Track market-moving stories before they get noisy

Key Takeaways Lockheed Martin won a nearly $49 million U.S. Navy contract for submarine electronic warfare systems.Its AN/BLQ-10(V) system boosts threat detection, situational awareness and submarine survivability.Naval modernization and geopolitical tensions are driving demand for advanced undersea technologies. Lockheed Martin (LMT - Free Report) continues to strengthen its position in the global submarine market through its portfolio of advanced combat systems, electronic warfare solutions and undersea mission technologies. As navies worldwide modernize their submarine fleet to address evolving maritime threats, the company remains well-positioned to benefit from the rising demand for next-generation underwater defense capabilities.

This is reflected in the company's latest progress, with the U.S. Navy recently awarding LMT a contract valued at nearly $49 million to manufacture submarine electronic warfare systems for both new-construction and in-service submarines. The award highlights the Navy's continued reliance on the company's advanced undersea electronic warfare capabilities.

One of LMT's key offerings is the AN/BLQ-10(V) Submarine Electronic Warfare System, which enhances submarine survivability by providing advanced situational awareness and rapid threat detection. The system receives, analyzes and reports critical electronic signals, enabling submarine crews to identify and respond to potential threats while operating in highly contested environments. Its scalable architecture also supports technology upgrades as mission requirements evolve.

Beyond electronic warfare, LMT contributes to advanced undersea combat capabilities through integrated combat systems, sonar processing technologies and command-and-control solutions that improve the effectiveness of modern submarine operations. These technologies support intelligence gathering, surveillance, anti-submarine warfare and precision strike missions while maintaining a low observable profile.

Growing geopolitical tensions and naval modernization efforts are driving demand for advanced submarine technologies worldwide. LMT's broad portfolio of submarine mission systems and strong relationships with the U.S. Navy and allied customers position it well to capitalize on this trend.

Other Submarine Stocks to Keep on the WatchlistOther aerospace and defense companies strengthening their presence in the submarine market are discussed below:

Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII - Free Report) : Through its Newport News Shipbuilding division, HII builds and supports the Columbia-class and Virginia-class submarines for the U.S. Navy. The company also provides modernization, maintenance and lifecycle support services for nuclear-powered submarines.

BAE Systems (BAESY - Free Report) : BAE Systems plays a key role in the United Kingdom's submarine programs through the design and production of Astute-class nuclear-powered submarines. The company also supports submarine sustainment and next-generation undersea defense capabilities, strengthening its position in the global submarine market.

The Zacks Rundown for LMTShares of LMT have risen 9.2% in the past year against the industry’s 2% decline.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

The company shares are trading at a discount on a relative basis, with its forward 12-month Price/Earnings being 16.49X compared with its industry’s average of 32.46X.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for LMT’s 2026 and 2027 earnings has moved north over the past 60 days.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

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

Broadcom Inc. (AVGO - Free Report) has been one of the most searched-for stocks on Zacks.com lately. So, you might want to look at some of the facts that could shape the stock's performance in the near term.

Over the past month, shares of this chipmaker have returned +3.3%, compared to the Zacks S&P 500 composite's +1.6% change. During this period, the Zacks Electronics - Semiconductors industry, which Broadcom Inc. falls in, has lost 5%. The key question now is: What could be the stock's future direction?

Although media reports or rumors about a significant change in a company's business prospects usually cause its stock to trend and lead to an immediate price change, there are always certain fundamental factors that ultimately drive the buy-and-hold decision.

Earnings Estimate RevisionsRather than focusing on anything else, we at Zacks prioritize evaluating the change in a company's earnings projection. This is because we believe the fair value for its stock is determined by the present value of its future stream of earnings.

Our analysis is essentially based on how sell-side analysts covering the stock are revising their earnings estimates to take the latest business trends into account. When earnings estimates for a company go up, the fair value for its stock goes up as well. And when a stock's fair value is higher than its current market price, investors tend to buy the stock, resulting in its price moving upward. Because of this, empirical studies indicate a strong correlation between trends in earnings estimate revisions and short-term stock price movements.

For the current quarter, Broadcom Inc. is expected to post earnings of $3.22 per share, indicating a change of +90.5% from the year-ago quarter. The Zacks Consensus Estimate remained unchanged over the last 30 days.

For the current fiscal year, the consensus earnings estimate of $11.73 points to a change of +72% from the prior year. Over the last 30 days, this estimate has remained unchanged.

For the next fiscal year, the consensus earnings estimate of $19.17 indicates a change of +63.4% from what Broadcom Inc. is expected to report a year ago. Over the past month, the estimate has changed +0.1%.

Having a strong externally audited track record, our proprietary stock rating tool, the Zacks Rank, offers a more conclusive picture of a stock's price direction in the near term, since it effectively harnesses the power of earnings estimate revisions. Due to the size of the recent change in the consensus estimate, along with three other factors related to earnings estimates, Broadcom Inc. is rated Zacks Rank #2 (Buy).

The chart below shows the evolution of the company's forward 12-month consensus EPS estimate:

12 Month EPS

Revenue Growth ForecastEven though a company's earnings growth is arguably the best indicator of its financial health, nothing much happens if it cannot raise its revenues. It's almost impossible for a company to grow its earnings without growing its revenue for long periods. Therefore, knowing a company's potential revenue growth is crucial.

For Broadcom Inc., the consensus sales estimate for the current quarter of $29.46 billion indicates a year-over-year change of +84.7%. For the current and next fiscal years, $106.05 billion and $174.23 billion estimates indicate +66% and +64.3% changes, respectively.

Last Reported Results and Surprise HistoryBroadcom Inc. reported revenues of $22.19 billion in the last reported quarter, representing a year-over-year change of +47.9%. EPS of $2.44 for the same period compares with $1.58 a year ago.

Compared to the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $22.04 billion, the reported revenues represent a surprise of +0.68%. The EPS surprise was +1.67%.

The company beat consensus EPS estimates in each of the trailing four quarters. The company topped consensus revenue estimates each time over this period.

ValuationWithout considering a stock's valuation, no investment decision can be efficient. In predicting a stock's future price performance, it's crucial to determine whether its current price correctly reflects the intrinsic value of the underlying business and the company's growth prospects.

Comparing the current value of a company's valuation multiples, such as its price-to-earnings (P/E), price-to-sales (P/S), and price-to-cash flow (P/CF), to its own historical values helps ascertain whether its stock is fairly valued, overvalued, or undervalued, whereas comparing the company relative to its peers on these parameters gives a good sense of how reasonable its stock price is.

As part of the Zacks Style Scores system, the Zacks Value Style Score (which evaluates both traditional and unconventional valuation metrics) organizes stocks into five groups ranging from A to F (A is better than B; B is better than C; and so on), making it helpful in identifying whether a stock is overvalued, rightly valued, or temporarily undervalued.

Broadcom Inc. is graded D on this front, indicating that it is trading at a premium to its peers. Click here to see the values of some of the valuation metrics that have driven this grade.

Bottom LineThe facts discussed here and much other information on Zacks.com might help determine whether or not it's worthwhile paying attention to the market buzz about Broadcom Inc.. However, its Zacks Rank #2 does suggest that it may outperform the broader market in the near term.

Broadcom Inc. (AVGO - Free Report) closed the last trading session at $389.11, gaining 3.3% over the past four weeks, but there could be plenty of upside left in the stock if short-term price targets set by Wall Street analysts are any guide. The mean price target of $516.59 indicates a 32.8% upside potential.

The average comprises 39 short-term price targets ranging from a low of $380.00 to a high of $640.00, with a standard deviation of $65.37. While the lowest estimate indicates a decline of 2.3% from the current price level, the most optimistic estimate points to a 64.5% upside. More than the range, one should note the standard deviation here, as it helps understand the variability of the estimates. The smaller the standard deviation, the greater the agreement among analysts.

While the consensus price target is a much-coveted metric for investors, solely banking on this metric to make an investment decision may not be wise at all. That's because the ability and unbiasedness of analysts in setting price targets have long been questionable.

However, an impressive consensus price target is not the only factor that indicates a potential upside in AVGO. This view is strengthened by the agreement among analysts that the company will report better earnings than what they estimated earlier. Though a positive trend in earnings estimate revisions doesn't give any idea as to how much the stock could surge, it has proven effective in predicting an upside.

Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise

Here's What You May Not Know About Analysts' Price TargetsAccording to researchers at several universities across the globe, a price target is one of many pieces of information about a stock that misleads investors far more often than it guides. In fact, empirical research shows that price targets set by several analysts, irrespective of the extent of agreement, rarely indicate where the price of a stock could actually be heading.

While Wall Street analysts have deep knowledge of a company's fundamentals and the sensitivity of its business to economic and industry issues, many of them tend to set overly optimistic price targets. Are you wondering why?

They usually do that to drum up interest in shares of companies that their firms either have existing business relationships with or are looking to be associated with. In other words, business incentives of firms covering a stock often result in inflated price targets set by analysts.

However, a tight clustering of price targets, which is represented by a low standard deviation, indicates that analysts have a high degree of agreement about the direction and magnitude of a stock's price movement. While that doesn't necessarily mean the stock will hit the average price target, it could be a good starting point for further research aimed at identifying the potential fundamental driving forces.

That said, while investors should not entirely ignore price targets, making an investment decision solely based on them could lead to disappointing ROI. So, price targets should always be treated with a high degree of skepticism.

Here's Why There Could be Plenty of Upside Left in AVGOThere has been increasing optimism among analysts lately about the company's earnings prospects, as indicated by strong agreement among them in revising EPS estimates higher. And that could be a legitimate reason to expect an upside in the stock. After all, empirical research shows a strong correlation between trends in earnings estimate revisions and near-term stock price movements.

Over the last 30 days, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for the current year has increased 0%, as one estimate has moved higher compared to no negative revision.

Moreover, AVGO currently has a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy), which means it is in the top 20% of more than 4,000 stocks that we rank based on four factors related to earnings estimates. Given an impressive externally-audited track record, this is a more conclusive indication of the stock's potential upside in the near term. You can see the complete list of today's Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) stocks here >>>> .

Therefore, while the consensus price target may not be a reliable indicator of how much AVGO could gain, the direction of price movement it implies does appear to be a good guide.

While the proven Zacks Rank places an emphasis on earnings estimates and estimate revisions to find strong stocks, we also know that investors tend to develop their own individual strategies. With this in mind, we are always looking at value, growth, and momentum trends to discover great companies.

Of these, perhaps no stock market trend is more popular than value investing, which is a strategy that has proven to be successful in all sorts of market environments. Value investors use tried-and-true metrics and fundamental analysis to find companies that they believe are undervalued at their current share price levels.

On top of the Zacks Rank, investors can also look at our innovative Style Scores system to find stocks with specific traits. For example, value investors will want to focus on the "Value" category. Stocks with high Zacks Ranks and "A" grades for Value will be some of the highest-quality value stocks on the market today.

One company to watch right now is Honda Motor Co. (HMC - Free Report) . HMC is currently sporting a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) and an A for Value.

We should also highlight that HMC has a P/B ratio of 0.63. The P/B ratio pits a stock's market value against its book value, which is defined as total assets minus total liabilities. This stock's P/B looks attractive against its industry's average P/B of 1.01. Over the past year, HMC's P/B has been as high as 0.66 and as low as 0.44, with a median of 0.55.

Value investors also frequently use the P/S ratio. This metric is found by dividing a stock's price with the company's revenue. This is a popular metric because sales are harder to manipulate on an income statement, so they are often considered a better performance indicator. HMC has a P/S ratio of 0.3. This compares to its industry's average P/S of 0.39.

Finally, our model also underscores that HMC has a P/CF ratio of 5.08. This metric focuses on a firm's operating cash flow and is often used to find stocks that are undervalued based on the strength of their cash outlook. HMC's current P/CF looks attractive when compared to its industry's average P/CF of 6.50. Over the past 52 weeks, HMC's P/CF has been as high as 5.31 and as low as 3.12, with a median of 4.11.

Value investors will likely look at more than just these metrics, but the above data helps show that Honda Motor Co. is likely undervalued currently. And when considering the strength of its earnings outlook, HMC sticks out as one of the market's strongest value stocks.

3 Marijuana Stocks To Buy In Today’s Stock Market?

3 minute read This Is How These Marijuana Stocks Could Be The Winners You Need In Your Portfolio For investors looking to make more green, marijuana stocks may be the way to go. Contrary to the doubt or fear based on the past, the cannabis industry is growing at a fast pace. Now, with cannabis classified as a Class 3 substance, there is very little barrier for legal operators. What that means is now there can be more product research and testing.

Working with other companies that can help further expand on the plant’s potential. Not just that, many new and seasoned ancillary companies can operate in a better space due to this new legislation. All this leaves investors feeling more confident to find the best marijuana stocks to buy as they build a profitable portfolio. Cannabis is becoming more widely accepted worldwide, further adding long-term value to the sector. Right now, if cannabis fits your interests, then education and preparation are key.

For example, learn more about the industry and who the top players are, along with building an investment and trading plan that is suited for your style. By doing these few steps, you can greatly increase the odds of seeing a return you can be happy about. Planning and making the right adjustments as things occur is all part of the process of trading and investing. The companies mentioned below are several marijuana stocks to watch in today’s market.

Top Canadian Marijuana Stocks Today Tilray Brands, Inc. (NASDAQ:TLRY) Canopy Growth Corporation (NASDAQ:CGC) Cronos Group Inc.(NASDAQ:CRON) Tilray Brands, Inc. Tilray Brands, Inc., a lifestyle consumer products company, engages in the research, cultivation, processing, and distribution of medical cannabis products in Canada, the United States, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and internationally.

In more recent news, the company is preparing to report its Q4 and fiscal 2026 financial earnings. The company has selected July 28th as the date of the release. Tilray will host a live conference call, which will be webcast, to discuss these results at 4:30 PM Eastern Time on the same day.

[Read More] Looking for Cannabis Growth? Watch These 3 Marijuana Stocks in July 2026

Canopy Growth Corporation Canopy Growth Corporation, together with its subsidiaries, engages in the production, distribution, and sale of cannabis and cannabis-related products for medical and adult use in Canada, Germany, the United States, and internationally.

The company has yet to release any new updates. However, back in June, Canopy Growth announced that Claybourne’s Frosted Flyers Variety Pack was awarded Best Infused Pre-Roll. This all came together at the 2026 Grow Up Awards.

Words From The Company “Winning Best Infused Pre-Roll at Grow Up is a clear signal that consumers and the industry are responding to what Claybourne is building in Canada,” said Luc Mongeau, Chief Executive Officer, Canopy Growth.

[Read More] 3 Marijuana Stocks For Investors To Buy And Hold Today

Cronos Group Inc. Cronos Group Inc., a cannabinoid company, engages in the cultivation, production, distribution, and marketing of cannabis products in Canada, Israel, and internationally. At the end of June, the company announced that it has appointed ATB Capital Markets Corp. to act as its broker in connection with share repurchases.

Particularly over the facilities of the TSX or other alternative Canadian trading systems, in place of Virtu Canada Corp., under its previously announced share repurchase program.

MAPH Enterprises, LLC | (305) 414-0128 | 1501 Venera Ave, Coral Gables, FL 33146 | [email protected]

Key Takeaways Cummins raised its quarterly dividend by 10% to $2.20, marking its 17th straight annual payout hike.Power Systems Q1 revenues jumped 19% to $1.96B as data center demand lifted margins to 29.5%.Cummins targets 6-9% annual revenue growth through 2030 and over 250 basis points of margin expansion. Cummins (CMI - Free Report) is no longer just a heavy-duty truck engine company. While its traditional engine business remains an important part of operations, the company is increasingly benefiting from its Power Systems segment.

Demand for backup power generators and data center power infrastructure is growing, providing Cummins with a stronger and less cyclical revenue stream. This shift is helping CMI drive earnings growth, reduce dependence on truck sales, and position the company to benefit from the expanding need for reliable power solutions.

Cummins has a solid earnings surprise history.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for CMI’s 2026 and 2027 EPS implies a year-over-year uptick of 23% and 16%, respectively. The consensus mark for EPS has moved up over the last 60 days, depicting analysts’ growing optimism.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

Cummins shares have almost doubled over the past year, handily outperforming peers like PACCAR (PCAR - Free Report) and Allison Transmission Holdings (ALSN - Free Report) .

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

After such a strong run, is it still worth buying Cummins or have you missed the bus? Let’s discuss.

Cummins Boosts DividendOn July 12, CMI approved a quarterly dividend hike of 10% to $2.20/share. This marks the 17th consecutive year of a payout hike. The dividend will be paid on Sept. 3, 2026, to shareholders as of Aug. 21, 2026.

While the company's dividend yield stands at 1.18%, it has raised its dividend six times in the last five years, with a five-year annualized dividend growth rate of 8%. The payout ratio of 33% looks sustainable.

Reasonable debt levels and operational efficiency allow management to return value to shareholders. The company has a manageable long-term debt to capital ratio of 0.33. Cummins boasts an “A” credit rating from S&P Global Ratings. CMI's return on equity of 25% compares favorably with the auto sector's 5.85%.

CMI’s Strong Prospects AheadCummins’ dividend hike isn't just a capital-return story— it's backed by genuine operating momentum. The clearest story is unfolding in Power Systems, where revenues jumped 19% year over year to $1.96 billion in first-quarter 2026 and EBITDA margin expanded from 23.6% to 29.5%. The segment benefited from surging demand for power generation equipment tied to data center buildout.

As AI infrastructure investment accelerates globally, the need for backup and prime power generation is becoming a durable long-term demand driver. Full-year 2026 guidance calls for Power Systems revenue growth of 14-19%, with margins expected to reach 25-26%, the highest for any Cummins segment, underscoring how central this business has become to the company's earnings trajectory.

The Distribution segment is riding the same wave. Its revenues grew 7% to $3.1 billion, with margins improving to 14.2% from 12.9%, again driven by stronger power generation demand across North America and Asia Pacific. Since Distribution also carries a meaningful mix of parts and service revenues, this growth adds a layer of earnings resilience that isn't tied to new equipment cycles alone.

Even Cummins' currently loss-making Accelera segment— which houses its battery, fuel cell, and electrolyzer businesses— is moving in the right direction. Adjusted EBITDA losses narrowed to $78 million in the last reported quarter from $86 million a year earlier, and full-year guidance points to losses shrinking further, to a range of $270 million to $300 million versus $438 million in 2025. What was once a drag on consolidated earnings is steadily becoming a smaller one, with the added potential for upside if electrification and hydrogen adoption accelerate.

Cummins’ Raised 2030 Financial TargetsCummins raised its long-term financial targets, reflecting management's confidence in the company's growth prospects. At its 2026 Analyst Day, the company increased its expected annual revenue growth target to 6-9% through 2030, up from its historical growth rate of around 2%. It also expects more than 250 basis points of EBITDA margin expansion, while continuing share repurchases, dividend growth, and maintaining top-quartile return on invested capital.

These higher targets are supported by multiple growth drivers, including AI-driven data center demand and the expansion of its aftermarket business. Together, they suggest Cummins is entering a stronger and more profitable growth phase.

Conclusion                                                                                                                 Cummins is evolving into a more diversified industrial company with multiple growth drivers beyond its traditional truck engine business. AI-led data center demand is creating a powerful new earnings engine, while its distribution business, improving Accelera economics, and disciplined capital allocation add further support.

The recent dividend hike reinforces management's confidence in future cash flows. Although the stock has rallied significantly over the past year, its improving earnings outlook and long-term growth opportunities suggest the story is far from over. For long-term investors, Cummins, carrying a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy), remains a compelling buy.

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

Key Takeaways Archer Daniels is streamlining operations and targeting $500-$750 million in savings over time.ADM is expanding its nutrition, alternative protein and sustainable ingredients businesses.ADM has outperformed its industry as efficiency initiatives and digital investments gain traction. Archer Daniels Midland Company (ADM - Free Report) stock has surged 52.4% over the past year, reflecting investors’ confidence in its ability to navigate a challenging agricultural environment and execute its strategy. ADM’s strategic efforts are centered on strengthening its position as a global agricultural and nutrition company through portfolio optimization, cost discipline and innovation. The stock has outperformed the industry’s 13% growth in the same time frame.

One of the biggest drivers has been ADM’s focus on portfolio optimization and operational efficiency. Archer Daniels continues to streamline its operations by focusing on higher-margin businesses, expanding value-added products and improving operational efficiency. The company is emphasizing productivity initiatives and cost-saving measures to mitigate margin pressures and market volatility. Reducing manufacturing and transaction costs, improving throughput, lowering unplanned downtime, expanding automation and AI, and staying on track for $500-$750 million in cost savings over three to five years are some of its cost-savings measures.

Archer Daniels is expanding its Nutrition segment, which includes flavors, ingredients and health-focused products, while enhancing capabilities across its agricultural supply chain and processing network. By increasing its exposure to value-added products, the company is reducing its dependence on traditional commodity-driven businesses and creating new avenues for profitable growth. ADM is pursuing growth opportunities in areas such as alternative proteins, BioSolutions and sustainable ingredients to meet evolving consumer preferences.

In addition, ADM is leveraging digital technologies, advanced analytics and supply-chain enhancements to improve efficiency across its global network. These investments are helping the company optimize logistics, strengthen customer relationships and enhance decision-making capabilities. Through digital transformation, data analytics and supply-chain optimization initiatives, the company aims to improve efficiency, strengthen customer relationships and support long-term growth.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

What’s More on ADM?The company is actively managing productivity and innovation as well as aligning work to the interconnected trends in food security, health and wellbeing. ADM continues to adapt to consumers’ changing nutritional preferences and has expanded its alternative protein capabilities and starch production. All the aforesaid endeavors are likely to bolster ADM’s growth.

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for ADM’s 2026 and 2027 earnings per share (EPS) indicates year-over-year growth of 40.2% and 4.8%, respectively. The company’s EPS estimate for 2026 and 2027 has moved north in the past 30 days. Hence, this reflects analysts’ optimism about this Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) stock.

Other Stocks to Consider in the Consumer Staples Space United Natural Foods (UNFI - Free Report) , which is the leading distributor of natural, organic and specialty food and non-food products, currently sports a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for United Natural Foods’ current financial-year sales indicates a drop of 2.1% from the prior-year level. UNFI delivered a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 29.9%, on average.

Medifast, Inc. (MED - Free Report) , which is a leading manufacturer and distributor of clinically-proven healthy living products and programs, currently carries a Zacks Rank of 2. MED missed the average earnings surprise by a sharp margin in the trailing four quarters.

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Medifast’s current financial-year sales indicates decline of 25.9% from the year-ago number.

Freshpet, Inc. (FRPT - Free Report) , which manufactures and markets natural fresh foods, refrigerated meals, and treats for dogs and cats, currently carries a Zacks Rank of 2.

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Freshpet’s current financial-year sales indicates growth of 9.5% from the prior-year level. FRPT delivered a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 49.4%, on average.

When deciding whether to buy, sell, or hold a stock, investors often rely on analyst recommendations. Media reports about rating changes by these brokerage-firm-employed (or sell-side) analysts often influence a stock's price, but are they really important?

Before we discuss the reliability of brokerage recommendations and how to use them to your advantage, let's see what these Wall Street heavyweights think about CVS Health (CVS - Free Report) .

CVS Health currently has an average brokerage recommendation (ABR) of 1.32, on a scale of 1 to 5 (Strong Buy to Strong Sell), calculated based on the actual recommendations (Buy, Hold, Sell, etc.) made by 25 brokerage firms. An ABR of 1.32 approximates between Strong Buy and Buy.

Of the 25 recommendations that derive the current ABR, 20 are Strong Buy and two are Buy. Strong Buy and Buy respectively account for 80% and 8% of all recommendations.

Brokerage Recommendation Trends for CVS

Check price target & stock forecast for CVS Health here>>>

While the ABR calls for buying CVS Health, it may not be wise to make an investment decision solely based on this information. Several studies have shown limited to no success of brokerage recommendations in guiding investors to pick stocks with the best price increase potential.

Are you wondering why? The vested interest of brokerage firms in a stock they cover often results in a strong positive bias of their analysts in rating it. Our research shows that for every "Strong Sell" recommendation, brokerage firms assign five "Strong Buy" recommendations.

In other words, their interests aren't always aligned with retail investors, rarely indicating where the price of a stock could actually be heading. Therefore, the best use of this information could be validating your own research or an indicator that has proven to be highly successful in predicting a stock's price movement.

Zacks Rank, our proprietary stock rating tool with an impressive externally audited track record, categorizes stocks into five groups, ranging from Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) to Zacks Rank #5 (Strong Sell), and is an effective indicator of a stock's price performance in the near future. Therefore, using the ABR to validate the Zacks Rank could be an efficient way of making a profitable investment decision.

ABR Should Not Be Confused With Zacks RankAlthough both Zacks Rank and ABR are displayed in a range of 1--5, they are different measures altogether.

The ABR is calculated solely based on brokerage recommendations and is typically displayed with decimals (example: 1.28). In contrast, the Zacks Rank is a quantitative model allowing investors to harness the power of earnings estimate revisions. It is displayed in whole numbers -- 1 to 5.

It has been and continues to be the case that analysts employed by brokerage firms are overly optimistic with their recommendations. Because of their employers' vested interests, these analysts issue more favorable ratings than their research would support, misguiding investors far more often than helping them.

On the other hand, earnings estimate revisions are at the core of the Zacks Rank. And empirical research shows a strong correlation between trends in earnings estimate revisions and near-term stock price movements.

In addition, the different Zacks Rank grades are applied proportionately to all stocks for which brokerage analysts provide current-year earnings estimates. In other words, this tool always maintains a balance among its five ranks.

There is also a key difference between the ABR and Zacks Rank when it comes to freshness. When you look at the ABR, it may not be up-to-date. Nonetheless, since brokerage analysts constantly revise their earnings estimates to reflect changing business trends, and their actions get reflected in the Zacks Rank quickly enough, it is always timely in predicting future stock prices.

Should You Invest in CVS?In terms of earnings estimate revisions for CVS Health, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for the current year has increased 0.3% over the past month to $7.46.

Analysts' growing optimism over the company's earnings prospects, as indicated by strong agreement among them in revising EPS estimates higher, could be a legitimate reason for the stock to soar in the near term.

The size of the recent change in the consensus estimate, along with three other factors related to earnings estimates, has resulted in a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) for CVS Health. You can see the complete list of today's Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) stocks here >>>>

Therefore, the Buy-equivalent ABR for CVS Health may serve as a useful guide for investors.

Key Takeaways RBLX expects DAUs to return to sequential growth in Q3 after a projected Q2 decline.Roblox is adding Global Chat, preset messages and in-game Party Chat to boost engagement.Roblox is refining discovery and limiting the Kids rollout disruption to support retention. Roblox Corporation (RBLX - Free Report) expects daily active users to return to sequential growth in the third quarter of 2026, supported by seasonal trends and planned product changes intended to address near-term safety-related friction. In the first quarter, DAUs increased 35% year over year to 132 million, while hours engaged rose 43% to 31 billion. However, mandatory age checks for chat access reduced communication activity and contributed to weaker organic sign-ups. Roblox consequently expects DAUs to decline sequentially in the second quarter before returning to growth in the third quarter.

Several initiatives could support that rebound. Roblox is testing Global Chat, which allows users across multiple servers to have the same experience and communicate in a shared room, while preset messages are designed to improve gameplay coordination. The company also plans to integrate Party Chat directly into the in-game interface. These enhancements are intended to make communication easier and encourage users to remain more active on the platform.

Roblox expects the rollout of Roblox Kids and Roblox Select accounts to be less disruptive than the initial communication restrictions. Users who have not completed an age check will retain access to roughly 20,000 games representing more than 97% of engagement among the affected cohorts. Roblox is also refining its discovery algorithms to prioritize 28-day retention and longer-term engagement, which could improve content recommendations and support more durable user activity.

Although sign-up pressure and the transition to age-based accounts remain risks, Roblox’s planned communication upgrades, strong retention and seasonally favorable third-quarter backdrop could support a return to sequential DAU growth.

RBLX’s Stock Price Performance, Valuation & EstimatesRoblox shares have declined 9.9% in the past three months against the industry’s 1.5% growth. In the same time frame, other industry players like DraftKings Inc. (DKNG - Free Report) and Monarch Casino & Resort, Inc. (MCRI - Free Report) have gained 6.2% and 28.5%, respectively.

RBLX Three-Month Price Performance
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

RBLX stock is currently trading at a premium. It is currently trading at a forward 12-month price-to-sales (P/S) multiple of 4.43, well above the industry average of 2.28. Then again, other industry players, such as DraftKings and Monarch Casino, have P/S ratios of 1.71 and 3.89, respectively.

RBLX’s P/S Ratio (Forward 12-Month) vs. Industry
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Roblox’s 2026 loss per share has narrowed from $1.45 to $1.44 over the past 30 days.

EPS Trend of RBLX Stock
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for RBLX’s 2026 loss per share suggests a 6.5% year-over-year improvement. Conversely, industry players like DraftKings and Monarch Casino are likely to witness growth of 69.7% and 30.2%, respectively, year over year in 2026 earnings.

RBLX's Zacks RankRoblox stock has a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) at present. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.

Spotify announced on Wednesday that it’s bringing parent-managed accounts for kids to its free tier. Families in the U.S., U.K., Australia, France, Germany, and the Netherlands can now create a “Managed Account” for their child, a feature previously available only to paid subscribers.

“Managed Accounts,” which launched in 2024, is a shared account feature that allows parents to control what their children listen to.

Because these accounts are separate, kids’ music choices won’t impact their parents’ algorithm or show up in their annual Spotify Wrapped experience. Children can add songs to their favorites, create their own playlists, and have their own personalized recommendations.

The expansion of Managed Accounts to free users reflects broader efforts by major tech companies to give parents greater control over how their children use online platforms, and which features are available to them in response to regulatory pressure.

Image Credits:Spotify With Managed Accounts, parents can control and restrict playback of specific artists and songs. By default, children can’t listen to music labeled as explicit, and video playback is also disabled by default. Interactivity features are also limited on managed accounts, which means that kids don’t get access to age-gated features like Messages.

Managed Accounts give parents more granular control over the music their child can listen to, without requiring them to use the more restrictive Spotify Kids app.

To set up the managed account, Family Plan account holders need to navigate to their account pages in the app, select the “Add a Member” option, and tap the “Add a listener aged under 13 (or the market equivalent)” option. From there, parents will be guided through some steps to get their child’s account set up, including choosing a display name and setting up content preferences. Parents have the option to make adjustments at any time.

Spotify says it plans to bring Managed Accounts to more countries soon.

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Aisha is a consumer news reporter at TechCrunch. Prior to joining the publication in 2021, she was a telecom reporter at MobileSyrup. Aisha holds an honours bachelor’s degree from University of Toronto and a master’s degree in journalism from Western University.

You can contact or verify outreach from Aisha by emailing [email protected] or via encrypted message at aisha_malik.01 on Signal.

Strategy Inc. has increased its cash reserves to $3 billion following a recent stock sale, allowing the company to temporarily halt Bitcoin sales between July 6 and July 12. Phong Le, Strategy President & CEO, explained that the company has evolved from a Bitcoin treasury firm into a comprehensive digital capital platform, currently holding over 840,000 Bitcoin.

WESTLAKE VILLAGE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)---- $LTC #LTC--LTC Properties Inc. (NYSE: LTC) (“LTC” or the “Company”), a real estate investment trust that primarily invests in seniors housing and health care properties, today announced it will release second quarter earnings on Wednesday, August 5, 2026 after market close. LTC will conduct a conference call on Thursday, August 6, 2026 at 8:00 a.m. Pacific / 11:00 a.m. Eastern, to provide commentary on the performance and operating results for the quarter ended J.

The market expects Iridium Communications (IRDM - Free Report) to deliver a year-over-year increase in earnings on higher revenues when it reports results for the quarter ended June 2026. This widely-known consensus outlook is important in assessing the company's earnings picture, but a powerful factor that might influence its near-term stock price is how the actual results compare to these estimates.

The stock might move higher if these key numbers top expectations in the upcoming earnings report, which is expected to be released on July 22. On the other hand, if they miss, the stock may move lower.

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

Zacks Consensus EstimateThis satellite phone company is expected to post quarterly earnings of $0.26 per share in its upcoming report, which represents a year-over-year change of +30%.

Revenues are expected to be $221.21 million, up 2% from the year-ago quarter.

Estimate Revisions TrendThe consensus EPS estimate for the quarter has been revised 0.8% higher over the last 30 days to the current level. This is essentially a reflection of how the covering analysts have collectively reassessed their initial estimates over this period.

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

Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise

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

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

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

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

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

How Have the Numbers Shaped Up for Iridium?For Iridium, the Most Accurate Estimate is higher than the Zacks Consensus Estimate, suggesting that analysts have recently become bullish on the company's earnings prospects. This has resulted in an Earnings ESP of +4.65%.

On the other hand, the stock currently carries a Zacks Rank of #3.

So, this combination indicates that Iridium will most likely beat the consensus EPS estimate.

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

For the last reported quarter, it was expected that Iridium would post earnings of $0.27 per share when it actually produced earnings of $0.20, delivering a surprise of -25.93%.

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

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

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

Iridium appears a compelling earnings-beat candidate. However, investors should pay attention to other factors too for betting on this stock or staying away from it ahead of its earnings release.

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

Coupang, Inc. (CPNG - Free Report) is one of the stocks most watched by Zacks.com visitors lately. So, it might be a good idea to review some of the factors that might affect the near-term performance of the stock.

Shares of this company have returned -1.6% over the past month versus the Zacks S&P 500 composite's +1.6% change. The Zacks Internet - Commerce industry, to which Coupang belongs, has gained 4.8% over this period. Now the key question is: Where could the stock be headed in the near term?

Although media reports or rumors about a significant change in a company's business prospects usually cause its stock to trend and lead to an immediate price change, there are always certain fundamental factors that ultimately drive the buy-and-hold decision.

Earnings Estimate RevisionsHere at Zacks, we prioritize appraising the change in the projection of a company's future earnings over anything else. That's because we believe the present value of its future stream of earnings is what determines the fair value for its stock.

Our analysis is essentially based on how sell-side analysts covering the stock are revising their earnings estimates to take the latest business trends into account. When earnings estimates for a company go up, the fair value for its stock goes up as well. And when a stock's fair value is higher than its current market price, investors tend to buy the stock, resulting in its price moving upward. Because of this, empirical studies indicate a strong correlation between trends in earnings estimate revisions and short-term stock price movements.

For the current quarter, Coupang is expected to post a loss of $0.26 per share, indicating a change of -1400% from the year-ago quarter. The Zacks Consensus Estimate remained unchanged over the last 30 days.

The consensus earnings estimate of -$0.33 for the current fiscal year indicates a year-over-year change of -375%. This estimate has changed -94.1% over the last 30 days.

For the next fiscal year, the consensus earnings estimate of $0.4 indicates a change of +222% from what Coupang is expected to report a year ago. Over the past month, the estimate has remained unchanged.

Having a strong externally audited track record, our proprietary stock rating tool, the Zacks Rank, offers a more conclusive picture of a stock's price direction in the near term, since it effectively harnesses the power of earnings estimate revisions. Due to the size of the recent change in the consensus estimate, along with three other factors related to earnings estimates, Coupang is rated Zacks Rank #4 (Sell).

The chart below shows the evolution of the company's forward 12-month consensus EPS estimate:

12 Month EPS

Revenue Growth ForecastWhile earnings growth is arguably the most superior indicator of a company's financial health, nothing happens as such if a business isn't able to grow its revenues. After all, it's nearly impossible for a company to increase its earnings for an extended period without increasing its revenues. So, it's important to know a company's potential revenue growth.

For Coupang, the consensus sales estimate for the current quarter of $8.86 billion indicates a year-over-year change of +4%. For the current and next fiscal years, $37.65 billion and $42.54 billion estimates indicate +9% and +13% changes, respectively.

Last Reported Results and Surprise HistoryCoupang reported revenues of $8.5 billion in the last reported quarter, representing a year-over-year change of +7.5%. EPS of -$0.15 for the same period compares with $0.06 a year ago.

Compared to the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $8.57 billion, the reported revenues represent a surprise of -0.72%. The EPS surprise was +74.58%.

Over the last four quarters, Coupang surpassed consensus EPS estimates two times. The company topped consensus revenue estimates two times over this period.

ValuationNo investment decision can be efficient without considering a stock's valuation. Whether a stock's current price rightly reflects the intrinsic value of the underlying business and the company's growth prospects is an essential determinant of its future price performance.

While comparing the current values of a company's valuation multiples, such as price-to-earnings (P/E), price-to-sales (P/S), and price-to-cash flow (P/CF), with its own historical values helps determine whether its stock is fairly valued, overvalued, or undervalued, comparing the company relative to its peers on these parameters gives a good sense of the reasonability of the stock's price.

The Zacks Value Style Score (part of the Zacks Style Scores system), which pays close attention to both traditional and unconventional valuation metrics to grade stocks from A to F (an A is better than a B; a B is better than a C; and so on), is pretty helpful in identifying whether a stock is overvalued, rightly valued, or temporarily undervalued.

Coupang is graded C on this front, indicating that it is trading at par with its peers. Click here to see the values of some of the valuation metrics that have driven this grade.

Bottom LineThe facts discussed here and much other information on Zacks.com might help determine whether or not it's worthwhile paying attention to the market buzz about Coupang. However, its Zacks Rank #4 does suggest that it may underperform the broader market in the near term.

Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD - Free Report) has been one of the most searched-for stocks on Zacks.com lately. So, you might want to look at some of the facts that could shape the stock's performance in the near term.

Over the past month, shares of this operator of cable TV channels such as TLC and Animal Planet have returned +3.3%, compared to the Zacks S&P 500 composite's +1.6% change. During this period, the Zacks Broadcast Radio and Television industry, which Warner Bros. Discovery falls in, has lost 7.1%. The key question now is: What could be the stock's future direction?

While media releases or rumors about a substantial change in a company's business prospects usually make its stock 'trending' and lead to an immediate price change, there are always some fundamental facts that eventually dominate the buy-and-hold decision-making.

Revisions to Earnings EstimatesRather than focusing on anything else, we at Zacks prioritize evaluating the change in a company's earnings projection. This is because we believe the fair value for its stock is determined by the present value of its future stream of earnings.

Our analysis is essentially based on how sell-side analysts covering the stock are revising their earnings estimates to take the latest business trends into account. When earnings estimates for a company go up, the fair value for its stock goes up as well. And when a stock's fair value is higher than its current market price, investors tend to buy the stock, resulting in its price moving upward. Because of this, empirical studies indicate a strong correlation between trends in earnings estimate revisions and short-term stock price movements.

For the current quarter, Warner Bros. Discovery is expected to post a loss of $0.12 per share, indicating a change of -119.1% from the year-ago quarter. The Zacks Consensus Estimate has changed +20% over the last 30 days.

For the current fiscal year, the consensus earnings estimate of -$1.07 points to a change of -469% from the prior year. Over the last 30 days, this estimate has changed -0.2%.

For the next fiscal year, the consensus earnings estimate of $0.03 indicates a change of +97% from what Warner Bros. Discovery is expected to report a year ago. Over the past month, the estimate has remained unchanged.

With an impressive externally audited track record, our proprietary stock rating tool -- the Zacks Rank -- is a more conclusive indicator of a stock's near-term price performance, as it effectively harnesses the power of earnings estimate revisions. The size of the recent change in the consensus estimate, along with three other factors related to earnings estimates, has resulted in a Zacks Rank #4 (Sell) for Warner Bros. Discovery.

The chart below shows the evolution of the company's forward 12-month consensus EPS estimate:

12 Month EPS

Revenue Growth ForecastEven though a company's earnings growth is arguably the best indicator of its financial health, nothing much happens if it cannot raise its revenues. It's almost impossible for a company to grow its earnings without growing its revenue for long periods. Therefore, knowing a company's potential revenue growth is crucial.

For Warner Bros. Discovery, the consensus sales estimate for the current quarter of $9.33 billion indicates a year-over-year change of -4.9%. For the current and next fiscal years, $36.96 billion and $37.94 billion estimates indicate -0.9% and +2.6% changes, respectively.

Last Reported Results and Surprise HistoryWarner Bros. Discovery reported revenues of $8.89 billion in the last reported quarter, representing a year-over-year change of -1%. EPS of -$1.17 for the same period compares with -$0.18 a year ago.

Compared to the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $8.93 billion, the reported revenues represent a surprise of -0.42%. The EPS surprise was -1070%.

Over the last four quarters, the company surpassed EPS estimates just once. The company topped consensus revenue estimates just once over this period.

ValuationWithout considering a stock's valuation, no investment decision can be efficient. In predicting a stock's future price performance, it's crucial to determine whether its current price correctly reflects the intrinsic value of the underlying business and the company's growth prospects.

Comparing the current value of a company's valuation multiples, such as its price-to-earnings (P/E), price-to-sales (P/S), and price-to-cash flow (P/CF), to its own historical values helps ascertain whether its stock is fairly valued, overvalued, or undervalued, whereas comparing the company relative to its peers on these parameters gives a good sense of how reasonable its stock price is.

As part of the Zacks Style Scores system, the Zacks Value Style Score (which evaluates both traditional and unconventional valuation metrics) organizes stocks into five groups ranging from A to F (A is better than B; B is better than C; and so on), making it helpful in identifying whether a stock is overvalued, rightly valued, or temporarily undervalued.

Warner Bros. Discovery is graded C on this front, indicating that it is trading at par with its peers. Click here to see the values of some of the valuation metrics that have driven this grade.

Bottom LineThe facts discussed here and much other information on Zacks.com might help determine whether or not it's worthwhile paying attention to the market buzz about Warner Bros. Discovery. However, its Zacks Rank #4 does suggest that it may underperform the broader market in the near term.

The proven Zacks Rank system focuses on earnings estimates and estimate revisions to find winning stocks. Nevertheless, we know that our readers all have their own perspectives, so we are always looking at the latest trends in value, growth, and momentum to find strong picks.

Looking at the history of these trends, perhaps none is more beloved than value investing. This strategy simply looks to identify companies that are being undervalued by the broader market. Value investors use tried-and-true metrics and fundamental analysis to find companies that they believe are undervalued at their current share price levels.

Luckily, Zacks has developed its own Style Scores system in an effort to find stocks with specific traits. Value investors will be interested in the system's "Value" category. Stocks with both "A" grades in the Value category and high Zacks Ranks are among the strongest value stocks on the market right now.

One stock to keep an eye on is JD.com (JD - Free Report) . JD is currently sporting a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), as well as a Value grade of A. The stock is trading with P/E ratio of 10.48 right now. For comparison, its industry sports an average P/E of 21.92. Over the last 12 months, JD's Forward P/E has been as high as 11.39 and as low as 6.57, with a median of 8.65.

Finally, investors will want to recognize that JD has a P/CF ratio of 7.89. This data point considers a firm's operating cash flow and is frequently used to find companies that are undervalued when considering their solid cash outlook. This stock's P/CF looks attractive against its industry's average P/CF of 10.99. JD's P/CF has been as high as 11.82 and as low as 6.65, with a median of 7.92, all within the past year.

These are only a few of the key metrics included in JD.com's strong Value grade, but they help show that the stock is likely undervalued right now. When factoring in the strength of its earnings outlook, JD looks like an impressive value stock at the moment.

15.7.2026 17:55, CBK

Index DAX odepsal 0,59 % na 24 999,53 b.

Německé akcie, měřené indexem DAX, uzavřely středeční obchodování v záporných hodnotách.

Nejméně se dnes dařilo polovodičové společnosti Infineon Technologies (-6,3 %), chemické společnosti BASF (-3,0 %) a agrochemické a farmaceutické společnosti Bayer (-2,9 %). Nedařilo se také akciím Commerzbank (-2,6 %). Německý kancléř Friedrich Merz dnes uvedl, že v zásadě není proti nabídce společnosti UniCredit na převzetí banky Commerzbank, ale pouze se mu nelíbí, jakým způsobem k tomu tento italský bankovní dům přistoupil.

Růstem uzavřely akcie předního výrobce cementu Heidelberg Materials (+3,5 %) a automobilek Volkswagen (+3,5 %) a BMW (+2,8 %).

Celoevropský index STOXX Europe 600 nepatrně roste. Sektorově se daří zbytné spotřebě (+2,47 %), zdravotní péči (+0,77 %) a nezbytné spotřebě (+0,10 %). Ztrácí sektory IT (-1,14 %), základních materiálů (-0,90 %) a utilit (-0,77 %).

Index DAX -0,59 % na 24 999,53 b. Nejsilnější akcie Změna Nejslabší akcie Změna Volkswagen (VOW3) +3,5 % Infineon Technologies (IFX) -6,3 % HeidelbergCement (HEI) +3,5 % BASF (BAS) -3,0 % BMW (BMW) +2,8 % Bayer (BAYN) -2,9 % Scout24 SE (G24) +2,7 % Commerzbank AG (CBK) -2,6 % Mercedes-Benz Group AG (MBG) +2,6 % Siemens Energy (ENR) -1,3 % Zdroj: Bloomberg

Michal Bárta
Fio banka, a.s.
Prohlášení

The stock was on pace for its biggest one-day drop in decades.

Key Takeaways Liberty Energy and SLB formed a strategic alliance for AI data center power and modular infrastructure.LBRT targets faster deployment with behind-the-meter power and integrated infrastructure solutions.SLB shipped over 1.3 GW of modular infrastructure since April 2024 and expects 2 GW by year-end. Liberty Energy (LBRT - Free Report) and SLB (SLB - Free Report) have entered into a strategic alliance focused on providing integrated power and modular infrastructure solutions for the growing artificial intelligence (“AI”) and high-performance computing data center markets. By combining Liberty Energy’s modular power generation capabilities with SLB’s modular infrastructure expertise, both companies aim to help address the increasing demand for reliable, flexible and rapidly deployable energy solutions for next-generation data centers.

As AI adoption continues to accelerate, data center operators are facing significant challenges in expanding computing capacity due to rising electricity demand, grid limitations and lengthy infrastructure development timelines. The Liberty Energy-SLB collaboration is designed to provide integrated solutions that can help reduce deployment complexity while improving reliability and scalability.

LBRT Expands Into AI Infrastructure Power SolutionsLiberty Energy has developed expertise in energy services, modular power generation, behind-the-meter power solutions and intelligent energy management systems. While the company has historically focused on oilfield services, particularly hydraulic fracturing, it is expanding capabilities into emerging energy markets, including power solutions for AI infrastructure.

The rapid growth of AI applications has created substantial demand for additional data center capacity. Many new facilities face challenges related to grid availability, interconnection timelines and regional power constraints. As a result, developers are increasingly exploring alternative energy strategies, including dedicated and behind-the-meter power systems.

Liberty Energy’s modular power platforms are designed to provide flexible deployment options for customers requiring scalable and reliable energy solutions. These systems can help data center developers increase power availability while reducing dependence on traditional grid expansion timelines.

SLB Provides Modular Infrastructure ExpertiseSLB, a Houston-based global energy technology company, contributes extensive engineering experience, project execution capabilities and modular infrastructure solutions to the alliance.

The company has developed prefabricated modular infrastructure designed to accelerate data center construction and deployment. According to (SLB - Free Report) , it has shipped more than 1.3 gigawatts of prefabricated modular infrastructure for global data center projects since April 2024 and expects cumulative deliveries to exceed 2 gigawatts before the end of the year.

By combining SLB’s modular infrastructure capabilities with Liberty Energy’s power generation and energy management expertise, customers can access integrated solutions designed to simplify the development of large-scale computing facilities.

Addressing the Growing Energy Requirements of AI ComputingAI and high-performance computing applications are increasing electricity demand across industries such as healthcare, finance, manufacturing, cloud computing and enterprise technology. Modern AI workloads require significant computing resources, creating pressure on data center operators to expand capacity efficiently.

Traditional data center development can be slowed by permitting requirements, equipment availability, utility interconnection processes and regional transmission limitations. The Liberty Energy-SLB alliance aims to address these challenges by supporting behind-the-meter power solutions and modular infrastructure approaches.

These solutions can offer several potential advantages, including faster deployment timelines, improved energy flexibility, enhanced reliability and greater scalability for future expansion.

Behind-the-Meter Power Solutions Provide Greater FlexibilityA key focus of the collaboration is behind-the-meter power generation, which allows data centers to use dedicated on-site energy systems rather than relying exclusively on traditional utility connections.

Behind-the-meter solutions may provide developers with additional flexibility when selecting project locations, particularly in regions where grid capacity is limited or infrastructure upgrades could take years to complete. These systems can also help improve operational resilience by reducing exposure to certain grid-related constraints.

Liberty Energy’s intelligent power control technologies are designed to optimize energy production, monitor system performance and improve the efficiency of available power resources.

Integrated Infrastructure Model Supports Faster DeploymentUnder the alliance, SLB will contribute modular infrastructure systems, engineering expertise and global project execution capabilities, while Liberty Energy will provide modular power generation technologies, energy control platforms and operational support.

This integrated approach can reduce coordination challenges associated with managing multiple suppliers and may allow customers to streamline planning and deployment processes.

By combining infrastructure and power capabilities, the companies aim to support the development of scalable data center facilities capable of meeting increasing AI computing requirements.

Innovation in Future Data Center Energy SystemsBeyond current infrastructure opportunities, Liberty Energy and SLB intend to collaborate on technologies designed to improve the efficiency and flexibility of future data center energy systems.

Potential areas of development include hybrid power generation solutions, advanced digital energy management platforms and next-generation power architectures capable of supporting evolving AI computing demands.

As data center operators continue to seek more efficient and resilient energy strategies, these technologies could play an important role in supporting infrastructure growth.

Supporting the Expansion of AI Infrastructure CapacityThe alliance reflects the broader trend of increasing investment in AI infrastructure worldwide. Data center developers, cloud service providers, technology companies and governments are expanding computing capacity to support the continued adoption of artificial intelligence.

According to a press release, Liberty Energy has stated plans to deploy approximately 3 gigawatts of power projects by 2029. Combined with SLB’s modular infrastructure capabilities, the partnership is positioned to participate in the expanding market for AI-focused data center development.

However, the scale and timing of future projects will depend on customer demand, permitting processes, financing conditions and broader market developments.

Strategic Collaboration Creates New Growth OpportunitiesThe alliance builds on both companies’ existing relationship while expanding their participation in the rapidly developing digital infrastructure sector.

By combining power generation, modular construction, engineering expertise and operational capabilities, both companies aim to provide customers with integrated solutions for increasingly complex data center requirements.

As artificial intelligence continues to reshape industries worldwide, access to reliable and scalable energy infrastructure will remain a critical factor in enabling computing growth.

ConclusionThe partnership between Liberty Energy and SLB represents an effort to address one of the key challenges facing AI infrastructure development, providing reliable and scalable power alongside rapidly deployable data center infrastructure.

Through the combination of Liberty Energy’s modular power solutions and SLB’s modular infrastructure expertise, they aim to support the continued expansion of AI and high-performance computing facilities while helping customers navigate energy and infrastructure constraints.

LBRT's Zacks Rank & Key PicksCurrently, LBRT and SLB have a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) each.

Investors interested in the energy sector might consider some better-ranked stocks, such as Par Pacific (PARR - Free Report) and Imperial Oil (IMO - Free Report) , both sporting a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) at present. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.

Par Pacific is valued at 3.56 billion. It is an energy company that owns and operates refining, logistics and retail assets. Par Pacific operates across Hawaii, the Pacific Northwest and the Rocky Mountain region.

Imperial Oil is valued at $59.79 billion. It is one of Canada's largest integrated energy companies, engaged in crude oil and natural gas production, petroleum refining, fuel marketing and petrochemical manufacturing. Imperial Oil has a strong strategic partnership with ExxonMobil.

Cintas (CTAS - Free Report) reported $2.91 billion in revenue for the quarter ended May 2026, representing a year-over-year increase of 8.9%. EPS of $1.29 for the same period compares to $1.09 a year ago.

The reported revenue represents a surprise of +1.02% over the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $2.88 billion. With the consensus EPS estimate being $1.24, the EPS surprise was +4.03%.

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

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

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

Revenue- Other: $707.5 million compared to the $693.89 million average estimate based on four analysts. The reported number represents a change of +11.1% year over year.Revenue- All Other: $339.37 million compared to the $335.69 million average estimate based on four analysts. The reported number represents a change of +8.6% year over year.Revenue- Uniform Rental and Facility Services: $2.2 billion compared to the $2.18 billion average estimate based on four analysts. The reported number represents a change of +8.2% year over year.Revenue- First Aid and Safety Services: $368.13 million compared to the $358.21 million average estimate based on four analysts. The reported number represents a change of +13.5% year over year.Operating income- Uniform Rental and Facility Services: $529.47 million compared to the $511.58 million average estimate based on four analysts.Operating income- First Aid and Safety Services: $98.59 million versus $83.95 million estimated by four analysts on average.Operating income- All Other: $59 million versus the four-analyst average estimate of $57.37 million.View all Key Company Metrics for Cintas here>>>

Shares of Cintas have returned +4.3% over the past month versus the Zacks S&P 500 composite's +1.6% change. The stock currently has a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy), indicating that it could outperform the broader market in the near term.

Lucid Group stock is attempting to rebound today, July 15, after plunging more than 40% in the previous session. LCID rose by about 2% in premarket trading to $4.73, recovering modestly from its lowest level of the week.

LCID stock crawled back after a report by an electric vehicle blog said that it had hired restructuring advisors. It added that the company was considering either going private or filing for bankruptcy protections. In a separate report, Bloomberg said that it had hired AlixPartners, a popular restructuring specialist.

In a statement, Lucid denied these allegations and maintained that it had adequate liquidity to carry out its operations well into next year. The statement added that:

“The company has sufficient liquidity to carry its operations well into next year, as recently published in its last quarterly filings, and it has not formed any special Board committee to explore the scenarios reported today.”

Instead, the company plans to use AlixPartners for advice on execution, strengthening its operations, and positioning itself to realize the full potential. The statement added that:

“AlixPartners is assisting us in that and nothing else and has not recommended bankruptcy to management or the Board.”

Lucid Group’s business remains in troubleStill, despite the assurance, the company’s business remains under pressure, with profitability remaining elusive. The most recent results showed that its loss from operations soared to over $989 million in Q1 from $691 million in the same period last year. 

Its net loss soared to over $1.02 billion from $366 million in Q1’25. This surge happened as its operational costs, including research and development, selling, general and administrative (SG&A) costs, jumped. 

Lucid has never made a profit, and analysts expect that its path to profitability remains elusive. Its total loss last year was over $2.7 billion and is burning about $1 billion a quarter. 

Analysts do not expect the company to become profitable over the next few years. According to Yahoo Finance estimates, it is projected to post a loss of $7.97 per share this year, an improvement from the $10.00 per share loss reported last year. 

Losses are expected to narrow further to $4.75 per share next year, signaling progress toward profitability despite the company remaining in the red.

Lucid ended the last quarter with $700 million in cash and cash equivalents and $1.46 billion worth of inventories. As a result, with the company burning at least $1 billion a quarter, it will need to raise additional capital. 

Lucid has always raised cash from Saudi Arabia’s PIF, which owns a 45.38% stake in the company. It has also raised cash through equity issuances, which has pushed its outstanding shares to 390 million from 164 million in 2021. 

This dilution will likely continue as it continues to boost its balance sheet and turnaround efforts. These efforts have included layoffs, and AlixPartners has recommended more measures, including slowing its European expansion and accelerating its relationship with Uber. Uber holds a 3.51% stake in the company.

Looking ahead, Lucid Group's stock is likely to remain highly volatile. Historically, sharp sell-offs are often followed by dip-buying as investors look to capitalize on the decline. 

However, these initial rebounds can sometimes turn out to be a dead-cat bounce—a temporary recovery in the price of a stock that is otherwise in a sustained downtrend.

The alternative scenario is where the stock continues falling as investors dump the stock as bankruptcy fears rise.

Lucid Group (LCID), an electric vehicle maker, saw its shares collapse Tuesday after a report said the company is working with restructuring adviser AlixPartner

Lucid Group, Inc. (NASDAQ:LCID) shares are surging on Wednesday after they closed down more than 16% yesterday on concerns of a possible bankruptcy.

There is a chance the stock is at support, and sometimes stocks rally after reaching support. This is why Lucid is the Stock of the Day.

As you can see on the chart, yesterday was a significant day for Lucid. It opened at $5.45. Then it dropped almost 60% to $2.37, before trimming those losses.

A reversal kicked in, and the stock rose from that low mark. The closing price was $4.65. You can see on the chart that this level was support in June.

Breaking a support level is considered to be a bearish dynamic. Support is a large group of investors and traders who wish to purchase shares.

If the support breaks, meaning that the stock trades and stays below it, it is a sign that the people who created the support with their buy orders are gone. They have finished or canceled their orders.

With this demand off the market, sellers will be forced to offer their shares at a discount to draw buyers in. This results in a downtrend.

Sometimes, during the course of the day, it appears as though the support is breaking. But the buyers are still out there. They are just hiding or staying on the sidelines.

They think that if the sellers believe there are no buyers around, they will push the price even lower. Then the buyers will be able to finish their orders at a reduced price.

But if the buyers are still around and want or need to be finished by the close, they can come into the market and drive the shares right back up to the support level. This is what happened with Lucid yesterday.

This price action is an illustration of why some traders use the closing price when making their decisions. This price can be a more accurate illustration of the supply and demand dynamics in a market than the Intraday prices.

This reversal was so strong that there is a good chance the move higher continues. The worst may be over for Lucid.

LCID Stock Price Activity: Lucid Group shares were up 19.81% at $5.54 at the time of publication on Wednesday, according to Benzinga Pro data.

Photo: Jonathan Weiss on Shutterstock.com

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The “million dollars to retire” figure survives because it is simple, not because it is precise. It assumes one spending target, one withdrawal rate, and one risk tolerance for every household. A better retirement question is narrower: how much annual income must your portfolio produce after Social Security, and how much yield risk are you willing to take to get it?

Once you frame it that way, the million-dollar threshold becomes less useful. The average U.S. consumer unit spent $78,535 in 2024, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Social Security can replace a meaningful slice of that for many retirees. If your portfolio needs to cover roughly $50,000 a year, the capital required ranges from about $1.43 million down to roughly $417,000, depending entirely on the yield you target.

The Only Equation That Matters Income target divided by yield equals capital required. For a $50,000 annual income:

At 3.5%: $50,000 / 0.035 = $1,428,571 At 5%: $50,000 / 0.05 = $1,000,000 At 7%: $50,000 / 0.07 = $714,286 At 10%: $50,000 / 0.10 = $500,000 At 12%: $50,000 / 0.12 = $416,667 For context, the 10-year Treasury recently yielded about 4.4% to 4.5%, which is a useful baseline every dividend strategy below has to justify. It is not risk-free in the sense that market prices can move, but it is the closest widely used benchmark for default-free long-term dollar income.

Tier One: Sleep-At-Night Dividend Growth (3% to 4%) This tier is built on dividend growth equities and broad dividend ETFs. PepsiCo (NASDAQ:PEP | PEP Price Prediction) yields 4.1% and just paid its $1.48 quarterly dividend on June 30. NextEra Energy (NYSE:NEE) yields a lower 2.7% but the dividend has climbed from $0.425 quarterly in 2022 to $0.6232 today, and the stock returned 29% over the past year.

Trade-off: highest capital requirement, but income and principal both grow.

Tier Two: The Monthly Paycheck (5% to 7%) Net-lease REITs, preferred shares, and high-dividend equity funds live here. Realty Income (NYSE:O) yields 5.2%, pays monthly, and is on its 114th consecutive quarterly increase. The most recent monthly dividend ticked up to $0.271 from $0.2705. At a 5% blended yield, $1 million covers the $50,000 target on the nose.

Trade-off: income growth slows to low single digits, and the share price moves more with interest rates than with earnings.

Tier Three: Maximum Yield, Maximum Caution (8% to 14%) Business development companies, mortgage REITs, and leveraged covered-call funds can push portfolio yields into double digits. Ares Capital (NASDAQ:ARCC) yields 10.7% and has held its $0.48 quarterly distribution stable for six consecutive quarters. At that rate, roughly $470,000 produces $50,000 a year.

But yield this high carries real risk. Prospect Capital (NASDAQ:PSEC) cut its monthly distribution from $0.045 to $0.035 in May 2026, a 22% reduction. NAV per share fell to $6.05 from $7.84 a year earlier, and shares are down 11% over the past year and 47% over five years.

Where Conventional Wisdom Breaks Down The standard counterargument to high-yield portfolios is “dividend cuts.” The deeper problem is compounding. PepsiCo’s quarterly dividend has grown from $0.135 in 1999 to $1.48 in 2026. A retiree who bought PEP shares for income years ago is now collecting far more income on the same share count, even before considering any change in the stock price.

A PSEC retiree from the same period may have collected high distributions along the way, but the per-share distribution is lower today than it was several years ago, and the stock price has suffered. The headline yield looked higher. The outcome depended heavily on whether distributions were enough to offset the loss of principal.

With CPI-U at 335.123 in May 2026 and up 4.2% over the prior 12 months, an income stream that does not grow is an income stream that quietly loses purchasing power.

A Better Way to Size Retirement Income Calculate the gap, not the goal. Subtract expected Social Security from your actual annual spending. That residual is the number your portfolio has to cover. Stress-test the yield. For any holding above 8%, model what happens if the distribution is cut 25% and the share price falls 20%. If that scenario breaks your income plan or forces sales at depressed prices, the position is too large.

Blend the tiers. A barbell of a 3.5% dividend grower and a 9% BDC produces a 6.25% blended yield if the two sides are equally weighted, with built-in growth potential on half the portfolio. That structure can beat a pure 6% holding over a 20-year retirement, but only if the high-yield side avoids severe dividend cuts and principal erosion. The Number Is Less Important Than the Engine A million dollars can be too little, more than enough, or exactly on target depending on the income gap it has to fill. Yield changes the required capital, but risk changes whether that income lasts. The strongest retirement portfolios do not simply reach for the biggest payout. They match the paycheck to the household’s spending need, then make sure that paycheck can survive inflation, dividend cuts, and a long retirement.

Contact [email protected] for any questions or corrections.

Southwest Airlines (LUV - Free Report) is expected to deliver a year-over-year increase in earnings on higher revenues when it reports results for the quarter ended June 2026. This widely-known consensus outlook gives a good sense of the company's earnings picture, but how the actual results compare to these estimates is a powerful factor that could impact its near-term stock price.

The earnings report, which is expected to be released on July 22, might help the stock move higher if these key numbers are better than expectations. On the other hand, if they miss, the stock may move lower.

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

Zacks Consensus EstimateThis airline is expected to post quarterly earnings of $0.52 per share in its upcoming report, which represents a year-over-year change of +20.9%.

Revenues are expected to be $8.58 billion, up 18.4% from the year-ago quarter.

Estimate Revisions TrendThe consensus EPS estimate for the quarter has been revised 28.26% higher over the last 30 days to the current level. This is essentially a reflection of how the covering analysts have collectively reassessed their initial estimates over this period.

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

Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise

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

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

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

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

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

How Have the Numbers Shaped Up for Southwest?For Southwest, the Most Accurate Estimate is lower than the Zacks Consensus Estimate, suggesting that analysts have recently become bearish on the company's earnings prospects. This has resulted in an Earnings ESP of -1.21%.

On the other hand, the stock currently carries a Zacks Rank of #3.

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

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

For the last reported quarter, it was expected that Southwest would post earnings of $0.45 per share when it actually produced earnings of $0.45, delivering no surprise.

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

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

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

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

An Industry Player's Expected ResultsAnother stock from the Zacks Transportation - Airline industry, Alaska Air Group (ALK - Free Report) , is soon expected to post loss of $0.97 per share for the quarter ended June 2026. This estimate indicates a year-over-year change of -154.5%. Revenues for the quarter are expected to be $4.09 billion, up 10.6% from the year-ago quarter.

Over the last 30 days, the consensus EPS estimate for Alaska Air has been revised 76.1% up to the current level. Nevertheless, the company now has an Earnings ESP of -0.88%, reflecting a lower Most Accurate Estimate.

This Earnings ESP, combined with its Zacks Rank #3 (Hold), makes it difficult to conclusively predict that Alaska Air will beat the consensus EPS estimate. Over the last four quarters, the company surpassed consensus EPS estimates two times.

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