Momentum investing is essentially an exception to the idea of "buying low and selling high." Investors following this style of investing are usually not interested in betting on cheap stocks and waiting long for them to recover. Instead, they believe that "buying high and selling higher" is the way to make far more money in lesser time.
Everyone likes betting on fast-moving trending stocks, but it isn't easy to determine the right entry point. These stocks often lose momentum when their future growth potential fails to justify their swelled-up valuation. In that phase, investors find themselves invested in shares that have limited to no upside or even a downside. So, betting on a stock just by looking at the traditional momentum parameters could be risky at times.
It could be safer to invest in bargain stocks that have been witnessing price momentum recently. While the Zacks Momentum Style Score (part of the Zacks Style Scores system), which pays close attention to trends in a stock's price or earnings, is pretty useful in identifying great momentum stocks, our 'Fast-Paced Momentum at a Bargain' screen comes handy in spotting fast-moving stocks that are still attractively priced.
Delta Air Lines (DAL - Free Report) is one of the several great candidates that made it through the screen. While there are numerous reasons why this stock is a great choice, here are the most vital ones:
Investors' growing interest in a stock is reflected in its recent price increase. A price change of 2.5% over the past four weeks positions the stock of this airline well in this regard.
While any stock can see a spike in price for a short period, it takes a real momentum player to deliver positive returns for a longer time frame. DAL meets this criterion too, as the stock gained 21% over the past 12 weeks.
Moreover, the momentum for DAL is fast paced, as the stock currently has a beta of 1.29. This indicates that the stock moves 29% higher than the market in either direction.
Given this price performance, it is no surprise that DAL has a Momentum Score of A, which indicates that this is the right time to enter the stock to take advantage of the momentum with the highest probability of success.
In addition to a favorable Momentum Score, an upward trend in earnings estimate revisions has helped DAL earn a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). Our research shows that the momentum-effect is quite strong among Zacks Rank #1 and #2 stocks. That's because as covering analysts raise their earnings estimates for a stock, more and more investors take an interest in it, helping its price race to keep up. You can see the complete list of today's Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) stocks here >>>>
Most importantly, despite possessing fast-paced momentum features, DAL is trading at a reasonable valuation. In terms of Price-to-Sales ratio, which is considered as one of the best valuation metrics, the stock looks quite cheap now. DAL is currently trading at 0.83 times its sales. In other words, investors need to pay only 83 cents for each dollar of sales.
So, DAL appears to have plenty of room to run, and that too at a fast pace.
In addition to DAL, there are several other stocks that currently pass through our 'Fast-Paced Momentum at a Bargain' screen. You may consider investing in them and start looking for the newest stocks that fit these criteria.
This is not the only screen that could help you find your next winning stock pick. Based on your personal investing style, you may choose from over 45 Zacks Premium Screens that are strategically created to beat the market.
However, keep in mind that the key to a successful stock-picking strategy is to ensure that it produced profitable results in the past. You could easily do that with the help of the Zacks Research Wizard. In addition to allowing you to backtest the effectiveness of your strategy, the program comes loaded with some of our most successful stock-picking strategies.
Click here to sign up for a free trial to the Research Wizard today.
United Airlines has a new way to entice customers to pay more on board: no middle seat neighbor.
The carrier said Tuesday that one of the rows on its Airbus A321XLRs will have an empty middle seat with a tray table for the aisle- and window-seat customers to share. The seats, which are in the extra legroom section, go on sale later this year so it's not clear just how much more United will charge. It said it could later add them to other aircraft beyond those new, long-range narrow-body planes.
The new upsell is just one of many airlines are throwing out to get customers to pay more to fly. Last week, Delta Air Lines joined United in launching basic business-class and premium economy fares that don't come with perks that used to be included in the ticket. For example, Delta will no longer include access to its top-tier Delta One lounge or seat selection with its cheapest long-haul business class tickets.
Read more CNBC airline newsDelta launches ‘basic business’ fares without lounge access, seat selectionRecord heat, crowds drive offseason boom in international travelDelta expects higher airfare to last, bringing 2026 profit goal in reach'Bring 'em on': Delta wants United's crown over the Pacific, tooSpirit's collapse, high fuel prices test limits of summer vacation spendingMeet the pilots flying Spirit Airlines' yellow jets to the desertUnited in March also said it plans to launch a set of three economy seats that can be converted into a bed, which it's calling the "Relax Row" on some of its wide-body planes.
Airlines have spent years adding more premium-class seats to make bigger business-class cabins where spending has been more resilient. The bottlenecks of ever-more-elaborate seats have even delayed deliveries of new planes.
Momentum investors typically don't time the market or "buy low and sell high." In other words, they avoid betting on cheap stocks and waiting long for them to recover. Instead, they believe that "buying high and selling higher" is the way to make far more money in lesser time.
Everyone likes betting on fast-moving trending stocks, but it isn't easy to determine the right entry point. These stocks often lose momentum when their future growth potential fails to justify their swelled-up valuation. In that phase, investors find themselves invested in shares that have limited to no upside or even a downside. So, betting on a stock just by looking at the traditional momentum parameters could be risky at times.
It could be safer to invest in bargain stocks that have been witnessing price momentum recently. While the Zacks Momentum Style Score (part of the Zacks Style Scores system), which pays close attention to trends in a stock's price or earnings, is pretty useful in identifying great momentum stocks, our 'Fast-Paced Momentum at a Bargain' screen comes handy in spotting fast-moving stocks that are still attractively priced.
There are several stocks that currently pass through the screen and United Airlines (UAL - Free Report) is one of them. Here are the key reasons why this stock is a great candidate.
A dash of recent price momentum reflects growing interest of investors in a stock. With a four-week price change of 1%, the stock of this airline is certainly well-positioned in this regard.
While any stock can see a spike in price for a short period, it takes a real momentum player to deliver positive returns for a longer time frame. UAL meets this criterion too, as the stock gained 22.5% over the past 12 weeks.
Moreover, the momentum for UAL is fast paced, as the stock currently has a beta of 1.25. This indicates that the stock moves 25% higher than the market in either direction.
Given this price performance, it is no surprise that UAL has a Momentum Score of A, which indicates that this is the right time to enter the stock to take advantage of the momentum with the highest probability of success.
In addition to a favorable Momentum Score, an upward trend in earnings estimate revisions has helped UAL earn a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). Our research shows that the momentum-effect is quite strong among Zacks Rank #1 and #2 stocks. That's because as covering analysts raise their earnings estimates for a stock, more and more investors take an interest in it, helping its price race to keep up. You can see the complete list of today's Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) stocks here >>>>
Most importantly, despite possessing fast-paced momentum features, UAL is trading at a reasonable valuation. In terms of Price-to-Sales ratio, which is considered as one of the best valuation metrics, the stock looks quite cheap now. UAL is currently trading at 0.65 times its sales. In other words, investors need to pay only 65 cents for each dollar of sales.
So, UAL appears to have plenty of room to run, and that too at a fast pace.
In addition to UAL, there are several other stocks that currently pass through our 'Fast-Paced Momentum at a Bargain' screen. You may consider investing in them and start looking for the newest stocks that fit these criteria.
This is not the only screen that could help you find your next winning stock pick. Based on your personal investing style, you may choose from over 45 Zacks Premium Screens that are strategically created to beat the market.
However, keep in mind that the key to a successful stock-picking strategy is to ensure that it produced profitable results in the past. You could easily do that with the help of the Zacks Research Wizard. In addition to allowing you to backtest the effectiveness of your strategy, the program comes loaded with some of our most successful stock-picking strategies.
Click here to sign up for a free trial to the Research Wizard today.
SummaryCompaniesEquities revenue hits record highInvestment banking fees jump 55%JPMorgan, BofA also report higher profitsJuly 14 (Reuters) - Goldman Sachs (GS.N), opens new tab exceeded second-quarter profit expectations, as dealmaking picked up pace and market volatility due to the Middle East war boosted the equities business to a record.
Inflation risks and uncertainty over interest rates kept investors on edge, resulting in aggressive portfolio reassessment and stronger revenue from equities trading desks.
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Some analysts said SpaceX's (SPCX.O), opens new tab IPO may have provided an additional lift to volumes. Goldman was one of the lead underwriters for the much-anticipated IPO.
The equities business fetched revenue of $7.42 billion, surging 72% from a year ago. The fixed income, currency and commodities business revenue also jumped 32% to $4.59 billion.
"Momentum has accelerated throughout our businesses. Clients are turning to us to lead their most strategic and consequential transactions, which are often the genesis of activity across the franchise," CEO David Solomon said in a statement.
"We expect this flywheel of activity to continue," he said.
Total profit for the bank was $6.63 billion, or $20.98 per share, for the three months ended June 30. That compares with $3.72 billion, or $10.91 per share, a year earlier. Analysts were expecting earnings of $14.48, according to data compiled by LSEG.
The strong results may provide fresh support for Goldman shares, which have outperformed the benchmark S&P 500 index (.SPX), opens new tab this year but stirred some concerns about how much further the stock can run.
Shares of the Wall Street titan were up 2.7% in premarket trading.
CORPORATE GIANTS' SHOPPING SPREE BOOSTS ADVISORYA surge in $10-billion-plus "mega-deals" drove global M&A volumes to record levels in the first half of 2026, according to LSEG data, helping investment banks such as Goldman that earn fees from advising on such transactions.
Goldman's investment banking fees rose 55% to $3.40 billion in the quarter, helped by higher stock and debt sales, as well as a stronger advisory arm.
Corporate dealmaking remained resilient despite the turmoil in the Middle East, driven in part by companies' efforts to expand and strengthen their AI businesses.
In May, Goldman's president John Waldron said the M&A volumes were set to end the year near the record levels seen in 2021.
Goldman advised on more than $1 trillion worth of announced mergers and acquisitions in the first half of 2026, marking a record pace for any investment bank.
The results are part of a busy Tuesday lineup of Wall Street earnings that investors will parse for signals on where the economy is headed, and to gauge the outlook for bank stocks, which BofA analysts said had been an "island of stability" even as fears of AI disruption rocked the financial industry.
The results also usher in an earnings season that investors have been eagerly awaiting in the hope that it may redirect attention from geopolitical noise to corporate fundamentals.
ASSET MANAGEMENT ARM DODGES PRIVATE CREDIT STRAINGoldman's asset and wealth management revenue rose 20% to $4.60 billion, continuing its strong run.
The bank has pushed for a stronger footing in the business to build a steadier earnings base and reduce its dependence on the trading and investment banking arms, which are more volatile.
Goldman's private credit fund, which is part of the asset and wealth management division, has so far bucked the weakness in the industry.
Private credit players have come under pressure from shareholders looking to redeem their shares, on concerns that AI could disrupt the business models of software companies held in their portfolios.
GS Credit, however, said earlier this month that second-quarter repurchase requests were below its 5% cap.
Reporting by Niket Nishant in Bengaluru and Saeed Azhar in New York; Editing by Arun Koyyur
Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles., opens new tab
Saeed Azhar is a Reuters financial journalist and part of the U.S. banking team, which covers Wall Street's biggest banks. He focuses on Goldman Sachs and Bank of America, and also writes about regional banks. Before moving to New York in July 2022, he led the finance team in the Middle East from Dubai, and also worked in Singapore, covering Southeast Asia finance.
Niket Nishant reports on breaking news and the quarterly earnings of Wall Street's largest banks, card companies, financial technology upstarts and asset managers. He also covers the biggest IPOs on U.S. exchanges, and late-stage venture capital funding alongside news and regulatory developments in the cryptocurrency industry. His writing appears on the finance, business, markets and future of money sections of the website. He did his post-graduation from the Indian Institute of Journalism and New Media (IIJNM) in Bengaluru.
Goldman Sachs reported record quarterly revenue and earnings per share on Tuesday as booming equities trading, stronger underwriting activity and rising asset-management fees propelled second-quarter profit well beyond Wall Street expectations.
The New York-based bank generated net revenue of $20.34 billion in the three months through June, up 39% from a year earlier.
Net earnings jumped 78% to $6.63 billion, while diluted earnings per share surged 92% to a record $20.98.
Analysts surveyed by FactSet had expected earnings of about $14.51 per share on revenue of $16.23 billion.
Goldman therefore exceeded the consensus EPS estimate by roughly 45% and the revenue forecast by about 25%.
Annualised return on average common shareholders’ equity, a key measure of profitability, climbed to 23.5% from 12.8% in the corresponding quarter last year.
Return on tangible common equity reached 25.5%. The company described the period as a record quarter for revenue and diluted EPS, while net earnings were the second highest in its history.
Global Banking & Markets delivered record net revenue of $15.52 billion, a 53% increase from the previous year.
The performance was led by equities, where revenue climbed 72% to a record $7.42 billion.
Equities intermediation revenue rose 60% to a record $4.16 billion, reflecting stronger activity across cash products and derivatives.
Equities financing revenue almost doubled to a record $3.26 billion as client balances increased.
Fixed-income, currency and commodities revenue advanced 32% to $4.59 billion.
That included record FICC financing revenue of $1.22 billion, helping reverse one of the main concerns that weighed on sentiment after the first quarter.
Investment-banking fees increased 55% to $3.40 billion. Equity underwriting revenue more than doubled to $985 million, while debt underwriting rose 75% to a record $1.03 billion.
Advisory revenue gained 17% to $1.38 billion as completed mergers and acquisitions supported activity.
Goldman also said its investment-banking fee backlog increased from both the first quarter and the end of 2025, offering some visibility into future revenue.
Asset & Wealth Management revenue rose 20% to $4.60 billion, supported by record management and other fees of $3.36 billion.
Assets under supervision reached an all-time high of $4.04 trillion after attracting $230 billion of total net inflows during the quarter.
Long-term fee-based assets recorded net inflows of $91 billion, marking the company’s 34th consecutive quarter of positive inflows.
Goldman also raised a record $59 billion from third parties for alternative investments.
The strength offsets softer results in private banking and lending, where revenue declined 13% to $689 million.
Goldman attributed the drop primarily to a lower net interest margin on Marcus deposits.
Platform Solutions revenue fell 64% to $221 million, partly reflecting valuation markdowns and transition costs associated with the Apple Card loan portfolio.
Ahead of the results, Oppenheimer analysts warned through MarketWatch that investment banks had entered a “late-cycle” phase.
Goldman’s accelerating fee backlog and record underwriting results challenge that cautious view, although deal activity remains sensitive to market confidence and economic conditions.
Operating expenses increased 26% to $11.67 billion as compensation rose alongside revenue.
Even so, Goldman’s quarterly efficiency ratio improved to 57.4%, indicating that revenue expanded considerably faster than its underlying cost base. Headcount declined 2% from the previous quarter.
Provision for credit losses fell to $102 million from $384 million a year earlier, reflecting lower consumer-related provisions and an improved credit backdrop.
Goldman returned $5.36 billion to shareholders during the quarter, including $4 billion through share repurchases and $1.36 billion in dividends.
The bank raised its quarterly dividend by 11% to $5 per share.
Chief Executive David Solomon said momentum had accelerated across Goldman’s businesses and pointed to strong client pipelines as evidence that activity could continue.
For Goldman Sachs stock, the results remove immediate concerns around fixed-income trading and demonstrate the earnings power available when dealmaking and market activity strengthen simultaneously.
The larger question is whether record equity revenue and unusually strong profitability can be sustained, particularly after the quarter established a considerably higher benchmark for future results.
Goldman Sachs just keeps on breaking its own records on Wall Street. It posted $7.42 billion for a quarter with record-breaking stock-trading results, driven by financing and taking profit in arranging bets.
Goldman Sachs (GS - Free Report) came out with quarterly earnings of $20.98 per share, beating the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $14.47 per share. This compares to earnings of $10.91 per share a year ago. These figures are adjusted for non-recurring items.
This quarterly report represents an earnings surprise of +44.99%. A quarter ago, it was expected that this investment bank would post earnings of $16.34 per share when it actually produced earnings of $17.55, delivering a surprise of +7.41%.
Over the last four quarters, the company has surpassed consensus EPS estimates four times.
Goldman, which belongs to the Zacks Financial - Investment Bank industry, posted revenues of $20.34 billion for the quarter ended June 2026, surpassing the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 23.31%. This compares to year-ago revenues of $14.58 billion. The company has topped consensus revenue estimates three times over the last four quarters.
The sustainability of the stock's immediate price movement based on the recently-released numbers and future earnings expectations will mostly depend on management's commentary on the earnings call.
Goldman shares have added about 19% since the beginning of the year versus the S&P 500's gain of 9.8%.
What's Next for Goldman?While Goldman has outperformed the market so far this year, the question that comes to investors' minds is: what's next for the stock?
There are no easy answers to this key question, but one reliable measure that can help investors address this is the company's earnings outlook. Not only does this include current consensus earnings expectations for the coming quarter(s), but also how these expectations have changed lately.
Empirical research shows a strong correlation between near-term stock movements and trends in earnings estimate revisions. Investors can track such revisions by themselves or rely on a tried-and-tested rating tool like the Zacks Rank, which has an impressive track record of harnessing the power of earnings estimate revisions.
Ahead of this earnings release, the estimate revisions trend for Goldman was favorable. While the magnitude and direction of estimate revisions could change following the company's just-released earnings report, the current status translates into a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) for the stock. So, the shares are expected to outperform the market in the near future. You can see the complete list of today's Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
It will be interesting to see how estimates for the coming quarters and the current fiscal year change in the days ahead. The current consensus EPS estimate is $14.06 on $15.67 billion in revenues for the coming quarter and $60.44 on $64.75 billion in revenues for the current fiscal year.
Investors should be mindful of the fact that the outlook for the industry can have a material impact on the performance of the stock as well. In terms of the Zacks Industry Rank, Financial - Investment Bank is currently in the top 29% of the 250 plus Zacks industries. Our research shows that the top 50% of the Zacks-ranked industries outperform the bottom 50% by a factor of more than 2 to 1.
One other stock from the same industry, LPL Financial Holdings Inc. (LPLA - Free Report) , is yet to report results for the quarter ended June 2026. The results are expected to be released on July 30.
This company is expected to post quarterly earnings of $5.41 per share in its upcoming report, which represents a year-over-year change of +20%. The consensus EPS estimate for the quarter has been revised 0.2% higher over the last 30 days to the current level.
LPL Financial Holdings Inc.'s revenues are expected to be $5 billion, up 33.1% from the year-ago quarter.
Goldman Sachs Group Inc (NYSE:GS, XETRA:GOS) shares rose more than 6% on Tuesday after the investment bank reported second quarter results that exceeded Wall Street expectations, driven by strong performances in investment banking and trading.
For the quarter ended June 30, Goldman Sachs reported net earnings of $6.63 billion, or $20.98 per diluted share, compared with consensus estimates of $14.48 per share.
Net revenue rose 39% from a year earlier to $20.34 billion, ahead of analysts' expectations of $16.13 billion.
The bank generated an annualized return on average common shareholders' equity of 23.5% during the quarter.
Global Banking & Markets revenue increased 53% year over year to $15.52 billion.
Investment banking fees rose 55% to $3.40 billion, reflecting stronger equity underwriting, debt underwriting and advisory activity. Goldman Sachs said equity underwriting benefited from increased secondary offerings and initial public offerings, while debt underwriting was driven by leveraged finance and asset-backed issuance.
Advisory revenue also increased as completed mergers and acquisitions activity improved. The firm's investment banking backlog increased from both the end of the first quarter and year-end 2025.
Fixed Income, Currency and Commodities (FICC) revenue rose 32% to $4.59 billion, supported by higher activity in interest rate products, commodities and mortgages, while equities revenue climbed 72% to a record $7.42 billion on stronger derivatives, cash equities and prime financing activity.
Asset & Wealth Management revenue increased 20% to $4.60 billion, helped by higher management fees as assets under supervision grew and stronger gains from private equity investments.
Platform Solutions revenue declined 64% to $221 million, primarily reflecting markdowns related to the Apple Card loan portfolio, which had previously been transferred to held for sale.
Provision for credit losses fell to $102 million from $384 million a year earlier.
Book value per common share increased 1.8% during the quarter to $367.67, while the bank announced it will raise its quarterly dividend to $5 per common share in the third quarter.
Jefferies analysts described the results as materially ahead of expectations, writing that the quarter "handily exceed a high bar."
The firm noted that the earnings beat was driven primarily by exceptionally strong equities trading, with additional support from fixed-income trading, investment banking and asset and wealth management.
The analysts also pointed to a lower-than-expected compensation ratio, an increase in the investment banking backlog, stronger-than-expected share repurchases of $4.0 billion and an efficiency ratio of 57.4%, below the firm's long-term target of 60%.
Jefferies said debt underwriting produced the largest upside surprise within investment banking, supported by record leveraged finance and asset-backed issuance, while equity underwriting benefited from robust IPO and secondary market activity. The firm also highlighted record equities trading revenue and stronger-than-expected FICC results, driven by interest rate products, mortgages and financing activity.
In asset and wealth management, Jefferies said higher management fees, private equity investment gains and solid client inflows contributed to the segment's outperformance. The analysts also noted Goldman Sachs generated strong capital returns during the quarter, repurchasing more shares than expected while delivering robust returns on tangible common equity despite lower risk-weighted assets.
Morgan Stanley will release its second quarter earnings report before the opening bell on Wednesday, July 15. Analysts expect the bank to report quarterly earnings of $2.81 per share, up from $2.13 per share in the year-ago period. The consensus estimate for Morgan Stanley’s quarterly revenue is $19.34 billion. It reported $16.79 billion last year, according to Benzinga Pro.
Jim Lebenthal, partner and chief market strategist at Cerity Partners, named BlackRock, Inc. (NYSE:BLK) as his final trade.
Lending support to his choice, Keefe, Bruyette & Woods analyst Alex Bond, on July 10, maintained BlackRock with an Outperform rating and raised the price target from $1,240 to $1,275, while Evercore ISI Group analyst Glenn Schorr maintained the stock with an Outperform rating and boosted the price target from $1,140 to $1,145.
Don’t forget to check out our premarket coverage here
Stephanie Link, chief investment strategist, head of investment solutions and equity portfolio manager at Hightower Advisors, recommended Capital One Financial Corporation (NYSE:COF).
Supporting her view, HSBC analyst Saul Martinez, on Monday, upgraded Capital One Financial from Hold to Buy and raised the price target from $226 to $229.
Joseph M. Terranova, senior managing director for Virtus Investment Partners, picked Valero Energy Corporation (NYSE:VLO).
Raymond James analyst Justin Jenkins, on Monday, maintained Valero Energy with a Strong Buy and raised the price target from $300 to $340.
Price Action:
Morgan Stanley shares fell 0.5% to close at $221.09 on Monday. BlackRock shares declined 0.4% to settle at $1,031.56 during the session. Capital One Financial shares gained 0.7% to close at $203.02 on Monday. Valero Energy shares rose 5.4% to settle at $295.79 during the session. Photo via Shutterstock
Market News and Data brought to you by Benzinga APIs
Earnings are arguably the most important single number on a company's quarterly financial report. Wall Street clearly dives into all of the other metrics and management's input, but the EPS figure helps cut through all the noise.
Life and the stock market are both about expectations, and rising above what is expected is often rewarded, while falling short can come with negative consequences. Investors might want to try to capture stronger returns by finding positive earnings surprises.
Now that we know how important earnings and earnings surprises are, it's time to show investors how to take advantage of these events to boost their returns by utilizing the Zacks Earnings ESP filter.
The Zacks Earnings ESP, ExplainedThe Zacks Expected Surprise Prediction, or ESP, works by locking in on the most up-to-date analyst earnings revisions because they can be more accurate than estimates from weeks or even months before the actual release date. The thinking is pretty straightforward: analysts who provide earnings estimates closer to the report are likely to have more information.
Now that we understand the basic idea, let's look at how the Expected Surprise Prediction works. The ESP is calculated by comparing the Most Accurate Estimate to the Zacks Consensus Estimate, with the percentage difference between the two giving us the Zacks ESP figure.
In fact, when we combined a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) or better and a positive Earnings ESP, stocks produced a positive surprise 70% of the time. Perhaps most importantly, using these parameters has helped produce 28.3% annual returns on average, according to our 10 year backtest.
Stocks with a ranking of #3 (Hold), or 60% of all stocks covered by the Zacks Rank, are expected to perform in-line with the broader market. Stocks with rankings of #2 (Buy) and #1 (Strong Buy), or the top 15% and top 5% of stocks, respectively, should outperform the market; Strong Buy stocks should outperform more than any other rank.
Should You Consider Starbucks?Now that we understand what the ESP is and how beneficial it can be, let's dive into a stock that currently fits the bill. Starbucks (SBUX - Free Report) earns a #3 (Hold) right now and its Most Accurate Estimate sits at $0.67 a share, just 21 days from its upcoming earnings release on August 4, 2026.
By taking the percentage difference between the $0.67 Most Accurate Estimate and the $0.65 Zacks Consensus Estimate, Starbucks has an Earnings ESP of +2.82%. Investors should also know that SBUX is one of a large group of stocks with positive ESPs. Make sure to utilize our Earnings ESP Filter to uncover the best stocks to buy or sell before they've reported.
SBUX is part of a big group of Retail and Wholesale stocks that boast a positive ESP, and investors may want to take a look at Williams-Sonoma (WSM - Free Report) as well.
Slated to report earnings on August 26, 2026, Williams-Sonoma holds a #3 (Hold) ranking on the Zacks Rank, and its Most Accurate Estimate is $2.08 a share 43 days from its next quarterly update.
For Williams-Sonoma, the percentage difference between its Most Accurate Estimate and its Zacks Consensus Estimate of $2.03 is +2.34%.
SBUX and WSM's positive ESP figures tell us that both stocks have a good chance at beating analyst expectations in their next earnings report.
Find Stocks to Buy or Sell Before They're ReportedUse the Zacks Earnings ESP Filter to turn up stocks with the highest probability of positively, or negatively, surprising to buy or sell before they're reported for profitable earnings season trading. Check it out here >>
Wall Street watches a company's quarterly report closely to understand as much as possible about its recent performance and what to expect going forward. Of course, one figure often stands out among the rest: earnings.
We know earnings results are vital, but how a company performs compared to bottom line expectations can be even more important when it comes to stock prices, especially in the near-term. This means that investors might want to take advantage of these earnings surprises.
The ability to identify stocks that are likely to top quarterly earnings expectations can be profitable, but it's no simple task. Here at Zacks, our Earnings ESP filter helps make things easier.
The Zacks Earnings ESP, ExplainedThe Zacks Earnings ESP is more formally known as the Expected Surprise Prediction, and it aims to grab the inside track on the latest analyst estimate revisions ahead of a company's report. The idea is relatively intuitive as a newer projection might be based on more complete information.
With this in mind, the Expected Surprise Prediction compares the Most Accurate Estimate (being the most recent) against the overall Zacks Consensus Estimate. The percentage difference provides the ESP figure. The system also utilizes our core Zacks Rank to provide a stronger system for identifying stocks that might beat their next quarterly earnings estimate and possibly see the stock price climb.
When we join a positive earnings ESP with a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) or stronger, stocks posted a positive bottom-line surprise 70% of the time. Plus, this system saw investors produce roughly 28% annual returns on average, according to our 10 year backtest.
Stocks with a ranking of #3 (Hold), or 60% of all stocks covered by the Zacks Rank, are expected to perform in-line with the broader market. Stocks with rankings of #2 (Buy) and #1 (Strong Buy), or the top 15% and top 5% of stocks, respectively, should outperform the market; Strong Buy stocks should outperform more than any other rank.
Should You Consider Norwegian Cruise Line?The last thing we will do today, now that we have a grasp on the ESP and how powerful of a tool it can be, is to quickly look at a qualifying stock. Norwegian Cruise Line (NCLH - Free Report) holds a #3 (Hold) at the moment and its Most Accurate Estimate comes in at $0.42 a share 16 days away from its upcoming earnings release on July 30, 2026.
NCLH has an Earnings ESP figure of +7.30%, which, as explained above, is calculated by taking the percentage difference between the $0.42 Most Accurate Estimate and the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $0.39. Norwegian Cruise Line is one of a large database of stocks with positive ESPs. Make sure to utilize our Earnings ESP Filter to uncover the best stocks to buy or sell before they've reported.
NCLH is part of a big group of Consumer Discretionary stocks that boast a positive ESP, and investors may want to take a look at Royal Caribbean (RCL - Free Report) as well.
Royal Caribbean is a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) stock, and is getting ready to report earnings on July 28, 2026. RCL's Most Accurate Estimate sits at $3.95 a share 14 days from its next earnings release.
Royal Caribbean's Earnings ESP figure currently stands at +0.77% after taking the percentage difference between its Most Accurate Estimate and its Zacks Consensus Estimate of $3.92.
Because both stocks hold a positive Earnings ESP, NCLH and RCL could potentially post earnings beats in their next reports.
Find Stocks to Buy or Sell Before They're ReportedUse the Zacks Earnings ESP Filter to turn up stocks with the highest probability of positively, or negatively, surprising to buy or sell before they're reported for profitable earnings season trading. Check it out here >>
Key Takeaways BABU soared 32% as Alibaba jumped on upbeat UBS commentary and strong AI-cloud growth expectations.HPEL climbed 28% as HPE rallied on AI server demand, record backlog and upbeat analyst targets.RKLZ surged 45% as Rocket Lab slid on valuation concerns and acquisition execution risks. Wall Street offered a mixed performance last week, with the S&P 500 gaining about 1.2%, the Dow Jones losing about 0.5%, the Nasdaq Composite adding about 1.7%, and the Russell 2000 shedding about 0.6%. Tech stocks rallied last week, offering gains to the tech-heavy Nasdaq and the S&P 500. Let’s delve a little deeper into the key developments of last week.
Rally in Tech Stocks State Street Technology Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLK - Free Report) added about 2%. Weak jobs data for the month of June triggered speculation that the Fed may refrain from raising interest rates in the near term. A low-rate environment is generally favorable for growth-oriented technology stocks.
Higher interest rates increase companies' financing costs and reduce the value of their future earnings, making high-growth firms appear less attractive in a high-rate environment. Hence, the probability of lower-for-longer rates boosted tech stocks last week.
Dow Jones Tops 53,000 for the First TimeThe Dow Jones Industrial Average index hit a record high of 53,000 for the first time on July 6, 2026, per CNBC. The Dow Jones index advanced 8.9% during the first six months of this year, marking its best first-half performance since 2021 (read: Dow Jones Tops 53,000 for the First Time: ETFs to Gain).
Fresh U.S.-Iran TensionsGeopolitical tensions flared on July 8, 2026, after Kuwait accused Iran of launching fresh missile and drone attacks, a day after the United States carried out retaliatory strikes against Iranian military targets, as quoted on CNBC. The U.S. Central Command said it struck more than 80 Iranian targets.
Washington said the operation was in response to Iran's attacks on three commercial vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz, calling the incidents a violation of the existing ceasefire. The scenario put the ceasefire under pressure. Oil prices rallied once again due to the renewed crisis. United States Brent Oil Fund LP (BNO - Free Report) added about 5.4% last week.
SK Hynix Surges in Blockbuster U.S. Market DebutThe South Korean memory-chip giant SK Hynix (SKHYV) made a strong entrance on U.S. exchanges, with its shares jumping about 13% on the first day of trading, as quoted on Yahoo Finance. The stock climbed to $168 after pricing its American depositary receipts (ADRs) at $149 apiece.
The company raised approximately $26.5 billion through the offering, making it the largest U.S. IPO ever by a foreign company, according to Bloomberg data, as mentioned on Yahoo Finance. Shares were up about 2.5% after hours on July 10, 2026.
Best-Performing Leveraged ETFs of the WeekAgainst this backdrop, below we highlight a few winning leveraged ETF (exchange-traded fund) areas from last week.
Defiance Daily Target 2x Short RKLB ETF (RKLZ - Free Report) – Up 45.1% Last Week
Rocket Lab Corp (RKLB - Free Report) shares slumped about 19% last week, which is why the inverse leveraged Rocket Lab ETF surged. Its competitor Space Exploration Technologies Corp. (SPCX - Free Report) also slumped 12.4%. Investors may be punishing the stocks that are guilty of overvaluation.
Also, on June 29, Rocket Lab announced its largest transaction ever — an $8 billion cash-and-stock deal to buy Iridium Communications.The market is pricing in the enormous execution risk associated with the space sector.
Direxion Daily BABA Bull 2X ETF (BABU - Free Report) – Up 32.2%
Alibaba (BABA - Free Report) stock rose 15% last week. Alibaba's rally was fueled primarily by a bullish note from UBS. UBS analyst Kenneth Fong said the company likely delivered margin-expanding revenue growth in the June quarter, driven by about 45% growth in its cloud business, as quoted on a Motley Fool article.
Jefferies added that macroeconomic challenges and weak consumer sentiment are already reflected in the stock price, as mentioned in the same article. Based on short-term price targets offered by 22 analysts, the average price target for Alibaba comes to $185.78. The forecasts range from a low of $145.00 to a high of $220.10. The average price target represents an increase of 65.4% from the last closing price of $112.33.
Leverage Shares 2X Long HPE Daily ETF (HPEL - Free Report) – Up 28.4%
Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE - Free Report) shares gained 16.2% last week. The stock is benefiting from a record backlog and a booming AI server business. Based on short-term price targets offered by 17 analysts, the average price target for Hewlett Packard Enterprise comes to $68.65, up 41.4% from the last closing price of $48.54. This explains why the stock and its leveraged ETF surged last week.
Defiance Daily Target 2X Long WYFI ETF (WYFL - Free Report) – Up 20.7%
WhiteFiber Inc. (WYFI - Free Report) — provider of artificial intelligence infrastructure solutions — shares advanced 20.3% last week. Shares have been surging due to the company's aggressive expansion into AI infrastructure and massive data center contracts.
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Shares of Advanced Micro Devices (NASDAQ:AMD | AMD Price Prediction) are up 5% to $560.66 in early Tuesday trading, rebounding sharply after Monday’s selloff. Intel (NASDAQ:INTC) stock is climbing in tandem, while Broadcom (NASDAQ:AVGO) stock is trading higher as well.
The bounce arrives with the NASDAQ 100 up 1.06% as a cooler-than-expected June inflation print is pulling risk assets higher. AMD stock, Intel stock, and Broadcom stock are three closely watched names inside a sector that took a beating on Monday.
The iShares Semiconductor ETF (NASDAQ:SOXX) is up 4% to $573.51 this morning after a sharp Monday decline. The ETF is concentrated in a handful of large chip names (not leveraged), so investors should size their positions accordingly.
Cooling Inflation Fuels a Risk-On Bounce The trigger is the June Consumer Price Index (CPI) report. Headline consumer prices fell 0.4% month over month against a forecast of -0.2%, and annual inflation eased to 3.5% versus a 3.8% forecast.
Core CPI came in even softer, flat at 0% month over month and 2.6% year over year against a 2.9% forecast, helped largely by easing energy prices. That combination reopens the door to a friendlier rate backdrop, and high-multiple chip names react first.
The move reflects broad sector rotation rather than any AMD-specific news. Traders are cycling back into semiconductors after Monday’s sharp drawdown, with AMD stock and Intel stock leading because they carry the highest beta in the group.
The AMD Debate: Breakout to $600 or Correction Risk? AMD is the day’s focal point because it sits at the center of a live bull-versus-bear argument. AMD stock is up 150% year to date, a run driven by AI accelerator demand and a string of analyst price-target hikes. The bulls may argue that the next stop is $600 as data-center GPU orders keep expanding.
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The bear case leans on the company’s valuation. AMD trades at a P/E ratio of 185x, and 89 recent insider transactions have skewed toward selling. If the AI trade unwinds, a stock this rich can correct fast.
CEO Lisa Su set the growth tone last quarter, stating, “We delivered an outstanding first quarter, driven by accelerating demand for AI infrastructure, with Data Center now the primary driver of our revenue and earnings growth.” AMD’s Q1 2026 revenue landed at $10.25 billion, up 37.9% year over year, with Q2 guidance implying continued acceleration.
Peers Follow the Move Intel stock is riding the same tape, with INTC up 4% to $106.99 on turnaround momentum. Yet, Intel stock came in hot, down 15.61% over the prior week, so today’s snap-back is partly mechanical.
Broadcom stock is participating but with less amplitude, up 1% to $388.23 and trading closer to fair value on forward multiples. CEO Hock Tan flagged that “Broadcom achieved record revenue, operating profit and free cash flow in Q2 driven by accelerating growth in AI semiconductor revenue,” keeping the AI-infrastructure thesis intact across the group.
What to Watch The next AMD stock catalyst is scheduled. AMD reports Q2 2026 earnings on August 4 after the market close, with consensus at $1.60 EPS on $11.28 billion in revenue. That print will decide whether the $600 debate becomes a serious conversation or a warning sign.
For today, investors can watch for whether AMD stock holds its opening gains into the close and whether SOXX finishes above its 20-day range. A cautious approach makes sense here. The move is real, the catalyst is macro, and volatility in AI names cuts both ways.
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Data demonstrated beneficial bacterial taxa persist in fecal samples from patients with rCDI despite multiple prior CDI treatments with the antibiotic standards of care, vancomycin (VAN) and/or fidaxomicin (FDX) Following acute treatment with ibezapolstat (IBZ), these beneficial microorganisms will have the opportunity to repopulate the microbiome in a beneficial way that may prevent recurrence IBZ and FDX were superior in biofilm experimental models with IBZ significantly more effective at killing C. difficile than VAN and FDX Trial start-up activities for a ground-breaking clinical trial in patients with multiply-recurrent CDI (rCDI) have been initiated with the first patient expected to enroll in the next quarter; a successful trial outcome has the potential to shift the paradigm of treatment and prevention of rCDI from two agents to one With mutually consistent feedback from both EMA and FDA, Acurx is well positioned to commence its international Phase 3 registration program in the broader CDI patient population ("acute CDI") Acurx has previously been granted FDA QIDP and Fast-Track Designation and has received SME (Small and Medium-sized Enterprise) designation by the EMA , /PRNewswire/ -- Acurx Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ: ACXP) a clinical stage biopharmaceutical company developing a new class of antibiotics for difficult-to-treat bacterial infections, announced today that a poster presentation entitled: Microbiome Restoration Potential of Ibezapolstat vs. Comparator Antibiotics in Patients with Multiply-recurrent Clostridioides difficile Infection (CDI) was presented by Kevin Garey, PharmD, MS, FIDSA, Professor and Chair, University of Houston College of Pharmacy, Principal Investigator for microbiology and microbiome aspects of the IBZ clinical trial program at the 18th Biennial Congress of the Anaerobe Society of the Americas held at Columbia University Irving Medical Center in New York City from July 8 to 10, 2026.
Studies were performed at the University of Houston to determine whether beneficial gut microbes are present in patients with multiple (≥2) recurrences of Clostridioides difficile infection (rCDI). The objectives of this study were to determine whether beneficial microbes identified in the IBZ Phase 2 studies in patients with initial and 1st recurrent CDI are still present in patients with multiple (≥2) recurrent CDI and to assess killing effects of IBZ vs. comparators in planktonic (non-biofilm) and biofilm mono- and duo-culture studies; specifically, measuring killing of VRE by VAN, FDX, and IBZ in planktonic and biofilm cultures.
Commenting on the poster presentation, Dr. Garey stated: "Until now, it has not been known whether repeated courses of VAN and/or FDX destroyed the gut microbiome population of beneficial organisms, namely, those bacterial species that are responsible for metabolizing bile acids and protecting against recurrent episodes of CDI. Our new data indicate that sufficient numbers of such bacteria are preserved to allow regrowth when rCDI treatment consists of an antibiotic like ibezapolstat, which has been shown in our laboratory to be highly selective and preserves the beneficial gut flora." He further stated, "We also showed in our laboratory studies that ibezapolstat was highly effective at killing C. difficile when grown in co-culture with Enterococcus in liquid, planktonic cultures or as part of a biofilm. Ibezapolstat actually outperformed fidaxomicin in biofilm killing effects without causing VRE overgrowth observed with vancomycin."
Robert J. DeLuccia, Executive Chairman of Acurx, stated: "These new data provide scientific support for our upcoming trial of ibezapolstat to treat patients with multiply-recurrent CDI which begins with a 20-patient, open-label pilot trial in patients with at least 3 episodes of CDI in the past 12 months and will inform elements of a planned active-controlled, Phase 3 registration trial in rCDI. Upon subsequent successful completion of a Ph3 pivotal rCDI trial, and per the operative FDA procedure, Acurx plans to request FDA approval for treatment and prevention of rCDI under the FDA's Limited Population Pathway for Antibacterial and Antifungal Drugs (Guidance for Industry, 2020). He added: "Along with results from IBZ's international Phase 3 registration program in patients with acute CDI, we believe IBZ has the potential to be the first agent to demonstrate clinical success in both the treatment of acute CDI and reduction of recurrence in rCDI and such success would shift the paradigm of treatment and prevention of rCDI from two agents to one."
The poster is available on the Acurx Pharmaceuticals website www.acurxpharma.com
About the Anaerobe Society of the Americas
Founded in 1992, The Anaerobe Society of the Americas is an international organization, promoting the study and application of knowledge of anaerobic bacteriology. The primary activity of the society is organizing the biennial Anaerobe Congress for researchers, clinicians, and laboratory scientists from around the world to engage in presentations, exchanges, and dialogues related to anaerobes.
Acurx previously announced it has received mutually consistent positive feedback from both FDA and EMA which included details on Acurx's two planned international Phase 3 clinical trials in patients with acute CDI. Accordingly, if successful, these trials will support the submission of a U.S. New Drug Application (NDA) and a Marketing Authorization Application (MAA) for regulatory approval in Europe. The trial design not only allows determination of ibezapolstat's ability to achieve Clinical Cure of CDI as measured 2 days after 10 days of oral treatment but also includes assessment of ibezapolstat's potential effect on reduction of CDI recurrence in the target population. The primary efficacy analysis will be performed using a Modified Intent-To-Treat (mITT) population.
About the Ibezapolstat Phase 2 Clinical Trial
The completed multicenter, open-label single-arm segment (Phase 2a) study was followed by a double-blind, randomized, active-controlled, non-inferiority, segment (Phase 2b) at 28 US clinical trial sites which together comprise the Phase 2 clinical trial. (see https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04247542). This Phase 2 clinical trial was designed to evaluate the clinical efficacy of ibezapolstat in the treatment of CDI including pharmacokinetics and microbiome changes from baseline and continue to test for anti-recurrence microbiome properties seen in the Phase 2a trial, including the treatment-related changes in alpha diversity and bacterial abundance and effects on bile acid metabolism. (Data published in Lancet, August 2025 https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanmic/article/PIIS2666-5247(25)00054-0/fulltext).
About Ibezapolstat
Ibezapolstat is the Company's lead antibiotic candidate planning to advance to international Phase 3 clinical trials to treat patients with C. difficile infection. Ibezapolstat is a novel, orally administered antibiotic, being developed as a Gram-Positive Selective Spectrum (GPSS®) antibacterial. It is the first of a new class of DNA polymerase IIIC inhibitors under development by Acurx to treat bacterial infections. Ibezapolstat's unique spectrum of activity, which includes C. difficile but spares other Firmicutes and the important Actinobacteria phyla, appears to contribute to the maintenance of a healthy gut microbiome.
In June 2018, ibezapolstat was designated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as a Qualified Infectious Disease Product (QIDP) for the treatment of patients with CDI and will be eligible to benefit from the incentives for the development of new antibiotics established under the Generating New Antibiotic Incentives Now (GAIN) Act. In 2019, FDA granted "Fast Track" designation to ibezapolstat for the treatment of patients with CDI. The CDC has designated C. difficile as an urgent threat highlighting the need for new antibiotics to treat CDI.
About Clostridioides difficile Infection (CDI) and Recurrent CDI (rCDI)
According to the 2017 Update (published February 2018) of the Clinical Practice Guidelines for C. difficile Infection by the Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA) and Society or Healthcare Epidemiology of America (SHEA), CDI remains a significant medical problem in hospitals, in long-term care facilities and in the community. C. difficile is one of the most common causes of health care-associated infections in U.S. hospitals (Lessa, 2015, NEJM). Recent estimates suggest C. difficile approaches 500,000 infections annually in the U.S. and is associated with approximately 30,000 deaths annually. (Guh, 2020, NEJM. Based on internal estimates, the recurrence rate for the antibiotics currently used to treat CDI is between 20% and 40% among approximately 150,000 patients treated. We believe the annual incidence of CDI in the U.S. approaches 600,000 infections and a mortality rate of approximately 9.3%.
In recent studies, rCDI ranges from 4% to 19.5% following treatment with fidaxomicin and 17 to 27% following treatment with vancomycin. In patients with multiple prior episodes of CDI, rCDI following treatment with vancomycin is even more problematic, with an incidence of up to 40%. Consequently, the principal unmet medical need in this disease is the prevention of recurrence. The estimated annual public health cost burden in the U.S. annually is ~$5 billion annually with ~$2.8 billion due to recurrent CDI.
About the Microbiome in C. difficile Infection (CDI) and Bile Acid Metabolism
C. difficile can be a normal component of the healthy gut microbiome, but when the microbiome is thrown out of balance, the C. difficile can thrive and cause an infection. After colonization with C. difficile, the organism produces and releases the main virulence factors, the two large clostridial toxins A (TcdA) and B (TcdB). (Kachrimanidou, Microorganisms 2020, 8, 200; doi:10.3390/microorganisms8020200.) TcdA and TcdB are exotoxins that bind to human intestinal epithelial cells and are responsible for inflammation, fluid and mucous secretion, as well as damage to the intestinal mucosa.
Bile acids perform many functional roles in the GI tract, with one of the most important being maintenance of a healthy microbiome by inhibiting C. difficile growth. Primary bile acids, which are secreted by the liver into the intestines, promote germination of C. difficile spores and thereby increase the risk of recurrent CDI after successful treatment of an initial episode. On the other hand, secondary bile acids, which are produced by normal gut microbiota through metabolism of primary bile acids, do not induce C. difficile sporulation and therefore protect against recurrent disease. Since ibezapolstat treatment leads to minimal disruption of the gut microbiome, bacterial production of secondary bile acids continues which may contribute to an anti-recurrence effect. Beneficial effects of bile acids include a decrease in primary bile acids and an increase in secondary bile acids in patients with CDI, which was observed in the Company's Ph2a trial results and previously reported (CID, 2022). In the Ph2b trial, ibezapolstat-treated patients showed lower concentrations of fecal primary bile acids, and higher beneficial ratio of secondary to primary bile acids than vancomycin-treated patients.
About Acurx Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
Acurx Pharmaceuticals is a late-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on developing a new class of small molecule antibiotics for difficult-to-treat bacterial infections. The Company's approach is to develop antibiotic candidates with a Gram-positive selective spectrum (GPSS®) that blocks the active site of the Gram-positive specific bacterial enzyme DNA polymerase IIIC (pol IIIC), inhibiting DNA replication and leading to Gram-positive bacterial cell death. Its R&D pipeline includes antibiotic product candidates that target Gram-positive bacteria, including Clostridioides difficile, methicillin- resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), vancomycin resistant Enterococcus (VRE), drug- resistant Streptococcus pneumoniae (DRSP) and B. anthracis (anthrax; a Bioterrorism Category A Threat-Level pathogen). Acurx's lead product candidate, ibezapolstat, for the treatment of C. difficile Infection is preparing to advance into international Phase 3 trials.
Additionally, the Company has initiated start-up activities for a ground-breaking clinical trial in patients with rCDI with the first patient expected to enroll in the fourth quarter this year. This trial is a 20-patient, open-label pilot trial in patients with multiply-recurrent CDI with at least 3 episodes of CDI in the past year and will inform elements of a planned active-controlled, Phase 3 registration trial in the rCDI. Upon subsequent successful completion of a Ph3 pivotal rCDI trial, and per the operative FDA procedure, Acurx plans to request FDA approval for treatment and prevention of rCDI under the FDA's Limited Population Pathway for Antibacterial and Antifungal Drugs (Guidance for Industry, 2020). Successful trial outcome has the potential to shift the paradigm of treatment and prevention of rCDI from two agents to one.
The Company's preclinical pipeline includes development of an oral product candidate for treatment of ABSSSI (Acute Bacterial Skin and Skin Structure Infections), upon which a development program for post-exposure prophylaxis of inhalation anthrax is being planned in parallel.
Learn more about Acurx Pharmaceuticals and its product pipeline, please visit www.acurxpharma.com
Forward-Looking Statements
Any statements in this press release about our future expectations, plans and prospects, including statements regarding our strategy, future operations, prospects, plans and objectives, and other statements containing the words "believes," "anticipates," "plans," "expects," and similar expressions, constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Actual results may differ materially from those indicated by such forward-looking statements as a result of various important factors, including: whether ibezapolstat will benefit from the QIDP designation; whether ibezapolstat will advance through the clinical trial process on a timely basis; whether the results of the clinical trials of ibezapolstat will warrant the submission of applications for marketing approval, and if so, whether ibezapolstat will receive approval from the FDA or equivalent foreign regulatory agencies where approval is sought; whether, if ibezapolstat obtains approval, it will be successfully distributed and marketed; and other risks and uncertainties described in the Company's quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2026, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on May 12, 2026, and in the Company's subsequent filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Such forward- looking statements speak only as of the date of this press release, and Acurx disclaims any intent or obligation to update these forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date of such statements, except as may be required by law.
Investor Contact:
Acurx Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
David P. Luci, President & CEO
Tel: 917-533-1469
Email: [email protected]
HomeIndustriesComputers/ElectronicsTech StocksTech StocksTech bellwether releases preliminary results a week before earnings were expected, showing revenue and profit missesJuly 14, 2026, 7:50 a.m. ET
IBM’s stock plunges after a preliminary release of profit and revenue that were well below Wall Street’s expectations. Photo: AFP via Getty ImagesShares of IBM took a deep dive in early Tuesday trading toward their worst day in decades, after the technology giant surprised investors by releasing second-quarter results a week ahead of schedule, showing both profit and revenue missing analysts’ consensus expectations.
The problem was the launch of the z17 mainframe program, which the company expected to be wrapping up during the second quarter.
About the Author
Tomi Kilgore is MarketWatch's managing editor, markets, and is based in New York. You can follow him on Twitter @TomiKilgore.
8.40am: CPI gives boost Stock futures have picked up after a softer-than-expected CPI report boosted hopes the Federal Reserve will keep interest rates on hold.
June's CPI rate eased to 3.5% from 4.2%, below forecasts of 3.8%, while core inflation eased to 2.6% against expectations of 2.8%.
On a monthly basis, CPI fell 0.4% compared to May, the biggest monthly decline since May 2020, prompting traders to pare bets on Fed hikes.
S&P 500 futures are now up 0.4% and Nasdaq futures 0.7% higher, while Dow futures are down 0.1%.
8am: Mixed open expected, IBM set to plunge Wall Street looked set for a mixed open as investors digested a 23% plunge in IBM shares, another jump in oil prices and the start of the second-quarter earnings season.
Dow Jones futures were down 281 points, or 0.5%, while S&P 500 futures were 0.1% lower. Nasdaq futures were pointing higher, up 0.6% after a sell-off in technology stocks at the start of the week.
Yesterday saw the Nasdaq tumble 1.6% to 25,873 as higher oil prices and weakness in chipmakers weighed on sentiment, with the S&P 500 dropping 0.8% to 7,515 and the Dow slipping 0.3% to 52,499 .
On Tuesday morning, US benchmark WTI crude is up 2% at $79.60 a barrel, having topped $81 earlier.
This escalation follows a third consecutive night of US strikes on Iran and after President Donald Trump announced a renewed blockade of Iranian shipping and proposed a 20% fee on Iranian cargo passing through the Strait of Hormuz.
Iran rejected the move, while the UAE said Iranian missiles had struck two oil tankers transiting the waterway.
Attention now turns to June's US inflation report, which could shape expectations for interest rates, before earnings season begins in earnest.
JPMorgan Chase, Bank of America, Goldman Sachs, Wells Fargo and Citigroup kick off the US bank earnings season before the opening bell.
IBM shares plunged more than 23% in premarket trading after the technology group's preliminary second-quarter results showed revenue growth slowed to 1%, with a 7% decline in infrastructure sales offsetting gains in software.
The company reported revenue of $17.2 billion, while operating earnings per share rose 5% to $2.93 and year-to-date free cash flow reached $4.8 billion, but investors focused on the weaker top-line performance and pressure on margins.
IBM (NYSE:IBM | IBM Price Prediction) ahead of its confirmed July 22 after-market report screens well for income-oriented portfolios: The model target puts base-case upside at 13.81%, prediction markets are already pricing in a beat and the dividend just got raised for the 31st year running. The setup carries high conviction on both valuation and catalyst timing.
Valuation With a Target Above Spot On July 13, shares changed hands around $291.51 against a base-case target of $336.78 and a bull case of $355.64. Analyst coverage skews decisively positive at 15 Buy ratings against one Sell rating, and a beta of 0.68 means retirement accounts get the upside without the tech-sector whiplash.
Income That Compounds The board pushed the quarterly dividend to $1.69, lifting the annualized forward payout to $6.76. That marks the 31st consecutive year of dividend increases, and management reaffirmed free cash flow growth of approximately $1 billion year-over-year in 2026. The check is written and the coverage is there.
The July 22 Catalyst Is Already De-Risked Polymarket contracts show an 80.5% probability that Q2 Software revenue clears $7.9 billion, with 68.5% odds of topping $8.05 billion. IBM has beaten EPS estimates five consecutive quarters, and Q1 delivered 9.46% revenue growth with IBM Z mainframe revenue up 51%. Arvind Krishna quantified the overlooked piece on the call: a fully populated Z system now runs “about 450 billion inferences a day”, turning the mainframe from a cyclical hardware line into an AI inferencing engine the Street is still under-modeling.
The Head-to-Head Win Against Accenture (NYSE:ACN), the pure-play consulting peer, IBM’s mix wins on every axis retirees care about. IBM Software grew 11.3% and Infrastructure 15.3% in Q1, while Infrastructure segment profit margin expanded to 15.8% from 8.6% year-on-year. Accenture carries no mainframe cycle, no equivalent recurring AI-inferencing hardware pull, and no 31-year dividend-raise streak. The head-to-head is a growth mix plus aristocrat-grade income against a single-lever consulting business.
Layer in the Confluent acquisition feeding live data into the GenAI pipeline, a P/E of 27 that leaves room and a more than 8% price appreciation in the past month and the setup writes itself.
The July 22 report is the near-term catalyst that will test the current setup.
Earnings season is underway as the major banks begin reporting. JPMorgan Chase (JPM) falls as CEO Jamie Dimon warns that economic risks are “shifting below the surface,” while Goldman Sachs (GS) posts a significant revenue beat and Bank of America (BAC) reports stronger trading revenue.
International Business Machines shares plunged more than 23% on Tuesday, marking their steepest single-day decline in decades after the technology company released preliminary second-quarter results that fell short of Wall Street expectations.
The hardware, software, and consulting company reported adjusted earnings of $2.93 per share on revenue of $17.2 billion, missing analysts' expectations of earnings of $3.01 per share and revenue of $17.86 billion, according to FactSet.
The sharp sell-off reflected investor disappointment over weaker-than-expected performance across several business segments, particularly software and infrastructure.
IBM said software revenue increased 5% during the quarter, consulting revenue was broadly flat, rising 1% at constant currency, while infrastructure revenue declined 7%.
The company said it would provide additional details and discuss its full-year outlook during its scheduled earnings conference call on July 22.
Chief Executive Arvind Krishna attributed the disappointing quarter to an unexpected shift in customer spending toward AI-related hardware purchases.
"In the last few weeks of June, we saw clients shift their quarterly capex spend toward servers, storage, and memory purchases to secure supply-constrained infrastructure ahead of expected price increases," Krishna said in a letter to investors.
"While we anticipated some supply chain-related impact in our expectations, we did not anticipate the magnitude of the capex reprioritization."
Krishna acknowledged that execution issues also contributed to the weaker performance.
The comments underscore how the ongoing AI infrastructure boom is redirecting enterprise technology budgets toward high-performance computing equipment and memory hardware, leaving some traditional software vendors under pressure.
IBM has struggled to match the growth rates posted by many of its large-cap technology peers.
While companies such as Microsoft and Amazon continue to deliver double-digit revenue growth, IBM's business has largely remained in the single-digit growth range despite its push into hybrid cloud and artificial intelligence.
The latest decline also follows another sharp setback earlier this year.
In February, IBM shares dropped more than 20% after AI startup Anthropic introduced a tool designed to modernize COBOL, the programming language that powers many IBM mainframe systems.
The announcement raised concerns that generative AI could accelerate software modernization without relying as heavily on IBM's traditional consulting and services business.
Despite the disappointing quarter, Krishna highlighted several strategic initiatives aimed at strengthening IBM's long-term growth.
He said IBM and Red Hat had rapidly developed Lightwell following the introduction of Mythos.
Lightwell represents a $5 billion commitment supported by frontier AI capabilities and a global workforce of more than 20,000 engineers focused on helping enterprises identify and address open-source software vulnerabilities.
Krishna said early adopters include Bank of America, BNY, Citi, Goldman Sachs, JPMorganChase, Mastercard, Morgan Stanley, Royal Bank of Canada, State Street, Visa, and Wells Fargo.
General availability of the platform was announced on July 8.
Krishna also reiterated IBM's commitment to quantum computing.
"Finally, quantum computing is no longer decades away; it is upon us, and we are investing aggressively," he said.
IBM recently announced a letter of intent with the US Department of Commerce to build Anderon, which it described as the world's first pure-play quantum wafer foundry.
The project will be backed by $1 billion in CHIPS Act incentives and an additional $1 billion cash contribution from IBM.
The company also plans to invest more than $10 billion in quantum computing over the next five years across research and development, manufacturing expansion, acquisitions, and ecosystem development.
Krishna said IBM remains on track to deliver its first large-scale fault-tolerant quantum computer by 2029.
Shares of IBM (NYSE:IBM | IBM Price Prediction) are down 22% to $225.20 in Tuesday’s early trading, on pace for the stock’s worst single session since 1987. Strategist Mike Zaccardi noted that IBM shares fell 23% in a single session in October 1987, framing today’s move in rare historical company.
The catalyst is a preliminary Q2 2026 revenue and profit miss released this morning ahead of the full report on July 22. IBM CEO Arvind Krishna told investors “we faltered” and that “numerous large deals failed to close” as clients shifted spending toward supply-constrained infrastructure.
The broader market tells a different story. Meanwhile, the NASDAQ 100 is up 1.08% after June’s Consumer Price Index report showed consumer prices fell 0.4% month over month, the largest drop since April 2020, with annual inflation easing to 3.5% and core to 2.6%. Today’s software selloff looks sector and IBM specific rather than macro.
Preliminary Q2 Miss Sparks the Selloff IBM reported preliminary Q2 2026 revenue of $17.2 billion, up 1%, versus the $17.86 billion consensus. Operating (non-GAAP) EPS came in at $2.93, below the $3.01 consensus, with GAAP EPS at $2.27.
Segment details show that the shortfall was concentrated. IBM’s Software segment rose 5% with Red Hat up 11%, and Consulting was roughly flat.
Krishna said clients redirected capex in the last weeks of June toward servers, storage, and memory to secure supply-constrained infrastructure ahead of expected price increases, a reprioritization whose magnitude IBM didn’t anticipate. He also cited cybersecurity distractions among enterprise buyers.
HSBC downgraded IBM stock to Reduce from Hold with a $191 price target, the clearest bear voice on the Street today. More bullish prior targets from Morgan Stanley and Oppenheimer preceded the warning and look likely to be revised.
Software Peers Feel the Ripple The contagion is real but uneven this morning. Microsoft (NASDAQ:MSFT) shares are down 3% to $379.76, and ServiceNow (NYSE:NOW) shares are down 8% to $102.38. Salesforce and Intuit are also trading lower in sympathy.
The iShares Expanded Tech-Software Sector ETF (NYSEARCA:IGV) is trading down 4% to $89.31. IGV holds IBM alongside these names and isn’t leveraged, though its concentration in a handful of mega-cap software issuers means single-name shocks travel quickly through the fund.
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The prediction markets echo the near-term stress. Polymarket is pricing a 0.95 probability that Microsoft stock closes lower today, while longer-dated markets still favor a recovery toward $360 to $405 by month-end. That split reads as acute fear rather than existential concern.
Bull and Bear Cases on IBM The bull case leans on the parts of IBM that worked. Software growth held up, Distributed Infrastructure rose 37%, the best in reported history, and year to date free cash flow reached $4.8 billion. Management framed the slipped deals as deferred rather than lost.
The bear case is equally clear, though. Mainframe cyclicality is an issue, execution stumbled on large deals, and the capex reprioritization toward AI hardware could persist. HSBC’s $191 IBM price target implies meaningful downside from current levels.
The fair read is that this is partly an IBM-specific mainframe and execution stumble and partly a signal that AI infrastructure and memory buying is crowding out other IT budgets. IBM’s own software line grew, so this isn’t a broad software demand collapse. Traders are selling the scarier “AI eats software” interpretation regardless.
What to Watch Next The full IBM earnings report and conference call arrive on July 22, and analyst revisions from Morgan Stanley, Oppenheimer, and others could reshape the setup between now and then. Polymarket currently prices only a 25.5% probability that IBM beats when the full report lands.
Investors can watch for whether Software and Red Hat momentum reasserts itself on the July 22 call, whether Krishna quantifies the slipped-deal pipeline, and whether the mainframe demand slump was truly a June air pocket. Given the size of today’s move, investors should consider keeping their position sizes modest until the full report clarifies segment trajectory.
For sector watchers, IGV and the reactions in software peers into the close could show whether today’s selloff was a one-day repricing or the start of a broader software derating.
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US stocks opened higher on Tuesday after softer-than-expected June inflation data reduced expectations of an immediate Federal Reserve rate hike.
Investors also assessed second-quarter earnings from major US banks and corporate results, while keeping an eye on rising oil prices following renewed tensions in the Middle East.
The S&P 500 rose about 0.12%, while the Nasdaq Composite gained around 0.44%.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average slipped roughly 0.29%, pressured by IBM.
The Labor Department reported that the consumer price index (CPI) rose 3.5% year over year in June, below economists' expectations of 3.8%.
On a monthly basis, CPI fell 0.4%, compared with forecasts for a smaller decline.
Following the report, traders significantly lowered expectations for a near-term interest rate increase.
Market pricing showed the probability of a rate hike at the Federal Reserve's upcoming meeting falling sharply, although expectations for a September increase remained elevated.
Investors are also awaiting Federal Reserve Chair Kevin Warsh's semiannual monetary policy testimony before Congress later in the day for further clues on the central bank's policy outlook.
Corporate earnings remained a key focus as Wall Street's second-quarter reporting season gathered pace.
IBM shares plunged more than 25% in trading after the technology company forecast preliminary second-quarter revenue below analysts' expectations and warned that profits would fall short because of weaker demand across its software and infrastructure businesses.
The weakness spilled over to other software companies.
Oracle declined 0.79%, while ServiceNow and Accenture each fell more than 5% in trading.
Meanwhile, major US banks were trading up after reporting better-than-expected quarterly profits.
Goldman Sachs rose 4.2% after stronger dealmaking activity and increased market volatility helped drive record performance in its equities trading business.
Shares of JPMorgan Chase, Citigroup, Bank of America and Wells Fargo all traded higher after posting second-quarter earnings that exceeded analyst expectations.
Investors are closely watching earnings reports for signs of corporate resilience after the S&P 500's strong rally this year, with analysts expecting second-quarter earnings growth of nearly 24% for the index.
Chip stocks rebound as oil prices remain elevatedSemiconductor stocks recovered after Monday's sharp sell-off, helping lift the technology-heavy Nasdaq index.
The iShares Semiconductor ETF climbed about 3.6% in trading.
The VanEck Semiconductor ETF also advanced more than 2.7%.
Among individual chipmakers, Applied Materials gained more than 4.11%, while Teradyne rose about 5.8%.
Lam Research and Micron Technology each climbed more than 4%, and STMicroelectronics added over 2.9%.
Despite the rebound in technology shares, gains across the broader market remained limited as oil prices stayed elevated.
US crude traded above $80 a barrel, while Brent crude rose more than 4% to above $86 a barrel after President Donald Trump announced plans to reinstate a blockade on Iranian shipping through the Strait of Hormuz.
The announcement followed renewed military exchanges between the United States and Iran and renewed concerns about global energy supplies.
UnitedHealth Group's latest quarterly results are slated to be released ahead of the opening bell on Thursday, with traders looking for the stock to potentially hit its highest point in over a year following the report.
JERSEY CITY, N.J., July 14, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- BetMGM LLC ("BetMGM"), a leading sports betting and iGaming operator across North America, jointly owned by MGM Resorts International (NYSE: MGM) ("MGM Resorts") and Entain plc (LSE: ENT) ("Entain"), will release a business update for the period April 1 – June 30 2026 ("2Q") on Tuesday July 28, 2026.
HOUSTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Ranger Energy Services, Inc. (NYSE: RNGR) (“Ranger” or the “Company”) today announced that it has entered into a contract with Hess Corporation, a wholly owned subsidiary of Chevron Corporation (NYSE: CVX) to deploy three additional ECHO hybrid workover rigs in the Lower 48 United States. Introduced in 2025, Ranger's ECHO workover rig is the industry's first Hybrid Double Electric Workover Rig and reflects the Company's ongoing conversion and electrification of its con.
Ranger Energy Services, Inc. (NYSE: RNGR) (âRangerâ or the âCompanyâ) today announced that it has entered into a contract with Hess Corporation, a whol
Key Takeaways Newmont expects 2026 unit costs to rise as lower production lifts costs per ounce.NEM cites mine sequencing, higher royalties, sustaining capital and inventory changes as cost drivers.NEM sees a sequential rise in Q2 unit costs tied to mine spending, sales mix and oil prices. Newmont Corporation’s (NEM - Free Report) gold costs applicable to sales (CAS) rose nearly 7% year over year to $ $1,307 per ounce on a co-product basis in the first quarter of 2026. All-in sustaining costs (AISC) — the most important cost metric of miners — were $1,709 per ounce for the same period, reflecting a roughly 4% year-over-year increase. Both metrics, however, declined on a by-product basis.
Lower production is expected to lead to higher unit costs in 2026. NEM expects to be $1,680 per ounce on a by-product basis, a notable increase from $1,358 per ounce in 2025. The expected increase is due to lower sales volumes as a result of planned mine sequencing, higher royalties and production taxes, deferral of sustaining capital from 2025 into 2026 and inventory changes.
Newmont also sees a significant sequential increase in unit costs in the second quarter, partly due to increased sustaining capital spending, higher costs associated with sales at Boddington, Tanami, Lihir and Penasquito and increased oil prices. The production decline and higher costs could undercut the profitability goals.
Looking across the competitive landscape, Barrick Mining Corporation (B - Free Report) saw an 8% sequential increase in AISC in the first quarter, reaching $1,708 per ounce. For 2026, Barrick projects AISC in the range of $1,760-$1,950 per ounce, indicating a significant year-over-year increase at the midpoint compared with $1,637 in 2025. Barrick also expects cash costs per ounce to be $1,330-$1,470, up from $1,199 in 2025.
Agnico Eagle Mines Limited (AEM - Free Report) also remains exposed to higher production costs. AEM’s AISC were $1,483 per ounce in the first quarter, marking a roughly 26% year-over-year rise, impacted by higher total cash costs and an uptick in sustaining capital expenditures. Agnico Eagle forecasts AISC per ounce between $1,400 and $1,550 for 2026, suggesting a year-over-year increase at the midpoint of the range.
The Zacks Rundown for NEMShares of Newmont have shot up 62.4% in the past year against the Zacks Mining – Gold industry’s rise of 41.5%.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
From a valuation standpoint, NEM is currently trading at a forward 12-month earnings multiple of 9.44, a modest 0.7% premium to the industry average of 9.37X. It carries a Value Score of B.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for NEM’s 2026 and 2027 earnings implies a year-over-year rise of 35.3% and 11%, respectively. The EPS estimates for 2026 and 2027 have been trending lower over the past 60 days.
Integrated sales, service, loyalty, and distribution capabilities give hotel brand a complete, connected hospitality platform to optimize operations and results
, /PRNewswire/ -- Loews Hotels & Co is adding Oracle OPERA Cloud Central services, to enhance distribution and guest recognition to its properties across the U.S. With a unified hospitality platform spanning property management, distribution, service interactions, loyalty and sales, Loews will be able to get a comprehensive view of its data and business to accelerate innovation that benefits its staff, guests, and bottom line.
"At Loews, we deliver personalized touches and exceptional experiences for our guests. Achieving that goal delivered by our team is aided by having the right data," said Dan Kornick, CIO, Loews Hotels & Co. "Oracle Hospitality will allow us to enhance our ability to leverage data by providing a centralized hub that ensures all our properties and team members are empowered with the information they need to exceed guest expectations."
Loews is already benefitting from Oracle Hospitality OPERA Cloud PMS, AI-powered Guest Engagement and Merchandising, Oracle Simphony Cloud Point of Sale, and Oracle Fusion Cloud Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP). With OPERA Cloud Distribution, Loews can seamlessly optimize rates, and ancillary services across every distribution channel—both direct and indirect—helping to accelerate the launch of promotions, move inventory faster, and reduce intermediary fees. Additionally, OPERA Cloud Loyalty will enable Loews to anticipate customer needs and preferences, encouraging direct bookings with personalized incentives.
"Loews Hotels is dedicated to approaching each moment of a guest's stay with thoughtfulness and care," said David Meltzer, senior vice president, Oracle Hospitality Sales. "These interactions start from the minute a guest books a room, through the second they check out. With a unified platform and data across core disciplines including distribution, loyalty, and property management, OPERA Cloud will further empower Loews team members to make each of these moments matter in creating better experiences for guests and drive efficiency, guest affinity and revenue growth."
To learn more visit www.oracle.com/Hospitality.
About Oracle Hospitality
Oracle Hospitality brings more than 45 years of experience in providing technology solutions to independent hoteliers, global and regional chains, gaming, and cruise lines. Our hardware, software, and services enable customers to act on rich data insights that deliver personalized guest experiences, maximize profitability, and encourage loyalty. Cloud-based, mobile-enabled, with open APIs, Oracle's OPERA Cloud property management and distribution, Simphony point-of-sale, reporting and analytics, and Nor1 upsell solutions accelerate innovation, help increase revenue, help lower IT costs, and maximize operating efficiency. To learn more, please visit www.oracle.com/Hospitality.
About Oracle
Oracle offers integrated suites of applications plus secure, autonomous infrastructure in the Oracle Cloud. For more information about Oracle (NYSE: ORCL), please visit us at oracle.com.
Trademarks
Oracle, Java, MySQL and NetSuite are registered trademarks of Oracle Corporation. NetSuite was the first cloud company—ushering in the new era of cloud computing.
111-year-old company saves its shoppers money while improving margin by leveraging the power of AI-driven retail lifecycle price optimization
, /PRNewswire/ -- Bealls Inc., a leading off-price retailer serving customers across the United States, has transformed its clearance pricing strategy with Oracle Retail Lifecycle Pricing Optimization (LPO). Prior to using the solution, the company relied on time-based markdown schedules that advanced products through fixed discount tiers regardless of item-level performance. By extending its Oracle footprint with LPO, they have gained a more precise and profitable approach, to automating and optimizing pricing decisions based on real-time demand signals, inventory levels, regional considerations, and projected lifecycle margin. In just one year since the implementation, Bealls Inc. was able to increase clearance sales dollars by 25 percent.
"Not every item behaves the same way once it enters clearance, and we knew we needed to stop treating all products the same to create better opportunities for our customers and bottom line," said Ron Friese, senior vice president and chief AI officer, Bealls Inc. "Oracle Retail Lifecycle Pricing Optimization gives us the ability to make smarter, more prescriptive pricing decisions at the item level which helps us improve profitability and simplify how our teams manage clearance items."
Founded in 1915, Bealls Inc. is a privately held, family-owned retailer based in Bradenton, Florida, with stores under the bealls, Bealls Florida, and Home Centric banners. The company operates over 660 locations in 22 states, and is known for its brands, style and value across apparel, accessories, shoes, and home goods.
Markdowns that support margin
Pricing has become increasingly important for retailers as omnichannel shopping makes it easy for consumers to compare prices across multiple sellers. However, this brings challenges for retailers, as many struggle with fragmented, insufficient or inaccurate data, leading to pricing decisions that can negatively impact margin, revenue, profitability, and customer satisfaction.
By combining diverse data sources with advanced analytics and AI, Oracle Retail Lifecycle Pricing Optimization (LPO) enables retailers to implement and optimize strategies that maximize profit margins and inventory sell-through by recommending optimal prices, markdowns, promotions, and targeted offers at every stage of a product's life from initial launch through to final clearance.
Shifting to AI-driven lifecycle pricing enables Bealls Inc. to reduce its reliance on spreadsheets and fixed pricing calendars. As a result, merchants and planners are now able to focus on strategic exceptions while LPO continuously evaluates item performance and recommends the optimal markdown path.
The addition of LPO builds on Beall's long-standing technology partnership with Oracle. The retailer already uses Oracle Retail Merchandising to provide end-to-end inventory visibility, enabling more informed decisions around fulfillment, replenishment, allocation, and other critical operations. The company also runs Oracle Fusion Cloud Applications for Finance and HR, providing an integrated suite of AI-powered cloud applications to execute faster, make smarter decisions, and reduce costs.
"The retailers that will outperform in the years ahead are those that can turn data into action faster and more effectively than their competitors," said Jim Kelly, SVP, North America Retail Applications, Oracle. "Pricing is one of the most powerful levers retailers have to drive profitable growth, yet too many organizations still rely on static processes and incomplete insights. Oracle Retail Lifecycle Pricing Optimization enables retailers to make intelligent, AI-powered decisions throughout the product lifecycle, helping them improve financial performance while delivering compelling value to customers. Bealls' success is a strong example of what's possible when retailers modernize their pricing strategy."
About Bealls Inc.
Headquartered in Bradenton, Florida, Bealls Inc. is a privately held company, owned and operated by the founding family for 111 years. The company operates more than 660 retail stores in 22 states under the banners bealls, Bealls Florida, and Home Centric, and online at bealls.com and beallsflorida.com.
About Oracle Retail
Oracle provides brands with a complete, AI-enabled Retail Industry Suite that connects and enhances merchandising, supply chain, store operations, finance, and customer engagement so retailers can improve profitability, and deliver personalized experiences across every channel. For more information, www.oracle.com/retail.
About Oracle
Oracle offers integrated suites of applications plus secure, autonomous infrastructure in the Oracle Cloud. For more information about Oracle (NYSE: ORCL), please visit us at www.oracle.com.
Trademarks
Oracle, Java, MySQL, and NetSuite are registered trademarks of Oracle Corporation. NetSuite was the first cloud company—ushering in the new era of cloud computing.
Oracle (ORCL 0.85%) is one of the most important companies in the global artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructure ecosystem, as it is aggressively building data centers to enable customers to run AI workloads in the cloud. However, the stock's performance has left much to be desired this year.
Oracle stock has shed 33% of its value in 2026, as of this writing, which seems surprising at first, given that it is quickly building a massive revenue pipeline that should ensure solid growth for years to come. However, the market has been worried about the tech giant's increasing debt, which it is using to fund its data center build-out.
Analysts, however, remain bullish about Oracle's prospects, anticipating solid gains over the coming year. Let's see if Oracle can indeed live up to Wall Street's expectations and jump higher by the end of 2027.
Image source: The Motley Fool.
Oracle's growth will accelerate going into 2027 Oracle's debt stood at $167.4 billion at the end of fiscal 2026 (which ended on May 31). The company's debt increased by $43 billion last year. It plans to raise another $40 billion in fiscal 2027 through debt and equity financing. Oracle has already announced that it will raise $20 billion through equity financing this year, suggesting that the rest could come in the form of fresh debt.
Today's Change
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130.42
Investors are concerned about Oracle's ballooning debt, and the equity issuance is resulting in stock dilution. However, it is worth noting that Oracle's funding moves will enable it to accelerate the recognition of revenue and earnings from its remaining performance obligations (RPO). RPO is the total value of contracts that a company has yet to fulfill.
Oracle's RPO was a whopping $638 billion at the end of fiscal 2026. That's almost 10x the company's fiscal 2026 revenue of $67.4 billion. The money that Oracle is spending to build more data centers explains why it anticipates a 33% jump in revenue in fiscal 2027 to $90 billion, nearly double its growth last year.
Oracle management noted on the June earnings call that it expects to convert 12% of its RPO into revenue over the next year. Even better, Oracle sees 34% of its RPO turning into revenue between 13 and 36 months, suggesting its growth rate will continue to accelerate beyond fiscal 2027 (which ends in May next year).
Not surprisingly, analysts are forecasting a 46% jump in Oracle's revenue in fiscal 2028 to $130.2 billion. Additionally, the improvement in Oracle's revenue growth is poised to filter down to the bottom line. Its earnings-per-share growth is projected to improve from just 5.4% in fiscal 2027 to 36% in fiscal 2028.
The stock could more than double Oracle's 12-month median price target of $243 suggests a potential jump of 85%, according to 45 analysts covering the stock. What's more, 38 analysts rate this tech stock as a buy. However, I won't be surprised to see Oracle finish 2027 on a stronger note, soaring above its median price target.
Analysts anticipate Oracle's earnings per share to reach $10.92 in fiscal 2028. The stock currently trades at 24 times earnings, a discount to the tech-focused Nasdaq-100 index's earnings multiple of 35. As Oracle's earnings growth accelerates, it could trade at a higher valuation. Assuming the stock trades at even 30 times earnings at the end of fiscal 2028, its stock price could reach $328.
That suggests potential gains of 149%, indicating that Oracle could soar impressively in 2027 and beyond.
New no-code and pro-code capabilities enable customers and partners to build Fusion Agentic Applications backed by specialized agent teams, Fusion business objects, workflows, approvals, governance, and auditability
With the new AI Studio Skill, developers can now use familiar tools such as VS Code, OpenAI Codex, Claude Code, CLIs, and Git to build agentic applications within the same Fusion-native framework for governance that Oracle uses
, /PRNewswire/ -- Oracle today announced a new AI-native builder experience for Oracle AI Agent Studio for Fusion Applications that enables customers and partners to create and run Fusion Agentic Applications natively within Oracle Fusion Cloud Applications. Fusion Agentic Applications represent a new class of enterprise application: outcome-driven systems backed by teams of specialized AI agents that reason, coordinate, and decide, then execute work through Fusion business objects, workflows, tools, policies, approvals, and logged actions.
Unlike standalone agents, copilots, or disconnected AI automation tools, Fusion Agentic Applications are designed to operate inside the enterprise system where the work already happens. They run natively in Oracle Fusion Applications, inherit Fusion security and governance controls, act against Fusion business objects and workflows, and provide the auditability required for enterprise execution.
The new builder experience brings no-code, low-code, and pro-code development into one Fusion-native framework. Business users can start with natural language using the Agentic Applications Builder, while developers and partners can use the new AI Studio Skill to build with Visual Studio Code, standard command-line interfaces, Git-based workflows, and AI coding agents or assistants including Codex and Claude Code. This will help builders with all levels of experience create AI-native systems that execute enterprise work with built-in security, governance controls, and auditability.
"Enterprise software is moving beyond systems that record work to systems that actively drive and execute outcomes," said Chris Leone, executive vice president, Applications Development, Oracle. "With this new builder experience, customers and partners can build Fusion Agentic Applications that are backed by specialized agent teams and run natively inside Oracle Fusion Applications, where the business objects, workflows, security, approvals, and auditability already exist. This is fundamentally different from building disconnected AI automations and then trying to bolt on enterprise controls later."
Fusion Agentic Applications are not AI wrappers around enterprise software. They are complete business applications designed around specific outcomes, such as accelerating financial close, improving collections, reducing service escalations, optimizing workforce operations, or streamlining supply chain execution.
With Oracle AI Agent Studio for Fusion Applications, organizations can build, connect, execute, and run AI automation and agentic applications using reusable Oracle, partner, and external agents.
In addition, this native runtime approach addresses one of the biggest barriers to enterprise AI adoption: moving from prototype to production. When AI applications are built outside the enterprise system, organizations must separately solve identity, data access, approvals, audit trails, observability, governance controls, and lifecycle management. With Fusion Agentic Applications, those capabilities are built into the runtime from the start.
The new capabilities, integrations, and AI Studio Skill create a unified builder experience spanning natural language no-code, low-code, and pro-code development. The latest updates enable organizations to:
Create complete agentic applications, not just standalone agents: Helps builders create outcome-driven Fusion Agentic Applications backed by specialized agent teams, user experiences, workflows, tools, policy controls, approvals, and runtime assets that operate together as one application. Deploy natively in Oracle Fusion Applications: Helps organizations run agentic applications inside Oracle Fusion Applications without separate runtimes, external orchestration layers, or custom infrastructure. Agentic applications can execute against Fusion business objects and workflows while inheriting Oracle Fusion Applications' security, governance controls, approvals, and auditability controls. Build with modern developer tools: Helps developers and partners build AI agents and agentic applications faster using the AI Studio Skill with familiar tools and workflows. Developers can use Visual Studio Code, standard CLIs, and AI coding assistants such as Codex, Claude Code, and other Oracle tools, alongside Git-based lifecycle management, local validation, debugging, and CI/CD workflows. Access reusable developer resources: Helps developers and partners accelerate agentic application development with ready-to-use assets and implementation guidance. A new public GitHub repository will provide templates, starter projects, sample applications, reusable assets, and reference architectures to help teams build and validate Fusion Agentic Applications faster. Connect agents with an open execution system: Helps enterprise teams coordinate work across Oracle, partner, third-party, and custom agents while inside the security and governance controls of Oracle Fusion Applications. Support for agent-to-agent interoperability patterns enables Oracle AI Data Platform agents, third-party agents, and custom-built agents to participate with the same capabilities as Fusion Agentic Applications. Access a growing AI ecosystem: Helps customers and partners extend enterprise processes using reusable agents, workflows, connectors, templates, and agentic applications. Oracle AI Agent Marketplace, part of Oracle AI Agent Studio for Fusion Applications, is expanding to support a catalog of agentic applications in addition to the existing portfolio of AI agents. Lastly, there are now over 80,000 certified experts trained in Oracle AI Agent Studio to help organizations build, test, deploy, and manage AI across the enterprise. Available at no additional cost, Oracle AI Agent Studio for Fusion Applications delivers easy-to-use tools, including orchestration, advanced testing, robust validation, and built-in security to help Oracle Fusion Applications customers and partners create and manage AI agents and agentic applications. By leveraging the same platform Oracle uses to create its own AI agents and Fusion Agentic Applications, customers and partners can extend the 1,000-plus AI agents delivered through Fusion Applications and the 22 new Fusion Agentic Applications that were launched earlier this year, create new ones, and deploy them as Fusion runtime artifacts across the enterprise.
Industry Validation
"Enterprise AI is moving fast, and our clients need a trusted partner that can rapidly unlock the full value of Oracle's embedded AI," said Lan Guan, chief AI and Data officer, Accenture. "Oracle's new builder experience meets developers where they already work, while Accenture helps clients turn on, govern, and scale these AI-powered capabilities. Together, we're helping clients move from AI potential to enterprise-wide impact—faster and with greater confidence than ever before."
"Oracle is redefining the next-generation application platform for the AI era by combining application, platform, and agentic capabilities in a single builder experience for professional and low-code developers," said Holger Mueller, vice president and principal analyst, Constellation Research. "Unlike alternative approaches that build agents outside the application platform, Oracle keeps agents, security, APIs, access, and governance all within a well-defined, trusted, and proven modern application platform."
"Enterprise clients are looking for pragmatic ways to move AI from pilots into production. The challenge is often not the technology itself, but how to integrate it into core business operations with appropriate security, oversight, and operational controls," said Mauro Schiavon, global chief commercial officer, Oracle Business, Deloitte Consulting LLP. "By enabling organizations to create agentic applications within the existing controls and workflows of Oracle Fusion Applications, Oracle can help bridge that gap, support faster execution, and help improve operational efficiency while maintaining the control and oversight enterprises expect."
"Oracle is pushing AI beyond copilots and advisors to deliver agentic systems that optimize process flows and execute work inside enterprise applications. Oracle's latest expansion of its AI Agent Studio and Marketplace leverages client-built agent guidance and governance to make agent creation and development possible for permitted workers regardless of their technical skills and abilities," said Zachary Chertok, senior research manager for HCM applications and agents, IDC. "Working from trusted governance, permissions management, systems controls, and data access management means that organizations can enable employees to build, configure, and support themselves and their teams with the agents they need to collaborate, innovate, and drive toward quality outcomes."
"Organizations are eager to unlock the potential of agentic AI in their business applications," said Kevin Sullivan, Oracle global alliance leader, PwC. "By building agentic capabilities natively into Fusion Applications, Oracle enables secure, governed, real-time actions at scale, helping organizations move from experimentation to adoption with greater confidence. Combined with PwC's deep industry expertise, these capabilities help deliver tangible business value with greater reliability and operational oversight."
About Oracle Fusion Cloud Applications
Oracle Fusion Cloud Applications provide an integrated suite of AI-powered cloud applications that enable organizations to execute faster, make smarter decisions, and lower costs. Oracle Fusion Applications include:
Oracle Fusion Cloud Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP): Provides a comprehensive suite of AI-powered finance and operations applications that help organizations increase productivity, reduce costs, expand insights, improve decision-making, and enhance controls. Oracle Fusion Cloud Human Capital Management (HCM): Provides a unified AI-powered HR platform that connects all people-related processes and data to help organizations automate tasks throughout the employee lifecycle, improve the employee experience, and give HR leaders actionable workforce insights. Oracle Fusion Cloud Supply Chain & Manufacturing (SCM): Provides a unified AI-powered platform that integrates supply chain and operations processes and helps organizations enhance resilience and quickly adapt to market changes. Oracle Fusion Cloud Customer Experience (CX): Provides a suite of AI-powered applications that help organizations manage marketing, sales, and service processes to win business, build stronger customer relationships, and improve customer experiences. About Oracle
Oracle offers integrated suites of applications plus secure, autonomous infrastructure in the Oracle Cloud. For more information about Oracle (NYSE: ORCL), please visit us at www.oracle.com.
Trademarks
Oracle, Java, MySQL, and NetSuite are registered trademarks of Oracle Corporation. NetSuite was the first cloud company—ushering in the new era of cloud computing.
Douglas A. McIntyre is the co-founder, chief executive officer and editor in chief of 24/7 Wall St. and 24/7 Tempo. He has held these jobs since 2006.
McIntyre has written thousands of articles for 24/7 Wall St. He is an expert on corporate finance, the automotive industry, media companies and international finance. He has edited articles on national demographics, sports, personal income and travel.
His work has been quoted or mentioned in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Los Angeles Times, The Washington Post, NBC News, Time, The New Yorker, HuffPost USA Today, Business Insider, Yahoo, AOL, MarketWatch, The Atlantic, Bloomberg, New York Post, Chicago Tribune, Forbes, The Guardian and many other major publications. McIntyre has been a guest on CNBC, the BBC and television and radio stations across the country.
A magna cum laude graduate of Harvard College, McIntyre also was president of The Harvard Advocate. Founded in 1866, the Advocate is the oldest college publication in the United States.
TheStreet.com, Comps.com and Edgar Online are some of the public companies for which McIntyre served on the board of directors. He was a Vicinity Corporation board member when the company was sold to Microsoft in 2002. He served on the audit committees of some of these companies.
McIntyre has been the CEO of FutureSource, a provider of trading terminals and news to commodities and futures traders. He was president of Switchboard, the online phone directory company. He served as chairman and CEO of On2 Technologies, the video compression company that provided video compression software for Adobe’s Flash. Google bought On2 in 2009.
Oracle stock continued its strong freefall this week, reaching its lowest level since April last year. ORCL has slumped by over 62% from its all-time high, with Larry Ellison’s net worth plunging by $60 billion this year to $187 billion. It has become one of the top laggards in the AI space.
ORCL stock has been in a steep decline despite being one of the top beneficiaries of the artificial intelligence boom. Its most recent financial results showed that its revenue and backlog continued rising.
Its revenue jumped by 21% to $19.2 billion in the fiscal fourth quarter, with its cloud infrastructure figure rising by 93% to $5.8 billion. Its cloud apps revenue jumped by 10% to $4.1 billion.
For the year, its revenue jumped by 17% to $67 billion, with its operating cash flow rising by 54% to $32 billion.
Most importantly, the company’s RPO or backlog, jumped by $85 billion in Q4 to $638 billion, with its top clients including companies like Applied Intuition, SoundHound (SOUN), Admiral, and Kobalt.
Wall Street analysts are bullish on the company, with the revenue estimate for the first fiscal quarter being $19.12 billion, up by 28% YoY. Its annual revenue is expected to jump 32% this year to $90 billion, followed by $130 billion next year.
Despite this growth, analysts are still concerned about Oracle’s huge debt load and its overreliance on OpenAI. Of its huge RPO, $300 billion of it comes from OpenAI, a company whose growth has started slowing amid rising competition from Anthropic. The contract will start in 2027, with OpenAI buying massive amounts of AI compute.
Most importantly, there are concerns about its massive debt load and soaring capital expenditure. Its capex jumped by 162% in the last fiscal year, with its free cash flow coming in at negative $24 billion.
The company’s debt has also jumped, and this trend will continue. It ended the last year with $130 billion in debt, with the company planning to raise $40 billion through debt and equity. It raised $43 billion in debt sales and $5 billion in equity.
Investors are concerned about its soaring debt, which has pushed its yields higher. TradingView data shows that the yield of its 2034 bonds jumped to 6.518% from the year-to-date low of 5.34%. Its 2038 bonds are yielding 6.70%, while its 2027 ones are yielding 4.56%.
Still, on the positive side, the ongoing Oracle stock crash has made it a bargain, with most analysts having a favorable rating. Keycorp recently reiterated its overweight rating, while Wedbush’s Dan Ives placed a target of $240.
Bernstein has a target of $325, while Wolfe Research placed a target of $225. MarketBeat data shows that the average target for the stock is $268.
Oracle stock chart | Source: TradingView
The daily chart shows that the ORCL stock has slumped in the past few months, moving from a high of $346.23 on September 10 last year to the current $131.5.
It recently crossed the crucial support level of $134.95, its lowest level in February and April this year.
The stock has dropped below all moving averages and the oversold level of the Murrey Math Lines tool. It also remains below the Supertrend indicator.
Therefore, the waning sentiment will likely push it lower, potentially to $120 or even $100. However, in the long term, the stock will bounce back as investors rotate from semiconductor names to hyperscalers.
Investors are preparing for a significant earnings week as five of the six largest US banks, including JPMorgan, Citi, Wells Fargo, Bank of America, and Goldman Sachs, are scheduled to report their quarterly results within a few hours of each other. Mike Mayo, Head of US Large-Cap Bank Research at Wells Fargo, joined the program to share his outlook.
Stock futures are mixed as investors digest a full slate of big bank earnings and await the release of a key report on inflation; JPMorgan Chase, Bank of America, Wells Fargo, Goldman Sachs and Citigroup all reported results this morning; June Consumer Price Index data is expected to show that inflation moderated; Fed Chair Kevin Warsh is making appearances before Congress today and tomorrow to discuss the economy and the Fed's plans for inflation; and SK Hynix shares are surging while IBM shares are plunging as tech sector volatility continues. Here's what you need to know today.
Wells Fargo (WFC - Free Report) came out with quarterly earnings of $1.96 per share, beating the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.73 per share. This compares to earnings of $1.54 per share a year ago. These figures are adjusted for non-recurring items.
This quarterly report represents an earnings surprise of +13.30%. A quarter ago, it was expected that this biggest U.S. mortgage lender would post earnings of $1.58 per share when it actually produced earnings of $1.56, delivering a surprise of -1.27%.
Over the last four quarters, the company has surpassed consensus EPS estimates three times.
Wells Fargo, which belongs to the Zacks Financial - Investment Bank industry, posted revenues of $22.62 billion for the quarter ended June 2026, surpassing the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 3.76%. This compares to year-ago revenues of $20.82 billion. The company has topped consensus revenue estimates two times over the last four quarters.
The sustainability of the stock's immediate price movement based on the recently-released numbers and future earnings expectations will mostly depend on management's commentary on the earnings call.
Wells Fargo shares have lost about 5.9% since the beginning of the year versus the S&P 500's gain of 9.8%.
What's Next for Wells Fargo?While Wells Fargo has underperformed the market so far this year, the question that comes to investors' minds is: what's next for the stock?
There are no easy answers to this key question, but one reliable measure that can help investors address this is the company's earnings outlook. Not only does this include current consensus earnings expectations for the coming quarter(s), but also how these expectations have changed lately.
Empirical research shows a strong correlation between near-term stock movements and trends in earnings estimate revisions. Investors can track such revisions by themselves or rely on a tried-and-tested rating tool like the Zacks Rank, which has an impressive track record of harnessing the power of earnings estimate revisions.
Ahead of this earnings release, the estimate revisions trend for Wells Fargo was mixed. While the magnitude and direction of estimate revisions could change following the company's just-released earnings report, the current status translates into a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) for the stock. So, the shares are expected to perform in line with the market in the near future. You can see the complete list of today's Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
It will be interesting to see how estimates for the coming quarters and the current fiscal year change in the days ahead. The current consensus EPS estimate is $1.83 on $22.26 billion in revenues for the coming quarter and $6.98 on $87.77 billion in revenues for the current fiscal year.
Investors should be mindful of the fact that the outlook for the industry can have a material impact on the performance of the stock as well. In terms of the Zacks Industry Rank, Financial - Investment Bank is currently in the top 29% of the 250 plus Zacks industries. Our research shows that the top 50% of the Zacks-ranked industries outperform the bottom 50% by a factor of more than 2 to 1.
One other stock from the same industry, Evercore (EVR - Free Report) , is yet to report results for the quarter ended June 2026.
This investment bank is expected to post quarterly earnings of $2.74 per share in its upcoming report, which represents a year-over-year change of +13.2%. The consensus EPS estimate for the quarter has been revised 1.1% lower over the last 30 days to the current level.
Evercore's revenues are expected to be $927.19 million, up 10.5% from the year-ago quarter.
This post may contain links from our sponsors and affiliates, and Flywheel Publishing may receive compensation for actions taken through them.
In 2026, the Dividend Kings have significantly outperformed the S&P 500 as investors rotate out of high-valuation growth stocks and into companies offering stable, reliable cash flows. This shift is clearly visible in fund flows: the equal-weighted NOBL Dividend Aristocrats ETF has outperformed market-cap-weighted growth funds during the 2026 rotation. Its equal-weight structure helps it avoid being dragged down by the heavy concentration in a handful of large-cap tech names that dominate many growth benchmarks.
The Dividend Kings are the 56 companies that have raised their dividends for at least 50 years, a testament to their dependability and consistency. Those are two “must-have” items for investors who rely on passive income to supplement their overall income. Unlike the Dividend Aristocrats, the Dividend Kings do not have to be members of the S&P 500.
We screened the current Dividend Kings for companies that are outperforming the S&P 500, which is up 9% this year, and four of our favorite companies are significantly outperforming the venerable index. Of course, all four offer reliable passive income given their Dividend Kings status, but they also deliver big total returns to shareholders. All four are rated Buy by the top Wall Street firms we cover.
Why we recommend the Dividend Kings Companies that have paid and raised dividends for 50 years or more are the kinds of stocks growth and income investors want to buy and hold in their portfolios indefinitely. These stocks are mostly conservative and, should a dramatic market correction occur, will likely hold their ground much better than volatile technology names.
Coca-Cola Coca-Cola (NYSE: KO | KO Price Prediction) is an American multinational corporation founded in 1892. This company remains a top long-time holding of Warren Buffett, whose 400 million shares are 9.3% of the float and 9.9% of the portfolio. The stock pays a dependable 2.48% dividend. Surging by more than 16% year to date, the stock is easily outpacing both the S&P 500 and the Nasdaq Composite while extending its historic dividend growth streak to 64 consecutive years.
Coca-Cola is the world’s largest beverage company, offering consumers more than 500 sparkling and still brands. Led by Coca-Cola, one of the world’s most valuable and recognizable brands, the company’s portfolio features 20 billion-dollar brands, including:
Diet Coke Coca-Cola Light Coca-Cola Zero Sugar Caffeine-free Diet Coke Cherry Coke Fanta Orange Fanta Zero Orange Fanta Zero Sugar Fanta Apple Sprite Sprite Zero Sugar Simply Orange Simply Apple Simply Grapefruit Fresca Schweppes Dasani Fuze Tea Glacéau Smartwater Glacéau Vitaminwater Gold Peak Ice Dew Powerade Topo Chico Minute Maid Globally, it is the top provider of sparkling beverages, ready-to-drink coffees, juices, and juice drinks. Through the world’s most extensive beverage distribution system, consumers in more than 200 countries enjoy the company’s beverages at a rate of over 1.9 billion servings per day. And remember that the company owns 19.5% of Monster Beverage (NASDAQ: MNST), which continues to deliver strong financial results.
Citigroup has a Buy rating with a $91 target price on the shares.
Colgate-Palmolive This consumer staples giant has been an outstanding idea for conservative investors, paying a dividend every year since 1895 and currently yielding 2.19%. Colgate-Palmolive (NYSE: CL) is a growth company focused on Oral Care, Personal Care, Home Care, and Pet Nutrition. The shares have surged roughly 20.4% year to date. The consumer staples giant remains an ultra-reliable income stock. It features an uninterrupted streak of payouts stretching back to 1895. It has also successfully increased its annual dividend distribution for 63 consecutive years.
The company sells its products under such brands as:
Colgate Palmolive Elmex Hello Meridol Sorriso Tom’s of Maine EltaMD Filorga Irish Spring Lady Speed Stick PCA SKIN Protex Sanex Softsoap Speed Stick Ajax Axion Fabuloso Murphy Soupline Suavitel Hill’s Science Diet and Hill’s Prescription Diet The Home Care product segment is managed geographically in five segments:
North America Latin America Europe Asia Pacific Africa/Eurasia All the segments sell primarily to a variety of traditional and e-commerce retailers, wholesalers, distributors, dentists, and skin health professionals.
The Pet Nutrition products include specialty pet nutrition products manufactured and marketed by Hill’s Pet Nutrition. Customers of Pet Nutrition products include authorized pet supply retailers, veterinarians, and e-commerce retailers.
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UBS has a big $100 target price.
Kimberly-Clark Kimberly-Clark (NYSE:KMB) is an American multinational personal care company that primarily manufactures and markets paper-based consumer products worldwide. The stock is also beating the index this year, up over 13%. Yielding 4.41%, the company raised its dividend for the 54th consecutive year earlier this year, retaining its spot on the Dividend Kings list.
It operates through three segments. The Personal Care segment offers a diverse range of products, including:
Disposable diapers Swim pants, training and youth pants, baby wipes Feminine and incontinence care products It provides related products under the Huggies, Pull-Ups, Little Swimmers, GoodNites, DryNites, Sweety, Kotex, U by Kotex, Intimus, Depends, Plenitud, Softex, Poise, and other brand names.
The Consumer Tissue segment provides facial and bathroom tissues, paper towels, napkins, and related products under these brand names:
Kleenex Scott Cottonelle Viva Andrex Scottex Neve The K-C Professional segment offers wipers, tissues, towels, apparel, soaps, and sanitizers under the Kleenex, Scott, WypAll, Kimtech, and KleenGuard brands.
In 2025, Kimberly-Clark announced it would acquire Kenvue (NYSE: KVUE) in a $48.7 billion deal, with the transaction expected to close in the second half of 2026. The acquisition will create a combined consumer health and wellness company, with Kenvue shareholders receiving cash and stock. Kenvue shareholders will get $3.50 in cash plus 0.14625 shares of Kimberly-Clark.
Piper Sandler has an Overweight rating with a $121 target price.
Target The steady dividend and improving consumer have helped boost the shares big in 2026. Target (NYSE: TGT) is a general merchandise retailer in the United States that offers apparel for women, men, boys, girls, toddlers, infants, and newborns, as well as jewelry, accessories, and shoes. The company also offers a range of beauty and personal care products, baby gear, cleaning supplies, paper products, and pet care products.
Surging 32% through early July 2026, the stock is easily outpacing the S&P 500’s roughly 9% rally. Despite this massive outperformance, it still trades at a cheap valuation and offers an attractive dividend yield of 3.56%.
Target also provides:
Dry grocery, dairy, frozen food, beverages, candy, snacks, deli, bakery, meat, and food service Electronics, which includes video game hardware and software Toys, entertainment, sporting goods, and luggage Furniture, lighting, storage, kitchenware, small appliances, home décor, bed, and bath Home improvement School and office supplies Greeting cards, party supplies, and other seasonal merchandise In addition, the company sells merchandise through periodic design and creative partnerships, shop-in-shop experiences, and in-store amenities. It also sells its products through its stores and digital channels, including Target.com.
Jefferies has a Buy rating and a $161 target price.
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Campbell's Protein Soups come in five delicious varieties, meeting consumer demand for flavor, protein and fiber in every bowl
, /PRNewswire/ -- Rooted in real goodness from ingredients like slow-simmered bone broth, white meat chicken, quinoa, beans and lentils, new Campbell's Protein Soups provide a good source of protein and fiber – combining the delicious taste the brand is known for with the nutritional benefits people are looking for as 80% of people actively seek balance in their everyday lifestyles.1
Campbell’s new Protein Soups boast five balanced varieties – now rolling out to Amazon.com and retailers nationwide. Easy to spot in the soup aisle with a green label, these new offerings include a tasty bone broth base and boast 20 grams of protein per can. The line features five well-rounded varieties that tap into trending flavors consumers are seeking:
Homestyle Chicken & Rotini: A delicious combination of slow-simmered bone broth, white meat chicken, carrots, celery, navy beans and pasta. Italian-Style Wedding: Crafted with slow-simmered bone broth, meatballs, carrots, spinach, pasta and navy beans. Lemon Pepper Chicken: A hearty soup made with slow-simmered bone broth, white meat chicken, carrots, chickpeas, rice, corn, celery, and kale. Southwest Black Bean: Features bold Southwest-inspired flavor including slow-simmered bone broth, black beans, tomatoes and bell pepper. Mediterranean Lentil: A vibrant blend of slow-simmered bone broth, lentils, tomato, carrots, red peppers, chickpeas, onions and spinach. Campbell's Protein Soups were crafted to deliver on the taste and nutrition consumers are hoping for, as more than 71% of Americans looking to consume more protein in their diets2. Informed by more than 155 years of soup expertise, Campbell's continues to evolve with changing tastes and wellness priorities while delivering the quality, flavor and comfort the brand is known for.
"New Campbell's Protein Soups deliver the nutrition consumers are looking for from a brand they trust," said Benjamin Crook, Senior Vice President, Soup & Broth at The Campbell's Company. "With the goodness of bone broth and other delicious ingredients, we've created a satisfying soup that provides 20 grams of protein and a good source of fiber in every can. As consumers increasingly seek foods that offer both great taste and meaningful nutrition, this innovative product line will bring excitement and drive consumers to the soup category."
Campbell's Protein Soups are available now on Amazon.com and rolling out to retailers nationwide for $3.19. For more information, visit Campbells.com and follow @Campbells on TikTok and Instagram.
1Mintel, US Healthy Lifestyles Consumer Report 2025
2IFIC Food and Health Survey, 2024
About The Campbell's Company
For more than 155 years, The Campbell's Company (NASDAQ:CPB) (Campbell's) has been connecting people through food they love. Headquartered in Camden, N.J. since 1869, generations of consumers have trusted us to provide delicious and affordable food and beverages. Today, the company is a North American focused brand powerhouse, generating fiscal 2025 net sales of $10.3 billion across two divisions: Meals & Beverages and Snacks. Our portfolio of 16 leadership brands includes Campbell's, Cape Cod, Chunky, Goldfish, Kettle Brand, Lance, Late July, Pace, Pacific Foods, Pepperidge Farm, Prego, Rao's, Snack Factory, Snyder's of Hanover, Swanson and V8. For more information, visit thecampbellscompany.com
Míra inflace ve Spojených státech v červnu klesla na 3,5 procenta z tempa 4,2 procenta v květnu. Ve své zprávě to dnes uvedlo americké ministerstvo práce. Pokles je výraznější, než se čekalo, zejména díky zlevnění benzinu. Ekonomové se ale domnívají, že zvýšení úrokových sazeb se v letošním roce Američané zřejmě ani tak nevyhnou.
Analytici se zvolněním inflace počítali, domnívali se ale, že její míra klesne zhruba na 3,8 procenta, uvedla agentura Reuters. V meziměsíčním srovnání index spotřebitelských cen 0,4 procenta klesl, zatímco analytici čekali pokles o 0,1 procenta.
Cena benzinu v červnu klesla z několikaletého maxima, na kterém se ocitla kvůli dopadům konfliktu na Blízkém východě. Ten v posledních dnech eskaluje, v Hormuzském průlivu sílí vzdušné boje mezi Spojenými státy a Íránem. I proto se ekonomové domnívají, že dopady na globální ekonomiku zatím přetrvají, což americkou centrální banku (Fed) patrně v letošním roce donutí zvýšit úrokové sazby. Nyní je základní sazba v USA v pásmu 3,50 až 3,75 procenta.
Ceny benzinu jsou teď v USA opět na vzestupu. Podle údajů motoristické organizace AAA dnes celostátní průměrná cena benzinu vzrostla na 3,86 dolaru za galon z 3,79 dolaru před týdnem. Po přepočtu je to 1,02 USD (21,61 Kč) za litr proti 1,00 USD (21,19 Kč) za litr před týdnem.
Další růst cen je pravděpodobný, protože ceny ropy dnes pokračují v růstu. Severomořský Brent se vrátil nad 86 dolarů za barel, kde byl naposledy před měsícem. Je to reakce na rozhodnutí Spojených států znovu zavést námořní blokádu Íránu. Přilehlý Hormuzský průliv je klíčovou námořní trasou pro vývoz ropy ze zemí kolem Perského zálivu.
Povyloučení kolísavých cen potravin a energií v červnu vzrostl index spotřebitelských cen meziročně o 2,6 procenta po květnovém růstu o 2,9 procenta. I to je výraznější pokles, analytici počítali se zvolněním tempa na 2,8 procenta. Meziměsíčně zůstala tato takzvaná jádrová inflace beze změn, v květnu o 0,2 procenta vzrostla.
The logo of Gilead Sciences Inc is pictured during a news conference in New Delhi September 15, 2014. Picture taken September 15, 2014. REUTERS/Anindito Mukherjee Purchase Licensing Rights, opens new tab
CompaniesJuly 14 (Reuters) - Researchers in the Democratic Republic of Congo said on Tuesday they have started enrolling participants in a trial testing Gilead Sciences' (GILD.O), opens new tab experimental antiviral obeldesivir as a post-exposure treatment for the ongoing Bundibugyo Ebola outbreak in Congo and Uganda.
Congo's National Institute for Biomedical Research and France's ANRS Emerging Infectious Diseases — with support from humanitarian aid groups, Alliance for International Medical Action (ALIMA) and Medecins Sans Frontieres — are leading the trial in Ituri province, the epicentre of the outbreak, the agencies said in a joint statement.
Keep up with the latest medical breakthroughs and healthcare trends with the Reuters Health Rounds newsletter. Sign up here.
Here are some details:
The trial is designed to assess whether post-exposure treatment can reduce the risk of developing Ebola infection after contact with the virus.
The study aims to enroll about 1,000 people aged 12 years and older, who had high-risk exposure to a confirmed Ebola case within the previous five days but have not developed symptoms.
Participants will be monitored daily for 21 days, with a final follow-up at 42 days.
Obeldesivir has shown activity against filoviruses, including the Bundibugyo Ebola virus, in pre-clinical studies.
The project has received initial funding of 3.4 million euros ($3.87 million) from the Global Health EDCTP3 partnership supported by the European Commission, and $1 million from the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention.
Africa CDC also helped secure an additional $5 million in funding commitments from South Africa and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
The study also includes a separate compassionate-use protocol under which Gilead's injectable antiviral remdesivir would be given to children under 12 years and pregnant or breastfeeding women exposed to the virus.
The outbreak has led to 1,963 confirmed cases in Congo, including 719 deaths, according to government data.
($1 = 0.8777 euros)
Reporting by Siddhi Mahatole in Bengaluru; Editing by Shilpi Majumdar
Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles., opens new tab
Do you know you'll need investment income in the future even if you don't need it right now? That's basically what saving for retirement is.
And this simple idea raises a simple question: How much future income can you generate for every dollar you tuck away now? It depends on several factors, including how long you save, and what sort of return you achieve on your growth investments.
Just for some perspective, let's look at what a hypothetical (yet very realistic) $300 monthly investment might be capable of driving in retirement, given enough time.
Crunching the numbers There are actually two key phases to our hypothetical number crunching. The first of these is the growth phase, during which we continually contribute to a fund that remains invested for growth rather than income. In our model, we'll simply invest in the overall market using the SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY +0.22%), which is built to mirror the performance of the S&P 500 index (^GSPC +0.26%). Assuming its long-term average annual return of 10% persists, in 30 years -- a fairly typical length for a career -- a $300 monthly investment in this ETF would leave you with a nest egg of $683,797:
Data source: Calculator.net. Chart by author.
Notice that most of the gains materialize in just the last third of this savings period. The trick is just starting the last decade with as much invested capital as possible.
Then the second phase begins. That's the conversion of an investment largely meant for growth into an investment mostly meant to produce income. And here, your options are wide-ranging. Shares of beverage powerhouse Coca-Cola (KO 0.01%), for instance, currently yield 2.5%, and are backed by 64 consecutive years of dividend increases. The Schwab U.S. Dividend Equity ETF (SCHD 0.40%) doesn't have nearly the same history and pedigree, but with its trailing yield of 3.3%, that $683,797 could produce more than $22,000 in annual dividend income.
If your chief concern is simply maximizing your cash flow with dividend payments that at least keep up with inflation, however, a pick like real estate investment trust (REIT) Realty Income (O +0.16%) is a fantastic all-around option. The REIT has not only paid monthly (yes, monthly) dividends like clockwork for decades now, but has raised its per-share payout every year for the past 31 years with an inflation-beating average annual increase of 4.1%.
Today's Change
(
0.16
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0.10
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64.27
Newcomers will be plugging in while its yield stands at 5.1%. At that yield, a $683,797 investment in Realty Income would generate yearly dividend income of $34,873. Not bad.
Small starts will still work, given enough time There are other options, of course. And, you wouldn't want to commit your entire nest egg to a single ticker anyway.
The point is to simply illustrate what's possible -- and not just the sort of reliable dividend income you could achieve once you're done saving for retirement. Just as important is the fact that a relatively modest amount of money tucked away in a growth investment every month can end up being worth far more than you might realize, given enough time.
The chief challenge? Usually, it's just getting started. The sooner you do so, the better.
Key Takeaways CF approved a 20% higher quarterly dividend of 60 cents per share, payable on Aug. 31, 2026. CF benefits from strong nitrogen demand, favorable pricing and a tight 2026 global market. CF returned $1.7 billion to shareholders in 2025 through dividends and buybacks, backed by robust FCF. CF Industries Holdings, Inc. (CF - Free Report) recently announced that its board has approved a quarterly cash dividend of 60 cents per share, representing a 20% increase from its previous quarterly dividend. The dividend will be paid on Aug. 31, 2026, to shareholders of record as of Aug. 14, 2026.
The higher dividend underscores management's confidence in the company's financial strength, cash flow generation and long-term earnings outlook. It also enhances shareholder returns and could improve the stock's attractiveness to income-oriented investors while signaling disciplined capital allocation.
CF Industries is benefiting from strong global demand for nitrogen fertilizers driven by healthy agricultural activity and improving industrial demand. Favorable farm economics and higher corn plantings in the United States are supporting nitrogen consumption, while demand in Brazil is expected to remain strong on increased corn acreage. In India, low inventories, reduced domestic production and supply disruptions due to the Iran war are expected to lift urea imports to 10-12 million metric tons in 2026, per CF’s estimates.
Per CF, the global nitrogen market is expected to remain tight in 2026 as strong demand is met with constrained supply. Geopolitical disruptions, limited natural gas availability and the Middle East conflict have tightened the global supply-demand balance. These market conditions helped drive a 19% year-over-year increase in first-quarter net sales through higher selling prices, and CF Industries is expected to continue benefiting from favorable nitrogen pricing.
CF Industries continues to enhance shareholder returns through strong cash generation and disciplined capital allocation. The company generated $1.79 billion in free cash flow in 2025, up 24% year over year, while net cash from operating activities increased 21% to $2.75 billion. It ended the first quarter with about $2 billion in cash, and its strong free cash flow conversion highlights the efficiency of its operations.
The company returned $1.7 billion to shareholders in 2025 through dividends and share repurchases, including $1.34 billion used to buy back 16.6 million shares. Since launching its current $2 billion buyback program in October 2025, it has repurchased 3.6 million shares for about $293 million.
Shares of CF are up 26.1% in the past year compared with the industry’s 51.5% decline.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
CF’s Zacks Rank & Other Key PicksCF currently carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy).
Other top-ranked stocks in the Basic Materials space include CSW Industrials, Inc. (CSW - Free Report) , Idaho Strategic Resources, Inc. (IDR - Free Report) and Southern Copper Corporation (SCCO - Free Report) . CSW, IDR and SCCO carry 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 CSW’s current-year earnings stands at $12.52 per share, implying a 20.6% year-over-year increase. Its earnings beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate in three of the trailing four quarters and missed once, with the average surprise being 3.8%.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for IDR’s current-year earnings is pegged at $1.52 per share, implying a 33.3% year-over-year increase. Its earnings beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate in three of the trailing four quarters and missed once, with the average surprise being 68.7%.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for SCCO’s current-year earnings is pegged at $7.8 per share, indicating a 48.9% year-over-year increase. Its earnings beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate in each of the trailing four quarters, with the average surprise being 9.1%.
SkinMedica® launches Regenerative Science Advisory Board to shape future innovation Expands its state-of-the-art research and development (R&D) facility to support the next generation of science-led innovation Debuts flagship retail experiences designed to support practice and patients' needs , /PRNewswire/ -- Allergan Aesthetics, an AbbVie (NYSE: ABBV) company, is proud to announce SkinMedica's expanded commitment to regenerative science, advancing investments that will support innovation, research, clinical insight, and patient experience.
"Stemming from its origins in wound-healing research, SkinMedica was founded on the principles of regenerative skincare," said Glen Curran, senior vice president, Allergan Aesthetics. "For more than 25 years, the brand has consistently advanced science-backed solutions, and today we're excited to introduce initiatives that continue to reinforce its mission to support skin health from cell to surface."
SkinMedica's Regenerative Science Advisory Board
SkinMedica has launched the Regenerative Science Advisory Board, a collective of leading physicians, clinicians, and skin health experts from across the country. Through in-person collaboration, virtual consultations, and curated content across SkinMedica-owned platforms, the advisory board will foster scientific dialogue, share clinical best practices, and help bridge breakthrough research with everyday patient care.
"Scientific innovation is most impactful when it is informed by the clinicians and experts who bring it to life every day," said Curran. "We're honored to welcome this distinguished group of thought leaders to the SkinMedica Regenerative Science Advisory Board. Their expertise and real-world perspective will help advance scientific education, strengthen collaboration across the aesthetic community, inform future conversations around skin longevity and innovation; while ensuring we continue to translate breakthrough science into meaningful solutions for providers and patients."
State-of-the-Art R&D Facility
The advisory board reinforces Allergan Aesthetics' leadership in professional-grade skincare and complements its continued investment in SkinMedica innovation, including the recent expansion of the SkinMedica R&D lab in Irvine, Calif.
The state-of-the-art lab supports a broad range of pre-clinical research and sophisticated imaging technologies that provide deeper insight into skin biology. SkinMedica is also leveraging artificial intelligence and machine learning to identify novel biological targets, accelerate ingredient discovery, and advance understanding of the cellular drivers of skin longevity to solve for unmet skin concerns.
"The expanded SkinMedica R&D Lab reflects our commitment to advancing the future of skincare through scientific excellence, strategic collaboration, and emerging technologies," said Prithwiraj Maitra, Ph.D., vice president, global skincare R&D, Allergan Aesthetics. "By integrating advanced research capabilities with AI-enabled discovery and clinical expertise, we are accelerating our ability to transform breakthrough science into meaningful innovations that deliver for patients and providers."
Now more than double its previous footprint, the enhanced facility brings together formulation scientists, biological researchers, and clinical experts under one roof to streamline, strengthen, and modernize the development process of next-generation, regenerative skincare.
Educational Shopping Experience at SkinMedica Flagship Stores
Beyond advancing brand education and product development, SkinMedica has also launched its first in-practice flagship retail experience at select, highly regarded medical aesthetics practices nationwide. Designed to extend the physician-guided skincare journey beyond the treatment room, these dedicated spaces provide an immersive environment where patients can test SkinMedica products, learn about the clinical science behind the brand, and further explore the personalized regimens recommended by their provider.
The first flagship locations include Lycia Thornburg, M.D. Dermatology in Rapid City, S.D. and The Skin Clinic in Scottsdale, Ariz., with additional locations planned to open across key U.S. markets throughout 2026.
To learn more about the SkinMedica range of products, visit SkinMedica.com, and follow along on Instagram @SkinMedica for more from the SkinMedica Regenerative Science Advisory Board and flagship shopping experiences.
About Allergan Aesthetics
At Allergan Aesthetics, an AbbVie company, we develop, manufacture, and market a portfolio of leading aesthetics brands and products. Our aesthetics portfolio includes facial injectables, body contouring, plastics, skin care, and more. Our goal is to consistently provide our customers with innovation, education, exceptional service, and a commitment to excellence, all with a personal touch. For more information, visit www.allerganaesthetics.com.
About AbbVie
AbbVie's mission is to discover and deliver innovative medicines and solutions that solve serious health issues today and address the medical challenges of tomorrow. We strive to have a remarkable impact on people's lives across several key therapeutic areas including immunology, neuroscience and oncology – and products and services in our Allergan Aesthetics portfolio. For more information about AbbVie, please visit us at www.abbvie.com. Follow @abbvie on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, X and YouTube.
SkinMedica® Important Information
Most SkinMedica® products are intended to meet the FDA's definition of a cosmetic product, an article applied to the human body to cleanse, beautify, promote attractiveness, and alter appearances. These SkinMedica® products are not intended to be drug products that diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease or condition. These products have not been approved by the FDA and the statements have not been evaluated by the FDA.
Airbnb founder and CEO thinks the success of tokenizing real-world assets depends on trust embedded in the governance and trustworthiness of the hosting system itself.
Maine Renters Can Now Get Fast, Affordable Coverage Starting at $5 Per Month
, /PRNewswire/ -- Lemonade (NYSE: LMND), the tech-first insurance company, today announced the availability of its renters insurance in Maine. The expansion gives renters across the state a simple, fast way to get coverage that fits their lifestyles.
Lemonade Renters provides flexible coverage options via an app where renters can get quotes, purchase policies, update existing policies, and file claims, all in one place. About 40% of claims are handled instantly, helping renters receive assistance more quickly after a covered loss.
"Renters in Maine deserve the same easy insurance experience as everyone else," said Dan Timsit, Head of Renters Insurance at Lemonade. "We built Lemonade to cut through the complexity that makes traditional insurance painful. We offer simple quotes, instant claims, and rates that don't break the bank. Now we can deliver that to Maine, too."
Coverage starts at just $5 per month, making it one of the more affordable renters insurance options available. Based on company and industry data, Lemonade's renters insurance rates are approximately 30% lower than the national average.
Customers may also be eligible for additional savings through policy bundling, having qualifying home safety devices, or choosing annual billing.
Lemonade currently serves more than 3 million active customers and has earned recognition from organizations and publications including Forbes, CNBC, and U.S. News & World Report for its insurance products and customer experience.
For a full list of Renters state availability, visit Lemonade.com.
About Lemonade
Lemonade's mission is to become the most loved insurance company in the world. As a customer-centric tech company, we created an insurance experience across Renters, Home, Pet, Car, and Life that is smart, instant, and delightful. Our team of 1,200+ Lemonade Makers make it possible for over 3M customers throughout the US, UK and Europe to get coverage instantly, with nearly half of claims paid in a matter of seconds. Powered by AI and social impact, Lemonade is a purpose-built, technology-first insurance carrier. A Certified B-Corp, our commitment to social impact is embedded in every aspect of the company, and our Giveback program, which donates a percentage of leftover premiums to nonprofits selected by our community, has donated over $10M to organizations in need.
Unity Software (NYSE:U | U Price Prediction) occupies a curious intersection: a strategic asset with a depressed valuation. Shares closed most recently at $30.68, down 30.5% year to date, giving the company a market cap of roughly $13.4 billion. Yet the underlying business is accelerating: Q1 2026 revenue reached $508.24 million, up 16.8% year over year, and Vector, the AI ad engine, was 80% larger than a year ago.
CEO Matt Bromberg was blunt on the Q1 call: “There is no company in the world better positioned to win in this marketplace than we are.” CFO Jarrod Yahes added that “there is a high threshold as we evaluate M&A opportunities.” Unity has signaled discipline on M&A, yet the assets, the Unity 6 engine, Unity Runtime behavioral data, Vector, and roughly 70% mobile game creation market share, make it a magnet for larger platforms.
4. Apple: The Longest Shot Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL), at a $317.31 share price and a $4.7 trillion market cap, has the cash. Vision Pro needs 3D content. But Apple prefers acqui-hires (i.e., buying a business primarily to recruit its talented employees), not $13 billion platform deals, and Unity’s ad business would clash with Apple’s privacy stance. Despite a strategic fit, cultural and regulatory friction dwarfs any strategic fit.
3. Microsoft: Regulatory Baggage Microsoft (NASDAQ:MSFT) has the financial firepower ($2.9 trillion market cap, 46.3% operating margin) and gaming rationale via Xbox. Satya Nadella’s $37 billion AI run rate gives him ad-tech logic too. Post-Activision antitrust scrutiny makes another mega gaming deal a slog.
2. Sony: The Natural Fit Sony (NYSE:SONY) is the intuitive buyer: PlayStation runs on developers who overwhelmingly use Unity. At a $20.68 share price, Sony has a $121.4 billion market cap, and its ¥500 billion buyback signals capital discipline. The obstacle is that swallowing a $13 billion U.S. software firm would be outside Sony’s typical M&A comfort zone.
1. Nvidia: The Strongest Case Nvidia (NASDAQ:NVDA) fits best. Omniverse, Isaac GR00T, and DRIVE Hyperion all need a real-time 3D engine and developer network. Nvidia’s $4.9 trillion market cap and 63% profit margin mean Unity represents a rounding error on Nvidia’s balance sheet. Jensen Huang says, “Agentic AI has arrived,” and Unity Runtime’s behavioral data would supercharge simulation and robotics training. Antitrust risk is lower than Microsoft’s, and the industrial logic is highest. (For readers tracking this theme, 24/7 Wall St.’s Next Nvidia Playbook report frames the broader compute-plus-content stack.)
Where Private Equity Fits A Thoma Bravo-style buyer could absorb Unity’s $403.9 million FY25 free cash flow and compress margins. But $2.15 billion in cash combined with a $2.24 billion convertible note stack complicates LBO math. PE ranks below Nvidia and Sony, roughly level with Microsoft, and ahead of Apple.
Act now: the analyst who called NVIDIA in 2010 just named his top 10 AI stocks — and Microsoft didn't make the cut. Grab the names FREE today.
Solis Minerals Ltd (ASX:SLM, TSX-V:SLMN, OTCQB:SLMFF) has kicked off diamond drilling at the Mandacaru Lithium Project in Brazil, targeting a coherent lithium-caesium-tantalum pegmatite system across an approximately 800-metre corridor.
The 10-hole, 2,000-metre program is designed to test the continuity and geometry of the pegmatites, as well as their potential to host spodumene mineralisation at depth.
Solis wholly owns Mandacaru, which lies within the prospective Araçuaí Lithium Valley in Minas Gerais, a major lithium province that hosts established producers and several advanced development projects.
Mandacaru proposed drill-hole collar locations and traces; over geochemistry results (previously released), mapped pegmatites and interpreted geochemistry contours.
Testing a defined lithium target Drilling will focus on zones where lithium, caesium, tantalum and beryllium geochemical anomalies overlap with mapped pegmatite outcrops and historical auger results.
Solis said caesium was a particularly important indicator because elevated values may point to advanced magmatic fractionation, a characteristic commonly associated with spodumene-bearing pegmatite systems.
The company has designed two drilling “fences” to provide coverage across the interpreted pegmatite trend, with individual holes expected to reach depths of about 200 metres.
Drill locations have been selected using geological mapping, soil and rock-chip geochemistry, auger drilling, structural interpretation and high-resolution drone imagery.
Rapid transition from acquisition The start of drilling follows Solis’ completion of transaction documents and payment of consideration for its Brazil Lithium Project, marking a rapid progression from acquisition to drill testing.
“Drilling has commenced at Mandacaru marking a rapid transition from acquisition to drill testing one of the most compelling lithium targets in our portfolio. A combination of LCT anomalies across a defined ~800-metre corridor, supported by mapping and auger drilling, provides a strong technical basis for this program. Shareholders can expect updates as we progress,” Chief executive officer Mitch Thomas said.
Solis noted that Mandacaru displays a geological signature comparable to the Colina Lithium Project, around 100 kilometres to the southwest, which was discovered by members of the management team now leading the company.
Expanding exploration across Brazil and Peru Alongside its Brazilian lithium campaign, Solis is preparing to resume copper exploration in Peru.
The company holds the drill-ready Cinto Copper Project outright and can earn up to 100% of the Cucho Copper Project. Both projects contain surface copper mineralisation and indicators of potential large-scale porphyry systems.
All government approvals required to drill the two Peruvian projects have been received.
Location of deposits with attributable Ore Reserves that are currently being mined or the subject of future development works.
What’s ahead Solis plans to complete the 10-hole Mandacaru program while providing updates as drilling progresses and geological information becomes available.
The board has also approved a 2,500-metre diamond drilling campaign at Cinto, scheduled to begin during the third quarter of 2026 and operate alongside the Brazilian program.
Further updates covering Cinto and progress at Cucho are expected during the quarter.
Key Takeaways Albemarle shares fell 25.5% in a month as weaker lithium prices pressured the stock.ALB is expanding lithium capacity, improving productivity and cutting costs to support growth.Albemarle expects lithium demand to witness a 10-20% CAGR from 2025 to 2030, led by storage. Albemarle Corporation’s (ALB - Free Report) shares have tumbled 25.5% in the past month, underperforming the Zacks Chemical - Diversified industry and the S&P 500’s declines of 6.7% and 0.1%, respectively.
Falling lithium market prices are weighing on the ALB stock lately. Lithium prices have pulled back amid slowing demand for electric vehicles (EVs) in China, an inventory glut and prospects of increased supply from mine restarts and capacity additions. EV orders have slowed in China, the world’s biggest lithium consumer, while demand in energy storage systems remains healthy.
Meanwhile, China’s battery giant Contemporary Amperex Technology Co., Limited (CATL) has reportedly secured a safety production permit to resume production at its Jianxiawo lithium mine, with operations expected to resume soon. CATL suspended operations at the mine in August 2025, following the expiry of its mining permit. Mineral Resources has also announced the restart of operations at its fully-owned Bald Hill lithium mine in Western Australia. The mine was placed on care and maintenance in November 2024 amid weak lithium market conditions.
ALB’s One-month Price Performance Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Reflecting the retreat in lithium prices, ALB stock broke below its 50-day simple moving average (SMA) on May 15, 2026. It also slipped below its 200-day SMA on June 23, 2026. Nonetheless, the 50-day SMA is reading higher than the 200-day SMA following a golden crossover on Sept. 3, 2025.
Albemarle Trades Below 50-Day SMA Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Let’s take a look at ALB’s fundamentals to analyze the stock better.
Growing Lithium Demand and Productivity Aid ALBAlbemarle is well-placed to gain from long-term growth in the battery-grade lithium market. The market for lithium batteries and energy storage remains strong, offering significant opportunities for the company to develop innovative products and expand capacity. Lithium demand is expected to grow on the back of significant global EV penetration.
ALB expects lithium demand to witness a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 10-20% from 2025 to 2030. Stationary storage is expected to be a significant driver for lithium demand along with EVs. Albemarle expects demand to grow roughly 15-40% this year. Demand indicators stayed positive in the first quarter of 2026, with global Energy Storage Systems production rising 117% year over year.
The company is strategically executing its projects aimed at boosting its global lithium conversion capacity. It remains focused on investing in high-return projects to drive productivity. Healthy customer demand, capacity expansion and plant productivity improvements are supporting its volumes. ALB saw higher sales volumes (up 14% year over year) in its Energy Storage unit in the first quarter on the strength of its integrated conversion facilities.
The Salar yield improvement project in Chile has achieved a 50% operating rate, and the ramp-up continues to deliver encouraging outcomes. ALB has started the environmental permitting process for a commercial direct lithium extraction project at Salar de Atacama. The ramp-up at the Meishan lithium conversion facility in China is also progressing ahead of schedule.
Albemarle is taking aggressive cost-saving and productivity actions. The company delivered roughly $450 million in cost and productivity improvements for full-year 2025, having surpassed its initial target of $300-$400 million. It expects additional cost and productivity improvements of $100-$150 million in 2026, with $40 million already delivered this year. ALB is taking actions to maintain its competitive position, including the initiation of a comprehensive review of cost and operating structure, optimization of the conversion network and reduction of capital expenditure.
ALB’s Strong Financial Health Supports Capital AllocationAlbemarle remains committed to driving shareholder value by leveraging healthy cash flows and strong liquidity. Its operating cash flow was around $1.3 billion in 2025, up roughly 86% from the prior-year period. At the end of the first quarter, ALB had liquidity of around $2.7 billion, including cash and cash equivalents of around $1.1 billion. ALB generated an operating cash flow of $346 million and free cash flow of $248 million in the quarter.
The company paid down $1.3 billion of outstanding debt in March 2026, reducing annual interest expense by roughly $60 million. This followed the successful divestments of the controlling stake in Ketjen and its 50% interest in the Eurecat joint venture, which together generated $670 million in pre-tax proceeds.
The company remains focused on maintaining its dividend payout. It has raised its quarterly dividend for the 30th straight year. ALB offers a dividend yield of 1.3% at the current stock price. Its peers, Sociedad Quimica y Minera de Chile S.A. (SQM - Free Report) and Rio Tinto Group (RIO - Free Report) , have a dividend yield of 3.6% and 5.6%, respectively.
ALB’s Earnings Estimates NorthboundThe Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2026 for ALB has been revised upward over the past 60 days. The consensus estimate for second-quarter 2026 has been going up over the same time frame.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2026 earnings is currently pegged at $13.06, suggesting a year-over-year increase of 1,735.2%. Earnings are expected to increase roughly 2,818.2% in the second quarter.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
A Look at ALB’s ValuationALB is currently trading at a forward price-to-sales ratio of 2.34, above the industry’s 0.88. It is trading at a modest discount to Sociedad Quimica and at a premium to Rio Tinto. Both Albemarle and Sociedad Quimica currently have a Value Score of C, while Rio Tinto has a Value Score of B.
ALB’s P/S F12M Vs. Industry, SQM and RIO Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
How Should Investors Play ALB Stock?Albemarle is gaining from increased lithium volumes, supported by project ramp-ups, ongoing efforts to expand its global lithium conversion capacity and productivity improvement initiatives. The company remains well-positioned to benefit from the long-term expansion of the battery-grade lithium market. Robust growth prospects and rising earnings estimates are some other positives. Although ALB trades at a premium valuation, its strong fundamentals and earnings growth potential justify the higher multiple. Notwithstanding the recent pullback in lithium prices, we advise investors to bet on this Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) stock now, as it has solid earnings growth prospects.
You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
