoodBeyond the headline features, HF6 ships a wave of security and reliability improvements. Wallet encryption has been strengthened, making a stolen or copied wallet file significantly harder to crack.
Per-output payment IDs now allow exchanges and merchants to match payments cleanly while keeping recipient privacy intact. Mining pools can now dry-run a block before finalising it, automatically dropping bad transactions rather than stalling.
Nodes have been hardened against denial-of-service attacks, with added support for routing traffic through a proxy such as Tor via SOCKS5.
Developer RPC interfaces have also been tightened for safer integrations. At the consensus level, tighter validation rules and a more decisive fork-choice mechanism strengthen network-wide agreement.
The upgrade is the result of more than a year of development work and represents one of the most significant steps in Zano's history, an attempt to make the network accessible to the broader crypto ecosystem without compromising the privacy that defines it.
Chevron zvažuje další projekty napájení datových center v USA kromě projektu Project Kilby, aby využil rostoucí poptávku po elektřině pro AI. První elektřina z projektu Project Kilby má přijít v roce 2028.
Key Takeaways Chevron is evaluating U.S. data center projects beyond Project Kilby to meet rising AI electricity demand.CVX plans natural gas-fired facilities in multiple regions, with Project Kilby targeting first power in 2028.Chevron sees dedicated power projects as a potential long-term revenue stream beyond commodity prices. Per Reuters, Chevron Corporation (CVX - Free Report) is expanding its ambitions in the fast-growing data center power market by exploring additional projects across the United States. Building on the momentum of Project Kilby, the company is evaluating opportunities in several strategic regions to support the rapidly increasing electricity demand driven by artificial intelligence (AI) and cloud computing.
With abundant natural gas resources, proven energy infrastructure expertise and a growing pipeline of potential customers, Chevron is positioning itself as a key provider of dedicated power solutions for next-generation digital infrastructure.
Building on the Success of Project KilbyProject Kilby represents Chevron's first dedicated natural gas-fired power project designed specifically for a hyperscale data center. The 2.67-gigawatt facility will supply electricity to Microsoft's data center campus in Pecos, TX, with enough generating capacity to power a city the size of San Francisco.
The project reflects Chevron's strategy of combining its extensive energy development experience with growing demand from technology companies seeking reliable, large-scale power sources for AI workloads.
Chevron expects to make a final investment decision by the end of the year, while the first electricity from Project Kilby is anticipated in 2028. The facility also has the potential to expand beyond its initial capacity as future demand increases.
Chevron Is Exploring New Growth Opportunities NationwideFollowing Project Kilby, Chevron is actively evaluating similar opportunities in several regions, including West Texas, the Midwest, the Gulf Coast and areas near Colorado's Rocky Mountains. The company is also considering projects in Utah, where it already operates a hydrogen facility.
Chevron has indicated that future developments could involve both Microsoft and other technology customers, depending on project economics and commercial viability. The company believes multiple locations across the country offer the right combination of energy resources, infrastructure and customer demand to support dedicated data center power facilities.
Natural Gas Supports Reliable AI InfrastructureAs AI adoption accelerates, reliable electricity has become one of the biggest challenges facing data center expansion. Chevron believes natural gas offers an effective solution, backed by its abundant domestic supply, operational flexibility, and ability to provide continuous, dispatchable power.
Unlike intermittent energy sources, natural gas generation can quickly respond to changing electricity demand while maintaining stable operations. This reliability is particularly valuable for data centers, where uninterrupted power is essential to support AI processing, cloud services and other digital workloads.
CVX Is Balancing New Opportunities With Existing OperationsWhile expanding into dedicated power generation, Chevron continues to prioritize the energy needs of its own operations. The company evaluates new investments across its broader business to ensure projects supporting external customers do not compromise the reliability of power required for activities such as drilling operations and compression infrastructure in the Permian Basin.
This enterprise-wide approach allows Chevron to pursue emerging business opportunities while maintaining operational efficiency across its core energy portfolio.
Creating a New Long-Term Revenue StreamBeyond supporting growing electricity demand, data center power projects provide Chevron with an opportunity to diversify its revenue sources. Dedicated power generation offers income that is less directly exposed to fluctuations in oil and natural gas commodity prices, creating a potentially more stable long-term business segment.
Although industry analysts believe it is still too early to determine the financial impact of these projects, Chevron continues to advance its plans as demand for AI infrastructure grows across the United States.
Chevron Looks Beyond Project KilbyThe rapid expansion of AI and cloud computing is reshaping electricity demand, creating significant opportunities for energy providers capable of delivering reliable, large-scale power. Chevron's strategy extends well beyond Project Kilby, with multiple regions under evaluation for future developments.
By leveraging its natural gas resources, project execution capabilities and established energy infrastructure, Chevron aims to play an increasingly important role in powering the next generation of AI-driven data centers while strengthening its long-term growth strategy.
CVX’s Zacks Rank & Key PicksChevron is one of the largest publicly traded oil and gas companies in the world, with operations that span almost every corner of the globe. Currently, CVX carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold).
Investors interested in the energy sector may consider some top-ranked stocks like Global Partners LP (GLP - Free Report) , Delek US Holdings, Inc. (DK - Free Report) and Liberty Energy Inc. (LBRT - 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.
Global Partners is a Delaware limited partnership formed by affiliates of the Slifka family. It owns, controls or has access to one of the largest terminal networks of refined petroleum products in New England. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for GLP’s 2026 earnings indicates 113.1% year-over-year growth.
TN-based Delek US Holdings is an independent refiner, transporter and marketer of petroleum products. The company’s operations are organized into two reportable segments: Refining and Logistics. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for DK’s 2026 revenues indicates 5.9% year-over-year growth.
Liberty Energy is a leading North American oilfield services company, specializing in hydraulic fracturing and completion solutions. The company provides differentiated services through advanced technology integration and real-time data analytics. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for LBRT’s 2026 earnings indicates 66.7% year-over-year growth.
Key Takeaways CCL has 93% of 2026 business booked, with pricing ahead of last year at historic highs.Customer deposits hit a record $9.0B as onboard revenues and pre-cruise sales increased.Fuel costs rose nearly 30%, while Europe disruption, logistics and currency risks remain. Carnival Corporation Ltd. (CCL - Free Report) is gaining investor attention as its recovery story shifts from broad cruise demand to stronger execution. Booking visibility, onboard spending and destination investments are giving the company more ways to support revenues and earnings.
Royal Caribbean Group (RCL - Free Report) , which currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold), remains a relevant peer for investors tracking cruise pricing and destination-led demand. Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd. (NCLH - Free Report) , which currently has a Zacks Rank #4 (Sell), also provides a useful comparison as investors assess whether cruise demand can support higher yields across the industry.
Carnival Bookings Stretch Far AheadCarnival’s booking curve remains the furthest out on record, giving the company unusual visibility into future revenues. For 2026, 93% of business is already on the books, with the booked position ahead of last year at historically high prices.
Demand is not limited to the current year. Since March, bookings for 2027 and beyond have been running ahead of prior-year levels on both volume and price, including stronger European bookings.
CCL Turns Demand Into Higher YieldsCarnival delivered its 12th consecutive quarter of record net yields. That matters because the company is not just filling ships, it is capturing demand at better price points.
Customer deposits reached an all-time high of $9.0 billion, up more than $450 million from the prior-year record. Higher second-quarter onboard revenues and increased pre-cruise onboard sales also show that more guest spending is being captured before sailings begin.
Carnival Builds a Destination AdvantageCarnival’s destination strategy is becoming a larger part of its investment case. Celebration Key now accommodates up to four ships and more than 13,000 guests on any given day, and is expected to welcome 3.5 million visitors in fiscal 2027.
RelaxAway, Half Moon Cay can support up to 12,000 visitors per day, while Isla Tropicale added a 48,000-square-foot recreational area. Carnival’s Alaska platform, with five brands, 19 ships, four embarkation ports, lodges, rail assets and motor coach operations, adds another layer of itinerary differentiation.
CCL Still Has Meaningful HeadwindsDemand strength does not remove margin risk. Cruise and tour operating expenses increased to $4.23 billion in the second quarter from $3.89 billion a year earlier, while selling and administrative expenses rose to $863 million from $816 million.
Fuel is another pressure point. Fuel expense rose to $595 million from $468 million, reflecting a nearly 30% increase in fuel prices. Geopolitical disruption in Europe, elevated logistics costs and currency sensitivity also remain risks that can affect yields, costs and earnings timing.
What Carnival’s Zacks Rank AddsThe bottom line is that Carnival’s story now depends on execution as much as demand. The company has stronger booking visibility, record deposits, higher onboard spending and a more differentiated destination portfolio, but cost and fuel volatility keep the setup from being one-sided.
CCL currently carries a Zacks Rank #3. It also has a Value Score of A, Growth Score of B, Momentum Score of B and VGM Score of A.
Those Style Scores are supportive, especially for investors looking for value, growth and momentum traits together. The Zacks Rank #3, however, points to a measured near-term outlook rather than a more aggressive bullish signal.
You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
Hormel Foods se dohodl na prodeji svého brazilského byznysu CERATTI společnosti Zanchetta Alimentos LTDA. Transakce má být uzavřena v příštích týdnech a očekává se jen minimální dopad na upravené zisky za fiskální rok 2026.
, /PRNewswire/ -- Hormel Foods Corporation (NYSE: HRL), a Fortune 500 global branded food company, today announced it has entered into a definitive agreement to sell its Brazilian operations, operated under the CERATTI® brand to Zanchetta Alimentos LTDA, a Brazilian food company with an established presence in the market.
The divestiture reflects Hormel Foods ongoing efforts to simplify and streamline its portfolio and focus its international strategy on markets with the strongest long-term growth opportunities.
The transaction is expected to close in the coming weeks, subject to customary closing conditions, including required regulatory approval. In the interim, operations will continue as usual for employees, customers and partners.
Financial details of the transaction have not been disclosed. Hormel Foods expects the sale to have a minimal impact on its adjusted fiscal 2026 financial results. The company expects to share additional information during its earnings call for the third quarter of fiscal 2026.
About Hormel Foods
Hormel Foods Corporation, based in Austin, Minnesota, is a global branded food company with over $12 billion in annual revenue. Its brands include PLANTERS®, SKIPPY®, SPAM®, HORMEL® NATURAL CHOICE®, APPLEGATE®, WHOLLY®, HORMEL® BLACK LABEL®, COLUMBUS®, JENNIE-O® and more than 30 other beloved brands. The Company is a member of the S&P 500 Index and the S&P 500 Dividend Aristocrats, was named one of the best companies to work for by U.S. News & World Report and one of America's most responsible companies by Newsweek, was recognized by TIME magazine as one of the World's Best Companies and has received numerous other awards and accolades for its corporate responsibility and community service efforts. For more information, visit hormelfoods.com.
FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
This news release contains forward-looking statements, which are based on the current assumptions and expectations of Hormel Foods Corporation ("Hormel"). These statements are typically accompanied by the words "expect," "will," "would," or similar words or expressions. The principal forward-looking statements in this news release include statements regarding Hormel's anticipated sale of its Ceratti business in Brazil, international growth opportunities, and the expected impact of the transaction on Hormel's fiscal 2026 financial results.
All such forward-looking statements are intended to enjoy the protection of the safe harbor for forward-looking statements contained in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, as amended. Although Hormel believes there is a reasonable basis for the forward-looking statements, its actual results could be materially different. The most important factors which could cause Hormel's actual results to differ from its forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, risks related to the deterioration of economic conditions; risks related to acquisitions, joint ventures, equity investments, and divestitures; risks and uncertainties associated with intangible assets, including any future goodwill or intangible assets impairment charges; the risk of disruption of operations; the risk that Hormel may fail to realize anticipated cost savings or operating profit improvements associated with strategic initiatives, including the Transform and Modernize initiative and Hormel's recent corporate restructuring plan; risk of unfavorable changes in Hormel's relationships with third parties; risk of Hormel's inability to protect information technology (IT) systems against, or effectively respond to, cyber-attacks, security breaches or other IT interruptions; labor relations and labor availability risks; food safety risks; fluctuations in commodity prices and availability of raw materials and other inputs; fluctuations in market demand for Hormel's products; risks related to Hormel's ability to respond to changing consumer preferences; damage to Hormel's reputation or brand image; risks of litigation; risks associated with government regulation; risks related to trade policies, export and import controls, and tariffs; and the other risks and uncertainties described in Item 1A – Risk Factors of Hormel's most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, which can be accessed at www.hormelfoods.com in the "Investors" section. Though Hormel has attempted to list comprehensively these important cautionary risk factors, Hormel cautions that other factors may in the future prove to be important in affecting Hormel's business or results of operations. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made, and Hormel does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statement except as otherwise required by law.
Contact:
Media Relations
Hormel Foods
[email protected]
Molson Coors staví růst na kategorii Beyond Beer, která byla v 1. čtvrtletí 2026 nejrychleji rostoucí částí portfolia. Tahouny jsou Fever-Tree, Topo Chico Hard a nově i Monaco Cocktails.
Key Takeaways Molson Coors is making Beyond Beer central to Horizon 2030 as it diversifies beyond traditional beer.Beyond Beer was the fastest-growing portfolio area in Q1 2026, led by Fever-Tree and Topo Chico Hard.Monaco Cocktails adds RTD scale, convenience-store reach and about 80 sales employees to support growth. Molson Coors Beverage Company (TAP - Free Report) is accelerating its transformation beyond traditional beer as management seeks new avenues for long-term growth. While beer remains the company's core business, faster-growing categories such as ready-to-drink (RTD) cocktails, hard seltzers and premium mixers are becoming increasingly important to diversify revenues and reach new consumers. TAP's Horizon 2030 strategy places Beyond Beer at the center of portfolio expansion, reflecting management's view that future growth will come from participating in a broader range of beverage occasions rather than relying solely on the mature beer category.
The strategy is already gaining traction. Management described Beyond Beer as the fastest-growing part of the portfolio during the first quarter of 2026, supported by brands such as Fever-Tree, Topo Chico Hard and the recently acquired Monaco Cocktails. Fever-Tree contributed meaningfully to first-quarter net sales and recently launched its first national U.S. advertising campaign. Meanwhile, Topo Chico Hard returned to growth following last year's regional refocusing. Molson Coors also completed the acquisition of Atomic Brands, adding Monaco Cocktails to establish a meaningful presence in the RTD market. Management expects Monaco to contribute roughly 1% of global net sales on a trailing 12-month basis while generating incremental profitability in its first year, despite being included in the portfolio for only nine months during 2026. The acquisition also brought approximately 80 sales employees, strengthening commercial execution across the Beyond Beer business.
Importantly, Molson Coors views Beyond Beer as more than a collection of new brands. The company is building dedicated commercial capabilities, expanding retail coverage and using acquisitions to address portfolio gaps while leveraging its existing distribution network. Management believes Monaco strengthens its convenience-store presence, while Fever-Tree and Topo Chico Hard broaden exposure to premium and fast-growing beverage segments. As these brands scale alongside continued marketing investments and distribution gains, Beyond Beer could evolve into one of Molson Coors' most important long-term growth engines.
TAP’s Zacks Rank & Share Price PerformanceShares of this Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) company have lost 11.4% in the past six months, underperforming the Zacks Beverages - Soft Drinks industry’s growth of 18.2% and the broader Consumer Staples sector’s fall of 10.1%.
TAP Stock's Six-Month Performance
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Is TAP Stock a Value Play?Molson Coors shares are currently trading at a forward 12-month price-to-earnings (P/E) multiple of 8.43X, at a discount compared with the industry’s average of 15.94X. The stock is undervalued compared with its industry peers, offering compelling value to investors looking for exposure to the beverage segment.
TAP P/E Ratio (Forward 12 Months)
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Stocks to ConsiderARKO Corp. (ARKO - Free Report) operates a chain of convenience stores in the United States. ARKO currently sports 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 ARKO's current fiscal-year sales implies a decline of 2.8%, while the same for current fiscal-year earnings implies growth of 93.3% from the year-ago reported figures. ARKO delivered a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 43.2%, on average.
Fomento Economico Mexicano (FMX - Free Report) is a leading multinational consumer company with operations spanning proximity retail, fuel, health, digital financial services, logistics and distribution, while also holding a controlling stake in Coca-Cola FEMSA, the world's largest Coca-Cola franchise bottler. The company presently flaunts a Zacks Rank #1.
FMX delivered a trailing four-quarter negative earnings surprise of 17%, on average. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for FMX’s current financial-year sales and EPS indicates growth of 17.5% and 115.3%, respectively, from the year-ago reported numbers.
The Vita Coco Company Inc. (COCO - Free Report) is a leading beverage company that develops, markets and distributes coconut water and other plant-based hydration products under brands such as Vita Coco, Farmers Organic and PWR LIFT across retail, e-commerce and foodservice channels worldwide. It currently sports a Zacks Rank #1.
Vita Coco delivered a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 11.7%, on average. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for COCO’s current financial-year sales and EPS indicates growth of 21.4% and 47.9%, respectively, from the year-ago reported numbers.
Micron oznámil rekordní fiskální Q3 s hrubou marží 84,9 % a tržbami 41,456 miliardy USD, protože poptávka po DRAM a NAND dál výrazně převyšuje nabídku. Apple zároveň uvedl rekordní březnové čtvrtletí s tržbami 111,184 miliardy USD, ale upozornil na závislost na dodavatelích komponent.
Micron Technology (NASDAQ: MU | MU Price Prediction) and Apple (NASDAQ: AAPL) just reported earnings that expose who holds the AI era’s supply chain leverage. Micron posted a record fiscal Q3 with an 84.9% non-GAAP gross margin. Apple delivered its best March quarter ever at $111.184 billion while flagging reliance on third parties for components as a core risk.
HBM Inhales Wafers. iPhone 17 Carries Cupertino. Micron’s quarter was a memory squeeze made visible. Revenue hit $41.456 billion, up 345.72% year over year, with DRAM prices up in the low-60s% range. CEO Sanjay Mehrotra told investors “DRAM and NAND industry demand continues to significantly exceed industry supply” and that tightness extends beyond calendar 2027. HBM4 is already in volume, with over $1 billion in HBM4 revenue shipped.
Apple leaned on the consumer franchise. iPhone revenue reached $56.994 billion, Services hit an all-time high at $30.976 billion, and Tim Cook credited “extraordinary demand for the iPhone 17 lineup“. Gross margin landed at 46.9%, healthy for hardware but a fraction of Micron’s number.
Floor Pricing vs. Sticker Shock The real story sits in Micron’s contracts. Mehrotra disclosed 16 Strategic Customer Agreements covering roughly 20% of DRAM volume and one-third of NAND volume, with RPO of approximately $100 billion. Crucially, “gross margins at the floor will be well beyond the peaks we experienced in prior cycles.” That is a polite way of saying customers signed away the downside.
Apple sits on the receiving end. According to industry context, Cupertino has been pressured to accept higher memory prices to defend hardware margins from the memory tax. The buyback machine is enormous, with a fresh $100 billion buyback authorization, yet the input costs still flow through Boise.
Lens Micron Apple Gross Margin 84.9% 46.9% Core Bet HBM4 and SCA lock-ins iPhone 17 and Services Key Vulnerability Lead-customer concentration Consumer sticker shock The iPhone 18 Cycle Will Test Both Polymarket pegs 96.2% odds on an iPhone 18 launch in 2026, meaning Apple’s next mass build hits during the tightest memory window in years. I will be watching whether Micron’s Q4 revenue guide of $50.0B and EPS of $31.00 holds as hyperscaler order books refresh, and whether Apple’s Services moat can mask hardware margin compression once consumers see the new price tags.
Why the Supplier Looks Structurally Advantaged, With Caveats For exposure to the side dictating terms in this cycle, Micron looks structurally advantaged right now. The $100 billion RPO floor and forward P/E near 7x tell me the cash flow is not fully priced in yet, even after a 296.92% year-to-date move. Apple offers a steadier profile: a $100 billion buyback and Services growth cushion the input shock. Both names carry downside risk if hyperscaler capex blinks. Memory cycles always end. This one just has unusually strong contractual scaffolding.
Micron uvedl, že umělá inteligence zásadně mění trh s paměťmi, a hlásí 16 strategických zákaznických dohod s podmínkami take-or-pay v hodnotě asi 100 miliard USD a 22 miliard USD v zákaznických zálohách a souvisejících závazcích. HBM podle firmy pokryje v roce 2026 jen 50 % až dvě třetiny poptávky.
Three times the current price would put Micron Technology (NASDAQ:MU | MU Price Prediction) somewhere around $3,000 a share. That is a number that sits above every published Wall Street target on the stock. The only way there runs through a memory supercycle that lasts longer and runs hotter than even bulls currently model. Let’s take a look at how Micron could get there, even though Goldman Sachs has a sharp counter to the whole exercise.
The June quarter that re-rated DRAM and HBM Micron’s fiscal third quarter, reported June 24, forced analysts to redraw their spreadsheets. Revenue came in at $41.456 billion, up 345.72% year over year from $9.30 billion. Non-GAAP EPS landed at $25.11 against a $20.2843 consensus. GAAP gross margin printed 84.6%, against 37.7% a year earlier. Operating cash flow of $25.388 billion in a single quarter argues for structural change beyond a normal cyclical bounce.
CEO Sanjay Mehrotra was direct about why. “The memory industry has been structurally transformed by the proliferation of AI.” Management has signed 16 strategic customer agreements with take-or-pay terms that represent roughly $100 billion in remaining performance obligations and projected $22 billion in customer cash deposits and related commitments.
The strategic supply agreement with Anthropic disclosed June 22, 2026 is the headline example. Mehrotra also said HBM can fill only 50% to two-thirds of demand in 2026.
The bull thesis writes itself from there. Micron is one of only three HBM suppliers, alongside SK Hynix and Samsung. It crossed $1 trillion in market cap in May. Year to date the stock is up 296.92%. Q4 guidance of $50 billion in revenue and $31.00 in non-GAAP EPS implies the trajectory is accelerating.
What a 3x from here actually requires At roughly $1,046.96 on June 29, a 3x outcome puts shares near $3,000. Every sell-side target sits below that. UBS is the Wall Street high near $1,625. Bank of America, Needham, Stifel and TD Cowen cluster between $1,300 and $1,600. Post-earnings, Susquehanna and DA Davidson have pushed to $2,000, which is the most aggressive published number on the desk and still well short of the headline scenario.
To get to $3,000, you need a stack of three things to break right. First, EPS power has to climb past the $31.00 ± $1.00 Q4 guide into a sustained run rate few analysts will underwrite today. Second, the multiple has to hold or expand, even though the trailing P/E already sits around 26x and the forward P/E near 7x reflects estimates that have not yet caught up to guidance.
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Third, the take-or-pay contracts have to do what Mehrotra claims, which is convert memory into something closer to a utility deserving a premium for predictable cash flows. Each of those is defensible. Obviously, none is guaranteed.
The bear case Goldman is making Goldman Sachs sits at roughly $900. Their argument is that today’s near 85% gross margins represent a cycle peak that will normalize lower. Memory has always been a synchronized capacity business, and SK Hynix, Samsung and Micron are all spending.
Micron itself guided full-year FY2026 capex to approximately $27 billion, with ID1 on track for first wafer output in mid-calendar 2027 and ID2 in late-calendar 2028. When that bit supply lands, even strong AI demand will compress pricing power. CFO Mark Murphy effectively conceded the point on the call, saying “we are at margin levels where incremental price yields less gross margin expansion.”
There is also concentration risk. Lead-customer dependence on HBM4, hyperscaler research into memory compression techniques that could cut usage by up to 40x, and the historical track record of memory cycles ending badly all sit on this side of the ledger.
The verdict The fair read is that Micron is a different company than it was 24 months ago, and the multi-year contracts genuinely change the cyclicality argument. A double over a few years is defensible on the numbers in hand.
A triple requires the supercycle to extend deep into 2028 and beyond, with margins holding far above prior peaks. Bulls have current data. Bears have cycle history. Both are right until one of them is not.
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Abbott očekává, že tržby z CGM se ve 2. čtvrtletí vrátí k dvoucifernému růstu po odeznění dočasných překážek. Získal také označení CE pro Libre Duo a Libre Duo 10 Day s duálním snímáním glukózy a ketonů.
Key Takeaways ABT expects CGM sales to return to double-digit growth after temporary second-quarter headwinds ease.ABT secured CE Mark for Libre Duo and Libre Duo 10 Day with dual glucose and ketone sensing.Abbott sees broader Volt and TactiFlex Duo PFA rollout boosting Electrophysiology growth acceleration. Abbott (ABT - Free Report) generates the largest share of its revenues from the Medical Devices unit. Sales in 2025 reached $21.39 billion, up 11.9% from the prior-year levels. That strength continued into the first quarter of 2026, with revenues rising 8.5% on a comparable basis, led by the strong performance of its cardiovascular device businesses. Abbott believes its investments in the foundational businesses like Rhythm Management and Vascular continue to pay off, even as the traditionally higher-growth segments draw most of the attention. With the July 16 second-quarter 2026 earnings approaching, several recent developments and pipeline progress are expected to help sustain this momentum, with some expected to have a greater impact as the year progresses and beyond.
In Diabetes Care, continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) sales will likely return to the double-digit growth in the second quarter, after temporary headwinds from delays in the renewal process related to an international tender and difficult prior-year comparisons. Abbott expanded the portfolio by recently securing CE Mark for Libre Duo and Libre Duo 10 Day, the world's first-ever dual glucose-ketone sensing technology designed to continuously measure glucose and ketone levels every minute.
Further, Rhythm Management could continue outperforming the broader market, supported by the strong adoption of the AVEIR leadless pacemaker. Together with ongoing investments in conduction system pacing and other novel technologies, Abbott believes the $10 billion Rhythm Management market offers substantial room to expand share and drive sustainable long-term growth.
Meanwhile, the Heart Assist Devices portfolio for the treatment of chronic and temporary conditions is expected to remain a strong contributor to the Heart Failure business. In Electrphysiology, Abbott expects growth to accelerate as it broadens the rollout of Volt and TactiFlex Duo Pulsed Field Ablation (PFA) catheters.
ABT’s Peer Activity in FocusMedtronic (MDT - Free Report) recently completed the acquisition of Scientia Vascular, a privately held medical device company in Salt Lake City. The deal is valued at $550 million, subject to customary adjustments, with potential undisclosed earn-out and milestone payments post-acquisition. The addition of Scientia's access technologies is expected to boost Medtronic’s Neuroscience Portfolio.Financially, the deal is expected to be minimally dilutive to the company’s adjusted EPS in FY 2027 and accretive thereafter.
Quest Diagnostics’ (DGX - Free Report) Haystack MRD test has been approved by the New York State Department of Health's Clinical Laboratory Evaluation Program. The circulating tumor DNA liquid biopsy test is meant for use in identifying residual or recurring disease in patients with a range of solid tumor cancers. Quest Diagnostics developed the test under CLIA regulations and has been available for clinician ordering since late 2024 in 49 states and the District of Columbia.
ABT’s Price Performance, Valuation & EstimatesOver the past year, ABT shares have plunged 30.8% compared with the industry’s 28% decline.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
In terms of valuation, Abbott is trading at a forward, five-year Price/Sales (P/S) of 3.11X, lower than its 4.63X median but above its industry average of 2.16X.
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Here’s how consensus estimates for Abbott’s 2026 and 2027 earnings have been shaping up.
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Abbott currently carries a Zacks Rank #4 (Sell).
You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
Eli Lilly vyskočila na historické maximum po kladném stanovisku výboru CHMP k rozšíření Jaypirca pro CLL a po oznámení, že Zepbound a Foundayo budou pro způsobilé příjemce Medicare Part D za 50 USD měsíčně od 1. července 2026.
Key Takeaways Eli Lilly reached an all-time high after Jaypirca's positive CHMP opinion and Medicare pricing updates.LLY's Jaypirca label expansion filing now heads to the EC after CHMP backed broader CLL use.Eli Lilly will offer eligible Medicare Part D patients Zepbound and Foundayo for $50 monthly. Shares of Eli Lilly (LLY - Free Report) rose more than 7% on Friday after the company announced several positive developments related to its marketed products.
An EMA advisory committee recommended approving the company’s filing seeking label expansion for the oncology drug Jaypirca (pirtobrutinib) to treat adults with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) across all lines of therapy.
The momentum was further boosted after Lilly announced that its popular obesity drugs, Zepbound and Foundayo, will be available via Medicare for $50 per month starting from July 1, 2026.
LLY Stock PerformanceFollowing these announcements, Lilly's shares climbed to an all-time high of $1,215.76. While neither development materially changes the company's near-term outlook, both strengthen its long-term growth prospects. Expanded Medicare access to its obesity drugs could improve patient affordability and support continued growth for its blockbuster metabolic franchise. Meanwhile, the positive recommendation for Jaypirca not only strengthens Lilly's oncology portfolio but also diversifies its growth across therapeutic areas.
Year to date, the stock has risen 12.4% compared with the industry’s 11.6% growth.
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CHMP Backs Lilly’s Filing for Jaypirca Label ExpansionJaypirca is currently approved in the European Union to treat adult patients with relapsed or refractory CLL who have been previously treated with a BTK inhibitor. The latest CHMP opinion supports expanding its use to adults with CLL across all lines of therapy, regardless of prior BTK inhibitor treatment, significantly broadening the drug's potential patient population.
Lilly’s regulatory filing has now been referred to the European Commission (“EC”), with a final decision expected within the next one to two months. While the EC is not obligated to follow the CHMP's recommendation, it generally does.
The positive opinion is supported by positive data from two late-stage studies. One study evaluated Jaypirca against a chemoimmunotherapy regimen (bendamustine plus rituximab) in treatment-naïve CLL patients. The other compared Lilly’s cancer pill with AbbVie’s (ABBV - Free Report) /J&J’s (JNJ - Free Report) Imbruvica (ibrutinib) in treatment-naïve patients as well as previously treated patients who were BTK inhibitor-naïve. A similar regulatory filing is also under review with the FDA, with a final decision expected before this year’s end.
Medicare Access Expands Reach of Lilly's Obesity DrugsLilly also announced that eligible Medicare Part D beneficiaries prescribed Zepbound or Foundayo for obesity will be able to access the medicines for $50 per month starting next month. The initiative is aimed at improving affordability and expanding access to the company's two obesity drugs, the once-weekly injection Zepbound and daily pill Foundayo.
The move could further strengthen Lilly's competitive position against Novo Nordisk (NVO - Free Report) , which markets Wegovy in both injectable and oral formulations. While Lilly's obesity therapies have demonstrated superior efficacy in clinical studies, NVO's Wegovy products have a longer commercial track record and a well-established safety and tolerability profile. By improving affordability for Medicare beneficiaries, Lilly could further expand the reach of its obesity franchise in an increasingly competitive market. The company estimates that 20 million Medicare patients could meet clinical criteria for obesity medicines.
LLY Zacks RankEli Lilly currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold).You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
Kraken jako první velká centralizovaná burza zalistuje balík tokenů subnetů Alpha v rámci Bittensoru, včetně Chutes AI (Subnet 64), Targon Compute (Subnet 4), Webuildscore, Lium io, Ridges ai, Hippius subnet a VantaTrading. Zvyšuje tím dostupnost těchto AI aktiv mimo on-chain obchodování.
Kraken is listing a batch of Bittensor subnet alpha tokens, marking the first time a major centralized exchange has opened the door to these specialized AI-focused assets. Until now, trading these tokens meant navigating on-chain AMM pools or scraping together liquidity on smaller platforms.
The listed tokens include Chutes AI (Subnet 64), Targon Compute (Subnet 4), Webuildscore, Lium io, Ridges ai, Hippius subnet, and VantaTrading. For a network that has quietly built one of the most ambitious decentralized AI ecosystems in crypto, getting shelf space on Kraken is a meaningful shift in visibility.
What are subnet alpha tokens, and why should you care Think of Bittensor as a decentralized marketplace for AI services, broken into specialized divisions called subnets. Each subnet handles a different job. Chutes AI, for example, focuses on serverless AI inference, essentially letting developers run AI models without managing their own servers. Targon Compute provides decentralized verifiable AI compute.
Bittensor currently operates over 128 active subnets, each with its own alpha token. These tokens function as direct exposure to a specific subnet’s performance, emissions, and revenue generation. In English: buying a subnet alpha is like buying equity in one department of a larger company, rather than buying the parent company’s stock (which would be TAO itself).
The mechanism that makes all of this possible is called dynamic TAO, or dTAO. Introduced in late 2025 or early 2026, dTAO allows each subnet to issue its own token that trades against TAO through on-chain automated market maker pools. Before dTAO, the only way to interact with Bittensor’s economics was through the TAO token. Now each subnet has its own price signal, its own liquidity, and its own market dynamics.
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Leading subnets like Chutes and Targon have already achieved market caps in the tens to over $100 million range.
Why Kraken’s move matters Before this listing, subnet alpha tokens lived almost entirely on-chain. There was one isolated instance of a subnet token trading on MEXC, but for the most part, accessing these assets required comfort with decentralized trading infrastructure. That’s a meaningful barrier for retail investors, and an even bigger one for institutions that need regulated, familiar platforms.
Kraken stepping in brings centralized exchange liquidity, cleaner price discovery, and the kind of accessibility that attracts a much broader investor base. Kraken already supported the core TAO token. This expansion into subnet-level assets signals the exchange sees commercial viability in the deeper layers of the Bittensor ecosystem, not just the top-level token.
The bigger picture for decentralized AI Bittensor’s subnet architecture creates a genuine marketplace where different teams compete to provide the best AI services. The dTAO mechanism turns that competition into tradeable assets, letting the market price each subnet’s contribution in real time.
With 128-plus subnets operating and their alpha tokens now reaching major exchanges, the Bittensor ecosystem is transitioning from a niche experiment to something that resembles a functioning decentralized AI economy. Each subnet’s token acts as a real-time gauge of market confidence in that subnet’s utility and revenue potential.
Unlike many crypto tokens that derive value purely from speculation, subnet alphas are tied to actual economic output. When a subnet like Chutes AI processes inference requests, that activity flows into the token’s value proposition.
What this means for investors Subnet alpha tokens introduce a new layer of granularity for crypto investors interested in AI infrastructure. Instead of making a broad bet on the Bittensor network through TAO, investors can now take targeted positions on specific subnets they believe will outperform.
The risk side of the ledger is straightforward: subnet tokens are narrower bets with less liquidity than TAO, even with Kraken’s support. A subnet that loses validators, faces technical issues, or gets outcompeted by a rival subnet could see its alpha token decline sharply. The dTAO mechanism means these tokens are ultimately priced relative to TAO, so a broad TAO selloff would drag subnet tokens down regardless of individual subnet performance.
For investors evaluating these assets, the key metrics to monitor are each subnet’s compute utilization rates, revenue generation, validator count, and market cap relative to its economic output.
Disclosure: This article was edited by Editorial Team. For more information on how we create and review content, see our Editorial Policy.
Ademi LLP prověřuje, zda Iridium při transakci s Rocket Lab za zhruba 8,0 miliardy USD získává pro akcionáře spravedlivou cenu. Akcionáři mají za každou akcii Iridium obdržet 27,00 USD v hotovosti a akcie Rocket Lab.
Resources Investor Relations Journalists Agencies Client Login Send a Release News Products Contact , /PRNewswire/ -- Ademi LLP is investigating Iridium (NASDAQ: IRDM) for possible breaches of fiduciary duty and other violations of law in its recently announced transaction with Rocket Lab.
Click here to learn how to join our investigation and obtain additional information or contact us at [email protected] or toll-free: 866-264-3995. There is no cost or obligation to you.
Iridium shareholders will receive $27.00 in cash and Rocket Lab common stock for each Iridium share, based on a notional value of $54.00 per share in a cash-and-stock transaction valued at approximately $8.0 billion. The stock exchange ratio is subject to a collar banded between $67.50 and $112.50.
Iridium insiders will receive substantial benefits as part of change of control arrangements.
The transaction agreement unreasonably limits competing transactions for Iridium by imposing a significant penalty if Iridium accepts a competing bid. We are investigating the conduct of the Iridium board of directors, and whether they are fulfilling their fiduciary duties to all shareholders.
We specialize in shareholder litigation involving buyouts, mergers, and individual shareholder rights. For more information, please feel free to call us. Attorney advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes.
Fortinet zvýšil celoroční výhled pro rok 2026 po růstu tržeb o 20 % na 1,85 miliardy USD v 1. čtvrtletí. Firma zároveň uvedla nové modely FortiGate G Series 3500G a 400G a cloudovou platformu FortiSOC.
Key Takeaways Fortinet expanded FortiGate with new G Series models and launched the FortiSOC cloud SOC platform.FTNT posted 20% Q1 revenue growth, record free cash flow and raised full-year 2026 guidance.Fortinet balances FortiGate hardware growth with FortiSOC expansion amid rollout and adoption challenges. Fortinet's (FTNT - Free Report) push to expand its FortiGate hardware lineup and cloud-delivered security operations platform is reigniting investor attention on the cybersecurity firm's growth runway. The company recently widened its FortiGate G Series with the 3500G and 400G models, built on its proprietary NP7 and SP5 processors and running FortiOS 8.0, the operating system introduced in March 2026 with AI-driven security, SASE and quantum-safe capabilities.
The FortiGate 3500G targets high-density data centers, delivering 595 Gbps of firewall throughput and support for 179 million concurrent sessions, while consuming just 1.6 watts per Gbps of throughput. The FortiGate 400G, aimed at enterprise edges, offers 164 Gbps of firewall throughput and 28 million concurrent sessions. On the cloud side, Fortinet in June 2026 launched FortiSOC, a unified, cloud-delivered security operations platform that consolidates six SOC functions into a single SaaS experience with embedded agentic AI for alert investigation and response.
These product moves followed a strong first quarter. Revenues grew 20% year over year to $1.85 billion, with product revenues increasing 41% to $645 million and billings rising 31% to $2.09 billion. GAAP operating margin came in at 31%, non-GAAP operating margin at 36%, and non-GAAP EPS rose 41% to 82 cents, alongside record free cash flow of $1.01 billion. Management raised full-year 2026 revenue guidance to roughly 15% year-over-year growth, with full-year revenues now expected between $7.71 billion and $7.87 billion and non-GAAP operating margin guided to 33-36%.
The growth narrative isn't without friction. Product revenue strength reflects a hardware refresh cycle that can be lumpy, and the FortiSOC rollout currently spans only the U.S. and EMEA at launch, with broader regional expansion planned through 2026 — meaning near-term cloud contribution remains modest relative to the installed base. FortiSOC also layers onto, rather than replaces, existing tools like FortiAnalyzer and FortiSIEM, raising questions about how quickly customers migrate. Even so, the combination of differentiated ASIC-based hardware economics and an expanding SaaS security-operations footprint gives Fortinet two distinct growth levers heading into the back half of 2026, with execution against raised guidance the next test for the stock.
How Rivals Palo Alto Networks and Check Point CompareOn the same firewall-and-cloud-SOC theme, Palo Alto Networks (PANW - Free Report) and Check Point Software (CHKP - Free Report) offer contrasting benchmarks. Palo Alto Networks posted second-quarter fiscal 2026 revenues of $2.6 billion, up 15% year over year, with product revenues up 22%, while its Cortex XSIAM cloud SOC platform helped drive next-generation security ARR up 33% to $6.33 billion. Check Point, by contrast, reported first-quarter 2026 revenues of $668 million, up just 5%, with security subscriptions rising 11% to $323 million, as weaker firewall appliance revenues tied to go-to-market execution changes weighed on results. Against Palo Alto Networks' faster cloud-platform ARR growth and Check Point's appliance-driven softness, Fortinet's FortiGate hardware gains and FortiSOC launch position it between the two on execution.
FTNT’s Share Price Performance, Valuation & EstimatesFortinet shares have gained 88.5% in the past six-month period, outperforming the Zacks Security industry and the broader Computer and Technology sector’s growth of 48.4% and 11.6%, respectively.
FTNT’s 6-Month Price Performance
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
From a valuation standpoint, FTNT appears overvalued, trading at a forward 12-month price-to-earnings ratio of 46.41, higher than the sector's average of 23.39. The company carries a Value Score of F.
FTNT’s Valuation
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Fortinet’s earnings is pegged at $3.13 per share for 2026, which implies year-over-year growth of 13.41%.
Fortinet currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
McCormick oznámil silné 2. čtvrtletí: tržby vzrostly o 16,7 % a upravený EPS stoupl na 80 centů. Firma zároveň potvrdila plánovanou akvizici potravinářské divize Unileveru.
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52-Week Range$44.82▼
$78.03Dividend Yield3.72%
P/E Ratio8.54
Price Target$60.50
McCormick & Company’s NYSE: MKC share price is a steal as of mid-2026, down 50% from record highs ahead of a potentially game-changing deal.
The proposed combination with Unilever’s food business could triple the business, generate shareholder value, and provide sufficient cash flow to enable balance sheet quality and capital returns.
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Balance sheet safety is one of the reasons the share price is down so much. The transaction includes a $15.7 billion cash payment to Unilever, with McCormick relying on cash on hand and new debt to fund that portion of the deal. That added debt is a key reason investors are focused on the company’s post-close leverage.
The bad news is that McCormick’s leverage ratio will rise to a higher-than-wanted 4.0x EBITDA, but there is good news to offset the bad.
Already carrying investment-grade debt ratings from all major ratings agencies, McCormick’s executives have expressed a commitment to reducing the debt quickly. Plans are in place to drive it below the targeted 3x level within two years, which would provide a tailwind for shareholder value.
High-Quality McCormick & Company Presents Deep Value in 2026As it stands, McCormick is in a healthy financial position and growing its business. In this environment, the roughly 8x current year earnings are a deep discount to historical norms.
Typically trading in the mid-20x range, valuation metrics suggest a robust valuation expansion is possible over time, compounding the impact of growth. The company is expected to sustain organic growth without the merger, potentially accelerating it in the wake. Estimates as of late-June suggest much lower valuations relative to long-term forecasts, setting the stage for several hundred basis points of stock price gains over the next three to five years.
Analyst trends play into MKC’s price decline as well as the long-term outlook.
While price targets have declined, the low end aligns with the late-June price action, suggesting a floor is in place.
Within that, the consensus Hold rating comes with a 46% Buy-side bias, which, given the 13 analysts covering the stock, provides some conviction in the outlook.
In this scenario, MKC could rebound at any time with the right catalyst and will likely move sideways until one emerges. Upcoming catalysts include milestones tied to the Unilever merger, such as the expected announcement of a European secondary listing location and regulatory approvals in the United States and United Kingdom.
Institutional trends highlight the value and underpin market support as June nears its end. The group owns nearly 80% of the stock and has accumulated shares at a semi-aggressive pace over the trailing 12 months, despite distributing in Q1 2026. The critical detail is that accumulation resumed in Q2 at an aggressive $10-to-$1 pace and will likely remain supportive of price action, given the company’s core strengths and a value-building merger opportunity.
McCormick Outperformance: Organic and Acquisitions Shine ThroughMcCormick & Company had a solid Q2 with growth underpinned by organic strength and the acquisition of McCormick de Mexico. Revenue grew by 16.7%, with 1.7% organic sales growth, driven by a 2.2% increase in average prices. Both segments reported strength, led by a 2.9% organic increase in flavor solutions, with both segments amped by acquisition-related growth.
Margin news is also good. The acquisition is driving significant back-end consolidations and cost savings, leading to improved gross and operating margins. Adjusted gross margin improved by 270 bps, adjusted operating by 180 bps, leaving adjusted earnings per share (EPS) at 80 cents, up 11 cents year-over-year (YOY) and 11 cents or 1600 bps better than expected.
Catalysts and a Risk-Reducing, High-Yielding Dividend McCormick & Company, Incorporated Dividend PaymentsDividend Yield3.72%
Annual Dividend$1.92
Dividend Increase Track Record38 Years
Annualized 5-Year Dividend Growth7.74%
Dividend Payout Ratio31.95%
Upcoming Ex-Dividend DateJul. 6
MKC Dividend History
Guidance is a catalyst for share prices because the company merely reaffirmed it, despite the FQ2 strengths. The market assumes the guidance is cautious and expects the Q2 strength to be sustained in the upcoming release.
McCormick’s dividend is a risk-reducing factor for investors. The ultra-low share price results in an ultra-high yield, approximately 4% with shares around $50, and it is a reliable payment.
The company is a Dividend Achiever with nearly 40 years of consecutive annual distribution increases, and is on track to hit the 50-year mark and be crowned a Dividend King.
McCormick’s position as a consumer staples company gives it some defensive qualities, but the stock still faces risks tied to pricing, volume, consumer trade-down behavior, and merger execution. Consumer headwinds have shoppers trading down on center-of-plate costs in favor of flavors. Cheap cuts and starches work well with bold, zesty, and spicy flavors, and McCormick is a leading source. Execution risk is the bigger headwind, as delays could be reflected in the stock's price. The worst-case scenario is that the merger is completed, but synergies fail to yield the desired results.
Should You Invest $1,000 in McCormick & Company, Incorporated Right Now?Before you consider McCormick & Company, Incorporated, you'll want to hear this.
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HomeGoods v 1. čtvrtletí fiskálního roku 2027 zvýšil srovnatelné tržby o 9 % a tržby v USA o 11 % na 2,51 miliardy USD. Segmentová marže se zvedla o 270 bazických bodů na 12,9 %.
Key Takeaways HomeGoods delivered 9% comparable sales growth in fiscal Q1, outpacing TJX's larger banners.Net sales in the HomeGoods U.S. division rose 11% to $2.51B as demand broadened across regions.Segment margin expanded 270 basis points to 12.9%, signaling rising efficiency and scale. The TJX Companies, Inc.’s (TJX - Free Report) HomeGoods banner is increasingly looking like more than just a complementary business within the retailer's portfolio. The chain is emerging as a meaningful earnings contributor as its scale, sales momentum and profitability continue to improve.
The latest quarter highlighted that shift. HomeGoods posted a 9% comparable sales increase in the first quarter of fiscal 2027, outpacing the company's larger banners and demonstrating broad-based demand across regions and customer income groups. Net sales in the HomeGoods (United States) division rose 11% year over year to $2,506 million. More importantly, profitability improved at an even faster pace, with segment margin expanding 270 basis points to 12.9%.
The performance also reinforces the strength of HomeGoods' merchandising proposition. The banner continues to attract shoppers with an eclectic assortment of home fashions and furnishings sourced from around the world and offered at compelling values through its off-price model. The broad-based growth across regions and income demographics suggests that its appeal extends well beyond a specific customer segment.
Just as importantly, strong sales momentum is translating into higher profitability. The expansion in segment margin indicates that HomeGoods is not only growing faster but also becoming a more efficient business as it gains scale. The latest results suggest the banner is strengthening the contribution to TJX's earnings mix and establishing itself as an increasingly important profit engine within the portfolio.
TJX and Peers See Similar DynamicsRoss Stores (ROST - Free Report) achieved strong growth through disciplined execution of its off-price model. Driven by robust customer traffic, Ross Stores delivered a stellar 17% comparable store sales increase in the first quarter of fiscal 2026. The broad-based gains across income levels, age groups and ethnicities underscore the banner's wide consumer appeal. Importantly, Ross Stores translated this sales momentum into stronger profitability, with operating margin expanding 120 basis points to 13.4%.
Burlington Stores, Inc. (BURL - Free Report) has been benefiting from the disciplined execution of its off-price model. In the first quarter of fiscal 2026, Burlington Stores reported 6% comparable store sales growth and a 14% increase in total sales. Disciplined inventory management, faster inventory turns and an ability to chase trends enabled Burlington Stores to convert sales growth into margin expansion and consistent earnings growth.
TJX’s Price Performance, Valuation and EstimatesShares of The TJX Companies have gained 1.8% in the past month compared with the industry’s growth of 2%.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
From a valuation standpoint, TJX trades at a forward price-to-earnings ratio of 28.93X, down from the industry’s average of 30.91X.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for The TJX Companies’ fiscal 2027 and 2028 earnings per share has inched up 2 cents and 1 cent to $5.17 and $5.67, respectively, in the past 30 days.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
TJX currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
BlackRock v Aladdinu rozšiřuje podporu pro produkty Ethena a zvyšuje likviditu tokenizovaného fondu BUIDL. Součástí je i likviditní úvěrová linka za 100 milionů USD pro převod BUIDL do USDC, USDtb a dalších stablecoinů.
BlackRock and Ethena Labs have deepened their partnership through a new initiative that will provide institutional investors on BlackRock’s Aladdin platform with expanded access to Ethena’s products and enhanced liquidity for the BUIDL tokenized Treasury fund, according to a Monday statement.
The agreement includes a $100 million liquidity facility provided by Ethena through Securitize, enabling eligible BUIDL holders to seamlessly convert BUIDL into USDC, USDtb and other supported stablecoins, with the ability to reverse those transactions outside regular market hours.
The companies said the collaboration is intended to expand digital dollar infrastructure and support the wider institutional use of tokenized real-world assets. BlackRock said the facility enhances the utility of tokenized Treasury funds, while Ethena said it simplifies institutional access to onchain financial markets.
The partnership extends the firms’ prior collaboration involving USDtb, Ethena’s stablecoin backed primarily by BUIDL. BUIDL debuted in 2024 and has grown to roughly $3 billion in total value locked according to DefiLlama, making it one of the largest tokenized US Treasury funds.
Disclosure: This article was edited by Editorial Team. For more information on how we create and review content, see our Editorial Policy.
Chipotle Mexican Grill (CMG 1.62%) issued a 50-for-1 split on June 26, 2024, making its then roughly $3,000 share price more affordable. But that almost marked the peak. The stock is currently down 53% from its all-time high.
It wasn't the split, but rather weakening sales performance in the business itself that followed the departure of former CEO Brian Niccol. Here are three reasons Chipotle has fallen from its pedestal.
Image source: The Motley Fool.
1. Slowing revenue growth Since 2024, Chipotle's revenue growth has declined amid inflationary costs and weak comparable sales. When the company issued its stock split, revenue was up 18% year over year in Q2 2024. Comp sales grew 11%, with transaction growth up 8.7%.
In May 2025, there was a noticeable slowdown in underlying business trends amid weakening consumer sentiment. For the full year, revenue grew just 5% over 2024, with comp sales declining by 1.7%.
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2. Higher costs pressured margins As sales weakened, Chipotle faced higher costs for rent, labor, and food ingredients. As a result, restaurant-level margin fell from 26.7% in 2024 to 25.4% in 2025. The company is still struggling to offset higher costs, with restaurant-level margins down to 23.7% in the first quarter of 2026.
Chipotle might have compounded this problem by lowering prices for some items. It prioritized keeping traffic up at the expense of its bottom line. Quarterly earnings peaked at $0.33 in Q2 2024. In Q1 2026, the company reported a 17% year-over-year decrease in earnings, falling to $0.23.
3. Uncertainty from leadership change Niccol took the CEO job at Starbucks in September 2024. While Chipotle's weakening performance is most correlated with the broader weakness in consumer spending, a change in CEO always creates uncertainty about the future, which can impact a company's valuation.
There's a reason Starbucks chose Niccol to lead its turnaround. Niccol proved to be a superb business operator at Chipotle. Under his leadership from 2018 through the third quarter of 2024, Chipotle more than doubled its revenue and doubled its operating profit margin. From the end of 2014 through Q3 2024, the stock returned 567%.
After the recent collapse, Chipotle stock is now trading at its lowest price-to-earnings ratio in years. It could be a great time to buy, but time will tell whether the new CEO, Scott Boatwright, is as successful as Niccol. The latest results showed improvement in top-line growth. Revenue grew 7.4% year over year, with comp sales up 0.5%.
Still, until costs get under control and earnings improve, the stock will likely remain discounted. Investors should watch for signs that food inflation is waning, as that would mark a catalyst for stronger margins and earnings.
DICK'S Sporting Goods rozšiřuje koncept House of Sport jako škálovatelný růstový formát a letos plánuje otevřít 14 těchto prodejen a 22 poboček Field House. Koncept dál zvyšuje srovnatelné tržby, ziskovost i návratnost investic.
Key Takeaways DICK'S House of Sport is evolving into a scalable platform for long-term, experience-led growth.DICK'S plans to open 14 House of Sport and 22 Field House locations this year.House of Sport stores are driving comps, profitability, ROI and stronger landlord relationships. DICK'S Sporting Goods Inc. (DKS - Free Report) appears to be entering a new phase of growth as its House of Sport concept evolves from an innovative retail format into a scalable long-term growth platform. What began as an effort to create immersive shopping destinations is increasingly becoming a strategic advantage that is reshaping customer engagement, attracting premium brand partnerships and strengthening the company's real estate portfolio.
Management highlighted House of Sport as a central pillar of its growth strategy, alongside the smaller Field House format, with plans to open 14 House of Sport and 22 Field House locations this year. Strong landlord demand is also giving DICK'S access to premier retail destinations, allowing the company to be more selective about future locations while positioning the business for greater long-term shareholder value.
Importantly, the concept is proving financially attractive. Management noted that House of Sport stores continue to generate comparable sales growth even in their third and fourth years of operation, while delivering strong profitability and returns on investment. Beyond the direct financial contribution, the stores encourage athletes to spend more time and money, create a compelling stage for premium and emerging brands such as Vuori and Gymshark, and strengthen relationships with landlords through increased traffic to shopping centers.
The benefits are also extending beyond the flagship locations. DICK'S noted that merchandising, experiential selling and elevated service developed for House of Sport are increasingly influencing the broader store fleet, including the smaller Field House concept. As these capabilities spread across the network, House of Sport is becoming more than a successful store format. It is evolving into the foundation of DICK'S next phase of profitable, experience-driven growth.
DKS’ Zacks Rank & Share Price PerformanceShares of this Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) company have rallied 25.5% in the past three months against the industry’s decline of 5.8%. The stock also outperformed the broader Retail-Wholesale sector’s 4.3% rise and the S&P 500’s 16.3% growth in the same period.
DKS Stock's Past 3-Month Performance
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Is DICK'S a Value Play?DKS shares are currently trading at a forward 12-month price-to-earnings (P/E) multiple of 15.86X, slightly above the industry’s average of 15.2X.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Key PicksTapestry Inc. (TPR - Free Report) is the designer and marketer of fine accessories and gifts for women and men in the United States and internationally. The company sports a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) at present. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.
The consensus estimate for Tapestry’s fiscal 2026 sales and earnings suggests growth of 13.8% and 36.3%, respectively, from the year-ago reported figures. TPR delivered a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 15.6%, on average.
Five Below, Inc. (FIVE - Free Report) , which operates as a specialty value retailer, currently flaunts a Zacks Rank #1. FIVE delivered a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 70.1%, on average.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Five Below’s fiscal 2026 sales and earnings suggests growth of 14.7% and 34.3%, respectively, from the year-ago reported figures.
Genesco Inc. (GCO - Free Report) operates as a retailer and wholesaler of footwear, apparel and accessories. The company sports a Zacks Rank #1 at present.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Genesco’s fiscal 2026 sales calls for a decline of 0.02%, and estimates for earnings suggest a 55.2% increase from the year-ago reported figures. GCO delivered a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 3.8%, on average.
WLFI je čistě governance token: dává právo hlasovat o WLF Protocol, ale ne dividendy, podíl na příjmech ani vlastnický nárok. Zisk z 2% stakingu je jen pobídka financovaná z treasury pro stakery, kteří drží 180 dní a hlasují alespoň ve dvou hlasováních.
WLFI Is a Governance TokenOwning WLFI tokens gives you one thing: the right to participate in governance of the WLF Protocol. The official risk disclosures are direct about this.
Holding the token does not provide any right to any dividend, reward, airdrop, or other distribution or form of income. If that framing sounds narrow, that is because it is supposed to be. The project explicitly says holders do not receive returns, dividends, airdrops, distributions, or any financial interest in World Liberty Financial LLC or its affiliates.
World Liberty Financial (WLF) is a DeFi protocol backed by the Trump family that launched its governance token, WLFI, in October 2024. The token sale raised a total of $550 million. 20% of the total token supply was offered at a fully diluted valuation of $1.5 billion, and as demand increased, an additional 5% was offered at a fully diluted valuation of $5 billion.
As of late June 2026, WLFI trades at approximately $0.058, with a circulating supply of roughly 31.77 billion tokens and a market cap of approximately $1.85 billion.
What WLFI Token Holders Actually GetUnderstanding the token requires separating what is currently live from what is proposed or pending.
Governance Voting RightsHolders can steer the future of the platform by proposing and voting on changes to protocol rules and parameters through the WLF Governance Platform. Voting happens through Snapshot, an off-chain voting tool widely used in DeFi.
Each WLFI token represents one vote. No single wallet or affiliated group may vote with more than 5% of the outstanding votable token supply, regardless of the total tokens held. This cap is intended to limit concentration of control.
There are practical limits here worth noting. World Liberty Financial is a Delaware non-stock corporation that screens proposals, uses off-chain Snapshot voting, and implements outcomes through multisignature wallets under company control, so token votes can be filtered or overruled for legal or operational reasons. That is meaningfully different from a DAO where on-chain votes automatically execute code.
Access to the WLFI Markets Lending PlatformThrough WLFI Markets, users can supply assets to earn potential rewards or use their digital assets as collateral to borrow funds. This lending and borrowing service is powered by the Dolomite protocol and launched in January 2026.
Cross-Chain Transfers and Conversion ToolsUsers can transfer USD1 or WLFI tokens between integrated networks and quickly convert other cryptocurrencies for USD1 or WLFI and vice versa. The bridge currently supports Ethereum and Solana.
A Staking Yield Mechanism (Passed, Rolling Out)A governance proposal introduced in February 2026 passed with 99.16% community approval and is now being implemented. Under the system, unlocked WLFI tokens must be staked for at least 180 days to gain governance rights. Stakers who participate in at least two governance votes during their lock period earn a base reward with a 2% annualized yield target, funded from the WLFI treasury.
The system also introduces tiered participation levels. Participants staking at least 10 million WLFI, roughly $1 million at recent prices, are labeled "Nodes" and gain access to licensed market makers to convert USDT and USDC into USD1 at a 1:1 rate. Those staking more than 50 million WLFI are designated "Super Nodes," with benefits that include priority access to partnership discussions with the development team.
Token Supply and Allocation ContextWLFI has a maximum supply of 100 billion tokens. The initial token allocation was heavily concentrated, with 33.5% allocated to the team and advisors. Of that 33.5%, 22.5% is held by the Trump family and affiliated business entities.
Some sources place the combined non-public allocation even higher. Reports indicate approximately 70.8% of the supply is allocated to the founding team, advisors, and service providers, with the 33.5% figure covering the formal team and advisor category specifically. Either way, public token buyers hold about a third of all tokens, meaning insiders could outvote outsiders on every governance proposal.
It is also worth noting that the public $550 million raise was not the full picture. A Bloomberg investigation revealed that after the two public fundraising rounds, World Liberty Financial sold an additional 5.9 billion WLFI tokens to accredited private investors in transactions that were not publicly disclosed, potentially raising hundreds of millions of dollars more, with a significant portion of proceeds going to founder-affiliated entities. This undisclosed sale was discovered by intelligence platform Tokenomist(.)ai after examining World Liberty's governance filings.
What Does WLFI Token NOT Give You?This is where many buyers have been caught off guard.
No dividends or equity-style returns from protocol revenues. The Gold Paper states that WLFI is not equity or a share in any entity, does not confer any financial interest in any entity, and does not provide a right to any return, dividend, airdrop, or other distribution from protocol operations. Note that the 2% annual staking yield introduced in February 2026 is not a dividend or revenue share. It is a treasury-funded incentive paid only to holders who stake their unlocked tokens for 180 days and vote in at least two governance proposals. It is participation-based, not passive, and comes from the WLFI treasury, not from protocol profits.
No ownership in World Liberty Financial. The token provides governance input over the WLF Protocol only, not the company itself. The token does not provide any economic or other rights with respect to the WLF Protocol or otherwise. Token holders will not have any rights to any fees generated by the WLF Protocol or earned by the company.
No guaranteed liquidity. Early buyers faced long lock-up periods. On around September 1, 2025, 20% of tokens purchased during early rounds became available for unlocking. The WLFI community then passed a governance proposal in May 2026 establishing a structured unlock schedule for remaining locked tokens. Holders who do not accept the unlock schedule keep their tokens locked indefinitely, though they retain governance voting rights.
No share of protocol revenues for retail holders. According to the official Terms and Conditions, all net protocol revenues are split entirely between insider entities. DT Marks DeFi, LLC and its affiliates, including Donald J. Trump, are entitled to 75% of net protocol revenues from any sources, after deduction of agreed reserves and expenses. The remaining 25% goes to other WLF directors, officers, advisors, promoters, and service providers. Retail WLFI holders receive none of it. The USD1 holding campaigns run by Binance and Bybit distribute WLFI tokens as incentives, but those are exchange-run marketing programs using WLFI from the treasury allocation, not distributions of protocol revenue to retail holders.
Is WLFI Governance Real or Mostly Symbolic?Even the most engaged prior vote attracted only 11.1 billion WLFI in voting power, with a quorum of just 1 billion required to pass proposals. That is a low bar for a token with 100 billion total supply, suggesting most holders do not actively participate. The February 2026 staking proposal received overwhelming support but more than 76% of the voting power came from just ten users, raising persistent questions about whether governance is truly decentralized.
The Justin Sun dispute in April 2026 sharpened those concerns further. Sun claimed that he had been denied the voting rights he had been promised for the WLFI token and that wallets had been frozen. Sun's allegations, if true, reveal that World Liberty retained sweeping unilateral control over WLFI. World Liberty Financial denied wrongdoing and the matter went to federal court in California.
The HTX incident in June 2026 made the freeze function even more visible. WLFI froze on-chain addresses linked to HTX on June 5, 2026 with no prior notice, locking assets belonging to individual retail users. HTX suspended four WLFI and USD1 trading pairs, converted all user USD1 balances to USDT at 1:1, and fully delisted USD1 on June 7, 2026.
The root cause was that the UK designated Huobi Global S.A., the entity linked to HTX, under Russia sanctions on May 26, 2026, and WLFI cited its sanctions compliance framework as the basis for restricting token circulation on HTX-linked addresses. HTX stated the frozen assets belonged to individual retail users, not to any sanctioned entity, and formally demanded WLFI lift the freeze.
WLFI Tokenomics: The Numbers You Should KnowOn the supply side, the circulating supply currently stands at approximately 31.77 billion tokens, representing 31.77% of the 100 billion maximum supply. This is a meaningful increase from the roughly 27 billion figure reported earlier in 2026, reflecting tokens released through the structured unlock schedule passed in May 2026.
The protocol intends to use its net revenue to repurchase WLFI tokens from the open market and burn them, permanently removing tokens from circulation to reduce the overall supply. Token burns are a common tokenomics tool across DeFi projects to manage circulating supply over time, used by projects like BNB and others, though the effect depends on burn volume relative to total supply.
On the ecosystem front, Binance Wallet launched a campaign from June 19 to July 18, 2026, distributing 16 million WLFI tokens to users who interact with the USD1 stablecoin on partner protocols like PancakeSwap, Lorenzo Protocol, and Lista DAO, with eligible activities including lending, staking, and providing liquidity. This is the most active exchange-level incentive campaign currently running within the ecosystem.
ConclusionWLFI is a governance token that gives holders a capped vote on WLF Protocol decisions, access to a lending and borrowing platform via WLFI Markets, cross-chain transfer tools, and a participation-based 2% annual staking yield for those who commit to a 180-day lock and actively vote. It does not give holders dividends, revenue sharing, equity in World Liberty Financial, or any guaranteed return.
The project has exercised its on-chain freeze function in multiple high-profile disputes, including against Justin Sun's wallet in 2025 and HTX-linked user addresses in June 2026. Anyone evaluating WLFI should read the official risk disclosures carefully, track the ongoing unlock schedule, and treat the freeze function as a live variable in any risk assessment.
ResourcesWorld Liberty Financial Risk Disclosures – Official token rights, limitations, and holder obligationsWorld Liberty Financial Token Unlock – Full unlock schedule, eligibility, and smart contract processWorld Liberty Financial Official Site – WLFI Markets, AgentPay SDK, and bridge toolsCoinMarketCap: WLFI – Live price, circulating supply, and market cap dataTokenomist: WLFI Vesting Schedule – Circulating supply breakdown and full unlock timelineDuke FinReg Blog: Is WLFI an Unregistered Security? – Legal analysis of the Gold Paper and securities classificationThe Block: WLFI Staking Governance Proposal – Original reporting on the 180-day staking and 2% yield proposalCoinPaprika: HTX Delists USD1 After WLFI Freeze – Full timeline of the June 2026 HTX freeze and USD1 delistingBitcoinist: WLFI Undisclosed Token Sales – Bloomberg investigation into undisclosed 5.9 billion WLFI token salesCoinMarketCap: WLFI Latest Updates – June 2026 Binance campaign details and current ecosystem news
Binance Wallet se stala síťovým validátorem na Aster DEX a získala přímý hlas v on-chain správě i rozhodování o zalistování. Podpoří také Aster Open Standards.
@BinanceWallet has formally joined @Aster_DEX as a network validator, marking a meaningful step up from its previous role as a front-end integration partner. The move gives Binance Wallet a direct vote in Aster's on-chain governance and decentralised listing decisions.
From Interface to Infrastructure The distinction matters. Rather than simply routing users to Aster's trading environment, Binance Wallet now participates in the protocol's underlying decision-making. As part of the arrangement, it will support "Aster Open Standards," the framework Aster launched in late June 2026 that allows tokens already listed on Binance Spot or its Alpha programme to apply for an Aster spot listing through an on-chain validator vote.
Aster Open Standards (AOS-1) launched around June 25, 2026, and allows any token already listed on Binance Spot or in its Alpha programme to apply for a listing on Aster via an API check. Projects pay a 50,000 USDT application fee, which is refunded if the on-chain validator vote fails. With Binance Wallet now holding a validator seat, it has a direct say in which tokens pass that threshold.
The validator integration also gives Binance Wallet influence over Aster's broader protocol governance. Token holders and designated participants in the Aster DAO vote to steer roadmap decisions, and validator status places Binance Wallet within that decision-making structure rather than at its periphery.
Trading Campaigns to Follow The partnership will launch with a series of exclusive trading campaigns and perpetuals incentives aimed at growing retail participation on the platform. The move builds on an existing commercial relationship: Aster DEX had previously been integrated into the Binance Web3 Wallet, enabling millions of users to access professional-grade trading tools directly from their self-custody wallets.
Aster is a privacy-focused decentralised exchange offering perpetual markets on crypto, stocks, and commodities. Its Aster Chain is a high-performance, privacy-focused Layer 1 blockchain designed specifically for derivatives trading. The chain uses Proof-of-Staked Authority (PoSA) as its consensus mechanism, the same model that underpins BNB Chain, making Binance Wallet's validator role a natural fit within that architecture.
For Aster, securing a validator of Binance Wallet's scale adds institutional weight to a governance model that is still maturing. For Binance Wallet, it deepens its footprint in DeFi infrastructure at a time when the line between wallets and decentralised exchanges continues to narrow.
Sources:
CoinMarketCap: Aster Latest Updates and Market Insights
Aster Official Documentation
CoinDesk: Binance Wallet Unlocks In-App Leveraged Crypto Futures Trading With Aster
Japanese Bitcoin treasury firm Metaplanet has announced its plan to expand its Bitcoin ambitions, with Director of Bitcoin Strategy Dylan LeClair revealing that the company intends to acquire an additional 170,000 BTC as part of its long-term goal of controlling 1% of Bitcoin’s total supply.
The strategy would increase Metaplanet’s holdings to 210,000 BTC by the end of 2027, making it one of the world’s largest Bitcoin treasuries. At Bitcoin’s fixed maximum supply of 21 million coins, the target represents approximately 1% of all Bitcoins that will ever exist. Such a milestone would place the Tokyo-listed company alongside Strategy among the most influential institutional owners of the digital asset.
5/5 Proposals Approved at the @Metaplanet Extraordinary Shareholder Meeting
1) Approve shift of capital stock and capital reserve to capital surplus to increase capacity for preferred share dividends & potential share buybacks. ✅
2) Increase the total number of authorized…
— Dylan LeClair (@DylanLeClair) December 22, 2025
Metaplanet Is Doubling Down on Its Bitcoin Treasury Strategy The latest target follows board approval of Metaplanet’s revised Bitcoin accumulation plan, which significantly expands the company’s original objective.
Rather than stopping at 40,000 BTC, the company now plans to acquire a total of 210,000 BTC by the end of 2027. Since the company already holds roughly 40,000 BTC, the updated strategy implies purchases of approximately 170,000 additional Bitcoin over the next 18 months.
LeClair described the goal in straightforward terms.
“Our target is 1% of the Bitcoin supply.” The executive has consistently argued that Metaplanet measures success not through fiat-denominated returns but by increasing Bitcoin per share, a philosophy that mirrors Strategy Executive Chairman Michael Saylor’s long-standing approach to corporate treasury management.
To finance the expansion, the company plans to continue using equity issuance, preferred shares, warrants, and other capital market instruments rather than relying solely on cash generated from operations.
Earlier this year, Metaplanet announced a major equity financing initiative designed specifically to accelerate Bitcoin accumulation. The company has repeatedly emphasized that the objective is to raise capital efficiently while minimizing shareholder dilution.
Corporate Competition for Bitcoin Is Intensifying Metaplanet’s announcement highlights how competition among corporate Bitcoin treasury companies is escalating.
Over the years, Strategy has dominated the corporate Bitcoin accumulation narrative. However, more recently, treasury companies like Metaplanet, Twenty One Capital and MARA Holdings have created an institutional race to accumulate scarce Bitcoin supply.
Top Bitcoin treasury companies. Source: Bitcointreasuries.net
If Metaplanet succeeds, its holdings would account for one out of every hundred Bitcoin that will ever exist. That concentration could have broader implications for market liquidity.
Unlike exchange-traded funds, which purchase Bitcoin on behalf of investors, treasury companies typically accumulate BTC as long-term balance sheet assets. Those coins are rarely sold, effectively reducing the liquid supply available to the market.
The strategy also reflects growing confidence among Bitcoin-focused corporates that long-term appreciation will outweigh short-term volatility.
LeClair has repeatedly argued that Bitcoin should be viewed as a superior treasury reserve asset capable of protecting corporate purchasing power over time, particularly in an environment of persistent fiat currency debasement.
Whether investors continue supporting those financings will depend largely on Bitcoin’s long-term performance and Metaplanet’s ability to generate value on a per-share basis.
Strategy, the company formerly known as MicroStrategy, has officially broken its own cardinal rule. The company can now sell Bitcoin to buy back stock, repurchase debt, and pay preferred dividends.
Strategy already sold 32 BTC for approximately $2.5 million at the end of May 2026, marking the first Bitcoin sale in the company’s treasury history. The company still holds roughly 843,738 BTC.
The new framework, explained On June 29, 2026, Strategy formally introduced what it calls the Digital Credit Capital Framework, a set of rules that lets the company treat Bitcoin as a flexible treasury asset.
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The framework authorizes up to $2 billion in stock repurchases. It also includes a Bitcoin monetization program allowing for up to $1.25 billion in sales to shore up the company’s USD reserves and overall liquidity.
Back on May 15, 2026, Strategy announced plans to repurchase $1.5 billion of its 0% convertible senior notes due 2029 at a discount. The proposed funding sources for that buyback included cash reserves and Bitcoin sales.
CEO Phong Le stated the firm would sell Bitcoin “when advantageous,” marking a shift from passive accumulation to active balance-sheet management. The same framework update also raised the dividend on STRC preferred shares to 12%.
What this means for investors For Strategy shareholders, stock buybacks funded by Bitcoin sales could boost per-share value in the near term. The $2 billion buyback authorization suggests management sees its own equity as undervalued. The 12% dividend on STRC preferred shares also gives income-oriented investors a concrete reason to stick around.
The risk is that this new framework erodes the very premium that made Strategy stock attractive in the first place. Many investors bought shares precisely because they believed the company would hold Bitcoin indefinitely, acting as leveraged long exposure to the asset. If that conviction trade unwinds, the stock could lose its appeal as a Bitcoin proxy, forcing it to be valued more on its software fundamentals.
Disclosure: This article was edited by Editorial Team. For more information on how we create and review content, see our Editorial Policy.
Strategy schválila nový rámec správy kapitálu, který jí může umožnit prodat až 1,25 miliardy USD v Bitcoinu. Neznamená to odklon od BTC, ale flexibilnější treasury model.
For more details, visit the official Decrypt platform.
TL;DR Strategy has approved a new Digital Credit Capital Framework for active capital management. Under the framework, the company could sell up to $1.25 billion worth of Bitcoin. The move does not mean Strategy is abandoning Bitcoin, but it does show a more flexible treasury model. Strategy Adds A New Layer To Its Bitcoin Playbook Strategy has approved a new Digital Credit Capital Framework that could allow the company to sell up to $1.25 billion worth of Bitcoin as part of a broader active capital management approach.
That sounds dramatic because Strategy has spent years being viewed as the public-market symbol of relentless Bitcoin accumulation. Investors are used to hearing about purchases, convertible notes, preferred stock, and balance-sheet expansion. A framework that allows Bitcoin sales naturally gets attention because it cuts against the simplest version of the story.
But the more useful read is a little more nuanced. This is not necessarily “Strategy turns bearish on Bitcoin.” It is closer to Strategy formalizing how it may manage liquidity, dividends, buybacks, and reserves while still operating around a Bitcoin-heavy balance sheet.
Why A Bitcoin Sale Authorization Matters The authorization matters because it changes how investors think about Strategy’s treasury model.
A company can be bullish on Bitcoin and still need a mechanism for capital management. That is especially true when the company has layered financing instruments around its balance sheet. Dividends, credit products, buybacks, cash reserves, and market volatility all create situations where flexibility may become valuable.
The risk is perception. Strategy’s brand is closely tied to Bitcoin conviction. Any suggestion that it could sell BTC, even for corporate finance reasons, may invite questions from investors who bought into the idea of continuous accumulation.
That does not mean the framework is negative by default. A rigid treasury strategy can become fragile if market conditions change. A flexible one can be stronger, provided investors trust the rules and understand when sales may happen.
The Bigger Question For Bitcoin Treasury Companies This development also speaks to the next phase of Bitcoin treasury adoption. The first phase was simple: buy BTC and hold it. The next phase may be more complicated: manage Bitcoin-backed capital structures in public markets.
That is where the story gets more interesting. If Strategy can use its Bitcoin position to support credit products, dividends, reserves, or buybacks, then it is no longer just a holder. It becomes a capital manager built around Bitcoin as the core reserve asset.
For Bitcoin, the immediate market impact depends on whether any sales actually occur and how they are executed. A maximum authorization is not the same thing as a completed sale. Still, traders will watch closely because Strategy remains one of the most closely followed corporate BTC holders.
The takeaway is simple: Strategy’s Bitcoin story is maturing. The company is not just stacking BTC; it is building rules around how that stack can support a wider financial structure. That may make the model more durable, but it also makes it more complex.
—
This article was written by the News Desk and edited by Samuel Rae.
Constellation uzavřela dlouhodobou PPA s Walmartem na téměř 176 MW bezemisní elektřiny z Dresdenu ve dvou 15letých smlouvách začínajících v letech 2029 a 2030. Dříve podepsala 20letou smlouvu s Meta na 1 121 MW z Clintonu.
Key Takeaways Constellation's nuclear PPAs with Walmart and Meta highlight rising demand for clean power. CEG will supply Walmart nearly 176 MW from Dresden under two 15-year contracts starting in 2029. Constellation's Meta deal supports Clinton operations, adds 30 MW and generates $13.5M in annual taxes. Constellation Energy Corporation (CEG - Free Report) benefits from increasing demand for dependable, carbon-free energy from commercial and industrial customers. Its large-scale nuclear fleet, proven operational expertise and ability to structure customized long-term power purchase agreements (PPA) create a durable competitive advantage.
On June 23, 2026, the company announced that it had entered into a long-term PPA with Walmart to provide nearly 176 megawatts (MW) of emissions-free electricity from the Dresden Clean Energy Center in Illinois under two 15-year contracts starting in 2029 and 2030. The agreement highlights the increasing value of existing nuclear assets as businesses seek reliable, carbon-free electricity through long-term power agreements.
Earlier, in June 2025, Constellation signed a 20-year agreement to supply Meta with 1,121 MW of emissions-free nuclear power from the Clinton Clean Energy Center starting in 2027. The deal supports the plant's continued operations, funds upgrades that add 30 MW of capacity and generates $13.5 million in annual tax revenues.
The company's long-term PPA agreements with Meta and Walmart demonstrate the rising importance of its nuclear fleet in meeting growing clean energy demand. Constellation is well-positioned to secure more long-term power agreements as companies accelerate their carbon reduction efforts.
Constellation, by improving the performance of its existing nuclear plants and making strategic investments, will be able to accommodate more PPAs with customers in the long run, which in turn will boost earnings and cash flow.
Long-Term PPAs Drive Future GrowthLong-term PPAs provide stable, predictable revenues, shield companies from wholesale electricity price volatility and facilitate investment in new power generation projects. They also strengthen customer relationships and create opportunities for capacity expansion, ultimately supporting long-term earnings growth and shareholder value.
On Feb. 24, 2026, AES Corporation (AES - Free Report) stated that it has entered into a 20-year PPA with Google to develop co-located energy projects for a new data center in Texas.
On Feb. 9, 2026, TotalEnergies (TTE - Free Report) announced it has entered into two 15-year power purchase agreements with Google to supply 1 gigawatt of solar power from projects under development in Texas.
CEG’s Earnings EstimatesThe Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2026 and 2027 EPS indicates an increase of 25.03% and 16.02%, respectively, year over year.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
CEG’s Returns on Equity (ROE)Constellation's trailing-12-month ROE is 16.81%, ahead of the industry average of 7.15%.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
CEG’s Stock Price PerformanceIn the past month, the company’s shares have plunged 0.6% against the industry’s 1% growth.
FDA vydala společnosti Lantheus úplný zamítavý dopis k LNTH-2501 kvůli nevyřešeným výrobním podmínkám u třetí strany. Agentura neuvedla žádné problémy s daty, bezpečností ani účinností.
FDA Issues Complete Response Letter For Lantheus Imaging AgentThe FDA stated unresolved third-party facility manufacturing-related conditions.
The third-party facility is responsible for drug product manufacturing. Satisfactory resolution of the unresolved facility inspection-related conditions is required before the LNTH-2501 NDA may be approved.
The CRL did not identify any concerns regarding the data submitted by Lantheus in support of the application, nor did it identify any issues related to the safety or efficacy of LNTH-2501.
In March, the FDA extended the PDUFA date for LNTH-2501 by three months to June 29, 2026, to allow additional time to review manufacturing-related information.
The agency said that the standard review extension is not related to the efficacy or safety data of LNTH-2501.
William Blair Delays Octevy Sales ForecastWilliam Blair on Monday wrote, “While we are disappointed by the setback, we are encouraged that the complete response letter (CRL) does not appear to be clinical in nature.”
In light of the CRL, analyst Andy Hsieh pushed back initial sales of Octevy by one year in the model to the first quarter of 2028 from the first quarter of 2027 previously.
Octevy is a PET diagnostic imaging agent for certain neuroendocrine tumors.
Analyst Highlights Improving Fundamentals, Growth CatalystsTaking a step back, William Blair wrote that the fundamentals for Lantheus are improving as the company navigates through challenging pricing dynamics before transitioning the market to Pylarify TruVu at the end of the year.
The analyst said that the ongoing launch of Neuraceq, coupled with the anticipated approval of MK-6240 (tau-directed diagnostic PET agent for Alzheimer’s disease), provides multiple drivers to reinvigorate top-line growth.
LNTH Price Action: Lantheus Holdings shares were trading down 0.50% at $109.25 at the time of publication on Monday. The stock is trading near its 52-week high of $111.46, according to Benzinga Pro data.
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Bývalý CTO Ripple David Schwartz uvedl, že riziko sandwich útoků na XRP Ledger je reálné, ale přehnané. Navrhl jednoduchý 2krokový rezervační systém, který by chránil obchody před front-runningem.
Ripple ex-CTO David Schwartz has pushed back on claims that the XRP Ledger leaves everyday traders exposed to sandwich attacks, saying the risk is real but overstated.
Concerns surfaced on X after an account argued that validators and well-connected nodes gain a timing edge by observing pending transactions before each ledger closes. Sophisticated actors can then calculate whether front-running a trade is profitable, and spam multiple transactions to secure a favorable slot in the canonical order.
Sandwich Attack Mechanics on the XRP LedgerTransaction ordering on the XRP Ledger uses a deterministic formula involving transaction hashes. That formula is public. This lets actors position transactions ahead of a target trade on the XRP Ledger DEX and AMM, worsening slippage for ordinary users.
Concerns arose that the issue creates an uneven playing field, particularly for traders using popular wallets and decentralized applications.
Concerns have been raised about the possibility of front running or transaction sandwich attacks on XRPL payments and offer crossing.
For the reasons I've explained, I'm not that concerned about this issue. But I have a proposal for a fairly simple scheme that would eliminate… https://t.co/lnhTv1bhBK
— David 'JoelKatz' Schwartz (@JoelKatz) June 29, 2026 David Schwartz. Source: XSchwartz Says Validators Cannot Act QuietlySchwartz acknowledged the concern but pointed to several mitigating factors, drawing on his earlier positions in XRP Ledger design debates. First, pending transactions are publicly visible to everyone before a ledger closes. No party holds exclusive early access. Second, a single validator gains no meaningful advantage. Coordinating multiple validators would leave clear evidence, since validators sign all proposals and validations.
“Running a validator does not help you do this unless multiple validators conspire. If multiple validators did conspire, or a single validator attempted it, it would be very obvious to everyone exactly who was doing this and that validator would be immediately removed from everyone’s trust lists.”
Schwartz also noted that confirmed attacks, beyond proof-of-concept testing, remain unreported. The core economic barrier is straightforward. Profitable attacks need high liquidity to justify the effort and low liquidity to move the price. Those two conditions rarely coincide. Recent XRP Ledger institutional privacy work addresses a related concern at the data layer.
A 2-Step Reservation Scheme for the XRP LedgerFor traders who want firmer guarantees, Schwartz outlined a transaction reservation approach. A user first broadcasts a reservation specifying a future ledger sequence number, a transaction ID, and a small fee. If that reservation confirms, the actual trade executes before any transaction submitted after the reservation went public. The approach requires two submissions per protected trade.
The method complements XRP Ledger privacy transfer proposals by targeting front-running at the execution layer rather than at the data layer.
XRP continues to trade well below its all-time high as attention turns to whether fairness improvements like this could support longer-term adoption.
XRPLF a VS1 Finance spouštějí na XRP Ledger suverénní open-source referenční aplikaci pro povolené úvěrování s vestavěnou compliance. VS1 zároveň míří na tokenizaci dluhopisů.
XRPLF and VS1 Finance Team Up on Permissioned LendingThe XRP Ledger Foundation (@XRPLF) has partnered with @vs1_finance to develop a sovereign, open-source reference application for permissioned lending on the $XRP Ledger. The collaboration positions VS1 as one of the first platforms to build directly on the ledger's newest institutional-grade infrastructure, combining compliance tooling with native on-chain credit mechanics.
The protocol leans on two core XRPL primitives: Credentials and Permissioned Domains. Permissioned Domains allow features such as lending protocols to restrict and manage access, so traditional financial institutions can offer services on-chain while complying with various compliance rules. Credentials, linked to Decentralized Identifiers, enable trusted issuers to attest to attributes such as KYC status, accreditation, or regulatory permissions. Their real power comes as a foundational building block within XRPL's broader identity stack, enabling permissioned domains, regulated DEXs, and compliant access to tokenized assets and lending markets.
Together, these primitives ensure that only participants meeting institutional-grade compliance standards can access on-chain liquidity through the VS1 application.
Single Asset Vaults and Bond TokenizationThe framework also integrates two recently introduced XRPL amendments: Single Asset Vaults (XLS-65) and the native XRPL Lending Protocol (XLS-66). Single Asset Vaults aggregate liquidity and issue vault shares that can be transferable or non-transferable depending on configuration. The Lending Protocol then builds on these vaults to enable fixed-term, uncollateralized loans with pre-set amortization schedules, while underwriting and risk management remain off-chain, where institutions already have mature models.
RippleX has confirmed that several institutional participants, including VS1.Finance, are already preparing to build on top of the Single Asset Vault and Lending Protocol. VS1 has noted it is applying Single Asset Vault and Lending Protocol to enable bond tokenization, going beyond simple credit use cases.
VS1 describes itself as the first AI-powered institutional DeFi hub on the XRP Ledger, building a regulated DeFi platform that combines institutional-grade swaps, lending, and AI-powered yield generation with portfolio intelligence tools for financial institutions and investors. VS1's first issuance, a corporate bond under the National Bank of Georgia's regulatory sandbox, is scheduled for Q3 2026.
The partnership reflects a broader shift on XRPL toward production-ready institutional infrastructure. Real-world assets on the XRP Ledger more than doubled last quarter, reaching an all-time high of $2.25 billion, up 124% in three months. With compliance primitives now live and a native lending protocol advancing through validator consensus, the ledger is moving from experimentation to regulated financial infrastructure at scale.
Bloom Energy letos vzrostla téměř o 275 % díky poptávce po AI infrastruktuře a novým zakázkám na palivové články. V prvním čtvrtletí tržby stouply o 130,4 % na 751,1 milionu USD.
Bloom Energy's (BE +7.03%) stock has transformed from being an overlooked fuel cell company to one of the most closely watched artificial intelligence (AI)-driven power plays.
Shares of the company are up nearly 275% so far in 2026, pushing the market capitalization to about $93 billion. This is a steep valuation for a company guiding for $3.4 billion to $3.8 billion in fiscal 2026 revenue.
So the question is whether Bloom's AI power opportunity can justify its valuation.
Image source: Getty Images.
Bloom is solving a real AI infrastructure problem AI data centers need massive amounts of reliable power, and the electricity grid cannot always provide it quickly. The International Energy Agency expects global data center electricity use to roughly double from 2024 levels to around 945 terawatt-hours by 2030.
Bloom's on-site fuel cell systems are increasingly relevant, as they can help customers add power faster than waiting for new grid infrastructure. Oracle has already signed up for an initial 1.2 gigawatts of Bloom's fuel cell capacity for projects in the U.S., with the broader agreement leaving room for that figure to rise to as much as 2.8 gigawatts. The company claimed that it delivered a fully operational Oracle fuel cell system in just 55 days in 2025, ahead of the expected 90-day schedule.
Oracle, BorderPlex Digital Assets, and Bloom's Project Jupiter further strengthen the story. The New Mexico AI data center campus is expected to use up to 2.45 gigawatts of Bloom fuel cell capacity instead of planned gas turbines and diesel generators. The setup could provide faster onsite power, dramatically lower local emissions, and use negligible water.
Additionally, Brookfield Asset Management plans to invest up to $5 billion to deploy Bloom's technology for AI infrastructure. American Electric Power has agreed to buy up to 1 gigawatt of Bloom fuel cells, starting with a 100-megawatt order. Hence, electric utility companies and infrastructure investors are also seriously considering Bloom.
The financials are also improving. In the first quarter , Bloom's revenue rose 130.4% year over year to $751.1 million. Gross margin reached 30%, operating margin was 17.3%, and operating cash flow was $73.6 million. Bloom also exited fiscal 2025 with roughly $6 billion of product backlog and $14 billion of service backlog.
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Risks cannot be ignored Bloom currently trades at a rich valuation of nearly 38 times trailing 12-month sales. The company is also exposed to significant customer concentration risk. In Q1, two customers accounted for about 50% and 12% of total revenue.
So while Bloom has become a major AI infrastructure supplier with strong customer validation and rapidly improving numbers, the easy money may already have been made after its sharp 2026 rally. Investors interested in the stock may be better off building a position gradually, rather than buying aggressively after such a large move.
Manali Pradhan, CFA has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Bloom Energy, Brookfield Asset Management, and Oracle. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
Ripple posouvá XRPL do institucionálního lendingu prostřednictvím XLS-66 a XLS-65, které umožňují automatizované úvěry z poolovaných vkladů. Návrh už prošel opětovným auditem společnosti Halborn a čeká na hlasování validátorů.
Ripple is pushing the XRP Ledger into institutional lending territory with the XLS-66 Lending Protocol, paired with XLS-65 Single Asset Vaults, a framework that enables fixed-term credit facilities funded by pooled deposits and settled automatically on-ledger. Institutions put assets into a vault, borrowers draw from that pool on defined terms, and the ledger handles repayment mechanics without a middleman touching the money.
The underwriting still happens off-chain. Risk assessment, credit decisions, compliance checks: all conducted before anything touches the ledger. Once approved, execution is automated.
How the protocol actually works Single Asset Vaults, defined under XLS-65, are the deposit side of the equation. Liquidity providers deposit into these vaults, which then fund fixed-term loans to institutional borrowers.
The loans themselves are uncollateralized in the traditional crypto sense. There is no overcollateralization requirement like you would see on Aave or Compound. Instead, underwriting happens through off-chain credit assessment, which means the protocol is explicitly designed for institutions that can be evaluated like real-world borrowers, not anonymous wallets.
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The protocol also integrates with Multi-Purpose Tokens, XRPL’s flexible tokenization standard, as well as Credentials and Permissioned Domains, features that allow the ledger to enforce compliance rules at the infrastructure level. An institution can participate only if it meets the criteria embedded in the domain.
Rippled v3.1.0, which shipped in late January 2026, moved the Lending Protocol amendment into validator voting. The amendment has since received a re-audit by Halborn, a blockchain security firm, clearing one of the last major technical hurdles before broader deployment.
The tokenized RWA context Tokenized RWAs on the ledger exceeded $3 billion in value by late April 2026, according to RWA.xyz data. That figure represents a 59% increase in a single month. The growth is being driven by two main asset classes: energy-backed tokens and Ondo Finance’s tokenized US Treasuries.
Energy-backed tokens represent physical energy assets, typically tied to production or reserves, that have been tokenized for on-chain trading and financing.
Evernorth, a firm holding a significant quantity of XRP, publicly announced in January 2026 its intent to participate in the Lending Protocol once live. The firm’s interest is straightforward: deposit XRP holdings into vaults, earn yield from borrower interest.
What this means for XRPL’s competitive position The institutional DeFi space is not empty. Ethereum has a substantial head start in DeFi infrastructure, and networks like Avalanche and Polygon have also made dedicated pushes toward institutional adoption. What XRPL is betting on is that compliance-native infrastructure, meaning a ledger where permissioned access and credential verification are built into the base layer rather than bolted on top, will matter more to regulated institutions than raw liquidity depth.
The Halborn re-audit is part of that story. Institutional risk teams want documented security reviews before they allocate, and XRPL has now cleared that bar for the lending layer.
For XRP as an asset, the lending protocol introduces a new demand variable. Vault deposits denominated in XRP create holding incentives that go beyond simple speculation. If institutions are depositing XRP to earn yield, that represents a category of demand that is less sensitive to short-term price volatility and more tied to the protocol’s utilization rate.
Disclosure: This article was edited by Editorial Team. For more information on how we create and review content, see our Editorial Policy.
Bitmine Immersion Technologies (NYSE: $BMNR), chaired by @fundstrat's Tom Lee, has expanded its sovereign Ethereum reserve to 5,700,040 $ETH, placing the firm in control of 4.7% of the total circulating supply of 120.7 million tokens, according to a filing with the SEC.
World's Largest Corporate ETH TreasuryThe company's combined crypto, cash, and marketable securities holdings stand at $9.8 billion, cementing its position as the world's largest corporate Ethereum treasury. Bitmine's crypto holdings rank as the number one Ethereum treasury and number two global crypto treasury, behind Strategy Inc. (NASDAQ: MSTR). The firm has set an explicit target it calls the "alchemy of 5%," aiming to hold 5% of all circulating $ETH sometime in 2026. As of its latest disclosure, Bitmine is 94% of the way to that goal in just 11 months.
A significant portion of those holdings is already put to work. The company has 4,879,157 ETH staked, representing $7.7 billion at $1,569 per ETH, through its MAVAN (Made in America VAlidator Network) platform. Annualized staking revenues are projected at around $230 million.
Russell 1000 Inclusion and $BMNP Preferred Stock Bitmine was added to the Russell 1000 Index, with the inclusion becoming effective following the 2026 Russell U.S. Index reconstitution. The Russell 1000 is one of the main U.S. large-cap equity benchmarks, and inclusion typically brings fresh demand from funds that track it, increasing liquidity in the stock.
The company has also bolstered its balance sheet through the capital markets. On June 10, Bitmine closed an offering of 3,500,000 shares of its 9.50% Series A Perpetual Preferred Stock at $80.00 per share, receiving net proceeds of approximately $273.8 million after underwriting discounts and expenses. The Series A Preferred Stock trades on the NYSE under the symbol $BMNP, with dividends scheduled to be paid weekly. The company intends to use the proceeds to buy more Ethereum and other digital assets and scale its MAVAN staking and validator infrastructure.
On the broader strategic outlook, Lee has pointed to tokenization and artificial intelligence as key demand drivers for Ethereum. "The best years for crypto remain ahead, in our view. Tokenization and the rapid progress in AI are expected to drive exponential demand growth for blockchain and decentralized crypto," Lee stated.
Sources:
Bitmine SEC Form 8-K Filing, June 2026
Bitmine Press Release via PR Newswire, June 22, 2026
BitMine, Upexi Secure Russell Index Inclusion, The Crypto Times
Chainalysis uvedla, že útok reverse honeypot připravil Ethereum sandwich bota JaredfromSubway.eth o nejméně 7,5 milionu USD. Útočník zneužil jeho vlastní obchodní logiku a odčerpal Ether i stablecoiny.
Blockchain analytics firm Chainalysis has published an in-depth examination of a sophisticated exploit that drained at least $7.5 million from JaredfromSubway.eth, widely regarded as Ethereum’s most active sandwich-attack operator. According to insights from Chainalysis, the incident unfolded over June 20–21, 2026, when an unknown attacker used a reverse honeypot to turn the bot’s own aggressive trading logic against it.
As explained by Chainalysis, these so-called sandwich attacks are a common maximal extractable value (MEV) tactic on Ethereum.
Bots monitor the public mempool for pending user transactions and insert their own orders around them.
They typically buy a token immediately before the victim’s purchase to push the price higher, then sell right after, profiting from the resulting slippage while the original trader receives a worse execution price.
JaredfromSubway.eth, operating pseudonymously since 2023, built one of the most successful versions of this strategy.
At its peak, the bot was among the network’s largest gas consumers and was estimated to have cost other traders roughly $60 million annually in unfavorable trades while generating tens of millions in profits for its operator.
The June exploit began weeks earlier when the attacker deployed 66 fake token contracts that closely mimicked legitimate assets such as WETH, USDC, and USDT.
These were paired with fabricated liquidity pools engineered to appear as profitable sandwich opportunities.
JaredfromSubway.eth’s bot, optimized for rapid detection of mempool activity, repeatedly interacted with the deceptive contracts.
In doing so, it granted token-spending approvals to the malicious smart contracts.
These approvals were never revoked and accumulated across multiple transactions.
Once sufficient approvals were in place, a tripwire smart contract controlled by the attacker activated.
A single coordinated transaction then swept the bot’s wallets, extracting approximately $7.5 million in Ether and stablecoins.
Chainalysis tracked the subsequent flow using its on-chain tools: the attacker quickly swapped the stablecoins for Ether to reduce freeze risk from issuers, distributed the funds across several wallets, and routed them through Tornado Cash. No recoveries have been reported.
The attack succeeded because the bot granted spending permissions to contracts it never properly vetted.
Chainalysis notes that the operator prioritized speed over basic due diligence, such as checking contract verification status on Etherscan or reviewing deployment history.
This oversight allowed the fake pools to function as an effective honeypot.
The incident carries broader lessons for DeFi participants.
Token approvals function as ongoing permissions that can remain active indefinitely unless explicitly revoked.
Many users—retail traders and automated systems alike—grant broad or unlimited spending rights to contracts they have never reviewed.
Chainalysis highlights the risks of interacting with newly deployed or unverified liquidity pools that lack an established track record.
The firm recommends regularly revoking unused approvals and exercising caution with unfamiliar contracts before approving any spending rights.
Even highly optimized MEV bots are not immune to deception when security hygiene is neglected.
The JaredfromSubway.eth case demonstrates that the same on-chain mechanisms enabling profitable trading can be weaponized by attackers who understand how these systems operate. As Chainalysis observes, protecting against such exploits requires consistent attention to approvals and contract verification, practices that apply equally to sophisticated operators and everyday DeFi users.
