When deciding whether to buy, sell, or hold a stock, investors often rely on analyst recommendations. Media reports about rating changes by these brokerage-firm-employed (or sell-side) analysts often influence a stock's price, but are they really important?
Let's take a look at what these Wall Street heavyweights have to say about Howmet (HWM - Free Report) before we discuss the reliability of brokerage recommendations and how to use them to your advantage.
Howmet currently has an average brokerage recommendation (ABR) of 1.39, on a scale of 1 to 5 (Strong Buy to Strong Sell), calculated based on the actual recommendations (Buy, Hold, Sell, etc.) made by 23 brokerage firms. An ABR of 1.39 approximates between Strong Buy and Buy.
Of the 23 recommendations that derive the current ABR, 18 are Strong Buy and one is Buy. Strong Buy and Buy respectively account for 78.3% and 4.4% of all recommendations.
Brokerage Recommendation Trends for HWM
Check price target & stock forecast for Howmet here>>>
The ABR suggests buying Howmet, 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.
This means that the interests of these institutions are not always aligned with those of retail investors, giving little insight into the direction of a stock's future price movement. It would therefore be best to use this information to validate your own analysis or a tool that has proven to be highly effective at predicting stock price movements.
Zacks Rank, our proprietary stock rating tool with an impressive externally audited track record, categorizes stocks into five groups, ranging from Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) to Zacks Rank #5 (Strong Sell), and is an effective indicator of a stock's price performance in the near future. Therefore, using the ABR to validate the Zacks Rank could be an efficient way of making a profitable investment decision.
Zacks Rank Should Not Be Confused With ABRIn spite of the fact that Zacks Rank and ABR both appear on a scale from 1 to 5, they are two completely different measures.
The ABR is calculated solely based on brokerage recommendations and is typically displayed with decimals (example: 1.28). In contrast, the Zacks Rank is a quantitative model allowing investors to harness the power of earnings estimate revisions. It is displayed in whole numbers -- 1 to 5.
It has been and continues to be the case that analysts employed by brokerage firms are overly optimistic with their recommendations. Because of their employers' vested interests, these analysts issue more favorable ratings than their research would support, misguiding investors far more often than helping them.
On the other hand, earnings estimate revisions are at the core of the Zacks Rank. And empirical research shows a strong correlation between trends in earnings estimate revisions and near-term stock price movements.
In addition, the different Zacks Rank grades are applied proportionately to all stocks for which brokerage analysts provide current-year earnings estimates. In other words, this tool always maintains a balance among its five ranks.
There is also a key difference between the ABR and Zacks Rank when it comes to freshness. When you look at the ABR, it may not be up-to-date. Nonetheless, since brokerage analysts constantly revise their earnings estimates to reflect changing business trends, and their actions get reflected in the Zacks Rank quickly enough, it is always timely in predicting future stock prices.
Is HWM Worth Investing In?In terms of earnings estimate revisions for Howmet, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for the current year has increased 0.1% over the past month to $4.98.
Analysts' growing optimism over the company's earnings prospects, as indicated by strong agreement among them in revising EPS estimates higher, could be a legitimate reason for the stock to soar in the near term.
The size of the recent change in the consensus estimate, along with three other factors related to earnings estimates, has resulted in a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) for Howmet. You can see the complete list of today's Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) stocks here >>>>
Therefore, the Buy-equivalent ABR for Howmet may serve as a useful guide for investors.
Here at Zacks, we focus on our proven ranking system, which places an emphasis on earnings estimates and estimate revisions, to find winning stocks. But we also understand that investors develop their own strategies, so we are constantly looking at the latest trends in value, growth, and momentum to find strong companies for our readers.
Of these, value investing is easily one of the most popular ways to find great stocks in any market environment. Value investors use a variety of methods, including tried-and-true valuation metrics, to find these stocks.
In addition to the Zacks Rank, investors looking for stocks with specific traits can utilize our Style Scores system. Of course, value investors will be most interested in the system's "Value" category. Stocks with "A" grades for Value and high Zacks Ranks are among the best value stocks available at any given moment.
One company to watch right now is H. B. Fuller (FUL - Free Report) . FUL is currently sporting a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) and an A for Value. The stock holds a P/E ratio of 12.94, while its industry has an average P/E of 21.58. FUL's Forward P/E has been as high as 18.44 and as low as 11.31, with a median of 13.44, all within the past year.
Investors will also notice that FUL has a PEG ratio of 0.89. This popular metric is similar to the widely-known P/E ratio, with the difference being that the PEG ratio also takes into account the company's expected earnings growth rate. FUL's PEG compares to its industry's average PEG of 1.32. Over the past 52 weeks, FUL's PEG has been as high as 1.54 and as low as 0.71, with a median of 1.01.
Another valuation metric that we should highlight is FUL's P/B ratio of 1.75. Investors use the P/B ratio to look at a stock's market value versus its book value, which is defined as total assets minus total liabilities. FUL's current P/B looks attractive when compared to its industry's average P/B of 4.00. Over the past year, FUL's P/B has been as high as 2.49 and as low as 1.48, with a median of 1.77.
Value investors also frequently use the P/S ratio. This metric is found by dividing a stock's price with the company's revenue. This is a popular metric because sales are harder to manipulate on an income statement, so they are often considered a better performance indicator. FUL has a P/S ratio of 0.84. This compares to its industry's average P/S of 1.86.
Finally, investors will want to recognize that FUL has a P/CF ratio of 11.92. This data point considers a firm's operating cash flow and is frequently used to find companies that are undervalued when considering their solid cash outlook. FUL's P/CF compares to its industry's average P/CF of 15.31. Over the past 52 weeks, FUL's P/CF has been as high as 14.30 and as low as 9.48, with a median of 11.67.
These are just a handful of the figures considered in H. B. Fuller's great Value grade. Still, they help show that the stock is likely being undervalued at the moment. Add this to the strength of its earnings outlook, and we can clearly see that FUL is an impressive value stock right now.
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 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, developed alongside the Zacks Rank, are complementary indicators that rate stocks based on three widely-followed investing methodologies; they also 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 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 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 The Zacks Rank, which is a proprietary stock-rating model, employs earnings estimate revisions, or changes to a company's earnings expectations, to make building a winning portfolio easier.
It's highly successful, with #1 (Strong Buy) stocks producing an unmatched +23.94% average annual return since 1988. That's more than double the S&P 500. But because of the large number of stocks we rate, there are over 200 companies with a Strong Buy rank, plus another 600 with a #2 (Buy) rank, on any given day.
With more than 800 top-rated stocks to choose from, it can certainly feel overwhelming to pick the ones that are right for you and your investing journey.
That's where the Style Scores come in.
You want to make sure you're buying stocks with the highest likelihood of success, and to do that, you'll need to pick stocks with a Zacks Rank #1 or #2 that also have Style Scores of A or B. If you like a stock that only has a #3 (Hold) rank, it should also have Scores of A or B to guarantee 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: C.H. Robinson Worldwide (CHRW - Free Report) Based in Minnesota, C.H. Robinson Worldwide, Inc. is a third-party logistics company. As an asset-light transportation provider, it offers freight transportation services and logistics solutions across industries. The company’s services range from commitments on a specific shipment to more comprehensive and integrated relationships.
CHRW is a #3 (Hold) on the Zacks Rank, with a VGM Score of B.
Momentum investors should take note of this Transportation stock. CHRW has a Momentum Style Score of B, and shares are up 0.9% over the past four weeks.
For fiscal 2026, three analysts revised their earnings estimate upwards in the last 60 days, and the Zacks Consensus Estimate has increased $0.02 to $6.09 per share. CHRW boasts an average earnings surprise of +9.4%.
With a solid Zacks Rank and top-tier Momentum and VGM Style Scores, CHRW should be on investors' short list.
SoFi stock is trading at elevated levels. What’s the outlook for SOFI shares? The Macro TailwindFinancial services stocks traded higher Thursday amid declines in Treasury yields, oil prices and the U.S. dollar. The pullback in yields may ease inflation concerns and improve expectations for a more accommodative interest rate environment — a meaningful tailwind for SoFi, which benefits directly from lower borrowing costs and increased consumer appetite for loans and financial products.
Small Business LoansSoFi last week launched SoFi Small Business Loans, expanding the company’s lending platform beyond its core consumer focus. The product offers fixed-rate loans up to $250,000 with eligibility checks within minutes, funding as soon as 24 hours after approval, and zero application fees, zero origination fees, and no prepayment penalties — a structure designed to compete aggressively in the small-business lending market.
Trump AccountsAnalyst Consensus & Recent ActionsThe stock carries a Hold rating with an average price target of $22.58. Recent analyst moves include:
Goldman Sachs: Neutral (Raises Target to $21.00) (July 9) SoFi Shares Edge HigherSOFI Price Action: At the time of publication, SoFi shares are trading 1.29% higher at $18.86, according to data from Benzinga Pro.
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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.
Featuring daily updates of the Zacks Rank and Zacks Industry Rank, full access to the Zacks #1 Rank List, Equity Research reports, and Premium stock screens, the research service can help you become a smarter, more self-assured investor.
Zacks Premium includes access to the Zacks Style Scores as well.
What are the Zacks Style Scores? The Zacks Style Scores, developed alongside the Zacks Rank, are complementary indicators that rate stocks based on three widely-followed investing methodologies; they also help investors pick stocks with the best chances of beating the market over the next 30 days.
Based on their value, growth, and momentum characteristics, each stock is assigned a rating of A, B, C, D, or F. The better the score, the better chance the stock will outperform; an A is better than a B, a B is better than a C, and so on.
The Style Scores are broken down into four categories:
Value 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 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.
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 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.
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: TE Connectivity (TEL - Free Report) TE Connectivity is a global technology company that designs and manufactures connectivity and sensor solutions for a wide range of industries, including automotive, aerospace, defense, energy, and medical. With operations in over 130 countries, the company provides innovative products that enable connectivity across diverse sectors.
TEL 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. TEL has a Growth Style Score of B, forecasting year-over-year earnings growth of 29.1% for the current fiscal year.
For fiscal 2026, one analyst revised their earnings estimate upwards in the last 60 days, and the Zacks Consensus Estimate has increased $0.00 to $11.31 per share. TEL boasts an average earnings surprise of +6%.
With a solid Zacks Rank and top-tier Growth and VGM Style Scores, TEL should be on investors' short list.
Wall Street analysts forecast that Home BancShares (HOMB - Free Report) will report quarterly earnings of $0.62 per share in its upcoming release, pointing to a year-over-year increase of 6.9%. It is anticipated that revenues will amount to $287.63 million, exhibiting an increase of 6.1% 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.
Before a company reveals its earnings, it is vital to take into account any changes in earnings projections. These revisions play a pivotal role in predicting the possible reactions of investors toward the stock. Multiple empirical studies have consistently shown a strong association between trends in earnings estimates and the short-term price movements of a stock.
While investors usually depend on consensus earnings and revenue estimates to assess the business performance for the quarter, delving into analysts' forecasts for certain key metrics often provides a more comprehensive understanding.
With that in mind, let's delve into the average projections of some Home BancShares metrics that are commonly tracked and projected by analysts on Wall Street.
Analysts expect 'Efficiency Ratio' to come in at 42.3%. The estimate is in contrast to the year-ago figure of 41.7%.
The average prediction of analysts places 'Average Balance - Total interest-earning assets' at $21.99 billion. The estimate is in contrast to the year-ago figure of $20.08 billion.
The consensus estimate for 'Net Interest Margin (FTE)' stands at 4.5%. Compared to the present estimate, the company reported 4.4% in the same quarter last year.
According to the collective judgment of analysts, 'Total non-performing loans' should come in at $185.69 million. Compared to the present estimate, the company reported $96.29 million in the same quarter last year.
The consensus among analysts is that 'Total non-performing assets' will reach $230.19 million. The estimate is in contrast to the year-ago figure of $137.82 million.
It is projected by analysts that the 'Net Interest Income' will reach $240.97 million. Compared to the current estimate, the company reported $219.95 million in the same quarter of the previous year.
Analysts' assessment points toward 'Total Non-Interest Income' reaching $46.67 million. The estimate compares to the year-ago value of $51.08 million.
Analysts forecast 'Net Interest Income (FTE)' to reach $243.42 million. The estimate is in contrast to the year-ago figure of $222.48 million.
View all Key Company Metrics for Home BancShares here>>>
Shares of Home BancShares have demonstrated returns of +2.8% over the past month compared to the Zacks S&P 500 composite's +2.2% change. With a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold), HOMB 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 >>>> .
When deciding whether to buy, sell, or hold a stock, investors often rely on analyst recommendations. Media reports about rating changes by these brokerage-firm-employed (or sell-side) analysts often influence a stock's price, but are they really important?
Let's take a look at what these Wall Street heavyweights have to say about SentinelOne (S - Free Report) before we discuss the reliability of brokerage recommendations and how to use them to your advantage.
SentinelOne currently has an average brokerage recommendation (ABR) of 1.69, on a scale of 1 to 5 (Strong Buy to Strong Sell), calculated based on the actual recommendations (Buy, Hold, Sell, etc.) made by 36 brokerage firms. An ABR of 1.69 approximates between Strong Buy and Buy.
Of the 36 recommendations that derive the current ABR, 23 are Strong Buy and one is Buy. Strong Buy and Buy respectively account for 63.9% and 2.8% of all recommendations.
Brokerage Recommendation Trends for S
Check price target & stock forecast for SentinelOne here>>>
The ABR suggests buying SentinelOne, 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.
Are you wondering why? The vested interest of brokerage firms in a stock they cover often results in a strong positive bias of their analysts in rating it. Our research shows that for every "Strong Sell" recommendation, brokerage firms assign five "Strong Buy" recommendations.
This means that the interests of these institutions are not always aligned with those of retail investors, giving little insight into the direction of a stock's future price movement. It would therefore be best to use this information to validate your own analysis or a tool that has proven to be highly effective at predicting stock price movements.
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 RankIn spite of the fact that Zacks Rank and ABR both appear on a scale from 1 to 5, they are two completely different measures.
Broker recommendations are the sole basis for calculating the ABR, which is typically displayed in decimals (such as 1.28). The Zacks Rank, on the other hand, is a quantitative model designed to harness the power of earnings estimate revisions. It is displayed in whole numbers -- 1 to 5.
It has been and continues to be the case that analysts employed by brokerage firms are overly optimistic with their recommendations. Because of their employers' vested interests, these analysts issue more favorable ratings than their research would support, misguiding investors far more often than helping them.
On the other hand, earnings estimate revisions are at the core of the Zacks Rank. And empirical research shows a strong correlation between trends in earnings estimate revisions and near-term stock price movements.
Furthermore, the different grades of the Zacks Rank are applied proportionately across all stocks for which brokerage analysts provide earnings estimates for the current year. In other words, at all times, this tool maintains a balance among the five ranks it assigns.
There is also a key difference between the ABR and Zacks Rank when it comes to freshness. When you look at the ABR, it may not be up-to-date. Nonetheless, since brokerage analysts constantly revise their earnings estimates to reflect changing business trends, and their actions get reflected in the Zacks Rank quickly enough, it is always timely in predicting future stock prices.
Should You Invest in S?Looking at the earnings estimate revisions for SentinelOne, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for the current year has increased 2.7% over the past month to $0.36.
Analysts' growing optimism over the company's earnings prospects, as indicated by strong agreement among them in revising EPS estimates higher, could be a legitimate reason for the stock to soar in the near term.
The size of the recent change in the consensus estimate, along with three other factors related to earnings estimates, has resulted in a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) for SentinelOne. You can see the complete list of today's Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) stocks here >>>>
Therefore, the Buy-equivalent ABR for SentinelOne may serve as a useful guide for investors.
Key Takeaways SMPL' fiscal third-quarter sales fell 6.3%, while adjusted earnings declined 17.6%.Atkins sales dropped 24.6%, outweighing gains of 1.1% for Quest and 3.6% for OWYN.Fiscal 2026 net sales are now projected at $1.35 billion to $1.36 billion, down 6% to 7%. The Simply Good Foods Company (SMPL - Free Report) reported third-quarter fiscal 2026 results, wherein both top and bottom lines surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate. However, both metrics declined year over year.
SMPL’s Quarterly Performance: Key Metrics and InsightsSimply Good Foods posted adjusted earnings of 42 cents per share, surpassing the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 35 cents. However, the bottom line declined 17.6% from 51 cents reported in the same quarter last year.
The company reported net sales of $357 million, which beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $343 million. However, the metric decreased 6.3% from $381 million posted in the year-ago period. This decrease was caused by a 24.6% decline in Atkins, which was partially offset by growth of 1.1% for Quest and 3.6% for OWYN. Performance was largely driven by anticipated distribution-related declines for Atkins and softer retail takeaway.
Total Simply Good Foods retail takeaway decreased 6.7%, due to a 1.3% decline in OWYN and 23.9% in Atkins, which was largely in line with expectations due to known distribution losses. However, the decline was offset by 1.4% growth in Quest.
Gross profit decreased 16.2% year over year to $116.1 million. This decrease was due to lower sales volumes, higher input costs, and restructuring charges. Gross margin contracted 390 basis points to 32.5%, primarily due to $6.2 million of restructuring costs (representing a 180-basis-point headwind) and higher input costs.
Selling and marketing expenses totaled $39.2 million, an increase of 15.9% compared with the prior year, due to investments in the company's selling capabilities, increased brand-building initiatives to support long-term growth and $1.1 million of restructuring costs.
Adjusted EBITDA was $57.2 million, representing a decline of 22.5% compared with the same period last year.
SMPL Stock: Other Updates & DevelopmentsSimply Good Foods exited the quarter with cash of $123.9 million and an outstanding principal balance of $400 million on its term loan. For the 39 weeks ended May 30, 2026, cash flow from operations totaled $102.2 million.
In the quarter, the company repurchased approximately 2.1 million shares of its common stock for a total of about $25 million.
Sneak Peek Into SMPL’s OutlookThe company has updated its fiscal-year 2026 outlook and now expects net sales of $1.35 billion to $1.36 billion, representing a 6% to 7% year-over-year decline. This compares with its previous guidance of $1.31 billion to $1.35 billion, which implied a 7% to 10% year-over-year decline.
Gross margin is now projected to decline roughly 375 basis points, compared with the previous expectation of a 300-350 basis point decrease.
Adjusted EBITDA is now expected to be between $220 million and $225 million, indicating a decline of 19% to 21% year over year. This compares with its previous guidance of $217 million and $225 million, which is a decline of 19% to 22% year over year.
For the fourth quarter of fiscal 2026, the company expects net sales to be between $322 million and $332 million, representing a year-over-year decline of 10% to 13%, and adjusted EBITDA to range from $52 million to $57 million, indicating a decline of 14% to 22%.
This Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) stock has gained 17.1% in the past three months against the industry’s decline of 10.8%.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Stocks to ConsiderUnited Natural Foods, Inc. (UNFI - Free Report) distributes natural, organic, specialty, produce and conventional grocery and non-food products in the United States and Canada. At present, United Natural sports a Zacks Rank of 1 (Strong Buy). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.
The consensus estimate for United Natural’s current fiscal-year earnings implies growth of 254.9% from the year-ago figures. UNFI delivered a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 29.9%, on average.
Mama's Creations, Inc. (MAMA - Free Report) manufactures and markets fresh deli-prepared foods in the United States. At present, MAMA holds a Zacks Rank of 2 (Buy). Mama's Creations delivered a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 129.2%, on average.
The consensus estimate for Mama's Creations’ current fiscal-year sales and earnings implies growth of 30% and 73.3%, respectively, from the year-ago figures.
Post Holdings, Inc. (POST - Free Report) operates as a consumer-packaged-goods holding company in the United States and internationally. At present, POST holds a Zacks Rank of 2. Post Holdings delivered a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 19.3%, on average.
The consensus estimate for Post Holdings’ current fiscal-year sales and earnings implies growth of 1.4% and 4.7%, respectively, from the year-ago figures.
Meme stock season is back with three consumer names at the center of retail chatter: a heavily shorted momentum play with an activist twist, a busted IPO in turnaround mode, and a low-float, family-run confectioner riding a cocoa cost tailwind. We weighed short interest and squeeze mechanics, near-term catalysts, and underlying business credibility to rank them.
3. Tootsie Roll Industries: The Low Float Sleeper Tootsie Roll Industries (NYSE:TR) is the highest quality business in this trio. The Chicago-based confectioner has a market cap near $2.9 billion, trades at a trailing P/E of 29x, and has just 21.1 million shares in the public float against 57.6% insider ownership. That structural tightness is why traders keep circling it.
Q1 2026 net sales rose 2% year over year to $149.49 million, though EPS held flat at $0.24 as cocoa costs pressured gross margins. Chair and CEO Ellen R. Gordon flagged relief ahead, noting that “Cocoa commodities markets have retreated from their extraordinarily high price levels in 2025 … we should realize lower cocoa and chocolate costs in late 2026 and into 2027.” Shares are up 6.9% year to date and 15.0% over the past year. Halloween seasonality typically brings another pop of retail attention.
2. Krispy Kreme: The Busted IPO Turnaround Krispy Kreme (NASDAQ:DNUT) is the deep value swing of the group. The stock closed at $3.42 on July 9, down 82.3% over five years, leaving a $589.6 million market cap and a price-to-book below 1. That is textbook busted IPO territory.
The turnaround is showing a pulse. Q1 2026 revenue of $367.03 million beat estimates by 2.12%, adjusted EBITDA jumped 38% to $33.10 million, and free cash flow swung to positive $11.38 million from negative $46.73 million a year earlier. Management is aggressively refranchising: Japan sold for roughly $70 million, plus a Western U.S. JV divestiture. CEO Josh Charlesworth said Q1 “highlighted significant progress across every pillar of our turnaround plan.” Adjusted EPS of negative $0.05 missed the negative $0.02 estimate, so the story remains fragile, but the direction is right. Net leverage fell to 5.5x from 6.7x.
Act now: the analyst who called NVIDIA in 2010 just named his top 10 AI stocks — and Wendy's didn't make the cut. Grab the names FREE today.
1. Wendy’s: The Short Squeeze Setup With an Activist Wildcard Wendy’s (NASDAQ:WEN | WEN Price Prediction) tops the list because it checks every meme stock box. Short interest stands at roughly 82% of the float, an extreme reading, and the stock closed at $7.59 on July 9, up 13.1% over the past month even as it remains down 32.4% over one year. Options flow tilts bullish: the full chain put/call ratio is 0.70.
Q1 2026 EPS came in at $0.12 versus a $0.10 estimate on revenue of $540.64 million, but U.S. same restaurant sales fell 7.8% and net income dropped 42.1% to $22.71 million. Interim CEO Ken Cook said, “We are taking decisive action to strengthen the Wendy’s system… first quarter results reflect a business in the early stages of a turnaround.” The catalyst list is what makes this a meme stock: a franchise agreement to build up to 1,000 restaurants in China over the next 10 years, Trian Fund Management exploring potential transactions, a 7.4% dividend yield, and a Reddit-fueled “Save Wendy’s” campaign that pushed a Wendy’s deep dive to over 23,000 upvotes on wallstreetbets in late June.
Analysts are cautious, with a mean target of $7.78, exactly the kind of muted Street view meme traders love to fade. Management reaffirmed FY2026 adjusted EBITDA guidance of $460 million to $480 million.
The Takeaway Tootsie Roll offers the cleanest fundamentals and a cocoa-cost tailwind but the quietest catalyst path. Krispy Kreme is a legitimate turnaround at deep value multiples with real operating improvement but ongoing EPS misses. Wendy’s earns the top slot because it fuses the highest short interest in the group with an activist investor circling, a China expansion headline, a 7% dividend, and an active Reddit campaign. That combination is what meme trading is built on, making Wendy’s the name most worth watching into the next earnings report.
Act now: the analyst who called NVIDIA in 2010 just named his top 10 AI stocks — and Wendy's didn't make the cut. Grab the names FREE today.
WESTERVILLE, Ohio--(BUSINESS WIRE)--agilon health, inc. (NYSE: AGL), the trusted partner empowering physicians to transform health care in our communities, announced that its Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs) achieved $229 million in gross savings (13.6% gross savings rate), including $54 million savings in the Medicare Trust Fund, during the 2024 performance year of the ACO Realizing Equity, Access and Community Health (ACO REACH) model. agilon's eight REACH ACOs operate under full risk, a.
Income investors got a mixed setup heading into the back half of 2026. Long rates are still stubborn, credit spreads are tight, and dividend growth has slowed at many blue chips.
Sprout Social views this recognition as a reflection of its commitment to AI-powered Social Intelligence and its strategy to turn real-time social signals into business decisions, driven by its proprietary AI agent, Trellis July 10, 2026 09:00 ET | Source: Sprout Social, Inc
CHICAGO, July 10, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Sprout Social (NASDAQ: SPT), the AI-powered Social Intelligence Platform, today announced it has been recognized as a Visionary in the inaugural Gartner® Magic Quadrant™ for Social Media Management and Listening. This Magic Quadrant evaluates seven vendors and helps organizations select the right partner to seamlessly connect real-time social intelligence with comprehensive management execution. Sprout Social believes this recognition reflects the strength of its vision and its leadership in shaping the future of the category.
Social media provides some of the earliest signals of where markets, consumers and culture are headed. Sprout Social understands that organizations that can identify and act on those signals are better positioned to anticipate change, strengthen customer relationships and drive business impact. That insight has shaped Sprout’s AI-powered Social Intelligence platform, powered by its proprietary AI agent, Trellis, which helps transform real-time social signals into actionable intelligence.
“We see Gartner’s new Magic Quadrant for this category as a major milestone for social media management and its role in how organizations compete,” said Scott Morris, Chief Marketing Officer, Sprout Social. “We’re thrilled to be recognized as a Visionary, a position we believe reflects our commitment to anticipating market shifts and equipping our customers with the tools they need to build innovative, consumer-first brands that deliver real business results.”
“Our focus is centered on transforming social media from an isolated marketing channel into an enterprise-wide system of intelligence and action,” said Srinivas Somayajula, Chief Product Officer at Sprout Social. “Over the past year, we have delivered on this strategy by expanding our conversational AI agent, Trellis, across the Sprout ecosystem. By combining these real-time capabilities with NewsWhip’s predictive analytics and our fully reimagined influencer marketing platform, we are giving brands the high-velocity solution designed to look around corners and help drive predictable business outcomes.”
To learn more about Sprout Social’s Social Intelligence platform and AI capabilities, visit sproutsocial.com.
Gartner Disclaimer
Source: Gartner, Magic Quadrant for Social Media Management and Listening, Claudia Ratterman, Karen Lee, Tia Zervas, 6 July 2026
Gartner does not endorse any vendor, product or service depicted in its research publications, and does not advise technology users to select only those vendors with the highest ratings or other designation. Gartner research publications consist of the opinions of Gartner's research organization and should not be construed as statements of fact. Gartner disclaims all warranties, expressed or implied, with respect to this research, including any warranties of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose.
GARTNER and MAGIC QUADRANT are registered trademarks and service marks of Gartner, Inc. and/or its affiliates in the U.S. and internationally and are used herein with permission. All rights reserved.
About Sprout Social
Sprout Social is a leading AI-powered social intelligence platform, built on the belief that All Business is Social℠. Powered by Trellis, Sprout’s proprietary AI agent, the platform is designed to transform real-time social media signals into actionable insights that drive business forward. Consistently recognized as a top software by G2, Sprout enables brands to deliver smarter, faster business impact through a suite of solutions including comprehensive publishing and engagement, customer care, influencer marketing, advocacy and predictive media intelligence. Sprout’s software operates across all major social networks and digital platforms. For more information about Sprout Social (NASDAQ: SPT), visit sproutsocial.com.
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Investors in Gulfport Energy Corporation (GPOR - Free Report) need to pay close attention to the stock based on moves in the options market lately. That is because the Jul 17, 2026 $150 Call had some of the highest implied volatility of all equity options today.
What is Implied Volatility?Implied volatility shows how much movement the market is expecting in the future. Options with high levels of implied volatility suggest that investors in the underlying stocks are expecting a big move in one direction or the other. It could also mean there is an event coming up soon that may cause a big rally or a huge sell-off. However, implied volatility is only one piece of the puzzle when putting together an options trading strategy.
What do the Analysts Think?Clearly, options traders are pricing in a big move for Gulfport Energy shares, but what is the fundamental picture for the company? Currently, Gulfport Energy is a Zacks Rank #4 (Sell) in the Oil and Gas - Exploration and Production - United States industry that ranks in the Bottom 28% of our Zacks Industry Rank. Over the last 30 days, no analysts have increased their earnings estimates for the current quarter, while one analyst has revised the estimate downward. The net effect has taken our Zacks Consensus Estimate for the current quarter from $4.63 per share to $4.49 in that period.
Given the way analysts feel about Gulfport Energy right now, this huge implied volatility could mean there’s a trade developing. Oftentimes, options traders look for options with high levels of implied volatility to sell premium. This is a strategy many seasoned traders use because it captures decay. At expiration, the hope for these traders is that the underlying stock does not move as much as originally expected.
Texas Roadhouse (TXRH - Free Report) is looking like an interesting pick from a technical perspective, as the company reached a key level of support. Recently, TXRH crossed above the 20-day moving average, suggesting a short-term bullish trend.
The 20-day simple moving average is a popular trading tool. It provides a look back at a stock's price over a 20-day period, and is beneficial to short-term traders since it smooths out price fluctuations and provides more trend reversal signals than longer-term moving averages.
Similar to other SMAs, if a stock's price moves above the 20-day, the trend is considered positive, while price falling below the moving average can signal a downward trend.
TXRH could be on the verge of another rally after moving 11.5% higher over the last four weeks. Plus, the company is currently a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) stock.
The bullish case only gets stronger once investors take into account TXRH's positive earnings estimate revisions. There have been 4 revisions higher for the current fiscal year compared to none lower, and the consensus estimate has moved up as well.
With a winning combination of earnings estimate revisions and hitting a key technical level, investors should keep their eye on TXRH for more gains in the near future.
Investors in N-able, Inc. (NABL - Free Report) need to pay close attention to the stock based on moves in the options market lately. That is because the July 17, 2026 $10 Call had some of the highest implied volatility of all equity options today.
What is Implied Volatility?Implied volatility shows how much movement the market is expecting in the future. Options with high levels of implied volatility suggest that investors in the underlying stocks are expecting a big move in one direction or the other. It could also mean there is an event coming up soon that may cause a big rally or a huge sell-off. However, implied volatility is only one piece of the puzzle when putting together an options trading strategy.
What do the Analysts Think?Clearly, options traders are pricing in a big move for N-able shares, but what is the fundamental picture for the company? Currently, N-able is a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) in the Technology Services industry that ranks in the Bottom 38% of our Zacks Industry Rank. Over the last 60 days, no analyst increased the earnings estimates for the current quarter, while one has dropped the estimates. The net effect has taken our Zacks Consensus Estimate for the current quarter from 11 cents per share to 10 cents in that period.
Given the way analysts feel about N-able right now, this huge implied volatility could mean there’s a trade developing. Oftentimes, options traders look for options with high levels of implied volatility to sell premium. This is a strategy many seasoned traders use because it captures decay. At expiration, the hope for these traders is that the underlying stock does not move as much as originally expected.
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 includes access to the Zacks Style Scores as well.
What are the Zacks Style Scores? Developed alongside the Zacks Rank, the Zacks Style Scores are a group of complementary indicators that help investors pick stocks with the best chances of beating the market over the next 30 days.
Based on their value, growth, and momentum characteristics, each stock is assigned a rating of A, B, C, D, or F. The better the score, the better chance the stock will outperform; an A is better than a B, a B is better than a C, and so on.
The Style Scores are broken down into four categories:
Value ScoreFor value investors, it's all about finding good stocks at good prices, and discovering which companies are trading under their true value before the broader market catches on. The Value Style Score utilizes ratios like P/E, PEG, Price/Sales, Price/Cash Flow, and a host of other multiples to help pick out the most attractive and discounted stocks.
Growth 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 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.
It's highly successful, with #1 (Strong Buy) stocks producing an unmatched +23.94% average annual return since 1988. That's more than double the S&P 500. But because of the large number of stocks we rate, there are over 200 companies with a Strong Buy rank, plus another 600 with a #2 (Buy) rank, on any given day.
With more than 800 top-rated stocks to choose from, it can certainly feel overwhelming to pick the ones that are right for you and your investing journey.
That's where the Style Scores come in.
To 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.
For instance, a stock with a #4 (Sell) or #5 (Strong Sell) rating, even one that boasts Scores of A and B, still has a downward-trending earnings forecast, and a much greater likelihood its share price will decline as well.
Thus, the more stocks you own with a #1 or #2 Rank and Scores of A or B, the better.
Stock to Watch: Werner Enterprises (WERN - Free Report) Werner Enterprises, Inc. is a transportation and logistics company founded in 1956. Headquartered in Omaha, NE, the company is primarily focused on transporting the truckload shipments such as retail store merchandise, consumer products, grocery products and manufactured products. The company operates mainly under two segments — Truckload Transporation Services (TTS) and Werner Logistics.
WERN is a #3 (Hold) on the Zacks Rank, with a VGM Score of A.
Momentum investors should take note of this Transportation stock. WERN has a Momentum Style Score of A, and shares are up 2.1% over the past four weeks.
For fiscal 2026, two analysts revised their earnings estimate upwards in the last 60 days, and the Zacks Consensus Estimate has increased $0.04 to $0.98 per share. WERN boasts an average earnings surprise of +30.6%.
With a solid Zacks Rank and top-tier Momentum and VGM Style Scores, WERN should be on investors' short list.
Recognized for employee satisfaction, revenue growth, and sustainability
, /PRNewswire/ -- Jack Henry® (Nasdaq: JKHY) has been named one of America's best companies by TIME and Statista for the third consecutive year. This list recognizes top-performing U.S. companies that have demonstrated strong revenue growth, received positive employee feedback and upheld a firm commitment to corporate responsibility. The 1,000 highest-scoring companies were recognized as America's Best Companies 2026.
"It's an honor to once again be recognized by TIME as one of America's best companies," said President and CEO Greg Adelson. "For 50 years, we've strived to create an engaging work environment for our associates, provide our clients with the innovative tools they need to help their accountholders, support our local communities, and deliver long-term value to our shareholders. It's a privilege to see that sustained commitment validated in this national ranking."
America's Best Companies 2026 list was identified based on three components:
Employee satisfaction: Based on independent survey data from approximately 217,000 employees at U.S. companies over the past three years. The results reflect employee recommendations and evaluations across key areas such as company image, atmosphere, working conditions, salary, workplace environment, and equality. Revenue growth: Companies needed at least $100 million in revenue in 2025. Short- and long-term relative and absolute revenue growth were assessed, as well as changes in net income, asset growth, and the evolution of return on assets for 2023 – 2025. Sustainability transparency: Evaluated using standardized Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) relevant to environment, social, and corporate governance practices. About Jack Henry & Associates, Inc.®
Jack Henry® (Nasdaq: JKHY) is a well-rounded financial technology company that strengthens connections between financial institutions and the people and businesses they serve. We are an S&P 500 company that prioritizes openness, collaboration, and user centricity – offering banks and credit unions a vibrant ecosystem of internally developed modern capabilities as well as the ability to integrate with leading fintechs. For 50 years, Jack Henry has provided technology solutions to enable clients to innovate faster, strategically differentiate, and successfully compete while serving the evolving needs of their accountholders. We empower approximately 7,400 clients with people-inspired innovation, personal service, and insight-driven solutions that help reduce the barriers to financial health. Additional information is available at jackhenry.com.
Statements made in this news release that are not historical facts are "forward-looking statements." Because forward-looking statements relate to the future, they are subject to inherent risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such statements. Such risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, those discussed in the Company's Securities and Exchange Commission filings, including the Company's most recent reports on Form 10-K and Form 10-Q, particularly under the heading "Risk Factors." Any forward-looking statement made in this news release speaks only as of the date of the news release, and the Company expressly disclaims any obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether because of new information, future events or otherwise.
The Transportation group has plenty of great stocks, but investors should always be looking for companies that are outperforming their peers. Is Knight-Swift Transportation Holdings (KNX - Free Report) one of those stocks right now? A quick glance at the company's year-to-date performance in comparison to the rest of the Transportation sector should help us answer this question.
Knight-Swift Transportation Holdings is a member of our Transportation group, which includes 110 different companies and currently sits at #1 in the Zacks Sector Rank. The Zacks Sector Rank gauges the strength of our 16 individual sector groups by measuring the average Zacks Rank of the individual stocks within the groups.
The Zacks Rank is a proven system that emphasizes earnings estimates and estimate revisions, highlighting a variety of stocks that are displaying the right characteristics to beat the market over the next one to three months. Knight-Swift Transportation Holdings is currently sporting a Zacks Rank of #1 (Strong Buy).
Over the past three months, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for KNX's full-year earnings has moved 12% higher. This signals that analyst sentiment is improving and the stock's earnings outlook is more positive.
Based on the latest available data, KNX has gained about 47.6% so far this year. At the same time, Transportation stocks have gained an average of 16.7%. This shows that Knight-Swift Transportation Holdings is outperforming its peers so far this year.
One other Transportation stock that has outperformed the sector so far this year is TFI International Inc. (TFII - Free Report) . The stock is up 44.5% year-to-date.
The consensus estimate for TFI International Inc.'s current year EPS has increased 13.2% over the past three months. The stock currently has a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy).
To break things down more, Knight-Swift Transportation Holdings belongs to the Transportation - Truck industry, a group that includes 12 individual companies and currently sits at #27 in the Zacks Industry Rank. Stocks in this group have gained about 45.5% so far this year, so KNX is performing better this group in terms of year-to-date returns.
TFI International Inc., however, belongs to the Transportation - Services industry. Currently, this 20-stock industry is ranked #155. The industry has moved +11.3% so far this year.
Going forward, investors interested in Transportation stocks should continue to pay close attention to Knight-Swift Transportation Holdings and TFI International Inc. as they could maintain their solid performance.
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 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.
It also includes access to the Zacks Style Scores.
What are the Zacks Style Scores? The Zacks Style Scores, developed alongside the Zacks Rank, are complementary indicators that rate stocks based on three widely-followed investing methodologies; they also 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 traders and investors live by the saying "the trend is your friend." This investing style is all about taking advantage of upward or downward trends in a stock's price or earnings outlook. Employing factors like one-week price change and the monthly percentage change in earnings estimates, the Momentum Style Score can indicate favorable times to build a position in high-momentum stocks.
VGM ScoreIf you want a combination of all three Style Scores, then the VGM Score will be your friend. It rates each stock on their combined weighted styles, helping you find the companies with the most attractive value, best growth forecast, and most promising momentum. It's also one of the best indicators to use with the Zacks Rank.
How Style Scores Work with the Zacks Rank The Zacks Rank, which is a proprietary stock-rating model, employs earnings estimate revisions, or changes to a company's earnings expectations, to make building a winning portfolio easier.
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.
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.
For instance, a stock with a #4 (Sell) or #5 (Strong Sell) rating, even one that boasts Scores of A and B, still has a downward-trending earnings forecast, and a much greater likelihood its share price will decline as well.
Thus, the more stocks you own with a #1 or #2 Rank and Scores of A or B, the better.
Stock to Watch: CBOE Global (CBOE - Free Report) Based in Chicago, IL, and founded in 1973, Cboe Global Markets, Inc. (effective Oct 17, 2017, CBOE Holdings, Inc. came to be known as Cboe Global Markets, Inc.) is one of the largest stock exchange operators by volume in the United States and a leading market globally for ETP trading.
CBOE is a #3 (Hold) on the Zacks Rank, with a VGM Score of B.
Additionally, the company could be a top pick for growth investors. CBOE has a Growth Style Score of A, forecasting year-over-year earnings growth of 26.4% for the current fiscal year.
Four analysts revised their earnings estimate upwards in the last 60 days for fiscal 2026. The Zacks Consensus Estimate has increased $0.34 to $13.49 per share. CBOE boasts an average earnings surprise of +5.4%.
With a solid Zacks Rank and top-tier Growth and VGM Style Scores, CBOE should be on investors' short list.
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 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 includes access to the Zacks Style Scores as well.
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 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 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 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 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.
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.
Since the Scores were created to work together with the Zacks Rank, the direction of a stock's earnings estimate revisions should be a key factor when choosing which stocks to buy.
For instance, a stock with a #4 (Sell) or #5 (Strong Sell) rating, even one that boasts Scores of A and B, still has a downward-trending earnings forecast, and a much greater likelihood its share price will decline as well.
Thus, the more stocks you own with a #1 or #2 Rank and Scores of A or B, the better.
Stock to Watch: Quest Diagnostics (DGX - Free Report) Headquartered in Secaucus, New Jersey, Quest Diagnostics Inc. provides diagnostic information services to a broad range of customers within its primary customer channels of physicians, hospitals, patients, and consumers. The company provides services to Independent Delivery Networks (IDN) throughout the United States, through its Professional Lab Services (PLS) offerings, which allow them to build and execute their laboratory strategy, improve quality, reduce healthcare costs, and focus on core competencies. The company is a key provider of reference testing for approximately half of the hospitals in the United States.
DGX is a #2 (Buy) 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 19.41; value investors should take notice.
Two analysts revised their earnings estimate higher in the last 60 days for fiscal 2026, while the Zacks Consensus Estimate has increased $0.03 to $10.72 per share. DGX also boasts an average earnings surprise of +3.5%.
With a solid Zacks Rank and top-tier Value and VGM Style Scores, DGX should be on investors' short list.
Jason Pride, Chief of Investment Strategy and Research at Glenmede, told CNBC on July 10 that investors have tuned out the noise from global conflict as an extraordinary wave of artificial intelligence spending drives corporate growth. “This market is getting desensitized to the geopolitical conflict. At the end of the day, we are in a momentum-driven market,” Pride said.
Pride believes there’s a strong foundation underneath this momentum driven by substantial AI investment. “We are spending almost 3% of GDP on AI build-out per year right now, an astronomical investment. And that’s going into effectively software-like replacement. It’s going into hardware, it’s going into buildings and infrastructure. It’s going into cooling systems,” he said. “That is why we’re seeing this strength in the underlying growth and underlying profits. I think that’s what’s supporting this market.”
Readers looking to find the winning companies riding this AI build-out wave can dig into our Free Report: 7 Stocks Powering the AI Boom (That Aren’t Chipmakers).
The Earnings Behind the Thesis NVIDIA Is Building the Factories of the AI Economy NVIDIA (NASDAQ:NVDA | NVDA Price Prediction) reported Q1 FY2027 revenue of $81.61 billion, up 85.2% year over year, with Data Center revenue of $75.25 billion, up 92%, and networking up 199% year over year. Jensen Huang described the moment as “the largest infrastructure expansion in human history.” Guidance calls for $91.0 billion in Q2, and total supply commitments have reached $119.0 billion. NVIDIA assumed zero H20 Data Center compute revenue from China, versus $4.6 billion in the year-ago quarter. Shares are up 8.86% year to date, with the next report expected on August 26, 2026.
Micron Is Cashing In on an Explosive Memory Shortage Micron Technology (NASDAQ:MU) posted fiscal Q3 2026 revenue of $41.46 billion, up 345.7% year over year, with non-GAAP EPS of $25.11 and Q4 guidance of $50.0 billion ± $1.0 billion. CEO Sanjay Mehrotra tied it to “the strategic value of memory in the AI era.” Shares are up 247.66% year to date. This exemplifies the cyclical revenue growth Pride cited when naming Micron, SK Hynix, and Nvidia.
IBM Shows AI Spending Is Reaching Corporate America IBM (NYSE:IBM) delivered Q1 2026 revenue of $15.92 billion, up 9.5%, with mainframe revenue surging 51% year over year. Arvind Krishna said, “AI continues to be a tailwind for our global business,” with the generative AI book of business topping $12.5 billion inception-to-date.
July 16 is the Final Day to Tap Into the Lithium Boom (sponsor)
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Here’s why you should do the same before their July 16 investment deadline: lithium prices are up 75% this year, with demand projected to grow a staggering 5X by 2040.
With tech that can recover up to 3X more lithium than traditional methods, EnergyX is preparing to unlock up to 15M+ tons. Become a private-stage EnergyX investor before the July 16 deadline.
Honeywell Reveals Where Geopolitical Risk Still Matters Honeywell (NASDAQ:HON) showed friction. Q1 2026 showed an adjusted EPS beat of $2.45, but revenue of $9.14 billion missed by 1.48%. CEO Vimal Kapur credited execution for “overcoming the impacts of rising inflation and the disruption in the Middle East,” while Building Automation grew 8% organically, driven by data center demand. Honeywell’s Aerospace spin-off completed on June 29, 2026.
Public Service Enterprise Group and The Power Ripple The AI buildout ripples into utilities. Public Service Enterprise Group (NYSE:PEG) reported Q1 2026 non-GAAP EPS of $1.55 and disclosed large-load inquiries of roughly 11,800 MW as of December 31, 2025, tied to data center demand. Shares are up just 1.5% year to date, trading near the 52-week low of $75.39 despite an analyst target of $89.71.
“There Are Going to Be Winners and Losers” Pride believes that history shows that no strong story can continue forever. “We will see a slowdown in that cycle as we have with any investment cycle. What we often see in any technology cycle is we see a ramp of investment as everybody rushes towards the same gold rush, trying to benefit from it. They’re going to be winners and losers from that,” he said
Valuations sit above historical averages, and Pride argues they hold only if businesses’ earnings power holds. The unresolved question is whether AI capex, running at roughly 3% of GDP annually, ultimately clears its hurdle for returns. That answer will take years to play out, but until then, momentum has kept the market climbing.
Meet America's Newest $1b Unicorn (Sponsor)A US startup just passed a $1 billion private valuation, joining billion-dollar private companies like OpenAI and ByteDance. Unlike those other unicorns, you can invest in EnergyX right now; but only until July 16.
Over 50,000 people already have, along with global giants like General Motors and POSCO.
Here’s why there’s so much interest: EnergyX’s patented tech can recover up to 3X more lithium than traditional methods. That’s a big deal, as demand for lithium is expected to 5X current production levels by 2040.Become an early-stage EnergyX shareholder before the 7/16 investment deadline.
In its upcoming report, JB Hunt (JBHT - Free Report) is predicted by Wall Street analysts to post quarterly earnings of $1.71 per share, reflecting an increase of 30.5% compared to the same period last year. Revenues are forecasted to be $3.17 billion, representing a year-over-year increase of 8.1%.
Over the past 30 days, the consensus EPS estimate for the quarter has been adjusted upward by 0.9% to its current level. This demonstrates the covering analysts' collective reassessment of their initial projections during this period.
Before a company reveals its earnings, it is vital to take into account any changes in earnings projections. These revisions play a pivotal role in predicting the possible reactions of investors toward the stock. Multiple empirical studies have consistently shown a strong association between trends in earnings estimates and the short-term price movements of a stock.
While investors usually depend on consensus earnings and revenue estimates to assess the business performance for the quarter, delving into analysts' forecasts for certain key metrics often provides a more comprehensive understanding.
In light of this perspective, let's dive into the average estimates of certain JB Hunt metrics that are commonly tracked and forecasted by Wall Street analysts.
The average prediction of analysts places 'Revenue- Truckload' at $204.18 million. The estimate indicates a change of +15.4% from the prior-year quarter.
The combined assessment of analysts suggests that 'Revenue- Dedicated' will likely reach $888.15 million. The estimate indicates a year-over-year change of +4.9%.
The collective assessment of analysts points to an estimated 'Revenue- Final Mile Services' of $200.31 million. The estimate points to a change of -4.9% from the year-ago quarter.
Analysts expect 'Revenue- Integrated Capacity Solutions' to come in at $302.16 million. The estimate suggests a change of +16.1% year over year.
It is projected by analysts that the 'Intermodal - Trailing equipment (end of period)' will reach 125,565 . The estimate compares to the year-ago value of 125,265 .
Analysts predict that the 'Integrated Capacity Solutions - Revenue per load' will reach $2159.76 . The estimate compares to the year-ago value of $1967.00 .
The consensus estimate for 'Intermodal - Revenue per load' stands at $2774.52 . The estimate compares to the year-ago value of $2738.00 .
Based on the collective assessment of analysts, 'Final Mile Services - Average trucks during the period' should arrive at 1,264 . Compared to the current estimate, the company reported 1,317 in the same quarter of the previous year.
Analysts' assessment points toward 'Truckload - Total tractors' reaching 2,003 . The estimate is in contrast to the year-ago figure of 2,041 .
The consensus among analysts is that 'Integrated Capacity Solutions - Loads' will reach 142,244 . Compared to the present estimate, the company reported 132,315 in the same quarter last year.
Analysts forecast 'Dedicated - Average trucks during the period' to reach 12,689 . Compared to the current estimate, the company reported 12,689 in the same quarter of the previous year.
According to the collective judgment of analysts, 'Intermodal - Loads' should come in at 537,462 . The estimate compares to the year-ago value of 525,161 .
View all Key Company Metrics for JB Hunt here>>>
Shares of JB Hunt have experienced a change of -2.3% in the past month compared to the +2.2% move of the Zacks S&P 500 composite. With a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy), JBHT is expected to outperform the overall market in the near future. You can see the complete list of today's Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) stocks here >>>> .
Quarterly financial reports play a vital role on Wall Street, as they help investors see how a company has performed and what might be coming down the road in the near-term. And out of all of the metrics and results to consider, earnings is one of the most important.
The earnings figure itself is key, of course, but a beat or miss on the bottom line can sometimes be just as, if not more, important. Therefore, investors should consider paying close attention to these earnings surprises, as a big beat can help a stock climb and vice versa.
Now that we know how important earnings and earnings surprises are, it's time to show investors how to take advantage of these events to boost their returns by utilizing the Zacks Earnings ESP filter.
The Zacks Earnings ESP, ExplainedThe Zacks Earnings ESP is more formally known as the Expected Surprise Prediction, and it aims to grab the inside track on the latest analyst estimate revisions ahead of a company's report. The idea is relatively intuitive as a newer projection might be based on more complete information.
Now that we understand the basic idea, let's look at how the Expected Surprise Prediction works. The ESP is calculated by comparing the Most Accurate Estimate to the Zacks Consensus Estimate, with the percentage difference between the two giving us the Zacks ESP figure.
In fact, when we combined a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) or better and a positive Earnings ESP, stocks produced a positive surprise 70% of the time. Perhaps most importantly, using these parameters has helped produce 28.3% annual returns on average, according to our 10 year backtest.
Stocks with a ranking of #3 (Hold), or 60% of all stocks covered by the Zacks Rank, are expected to perform in-line with the broader market. Stocks with rankings of #2 (Buy) and #1 (Strong Buy), or the top 15% and top 5% of stocks, respectively, should outperform the market; Strong Buy stocks should outperform more than any other rank.
Should You Consider Hubbell?The last thing we will do today, now that we have a grasp on the ESP and how powerful of a tool it can be, is to quickly look at a qualifying stock. Hubbell (HUBB - Free Report) holds a #2 (Buy) at the moment and its Most Accurate Estimate comes in at $5.35 a share 25 days away from its upcoming earnings release on August 4, 2026.
By taking the percentage difference between the $5.35 Most Accurate Estimate and the $5.32 Zacks Consensus Estimate, Hubbell has an Earnings ESP of +0.62%. Investors should also know that HUBB is one of a large group of stocks with positive ESPs. Make sure to utilize our Earnings ESP Filter to uncover the best stocks to buy or sell before they've reported.
HUBB is one of just a large database of Industrial Products stocks with positive ESPs. Another solid-looking stock is RBC Bearings (RBC - Free Report) .
RBC Bearings, which is readying to report earnings on August 7, 2026, sits at a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) right now. Its Most Accurate Estimate is currently $3.45 a share, and RBC is 28 days out from its next earnings report.
For RBC Bearings, the percentage difference between its Most Accurate Estimate and its Zacks Consensus Estimate of $3.39 is +1.77%.
Because both stocks hold a positive Earnings ESP, HUBB and RBC could potentially post earnings beats in their next reports.
Find Stocks to Buy or Sell Before They're ReportedUse the Zacks Earnings ESP Filter to turn up stocks with the highest probability of positively, or negatively, surprising to buy or sell before they're reported for profitable earnings season trading. Check it out here >>
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 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 includes access to the Zacks Style Scores as well.
What are the Zacks Style Scores? The Zacks Style Scores, developed alongside the Zacks Rank, are complementary indicators that rate stocks based on three widely-followed investing methodologies; they also 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 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 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 is a proprietary stock-rating model that harnesses the power of earnings estimate revisions, or changes to a company's earnings expectations, to help investors build 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.
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.
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: Sprouts Farmers (SFM - Free Report) Sprouts Farmers Market, Inc. operates a specialty grocery chain focused on fresh, natural and organic foods, with an open layout and fresh produce at the center of the store. The company emphasizes attribute-driven products, including organic, plant-based and gluten-free items, and uses a curated assortment that mixes everyday wellness staples with new and emerging brands.
SFM is a #3 (Hold) on the Zacks Rank, with a VGM Score of A.
It also boasts a Value Style Score of B thanks to attractive valuation metrics like a forward P/E ratio of 14.43; value investors should take notice.
One analyst revised their earnings estimate higher in the last 60 days for fiscal 2026, while the Zacks Consensus Estimate has increased $0.01 to $5.57 per share. SFM also boasts an average earnings surprise of +5%.
With a solid Zacks Rank and top-tier Value and VGM Style Scores, SFM should be on investors' short list.
NEW YORK, July 10, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Gross Law Firm issues the following notice to shareholders of Helen of Troy Limited (NASDAQ: HELE).
Shareholders who purchased shares of HELE during the class period listed are encouraged to contact the firm regarding possible lead plaintiff appointment. Appointment as lead plaintiff is not required to partake in any recovery.
ALLEGATIONS: According to the filed complaint, defendants made false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that evidence suggests that given the importance of project pegasus to the Company’s business model and finances, the external macroeconomic conditions during the class period, and the Company’s internal budget and resource constraints, at the time these statements were made, defendants knew or should have known that project pegasus would not, and was not on track to, realize the savings, efficiency, or effectiveness that Helen of Troy consistently touted.
DEADLINE: August 3, 2026 Shareholders should not delay in registering for this class action. Register your information here: https://securitiesclasslaw.com/securities/helen-of-troy-limited-loss-submission-form/?id=192846&from=3
NEXT STEPS FOR SHAREHOLDERS: Once you register as a shareholder who purchased shares of HELE during the timeframe listed above, you will be enrolled in a portfolio monitoring software to provide you with status updates throughout the lifecycle of the case. The deadline to seek to be a lead plaintiff is August 3, 2026. There is no cost or obligation to you to participate in this case.
WHY GROSS LAW FIRM? The Gross Law Firm is a nationally recognized class action law firm, and our mission is to protect the rights of all investors who have suffered as a result of deceit, fraud, and illegal business practices. The Gross Law Firm is committed to ensuring that companies adhere to responsible business practices and engage in good corporate citizenship. The firm seeks recovery on behalf of investors who incurred losses when false and/or misleading statements or the omission of material information by a company lead to artificial inflation of the company's stock. Attorney advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes.
CONTACT:
The Gross Law Firm
15 West 38th Street, 12th floor
New York, NY, 10018
Email: [email protected]
Phone: (646) 453-8903
e.l.f. Beauty (ELF - 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.
Shares of this cosmetics company have returned +24.9% over the past month versus the Zacks S&P 500 composite's +2.2% change. The Zacks Cosmetics industry, to which e.l.f. Beauty belongs, has lost 1% 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.
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.
e.l.f. Beauty is expected to post earnings of $0.73 per share for the current quarter, representing a year-over-year change of -18%. Over the last 30 days, the Zacks Consensus Estimate has changed +1.2%.
The consensus earnings estimate of $3.31 for the current fiscal year indicates a year-over-year change of +5.8%. This estimate has changed +0.4% over the last 30 days.
For the next fiscal year, the consensus earnings estimate of $3.57 indicates a change of +7.8% from what e.l.f. Beauty is expected to report a year ago. Over the past month, the estimate has changed +0.5%.
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, e.l.f. Beauty 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 e.l.f. Beauty, the consensus sales estimate of $424.55 million for the current quarter points to a year-over-year change of +20%. The $1.86 billion and $1.99 billion estimates for the current and next fiscal years indicate changes of +13.6% and +7%, respectively.
Last Reported Results and Surprise Historye.l.f. Beauty reported revenues of $449.29 million in the last reported quarter, representing a year-over-year change of +35.1%. EPS of $0.32 for the same period compares with $0.78 a year ago.
Compared to the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $425.82 million, the reported revenues represent a surprise of +5.51%. The EPS surprise was +10.34%.
The company beat consensus EPS estimates in each of the trailing four quarters. 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.
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.
e.l.f. Beauty is graded D on this front, indicating that it is trading at a premium to its peers. Click here to see the values of some of the valuation metrics that have driven this grade.
Bottom LineThe facts discussed here and much other information on Zacks.com might help determine whether or not it's worthwhile paying attention to the market buzz about e.l.f. Beauty. However, its Zacks Rank #3 does suggest that it may perform in line with the broader market in the near term.
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.
It also includes access to the Zacks Style Scores.
What are the Zacks Style Scores? Developed alongside the Zacks Rank, the Zacks Style Scores are a group of complementary indicators that help investors pick stocks with the best chances of beating the market over the next 30 days.
Based on their value, growth, and momentum characteristics, each stock is assigned a rating of A, B, C, D, or F. The better the score, the better chance the stock will outperform; an A is better than a B, a B is better than a C, and so on.
The Style Scores are broken down into four categories:
Value ScoreFor value investors, it's all about finding good stocks at good prices, and discovering which companies are trading under their true value before the broader market catches on. The Value Style Score utilizes ratios like P/E, PEG, Price/Sales, Price/Cash Flow, and a host of other multiples to help pick out the most attractive and discounted stocks.
Growth ScoreGrowth investors are more concerned with a stock's future prospects, and the overall financial health and strength of a company. Thus, the Growth Style Score analyzes characteristics like projected and historic earnings, sales, and cash flow to find stocks that will see sustainable growth over time.
Momentum ScoreMomentum 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 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.
#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.
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.
You want to make sure you're buying stocks with the highest likelihood of success, and to do that, you'll need to pick stocks with a Zacks Rank #1 or #2 that also have Style Scores of A or B. If you like a stock that only has a #3 (Hold) rank, it should also have Scores of A or B to guarantee as much upside potential as possible.
Since the Scores were created to work together with the Zacks Rank, the direction of a stock's earnings estimate revisions should be a key factor when choosing which stocks to buy.
Here's an example: a stock with a #4 (Sell) or #5 (Strong Sell) rating, even one with Style Scores of A and B, still has a downward-trending earnings outlook, and a bigger chance its share price will decrease too.
Thus, the more stocks you own with a #1 or #2 Rank and Scores of A or B, the better.
Stock to Watch: Urban Outfitters (URBN - Free Report) Urban Outfitters, Inc. was founded in 1970 and is headquartered in Philadelphia, PA. It is a lifestyle products and services company that sells fashion apparel, accessories, footwear, home goods and related offerings through a portfolio of global consumer brands. The company’s key brands include Anthropologie, Free People, FP Movement, Urban Outfitters and Nuuly. Anthropologie also includes the Terrain and Maeve brands. Free People also includes FP Movement. The company operates in North America and Europe, and also sells through franchise partners in the Middle East.
URBN is a #1 (Strong Buy) 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 11.31; value investors should take notice.
Five analysts revised their earnings estimate higher in the last 60 days for fiscal 2027, while the Zacks Consensus Estimate has increased $0.29 to $6.13 per share. URBN also boasts an average earnings surprise of +12.2%.
With a solid Zacks Rank and top-tier Value and VGM Style Scores, URBN should be on investors' short list.
Mineros S.A. (TSX: MSA, BVC: MINEROS, OTCQX: MNSAF) (âMinerosâ or the âCompanyâ) has adopted a formal Strategic Gold Reserve Policy (the âPolicyâ)
Key Takeaways SPCX's 2026 sales estimate implies 179.5% growth versus 132.3% for ASTS.SpaceX trades at 36.57 times forward sales, well below AST SpaceMobile's 61.27 multiple.SpaceX is expanding into AI infrastructure, including compute satellites and enterprise AI. AST SpaceMobile, Inc. (ASTS - Free Report) and Space Exploration Technologies Corp. (SPCX - Free Report) are two leading communications services providers aiming to develop low-Earth orbit (LEO) satellite networks to deliver broadband and direct-to-device mobile connectivity. AST SpaceMobile is building the world’s first and only global cellular broadband network in space, accessible directly by standard smartphones (4G-LTE/5G devices) for commercial and government use, leveraging its extensive Intellectual Property and patent portfolio. The SpaceMobile Service is provided by a constellation of high-powered, large phased-array satellites in LEO using low-band and mid-band spectrums controlled by Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) in areas lacking terrestrial network coverage.
Operating a fleet of about 9,600 satellites in LEO (as of March 31, 2026), SpaceX's Starlink offers satellite Internet directly to consumers and business enterprises. The network served about 10.3 million Starlink subscribers across 164 countries and other markets. SpaceX reported a median residential download speed of 225 Mbps during peak hours.
Let us delve a little deeper into the companies’ competitive dynamics to understand which of the two is relatively better placed in the industry.
The Case for ASTSAST SpaceMobile is likely to strengthen its position as one of the leading space-based cellular broadband service providers in the market with the proposed deployment of three satellites in its direct-to-device (D2D) constellation in August. The company is slated to launch BlueBird 11, 12, and 13 satellites from Cape Canaveral, FL.
Utilizing large phased array antennas measuring approximately 2,400 square feet, AST SpaceMobile's technology is backed by more than 3,800 patents and patent-pending claims. This design aims to deliver global cellular coverage by eliminating dead zones and providing space-based connectivity to areas without broadband service. By connecting directly to standard smartphones at broadband speeds, these advanced phased arrays eliminate the need for special equipment, enhancing current mobile networks while ensuring seamless use of existing mobile phones. The SpaceMobile service is compatible with all major brands available in the market and connects directly to everyday mobile phones.
AST SpaceMobile has partnered with leading carriers, such as AT&T Inc. (T - Free Report) and Verizon Communications Inc. (VZ - Free Report) , to tap into a pre-existing pool of cell customers and raise funds to help build a worldwide satellite network. This has enhanced cellular coverage in the United States, essentially eliminating dead zones and empowering remote areas of the country with space-based connectivity.
However, unfavorable macroeconomic conditions, including rising inflation, higher interest rates, capital market volatility, tariff imposition and geopolitical conflicts, are negatively impacting the company’s operations. These have led to continued fluctuations in satellite material prices, resulting in increased capital costs and pressure on the company’s financial performance. In addition, AST SpaceMobile faces severe competition from existing and new industry leaders like SpaceX’s Starlink and Globalstar, which are developing satellite communications technology using LEO constellations. To combat such competitive pressure, ASTS has to continuously customize its network offerings, enhance the cost-effectiveness of its products and services and boost the satellite data networks, which increases operating costs and reduces margins.
The Case for SPCXSpaceX has transformed the launch industry through its reusable Falcon 9 rockets, significantly reducing launch costs and increasing mission frequency. The company now conducts more launches annually than any of its global competitors, giving it a commanding share of the commercial launch market. In addition, Starlink provides recurring subscription income and potentially higher long-term margins. The business also benefits from a powerful competitive advantage. SpaceX can launch its own satellites at a fraction of the cost of its competitors, allowing Starlink to expand its network faster and more efficiently. As global demand for reliable broadband connectivity increases, Starlink's prospects become solid.
The Elon Musk-led company is aiming to evolve into a vertically integrated artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructure company by combining advanced AI models, large-scale computing capabilities and satellite connectivity under one umbrella. The transformation is likely to unlock a significantly larger addressable market while diversifying the company's revenue base beyond launch services and Starlink. As part of the transition, xAI's flagship chatbot, Grok, will now operate under the SpaceXAI brand. The integration is expected to strengthen collaboration between the company's AI software, computing infrastructure and satellite network, creating a differentiated ecosystem that few competitors can match.
The company plans to deploy AI compute satellites as early as 2028, effectively creating space-based data centers capable of delivering large-scale computing capacity. This initiative leverages SpaceX's leadership in satellite deployment while addressing the growing demand for AI computing resources. Alongside its satellite ambitions, SpaceX continues to expand its Colossus data center platform, strengthening its position in AI infrastructure. SpaceX has also entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Anysphere in an all-stock deal valued at $60 billion. The buyout of a startup firm behind the rapidly growing AI coding assistant Cursor is primarily aimed at gaining a firmer footing in the enterprise AI market.
However, SpaceX is scaling several capital-intensive platforms simultaneously. The company is investing heavily in COLOSSUS, COLOSSUS II, Grok, enterprise offerings, compute services and future orbital AI compute. Management expects a multi-year investment cycle until sustained positive segment adjusted EBITDA is realized. The strategy may create a cost advantage if compute, energy and launch assets integrate as planned. Until then, AI adds uncertainty to margins, capital needs and consolidated earnings quality.
How Do Zacks Estimates Compare for ASTS & SPCX?The Zacks Consensus Estimate for AST SpaceMobile’s 2026 sales implies year-over-year growth of 132.3%, while EPS estimates suggest a decline of 9.7%. EPS estimates have trended southward (down 48.5%) over the past 60 days.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for SpaceX’s fiscal 2026 sales implies year-over-year growth of 179.5%. EPS estimates have declined 28.1% over the past seven days.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Price Performance & Valuation of ASTS & SPCXOver the past year, AST SpaceMobile has gained 62.1% compared with the industry’s growth of 41.6%. SpaceX is up 12.7% since its IPO.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
SpaceX looks more attractive than AST SpaceMobile from a valuation standpoint. Going by the price/sales ratio, SpaceX’s shares currently trade at 36.57 forward sales, significantly lower than AST SpaceMobile’s 61.27.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
ASTS or SPCX: Which is a Better Pick?SpaceX carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold), while AST SpaceMobile carries a Zacks Rank #4 (Sell).
You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
Both companies expect their sales to improve in 2026. SpaceX is steadily transforming from a pure-play aerospace company into a diversified AI infrastructure leader. Its aggressive investments in AI computing, the integration of SpaceXAI, expanding enterprise partnerships and plans for space-based data centers underscore management's conviction that AI will be a key driver of future growth. With relatively healthy fundamentals and a better Zacks Rank, SpaceX appears to be a better investment proposition at the moment.
Key Takeaways Par Pacific benefits from attractive feedstock costs and diversified crude sourcing. ChargePoint is cutting debt, tightening costs and improving supply-chain execution. Cleveland-Cliffs gains from acquisitions, higher steel prices and increased shipment volumes. With the United States and Iran once again exchanging fire, the already fragile ceasefire is under renewed strain. Moreover, the increase in hostilities in the Ukraine-Russia conflict has accentuated the uncertain global scenario.
The resulting market volatility makes it very difficult for individual investors to design a winning stock portfolio. Choice of improper stocks can adversely impact returns, thereby ruining the very objective of investing one’s hard-earned money in a highly unpredictable stock market.
So, what's the way forward? One way is to trust broker advice and have broker-favorite stocks like Par Pacific (PARR - Free Report) , Bassett Furniture Industries (BSET - Free Report) , ChargePoint Holdings (CHPT - Free Report) , Cleveland-Cliffs (CLF - Free Report) and Alaska Air Group (ALK - Free Report) in one’s portfolio.
Since brokers meticulously follow the stocks in their coverage, they revise their earnings estimates after carefully examining the pros and cons of an event for the concerned company. Naturally, their estimate revisions serve as an important pointer regarding the price of a stock. Given this extensive know-how, brokers are deemed to be experts, equipped with thorough knowledge and a clear insight into the nitty-gritty of the investment world. Paying heed to such well-researched information is, therefore, advisable for investors.
Screening Parameters # (Up- Down Rating)/ Total (4 weeks) =Top #75 (This gives the list of top 75 companies that have witnessed net upgrades over the last 4 weeks).
% change in Q (1) est. (4 weeks) = Top #10 (This gives the top 10 stocks that have witnessed earnings estimate revisions over the past 4 weeks for the upcoming quarter).
Price-to-Sales = Bot%10 (The lower the ratio, the better. Companies meeting this criterion are in the bottom 10% of our universe of over 7,700 stocks concerning this ratio).
Current Price greater than 5 (as a stock trading below $5 will not likely create significant interest for most of the investors).
Average Daily Volume greater than 100,000 shares over the last 20 trading days (Volume has to be significant to ensure that these are easily traded).
Market value ($ mil) = Top #3000 (This gives us stocks that are the top 3000 in terms of market capitalization).
Com/ADR/Canadian= Com (This eliminates the ADR and Canadian stocks).
Here are five of the 10 stocks that made it through the screen:
Par Pacific is benefiting from a refining business that remains well-positioned in the current crude-price environment. Although geopolitical tensions have been supporting crude prices, oil remains well below the highs seen earlier this year. The current price scenario continues to provide refiners like Par Pacific with relatively attractive feedstock costs.
Instead of relying on a single source of crude, PARR has been depending on crude from a variety of sources, comprising U.S. inland oil fields, imported oil delivered by ship and Canadian heavy crude. By having exposure to Canadian heavy oil, which is cheaper than lighter crude, Par Pacific is likely enjoying a cost advantage.
Par Pacific, currently sporting a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate for earnings in two of the last four quarters and missed the mark twice, the average beat being 69.9%.
You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here
Bassett Furniture Industries is enhancing its business model even as the housing market remains weak. The company operates multiple company-owned and licensed home furnishing stores that offer free in-home design consultations along with custom furniture design and manufacturing services.
Beyond its retail presence, Bassett maintains a strong wholesale business, supplying products to more than 1,000 open-market accounts. Bassett Furniture, currently sporting a Zacks Rank #1, has seen the Zacks Consensus Estimate for current-quarter earnings being revised 8.3% upward over the past 60 days.
ChargePoint is benefiting from increased revenues and a notable reduction in debt. Efforts to strengthen its balance sheet and improve financial flexibility bode well for the company’s growth. It is well-positioned to benefit from the rapid adoption of electric vehicles (“EVs”). ChargePoint continues to strengthen its competitive position through innovation and strategic partnerships.
Beyond expanding its footprint, ChargePoint is increasingly focused on improving the economics of its business. Rising platform engagement is helping drive monetization opportunities, while stronger cost controls and better supply-chain execution are improving network reliability and deployment efficiency.
ChargePoint, currently carrying a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy), has an impressive earnings surprise history. CHPT surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate for earnings in three of the last four quarters and missed the mark once, the average beat being 15.7%.
Cleveland-Cliffs should gain from its merger with AK Steel and the buyouts of ArcelorMittal USA and Stelco. It will also benefit from higher steel prices and its vertically integrated profile. The Stelco acquisition is also expected to significantly drive its shipment volumes in the current year.
Cleveland-Cliffs, currently carrying a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold), has an impressive earnings surprise history. CLF surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate for earnings in each of the last four quarters, the average beat being 18.1%.
Alaska Air is benefiting from impressive air travel demand, which has remained resilient across the carrier’s network. Apart from demand trends remaining supportive, fleet investments to upgrade the fleet and buybacks enhance per share value over time.
Alaska Air, currently carrying a Zacks Rank #3, has a decent earnings surprise history. ALK surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate for earnings in two of the last four quarters, missing the mark on the other occasions. The average beat is 73.8%.
SoundHound AI, Inc. (SOUN - 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 -4.6%, compared to the Zacks S&P 500 composite's +2.2% change. During this period, the Zacks Computers - IT Services industry, which SoundHound AI falls in, has lost 3.5%. The key question now is: What could be the stock's future direction?
While media releases or rumors about a substantial change in a company's business prospects usually make its stock 'trending' and lead to an immediate price change, there are always some fundamental facts that eventually dominate the buy-and-hold decision-making.
Earnings Estimate RevisionsHere at Zacks, we prioritize appraising the change in the projection of a company's future earnings over anything else. That's because we believe the present value of its future stream of earnings is what determines the fair value for its stock.
Our analysis is essentially based on how sell-side analysts covering the stock are revising their earnings estimates to take the latest business trends into account. When earnings estimates for a company go up, the fair value for its stock goes up as well. And when a stock's fair value is higher than its current market price, investors tend to buy the stock, resulting in its price moving upward. Because of this, empirical studies indicate a strong correlation between trends in earnings estimate revisions and short-term stock price movements.
SoundHound AI is expected to post a loss of $0.05 per share for the current quarter, representing a year-over-year change of -66.7%. Over the last 30 days, the Zacks Consensus Estimate remained unchanged.
For the current fiscal year, the consensus earnings estimate of -$0.18 points to a change of -38.5% from the prior year. Over the last 30 days, this estimate has remained unchanged.
For the next fiscal year, the consensus earnings estimate of $0.17 indicates a change of +6.7% from what SoundHound AI 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, SoundHound AI is rated Zacks Rank #4 (Sell).
The chart below shows the evolution of the company's forward 12-month consensus EPS estimate:
12 Month EPS
Revenue Growth ForecastEven though a company's earnings growth is arguably the best indicator of its financial health, nothing much happens if it cannot raise its revenues. It's almost impossible for a company to grow its earnings without growing its revenue for long periods. Therefore, knowing a company's potential revenue growth is crucial.
For SoundHound AI, the consensus sales estimate for the current quarter of $52.49 million indicates a year-over-year change of +23%. For the current and next fiscal years, $233.16 million and $270.1 million estimates indicate +38% and +15.8% changes, respectively.
Last Reported Results and Surprise HistorySoundHound AI reported revenues of $44.19 million in the last reported quarter, representing a year-over-year change of +51.7%. EPS of -$0.06 for the same period compares with -$0.06 a year ago.
Compared to the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $42.71 million, the reported revenues represent a surprise of +3.48%. The EPS surprise was -20%.
Over the last four quarters, SoundHound AI surpassed consensus EPS estimates two times. The company topped consensus revenue estimates each time over this period.
ValuationWithout considering a stock's valuation, no investment decision can be efficient. In predicting a stock's future price performance, it's crucial to determine whether its current price correctly reflects the intrinsic value of the underlying business and the company's growth prospects.
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.
SoundHound AI 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 SoundHound AI. However, its Zacks Rank #4 does suggest that it may underperform the broader market in the near term.
Pražská burza se v závěru týdne neinspirovala nevýrazným vývojem okolních trhů (např. DAX stagnace) a posilovala. Index PX přidal +0,75 % na 2628 bodů. Hlavní zásluhu na růstu domácího indexu měly akcie ČEZ, které poskočily +3 % vzhůru. Titul uzavřel na rovných 1300 Kč při objemu 165 mil. Kč. Tím se dostal do blízkosti květnových maxim, nyní však mají akcionáři k dobru ještě dividendu. Pohyby na ostatních akciích dnes byly střízlivější. V kladných hodnotách se pohybovaly ještě Kofola (+0,8 %), banky KB, Moneta i pojišťovna VIG přidaly kolem +0,3 %. Mírné ztráty registroval Philip Morris ČR (-0,9 %) i COLT CZ (-0,3 %). Na záporné nule těsně pod 330 Kč nakonec zakončila zbrojařská CSG.
SMR investors continue to grapple with limited current revenues, operating losses and uncertainty around when commercial reactor sales will finally materialize.
Rigetti Computing's (RGTI 2.53%) quantum systems may one day crack problems that classical (ordinary) computers never could, like designing novel drugs or designing materials from the ground up. That day has yet to come, but the company, along with competitors like IonQ and D-Wave Quantum, is racing to create a computer powerful enough -- and, critically, reliable enough -- to do so.
Recently, the U.S. government made getting there a priority, placing Rigetti and a handful of other quantum firms on a short list of companies it's willing to back with public money. The company signed a letter of intent with the Commerce Department for up to $100 million over three years. The stock was up nearly 70% to just over $27 following the announcement, but has fallen since, now hovering around $16.60 as of July 8.
So, is now the time to jump in? Is Rigetti stock a buy below $20?
Today's Change
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The bull case Rigetti has the blessing of the Commerce Department That government deal is a great place to start for the bull case. Being one of a handful of quantum companies chosen is a validation of Rigetti's work so far and its potential in the eyes of the federal government. It also means Rigetti gets an infusion of cash to help it continue its efforts for years.
Rigetti has made real technical progress The basic building block of a quantum computer is a qubit, the quantum version of the 1s and 0s in a normal computer. In general, the more, the better.
But raw qubit count is only one part of the picture. Even more critical is how error-prone these qubits are, what the industry calls fidelity.
Rigetti has made real strides here. Its latest system, the Cepheus-1-108Q, has 108 qubits with a single gate fidelity rate of 99.9%. That's a big jump from the 99.5% fidelity achieved by a prior system with 84 qubits just 18 months ago.
Rigetti has a balance sheet with room to breathe In an industry very much still in research and development mode, a healthy balance sheet is of utmost importance. Rigetti is in a relatively solid position with $443.5 million in cash and short-term investments and minimal debt. With how much it's spending, that should give the company roughly three years of runway.
The bear case The government award isn't final yet The agreement that was signed was a letter of intent (LOI), meaning it is non-binding. The stock jumped on the news, but there's a non-zero chance the funding never comes through. If it does, the investment isn't free. The government gets an equity stake and dilutes current shareholders in the process.
The fidelily headlines are a bit misleading A 99.9% fidelity rate is genuinely a major jump in the right direction, but there is much further to go than the number implies. When the average investor reads that, it seems that Rigetti is right on the edge of achieving near-perfect fidelity. It's not.
It makes it much clearer if you flip it around to the error rate. A 99.9% fidelity becomes a 0.1% error rate. That means there is an error in 1 out of every 1,000 operations. For these systems to produce meaningful work, they need to be performing millions of calculations every second -- thousands of errors a second at current rates. And remember, errors compound.
Image source: Getty Images.
Classical computers today have error rates on the order of 1 out of every quadrillion -- a billion billion -- operations.
Because of the nature of quantum systems, they can't match the error rate of classical systems, but, thankfully, they don't need to. They do, however, need to hit something on the order of 1 in 1,000,000 to begin to be truly useful.
That's a 99.9999% fidelity rate -- about 1,000 times less error-prone than Rigetti's latest system.
Spending is an issue While the company's balance sheet gives it room to breathe for now, cash burn is increasing -- a trend that is likely to accelerate as the level of difficulty in developing the technology increases. And that's before any major ramp from manufacturing systems at scale when that time comes. There is likely to be much more need for capital raising -- and dilution -- before revenue ramps to match expenses.
The bottom line Of course, at the end of the day, all of this hinges on whether -- and when -- Rigetti can deliver real, commercially viable quantum computers to the market. If you are on board with the more optimistic timelines and you believe Rigetti will be the one to do it, then today's stock price is justifiable.
If, like me, you think things are going to take a lot longer than bulls hope, Rigetti is a pass anywhere near $20.
Pure-play quantum firms like D-Wave Quantum Inc. NYSE: QBTS and Rigetti Computing NASDAQ: RGTI are in the midst of a second major decline this year after a brief rally in May, so the last thing these companies likely want to face is a more crowded field of competitors.
IQM Quantum Computers TodayIQMX
IQM Quantum Computers
$12.24 +0.03 (+0.23%)
As of 10:22 AM Eastern
This is a fair market value price provided by Massive. Learn more.
52-Week Range$11.20▼
$15.10Nonetheless, that's exactly what they will have to deal with after the early-July U.S. listing of IQM Quantum Computers NASDAQ: IQMX, the first European quantum computing company to be traded publicly on a domestic exchange.
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IQM joins a small but growing list of pure-play quantum firms available to investors in the U.S., and the implications for other companies on this list—D-Wave, Rigetti, and their peers—have both positive and negative connotations. IQM is already known as a strong engineering firm that has built a reputation for delivering physical systems, while others in the industry have struggled with deployment. The odds are that it will be a threat in some ways to D-Wave, even as it helps to buoy the quantum space at the same time.
IQM as a Competitor to D-WaveIQM will certainly compete with D-Wave in some respects, though the two companies have somewhat different focuses in the quantum realm. While D-Wave's emphasis has increasingly included cloud services in addition to its Advantage2 hardware deployments, IQM tends to prioritize on-premises systems. IQM is also a European firm, which means that it is operating both outside of D-Wave's primary region and, conversely, that it threatens D-Wave's capacity for expansion into that region.
Although IQM has previously catered mostly to large institutional clients, it appears to be looking to expand its customer base. Immediately after its listing on the Nasdaq, the firm moved to acquire select assets of Quantistry GmbH, a German cloud-based simulation workflow platform. The new tools acquired here should enhance AI-based research capabilities across the automotive, aerospace, chemicals, materials science, and pharmaceutical industries, immediately expanding IQM's reach and cementing it as a firm integrating AI into quantum tools.
D-Wave Faces New Pressure as Quantum Competition GrowsD-Wave Quantum Today
$20.59 -0.57 (-2.70%)
As of 10:23 AM Eastern
This is a fair market value price provided by Massive. Learn more.
52-Week Range$12.75▼
$46.75Price Target$36.80
Despite the challenges IQM will pose for D-Wave and other existing quantum companies, it also helps expand the public universe for this emerging technology at a time when all these firms are working for greater recognition. A broader group of pure-play quantum firms may help to further increase interest among customers and institutional investors.
This comes at a time when D-Wave is already seeing strong commercial momentum building. Bookings for the first quarter of the year reached a record $33.4 million, up almost 2,000% from the prior-year period, and the company's pipeline is growing rapidly.
Of course, the more competitive the field becomes, the greater the need for D-Wave to differentiate itself. The company has already done so with its basic thesis on quantum technology: it is one of the few firms focused on something beyond the primary gate-model approach. But it must also back that up by standing out in terms of revenue growth, bookings, customer count, commercial deployments, and balance sheet strength. D-Wave has an advantage in its long history of working with enterprise customers, but, like other pure-play firms, it still struggles with profitability.
What It Means for InvestorsIQM's Nasdaq launch immediately gives investors another point of comparison and enables a more thorough evaluation of firms based on their capacity to drive commercial demand and customer adoption. It also bodes well for the industry as a whole, as it likely increases pressure on all quantum firms to innovate and develop products faster, improve hardware performance, and build better software ecosystems.
IQMX shares are unlikely to immediately break the tendency for pure-play quantum stocks to move in tandem—this may remain the case for some time yet, as the burgeoning industry continues to develop—but it may help the pre-existing companies in the space better define and distinguish themselves. This is important not only when it comes to competition among these smaller firms, but especially also as these companies face the significant threat posed by much larger tech giants that have been stepping into the quantum fray recently as well.
With IQM, investors may become more selective when choosing a quantum firm to invest in. The sector may move from a single speculative bet toward a differentiated space in which the market rewards individual companies differently based on how they demonstrate their value and capacity to execute. Even if it means harder times for companies like D-Wave, it may improve the industry overall.
Should You Invest $1,000 in D-Wave Quantum Right Now?Before you consider D-Wave Quantum, you'll want to hear this.
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Key Takeaways OKLO's isotopes business targets rising demand in medicine, manufacturing, research, space and security.OKLO plans to reprocess existing materials and produce fresh isotopes in purpose-built reactors.Groves could move toward fuel loading and first criticality after final reviews, targeted for July 2026. Oklo Inc.’s (OKLO - Free Report) isotopes business is becoming an important part of its advanced nuclear platform, with a focus on building a reliable U.S. supply of critical radioisotopes. These isotopes are used in cancer diagnosis and treatment, advanced manufacturing, scientific research, space exploration and national security. Demand is growing rapidly, while global supply remains constrained because many important isotopes are sourced overseas or produced in aging facilities.
To address this supply gap, OKLO is creating an integrated isotope production platform using multiple approaches, including reprocessing existing materials and producing fresh isotopes in purpose-built reactors. By sourcing material through U.S. and international waste partnerships, the company aims to process waste into valuable isotopes while reducing reliance on fragile foreign supply chains. Its Idaho Radiochemistry Laboratory is expected to support early isotope output and operational learning.
OKLO’s long-term strategy involves a phased rollout across multiple sites. The Groves Isotope Test Reactor in Texas has received DOE approval for its Documented Safety Analysis, moving it into final pre-startup review, with readiness review and startup approval remaining. After approval, Groves can move toward fuel loading, startup testing and first criticality, targeted for July 2026. The multi-reactor isotope foundry in Idaho and Advanced Fuel Center in Tennessee are expected to support commercial-scale isotope production and fuel-cycle integration.
While OKLO is pursuing a vertically integrated strategy, rising isotope demand is creating opportunities for companies with existing nuclear expertise, medical-isotope capabilities and global supply networks. These players could benefit as healthcare, research, industrial and security applications require more dependable isotope availability.
Other Companies Tapping Isotope Demand
BWX Technologies (BWXT - Free Report) is strengthening its role in nuclear materials and isotope production, including medical isotopes such as Mo-99 and actinium-225. BWX Technologies benefits from government partnerships and a secure domestic supply chain. As isotope demand rises, BWX Technologies is positioned as a strategic U.S. supplier.
Meanwhile, Sotera Health (SHC - Free Report) , through its Nordion business, is a major supplier of cobalt-60 used in cancer treatment and medical sterilization. Sotera Health supports global healthcare needs through an established distribution network and long-term customer ties. With supply constraints continuing, Sotera Health remains well placed in the isotope market.
The Zacks Rundown on OKLO
Shares of Oklo have lost some 12% over the past year, underperforming the industry's growth.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
OKLO currently has an average brokerage recommendation (ABR) of 2.00 on a scale of 1 to 5 (Strong Buy to Strong Sell), calculated based on the actual recommendations (Buy, Hold, Sell, etc.) made by 24 brokerage firms.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
See how the Zacks Consensus Estimate for OKLO’s earnings has been revised over the past 90 days.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
The company currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold).
You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
Shares of Meta Platforms (NASDAQ:META | META Price Prediction) are up 6% in Friday morning trading, changing hands at $670 after Thursday’s close of $631.48. The move extends a hot stretch for Meta Platforms stock, which have climbed 15% over the past week.
The catalyst is a rethink of what Meta Platforms is building. A Reuters-reported internal memo and a fresh Bank of America note are reframing Meta Platforms’ AI infrastructure spend as far more capital-efficient than the Street had modeled.
By comparison, some of Meta Platforms’ peers are barely moving. Amazon (NASDAQ:AMZN) shares are down less than 1% at $245.74, while CoreWeave (NASDAQ:CRWV) shares are up less than 1% at $90.40.
Cheaper Gigawatts Fuel the Rally Reportedly, Meta Platforms is building AI capacity at close to $22 billion per gigawatt, versus Bank of America’s prior estimate near $45 billion. Bank of America analyst Justin Post reiterated a Buy rating with an $835 price target on Meta Platforms stock.
The scale is what matters. Meta Platforms is targeting about 14 GW across 2026 and 2027, which lines up with the raised 2026 capex plan of $125 to $145 billion. CEO Mark Zuckerberg has floated the idea of renting out AI compute, with possible offerings likened to Amazon Web Services’ Bedrock (hosted models) and to CoreWeave (raw compute rental).
Meta Platforms also plans a custom chip, Iris, entering manufacturing this fall with Broadcom (NASDAQ:AVGO) and Taiwan Semiconductor (NYSE:TSM). Bank of America notes that Iris is not the source of 2026 cost savings, so the chip is a 2027-plus story for later.
A Direct Shot at AWS and the Neoclouds If Meta Platforms can build capacity at half the cost previously modeled, the economics of an in-house AI cloud become credible. That matters for Amazon, whose AWS unit posted $37.59 billion in Q1 2026 revenue, up 28% year over year, its fastest growth in 15 quarters. It also matters for CoreWeave, which sits between the models and the silicon as a pure-play neocloud.
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The irony is that Meta Platforms is currently CoreWeave’s biggest customer. CoreWeave’s $99.4 billion revenue backlog includes a $35.2 billion total commitment from Meta. Ultimately, Meta Platforms becoming a compute landlord would flip that relationship over time.
The Bear Case Landed the Same Day The European Commission issued preliminary findings Friday that Instagram and Facebook breached the Digital Services Act through addictive design, with a potential fine up to 6% of global turnover, reported to exceed $12 billion. That’s a material overhang for Bank of America that the markets are shrugging off for now, but it doesn’t disappear.
The prediction markets are still leaning hard bullish. Polymarket is pricing a 98% probability of an up day for Meta Platforms stock on July 10, with an 82% probability of hitting $680 by end of July. META stock still trades at a forward P/E ratio of 20x.
What to Watch Next The next catalyst is Meta Platforms’ Q2 2026 report, where guidance sits at $58 to $61 billion in revenue. Investors can watch for whether management formalizes an AI compute rental offering on the call, and whether the EU fine number firms up. Position sizing should reflect the twin realities here: a genuinely improved capex story and a real regulatory tail.
Traders may keep META stock active into the close given the volume of catalysts hitting on the same tape. The bull case just got cheaper to underwrite, but the bear case just got more expensive to ignore.
Meet America's Newest $1b Unicorn (Sponsor)A US startup just passed a $1 billion private valuation, joining billion-dollar private companies like OpenAI and ByteDance. Unlike those other unicorns, you can invest in EnergyX right now; but only until July 16.
Over 50,000 people already have, along with global giants like General Motors and POSCO.
Here’s why there’s so much interest: EnergyX’s patented tech can recover up to 3X more lithium than traditional methods. That’s a big deal, as demand for lithium is expected to 5X current production levels by 2040.Become an early-stage EnergyX shareholder before the 7/16 investment deadline.
How Did Peter Thiel-Backed Crypto Exchange Bullish's IPO Go?eToro Group NASDAQ: ETOR unveiled a broad set of AI-focused product updates, including a rebuilt mobile app, an expanded AI agent, a desktop trading platform for active investors, an Apple Watch app and an app marketplace for financial tools.
At the event, eToro’s co-founder and CEO, identified in the transcript as Yoni, said the company’s latest work reflects a shift from lowering barriers to market access toward using artificial intelligence to “level the playing field” between retail investors and more sophisticated market participants.
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IPO Momentum Returns: 3 Stocks Rising After CoreWeave’s SurgeYoni said eToro has rebuilt its platform with AI assistance, including rewriting “1 million lines of code” from the existing app. He said the company is moving faster in product development than it could have a year or two ago, citing AI as a key driver of that acceleration.
eToro Positions Itself as an AI-Powered Financial Super App Or Peled, vice president of product management, strategy and growth at eToro, said the company now views itself as “an AI first company,” with AI woven into the user experience, autonomous execution, an open ecosystem and its data foundation.
Peled said the new eToro app, available in the App Store as “eToro AI,” is designed for faster execution, personalized insights and community features. He also said the app is built for “agentic trading,” where AI agents can support or execute investment strategies with user oversight.
Among the major features announced were sub-accounts, which Peled said will allow users to create separate portfolios for different strategies. He said users will be able to trade themselves, let an agent trade on their behalf or open an account intended for a child or family member.
Tori AI Agent Gets Expanded Capabilities Peled said eToro’s AI financial agent, Tori, has been rebuilt from the ground up and now has more context about users and the eToro ecosystem. He said Tori runs on Grok 4.3 and also uses other frontier models. According to Peled, Tori has live access to X and can analyze market sentiment from both X and the eToro community.
Peled said Tori can surface investment opportunities, provide proactive alerts within the app and trade for users when they allocate funds and approve the approach. He emphasized that the process is intended to be transparent, with Tori indicating what it is doing.
Peled also said Tori will extend beyond the eToro app into WhatsApp and Telegram, allowing users to monitor markets, ask questions and trade through those messaging apps. eToro also announced “eToro On the Go,” an Apple Watch app that will let users check profit and loss, view positions and speak to Tori directly from the watch.
Agent Portfolios and eToro Edge Target Different Types of Investors João Ramalho Carlos, director of product management at eToro, said AI is making it easier for retail investors to close the gap with professional investors. He demonstrated a process in which a user can ask Tori to create an agent, set a risk level, allocate a budget and choose strategy building blocks.
Carlos said users will be able to run multiple agents on top of their portfolios and ask Tori to show recent trades, explain the rationale behind trades and clarify why a trade was or was not opened on a given day.
Carlos also introduced eToro Edge, a desktop app aimed at pro traders. He described it as a customizable trading workspace where users can add and arrange widgets such as watchlists, charts, portfolios, positions and order tickets. The platform is live at edge.etoro.com, he said.
Edge also includes AI-assisted chart customization. Carlos said users can ask Tori to apply a specific chart setup, such as a day-trading view, and the system will add indicators that persist across sessions.
App Store and Builders Portal Expand eToro’s Ecosystem Filipe Sommer, principal product engineer at eToro, presented the eToro App Store and builders portal, saying the goal is to make it easier for programmers, quants and users relying on AI no-code tools to build financial apps.
Peled said the eToro App Store has more than 60 apps and 1,500 submissions. Sommer said users may build tools to solve their own investing problems, share them with others and potentially monetize them.
Sommer highlighted several examples of apps already live or discussed at the event, including an app for investing on behalf of a child through sub-accounts, eToro Circles for discussing strategies with friends, Club Benefits, Agent X for agent portfolios and M77 Research, a research-focused app.
Company Highlights On-Chain Finance and Tokenized Assets Yoni also discussed what he described as a shift of finance “on-chain,” saying eToro is positioned between two major transitions: the movement of wealth from older generations to younger generations and the adoption of digital asset technologies in capital markets.
He pointed to trading around the SpaceX IPO as an example of DeFi-related market innovation reaching retail investors through eToro. He said the company participated in distributing the IPO to retail investors in the U.K. and described 24/7 trading as an example of traditional markets adopting features from crypto markets.
Yoni also referenced eToro’s acquisition of ZenGo, a non-custodial wallet, and said the company is working on bridges between DeFi markets and traditional financial markets. He said future capabilities could include agent wallets that own crypto and allow AI agents to interact with DeFi apps.
The event concluded with eToro summarizing a product slate centered on AI, including the new app, Tori’s expanded reach, sub-accounts, agentic trading, eToro Edge, the App Store and integrations tied to on-chain finance.
About eToro Group NASDAQ: ETOReToro Group Ltd. NASDAQ: ETOR is a global multi-asset brokerage company known for its social trading platform. The company enables individual and institutional investors to trade and invest in a broad range of financial instruments, including stocks, exchange-traded funds (ETFs), commodities, indices, forex, and cryptocurrencies. eToro’s platform integrates a user-friendly interface with advanced trading tools, catering to both novice and experienced market participants.
A distinguishing feature of eToro’s offering is its CopyTrader™ functionality, which allows users to replicate the trades of selected investors on the platform.
This instant news alert was generated by narrative science technology and financial data from MarketBeat in order to provide readers with the fastest reporting and unbiased coverage. Please send any questions or comments about this story to [email protected].
Should You Invest $1,000 in eToro Group Right Now?Before you consider eToro Group, you'll want to hear this.
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Tesla, Nvidia, and Google helped shape the last era of market growth, but the next wave could come from a new group of companies. Inside this report, you’ll find 7 stocks that could play a major role in the next tech-driven market boom.
Momentum investors typically don't time the market or "buy low and sell high." In other words, they avoid betting on cheap stocks and waiting long for them to recover. Instead, they believe that "buying high and selling higher" is the way to make far more money in lesser time.
Who doesn't like betting on fast-moving trending stocks? But determining the right entry point isn't easy. Often, these stocks lose momentum once their valuation moves ahead of their future growth potential. In such a situation, investors find themselves loaded up on expensive shares with limited to no upside or even a downside. So, going all-in on momentum could be risky at times.
It could be safer to invest in bargain stocks that have been witnessing price momentum recently. While the Zacks Momentum Style Score (part of the Zacks Style Scores system), which pays close attention to trends in a stock's price or earnings, is pretty useful in identifying great momentum stocks, our 'Fast-Paced Momentum at a Bargain' screen comes handy in spotting fast-moving stocks that are still attractively priced.
eToro Group Ltd. (ETOR - Free Report) is one of the several great candidates that made it through the screen. While there are numerous reasons why this stock is a great choice, here are the most vital ones:
A dash of recent price momentum reflects growing interest of investors in a stock. With a four-week price change of 2%, the stock of this company is certainly well-positioned in this regard.
While any stock can see a spike in price for a short period, it takes a real momentum player to deliver positive returns for a longer time frame. ETOR meets this criterion too, as the stock gained 4.7% over the past 12 weeks.
Moreover, the momentum for ETOR is fast paced, as the stock currently has a beta of 1.64. This indicates that the stock moves 64% higher than the market in either direction.
Given this price performance, it is no surprise that ETOR has a Momentum Score of A, which indicates that this is the right time to enter the stock to take advantage of the momentum with the highest probability of success.
In addition to a favorable Momentum Score, an upward trend in earnings estimate revisions has helped ETOR earn a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy). Our research shows that the momentum-effect is quite strong among Zacks Rank #1 and #2 stocks. That's because as covering analysts raise their earnings estimates for a stock, more and more investors take an interest in it, helping its price race to keep up. You can see the complete list of today's Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) stocks here >>>>
Most importantly, despite possessing fast-paced momentum features, ETOR is trading at a reasonable valuation. In terms of Price-to-Sales ratio, which is considered as one of the best valuation metrics, the stock looks quite cheap now. ETOR is currently trading at 0.26 times its sales. In other words, investors need to pay only 26 cents for each dollar of sales.
So, ETOR appears to have plenty of room to run, and that too at a fast pace.
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Stablecoin issuer Circle surged after the U.S. Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, or OCC, granted it approval Friday to operate as a trust bank, the company said.
Shares of the company gained more than 7%.
The approval gives the company the ability to manage reserves directly for its regulated stablecoins, primarily the USDC stablecoin, which has more than $73 billion in circulation. The new bank will operate under the name Circle National Trust. Previously, Circle needed third-party banks and custodians to hold the cash and Treasury assets backing USDC.
The charter does not greenlight Circle to operate as a commercial bank that takes deposits and makes loans.
The news reflects a broader trend in the crypto industry, where companies are trying to make a big shift from being financial applications to financial infrastructure. Recent OCC actions have included approvals or applications from Coinbase, BitGo, Fidelity Digital Assets, Ripple and Paxos, reflecting the race to own more of the regulated financial stack.
Additionally, the charter gives Circle a national bank regulator, rather than being subject to state-based regulation – a major pain point for fast-paced startups playing in the heavily regulated financial services industry. Instead of a single rulebook, companies regularly face 50 slightly different ones that not only can slow growth but also increase costs.
The stablecoin race has been heating up after Washington nearly a year ago brought greater regulatory clarity to digital assets with the GENIUS Act, which established a federal framework for payment stablecoins.
As a result, traditional financial firms increasingly want to issue their own stablecoins – which presents a growing competitive challenge for USDC – because they can capture payment flows, deepen customer relationships and build financial services on top of programmable digital dollars rather than relying on third-party issuers like Circle.
The OCC charter approval comes on the same day global financial messaging network Swift launched a blockchain consortium with 17 banks, including Citi and HSBC, in a 24/7 payments push to help it compete in the stablecoin race.
Also in June, a consortium of more than 140 companies — including Blackrock, Coinbase, Mastercard, Stripe and Visa — joined the new Open USD (OUSD) stablecoin effort, where reserve yields are distributed to participating partners rather than a single issuer.
IREN (IREN 0.91%) is trying to turn Bitcoin mining infrastructure into an AI cloud platform. The upside case is powerful because AI needs electricity, land, GPUs, and data center capacity, but the risk is execution. This video breaks down why the pivot matters, what could change, and why investors are watching closely.
Stock prices used were the market prices of July 7, 2026. The video was published on July 9, 2026.
Rick Orford has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. Rick Orford is an affiliate of The Motley Fool and may be compensated for promoting its services. If you choose to subscribe through their link, they will earn some extra money that supports their channel. Their opinions remain their own and are unaffected by The Motley Fool.
Nový předseda americké centrální banky Kevin Warsh chce v některých ohledech změnit její fungování, hovoří mimo jiné o menší potřebě a nutnosti komunikovat směrem ven. Bývalý guvernér Bank of England Mervyn King nyní poskytl rozhovor Christopherovi Jeffreymu, ve kterém se mimo jiné věnuje právě tomu, jak se historicky vyvíjel pohled na komunikaci centrálních bank s veřejností. Panovala přitom doba, kdy se centrální banka řídila principem „být co nejvíce záhadná“.
King poukázal na to, že kdysi bylo hluboce zakořeněnou tradicí chovat se úplně opačně než transparentně. V Bank of England se ve 30. letech 20. století například konalo dnes už slavné zasedání. Tehdejší zástupce guvernéra na otázku, zda banka zvažovala zveřejnění zprávy o některé ze svých aktivit, odpověděl „Zvažoval jsem to, ale ne dostatečně dlouho na to, abych dospěl k nějakému závěru.“ K tomu pak dodal: „Bylo by velmi nebezpečné uvádět důvody pro naše jednání.“
Další příklad úplně jiného smýšlení se týká amerického Fedu: Ten ještě před 40 lety „nikdy nezveřejnil prohlášení o úrokové sazbě, kterou stanovoval. Účastníci trhu museli jít na trh a odvodit si sami pro sebe úrokovou sazbu, kterou Fed stanovoval.“ King také vyprávěl, že si pamatuje první rok, kdy nastoupil na plný úvazek do Bank of England. V roce 1991 přijel do Londýna Paul Volcker a King se jej ptal na radu pro nového centrálního bankéře. Volcker tehdy řekl: „Jedno slovo, Mervyne: Mystičnost.“
King ale podle svých slov dospěl k názoru, že je třeba jít opačným směrem. V roce 1992, kdy byla Británie nucena opustit tehdejší mechanismus směnných kurzů, musela BoE vytvořit nový rámec pro měnovou politiku. Británie nebyla první, kdo zavedl cílování inflace. Následovala v tom Nový Zéland a Kanadu. Podle Kinga ale byla první velkou bankou, která prosazovala vysvětlování své politiky.
King se také věnoval tomu, jak by centrální banka měla jednat během různých krizí. Kladl důraz na přípravu a prevenci s tím, že navrhl systém, kde banky předem umístí kolaterál u banky centrální. Ta pak v případě potřeby poskytne krátkodobé financování odpovídající jen výši tohoto kolaterálu a také jeho kvalitě. Podle Kinga by v takovém systému zmizely tzv. runy na banku, tedy hromadné výběry vkladů.
Bank of England i americký Fed se podle Kinga už s podobnými kolaterály pokoušely pracovat. „Myslím, že regulace bude dál kráčet tímto směrem. Neočekávám, že by nějaká centrální banka náhle prohlásila, že prozřela a chtěla by nově fungovat v systému plného krytí kolaterálem. Banky budou používat svůj vlastní jazyk. Ale dělají v tomto směru pokroky a Bank of England zašla dál než kdokoli jiný.“
King se v rozhovoru také věnuje tomu, že nápor na britskou banku Northern Rock v září 2007 fungoval pro následnou finanční krizi v podstatě jako kanárek v uhelném dole. Tedy jako indikátor toho, že v systému jsou hlubší problémy. Ekonom také připomněl, že kvantitativní uvolňování, které začalo v roce 2008 jako „nouzové opatření“, v té době nebylo považováno za něco, co bude trvat déle než pár let.
Index Dow Jones +0,1 % na 52538,47 b., S&P 500 +0,13 % na 7553,7 b., Nasdaq Composite +0,03 % na 26213,62 b.
Index S&P 500 vykazuje jen minimální změnu, když se obchodníci podle agentury Bloomberg před víkendem vyhýbají velkým sázkám a křehké příměří na Blízkém východě udržuje geopolitické riziko v popředí zájmu.
Akcie společnosti Meta rostou o 6,3 % poté, co firma včera představila nový agentní a programovací model Muse Spark 1.1 za velmi nízkou cenu. Ten je dostupný přes nové rozhraní Meta Model API a v rámci služby Meta AI. K růstu přispívá také pozitivní zpráva výzkumné společnosti SemiAnalysis o aktivitách Mety v oblasti AI výpočetního byznysu.
Naopak klesají akcie Delta Air Lines (-3,2 %). Americká letecká společnost zveřejnila výsledky hospodaření za druhé čtvrtletí roku 2026. Jak výnosy, tak i očištěný zisk na akcii mírně překonaly očekávání analytiků. Společnost zároveň potvrdila celoroční výhled očištěného zisku na akcii stanovený na začátku roku, který rovněž přenonal průměrný odhad analytiků
Akcie společnosti PepsiCo ztrácejí 0,5 % a navazují tak na čtvrteční pokles o 3,3 % po zveřejnění hospodářských výsledků. Analytici ze Citi zároveň snížili své doporučení pro akcie z „koupit“ na „neutrální“.
Index S&P 500 +0,13 % na 7553,7 b. Nejsilnější sektory S&P Změna Nejslabší sektory S&P Změna Komunikační služby +0,8 % Zdravotní péče -0,5 % Základní materiály +0,4 % Průmysl -0,1 % Zbytná spotřeba +0,4 % Informační technologie 0 % Nejsilnější akcie S&P Změna Nejslabší akcie S&P Změna Meta Platforms (META) +6,3 % Moderna (MRNA) -7,9 % Weyerhaeuser (WY) +4,0 % Intel Corp (INTC) -3,4 % Smurfit Westrock (SW) +3,4 % Teradyne (TER) -3,4 % Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE) +3,3 % Netflix (NFLX) -3,0 % FactSet Research Systems (FDS) +3,1 % Fedex Freight Holding (FDXF) -2,8 % Zdroj: Bloomberg
AI solutions company adds to Reston Station's growing roster of leading technology firms
RESTON, Va.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Comstock Holding Companies, Inc. (Nasdaq: CHCI) (“Comstock”), a leading real estate company specializing in the development, acquisition, operation, and management of mixed-use, transit-oriented properties and data center developments, today announced the signing of a 3,000-square-foot office lease at 1900 Reston Metro Plaza in Reston Station with Virtualitics, a leading provider of AI-powered decision intelligence solutions.
"We are pleased to welcome Virtualitics to Reston Station," said Tim Steffan, Chief Operating Officer of Comstock.
Share Virtualitics builds AI-powered platform applications designed to transform enterprise and government decision-making. Headquartered in Pasadena, California and spun out of a decade of robust data science, Virtualitics turns complex data into trusted insights that strengthen decision-making and keeps missions on track.
The new office location in Reston Station will support Virtualitics' continued growth in the Northern Virginia market and provide direct access to the region's highly skilled technology and government contracting workforce.
"Northern Virginia is a critical hub for the communities we serve," said Kristy Friedrichs, Chief Operating Officer at Virtualitics. "Establishing our Reston office strengthens our ability to collaborate more closely with customers, recruit exceptional talent, and continue scaling the delivery of our AI readiness capabilities that support mission success."
The addition of Virtualitics further strengthens Reston Station's position as a premier destination for innovative employers seeking to attract and retain talent by providing an accessible workplace environment with convenient access to transportation, hospitality, dining, and wellness amenities.
"We are pleased to welcome Virtualitics to Reston Station," said Tim Steffan, Chief Operating Officer of Comstock. "As organizations increasingly seek highly connected, amenity-rich environments that support innovation and collaboration, Reston Station continues to attract industry-leading companies."
Reston Station is among the largest and most prominent mixed-use, transit-oriented developments in the Mid-Atlantic region, spanning approximately 90 acres across the Dulles Toll Road and surrounding the Wiehle-Reston East Station on Metro’s Silver Line. It features multiple Trophy-Class office buildings that serve as the global, national, or regional headquarters for industry leaders, including Google, Booz Allen Hamilton, ICF International, CARFAX, and numerous others. Reston Station also includes two BLVD-branded, 400+ unit luxury high-rise apartment towers as well as Virginia’s first and only JW Marriott – a 28-story tower that includes the world-class JW Marriott Reston Station hotel and the ultra-premium JW Marriott Residences, both which are setting the new standard for luxury in the D.C. region. Signature dining, retail, and wellness options include a 55,000-square-foot VIDA Fitness and Spa, Founding Farmers, Davio’s Northern Italian Steakhouse, Starbucks, CVS, and more. Coming soon will be Ebbitt House, the first-ever expansion of D.C.’s iconic Old Ebbitt Grill brand. For more information, please visit RestonStation.com.
About Comstock
Comstock (Nasdaq: CHCI) is a leading real estate company specializing in the development, acquisition, operation, and management of mixed-use, transit-oriented properties and data center developments. With over four decades of industry expertise, Comstock’s vertically integrated operating platform delivers long-term value across a rapidly growing portfolio of premier properties that includes two of the most prominent mixed-use, transit-oriented developments in the Mid-Atlantic region. Leveraging its scalable, asset-light, debt-free business model, Comstock is strategically expanding into large-scale AI and digital infrastructure development to establish a active position in one of the real estate industry's top-performing segments. For more information, please visit Comstock.com.
NEW YORK, July 10, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Gross Law Firm issues the following notice to shareholders of Futu Holdings Limited (NASDAQ: FUTU).
Shareholders who purchased shares of FUTU during the class period listed are encouraged to contact the firm regarding possible lead plaintiff appointment. Appointment as lead plaintiff is not required to partake in any recovery.
ALLEGATIONS: The complaint alleges that during the class period, Defendants issued materially false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that: (1) Futu was not in compliance with the requirements of the China securities regulatory commission, including because the Company continued to conduct securities business, public fund sales business and futures business in mainland China without obtaining the requisite licenses or approval; (2) as a result, Futu was reasonably likely to face regulatory penalties, including the disgorgement of ill-gotten gains and other penalties; (3) as a result of the foregoing, Futu’s financial results were overstated; and (4) as a result of the foregoing, defendants’ positive statements about the Company’s business, operations, and prospects were materially misleading and/or lacked a reasonable basis.
DEADLINE: August 25, 2026 Shareholders should not delay in registering for this class action. Register your information here: https://securitiesclasslaw.com/securities/futu-holdings-limited-loss-submission-form/?id=192875&from=3
NEXT STEPS FOR SHAREHOLDERS: Once you register as a shareholder who purchased shares of FUTU during the timeframe listed above, you will be enrolled in a portfolio monitoring software to provide you with status updates throughout the lifecycle of the case. The deadline to seek to be a lead plaintiff is August 25, 2026. There is no cost or obligation to you to participate in this case.
WHY GROSS LAW FIRM? The Gross Law Firm is a nationally recognized class action law firm, and our mission is to protect the rights of all investors who have suffered as a result of deceit, fraud, and illegal business practices. The Gross Law Firm is committed to ensuring that companies adhere to responsible business practices and engage in good corporate citizenship. The firm seeks recovery on behalf of investors who incurred losses when false and/or misleading statements or the omission of material information by a company lead to artificial inflation of the company's stock. Attorney advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes.
CONTACT:
The Gross Law Firm
15 West 38th Street, 12th floor
New York, NY, 10018
Email: [email protected]
Phone: (646) 453-8903
Faruqi & Faruqi, LLP Securities Litigation Partner James (Josh) Wilson Encourages Investors Who Suffered Losses In Futu To Contact Him Directly To Discuss Their Options
If you purchased or acquired securities in Futu between May 24, 2023 and May 27, 2026 and would like to discuss your legal rights, call Faruqi & Faruqi partner Josh Wilson directly at 877-247-4292 or 212-983-9330 (Ext. 1310).
[You may also click here for additional information]
New York, New York--(Newsfile Corp. - July 10, 2026) - Faruqi & Faruqi, LLP, a leading national securities law firm, is investigating potential claims against Futu Holdings Limited("Futu" or the "Company") (NASDAQ: FUTU) and reminds investors of the August 25, 2026 deadline to seek the role of lead plaintiff in a federal securities class action that has been filed against the Company.
Faruqi & Faruqi is a leading national securities law firm with offices in New York, Pennsylvania, California and Georgia. The firm has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for investors since its founding in 1995. See www.faruqilaw.com.
As detailed below, the complaint alleges that the Company and its executives violated federal securities laws by making false and/or misleading statements and/or failing to disclose that: (1) Futu was not in compliance with the requirements of the CSRC, including because the Company continued to conduct securities business, public fund sales business and futures business in mainland China without obtaining the requisite licenses or approval; (2) as a result, Futu was reasonably likely to face regulatory penalties, including the disgorgement of ill-gotten gains and other penalties; (3) as a result of the foregoing, Futu's financial results were overstated; and (4) as a result of the foregoing, Defendants' positive statements about the Company's business, operations, and prospects were materially misleading and/or lacked a reasonable basis.
On May 22, 2026, pre-market, Futu issued a press release allegedly disclosing that it had received a notification letter from the CSRC stating that "certain Futu entities in mainland China and Hong Kong . . . without obtaining the requisite licenses or approval, conducted securities business, public fund sales business and futures business in mainland China" and that the CSRC "proposes to order the Related Companies to rectify or cease such activities, confiscate illegal gains, and impose fines, with the total proposed penalty amounting to approximately RMB1.85 billion (approximately USD271 million)." The Futu class action lawsuit further alleges that the regulatory authority "proposes to impose a personal fine of RMB1.25 million (approximately USD 183,575) on Mr. LI Hua, the founder and CEO of the Company." On this news, the price of Futu stock fell more than 27%, according to the complaint.
Then, on May 28, 2026, before the market opened, Futu issued a press release reporting financial results for the first quarter of 2026, allegedly including the proposed penalties comprised of "(i) confiscation of illegal gains of approximately RMB470 million [approximately $69.21 million USD] and (ii) imposition of fines of approximately RMB1.38 billion in an aggregate amount of approximately RMB1.85 billion." On this news, the price of Futu stock declined nearly 5%, according to the complaint.
The court-appointed lead plaintiff is the investor with the largest financial interest in the relief sought by the class who is adequate and typical of class members who directs and oversees the litigation on behalf of the putative class. Any member of the putative class may move the Court to serve as lead plaintiff through counsel of their choice, or may choose to do nothing and remain an absent class member. Your ability to share in any recovery is not affected by the decision to serve as a lead plaintiff or not.
Faruqi & Faruqi, LLP also encourages anyone with information regarding Futu's conduct to contact the firm, including whistleblowers, former employees, shareholders and others.
To learn more about the Futu Holdings Limited class action, go to www.faruqilaw.com/FUTU or call Faruqi & Faruqi partner Josh Wilson directly at 877-247-4292 or 212-983-9330 (Ext. 1310).
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) for Investors Regarding the Futu Holdings Limited Securities Class Action Lawsuit:
What is the Futu Holdings Limited securities fraud lawsuit about?
The lawsuit alleges that Futu misled investors by failing to disclose it was conducting certain securities, public fund sales, and futures businesses in mainland China without required CSRC licenses or approvals. According to the complaint, this exposed the Company to significant regulatory penalties, overstated its financial results, and made its public statements about its business and prospects materially misleading.
Who may be eligible to participate in the lawsuit?
Investors who purchased or otherwise acquired Futu Holdings Limited (NASDAQ: FUTU) securities between May 24, 2023 and May 27, 2026, inclusive (the "Class Period"), and suffered losses may be eligible to participate in the securities class action. Eligibility depends on the specific facts of each investor's transactions and losses.
What is a lead plaintiff, and how can I seek appointment?
A lead plaintiff is the investor appointed by the court to represent the interests of all class members during the litigation. Generally, the investor with the largest financial interest who meets the legal requirements may be selected. Investors seeking appointment must file a motion with the court by the August 25, 2026 deadline through counsel of their choice.
What should investors do if they purchased Futu Holdings Limited stock during the Class Period?
Investors who purchased Futu securities during the Class Period should review their investment records, preserve relevant documents, and consider contacting counsel to understand their legal rights. Those interested in serving as lead plaintiff must act before the August 25, 2026 deadline, while investors who do not seek that role may still remain eligible to share in any potential recovery.
Why should investors contact Faruqi & Faruqi, LLP?
Faruqi & Faruqi, LLP has represented investors in securities litigation for decades and has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for shareholders. Investors who purchased Futu Holdings Limited securities during the Class Period may contact the firm to discuss their legal rights, potential claims, and the lead plaintiff process at no cost or obligation.
Attorney Advertising. The law firm responsible for this advertisement is Faruqi & Faruqi, LLP (www.faruqilaw.com). Prior results do not guarantee or predict a similar outcome with respect to any future matter. We welcome the opportunity to discuss your particular case. All communications will be treated in a confidential manner.
To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/304610
Source: Faruqi & Faruqi LLP
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While markets focus on Micron (MU), SanDisk (SNDK), and SK Hynix's debut on the Nasdaq, Ben Watson of Charles Schwab turns to a stock that hasn't been in the headlines as much: Seagate (STX). He talks about the upgrade it got from Wells Fargo and highlights key trends in the stock chart to watch.
