Track market-moving stories before they get noisy

The market was abuzz this week with news that Apple (AAPL 0.96%) and Broadcom (AVGO 0.16%) renewed a deal for Apple to buy chips from Broadcom. While that's a clear win for Broadcom, Apple stock soared more than 4% in one day on the news, too. Here's what you need to know.

A long-term partnership There weren't many details about the deal, which was announced in a Broadcom regulatory filing. This was the entire note: "Broadcom and Apple have agreed to expand their long-standing technology collaboration through 2031 by entering into new multi-year long-term agreements for Broadcom to develop and supply a range of custom ASIC silicon products for use in multiple generations of Apple products."

Image source: The Motley Fool.

The two companies have been collaborating for many years. At least as far back as 2019, Broadcom provided radio-frequency units to Apple, well before artificial intelligence (AI) was on the radar as a growth driver for semiconductor companies. In 2020, Apple and Broadcom inked a three-year deal for Broadcom to supply wireless components as Apple entered the 5G market, a business Broadcom was then focused on. Even then, Apple was looking into designing its own chips, and the deal was a reassurance for Broadcom, since Apple represented about 20% of its business at the time.

The deal was renewed in 2023 as Apple expanded its 5G launch and was part of a $430 billion commitment made to invest in U.S. companies over five years.

Staying in launch mode The new deal is for a much longer period and is further reassurance for Broadcom shareholders that the company isn't losing one of its biggest clients.

But Apple investors think it's a great update, too. It implies that Apple is investing in Apple Intelligence, which is still in launch mode, and preparing for upgraded products and "multiple generations" throughout its enterprise.

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It also secures Apple's commitment from Broadcom, whose ASICs, or application-specific integrated circuits, have become more valuable to tech companies because they're cheaper and faster for specific tasks. Broadcom's history as a connectivity and network component company, along with its newer chips that power AI, fits Apple's product lines like a glove. This is most pronounced for the iPhone, Apple's premier product, which accounts for about half of its total sales.

The announcement comes on the heels of Apple raising prices on many of its products due to skyrocketing memory costs, and the longer-term deal brings stability and may keep prices steadier.

Key Takeaways Fastenal is expected to post higher Q2 sales, supported by manufacturing demand and contract growth.FAST's May 2026 daily sales rose 14.8%, led by heavy manufacturing, construction and direct product demand.Cost controls, pricing and supply initiatives may support margins despite higher freight and overhead costs. Fastenal Company (FAST - Free Report) is scheduled to report second-quarter 2026 results on July 14, before the opening bell.

In the last reported quarter, its earnings per share (EPS) met the Zacks Consensus Estimate at 30 cents and grew year over year by 13.6%. Net sales marginally topped the consensus mark by 0.04% and grew 12.4% from the year-ago quarter.

Fastenal’s earnings topped the consensus mark in one of the last four quarters, met on two occasions and missed on the remaining one, with the average surprise being 0.1%.

How Are Estimates Placed for FAST Stock?For the second quarter, FAST’s Zacks Consensus Estimate for EPS has moved upward over the past 60 days to 33 cents per share from 32 cents. The estimated figure indicates 13.8% year-over-year growth.

The consensus mark for net sales is pegged at $2.34 billion, indicating a 12.6% increase from the year-ago reported figure of $2.08 billion.

Factors Likely to Have Shaped Fastenal's Q2 PerformanceSales

In the second quarter, the top-line performance of Fastenal is likely to have improved year over year, driven by improved customer contract signings and an improvement in industrial production, alongside favorable pricing and several sales-boosting initiatives. The company’s focus on growing its digital footprint, increasing inventory and improving picking efficiency at its hubs is expected to have boded well, despite the sluggish industrial environment.

Direct materials, which include fasteners, cutting tools and other production-related items, are expected to have added to the sales growth of Fastenal, led by improved demand trends for direct fasteners and hardware. Besides, its manufacturing exposure is likely to have been another major driver for the results. Moreover, a balanced mix of on-site and off-site services, along with market share gains across various product categories, is likely to have been an additional growth contributor.

If we go by the latest monthly sales report, May's daily sales grew 14.8% to $37.6 million year over year and grew 4.6% from April 2026.

In terms of end markets in May 2026, Heavy Manufacturing and Other Manufacturing daily sales increased 18.7% and 11.5%, respectively, with Non-residential Construction growing 16%. In terms of customer usage, daily sales for Direct Fasteners/Hardware and Direct non-Fasteners/Hardware jumped 15.9% and 17.2%, respectively. Daily sales under Direct Cutting Tools and Abrasives also improved 13.2% in May 2026.

During the same month, the daily sales growth of contract and non-contract customers was 18% and 8%, respectively, with daily sales through eBusiness increasing 11%.

Margins

The bottom line of FAST is expected to have improved during the second quarter on the back of a favorable price-cost mix, the ongoing fastener expansion project, supply improvement initiatives and cost control strategies. The company’s efforts in controlling costs, especially container and transportation costs, are encouraging. Automating warehouses, increasing delivery efficiency through its trucking network and selling more private-label products with higher margins are likely to have aided the fourth quarter’s bottom-line growth.

Fastenal is likely to have faced an unfavorable customer and product mix, alongside higher freight and overhead costs, given the broader macro uncertainties spanning the economy. However, the increased leverage from top-line growth and margin expansion initiatives is expected to have more than offset these headwinds.

What the Zacks Model Unveils for FastenalOur proven model predicts an earnings beat for Fastenal this time around. 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.

FAST’s Earnings ESP: The company has an Earnings ESP of +1.96%. You can uncover the best stocks before they’re reported with our Earnings ESP Filter.

FAST’s Zacks Rank: Currently, the stock carries a Zacks Rank of 2. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.

Other Stocks With the Favorable CombinationHere are some other companies from the Industrial Products sector, which, according to our model, also have the right combination of elements to post an earnings beat in their respective quarters to be reported.

 Kennametal Inc. (KMT - Free Report) has an Earnings ESP of +45.29% and a Zacks Rank of 1.

 Kennametal’s earnings topped the consensus mark in three of the last four quarters and missed on the remaining occasion, with the average surprise being 18.6%. Earnings for the company’s second quarter of 2026 are expected to surge a whopping 376.5% year over year.

 Caterpillar Inc. (CAT - Free Report) has an Earnings ESP of +2.11% and a Zacks Rank of 2.

 Caterpillar’s earnings topped the consensus mark in three of the last four quarters and missed on the remaining occasion, with the average surprise being 9.6%. Earnings for the company’s second quarter of 2026 are expected to grow 31.6% year over year.

 W.W. Grainger, Inc. (GWW - Free Report) has an Earnings ESP of +2.81% and a Zacks Rank of 2.

 Grainger’s earnings topped the consensus mark in three of the last four quarters and missed on the remaining occasion, with the average surprise being 4.2%. Earnings for the company’s second quarter of 2026 are expected to increase 12.9% year over year.

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.

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

Zacks Premium also includes the Zacks Style Scores.

What are the Zacks Style Scores? The Zacks Style Scores is a unique set of guidelines that rates stocks based on three popular investing types, and were developed as complementary indicators for the Zacks Rank. This combination helps investors choose securities with the highest chances of beating the market over the next 30 days.

Each stock is given an alphabetic rating of A, B, C, D or F based on their value, growth, and momentum qualities. With this system, an A is better than a B, a B is better than a C, and so on, meaning the better the score, the better chance the stock will outperform.

The Style Scores are broken down into four categories:

Value ScoreFinding good stocks at good prices, and discovering which companies are trading under their true value, are what value investors like to focus on. So, the Value Style Score takes into account ratios like P/E, PEG, Price/Sales, Price/Cash Flow, and a host of other multiples to highlight the most attractive and discounted stocks.

Growth ScoreGrowth investors, on the other hand, are more concerned with a company's financial strength and health, and its future outlook. The Growth Style Score examines things like projected and historic earnings, sales, and cash flow to find stocks that will experience sustainable growth over time.

Momentum ScoreMomentum trading is all about taking advantage of upward or downward trends in a stock's price or earnings outlook, and these investors live by the saying "the trend is your friend." The Momentum Style Score can pinpoint good times to build a position in a stock, using factors like one-week price change and the monthly percentage change in earnings estimates.

VGM ScoreWhat if you like to use all three types of investing? The VGM Score is a combination of all Style Scores, making it one of the most comprehensive indicators to use with the Zacks Rank. It rates each stock on their combined weighted styles, which helps narrow down the companies with the most attractive value, best growth forecast, and most promising momentum.

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.

This totals more than 800 top-rated stocks, and it can be overwhelming to try and pick the best stocks for you and your portfolio.

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.

The direction of a stock's earnings estimate revisions should always be a key factor when choosing which stocks to buy, since the Scores were created to work together with the Zacks Rank.

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: General Dynamics (GD - Free Report) Headquartered in Falls Church, VA, General Dynamics Corporation engages in mission-critical information systems and technologies; land and expeditionary combat vehicles, armaments and munitions; shipbuilding and marine systems; and business aviation. The company was incorporated in February 1952.

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

Additionally, the company could be a top pick for growth investors. GD has a Growth Style Score of A, forecasting year-over-year earnings growth of 7.3% for the current fiscal year.

Two analysts revised their earnings estimate higher in the last 60 days for fiscal 2026, while the Zacks Consensus Estimate has increased $0.01 to $16.59 per share. GD also boasts an average earnings surprise of +5.3%.

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

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

Shares of this meat producer have returned +3.7% over the past month versus the Zacks S&P 500 composite's +2.2% change. The Zacks Food - Meat Products industry, to which Tyson belongs, has lost 3.8% over this period. Now the key question is: Where could the stock be headed in the near term?

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

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

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

Tyson is expected to post earnings of $1.01 per share for the current quarter, representing a year-over-year change of +11%. Over the last 30 days, the Zacks Consensus Estimate remained unchanged.

For the current fiscal year, the consensus earnings estimate of $4.09 points to a change of -0.7% from the prior year. Over the last 30 days, this estimate has changed -1.1%.

For the next fiscal year, the consensus earnings estimate of $4.65 indicates a change of +13.6% from what Tyson is expected to report a year ago. Over the past month, the estimate has changed -0.6%.

Having a strong externally audited track record, our proprietary stock rating tool, the Zacks Rank, offers a more conclusive picture of a stock's price direction in the near term, since it effectively harnesses the power of earnings estimate revisions. Due to the size of the recent change in the consensus estimate, along with three other factors related to earnings estimates, Tyson is rated Zacks Rank #3 (Hold).

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

12 Month EPS

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

For Tyson, the consensus sales estimate for the current quarter of $14.29 billion indicates a year-over-year change of +2.9%. For the current and next fiscal years, $56.83 billion and $57.19 billion estimates indicate +4.4% and +0.6% changes, respectively.

Last Reported Results and Surprise HistoryTyson reported revenues of $13.65 billion in the last reported quarter, representing a year-over-year change of +4.4%. EPS of $0.87 for the same period compares with $0.92 a year ago.

Compared to the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $13.8 billion, the reported revenues represent a surprise of -1.06%. The EPS surprise was +14.47%.

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

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

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

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

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

Bottom LineThe facts discussed here and much other information on Zacks.com might help determine whether or not it's worthwhile paying attention to the market buzz about Tyson. However, its Zacks Rank #3 does suggest that it may perform in line with the broader market in the near term.

Meta Platforms Inc (NASDAQ:META, XETRA:FB2A, SIX:FB) has announced plans to build a 1-gigawatt data centre in Sturgeon County, Alberta, marking the technology company’s first such facility in Canada as it expands its computing infrastructure to support artificial intelligence development.

The project represents an investment of more than C$13 billion ($9.17 billion) and will become Meta’s 33rd data centre globally. The facility will be optimized for AI workloads and is expected to support the company’s broader artificial intelligence initiatives and digital services.

Construction of the data centre is expected to support more than 3,000 workers at peak activity, while the completed facility will create more than 300 operational jobs, Meta said.

The company also plans to invest about C$60 million in local infrastructure improvements, including roads and water infrastructure, and provide funding to local community organizations.

Alberta’s energy resources and climate were factors in the location decision, according to Meta. The province’s electricity grid is largely powered by natural gas, while its cooler climate can help reduce the cost of cooling data centre equipment.

Meta said it will fully fund new power generation and grid infrastructure required for the Alberta facility. The company has partnered with Pembina (NYSE:PBA) Pipeline, which is moving forward with its Greenlight Electricity Centre project, a natural gas-fired power generation facility in Sturgeon County expected to begin operations in late 2030. Meta has entered into a long-term tolling agreement linked to the facility.

Pembina estimates the project will require about 150 million cubic feet per day of natural gas, creating additional demand for Western Canadian natural gas producers.

Meta said the data centre’s electricity use will be matched with 100% clean and renewable energy and that it is designing the facility to limit water consumption. The company plans to use a closed-loop liquid cooling system combined with dry cooling, which it said will eliminate operational water use in the cooling system.

The company added that water use at the site will be limited to domestic needs, fire protection and equipment maintenance. Meta has set a goal of becoming water positive by 2030, meaning it aims to restore more water than it consumes globally across its owned operations.

Shares of Meta are set to end the week 13% higher at about $667.

Coinbase Global, Inc. (COIN - Free Report) has recently been on Zacks.com's list of the most searched stocks. Therefore, you might want to consider some of the key factors that could influence the stock's performance in the near future.

Shares of this company have returned -1.2% over the past month versus the Zacks S&P 500 composite's +2.2% change. The Zacks Financial - Miscellaneous Services industry, to which Coinbase Global belongs, has lost 0.7% over this period. Now the key question is: Where could the stock be headed in the near term?

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

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

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

Coinbase Global is expected to post earnings of $0.31 per share for the current quarter, representing a year-over-year change of +158.3%. Over the last 30 days, the Zacks Consensus Estimate has changed -13.2%.

The consensus earnings estimate of $1.75 for the current fiscal year indicates a year-over-year change of -56.6%. This estimate has changed -9.3% over the last 30 days.

For the next fiscal year, the consensus earnings estimate of $4.23 indicates a change of +141.6% from what Coinbase Global is expected to report a year ago. Over the past month, the estimate has changed -6.7%.

Having a strong externally audited track record, our proprietary stock rating tool, the Zacks Rank, offers a more conclusive picture of a stock's price direction in the near term, since it effectively harnesses the power of earnings estimate revisions. Due to the size of the recent change in the consensus estimate, along with three other factors related to earnings estimates, Coinbase Global is rated Zacks Rank #3 (Hold).

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

12 Month EPS

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

In the case of Coinbase Global, the consensus sales estimate of $1.36 billion for the current quarter points to a year-over-year change of -9.3%. The $5.95 billion and $7.09 billion estimates for the current and next fiscal years indicate changes of -17.1% and +19.2%, respectively.

Last Reported Results and Surprise HistoryCoinbase Global reported revenues of $1.41 billion in the last reported quarter, representing a year-over-year change of -30.5%. EPS of -$0.17 for the same period compares with $1.94 a year ago.

Compared to the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.5 billion, the reported revenues represent a surprise of -5.61%. The EPS surprise was -147.22%.

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

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

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

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

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

ConclusionThe facts discussed here and much other information on Zacks.com might help determine whether or not it's worthwhile paying attention to the market buzz about Coinbase Global. However, its Zacks Rank #3 does suggest that it may perform in line with the broader market in the near term.

Strategy Inc. MSTR (formerly known as Microstrategy) gained on Friday after Standard Chartered said recent weakness in bitcoin reflects investor uncertainty over the company's evolving strategy rather than any deterioration in its balance sheet.

In a note, Geoffrey Kendrick, Standard Chartered's global head of digital assets research, maintained the bank's end-2026 bitcoin price target of $100,000.

He argued that Strategy's recent actions have created short-term uncertainty but do not alter bitcoin's medium-term outlook.

The comments come after Strategy sold 3,588 bitcoin for about $216 million last week, its largest disposal to date, while adopting a Digital Credit Capital Framework that includes a bitcoin monetization program, a USD reserve, share buybacks and preferred stock support.

Kendrick said Strategy appears to be moving beyond its long-held commitment to never selling bitcoin, with investors still trying to understand the implications of that strategic shift.

"Strategy's actions are muddying bitcoin's near-term prospects," Kendrick wrote.

He added that "The company appears to be moving away from its 'never sell bitcoin' mantra toward a more complex approach, and clear communication of that pivot will determine how quickly the pressure on bitcoin lifts."

Strategy currently owns 843,775 bitcoin, representing more than 4% of the total supply that will ever exist.

According to Standard Chartered, the company's business model has evolved as its market net asset value multiple has declined toward 1.0, limiting its ability to issue shares and buy additional bitcoin under its previous strategy.

Instead, Kendrick said Strategy is increasingly positioning bitcoin as collateral supporting STRC, its perpetual preferred stock that pays a 12% annual dividend.

STRC pricing remains key to bitcoin outlookStandard Chartered said investor concern intensified after STRC fell well below its $100 par value, reaching an intraday low of $71.25 on June 26 following Strategy's announcement that it had sold 32 bitcoin the previous week.

The preferred security currently trades around $90, while Strategy holds a USD reserve of $2.55 billion, equivalent to roughly 17.4 months of dividend coverage.

The company has also introduced a bitcoin monetization program that allows it to sell bitcoin from time to time and raise up to $1.25 billion to support reserves, dividend payments, interest obligations, and share repurchases.

Kendrick argued that if investors gain confidence in the framework, Strategy may not need to sell bitcoin at all.

He compared the mechanism to a central bank promising to do "whatever it takes" and, through credibility, avoiding intervention altogether.

He added that STRC remains heavily overcollateralized and should eventually trade back toward its $100 par value.

Strategy's recent sale of 3,588 bitcoin raised approximately $216 million and came alongside an $8.32 billion digital asset loss reported for the second quarter of 2026.

JPMorgan analysts said formalizing bitcoin sales introduces "avoidable two-way risk" by making Strategy both a buyer and seller of bitcoin.

Grayscale Head of Research Zach Pandl disagreed, arguing the sales strengthen Strategy's balance sheet and help bitcoin establish a more durable price floor.

Wall Street remains broadly constructive on the stock despite differing views.

Citi maintained a Buy rating and a $260 price target, while Mizuho lowered its target to $213 but reiterated an Outperform rating.

Kendrick said the recent volatility should not change investors' longer-term outlook.

He described the recent episode as "noise rather than a signal about bitcoin's medium-term direction," adding that at current levels bitcoin is "a screaming buy".

Spot bitcoin ETFs are in the middle of their longest outflow run on record: roughly $8B has left the category over eight straight weeks.¹ For allocators, that is the headline risk signal right now, more than any single catalyst. There are early reports of inflows returning over the past three sessions, but that figure is not yet confirmed and shouldn’t be treated as a turn until it is.²

The macro backdrop explains a good part of the outflow pressure. Minutes from the Fed’s June 16-17 meeting showed a committee that held rates at 3.50%-3.75% unanimously and, notably, dropped its easing language rather than adding to it.³ Core PCE running at 3.3% in April and tracking toward 3.4% in May gave the committee cover to stay firm, even as unemployment eased slightly to 4.2% in June from 4.3% in May.⁴ Fed Chair Kevin Warsh has offered no public signal of his own, so the minutes remain the best read available: a September move, in either direction, is still on the table.

Add renewed friction in the Middle East, where the Iran ceasefire looks shakier than it did a few weeks ago, and you get a bitcoin market trading defensively against both a firmer rate hurdle and geopolitical noise. Positioning around real rates and dollar strength continues to explain most of the near-term price action.

One overhang that looks smaller than advertised: Strategy’s (MSTR) roughly 4%-of-supply bitcoin position.⁵ The market’s reaction to Strategy news has become far more muted. A 32 BTC sale in early June triggered a 6% drop in MSTR and a 2% dip in bitcoin, feeding into a broader move down toward $71,500. A much larger 3,588 BTC sale in early July barely registered, with bitcoin instead climbing back to roughly $63,800 afterward. The read: the market has already absorbed the idea that Strategy will sell periodically, so each new disclosure carries less shock value.

Regulatory tailwinds are fading rather than building. The CLARITY Act has stalled short of a floor vote, tangled in disputes over a developer-exemption clause, ethics language tied to the administration’s own crypto holdings, and a stablecoin-yield provision that runs against the GENIUS Act. Betting markets now price 2026 passage at roughly 48%, down from 74% a month earlier, and the Senate’s return on 13 July leaves only a narrow window before the August recess.

None of this points to a breakdown. It points to a market working through a fragile bottoming process: real headwinds from rates, geopolitics and stalled legislation, offset by tentative flow stabilization and a market that has grown noticeably less reactive to Strategy-specific news.

For more news, information, and strategy, visit the CoinShares Crypto ETF Hub.

Sources Bitcoin Foundation News, “Bitcoin ETFs Post Record Week of Outflows — $8.2B,” July 2026 Bloomberg, 8 July 2026  Federal Reserve, FOMC statement, 17 June 2026 CNBC / BLS, US inflation and labour data, May-June 2026 Bitcoin Magazine / BitcoinTreasuries.net, July 2026

NIO stock is showing upward movement. What’s driving NIO shares up? What Is Driving NIO’s Recent Delivery Momentum?NIO reported June deliveries of 40,597 vehicles (up 62.9% year over year) and Q2 deliveries of 107,658 (up 49.4%), with the new ES9 reaching 10,000 cumulative deliveries within 30 days of launch. The company also said cumulative deliveries totaled 1,188,715 as of June 30, and the All-New ES8 has now surpassed 120,000 cumulative deliveries.

China EV ADRs are also staying active as peers post their own delivery reads, including XPeng and Li Auto. Li Auto reported June deliveries of 30,895 (down 14.8%), a divergence traders often use for relative-momentum positioning across the group.

Li Auto’s footprint expansion to 495 retail stores and 4,097 supercharging stations is another competitive benchmark for NIO because it highlights how quickly rivals can scale distribution and charging access even when unit growth is softer. The move mirrors the broader China EV land-grab, which often leads NIO to trade more on execution and share signals than on the macro tape.

NIO Stock: Critical Levels To WatchEven with the premarket lift, NIO is still in a downtrend on the longer-term map: it’s trading 2.3% below the 20-day SMA ($4.99) and 14.7% below the 200-day SMA ($5.72), with the 20-day SMA also below the 50-day SMA. The "death cross" that formed in June (50-day SMA below the 200-day SMA) keeps the bigger-picture bias cautious until price can reclaim key averages.

Momentum is the more constructive part right now: MACD is above its signal line and the histogram is positive, which points to downside pressure easing versus the prior downswing. In plain terms, when MACD is above its signal line, it often means sellers are losing control even if price hasn’t fully flipped the trend yet.

Key Resistance: $5.00 — a nearby round-number level where rebounds can stall, sitting just above the current price and below the 20-day averages. What Is NIO and How Does It Compete?Nio is a leading electric vehicle maker, targeting the premium segment. Founded in November 2014, Nio designs, develops, jointly manufactures, and sells premium smart electric vehicles, and it tries to stand out with features like battery swapping and autonomous driving.

Its current lineup spans midsize to large sedans and SUVs, and it sold around 326,000 EVs in 2025—about 2% of China’s passenger new energy vehicle market. That’s why delivery updates can move the stock quickly: they’re one of the cleanest, most frequent signals on demand, mix, and competitive positioning.

NIO Stock Price ActivityNIO Stock Price Activity: Nio shares were up 1.67% at $4.85 Friday morning, according to Benzinga Pro data.

Image: Shutterstock

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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.

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

It also includes access to the Zacks Style Scores.

What are the Zacks Style Scores? The Zacks Style Scores is a unique set of guidelines that rates stocks based on three popular investing types, and were developed as complementary indicators for the Zacks Rank. This combination helps investors choose securities with the highest chances of beating the market over the next 30 days.

Each stock is assigned a rating of A, B, C, D, or F based on their value, growth, and momentum characteristics. Just like in school, an A is better than a B, a B is better than a C, and so on -- that means the better the score, the better chance the stock will outperform.

The Style Scores are broken down into four categories:

Value ScoreFinding good stocks at good prices, and discovering which companies are trading under their true value, are what value investors like to focus on. So, the Value Style Score takes into account ratios like P/E, PEG, Price/Sales, Price/Cash Flow, and a host of other multiples to highlight the most attractive and discounted stocks.

Growth ScoreWhile good value is important, growth investors are more focused on a company's financial strength and health, and its future outlook. The Growth Style Score takes projected and historic earnings, sales, and cash flow into account to uncover stocks that will see long-term, sustainable growth.

Momentum ScoreMomentum investors, who live by the saying "the trend is your friend," are most interested in taking advantage of upward or downward trends in a stock's price or earnings outlook. Utilizing one-week price change and the monthly percentage change in earnings estimates, among other factors, the Momentum Style Score can help determine favorable times to buy 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 A proprietary stock-rating model, the Zacks Rank utilizes the power of earnings estimate revisions, or changes to a company's earnings outlook, to help investors create a successful portfolio.

#1 (Strong Buy) stocks have produced an unmatched +23.94% average annual return since 1988, which is more than double the S&P 500's performance over the same time frame. However, the Zacks Rank examines a ton of stocks, and there can be more than 200 companies with a Strong Buy rank, and another 600 with a #2 (Buy) rank, on any given day.

But it can feel overwhelming to pick the right stocks for you and your investing goals with over 800 top-rated stocks to choose from.

That's where the Style Scores come in.

To maximize your returns, you want to buy stocks with the highest probability of success. This means picking stocks with a Zacks Rank #1 or #2 that also have Style Scores of A or B. If you find yourself looking at stocks with a #3 (Hold) rank, make sure they have Scores of A or B as well to ensure as much upside potential as possible.

The direction of a stock's earnings estimate revisions should always be a key factor when choosing which stocks to buy, since the Scores were created to work together with the Zacks Rank.

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: Viatris (VTRS - Free Report) Viatris, a global healthcare company, was formed in November 2020 through the merger of the erstwhile Mylan and Pfizer’s Upjohn businesses. The company has operations in over 165 countries. Viatris’ portfolio consists of generics (including complex products), globally recognized iconic brands and an expanding portfolio of innovative drugs. 

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

It also boasts a Value Style Score of A thanks to attractive valuation metrics like a forward P/E ratio of 6.57; value investors should take notice.

One analyst revised their earnings estimate upwards in the last 60 days for fiscal 2026. The Zacks Consensus Estimate has increased $0.02 to $2.49 per share. VTRS boasts an average earnings surprise of +10%.

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

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

Over the past month, shares of this operator of digital commerce platform have returned +26%, compared to the Zacks S&P 500 composite's +2.2% change. During this period, the Zacks Internet - Software industry, which Affirm Holdings falls in, has gained 7%. The key question now is: What could be the stock's future direction?

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

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

We essentially look at how sell-side analysts covering the stock are revising their earnings estimates to reflect the impact of the latest business trends. And if earnings estimates go up for a company, the fair value for its stock goes up. A higher fair value than the current market price drives investors' interest in buying the stock, leading to its price moving higher. This is why empirical research shows a strong correlation between trends in earnings estimate revisions and near-term stock price movements.

For the current quarter, Affirm Holdings is expected to post earnings of $0.34 per share, indicating a change of +70% from the year-ago quarter. The Zacks Consensus Estimate has changed +7.1% over the last 30 days.

For the current fiscal year, the consensus earnings estimate of $1.24 points to a change of +726.7% from the prior year. Over the last 30 days, this estimate has changed +0.6%.

For the next fiscal year, the consensus earnings estimate of $1.7 indicates a change of +37.8% from what Affirm Holdings is expected to report a year ago. Over the past month, the estimate has changed +0.6%.

With an impressive externally audited track record, our proprietary stock rating tool -- the Zacks Rank -- is a more conclusive indicator of a stock's near-term price performance, as it effectively harnesses the power of earnings estimate revisions. The size of the recent change in the consensus estimate, along with three other factors related to earnings estimates, has resulted in a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) for Affirm Holdings.

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

12 Month EPS

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

In the case of Affirm Holdings, the consensus sales estimate of $1.11 billion for the current quarter points to a year-over-year change of +26.4%. The $4.21 billion and $5.32 billion estimates for the current and next fiscal years indicate changes of +30.6% and +26.3%, respectively.

Last Reported Results and Surprise HistoryAffirm Holdings reported revenues of $1.04 billion in the last reported quarter, representing a year-over-year change of +32.6%. EPS of $0.3 for the same period compares with $0.01 a year ago.

Compared to the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $997.92 million, the reported revenues represent a surprise of +4.09%. The EPS surprise was +76.47%.

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

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

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

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

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

ConclusionThe facts discussed here and much other information on Zacks.com might help determine whether or not it's worthwhile paying attention to the market buzz about Affirm Holdings. However, its Zacks Rank #3 does suggest that it may perform in line with the broader market in the near term.

For new and old investors, taking full advantage of the stock market and investing with confidence are common goals. Zacks Premium provides lots of different ways to do both.

The research service features 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, all of which will help you become a smarter, more confident investor.

Zacks Premium also includes the Zacks Style Scores.

What are the Zacks Style Scores? The Zacks Style Scores is a unique set of guidelines that rates stocks based on three popular investing types, and were developed as complementary indicators for the Zacks Rank. This combination helps investors choose securities with the highest chances of beating the market over the next 30 days.

Each stock is given an alphabetic rating of A, B, C, D or F based on their value, growth, and momentum qualities. With this system, an A is better than a B, a B is better than a C, and so on, meaning the better the score, the better chance the stock will outperform.

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 like to use all three kinds of investing, then the VGM Score is for you. It's a combination of all Style Scores, and is an important indicator to use with the Zacks Rank. The VGM Score rates each stock on their shared weighted styles, narrowing down the companies with the most attractive value, best growth forecast, and most promising momentum.

How Style Scores Work with the Zacks Rank A proprietary stock-rating model, the Zacks Rank utilizes the power of earnings estimate revisions, or changes to a company's earnings outlook, to help investors create a successful portfolio.

Investors can count on the Zacks Rank's success, with #1 (Strong Buy) stocks producing an unmatched +23.94% average annual return since 1988, more than double the S&P 500's performance. But the model rates a large number of stocks, and 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 maximize your returns, you want to buy stocks with the highest probability of success. This means picking stocks with a Zacks Rank #1 or #2 that also have Style Scores of A or B. If you find yourself looking at stocks with a #3 (Hold) rank, make sure 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.

A stock with a #4 (Sell) or #5 (Strong Sell) rating, for instance, even one with Scores of A and B, will still have a declining earnings forecast, and a greater chance its share price will fall too.

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

Stock to Watch: Pentair plc (PNR - Free Report) Manchester, U.K.-based Pentair delivers a comprehensive range of smart, sustainable water solutions to homes, business and industry globally. Its portfolio of solutions enables customers to access clean, safe water, reduce water consumption, as well as recovering and reusing it.

PNR is a #3 (Hold) on the Zacks Rank, with a VGM Score of B.

It also boasts a Value Style Score of B thanks to attractive valuation metrics like a forward P/E ratio of 13.95; value investors should take notice.

One analyst revised their earnings estimate upwards in the last 60 days for fiscal 2026. The Zacks Consensus Estimate has increased $0.00 to $5.35 per share. PNR boasts an average earnings surprise of +3.7%.

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

Wall Street analysts forecast that Cintas (CTAS - Free Report) will report quarterly earnings of $1.24 per share in its upcoming release, pointing to a year-over-year increase of 13.8%. It is anticipated that revenues will amount to $2.88 billion, exhibiting an increase of 7.8% compared to the year-ago quarter.

The current level reflects no revision in the consensus EPS estimate for the quarter over the past 30 days. This demonstrates how the analysts covering the stock have collectively reappraised their initial projections over this period.

Prior to a company's earnings announcement, it is crucial to consider revisions to earnings estimates. This serves as a significant indicator for predicting potential investor actions regarding the stock. Empirical research has consistently demonstrated a robust correlation between trends in earnings estimate revision and the short-term price performance of a stock.

While investors typically use consensus earnings and revenue estimates as indicators of quarterly business performance, exploring analysts' projections for specific key metrics can offer valuable insights.

That said, let's delve into the average estimates of some Cintas metrics that Wall Street analysts commonly model and monitor.

The consensus among analysts is that 'Revenue- Other' will reach $693.45 million. The estimate indicates a change of +8.9% from the prior-year quarter.

Analysts expect 'Revenue- All Other' to come in at $335.69 million. The estimate suggests a change of +7.4% year over year.

The collective assessment of analysts points to an estimated 'Revenue- Uniform Rental and Facility Services' of $2.17 billion. The estimate suggests a change of +7.1% year over year.

Analysts' assessment points toward 'Revenue- First Aid and Safety Services' reaching $357.76 million. The estimate indicates a change of +10.3% from the prior-year quarter.

The average prediction of analysts places 'Operating income- Uniform Rental and Facility Services' at $510.41 million. The estimate is in contrast to the year-ago figure of $465.11 million.

The combined assessment of analysts suggests that 'Operating income- First Aid and Safety Services' will likely reach $83.60 million. Compared to the present estimate, the company reported $76.68 million in the same quarter last year.

According to the collective judgment of analysts, 'Operating income- All Other' should come in at $57.37 million. The estimate compares to the year-ago value of $55.66 million.

View all Key Company Metrics for Cintas here>>>

Shares of Cintas have demonstrated returns of -2.3% over the past month compared to the Zacks S&P 500 composite's +2.2% change. With a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold), CTAS is expected to mirror the overall market performance in the near future. You can see the complete list of today's Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) stocks here >>>> .

The recommendations of Wall Street analysts are often relied on by investors when deciding whether to buy, sell, or hold a stock. Media reports about these brokerage-firm-employed (or sell-side) analysts changing their ratings often affect a stock's price. Do they really matter, though?

Let's take a look at what these Wall Street heavyweights have to say about Cardinal Health (CAH - Free Report) before we discuss the reliability of brokerage recommendations and how to use them to your advantage.

Cardinal currently has an average brokerage recommendation (ABR) of 1.35, on a scale of 1 to 5 (Strong Buy to Strong Sell), calculated based on the actual recommendations (Buy, Hold, Sell, etc.) made by 17 brokerage firms. An ABR of 1.35 approximates between Strong Buy and Buy.

Of the 17 recommendations that derive the current ABR, 14 are Strong Buy, representing 82.4% of all recommendations.

Brokerage Recommendation Trends for CAH

Check price target & stock forecast for Cardinal here>>>

The ABR suggests buying Cardinal, but making an investment decision solely on the basis of this information might not be a good idea. According to several studies, brokerage recommendations have little to no success guiding investors to choose stocks with the most potential for price appreciation.

Do you wonder why? As a result of the vested interest of brokerage firms in a stock they cover, their analysts tend to rate it with a strong positive bias. According to our research, brokerage firms assign five "Strong Buy" recommendations for every "Strong Sell" recommendation.

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

With an impressive externally audited track record, our proprietary stock rating tool, the Zacks Rank, which classifies stocks into five groups, ranging from Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) to Zacks Rank #5 (Strong Sell), is a reliable indicator of a stock's near-term price performance. So, validating the Zacks Rank with ABR could go a long way in making a profitable investment decision.

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

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

Analysts employed by brokerage firms have been and continue to be overly optimistic with their recommendations. Since the ratings issued by these analysts are more favorable than their research would support because of the vested interest of their employers, they mislead investors far more often than they guide.

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

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

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

Is CAH Worth Investing In?In terms of earnings estimate revisions for Cardinal, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for the current year has remained unchanged over the past month at $10.76.

Analysts' steady views regarding the company's earnings prospects, as indicated by an unchanged consensus estimate, could be a legitimate reason for the stock to perform in line with the broader market in the near term.

The size of the recent change in the consensus estimate, along with three other factors related to earnings estimates, has resulted in a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) for Cardinal. You can see the complete list of today's Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) stocks here >>>>

It may therefore be prudent to be a little cautious with the Buy-equivalent ABR for Cardinal.

VANCOUVER, Wash.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--ZoomInfo (NASDAQ: GTM), the all-in-one AI GTM platform, has reported that Syncro, an IT management software company serving managed service providers, generated around $400,000 in pipeline and around $150,000 in revenue within a couple of months of building a new outbound motion on ZoomInfo data. Before the change, Syncro's go-to-market motion was entirely inbound, with paid search as the primary growth lever. Marketing could not build a target audience on its.

NEW YORK, July 10, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC, a nationally recognized investor-rights law firm, announces that a class action lawsuit has been filed against ZoomInfo Technologies Inc. (NASDAQ: GTM) 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 ZoomInfo securities between November 3, 2025 and May 11, 2026, both dates inclusive (the “Class Period”). Such investors are encouraged to join this case by visiting the firm’s site: bgandg.com/GTM.

ZoomInfo Case Details

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

The true state of ZoomInfo's slowing seat-based demand, weakening upsell opportunities, and deteriorating fundamentals across its downmarket and upmarket segments. 
That Defendants' optimistic growth narrative, including representations that full-year 2026 revenue guidance of $1.247–$1.267 billion was achievable and that Copilot penetration was on or ahead of schedule. That customers were migrating toward consumption-based models and developing internal AI-driven go-to-market solutions, trends Defendants minimized despite their material adverse impact on ZoomInfo's business.
On May 11, 2026, ZoomInfo reported its first quarter 2026 results and slashed its full-year revenue guidance by approximately $62 million

Following this news, the price of ZoomInfo's common stock declined dramatically, from a closing market price of $6.04 per share on May 11, 2026, ZoomInfo's stock price fell to $4.06 per share on May 12, 2026, a decline of about 33%.

What's Next for ZoomInfo 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/GTM. 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 ZoomInfo you have until August 24, 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 ZoomInfo 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 ZoomInfo Securities Class Action?

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

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

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

Contact Info

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

Attorney advertising.
Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes.

As hyperscalers build out artificial intelligence (AI) data centers at a staggering pace, they face a massive bottleneck: a lack of reliable energy.

One of the biggest beneficiaries over the past year is Bloom Energy (BE 9.02%), the fuel cell manufacturer, whose stock has surged more than 1,000% since the start of 2025. The company is seeing incredibly robust demand from data center operators, illustrating a massive opportunity for companies that can quickly address the growing energy needs.

Another company that's made headlines with a data center deal of its own is FuelCell Energy (FCEL 10.56%). The company could be the next big winner as demand for power surges, but investors should know a few things before buying the stock.

Today's Change

(

-10.56

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-2.43

Current Price

$

20.57

FuelCell's recent data center deal is an important first step Solid oxide fuel cells have emerged as a popular option to quickly meet energy needs. These fuel cells provide continuous baseload energy using natural gas and, down the road, other lower-carbon fuels like hydrogen and biogas. In addition, fuel cells can support microgrids and boost energy resilience by dynamically adjusting their output to complement intermittent renewables such as wind and solar.

FuelCell Energy has spent decades developing molten carbonate fuel cell systems to deliver continuous, low-emissions electricity for customers, but has struggled to translate that into commercial success. Sales have been uneven and volatile amid extended development cycles, while profitability is constrained by the capital-intensive nature of manufacturing.

That said, AI workloads are driving unprecedented electricity demand, and power grid bottlenecks create a need for alternative sources. FuelCell Energy's distributed generation systems can provide continuous, on-site baseload electricity directly to hyperscalers, bypassing utility infrastructure.

Image source: Getty Images.

FuelCell Energy recently entered an agreement with Fit Energy, marking a huge milestone for the fuel cell developer. As part of the agreement, Fit Energy will purchase up to 380 megawatts of carbonate fuel cell systems for data centers across four phases.

One thing to bear in mind is that only the initial 30 MW phase is committed, with deliveries expected by the end of this year. The remainder consists of options that Fit Energy may elect to pursue in increments, with milestone-based deposits required before each phase becomes effective.

Is FuelCell stock a buy? FuelCell's agreement with Fit Energy is an important first step in validating its technology and could serve as a roadmap for future deals. With that said, the company will need to ramp up capacity and prove it can meet these demands, much like Bloom Energy did when it delivered on-site power to Oracle in only 55 days one year ago.

FCEL Net Income (TTM) data by YCharts

Before purchasing FuelCell stock, it's important to understand its current financial situation. Over the past 12 months, FuelCell has lost nearly $225 million. Meanwhile, over the past three years, the company's outstanding shares have increased from 14.8 million to 63.5 million as it has struggled with high cash burn. The company recently announced it would raise another $225 million in equity to expand its manufacturing capacity.

Given its cash burn and shareholder dilution over the years, FuelCell remains a high-risk, high-reward stock that needs to prove it can deliver to data center customers before most investors should consider buying.

10.7.2026 17:53

Index DAX odepsal 0,2 % na 25067,09 b.

Německé akcie, měřené indexem DAX, na konci týdne oslabily o 0,2 %. Nejvíce rostly akcie firem Deutsche Telekom (+3,1 %), HeidelbergCement (+2,8 %) a Commerzbank (+2,0 %). Naopak nejvýrazněji oslabily cenné papíry Siemens Energy (-2,6 %), HOCHTIEF (-2,4 %) a Rheinmetall (-2,1 %).

Celoevropský index STOXX Europe 600 odepisuje 0,01 %. Z jednotlivých sektorů vykazují největší růst komunikační služby (+2,21 %), materiály (+1,08 %) a finance (+0,56 %). Naopak nejvýraznější ztráty zaznamenávají informační technologie (-1,50 %), zdravotní péče (-0,76 %) a utility (-0,32 %).

Index DAX -0,2 % na 25067,09 b. Nejsilnější akcie Změna Nejslabší akcie Změna Deutsche Telekom (DTE) +3,1 % Siemens Energy (ENR) -2,6 % HeidelbergCement (HEI) +2,8 % HOCHTIEF AG (HOT) -2,4 % Commerzbank AG (CBK) +2,0 % Rheinmetall AG (RHM) -2,1 % Beiersdorf AG (BEI) +1,4 % E.ON (EOAN) -1,5 % Deutsche Bank (DBK) +1,4 % Infineon Technologies (IFX) -1,2 % Zdroj: Bloomberg

Michal Šnobl
Fio banka, a.s.
Prohlášení

Seagate (STX) gets an upgrade and Western Digital (WDC) sees a price target hike from Wells Fargo. Diane King Hall explains how it signals a continuing trend in analyst optimism as SK Hynix readies its debut on the Nasdaq Friday.

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

Over the past month, shares of this company have returned -1%, compared to the Zacks S&P 500 composite's +2.2% change. During this period, the Zacks Internet - Commerce industry, which Carvana falls in, has gained 2.1%. The key question now is: What could be the stock's future direction?

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

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

We essentially look at how sell-side analysts covering the stock are revising their earnings estimates to reflect the impact of the latest business trends. And if earnings estimates go up for a company, the fair value for its stock goes up. A higher fair value than the current market price drives investors' interest in buying the stock, leading to its price moving higher. This is why empirical research shows a strong correlation between trends in earnings estimate revisions and near-term stock price movements.

For the current quarter, Carvana is expected to post earnings of $0.42 per share, indicating a change of +61.5% from the year-ago quarter. The Zacks Consensus Estimate remained unchanged over the last 30 days.

For the current fiscal year, the consensus earnings estimate of $1.58 points to a change of -6.5% from the prior year. Over the last 30 days, this estimate has remained unchanged.

For the next fiscal year, the consensus earnings estimate of $2.12 indicates a change of +34.5% from what Carvana is expected to report a year ago. Over the past month, the estimate has remained unchanged.

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

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

12 Month EPS

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

In the case of Carvana, the consensus sales estimate of $6.9 billion for the current quarter points to a year-over-year change of +42.6%. The $28.14 billion and $35.36 billion estimates for the current and next fiscal years indicate changes of +38.5% and +25.7%, respectively.

Last Reported Results and Surprise HistoryCarvana reported revenues of $6.43 billion in the last reported quarter, representing a year-over-year change of +52%. EPS of $0.34 for the same period compares with $0.3 a year ago.

Compared to the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $6.16 billion, the reported revenues represent a surprise of +4.39%. The EPS surprise was +19.01%.

Over the last four quarters, Carvana surpassed consensus EPS estimates three times. The company topped consensus revenue estimates each time over this period.

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

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

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

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

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

Investors interested in Retail-Wholesale stocks should always be looking to find the best-performing companies in the group. Is Fossil Group (FOSL - Free Report) one of those stocks right now? By taking a look at the stock's year-to-date performance in comparison to its Retail-Wholesale peers, we might be able to answer that question.

Fossil Group is one of 187 companies in the Retail-Wholesale group. The Retail-Wholesale group currently sits at #5 within the Zacks Sector Rank. The Zacks Sector Rank includes 16 different groups and is listed in order from best to worst in terms of the average Zacks Rank of the individual companies within each of these sectors.

The Zacks Rank emphasizes earnings estimates and estimate revisions to find stocks with improving earnings outlooks. This system has a long record of success, and these stocks tend to be on track to beat the market over the next one to three months. Fossil Group is currently sporting a Zacks Rank of #2 (Buy).

Within the past quarter, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for FOSL's full-year earnings has moved 54.5% higher. This means that analyst sentiment is stronger and the stock's earnings outlook is improving.

Based on the most recent data, FOSL has returned 8.5% so far this year. In comparison, Retail-Wholesale companies have returned an average of 0.6%. This means that Fossil Group is outperforming the sector as a whole this year.

One other Retail-Wholesale stock that has outperformed the sector so far this year is Genesco (GCO - Free Report) . The stock is up 35.5% year-to-date.

For Genesco, the consensus EPS estimate for the current year has increased 4.7% over the past three months. The stock currently has a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy).

Looking more specifically, Fossil Group belongs to the Retail - Apparel and Shoes industry, which includes 38 individual stocks and currently sits at #71 in the Zacks Industry Rank. Stocks in this group have lost about 8.1% so far this year, so FOSL is performing better this group in terms of year-to-date returns. Genesco is also part of the same industry.

Investors with an interest in Retail-Wholesale stocks should continue to track Fossil Group and Genesco. These stocks will be looking to continue their solid performance.

Rivian Automotive stock is building positive momentum. What’s driving RIVN shares up? What Is Rivian’s Planned Stock Offering?Rivian said it plans an underwritten public offering of up to 75 million shares, plus a 30-day option for underwriters to buy up to an additional 11.25 million shares, implying gross proceeds of up to about $1.74 billion if priced near the prior $20.14 close. The company said proceeds are for general corporate purposes, including funding certain equity contributions tied to a U.S. Department of Energy loan-related arrangement.

Rivian ended Q1 with about $4.83 billion in cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments, and the raise is being framed as balance-sheet reinforcement rather than a pivot away from operations. That cash figure is central to how traders are sizing dilution risk versus runway.

RIVN Stock: Key Technical Levels To WatchAt $18.57, the stock is trading 12.1% above its 20-day SMA ($16.64) and 17.4% above its 200-day SMA ($15.88), which keeps the intermediate trend pointed up after the May swing low. The catch is the bigger-picture overlay: the 50-day SMA remains below the 200-day SMA (a "death cross" that occurred in May), so longer-term trend followers may still treat rallies as prove-it moves until that relationship repairs.

Momentum is improving: MACD is above its signal line and the histogram is positive, which typically means downside pressure is fading and the latest upswing is gaining traction versus the prior downswing. In plain terms, MACD being above the signal line often signals buyers are starting to control the pace of the move rather than just reacting to bounces.

From a level-to-level trading view, the next upside test is the $21.00 area, while the chart has a clearer "line in the sand" near the mid-$15s where buyers previously defended the tape.

Key Resistance: $21.00 — a nearby round-number area where rebounds can stall Key Support: $15.50 — sits near the longer-term moving-average zone (200-day EMA at $15.59) where buyers have shown up What Is Rivian Automotive’s Business Model?Rivian is a battery electric vehicle automaker selling vehicles in the U.S. and Canada, with a lineup that includes a luxury truck, a full-size SUV, and a delivery van. It also develops electronic control units and related software for autos in a joint venture with Volkswagen, adding a "platform/software" angle beyond just vehicle sales.

The company plans to begin selling a midsize SUV in 2026, and it delivered over 42,000 vehicles in 2025, so funding and production cadence are central to the story. That’s why the proposed equity raise is a double-edged catalyst: it can extend liquidity for growth initiatives, but it also raises dilution concerns that can cap upside if demand for the deal is soft.

RIVN Earnings Preview: July 2026 ExpectationsLooking further out, the next major catalyst for the stock arrives with the July 30, 2026 (confirmed) earnings report.

EPS Estimate: Loss of 79 cents (Up from Loss of 97 cents YoY) Revenue Estimate: $1.44 Billion (Up from $1.30 Billion YoY) Analyst Consensus & Recent Actions: The stock carries a Buy rating with an average price target of $20.47. Recent analyst moves include:

UBS: Neutral (Raises Target to $17.00) (July 9) BNP Paribas: Outperform (Raises Target to $24.00) (July 8) Jefferies: Hold (Raises Target to $17.00) (July 7) RIVN Stock Price Movement on FridayRIVN Stock Price Activity: Rivian Automotive shares were up 2.70% at $18.61 at the time of publication on Friday, according to Benzinga Pro data.

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It doesn't matter your age or experience: taking full advantage of the stock market and investing with confidence are common goals for all investors. Luckily, Zacks Premium offers several different ways to do both.

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

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.

Each stock is given an alphabetic rating of A, B, C, D or F based on their value, growth, and momentum qualities. With this system, an A is better than a B, a B is better than a C, and so on, meaning the better the score, the better chance the stock will outperform.

The Style Scores are broken down into four categories:

Value ScoreValue investors love finding good stocks at good prices, especially before the broader market catches on to a stock's true value. Utilizing ratios like P/E, PEG, Price/Sales, Price/Cash Flow, and many other multiples, the Value Style Score identifies the most attractive and most 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 trading is all about taking advantage of upward or downward trends in a stock's price or earnings outlook, and these investors live by the saying "the trend is your friend." The Momentum Style Score can pinpoint good times to build a position in a stock, using factors like one-week price change and the monthly percentage change in earnings estimates.

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 A proprietary stock-rating model, the Zacks Rank utilizes the power of earnings estimate revisions, or changes to a company's earnings outlook, to help investors create a successful portfolio.

Investors can count on the Zacks Rank's success, with #1 (Strong Buy) stocks producing an unmatched +23.94% average annual return since 1988, more than double the S&P 500's performance. But the model rates a large number of stocks, and there are over 200 companies with a Strong Buy rank, plus another 600 with a #2 (Buy) rank, on any given day.

But it can feel overwhelming to pick the right stocks for you and your investing goals with over 800 top-rated stocks to choose from.

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.

The direction of a stock's earnings estimate revisions should always be a key factor when choosing which stocks to buy, since the Scores were created to work together with the Zacks Rank.

A stock with a #4 (Sell) or #5 (Strong Sell) rating, for instance, even one with Scores of A and B, will still have a declining earnings forecast, and a greater chance its share price will fall too.

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

Stock to Watch: Steel Dynamics (STLD - Free Report) Based in Fort Wayne, IN, Steel Dynamics, Inc. is among the leading steel producers and metal recyclers in the United States. It is one of the most diversified steel companies in United States with a vast range of specialty products. The company makes and markets steel products, processes and sells recycled ferrous and nonferrous metals, and fabricates and sells steel joist and decking products in the United States and internationally.

STLD is a #3 (Hold) on the Zacks Rank, with a VGM Score of B.

It also boasts a Value Style Score of B thanks to attractive valuation metrics like a forward P/E ratio of 13.28; value investors should take notice.

Three analysts revised their earnings estimate upwards in the last 60 days for fiscal 2026. The Zacks Consensus Estimate has increased $1.57 to $16.73 per share. STLD boasts an average earnings surprise of +1.6%.

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

By PYMNTS  |  July 10, 2026

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Highlights

Prediction markets are becoming retail derivatives platforms, evidenced by Kalshi and Polymarket expanding beyond elections, sports and entertainment into perpetual futures, margin trading, metals, FX and energy.

Demand may be easier than regulation, as court fights over gambling laws and challenges to federal approvals show that compliance could determine which platforms scale.

More products create more insider-risk surfaces, as every new contract category, from prerecorded reality TV to government data and corporate events, requires stronger surveillance, conflict controls and information safeguards.

Prediction markets like Kalshi and Polymarket are betting on growth across new financial products.

The industry’s product menu already stretches from political elections and World Cup matches to weather events. It now includes reality television, with Kalshi’s first markets tied to “Love Island USA” helping to more than double its weekly active female user base during part of June, illustrating how easily an exchange can turn an existing online fandom into a new trading constituency.

Prediction markets aren’t done there. Kalshi is reportedly in advanced discussions with regulators about expanding its perpetual futures business beyond cryptocurrencies into gold, other metals, foreign exchange and energy. Polymarket, meanwhile, has reportedly filed applications that would help it offer margin trading to customers in the United States.

Prediction markets, it would seem, are outgrowing the category that made them famous. They are evolving from event-based content into a new distribution layer for a potential next-generation of retail derivatives.

See also: Robinhood’s Memecoin Boom Shows Crypto’s Retail Market Is No Joke

Prediction Markets Are Becoming a Product Portfolio, Not a Betting Category The event contract services business is evolving from predicting discrete events to trading continuous exposure to economically important assets. That transition is occurring just as the industry’s regulatory position is becoming more complicated.

A federal judge this week rejected Kalshi’s attempt to prevent New York from applying state gambling laws to its sports contracts. Last month, the Chicago Mercantile Exchange (CME) sued the Commodity Futures Trading Commission and its chairman, Michael Selig, challenging a decision to let Kalshi and crypto exchange Coinbase list perpetual futures.

The result is a market in which product demand may be the easy part. The harder question is whether prediction platforms can develop a compliance system broad enough to support everything from television finales to leveraged commodity trades.

The Love Island contracts, for example, expose the prediction market category’s fundamental surveillance problem. Television episodes are produced before they are broadcast, meaning cast members, production staff, editors and others can possess information unavailable to the public. Similar informational asymmetries arise around economic announcements, court decisions, corporate events and government actions. The more subjects a platform makes tradable, the more types of potential insiders it must identify.

Goldman Sachs prohibited employees from participating in financial and political event contracts that could create actual or perceived conflicts involving the bank, its clients or the financial industry, particularly when workers could possess confidential corporate or macroeconomic information.

The Senate unanimously adopted a rule in April prohibiting senators, staff and officers from participating in prediction markets. Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs followed this month with an executive order prohibiting state executive branch employees from using nonpublic government information for prediction market profits.

Read also: Prediction Markets Turn Uncertainty Into a Business Model

A Short History of Prediction Market Products and U.S. Regulation Despite all the action, prediction markets began as relatively constrained experiments in information aggregation. The CFTC said market operators have sought agency guidance since the early 1990s, and the first prediction market was designated as a federally regulated contract market in 2004. The central idea was that putting money behind a forecast could aggregate dispersed information more effectively than polls, surveys or expert opinion.

The model remained small partly because regulators treated event contracts as exceptional products. Contracts tied to economic indicators, elections or entertainment did not fit comfortably within either traditional futures regulation or state gambling frameworks.

Polymarket demonstrated the potential and limitations of operating outside that system. In 2022, the CFTC ordered the company to pay a $1.4 million penalty and wind down markets that violated federal derivatives laws. Polymarket later returned to the U.S. by acquiring federally licensed exchange and clearing infrastructure, creating a regulated domestic operation that is separate from its crypto-based international platform.

PYMNTS reported in September that when the CFTC issued a no-action letter regarding event contracts in response to a request from two businesses owned by Polymarket, it in essence gave Polymarket a regulatory green light to re-enter the U.S. market.

The industry’s short history, in other words, is not primarily a progression from one betting topic to another. It is a progression from restricted forecasting experiment to full-scale exchange infrastructure. That direction of travel appears to be continuing.

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

Over the past month, shares of this home construction supplier have returned -2.7%, compared to the Zacks S&P 500 composite's +2.2% change. During this period, the Zacks Building Products - Wood industry, which Louisiana-Pacific falls in, has lost 4.3%. The key question now is: What could be the stock's future direction?

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

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

We essentially look at how sell-side analysts covering the stock are revising their earnings estimates to reflect the impact of the latest business trends. And if earnings estimates go up for a company, the fair value for its stock goes up. A higher fair value than the current market price drives investors' interest in buying the stock, leading to its price moving higher. This is why empirical research shows a strong correlation between trends in earnings estimate revisions and near-term stock price movements.

Louisiana-Pacific is expected to post earnings of $0.64 per share for the current quarter, representing a year-over-year change of -35.4%. Over the last 30 days, the Zacks Consensus Estimate remained unchanged.

For the current fiscal year, the consensus earnings estimate of $2 points to a change of -24.5% from the prior year. Over the last 30 days, this estimate has remained unchanged.

For the next fiscal year, the consensus earnings estimate of $4.11 indicates a change of +105.4% from what Louisiana-Pacific is expected to report a year ago. Over the past month, the estimate has remained unchanged.

With an impressive externally audited track record, our proprietary stock rating tool -- the Zacks Rank -- is a more conclusive indicator of a stock's near-term price performance, as it effectively harnesses the power of earnings estimate revisions. The size of the recent change in the consensus estimate, along with three other factors related to earnings estimates, has resulted in a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) for Louisiana-Pacific.

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

12 Month EPS

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

In the case of Louisiana-Pacific, the consensus sales estimate of $683 million for the current quarter points to a year-over-year change of -9.5%. The $2.57 billion and $3.03 billion estimates for the current and next fiscal years indicate changes of -5% and +17.8%, respectively.

Last Reported Results and Surprise HistoryLouisiana-Pacific reported revenues of $574 million in the last reported quarter, representing a year-over-year change of -20.7%. EPS of $0.38 for the same period compares with $1.27 a year ago.

Compared to the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $572.45 million, the reported revenues represent a surprise of +0.27%. The EPS surprise was +322.22%.

Over the last four quarters, Louisiana-Pacific surpassed consensus EPS estimates three times. The company topped consensus revenue estimates three times over this period.

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

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

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

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

ConclusionThe facts discussed here and much other information on Zacks.com might help determine whether or not it's worthwhile paying attention to the market buzz about Louisiana-Pacific. However, its Zacks Rank #3 does suggest that it may perform in line with the broader market in the near term.