Track market-moving stories before they get noisy

Key Takeaways Ingevity's Evotherm P35 gained BASt approval for warm-mix asphalt use in Germany.Years of testing confirmed the product's durability and long-term performance under real-world conditions.Bio-based materials support performance and environmental goals in pavement applications. Ingevity Corporation (NGVT - Free Report) announced that its Evotherm P35 warm-mix additive has received approval from BASt, Germany's Federal Highway Research Institute, indicating that it meets the institute’s stringent quality standards. The approval allows the additive to be used in warm-mix asphalt applications and validates it for use in one of Europe's most demanding regulatory environments.

The approval follows several years of technical evaluation, performance testing and comparison with conventional hot-mix asphalt. The testing was conducted under real-world traffic and environmental conditions. The results met BASt's durability and long-term performance standards required for use on federal projects in Germany.

The certification strengthens Ingevity's position in the European pavement technologies market, where regulatory requirements for infrastructure materials are particularly demanding. It also demonstrates the company's ability to tailor its technologies to meet regional specifications while maintaining high performance standards. Evotherm P35 aligns with Germany's performance, environmental and regulatory priorities, highlighting the company’s formulation expertise and capability to satisfy complex technical requirements.

Evotherm P35 incorporates bio-based materials designed to improve performance while supporting environmental objectives, reinforcing the company's Pavement Technologies business.

NGVT’s shares have gained 62.8% over the past year compared with the industry’s 3.2% growth.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

NGVT’s Zacks Rank & Key PicksIngevity currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). 

Some better-ranked stocks in the Basic Materials space are Kronos Worldwide, Inc. (KRO - Free Report) , Carpenter Technology Corporation (CRS - Free Report) and Albemarle Corporation (ALB - Free Report) .

While KRO and CRS currently sport a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) each, ALB carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for KRO’s 2026 loss is pinned at 33 cents per share, indicating a 65.63% year-over-year increase. Its earnings beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate in one of the trailing four quarters and missed the remaining three. KROshares have gained 7.1% over the past year.

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for CRS’ 2026 earnings is pegged at $10.56 per share, indicating a rise of 41.18% year over year. Its earnings beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate in each of the trailing four quarters, with an average surprise of 8.95%.

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for ALB’s current fiscal-year earnings is pinned at $13.06 per share, indicating a 1,753% year-over-year increase. Its earnings beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate in three of the trailing four quarters and missed once, with an average surprise of 74.5%. ALB’s shares have gained 55% over the past year.

Looking for a stock that has been consistently beating earnings estimates and might be well positioned to keep the streak alive in its next quarterly report? First American Financial (FAF - Free Report) , which belongs to the Zacks Insurance - Property and Casualty industry, could be a great candidate to consider.

This financial services company has seen a nice streak of beating earnings estimates, especially when looking at the previous two reports. The average surprise for the last two quarters was 29.51%.

For the last reported quarter, First American Financial came out with earnings of $1.33 per share versus the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.06 per share, representing a surprise of 25.47%. For the previous quarter, the company was expected to post earnings of $1.49 per share and it actually produced earnings of $1.99 per share, delivering a surprise of 33.56%.

Thanks in part to this history, there has been a favorable change in earnings estimates for First American Financial lately. In fact, the Zacks Earnings ESP (Expected Surprise Prediction) for the stock is positive, which is a great indicator of an earnings beat, particularly when combined with its solid Zacks Rank.

Our research shows that stocks with the combination of a positive Earnings ESP and a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) or better produce a positive surprise nearly 70% of the time. In other words, if you have 10 stocks with this combination, the number of stocks that beat the consensus estimate could be as high as seven.

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

First American Financial has an Earnings ESP of +0.17% at the moment, suggesting that analysts have grown bullish on its near-term earnings potential. When you combine this positive Earnings ESP with the stock's Zacks Rank #3 (Hold), it shows that another beat is possibly around the corner. The company's next earnings report is expected to be released on July 22, 2026.

Investors should note, however, that a negative Earnings ESP reading is not indicative of an earnings miss, but a negative value does reduce the predictive power of this metric.

Many companies end up beating the consensus EPS estimate, but that may not be the sole basis for their stocks moving higher. On the other hand, some stocks may hold their ground even if they end up missing the consensus estimate.

Because of this, it's really important to check a company's Earnings ESP ahead of its quarterly release to increase the odds of success. Make sure to utilize our Earnings ESP Filter to uncover the best stocks to buy or sell before they've reported.

BENSALEM, Pa., July 17, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Law Offices of Howard G. Smith reminds investors that class action lawsuits have been filed on behalf of shareholders of the following publicly-traded companies. Investors have until the deadlines listed below to file a lead plaintiff motion.

Investors suffering losses on their investments are encouraged to contact the Law Offices of Howard G. Smith to discuss their legal rights in these class actions at (215) 638-4847 or by email to [email protected].

Embecta Corp. (NASDAQ: EMBC)
Class Period: November 25, 2025 – May 4, 2026
Lead Plaintiff Deadline: August 17, 2026

The complaint alleges that throughout the Class Period the defendants made false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that: (1) the Company’s guidance was misleading and unattainable; (2) segment weakness, especially in the United States pen needle market, was likely to disrupt the Company’s original revenue guidance and second quarter 2026 results; and (3) as a result, Defendants’ positive statements about the Company’s business, operations, and prospects were materially misleading and/or lacked a reasonable basis at all relevant times.

First Solar, Inc. (NASDAQ: FSLR)
Class Period: February 26, 2025 – February 24, 2026
Lead Plaintiff Deadline: August 24, 2026

The complaint alleges that throughout the Class Period the defendants made false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that: (1) Defendants had overstated First Solar’s capacity to manage the impact of U.S. tariff policy on the Company’s business; (2) Defendants understated the extent to which its responses to U.S. tariff policy, including the intentional underutilization of production facilities in Malaysia and Vietnam, and attempted relocation of production to the U.S., were likely to negatively impact First Solar’s projected performance in the 2026 fiscal year; and (3) as a result, Defendants’ positive statements about the Company’s business, operations, and prospects were materially misleading and/or lacked a reasonable basis at all relevant times.

ZoomInfo Technologies Inc. (NASDAQ: GTM)
Class Period: November 3, 2025 – May 11, 2026
Lead Plaintiff Deadline: August 24, 2026

The complaint alleges that throughout the Class Period the defendants made false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that: (1) ZoomInfo’s optimistic plan for continued growth was undermined by slowing seat-based demand, weakening upsells and customers revising decisions to purchase AI products and develop internal AI-driven go-to-market solutions, making ZoomInfo’s 2026 full year revenue guidance increasingly unlikely to be met; and (2) as a result, Defendants’ positive statements about the Company’s business, operations, and prospects were materially misleading and/or lacked a reasonable basis at all relevant times.

Peabody Energy Corporation (NYSE: BTU)
Class Period: October 14, 2024 – May 4, 2026
Lead Plaintiff Deadline: August 24, 2026

The complaint alleges that throughout the Class Period the defendants made false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that: (1) Peabody’s overly optimistic March 2026 Centurion ramp-up date and promises regarding the Company’s inflated guidance fell short of reality when numerous issues at Centurion caused a significant delay to the mine’s ramp-up and Peabody’s first quarter metallurgical segment volumes; and (2) as a result, Defendants’ positive statements about the Company’s business, operations, and prospects were materially misleading and/or lacked a reasonable basis at all relevant times.

To be a member of these class actions, you need not take any action at this time; you may retain counsel of your choice or take no action and remain an absent member of the class action. If you wish to learn more about these class actions, or if you have any questions concerning this announcement or your rights or interests with respect to these matters, please contact Howard G. Smith, Esquire, of Law Offices of Howard G. Smith, 3070 Bristol Pike, Suite 112, Bensalem, Pennsylvania 19020, by telephone at (215) 638-4847 or by email to [email protected], or visit our website at www.howardsmithlaw.com.

This press release may be considered Attorney Advertising in some jurisdictions under the applicable law and ethical rules.

Contacts
Law Offices of Howard G. Smith
Howard G. Smith, Esquire
215-638-4847
888-638-4847
[email protected]
www.howardsmithlaw.com

SEI Investments (NASDAQ: SEIC - Get Free Report) and Hamilton Lane (NASDAQ: HLNE - Get Free Report) are both finance companies, but which is the better business? We will compare the two businesses based on the strength of their profitability, dividends, institutional ownership, earnings, valuation, risk and analyst recommendations. Institutional and Insider Ownership 70.6% of SEI Investments

Key Takeaways Truist's Q2 earnings per share rose 36.7% to $1.23, while revenues climbed 5.6% to $5.27 billion.Higher NII, fee income, loans and deposits supported results, while expenses rose and NIM narrowed.Provisions fell to $395 million, and Truist returned $1.8 billion through dividends and share buybacks. Truist Financial’s (TFC - Free Report)  second-quarter 2026 earnings of $1.23 per share handily beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.08. The bottom line was up 36.7% from 90 cents a year ago.

Shares of TFC lost 1.2% in pre-market trading despite better-than-expected quarterly performance on net interest margin concerns.

Results were primarily aided by a rise in net interest income (NII) and higher fee income. A higher average loan and deposit balance, as well as a decline in provisions, offered support. An increase in expenses and a decline in NIM were the undermining factors.

Net income available to common shareholders was $1.52 billion, up 28.7% from the prior-year quarter.

TFC’s Revenue Mix Reflects Higher Fee IncomeTotal revenue of $5.27 billion rose 5.6% year over year. The top line beat the consensus estimate of $5.21 billion.

NII was $3.62 billion compared with $3.59 billion in the second quarter of 2025. This was driven by higher earning assets and loan growth, partly offset by lower loan spreads and fixed-rate debt repricing. The net interest margin (NIM) contracted 4 basis points (bps) to 2.98%.

Non-interest income was $1.64 billion, up 17.4%. This was attributable to higher investment banking and trading income, wealth management income, mortgage banking income and lending-related fees.

Truist Cost Trends Show Mixed Signals on ProfitabilityNon-interest expense totaled $3.06 billion, up 2.3%. This was primarily due to higher personnel costs related to salaries and incentives, partly offset by lower professional fees and outside processing expenses.

Profitability metrics improved alongside earnings growth. Return on average common equity was 10.4% and return on average tangible common equity was 15.4% in the quarter compared with 8.1% and 12.3%, respectively, in the prior-year period.

The efficiency ratio improved to 58% from 59.9%, signaling better operating leverage.

TFC’s Credit Quality: A Mixed BagProvision for credit losses decreased to $395 million from $488 million a year ago, reflecting an allowance release in the reported quarter. The allowance for loan and lease losses was 1.51% of loans and leases held for investment, down from 1.54% a year ago.

Net charge-offs (NCOs) were $414 million, up from $396 million in the year-ago quarter. NCO ratio of 0.50% of average loans and leases increased 1 bp year over year.

Total non-performing assets were $1.75 billion as of June 30, 2026, up from $1.32 billion a year earlier. Non-performing loans and leases were 0.51% of loans and leases held for investment, up 12 bps year over year.

TFC’s Balance Sheet and Capital Return Remain in FocusBalance sheet trends were solid, with average loans and leases of $331.75 billion, up from $313.84 billion in the year-ago quarter. This was driven by commercial and industrial, commercial real estate and other consumer loan growth.

Average deposits were $404.87 billion compared with $400.48 billion a year earlier.

Capital return was a notable highlight in the quarter. Truist returned $1.8 billion to shareholders through dividends and share repurchases, including $1.2 billion of buybacks. The company expects share repurchases to be approximately $5 billion in 2026.

The common equity Tier 1 ratio was 10.9% at quarter end, up 10 bps sequentially but down from 11% a year ago.

TFC Projects Upbeat Near-Term ResultsFor the third quarter of 2026, management expects taxable-equivalent (TE) revenues to increase roughly 1% sequentially. Non-interest expenses are projected to rise almost 2% from $3.1 billion.

For full-year 2026, Truist expects revenues (TE) to rise 3.5-4% and non-interest expenses to increase roughly 1.75%. The company also estimates NCO ratio of approximately 55 bps and an effective tax rate of about 14.5%.

Management expects NII to increase 1-1.5% in 2026 from the prior year. The updated outlook reflects the continued optimization of less strategic lending portfolios, lower loan spreads, a less favorable deposit mix and changes in the forward interest-rate curve.

Our Take on Truist FinancialDecent loan demand, higher fee income and TFC’s business restructuring/expansion initiatives are expected to continue supporting its top line. A solid balance sheet position is another positive. However, elevated expenses, given a tough operating environment, and pressure on NIM are major headwinds.
 

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

Performance of Truist’s PeersM&T Bank’s (MTB - Free Report) second-quarter net operating earnings per share of $5.35 beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $4.66. The bottom line compared favorably with earnings of $4.28 in the year-ago quarter.

Results were aided by higher NII and a rise in non-interest income, along with loan growth. However, higher expenses acted as headwinds.

The PNC Financial Services Group, Inc. (PNC - Free Report) reported adjusted earnings per share of $4.85 in the second quarter of 2026, beating the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $4.51 and up from $3.85 a year ago.

Results reflected higher NII, strong fee income growth, an improvement in NIM, solid loan growth and lower provisions. However, higher expenses and a decline in the deposit balance were headwinds.

Truist’s second quarter displayed a range of puts and takes shaping consumer banking.

Customers kept spending, mobile activity rose and credit losses eased, while the movement of cash into higher-yielding accounts continued to raise funding costs.

The quarter also marked Bill Rogers’ final earnings call as Truist’s CEO. Mike Lyons will become president and CEO on Sept. 1, after having served as Fiserv’s CEO. Rogers will serve as executive chair until his planned retirement in April 2027.

Commentary during an earnings conference call with analysts Friday (July 17) indicated that consumer liquidity, spending and credit trends remained within management’s expectations. Average consumer and small business loans rose 2% from a year earlier, even as Truist reduced production in lending categories it viewed as less central or less profitable. Consumer and small business deposits also rose 2%, supported by a 39% gain in deposits from new clients.

“Consumer behavior remained resilient during the quarter, with stable liquidity, spending and credit trends that remain within our expectations,” Rogers said during the call.

Credit quality also improved from the first quarter. Net charge-offs fell 11 basis points to 50 basis points, with lower losses across most portfolios. Nonperforming loans rose by one basis point, partly because Truist changed its nonaccrual rules for loans in its nonprime auto business. Management said the accounting change did not reflect weaker underlying credit trends.

The results came as Truist narrowed its lending focus. The bank is reducing exposure to marine, recreational vehicle and selected auto loans. It is directing more capital toward commercial borrowers, where an initial loan can lead to deposits, payments, liquidity services and capital markets work.

Chief Financial Officer Mike Maguire said the review also extends to wholesale banking.

“There are things that we’ve done and will continue to do in wholesale around client selection, around pricing, around product design, rebalancing, that are all intended to create more profitability and efficiency,” Maguire told analysts.

Digital Use Carries More Financial Weight Digital engagement was one of the clearest measures of customer behavior in the quarter. Active mobile users rose 4% from a year earlier to 5.4 million, while digital transaction volume increased 7% to 93 million transactions. About 85% of client logins now take place through mobile devices.

Rogers linked digital activity directly to revenue, profit and operating costs.

“Digital active clients generate more revenue and higher profitability than non-digital clients, while greater self-service adoption continues to improve efficiency across the franchise,” Rogers said.

Clients used Truist Assist nearly 2 million times during the quarter, up 60% from a year earlier. The virtual assistant gives customers a way to handle routine service matters without visiting a branch or contacting an employee.

Rogers said the usage reflected “growing adoption of self-service capabilities and our continued investment in the digital client experience.”

The strategy reaches beyond routine consumer banking. Premier Banking, which serves clients with $100,000 to $1 million in combined deposits and investments, represents more than half of consumer and small business banking deposits. New Premier deposit production balances rose 20%, adviser productivity rose 23%, and financial planning activity rose 9%.

On the commercial side, average wholesale deposits rose 6% after adjusting for large merger-related balances in the prior-year quarter. Truist tied the gains to payments and liquidity services, which place the bank inside the daily movement of corporate funds.

Middle-market deposits rose 12%. Deposits grew 9% in established markets and 27% in expansion markets such as Texas, Pennsylvania and Ohio.

Deposit mix remains the pressure point. Maguire said Truist still expects annual deposit growth of about 3%, but the share of demand deposits could fall from roughly 27% at the start of the year to about 25% by year-end. Those balances usually carry lower funding costs.

“We still actually feel quite good about deposit balances both in wholesale and consumer,” Maguire said. “We’re seeing nice production. It’s really just mix.”

Rogers said the movement toward higher-yielding accounts reflected customer choices more than a new wave of rate competition.

“What we’ve seen in the deposit migration to higher yielding is more client behavior than competitive pressure,” he said. “The competitive environment still is highly competitive. We’re the most competitive we’ve ever been in terms of product and capability.”

Shares in Truist were up 1.5% in early trading Friday morning.

Looking for a stock that has been consistently beating earnings estimates and might be well positioned to keep the streak alive in its next quarterly report? Federal Signal (FSS - Free Report) , which belongs to the Zacks Automotive - Domestic industry, could be a great candidate to consider.

This company that makes products ranging from street sweepers to toll booth technology for government, industrial and commercial customers has an established record of topping earnings estimates, especially when looking at the previous two reports. The company boasts an average surprise for the past two quarters of 20.00%.

For the most recent quarter, Federal Signal was expected to post earnings of $0.89 per share, but it reported $1.18 per share instead, representing a surprise of 32.58%. For the previous quarter, the consensus estimate was $1.08 per share, while it actually produced $1.16 per share, a surprise of 7.41%.

Thanks in part to this history, there has been a favorable change in earnings estimates for Federal Signal lately. In fact, the Zacks Earnings ESP (Expected Surprise Prediction) for the stock is positive, which is a great indicator of an earnings beat, particularly when combined with its solid Zacks Rank.

Our research shows that stocks with the combination of a positive Earnings ESP and a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) or better produce a positive surprise nearly 70% of the time. In other words, if you have 10 stocks with this combination, the number of stocks that beat the consensus estimate could be as high as seven.

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

Federal Signal has an Earnings ESP of +0.55% at the moment, suggesting that analysts have grown bullish on its near-term earnings potential. When you combine this positive Earnings ESP with the stock's Zacks Rank #2 (Buy), it shows that another beat is possibly around the corner. The company's next earnings report is expected to be released on July 30, 2026.

When the Earnings ESP comes up negative, investors should note that this will reduce the predictive power of the metric. But, a negative value is not indicative of a stock's earnings miss.

Many companies end up beating the consensus EPS estimate, though this is not the only reason why their shares gain. Additionally, some stocks may remain stable even if they end up missing the consensus estimate.

Because of this, it's really important to check a company's Earnings ESP ahead of its quarterly release to increase the odds of success. Make sure to utilize our Earnings ESP Filter to uncover the best stocks to buy or sell before they've reported.

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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.

Key Takeaways Tech stocks are diverging dramatically from the rest of the market. High-beta tech is taking the brunt of the selling.Gavin Baker views the correction as an attractive reward-to-risk zone. There is a Huge Divergence Between Tech & Everything ElseThus far in July, the Nasdaq 100 Index ETF ((QQQ - Free Report) ) is down more than 4% while the S&P 500 Index ETF ((SPY - Free Report) ) is green. According to OddStats (@OddStats) this would be the third time ever since QQQ started trading in 1999 that this has happened. The other two times were:

·       December 2000 (9 months into the crash)

·       July 2006 (15 months before the next crash)

Although the sample size of this stat is far too small to make any assumptions, its rarity shows how extreme and divergent the current stock market conditions are.

Daily Volatility Reaches ExtremesThe Nasdaq 100 has moved up 1% or down in 20 of the past 26 trading days. Similar volatility has only occurred during COVID, the 2022 bear market, the Global Financial Crisis, and the Dot Com Bubble.

Image Source: Bloomberg

Growth/Momentum Stocks Have Taken the Brunt of the PainThe Goldman Sachs US High Beta Momentum Index is on pace for its biggest monthly drop since the financial crisis.

Leading AI stocks such as Micron ((MU - Free Report) ), Western Digital ((WDC - Free Report) ), SanDisk ((SNDK - Free Report) ), and Marvell ((MRVL - Free Report) ) are each down 24% or more over the past month.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

That said, time frame context adds a critical perspective in this scenario. For instance, MU, WDC, and SNDK are each up more than 500% over the past year.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

Gavin Baker: Can Lightning Strike Twice?Gavin Baker is the founder, Managing Partner, and Chief Investment Officer of Atreides Management, a multi-billion-dollar crossover fund. Baker has been one of the best-performing money managers on Wall Street and was early on many of the AI stocks mentioned above. Thursday, Baker tweeted, “Risk/reward seems attractive again. Lots of cheap stocks with durable competitive advantages that are going to crush numbers for the next 6-12 quarters.”

Baker may be worth listening to. The last time he made a bold call like this, it was a day away from the Iran correction low.

Image Source: TradingView

Bottom Line

Tech and momentum stocks are seeing some of the highest volatility in decades. Seasoned fund manager Gavin Baker believes this sharp correction is setting up an attractive reward-to-risk zone.

Posted by _ _xnake on Jul 17th, 2026

Shares of Builders FirstSource, Inc. (NYSE:BLDR – Get Free Report) have been given an average rating of “Hold” by the twenty-three brokerages that are covering the firm, Marketbeat reports. Three research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, twelve have issued a hold rating and eight have assigned a buy rating to the company. The average 1-year target price among brokerages that have covered the stock in the last year is $101.4481.

A number of equities research analysts recently weighed in on BLDR shares. Barclays dropped their price target on shares of Builders FirstSource from $114.00 to $93.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a research note on Friday, May 1st. Loop Capital reduced their price objective on shares of Builders FirstSource from $140.00 to $110.00 in a research note on Friday, May 1st. Royal Bank Of Canada lowered their target price on shares of Builders FirstSource from $110.00 to $107.00 and set an “outperform” rating for the company in a report on Friday, May 1st. Zacks Research upgraded shares of Builders FirstSource from a “strong sell” rating to a “hold” rating in a research report on Friday, July 3rd. Finally, Raymond James Financial cut their price target on Builders FirstSource from $140.00 to $100.00 in a research note on Friday, May 1st.

Get Our Latest Research Report on BLDR

Builders FirstSource Price Performance Shares of BLDR stock opened at $78.23 on Friday. The firm has a market cap of $8.41 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 29.97, a PEG ratio of 1.80 and a beta of 1.42. Builders FirstSource has a 12 month low of $65.10 and a 12 month high of $151.03. The company has a quick ratio of 1.09, a current ratio of 1.76 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.15. The stock has a 50-day moving average price of $77.30 and a 200 day moving average price of $92.59.

Builders FirstSource (NYSE:BLDR – Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Thursday, April 30th. The company reported $0.27 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts’ consensus estimates of $0.39 by ($0.12). The business had revenue of $3.29 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $3.17 billion. Builders FirstSource had a net margin of 1.97% and a return on equity of 14.89%. The business’s revenue for the quarter was down 10.1% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company posted $1.51 earnings per share. Research analysts expect that Builders FirstSource will post 4.32 EPS for the current year.

Builders FirstSource announced that its Board of Directors has approved a share repurchase program on Thursday, April 30th that authorizes the company to buyback $500.00 million in shares. This buyback authorization authorizes the company to repurchase up to 5.4% of its shares through open market purchases. Shares buyback programs are usually an indication that the company’s leadership believes its shares are undervalued.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Builders FirstSource Several hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Wedge Capital Management L L P NC grew its position in shares of Builders FirstSource by 6.3% during the 2nd quarter. Wedge Capital Management L L P NC now owns 89,477 shares of the company’s stock worth $8,006,000 after buying an additional 5,268 shares during the period. Hudson Value Partners LLC increased its stake in shares of Builders FirstSource by 10.2% in the 2nd quarter. Hudson Value Partners LLC now owns 60,904 shares of the company’s stock valued at $5,450,000 after acquiring an additional 5,620 shares during the last quarter. LVM Capital Management Ltd. MI acquired a new stake in shares of Builders FirstSource in the 2nd quarter valued at approximately $666,000. Polianta Ltd raised its position in shares of Builders FirstSource by 37.1% in the 2nd quarter. Polianta Ltd now owns 22,900 shares of the company’s stock valued at $2,049,000 after acquiring an additional 6,200 shares during the period. Finally, Czech National Bank boosted its stake in Builders FirstSource by 1.7% during the 2nd quarter. Czech National Bank now owns 30,616 shares of the company’s stock worth $2,740,000 after acquiring an additional 500 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 95.53% of the company’s stock.

Builders FirstSource Company Profile (Get Free Report)

Builders FirstSource, Inc is a leading supplier of structural and value-added building products and services to professional contractors, homebuilders and remodelers. The company provides a comprehensive range of materials and prefabricated components that support all phases of residential construction, from site development and framing to finishing and installation.

The company’s core offerings include lumber and lumber sheet goods, windows and doors, millwork, roofing and siding, and engineered wood products such as roof and floor trusses.

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Drilling rigs operate at sunset in Midland, Texas, U.S., February 13, 2019. Picture taken February 13, 2019. REUTERS/Nick Oxford Purchase Licensing Rights, opens new tab

CompaniesNEW YORK, July 17 (Reuters) - U.S. energy firms this week added rigs for a fifth week in a row for ​the first time since early June, boosting the total ‌count to its highest since April 2025, energy services firm Baker Hughes (BKR.O), opens new tab said in its closely followed report on Friday.

The total rig count, an early ​indicator of future output, rose by seven to 588 ​in the week to July 17. , , , (USGSRC=ECI), opens new tab, (USOIRC=ECI), opens new tab

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Baker Hughes said this week's ⁠increase puts the total rig count up 44 rigs, or ​8% above this time last year.

Baker Hughes said oil rigs rose ​by seven to 452 this week, the highest since May 2025, while gas rigs held at 126 and other miscellaneous rigs held at 10.

The ​oil and gas rig count declined by 7% in 2025, 5% ​in 2024, and 20% in 2023 as lower U.S. oil prices prompted energy ‌firms ⁠to focus more on boosting shareholder returns and paying down debt rather than increasing output.

But now with spot U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude prices expected to rise in 2026 due to supply ​disruptions from the ​Iran war after ⁠declining in 2023, 2024, and 2025, the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) projected crude output will rise from ​a record 13.6 million barrels per day (bpd) in 2025 ​to ⁠13.8 million bpd in 2026.

On the gas side, the EIA projected output will jump from a record 107.7 billion cubic feet per day (bcfd) in ⁠2025 ​to 111.3 bcfd in 2026 as demand ​for the fuel rises to produce electricity for power-hungry data centers and for export ​as liquefied natural gas (LNG).

Reporting by Scott DiSavino; Editing by Daniel Wallis

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

Covers the North American power and natural gas markets.

Key Takeaways Flex is advancing a Cloud and Power Infrastructure spin-off while expanding AI-driven manufacturing.Jabil raised its fiscal 2026 outlook as AI infrastructure demand and diversified end markets fueled growth.Jabil is the stronger pick based on analyst estimate revisions. Flex Ltd. (FLEX - Free Report) and Jabil Inc. (JBL - Free Report) are among the leading electronics manufacturing services (EMS) providers, benefiting from rising investments in AI infrastructure, cloud computing and data center expansion. Both companies delivered strong financial performances in their latest reported quarters, supported by robust customer demand, disciplined execution and expanding opportunities across high-growth end markets.

Each company is pursuing a distinct growth strategy, with Flex emphasizing its planned Cloud and Power Infrastructure spin-off and Jabil continuing to leverage its diversified business model and accelerating AI-related momentum.

Let’s analyze their fundamentals, growth opportunities, market challenges and valuation to assess which one presents a stronger investment opportunity.

The Case for FLEXFlex is gaining from strong momentum in its Cloud and Power Infrastructure (CPI) business, supported by substantial new business wins with hyperscaler and data center customers, including Google. These engagements extend beyond individual product manufacturing to include power infrastructure, thermal systems and complex hardware manufacturing deployed across the company’s global footprint. The company has already begun capital deployment for these projects and expects CPI revenue to grow 65% to 75% in fiscal 2027, followed by growth of more than 80% in fiscal 2028. Management also stated that demand is supported by multiple hyperscalers, neoclouds, colocation providers and utilities, providing a diversified customer base and multi-year growth visibility.

The company's transformation and portfolio optimization bode well, highlighted by the planned spin-off of its Cloud and Power Infrastructure business into a separate publicly traded company. Management believes the business has achieved the scale, growth profile and strategic importance to operate independently, while enabling both companies to sharpen their focus and align capital allocation with their respective priorities. Following the spin, Flex intends to concentrate on advanced manufacturing opportunities across diversified end markets, with increased investments in higher-growth industries such as healthcare, robotics, warehouse automation and networking, while continuing to optimize its portfolio for stronger cash flow generation and shareholder returns.

Apart from these, the company is also gaining from disciplined execution and operational efficiency, which contributed to strong financial performance during fiscal 2026. Fourth-quarter revenue increased 17% year over year, while adjusted gross margin reached a record 9.9% and adjusted operating margin improved to a company record of 6.7%. In fiscal 2026, revenue rose 8%, supported by continued growth in cloud, power and industrial businesses. The company also delivered record adjusted gross and operating margins, driven by a favorable product mix and ongoing operational improvements.

For the first quarter of fiscal 2027, the company expects net sales in the range of $7.35 billion to $7.65 billion, representing growth of approximately 14% at the midpoint of the guidance.For fiscal 2027, the company expects net sales to range between $32.3 billion and $33.8 billion, representing growth of approximately 18% at the midpoint of the guidance. Adjusted operating margin is projected to be between 7% and 7.1%, while adjusted EPS is expected to range from $4.21 to $4.51, implying growth of 32% at the midpoint.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

However, Flex is facing continued softness in certain end markets, particularly within its lifestyle business. Full-year ITS revenue declined 2% year over year due to persistent weakness in lifestyle, although this was partly offset by growth in communications. Management also expects fiscal 2027 ITS revenue to range from flat to low single-digit growth, as continued softness and the company’s deliberate deemphasis of lower-value lifestyle markets are expected to offset strength in communications.

The company is experiencing margin pressure within its Cloud and Power Infrastructure business due to ongoing investments and program ramp costs. During fiscal 2026, CPI adjusted operating margin declined 100 basis points year over year as incremental infrastructure investments in critical power and cloud ramp costs weighed on profitability. Management indicated that these investments temporarily reduced margins, although the company expects to recover these impacts as capacity utilization improves in the coming years.

The Case for JBLJabil is gaining from sustained strength in AI infrastructure demand, which continues to support growth across its Intelligent Infrastructure business. The company increased its fiscal 2026 AI-related revenue outlook to approximately $13.6 billion, up $500 million from its March forecast and significantly higher than fiscal 2025 levels. This growth is being driven by strong customer demand, disciplined execution and capabilities spanning compute, storage, networking, optics, power, cooling and rack-level integration. The company also secured its third hyperscale customer during the quarter, creating additional opportunities to expand customer relationships across the data center ecosystem.

The company is also benefiting from improving momentum across multiple end markets, supported by stronger-than-expected demand in automotive, renewables and Connected Living. The company raised its fiscal 2026 automotive revenue outlook to approximately $4.4 billion as stronger export demand from China, industry consolidation and growth in powertrain-agnostic platforms exceeded previous expectations. Renewables also continued to improve, benefiting from safe harbor projects, AI and data center-related power demand, and a shift toward commercial projects. Meanwhile, Connected Living and Digital Commerce outperformed the company's cautious assumptions, prompting higher revenue expectations for both businesses.

Jabil's diversified business model, combined with disciplined execution, enabled the company to deliver strong financial performance during the third quarter. The company delivered revenue, margins, earnings per share and free cash flow above expectations, while Intelligent Infrastructure continued to post broad-based growth across capital equipment, cloud and data center infrastructure, and networking and communications. Management also raised its fiscal 2026 outlook to approximately $35 billion in revenue, core operating margin of about 5.8%, core EPS of approximately $12.70 and adjusted free cash flow exceeding $1.4 billion.

Moreover, the company is gaining from ongoing capacity expansion and strategic initiatives that support long-term AI infrastructure demand. The company expects AI-related revenue growth in fiscal 2027 to be similar in percentage terms to fiscal 2026, despite a much larger revenue base, supported by new capacity coming online in North Carolina, Memphis, India and other locations. It also announced an AI infrastructure initiative with Adani Enterprises to establish a large-scale manufacturing platform in India focused on AI racks, servers, storage systems, networking equipment and supporting infrastructure. While management views this as a longer-term opportunity, it believes the initiative strengthens its position in a market expected to become increasingly important for AI infrastructure demand.

However, JBL continues to face some near-term challenges despite the positive outlook. Management remains cautious about demand volatility in the automotive market, even after stronger-than-expected performance during the quarter. The company also noted that component availability, portfolio mix, customer ramp timing and supply chain constraints, including shortages in certain memory and high-density components, remain a concern.

FLEX vs. JBL Share Price PerformanceOver the past six months, FLEX shares have gained 73%, while Jabil has soared 19.9%.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

Valuation for FLEX & JBLIn terms of Price/Book, FLEX shares are trading at 8.63X, lower than JBL’s 24.25X.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

How Do Estimates Compare for FLEX & JBL?Analysts have not revised their earnings estimates for FLEX’s bottom line for the current year.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

For JBL, there have been upward revisions for the current year.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

FLEX or JBL: Which Stock to Bet On?While JBL sports a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) at present, FLEX has a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). Consequently, in terms of Zacks Rank, JBL seems to be a better pick at the moment.

You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here. 

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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.

Key Takeaways EMCOR emerges as the better buy on valuation, profitability, execution and earnings momentum.EMCOR trades at 24.01X forward earnings and posts a 27.62% ROIC, outperforming key peers.Record obligations of $15.62B and raised guidance provide EMCOR with strong revenue visibility. AI infrastructure, grid modernization and critical infrastructure investments continue to create significant opportunities for engineering and specialty contractors. Quanta Services (PWR - Free Report) and EMCOR Group (EME - Free Report) have emerged as key beneficiaries, with record backlogs, healthy project pipelines and improved full-year outlooks supporting their growth prospects.

While Quanta has built its leadership around electric transmission, utility infrastructure and integrated energy solutions, EMCOR has established itself as a premier mechanical and electrical contractor serving data centers, healthcare, manufacturing and commercial facilities.

While both companies are benefiting from the same long-term infrastructure trends, they differ in business mix, growth outlook, profitability and valuation. Let's dive deep and closely compare the fundamentals of the two stocks to determine which one is a better investment now.

The Case for Quanta StockQuanta has built one of the strongest franchises in North American energy infrastructure. Its operations span electric transmission and distribution, renewable energy integration, communications networks, underground utility infrastructure and pipeline services. More recently, the company has expanded its role in supporting AI data centers and advanced manufacturing projects, positioning itself at the center of several powerful infrastructure trends.

The company's long-term growth outlook remains attractive. Utilities continue investing heavily to modernize aging electric grids, improve system reliability and connect renewable generation. At the same time, accelerating investments in AI infrastructure are creating new opportunities across substations, transmission, power generation and data center-related electrical work.

Quanta also differentiates itself through its integrated solutions model. Rather than acting solely as a contractor, it provides engineering, design, fabrication, logistics and supply-chain capabilities. The company is investing $500-$700 million to expand transformer manufacturing and nearly double its fabrication footprint, helping customers overcome supply bottlenecks while strengthening its competitive position. Management believes these investments, combined with its skilled workforce, provide the execution certainty customers increasingly demand on large, complex projects.

The financial outlook remains equally encouraging. Following stronger-than-expected execution, Quanta raised its 2026 guidance and now expects revenues of $34.7-$35.2 billion and adjusted EPS of $13.55-$14.25. The company also exited the latest quarter with a record backlog of $48.5 billion, providing excellent revenue visibility over the coming years.

However, Quanta's premium valuation leaves less room for execution missteps. The company remains exposed to permitting delays, weather disruptions, labor availability and project timing on large utility programs. Management also continues to monitor macroeconomic uncertainty, trade policy changes and supply-chain risks, even though customer demand remains healthy.

Overall, Quanta offers one of the industry's strongest long-term growth platforms, supported by its unmatched exposure to electrification, utility modernization and AI-driven infrastructure investment.

The Case for EMCOR StockEMCOR has established itself as one of the leading specialty construction companies in the United States through its expertise in mechanical and electrical construction, industrial services and building services. Its diversified operations serve high-growth end markets, including AI data centers, semiconductor manufacturing, healthcare, institutional facilities and water infrastructure.

The company's biggest strength is its diversified business model. While data centers remain its fastest-growing vertical, EMCOR also generates meaningful revenues from manufacturing, healthcare, institutional buildings, commercial facilities and industrial projects. This broad exposure reduces dependence on any single market while allowing the company to benefit from multiple infrastructure investment themes simultaneously.

AI-related infrastructure continues to provide a significant tailwind. Management noted that demand for data centers remains exceptionally strong as cloud computing, artificial intelligence and digital transformation continue driving customer investments. EMCOR is also benefiting from rising cooling requirements, liquid cooling systems and increasingly sophisticated mechanical installations associated with next-generation AI facilities. Meanwhile, growth across healthcare, water and wastewater, manufacturing and institutional construction continues supporting record project bookings.

Execution remains another major strength. EMCOR continues to leverage prefabrication, virtual design capabilities, disciplined project selection and efficient labor management to deliver healthy margins. Record remaining performance obligations of $15.62 billion provide strong revenue visibility, while management raised full-year guidance to revenues of $18.5-$19.25 billion and EPS of $28.25-$29.75.

The primary risks relate to project mix and broader industry conditions. Mechanical construction margins could fluctuate as larger data center projects account for a greater share of revenues. The company also faces labor shortages, inflation, tariffs and supply-chain disruptions that could pressure project costs and execution.

Nevertheless, EMCOR combines diversified growth drivers, consistent execution and strong financial discipline, making it one of the highest-quality companies in the specialty construction industry.

PWR vs EME: Price Performance Depicts Solid Industry MomentumInfrastructure-related stocks have significantly outperformed the broader market in 2026 as investors continue rewarding companies exposed to AI infrastructure, grid modernization and industrial construction.

Quanta shares have gained 49.5% year to date (YTD), while EMCOR has advanced 22.6%. Both have comfortably outperformed the Zacks Construction sector's 11% return and the S&P 500's 10.9% gain.

PWR vs. EME Price Performance (YTD)

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

Among peers, Sterling Infrastructure (STRL - Free Report) has been the standout performer with a 109.4% YTD rally, driven by exceptional growth in data center and advanced manufacturing projects. Comfort Systems USA (FIX - Free Report) has also climbed 80.1% this year, benefiting from robust demand for mechanical and electrical construction services. Although Quanta has delivered a stronger stock performance than EMCOR in 2026, both remain well-positioned to benefit from favorable long-term infrastructure spending.

Valuation and Capital Efficiency Favor EMCORValuation paints a noticeably different picture. Quanta trades at 41.08X forward 12-month earnings, making it the most expensive stock among this peer group. FIX stock trades at 34.84X, while STRL stock trades at 28.18X. EMCOR trades at just 24.01X, only modestly above the Zacks Construction sector average of 20.83X.

PWR vs. EME Valuation (P/E F12M)

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

Quanta's premium valuation reflects its leadership in utility infrastructure, electrification and long-term earnings potential. However, much of that optimism already appears priced into the stock. By comparison, EMCOR offers investors exposure to many of the same secular growth drivers, including AI data centers, advanced manufacturing and mission-critical infrastructure, at a significantly lower earnings multiple. Even relative to FIX and STRL, EMCOR remains the most attractively valued among high-quality infrastructure contractors.

Profitability further strengthens EMCOR's investment case. Despite trading at the lowest valuation multiple among the four companies, EMCOR generates the highest return on invested capital (ROIC). Its current ROIC of 27.62% is more than double Quanta's 11.43% and also reflects consistently strong capital efficiency over the past several quarters. Quanta's ROIC has improved steadily from around 9.75% in late 2023 to its current level, indicating that its long-term investments are beginning to generate better returns. However, EMCOR continues to produce substantially higher profits for every dollar of capital invested. The combination of a lower valuation and superior capital efficiency gives EMCOR a clear edge from a quality-adjusted valuation perspective.

PWR vs EME ROIC (TTM%)

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

Earnings Estimate Trends Favor EMCORAnalysts' estimate revisions remain constructive for both companies, although EMCOR currently enjoys stronger momentum.

Over the past 60 days, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for Quanta's 2026 EPS has edged down to $14.03, while the 2027 estimate has increased to $16.49. Analysts currently project 30.5% EPS growth on 22% revenue growth in 2026, followed by 17.5% EPS growth and 13% revenue growth in 2027.

PWR Estimate Revision Trend

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

Meanwhile, analysts have raised EMCOR's 2026 and 2027 EPS estimates to $29.37 and $32.83, respectively, during the same period. Current estimates call for 13.5% EPS growth on 12% revenue growth in 2026, followed by 11.8% EPS growth on 7.8% revenue growth in 2027.

EME Estimate Revision Trend

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

Although Quanta is expected to deliver faster long-term earnings growth, EMCOR's positive estimate revisions indicate improving analyst confidence and stronger near-term earnings momentum.

Which Stock Is a Buy Now?Quanta and EMCOR are both high-quality infrastructure companies benefiting from long-term investment in AI data centers, grid modernization, electrification and advanced manufacturing. Quanta offers unmatched exposure to electric infrastructure and arguably the stronger long-term growth runway, supported by a record backlog and continued investment in integrated solutions and supply-chain capabilities.

However, EMCOR stands out as the better investment today. The company combines diversified exposure to multiple high-growth infrastructure markets with consistent execution, record project visibility, rising earnings estimates and a substantially more attractive valuation. Its significantly higher return on invested capital further demonstrates superior capital allocation and operating efficiency.

This advantage is also reflected in the Zacks Rank. EMCOR currently sports a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), while Quanta carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). Given its compelling combination of reasonable valuation, stronger profitability, positive estimate revisions and solid execution, EMCOR appears to offer better upside potential for investors at current levels. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.

Momentum investing is all about the idea of following a stock's recent trend, which can be in either direction. In the "long context," investors will essentially be "buying high, but hoping to sell even higher." And for investors following this methodology, taking advantage of trends in a stock's price is key; once a stock establishes a course, it is more than likely to continue moving in that direction. The goal is that once a stock heads down a fixed path, it will lead to timely and profitable trades.

Even though momentum is a popular stock characteristic, it can be tough to define. Debate surrounding which are the best and worst metrics to focus on is lengthy, but the Zacks Momentum Style Score, part of the Zacks Style Scores, helps address this issue for us.

Below, we take a look at ArcBest (ARCB - Free Report) , which currently has a Momentum Style Score of B. We also discuss some of the main drivers of the Momentum Style Score, like price change and earnings estimate revisions.

It's also important to note that Style Scores work as a complement to the Zacks Rank, our stock rating system that has an impressive track record of outperformance. ArcBest currently has a Zacks Rank of #1 (Strong Buy). Our research shows that stocks rated Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) and #2 (Buy) and Style Scores of "A or B" outperform the market over the following one-month period.

You can see the current list of Zacks #1 Rank Stocks here >>>

Set to Beat the Market?Let's discuss some of the components of the Momentum Style Score for ARCB that show why this freight transportation and logistics company shows promise as a solid momentum pick.

A good momentum benchmark for a stock is to look at its short-term price activity, as this can reflect both current interest and if buyers or sellers currently have the upper hand. It is also useful to compare a security to its industry, as this can help investors pinpoint the top companies in a particular area.

For ARCB, shares are up 5.34% over the past week while the Zacks Transportation - Truck industry is up 0.64% over the same time period. Shares are looking quite well from a longer time frame too, as the monthly price change of 9.05% compares favorably with the industry's 7.29% performance as well.

While any stock can see its price increase, it takes a real winner to consistently beat the market. That is why looking at longer term price metrics -- such as performance over the past three months or year -- can be useful as well. Shares of ArcBest have increased 31.46% over the past quarter, and have gained 97.68% in the last year. On the other hand, the S&P 500 has only moved 7.33% and 21.58%, respectively.

Investors should also take note of ARCB's average 20-day trading volume. Volume is a useful item in many ways, and the 20-day average establishes a good price-to-volume baseline; a rising stock with above average volume is generally a bullish sign, whereas a declining stock on above average volume is typically bearish. Right now ARCB is averaging 371,161 shares for the last 20 days..

Earnings OutlookThe Zacks Momentum Style Score encompasses many things, including estimate revisions and a stock's price movement. Investors should note that earnings estimates are also significant to the Zacks Rank, and a nice path here can be promising. We have recently been noticing this with ARCB.

Over the past two months, 5 earnings estimates moved higher compared to none lower for the full year. These revisions helped boost ARCB's consensus estimate, increasing from $5.29 to $6.38 in the past 60 days. Looking at the next fiscal year, 5 estimates have moved upwards while there have been no downward revisions in the same time period.

Bottom LineTaking into account all of these elements, it should come as no surprise that ARCB is a #1 (Strong Buy) stock with a Momentum Score of B. If you've been searching for a fresh pick that's set to rise in the near-term, make sure to keep ArcBest on your short list.

Key Takeaways Teradata launched its Autonomous Knowledge Platform across cloud, on-premises and hybrid environments. The platform supports agentic AI where data resides while preserving governance, security and compliance. First-quarter recurring revenues rose 12% to $400 million, while public cloud ARR increased 13%. Teradata (TDC - Free Report) has announced the general availability of its Autonomous Knowledge Platform across cloud, on-premises and hybrid environments, expanding its enterprise Artificial Intelligence (AI) portfolio. The platform brings together Teradata Cloud, AI Factory, AI Studio, AI Services and the Tera AI workspace into a unified offering that enables organizations to build, deploy and manage agentic AI where their data resides. It supports both proprietary and open-source foundation models, allowing enterprises to develop AI applications while maintaining governance, security and regulatory compliance across hybrid environments.

The Autonomous Knowledge Platform is designed to help enterprises move AI initiatives from proof-of-concept projects to production by combining trusted enterprise data, analytics and AI capabilities in a single environment. The launch strengthens Teradata's strategy of enabling highly regulated industries, including financial services, healthcare and the public sector, to deploy AI securely while preserving data sovereignty, operational control and deployment flexibility across cloud, on-premises and hybrid infrastructures.

TDC Benefits From Strong Enterprise AI Adoption Teradata shares have gained 42.2% in the trailing 12-month period, outperforming the broader Zacks Computer and Technology sector's 30.6% return. The outperformance can be attributed to the company’s expanding AI portfolio for enterprises. Agentic AI’s always-on query needs are a tailwind, since Teradata manages critical enterprise data and targets high performance across hybrid and cloud deployments.

The company’s announcement of the Autonomous Knowledge Platform helps enterprises move agentic AI from pilot projects to production. AI is becoming part of a growing number of customer engagements, with an increasing share of Teradata's sales pipeline tied to AI initiatives. Enterprise adoption is accelerating as organizations increasingly seek platforms capable of supporting mission-critical AI workloads.

Teradata believes its hybrid architecture is a key differentiator, enabling AI to operate where enterprise data resides while maintaining governance and security. The Autonomous Knowledge Platform combines trusted data, analytics and AI capabilities across cloud, on-premises and hybrid environments, helping customers simplify production AI deployments and capitalize on growing enterprise AI adoption.

Teradata sees a significant opportunity as enterprise AI adoption accelerates. A recent survey sponsored by the company found that 100% of organizations are pursuing agentic AI, but only 17% have moved beyond pilot deployments, while 99% have encountered infrastructure scaling challenges. The platform could help enterprises move AI into production, creating additional annual recurring revenue (ARR) opportunities over time. Early traction is already visible, with first-quarter recurring revenues increasing 12% year over year to $400 million, total ARR rising 3% to $1.49 billion and public cloud ARR growing 13% to $686 million.

Teradata Offers Strong Q2 2026 OutlookTeradata's expanding AI portfolio and growing demand for hybrid AI deployments are expected to drive top-line growth. For the second quarter of 2026, the company expects non-GAAP earnings between 53 cents and 57 cents per share.

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for second-quarter 2026 revenues is pegged at $398.39 million, indicating a 2.36% year-over-year decline.

The consensus mark for second-quarter 2026 earnings is pegged at 55 cents per share, unchanged over the past 30 days. The figure implies a year-over-year increase of 17.02%.

Teradata's Zacks Rank & Other Stocks to ConsiderCurrently, Teradata carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy).

Digital Turbine (APPS - Free Report) , Dell Technologies (DELL - Free Report) and Analog Devices (ADI - Free Report) are some other top-ranked stocks that investors can consider in the broader Zacks Computer and Technology sector. Digital Turbine, Dell Technologies and Analog Devices sport a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) each at present. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.

APPS shares have rallied 72.6% in the year-to-date period. The long-term earnings growth rate for Digital Turbine is pegged at 18.98%.

DELL shares have surged 210.9% in the year-to-date period. The long-term earnings growth rate for Dell Technologies is pegged at 26.35%.

Shares of ADI have gained 40.3% in the year-to-date period. The long-term earnings growth rate for Analog Devices is pegged at 28.76%.

Key Takeaways ManpowerGroup topped Q2 earnings and revenue estimates on stronger demand and broad regional growth.MAN improved operating profit through lower costs and targets $200M in permanent savings by 2028.ManpowerGroup expects Q3 revenue growth of 2%-6% and adjusted EPS of 96 cents to $1.06. ManpowerGroup (MAN - Free Report) reported impressive second-quarter 2026 results, with earnings and revenues beating the respective Zacks Consensus Estimate.

MAN’s adjusted earnings (excluding 14 cents from non-recurring items) were 99 cents per share, which surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 3.1% and increased 26.9% year over year, driven by improving demand, disciplined cost management and strong execution across key markets.

Revenues were $4.86 billion, which topped the Consensus Estimate by 3.8% and rose 7.5% year over year (5.8% in constant currency). Strong growth in the United States, Latin America and select European markets supported top-line performance.

MAN Benefits From Broad-Based Regional GrowthRevenues from the Americas climbed 14.4% year over year to $1.21 billion, ahead of growth across the company's other geographic segments. The United States generated revenues of $714.3 million, up 6%, while Other Americas revenues increased 29% to $498 million.

Southern Europe remained the largest contributor, with revenues increasing 7.4% to $2.31 billion. France posted revenues of $1.18 billion, up 2.5%, while Italy contributed $521.9 million, rising 9.6%. Other Southern Europe revenues advanced 16.2% to $609.2 million.

Northern Europe revenues improved 3.9% to $825.5 million. Asia-Pacific Middle East revenues declined 1.2% on a reported basis to $518.7 million but increased 5% in constant currency. Intercompany eliminations narrowed to a loss of $5 million from $9.7 million a year earlier.

Manpower Shows Improving Brand MomentumManagement highlighted continued strength across its portfolio, led by the Manpower brand, whose organic constant-currency revenues increased 8% year over year, marking its fifth consecutive quarter of growth. Demand remained robust across manufacturing, automotive, aerospace, logistics and retail, while U.S. sales activity continued to strengthen.

Experis posted an organic constant-currency revenue decline of 2%, a marked improvement from the 9% decline in the first quarter, supported by stronger demand for cloud migration, application development, data and AI services. Talent Solutions' revenues were flat year over year after declining 1% in the previous quarter as recruitment process outsourcing trends strengthened and managed service provider demand remained solid.

MAN Expands Profitability Through Cost DisciplineGross profit increased 2.2% year over year to $780.3 million, while gross margin contracted 80 basis points to 16.1%, reflecting changes in business mix and the sale of the higher-margin Jefferson Wells U.S. business.

Selling and administrative expenses declined 15.3% year over year to $668.3 million. Operating profit improved to $112 million from an operating loss of $25.3 million in the prior-year quarter. The company continued executing its strategic transformation program, which is expected to deliver $200 million in permanent cost savings by 2028, while advancing AI initiatives to improve productivity and create new commercial opportunities.

ManpowerGroup's Balance Sheet & Cash FlowManpowerGroup ended the quarter with cash and cash equivalents of $180.6 million compared with $871 million at 2025-end. Long-term debt declined to $567.3 million from $1.05 billion at the end of December 2025 following debt repayment.

Free cash flow represented an outflow of $9 million in the quarter, a significant improvement from the $207 million outflow recorded a year earlier. Capital expenditures totaled $6 million and the company did not repurchase any shares during the quarter.

MAN Guides for Q3 2026Management expects third-quarter 2026 adjusted earnings per share in the range of 96 cents to $1.06. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for earnings per share is pegged at 96 cents. The outlook includes an estimated unfavorable currency impact of 2 cents per share and assumes a 44% effective tax rate.

For the third quarter, revenues are projected to increase in the range of 2%-6% year over year on a reported basis, or 3%-7% in constant currency. Gross margin is expected to be between 15.9% and 16.1%, while adjusted EBITA margin is projected in the range of 2.1%-2.3%.

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

Stocks to ConsiderA couple of better-ranked stocks in the broader Zacks  Business Services sector are Veralto Corporation (VLTO - Free Report) and Thomson Reuters (TRI - Free Report) .

Veralto Corporation carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) at present. It has a long-term earnings growth expectation of 8.4%. VLTO delivered a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 4.9% on average.

Thomson Reuters also holds a Zacks Rank of 2 at present. It has a long-term earnings growth expectation of 15.1%. TRI's earnings beat estimates in each of the trailing four quarters, with an average surprise of 3.1%.

SAN FRANCISCO, July 17, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Hagens Berman (HBSS), a securities litigation leader, is broadening its investigation into Verra Mobility Corp. (NASDAQ: VRRM) following the company's disclosure of an abrupt leadership transition. The news comes in the wake of a securities action suit stemming from the catastrophic loss of a major contract.

VRRM Investors Submit Your Losses Now to HBSS

Class Period: Feb. 24, 2026 – May 26, 2026
Lead Plaintiff Deadline: Aug. 4, 2026
Visit: www.hbsslaw.com/investor-fraud/vrrm
Contact the Firm Now: [email protected]
                                          844-916-0895

Leadership Vacuum

On June 1, 2026, Verra Mobility announced that long-time CEO David Roberts has abruptly stepped down, ending a 12-year tenure. This departure follows a volatile period for the company, initiated by the unexpected termination of a key contract with Avis Budget Group—a move that wiped out approximately $1.4 billion in shareholder value.

The Board of Directors has appointed former Chief Transformation and Legal Officer Jon Keyser as interim President and CEO while retaining a global search firm for a permanent replacement. Hagens Berman is investigating whether the departure is causally related to the allegations in the securities class action suit.

Verra Mobility Corporation (VRRM) Securities Class Action:

The complaint alleges Verra made false and misleading statements and did not disclose important information to investors about the true state of the Verra/Avis relationship and the likelihood of Verra receiving an Avis contract renewal.

The truth allegedly emerged on May 26, 2026, when Verra disclosed that it received a termination notice effective September 2026 from Avis regarding the companies’ contract, that it is taking immediate actions to cut costs, adapt operations, and reposition its business, and revised its 2026 outlook that significantly deviated from that given just twenty days prior.

Verra also revealed that it was reviewing the parties’ negotiations and handling of confidential information.

The news promptly sent the price of Verra shares 70% crashing lower on May 27, 2026, amputating $1.4 billion from the company’s market capitalization in a single day.

View our latest video summary of the allegations: youtu.be/FVEw5XACoGA

“Our investigation is focused on the extent to which and when Verra and its executives knew that renegotiations with Avis were far from constructive, as the May 26 surprise reveals,” said Reed Kathrein, the Hagens Berman partner leading the firm’s investigation.

If you invested in Verra and have substantial losses, or have knowledge that will assist the firm’s investigation, submit your losses now.

If you’d like more information and answers to other frequently asked questions about the Verra case and the firm’s investigation, read more.

Whistleblowers: Persons with non-public information regarding Verra should consider their options to help in the investigation or take advantage of the SEC Whistleblower program. Under the new program, whistleblowers who provide original information may receive rewards totaling up to 30 percent of any successful recovery made by the SEC. For more information, call Reed Kathrein at 844-916-0895 or email [email protected].

About Hagens Berman
Hagens Berman is a global plaintiffs’ rights complex litigation firm focusing on corporate accountability. The firm is home to a robust practice and represents investors as well as whistleblowers, workers, consumers and others in cases achieving real results for those harmed by corporate negligence and other wrongdoings. Hagens Berman’s team has secured more than $2.9 billion in this area of law. More about the firm and its successes can be found at hbsslaw.com. Follow the firm for updates and news at @ClassActionLaw. 

Attorney Advertising. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome in any future case.

Contact:
Reed Kathrein, 844-916-0895 

BENSALEM, Pa., July 17, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Law Offices of Howard G. Smith reminds investors that class action lawsuits have been filed on behalf of shareholders of the following publicly-traded companies. Investors have until the deadlines listed below to file a lead plaintiff motion.

Investors suffering losses on their investments are encouraged to contact the Law Offices of Howard G. Smith to discuss their legal rights in these class actions at (215) 638-4847 or by email to [email protected].

Calix, Inc. (NYSE:  CALX)
Class Period: January 28, 2026 – April 21, 2026
Lead Plaintiff Deadline: July 27, 2026

The complaint alleges that throughout the Class Period the defendants made false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose: (1) the Company’s first quarter margins had significantly benefited from advanced purchasing of memory components; (2) that the Company’s advanced supply of memory components was dwindling; (3) that, as a result, the Company was experiencing negative margin pressure as it was forced to purchase memory components at rising market prices; and (4) that, as a result of the foregoing, Defendants’ positive statements about the Company’s margins, business, operations, and prospects were materially misleading and/or lacked a reasonable basis.

AeroVironment, Inc. (NASDAQ: AVAV)
Class Period: June 25, 2025 – March 10, 2026
Lead Plaintiff Deadline: July 27, 2026

The complaint alleges that throughout the Class Period the defendants made false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that: (1) AeroVironment understated the likelihood that it would imminently face competition from other vendors for the work it performed in connection with the SCAR program and the U.S. Space Force’s ongoing efforts to modernize the SCN; (2) accordingly, Defendants overstated AeroVironment’s business and financial prospects; and (3) as a result, Defendants’ positive statements about the Company’s business, operations, and prospects were materially misleading and/or lacked a reasonable basis at all relevant times.

Zoetis Inc. (NYSE: ZTS)
Class Period: January 14, 2025 – May 6, 2026
Lead Plaintiff Deadline: July 27, 2026

The complaint alleges that throughout the Class Period the defendants made false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that: (1) veterinarian prescription growth and adoption of Zoetis’ Librela, a canine pain treatment, were sharply weakening as clinicians became more cautious following FDA safety warnings concerning serious neurological complications in dogs; (2) Zoetis’ Simparica Trio was losing significant market share to a lower priced competing canine parasiticide with broader indicated use in a slowing overall market; and (3) Zoetis’ dermatology products, Apoquel and Cytopoint, were losing substantial market share to a newly launched competing canine treatment; and (4) as a result, Defendants’ positive statements about the Company’s business, operations, and prospects were materially misleading and/or lacked a reasonable basis at all relevant times.

Lucid Group, Inc. (NASDAQ: LCID)
Class Period: February 25, 2026 – April 13, 2026
Lead Plaintiff Deadline: July 28, 2026

The complaint alleges that throughout the Class Period the defendants made false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that: (1) a supplier quality issue had significantly disrupted deliveries of the Lucid Gravity; (2) the foregoing was likely to, and did, have a material negative impact on the Company’s business and financial results; (3) accordingly, the Defendants had overstated the purported enhancements to Lucid’s manufacturing and delivery capabilities and overall operations; and (4) as a result, Defendants’ positive statements about the Company’s business, operations, and prospects were materially misleading and/or lacked a reasonable basis at all relevant times.

To be a member of these class actions, you need not take any action at this time; you may retain counsel of your choice or take no action and remain an absent member of the class action. If you wish to learn more about these class actions, or if you have any questions concerning this announcement or your rights or interests with respect to these matters, please contact Howard G. Smith, Esquire, of Law Offices of Howard G. Smith, 3070 Bristol Pike, Suite 112, Bensalem, Pennsylvania 19020, by telephone at (215) 638-4847 or by email to [email protected], or visit our website at www.howardsmithlaw.com.

This press release may be considered Attorney Advertising in some jurisdictions under the applicable law and ethical rules.

Contacts
Law Offices of Howard G. Smith
Howard G. Smith, Esquire
215-638-4847
888-638-4847
[email protected]
www.howardsmithlaw.com

Ubiquiti Inc. (UI - Free Report) could be a solid addition to your portfolio given its recent upgrade to a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy). This upgrade primarily reflects an upward trend in earnings estimates, which is one of the most powerful forces impacting stock prices.

The Zacks rating relies solely on a company's changing earnings picture. It tracks EPS estimates for the current and following years from the sell-side analysts covering the stock through a consensus measure -- the Zacks Consensus Estimate.

Individual investors often find it hard to make decisions based on rating upgrades by Wall Street analysts, since these are mostly driven by subjective factors that are hard to see and measure in real time. In these situations, the Zacks rating system comes in handy because of the power of a changing earnings picture in determining near-term stock price movements.

Therefore, the Zacks rating upgrade for Ubiquiti basically reflects positivity about its earnings outlook that could translate into buying pressure and an increase in its stock price.

Most Powerful Force Impacting Stock PricesThe change in a company's future earnings potential, as reflected in earnings estimate revisions, and the near-term price movement of its stock are proven to be strongly correlated. The influence of institutional investors has a partial contribution to this relationship, as these big professionals use earnings and earnings estimates to calculate the fair value of a company's shares. An increase or decrease in earnings estimates in their valuation models simply results in higher or lower fair value for a stock, and institutional investors typically buy or sell it. Their transaction of large amounts of shares then leads to price movement for the stock.

For Ubiquiti, rising earnings estimates and the consequent rating upgrade fundamentally mean an improvement in the company's underlying business. And investors' appreciation of this improving business trend should push the stock higher.

Harnessing the Power of Earnings Estimate RevisionsAs empirical research shows a strong correlation between trends in earnings estimate revisions and near-term stock movements, tracking such revisions for making an investment decision could be truly rewarding. Here is where the tried-and-tested Zacks Rank stock-rating system plays an important role, as it effectively harnesses the power of earnings estimate revisions.

The Zacks Rank stock-rating system, which uses four factors related to earnings estimates to classify stocks into five groups, ranging from Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) to Zacks Rank #5 (Strong Sell), has an impressive externally-audited track record, with Zacks Rank #1 stocks generating an average annual return of +25% since 1988. You can see the complete list of today's Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here >>>> .

Earnings Estimate Revisions for UbiquitiThis computer networking company is expected to earn $14.92 per share for the fiscal year ending June 2026, which represents no year-over-year change.

Analysts have been steadily raising their estimates for Ubiquiti. Over the past three months, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for the company has increased 2.4%.

Bottom LineUnlike the overly optimistic Wall Street analysts whose rating systems tend to be weighted toward favorable recommendations, the Zacks rating system maintains an equal proportion of "buy" and "sell" ratings for its entire universe of more than 4,000 stocks at any point in time. Irrespective of market conditions, only the top 5% of the Zacks-covered stocks get a "Strong Buy" rating and the next 15% get a "Buy" rating. So, the placement of a stock in the top 20% of the Zacks-covered stocks indicates its superior earnings estimate revision feature, making it a solid candidate for producing market-beating returns in the near term.

You can learn more about the Zacks Rank here >>>

The upgrade of Ubiquiti to a Zacks Rank #1 positions it in the top 5% of the Zacks-covered stocks in terms of estimate revisions, implying that the stock might move higher in the near term.

IPG Photonics Corporation (IPGP) M&A Call July 17, 2026 8:00 AM EDT

Company Participants

Eugene Fedotoff - Senior Director of Investor Relations
Mark Gitin - CEO & Director
Timothy P.V. Mammen - Senior VP & CFO

Conference Call Participants

Ruben Roy - Stifel, Nicolaus & Company, Incorporated, Research Division
James Ricchiuti - Needham & Company, LLC, Research Division
Michael Feniger - BofA Securities, Research Division
Scott Graham - Seaport Research Partners

Presentation

Operator

Good morning, and welcome to IPG Photonics' conference call to discuss the company's acquisition of Lumibird Medical. Today's call is being recorded and webcast.

At this time, I would like to turn the call over to Eugene Fedotoff, IPG's Senior Director, Investor Relations, for introductions. Please go ahead with your conference.

Eugene Fedotoff
Senior Director of Investor Relations

Thank you, and good morning, everyone. With me today is IPG Photonics' CEO, Dr. Mark Gitin; and Senior Vice President and CFO, Tim Mammen. Today's call will cover IPG's proposed acquisition of Lumibird Medical.

Let me remind you that statements made during this call that discuss our expectations or predictions of the future are forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause the company's actual results to differ materially from those projected in such forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties are discussed in our Form 10-K for the period ended December 31, 2025, and our reports on file with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Any forward-looking statements made on this call are the company's expectations or predictions as of today, July 17, 2026, only, and the company assumes no obligation to publicly release any updates or revisions to any such statements.

During this call, we will be referring to certain non-GAAP measures, including measures derived from or aligned with IFRS reporting standards as well as other non-GAAP measures. Such

Momentum investing revolves around the idea of following a stock's recent trend in either direction. In "long context," investors will be essentially be "buying high, but hoping to sell even higher." With this methodology, taking advantage of trends in a stock's price is key; once a stock establishes a course, it is more than likely to continue moving that way. The goal is that once a stock heads down a fixed path, it will lead to timely and profitable trades.

While many investors like to look for momentum in stocks, this can be very tough to define. There is a lot of debate surrounding which metrics are the best to focus on and which are poor quality indicators of future performance. The Zacks Momentum Style Score, part of the Zacks Style Scores, helps address this issue for us.

Below, we take a look at Victory Capital Holdings (VCTR - Free Report) , a company that currently holds a Momentum Style Score of B. We also talk about price change and earnings estimate revisions, two of the main aspects of the Momentum Style Score.

It's also important to note that Style Scores work as a complement to the Zacks Rank, our stock rating system that has an impressive track record of outperformance. Victory Capital Holdings currently has a Zacks Rank of #1 (Strong Buy). Our research shows that stocks rated Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) and #2 (Buy) and Style Scores of "A or B" outperform the market over the following one-month period.

You can see the current list of Zacks #1 Rank Stocks here >>>

Set to Beat the Market? In order to see if VCTR is a promising momentum pick, let's examine some Momentum Style elements to see if this investment management firm holds up.

A good momentum benchmark for a stock is to look at its short-term price activity, as this can reflect both current interest and if buyers or sellers currently have the upper hand. It is also useful to compare a security to its industry, as this can help investors pinpoint the top companies in a particular area.

For VCTR, shares are up 5.13% over the past week while the Zacks Financial - Investment Management industry is up 0.27% over the same time period. Shares are looking quite well from a longer time frame too, as the monthly price change of 15.6% compares favorably with the industry's 0.94% performance as well.

Considering longer term price metrics, like performance over the last three months or year, can be advantageous as well. Shares of Victory Capital Holdings have increased 34.97% over the past quarter, and have gained 41.72% in the last year. On the other hand, the S&P 500 has only moved 7.33% and 21.58%, respectively.

Investors should also take note of VCTR's average 20-day trading volume. Volume is a useful item in many ways, and the 20-day average establishes a good price-to-volume baseline; a rising stock with above average volume is generally a bullish sign, whereas a declining stock on above average volume is typically bearish. Right now VCTR is averaging 461,168 shares for the last 20 days..

Earnings OutlookThe Zacks Momentum Style Score encompasses many things, including estimate revisions and a stock's price movement. Investors should note that earnings estimates are also significant to the Zacks Rank, and a nice path here can be promising. We have recently been noticing this with VCTR.

Over the past two months, 4 earnings estimates moved higher compared to none lower for the full year. These revisions helped boost VCTR's consensus estimate, increasing from $7.12 to $7.51 in the past 60 days. Looking at the next fiscal year, 4 estimates have moved upwards while there have been no downward revisions in the same time period.

Bottom LineTaking into account all of these elements, it should come as no surprise that VCTR is a #1 (Strong Buy) stock with a Momentum Score of B. If you've been searching for a fresh pick that's set to rise in the near-term, make sure to keep Victory Capital Holdings on your short list.

NEW YORK, July 17, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC, a nationally recognized investor-rights law firm, announces that a class action lawsuit has been filed against Badger Meter, Inc. (NYSE: BMI) and certain of its officers.

This lawsuit seeks to recover damages against Defendants for alleged violations of the federal securities laws on behalf of all persons and entities that purchased or otherwise acquired Badger Meter securities between April 18, 2024 and April 16, 2026, both dates inclusive (the “Class Period”). Such investors are encouraged to join this case by visiting the firm’s site: bgandg.com/BMI.

Badger Meter Case Details

The Complaint alleges that, throughout the Class Period, Defendants made materially false and misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that:

 (1) the Company’s reported strong financial results did not reflect “ongoing favorable industry trends,” “secular growth drivers,” or “solid operating execution,” as represented, but were instead unsustainable; (2) Defendants’ statements touting “strong” demand, “robust order pacing,” and a “strong bid pipeline” overstated the true state of the Company’s demand environment and ability to generate continued sales and earnings growth; and (3) contrary to Defendants’ claims that the Company possessed a “long runway” for growth, the Company’s growth prospects were materially overstated, such that Defendants lacked a reasonable basis for their positive statements about the Company’s business, operations, and future prospects.
What's Next for Badger Meter Investors?

A class action lawsuit has already been filed. If you wish to review a copy of the Complaint, you can visit the firm’s site: bgandg.com/BMI. or you may contact Peretz Bronstein, Esq. or his Client Relations Manager, Nathan Miller, of Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC at 917-590-0911. If you suffered a loss in Badger Meter you have until August 3, 2026, to request that the Court appoint you as lead plaintiff. Your ability to share in any recovery doesn't require that you serve as lead plaintiff.

No Cost to Badger Meter Investors

We, Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman LLC, represent investors in class actions on a contingency fee basis. That means we will ask the court to reimburse us for out-of-pocket expenses and attorneys’ fees, usually a percentage of the total recovery, only if we are successful.

Why Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC for Badger Meter Securities Class Action?

Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC is a nationally recognized firm that represents investors in securities fraud class actions and shareholder derivative suits. Our firm has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for investors nationwide. More at www.bgandg.com

"Our practice centers on restoring investor capital and ensuring corporate accountability, which serves to uphold the essential integrity of the marketplace," said Peretz Bronstein, Founding Partner of Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC.

Follow us for updates on LinkedIn, X, Facebook, or Instagram.

Contact Info

Peretz Bronstein, Esq. or Nathan Miller
Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC
917-590-0911 | [email protected]

Attorney advertising.
Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes.

Looking for a stock that has been consistently beating earnings estimates and might be well positioned to keep the streak alive in its next quarterly report? Wingstop (WING - Free Report) , which belongs to the Zacks Retail - Restaurants industry, could be a great candidate to consider.

This restaurant chain has seen a nice streak of beating earnings estimates, especially when looking at the previous two reports. The average surprise for the last two quarters was 17.37%.

For the last reported quarter, Wingstop came out with earnings of $1.18 per share versus the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.02 per share, representing a surprise of 15.69%. For the previous quarter, the company was expected to post earnings of $0.84 per share and it actually produced earnings of $1 per share, delivering a surprise of 19.05%.

Thanks in part to this history, there has been a favorable change in earnings estimates for Wingstop lately. In fact, the Zacks Earnings ESP (Expected Surprise Prediction) for the stock is positive, which is a great indicator of an earnings beat, particularly when combined with its solid Zacks Rank.

Our research shows that stocks with the combination of a positive Earnings ESP and a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) or better produce a positive surprise nearly 70% of the time. In other words, if you have 10 stocks with this combination, the number of stocks that beat the consensus estimate could be as high as seven.

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

Wingstop currently has an Earnings ESP of +3.24%, which suggests that analysts have recently become bullish on the company's earnings prospects. This positive Earnings ESP when combined with the stock's Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) indicates that another beat is possibly around the corner. We expect the company's next earnings report to be released on July 29, 2026.

With the Earnings ESP metric, it's important to note that a negative value reduces its predictive power; however, a negative Earnings ESP does not indicate an earnings miss.

Many companies end up beating the consensus EPS estimate, though this is not the only reason why their shares gain. Additionally, some stocks may remain stable even if they end up missing the consensus estimate.

Because of this, it's really important to check a company's Earnings ESP ahead of its quarterly release to increase the odds of success. Make sure to utilize our Earnings ESP Filter to uncover the best stocks to buy or sell before they've reported.

Key Takeaways FNB matched Q2 earnings estimates as record revenues rose 5.6% y/y and net income increased.FNB grew net interest income and non-interest income, while average loans and deposits increased y/y.FNB's CET1 capital ratio improved and credit loss provisions declined y/y. F.N.B. Corporation (FNB - Free Report) reported second-quarter 2026 earnings of 42 cents per share, which matched the Zacks Consensus Estimate. The bottom line jumped 16.7% year over year.

Results primarily benefited from higher net interest income (NII), a rise in non-interest income and lower provisions. Higher average loans and deposits were other positives. However, higher non-interest expenses hurt the results to some extent.

Net income available to common shareholders was $148.7 million, up from $130.7 million in the prior-year quarter. Our estimate for net income available to common shareholders was $147.9 million.

FNB’s Revenues Improve, Expenses RiseTotal revenues were a record $462.7 million, up 5.6% from the year-ago quarter. However, the top line missed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $468 million.

NII was $365.7 million, up 5.3% from the prior-year quarter. The rise reflected growth in average earning assets and lower interest-bearing deposit costs, partially offset by lower yields on earning assets. The net interest margin (NIM) (FTE basis) expanded 6 basis points (bps) year over year to 3.25%. Our estimates for NII and NIM were pegged at $370.5 million and 3.27%, respectively.

Non-interest income was $97 million, up 6.5% year over year. The rise was primarily driven by higher capital markets income, bank-owned life insurance, dividends on non-marketable equity securities, trust services fees and other income. Our estimate for the metric was $94.9 million.

Non-interest expenses were $253.2 million, up 2.9% year over year. The rise was due to an increase in almost all cost components, except for marketing costs, FDIC insurance expenses and other costs. Our estimate for non-interest expenses was $254.7 million.

At the end of the second quarter, average total loans and leases were $35.5 billion, up 2.9% from the prior-year quarter, while average total deposits were $38.7 billion, up 4.1%. Our estimates for average total loans and leases and average total deposits were $35.4 billion and $39.3 billion, respectively.

F.N.B. Corp’s Credit Quality ImprovesFNB’s provision for credit losses was $21.4 million, down 16.6% from the prior-year quarter. Our estimate for provisions was $23 million. Net charge-offs were $17 million, down from $21.8 million a year ago.

Also, the ratio of non-performing loans plus other real estate owned (OREO) to total loans and leases plus OREO decreased 3 bps year over year to 0.31%. However, total delinquency increased 9 bps to 0.71%.

FNB’s Capital Ratios ImproveAs of June 30, 2026, the common equity Tier 1 (CET1) ratio was 11.4%, up from 10.8% in the prior-year quarter. Tangible common equity to tangible assets ratio (non-GAAP) increased to 8.93% from 8.47%.

FNB’s Share Repurchase UpdateIn the second quarter, F.N.B. Corp repurchased 2.7 million shares for $47 million at a weighted average share price of $17.46.

Our View on FNBWeak asset quality and huge commercial loan exposure are expected to hurt FNB’s financials to an extent in the near term. Persistently rising expenses, mainly because of the company’s continued investments in franchise and digitization efforts, will likely hurt the bottom line.

Performance of Other BanksThe Bank of New York Mellon Corporation’s (BNY - Free Report) second-quarter 2026 adjusted earnings of $2.46 per share handily surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $2.20. The bottom line increased 26.8% from the year-ago quarter.

BNY’s results primarily benefited from a rise in fee revenues and NII. Also, the company recorded a provision benefit in the quarter, which was a tailwind.

Bank of America’s (BAC - Free Report) second-quarter 2026 earnings of $1.21 per share handily surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.13. The bottom line grew 34.4% year over year.

BAC recorded an improvement in trading numbers for the 17th straight quarter. The company’s investment banking performance was solid this time as well. These, along with higher NII, drove Bank of America’s total revenues. While provisions declined in the quarter on a year-over-year basis, non-interest expenses increased, which hurt the results to some extent.