Track market-moving stories before they get noisy

The PNC Financial Services Group, Inc. (NYSE:PNC) will release its second quarter earnings report before the opening bell on Wednesday, July 15.

Analysts expect the Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania-based company to report quarterly earnings of $4.41 per share, up from $3.85 per share in the year-ago period. The consensus estimate for PNC Financial’s quarterly revenue is $6.39 billion. It reported $5.66 billion last year, according to Benzinga Pro.

On June 25, PNC Financial Services announced plans to raise quarterly dividend from $1.70 to $2 per share.

Shares of PNC Financial rose 0.3% to close at $254.01 on Tuesday.

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

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

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

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Key Takeaways MU signed long-term Ford and GM deals as vehicles require more memory and storage content.ON and NXPI are positioned for demand tied to EV powertrains and software-defined vehicles.NVDA is expanding DRIVE partnerships for ADAS and Level 4 autonomous driving applications. Vehicles are becoming increasingly software-defined, requiring far more semiconductors than previous generations. Autonomous driving, electrification, connected features, digital cockpits and zonal vehicle architectures are driving demand for memory, AI processors, sensors, networking chips and power semiconductors. Micron Technology (MU - Free Report) identifies these as five key megatrends reshaping the automotive industry.

These trends are prompting automakers to secure access to critical chip technologies. Recently, Micron signed a long-term agreement with Ford to supply memory and storage solutions for the automaker's future vehicles. The announcement came just days after Micron secured a similar agreement with General Motors. According to Micron CEO Sanjay Mehrotra, vehicles with Level 4 autonomous driving capabilities could eventually require more than 300GB of RAM, pointing to a significant increase in memory content per vehicle.

AI-powered vehicles also require powerful processors to run complex software, image sensors and radar chips to enable advanced safety features and efficient power semiconductors to manage rising computing workloads. As the automotive industry evolves, several semiconductor companies like Micron, ON Semiconductor (ON - Free Report) , NXP Semiconductors N.V. (NXPI - Free Report) , and NVIDIA (NVDA - Free Report) are well-positioned to benefit fromthis shift to the next generation of intelligent vehicles.

MicronMicron is becoming a strategic technology partner for automakers. Under its agreements with Ford and General Motors, the company will provide automotive-grade LPDRAM, NOR flash and UFS NAND storage products while working with customers on future memory platforms and vehicle architectures. This deeper collaboration should strengthen Micron's position as vehicles become increasingly software-defined.

To support long-term demand, Micron is expanding advanced DRAM manufacturing at its Manassas, VA, facility and increasing output of automotive memory solutions designed for long product lifecycles. These investments should improve supply reliability while helping the company capture rising memory content per vehicle. As ADAS, connected features and AV capabilities become more widespread, Micron's growing automotive footprint positions it to benefit from a multi-year increase in demand for high-performance automotive memory and storage.

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

onsemionsemi is benefiting from electrification and software-defined vehicles. The company is a leading supplier of silicon carbide (SiC) power semiconductors, which are increasingly used in EV powertrains to improve energy efficiency, charging speed and driving range. Partnerships with automakers such as Geely and NIO continue to strengthen its presence in the world's largest EV market.

Beyond power chips, onsemi is expanding its role in next-generation vehicle architectures. Its Treo platform is gaining traction in software-defined vehicles, and the company recently began production shipments of Ethernet solutions for a North American automaker's zonal architecture. These chips enable faster in-vehicle communication and centralized computing—key building blocks for connected and autonomous vehicles. As adoption of zonal architectures accelerates, ON appears well-positioned to capture both revenue growth and higher-margin opportunities.

onsemi carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold).

NXP SemiconductorsNXP Semiconductors is benefiting from the automotive industry's shift toward software-defined vehicles and centralized computing architectures. The company is seeing rising demand for its S32 processing platforms, automotive Ethernet solutions and imaging radar chips, which enable advanced driver-assistance systems, high-speed in-vehicle communication and real-time data processing.

These next-generation platforms are increasing NXP's semiconductor content per vehicle, allowing the company to capture a larger share of automotive electronics as vehicles become more intelligent. At the same time, deeper engagement in long-term vehicle programs is strengthening relationships with global automakers and improving future revenue visibility. NXP is also gaining traction in China, where rapid adoption of advanced vehicle architectures is creating additional demand for its automotive processors, networking and connectivity solutions. With software-defined vehicles becoming mainstream, NXP appears well-positioned to benefit.

NXP Semiconductors carries a Zacks Rank #3.

NVIDIANVIDIA is becoming a key technology partner for automakers developing AI-powered and AVs. General Motors has collaborated with NVIDIA to use the company's AI technology for next-generation vehicles and manufacturing, while the automaker will also build future vehicles on NVIDIA's DRIVE AGX platform to accelerate the deployment of autonomous driving capabilities. NVIDIA has also deepened ties with Stellantis, Hyundai Motor and Kia, supplying its DRIVE platform and DRIVE AV software for advanced driver-assistance and Level 4 autonomous driving applications.

These partnerships reinforce NVIDIA's growing role beyond AI data centers. Its DRIVE platform integrates AI computing, perception and autonomous driving software into a single architecture, enabling automakers to build software-defined vehicles with advanced safety and connectivity features. As autonomous driving and in-vehicle AI become more mainstream, NVIDIA is well-positioned to capture a larger share of automotive semiconductor spending.

NVIDIA carries a Zacks Rank #3.

Wall Street expects a year-over-year decline in earnings on higher revenues when Conagra Brands (CAG - Free Report) reports results for the quarter ended May 2026. While this widely-known consensus outlook is important in gauging the company's earnings picture, a powerful factor that could impact its near-term stock price is how the actual results compare to these estimates.

The earnings report, which is expected to be released on July 15, might help the stock move higher if these key numbers are better than expectations. On the other hand, if they miss, the stock may move lower.

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

Zacks Consensus EstimateThis company is expected to post quarterly earnings of $0.46 per share in its upcoming report, which represents a year-over-year change of -17.9%.

Revenues are expected to be $2.88 billion, up 3.4% from the year-ago quarter.

Estimate Revisions TrendThe consensus EPS estimate for the quarter has been revised 0.22% higher over the last 30 days to the current level. This is essentially a reflection of how the covering analysts have collectively reassessed their initial estimates over this period.

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

Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise

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

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

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

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

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

How Have the Numbers Shaped Up for Conagra Brands?For Conagra Brands, the Most Accurate Estimate is higher than the Zacks Consensus Estimate, suggesting that analysts have recently become bullish on the company's earnings prospects. This has resulted in an Earnings ESP of +2.20%.

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

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

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

For the last reported quarter, it was expected that Conagra Brands would post earnings of $0.4 per share when it actually produced earnings of $0.39, delivering a surprise of -2.50%.

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

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

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

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

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

, /PRNewswire/ -- Sterling Infrastructure, Inc. (NasdaqGS: STRL) ("Sterling," "we," "our" or "the Company") today announced that it entered into a second amendment and restatement of its credit agreement, which, among other things, extends the maturity of its credit facility to July 2031, expands the size of the credit facility, and provides additional flexibility for ongoing and future operations.

The amended credit agreement replaces the existing term loan and revolving credit facilities (the "existing credit facilities") and will initially provide for revolving borrowings of up to $1.5 billion. This represents an increase in borrowing capacity of $1.05 billion compared to the existing credit facilities. The credit agreement amendment was led by BMO Capital Markets Corp., as Joint Lead Arranger and Joint Book Runner, and BMO Bank N.A., as Administrative Agent. The syndication process resulted in new and expanded lender participation from a diversified group of leading national and regional financial institutions.

The facility will be used for, among other things, refinancing and prepaying existing indebtedness, capital expenditures, permitted acquisitions, and other general corporate purposes.

Additional features of the amended facility include: (i) an increase in the base amount of the incremental facility from $400 million to $500 million, (ii) a reduction in the interest rate by eliminating the 10-basis point SOFR adjustment and further reducing the overall pricing margins based on our Total Net Leverage Ratio and (iii) generally less restrictive covenants.

CFO Remarks

"The expansion and extension of our credit facility reflects the confidence that our lending partners share in our long-term strategy and outlook," stated Nick Grindstaff, Sterling's CFO. "We appreciate the confidence and support from our lending group, whose partnership is instrumental in supporting our growth."

Mr. Grindstaff continued, "This enhanced credit facility further strengthens our financial flexibility, providing additional capacity to invest in organic growth, pursue strategic M&A, and capitalize on the significant opportunities across our end markets. With our strong balance sheet and ample liquidity, we believe we are well positioned to execute our strategy and continue creating value for our shareholders."

About Sterling

Sterling Infrastructure, Inc., operates through a variety of subsidiaries within three segments specializing in E-Infrastructure, Transportation and Building Solutions in the United States, primarily across the Southern, Northeastern, Mid-Atlantic and Rocky Mountain regions and the Pacific Islands. E-Infrastructure Solutions provides advanced, large-scale site development services and mission-critical electrical services for data centers, semiconductor fabrication, manufacturing, distribution centers, warehousing, power generation and more. Transportation Solutions includes infrastructure and rehabilitation projects for highways, roads, bridges, airports, ports, rail and storm drainage systems. Building Solutions includes residential and commercial concrete foundations for single-family and multi-family homes, parking structures, elevated slabs, other concrete work, plumbing services, and surveys for new single-family residential builds. From strategy to operations, we are committed to sustainability by operating responsibly to safeguard and improve society's quality of life. Caring for our people and our communities, our customers and our investors – that is The Sterling Way.

Joe Cutillo, CEO, "We build and service the infrastructure that enables our economy to run,
our people to move and our country to grow."

Company Contact:
Sterling Infrastructure, Inc.
Noelle Dilts, VP of Investor Relations and Corporate Strategy
281-214-0795
[email protected]

SOURCE Sterling Infrastructure, Inc.

Helen of Troy (NASDAQ:HELE) delivered a surprise first-quarter profit and raised its full-year revenue guidance, pointing to early progress in its multi-year restructuring effort.

The consumer products company posted adjusted earnings per share of $0.17 for the quarter, sharply beating the analyst consensus, which had called for a loss of $0.01 per share.

Net sales climbed 8.2% year-over-year to $402.1 million, topping forecasts of roughly $374.5 million. Growth was broad-based, with the Home & Outdoor segment up 9.5% and Beauty & Wellness rising 7%.

Following the results, management raised its fiscal 2027 revenue guidance to a range of $1.76 billion to $1.83 billion. Adjusted earnings guidance was maintained at $3.25 to $3.75 per share, a level the company said reflects stabilization after steep declines in fiscal 2026.

The results build on Project Pegasus, a multi-year restructuring program aimed at modernizing the business and improving operating margins. As part of that effort, Helen of Troy (NASDAQ:HELE) has been diversifying its supply chain to limit exposure to China-related tariffs, targeting China-sourced products at 25% to 30% of consolidated cost of goods sold by the end of fiscal 2026.

Gross margin fell 110 basis points to 46% in the quarter due to tariff pressure and customer mix, though cost savings from Project Pegasus helped offset the impact.

Management said it is focusing marketing and innovation spending on brands including OXO, Hydro Flask and Osprey, aiming to fund reinvestment through revenue growth.

The company's broader portfolio spans the Home & Outdoor and Beauty & Wellness segments and includes Vicks, Braun, Honeywell, PUR, Hot Tools, Drybar, Curlsmith, Revlon and Olive & June.

Shares of Helen of Troy were down 2.2% on Wednesday morning.

, /PRNewswire/ -- Flagstar Bank, N.A., (NYSE: FLG) (the "Bank") today announced that it plans to issue results for the three and six months ended June 30, 2026 at approximately 6:00 a.m. Eastern Time (ET) on Friday, July 24, 2026. The earnings release and presentation will be posted to the Investor Relations portion of the Bank's website, ir.flagstar.com shortly after issuance. 

The Bank will conduct a conference call at 8:00 a.m. (ET) on the same date, during which Executive Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Joseph Otting; Co-President, Co-Chief Operating Officer, and Chief Financial Officer, Lee Smith; and Co-President, Co-Chief Operating Officer, and Chief Banking Officer, Richard Raffetto, will discuss the Bank's second quarter 2026 performance.

Conference Call Dial-In Instructions:

Once you dial-in to the call, please enter the conference ID (5857240) and press #.  You will then be prompted to provide your name and company name before being placed directly into the call.  Participants should dial-in at least 15 minutes in advance of the call start time. 

The conference call will be simultaneously webcast at ir.flagstar.com and archived through 5:00 p.m. on August 21, 2026.

Conference Call Details:

    Conference ID:                 5857240

    Dial-in for Live Call:

        Domestic                      (888) 596-4144

        International                 (646) 968-2525

    Dial-in for Replay:

        Availability                     July 24 (11:00 a.m.) – July 28 (11:59 p.m.)

        Domestic                      (800) 770-2030

        International                 (609) 800-9909

Flagstar Bank, N.A.

Flagstar Bank, N.A. is one of the largest regional banks in the country and is headquartered in Hicksville, New York. At March 31, 2026, the Bank had $87.1 billion of assets, $60.7 billion of loans, deposits of $66.8 billion, and total stockholders' equity of $8.1 billion. Flagstar Bank, N.A. operates approximately 340 locations across nine states, with strong footholds in the greater New York/New Jersey metropolitan region and in the upper Midwest, along with a significant presence in fast-growing markets in Florida and the West Coast.

Investor Contact:
Salvatore J. DiMartino
(516) 683-4286

Media Contact:
Jessica Torchia
(248) 312-6451

SOURCE Flagstar Bank, N.A.

Since mid-May, Cathie Wood's Ark Invest has liquidated almost all of its position in Alibaba Group (BABA +8.73%). That included a $54 million sale of the Chinese e-commerce and artificial intelligence (AI) stock in a single day in late June.

Wood, who is both the CEO and the public face of the company, has not publicly commented on this move, which some investors may treat as a sell signal in itself. Nonetheless, investors should probably look more closely at Alibaba's fundamentals and business environment before making such a decision on the consumer discretionary stock.

Image source: The Motley Fool.

A sudden reversal Alibaba stock has lost approximately half of its value since it reached its 52-week peak in October. At that time, Ark Invest owned around 99,000 shares of Alibaba.

As the stock began to correct in November, Wood increased her position in it. However, she began selling the stock aggressively at the beginning of June, and as of the time of this writing, she has sold nearly all of Ark Invest's Alibaba stock.

Today's Change

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8.73

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8.57

Current Price

$

106.71

The first round of bad news came from its May 13 earnings report. Its loss of 848 million yuan ($123 million) stood in stark contrast to the profit of 28.4 billion yuan ($4.2 billion) it reported in the prior-year quarter.

Moreover, free cash flow (FCF) continues to drop. In the quarter, its FCF was negative $2.5 billion, down from $544 million in FCF 12 months ago. Alibaba is engaging in heavy capital expenditures in its efforts to remain competitive in the AI space; that's likely the reason its free cash flow went negative.

If that were all the bad news, one might be able to discount it, based on the argument that Alibaba's high spending today will benefit the company in the long term. However, rising political tensions may have made the stock too risky to hold.

In May, it was reported that China had imposed travel restrictions on its AI professionals, sparking concern that it was isolating its AI sector and reducing collaboration. And the U.S. and Chinese governments remain at odds on AI hardware. In early June, the U.S. Defense Department listed Alibaba as a "Chinese military company," and not surprisingly, that designation has apparently impacted its stock.

Although Alibaba trades at a price-to-earnings ratio (P/E) of just 16, the combination of all of these factors has left many investors with the view that it's too risky to touch -- including, apparently, Cathie Wood and her team.

Is it time to sell Alibaba stock? Knowing Alibaba's situation, investors who don't have a huge tolerance for risk should probably sell the stock.

Admittedly, the 16 P/E ratio makes it a tempting option. If its AI investments eventually pay off and the Chinese and U.S. governments start to make moves that reassure investors, the stock price could surge. That by itself is a good argument for holding a speculative position.

Nonetheless, the two governments seem intent on imposing trade restrictions on each other, and that political risk alone could sink the Alibaba investment thesis, regardless of its financial metrics. Given the uncertainties around the company's business environment, it probably makes sense to follow Ark Invest's lead and avoid holding a large position in Alibaba stock.

The race to challenge Nvidia's dominance in artificial intelligence chips is entering a new chapter, with startups attracting billions of dollars in funding, Big Tech accelerating in-house chip development, and investors betting that the next phase of AI computing may not belong exclusively to graphics processing units.

While Nvidia continues to dominate the market for AI hardware, attention is increasingly shifting from training massive AI models to running them efficiently in real-world applications, known as AI inference.

That transition has opened the door for a new generation of chipmakers promising faster performance, lower power consumption, and significantly lower operating costs.

The latest reminder came on Wednesday when AI chip startup SambaNova raised $1 billion in fresh financing, highlighting investors' willingness to back companies seeking to carve out a share of one of the world's fastest-growing technology markets.

The funding round values SambaNova at $11 billion and was led by General Atlantic, with participation from Seligman Ventures, T. Rowe Price, and Capital Group.

The latest investment follows a separate funding round earlier this year in which the company raised more than $350 million from investors including Intel, alongside a strategic partnership.

According to a CNBC report published in April, AI chip startups raised $8.3 billion globally in 2026.

Unless funding markets experience a sharp downturn, investment in the sector is expected to reach record levels this year.

Source: CNBC

Nvidia built its dominance on graphics processing units originally designed for gaming but later adapted for AI model training.

Those chips remain the industry standard for building large language models.

However, as enterprises increasingly deploy AI applications rather than train new foundation models, the industry is paying greater attention to inference, the process through which trained AI models respond to user queries.

Many startups argue that GPUs, while exceptionally powerful, were never purpose-built for AI workloads.

Instead, they believe specialized processors designed specifically for inference can dramatically reduce costs while consuming less electricity.

SambaNova is far from the only company trying to loosen Nvidia's grip on AI infrastructure.

Cerebras, which recently debuted on public markets after raising $5.5 billion, has long positioned itself as one of Nvidia's strongest competitors.

Morgan Stanley has argued that the company enjoys a first-mover advantage in certain AI computing segments.

Another closely watched player is Groq, whose inference-focused architecture attracted so much attention that Nvidia agreed to license some of its chip technology and hired away its chief executive last December.

CNBC later reported that Nvidia had agreed to acquire Groq for $20 billion in cash, although neither company confirmed the report.

Groq has said it would continue operating independently under chief executive Simon Edwards.

Interestingly, Nvidia later introduced its own language processing unit at its annual GTC conference in March, suggesting that it is incorporating ideas emerging from newer competitors rather than ignoring them.

Another startup attracting attention is D-Matrix, founded in 2019.

The company says its processors can execute inference workloads up to 10 times faster while consuming five times less energy than standalone Nvidia GPUs, provided workloads remain relatively small.

D-Matrix has raised around $500 million to date, reaching an estimated valuation of roughly $2 billion.

Microsoft participated in its funding through its venture arm M12.

The competitive pressure is not coming solely from startups.

Many of Nvidia's largest customers are simultaneously becoming rivals as they invest heavily in designing proprietary AI chips.

The rationale is straightforward. Developing custom silicon reduces dependence on Nvidia, lowers long-term infrastructure costs, and enables tighter integration between hardware and software.

Reuters reported this week that Chinese AI startup DeepSeek is developing its own AI chip in an effort to reduce reliance on Nvidia and Huawei processors used to train and deploy its models.

Earlier this month, The Information reported that Anthropic had held discussions with Samsung about collaborating on a future chip, although key decisions regarding its specifications and intended use remain unresolved.

OpenAI, last month, unveiled its first custom AI processor, named Jalapeño, developed alongside Broadcom.

Broadcom chief executive Hock Tan told Reuters that the processor performs on par with Nvidia's Blackwell chips and Google's tensor processing units.

Google itself is moving aggressively to reduce its reliance on Nvidia.

Rather than using the same processors for both AI training and inference, the company is separating those workloads into dedicated chips under the eighth generation of its tensor processing unit family.

Its TPU 8t and TPU 8i processors are expected to become available later this year.

Amazon is following a similar strategy.

Its AI chief, Peter DeSantis, recently told Bloomberg that Amazon Web Services is discussing the possibility of selling its Trainium AI chips to external customers, potentially creating one of the strongest alternatives to Nvidia in data centre infrastructure.

Such discussions remain at an early stage, but they follow Amazon chief executive Andy Jassy's comments that demand for the company's internally developed AI chips has been so strong that commercializing them is now under consideration.

Meta is also investing aggressively in custom AI hardware through an expanded partnership with Broadcom.

The company's Meta Training and Inference Accelerator (MTIA) programme has already produced its first chip, the MTIA 300, which powers ranking and recommendation systems across Meta's platforms.

Three additional generations are expected through 2027, with the later versions designed specifically for inference workloads that power AI assistants and respond to user queries.

Like Google and Amazon, Meta's objective is to reduce dependence on Nvidia while tailoring chips to its own software stack and AI infrastructure.

The shift illustrates a broader trend across hyperscalers.

Rather than relying entirely on off-the-shelf GPUs, technology giants are increasingly building application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs) optimized for their own workloads.

Unlike many startups, AMD and Broadcom have already established themselves as meaningful competitors in AI infrastructure.

AMD's transformation has mirrored Nvidia's in several ways.

Originally known for gaming graphics cards and PC processors, the company shifted its focus toward data centre accelerators and AI chips, allowing it to emerge as the second-largest public player in the AI accelerator market.

The strategy has paid off handsomely for investors.

AMD shares have surged more than 460% over the past five years, giving the company a market value exceeding $840 billion.

Broadcom, meanwhile, has become one of the most strategically important companies in custom AI silicon.

Rather than competing directly with Nvidia through merchant chips, Broadcom designs custom processors for some of the world's biggest AI developers.

Melius Research analysts recently said Broadcom has visibility into about 10 gigawatts of AI demand by 2027 from customers including Anthropic and Meta Platforms.

The company's influence expanded further on Wednesday after it signed a semiconductor agreement worth more than $30 billion with Apple.

Under the deal, Broadcom will design and manufacture "custom silicon components and cutting-edge wireless connectivity technologies" for Apple's products.

Despite the growing number of competitors, most analysts believe Nvidia's leadership remains overwhelming.

"Nvidia is definitely going to see more competition compared to a year ago," said KinNgai Chan, a managing director at Summit Insights Group, in comments to Reuters in March.

"Nvidia still has over 90% market share in both training and inference markets today."

However, Chan expects that dominance to gradually erode over the coming years.

"We think Nvidia will begin to see share loss starting in 2027, once in-house ASIC programs gain some scale, especially in the inference market," he said, referring to application-specific integrated circuits that are designed for dedicated workloads and offer higher efficiency than general-purpose GPUs.

Morningstar shares a similar long-term outlook.

"In the long term, we think it's inevitable that Google and AWS will push to bring more chips and AI gear in-house, to Nvidia's detriment," Morningstar analyst Brian Colello wrote.

"We expect Nvidia to lose market share to Google's TPUs and Amazon's Trainium (especially if Anthropic and/or Google Gemini emerge as dominant frontier models), but we think Nvidia's share should level out at 68% in 2030 (versus 80% today) within a much larger pie of AI spending," he added.

However, all said and done, Nvidia is not standing still.

The company spent more than $18 billion on research and development during the financial year ended January 2026 as it accelerated work on next-generation AI processors, networking products and photonics technology.

During the latest conference call in May, Huang said Nvidia's new "Vera" central processors give it access to a new $200 billion market.

Nvidia expects its Vera chips to generate $20 billion in revenue by the end of the current fiscal year.

Huang said those sales were not included in the company's earlier projection of $1 trillion in revenue from its Blackwell and Rubin AI chip platforms between 2025 and 2027.

Perhaps more significantly, Nvidia is increasingly choosing collaboration over confrontation.

Instead of competing head-on with every emerging AI chip startup, Nvidia is increasingly choosing to collaborate with companies developing specialized inference processors.

Acquiring assets from AI inference startup Groq in December for $20 billion and announcing investments worth $4 billion in two photonics companies earlier this year were part of this strategy.

Also, by integrating some rival chips alongside its own GPUs in AI server racks, Nvidia is broadening its ecosystem while ensuring it continues to benefit from AI infrastructure spending regardless of which inference technologies gain the most traction.

That strategy allows Nvidia to participate in multiple AI hardware ecosystems while continuing to generate revenue even if customers adopt specialized inference chips alongside its GPUs.

On Wednesday, inference cloud provider Parasail announced it would deploy D-Matrix's Corsair inference accelerators alongside Nvidia Hopper and Blackwell systems to deliver "up to 10x faster, more cost-efficient inference services" for customers.

Further, SambaNova's products are designed to complement Nvidia hardware rather than replace it outright.

Rodrigo Liang, SambaNova's chief executive officer, said its SN40 and SN50 chips can run the so-called decode portion of inference, unpacking the query from the model five to 10 times faster, which helps free up the same number of Nvidia chips for other tasks such as training.

Nvidia's latest financial results suggest competition has yet to meaningfully dent its business.

Its data centre division, which remains the company's primary growth engine, reported revenue of a record $75.2 billion, up 92% year over year.

Chief executive Jensen Huang sought to reassure investors that demand remains broad-based and that new products would help the company surpass the $1 trillion revenue opportunity it has projected for its flagship AI platforms.

Even so, NVDA shares fell 1.6% following the earnings release despite stronger-than-expected revenue guidance and the announcement of an $80 billion share repurchase programme.

The market reaction suggested investors are increasingly looking beyond current earnings and focusing on whether Nvidia can defend its dominant position as competitors multiply.

The stock has gained a relatively modest 4% this year and just over 23% over the past 12 months, a sharp moderation compared with its extraordinary gains during the early stages of the AI boom.

Delta Air Lines is dividing up the front of the plane into even smaller groups, offering a new "basic" fare for business and first classes that comes without perks like free seat selection and airport lounge access.

The carrier is following United Airlines, which made a similar change earlier this year to its Polaris long-haul business class and other higher-tier cabins. Carriers are seeking to maximize what they can get out of high-spending customers, whose resilient travel demand has helped bolster the industry.

Basic tickets in the Delta One lie-flat, long-haul cabin will go by the new name Basic Business, the airline said Wednesday. There's a similar basic product for first class, which is more common on shorter-haul routes and in premium economy.

That means customers on those tickets will get seats assigned at check-in, earn fewer miles than more expensive options, only be allowed to make changes or cancellations for a fee and do not have the option for same-day standby or confirmed flight changes.

The seats go on sale Wednesday for flights starting in September and are only available in select markets. Delta didn't immediately say which ones would have the basic offering.

Delta, the country's most profitable airline, has been working on these changes for more than a year. Delta's former President Glen Hauenstein said on an earnings call last July that the "segmentation that we've done in main cabin is kind of the template that we're going to bring to all of our premium cabins over time because different people have different needs."

The Atlanta-based carrier reports second-quarter results on Friday.

Read more about airlines' race to win over big spendersUnited ditches more economy seats to make room for bigger premium cabins with new layoutsWhy airline class wars will intensify in 2026Caviar and privacy: Airlines' business-class wars are hereDelta says premium travel is set to overtake coach cabin sales next yearAmerican Airlines is arriving late to the luxury travel boom. Can it catch up?First-class seats are getting so fancy they’re holding up new airplanesAirlines can’t add high-end seats fast enough as travelers treat themselves to first class

New AI-powered capability will enable carriers to deliver renewal quotes directly inside agency management systems July 08, 2026 09:00 ET  | Source: Applied Systems

CHICAGO and HARTFORD, Conn., July 08, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Applied Systems today announced its submissionless commercial insurance experience, with The Travelers Companies, Inc. (NYSE: TRV) as the first anchor carrier to participate in the initiative. Powered by Cytora, Applied’s agentic AI platform for carriers, the new capability will allow carriers to proactively deliver renewal quotes directly within Applied Epic, the leading agency management system, before the remarketing process begins.

The integration uses agentic AI to identify renewals within an agency’s full renewal portfolio across targeted lines of business and preemptively deliver renewal quotes without agencies needing to initiate remarketing. When a policy becomes eligible, Cytora will digitize risk data stored in Applied Epic and route it automatically to participating carriers’ quoting services. Quotes are returned directly to the management system, creating a connected, frictionless flow of risk information between brokers and insurers. The result is stronger agency engagement and a simpler, faster way to do business.

“Applied sits at the center of the insurance lifecycle, which, along with Cytora’s leading agentic AI technology, allows us to reimagine how the commercial insurance transaction flows,” said Michael Streit, President, Applied Systems Carrier. “As an industry leader and our first anchor carrier, Travelers will help shape how risk flows in the future. We look forward to expanding this capability to more stakeholders, creating more efficient and profitable partnerships for brokers and carriers across the distribution channel.”

“Applied shares our commitment to using AI to simplify the commercial insurance transaction,” said Greg Toczydlowski, Executive Vice President and President of Business Insurance at Travelers. “Delivering renewal quotes before remarketing begins lets our agents and brokers spend less time on process and more time advising customers, which is a win for the customer, for our distribution partners and for us. The capability also plays to our strengths – the visibility into a distribution partner’s full renewal portfolio combined with our data, analytics and product breadth gives us a meaningful competitive advantage in putting it to work.”

About Applied Systems

Applied Systems is the leading global provider of cloud-based software that powers the business of insurance. Recognized as a pioneer in insurance automation and the innovation leader, Applied is the world’s largest provider of agency and brokerage management systems, serving customers throughout the United States, Canada, the Republic of Ireland and the United Kingdom. By automating the insurance lifecycle, Applied’s people and products enable millions of people around the world to safeguard and protect what matters most.

About Cytora

Cytora is an agentic AI platform that enables commercial insurers to digitize and decision risk at scale. Acquired by Applied Systems in September 2025, Cytora’s modular platform spans risk digitization, decisioning and workflow automation – processing submissions from any source, enriching them with external data and routing them decision-ready to underwriters. Cytora is deployed across leading commercial carriers globally.

About Travelers

The Travelers Companies, Inc. (NYSE: TRV) is a leading provider of property casualty insurance for auto, home and business. A component of the Dow Jones Industrial Average, Travelers has more than 30,000 employees and generated revenues of nearly $49 billion in 2025. For more information, visit Travelers.com.

Applied Announces Submissionless Commercial Insurance Experience with Travelers as First Anchor Carrier Partner 

Applied Announces Submissionless Commercial Insurance Experience with Travelers as First Anchor Carr... New AI-powered capability will enable carriers to deliver renewal quotes directly inside agency mana...

Contact Data Lauren Malcolm Applied Systems 678-438-5093 [email protected]

Key Takeaways Agnico Eagle returned $375M in Q1 2026 via dividends and buybacks, about half of free cash flow.AEM raised its quarterly dividend 12.5% and renewed a $2B share repurchase program in May 2026.AEM aims to return about 40% of free cash flow to shareholders this year after roughly one-third in 2025. Agnico Eagle Mines Limited (AEM - Free Report) is leveraging its strong cash flow to boost shareholder value through dividends and share buybacks. AEM returned $375 million in the first quarter of 2026 through dividends and share buybacks, accounting for around half of its free cash flow.

Agnico Eagle raised its quarterly dividend by 12.5% to 45 cents per share in February 2026. It also renewed its normal course issuer bid (NCIB) in May 2026, allowing it to repurchase and cancel up to $2 billion worth of its common shares.

AEM’s first-quarter free cash flow climbed 23% year over year to roughly $732 million. Free cash flow was a record $4.4 billion in 2025, up 105% year over year. The upside was backed by higher realized gold prices and robust operational results.

AEM returned around $1.4 billion to its shareholders in 2025, representing a third of its free cash flow. It sees the potential to increase that to roughly 40% this year.

Agnico Eagle is executing a disciplined capital allocation strategy, capitalizing on its strong cash generation to enhance shareholder value, support a robust pipeline of growth projects and reduce debt. With gold prices staying supportive despite the recent selloff, AEM is well-positioned to sustain this shareholder-focused approach.

Among its peers, Barrick Mining Corporation (B - Free Report) generates healthy cash flows, positioning itself well to take advantage of attractive development and exploration opportunities and drive shareholder value. Barrick returned $2.4 billion to its shareholders in 2025 through dividends and repurchases. It repurchased shares worth $1.5 billion last year. Barrick’s board authorized a new $3 billion share buyback program. Its new dividend policy targets a total payout of 50% of attributable free cash flow on an annualized basis.

Newmont Corporation (NEM - Free Report) has distributed $3.4 billion to its shareholders through dividends and share repurchases in 2025. It has returned $2.7 billion to its shareholders since Feb. 19, 2026. Newmont has executed buybacks of $6 billion under the earlier authorized share repurchase programs, including $2.4 billion since the fourth-quarter 2025 earnings call. NEM’s board has approved an additional $6 billion repurchase program.

The Zacks Rundown for AEMAgnico Eagle’s shares have rallied 27.7% in the past year against the Zacks Mining – Gold industry’s growth of 46.6%.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

From a valuation standpoint, AEM is currently trading at a forward 12-month earnings multiple of 11.3, a roughly 21% premium to the industry average of 9.34X. It carries a Value Score of C.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for AEM’s 2026 and 2027 earnings implies a year-over-year rise of 59.7% and 0.7%, respectively. The EPS estimates for 2026 and 2027 have been trending higher over the past 60 days.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

As of market close on July 7, the S&P 500 (^GSPC 0.42%) and Nasdaq Composite (^IXIC 0.23%) are up 9.6% and 11.1% year to date (YTD), respectively, and hovering around all-time highs. The tech sector -- which makes up 38% of the index -- is largely responsible for the strong gains because it is up 24.5% YTD.

However, some noteworthy value stocks are doing even better than the tech-heavy S&P 500. Kimberly-Clark (KMB 2.75%) is up 13.7% YTD, and that's without even factoring in two $1.28 per share dividend payments. Earlier this year, Kimberly-Clark raised its dividend for the 54th consecutive year, retaining its spot on the list of Dividend Kings, which have at least 50 consecutive years of dividend increases.

Here's why Kimberly-Clark remains a great dividend stock to buy for the second half of the year.

Image source: Getty Images.

1. Kimberly-Clark is recession-resistant Kimberly-Clark has a portfolio of leading household and personal care brands, many of which are paper-based. Its crown jewel is Huggies, which is the No. 2 diaper brand in the world behind Pampers. Other notable brands include Kleenex, Kotex, Scott, and Cottonelle.

Demand for these products tends to be consistent across economic cycles, though Kimberly-Clark's margins have been under pressure due to rising costs and inflationary pressures on consumer spending. In Kimberly-Clark's first-quarter 2026 earnings call, it forecasted $150 million to $170 million in additional costs if oil remained around $100 per barrel. Oil prices have come down significantly since that late April earnings call, but the months when oil was elevated will affect its full-year margins.

However, Kimberly-Clark is implementing productivity initiatives, new pricing with suppliers, and hedging programs to improve margins. Kimberly-Clark's chief financial officer, Nelson Urdaneta, said the following on the Q1 2026 earnings call:

I'd also remind everyone that we've got a solid track record over the last four years of recovering any input cost inflation and actually expanding margins. If you look at 2023 through 2025, we expanded both gross margins and operating profit margins beyond the levels pre-pandemic. So we're confident in our ability to cover all these input costs over time.

Kimberly-Clark isn't immune to consumer spending trends or macroeconomic factors, but it has done a good job adjusting to the new normal of cost inflation.

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2. A major acquisition is right around the corner In November 2025, Kimberly-Clark announced the acquisition of Kenvue (KVUE 1.80%). The consumer health company spun off from Johnson & Johnson in August 2023 and owns many noteworthy brands, including Aveeno, Neutrogena, Tylenol, Listerine, Johnson's, and BAND-AID.

Since then, Kimberly-Clark and Kenvue shareholders have overwhelmingly approved the acquisition, and Kimberly-Clark has moved forward with key organizational and leadership decisions.

The deal will diversify Kimberly-Clark's revenue streams and enhance its resilience in a recession. Kimberly-Clark expects the transaction to close before the end of the year.

3. Kimberly-Clark is dirt cheap You may think that Kimberly-Clark would command a premium valuation, given that its stock price is outpacing the S&P 500 and Nasdaq in 2026. However, Kimberly-Clark fell 23% last year and is down 18.1% over the last decade.

Kimberly-Clark now trades at just 15.2 times analyst consensus 2026 earnings estimates of $7.54 per share. Its 10-year median price-to-earnings ratio is 21.9.

A top high-yield dividend stock to buy now Investors who believe the Kenvue acquisition is the right move are getting a chance to buy Kimberly-Clark at a dirt cheap valuation. Kimberly-Clark expects the combined company to deliver $2.1 billion in annual run rate synergies by the second year following the acquisition, unlocking operating leverage and boosting margins.

In the meantime, investors can count on Kimberly-Clark's high-yield dividend. Although a high yield can sometimes indicate that a dividend is becoming unsustainable, Kimberly-Clark's earnings and free cash flow still exceed its payout.

With an established and recession-resistant portfolio of brands, Kimberly-Clark stands out as an attractive value stock for investors looking for an alternative to high-flying growth stocks. Unlike hyperscaler cloud computing companies, Kimberly-Clark isn't spending a ton of capital expenditures on big ideas that it needs to pay off. Rather, it is a stable stalwart that has rewarded income investors for decades.

Therefore, Kimberly-Clark can continue to outperform the S&P 500 and Nasdaq because its earnings growth expectations are already low. So even decent results would likely be received well by investors. However, Kimberly-Clark isn't without its risks.

If the Kenvue acquisition doesn't go as smoothly as planned or fails to unlock the cost savings Kimberly-Clark hopes for, it could make its dividend less affordable, which could strain its balance sheet. The combined company must also prove it can extract value from a larger portfolio of brands, which comes with a slew of execution challenges from a new leadership team.

Therefore, some investors may want to wait for the dust to settle after the Kenvue acquisition before buying the stock. Investors who don't mind the uncertainty can scoop up shares at an attractive valuation.

Teladoc Health Inc. (NYSE:TDOC) shares are trending Wednesday as investors take a fresh look at the company.

Teladoc Health stock is trending lower. Why is TDOC stock retreating? For a cash-pay price of $89 per visit, Walmart customers can access Teladoc’s clinical practice through the platform, including 24/7 care for common conditions, dermatology consultations, and one-on-one nutrition support. Prescriptions, if needed, can be sent to a pharmacy including Walmart, where same-day delivery is available in many locations.

“Walmart is where millions of Americans already go for everyday needs, and now, getting care from Teladoc Health can be part of that same experience,” said Kelly Bliss, Teladoc Health’s President of U.S. Group Health. “By removing friction and meeting people where they are, virtual care becomes something people choose first, not just something they can access.”

The announcement builds on an earlier integration — in January, Teladoc’s BetterHelp mental health offering launched on Walmart’s Better Care Services platform, further expanding the companies’ collaboration.

Teladoc Shares FallTDOC Price Action: At the time of publication, Teladoc shares are trading 1.94% lower at $9.33, according to data from Benzinga Pro.

Image: Courtesy of Teladoc

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Broadcom (NASDAQ:AVGO | AVGO Price Prediction) is now being talked about in $200 billion increments. That figure represents forward AI opportunity framing, surfaced on the company’s Q2 FY2026 earnings call, when JPMorgan analyst Harlan Sur pressed CEO Hock Tan on an implied $200 billion-plus 18-month backlog covering the back half of 2026 through fiscal 2027.

Tan did not push back. He effectively confirmed the trajectory, guiding to $56 billion in AI semiconductor revenue for fiscal 2026, up roughly 180% from fiscal 2025, and reiterating AI semiconductor revenue in excess of $100 billion in fiscal 2027.

What It Means The $200 billion frame represents a forward opportunity. What backs it up is concrete. In Q2 FY2026, Broadcom reported AI semiconductor revenue of $10.80 billion, up 143% year over year, on total revenue of $22.187 billion, up 47.9%. Q3 guidance calls for AI semiconductor revenue of $16.0 billion, over 200% YoY growth, on total revenue of about $29.4 billion.

The demand signal underneath those numbers is what gives the $200 billion figure weight. Tan disclosed that Q2 bookings for AI semiconductors were over $30 billion against the $10.8 billion shipped, roughly three times coverage in a single quarter. Six core customers now have multi-year, multi-gigawatt commitments: a long-term TPU and AI networking agreement with Google, 5 additional gigawatts of TPU-based compute for Anthropic beginning in 2027, 1.3 gigawatts contractually committed to OpenAI in 2027 within a 10-gigawatt agreement by 2029, and 3 gigawatts for Meta through the end of 2028.

Importantly, Tan said visibility now extends into 2028.

Market Reaction Broadcom stock has not celebrated the news above. Shares of AVGO stock traded at $495.00 at the Q2 filing on June 3, 2026, and closed at $360.45 on July 2, 2026. That is a one-month change of -25.03%.

However, year to date, AVGO stock is still up 4.53%, and up 34.53% over one year and 745.73% over five years.

Act now: the analyst who called NVIDIA in 2010 just named his top 10 AI stocks — and Broadcom didn't make the cut. Grab the names FREE today.

Bull Case Broadcom’s bull argument rests on a simple gap, in that the company’s pipeline is expanding faster than the stock is willing to price. In the second quarter, Broadcom delivered a record operating margin of 67% and free cash flow of $10.262 billion, or 46% of revenue. Net income rose 87.51% YoY to $9.310 billion, cash and equivalents sit at $19.628 billion, up 107.22% YoY, and AI is now a scale business inside Broadcom, with AI semiconductors representing 49% of total consolidated revenue and networking accounting for roughly 40% of Q2 AI revenue.

The sell-side has not blinked. Consensus reflects 44 buy ratings, 4 hold ratings, and zero sell ratings, with an analyst target price of $523.73.

I think Broadcom’s forward valuation looks less demanding than the trailing multiple suggests, with a forward P/E of 33 against a trailing P/E of 61, and a PEG ratio of 0.686. Tan also flagged a $35 billion first tranche of an AI XPU platform with Apollo and Blackstone intended to deploy more than 20 gigawatts of compute through 2027. Prediction markets have called Broadcom’s earnings correctly in 100% of 6 resolved markets, and the last Q2 AI revenue market resolved at $11.0 billion, with a crowd implied value of $11.21 billion.

Bottom Line For long-term holders, the $200 billion frame reduces to one question – does Broadcom’s Q2 booking rate translate into shipped revenue on the timelines Tan laid out?

I think this question could be answered with the company’s Q3 FY2026 earnings report, where guidance calls for $29.4 billion in total revenue and $16.0 billion in AI semiconductor revenue.

Broadcom stock is 25% cheaper than it was four weeks ago, while the company’s order book is three times larger than the revenue that produced that price.

Act now: the analyst who called NVIDIA in 2010 just named his top 10 AI stocks — and Broadcom didn't make the cut. Grab the names FREE today.

Contact [email protected] for any questions or corrections.

Key Takeaways Nucor returned about $1.2B to shareholders in 2025 and roughly $630M year to date through June 17, 2026.NUE ended first-quarter 2026 with about $3.2B in liquidity and generated $886M in operating cash flow.NUE targets returning at least 40% of earnings to shareholders while funding growth projects and cutting debt. Nucor Corporation (NUE - Free Report) is maximizing its returns to shareholders by leveraging its strong balance sheet and cash flows.  It returned around $1.2 billion to its shareholders in 2025 through dividends and share repurchases, representing nearly 70% of net earnings. Returns to its shareholders were $254 million in the first quarter. Nucor has returned roughly $630 million through share buybacks and dividends year to date till June 17, 2026.

It ended first-quarter 2026 with strong liquidity of roughly $3.2 billion, including cash and cash equivalents of around $2.2 billion. It also generated cash from operations of $886 million in the quarter.

The company, in December 2025, raised its quarterly dividend to 56 cents per share from 55 cents. Nucor has increased its regular dividend for 53 straight years since it started paying dividends in 1973. It remains committed to its policy of returning at least 40% of earnings to its shareholders.

NUE offers a dividend yield of 1% at the current stock price. Its payout ratio is 22% (a ratio below 60% is a good indicator that the dividend will be sustainable), with a five-year annualized dividend growth rate of 4.2%. Backed by strong financial health, the company's dividend is perceived to be safe and reliable.

Nucor is executing a well-defined capital allocation policy using its substantial cash generation to drive shareholder value, fund its growth projects and reduce debt. With a rock-solid balance sheet underpinned by a strong credit profile, NUE remains well-placed to continue this shareholder-focused strategy.

Among its peers, Steel Dynamics, Inc. (STLD - Free Report) remains committed to maximizing shareholder returns. Steel Dynamics bought back shares worth $115 million in the first quarter. STLD also raised its quarterly dividend by 6% to 53 cents per share in February 2026. During the second quarter of 2026, Steel Dynamics repurchased $170 million of its common stock, as announced recently.

Commercial Metals Company (CMC - Free Report) is also pursuing a disciplined capital allocation strategy, capitalizing on its solid balance sheet and cash flow profile. Commercial Metals repurchased shares worth $18.9 million during the fiscal third quarter and kept its quarterly dividend at 20 cents per share. CMC generated cash of $603 million from operating activities for the nine months ended May 31, 2026, up from roughly $400 million in the year-ago period.

NUE’s Price Performance, Valuation & EstimatesNucor has gained 39.4% year to date against the Zacks Steel Producers industry’s growth of 26.5%.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

From a valuation standpoint, NUE is currently trading at a forward 12-month earnings multiple of 12.53, a roughly 11.9% premium to the industry average of 11.2X. It carries a Value Score of B.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for NUE’s 2026 earnings implies a year-over-year rise of 129.3%. The EPS estimates for 2026 have been trending higher over the past 60 days.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

COLUMBUS, Ohio, July 08, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Root (NASDAQ: ROOT), the leading technology company in car insurance, and Jerry, the innovative insurance and car care platform, today announced a strategic partnership that embeds Root's data-driven car insurance experience directly into Jerry's app.

The partnership represents another milestone in Root’s embedded insurance distribution strategy by bringing personalized pricing and a streamlined digital purchasing experience directly into Jerry’s high-intent marketplace. By integrating into partner ecosystems where consumers are already shopping and making important financial and automotive decisions, Root is expanding access to its differentiated insurance offering while creating a more seamless experience for customers.

Through this digital-first collaboration:

Real-Time Quotes: Jerry customers receive car insurance quotes from Root directly within the Jerry app experience.Quote-to-Bind in Minutes: Customers can seamlessly complete their profile, review personalized options, and bind a Root policy directly within the Jerry app interface. “Our partnership with Jerry is another strong example of how we’re expanding our embedded technology capabilities to partners serving high-intent customers, enabling them to deliver personalized pricing and a modern insurance experience directly within their own platforms,” said Jason Shapiro, Senior Vice President of Business Development at Root. “We’ve removed traditional roadblocks to make affordable coverage available with the speed and ease consumers expect from their digital experiences, right when they’re ready to make a decision.”

Jerry operates a digital insurance and car care platform that lets users compare, buy, and service car, home, renters, and motorcycle insurance policies directly within the app, with licensed agents available seven days a week. Jerry supports customers throughout the insurance lifecycle by securely storing policy documents, facilitating coverage changes, and monitoring renewal rates in-app. Beyond insurance, Jerry simplifies car ownership with maintenance reminders, recall alerts, repair cost comparisons, and driver safety insights.

"Jerry's mission is to simplify ownership of people’s most important assets – including car, home, motorcycle. Our customers come to us to shop insurance coverage without the hassle of long forms or spam calls," said John Spottiswood, Chief Operating Officer at Jerry. "Root gives drivers a strong, fairly priced option they can sign up for in minutes. We look forward to continuing to expand our partnership and making this experience available to even more customers in the near future."

While traditional insurance shopping can be fragmented and time consuming, this partnership offers a modern alternative built for how consumers shop today. Through Jerry’s trusted, top-rated marketplace and Root’s proprietary, data-backed pricing and underwriting technology, the companies have created a simplified, highly intuitive experience that demonstrates how deep technical alignment can transform insurance distribution to better meet the expectations of today’s digital consumers.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Where is Root insurance available through the Jerry app today?
Root auto insurance is available via the Jerry app in Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, Montana, Nebraska, New Mexico, Nevada, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, West Virginia, and Wisconsin.

Can I buy a Root car insurance policy directly inside the Jerry app?
Yes. The partnership features a fully embedded, end-to-end integration. Jerry customers can receive real-time Root quotes, customize their coverage limits, and fully bind and purchase their policy without ever leaving the Jerry app.

How long does it take to get a Root quote and bind coverage on Jerry?
The digital-first integration removes traditional paperwork and friction. By utilizing existing profile data, eligible drivers can go from an initial rate quote to a bound, active Root policy in just minutes.

How does the Root partnership benefit Jerry customers?

Embedded Convenience: No redirects or external forms; the entire process happens in-app.Dual-App Policy Management: Access your digital insurance cards, view coverage details, and set up payment reminders across both the Root and Jerry apps. Drivers can effortlessly update their coverage and manage payments directly from their phones.24/7 Support: Access to licensed Jerry insurance agents seven days a week. About Root
Root Insurance is a technology company revolutionizing car insurance through data science and automation. The Root app has reached nearly 18 million downloads and has analyzed close to 37 billion miles of driving data to deliver personalized and fair pricing. Root, Inc. (NASDAQ: ROOT) is the parent company of Root Insurance Company.

For more information, visit root.com.

About Jerry
Jerry is a licensed insurance agency in all 50 states and Washington, D.C. that helps customers buy and manage their insurance and car care needs, making car and home ownership easier and more affordable. Its data-driven marketplace lets customers compare quotes from 100+ insurers and buy, bundle, and service their car, home, motorcycle, and renters policies directly in the app. Jerry also offers car care services spanning maintenance, repairs, recalls, and driver safety. And while Jerry is digital-first, a team of licensed agents is available seven days a week.

For more information, visit jerry.ai.

Media & Partnership Contacts
Root Contacts:

Media inquiries: [email protected] opportunities: [email protected] Jerry Contacts:

Media inquiries: [email protected] opportunities: Partnership form Forward Looking Statements:
This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of federal securities laws regarding Root, Inc. These forward-looking statements relate to, among other things, expectations about our future business results. Such forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and are subject to risks, uncertainties and other factors, some of which are beyond the company's control and are difficult to predict. We have based our forward-looking statements on our current expectations, estimates and projections about our industry and our company. We caution that these statements are not guarantees of future performance and you should not rely unduly on them, as they involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions that we cannot predict and many of which are beyond our control. Accordingly, our actual results may differ materially from the future performance that we have expressed or forecast in our forward-looking statements. In accordance with "safe harbor" provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, we have included in Root's Form 10-K for the year ended Dec. 31, 2025, and other SEC filings, cautionary language identifying important factors, though not necessarily all such factors, that could cause future outcomes to differ materially from those set forth in the forward-looking statements. Copies of Root's Form 10-K and other SEC filings are available on the SEC's website, Root's website at ir.joinroot.com, or by contacting Root's Investor Relations office.

FREMONT, Calif., July 08, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Enphase Energy, Inc. (NASDAQ: ENPH), a global energy technology company, today opened pre-orders for IQ® Air, a smart thermostat with an in-home power display for the Enphase® Energy System. IQ Air gives homeowners temperature control at the wall, real-time visibility into solar production, battery performance, and home power use, while the Enphase® App provides whole-home energy management.

As homes add solar, batteries, and more dynamic electricity rates, the thermostat is becoming a more important point of interaction. IQ Air brings live home power information into that daily experience, helping homeowners see how comfort decisions relate to the rest of the home energy system.

Heating and cooling are typically among the largest controllable loads in a home. IQ Air is designed to use AI and intelligent software controls to optimize HVAC operation with awareness of solar production, battery state of charge, time-of-use rates, weather forecasts, and virtual power plant (VPP) events. The thermostat display shows live solar production, battery activity, home load, and system status, while allowing temperature control from the wall.

Based on Enphase modeling, these capabilities are designed to help homeowners save up to an additional $275 per year through time-of-use load shifting, utility demand response credits, HVAC optimization, and battery export optimization. Actual savings will depend on system configuration, climate, local programs, HVAC equipment, and utility rate structure.

IQ Air supports homes with more than one HVAC zone. The IQ Air for primary zone control serves as the main in-home power display, showing live solar, battery, and home power while also controlling the temperature for that zone. IQ Air for secondary zone control can be added for additional HVAC zones, giving larger homes a consistent Enphase thermostat experience.

IQ Air combines an HD color touchscreen, proximity sensing, auto-dimming, humidity and ventilation control, guided commissioning through the Enphase App, Wi-Fi, and a dedicated built-in cellular connection to the Enphase Cloud. It is designed to work with most 24 V HVAC systems and can typically be installed by homeowners or installers in about 10 minutes.

For installers, IQ Air creates a visible entry point into the Enphase product platform. The primary unit gives customers an everyday view of system performance, while secondary units create an expansion path for larger homes and multi-zone HVAC systems.

"We can put IQ Air on the wall during the site survey, before a single panel goes up, and homeowners can be engaged with their Enphase system on day one," said Jeremy Jones, managing director at Evolved Energy. "It wires up in about 10 minutes a zone, with the app walking us through every step, and it gives us a reason to go back to every customer we've ever installed for and talk batteries, EV chargers, and expansions."

"IQ Air is the easiest savings pitch we have because it's optimizing the biggest load in the house against solar, batteries, and rates automatically," said Justin Appleton, owner of Appleton Energy Systems. "It works with nearly every 24 V system we touch; homeowners finally have a screen on the wall showing what their system is doing, and that makes the whole Enphase platform an easier sell."

“IQ Air brings Enphase intelligence to one of the most familiar control points in the home,” said Ravi Pervela, senior vice president of cloud, security, and HEMS at Enphase Energy. “Homeowners can manage comfort, view live power flow at the wall, and use the Enphase App for broader control across solar, batteries, rates, and grid programs.”

The IQ Air smart thermostat is available for pre-order online and through Enphase distribution partners, with shipments expected to begin in August 2026. For more information, visit the Enphase website for homeowners and installers.

About Enphase Energy, Inc.

Enphase Energy, a global energy technology company based in Fremont, CA, is the world's leading supplier of microinverter-based solar and battery systems, EV chargers, home energy management systems, and virtual power plant (VPP) solutions. Enphase products enable people to harness the sun to make, use, save, and sell their own power, all controlled through the Enphase App. The company revolutionized the solar industry with its microinverter-based technology and has shipped approximately 87.8 million microinverters, with more than 5.2 million Enphase-based systems deployed in over 165 countries. For more information, visit https://enphase.com/.

©2026 Enphase Energy, Inc. All rights reserved. Enphase Energy, Enphase, the “e” logo, IQ, and certain other marks listed at https://enphase.com/trademark-usage-guidelines are trademarks or service marks of Enphase Energy, Inc. Other names are for informational purposes and may be trademarks of their respective owners.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release may contain forward-looking statements, including statements related to the expected capabilities, performance, availability, timing, user experience, installer adoption, and homeowner energy savings of IQ Air; its integration with Enphase solar, battery, HVAC, home energy management, VPP, utility rate, and demand response programs; and future features delivered through over-the-air software updates. These statements are based on current expectations and involve risks and uncertainties. Actual results may differ materially due to changes in market demand, electricity pricing, utility programs, product performance, compatibility, availability, and other factors discussed in Enphase Energy's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its most recently filed Annual Report on Form 10-K. Enphase Energy undertakes no obligation to update these statements, except as required by law.

Contact:

Enphase Energy

[email protected]

, /PRNewswire/ -- Super Micro Computer, Inc. (NASDAQ: SMCI), an AI, Enterprise, Storage, and 5G/Edge Total IT Solution Provider featuring Data Center Building Block Solutions® (DCBBS), today announced the launch of Kubernetes Edge AI appliances in collaboration with Red Hat and Everpure. Supermicro has validated a full-stack edge Kubernetes solution, powered by the industry's leading Kubernetes-driven hybrid cloud application platform, Red Hat OpenShift, and the first Kubernetes data management platform tailored for AI workloads from Portworx by Everpure. This turnkey appliance, complete with preloaded software and hardware, is made available to customers through Supermicro.

Simplify Edge AI Deployments with Validated Kubernetes Solutions "AI inferencing at the edge requires more than just hardware—it demands a validated, scalable platform that customers can deploy with confidence," said Vik Malyala, chief business officer, Supermicro. "Together with Red Hat and Everpure, we are delivering a turnkey Kubernetes Edge AI Appliance that simplifies deployment, accelerates time-to-revenue, and enables customers to efficiently scale AI workloads across distributed edge environments."

For more details on the validated, full-stack edge Kubernetes solution with Red Hat and Everpure, click here.

By combining Red Hat OpenShift with Supermicro's edge computing infrastructure and the Portworx by Everpure data management platform for AI workloads, organizations can more easily deploy, manage, scale, and secure AI applications across distributed edge environments.

"As AI-driven applications continue to reshape how businesses operate at the edge, the need for a robust, consistent, and scalable platform is paramount. Red Hat OpenShift delivers that foundation, providing the common hybrid cloud application environment that simplifies the complexity of deploying, orchestrating, and managing AI workloads. In collaboration with Supermicro and Everpure, we are committed to empowering customers with a supported, integrated, and high-performance solution that accelerates their time-to-value for AI inferencing at the edge," said Kelly Switt, senior director, Intelligent Edge and Industrial Business Lead, Red Hat.

Portworx by Everpure provides the Kubernetes-native storage and data management layer for Supermicro's Edge AI Appliances. This enables enterprises to run AI inference, containers, and virtual machines at edge locations with the same enterprise-grade data services available in their core data centers. Unlike array-based storage solutions that require dedicated hardware at each site, Portworx offers software-defined, aggregated local storage on Supermicro's compact edge servers into a resilient, self-healing data platform that operates autonomously, even during network outages. The result is enterprise-grade high availability and data protection at every edge location, with consistent storage policies and a unified operational experience that extends seamlessly from edge to core to cloud.

"Enterprises deploying AI at the edge face a critical infrastructure gap, they need enterprise-grade storage and data protection, but they can't run traditional arrays in environments like retail stores or factory floors," said Greg Muscarella, general manager, Portworx by Everpure. "Together with Supermicro and Red Hat, we're delivering a validated, turnkey solution that combines Portworx services customers rely on like consistent management, built-in resilience, and the operational simplicity to scale to thousands of sites without the need for on-site IT expertise." 

Supermicro is a leader in computing edge infrastructure, with one of the largest, most energy efficient, and most diverse portfolios of edge servers and devices, in a full range of form factors. This enables Supermicro to develop tailored solutions for each customer use case, with optimized initial acquisition cost, and total-cost-of-ownership (TCO). 

Supermicro DCBBS delivers complete, modular AI infrastructure built from validated components and subsystems, enabling flexible deployment from individual servers and networking to full rack-scale and data center-level solutions, including software and services. Supermicro continues to lead the industry with its comprehensive portfolio of AI infrastructure solutions, enabling organizations worldwide to deploy scalable, efficient, and environmentally responsible AI data centers.

About Super Micro Computer, Inc.

Supermicro (NASDAQ: SMCI) is a global leader in Application-Optimized Total IT Solutions. Founded and operating in San Jose, California, Supermicro is committed to delivering first-to-market innovation for Enterprise, Cloud, AI, and 5G Telco/Edge IT Infrastructure. We are a Total IT Solutions provider with server, AI, storage, IoT, switch systems, software, and support services. Supermicro's motherboard, power, and chassis design expertise further enables our development and production, enabling next-generation innovation from cloud to edge for our global customers. Our products are designed and manufactured in-house (in the US, Taiwan, and the Netherlands), leveraging global operations for scale and efficiency and optimized to improve TCO and reduce environmental impact (Green Computing). The award-winning portfolio of Server Building Block Solutions® allows customers to optimize for their exact workload and application by selecting from a broad family of systems built from our flexible and reusable building blocks that support a comprehensive set of form factors, processors, memory, GPUs, storage, networking, power, and cooling solutions (air-conditioned, free air cooling or liquid cooling).

Supermicro, Server Building Block Solutions, and We Keep IT Green are trademarks and/or registered trademarks of Super Micro Computer, Inc.

All other brands, names, and trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

SOURCE Super Micro Computer, Inc.

, /PRNewswire/ -- Visteon Corporation (NASDAQ: VC), a global leader in automotive cockpit electronics, will release its second quarter 2026 financial results before the market opens on Thursday, July 23. The company will host a conference call for the investment community at 9 a.m. ET to discuss the results and related matters. The conference call is also available to the public via live audio webcast.

The dial-in numbers to participate in the call are:

U.S./Canada Participants Toll-Free Dial-In Number: 1-833-461-5787 International Participants Toll Dial-In Number: 1-585-542-9983 Conference ID: 113899249 (Dial-in approximately 10 minutes before the start of the conference.)

The conference call and live audio webcast, related presentation materials, news release and other supplemental information will be accessible in the Investors section of Visteon's website. Shortly after the call, a replay of the webcast will be available on the company's website.

About Visteon
Visteon (NASDAQ: VC) is advancing mobility through innovative technology solutions that enable a software-defined future. The Company's state-of-the-art product portfolio merges digital cockpit innovations, advanced displays, AI-enhanced software solutions, and integrated EV architecture solutions. With expertise spanning passenger vehicles, commercial transportation, and two-wheelers, Visteon partners with global OEMs to create safer, cleaner, and more connected journeys. Headquartered in Van Buren Township, Michigan, Visteon operates in 17 countries, employing a global network of innovation centers and manufacturing facilities. For more information, visit visteon.com.

Visteon Contacts

Media: [email protected] 
Investors: [email protected]

SOURCE Visteon Corporation

Strategic agreement establishes framework for deployment of up to 1.8 GW of power generation capacity Initial major award includes approximately 1 GW of gas turbines and generators delivered by 2030 to support scalable, behind-the-meter power solutions
HOUSTON and LONDON, July 08, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Kodiak Gas Services, Inc. (NYSE: KGS) (“Kodiak”), a leading provider of critical energy infrastructure, and Baker Hughes (NASDAQ: BKR), an energy technology company, announced Wednesday a multi-year strategic agreement under which Baker Hughes will provide power generation solutions to support Kodiak’s expanding energy infrastructure initiatives. The agreement is anchored by an initial equipment award that will enable approximately 1 gigawatt (GW) of reliable, scalable power generation capacity to be delivered by 2030, with the broader framework providing a pathway for up to 1.8 GW of power over time.

The initial major order includes NovaLT™16 gas turbines, Frame 5 gas turbines and BRUSH™ Power Generation generators, providing core technologies to deliver dependable power for growing data center and energy infrastructure demand.

Baker Hughes’ high-efficiency power generation technologies are expected to support behind-the-meter projects in key U.S. markets where accelerating electricity demand and grid constraints are increasing the need for flexible, rapidly deployable power infrastructure.

"We are excited to embark on our relationship with Baker Hughes through this strategic agreement," said Kodiak’s President and CEO Mickey McKee. "Our customers require dependable, efficient and rapidly deployable power solutions, and access to Baker Hughes' industry-leading technology, training and support enhances our ability to meet that demand at scale. This framework supports our long-term strategy of expanding Kodiak's energy infrastructure capabilities while delivering exceptional reliability and value to our customers."

"As demand for power continues to accelerate, driven by the rapid expansion of digital infrastructure and data centers, the ability to deliver reliable, efficient and scalable power solutions quickly is critical," said Baker Hughes Chairman and CEO Lorenzo Simonelli. "This agreement reflects the growing need for flexible power generation technologies; together, our gas turbines and generator technologies will help customers bring new capacity online faster to support the continued buildout of critical digital and energy infrastructure."

The multi-year rolling agreement provides flexibility to align capacity commitments with evolving data center demand and phased project development schedules. Through the agreement, Kodiak expects to leverage Baker Hughes' power generation portfolio to support both existing operations and future growth opportunities. The framework is designed to foster closer commercial and technical collaboration between the companies, streamline project execution and reduce lead times for critical power infrastructure deployments. It also sets forth the companies’ commitments to technical training, the provision of spare parts and a mutual interest in entering into a long-term services arrangement for the equipment.

About Baker Hughes
Baker Hughes (NASDAQ: BKR) is an energy technology company that provides solutions to energy and industrial customers worldwide. Built on a century of experience and conducting business in over 120 countries, our innovative technologies and services are taking energy forward – making it safer, cleaner and more efficient for people and the planet.

About Kodiak
Kodiak is a leading contract compression, distributed power, and energy infrastructure services provider in the United States. It serves as a critical link in the infrastructure chain that enables the safe, reliable and efficient production of energy. Headquartered in The Woodlands, Texas, Kodiak provides contract compression, distributed power, and related services to oil and gas producers, midstream customers, and digital infrastructure operators.

For more information, please contact:

Media Relations

Baker Hughes
Adrienne M. Lynch
+1 713-906-8407
[email protected]

Kodiak Gas Services
Graham Sones
+1 936-755-3259
[email protected]

Investor Relations

Baker Hughes
Chase Mulvehill
+1 346-297-2561
[email protected]

Kodiak Gas Services
Graham Sones
+1 936-755-3259
[email protected]

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/eb9ad084-95fd-4926-b86d-9fd7cd97c076

Baker Hughes, Kodiak signing ceremony Baker Hughes Vice President of Sales for Gas Technology Equipment Riccardo Barbieri and Kodiak Gas S...

Key Takeaways On June 25, 2026, Winnebago missed on earnings by 19.5% for fiscal Q3 2026.Winnebago cut its FY2026 earnings guidance as the environment remains challenged. Shares of WGO are down 23% year-to-date and trade with a forward P/E of 16. Winnebago Industries, Inc. (WGO - Free Report) is facing a challenging environment as the consumer is on the sidelines. This Zacks Rank #5 (Strong Sell) recently cut its fiscal 2026 earnings guidance.

Winnebago manufacturers outdoor recreation products under the Winnebago, Grand Design, Chris-Craft, Newmar, and Barletta brands. It builds motorhomes, travel trailers, fifth-wheel products, outboard and sterndrive powerboats, pontoons, and commercial community outreach vehicles.

The company has multiple facilities in Iowa, Indiana, Minnesota, and Florida.

Winnebago Missed on Earnings in Fiscal Q3 2026On June 25, 2026, Winnebago reported its fiscal third quarter 2026 earnings for the period ending on May 30, 2026, and missed on the Zacks Consensus by $0.16. It reported $0.66 versus the consensus of $0.82, or a miss of 19.5%.

It was the first earnings miss in the last four quarters.

Net revenues fell 9.9% to $698.7 million from $775.1 million a year ago primarily driven by lower unit volume, partially offset by selective price adjustments and product mix.

There was growth in the Motorhome RV segment, but it was partially offset by declines in the Towable RV and Marine segments.

“Our teams continue to execute in a retail environment that remained challenging through the third quarter,” said Michael Happe, CEO.

“Industry retail demand was pressured by broader macro factors, including elevated fuel costs, geopolitical uncertainty, and weak consumer confidence which continued to drive cautious dealer ordering and tighter inventory management across the channel,” he added.

Winnebago Cuts Fiscal 2026 Earnings GuidanceWinnebago expects the environment to remain challenged. It now expects North American RV wholesale shipments in the range of 290,000 to 310,000 units.

As a result, it has lowered its full year fiscal 2026 earnings guidance to the range of $1.65 to $2.00. This is compared to its prior guidance range of $2.10 to $2.80.

“Our outlook reflects a measured view of the environment,” Happe said.

“We expect demand conditions to remain challenged in the near term, with continued variability across segments,” he added.

Analysts are Bearish on WinnebagoNot surprisingly, given the company’s guidance cut, the analysts are also bearish.

Four estimates were cut for both FY2026 and FY2027 in the last 30 days.

The fiscal 2026 Zacks Consensus fell to $1.91 from $2.34 during that time. The most accurate estimate is even more bearish at $1.81.

Yet this is still earnings growth of 14.8% as Winnebago made $1.67 in fiscal 2025. However, earnings have declined the prior 3 years.

Analysts were also bearish on next year. The Zacks Consensus on fiscal 2027 has fallen to $2.58 from $2.96 in the last month. But this is still 35.1% growth.

Have earnings hit bottom? Here’s the price and consensus chart.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

Shares of Winnebago Fall Further in 2026Given the dreary outlook on earnings, you can imagine that the shares have suffered over the last few years.

Shares are down further in 2026.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

Given the earnings decline, it’s not that cheap on a price-to-earnings (P/E) basis. It now trades with a P/E of 16. A P/E under 15 usually indicates value and a P/E under 10 can indicate deep value.

Winnebago does pay a dividend of $1.40, which is yielding an attractive 4.6%.

But investors might want to stay on the sidelines with Winnebago until the business, and earnings estimates, are turning around.

Analysis of First Quarter 2026 Data Uncovers Accelerated Migration of Consumers Toward the Extremes of Economic stability and Pressure

, /PRNewswire/ -- Equifax® (NYSE: EFX) today released its first quarter 2026 Market Pulse Index, a measure of U.S. consumer financial health derived from anonymized credit, debt, income, and asset data along with VantageScore insights. The Market Pulse Index dipped from 61.6 to 60.9, marking its second straight quarter of decline, with drops observed across all generations. The Market Pulse Index continues to track a K-Shaped economy, highlighting three consumer segments - Thrivers (the top 10% with an index above 80), the Pivoting Middle (those with an index between 50 and 79), and Strivers (the bottom 20% with an index below 49) - each experiencing different financial situations.

"As the U.S. continues to navigate a K-shaped economy, where different segments of the population experience divergent financial realities simultaneously, we see that reaching the top financial tier creates powerful momentum, much like compounding interest, with those with the greatest amount of wealth continuing to accumulate more," said Emmaline Aliff, Advisory Leader at Equifax. "But for those who haven't reached the top financial tier, recent inflation and debt concentration are applying severe downward pressure. This pressure is contracting the size of the middle class."

Churning in the Middle Class

Within the Market Pulse Index consumer segments, the top-tier Thrivers group shrunk slightly, while the Strivers group expanded. At the same time, the Middle tier remained the same. This shows that consumers are moving toward the extremes of the financial stability spectrum rather than maintaining the middle.

The group with peak financial resilience, Thrivers, experienced a 5% drop in total size. The group facing heightened economic pressure, Strivers, saw a 2% increase in total size. The traditional "Pivoting Middle" tier saw a 0% change in total size during the first quarter of 2026. A review of data over a six quarter period, from the third quarter of 2024 until the end of the first quarter of 2026, tells the story of where the middle class is moving. A significant portion of individuals leaving the middle class are moving into the Strivers category, and 97% of that movement is explained by holding under $100,000 in assets. Conversely, more than two-thirds of those successfully climbing from the Middle to the Thrivers tier belong to the Affluent segment (over $1 million in assets).

Every Generation Saw a Downturn

For the second consecutive quarter, index values saw a downward trend across all age segments:

Generation Z dipped slightly to an average index of 58.9 (-0.1% QoQ). However, they exhibited significant variability, with an 11.73% segment showing upward index movement closely tied to proximity to family or neighborhood wealth safety nets. Millennials dropped to an average index of 58.1 (-1.2% QoQ). They lead all generations in significant index decreases (12.98%), as they navigate their prime earning years without the accumulated family wealth safety net that benefits younger consumers. Millennials also represent the largest portion of Strivers at 7.59%, driven primarily by a lack of assets. Generation X decreased to an average index of 60.3 (-0.8% QoQ) as they continue to balance peak career debt against the rising costs of essential needs. With an average index of 64.3 (-0.2% QoQ), Boomers+ remain the most financially stable segment with between 58% and 69% of the Boomer population remaining completely steady within their index range.  Boomers in the Thriver segment account for 3.80% of the total U.S. population — the highest among all generations within the Affluent tier. The Equifax Market Pulse Index provides a comprehensive view of U.S. consumer financial health by synthesizing anonymized credit, debt, income, and asset data with VantageScore insights. The Index is designed to capture the combined effects of multiple economic forces rather than focusing on a single variable. Measured on a scale of 1 to 100 — where 100 represents the greatest financial strength — the Index delivers a holistic picture of consumer economic well-being, allowing for precise comparisons across diverse demographics and generations.

The Equifax Market Pulse Index was built using AI and machine learning methods leveraging proprietary Equifax wealth and asset data along with data from the Equifax credit file and VantageScore 4.0 to provide a comprehensive view of consumer financial health. It distills the credit, debt, income, capacity, and assets of U.S. consumers into one benchmark number to reflect the cumulative index of both positive and negative financial factors. To learn more, read the full Market Pulse Index here.

ABOUT EQUIFAX INC.
At Equifax (NYSE: EFX), we believe knowledge drives progress. As a global data, analytics, and technology company, we play an essential role in the global economy by helping financial institutions, companies, employers, and government agencies make critical decisions with greater confidence. Our unique blend of differentiated data, analytics, and cloud technology drives insights to power decisions to move people forward. Headquartered in Atlanta and supported by nearly 15,000 employees worldwide, Equifax operates or has investments in 24 countries in North America, Central and South America, Europe, and the Asia Pacific region. For more information, visit Equifax.com.

FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Tiffany Smith for Equifax
[email protected]

SOURCE Equifax Inc.

8.7.2026 14:20, BAACSG

Skupina Czechoslovak Group informovala o dokončení přenosu technologie výroby střelného prachu do společnosti MESKO. Podle české zbrojařské společnosti tím posiluje polské kapacity ve výrobě munice ráže 155 mm.

Czechoslovak Group prostřednictvím své dceřiné společnosti dokončila přenos technologického know-how pro výrobu střelného prachu do společnosti MESKO S.A., která spadá do polské státní skupiny Polska Grupa Zbrojeniowa. Střelný prach bude využíván při výrobě modulárních prachových náplní pro dělostřeleckou munici ráže 155 mm.

Díky dokončenému technologickému transferu know-how může být střelný prach nyní sériově vyráběn v závodě společnosti MESKO v Pionkách.

Akcie CSG Akcie společnosti Czechoslovak Group (BAACSG) dnes na pražské burze odepisují 2,96 % na 337,9 Kč. Na RM-SYSTÉMu se akcie obchodují za 339,2 Kč.

Zdroj: CSG

Jakub Němec
Fio banka, a.s.
Prohlášení

Související odkazy CSG oznámila založení nové americké dceřiné společnosti CSG: Tatra Trucks si zajistila financování od společnosti ovládané Michalem Strnadem CSG jmenovala Davida Jacobse prezidentem CSG Defense North America Společnosti Federal a Remington ze skupiny CSG získaly od FBI kontrakt v hodnotě 77,4 mil. USD CSG podepsalo dohodu o strategickém partnerství s ukrajinskou společností

HomeStock IdeasLong IdeasIndustrial 

SummaryBoeing has launched a fourth 737 MAX assembly line in Everett, significantly expanding production capacity and supporting a multi-year ramp-up.The current 737 MAX backlog supports monthly production rates of 72–80 units, yet BA is producing at just 42, indicating strong latent demand.By 2035, 737 MAX program revenues could exceed $53 billion annually, with cumulative revenues boosted 10% by an accelerated ramp-up on the new line.The fourth line offers BA strategic flexibility—enabling either stress relief on existing lines or a faster, value-accretive ramp to meet demand and reduce debt.Looking for more investing ideas like this one? Get them exclusively at The Aerospace Forum. Learn More » Aeon Aviation Photography/iStock Editorial via Getty Images

As part of The Boeing Company's (BA) production ramp-up, Boeing has started operating its fourth 737 MAX assembly line in Everett, boosting the production capacity for the Boeing 737 MAX. The introduction

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Analyst’s Disclosure: I/we have no stock, option or similar derivative position in any of the companies mentioned, and no plans to initiate any such positions within the next 72 hours. 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.

Ever since Netflix (NFLX +0.21%) walked away from trying to acquire assets from Warner Bros. Discovery, the stock price hasn't found its footing.

Investors initially cheered Netflix's decision to withdraw from the bidding war with Paramount Skydance. But shares didn't gain much traction afterward, and Netflix's warnings about its content costs in the first half of the year haven't helped. As of this writing, the Netflix stock price is down roughly 19% year to date.

On July 16, however, the next meaningful direction for the stock price could take shape.

Image source: Getty Images.

Netflix's next report On Thursday, July 16, Netflix will release its financial results for the second quarter of 2026.

Ad revenue totals will be an important metric to watch to see if Netflix is still on track to reach $3 billion by the end of the year. As subscription growth matures, ads are not just another sales vehicle for the company. Growing ad revenue can also help offset content costs.

Those content costs are also worth monitoring and hearing the company's take on. The management team did warn that content costs would be higher in the first part of the year, so if that headwind is mostly behind Netflix, that will offer some relief.

Today's Change

(

0.21

%) $

0.16

Current Price

$

76.18

What happens after July 16 If Netflix shows that ad revenue is on track to reach $3 billion or exceed that forecast, along with content costs stabilizing in the back half of the year, that's a recipe that could help send the stock price higher.

If ad revenue isn't living up to forecasts, if content costs are projected to climb in the upcoming quarters, or both, the next direction for the stock price is likely lower.

Either way, this report can highlight for long-term investors whether a rebound is forming or if there's still some turbulence to navigate through.

Jack Delaney has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Netflix and Warner Bros. Discovery. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.