Track market-moving stories before they get noisy

OpenAI logo is seen in this illustration taken June 11, 2026. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/File Photo Purchase Licensing Rights, opens new tab

CompaniesJuly 9 (Reuters) - A group of newspapers including the New York Times (NYT.N), opens new tab and New York Daily News asked a federal court in Manhattan on Thursday to ​sanction OpenAI in their high-stakes copyright dispute for allegedly lying to the ‌court about its ability to search its systems for proof that it misused millions of their articles in AI training.

The newspapers told the court, opens new tab in a filing that OpenAI falsely told the court ​it could not search its large language models for their copyrighted material ​while hiding that it had done so "even before the first News ⁠Plaintiff filed suit."

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The newspapers said that OpenAI had also deleted billions of relevant ​ChatGPT conversations or made them unsearchable. They asked the court for sanctions, including attorneys' ​fees, and a court finding that OpenAI's chat logs showed that the company misused their copyrighted works.

Spokespeople for OpenAI did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the motion.

The lawsuit, first filed ​by the Times in 2023, accused OpenAI and its largest financial backer Microsoft (MSFT.O), opens new tab of ​using millions of its articles without permission to train the large language model behind OpenAI's popular ‌chatbot ⁠ChatGPT.

The case is one of many brought by copyright owners including authors, visual artists and music labels against tech companies such as OpenAI, Anthropic and Meta Platforms for allegedly misusing their material to train AI systems.

“For over two years, OpenAI lied to ​The Times, The ​Daily News Plaintiffs, ⁠the public, and the court," the New York Times' lead attorney Ian Crosby said in a statement. "It claimed searching ChatGPT outputs ​for copies of The Times’ and the Daily News Plaintiffs’ content ​was infeasible, ⁠burdensome, and invasive of users' privacy – while at the same time concealing that it had already done such searches."

OpenAI previously told the court that it did not have ⁠tools to ​search its datasets and output logs for copyrighted ​material, but an OpenAI employee later testified that the company had "performed multiple searches for News Plaintiffs’ content," according ​to the newspapers' Thursday filing.

Reporting by Blake Brittain in Washington; edited by David Gaffen

Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles., opens new tab

Blake Brittain reports on intellectual property law, including patents, trademarks, copyrights and trade secrets, for Reuters Legal. He has previously written for Bloomberg Law and Thomson Reuters Practical Law and practiced as an attorney.

Key Takeaways MMSI is positioned for growth with its strong product portfolio, acquisitions and R&D investments.MMSI launched Resilience and acquired View Point, expanding oncology and endoscopy opportunities.MMSI faces tariff costs, China pricing pressure and OEM demand fluctuations in the near term. Merit Medical Systems, Inc. (MMSI - Free Report) is well-poised for growth in the coming quarters, courtesy of its strong product portfolio. The optimism, led by a solid product performance and its continued spending on research and development, is expected to contribute further. However, tariffs and trade policy headwinds, and China macro pressure persist.

This Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) company’s shares have declined 19.4% in the year-to-date period compared with the industry’s 1.2% drop. However, the S&P 500 has risen 9.5% during the same time frame.

The renowned medical device provider has a market capitalization of $4.30 billion. The company projects 8.9% growth for the next five years and expects to maintain its strong performance going forward. It delivered an average earnings surprise of 12.5% for the past four quarters.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

Let’s delve deeper.

MMSI’s Growth DriversStrong Product Portfolio and Strategic Acquisitions: Merit Medical continues to expand its presence across interventional cardiology, radiology, oncology, endoscopy and other minimally invasive procedure markets through a diversified product portfolio and disciplined acquisitions. During the first quarter of 2026, the company launched the Resilience Through-the-Scope Esophageal Stent, which management expects to support long-term growth in its endoscopy business. Merit Medical also acquired View Point Medical, adding the OneMark Detection Imaging System and Tissue Markers to complement its SCOUT platform. Management believes the acquisition expands the addressable procedure opportunity for its oncology business by roughly threefold while providing physicians with additional localization options. Earlier acquisitions, including Biolife and the C2 CryoBalloon technology, continue to strengthen the company's therapeutic portfolio and support long-term growth.

Innovation-Driven R&D: Merit Medical continues to invest in research and development to expand its product pipeline and strengthen its competitive position. The company has reorganized its R&D, marketing and commercial teams around eight product platforms, enabling faster product development and closer alignment with physician needs. Supported by approximately 2,200 patents and patent applications, Merit Medical follows a disciplined innovation strategy that prioritizes products with strong commercial potential and attractive returns, positioning the company for sustained long-term growth.

WRAPSODY Offers Long-Term Upside: Merit Medical's WRAPSODY Cell-Impermeable Endoprosthesis remains an important long-term growth opportunity within renal therapies. Clinical data continue to demonstrate superior long-term vessel patency compared with conventional angioplasty, supporting broader physician adoption. Management reaffirmed its commercial strategy and expects the product to generate approximately $7 million in revenues in the United States in 2026. While adoption remains in the early stages, continued physician education and expanding clinical evidence position WRAPSODY as a meaningful multi-year growth catalyst.

Key Challenges for MMSI StockTariffs and Macroeconomic Uncertainty: Merit Medical continues to operate in an uncertain macroeconomic environment marked by evolving trade policies and geopolitical risks. During the first quarter earnings call, management highlighted tariffs as a significant headwind and expects them to remain a drag on profitability in 2026. While the company has implemented operational initiatives to offset part of the cost pressure, the ultimate impact remains uncertain as it depends on future tariff policies, retaliatory actions and legal developments. Geopolitical disruptions, including those affecting the Middle East, have created temporary shipping delays and higher freight-related costs. Although management described these challenges as manageable, prolonged macroeconomic uncertainty could pressure margins and weigh on earnings growth.

OEM and Pricing Headwinds: Merit Medical continues to face near-term pressure in its OEM business, which has experienced demand fluctuations due to inventory destocking, product line transfers and softer international demand, particularly in the Asia-Pacific region. Management expects these issues to be temporary and continues to view the OEM business as a mid- to high-single-digit grower over the long term. However, broader pricing pressure remains a challenge. The company continues to navigate China's volume-based procurement program, which has reduced pricing in recent years and is expected to remain a headwind in 2026. As Merit Medical expands its therapeutic portfolio through acquisitions and new product launches, sustaining growth will require continued innovation and disciplined execution.

Estimate TrendMMSI is witnessing a stable estimate revision trend for 2026. In the past 30 days, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for earnings per share (EPS) has remained stable at $4.07.

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for the company’s second-quarter 2026 revenues is pegged at $404.7 million, suggesting a 5.81% rise from the year-ago reported number. The consensus mark for EPS is pegged at 96 cents, implying a 4.9% decline from the prior-year reported figure.

Other Stocks to ConsiderSome other top-ranked stocks from the broader medical space are Veracyte (VCYT - Free Report) , West Pharmaceutical (WST - Free Report) and Pacific Biosciences of California (PACB - Free Report) .

Veracyte, currently sporting a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), has an estimated earnings growth rate of 5.1% for 2026. VCYT’s earnings surpassed estimates in each of the trailing four quarters, the average surprise being 45.9%. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.

Veracyte’s shares have gained 33.3% against the industry’s 14.2% decline in the year-to-date period.

West Pharmaceutical, currently carrying a Zacks Rank #2, has an estimated long-term earnings growth rate of 13.9%. WST’s earnings surpassed estimates in each of the trailing four quarters, the average surprise being 19.4%.

West Pharmaceutical’s shares have gained 28.5% against the industry’s 1.2% decline in the year-to-date period.

Pacific Biosciences of California, currently carrying a Zacks Rank #2, has an estimated earnings growth rate of 22.6% for 2026. PACB’s earnings beat estimates in each of the trailing four quarters, the average surprise being 29.8%.

Pacific Biosciences’ shares have lost 19.8% compared with the industry’s 14.2% decline in the year-to-date period.

, /PRNewswire/ -- Commvault (NASDAQ: CVLT), a leader in unified resilience at enterprise scale, has been named to TIME's America's Best Companies 2026 list, earning a place among the top 1,000 companies nationwide. The company ranked in the top 25 in New Jersey and secured the No. 1 spot among New Jersey-based companies in the Technology & Media category.

"This recognition reflects the passion, innovation, and commitment of our employees," said Sanjay Mirchandani, President and CEO, Commvault. "We are leading the charge in helping customers protect data, recover from threats, and be resilient in the agentic era – one of the most transformational times in modern history."

TIME and Statista identified America's Best Companies 2026 based on three key factors:

Employee Satisfaction – Based on survey data from ~217,000 verified employees at U.S. companies over the past three years, covering company recommendations and employer ratings across image, atmosphere, working conditions, salary, workplace, and equality. Financial Performance – Drawn from Statista's revenue database (last five years). Companies needed at least US $100 million in revenue in 2025. Performance was assessed on multiple metrics: short-term (2023–2025) and long-term (2021–2025) revenue growth (relative and absolute), changes in net income, asset growth, and the evolution of return on assets (ROA), all for 2023–2025. Sustainability Transparency – Based on an ESG index from Statista's ESG Database and additional research, covering:
       i)    Environmental: 2024 carbon emissions intensity, reduction rate vs. 2022, and CDP score
       ii)   Social: share of women on the board and existence of a human rights policy
       iii)  Governance: presence of a GRI-aligned sustainability report and compliance/anti-corruption guidelines About Commvault
Commvault (NASDAQ: CVLT) is a leader in unified resilience at enterprise scale. In a constantly evolving threat landscape, Commvault keeps customers ready by unifying data security, identity resilience, and cyber recovery, on one cloud-native, AI-enabled platform. Customers trust Commvault to conduct the fastest, most complete recoveries – not just their data, but their entire business. Purpose-built for the agentic enterprise, Commvault also enables organizations to safely embrace AI while protecting against AI-driven threats.

SOURCE COMMVAULT

Also from this source

Digital Trailblazers Experience Introduces Foundational ATV Safety Learning and Strengthens Long-standing Partnership

, /PRNewswire/ -- Polaris in partnership with Minnesota 4-H, is expanding its youth ATV safety education with the launch of a new interactive safety adventure available on CLOVER, 4-H's online learning platform. At its core, Trailblazers are built around a simple idea: learning safety should be as engaging and rewarding as the adventures young riders dream about having. 

Polaris in partnership with Minnesota 4-H, is expanding its youth ATV safety education with the launch of a new interactive safety adventure available on CLOVER, 4-H’s online learning platform. The ATV Adventure Academy: Trailblazers  experience introduces youth to foundational safe-riding practices in an engaging, trail-themed digital environment to make learning fun while sparking interest in outdoor adventure and future riding experiences. Built around interactive choices, animated sequences, and a trail map with progressive levels, the Trailblazers safety adventure immerses youth in scenarios that help them explore responsible riding practices, including selecting proper gear, making safer decisions, and recognizing trail signs. With youth involved in the creation of the experience from the start, it's designed for ease and engagement. 

"We provided feedback on the flow of the experience and age-appropriate play and questions," said Minnesota 4-H ATV Safety Ambassador, Rebecca Anderson, "I've personally learned that ATV safety is something that needs to be taught, not assumed. It's important to me that other youth learn ATV safety as well, so I wanted to help make it fun because when kids enjoy it, they actually remember it. That's how you build good habits early."  

While the content is geared towards youth ages 10-13, the adventure is open to anyone curious about ATV safety and serves as an accessible starting point before moving onto Minnesota 4-H's hands-on ATV Safety programming or other state-certified trainings and ASI (ATV Safety Institute) certifications. 

"Trailblazers is designed to meet youth riders at the beginning of their safety journey and help build their confidence through engaging, scenario-based learning," said Korinne Caldwell, Polaris Employee Health and Safety Manager, ASI/ATV Instructor and ROHVA Certified Instructor. "By introducing foundational safety principles early, and in ways that reflect real riding situations, we're helping young riders develop the habits they need to ride responsibly and safely. When youth understand these skills, they're better equipped to enjoy the freedom and adventure of being outdoors with confidence. That's why Polaris is committed to advancing youth rider safety, and why Trailblazers plays such an important role in that mission." 

The launch of this safety adventure marks the latest milestone in the long-standing collaboration between Polaris and Minnesota 4-H. Since 2019, the partnership has supported youth ATV and UTV safety education through hands‑on training, safety displays at farm safety events and county and state fairs, and expanded curriculum and volunteer training reaching more than 800,000 youth. Building on this foundation, Polaris and Minnesota 4‑H are sharing resources and learnings to support multi‑state program pilots, including current collaborations with 4‑H partners in Wisconsin and Utah, extending responsible riding education to more youth and families.

About University of Minnesota and Minnesota 4-H 
Minnesota 4-H is the largest youth development program in the state, serving 58,000 youth in the 2024/2025 program year. The program, run by University of Minnesota Extension, is developed using rigorous educational standards and is designed to nurture youth into becoming innovators and leaders. 

 For more news from U of M Extension, visit www.extension.umn.edu/news or contact Extension Communications at [email protected]. University of Minnesota Extension is an equal opportunity educator and employer. 

About Polaris
As the global leader in powersports, Polaris Inc. (NYSE: PII) has been defining and redefining outdoor adventure since 1954. Polaris delivers industry-shaping off-road vehicles, snowmobiles, boats, military, quadricycles, and commercial transportation vehicles, along with an expansive portfolio of parts, garments, and accessories. Its lineup includes some of the most iconic brands in powersports including the RANGER, RZR, Polaris XPEDITION, Bennington pontoons, Slingshot, and more. Headquartered in Minnesota and serving customers in nearly 100 countries, Polaris continues to set the standard for performance, quality, and unmatched service. Explore more at www.polaris.com.  

SOURCE Polaris Inc.

The market has developed a habit of shrugging off short reports almost as quickly as they appear. That isn’t entirely surprising. Many companies targeted by activist short sellers recover after management pushes back, especially during strong bull markets. 

Yet history also shows that some of Wall Street’s biggest corporate scandals were first uncovered by short sellers willing to challenge popular narratives. That makes every new report worth reading with an open mind. 

Bloom Energy (NYSE:BE) is the latest company caught in that tug-of-war, leaving investors to separate genuine risk from market noise.

Hunterbrook Raises Serious Questions Bloom Energy stock fell more than 5% yesterday after hedge fund-backed short seller Hunterbrook published an investigation alleging the company remains heavily dependent on China for scandium, a critical material used in its fuel cells. According to the report, Hunterbrook traced multiple supply routes through trade data, corporate filings, satellite imagery, and interviews that it says contradict repeated statements by Bloom management that the company has no China-dependent supply chain.

The report also questioned whether Bloom can realistically achieve its stated goal of expanding production capacity to 5 gigawatts annually, arguing that such output could require roughly 220 tons of scandium oxide — close to projected global annual supply. Those are not minor allegations.

But Bloom didn’t remain silent, forcefully rejected Hunterbrook’s conclusions and calling the claims “false and misleading.” Investors responded by sending BE shares more than 6% higher in premarket trading, effectively erasing the previous session’s losses.

Don’t Dismiss Short Sellers — Or Blindly Believe Them Investors need to separate the messenger from the message. Short sellers often receive criticism because they profit when stocks decline. Hunterbrook disclosed that it holds a short position in Bloom Energy, giving it a direct financial incentive for the stock to fall. That doesn’t automatically invalidate the research.

Short sellers frequently perform the investigative work that retail investors cannot and investment banks rarely have an incentive to publish. Some of Wall Street’s largest accounting and governance failures first surfaced because someone betting against a stock dug into public records, supplier relationships, or financial statements.

Granted, short reports can also sensationalize relatively small issues. Publishing a highly critical report after establishing a short position is a perfectly legal investment strategy, just as buying shares ahead of a bullish research note benefits long investors.

Act now: the analyst who called NVIDIA in 2010 just named his top 10 AI stocks — and Bloom Energy didn't make the cut. Grab the names FREE today.

The key isn’t whether the researcher is long or short. It’s whether the evidence holds up. Hunterbrook appears to have done extensive homework and, as the saying goes, “brought the receipts.” Bloom’s equally forceful denial means investors now have two sharply different versions of the same story.

One short report, two versions of the truth, and a 950% gain hanging in the balance. © 24/7 Wall St. Patience May Be the Best Trade Bloom Energy has rewarded shareholders handsomely. The stock has roughly tripled during 2026 and climbed about 950% over the past year as investors embraced its role in powering AI data centers. That momentum won’t disappear because of one report. Still, neither should investors rush to buy simply because the stock bounced.

The prudent approach is to watch what comes next. Does management systematically refute Hunterbrook’s specific allegations about its scandium sourcing and production assumptions? Or do those questions quietly fade from future discussions?

The answers matter far more than one day’s price action.

Key Takeaway In short, this isn’t a clear sell signal or an automatic buying opportunity. Bloom Energy still appears well positioned to benefit from years of growing electricity demand driven by artificial intelligence infrastructure. That long-term investment case remains intact unless the allegations prove accurate.

Regardless, smart investors should resist making emotional decisions. Let management fully address the claims, monitor future disclosures and earnings commentary, and see whether the facts support Bloom’s response. 

Waiting for greater clarity may mean missing the first few percentage points of the next move, but it also reduces the risk of buying into uncertainty when the market is still sorting out who has the stronger case.

Act now: the analyst who called NVIDIA in 2010 just named his top 10 AI stocks — and Bloom Energy didn't make the cut. Grab the names FREE today.

Contact [email protected] for any questions or corrections.

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 also includes the Zacks Style Scores.

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

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

The Style Scores are broken down into four categories:

Value 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 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.

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.

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: Illumina (ILMN - Free Report) San Diego, CA.-based Illumina Inc. provides sequencing and array-based solutions for genetic and genomic analysis. The products are used for applications in the life sciences, oncology, reproductive health, agriculture and other emerging segments. Its customers include leading genomic research centers, academic institutions, government laboratories, hospitals as well as pharmaceutical, biotechnology, commercial molecular diagnostic and consumer genomics companies.

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

Momentum investors should take note of this Medical stock. ILMN has a Momentum Style Score of B, and shares are up 15.6% over the past four weeks.

Two analysts revised their earnings estimate higher in the last 60 days for fiscal 2026, while the Zacks Consensus Estimate has increased $0.02 to $5.19 per share. ILMN also boasts an average earnings surprise of +12.2%.

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

Key Takeaways Illumina's 2026 stock rally reflects strong execution and first-quarter results above guidance.ILMN saw 20% clinical sequencing consumables demand growth outside China for a second straight quarter.Illumina's NovaSeq X placements topped 80 units as adoption and platform transition continued. Illumina (ILMN - Free Report) has delivered an impressive performance in 2026, with its shares rising 43.7% year to date. The stock has significantly outpaced the industry’s 7.5% gain and the S&P 500 composite’s 10% rise.  

Carrying a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) at present, the renowned genomics company continues to execute on its strategy to drive durable growth and higher profitability. Growing sequencing intensity across the clinical end-markets continues to support Illumina’s growth. Balance sheet strength remains another key positive for the company.

San Diego, CA.-based Illumina Inc. provides sequencing and array-based solutions for genetic and genomic analysis. The products are used for applications in the life sciences, oncology, reproductive health, agriculture and other emerging segments. Its customers include leading genomic research centers, academic institutions, government laboratories, hospitals, as well as pharmaceutical, biotechnology, commercial molecular diagnostic and consumer genomics companies. The company’s sequencing technology, sequencing by synthesis (SBS), is widely adopted worldwide and supports both single-read and paired-end libraries.

Key Drivers Behind ILMN's Price RallySince spinning off GRAIL in June 2024, Illumina has continued to center its strategy on the core sequencing franchise while scaling into adjacent multiomics and data offerings. The company is targeting a return to durable growth and higher profitability, with goals of high-single-digit revenue growth by 2027 and annual earnings per share (EPS) growth in the double-digits to teens. The strategy appears to be gaining traction, with first-quarter 2026 revenues, margins and non-GAAP EPS all exceeding management’s guidance. 

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

Broader adoption of NGS-based testing remains a key growth driver for Illumina. Clinical end-markets generated the majority of sequencing consumables revenues in first-quarter 2026, supported by the continued adoption of sequencing-based diagnostics and the growing use of sequencing-intensive tests, including comprehensive genomic profiling and whole genome sequencing, as drivers of higher sequencing intensity. Excluding China, clinical sequencing consumables demand increased 20% for the second straight quarter.

NovaSeq X placements in the quarter exceeded 80 units, around 20 more than a year ago and above the company’s targeted quarterly range. Transition progress also continued, with approximately 82% of volumes and 55% of revenues migrated to the platform, while roughly 90% of research and applied volume now runs on NovaSeq X. Management continues to plan for average quarterly NovaSeq X placements of 50 to 60 through 2026 while investing to scale supply given the current pipeline. Meanwhile, Illumina continues to expand its oncology menu as customers scale sequencing in clinical decision-making and in new trials that require larger information sets.

ILMN’s balance sheet also remains in solid shape. The company exited the first quarter of 2026 with cash and cash equivalents of $1.09 billion compared with $1.42 billion at the end of fourth-quarter 2025. Current debt was $499 million, unchanged sequentially, while long-term debt remained $1.49 billion.

Key Risks for IlluminaThe company continues to operate in a higher-cost environment shaped by tariffs and supply-chain inflation, which can affect both demand and margins. It also faces constrained demand in Greater China amid ongoing regulatory and geopolitical uncertainty, keeping the region out of step with the rest of the business. 

A Look at ILMN’s EstimatesThe Zacks Consensus Estimate projects Illumina's 2026 and 2027 earnings per share (EPS) at $5.19 and $5.86, reflecting year-over-year growth of 7.2% and 12.9%, respectively. The consensus estimate for 2026 EPS has moved 0.4% higher over the past 30 days.

Revenues are expected to increase 5.1% to $4.56 billion in 2026, followed by another 6.2% increase to $4.85 billion in 2027.

Key PicksSome other top-ranked stocks in the broader medical space are IDEXX Laboratories (IDXX - Free Report) , Align Technology (ALGN - Free Report) and Integra LifeSciences (IART - Free Report) .

IDEXX Laboratories has an earnings yield of 2.6% compared to the industry’s negative 3% yield. Its earnings surpassed estimates in each of the trailing four quarters, with the average surprise being 26.3%. IDXX shares have rallied 2.7% against the industry’s 8.2% decline over the past year.

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

Align Technology, carrying a Zacks Rank #2, has an estimated long-term earnings growth rate of 10.3% compared with the industry’s 5.5% growth. Shares of the company have dipped 14.5% against the industry’s 10.5% growth. ALGN’s earnings outpaced estimates in three of the trailing four quarters and missed on one occasion, the average surprise being 7.8%.

Integra LifeSciences, carrying a Zacks Rank #2, has an earnings yield of 13.7% against the industry’s negative 3% yield. Its earnings beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate in each of the trailing four quarters, with the average surprise being 16.7%. IART shares have rallied 31.4% against the industry’s 8.2% decline over the past year.

Key Takeaways Vistra is positioned to benefit from AI, data center, electrification and industrial power demand.Long-term PPAs with Meta and AWS provide recurring revenues and reduce merchant price volatility.Vistra's diversified fleet and integrated model support operational flexibility and stable earnings. Vistra Corp. (VST - Free Report) is well-positioned to benefit from the rapidly growing U.S. electricity demand driven by artificial intelligence, hyperscale data centers, electrification and industrial expansion. The company operates one of the nation's largest and most diversified power generation portfolios, including natural gas, nuclear, coal, solar and battery storage assets. This diversified fleet enables Vistra to reliably serve increasing power demand while maintaining operational flexibility across changing market conditions.

A key long-term growth catalyst is Vistra's power purchase agreements (PPAs) with Meta and Amazon Web Services (“AWS”). These long-duration contracts provide predictable and recurring revenue streams by locking in electricity sales over extended periods. As leading technology companies continue expanding AI infrastructure and hyperscale data centers, Vistra is positioned to benefit from sustained electricity demand backed by investment-grade counterparties. The contracts improve earnings visibility, reduce merchant power price volatility and strengthen cash flow stability, supporting long-term financial performance.

Vistra continues to strengthen its competitive position through disciplined investments in power generation, battery energy storage and strategic acquisitions. Its integrated business model, which combines electricity generation with retail operations, provides natural hedging benefits and supports stable earnings across market cycles.

Growing AI-driven electricity demand, expanding clean energy investments, long-term power purchase agreements and a diversified generation portfolio position Vistra for sustained earnings and cash flow growth. These strengths, along with its ability to enhance shareholder returns, make the company an attractive long-term investment despite short-term market volatility.

PPAs Bring Stability in Utility EarningsPPAs strengthen utilities' growth prospects by providing stable, predictable revenue streams and limiting exposure to wholesale electricity price fluctuations. These contracts enhance earnings visibility, support investments in new generation assets, improve cash flow stability and drive sustainable long-term shareholder value.

Utilities such as Constellation Energy (CEG - Free Report) and NextEra Energy (NEE - Free Report) benefit significantly from long-term PPAs, which provide predictable revenue streams and reduce exposure to wholesale power price volatility. These contracts improve earnings visibility, support investments in clean energy projects and generation capacity, strengthen cash flow stability and create sustainable long-term shareholder value.

The Zacks Rundown for VSTThe Zacks Consensus Estimate for Vistra’s earnings per share for 2026 and 2027 indicates a year-over-year increase of 80.99% and 18.06%, respectively.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

Return on equity (“ROE”), a profitability measure, reflects how effectively a company is utilizing shareholders’ funds in its operations to generate income.

VST’s trailing 12-month ROE is 105.64%, way ahead of its industry average of 11.21%.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

VST’s Price PerformanceShares of Vistra have gained 1.4% in the past three months against the Zacks Utility- Electric Power industry’s decline of 2.9%.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

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

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

The earnings report might help the stock move higher if these key numbers are better than expectations. On the other hand, if they miss, the stock may move lower.

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

Zacks Consensus EstimateThis holding company for Webster Bank is expected to post quarterly earnings of $1.61 per share in its upcoming report, which represents a year-over-year change of +5.9%.

Revenues are expected to be $749.32 million, up 4.7% from the year-ago quarter.

Estimate Revisions TrendThe consensus EPS estimate for the quarter has been revised 0.07% higher over the last 30 days to the current level. This is essentially a reflection of how the covering analysts have collectively reassessed their initial estimates over this period.

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

Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise

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

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

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

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

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

How Have the Numbers Shaped Up for Webster Financial?For Webster Financial, the Most Accurate Estimate is higher than the Zacks Consensus Estimate, suggesting that analysts have recently become bullish on the company's earnings prospects. This has resulted in an Earnings ESP of +3.46%.

On the other hand, the stock currently carries a Zacks Rank of #2.

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

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

For the last reported quarter, it was expected that Webster Financial would post earnings of $1.53 per share when it actually produced earnings of $1.57, delivering a surprise of +2.61%.

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

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

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

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

An Industry Player's Expected ResultsAmong the stocks in the Zacks Banks - Northeast industry, FB Financial (FBK - Free Report) , is soon expected to post earnings of $1.14 per share for the quarter ended June 2026. This estimate indicates a year-over-year change of +29.6%. This quarter's revenue is expected to be $173.93 million, up 26.6% from the year-ago quarter.

The consensus EPS estimate for FB Financial has been revised 1.7% lower over the last 30 days to the current level. However, a lower Most Accurate Estimate has resulted in an Earnings ESP of -1.16%.

This Earnings ESP, combined with its Zacks Rank #4 (Sell), makes it difficult to conclusively predict that FB Financial will beat the consensus EPS estimate. Over the last four quarters, the company surpassed consensus EPS estimates two times.

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

Investors in The Hartford Insurance Group, Inc. (HIG - Free Report) need to pay close attention to the stock based on moves in the options market lately. That is because the Sep 18, 2026 $100 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 The Hartford Insurance shares, but what is the fundamental picture for the company? Currently, The Hartford Insurance is a Zacks Rank #4 (Sell) in the Insurance - Property and Casualty industry that ranks in the Bottom 39% of our Zacks Industry Rank. Over the last 30 days, no analysts have increased their earnings estimates for the current quarter, while four analysts have revised their estimates downward. The net effect has taken our Zacks Consensus Estimate for the current quarter from $3.30 per share to $3.21 in that period.

Given the way analysts feel about The Hartford Insurance 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.

WILLIAMSVILLE, N.Y., July 09, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- National Fuel Gas Company (NYSE: NFG) today announced it will release its third quarter fiscal 2026 earnings results on Wednesday, July 29, 2026 after market close.

A conference call to discuss the results will be held on Thursday, July 30, 2026 beginning at 9:00 a.m. ET and will include prepared remarks from the executive team followed by a question and answer session.

All participants must pre-register to join this conference using the Participant Registration link.

A webcast link to the conference call will be provided under the Events Calendar on the NFG Investor Relations website at investor.nationalfuelgas.com, and a replay of the webcast will be available on the website following the call.

For additional information, contact:

Ryan Vossler, Director of Investor Relations (716) 857-7158
Natalie Fischer, Director of Investor Relations (716) 857-7315
Karen Merkel, Media Contact (716) 857-7654
Email: [email protected]

National Fuel is an integrated energy company reporting financial results for three operating segments: Integrated Upstream and Gathering, Pipeline and Storage, and Utility. Additional information about National Fuel is available at www.nationalfuel.com.

Shares of Alcon (ALC - Free Report) have gained 0.7% over the past four weeks to close the last trading session at $66.56, but there could still be a solid upside left in the stock if short-term price targets of Wall Street analysts are any indication. Going by the price targets, the mean estimate of $85.03 indicates a potential upside of 27.8%.

The mean estimate comprises 16 short-term price targets with a standard deviation of $11.25. While the lowest estimate of $66.00 indicates a 0.8% decline from the current price level, the most optimistic analyst expects the stock to surge 68.3% to reach $112.00. It's very important to note the standard deviation here, as it helps understand the variability of the estimates. The smaller the standard deviation, the greater the agreement among analysts.

While the consensus price target is highly sought after by investors, the ability and unbiasedness of analysts in setting price targets have long been questionable. And investors making investment decisions solely based on this tool would arguably do themselves a disservice.

But, for ALC, an impressive average price target is not the only indicator of a potential upside. Strong agreement among analysts about the company's ability to report better earnings than they predicted earlier strengthens this view. While a positive trend in earnings estimate revisions doesn't gauge how much a stock could gain, it has proven to be powerful in predicting an upside.

Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise

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

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

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

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

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

Here's Why There Could be Plenty of Upside Left in ALCAnalysts' 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 to expect an upside in the stock. That's because empirical research shows a strong correlation between trends in earnings estimate revisions and near-term stock price movements.

For the current year, one estimate has moved higher over the last 30 days compared to no negative revision. As a result, the Zacks Consensus Estimate has increased 0.1%.

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

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

NEW YORK, July 09, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Bernstein Liebhard LLP, a nationally acclaimed investor rights law firm, reminds Peabody Energy Corporation (“Peabody Energy” or the “Company”) (NYSE: BTU) investors of the August 24, 2026 deadline involving a securities fraud class action lawsuit commenced against the Company.

Should You Join The Peabody Energy Class Action Lawsuit:

Do you, or did you, own shares of Peabody Energy Corporation (NYSE: BTU)?Did you purchase your shares between October 14, 2024 and May 4, 2026, inclusive?Did you lose money in your investment in Peabody Energy Corporation?
What To Do Next:

Investors are encouraged to act promptly and submit a form at Peabody Energy Corporation Shareholder Class Action Lawsuit or contact Investor Relations Manager Peter Allocco at (212) 951-2030 or [email protected].

If you wish to serve as lead plaintiff for the Class, you must file papers by August 24, 2026. A lead plaintiff is a representative party acting on other class members’ behalf in directing the litigation. Your ability to share in any recovery doesn’t require that you serve as lead plaintiff. If you choose to take no action, you may remain an absent class member.

All representation is on a contingency fee basis. Shareholders pay no fees or expenses.

About The Lawsuit:

A lawsuit was filed on behalf of investors (the “Class”) who purchased or acquired the common stock of Peabody Energy between October 14, 2024 and May 4, 2026, inclusive, alleging violations of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 against the Company and certain of its senior officers.

The lawsuit alleges that defendants made materially false and misleading statements and omissions regarding the Company’s business operations, growth prospects, and financial stability. As a result of these alleged misrepresentations, Peabody Energy common stock traded at artificially inflated prices during the Class Period. When the truth was disclosed, investors allegedly suffered significant losses.

About Bernstein Liebhard:

Since 1993, Bernstein Liebhard LLP has recovered over $3.5 billion for its clients. In addition to representing individual investors, the Firm has been retained by some of the largest public and private pension funds in the country to monitor their assets and pursue litigation on their behalf. As a result of its success litigating hundreds of class actions, the Firm has been named to The National Law Journal’s “Plaintiffs’ Hot List” thirteen times and listed in The Legal 500 for sixteen consecutive years.

ATTORNEY ADVERTISING. © 2026 Bernstein Liebhard LLP. The law firm responsible for this advertisement is Bernstein Liebhard LLP, 10 East 40th Street, New York, New York 10016, (212) 779-1414. Prior results do not guarantee or predict a similar outcome with respect to any future matter.

Contact Information:

Peter Allocco
Investor Relations Manager
Bernstein Liebhard LLP
https://www.bernlieb.com
(212) 951-2030
[email protected]

Key Takeaways Rollins' Q1 2026 revenues grew 10.2%, led by residential, commercial and termite services.ROL uses VRM and Orkin 2.0 plus acquisitions to expand reach, efficiency and customer wins.Rollins has increased dividends yearly, while higher costs pressured the Q1 2026 operating margin. Rollins, Inc. (ROL - Free Report) strengthens its position in the evolving pest control industry through the strategic use of technology and disciplined buyouts. Sustained segment-level performance provides a strong foundation for future objectives. Strong shareholder policies remain favorable for the company.

The company’s second-quarter 2026 earnings are expected to increase 13.3% year over year. Its 2026 and 2027 earnings are projected to rise 10.7% and 12.1%, respectively. Revenues are expected to grow 10.1% in 2026 and 9.3% in 2027.

Factors That Bode Well for ROLRollins’ top line is benefiting from robust segmental performance and a strong demand environment. The company’s revenues increased 10.2% year over year during the first quarter of 2026, driven by 6.6% organic growth. Growth was observed across its key segments, with Residential revenues and Commercial pest control revenues growing 9.3% and 9.6% year over year, respectively, while Termite and ancillary services revenues posted 13.5% growth during the same period.

The company’s use of technology platforms, such as VRM and Orkin 2.0, optimizes routing and scheduling, reduces technician mileage and improves service speed. This technology-driven approach boosts operational efficiency, improves customer experience and drives cost savings, supporting sustainable growth. ROL has expanded resources dedicated to Orkin's commercial division, resulting in new customer wins across multiple industry verticals.

ROL’s disciplined acquisitions approach has significantly accelerated the business development and expanded both its global brand presence and geographic reach. The company consistently demonstrates strong target identification and integration capabilities, completing 26 acquisitions in 2025, 44 in 2024 and 24 in 2023. ROL recently completed the acquisition of Romex Pest Control, a leading pest management company in North America, to penetrate lucrative new territories and expand service offerings for existing customers.

The company has demonstrated a strong commitment to its shareholders through consistent dividend payments. It paid dividends of $264.3 million, $298 million and $327.9 million in 2023, 2024 and 2025, respectively. This consistency underscores its dedication to creating long-term value for investors.

Risks to WatchRollins’ operating expenses have risen consistently over the past four years, increasing from $2.20 billion in 2022 to $2.49 billion in 2023 and further to $2.73 billion in 2024. This growth persisted through 2025 as expenses climbed to $3.03 billion, raising cost concerns that may compromise future profit margins.

The company's investments in customer acquisition, marketing and salesforce growth have surged in recent years to drive sales volumes and extend its competitive edge. However, the costs associated with these investments have begun to affect the bottom line, as evidenced by a dip in the adjusted operating income margin to 16.9% during the first quarter of 2026, reflecting a 100-basis-point year-over-year decline.

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

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

Veralto Corporation carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) at present. It has a long-term earnings growth expectation of 8.4%. VLTO delivered a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 4.9%, on average.

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

New "Rally Ready" pre-sale program lets riders secure a Harley-Davidson motorcycle before arriving in the Black Hills, alongside exclusive "America 250" custom bikes and newly released collector apparel complete the ultimate rally-week experience.

, /PRNewswire/ -- Sonic Automotive, Inc. (NYSE: SAH), one of the nation's largest automotive and powersports retailers, today announced that Sturgis Harley-Davidson and Black Hills Harley-Davidson will bring a monumental selection of more than 1,200 new and used Harley-Davidson motorcycles to the Black Hills for the 86th Annual Sturgis Motorcycle Rally, taking place Aug. 7–16, 2026.

The Nation's Largest Inventory: More Than 1,200 Motorcycles Ready to Ride

One of only 26 exclusive "250 Years of Freedom" custom Harley-Davidson motorcycles on pre-sale beginning today.

More than 1,200 rally-ready motorcycles assembled for the Sturgis 'Rally Ready' pre-sale program.

A limited-edition commemorative 86th Annual Sturgis Motorcycle Rally t-shirt from the Sturgis Harley-Davidson online drop.

The expanded lineup represents the single largest Harley-Davidson inventory ever brought to one location in the country. It gives rallygoers an unrivaled opportunity to access highly sought-after trikes alongside a massive selection of new and pre-owned motorcycles in every color, configuration, and style, during one of the world's most iconic motorcycle events.

Through the newly launched "Rally Ready" pre-sale program, riders can shop before rally week, secure their preferred motorcycle, and schedule pickup upon arrival in Sturgis. This program is designed for rallygoers traveling from across the country who want to spend less time searching for the right bike and more time riding the Black Hills. Because this is the most in-demand inventory in the country, these premium motorcycles will go fast. Riders are encouraged to visit SturgisHD.com to secure their dream ride before the rally begins.

"The Sturgis Motorcycle Rally is a cornerstone event for the riding community. It is an iconic celebration of freedom, the open road, and the American spirit," said David B. Smith, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Sonic Automotive. "This year, we are proud to bring riders an unmatched Sturgis experience through expanded motorcycle inventory, exclusive limited-edition products, and a rally-week experience designed around what riders value most."

Limited-Edition America 250 Motorcycles and Collector Merchandise

To celebrate America's 250th anniversary, Sturgis Harley-Davidson and Sonic Powersports will introduce the exclusive "250 Years of Freedom" collection, a limited series of 26 custom Harley-Davidson motorcycles available through Sonic Powersports.

The motorcycles feature custom silver livery, commemorative 1776–2026 badging, patriotic details, premium finishes and distinctive rally-inspired design elements. The collection will go on pre-sale beginning today at SturgisHD.com. With only 26 motorcycles available, once the collection sells out, it will not be restocked.

In a powerful showcase of the Sonic Automotive family network, one of these highly coveted, custom motorcycles will be awarded to the winner of the Quaker State 400 at EchoPark Speedway on July 12, uniting Sonic's premier pre-owned automotive brand, EchoPark Automotive, with its elite powersports division.

Sturgis Harley-Davidson will also launch exclusive online merchandise drops for collectors and rallygoers, including eight 86th Rally apparel designs and a vintage reprint series inspired by Sturgis Harley-Davidson graphics from the 1990s and 2000s. The limited-edition apparel drops are available now online only at SturgisHD.com.

"Preparing for the Sturgis Rally is a year-round effort that starts with understanding what riders want most from their rally experience," said Jeff Dyke, President of Sonic Automotive. "This year, we have expanded our inventory, introduced new ways for riders to secure motorcycles before arriving, and developed exclusive products that can only be found through our dealerships. We are ready to welcome riders from across the country and deliver an experience that matches the scale and energy of Sturgis."

Event: 86th Annual Sturgis Motorcycle Rally Dates: Aug. 7–16, 2026 Location: Sturgis and the Black Hills, South Dakota Inventory: More than 1,200 Harley-Davidson motorcycles, the largest inventory in the country, available through Sturgis Harley-Davidson Program: "Rally Ready" pre-sale with scheduled pickup during rally week Trikes: Largest selection of Harley-Davidson trikes in the country Limited Edition: 26 "250 Years of Freedom" custom Harley-Davidson motorcycles celebrating America's 250th anniversary Apparel: Online-only collector merchandise drops featuring 86th Rally designs and vintage Sturgis Harley-Davidson reprints Website: SturgisHD.com Parent Company: Sonic Automotive, Inc. (NYSE: SAH) For more information on the Rally Ready pre-sale program, available motorcycles, limited-edition America 250 motorcycles, collector apparel drops, and the full Sturgis Harley-Davidson rally experience, visit SturgisHD.com.

For real-time rally updates, behind-the-scenes content, merchandise previews, and event highlights, follow @sonicpowersports, @sturgisharleydavidson, and @blackhillshd on Instagram and Facebook.

About Sonic Automotive

For more than 60 years, Sonic Automotive has pursued a single purpose: to deliver an experience for our guests and our teammates that fulfills dreams, enriches lives, and delivers happiness. We don't simply sell and service vehicles. We help people pursue their dreams, whether it's a guest purchasing their first vehicle, a family creating lifelong memories, or a teammate building a meaningful career.

Founded in 1966 by Bruton Smith, the company has grown into a Fortune 300 company under the leadership of Chairman and CEO David B. Smith. Today, more than 11,000 teammates bring the company's purpose to life across a nationwide network of 173 automotive and powersports franchises in 145 locations in 90 cities and 21 states. We are proud to represent 24 automotive and 15 powersports brands and have helped more than 7 million guests purchase vehicles, delivered over 40 million service experiences, and earned more than 1 million 5-star reviews by consistently putting people first.

At Sonic Automotive, we believe trust isn't claimed – it's earned through transparency, consistency, integrity, and genuine care. That's why we were the only automotive and powersports retailer recognized by Newsweek as one of America's Most Trustworthy Companies in 2026. As the automotive and powersports industries continue to evolve, our mission remains constant: to innovate, lead with integrity, and create exceptional experiences that inspire confidence, build lifelong relationships, and positively impact every life we touch.

Sonic Automotive. Driven By People. Inspired By Purpose. For more information, visit www.sonicautomotive.com and ir.sonicautomotive.com.

Media Contact: Stephanie Peplinski, VML, [email protected]

SOURCE Sonic Automotive

Image: Bigstock

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An updated edition of the May 20, 2026 article.

The beauty and cosmetics industry remains one of the more durable consumer categories, supported by its close connection to daily habits, confidence and self-expression. Even when consumers become selective with spending, beauty products often retain a steady place in household budgets. This gives the industry a defensive quality, while innovation across skincare, fragrance, makeup and wellness keeps the growth runway attractive.

A major shift in the category is the rise of the informed beauty shopper. Consumers are comparing ingredients, reading reviews, following creators and looking for products that deliver visible benefits. This has made brand trust, product claims and digital engagement more important than ever. At the same time, premium beauty continues to gain traction as shoppers show willingness to spend more on quality, performance and aspirational brands.

The industry is also benefiting from faster product cycles and broader channel reach. Social media can turn niche products into global trends almost overnight, while e-commerce and omnichannel platforms are helping brands reach consumers more directly. Sustainability, personalization and science-backed innovation are also shaping purchase decisions, forcing companies to stay agile and relevant.

Within this landscape, Coty Inc. (COTY - Free Report) remains well-placed through its presence in prestige fragrances, cosmetics and consumer beauty, areas that continue to benefit from brand strength and premiumization. Nu Skin Enterprises, Inc. (NUS - Free Report) , meanwhile, connects to the beauty-and-wellness theme through its focus on personal care, anti-aging products and digital-led customer engagement.

For investors, the beauty and cosmetics space offers a mix of resilience and long-term growth potential. Demand is supported by recurring usage, emotional connection and constant product refreshes. Companies that can combine strong brands, innovation discipline and effective digital execution should remain better positioned to capture value as the industry continues to evolve.
Investors seeking exposure to this theme can consider companies from our Beauty & Cosmetics Screen, including The Estee Lauder Companies Inc. (EL - Free Report) , Ulta Beauty, Inc. (ULTA - Free Report) and e.l.f. Beauty, Inc. (ELF - Free Report) .

Explore 37 cutting-edge investment themes with Zacks Thematic Investing Screens and discover your next big opportunity.

3 Beauty and Cosmetic Stocks in FocusThe Estee Lauder Companies remains one of the world's leading prestige beauty companies, with a diversified portfolio spanning skincare, makeup, fragrance and hair care. As the beauty industry continues to evolve, the company is adapting by expanding consumer reach, accelerating product innovation and strengthening its presence across digital and specialty retail channels. These initiatives position Estee Lauder to capitalize on changing consumer preferences while reinforcing its leadership in the global prestige beauty market.

Innovation remains central to the company's strategy. Recent launches include Estee Lauder Double Wear Matte Foundation, La Mer's eye care innovations, M·A·C Lip and Cheek Mousse and new fragrances from TOM FORD, Le Labo, KILIAN PARIS and BALMAIN Beauty. Alongside product development, the company continues to expand distribution through platforms such as Amazon Premium Beauty, TikTok Shop, Douyin, vip.com and Sephora, broadening consumer access across key digital and specialty retail channels.

Beyond innovation, EL is enhancing its operating and digital capabilities through partnerships with Shopify, Accenture and WPP to improve consumer insights, media effectiveness and omnichannel execution. The Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) company has also expanded its brand portfolio by acquiring Forest Essentials, a leading prestige Ayurvedic beauty brand in India, and making a minority investment in 111Skin, a luxury skincare brand focused on pre- and post-procedure skincare. These initiatives underscore Estee Lauder's continued focus on strengthening its position across high-growth segments of the global beauty market. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.

Ulta Beauty has established itself as a leading beauty retailer by offering a broad assortment of prestige and mass beauty brands through an integrated omnichannel platform. As consumer preferences increasingly favor convenience, personalization and product discovery, the company continues to strengthen its position by expanding brand offerings, enhancing digital capabilities and creating engaging shopping experiences across online and physical channels. Its strategy reflects the changing dynamics of the beauty and cosmetics industry, where innovation and customer engagement remain key competitive differentiators.

Brand expansion and innovation remain central to Ulta Beauty's strategy. The Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) company continues to introduce new and exclusive brands while broadening its assortment across beauty categories. Recent additions include Rare Beauty, Balmain Beauty, Bloomeffects, Hairstory and Grüns, alongside continued investment in exclusive brands such as NOYZ. ULTA has also expanded its digital reach through TikTok Shop, complemented by thousands of in-store beauty events and a loyalty program designed to deliver more personalized experiences and deepen customer engagement.

Beyond its core retail business, Ulta Beauty is investing in initiatives that support long-term growth. The company continues to expand its marketplace assortment, grow its wellness offerings and strengthen its international presence through Space NK and franchise partnerships. It is also enhancing UB Media, leveraging artificial intelligence to improve customer experiences and investing in supply-chain automation to support faster and more efficient operations. Together, these initiatives reinforce ULTA’s focus on innovation while strengthening its position in the evolving beauty and cosmetics industry.

e.l.f. Beauty has expanded beyond its roots in affordable cosmetics to build a diversified beauty platform spanning color cosmetics, skincare and clean beauty. Its portfolio now includes e.l.f. Cosmetics, e.l.f. SKIN, Naturium, rhode and Well People, enabling the company to serve a broader range of beauty consumers while strengthening its presence across multiple product categories. This portfolio approach positions e.l.f. Beauty to capitalize on evolving consumer preferences while broadening its long-term growth opportunities.

Product innovation and digital engagement remain central to the company's strategy. The Zacks Rank #3 company combines community-led product development with social-first marketing to accelerate product discovery and brand awareness. Products such as Halo Glow and Power Grip Primer, together with brands, including Naturium and rhode, demonstrate the company's expanding presence across cosmetics and skincare. ELF also continues to leverage digital commerce, TikTok and strategic retail partnerships to deepen consumer engagement and extend its market reach.

Beyond innovation, e.l.f. Beauty continues to broaden its global footprint through international retail expansion and investments in technology. The company is entering additional markets, expanding relationships with retail partners and enhancing its digital capabilities to support brand growth across geographies. ELF is also investing in artificial intelligence and technology to strengthen marketing, consumer engagement and operational execution, reinforcing its position as an innovative participant in the global beauty and cosmetics industry.

Published in consumer-staples

[url="]DexCom, Inc.[/url] (NASDAQ: DXCM) today announced that it plans to release its second quarter 2026 financial results after market close on Thursday, July

Artificial intelligence stocks often move on earnings reports, product launches, or analyst upgrades. Vertiv Holdings (NYSE: VRT | VRT Price Prediction) did none of those things on June 30, yet its shares climbed 9.1%, adding nearly $11 billion in market value in a single trading session. The catalyst originated more than 6,000 miles away in Seoul, where the South Korean government unveiled one of the world’s most ambitious semiconductor and AI infrastructure investment programs. That reaction illustrates how investors increasingly view AI infrastructure companies as global beneficiaries of AI investment, regardless of where those investments originate.

That’s an unusual way for an industrial company to gain nearly $11 billion in market value, but it says a great deal about how Wall Street now views AI infrastructure. Investors are increasingly reacting not just to company-specific news, but to any development that suggests the global AI buildout will continue accelerating.

That disconnect between where the news occurred and where investors directed their money explains much about how Wall Street is beginning to value the next phase of the AI infrastructure cycle. Increasingly, investors are reacting not simply to company-specific developments but to any indication that global AI spending will continue expanding. Vertiv has become one of the clearest beneficiaries of that trend because its products sit at the heart of virtually every modern AI data center.

The question investors now face is whether Vertiv has become the best way to invest in the global AI infrastructure buildout, or whether its shares have become a high-beta proxy for AI enthusiasm that could swing sharply whenever sentiment changes. That distinction may determine whether June 30 marks the start of another leg higher, or just another volatile day in one of the market’s fastest-growing infrastructure names.

The $576 Billion Catalyst: South Korea’s AI Ambition The news that ignited the rally came from South Korea, where President Lee Jae Myung announced a sweeping national initiative to strengthen the country’s leadership in semiconductors and artificial intelligence.

According to Table 1, South Korea’s announcement represents one of the largest government-supported AI infrastructure initiatives announced anywhere in the world. Although much of the investment will be directed toward semiconductor manufacturing, every new AI data center also requires extensive electrical distribution, power management, thermal management, and cooling infrastructure before computing hardware can be deployed. That is why investors immediately connected the announcement to companies such as Vertiv.

Vertiv was never mentioned during the announcement. It did not need to be. Every large AI data center requires electrical distribution equipment, power conversion systems, backup power, liquid cooling, thermal management, and monitoring software before a single AI accelerator is ever installed — regardless of whether the chips inside come from Nvidia, AMD, custom ASIC programs, or future architectures.

Markets make these connections long before company press releases do. Investors recognized immediately that a program of this magnitude would require far more than semiconductors—it would require the electrical and thermal infrastructure that allows AI data centers to operate.

Why Vertiv Wins Regardless of Which Chip Wins That reality increasingly explains why investors have begun viewing Vertiv as a direct beneficiary of global AI investment rather than merely another industrial equipment company. When governments or hyperscale cloud providers announce multi-billion-dollar AI infrastructure programs, investors immediately ask which companies will supply the essential systems that make those facilities operable — and Vertiv consistently appears near the top of that list.

The June 30 rally illustrates just how tightly Vertiv’s stock is now tied to AI infrastructure sentiment. The company issued no press release, offered no updated guidance, and announced no new customer wins. Investors simply interpreted Seoul’s announcement as fresh confirmation that global AI infrastructure spending remains in its early stages — a read that lines up with hyperscaler capex programs in the U.S., sovereign AI strategies across Europe, the Middle East, and Asia, and gradually rising enterprise adoption of generative AI workloads.

Unlike semiconductor manufacturers, whose growth depends partly on which AI accelerator wins market share, Vertiv benefits regardless of which computing platform customers choose. That broad exposure lets the company participate across the entire AI ecosystem rather than betting on a single chip architecture.

The Real Bottleneck: Power, Not Processors Management has been expanding Vertiv’s technological reach to address one of the industry’s fastest-growing challenges: delivering enough electrical power to increasingly dense AI computing environments. At Vertiv’s May 2026 Investor Conference, Chief Product and Technology Officer Scott Armul laid out just how quickly rack power requirements are escalating. According to Table 2, AI computing density is increasing at an extraordinary pace. Rack power requirements that only recently averaged approximately 140 kilowatts are already approaching 300 kilowatts, with 600-kilowatt systems under development and one-megawatt racks appearing on long-term technology roadmaps. This dramatic increase explains why electrical infrastructure and thermal management are becoming the primary constraints on future AI data center expansion.

That trajectory is reshaping data center design. Historically, attention centered on processors and networking gear. Today, electrical distribution, battery storage, cooling architecture, and grid integration increasingly determine whether an AI facility can be built and run efficiently at all — the bottleneck is shifting from compute hardware to the infrastructure needed to deliver that much reliable power.

Vertiv has responded with integrated products that combine medium-voltage switchgear, battery energy storage, and uninterruptible power systems into unified platforms built for multi-megawatt AI installations — designed not just as backup equipment, but to help AI campuses act as active participants within increasingly constrained electrical grids. Industry commentary increasingly backs this integration thesis: as rack densities rise, power management, liquid cooling, and thermal control stop being separate engineering disciplines and start being one interconnected system, favoring suppliers who can deliver the whole stack rather than individual components.

Vertiv’s Own Numbers: Growth With Visibility According to Table 3, Vertiv participates across nearly every major infrastructure layer required to operate a modern AI data center. Unlike semiconductor manufacturers, whose revenues depend partly on which AI accelerator customers adopt, Vertiv benefits regardless of the processor architecture because every AI installation requires reliable power delivery, thermal management, backup power, and increasingly sophisticated liquid-cooling systems.

Demand is supported by a substantial order backlog that gives Vertiv unusually strong revenue visibility for an industrial company. While many manufacturers rely on short-term orders that swing with economic conditions, Vertiv enters each quarter with a significant share of future revenue already committed by customers.

The confidence reflected in that backlog is also evident in Vertiv’s manufacturing expansion strategy. Earlier this year, the company opened a new manufacturing facility in Johor, Malaysia, its first in Southeast Asia. The facility will produce power systems, liquid-cooling equipment, and integrated infrastructure for customers across Southeast Asia, North Asia, Australia, and New Zealand. By adding manufacturing capacity well before AI infrastructure demand is expected to peak, management is signaling confidence that hyperscaler and sovereign AI investments will continue driving orders for years rather than quarters.

That confidence also shows up in capital allocation: earlier this year, Vertiv announced a new manufacturing facility in Johor, Malaysia, built to serve fast-growing demand across Southeast Asia, North Asia, Australia, and New Zealand. Expanding production capacity years ahead of anticipated demand peaks suggests management expects AI infrastructure investment to stay strong well beyond the current product cycle.

The Valuation Question: Bull Case vs. Bear Case According to Table 4, the investment debate surrounding Vertiv is straightforward. Supporters believe the company’s exceptional growth rate, expanding margins, and broad exposure to AI infrastructure justify a premium valuation. Skeptics counter that much of that future success has already been reflected in the share price, leaving little room for execution missteps should AI capital spending moderate.

The valuation debate is straightforward. Investors aren’t questioning whether Vertiv is benefiting from AI infrastructure spending—they’re debating how much of that future growth is already reflected in today’s share price.

What to Watch: Q2 Earnings The South Korean announcement demonstrated that AI infrastructure investment is no longer driven exclusively by U.S. hyperscale cloud providers. Governments increasingly treat artificial intelligence as strategic national infrastructure, requiring domestic investment in computing capacity, semiconductor manufacturing, and the electrical systems underneath it all. Every new sovereign AI initiative expands the addressable market for companies supplying that infrastructure — arguably more consequential for Vertiv’s long-term story than any single quarter.

The next real test arrives when Vertiv reports second-quarter results later this month. Investors will be watching revenue growth, order trends, operating margins, backlog conversion, and management’s outlook for the rest of 2026 — the figures that will determine whether the business keeps validating the optimism already priced into the stock.

Bottom Line June 30 answered one question while leaving another open. It confirmed that Wall Street increasingly views Vertiv as one of the purest publicly traded beneficiaries of the global AI infrastructure buildout. What’s still uncertain is whether the growth investors are now pricing in can continue long enough to justify the expectations already baked into the share price. In today’s market, sentiment can move a stock 9% in a matter of hours — sustained earnings growth is what determines whether those gains hold.

One additional factor investors should keep in mind is that AI infrastructure spending is becoming increasingly global rather than concentrated in a handful of U.S. technology companies. South Korea’s announcement illustrates how governments now view artificial intelligence as a strategic national asset requiring long-term investment in computing capacity, electrical infrastructure, and advanced semiconductor manufacturing. If similar initiatives continue to emerge in Europe, the Middle East, and other parts of Asia, companies such as Vertiv could benefit from multiple independent sources of demand rather than relying solely on the capital spending plans of a few hyperscale cloud providers. That broader geographic diversification could become an important driver of long-term growth, even as investors continue debating the company’s premium valuation.

Contact [email protected] for any questions or corrections.

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 also includes the Zacks Style Scores.

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

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

The Style Scores are broken down into four categories:

Value ScoreValue investors love finding good stocks at good prices, especially before the broader market catches on to a stock's true value. Utilizing ratios like P/E, PEG, Price/Sales, Price/Cash Flow, and many other multiples, the Value Style Score identifies the most attractive and most discounted stocks.

Growth ScoreGrowth investors, 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 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 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.

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

That's where the Style Scores come in.

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

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

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: Weatherford (WFRD - Free Report) Weatherford International plc is a multinational energy services company that provides equipment and services used across the well life cycle in oil, natural gas, and new energy platforms. Its offerings support drilling, evaluation, well construction, completions, production, intervention, and responsible abandonment. The company conducts business in approximately 75 countries with about 295 operating locations that include manufacturing, research and development, service, and training facilities. Weatherford ordinary shares trade on the Nasdaq Global Select Market under the symbol WFRD.

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

It also boasts a Value Style Score of A thanks to attractive valuation metrics like a forward P/E ratio of 13.69; value investors should take notice.

For fiscal 2026, two analysts revised their earnings estimate upwards in the last 60 days, and the Zacks Consensus Estimate has increased $0.16 to $6.13 per share. WFRD boasts an average earnings surprise of +42.7%.

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

NEW YORK, July 09, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Bernstein Liebhard LLP, a nationally acclaimed investor rights law firm, reminds Black Rock Coffee Bar, Inc. (“Black Rock Coffee” or the “Company”) (NASDAQ: BRCB) investors of the August 17, 2026 deadline involving a securities fraud class action lawsuit commenced against the Company.

Should You Join The Black Rock Coffee Class Action Lawsuit:

Do you, or did you, own shares of Black Rock Coffee Bar, Inc. (NASDAQ: BRCB)?Did you purchase your shares pursuant to the Company’s September 2025 IPO; or between September 12, 2025 and May 12, 2026, inclusive?Did you lose money in your investment in Black Rock Coffee Bar, Inc.?
What To Do Next:

Investors are encouraged to act promptly and submit a form at Black Rock Coffee Bar, Inc. Shareholder Class Action Lawsuit or contact Investor Relations Manager Peter Allocco at (212) 951-2030 or [email protected].

If you wish to serve as lead plaintiff for the Class, you must file papers by August 17, 2026. A lead plaintiff is a representative party acting on other class members’ behalf in directing the litigation. Your ability to share in any recovery doesn’t require that you serve as lead plaintiff. If you choose to take no action, you may remain an absent class member.

All representation is on a contingency fee basis. Shareholders pay no fees or expenses.

About The Lawsuit:

A lawsuit was filed on behalf of investors (the “Class”) who purchased or acquired: (a) Black Rock Coffee Class A common stock pursuant and/or traceable to the registration statement and prospectus issued in connection with the Company’s September 2025 initial public offering; and/or (b) Black Rock Coffee securities between September 12, 2025 and May 12, 2026, inclusive, alleging violations of the Securities Act of 1933 and the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 against the Company and certain of its senior officers.

The lawsuit alleges that defendants made materially false and misleading statements and omissions regarding the Company’s business operations, growth prospects, and financial stability. As a result of these alleged misrepresentations, Black Rock Coffee securities traded at artificially inflated prices during the Class Period. When the truth was disclosed, investors allegedly suffered significant losses.

About Bernstein Liebhard:

Since 1993, Bernstein Liebhard LLP has recovered over $3.5 billion for its clients. In addition to representing individual investors, the Firm has been retained by some of the largest public and private pension funds in the country to monitor their assets and pursue litigation on their behalf. As a result of its success litigating hundreds of class actions, the Firm has been named to The National Law Journal’s “Plaintiffs’ Hot List” thirteen times and listed in The Legal 500 for sixteen consecutive years.

ATTORNEY ADVERTISING. © 2026 Bernstein Liebhard LLP. The law firm responsible for this advertisement is Bernstein Liebhard LLP, 10 East 40th Street, New York, New York 10016, (212) 779-1414. Prior results do not guarantee or predict a similar outcome with respect to any future matter.

Contact Information:

Peter Allocco
Investor Relations Manager
Bernstein Liebhard LLP
https://www.bernlieb.com
(212) 951-2030
[email protected]

MEMPHIS, Tenn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Frontdoor, Inc. (NASDAQ: FTDR), the nation's leading provider of home warranties, today announced it will release its second quarter financial results and hold a conference call on Thursday, August 6, 2026 at 7:30 a.m. Central time (8:30 a.m. Eastern time). Participants can register for the webcast by clicking https://www.webcaster5.com/Webcast/Page/3067/54187, which will include a slide presentation highlighting the company's results. Once completed, each parti.

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

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

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

The Style Scores are broken down into four categories:

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

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

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

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

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

That's where the Style Scores come in.

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

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

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

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

Stock to Watch: Smucker (SJM - Free Report) The J. M. Smucker Company, headquartered in Orrville, Ohio, is a leading marketer and manufacturer of branded food and beverage products and pet food and pet snacks in North America. The company's operations are primarily U.S.-based, with additional international activities, principally in Canada.

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

Additionally, the company could be a top pick for growth investors. SJM has a Growth Style Score of A, forecasting year-over-year earnings growth of 8.7% for the current fiscal year.

Four analysts revised their earnings estimate higher in the last 60 days for fiscal 2027, while the Zacks Consensus Estimate has increased $0.15 to $9.95 per share. SJM also boasts an average earnings surprise of +1.5%.

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

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 Arista Networks (ANET - Free Report) before we discuss the reliability of brokerage recommendations and how to use them to your advantage.

Arista Networks currently has an average brokerage recommendation (ABR) of 1.25, on a scale of 1 to 5 (Strong Buy to Strong Sell), calculated based on the actual recommendations (Buy, Hold, Sell, etc.) made by 26 brokerage firms. An ABR of 1.25 approximates between Strong Buy and Buy.

Of the 26 recommendations that derive the current ABR, 21 are Strong Buy and three are Buy. Strong Buy and Buy respectively account for 80.8% and 11.5% of all recommendations.

Brokerage Recommendation Trends for ANET

Check price target & stock forecast for Arista Networks here>>>

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

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

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.

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

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.

In contrast, the Zacks Rank is driven by earnings estimate revisions. And near-term stock price movements are strongly correlated with trends in earnings estimate revisions, according to empirical research.

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.

Another key difference between the ABR and Zacks Rank is freshness. The ABR is not necessarily up-to-date when you look at it. But, since brokerage analysts keep revising their earnings estimates to account for a company's changing business trends, and their actions get reflected in the Zacks Rank quickly enough, it is always timely in indicating future price movements.

Should You Invest in ANET?In terms of earnings estimate revisions for Arista Networks, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for the current year has remained unchanged over the past month at $3.63.

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

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

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

Two factors often determine stock prices in the long run: earnings and interest rates. Investors can't control the latter, but they can focus on a company's earnings results every quarter.

Life and the stock market are both about expectations, and rising above what is expected is often rewarded, while falling short can come with negative consequences. Investors might want to try to capture stronger returns by finding positive earnings surprises.

The ability to identify stocks that are likely to top quarterly earnings expectations can be profitable, but it's no simple task. Here at Zacks, our Earnings ESP filter helps make things easier.

The Zacks Earnings ESP, ExplainedThe Zacks Earnings ESP, or Expected Surprise Prediction, aims to find earnings surprises by focusing on the most recent analyst revisions. The basic premise is that if an analyst reevaluates their earnings estimate ahead of an earnings release, it means they likely have new information that could possibly be more accurate.

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.

When we join a positive earnings ESP with a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) or stronger, stocks posted a positive bottom-line surprise 70% of the time. Plus, this system saw investors produce roughly 28% annual returns on average, according to our 10 year backtest.

Stocks with a ranking of #3 (Hold), or 60% of all stocks covered by the Zacks Rank, are expected to perform in-line with the broader market. Stocks with rankings of #2 (Buy) and #1 (Strong Buy), or the top 15% and top 5% of stocks, respectively, should outperform the market; Strong Buy stocks should outperform more than any other rank.

Should You Consider Regeneron?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. Regeneron (REGN - Free Report) holds a #3 (Hold) at the moment and its Most Accurate Estimate comes in at $10.63 a share 21 days away from its upcoming earnings release on July 30, 2026.

Regeneron's Earnings ESP sits at +0.13%, which, as explained above, is calculated by taking the percentage difference between the $10.63 Most Accurate Estimate and the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $10.62. REGN is also part of a large group of stocks that boast a positive ESP. Make sure to utilize our Earnings ESP Filter to uncover the best stocks to buy or sell before they've reported.

REGN is just one of a large group of Medical stocks with a positive ESP figure. Natera (NTRA - Free Report) is another qualifying stock you may want to consider.

Natera, which is readying to report earnings on August 6, 2026, sits at a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) right now. Its Most Accurate Estimate is currently -$0.37 a share, and NTRA is 28 days out from its next earnings report.

For Natera, the percentage difference between its Most Accurate Estimate and its Zacks Consensus Estimate of -$0.47 is +21.28%.

REGN and NTRA's positive ESP figures tell us that both stocks have a good chance at beating analyst expectations in their next earnings report.

Find Stocks to Buy or Sell Before They're ReportedUse the Zacks Earnings ESP Filter to turn up stocks with the highest probability of positively, or negatively, surprising to buy or sell before they're reported for profitable earnings season trading. Check it out here >>

RBC analyst Ken Herbert downgraded AeroVironment shares Hold from Buy. His price target went to $180 a share from $210.