NVIDIA (NASDAQ:NVDA | NVDA Price Prediction) has become the defining name of the AI infrastructure buildout. The question dominating investor inboxes is whether the stock can punch through $300 before year-end. Our answer, based on our proprietary model, is no.
Our 24/7 Wall St. price target for NVIDIA is $258.38, implying 27.4% upside from the current price of $202.81. We rate NVDA a buy with a 90% confidence level.
Metric Value Current Price $202.81 24/7 Wall St. Price Target $258.38 Upside 27.4% Recommendation BUY Confidence Level 90% Why NVDA Cooled Off Into July NVIDIA is up 8.88% year to date and 17.38% over the past year, but shares have slipped 3.86% in the last week and sit 28% below the 52-week high of $236.26.
The pullback follows a blowout Q1 FY27 report: revenue of $81.61 billion beat estimates by 3.16% and grew 85.2% year over year, with Data Center revenue of $75.25 billion up 92%. Management guided Q2 revenue to $91 billion at the midpoint.
Reuters-cited reporting on Google promoting its TPUs and headlines about Japanese firms exploring South Korean NPU alternatives have pressured sentiment, even as Munich Re raised its NVDA position 12.5% and made it their largest holding.
The Case for $268 and Beyond Our bull case lands at $268.52 over the next twelve months, with Wall Street targets clustered around $302.31 and 58 Buy ratings against just 2 Holds and 1 Sell. The Blackwell 300 ramp, the Vera Rubin platform announcement, and multi-generation commitments from Meta, OpenAI (10GW deployment), and CoreWeave (5GW by 2030) frame a Data Center run-rate that could push forward EPS well past $8.26.
Jensen Huang described the AI factory buildout as “the largest infrastructure expansion in human history.” If China DC compute revenue returns and gross margin holds near the 75% guided level, the multiple can expand and $290 becomes reachable.
What Could Go Wrong Our bear case sits at $225.11. Risks include $119 billion in supply commitments, TSMC concentration, export restrictions that keep China DC compute at zero in guidance, and rising custom-silicon threats from Google’s TPUs and hyperscaler in-house chips.
NVDA has beaten earnings five straight quarters yet posted an average day-of reaction of -1.58%, a classic sell-the-news pattern. The recent post-earnings drawdown coincided with broad market weakness, and the $80 billion buyback authorization and dividend hike from $0.01 to $0.25 signal management’s confidence in the through-cycle earnings trajectory.
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How NVIDIA Compares to AMD and Broadcom Advanced Micro Devices (NASDAQ:AMD) is the most direct GPU competitor and just beat with 37.8% YoY revenue growth. AMD trades at a forward P/E of 69 against NVIDIA’s 23, which makes NVDA look cheap on forward earnings despite the mega-cap dampening in our model.
Broadcom (NASDAQ:AVGO) is the closest custom-silicon comp given its hyperscaler ASIC work, and it trades at a forward P/E of 20 with 47.9% quarterly revenue growth.
Company Forward P/E Quarterly Revenue Growth NVIDIA 23 85.2% AMD 69 37.8% Broadcom 20 47.9% NVDA grows fastest, prints the highest margins in the group, and trades at a forward multiple only slightly above Broadcom’s despite roughly double the growth rate.
Buy It Here, Just Not for $300 by December Our 24/7 Wall St. price target of $258.38 with a buy rating and 90% confidence reflects a straightforward view: NVIDIA remains the highest-quality way to own the AI capex cycle, but the math to $300 in six months requires multiple expansion that the market is not underwriting today.
I’d be a buyer here if Q2 FY27 guidance again lands above the $91 billion bar and China DC compute reopens. I’d stay patient if hyperscaler custom-silicon disclosures accelerate this fall.
Looking further ahead, here is where our model projects NVIDIA could trade in the coming years, assuming current growth trajectories and market conditions hold.
Year 24/7 Wall St. Price Target 2026 (year-end) $240 2027 $258 2028 $310 2029 $360 2030 $410 These projections assume NVIDIA continues executing on Blackwell, Vera Rubin, and hyperscaler partnerships. Significant upside or downside could result from a China market reopening, a breakthrough in customer custom silicon, or a broader capex pause across the top five AI buyers.
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Ray Dalio's Bridgewater Associates continues to hold heavy stakes in the mega-cap technology names powering the AI buildout, and three of the most closely watched positions are Amazon, NVIDIA, and Alphabet.
Nvidia NVDA stock traded modestly higher on Monday, but investor attention is increasingly shifting toward the upcoming earnings season, where major technology companies are expected to provide fresh updates on artificial intelligence spending.
Shares of the AI chipmaker rose 0.93% to $204.69 on Monday, although the gain trailed the 1.8% advance in the PHLX Semiconductor Index.
Nvidia has underperformed the broader market, with the S&P 500 posting a 9% year-to-date gain against Nvidia's 8% gain.
The stock had declined 2.2% on Friday and narrowly held onto its position as the world's most valuable publicly traded company after Apple briefly overtook it by market capitalization before Nvidia regained the lead.
With Nvidia scheduled to report earnings later in the season, investors are looking to its largest customers for signals on future AI infrastructure spending.
Alphabet is set to kick off earnings for major technology companies on Wednesday, making its results an early indicator of whether hyperscalers remain committed to investing heavily in AI hardware.
AI spending outlook remains the key catalystWall Street continues to view spending plans from large technology companies as the biggest near-term catalyst for Nvidia shares.
Strong commitments to AI infrastructure could reinforce demand for Nvidia's processors, while any signs of slower capital expenditure may increase investor concerns following the recent pullback in semiconductor stocks.
KeyBanc analyst John Vinh acknowledged Nvidia's leadership position but noted that investors remain cautious about several factors affecting sentiment.
“Street sentiment on the name is mixed, while Nvidia is the clear leader in Gen ai, concerns surround delays in Vera Rubin ramp timing and increasing competitive pressures,” Vinh wrote in a research note on Sunday.
Vinh maintained an Overweight rating on Nvidia stock with a $330 price target.
Competition within the AI hardware market also continues to intensify.
Startup Etched, which develops chips designed for AI inference workloads, is reportedly preparing to quadruple its valuation to approximately $20 billion in a new funding round led by existing investor Jane Street, according to a Wall Street Journal report.
Wall Street remains constructive despite sector volatilityDespite recent volatility across semiconductor stocks, several Wall Street firms continue to express confidence in Nvidia's long-term outlook.
Oppenheimer included Nvidia and Lam Research among the largest companies featured in its latest "best of the best" momentum screen.
The firm's proprietary Momentum Overlay scoring system ranks stocks based on risk-adjusted returns over six-, nine-, and 12-month periods while excluding the most recent month.
According to Oppenheimer, companies included in the screen carry Outperform ratings and Buy trend assessments.
Morgan Stanley also described the recent semiconductor selloff as an attractive buying opportunity.
According to a CNBC report, Morgan Stanley analyst Joseph Moore said the firm's preferred AI investments remain compute-focused companies such as Nvidia and Broadcom.
While maintaining its preference for AI compute leaders, Moore also said memory stocks have become increasingly attractive following the recent correction, describing them as a “compelling entry point.”
The upcoming earnings season is expected to provide investors with greater clarity on enterprise AI demand, capital spending plans, and whether Nvidia's largest customers remain committed to expanding their AI infrastructure investments.
Those updates could play a significant role in determining the next direction for Nvidia shares.
Philippine Airlines, a Southeast Asian carrier, plans to purchase as many as 20 Boeing (BA) 787-10 Dreamliners, marking its first direct aircraft order from the
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Stablecoins were supposed to make payment networks less necessary. Visa’s new stablecoin platform, introduced Thursday (July 16), suggests a messier outcome.
The move comes on the heels of Visa’s June announcement that it had joined a 140-plus member Open Standard consortium to launch Open USD (OUSD), a dollar-backed stablecoin.
The technical act of transferring a stablecoin is relatively simple. The institutional act of operating with one is not. In a future that progresses linearly from now, stablecoins may not bypass the networks after all. They may become another product the networks package, govern and monetize.
Visa’s new Visa Stablecoin Platform (VSP), now in beta with select clients, gives financial institutions, FinTechs and crypto companies a single managed environment for minting, redeeming, holding and transferring stablecoins. The platform initially supports Open USD and includes wallet infrastructure, bank-account connectivity and institutional controls such as dual approvals, audit logs, secure passkeys and transfer allow lists.
The immediate product pitch is about simplifying stablecoin adoption. The more consequential strategic move is that Visa is positioning itself to manage the operating environment around on-chain money, even when the underlying value no longer travels through a conventional card transaction.
Blockchains provide the settlement rail. Stablecoins provide the digital asset. But neither automatically provides the permissions, workflows, reporting and interoperability that regulated businesses need. Those functions sit above the blockchain, and Visa is attempting to turn them into a managed service.
See also: Nobody Told the ERP That Blockchain Won
The Real Product Is Not the Stablecoin, It’s the Reconciliation Much of the early stablecoin market was organized around individual issuers, wallets and networks. Institutions had to choose an asset, select one or more blockchains, arrange custody or wallet infrastructure and assemble the compliance and fiat connections around them. That fragmentation created an adoption problem. The more stablecoin and blockchain options emerged, the more integration decisions an institution had to make.
Fast forward to today, and stablecoins may change how money moves without substantially changing who makes that movement usable. Stripe’s failed bid for PayPal had a similar strategic element to Visa’s VSP launch in that the acquisition, had it been successful, aimed to abstract away the infrastructure around stablecoin payments then ultimately sell the resulting capability to businesses and merchants.
A bank or FinTech can’t just go ahead and create a wallet, buy digital dollars and begin moving corporate liquidity across a blockchain. It must determine who has authority to initiate a transaction, who must approve it, which destinations are permitted, how private credentials are protected and how every action will be reconstructed for compliance teams, auditors and regulators. To do that, the bank or fintech must also connect any blockchain activity to bank accounts, treasury systems, liquidity controls and existing accounting processes.
These less glamorous requirements are becoming a potentially valuable enterprise software category.
Read more: Open USD Just Turned the Stablecoin Race Into an Ecosystem Contest
Payment Networks Can Sit Above Everyone Else’s Blockchain Rails The stablecoin debate has often been framed as a competition between legacy payment infrastructure and blockchain-based alternatives. Visa’s platform suggests the lines may be less distinct. The winning stablecoin infrastructure is likely to be the infrastructure that makes the underlying asset and blockchain least visible to the institution using them. This is also something that industry experts have separately and repeatedly stressed in conversation with PYMNTS.
Established payment companies can adopt blockchain settlement while retaining control over the customer relationship, compliance framework and operating interface. Crypto firms can gain access to institutional clients without having to recreate the global distribution and risk-management capabilities of a major network.
The result could be less disruption than recombination.
Tempo Go-To-Market Lead Dan Romero argued on an earlier episode of “From the Block,” the PYMNTS podcast hosted by CEO Karen Webster and Citi Global Head of Digital Assets, Treasury and Trade Solutions Ryan Rugg, that cryptocurrency has evolved into what he called a “barbell economy” split between speculative markets and real-world payments rails.
The survivors in digital assets, Romero said, are the businesses focused on a far less ideological problem: moving money better. Many of crypto’s most ambitious consumer experiments, from decentralized social networks to mass-market apps, never gained traction. Romero himself spent years building Farcaster, a decentralized social protocol, before concluding that much of the sector’s consumer vision “didn’t work.”
“Most of what has happened in crypto over the last decade has not really impacted the real world,” he said.
See more: Stablecoins Are Just Wildcat Banking With Better Wi-Fi
The direction of travel across the stablecoin landscape is a revealing one. Visa is not treating stablecoins merely as a faster settlement instrument or a threat to card volume. It is treating them as a new category of enterprise money that requires distribution, governance and operational tooling.
The card networks became powerful by standardizing how institutions connected to electronic payments. Stablecoins give Visa an opportunity to repeat that play at a different layer of the financial system.
Still, the PYMNTS Intelligence report “Waiting for Certainty: Why Most CFOs Are Holding Back on Crypto and Stablecoins,” the March installment of the 2026 Certainty Project, showed that most middle-market companies remain cautious about digital assets. Usage is limited, with 13% of firms using stablecoins and 5% employing other cryptocurrencies.
A Ford electrician who was fired over false allegations that he stole a $1.95 cookie is preparing to take legal action against the automaker and its cafeteria operator Aramark, The Post has learned.
Kurt Kromm, 60, who spent 11 years repairing robots and automated equipment at Ford’s Kentucky Truck Plant in Louisville, Ky., says he was wrongly branded a thief after a self-checkout kiosk appeared to show he failed to pay for a two-pack of Grandma’s Chocolate Chip Cookies during an overnight shift in May.
Ford ultimately reinstated Kromm, paid him roughly $33,000 in back wages and offered him his job back after he produced bank records showing the $1.95 transaction had gone through.
Kurt Kromm has retained a lawyer after he was unceremoniously fired by Ford earlier this year. But Kromm rejected the offer, telling The Post earlier this month: “I can’t come back to a company that just fired me like this and not give me any chance to show I paid.”
Kromm has now retained Kentucky attorney J. Will Huber, who plans to send a demand letter to Ford and Aramark this week.
“The accusations of theft made against him were absolutely false,” Huber said in a statement provided to The Post.
“The proof of his innocence was available to or in the possession of both Aramark and Ford from the very start.”
Kromm was fired after being falsely accused of stealing a $1.95 package of chocolate chip cookies similar to the ones pictured above. Frito-Lay North America, Inc. Huber added that Kromm “paid, but he was nevertheless labeled a thief and removed from the plant he devoted 11 years of his career to,” calling the companies’ handling of the incident “unacceptable” and saying the facts “give rise to substantial legal claims” that Kromm intends to pursue “to the fullest extent of the law.”
“We don’t comment on the specifics of pending litigation,” a Ford spokesperson told The Post.
“We are working to review the limited instances where Aramark kiosk issues have been raised.”
“We do not comment on potential litigation,” an Aramark spokesperson told The Post.
“We remain focused on operating with integrity and accountability.”
The bizarre saga was first reported by journalist Phoebe Wall Howard’s Substack newsletter Shifting Gears.
Kromm, who is diabetic, told The Post his blood sugar had dropped to 60 around 3:30 a.m. on May 9, prompting him to buy the cookies at an Aramark self-checkout kiosk inside the factory.
A glitch in the Aramark self-checkout kiosk inside Ford’s Kentucky Truck Plant led to Kromm’s firing. He said the payment terminal flashed a red error message after he swiped his debit card. He swiped again, but while the screen never displayed the usual green approval checkmark, it also didn’t reject the transaction.
“I figured, well, it probably went through,” Kromm said. “This was so inconsequential to me — $1.95. I figured I paid.”
A week later, supervisors summoned him to a labor office and informed him he was being fired for allegedly stealing the cookies.
“The bargainer says, ‘This is bad,'” Kromm recalled. “I said, ‘For what?’ They said, ‘They want to terminate you for taking a cookie.’ I was like, ‘What are you talking about?'”
Kromm said he was immediately escorted from the plant and not allowed to retrieve his belongings.
Days later, after asking a former co-worker to photograph the kiosk showing the cookie’s correct price, Kromm found the matching $1.95 charge on his bank statement and sent screenshots to Ford and union officials.
The company later demanded a notarized bank statement before reinstating him with full back pay.
Kromm was canned despite showing proof that he paid for the cookies. Despite being made whole financially, Kromm said he couldn’t return.
“There was no apology. There was no serious, ‘We’re sorry,'” he told The Post. “I expected to work for Ford until I retired. … This was tremendously difficult for me, but I couldn’t go back.”
Legal experts who spoke to The Post were divided over Kromm’s prospects.
New York civil litigation attorney Imran Ansari said Kromm “may certainly have successful claims against Ford for wrongful termination” and argued the strongest aspect of the case may be a defamation claim because a false accusation of theft can cause lasting reputational harm.
Ansari added Aramark could also face liability if it was responsible for the erroneous allegation that Kromm failed to pay.
Kromm has said he would not return to Ford’s Kentucky Truck Plant in Louisville. Bloomberg via Getty Images But Chicago trial lawyer Andrew Stoltmann was more skeptical.
“I think that’s going to be a pretty weak case. I won’t say frivolous, but it is at least nearing that level,” Stoltmann told The Post.
“He might be able to get a technical win, but I don’t think there’s going to be a jackpot of money for him at the end of the rainbow.”
Stoltmann said Kromm faces an uphill battle because Ford reinstated him and made him financially whole, limiting the damages that typically drive wrongful-termination lawsuits.
While Kromm may be able to argue that the theft accusation harmed his reputation, Stoltmann said the company’s decision to offer him his job back likely mitigates much of that damage.
The Post has sought comment from Kromm and the United Auto Workers.
GE Aerospace CEO Larry Culp used a Farnborough Air Show appearance on CNBC this morning to spotlight its advanced technology and strong second-quarter results. GE Aerospace (NYSE:GE | GE Price Prediction) said its testbed aircraft flew across the Atlantic under partial hybrid electric power to reach the show, then delivered a Q2 report that put commercial services growth, engine deliveries, and aftermarket spare parts all on the same steep trajectory.
Culp framed the flight as a technology proof point. “We had the first ever high altitude hybrid electric flight crossing the Atlantic to bring that plane here. This is a first of its kind. And as you might imagine, we’re terribly excited,” he said, describing the SAAB A340 testbed program run in collaboration with Boeing (NYSE:BA), Beta Technologies, and NASA. He was careful to set realistic expectations: “Hybrid electric is a key part of that. So nothing imminent in terms of a product launch. But this is a strong proof point that hybrid electric will be part of that next generation commercial offering.“
The Numbers Behind the Headline GE Aerospace saw revenues increase 21% in the quarter, and earnings per share were up 22% year over year. Total engine deliveries were up 31% in the first half of the year, and aftermarket spare parts revenues were up over 30% in the same window. Commercial Engines & Services were up 27% to $9.73 billion, and Defense & Propulsion Technologies were up 16% to $3.44 billion. Free cash flow reached $3.03 billion.
Management lifted full-year 2026 guidance to adjusted EPS of $7.65 to $7.85, operating profit of $10.55 to $10.75 billion, and free cash flow of $8.90 to $9.20 billion.
A $210 Billion Order Book The demand signal driving those numbers is a backlog Culp put at $210 billion between new engines and aftermarket services. “Customers that we talk to are very keen to see us continue to ramp in partnership with our airframe partners,” he said. That ramp is tied directly to Boeing, whose 737 program is running at 42 per month and 787 program at 8 per month, with a Boeing commercial backlog of $695 billion. LEAP engines power the 737 MAX, and GEnx powers the 787.
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Q2 also brought LEAP engine deliveries up 24%, with recent commercial wins including a Copa Airlines agreement for up to 120 LEAP-1B engines and a Turkish Aerospace agreement for F404 engines on the HÜRJET trainer.
Durability Kits and Time on Wing Culp also updated investors on the LEAP durability kit rollout, a fix aimed at improving time on wing in hot and harsh operating environments. “Our narrowbody engine, our LEAP engine, saw a durability kit introduced last year on the Airbus version of that engine. We’ve got 40% of the fleet retrofitted already performing very well,” he said. GE has previously said the LEAP-1B durability kit is now certified, targeting roughly a 2x improvement in time on wing, with full cutover expected at the beginning of 2027.
What to Watch GE shares opened at $348.83 on Monday, July 20, up 13.55% year to date and up 34.7% over one year, against a Wall Street analyst target price of $397.86. Boeing sits at $214.03, down 1.42% year to date, a divergence that captures which side of the airframe-engine partnership has been executing at scale.
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Momentum investing revolves around the idea of following a stock's recent trend in either direction. In "long context," investors will be essentially be "buying high, but hoping to sell even higher." With this methodology, taking advantage of trends in a stock's price is key; once a stock establishes a course, it is more than likely to continue moving that way. The goal is that once a stock heads down a fixed path, it will lead to timely and profitable trades.
While many investors like to look for momentum in stocks, this can be very tough to define. There is a lot of debate surrounding which metrics are the best to focus on and which are poor quality indicators of future performance. The Zacks Momentum Style Score, part of the Zacks Style Scores, helps address this issue for us.
Below, we take a look at Cincinnati Financial (CINF - Free Report) , which currently has a Momentum Style Score of B. We also discuss some of the main drivers of the Momentum Style Score, like price change and earnings estimate revisions.
It's also important to note that Style Scores work as a complement to the Zacks Rank, our stock rating system that has an impressive track record of outperformance. Cincinnati Financial currently has a Zacks Rank of #2 (Buy). Our research shows that stocks rated Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) and #2 (Buy) and Style Scores of "A or B" outperform the market over the following one-month period.
You can see the current list of Zacks #1 Rank Stocks here >>>
Set to Beat the Market? In order to see if CINF is a promising momentum pick, let's examine some Momentum Style elements to see if this insurer holds up.
Looking at a stock's short-term price activity is a great way to gauge if it has momentum, since this can reflect both the current interest in a stock and if buyers or sellers have the upper hand at the moment. It is also useful to compare a security to its industry, as this can help investors pinpoint the top companies in a particular area.
For CINF, shares are up 0.84% over the past week while the Zacks Insurance - Property and Casualty industry is flat over the same time period. Shares are looking quite well from a longer time frame too, as the monthly price change of 6.22% compares favorably with the industry's 6.98% performance as well.
Considering longer term price metrics, like performance over the last three months or year, can be advantageous as well. Shares of Cincinnati Financial have increased 9.92% over the past quarter, and have gained 19.94% in the last year. In comparison, the S&P 500 has only moved 4.96% and 19.65%, respectively.
Investors should also take note of CINF's average 20-day trading volume. Volume is a useful item in many ways, and the 20-day average establishes a good price-to-volume baseline; a rising stock with above average volume is generally a bullish sign, whereas a declining stock on above average volume is typically bearish. Right now CINF is averaging 922,296 shares for the last 20 days..
Earnings OutlookThe Zacks Momentum Style Score also takes into account trends in estimate revisions, in addition to price changes. Please note that estimate revision trends remain at the core of Zacks Rank as well. A nice path here can help show promise, and we have recently been seeing that with CINF.
Over the past two months, 2 earnings estimates moved higher compared to none lower for the full year. These revisions helped boost CINF's consensus estimate, increasing from $8.66 to $8.76 in the past 60 days. Looking at the next fiscal year, 1 estimate has moved upwards while there have been no downward revisions in the same time period.
Bottom LineTaking into account all of these elements, it should come as no surprise that CINF is a #2 (Buy) stock with a Momentum Score of B. If you've been searching for a fresh pick that's set to rise in the near-term, make sure to keep Cincinnati Financial on your short list.
Intel Corp (NASDAQ:INTC, XETRA:INL) is expected to report its latest quarterly results after the market close Thursday, with Wedbush forecasting that the chipmaker could exceed consensus expectations as improving server demand, higher pricing and better-than-anticipated margin trends support results.
Wedbush wrote that Intel’s guidance points to more than 5% quarter-over-quarter sales growth, in line with current analyst expectations for the third quarter. The firm expects data center revenue to be a key contributor, modeling approximately 10% sequential growth and 40% year-over-year growth, driven in part by stronger server demand.
The firm highlighted that recent average selling price increases across Intel’s server products could account for a significant portion of expected revenue growth. With additional pricing actions reportedly underway and incremental production capacity becoming available as Intel ramps PC CPU output on its 18A process node, Wedbush expects server revenue could outperform its estimates.
Wedbush also pointed to improving pricing trends in Intel’s PC CPU business. While Intel’s outlook initially appeared aggressive amid weaker PC demand tied to higher costs, the firm noted that PC CPU prices have increased at a similar pace to server products, supporting expectations for modest sequential revenue growth in the segment.
On profitability, Wedbush expects Intel’s gross margins to come in ahead of previous expectations. The company had guided to lower gross margins in the quarter due to the loss of a one-time benefit from selling previously scrapped products and costs associated with the 18A manufacturing ramp. However, Wedbush highlighted improving product pricing and faster-than-expected yield improvements across both 18A and older manufacturing processes as potential margin tailwinds.
Despite expecting a strong earnings report, Wedbush noted that the market’s reaction may depend more on broader investor sentiment than Intel’s financial performance. The firm pointed to recent semiconductor sector volatility, where strong results from other chip companies have not always translated into stock gains amid concerns around China’s artificial intelligence progress, macroeconomic uncertainty and questions around data center spending.
Wedbush wrote that Intel may be better positioned than some peers to benefit from continued demand for compute infrastructure, including from inference workloads, but added that the company’s valuation could make it more vulnerable to broader market movements.
The firm maintained its ‘Neutral’ rating on Intel and kept its price target at $60, based on a roughly 40 times earnings multiple applied to its fiscal 2027 earnings estimate of $1.53 per share.
Shares of Intel were up 4% at about $99 on Monday afternoon.
The firm acknowledged that the valuation multiple is above Intel’s historical average, but noted that improving near-term fundamentals and a more constructive long-term outlook from management support its current view on the stock.
Intel Corp (NASDAQ:INTC, XETRA:INL) is expected to report its latest quarterly results after the market close Thursday, with Wedbush forecasting that the chipmaker could exceed consensus expectations as improving server demand, higher pricing and better-than-anticipated margin trends support results.
Wedbush wrote that Intel’s guidance points to more than 5% quarter-over-quarter sales growth, in line with current analyst expectations for the third quarter. The firm expects data center revenue to be a key contributor, modeling approximately 10% sequential growth and 40% year-over-year growth, driven in part by stronger server demand.
The firm highlighted that recent average selling price increases across Intel’s server products could account for a significant portion of expected revenue growth. With additional pricing actions reportedly underway and incremental production capacity becoming available as Intel ramps PC CPU output on its 18A process node, Wedbush expects server revenue could outperform its estimates.
Wedbush also pointed to improving pricing trends in Intel’s PC CPU business. While Intel’s outlook initially appeared aggressive amid weaker PC demand tied to higher costs, the firm noted that PC CPU prices have increased at a similar pace to server products, supporting expectations for modest sequential revenue growth in the segment.
On profitability, Wedbush expects Intel’s gross margins to come in ahead of previous expectations. The company had guided to lower gross margins in the quarter due to the loss of a one-time benefit from selling previously scrapped products and costs associated with the 18A manufacturing ramp. However, Wedbush highlighted improving product pricing and faster-than-expected yield improvements across both 18A and older manufacturing processes as potential margin tailwinds.
Despite expecting a strong earnings report, Wedbush noted that the market’s reaction may depend more on broader investor sentiment than Intel’s financial performance. The firm pointed to recent semiconductor sector volatility, where strong results from other chip companies have not always translated into stock gains amid concerns around China’s artificial intelligence progress, macroeconomic uncertainty and questions around data center spending.
Wedbush wrote that Intel may be better positioned than some peers to benefit from continued demand for compute infrastructure, including from inference workloads, but added that the company’s valuation could make it more vulnerable to broader market movements.
The firm maintained its ‘Neutral’ rating on Intel and kept its price target at $60, based on a roughly 40 times earnings multiple applied to its fiscal 2027 earnings estimate of $1.53 per share.
Shares of Intel were up 4% at about $99 on Monday afternoon.
The firm acknowledged that the valuation multiple is above Intel’s historical average, but noted that improving near-term fundamentals and a more constructive long-term outlook from management support its current view on the stock.
Key Takeaways Intel is set to report Q2 2026 results on July 23, with a likely earnings beat.INTC expanded AI, data center and client computing offerings while adding major industry collaborations.Intel's AI focus, cost controls and rising earnings estimates support its investment appeal ahead of results. Intel Corporation (INTC - Free Report) is scheduled to report second-quarter 2026 earnings after the closing bell on July 23. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for sales and earnings is pegged at $14.42 billion and 21 cents per share, respectively. Over the past 60 days, estimates for INTC have increased 1.9% to $1.07 per share for 2026, while it has increased 4.17% to $1.50 for 2027.
INTC Estimate Trend
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Earnings Surprise HistoryThe leading semiconductor manufacturer delivered a stellar four-quarter earnings surprise of 996.88%, on average, beating estimates thrice. In the last reported quarter, the company’s earnings surprise was 2800.00%.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Earnings WhispersOur proven model predicts a likely earnings beat for Intel for the second quarter. The combination of a positive Earnings ESP and a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), 2 (Buy) or 3 (Hold) increases the chances of an earnings beat. This is exactly the case here. You can uncover the best stocks to buy or sell before they are reported with our Earnings ESP Filter.
Intel currently has an ESP of +5.18% and sports a Zacks Rank #1.
You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.
Factors Shaping the Quarterly PerformanceDuring the quarter, Intel continued to strengthen its AI and data center portfolio through several product launches. The company introduced Intel Xeon 6 Plus processors, built on its advanced 18A process technology. It features up to 288 Efficient-cores, 12-channel DDR5 memory and 96 PCIe Gen 5 lanes. Intel also expanded its 800 Series Ethernet portfolio with E835 controllers and network adapters.
In the to be reported quarter, Intel broadened its client computing portfolio with the launch of the Intel Arc G-Series processors for handheld gaming devices. Intel also partnered with Acer, MSI and OneXPlayer to bring these processors to next-generation handheld gaming systems. These initiatives are likely to strengthen Intel's presence in the growing portable gaming market.
The company entered a multi-year collaboration with Alphabet Inc. (GOOGL - Free Report) . Per the deal, Alphabet aims to deploy Intel Xeon 6 CPUs to power Google Cloud’s data centers. Moreover, Google and Intel are also working together to develop custom Application-specific integrated circuit or ASIC-based Infrastructure Processing Units. The solution is engineered to support networking, storage and security tasks of the CPU and boost system efficiency.
In the quarter under review, Apple, Inc. (AAPL - Free Report) held preliminary discussions with Intel regarding potential U.S.-based chip manufacturing. Intel to develop chips to power some Apple devices. Apple's interest is viewed as validation of Intel's improving foundry capabilities. Such innovative product launches and growing collaboration with industry leaders are expected to have a positive impact on upcoming quarters.
Price PerformanceOver the past year, Intel has surged 308.6% compared with the industry’s growth of 24.6%, outperforming its peers, QCOM and AMD. While Qualcomm has gained 8%, AMD has soared 215.7% over this period.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Key Valuation MetricFrom a valuation standpoint, Intel appears to be relatively cheaper than the industry but above its mean. Going by the price/sales ratio, the company’s shares currently trade at 7.67 forward sales, lower than 9.52 for the industry but higher than the stock’s mean of 3.96.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Investment ConsiderationAI workloads are increasingly moving from training toward inference, agentic AI, robotics, physical AI and edge deployments. Amid this, CPUs play a crucial role in coordinating accelerators, networking, memory, and data movement. Management has emphasized that AI-driven CPU demand is becoming Intel’s biggest growth engine.
The company’s custom Application-Specific Integrated Circuit business is growing, backed by increasing high networking demand in the AI buildouts. The company is gaining solid traction in the hyperscalers. Per a report from Grand View Research, the AI infrastructure market was valued at $223.45 billion in 2024 and is expected to witness a compound annual growth rate of 30.4% by 2030. Intel, with its robust portfolio, is expected to gain from this market trend.
Intel is actively collaborating with major industry leaders to drive AI-related innovation. It collaborates with ChatGPT to launch a Hybrid AI PC Edition, marking a strategic move toward on-device intelligence. It has expanded its collaboration with Google to advance AI infrastructure. It has been collaborating with Nokia and Dell to drive 5G Edge innovations. Such initiatives are expected to boost Intel’s competitive edge across several domains against its major rivals, such as AMD and Qualcomm.
End NoteStrategic collaboration with industry leaders, several customer wins and expansion of AI infrastructure portfolio are major growth catalysts for the company. The company has been undertaking cost control measures and organizational simplifications to boost profitability and improve cash flow generation. Commercial PC refresh cycles and increasing AI PC adoption have created a solid growth opportunity. Upward estimate revision shows growing investors’ confidence in the stock’s growth potential. With a strong price performance, attractive valuation and a Zacks Rank #1, Intel appears to be a good investment option at the moment.
Key Takeaways Visa's asset-light model, AI initiatives and value-added services support its stronger long-term outlook.V delivered faster revenue growth, stronger estimate revisions and higher implied analyst price upside.American Express benefits from premium customers, but lending exposure raises economic sensitivity. The digital payments industry continues to benefit from rising electronic transaction volumes, cross-border spending and ongoing innovation in payment technologies. As consumer and commercial payment habits evolve, investors are increasingly assessing how leading payment companies are positioned to sustain growth while adapting to changing competitive and regulatory dynamics.
Within this evolving ecosystem, Visa Inc. (V - Free Report) and American Express Company (AXP - Free Report) are two of the most established names in the payments industry, but they operate with distinct business models and strategic priorities. Visa primarily serves as a global payments network, while American Express combines payment processing with card issuing and lending, creating different revenue drivers and risk profiles. These differences make the two companies a relevant comparison for investors evaluating long-term earnings resilience, growth opportunities and business quality.
Let’s dive deep and closely compare the fundamentals of the two stocks to determine which stock is more attractive now.
The Case for VisaVisa, with a market cap of $643.2 billion, continues to generate growth from the steady expansion of its global payments network while scaling newer revenue streams beyond traditional card processing. In the second quarter of fiscal 2026, payments volume increased 9% year over year to $3.7 trillion and processed transactions rose 9% to 66 billion. Commercial and money movement solutions remained a key contributor, with revenues climbing 24% year over year in constant currency, reflecting healthy demand for cross-border and business payment solutions.
Another major growth driver is Visa's rapidly expanding value-added services business. Revenues from this segment increased 27% in constant dollars during the fiscal second quarter and now account for roughly 30% of total net revenues. AI-powered fraud prevention, consulting, marketing services and issuer solutions continue to deepen customer relationships while creating higher-margin revenue streams that complement the core payments business. The company beat earnings in each of the past four quarters with an average surprise of 3.2%.
Visa is also investing aggressively in technologies that could reshape digital payments over the long term. The company is building infrastructure for AI-powered agentic commerce through Intelligent Commerce Connect and Visa CLI, allowing AI agents to securely initiate transactions. Meanwhile, V is strengthening its blockchain presence with more than 160 stablecoin card programs globally. Stablecoin-linked payment volume rose nearly 200% year over year in the second quarter of fiscal 2026, while its annualized stablecoin settlement run rate reached $7 billion after expanding support to nine blockchains.
Visa has accelerated these initiatives with the launch of the Visa Stablecoin Platform, enabling financial institutions and fintechs to issue, manage and settle stablecoins without building their own infrastructure. The company has also expanded AI-powered fraud prevention through the Visa Threat Intelligence Platform and continues to deepen its value-added services portfolio through acquisitions such as Prisma and Newpay, broadening its capabilities across issuing, real-time payments and risk solutions.
V’s strong cash position enables substantial share buybacks and dividend payouts and supports inorganic growth and financial stability. With $12.4 billion in cash, the company maintains a solid capital position. Its long-term debt-to-capital of 38.6% is lower than the industry’s average of 39.4% and AXP’s 63.4%. Visa returned $9.2 billion to its shareholders through share repurchases and dividends in the fiscal second quarter.
The Case for American ExpressAmerican Express, with a market cap of $242.5 billion, continues to benefit from resilient spending by affluent consumers and the strength of its membership-focused business model. In the first quarter of 2026, billed business rose 10% year over year, while total revenues net of interest expense increased 11%. More than 70% of newly acquired accounts were fee-paying products, supporting recurring fee income and reinforcing customer loyalty. International operations also remained a major contributor, delivering double-digit billed business growth.
The company continues to strengthen its premium ecosystem through investments in travel, entertainment and lifestyle benefits. Spending on Fine Hotels and Resorts and Hotel Collection programs increased 50% year over year in the first quarter of 2026, while spending at U.S. Resy restaurants rose 20%, reflecting strong engagement following the U.S. Platinum card refresh. High retention rates despite higher annual fees indicate that premium customers continue to see value in the company's offerings.
AXP is also expanding its commercial payments franchise. It plans to launch eight new or enhanced commercial products, including business cards, expense management software and cash-flow management tools, marking the largest one-year expansion of its commercial portfolio. These initiatives are designed to strengthen relationships with small and mid-sized businesses while broadening the company's presence in corporate payments. It beat earnings in three of the past four quarters and missed once, with an average surprise of 4%.
American Express is also positioning itself for the next phase of digital commerce through AI and blockchain-based payments. The company introduced the ACE (Amex Agentic Commerce Experiences) Developer Kit and Agent Purchase Protection to enable secure AI-powered transactions. AXP is also a founding participant of Open USD, an open stablecoin initiative launched alongside Visa and other industry partners to promote interoperable digital dollar payments. Beyond digital assets, the company continues to expand its premium ecosystem through new Centurion Lounge openings and strategic sports partnerships, supporting long-term customer engagement and spending growth.
As of March 31, 2026, AXP had $53.8 billion in cash and cash equivalents against just $1.7 billion in short-term debt. The company returned $2.3 billion to its shareholders in the first quarter of 2026 through dividends and buybacks. In March 2026, it raised its quarterly dividend by 16% to 95 cents per share. Its dividend yield of 1.07% is higher than Visa’s 0.75%.
How Do Estimates Compare for V & AXP?The consensus estimates for V’s fiscal 2026 earnings indicate a 14.5% increase from a year ago, while the same for revenues suggests 13.4% growth. It has witnessed one positive earnings estimate revision over the past seven days against no downward revisions.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for AXP’s 2026 EPS indicates 14.9% year-over-year growth, and the same for revenues signals a 9.8% rise. It has witnessed no positive earnings estimate revisions over the past seven days against one downward revision.
Valuation: V vs. AXPVisa trades at a premium forward price-to-earnings multiple relative to American Express, reflecting its capital-light structure and lower risk profile. V currently trades at a forward P/E of 24.72X, higher than AXP’s 18.62X. The valuation gap underscores the market’s preference for Visa’s stability and diversified growth drivers.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Price TargetVisa currently trades below its average analyst price target of $403.58, implying a 10.5% potential upside from current levels. AXP also trades below its average analyst price target of $376.30, implying a 4.1% potential upside from current levels.
Price Performance ComparisonIn the year-to-date period, Visa outperformed American Express. The S&P 500 has increased 8.9% during this time.
ConclusionBoth V and AXP are well-positioned to benefit from the continued shift toward digital payments, supported by strong brands, expanding payment ecosystems and disciplined capital allocation. American Express stands out for its premium customer base, integrated payments and lending model, growing commercial payments business and attractive shareholder returns. However, its lending exposure also makes its earnings more sensitive to credit conditions and economic cycles.
Visa appears to have the stronger overall investment case. Its asset-light business model, broad global network, faster revenue growth, expanding value-added services business and growing presence in AI-powered commerce and stablecoin infrastructure provide multiple long-term growth avenues with relatively lower risk.
Combined with stronger estimate revisions, a healthier balance sheet and higher upside to the consensus price target, Visa looks better positioned to deliver durable shareholder value, making it the more attractive stock at current levels. While V currently carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy), AXP has a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
Investors interested in stocks from the Financial - Miscellaneous Services sector have probably already heard of Intercorp Financial Services Inc. (IFS - Free Report) and American Express (AXP - Free Report) . But which of these two stocks offers value investors a better bang for their buck right now? We'll need to take a closer look.
Everyone has their own methods for finding great value opportunities, but our model includes pairing an impressive grade in the Value category of our Style Scores system with a strong Zacks Rank. The Zacks Rank favors stocks with strong earnings estimate revision trends, and our Style Scores highlight companies with specific traits.
Currently, Intercorp Financial Services Inc. has a Zacks Rank of #1 (Strong Buy), while American Express has a Zacks Rank of #3 (Hold). The Zacks Rank favors stocks that have recently seen positive revisions to their earnings estimates, so investors should rest assured that IFS has an improving earnings outlook. But this is just one factor that value investors are interested in.
Value investors analyze a variety of traditional, tried-and-true metrics to help find companies that they believe are undervalued at their current share price levels.
Our Value category highlights undervalued companies by looking at a variety of key metrics, including the popular P/E ratio, as well as the P/S ratio, earnings yield, cash flow per share, and a variety of other fundamentals that have been used by value investors for years.
IFS currently has a forward P/E ratio of 9.95, while AXP has a forward P/E of 20.11. We also note that IFS has a PEG ratio of 0.82. This popular figure is similar to the widely-used P/E ratio, but the PEG ratio also considers a company's expected EPS growth rate. AXP currently has a PEG ratio of 1.43.
Another notable valuation metric for IFS is its P/B ratio of 1.8. The P/B ratio pits a stock's market value against its book value, which is defined as total assets minus total liabilities. For comparison, AXP has a P/B of 7.13.
These metrics, and several others, help IFS earn a Value grade of B, while AXP has been given a Value grade of C.
IFS stands above AXP thanks to its solid earnings outlook, and based on these valuation figures, we also feel that IFS is the superior value option right now.
W.P. Carey benefits from stable triple-net leases, strong occupancy and disciplined investments, but debt, competition and tenant risks remain challenges.
Momentum investing is all about the idea of following a stock's recent trend, which can be in either direction. In the "long context," investors will essentially be "buying high, but hoping to sell even higher." And for investors following this methodology, taking advantage of trends in a stock's price is key; once a stock establishes a course, it is more than likely to continue moving in that direction. The goal is that once a stock heads down a fixed path, it will lead to timely and profitable trades.
Even though momentum is a popular stock characteristic, it can be tough to define. Debate surrounding which are the best and worst metrics to focus on is lengthy, but the Zacks Momentum Style Score, part of the Zacks Style Scores, helps address this issue for us.
Below, we take a look at UnitedHealth Group (UNH - Free Report) , which currently has a Momentum Style Score of A. We also discuss some of the main drivers of the Momentum Style Score, like price change and earnings estimate revisions.
It's also important to note that Style Scores work as a complement to the Zacks Rank, our stock rating system that has an impressive track record of outperformance. UnitedHealth Group currently has a Zacks Rank of #2 (Buy). Our research shows that stocks rated Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) and #2 (Buy) and Style Scores of "A or B" outperform the market over the following one-month period.
You can see the current list of Zacks #1 Rank Stocks here >>>
Set to Beat the Market?Let's discuss some of the components of the Momentum Style Score for UNH that show why this largest U.S. health insurer shows promise as a solid momentum pick.
A good momentum benchmark for a stock is to look at its short-term price activity, as this can reflect both current interest and if buyers or sellers currently have the upper hand. It is also useful to compare a security to its industry, as this can help investors pinpoint the top companies in a particular area.
For UNH, shares are up 0.35% over the past week while the Zacks Medical - HMOs industry is down 1.35% over the same time period. Shares are looking quite well from a longer time frame too, as the monthly price change of 6.27% compares favorably with the industry's 0.78% performance as well.
While any stock can see a spike in price, it takes a real winner to consistently outperform the market. Over the past quarter, shares of UnitedHealth Group have risen 20.05%, and are up 50.75% in the last year. In comparison, the S&P 500 has only moved 4.96% and 19.65%, respectively.
Investors should also take note of UNH's average 20-day trading volume. Volume is a useful item in many ways, and the 20-day average establishes a good price-to-volume baseline; a rising stock with above average volume is generally a bullish sign, whereas a declining stock on above average volume is typically bearish. Right now UNH is averaging 6,049,624 shares for the last 20 days..
Earnings OutlookThe Zacks Momentum Style Score also takes into account trends in estimate revisions, in addition to price changes. Please note that estimate revision trends remain at the core of Zacks Rank as well. A nice path here can help show promise, and we have recently been seeing that with UNH.
Over the past two months, 4 earnings estimates moved higher compared to none lower for the full year. These revisions helped boost UNH's consensus estimate, increasing from $18.29 to $18.51 in the past 60 days. Looking at the next fiscal year, 5 estimates have moved upwards while there have been no downward revisions in the same time period.
Bottom LineGiven these factors, it shouldn't be surprising that UNH is a #2 (Buy) stock and boasts a Momentum Score of A. If you're looking for a fresh pick that's set to soar in the near-term, make sure to keep UnitedHealth Group on your short list.
In a battle between two of the biggest oil giants, there's a lot to like with both Chevron (CVX +1.35%) and ExxonMobil (XOM +0.94%) stocks. Investors trying to decide between the two need to dig a bit deeper to find which stock truly belongs in their portfolio. Let's compare and contrast both.
Today's Change
(
1.35
%) $
2.53
Current Price
$
189.91
Both ExxonMobil and Chevron pay dividends. ExxonMobil's quarterly dividend of $1.03 per share yields just under 3% at current prices. Chevron, however, pays $1.78 per share, yielding nearly 4%.
Regarding stock appreciation over the past five years, ExxonMobil has risen more than 150%, compared to Chevron's nearly 90% gain. ExxonMobil is a substantially larger company than Chevron by market capitalization -- exceeding $600 billion -- whereas Chevron's is nearly half that at $366 billion.
Image source: The Motley Fool.
ExxonMobil becomes a more appealing stock due to current risks. Both are well run, but Chevron faces more legal issues and geopolitical risks, particularly due to its exposure in Venezuela.
Chevron is also in a weaker cash position than ExxonMobil. Chevron's free cash flow was negative in the first quarter of 2026. The company acquired Hess in 2025 and is now in a multi-year restructuring. ExxonMobil, on the other hand, plans to repurchase $20 billion in shares in 2026 alone.
Today's Change
(
0.94
%) $
1.39
Current Price
$
148.75
From a distance, these two oil behemoths seem quite similar, but upon closer inspection of their production growth, cash-generation ability, and current execution risks, ExxonMobil has a slight edge. Right now, it's a stronger and lower-risk investment with a solid yield. If you had to choose today, ExxonMobil deserves the spot in your portfolio.
Catie Hogan has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Chevron. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
In the financial markets, certain price levels have more importance than others. These are called support and resistance levels.
At support levels, there are large quantities of shares to be bought. If a stock is in a downtrend, there aren’t enough buy orders to absorb all of the sell orders. Sellers sometimes offer their discounted shares to draw buyers into the market.
This can create a downtrend. These downtrends end at support levels.
The opposite is true at resistance levels. There are large quantities of shares to be sold. If a stock is in an uptrend, there aren’t enough sell orders to fill all the buy orders.
Buyers then outbid each other to attract sellers. Uptrends end when they reach resistance levels.
As you can see on the chart below, $385 was resistance in December 2021. It was also resistance in August 2022.
Prices that had previously been resistance can become so again because of remorseful buyers. These people regret buying at the resistance when the price drops. They decided to sell if the price returns to where they bought their shares so they can get out at breakeven.
The large quantity of these orders created resistance at the level again.
The $385 level became support in April 2025. It was also support in September, November, and March of this year. Now it is support again.
Prices that were previously support can become so again due to seller’s remorse. People regret selling after the price rallies. Many decided to buy their shares back if they could eventually do so.
When Synopsis fell back to this former support level, these regretful sellers placed buy orders, and they created support at the level again.
Successful traders can recognize important price levels. This allows them to anticipate changes in trends, and it leads to profits.
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SummaryAgnico Eagle is undervalued at 0.83x NAV, trading below historical multiples despite robust financials and transformative acquisitions.I have consolidated the Central Lapland Greenstone Belt, acquiring 2,500 sq km of highly prospective ground, mirroring the successful Kittila strategy at 13x scale.Q1 2026 saw strong results: 825,100 oz gold at $1,483/oz AISC, $4.1B revenue, $1.7B adj. net income, and $2.9B net cash post-acquisitions.I rate AEM a Buy with a $190 NAV-based price target, citing reserve growth, upcoming catalysts, and substantial upside as key drivers. showcake/iStock via Getty Images
Agnico Eagle Mines Limited (AEM:CA) (AEM) is the second-largest gold producer in the world, providing investors with stable profits.
The company made a bet in 2005 on the Finnish gold deposit Kittila. The market paid
66 Followers
Analyst’s Disclosure: I/we have a beneficial long position in the shares of AEM:CA either through stock ownership, options, or other derivatives. I wrote this article myself, and it expresses my own opinions. I am not receiving compensation for it (other than from Seeking Alpha). I have no business relationship with any company whose stock is mentioned in this article.
Seeking Alpha's Disclosure: Past performance is no guarantee of future results. No recommendation or advice is being given as to whether any investment is suitable for a particular investor. Any views or opinions expressed above may not reflect those of Seeking Alpha as a whole. Seeking Alpha is not a licensed securities dealer, broker or US investment adviser or investment bank. Our analysts are third party authors that include both professional investors and individual investors who may not be licensed or certified by any institute or regulatory body.
Investors looking for top-rated dividend and value equities in the commodities sector are staring at a structural disconnect right now. Physical gold has established a floor near $4,000 an ounce amid sustained central bank accumulation and escalating geopolitical friction.
Global central banks are aggressively hoarding bullion to diversify away from fiat currency risks, creating a persistent, underlying bid in the physical market. Yet, gold mining equities have suffered a punishing 35% to 45% pullback over the last two quarters.
This creates a scenario in which the underlying commodity is performing exceptionally well, but the businesses extracting it are being priced as if the sector is entering a severe recession. The current setup presents a classic mismatch, pitting record commodity prices against equity multiples that look more like those of a sustained bear market.
Get Agnico Eagle Mines alerts:
Tremors of Profit: Positioning for Mean ReversionThis divergence presents a high-urgency oversold entry point. The market is broadly penalizing producers for localized operational hiccups and temporary macroeconomic headwinds.
When you evaluate the underlying financial health and future earnings potential of the top-tier producers, the recent sell-off appears highly exaggerated. For investors willing to look past the short-term noise, the impending margin expansion provides an attractive setup.
Clearing the Rubble: The Truth About Mining MarginsThe recent multiple contraction across the mining complex represents a severe mispricing of transient data. Earlier this year, escalating tensions in the Strait of Hormuz spiked Brent crude to roughly $115 a barrel. For open-pit mining operations, diesel fuel accounts for roughly 15% to 20% of cash expenses. Heavy machinery required to haul tons of rock relies entirely on steady, affordable energy prices.
This dynamic forced a brutal double-shock scenario. Surging fuel costs inflated all-in sustaining costs (AISC) as spot gold prices pulled back. Markets panicked, dumping miners on fears of systemic, long-term margin compression.
Commodity markets are inherently cyclical, and energy shocks fade. As oil normalizes, the operational leverage inherent in these miners is primed for rapid upward mean reversion. Operational leverage is the mathematical engine of mining stocks.
When a miner produces gold at a cost of $2,000 an ounce and sells it at $3,000, the profit is $1,000. If the gold price rises to $4,000 while energy costs retreat, the commodity price increases by 33%, but the profit rises far faster. The cost side of the ledger is stabilizing, while the revenue side is preparing for a structural upgrade from global markets.
China Is Forcing a Physical Gold MarketThe fundamental setup for bullion is about to change permanently. By July 24, 2026, Chinese regulators will force a profound structural shift by requiring major financial institutions, including the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China, to completely halt retail paper gold trading linked to the Shanghai Gold Exchange.
For decades, paper gold contracts allowed speculators to influence prices without ever taking delivery of a physical bar. To flush out this leveraged speculation, Chinese authorities have already raised margin requirements to 140%. Retail traders are now forced to liquidate their paper positions or take physical delivery.
This regulatory purge strips away paper-market volatility and establishes a concrete physical demand floor. When you combine this physical floor with falling diesel prices, producers' profit margins expand significantly. The broader macroeconomic environment, characterized by sustained structural deficits in silver, copper, and uranium, is driving institutional capital toward hard assets. Gold serves as the bedrock of this rotation.
Agnico Eagle's Rebound PotentialOne of the most glaring disconnects in the market today is Agnico Eagle Mines NYSE: AEM. Shares are trading down about 19% year-to-date, retreating from a 52-week high of $255.24 down to roughly $137. Agnico currently trades at a highly compressed forward price-to-earnings ratio of just 11. Historically, the company has commanded a premium valuation due to its high-quality operations in safe jurisdictions such as Canada and Finland.
Agnico Eagle Mines Today
AEM
Agnico Eagle Mines
$137.02 +0.05 (+0.04%)
As of 02:47 PM Eastern
This is a fair market value price provided by Massive. Learn more.
52-Week Range$119.84▼
$255.24Dividend Yield1.31%
P/E Ratio12.89
Price Target$233.62
The catalyst for this localized sell-off stems from a July 1, 2026, rock mass movement at the Barnat open pit at the Canadian Malartic complex, which forced a temporary suspension of mining operations. While Agnico continues to process stockpiled ore, the disruption threatens to cut production by up to 150,000 ounces annually in 2027 and 2028.
Options market pricing tells a compelling story. The current call and put skew indicates that market makers have aggressively priced in the downside risk of the Barnat pit suspension ahead of the upcoming July 29 earnings report.
When options chains become this heavily skewed to the downside, it establishes the perfect conditions for a sharp volatility crush. If management provides stabilized 2027 guidance that is even slightly better than the worst-case scenario, Agnico is positioned for an upward re-rating as institutional capital rushes back into the safety of a premier North American operator.
The Tactical Edge in Gold FieldsFor investors prioritizing immediate cash flow while waiting for capital appreciation, Gold Fields NYSE: GFI presents a unique structural advantage. Trading at a low forward price-to-earnings ratio of 6.4, the Johannesburg-based miner has shed 28% this year, trading near $31 per share.
Gold Fields Today
$31.31 -0.68 (-2.14%)
As of 02:47 PM Eastern
This is a fair market value price provided by Massive. Learn more.
52-Week Range$23.86▼
$61.64Dividend Yield3.83%
Price Target$47.75
The heavy discount in Gold Fields is tied directly to sovereign risk. Ghana is advancing a mining law revamp that would limit lease renewals to 10 years and phase out stability agreements.
Gold Fields has applied for a 20-year extension for its Tarkwa mine, which produces 475,000 ounces a year and expires in April 2027. Markets hate uncertainty, and they are heavily discounting Gold Fields to account for the friction in West Africa.
The market is largely ignoring the asset diversification, which is buffering Gold Fields' balance sheet.
The continuous production base of the Tier-1 South Deep operation in South Africa easily funds the current dividend and mitigates the localized friction in Ghana.
Gold Fields also offers a 3.8% dividend yield. This yield provides a total-return buffer during this transient cost spike, making Gold Fields a superior hold compared to Agnico Eagle Mines' 1.3% yield for income-focused portfolios. Investors receive a steady yield while waiting for the Ghana lease resolution and the broader industry margin expansion to materialize.
Golden Horizons: Why the Valuation Gap Will CloseThe fundamental math underpinning gold producers right now is highly compelling. The recent pullback driven by temporary energy spikes has created deep value across the sector, right as Chinese regulators force a transition away from speculative paper trading toward physical bullion accumulation.
Producers trading at single-digit or low double-digit earnings multiples while the underlying asset hovers near $4,000 an ounce represent a rare anomaly. Value-oriented investors might consider adding these discounted miners to their watchlists as the broader institutional rotation into hard assets gains momentum in the second half of the year. The disconnect between physical metal prices and equity valuations rarely lasts long, and the upcoming earnings season could act as the primary catalyst to close the valuation gap.
Should You Invest $1,000 in Agnico Eagle Mines Right Now?Before you consider Agnico Eagle Mines, you'll want to hear this.
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U.S. stocks traded mixed midway through trading, with the Dow Jones index falling over 100 points on Monday.
The Dow traded down 0.21% to 52,036.64 while the NASDAQ climbed 0.79% to 25,720.74. The S&P 500 also rose, gaining, 0.40% to 7,487.38.
Leading and Lagging Sectors
Communication services shares jumped by 1.7% on Monday.
In trading on Monday, financial stocks fell by 0.4%.
Top Headline
Shares of Ryanair Holdings PLC (NASDAQ:RYAAY) fell more than 5% on Monday following weak first-quarter results.
Ryanair reported quarterly earnings of $1.19 per share which missed the analyst consensus estimate of $1.35 per share. The company reported quarterly sales of $5.097 billion which missed the analyst consensus estimate of $5.210 billion.
Equities Trading UP
Equities Trading DOWN
Commodities
In commodity news, oil traded down 0.2% to $82.34 while gold traded down 0.2% at $4,010.70.
Silver traded up 1.3% to $57.035 on Monday, while copper rose 1.3% to $6.3485.
Euro zone
European shares were lower today. The eurozone’s STOXX 600 declined 0.4%, while Spain’s IBEX 35 Index fell 0.1% London’s FTSE 100 fell 0.7%, Germany’s DAX declined 0.3%, while France’s CAC 40 slipped 0.2%.
Asia Pacific Markets
Asian markets closed mixed on Monday, with Hong Kong’s Hang Seng index gaining 2.36%, China’s Shanghai Composite rising 0.85% and India’s BSE Sensex falling 0.57%.
Economics
No major economic reports are scheduled for release today.
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Market News and Data brought to you by Benzinga APIs
Oracle ORCL shares fell more than 3.5% on Monday after CLSA initiated coverage with a Hold rating, warning that the software company could require as much as $500 billion in capital to support its artificial intelligence cloud expansion through 2030.
The brokerage said Oracle's internal cash generation would be sufficient to fund only around one-fifth of that investment, reinforcing investor concerns over the company's debt-funded AI infrastructure strategy.
The decline came despite gains in the broader market, with the S&P 500 and Nasdaq both trading higher during the session.
Oracle stock fell to its 52-week low of $120.03 and extended a 62% decline from its record high of $345.72.
CLSA initiated coverage on Oracle with a Hold rating and a $145 price target, highlighting the scale of investment required for the company's AI ambitions.
According to the brokerage, Oracle may need up to $500 billion in capital by 2030 to build out its AI cloud infrastructure.
The firm's analysis suggested internally generated cash would cover only about 20% of that amount, leaving Oracle reliant on debt and other external financing sources.
The report added to existing investor concerns over Oracle's aggressive spending plans at a time when free cash flow has already turned deeply negative.
The company has significantly increased capital expenditures as it expands its AI infrastructure.
For the fiscal year ended May 31, Oracle spent $55.7 billion on capital expenditures, compared with $21.2 billion a year earlier.
Long-term liabilities also increased to $176.9 billion from $114.7 billion in the prior fiscal year.
Oracle has said it plans to raise another $40 billion during the current fiscal year through a combination of debt and equity financing to continue funding AI-related investments.
Investor sentiment was further weighed down after famed investor Michael Burry clarified over the weekend that he had covered only half of his Oracle short position.
Some reports had suggested Burry had exited the trade entirely, but he confirmed that he continues to hold a meaningful bearish position through January 2027 put options with strike prices in the low-to-mid $100 range.
Separately, Oracle suffered another setback after New Mexico regulators rejected for a second time the natural gas pipeline permit required to power Project Jupiter, the company's large AI data center campus being developed with OpenAI.
Regulators cited environmental concerns and insufficient benefits to the state, adding uncertainty over both the project's timeline and costs.
Taken together, the CLSA initiation, Burry's continued short exposure, and the regulatory setback reinforced investor concerns about Oracle's execution risks and financial commitments.
AI investment remains key long-term debateDespite recent pressure on the shares, Oracle continues to report strong operating performance.
Its latest quarterly results showed solid revenue and earnings growth, although investors remain focused on whether the company's heavy AI spending will ultimately generate sufficient returns.
One area receiving particular attention is Oracle's relationship with OpenAI.
The company signed a $300 billion cloud agreement with OpenAI last year, but some investors remain cautious given increasing competition in artificial intelligence and ongoing questions surrounding OpenAI's long-term profitability.
Some market observers believe much of the negative outlook may already be reflected in Oracle's valuation.
The stock currently trades at a forward price-to-earnings multiple below 16, compared with approximately 22 for the broader S&P 500.
Oracle shares are also trading around levels last seen three years ago.
If you're seeking solid dividend-paying stocks for your portfolio, don't just look for the fattest dividend yields. For one thing, many high-yielding stocks are high-yielding simply because their stock prices have fallen hard -- very possibly for good reason. Also, it's important to focus not just on a dividend's size, but also its growth rate.
Imagine, for example, that you're thinking of investing in Company A or Company B. The yield for A is 3% and for B, 2%. It might seem smarter to invest in A, but if B's dividend payout is growing at a good clip, its yield could surpass that of A within a few years. Of course, you'll also want to evaluate much more than just dividend yields.
Image source: Getty Images.
Consider Becton, Dickinson Here's a very promising dividend payer to consider: Becton, Dickinson (BDX 1.61%), also known as "BD." It's a medical products company, collecting much of its revenue from products such as syringes, blood collection tubes, catheters, infusion systems, and so on. Such items are always needed, so they provide a lot of recurring revenue. Indeed, 90% of the company's revenue is from such consumables.
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Becton, Dickinson recently yielded 2.7%, which is pretty good. (The S&P 500's overall dividend yield has been roughly 1.1% for a long time now.) Better still, that payout is growing briskly: It averaged annual growth of 10.5% over the past five years. On top of that, the company has been hiking its payout annually for 54 years -- so far.
Becton, Dickinson's stock is attractively priced at recent levels, too, with a recent forward-looking price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio of 12, well below its five-year average of 16. And its price-to-sales ratio was recently 2.2, below its five-year average of 3.2.
Here's another bonus for shareholders: The company has been buying back (and retiring) lots of its stock -- leaving remaining shares worth more. If you combine the dividend yield and the effect of share buybacks, the company's recent total yield is 8.3%.
Growth stocks are attractive to many investors, as above-average financial growth helps these stocks easily grab the market's attention and produce exceptional returns. However, it isn't easy to find a great growth stock.
That's because, these stocks usually carry above-average risk and volatility. In fact, betting on a stock for which the growth story is actually over or nearing its end could lead to significant loss.
However, the task of finding cutting-edge growth stocks is made easy with the help of the Zacks Growth Style Score (part of the Zacks Style Scores system), which looks beyond the traditional growth attributes to analyze a company's real growth prospects.
Our proprietary system currently recommends Block (XYZ - Free Report) as one such stock. This company not only has a favorable Growth Score, but also carries a top Zacks Rank.
Research shows that stocks carrying the best growth features consistently beat the market. And returns are even better for stocks that possess the combination of a Growth Score of A or B and a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) or 2 (Buy).
While there are numerous reasons why the stock of this mobile payments services provider is a great growth pick right now, we have highlighted three of the most important factors below:
Earnings GrowthArguably nothing is more important than earnings growth, as surging profit levels is what most investors are after. For growth investors, double-digit earnings growth is highly preferable, as it is often perceived as an indication of strong prospects (and stock price gains) for the company under consideration.
While the historical EPS growth rate for Block is 55%, investors should actually focus on the projected growth. The company's EPS is expected to grow 64.5% this year, crushing the industry average, which calls for EPS growth of 23.1%.
Impressive Asset Utilization RatioGrowth investors often overlook asset utilization ratio, also known as sales-to-total-assets (S/TA) ratio, but it is an important feature of a real growth stock. This metric shows how efficiently a firm is utilizing its assets to generate sales.
Right now, Block has an S/TA ratio of 0.63, which means that the company gets $0.63 in sales for each dollar in assets. Comparing this to the industry average of 0.61, it can be said that the company is more efficient.
In addition to efficiency in generating sales, sales growth plays an important role. And Block is well positioned from a sales growth perspective too. The company's sales are expected to grow 8.1% this year versus the industry average of 8%.
Promising Earnings Estimate RevisionsBeyond the metrics outlined above, investors should consider the trend in earnings estimate revisions. A positive trend is a plus here. Empirical research shows that there is a strong correlation between trends in earnings estimate revisions and near-term stock price movements.
The current-year earnings estimates for Block have been revising upward. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for the current year has surged 1.3% over the past month.
Bottom LineBlock has not only earned a Growth Score of A based on a number of factors, including the ones discussed above, but it also carries a Zacks Rank #2 because of the positive earnings estimate revisions.
You can see the complete list of today's Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
This combination indicates that Block is a potential outperformer and a solid choice for growth investors.
Whether it's through stocks, bonds, ETFs, or other types of securities, all investors love seeing their portfolios score big returns. But for income investors, generating consistent cash flow from each of your liquid investments is your primary focus.
While cash flow can come from bond interest or interest from other types of investments, income investors hone in on dividends. A dividend is the distribution of a company's earnings paid out to shareholders; it's often viewed by its dividend yield, a metric that measures a dividend as a percent of the current stock price. Many academic studies show that dividends account for significant portions of long-term returns, with dividend contributions exceeding one-third of total returns in many cases.
Headquartered in Minneapolis, U.S. Bancorp (USB - Free Report) is a Finance stock that has seen a price change of 18.33% so far this year. The company is currently shelling out a dividend of $0.52 per share, with a dividend yield of 3.29%. This compares to the Banks - Major Regional industry's yield of 2.74% and the S&P 500's yield of 1.33%.
Looking at dividend growth, the company's current annualized dividend of $2.08 is up 2% from last year. Over the last 5 years, U.S. Bancorp has increased its dividend 4 times on a year-over-year basis for an average annual increase of 4.01%. Looking ahead, future dividend growth will be dependent on earnings growth and payout ratio, which is the proportion of a company's annual earnings per share that it pays out as a dividend. U.S. Bancorp's current payout ratio is 42%, meaning it paid out 42% of its trailing 12-month EPS as dividend.
USB is expecting earnings to expand this fiscal year as well. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2026 is $5.18 per share, which represents a year-over-year growth rate of 12.12%.
Investors like dividends for many reasons; they greatly improve stock investing profits, decrease overall portfolio risk, and carry tax advantages, among others. It's important to keep in mind that not all companies provide a quarterly payout.
High-growth firms or tech start-ups, for example, rarely provide their shareholders a dividend, while larger, more established companies that have more secure profits are often seen as the best dividend options. Income investors must be conscious of the fact that high-yielding stocks tend to struggle during periods of rising interest rates. That said, they can take comfort from the fact that USB is not only an attractive dividend play, but is also a compelling investment opportunity with a Zacks Rank of #2 (Buy).
Key Takeaways Costco expects to end fiscal 2026 with 940 warehouses, up from 914 at the year's start. Larger relocations, more parking and expanded gas stations aim to remove bottlenecks and add capacity. China, Korea, Japan and Europe support a five- to 10-year international expansion runway. Costco Wholesale Corporation (COST - Free Report) continues to expand its physical footprint at a sustained pace of warehouse openings. The company is targeting more than 30 net-new locations annually, supported by a growing real estate pipeline across domestic and international markets. For fiscal 2026, Costco expects 26 net new openings, with two previously planned warehouses shifting into fiscal 2027 rather than being canceled.
Costco began fiscal 2026 with 914 warehouses and expects to finish the year with 940. Most of the fiscal-year openings are planned in the United States, where the warehouse count is estimated to reach 648, while Canada and other international markets also contribute.
The opportunity extends beyond simply entering new markets. Costco is relocating selected high-volume warehouses into larger facilities with more parking and expanded gas stations. These investments are intended to remove operational bottlenecks and create additional selling capacity.
International expansion provides another long runway. Management sees meaningful opportunities across China, Korea, Japan, Spain, France and the United Kingdom, while Canada’s development pipeline is already mapped out for several years. Costco expects strong international expansion to continue over the next five to 10 years, suggesting its warehouse growth strategy remains broad, deliberate and far from mature.
Costco currently operates 933 warehouses, including 641 in the United States and Puerto Rico, 115 in Canada, 43 in Mexico, 37 in Japan, 29 in the United Kingdom, 20 in Korea, 15 in Australia, 14 in Taiwan, seven in China, five in Spain, three in France, two in Sweden, and one each in Iceland and New Zealand.
What the Latest Metrics Say About CostcoCostco, which competes with Dollar General Corporation (DG - Free Report) and Target Corporation (TGT - Free Report) , has seen its shares drop 6.4% over the past three months compared with the industry’s 2.5% decline. While shares of Dollar General have risen 1.3%, those of Target have jumped 5.7% in the aforementioned period.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
From a valuation standpoint, Costco's forward 12-month price-to-earnings ratio stands at 42.27, higher than the industry’s ratio of 30.85. However, the stock is trading below its 12-month median level of 44.49, indicating some moderation in valuation despite sustained investor confidence in the stock.
Costco is trading at a premium to Target (with a forward 12-month P/E ratio of 16.23) and Dollar General (16.39).
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Costco’s current financial-year sales and earnings per share implies year-over-year growth of 9.6% and 13.5%, respectively. For the next fiscal year, the consensus estimate indicates a 7.8% rise in sales and 10.2% growth in earnings.
The consensus estimates for earnings per share for both the current and next fiscal year have increased by 6 cents to $20.42 and $22.50, respectively, over the past 60 days.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Costco currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
LOS ANGELES, July 20, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Glancy Prongay Wolke & Rotter LLP reminds investors of the upcoming August 24, 2026 deadline to file a lead plaintiff motion in the class action filed on behalf of investors who purchased or otherwise acquired First Solar, Inc. (“First Solar” or the “Company”) (NASDAQ: FSLR) securities between February 26, 2025 and February 24, 2026, inclusive (the “Class Period”).
IF YOU SUFFERED A LOSS ON YOUR FIRST SOLAR INVESTMENTS, CLICK HERE TO INQUIRE ABOUT POTENTIALLY PURSUING CLAIMS TO RECOVER YOUR LOSS UNDER THE FEDERAL SECURITIES LAWS.
What Happened?
On January 7, 2026, Jefferies downgraded First Solar from Buy to Hold, stating that during 2025, the Company had lowered guidance, faced significant de-bookings, and experienced margin compression. Additionally, Jefferies claimed that “[international] facilities remain a pain point while tariffs exist” and “underutilization at [international] facilities remains a concern.”
On this news, First Solar’s stock price fell $27.67, or 10.3%, to close at $241.11 per share on January 7, 2026, thereby injuring investors.
Then, on February 24, 2026, First Solar released its fourth quarter and full year 2025 financial results, revealing that earnings had significantly missed expectations. The Company also issued lower-than-expected revenue guidance for 2026 citing customer headwinds.
On this news, First Solar’s stock price fell $33.09, or 13.6%, to close at $210.12 per share on February 25, 2026, thereby injuring investors further.
What Is The Lawsuit About?
The complaint filed in this class action alleges that throughout the Class Period, Defendants made materially false and/or misleading statements, as well as failed to disclose material adverse facts about the Company’s business, operations, and prospects. Specifically, Defendants failed to disclose to investors that: (1) Defendants had overstated First Solar’s capacity to manage the impact of U.S. tariff policy on the Company’s business; (2) Defendants understated the extent to which its responses to U.S. tariff policy, including the intentional underutilization of production facilities in Malaysia and Vietnam, and attempted relocation of production to the U.S., were likely to negatively impact First Solar’s projected performance in the 2026 fiscal year; and (3) as a result, Defendants’ positive statements about the Company’s business, operations, and prospects were materially misleading and/or lacked a reasonable basis at all relevant times.
If you purchased or otherwise acquired First Solar securities during the Class Period, you may move the Court no later than August 24, 2026 to request appointment as lead plaintiff in this putative class action lawsuit.
Contact Us To Participate or Learn More:
If you wish to learn more about this action, or if you have any questions concerning this announcement or your rights or interests with respect to these matters, please contact us:
Charles Linehan, Esq.,
Glancy Prongay Wolke & Rotter LLP,
1925 Century Park East, Suite 2100,
Los Angeles California 90067
Email: [email protected]
Telephone: 310-201-9150,
Toll-Free: 888-773-9224
Visit our website at www.glancylaw.com.
Follow us for updates on LinkedIn, Twitter, or Facebook.
If you inquire by email, please include your mailing address, telephone number and number of shares purchased.
To be a member of the class action you need not take any action at this time; you may retain counsel of your choice or take no action and remain an absent member of the class action.
This press release may be considered Attorney Advertising in some jurisdictions under the applicable law and ethical rules.
Contact Us:
Glancy Prongay Wolke & Rotter LLP,
1925 Century Park East, Suite 2100
Los Angeles, CA 90067
Charles Linehan
Email: [email protected]
Telephone: 310-201-9150
Toll-Free: 888-773-9224
Visit our website at: www.glancylaw.com.
Faruqi & Faruqi, LLP Securities Litigation Partner James (Josh) Wilson Encourages Investors Who Suffered Losses In First Solar To Contact Him Directly To Discuss Their Options
If you purchased or acquired securities in First Solar between February 26, 2025 and February 24, 2026 and would like to discuss your legal rights, call Faruqi & Faruqi partner Josh Wilson directly at 877-247-4292 or 212-983-9330 (Ext. 1310).
[You may also click here for additional information]
New York, New York--(Newsfile Corp. - July 20, 2026) - Faruqi & Faruqi, LLP, a leading national securities law firm, is investigating potential claims against First Solar, Inc. ("First Solar" or the "Company") (NASDAQ: FSLR) and reminds investors of the August 24, 2026 deadline to seek the role of lead plaintiff in a federal securities class action that has been filed against the Company.
Faruqi & Faruqi is a leading national securities law firm with offices in New York, Pennsylvania, California and Georgia. The firm has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for investors since its founding in 1995. See www.faruqilaw.com.
As detailed below, the complaint alleges that the Company and its executives violated federal securities laws by making false and/or misleading statements and/or failing to disclose that: (1) Defendants had overstated First Solar's capacity to manage the impact of U.S. tariff policy on the Company's business; (2) Defendants understated the extent to which its responses to U.S. tariff policy, including the intentional underutilization of production facilities in Malaysia and Vietnam, and attempted relocation of production to the U.S., were likely to negatively impact First Solar's projected performance in the 2026 fiscal year; and (3) as a result, Defendants' public statements were materially false and misleading at all relevant times.
The truth began to emerge on January 7, 2026, when Jefferies downgraded First Solar to Hold from Buy, noting that during 2025, the Company had lowered guidance, faced significant de-bookings and experienced margin compression through 2025. Jefferies also flagged that "[international] facilities remain a pain point while tariffs exist" and "underutilization at [international] facilities remains a concern." The Jefferies analyst also predicted that First Solar's deployment opportunities were likely to be more limited in 2026.
On this news, First Solar's stock price fell $27.67 per share, or 10.29%, to close at $241.11 per share on January 7, 2026.
Then, on February 24, 2026, First Solar issued a press release "announc[ing] financial results for the fourth quarter and year ended December 31, 2025." Among other items, First Solar announced earnings that missed expectations by a wide margin and issued lower-than-expected FY 2026 revenue guidance, citing customer headwinds such as permitting delays under the Trump administration. Following First Solar's announcement, Baird Research downgraded its stock to Neutral from Outperform, citing "several question marks in forward outlook".
On this news, First Solar's stock price fell $33.09 per share, or 13.61%, to close at $210.12 per share on February 25, 2026.
The court-appointed lead plaintiff is the investor with the largest financial interest in the relief sought by the class who is adequate and typical of class members who directs and oversees the litigation on behalf of the putative class. Any member of the putative class may move the Court to serve as lead plaintiff through counsel of their choice, or may choose to do nothing and remain an absent class member. Your ability to share in any recovery is not affected by the decision to serve as a lead plaintiff or not.
Faruqi & Faruqi, LLP also encourages anyone with information regarding First Solar's conduct to contact the firm, including whistleblowers, former employees, shareholders and others.
To learn more about the First Solar, Inc. class action, go to www.faruqilaw.com/FSLR or call Faruqi & Faruqi partner Josh Wilson directly at 877-247-4292 or 212-983-9330 (Ext. 1310).
Follow us for updates on LinkedIn, on X, or on Facebook.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) for Investors Regarding the First Solar, Inc. Securities Class Action Lawsuit:
What is the First Solar securities fraud lawsuit about?
The lawsuit alleges that First Solar, Inc. and certain executives violated federal securities laws by making false or misleading statements and failing to disclose material information regarding the impact of U.S. tariff policies, production facility utilization, and risks to the Company's projected 2026 financial performance.
Who may be eligible to participate in the lawsuit?
Investors who purchased or otherwise acquired First Solar (NASDAQ: FSLR) securities during the applicable Class Period and suffered losses may be eligible to participate in the securities class action. Eligibility will depend on the specific circumstances of each investor's transactions and losses.
What is a lead plaintiff, and how can I seek appointment?
A lead plaintiff is a court-appointed representative who acts on behalf of all class members in directing the litigation. Any eligible investor may seek appointment as lead plaintiff by filing the appropriate motion with the court on or before the August 24, 2026 deadline.
What should investors do if they purchased First Solar stock during the Class Period?
Investors who purchased First Solar securities during the Class Period and experienced losses should review their legal rights and options. They may contact counsel to discuss the lawsuit, determine whether they qualify to participate, and learn more about seeking appointment as lead plaintiff before the applicable deadline.
Why should investors contact Faruqi & Faruqi, LLP?
Faruqi & Faruqi, LLP has represented investors in securities litigation for decades and has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for shareholders. Investors who purchased First Solar securities during the Class Period may contact the firm to discuss their legal rights, potential claims, and the lead plaintiff process at no cost or obligation.
Attorney Advertising. The law firm responsible for this advertisement is Faruqi & Faruqi, LLP (www.faruqilaw.com). Prior results do not guarantee or predict a similar outcome with respect to any future matter. We welcome the opportunity to discuss your particular case. All communications will be treated in a confidential manner.
To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/305809
Source: Faruqi & Faruqi LLP
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Not all dividend stocks are the same. Oh, they all obviously generate recurring investment income. But only a handful of them are truly reliable enough to be held through anything the market might throw your way.
With that as the backdrop, here's a rundown of my top-three dividend picks to buy and hold no matter what the market does. They're built to continually crank out their payments in the bad times as well as the good ones. Notice what all three have in common.
Verizon What's the likelihood that you'll give up the handheld device you take with you wherever you go and that keeps you constantly connected to the rest of the world? If you're like the 98% of Americans who own a mobile phone and the 91% who specifically own a smartphone (according to Pew Research), that's unlikely to happen in the foreseeable future -- if ever. We're just too dependent on them perhaps to the point of being addicted.
Data from Harmony Healthcare IT indicates the average adult in the United States spends over five hours every day looking at their phone's screen. Mental health matters aside, these numbers are good news for wireless service provider Verizon Communications (VZ 0.21%). It means people will reliably make their monthly payments to keep their phones turned on.
The company just needs to ensure its service and prices are competitive. And it is. As of the end of March, Verizon was serving 146.8 million different wireless connections.
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There's some growth potential, even beyond what's driven solely by persistent price increases. While the mobile market is well saturated, Verizon is making impressive progress in broadband internet, adding 341,000 paying broadband customers in the first quarter, bringing its paying customer count to nearly 16.8 million. This still only scratches the surface of this business's potential.
Meanwhile, Verizon is building a business specifically meant to provide factories, schools, and corporate campuses with the communication solutions they increasingly need.
Perhaps more important to interested investors, this relatively young company -- created in 2000 through the merger of Bell Atlantic and GTE -- has now upped its per-share dividend payment for 19 consecutive years. With a solid track record like that already in place, it's a pretty safe bet that this telecom powerhouse will do everything in its power to avoid starting that clock all over again.
Coca-Cola Beverage giant Coca-Cola (KO 0.06%) is such a frequently suggested dividend stock that it's almost become a cliché. It's also a frequently suggested dividend stock for a very good reason; its 64-year streak of annual dividend growth isn't likely to end anytime soon.
Credit the nature of the business, of course. The stock market's direction and the economy's underlying conditions can cause consumers to skip a vacation or postpone buying a new car. But demand for beverages never really fades, as they're usually affordable.
Image source: Getty Images.
That being said, don't dismiss the fact that Coca-Cola's dividend is also resilient because the company's done a fantastic job of turning its brand names into a lifestyle choice.
This has made the organization the biggest and best-known name in the beverage business, and this in turn provides Coca-Cola with some serious leverage with retailers -- they want to prominently feature the company's brands like Minute Maid, Gold Peak, Powerade, and of course, its namesake cola because retailers know these brands will drive shoppers to their stores.
Newcomers to KO will be stepping into a forward-looking yield of 2.5%.
Enbridge Finally, add oil and gas pipeline owner/operator Enbridge (ENB 1.39%) to your list of dividend stocks to never sell no matter what the market does. It's obviously in the same energy business as major integrated players like Chevron and ExxonMobil. But their fates are far from being the same.
See, the bottom lines of explorers, drillers, and refiners are directly tied to the ever-changing price of oil. If crude oil prices go up, so do their profits. If crude's market price falls, names like ExxonMobil and Chevron see their bottom lines shrink, dragging their stocks' prices down with them.
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That's in contrast with pipeline outfits like Enbridge, which simply deliver oil and natural gas through their pipeline network, charging a flat fee for the amount of product pushed through its pipes regardless of the market value of that gas or oil. In other words, these companies are effectively tollbooths. As long as consumption of oil and gas remains consistent -- and we're not using any less of either than we ever have -- the pipeline industry's revenue remains consistent as well. This of course is an ideal business model for dividend-paying companies.
And Enbridge's dividend track record proves it. Leveraging its network of more than 18,000 miles' worth of oil pipeline across Canada and the United States in addition to over 19,000 miles of natural gas pipes, (Enbridge transports about one-third or North America's crude oil and roughly one-fifth of its natural gas), this company has not only paid a quarterly dividend like clockwork for decades but has raised its per-share payout every year for 31 consecutive years.
A new class of takeover targets is emerging in public markets, what "All-In Podcast" co-host David Friedberg describes as a growing set of under-optimized, post-founder internet platforms ripe for reinvention.
These "flaccid" digital companies — still profitable but operationally stale — are increasingly drawing interest from AI-native operators and activist capital.
GME stock is moving. See the chart and price action here. EBAY as the ‘Second Dot’Friedberg frames the trend as structural, not anecdotal.
The opportunity, in his view, lies in businesses that "have become mature and old and stale and aren’t run by the founders anymore," and critically, "have not yet realized the opportunities with AI."
Why EBAY and PYPL FitCompanies such as eBay and PayPal Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ:PYPL) exemplify the setup. Both retain strong brand equity and user bases but have struggled to translate that scale into renewed growth.
Friedberg argues that from an AI-first perspective, the inefficiencies are glaring: "When you take a look at those businesses as a modern-day AI operator, you’re like, what the hell? This thing is so underutilized. They’re not using their network well. They’re not operating well. They’re overspending. They’re not using AI well."
The CHWY and GME PrototypeWhile outcomes vary, the strategy centers on aggressive cost discipline, sharper execution and reorienting legacy platforms toward digital leverage. Friedberg suggests the next evolution goes further: fully "AI-ifying" these businesses.
Capital Meets AI-ification"There’s a set of opportunities that become quite obvious," he said, particularly as capital markets begin to support these transformations.
Friedberg pointed to examples like "Josh Kushner’s roll-up of accounting firms" and "General Catalyst has a project like this where you can kind of use capital to go buy … traditional services businesses and AI-ify them," adding, "I think this is part of a line of maybe looking at traditional digital businesses and AI-ifying them."
Other Flaccid Digital Candidates"There’s a long list of these. There’s a couple dozen of them," Friedberg noted, emphasizing that the real bottleneck is execution.
"The question as a capital provider is, who do you partner with to go and execute that operational revival of that business?… It’s gotta be the best of the best."
What Investors are Really Looking AtInvestors should look at the pattern that Friedberg points to — the next wave of M&A may not target broken companies, but fixable ones.
This image was generated using artificial intelligence via Gemini.
This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.
Market News and Data brought to you by Benzinga APIs
Have you been searching for a stock that might be well-positioned to maintain its earnings-beat streak in its upcoming report? It is worth considering W.W. Grainger (GWW - Free Report) , which belongs to the Zacks Industrial Services industry.
This seller of maintenance and other supplies has an established record of topping earnings estimates, especially when looking at the previous two reports. The company boasts an average surprise for the past two quarters of 7.16%.
For the most recent quarter, W.W. Grainger was expected to post earnings of $10.2 per share, but it reported $11.65 per share instead, representing a surprise of 14.22%. For the previous quarter, the consensus estimate was $9.43 per share, while it actually produced $9.44 per share, a surprise of 0.11%.
Price and EPS Surprise
For W.W. Grainger, estimates have been trending higher, thanks in part to this earnings surprise history. And when you look at the stock's positive Zacks Earnings ESP (Expected Surprise Prediction), it's a great indicator of a future earnings beat, especially when combined with its solid Zacks Rank.
Our research shows that stocks with the combination of a positive Earnings ESP and a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) or better produce a positive surprise nearly 70% of the time. In other words, if you have 10 stocks with this combination, the number of stocks that beat the consensus estimate could be as high as seven.
The Zacks Earnings ESP compares the Most Accurate Estimate to the Zacks Consensus Estimate for the quarter; the Most Accurate Estimate is a version of the Zacks Consensus whose definition is related to change. The idea here is that analysts revising their estimates right before an earnings release have the latest information, which could potentially be more accurate than what they and others contributing to the consensus had predicted earlier.
W.W. Grainger currently has an Earnings ESP of +2.50%, which suggests that analysts have recently become bullish on the company's earnings prospects. This positive Earnings ESP when combined with the stock's Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) indicates that another beat is possibly around the corner. We expect the company's next earnings report to be released on August 4, 2026.
When the Earnings ESP comes up negative, investors should note that this will reduce the predictive power of the metric. But, a negative value is not indicative of a stock's earnings miss.
Many companies end up beating the consensus EPS estimate, but that may not be the sole basis for their stocks moving higher. On the other hand, some stocks may hold their ground even if they end up missing the consensus estimate.
Because of this, it's really important to check a company's Earnings ESP ahead of its quarterly release to increase the odds of success. Make sure to utilize our Earnings ESP Filter to uncover the best stocks to buy or sell before they've reported.
Palantir Technologies (PLTR +3.01%) stock may be struggling this year, but it's generated some incredible returns for investors. In each of the previous three years, it has more than doubled in value, on the way to becoming one of the most valuable tech companies in the world.
A bit of a cool-off for this red-hot stock was likely overdue, so its 24% decline this year shouldn't be a huge surprise. Sooner or later, investors would inevitably be tempted to take profits. But with the tech stock trading below $140 and down about 35% from its 52-week high, is now a good time to buy it?
Image source: Getty Images.
The business remains a growth machine Palantir has successfully unlocked significant growth through artificial intelligence (AI). Its AI platform turned the business around dramatically. Towards the end of 2023, Palantir's growth rate was declining, but with AI, that has all changed, with the company seemingly able to continually pull levers to drive even more growth. At 85% in its most recent quarter, its results have truly been exceptional.
PLTR Revenue (Quarterly YoY Growth) data by YCharts
What's perhaps even more impressive is that over the trailing 12 months, the company's profit margin has been exceptionally high at 44%, with net income totaling $2.3 billion on revenue of $5.2 billion. Those are not the type of margins that are the norm in tech, which is why Palantir is a standout in the sector, and why growth investors have been so bullish about it.
The problem, however, may still be that its valuation hasn't come down far enough.
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Palantir's stock continues to look incredibly overpriced After years of truly incredible performances, it can take a while for Palantir's stock to return to more reasonable levels. Even with a sizable decline this year, however, I don't think it's become low enough to buy. Its price-to-earnings multiple is around 150, and even based on analysts' estimates, it's trading at 90 times its future profits. The stock's valuation is mammoth, indicating that investors are pricing in significant future growth.
The danger with Palantir is that, because the stock is as expensive as it is, expectations will remain high when it reports earnings, and anything short of exceptional guidance and a continually high growth rate could make it prone to a sharp sell-off. Palantir's stock is down big this year, even without a big earnings miss and with the business performing well. If that changes, its decline could become far more significant. That's why, although its margins look good and the growth is impressive, it still doesn't look like a buy right now.
SummaryPalantir Technologies Inc.'s AIP Bootcamp model creates Ontology-driven customer flywheels, helping U.S. commercial revenue surge 133% year over year in Q1 2026.Remaining Deal Value expanded faster than revenue, showing customers increasingly broaden deployments instead of simply renewing existing software contracts.U.S. government revenue jumped 84% year over year as PLTR became embedded in defense, intelligence and sovereign AI infrastructure across allied nations.Despite exceptional growth, a Rule of 40 above 140%, and nearly $8 billion in cash, PLTR's stock valuation above 41x forward sales leaves minimal room for execution mistakes. JasonDoiy/iStock Unreleased via Getty Images
Introduction I have been bullish on Palantir Technologies Inc. (PLTR) for a while because I was convinced that Palantir's Ontology would become the missing link between the AI models and real-life decision-making. Not only
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Analyst’s Disclosure: I/we have a beneficial long position in the shares of PLTR either through stock ownership, options, or other derivatives. I wrote this article myself, and it expresses my own opinions. I am not receiving compensation for it (other than from Seeking Alpha). I have no business relationship with any company whose stock is mentioned in this article.
Seeking Alpha's Disclosure: Past performance is no guarantee of future results. No recommendation or advice is being given as to whether any investment is suitable for a particular investor. Any views or opinions expressed above may not reflect those of Seeking Alpha as a whole. Seeking Alpha is not a licensed securities dealer, broker or US investment adviser or investment bank. Our analysts are third party authors that include both professional investors and individual investors who may not be licensed or certified by any institute or regulatory body.
Key Takeaways Etsy is using agentic commerce to drive incremental traffic, buyer discovery and high-intent engagement.Partnerships with OpenAI, Microsoft and Google are expanding Etsy's reach across agentic search channels.Etsy's buyer and seller agents aim to simplify discovery, improve decisions and reduce operational friction. Etsy, Inc. (ETSY - Free Report) is actively positioning itself at the forefront of the artificial intelligence shift by embracing agentic commerce as a potential driver of incremental traffic and buyer discovery. The marketplace has high brand awareness but has historically lacked consideration for diverse purchase occasions. To bridge this gap, the company is leaning heavily into strategic partnerships with major technology players, including OpenAI, Microsoft, and Google. Early data indicates promising growth in traffic and high-intent engagement from users arriving via agentic search channels.
A notable milestone in this initiative is Etsy’s development of an application in ChatGPT. The move aligns with the broader shift in agentic shopping toward retailer-run applications. Beyond its off-site partnerships, Etsy is also testing conversational AI features directly on its marketplace. The company has built two on-platform agents. The buyer-facing agent functions as a gift assistant designed to simplify product discovery, while the seller-facing agent brings together platform insights to help sellers make better decisions, access relevant resources and reduce operational friction.
Leveraging these advanced modeling capabilities has significantly accelerated the company's internal development cycles. Iterating on these artificial intelligence features now takes weeks rather than months. While these partnerships and features remain in their earliest stages within a rapidly evolving ecosystem, the early engagement signals validate the company's approach. By embedding these integrated experiences both on and off the platform, the marketplace aims to capture early intent and transform agentic search into a meaningful long-term discovery catalyst.
How eBay & Shopify Compare With EtsyeBay Inc. (EBAY - Free Report) is also embedding artificial intelligence deeper into its marketplace, but its strategy is centered on enhancing buyer engagement and seller productivity within its own ecosystem. eBay has introduced Agentic Search, expanded AI-powered listing tools and strengthened personalized discovery experiences, with early testing showing higher search engagement and stronger purchase behavior. Rather than focusing on external agentic commerce partnerships, eBay is using AI to reduce marketplace friction, improve listing creation and deepen engagement, positioning eBay to drive incremental growth through a more intelligent shopping experience.
Shopify Inc. (SHOP - Free Report) is arguably taking the most aggressive approach toward agentic commerce among e-commerce platforms. Shopify is enabling merchants to sell seamlessly across AI-powered channels such as ChatGPT, Microsoft Copilot and Google while advancing the Universal Commerce Protocol to support open agentic commerce. Early results are encouraging, with AI-driven traffic and orders rising sharply as merchants benefit from structured product data and unified commerce infrastructure. By positioning Shopify as the commerce backbone for AI agents, Shopify is aiming to capture long-term growth as conversational shopping becomes increasingly mainstream.
What the Latest Metrics Say About EtsyEtsy has seen its shares jump 41.5% over the past three months against the industry’s flat performance.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
From a valuation standpoint, Etsy's forward 12-month price-to-earnings ratio stands at 14.27, lower than the industry’s ratio of 21.92. ETSY is also trading below its 12-month median level of 20.07.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Etsy's earnings per share has seen a downward revision. The consensus estimate for the current fiscal year has fallen from $5.55 to $5.41, while the estimate for the next fiscal year has declined from $6.40 to 6.29 over the past 30 days.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Etsy currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
If you are looking for a stock that has a solid history of beating earnings estimates and is in a good position to maintain the trend in its next quarterly report, you should consider Pinterest (PINS - Free Report) . This company, which is in the Zacks Internet - Software industry, shows potential for another earnings beat.
This digital pinboard and shopping tool company has seen a nice streak of beating earnings estimates, especially when looking at the previous two reports. The average surprise for the last two quarters was 12.12%.
For the most recent quarter, Pinterest was expected to post earnings of $0.22 per share, but it reported $0.27 per share instead, representing a surprise of 22.73%. For the previous quarter, the consensus estimate was $0.66 per share, while it actually produced $0.67 per share, a surprise of 1.52%.
Price and EPS Surprise
With this earnings history in mind, recent estimates have been moving higher for Pinterest. In fact, the Zacks Earnings ESP (Expected Surprise Prediction) for the company is positive, which is a great sign of an earnings beat, especially when you combine this metric with its nice Zacks Rank.
Our research shows that stocks with the combination of a positive Earnings ESP and a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) or better produce a positive surprise nearly 70% of the time. In other words, if you have 10 stocks with this combination, the number of stocks that beat the consensus estimate could be as high as seven.
The Zacks Earnings ESP compares the Most Accurate Estimate to the Zacks Consensus Estimate for the quarter; the Most Accurate Estimate is a version of the Zacks Consensus whose definition is related to change. The idea here is that analysts revising their estimates right before an earnings release have the latest information, which could potentially be more accurate than what they and others contributing to the consensus had predicted earlier.
Pinterest currently has an Earnings ESP of +1.65%, which suggests that analysts have recently become bullish on the company's earnings prospects. This positive Earnings ESP when combined with the stock's Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) indicates that another beat is possibly around the corner. We expect the company's next earnings report to be released on August 4, 2026.
Investors should note, however, that a negative Earnings ESP reading is not indicative of an earnings miss, but a negative value does reduce the predictive power of this metric.
Many companies end up beating the consensus EPS estimate, though this is not the only reason why their shares gain. Additionally, some stocks may remain stable even if they end up missing the consensus estimate.
Because of this, it's really important to check a company's Earnings ESP ahead of its quarterly release to increase the odds of success. Make sure to utilize our Earnings ESP Filter to uncover the best stocks to buy or sell before they've reported.
Technology stocks could face a decline of as much as 75% from their peaks, according to a new warning from veteran market strategist Gareth Soloway.
According to Soloway, the ongoing weakness in semiconductor and memory stocks may be an early sign of a broader correction across the sector, he said in an interview with David Lin published on July 17.
The strategist said markets are beginning to look beyond the current boom in artificial intelligence infrastructure spending and are increasingly focused on future supply growth and slowing demand momentum.
The warning comes as several high-flying chipmakers and memory stocks have already suffered steep declines after posting record gains during the AI-driven rally.
Soloway pointed to the recent weakness in memory and semiconductor stocks as evidence that the market is starting to price in changing industry fundamentals.
According to his analysis, investors are looking roughly 12 months ahead and anticipating increased memory production capacity as new manufacturing facilities come online.
“The first thing we have to understand is that markets are always looking 12 months in advance.<…> The semiconductors eventually will see downside of as much as 75%. That’s what history has told us. This time is not different. It’s no different than the AI revolution or again the internet revolution. They’re the same in terms of earth-changing and game-changing technologies. But at the same time, bounces will happen,” Soloway said.
At the same time, technology companies are exploring ways to reduce costs and maximize existing memory inventories after a period of elevated prices.
Cracks already appearing in chip stocks The shift in sentiment has already been reflected in stock performance. Memory-chip giant Micron Technology (NASDAQ: MU) has fallen roughly 36% from its all-time high to recent lows, despite reporting strong earnings results during the period.
The decline has fueled concerns that the broader semiconductor stocks selloff could extend further if expectations for AI-related demand begin to moderate.
While Soloway remains constructive on the sector in the short term and expects potential rebounds after the recent pullback, he argued that history suggests major technology booms are often followed by significant corrections.
He compared the current AI investment cycle to previous transformative technology revolutions, including the internet era, noting that groundbreaking innovations can still experience substantial valuation resets after periods of excessive optimism.
The strategist believes semiconductor stocks could experience temporary rallies after their recent correction but maintains that the longer-term risk remains skewed to the downside.
The warning arrives as investors debate whether the recent weakness in memory stocks represents a healthy consolidation or the start of a larger technology stock market correction.
The AI trade has been one of the strongest themes on Wall Street over the past several years, driving massive gains across semiconductor manufacturers, data-center suppliers, and hardware companies.
However, growing supply expectations, rising competition, and questions about long-term demand sustainability have started to pressure some of the sector’s biggest winners.
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July has been an odd month for artificial intelligence (AI) investors. Some stocks have done quite well, but some of the first half's biggest winners have performed poorly. However, nothing has really changed in the AI investment landscape, and there could be huge growth still to come in this industry. That makes taking advantage when AI hardware stocks go on sale a smart thing to do, and Micron (MU +3.09%) and Nvidia (NVDA +0.62%) look like genius buys this month.
Both of these companies are at the heart of the AI build-out and look primed to head higher throughout the remainder of 2026 and into 2027.
Image source: Getty Images.
Micron Micron's stock has had a banner year, and the company has also done incredibly well. Thanks to a shortage of supply in the memory chip market, prices are soaring, which boosts Micron's earnings and profits. This tailwind is far from slackening: Wall Street expects the memory company to deliver 80% growth in its fiscal 2027 (which begins in September).
MU Revenue (Quarterly YoY Growth) data by YCharts.
However, that outlook did not prevent the stock from selling off over the past few weeks as investors grew more worried that the AI demand curve may not last as long as predicted. But to think that requires one to ignore the messaging that these companies have provided lately. Micron has informed investors that it expects the undersupply in the memory chip market to persist beyond 2027. That's after it expects to bring some of its new production capacity online, but it still could be a while before Micron and its peers can catch up with the incredibly high demand for their wares. Furthermore, with the AI infrastructure build-out expected to keep accelerating through 2030, there's plenty of growth ahead for this investment trend.
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As a result, I think Micron is a solid stock to buy on the dip, as the medium-term tailwinds are blowing heavily in its favor.
Nvidia Nvidia makes the GPUs that provide the bulk of AI computing power, and it uses Micron's memory chips in its products. So, as demand for Nvidia's processors rises, so will demand for Micron's chips. All indications point to that demand rising, as Nvidia informed investors it expects that hyperscalers' data center capital expenditures will rise to $1 trillion in 2027, up from $650 billion in 2026. The reality is that Nvidia likely has most of its product orders for 2027 already booked in its system, as the AI hyperscalers want to ensure the computing chips they need will be available once the rest of their data center infrastructure is complete. That gives Nvidia inside information about the future of the tech sector that it's freely relaying to the public. Yet the market hasn't really acted on it.
Nvidia trades at about 23.1 times forward earnings. If the company exactly hits Wall Street's full-year estimates, it will trade at 23.1 times trailing earnings. For reference, the S&P 500 (^GSPC +0.10%) trades for 25.6 times trailing earnings right now.
NVDA PE Ratio (Forward) data by YCharts.
Based on the current share price, the market is basically saying that after 2026's growth is complete, Nvidia should be priced as a below-average company, which is silly. Analysts are estimating strong 42% growth for it in 2027. Wall Street has historically underestimated how fast Nvidia would grow. If that's the case now, the stock could be an even deeper value.
In the chart above, I've also included the forward one-year price-earnings ratio, which uses next fiscal year's earnings estimate. From that standpoint, Nvidia trades at 16 times forward earnings, which will be a very low price to pay for the stock. I'd expect both of those numbers to increase the closer we get to 2027, making right now an excellent time to buy the stock, as the market hasn't factored next year's growth into its price.
Micron’s (NASDAQ:MU | MU Price Prediction) Fiscal Q3 2026 results include something you should look into a little more closely. The company’s CEO said, “We expect tight conditions to persist beyond calendar 2027…” The tight conditions here refer to the supply crunch for DRAM and NAND, which has led to MU stock soaring by 176% year-to-date.
Of course, the stock has cooled significantly from its peak, and many other related stocks have taken a dive, but if he’s right, we could soon see a reversal. Memory businesses may have much more pricing power and growth left before any cyclical slowdown or downturn.
Past selloffs of this scale have led to an even bigger surge down the line. Micron isn’t too big yet for this to happen, given it’s still a sub-$1 trillion company (albeit by a hair) and trades at a 6x forward PE ratio.
Here are three memory stock ETFs to look into if the company’s CEO is right about the memory cycle being longer:
Roundhill Memory ETF (DRAM) The Roundhill Memory ETF (BATS:DRAM) is the first pure-play ETF focused on memory and storage chip makers. This ETF remains the most popular way to play the memory trade, and I have no doubt DRAM will surge if the memory rally continues through 2027 or plunge if the cyclical downturn hits earlier. If you believe Micron’s CEO, the latter is less likely.
Before making a decision, the biggest thing to keep in mind is China. If the U.S. government allows major companies to import components freely from there, you’re going to see a massive influx of Chinese components.
But that doesn’t mean the supply crunch is entirely artificial due to U.S. policy.
China does not have the advanced EUV lithography machines for the highest-end memory chips, so they can only brute-force the mass production of standard consumer memory. Many memory makers have already exited those fields, so I expect the DRAM ETF’s holdings to continue climbing as long as AI spending remains solid.
The DRAM ETF is up 91% year-to-date. It was up 191% at one point but has cratered since. Its largest holdings are a mix of U.S. and non-U.S. memory makers.
Franklin FTSE South Korea ETF (FLKR) Speaking of non-U.S. memory, you can look into the Franklin FTSE South Korea ETF (NYSEARCA:FLKR). There is a difference between this ETF and its more popular counterpart, the iShares MSCI South Korea ETF (NYSEARCA:EWY). The difference is that FLKR comes with a 0.09% expense ratio, whereas EWY charges 0.59%. Total return has been essentially identical.
And if you are unaware of why we’re looking at Korea specifically, it’s because the country is home to two memory heavyweights: SK Hynix (NASDAQ:SKHY) and Samsung. SK Hynix made a blockbuster debut in the U.S. stock market just days ago.
South Korea’s stock market has also been on a roll, as the government is propping it up through a “value-up” program to bridge the “Korea Discount.” Korean stocks have historically traded cheaply relative to global stocks, and you could argue this remains the case, as memory stocks trade at just 6-7x earnings.
But again, it’s hard to say whether or not we’ve reached a top yet. FLKR is down 25% from its June peak. A similar selloff happened from late February to late March, so I wouldn’t be too fearful.
VanEck Semiconductor ETF (SMH) The two ETFs above will let you dip into most major DRAM and NAND stocks. VanEck’s Semiconductor ETF (NASDAQ:SMH) does not expressly target memory, but if you believe that the memory rally will continue through 2027, you must also believe that semiconductor stocks will ride along. Both components are necessary to train and run AI models.
SMH has arguably been the single best major ETF you could’ve owned as a buy-and-hold play in the past 20 years. No one knows what the next 20 years may bring, but it’s not a stretch to believe that the rally could go on for at least one more year. The “cool-off” in the past month is a drop in the bucket compared to SMH’s 363% 5-year return, as it is only down 7.1% in the past month.
There have been two 30%-plus corrections in the past, but the SMH still recovered every single time. The demand for chips is broader and was outperforming the broader market well before AI became a thing. Thus, you may as well load up on SMH if you are loading up on memory stocks. In fact, I believe SMH will outperform any memory-focused ETFs because it is less cyclical. The expense ratio is 0.35%, which is negligible against the performance.
Contact [email protected] for any questions or corrections.
Growth stocks are attractive to many investors, as above-average financial growth helps these stocks easily grab the market's attention and produce exceptional returns. However, it isn't easy to find a great growth stock.
That's because, these stocks usually carry above-average risk and volatility. In fact, betting on a stock for which the growth story is actually over or nearing its end could lead to significant loss.
However, it's pretty easy to find cutting-edge growth stocks with the help of the Zacks Growth Style Score (part of the Zacks Style Scores system), which looks beyond the traditional growth attributes to analyze a company's real growth prospects.
Our proprietary system currently recommends Intuitive Surgical, Inc. (ISRG - Free Report) as one such stock. This company not only has a favorable Growth Score, but also carries a top Zacks Rank.
Research shows that stocks carrying the best growth features consistently beat the market. And for stocks that have a combination of a Growth Score of A or B and a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) or 2 (Buy), returns are even better.
Here are three of the most important factors that make the stock of this company a great growth pick right now.
Earnings GrowthEarnings growth is arguably the most important factor, as stocks exhibiting exceptionally surging profit levels tend to attract the attention of most investors. For growth investors, double-digit earnings growth is highly preferable, as it is often perceived as an indication of strong prospects (and stock price gains) for the company under consideration.
While the historical EPS growth rate for Intuitive Surgical is 16.9%, investors should actually focus on the projected growth. The company's EPS is expected to grow 17% this year, crushing the industry average, which calls for EPS growth of 10.7%.
Cash Flow GrowthCash is the lifeblood of any business, but higher-than-average cash flow growth is more beneficial and important for growth-oriented companies than for mature companies. That's because, high cash accumulation enables these companies to undertake new projects without raising expensive outside funds.
Right now, year-over-year cash flow growth for Intuitive Surgical is 15.8%, which is higher than many of its peers. In fact, the rate compares to the industry average of 0.9%.
While investors should actually consider the current cash flow growth, it's worth taking a look at the historical rate too for putting the current reading into proper perspective. The company's annualized cash flow growth rate has been 19.5% over the past 3-5 years versus the industry average of 8%.
Promising Earnings Estimate RevisionsBeyond the metrics outlined above, investors should consider the trend in earnings estimate revisions. A positive trend is a plus here. Empirical research shows that there is a strong correlation between trends in earnings estimate revisions and near-term stock price movements.
The current-year earnings estimates for Intuitive Surgical have been revising upward. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for the current year has surged 0.5% over the past month.
Bottom LineIntuitive Surgical has not only earned a Growth Score of B based on a number of factors, including the ones discussed above, but it also carries a Zacks Rank #2 because of the positive earnings estimate revisions.
You can see the complete list of today's Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
This combination positions Intuitive Surgical well for outperformance, so growth investors may want to bet on it.
For the quarter ended June 2026, AMC Entertainment (AMC - Free Report) reported revenue of $1.6 billion, up 14.2% over the same period last year. EPS came in at $0.14, compared to $0 in the year-ago quarter.
The reported revenue compares to the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.51 billion, representing a surprise of +5.79%. The company delivered an EPS surprise of +1300%, with the consensus EPS estimate being $0.01.
While investors closely watch year-over-year changes in headline numbers -- revenue and earnings -- and how they compare to Wall Street expectations to determine their next course of action, some key metrics always provide a better insight into a company's underlying performance.
Since these metrics play a crucial role in driving the top- and bottom-line numbers, comparing them with the year-ago numbers and what analysts estimated about them helps investors better project a stock's price performance.
Here is how AMC Entertainment performed in the just reported quarter in terms of the metrics most widely monitored and projected by Wall Street analysts:
Total Attendance - U.S.: 52.53 million compared to the 49.38 million average estimate based on two analysts.Total Attendance - International: 18.76 million versus the two-analyst average estimate of 17.1 million.Total Attendance: 71.29 million compared to the 66.53 million average estimate based on two analysts.Average ticket price - International: $10.45 compared to the $10.61 average estimate based on two analysts.Food & beverage revenue per patron - International: $5.66 versus the two-analyst average estimate of $5.63.Average ticket price - U.S: $12.70 compared to the $13.09 average estimate based on two analysts.Food & beverage revenue per patron - U.S: $8.95 compared to the $8.99 average estimate based on two analysts.Revenues- Food and beverage: $576.1 million versus $537.83 million estimated by four analysts on average. Compared to the year-ago quarter, this number represents a +15.3% change.Revenues- Other theatre: $157.5 million versus $146.3 million estimated by four analysts on average. Compared to the year-ago quarter, this number represents a +16.1% change.Revenues- Admissions: $863.1 million versus the four-analyst average estimate of $819.5 million. The reported number represents a year-over-year change of +13.2%.View all Key Company Metrics for AMC Entertainment here>>>
Shares of AMC Entertainment have returned -31.5% over the past month versus the Zacks S&P 500 composite's +0.6% change. The stock currently has a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy), indicating that it could outperform the broader market in the near term.
Asymmetric warfare. A long absence. Fierce loyalty. Of course, while many associate these themes with Christopher Nolan's "The Odyssey," it could also aptly apply to the never-ending saga that is AMC and the army of "ape" traders.
AMC options surged out of the gate this morning with over 300,000 contracts traded as of writing, almost five times the 30-day average and a top 20 stock in the entire market by options volume. Flows were very bullish, with almost 100,000 calls bought, compared to 62,000 calls sold and under 10,000 puts bought, following the film record box office.
In addition to "The Odyssey" breaking records, AMC reported earnings today that beat analysts' expectations and showed double-digit revenue growth.
"America's fascinated with The Odyssey this weekend," AMC CEO Adam Aron said on CNBC's "Squawk Box" this morning. AMC theatres received 4.3 million guests globally across the weekend, Aron added.
AMC 5-day chart
Monday's rally adds to an almost four-month-long climb in AMC shares to just under 150%. That said, for bulls who've been in the stock since its heyday as a retail "meme" favorite after Covid, it's far from a coming-home party. Shares are still down 99% from its all-time high above $700 in 2021. Of course, the options market played a key role in the meme stock mania, often leading underlying shares of AMC.
More than $6 million in options premium exchanged hands Monday, with $5.5 million tied to call contracts.
The most popular options contracts by dollar amount were the 2 and 2.5-strike calls expiring Aug. 21, which were on offer for 39- and 20 cents, respectively. The most popular trade by volume was the 3-strike call with the same expiry, which needs a 34% rally to break even.
Traders willing to spend more on premium may want to watch Imax, up 37% the past year with call options showing some life today, but not nearly as busy as AMC trading.
"As a result of Covid there was a lot of experimentation but what Hollywood has learned over the last several years is people love to go to movie theaters," Aron said in the interview. "Studio after studio is turning out movie after movie designed for the big screen."
Zillow, the real estate technology company, doesn't get one conversation with its customers. They move from a phone screen to a loan officer to a real estate agent, sometimes over months or years, and expect the context to follow them.
NEW YORK, July 20, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Levi & Korsinsky, LLP alerts investors in Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ: REGN) that a securities class action has been filed on behalf of shareholders who purchased securities between August 1, 2025 and May 15, 2026. Check if you might be eligible to recover your investment losses.
April 29, 2026: REGN declined from $731.77 to $686.36, a $45.41 per-share drop, or about 6.2%. May 18, 2026: REGN declined from $698.25 to $629.68, a $68.57 per-share drop, or about 9.8%. From the Class Period high, REGN lost $102.09 per share, or 13.95%. Lead plaintiff applications must be submitted by September 14, 2026.
Wall Street Reaction After the Protocol Amendment
The complaint alleges that Regeneron and certain executives minimized the significance of a prolonged slowdown in progression-free survival event accrual in the Phase III Fianlimab-Libtayo Study. On April 29, 2026, the Company disclosed that the primary analysis of progression-free survival would consider all enrolled patients with at least 6 months of follow-up.
Analysts allegedly reacted to that disclosure as a meaningful change in the study's risk profile. Wells Fargo reportedly cut its price target by 3% and stated that investor concern centered on whether expanding the PFS cohort suggested that the underlying benefit may be insufficient to show statistical significance.
Analyst Coverage Timeline
Wells Fargo attributed REGN's April 29 share decline primarily to the Company's decision to expand the PFS cohort.The coverage indicated investor concern that the change could signal insufficient PFS benefit.Evercore ISI noted that a protocol amendment appeared necessary to support the timing of the readout.Evercore analysts allegedly observed that Regeneron's preliminary assumptions were materially off after the delay and amendment.The complaint contends that these analyst reactions called into question earlier positive statements about event accrual and study confidence. Execution Concerns on Wall Street
As alleged, the analyst commentary focused less on the quarterly earnings backdrop and more on the clinical trial implications of the protocol change. The action claims the amendment raised questions about whether the study's original statistical assumptions and endpoint timing were reliable.
"When analyst expectations are built on incomplete or allegedly misleading company disclosures, the resulting corrections can cause significant investor harm. Here, the analyst reaction cited in the complaint is important because it connects the protocol amendment to investor concerns about statistical significance and trial execution." -- Joseph E. Levi, Esq.
Learn more about the case
WHY LEVI & KORSINSKY — Ranked in ISS Securities Class Action Services' Top 50 Report for seven consecutive years, Levi & Korsinsky, LLP is a nationally recognized leader in shareholder rights litigation. With a team of over 70 professionals, the firm has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for investors.
Frequently Asked Questions About the REGN Lawsuit
Q: What is the REGN class action lawsuit about? A: A securities class action has been filed against Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ: REGN) alleging materially false and misleading statements between August 1, 2025 and May 15, 2026. Shares fell approximately 13.95% from the Class Period high after the Company disclosed a Phase III Fianlimab-Libtayo protocol amendment and later announced that the trial did not reach statistical significance for the primary endpoint of improvement in progression-free survival.
Q: How much did REGN stock drop? A: REGN shares fell $102.09 per share, or 13.95%, from the Class Period high of $731.77 on April 28, 2026 to $629.68 after the May 15, 2026 after-market announcement. Investors who purchased during the Class Period at allegedly inflated prices and suffered losses may be eligible to seek compensation.
Q: What is the REGN lead plaintiff deadline? A: The deadline to apply for lead plaintiff appointment is September 14, 2026. This deadline applies only to investors seeking to serve as lead plaintiff. Class members who do not apply may still participate in any recovery without taking action before this date.
Q: What if I already sold my REGN shares – can I still recover losses? A: Yes. Eligibility is based on when you purchased, not whether you still hold the shares. Investors who bought during the Class Period and sold at a loss may still be eligible to participate.
Q: Do I need to go to court or give testimony? A: No. The overwhelming majority of class members never appear in court or give depositions. If there is a settlement or recovery, eligible class members generally submit a claim form to seek their portion.
Q: What does it cost me to participate? A: There is no upfront cost to contact the firm. Securities class actions are generally handled on a pure contingency basis. No upfront fees, no retainer, and no out-of-pocket costs. Any attorneys' fees and expenses awarded to class counsel are subject to court approval.
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David Tepper’s Appaloosa Management just told the market where the smartest money in the AI trade is parked. His latest 13F concentrates his largest US-listed common stock and ADR bets across five names that together map the entire AI stack: memory, foundry, cloud, hyperscaler, and the applied autonomous layer. One of them has quietly ripped 152.58% higher since the filing date. For investors tracking Tepper’s playbook, these five names map the full AI stack.
1. Uber Technologies (The Surprise Pick) The wildcard in Tepper’s top five sits outside chips entirely: Uber (NYSE:UBER | UBER Price Prediction), and the thesis is applied AI on wheels. CEO Dara Khosrowshahi has staked the platform on a “clear path to becoming the largest facilitator of AV trips in the world,” with Zoox and Waymo partnerships routing robotaxi supply through the Uber app in Las Vegas and Los Angeles. Every autonomous mile ordered through the app is margin Uber does not pay a driver for.
The Q1 FY26 numbers say the flywheel is spinning fast. Gross Bookings hit $53.72 billion (+25% YoY), trips reached 3.6 billion, and Uber One membership crossed 50 million, driving half of Gross Bookings. Free cash flow of $2.286 billion funded a $3.011 billion buyback in the quarter. Q2 guidance calls for Non-GAAP EPS of $0.78 to $0.82, up 31% to 38%.
The read: Bullish setup. Shares sit at $73.00 with a base-case target of $122.61, implying 67.96% upside, and 88% of analysts are bullish. Tepper is early. The next name on his list is not.
2. Micron Technology (The Memory Monster) If Uber is the wildcard, Micron (NASDAQ:MU) is the freight train. HBM is the choke point of every GPU cluster being stood up in 2026, and Micron is one of only three suppliers on Earth. CEO Sanjay Mehrotra has locked customers into multi-year Strategic Customer Agreements and pointed directly at the “strategic value of memory in the AI era.” HBM4 is shipping in volume; HBM4E arrives in 2027.
The fiscal Q3 2026 report went well beyond a simple beat into a fundamentals event. Revenue of $41.46 billion grew 345.7% year over year, GAAP gross margin expanded to 84.6% from 37.7%, and management guided fiscal Q4 to roughly $50 billion in revenue at approximately 86% gross margin. Seven straight EPS beats sit behind it.
The read: Constructive on the pullback. After ripping 199.12% year to date, MU is down 13.96% over the past week to $860.95. Analyst consensus targets $1,489.57, and the forward P/E of 6 is a joke relative to the earnings power. Which raises the question: who is Micron’s largest customer building for? Answer coming up.
3. Alphabet (The Cloud Cash Machine) Alphabet (NASDAQ:GOOG) has done what almost nobody thought possible two years ago: turned Gemini into a monetization engine that is now bending the AI cloud market. Sundar Pichai told investors Gemini is processing 16 billion tokens per minute, up 60% quarter over quarter, with 350 million paid subscribers and Waymo delivering more than 500,000 autonomous rides per week. This is the AI monetization story that actually shows up in the P&L.
Q1 FY26 confirmed it. EPS of $5.11 crushed the $2.63 estimate by 94.1%, Google Cloud revenue jumped 63% to $20.03 billion, and cloud backlog nearly doubled quarter over quarter to more than $460 billion. Capex is going into overdrive at a $175 billion to $185 billion guide for 2026.
Act now: the analyst who called NVIDIA in 2010 just named his top 10 AI stocks — and Google didn't make the cut. Grab the names FREE today.
The read: Bullish thesis intact. Shares trade at $344.83 with a base-case target of $446.39, or 29.45% upside, and 89% analyst bullish consensus. But every one of these hyperscalers has to buy silicon from the same place. That place is next.
4. Taiwan Semiconductor (The Only Foundry That Matters) Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing (NYSE:TSM) is the toll booth on every AI accelerator, every custom silicon program, every hyperscaler chip. NVIDIA, AMD, Apple, Broadcom, and yes, Amazon’s Trainium, all print at TSMC. The 2nm node just entered its first ramp quarter, and demand is already outrunning supply.
Yesterday’s Q2 FY26 report was a masterclass. EPS of $4.31 beat the $3.89 estimate by 10.89%, revenue rose 36.0% year over year to $40.20 billion, and gross margin hit 67.7% at the top of guidance. Advanced nodes at 7nm and below now represent 77% of wafer revenue, with 2nm debuting at 3% in its first ramp quarter. Full-year 2026 revenue growth is guided slightly above 40% in USD terms.
The read: Bullish setup. Shares at $396.67 target a base case of $489.17, or 23.32% upside, with an analyst target price of $498.24. Operating margin of 58.1% and ROE of 36.2% justify the premium. Which brings us to the customer writing the biggest checks.
5. Amazon (The $200 Billion Payoff) Tepper’s largest single bet lands on Amazon (NASDAQ:AMZN), and the reason is the most audacious capital allocation decision in tech: a roughly $200 billion 2026 capex plan for AI infrastructure, chips, robotics, and Leo satellites. CEO Andy Jassy has already secured a ~2GW Trainium commitment from OpenAI (2027), up to 5GW from Anthropic, and more than 1 million NVIDIA GPUs deploying in 2026. The prediction market crowd puts the probability of 2026 capex clearing $200 billion at 87%.
Q1 FY26 already showed the flywheel monetizing. EPS of $2.78 beat the $1.73 estimate by 60.69%, AWS grew 28% to $37.59 billion (its fastest in 15 quarters), and the chips business is running above $20 billion with triple-digit growth. Advertising, at a $70 billion trailing-twelve-month run rate, is now a business bigger than most S&P 500 companies.
The read: Bullish thesis. Shares at $247.34 carry a base-case target of $324.47, or 31.18% upside, with 94% analyst bullish sentiment (15 Strong Buy, 47 Buy, zero Sell ratings). Even the model’s bear case projects 13.23% upside. Amazon is building the meter that charges everyone else to use the AI stack.
The Read Across Tepper’s Book Five names, one thesis: the AI capex cycle is compounding faster than the models predicted, and Tepper is positioned across every layer of the stack. Micron sells the memory. TSMC prints the silicon. Alphabet and Amazon rent it back to the world. Uber applies it to a $150 billion mobility flywheel. The pullbacks in MU, GOOG, and TSM over the past week look like the entry point. A cleaner setup may not materialize before valuations reset higher.
Act now: the analyst who called NVIDIA in 2010 just named his top 10 AI stocks — and Google didn't make the cut. Grab the names FREE today.
Eli Lilly (LLY 2.08%) stock has soared in recent years. Part of the reason may be due to the company's broad portfolio of drugs across treatment areas, from neuroscience to cancer and dermatology. But the biggest driver of growth in earnings and stock performance has been the company's position in the weight loss drug market.
Lilly's weight loss portfolio has brought in blockbuster revenue, and thanks to the company's innovations and market demand, this is likely to continue. Analysts predict the weight loss drug market will reach nearly $100 billion by the end of the decade.
All of this has helped Lilly stock reach beyond $1,000. At this level, is a stock split finally on the table? Let's find out.
Image source: Getty Images.
Why launch a stock split? So, first of all, why would Eli Lilly want to launch a stock split? Companies generally execute such an operation after the stock price has soared to levels that may make it difficult for some investors to access. This could be several hundred dollars, but a key threshold often is $1,000. The level has even been known to represent a psychological barrier for some investors, as they see the stock as expensive even if its valuation looks reasonable. As for investors with a limited budget, they may consider fractional shares, but these aren't offered by every brokerage.
All of this means certain investors may be left out when a stock approaches or surpasses $1,000. A stock split offers companies an easy solution to the problem. By distributing more shares to current shareholders, the company maintains its market value, but each individual share is worth less. The value of each share is determined by the ratio of the split. So, for example, a 10-for-1 stock split allows a company trading at $1,000 per share to lower its stock price to $100 -- by giving shareholders nine additional shares for every one they already own.
Lilly has completed four stock splits in the past, so we could consider that the company is amenable to such an operation. Each of Lilly's operations was a 2-for-1 stock split. But, it's important to note that the most recent of its stock splits happened almost 30 years ago, back in 1997. Since that time, Lilly's leadership has changed -- more than once -- and it's very possible that strategy is quite different. So we can't say Lilly will launch a split since it's done so before.
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A wise strategic move Still, a stock split could be a wise strategic move for the pharma company right now. Such an operation would do the job of making the stock more accessible for some, it could also attract investors who don't like the $1,000+ price tag, and it would deliver an important message: that management is confident about Lilly's future and thinks the stock could soar once again from a new, lower price.
It's important to note that a stock split doesn't represent a catalyst for stock performance. So if Lilly announces such a move, this isn't a reason for the stock to climb. But an operation could be favorable over time simply because it may broaden the investor base.
Could a stock split finally be on the table with the stock trading above the level of $1,000 right now? Lilly is set to report quarterly earnings on Aug. 5, and I wouldn't be surprised to see the company announce a stock split. The stock has advanced nearly 35% from the end of April through July 17, and at its highest, it surpassed $1,200.
At the same time, Lilly has reached an exciting moment in its story as a weight loss drug leader. The company recently launched Foundayo, an oral weight loss drug. And Lilly's extra-powerful weight loss candidate, retatrutide, delivered strong results in a phase 3 trial. The combination of these exciting happenings in Lilly's weight loss portfolio and the potential of a stock split announcement makes Lilly a stock to watch in the coming weeks.
