Track market-moving stories before they get noisy

IONQ's growth hinges on delivering its 256-qubit roadmap on schedule as chip milestones, presales and customer deployments shape recurring revenues.

Key Takeaways Alaska Air is set to report Q2 results on July 21, with revenues estimated at $4.09 billion. Passenger revenues are projected to rise 9.8%, supported by stabilizing domestic travel demand. Geopolitical uncertainty, tariffs and inflation may pressure traffic. yields and revenue growth. Alaska Air Group (ALK - Free Report) is scheduled to report second-quarter 2026 results on July 21, after market close.

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for ALK’s second-quarter 2026 earnings per share has been revised downward by 4.30% in the past 60 days to 97 cents. The consensus mark implies a more than 100% decline from the year-ago actuals. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for ALK’s second-quarter 2026 revenues is pegged at $4.09 billion, indicating 10.6% growth year over year.

ALK has a mixed earnings surprise history, having outperformed the Zacks Consensus Estimate in two of the preceding four quarters and missing twice in the remaining, delivering an average beat of 73.8%.

Let’s see how things have shaped up for ALK this earnings season.

Factors Likely to Have Influenced ALK’s Q2 PerformanceWe expect ALK's performance in the to-be-reported quarter to have been boosted by an uptick in total revenues, driven by high passenger revenues, as domestic air-travel demand stabilizes.

Strong passenger traffic during the holiday travel period likely supported top-line growth in the to-be-reported quarter. Our model projects passenger revenues to have increased 9.8% year over year in the second quarter of 2026. Additionally, we estimate cargo and other revenues at $185.1 million, representing a 33.2% increase from the prior-year period.

On the contrary, geopolitical uncertainty, tariff-related pressures and persistent inflation are likely to have weighed on ALK’s operations. These headwinds might have caused volatility in passenger traffic and, in turn, limited the airline’s ability to maintain strong yields and consistent revenue growth.

What Our Model Says About ALKOur proven model does not conclusively predict an earnings beat for ALK this time. The combination of a positive Earnings ESP and a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), 2 (Buy) or 3 (Hold) increases the odds of an earnings beat. However, that’s not the case here.

ALK has an Earnings ESP of -0.88% and a Zacks Rank #3 at present. You can uncover the best stocks to buy or sell before they’re reported with our Earnings ESP Filter.

Highlights of ALK’s Q1 EarningsALK reported a wider-than-expected loss in the first-quarter of 2026. Revenues edged past the Zacks Consensus Estimate. The company reported a loss of $1.68 per share, wider than the Zacks Consensus Estimate of a loss of $1.61. In the year-ago quarter, ALK reported a loss of 77 cents per share.

Meanwhile, operating revenues of $3.30 billion beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $3.27 billion. Total revenues jumped 5.2% year over year, with passenger revenues accounting for 88.5% of the top line and increasing 4% to $2.92 billion, but missing our model estimate of $2.96 billion.

Stocks to ConsiderHere are a few stocks from the broader Zacks Transportation sector that investors may consider, as our model shows that these have the right combination of elements to beat on earnings this reporting cycle.

Expeditors International of Washington (EXPD - Free Report)  has an Earnings ESP of +2.18% and a Zacks Rank #2 at present. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.

EXPD is set to report second-quarter 2026 earnings on Aug. 4. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Expeditors’ second-quarter 2026 earnings has been revised 1.26% upward over the past 60 days. EXPD’s earnings beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate in each of the preceding four quarters, delivering an average beat of 13.96%.

Schneider National (SNDR - Free Report) has an Earnings ESP of +3.76% and a Zacks Rank #3 at present. SNDR is scheduled to report second-quarter 2026 earnings on July 30.

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for second-quarter 2026 earnings has been revised downwards by 4.35% over the past 60 days to 22 cents. SNDR’s earnings beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate in one of the preceding four quarters (missing the mark twice and met the mark once in the remaining three quarters). The average miss is 17.97%.

Have you been searching for a stock that might be well-positioned to maintain its earnings-beat streak in its upcoming report? It is worth considering Virtu Financial (VIRT - Free Report) , which belongs to the Zacks Financial - Miscellaneous Services industry.

This high-speed trading company has seen a nice streak of beating earnings estimates, especially when looking at the previous two reports. The average surprise for the last two quarters was 39.74%.

For the last reported quarter, Virtu Financial came out with earnings of $2.24 per share versus the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.66 per share, representing a surprise of 34.94%. For the previous quarter, the company was expected to post earnings of $1.28 per share and it actually produced earnings of $1.85 per share, delivering a surprise of 44.53%.

Price and EPS Surprise

With this earnings history in mind, recent estimates have been moving higher for Virtu Financial. In fact, the Zacks Earnings ESP (Expected Surprise Prediction) for the company is positive, which is a great sign of an earnings beat, especially when you combine this metric with its nice Zacks Rank.

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

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

Virtu Financial currently has an Earnings ESP of +22.45%, which suggests that analysts have recently become bullish on the company's earnings prospects. This positive Earnings ESP when combined with the stock's Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) indicates that another beat is possibly around the corner. We expect the company's next earnings report to be released on July 30, 2026.

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

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

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

Investors seek growth stocks to capitalize on above-average growth in financials that help these securities grab the market's attention and produce exceptional returns. But finding a growth stock that can live up to its true potential can be a tough task.

That's because, these stocks usually carry above-average risk and volatility. In fact, betting on a stock for which the growth story is actually over or nearing its end could lead to significant loss.

However, it's pretty easy to find cutting-edge growth stocks with the help of the Zacks Growth Style Score (part of the Zacks Style Scores system), which looks beyond the traditional growth attributes to analyze a company's real growth prospects.

Our proprietary system currently recommends Five Below (FIVE - Free Report) as one such stock. This company not only has a favorable Growth Score, but also carries a top Zacks Rank.

Studies have shown that stocks with the best growth features consistently outperform the market. And for stocks that have a combination of a Growth Score of A or B and a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) or 2 (Buy), returns are even better.

Here are three of the most important factors that make the stock of this discount retailer a great growth pick right now.

Earnings GrowthEarnings growth is arguably the most important factor, as stocks exhibiting exceptionally surging profit levels tend to attract the attention of most investors. For growth investors, double-digit earnings growth is highly preferable, as it is often perceived as an indication of strong prospects (and stock price gains) for the company under consideration.

While the historical EPS growth rate for Five Below is 8.5%, investors should actually focus on the projected growth. The company's EPS is expected to grow 35% this year, crushing the industry average, which calls for EPS growth of 6.3%.

Cash Flow GrowthWhile cash is the lifeblood of any business, higher-than-average cash flow growth is more important and beneficial for growth-oriented companies than for mature companies. That's because, growth in cash flow enables these companies to expand their businesses without depending on expensive outside funds.

Right now, year-over-year cash flow growth for Five Below is 26.2%, which is higher than many of its peers. In fact, the rate compares to the industry average of 3.6%.

While investors should actually consider the current cash flow growth, it's worth taking a look at the historical rate too for putting the current reading into proper perspective. The company's annualized cash flow growth rate has been 24.5% over the past 3-5 years versus the industry average of 5.1%.

Promising Earnings Estimate RevisionsSuperiority of a stock in terms of the metrics outlined above can be further validated by looking at the trend in earnings estimate revisions. A positive trend is of course favorable here. Empirical research shows that there is a strong correlation between trends in earnings estimate revisions and near-term stock price movements.

The current-year earnings estimates for Five Below have been revising upward. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for the current year has surged 0.5% over the past month.

Bottom LineFive Below has not only earned a Growth Score of A based on a number of factors, including the ones discussed above, but it also carries a Zacks Rank #1 because of the positive earnings estimate revisions.

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

This combination indicates that Five Below is a potential outperformer and a solid choice for growth investors.

Key Takeaways Teradyne's AI chip testing demand and product expansion support a stronger upside than KLAC. TER expects Q2 2026 revenues of $1.15B-$1.25B as AI-related demand fuels semiconductor test growth. KLAC sees advanced packaging growth, but export controls, tariffs and margin pressures remain headwinds. Teradyne (TER - Free Report) and KLA Corporation (KLAC - Free Report) are major players in the AI Infrastructure market. While Teradyne focuses on automated test equipment essential for validating high-performance AI chips, KLA provides advanced process control and inspection solutions that enable manufacturers to produce increasingly complex semiconductors used in AI data centers and applications.

Per an IDC report, global AI infrastructure spending reached a record $318 billion in 2025, more than doubling year over year, and is projected to exceed $1 trillion by 2029. According to Gartner, in 2026, the worldwide AI spending is expected to reach $2.59 trillion, representing 47% year-over-year growth. This rapid growth is expected to have been driven primarily by technology vendors and hyperscale cloud providers that are expanding AI infrastructure to meet rising demand for generative AI and agentic AI applications. Both Teradyne and KLA are expected to benefit from this rapid growth pace.

So, TER or KLAC — Which of these AI Infrastructure stocks has the greater upside potential? Let’s find out.

The Case for TER StockTeradyne is benefiting from the growing demand for AI infrastructure, which is driving robust growth across its semiconductor test and robotics divisions. In the first quarter of 2026, the Semiconductor Test (SemiTest) segment alone generated $1.1 billion in revenues, breaking the $1 billion threshold for the first time and more than doubling year over year. This segment saw a 26% sequential increase and more than a 100% year-over-year increase.

Growth is largely attributed to the accelerating demand for AI and data center technologies, with AI-related demand accounting for nearly 70% of Teradyne’s revenues in the first quarter of 2026, up from about 60% in the previous quarter.

The company’s product innovation is supporting its growth. Teradyne’s introductions, such as the Photon 100 platform for silicon photonics and co-packaged optics testing and the Omnyx production board test platform, address critical needs in AI data center build-outs. The Photon 100 is expected to contribute to a TAM expansion opportunity that could reach $300 million to $700 million per year over the midterm.

The Case for KLAC StockKLA continues to benefit from AI-driven spending in leading-edge foundry/logic, high-bandwidth memory and advanced packaging, supporting market share gains in process control and steady services growth that anchors cash generation.

A key factor behind KLAC’s success is its leadership in process control for advanced wafer-level packaging. In 2025, KLAC achieved the #1 position in this segment, and its process control product portfolio revenues for advanced packaging are expected to grow from approximately $635 million in 2025 to about $1 billion in 2026. This reflects accelerating customer adoption as AI drives demand for more complex packaging and integration.

KLAC’s management is confident about ongoing growth. They noted strong demand from customers and a solid sales funnel. The company expects the wafer equipment market to surpass $140 billion in 2026, with even greater growth anticipated for 2027. KLAC’s role is increasing in all areas of semiconductor manufacturing. Process control needs are growing due to the complexity of AI chips and advanced packaging.

Price Performance and Valuation of TER and KLACIn the trailing 12-month period, shares of Teradyne and KLAC have appreciated 277.6% and 151.1%, respectively. The outperformance in Teradyne stock can be attributed to strong AI-related demand, which is driving significant investments in cloud AI build-out as customers accelerate production of a wide range of AI accelerators, networking, memory and power devices.

Despite KLAC’s dominant process control market share, strong AI infrastructure investment and strong momentum in advanced packaging, the company’s prospects suffer from export control and tariff uncertainty, customer concentration and gross margin sensitivity to elevated DRAM-related system costs expected to persist through at least 2026.

TER and KLAC Stock Performance
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

Valuation-wise, Teradyne and KLA shares are currently overvalued, as suggested by a Value Score of D and F, respectively.

In terms of forward 12-month Price/Sales, TER shares are trading at 11.24X, lower than KLA’s 17.47X.

TER and KLAC Valuation
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

How Do Earnings Estimates Compare for TER & KLAC?The Zacks Consensus Estimate for TER’s 2026 earnings is pegged at $7.20 per share, which has increased 1.55% over the past 30 days. This indicates an 81.82% increase year over year.

However, the Zacks’ Consensus Estimate for KLAC’s fiscal 2026 earnings is pegged at $3.71 per share, which has been unchanged over the past 30 days. This indicates a 11.41% increase year over year.

Teradyne’s earnings beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate in all the trailing four quarters, delivering an average surprise of 17.05%. KLAC’s earnings beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate in all the trailing four quarters, delivering an average surprise of 3.99%. The average surprise of Teradyne is higher than that of KLA.

ConclusionWhile both Teradyne and KLA stand to benefit from the booming AI Infrastructure market, Teradyne offers a greater upside potential due to its robust, diversified portfolio, which meets the rising demand for AI-driven technologies and stronger earnings momentum.

While KLAC remains a high-quality AI infrastructure company, its ongoing geopolitical and margin headwinds may temper returns in the near term.

Currently, Teradyne carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy), making the stock a stronger pick than KLA, which has a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy)  stocks here.

SK Hynix stock slumped in its first full day of U.S. trading as jitters continued to weigh on chip and memory stocks.

Key Takeaways Brown & Brown benefits from higher commissions, strong retention and rate increases across insurance lines.Accession integration and ongoing acquisitions continue to expand scale and drive revenue growth. BRO's diversified business mix and strong cash generation support acquisitions and shareholder returns. Shares of Brown & Brown, Inc. (BRO - Free Report) have lost 37.3% in the past year compared with the industry’s 27.9% decline.

The decline reflects slowing organic revenue growth, margin pressure from higher expenses, valuation compression, and concerns that a softer insurance pricing environment could slow premium and commission growth. Despite these factors, the company's strong client retention, new business generation and acquisitions remain intact. Recovery depends on improving earnings growth, stronger insurance market conditions and margin stabilization.

Shares of other insurers like Aon plc. (AON - Free Report) , Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. (AJG - Free Report) and Willis Towers Watson Public Limited Company (WTW - Free Report) have lost 0.8%, 19.7% and 6.3%, respectively, over the past year.

1-Year Price Performance - BRO, AON, AJG, WTW & Industry 
 

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

BRO’s Average Target Price Suggests UpsideBased on short-term price targets offered by 16 analysts, the Zacks average price target is $74.25 per share. The average suggests a potential 9.7% upside from the last closing price.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

BRO’s ValuationShares of Brown & Brown are trading at a discount compared with the Zacks Brokerage Insurance industry. Its forward price-to-earnings multiple of 14.39X is lower than the industry average of 16.35X. It currently carries a Value Score of C.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

BRO’s Growth ProjectionThe Zacks Consensus Estimate for Brown & Brown’s 2026 earnings per share (EPS) indicates a year-over-year increase of 5.9%. The consensus estimate for revenues is pegged at $7.10 billion, implying a year-over-year improvement of 20.3%. The consensus estimate for 2027 EPS and revenues indicates increases of 8.2% and 5.2%, respectively, from the corresponding 2026 estimates.

Earnings have grown 19.2% in the past five years, better than the industry average of 13.9%. The expected long-term earnings growth rate is 4.8%.

Muted Analyst Sentiment on BROThe Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2026 earnings remained unchanged, while 2027 earnings moved 0.2% south in the last 30 days.

Factors That Benefit BROCommissions and fees, the main component of the top line, benefit from increasing new business, strong retention, and ongoing rate rises across most lines of coverage, supporting recurring revenue and earnings visibility. The company surpassed its intermediate annual revenue target of $4 billion in 2024 and now targets $8 billion in revenues. Last year, its revenues reached $5.9 billion. Additionally, strong contingent commission income supports earnings growth, with contingent commissions increasing $54 million in the first quarter of 2026, including a $22 million contribution from the Accession acquisition.

Brown & Brown’s strategic buyouts help it capitalize on growing market opportunities, strengthen its products and service portfolio, expand global reach and accelerate growth rate. From 1993 through the first quarter of 2026, Brown & Brown acquired 725 insurance intermediary operations. Brown & Brown's growth continues to be driven by the successful integration of the Accession acquisition, which significantly expanded the company's scale and contributed approximately $445 million in first-quarter revenues, helping total revenues rise 35.4% year over year.

The company operates across Retail and Specialty Distribution businesses, providing broad exposure to multiple insurance markets. Revenues from the retail segment have contributed a lion’s share to the company’s total revenues. In the first quarter of 2026, retail revenues increased 33.4% year over year, while Specialty Distribution revenues rose 40%. The balanced contribution from multiple business lines reduces reliance on any single product line.

The company also benefits from robust cash generation and disciplined capital allocation. While BRO effectively deploys cash towards acquisitions and capital expenditure, it also distributes wealth to shareholders via dividend increases. The company has an annualized dividend growth rate of 13.2% over the past five years.

HeadwindsBrown & Brown has been experiencing rising expenses due to higher employee compensation and benefits, amortization, other operating expenses and interest expense. These factors are creating pressure on margins despite revenue growth.

BRO's expanding international operations expose it to foreign currency, regulatory and economic risks across global markets. Additionally, rising debt levels from acquisition-driven growth are increasing interest expenses.

Profitability metrics also lag industry levels. Brown & Brown’s return on equity is 12.9%, well below the industry average of 18.8%.

ConclusionBRO’s commission growth, new business, strong retention, strategic buyouts, diversified brokerage platform and impressive dividend history position the company well for growth. Its robust capital position, favorable estimates, and cheap valuation are other positives. However, international expansion risks, unfavorable ROE, rising expenses, and debt levels are the headwinds.

Therefore, it is wise to adopt a wait-and-see approach on this Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) stock. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.

Ally Financial Names Mark Mathewson Chief Information and Data Officer PR Newswire DETROIT, July 13, 2026

Key Takeaways Amkor is benefiting from rising semiconductor content in premium smartphones powered by on-device AI.AMKR expects Q2 communications revenues to rise mid to high single digits sequentially.Amkor sees premium smartphones, AI, HPC and automotive supporting long-term packaging demand. Amkor Technology (AMKR - Free Report) continues to draw strength from resilient premium smartphone demand, a trend that is directly benefiting its communications business. As device makers pack in more on-device AI, higher-performance application processors, upgraded camera systems, and more advanced 5G connectivity, semiconductor content per handset keeps climbing. This rising complexity is fueling demand for advanced packaging solutions, a space where Amkor is well-positioned to capture growth. The communications segment posted 42% year over year revenue growth in the first quarter of 2026, and management expects sequential growth in the mid to high single digits for the second quarter, reflecting sustained momentum across premium iOS and Android devices.

Amkor's packaging portfolio adds further weight to this opportunity. The company supports application processors, modems, RF front-end modules, memory, sensors and system-in-package solutions, giving it broad exposure across the components that define premium smartphone performance. Semiconductor content in premium smartphones is expected to rise from around $225 currently to nearly $400 over the next several years, driven by richer AI functionality and deeper integration. This expansion should widen Amkor's addressable market and reinforce long-term demand for its advanced packaging technologies.

Premium smartphones are expected to remain a key growth driver for Amkor, supported by its wide reach across leading smartphone platforms and differentiated packaging capabilities. Combined with expanding opportunities in AI, high-performance computing and automotive applications, this positions Amkor to sustain its growth trajectory, with premium smartphone demand set to remain a steady tailwind ahead.

How Amkor Stacks Up Against PeersAmkor is benefiting from the growing semiconductor content in premium smartphones, a trend that is also supporting peers ASE Technology (ASX - Free Report) and Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSM - Free Report) .

ASE Technology continues to expand its advanced system in package and flip chip solutions to support increasingly sophisticated flagship smartphones, while Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company is scaling advanced packaging capacity for next-generation smartphone application processors. Like ASE Technology and Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Amkor is well positioned to benefit as smartphone manufacturers integrate more AI features, advanced processors and enhanced connectivity into premium devices. Continued investments by ASX and TSM highlight the robust demand outlook for advanced packaging in premium smartphones, reinforcing Amkor's long-term growth opportunity.

AMKR’s Share Price Performance, Valuation & EstimatesAmkor shares have surged 78.5% in the year-to-date period compared with the Zacks Electronics - Semiconductors industry’s appreciation of 50.3% and the Zacks Computer and Technology sector’s return of 17%.

AMKR’s Price Performance
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

Amkor stock is trading at a forward 12-month price/sales of 2.2X compared with the industry’s 9.33X. AMKR has a Value Score of C.

AMKR’s Valuation
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for AMKR’s second-quarter 2026 earnings is pegged at 47 cents per share, indicating growth of 113.64% year over year.

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

Investors interested in stocks from the Transportation - Truck sector have probably already heard of ArcBest (ARCB) and Saia (SAIA). But which of these two stocks presents investors with the better value opportunity right now?

Hungry Howie's and DoorDash Partner to Create a More Seamless Digital Ordering and Loyalty Experience PR Newswire

If you are looking for a stock that has a solid history of beating earnings estimates and is in a good position to maintain the trend in its next quarterly report, you should consider Ametek (AME - Free Report) . This company, which is in the Zacks Electronics - Testing Equipment industry, shows potential for another earnings beat.

This maker of electronic instruments and electromechanical devices has an established record of topping earnings estimates, especially when looking at the previous two reports. The company boasts an average surprise for the past two quarters of 3.65%.

For the most recent quarter, Ametek was expected to post earnings of $1.9 per share, but it reported $1.97 per share instead, representing a surprise of 3.68%. For the previous quarter, the consensus estimate was $1.94 per share, while it actually produced $2.01 per share, a surprise of 3.61%.

Price and EPS Surprise

With this earnings history in mind, recent estimates have been moving higher for Ametek. In fact, the Zacks Earnings ESP (Expected Surprise Prediction) for the company is positive, which is a great sign of an earnings beat, especially when you combine this metric with its nice Zacks Rank.

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

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

Ametek currently has an Earnings ESP of +0.39%, which suggests that analysts have recently become bullish on the company's earnings prospects. This positive Earnings ESP when combined with the stock's Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) indicates that another beat is possibly around the corner.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Set to Beat the Market? In order to see if PARR is a promising momentum pick, let's examine some Momentum Style elements to see if this independent oil and gas company holds up.

Looking at a stock's short-term price activity is a great way to gauge if it has momentum, since this can reflect both the current interest in a stock and if buyers or sellers have the upper hand at the moment. It's also helpful to compare a security to its industry; this can show investors the best companies in a particular area.

For PARR, shares are up 12.46% over the past week while the Zacks Oil and Gas - Refining and Marketing industry is up 6.35% over the same time period. Shares are looking quite well from a longer time frame too, as the monthly price change of 17.84% compares favorably with the industry's 4.97% performance as well.

While any stock can see a spike in price, it takes a real winner to consistently outperform the market. Over the past quarter, shares of Par Petroleum have risen 14.74%, and are up 87.62% in the last year. In comparison, the S&P 500 has only moved 11.35% and 21.86%, respectively.

Investors should also take note of PARR's average 20-day trading volume. Volume is a useful item in many ways, and the 20-day average establishes a good price-to-volume baseline; a rising stock with above average volume is generally a bullish sign, whereas a declining stock on above average volume is typically bearish. Right now PARR is averaging 877,325 shares for the last 20 days..

Earnings OutlookThe Zacks Momentum Style Score also takes into account trends in estimate revisions, in addition to price changes. Please note that estimate revision trends remain at the core of Zacks Rank as well. A nice path here can help show promise, and we have recently been seeing that with PARR.

Over the past two months, 4 earnings estimates moved higher compared to none lower for the full year. These revisions helped boost PARR's consensus estimate, increasing from $13.72 to $16.92 in the past 60 days. Looking at the next fiscal year, 3 estimates have moved upwards while there have been no downward revisions in the same time period.

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

SEATTLE--(BUSINESS WIRE)--F5 (NASDAQ: FFIV), the global leader in delivering and securing every app and API, today announced the appointment of Cathy Peterman as Executive Vice President and Chief People Officer. Peterman joins F5’s executive leadership team reporting to Chairman, President and CEO, François Locoh-Donou. In this role, she will lead F5’s global people strategy, driving talent development, organizational design, and culture as the company continues to evolve and strengthen its leadership position in AI and cybersecurity.

“Cathy brings a rare combination of strategic depth and genuine humanity that will raise the bar for how we invest in our people,” said Locoh-Donou. “She and I share a reverence for culture and its impact on driving sustained results. That shared vision will be key as we seize the opportunity in front of us, both in how we work and how we serve our customers.”

Peterman brings 20 years of experience scaling complex technology organizations and guiding enterprises through transformative change. She joins F5 from Wayfair, where she served as Chief People Officer for the company’s technology organization. Additionally, she drove AI transformation and talent development for all 11,000 of the company’s global employees. Prior to Wayfair, Peterman spent six years at Amazon driving talent strategy across three distinct businesses supporting more than 40,000 employees. She held HR leadership roles spanning Amazon Advertising, Amazon Devices, Prime Video & Studios, and Physical Stores.

Her expertise spans enterprise talent development, organizational design, executive compensation strategy, and leveraging AI to accelerate both operational efficiency and human potential. Throughout her career, she has designed and executed large-scale workforce transformations, M&A integrations, and global expansion strategies.

“From my very first conversations, I recognized a company that treats talent and culture as a core strategy rather than a support function,” said Peterman. “It’s rare to find a mature technology company that has continually evolved while maintaining a fierce commitment to putting people first. It’s that powerful combination of growth ambition and human-first leadership that has me thrilled to join this exceptional team and partner with all F5ers to create an environment where everyone can do the best work of their career.”

Peterman holds a BA from Villanova University and an MA from the University of Denver. She is based in Seattle, F5’s corporate headquarters.

About F5

F5, Inc. (NASDAQ: FFIV) is the global leader that delivers and secures every app. Backed by three decades of expertise, F5 has built the industry’s premier platform—F5 Application Delivery and Security Platform (ADSP)—to deliver and secure every app, every API, anywhere: on-premises, in the cloud, at the edge, and across hybrid, multicloud environments. F5 is committed to innovating and partnering with the world’s largest and most advanced organizations to deliver fast, available, and secure digital experiences. Together, we help each other thrive and bring a better digital world to life.

For more information visit f5.com
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Source: F5, Inc.

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Key Takeaways SIGI is prioritizing underwriting profitability, with solid combined ratios in E&S and Personal Lines. SIGI is expanding Standard Commercial Lines, and benefiting from higher net investment income. AI investments are improving underwriting, while disciplined capital returns support shareholder value. Shares of Selective Insurance Group, Inc. (SIGI - Free Report) closed at $95.93 on Friday, near its 52-week high of $100.40. This proximity underscores investor confidence. It has the ingredients for further price appreciation. The stock is trading above the 50-day and 200-day simple moving averages (SMA) of $90.07 and $83.22, respectively, indicating solid upward momentum. SMA is a widely used technical analysis tool to predict future price trends by analyzing historical price data.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

SIGI is an OutperformerShares of Selective Insurance have gained 9.3% in the past year, outperforming the industry’s growth of 5.2%. 

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

Selective Insurance has outperformed its peers, including NMI Holdings Inc. (NMIH - Free Report) , W.R. Berkley Corporation (WRB - Free Report) and RLI Corp. (RLI - Free Report) . Shares of NMIH and WRB have gained 7.8% and 3.9%, respectively, while RLI has lost 14.4% in the past year.

SIGI’s Growth Projection EncouragesThe Zacks Consensus Estimate for Selective Insurance’s 2026 earnings per share indicates a year-over-year increase of 5.8%. The consensus estimate for revenues is pegged at $5.50 billion, implying a year-over-year improvement of 3.1%. The consensus estimate for 2027 earnings per share and revenues indicates an increase of 13.3% and 3.1%, respectively, from the 2026 estimates.

Optimistic Analyst Sentiment for SIGITwo of the five analysts covering the stock have raised estimates for both 2026 and 2027 over the past 30 days. Thus, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2026 and 2027 earnings has moved north 0.6% and 0.3%, respectively, over the past 60 days.

SIGI’s Favorable Return on EquityReturn on equity in the trailing-12 months was 13.7%, better than the industry average of 7.4%. This highlights the company’s efficiency in utilizing shareholders’ funds.

Factors Favoring SIGI StockSIGI continues to prioritize underwriting profitability over aggressive premium growth. Strong performance in the Excess & Surplus (“E&S”) segment, with a combined ratio of 89.5% in first-quarter 2026, and improved Personal Lines profitability, with a combined ratio of 92.8%, highlights the benefits of disciplined underwriting and selective risk retention. Management is selectively retaining its best-performing accounts while reducing exposure to underperforming businesses.

SIGI continues to raise renewal rates to address elevated loss-cost trends. The company achieved renewal price increases of nearly 10% in general liability over the past seven quarters, well above industry averages. In commercial auto liability, it witnessed pure price increases of almost 12% in the first quarter. Management believes these rate increases position the company to offset social inflation and improve long-term underwriting profitability.

Selective Insurance is steadily expanding its Standard Commercial Lines business toward a near-national footprint, now operating in 36 states and the District of Columbia. This growth is driven by an agent-based model with around 1,680 partners across 2,940 offices, supporting geographic diversification and more stable, cycle-resilient premium growth.

Higher net investment income continues to support earnings growth. After-tax net investment income increased 18% year over year in the first quarter, benefiting from favorable yields and a conservatively positioned investment portfolio. Selective Insurance expects after-tax net investment income of $465 million in 2026. Strong and reliable returns from its growing fixed-income portfolio, supported by higher returns from its short-term investments, are likely to drive the metric.

Selective Insurance is also investing heavily in artificial intelligence and technology capabilities to enhance underwriting, claims processing and risk management. AI tools have already processed more than 0.5 million claims-related documents, while a significant portion of the company's 2026 strategic technology spending is focused on improving risk selection and pricing accuracy.

Selective Insurance continues to return capital through dividends and repurchases while keeping flexibility for underwriting and investment opportunities. The company continues to prioritize profitable growth and aims to return 20-25% of earnings to shareholders through dividends.

ConclusionWhile Selective Insurance remains well-positioned to gain from strong renewals, favorable E&S lines marketplace conditions and higher income earned on fixed-income securities portfolio, challenges facing the company, such as exposure to catastrophe losses, rising competition and social inflation, can drive earnings volatility.

SIGI should benefit from favorable growth estimates, higher ROE, optimistic analyst sentiment and prudent capital deployment.
Coupled with an impressive dividend history, solid growth projections, favorable ROE and optimistic analyst sentiment, the time appears right for potential investors to bet on this Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) insurer. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.

Selective Insurance also has a VGM Score of A. Stocks with a favorable VGM Score are those with the most attractive value, best growth and most promising momentum compared with peers. Its impressive dividend history as well as attractive valuations are other positives. Back-tested results show that stocks with a VGM Score of A or B, when combined with a Zacks Rank #1 or 2, offer the best opportunities in the value investing space.

Top national homebuilder offering modern 3- and 4-bedrooms homes from the high $200s in Sanford, NC

, /PRNewswire/ -- Century Communities, Inc. (NYSE: CCS)—a top national homebuilder, industry leader in online home sales, and featured on America's Most Trustworthy Companies by Newsweek—announced that West Pointe, a new community by the Company's Century Complete brand, is bringing new 3- and 4-bedroom floor plans on large homesites to the sought-after Triangle area. Boasting a prime location with USDA eligibility, new homes at the community are attractively priced from the high $200s.

Cabot Plan Exterior Rendering | New Homes in Sanford, NC | West Pointe by Century Complete Learn more and explore available homes at www.CenturyCommunities.com/WestPointeNC.

"We're excited to introduce a distinctive community that provides homebuyers with choice, value, and modern design in a desirable Sanford location," said Dave Hodgman, National President of Century Complete. "With West Pointe now selling, buyers have the opportunity to secure their preferred homesite and take advantage of available savings during our Wish to Wow July sales event."

Floor plans offer large homesites and range from approximately 1,684 to 2,014 square feet, with 3 to 4 bedrooms and 2 to 3 bathrooms. Homes are designed with open-concept layouts and include features such as quartz countertops, Kohler® water fixtures, LG® stainless-steel appliances, luxury vinyl plank flooring, and spacious primary suites with walk-in closets. Residents enjoy a basketball court, pickleball courts, and a recreational field.

WEST POINTE | SANFORD, NC
Now selling from the upper $200s

One- and two-story floor plans Summer move-ins available 1,684 to 2,014 square feet, 3 to 4 bedrooms, 2 to 3 bathrooms Two-car attached garages Community amenities include basketball courts, pickleball courts, and a recreation field Easy access to Raleigh, Durham, and regional employment centers Near revitalized arts and entertainment district in downtown Sanford Location:
203 Hillwood Drive
Sanford, NC 27332
336.889.0095

VISIT OUR SALES STUDIO
While our state-of-the-art online homebuying process allows you to buy on your terms—24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year—we also offer in-person assistance from local experts at our Sales Studio.

High Point Studio
1225 Eastchester Drive
High Point, NC 27265
336.889.0095

THE FREEDOM OF ONLINE HOMEBUYING

Century Complete is proud to feature its industry-first online homebuying experience on all available homes in North Carolina, allowing homebuyers to easily find their best fit and purchase when they're ready—all while continuing to work with their local real estate agent of choice. Homebuyers can further streamline the homebuying process by financing online with Century Complete's affiliate lender, Inspire Home Loans®.

How it works:

Shop homes at CenturyCommunities.com Click "Buy Now" on any available home Fill out a quick Buy Online form Electronically submit an initial earnest money deposit Electronically sign a purchase contract via DocuSign® Learn more about the Buy Online experience at www.CenturyCommunities.com/online-homebuying.

About Century Communities
Century Communities, Inc. (NYSE: CCS) is one of the nation's largest homebuilders and a recognized industry leader in online home sales. Newsweek has named the Company one of America's Most Trustworthy Companies for four consecutive years. Century Communities has also been designated as one of U.S. News & World Report's Best Companies to Work For (2025–2026). Through its Century Communities and Century Complete brands, Century's mission is to build attractive, high-quality homes at affordable prices to provide its valued customers with A HOME FOR EVERY DREAM®. Century is engaged in all aspects of homebuilding — including the acquisition, entitlement and development of land, along with the construction, innovative marketing and sale of quality homes designed to appeal to a wide range of homebuyers. The Company operates in 16 states and over 45 markets across the U.S., and also offers mortgage, title, insurance brokerage, and escrow services in select markets through its Inspire Home Loans, Parkway Title, IHL Home Insurance Agency, and IHL Escrow subsidiaries. To learn more about Century Communities, please visit www.centurycommunities.com.

SOURCE Century Communities, Inc.

Key Takeaways ABM posted record second-quarter revenues and first-half new sales bookings, supporting growth.ABM is expanding in data centers and semiconductors through investments and the WGNSTAR acquisition.ABM's rising operating costs and economic uncertainties could pressure margins and future growth. Shares of ABM Industries (ABM - Free Report) have had a decent run over the past three months. The stock has gained 12.6% against the industry's 1.5% drop. The Zacks S&P 500 composite rose 8.7% during the said time frame.

ABM has a Growth Score of B. This style score condenses key financial metrics to reflect a fair sense of the quality and sustainability of its growth.

The company’s third-quarter fiscal 2026 earnings are expected to increase 23.2% year over year. Earnings for fiscal 2026 and fiscal 2027 are projected to rise 15.4% and 9.3%, respectively, year over year. Revenues are expected to increase 5.3% in fiscal 2026 and 3% in fiscal 2027.

Factors That Bode Well for ABMABM Industries, a leading provider of integrated facility solutions globally, benefits from growing demand across its broad range of services that support infrastructure functionality and operational efficiency. The services include janitorial, energy management, facilities engineering, electrical and lighting, landscape and turf care, heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) and mechanical, mission-critical and parking solutions across various sectors.

Recently, the company reported that its second-quarter fiscal 2026 revenues increased 8.4% year over year to a record $2.3 billion. It also gained a record $1.2 billion in first-half new sales bookings, highlighting continued success in expanding its customer base across key growth markets.

ABM’s multi-year, comprehensive strategic plan, ELEVATE, launched in 2021, has also significantly boosted its overall revenues by driving client value through transparent and efficient solutions, talent optimization, expanded data utilization and digital modernization. This initiative has enabled the company to generate revenues and net income with a compounded annual growth rate (CAGR) of 7% and 5%, respectively, from fiscal 2021 to fiscal 2025.

Strategic expansion into high-demand sectors like data centers through targeted acquisitions and investments has amplified ABM’s mission-critical offerings. The company continues to accelerate investment in energy infrastructure, battery storage, data centers and artificial intelligence infrastructure due to strong demand for data centers, battery energy storage systems and HVAC projects. ABM’s Manufacturing & Distribution segment growth was also driven by semiconductor industry investments and technology-sector contract wins. The recent WGNSTAR acquisition has enhanced ABM's capabilities within semiconductor fabrication environments and contributed meaningfully to financial results.

The company has demonstrated a strong commitment to its shareholders through consistent dividend payments and share repurchases. ABM paid dividends of $57.5 million, $56.5 million and $65.6 million while repurchasing shares worth $138.1 million, $56.1 million and $122.2 million in fiscal 2023, 2024 and 2025, respectively. This consistency underscores its dedication to creating long-term value for investors.

Key Risks to WatchABM Industries remains exposed to broad economic risks, with trade tariffs and changing government policies threatening to increase input expenses and delay key infrastructure projects. Shifts in spending allocations and trade uncertainties may reduce contract awards but elevate operational costs, dampening profit margins and growth potential.

Rising operating costs are squeezing profit margins and limiting short-term earnings growth. ABM’s total operating costs increased by 4.2% in fiscal 2023, 4.1% in fiscal 2024 and 4.7% in fiscal 2025. The company reported that its operating expenses rose 9.3% year over year during the second quarter of 2026.

ABM currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold).

Stocks to ConsiderA couple of better-ranked stocks in the broader Zacks Business Services sector are Veralto Corporation (VLTO - Free Report) and Corpay, Inc. (CPAY - Free Report) .

Veralto carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) at present. It has a long-term earnings growth expectation of 8.4%. VLTO delivered a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 4.9%, on average. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.

Corpay also holds a Zacks Rank of 2 at present. It has a long-term earnings growth expectation of 14.3%. CPAY's earnings beat estimates in three of the last four reported quarters and matched once, with the surprise being 2%, on average.

When a late-stage clinical trial misses a primary endpoint, the market reaction rarely distributes evenly across the board. The fallout often reveals undeniable fundamental truths about single-asset exposure, pipeline diversification, and the competitive moats protecting established treatments. The July 9 announcement from AstraZeneca NYSE: AZN and Ionis Pharmaceuticals NASDAQ: IONS regarding the CARDIO-TTRansform Phase 3 trial provides a real-time masterclass in these market dynamics.

The investigational use of Wainua, also known as eplontersen, failed to achieve statistical significance on its primary composite endpoint of cardiovascular mortality and recurrent cardiovascular events at 140 weeks. The treatment targets transthyretin-mediated amyloid cardiomyopathy. This fatal disease causes misfolded proteins to build up in the heart muscle.

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The clinical failure removes an anticipated competitor from a highly lucrative market and triggers an immediate capital rotation across the broader biotech sector.

Unmasking the Trial: Stabilizers Block the PathTo truly understand why the market repriced these assets so aggressively, investors must look beneath the headline failure and evaluate the underlying subgroup data. The treatment landscape relies heavily on stabilizer medications like Vyndamax, manufactured by Pfizer NYSE: PFE. In the CARDIO-TTRansform trial, patients already taking these baseline stabilizers accounted for 57% of the study population at the start of the program, and that proportion rose to roughly 80% by the conclusion of the study.

Wainua failed to demonstrate an additive treatment effect in this specific stabilizer subgroup. The drug did not improve outcomes for patients who were already receiving standard-of-care treatments.

In the monotherapy subgroup, which includes patients not taking any stabilizers, Wainua demonstrated a hazard ratio of 0.71, translating to a 29% risk reduction. While that figure aligns closely with competitor benchmarks, it offers very little commercial utility. A pharmaceutical product cannot successfully capture meaningful market share if it only works for the rapidly shrinking fraction of patients who are completely naive to standard-of-care treatments.

This data exposes a fundamental disparity between antisense oligonucleotides like Wainua and RNA interference therapies developed by competitors. Alnylam Pharmaceuticals NASDAQ: ALNY previously validated its competing RNA interference therapy, Amvuttra, across both monotherapy and combination with a stabilizer subgroup in its HELIOS-B trial. By failing to show that essential additive benefit, Wainua is effectively locked out of the most lucrative and pre-treated segment of the total addressable market.

Asymmetric Damage: Single Asset SqueezeThe financial damage stemming from this clinical miss was distributed quite unevenly, highlighting the stark contrast between concentrated pipeline risk and structural business diversification.

Ionis Pharmaceuticals Today

IONS

Ionis Pharmaceuticals

$56.31 -1.94 (-3.33%)

As of 01:25 PM Eastern

This is a fair market value price provided by Massive. Learn more.

52-Week Range$40.03▼

$86.74Price Target$96.05

Ionis Pharmaceuticals absorbed the brunt of the impact. Shares fell by more than 9% in a single day, pushing the stock down more than 26% since the start of the year and compressing its total market capitalization to $9.63 billion.

Ionis Pharmaceuticals faces acute vulnerability due to its reliance on expanding the addressable market for Wainua. The current regulatory approval for ATTR-polyneuropathy covers fewer than 50,000 patients globally.

The cardiomyopathy indication would have unlocked a total addressable market of 300,000 to 500,000 patients.

Without that expansion, Ionis Pharmaceuticals faces a difficult fundamental reality. The developer currently generates negative earnings, with an earnings-per-share loss of 56 cents. First-quarter 2026 revenue surged to $246 million, an 87% increase year-over-year, but rapid commercial infrastructure expansion kept profit margins compressed, resulting in a net loss of $93 million.

While the company's trailing return on equity remained deeply negative at -58.65%, its balance sheet risk softened substantially after Ionis eliminated $633 million in convertible debt using restricted escrow cash on April 1, 2026.

Astrazeneca Today

$168.76 -2.85 (-1.66%)

As of 01:25 PM Eastern

This is a fair market value price provided by Massive. Learn more.

52-Week Range$137.23▼

$212.71Dividend Yield2.57%

P/E Ratio25.35

Price Target$211.00

AstraZeneca tells a completely different fundamental story. AstraZeneca's stock price fell briefly intraday before institutional buyers stepped in to support it. A $266.54 billion pharmaceutical sector giant does not live or die by a single indication expansion.

AstraZeneca generates $60.44 billion in annual sales, supported by blockbuster oncology franchises such as Tagrisso and Imfinzi. The company operates with a healthy 17.19% net margin, a robust 30.86% return on equity, and a conservative debt-to-equity ratio of 0.52.

Pre-trial models projected Wainua could reach peak sales of up to $6.5 billion with the ATTR-CM approval.

Analysts have since revised those estimates down to approximately $4 billion. Erasing a $2.5 billion premium certainly adjusts near-term valuation models, but it barely registers against AstraZeneca's stated $80 billion top-line revenue target for 2030. The institutional market accurately perceived the drop as a temporary mispricing rather than a structural downgrade.

The Vultures Circle: Rivals Catch the TailwindsMarkets dislike a vacuum. When Wainua was removed as an imminent competitive threat, capital immediately rotated into the rival drugmakers positioned to capture that unaddressed market share. The trial failure preserves the current duopoly and triopoly pricing power within the disease space.

BridgeBio NASDAQ: BBIO emerged as the most direct beneficiary, with shares up 16% to touch new 52-week highs following the initial announcement. BridgeBio is actively launching its newly approved therapy, Attruby.

Without Wainua entering the market to compress margins and force aggressive discounting, BridgeBio enjoys a heavily cleared commercial runway. BridgeBio recently secured a $1 billion Series A convertible preferred equity raise led by Sixth Street and KKR. This infusion provides a substantial capital buffer to execute an aggressive, unopposed commercial launch, funding sales force deployment without immediate dilution concerns.

Pfizer and Alnylam Pharmaceuticals also experienced immediate bid support. Pfizer maintains its multi-billion-dollar stronghold with Vyndamax, resting easy knowing that physicians will not have to weigh the transition of stable patients to a competing therapy. Alnylam Pharmaceuticals sustains its clinical momentum, as its RNA interference mechanism remains the only proven combination therapy that effectively stacks on top of existing stabilizers.

Discharging the Risk: Portfolio Lessons LearnedThe failure of the CARDIO-TTRansform trial fundamentally rewrites the competitive map for amyloidosis treatments. It draws a hard line between therapies that can improve the standard of care and those that merely match it in isolation.

For the entities involved, the data reinforces the protective power of a diversified revenue base. AstraZeneca easily absorbs the setback through its oncology and metabolic divisions, while Ionis Pharmaceuticals faces prolonged fundamental pressure as it navigates elevated debt levels and stalled growth drivers. Investors evaluating biotech allocations might consider prioritizing developers with validated combination therapies or deeply diversified pipelines to mitigate these specific clinical risks.

Should You Invest $1,000 in Astrazeneca Right Now?Before you consider Astrazeneca, you'll want to hear this.

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While Astrazeneca currently has a Moderate Buy rating among analysts, top-rated analysts believe these five stocks are better buys.

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The AI boom extends far beyond the biggest tech names. Discover 10 companies supplying the memory, storage, networking, semiconductor manufacturing, and power infrastructure that make AI possible. Learn where the next wave of AI investment opportunities may emerge—and the key risks investors should watch as the global AI buildout accelerates.

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New York, New York--(Newsfile Corp. - July 13, 2026) - Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC, a nationally recognized investor-rights law firm, announces that a class action lawsuit has been filed against Badger Meter, Inc. (NYSE: BMI) and certain of its officers.

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

Badger Meter Case Details

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

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

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

No Cost to Badger Meter Investors

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

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

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

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

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To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/300224

Source: Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC

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Ann Berry is joined by Khozema Shipchandler, CEO of Twilio, to discuss the company's turnaround strategy, the changing landscape of customer communication and how Twilio is leveraging AI to personalize interactions. 00:00 Khozema Shipchandler, CEO of Twilio, joins 01:06 The peril Twilio faced as he became CEO in 2024 01:50 What Twilio does: communications infrastructure explained 03:19 Fighting commoditization with pricing power and the CDP data asset 05:20 Twilio's customer base 07:29 Branded calls and fighting spam 08:04 Building trust in the US telecom network 11:21 WhatsApp, Meta, and other emerging messaging channels 13:38 New products unveiled at Twilio's customer conference 18:24 Personalizing the mortgage-shopping journey 24:24 Q1 results 26:31 Capital allocation 27:17 Outro and upcoming episodes After Earnings is brought to you by Stakeholder Labs and Morning Brew.

Taking full advantage of the stock market and investing with confidence are common goals for new and old investors, and Zacks Premium offers many different ways to do both.

Featuring daily updates of the Zacks Rank and Zacks Industry Rank, full access to the Zacks #1 Rank List, Equity Research reports, and Premium stock screens, the research service can help you become a smarter, more self-assured investor.

Zacks Premium also includes the Zacks Style Scores.

What are the Zacks Style Scores? Developed alongside the Zacks Rank, the Zacks Style Scores are a group of complementary indicators that help investors pick stocks with the best chances of beating the market over the next 30 days.

Based on their value, growth, and momentum characteristics, each stock is assigned a rating of A, B, C, D, or F. The better the score, the better chance the stock will outperform; an A is better than a B, a B is better than a C, and so on.

The Style Scores are broken down into four categories:

Value ScoreFor value investors, it's all about finding good stocks at good prices, and discovering which companies are trading under their true value before the broader market catches on. The Value Style Score utilizes ratios like P/E, PEG, Price/Sales, Price/Cash Flow, and a host of other multiples to help pick out the most attractive and discounted stocks.

Growth ScoreGrowth investors are more concerned with a stock's future prospects, and the overall financial health and strength of a company. Thus, the Growth Style Score analyzes characteristics like projected and historic earnings, sales, and cash flow to find stocks that will see sustainable growth over time.

Momentum ScoreMomentum traders and investors live by the saying "the trend is your friend." This investing style is all about taking advantage of upward or downward trends in a stock's price or earnings outlook. Employing factors like one-week price change and the monthly percentage change in earnings estimates, the Momentum Style Score can indicate favorable times to build a position in high-momentum stocks.

VGM ScoreIf you want a combination of all three Style Scores, then the VGM Score will be your friend. It rates each stock on their combined weighted styles, helping you find the companies with the most attractive value, best growth forecast, and most promising momentum. It's also one of the best indicators to use with the Zacks Rank.

How Style Scores Work with the Zacks Rank The Zacks Rank, which is a proprietary stock-rating model, employs earnings estimate revisions, or changes to a company's earnings expectations, to make building a winning portfolio easier.

It's highly successful, with #1 (Strong Buy) stocks producing an unmatched +23.94% average annual return since 1988. That's more than double the S&P 500. But because of the large number of stocks we rate, there are over 200 companies with a Strong Buy rank, plus another 600 with a #2 (Buy) rank, on any given day.

With more than 800 top-rated stocks to choose from, it can certainly feel overwhelming to pick the ones that are right for you and your investing journey.

That's where the Style Scores come in.

To have the best chance of big returns, you'll want to always consider stocks with a Zacks Rank #1 or #2 that also have Style Scores of A or B, which will give you the highest probability of success. If you're looking at stocks with a #3 (Hold) rank, it's important they have Scores of A or B as well to ensure as much upside potential as possible.

As mentioned above, the Scores are designed to work with the Zacks Rank, so any change to a company's earnings outlook should be a deciding factor when picking which stocks to buy.

Here's an example: a stock with a #4 (Sell) or #5 (Strong Sell) rating, even one with Style Scores of A and B, still has a downward-trending earnings outlook, and a bigger chance its share price will decrease too.

Thus, the more stocks you own with a #1 or #2 Rank and Scores of A or B, the better.

Stock to Watch: Manhattan Associates (MANH - Free Report) Headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, Manhattan Associates, Inc. develops and supports software that helps organizations manage supply chain, inventory, fulfillment and omnichannel commerce operations. Its strategy is centered on the cloud-native Manhattan Active platform, delivered primarily through multi-year subscription agreements that provide continuous updates and new functionality.

MANH is a #2 (Buy) on the Zacks Rank, with a VGM Score of B.

Momentum investors should take note of this Computer and Technology stock. MANH has a Momentum Style Score of B, and shares are up 8.4% over the past four weeks.

One analyst revised their earnings estimate higher in the last 60 days for fiscal 2026, while the Zacks Consensus Estimate has increased $0.01 to $5.33 per share. MANH also boasts an average earnings surprise of +13.5%.

With a solid Zacks Rank and top-tier Momentum and VGM Style Scores, MANH should be on investors' short list.

Have you been searching for a stock that might be well-positioned to maintain its earnings-beat streak in its upcoming report? It is worth considering Cullen/Frost Bankers (CFR - Free Report) , which belongs to the Zacks Banks - Southwest industry.

This financial holding company has seen a nice streak of beating earnings estimates, especially when looking at the previous two reports. The average surprise for the last two quarters was 5.89%.

For the most recent quarter, Cullen/Frost was expected to post earnings of $2.46 per share, but it reported $2.65 per share instead, representing a surprise of 7.72%. For the previous quarter, the consensus estimate was $2.47 per share, while it actually produced $2.57 per share, a surprise of 4.05%.

Price and EPS Surprise

For Cullen/Frost, estimates have been trending higher, thanks in part to this earnings surprise history. And when you look at the stock's positive Zacks Earnings ESP (Expected Surprise Prediction), it's a great indicator of a future earnings beat, especially when combined with its solid Zacks Rank.

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

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

Cullen/Frost has an Earnings ESP of +1.19% at the moment, suggesting that analysts have grown bullish on its near-term earnings potential. When you combine this positive Earnings ESP with the stock's Zacks Rank #3 (Hold), it shows that another beat is possibly around the corner. The company's next earnings report is expected to be released on July 30, 2026.

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

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

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

NEW YORK, July 13, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC, a nationally recognized investor-rights law firm, announces that a class action lawsuit has been filed against Helen of Troy Limited (NASDAQ: HELE) and certain of its officers.

This lawsuit seeks to recover damages against Defendants for alleged violations of the federal securities laws on behalf of all persons and entities that purchased or otherwise acquired Helen of Troy securities between April 24, 2024 and October 8, 2025, both dates inclusive (the “Class Period”). Such investors are encouraged to join this case by visiting the firm’s site: bgandg.com/HELE.

Helen of Troy Case Details

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

Helen of Troy overstated the success and benefits of its Project Pegasus initiative, touting the “fuel” it was generating while downplaying issues such as “implementation hiccups” at its Tennessee distribution center and assuring investors that the project was progressing and delivering cost-saving efficiencies; 
in reality, Project Pegasus was not delivering the efficiencies Defendants claimed, as the Company lacked sufficient resources and budget to achieve its stated restructuring and cost-savings goals; and 
as a result, Defendants’ statements about the Company’s business, operations, and prospects were materially false and misleading at all relevant times.
What's Next for Helen of Troy Investors?

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

No Cost to Helen of Troy Investors

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

Why Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC for Helen of Troy Securities Class Action?

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

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

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Contact Info

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

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Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes.

Investors with an interest in Financial Transaction Services stocks have likely encountered both Shift4 Payments (FOUR - Free Report) and RB Global (RBA - Free Report) . But which of these two stocks presents investors with the better value opportunity right now? Let's take a closer look.

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Both FOUR and RBA are impressive stocks with solid earnings outlooks, but based on these valuation figures, we feel that FOUR is the superior value option right now.

Cleveland-Cliffs (CLF - Free Report) could be a solid addition to your portfolio given its recent upgrade to a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). This upgrade primarily reflects an upward trend in earnings estimates, which is one of the most powerful forces impacting stock prices.

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Earnings Estimate Revisions for Cleveland-CliffsFor the fiscal year ending December 2026, this mining company is expected to earn -$0.27 per share, which is unchanged compared with the year-ago reported number.

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The upgrade of Cleveland-Cliffs to a Zacks Rank #2 positions it in the top 20% of the Zacks-covered stocks in terms of estimate revisions, implying that the stock might move higher in the near term.