July is shaping up to be the pivotal month for cloud computing investors in 2026. All three of the companies below report late-July results with their cloud franchises accelerating, not decelerating, into the print. Enterprise AI workloads are still running ahead of supply, hyperscaler backlogs are ballooning, and the market has already begun to sort winners from laggards on valuation. The setup argues for positioning before the reports, not after.
Here are three names worth a hard look ahead of the late-July calendar.
Amazon (AMZN) Amazon (NASDAQ:AMZN | AMZN Price Prediction) reports Q2 2026 results after the close on July 30. Shares are trading around $241.13, with the stock up 6.46% year to date and less than 10% higher over the past 12 months. That is meaningful underperformance relative to its cloud growth rate.
The bull case runs through AWS. In Q1, AWS delivered $37.59 billion in revenue, up 28% year over year, the fastest growth in 15 quarters, at a 37.7% operating margin. Amazon’s custom-silicon business is now running at a $20 billion revenue run rate with triple-digit growth, and Anthropic has committed to Trainium capacity up to 5 gigawatts. Overall Q1 EPS came in at $2.78 versus a $1.73 estimate, and management guided Q2 net sales to $194 billion to $199 billion. Analysts carry a consensus price target of $312.91, well above the current quote.
The risk to underwrite: 2026 capital spending. Amazon is pouring roughly $200 billion of capex into 2026, and trailing free cash flow has collapsed 95% to $1.2 billion. If AWS growth softens even a hair, the FCF math gets ugly quickly.
Alphabet (GOOGL) Alphabet (NASDAQ:GOOGL) reports after the close on July 27. This is the most compelling risk-reward of the three heading into July. Shares trade around $361.05, up nearly 15% year to date and more than 107% over the trailing year. Even after that run, the trailing P/E sits at 28 with a forward P/E near 26, still the cheapest multiple among the mega-cap AI infrastructure names.
The Q1 report set the bar. Google Cloud posted $20.03 billion in revenue, up 63% year over year, and CEO Sundar Pichai flagged that “Google Cloud revenues grew 63% with backlog nearly doubling quarter on quarter to over $460 billion”. EPS printed at $5.11 versus $2.63 expected, a 94% surprise. Waymo is now at 500,000-plus autonomous rides per week, and paid subscriptions have crossed 350 million. Wall Street’s consensus target sits at $432.29, with 14 strong buy and 43 buy ratings against zero sells.
Act now: the analyst who called NVIDIA in 2010 just named his top 10 AI stocks — and Amazon didn't make the cut. Grab the names FREE today.
The caveat: CapEx. Alphabet is committing $175 billion to $185 billion of 2026 capex, and Q1 free cash flow already fell 46.6% year over year to $10.1 billion. If cloud growth ever slips below the mid-40s, the free cash flow narrative becomes the story.
ServiceNow (NOW) ServiceNow (NYSE:NOW) is the contrarian call in this group. The stock trades around $106.48, down nearly 28% year to date and almost 48% over the past year. Q1 2026 results are set for after the close on July 22, a date confirmed by the company.
The fundamentals do not match the tape. Q4 subscription revenue grew 21% to $3.47 billion, cRPO expanded 25% to $12.85 billion, and Now Assist net new ACV more than doubled year over year. Management is guiding full-year 2026 subscription revenue to $15.53 billion to $15.57 billion, a 32% non-GAAP operating margin, and a 36% free cash flow margin. The Q1 subscription guide of $3.65 billion to $3.655 billion implies 21.5% GAAP growth. CEO Bill McDermott put it plainly: “With our consistent Rule of 55+ profile, there is no AI company in the enterprise better positioned for sustainable profitable revenue growth than ServiceNow.”
Analysts carry a $141.12 price target, and the forward P/E has compressed to 25. The board authorized a $5 billion buyback in January.
The risk: Post-earnings volatility. Historically, ServiceNow’s average one-week change following a beat has been negative 5.87%, so the setup rewards conviction, not chasing. There is also a roughly 150 basis point Q1 headwind from a self-hosted to hosted revenue mix shift that could muddy the headline number.
What to Watch The three reports form a sequence: ServiceNow on July 22 sets the enterprise software tone, Alphabet on July 27 delivers the cloud growth read and Amazon on July 30 closes out the month with AWS and CapEx. Each name offers a different flavor of the same thesis: enterprise AI demand is running ahead of infrastructure supply, and hyperscaler backlogs still need to be spent to be recognized.
Act now: the analyst who called NVIDIA in 2010 just named his top 10 AI stocks — and Amazon didn't make the cut. Grab the names FREE today.
Analyst’s Disclosure: I/we have a beneficial long position in the shares of NOW either through stock ownership, options, or other derivatives. I wrote this article myself, and it expresses my own opinions. I am not receiving compensation for it (other than from Seeking Alpha). I have no business relationship with any company whose stock is mentioned in this article.
Seeking Alpha's Disclosure: Past performance is no guarantee of future results. No recommendation or advice is being given as to whether any investment is suitable for a particular investor. Any views or opinions expressed above may not reflect those of Seeking Alpha as a whole. Seeking Alpha is not a licensed securities dealer, broker or US investment adviser or investment bank. Our analysts are third party authors that include both professional investors and individual investors who may not be licensed or certified by any institute or regulatory body.
The U.S. plans to spend $1 trillion for defense in 2026, and the 2027 funding request stands at about $1.5 trillion, which would mark the largest year-over-year increase ever if approved. Rising military spending comes amid rising geopolitical tensions, including the U.S.-Iran and Ukraine-Russia conflicts. The U.S. is also looking to modernize the military and bolster the defense industrial base and has allocated capital for space-based missile defense initiatives.
Defense contractors should benefit from growing order books and long-term contracts that provide insight into future earnings. Against this capital-intensive backdrop, defense stocks Lockheed Martin (LMT 1.21%) and RTX Corporation (RTX 0.17%) stand out as beneficiaries due to their strong positions in the industry. Here's what investors need to know.
Image source: Getty Images.
Lockheed Martin's growing platform makes it a defense spending winner Lockheed Martin is a behemoth in the defense industry, boasting a backlog exceeding $186 billion from long-term government contracts. The company has a broad portfolio of offerings, anchored by its flagship F-35 Lightning II jet fighter program, which provides a strong moat that translates into predictable, long-term revenue.
Its F-35 program is projected to cost $2.1 trillion during its 94-year lifecycle and generate roughly a third of Lockheed's revenue. The size and stability of this long-term program help buffer Lockheed's earnings against economic recessions and market volatility and lock in long-term revenue from both jet sales and aftermarket services, including maintenance, repairs, upgrades, and pilot training.
Today's Change
(
-1.21
%) $
-6.38
Current Price
$
521.58
In addition to the F-35, Lockheed holds a strong position in high-altitude missile defense, serving as the sole prime contractor for the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) weapon system. In late June, the U.S. government formally awarded it a contract for as much as $35 billion over seven years to quadruple the production of its THAAD interceptors.
In another major move, on July 6, Lockheed Martin signed an agreement to acquire Ultra Maritime Solutions for $3.45 billion, giving it a strong foothold in the rapidly growing undersea weapons market. Lockheed acquired the company from Advent International and now controls key undersea defense technologies, including sonobuoys for submarine detection, torpedo defense systems, and uncrewed underwater vehicles.
As military spending ramps up, Lockheed Martin is a top defense contractor that stands to benefit. Its position provides it with steady, predictable revenue that powers steady long-term growth. The company has raised its dividend for 23 consecutive years and yields about 2.6%, making Lockheed a top pick for investors looking to capitalize on growing global defense budgets.
RTX combines defense upside with commercial aerospace stability RTX Corporation boasts an even more impressive backlog of $271 billion, up 25% during the past year. RTX's business spans commercial aerospace and defense, operating three segments: Raytheon, Pratt & Whitney, and Collins Aerospace. As a result, RTX has a more diverse portfolio than pure-play military contractors, balancing defense awards with commercial contracts. Like Lockheed, RTX benefits from its huge backlog that ensures long-term revenue consistency years down the road.
Through Pratt & Whitney, RTX provides aircraft propulsion systems for both commercial aircraft and Lockheed Martin's F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter, generating high-margin recurring aftermarket revenue. Through Raytheon, the company manufactures the Patriot air defense system, advanced missiles, naval and land radars, and directed-energy weapons. The segment accounts for $109 billion of its enormous backlog.
Today's Change
(
-0.17
%) $
-0.33
Current Price
$
194.58
The company is seeing robust demand for its air defense systems, and on July 7, it announced it would partner with European manufacturers in Germany and the Netherlands to double the global production capacity for its Stinger surface-to-air missiles. In addition, in late June, it announced a $1.1 billion contract modification to replenish American stockpiles and arm allied nations with tactical missiles.
RTX's large backlog ensures rising earnings in the years ahead, and the company stands to benefit from growing military budgets and long-term demand for aftermarket services through its aerospace business, making it another top defense stock for investors to consider scooping up today.
Lockheed Martin (LMT) is trading 24% below its 52-week high despite robust demand signals and $186.4 billion in backlog. The proposed $1.5 trillion 2027 U.S. defense budget, with a 28% base increase, strongly favors LMT's core programs and munitions ramp. LMT's 7-year, inflation-indexed munitions contracts de-risk growth, while the company advances toward Dividend Aristocrat status with a 2.57% yield and 23 years of increases.
Reliance, Inc.’s (RS - Free Report) shares have rallied 23.2% in the past six months. The company has also outperformed the Zacks Mining - Miscellaneous industry’s 2.8% growth over the same time frame.
The rally was driven by strong first-quarter results, including record quarterly tons sold, with shipments outperforming industry trends and significant acquisitions.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Let’s take a look at the factors that are driving RS stock.
RS Gains From Record Shipments and AcquisitionsReliance reported first-quarter 2026 tons sold of roughly 1.673 million, up 9.4% sequentially and 2.7% year over year, marking its 13th consecutive quarter of outperforming industry shipment trends.
The company continues to benefit from strong demand in non-residential construction, driven by public infrastructure, heavy civil construction, data centers, energy infrastructure and manufacturing projects.
Through its AMI Metals subsidiary, Reliance secured major Department of Homeland Security border wall contracts that are expected to support revenue growth. Demand also remained healthy across automotive toll processing, semiconductors, defense, shipbuilding, industrial machinery and nuclear-related markets, particularly those tied to small modular reactor programs.
Reliance continues to strengthen its growth profile through acquisitions that expand its geographic footprint, product offerings and value-added processing capabilities. Earlier acquisitions, such as Metals USA, Tubular Steel, Best Manufacturing, Ferguson, All Metals, Fry Steel Company and Merfish United, enhanced its service center network and higher-margin product mix.
Recent acquisitions, including Rotax, Admiral Metals, Nu-Tech Precision Metals, Southern Steel Supply, Cooksey Iron & Metal Co. and American Alloy, further increase its presence in attractive U.S. growth markets.
The company ended the quarter with $249.7 million in cash and cash equivalents, up from $216.6 million sequentially, supported by record shipment volumes and strong profitability.
Some better-ranked stocks in the Basic Materials space are CSW Industrials, Inc. (CSW - Free Report) , Idaho Strategic Resources, Inc. (IDR - Free Report) and Albemarle Corporation (ALB - Free Report) . CSW, IDR and ALB carry a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for CSW’s current-year earnings stands at $12.52 per share, implying a 20.6% year-over-year increase. Its earnings beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate in three of the trailing four quarters and missed once, with the average surprise being 3.8%. Shares of the company have plunged around 15.1% in the past six months.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for IDR’s current-year earnings is pegged at $1.52 per share, implying a 33.3% year-over-year increase. Its earnings beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate in three of the trailing four quarters and missed once, with the average surprise being 68.7%. Shares of IDR have plunged around 33.8% in the past six months.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for ALB’s current-year earnings is pegged at $13.15 per share, indicating a 1,764.6% year-over-year increase. Its earnings beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate in three of the trailing four quarters and missed once, with the average surprise being 74.5%. Shares of IDR are down around 23.6% in the past six months.
SummaryStryker remains a high-quality MedTech compounder despite a rare Q1 miss driven by a temporary cyber disruption.Q1 weakness was not demand-driven; full-year guidance is unchanged and end-market demand remains healthy.Current valuation reflects temporary disruption, offering a more attractive entry into SYK, though the stock is not cheap.I rate SYK as 'Buy' due to its resilient business model, strong execution history, and improved entry point. JHVEPhoto/iStock Editorial via Getty Images
Stryker (SYK) is rarely cheap, and usually for good reason. This is one of the best execution stories in MedTech: strong products, consistent innovation, a leading orthopedic robotics platform, and a long track record of growth.
99 Followers
Analyst’s Disclosure: I/we have a beneficial long position in the shares of SYK either through stock ownership, options, or other derivatives. I wrote this article myself, and it expresses my own opinions. I am not receiving compensation for it (other than from Seeking Alpha). I have no business relationship with any company whose stock is mentioned in this article.
Seeking Alpha's Disclosure: Past performance is no guarantee of future results. No recommendation or advice is being given as to whether any investment is suitable for a particular investor. Any views or opinions expressed above may not reflect those of Seeking Alpha as a whole. Seeking Alpha is not a licensed securities dealer, broker or US investment adviser or investment bank. Our analysts are third party authors that include both professional investors and individual investors who may not be licensed or certified by any institute or regulatory body.
Coinbase has restored prediction markets trading on its platform after users were unable to place trades, the company said in a status message on Thursday.
, /PRNewswire/ -- National shareholder rights firm Hagens Berman is investigating claims alleged in a pending securities class action suit against Roblox Corporation (NYSE: RBLX) and its management following disclosures that the company's age verification rollout caused significant, undisclosed friction to its user growth and platform engagement.
SUBMIT YOUR RBLX LOSSES TO HBSS NOW
The firm's investigation focuses on the suit's claims that Defendants misled investors regarding the operational consequences of the safety-focused initiatives the company had purportedly implemented.
Allegations Concerning Age Verification and Growth:
The suit follows a sharp decline in Roblox's share price on May 1, 2026, after the company reported its Q1 2026 financial results. The core allegations, which have emerged in recently filed complaint against the company, contend that Roblox failed to disclose that its age-check rollout:
Reduced Platform Engagement: The age verification features hindered on-platform communication, leading to a decline in user interaction. Negatively Impacted Organic Growth: The friction caused by these features resulted in lower app store ratings and a corresponding reduction in organic user sign-ups. Misrepresented Growth Potential: Throughout the class period (October 30, 2025 – April 30, 2026), Roblox characterized the rollout as a "gold standard" implementation while allegedly knowing it would lead to a significant slowdown in user growth. Key Disclosures and Market Impact
April 30, 2026: Roblox revealed a steep deceleration in year-over-year and sequential DAU growth, slashed its 2026 revenue guidance and severely cut its 2026 bookings growth. The company blamed its dismal results on just 51% of Roblox global DAUs having age checked. The company further revealed that "as a result of age check […] we have seen a reduction in app store ratings, and we believe this may be contributing to a reduction in organic sign-ups that typically flow from app stores." Roblox also said its lowered prospects are the result of "continued friction" resulting from the age-check rollout. Market Correction: The news caused Roblox shares to fall $10.13, or approximately 18.33%, on May 1, 2026, erasing over $6.7 billion in market capitalization. Hagens Berman's Investigation
"We're focused on when Roblox and its management knew of the adverse consequences of the age-check rollout and whether they intentionally misled investors about it," said Reed Kathrein, the Hagens Berman partner leading the firm's investigation.
Investor Rights and Lead Plaintiff Deadline
Hagens Berman is currently evaluating the claims alleged in the suit brought on behalf of a putative class of investors who purchased Roblox securities between October 30, 2025, and April 30, 2026. If you suffered financial losses on RBLX during the class period, you are encouraged to contact our office to learn more about your legal rights and the ongoing class action litigation. The court-imposed deadline to move for appointment as lead plaintiff is August 7, 2026.
Report your losses now Contact Our Attorneys: [email protected] Investor Hotline: 844-916-0895 Hagens Berman's Roblox Page: www.hbsslaw.com/cases/roblox If you'd like more information and answers to other frequently asked questions about the Roblox case and the firm's investigation, read more.
Whistleblowers: Persons with non-public information regarding Roblox should consider their options to help in the investigation or take advantage of the SEC Whistleblower program. Under the new program, whistleblowers who provide original information may receive rewards totaling up to 30 percent of any successful recovery made by the SEC. For more information, call Reed Kathrein at 844-916-0895 or email [email protected].
About Hagens Berman
Hagens Berman is a global plaintiffs' rights complex litigation firm focusing on corporate accountability. The firm is home to a robust practice and represents investors as well as whistleblowers, workers, consumers and others in cases achieving real results for those harmed by corporate negligence and other wrongdoings. Hagens Berman's team has secured more than $2.9 billion in this area of law. More about the firm and its successes can be found at hbsslaw.com. Follow the firm for updates and news at @ClassActionLaw.
Attorney Advertising. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome in any future case.
NEW YORK, July 09, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Bernstein Liebhard LLP, a nationally acclaimed investor rights law firm, reminds Roblox Corporation (“Roblox” or the “Company”) (NYSE: RBLX) investors of the August 7, 2026 deadline involving a securities fraud class action lawsuit commenced against the Company.
Should You Join The Roblox Corporation Class Action Lawsuit:
Do you, or did you, own shares of Roblox Corporation (NYSE: RBLX)?
Did you purchase your shares between October 30, 2025 and April 30, 2026, inclusive?
Did you lose money in your investment in Roblox Corporation?
What To Do Next:
Investors are encouraged to act promptly and submit a form at Roblox 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 7, 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 Roblox between October 30, 2025 and April 30, 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, Roblox 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.
Netflix (NASDAQ: NFLX | NFLX Price Prediction) and Spotify (NYSE: SPOT) both closed the books on Q1 2026, and the reports tell two very different stories about scaled subscription media.
Netflix beat on revenue but missed on earnings while collecting a fat breakup fee. Spotify crushed EPS yet spooked investors with soft forward guidance. Same industry, opposite reactions.
Ad Tiers Carry Netflix. Premium Carries Spotify. Netflix pulled in $12.25 billion in revenue, up 16.19% year over year, with EPS of $1.23 versus the $1.345 estimate. The miss looks worse than it is. A $2.8 billion Warner Bros. termination fee distorted the bottom line, and management raised free cash flow guidance to roughly $12.5 billion.
The real engine is advertising. The ad-supported tier drove over 60% of Q1 sign-ups in ads-enabled countries, and the advertiser roster grew 70% year over year to more than 4,000 clients, on pace for $3 billion in ad revenue this year.
Spotify came in almost the opposite way. Revenue of $4.53 billion nudged past estimates, but EPS of $3.45 versus $2.95 was the headline. MAUs hit 761 million (+12%) and Premium subscribers reached 293 million (+9%).
Premium is the profit engine: gross margin expanded to 35% from 34%, helped by a €0.42 ARPU lift from price hikes. The blemish: Ad-Supported revenue fell 5% and its gross margin slipped to 13%.
One Widens the Bet. The Other Cleans House. Netflix is stretching into everything. It acquired InterPositive, Ben Affleck’s GenAI filmmaking tools company, launched the Netflix Playground kids gaming app, and is leaning into live sports (a Tyson Fury vs. Anthony Joshua fight) and video podcasts. Japan is a bright spot after the World Baseball Classic became the most-watched Netflix program ever in the country.
Act now: the analyst who called NVIDIA in 2010 just named his top 10 AI stocks — and Netflix didn't make the cut. Grab the names FREE today.
Lens Netflix Spotify Core Bet Ad-supported streaming plus live events Premium audio at higher ARPU Operating Margin 31.5% target for 2026 ~16% Q1 Key Vulnerability Content amortization, ad concentration €410M MLC audiobook royalty lawsuit Spotify took the discipline route, settling its $1.5 billion Exchangeable Notes in March and shipping AI features like Prompted Playlist, Taste Profile, and SongDNA, still mostly in beta.
The Next Test Is Whether the Stock Follows the Business Netflix shares tell a strange story. NFLX is down 18.75% year to date and 40.93% over one year, closing at $76.18, despite raised guidance. Reddit sentiment turned sharply bearish this week, driven by a wallstreetbets thread about Netflix’s top shows losing 30-70% of their audience between seasons. Composite sentiment sits at 41.68, down 30.79 over 30 days.
Spotify, meanwhile, trades at $493.95, up 5.09% since its April earnings window, with a composite sentiment of 73.65 (bullish). I will be watching whether Netflix’s ad revenue actually hits $3 billion and whether Spotify can reverse the ad-tier slide before the MLC verdict lands.
Why I Lean Spotify, Cautiously For me, Spotify looks like the cleaner story right now. Premium ARPU is rising, debt is off the books, and the buyback continues with $1.024 billion remaining. It is not cheap at roughly 46x earnings, and the ad segment is a real problem.
Netflix is arguably the better business. Higher margins, stronger cash flow, and a genuine ad ramp. Yet retention concerns and a sliding share price make me hesitate. On a defensive-scale lens, Netflix at these levels screens as interesting. On a momentum-with-clean-balance-sheet lens, Spotify screens better. The audience retention question remains the key overhang for Netflix from here.
Act now: the analyst who called NVIDIA in 2010 just named his top 10 AI stocks — and Netflix didn't make the cut. Grab the names FREE today.
This post may contain links from our sponsors and affiliates, and Flywheel Publishing may receive compensation for actions taken through them.
Michael Saylor just made his biggest-ever Bitcoin sale, with Strategy (NASDAQ:MSTR | MSTR Price Prediction) selling 3,588 BTC worth $216 million. Saylor has long been one of Bitcoin’s (CRYPTO:BTC) loudest maximalists, and he always said to never sell Bitcoin. But things have changed. With Bitcoin down about 50% from its $126,000 peak, Saylor has now broken his own rule twice in three months.
Back in May, Strategy made its first sale since 2022, offloading 32 BTC for around $2.5 million. Last week’s sale is the largest in the company’s history at $216 million, and Strategy has cleared itself to sell up to $1.25 billion more if it needs to.
Strangely, Bitcoin barely moved after this sale and has actually risen since. Yet back in May, the smaller sale sent the Bitcoin price tumbling. So two questions matter now. Will Strategy keep selling, or is it only rebalancing to pay its bills? And could a consistent Strategy sale drag Bitcoin down to $50,000?
Why Saylor’s Strategy Sold Bitcoin
Saylor started buying Bitcoin back in 2020, when his company was still called MicroStrategy, before it was renamed to Strategy. He then turned the company into the biggest corporate Bitcoin holder in the world by borrowing heavily to keep buying.
Most of the money came from selling preferred stock (a type of stock that works like a loan) because it pays the buyer a fixed regular dividend in return for their cash. These are separate from Strategy’s normal shares, which trade under the ticker MSTR. The preferred stocks trade under their own names, like STRC, STRF, and STRK, and selling them lets Strategy raise billions without touching its Bitcoin.
However, the borrowing created a big problem for the company. Those dividends add up, and Strategy now owes somewhere between $750 and $800 million a year on them, due in cash no matter what Bitcoin is doing.
For a while, one of those preferred stocks, STRC, quietly covered the bills. STRC is designed to trade around a fixed price of $100 and pay a monthly dividend, and Strategy could keep selling more of it to raise fresh cash whenever a payment came due. STRC has now slipped below that $100 mark, and since mid-May, the company hasn’t been able to use it to raise new money. That left Strategy with dividend bills coming due and its main way of paying them broken.
So the cash to pay those dividends had to come from somewhere else, and for the first time, that meant selling Bitcoin to cover a bill. Apart from one small tax-related sale in 2022, Strategy had held on to everything it ever bought. But that changed in late May, when it sold 32 coins for about $2.5 million to make a dividend payment—its first sale in years and the first ever driven by its bills rather than accounting. Last week’s sale is the same move on a far bigger scale, 3,588 coins for $216 million, sold at a loss to raise the cash.
Why Saylor’s $216 Million Sale Didn’t Crash the Bitcoin Price
Saylor said he sold $216 million in Bitcoin to cover Strategy’s bills, not that he lost faith in Bitcoin, and that’s the right way to see it. He sold because he had no other way to make the dividend payments. The borrowing that let him build that huge Bitcoin position is the same thing that forced him to sell part of it back.
And on its own, that sale is far too small to drag the Bitcoin price down. Bitcoin trades around $25 billion worth of coins every day, so Strategy’s $216 million is under one percent of that, absorbed in minutes without the market even noticing. In fact, the Bitcoin price rose in the days after the sale rather than falling.
That doesn’t mean a Saylor sale can never move the market, because one already did. Back in May, Strategy sold just 32 Bitcoin, worth about $2.5 million, an amount so small it should have meant nothing at all. Yet the market still shook because traders weren’t looking at just the 32 coins—they were looking at the first crack in Saylor’s “never sell” promise, and it scared them.
The same investor newsletter that told subscribers to buy Amazon in 2002, Netflix in 2004, and Nvidia in 2005 still publishes two new stock picks every month. Over 23 years, Motley Fool's Stock Advisor has more than quadrupled the S&P 500. New members get this month's picks, the Top 10 Rankings, and a 30-day money-back guarantee. Click here to unlock their next top stocks while new members are still being accepted.
On the other hand, it’s also why this far bigger sale barely registered. By now, the shock of Saylor’s selling has worn off. The market already knows he’ll sell to pay his bills, so a $216 million sale is nothing new or unexpected.
What Would Push Bitcoin to $50,000
Bitcoin is having a rough year, and trades near $62,900, down about 50% from its all-time high of $126,000 last October. The market’s mood is grim, with the Fear and Greed Index stuck deep in extreme fear. The Bitcoin price could still drop to $50,000, but Saylor’s sale won’t be the reason. A move that big would come from the same forces that have dragged the whole market down all year.
Back in late June, BTC fell to around $58,000—its lowest point in nearly two years—before recovering to where it trades now. That $58,000 area is remains a key level to watch. If Bitcoin closes below it again, the next support is near $54,900, and then $50,000 after that.
We already saw what drives that sort of drop earlier this year. The war between the US and Iran shut down the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s key oil routes, and crude prices shot above $120 a barrel. That pushed inflation up to 4.1%, which is its highest in three years, and forced the Federal Reserve to keep interest rates high instead of cutting them.
High rates are the part that hurts Bitcoin. When the Fed holds rates up, safer investments like government bonds pay solid interest, so investors move their money out of risky assets that pay nothing, like Bitcoin, and into bonds that do. That’s a big part of why Bitcoin fell from the $70,000s down to around $58,000 by late June.
Now the same setup is building again. The US-Iran ceasefire collapsed this week as both sides traded fresh airstrikes, and oil prices jumped once more. If that keeps inflation hot and pushes the Fed to hold or raise rates at its late-July meeting, the pressure that took Bitcoin to $58,000 could easily return and drag it lower. On top of that, investors pulled $4.5 billion out of Bitcoin funds in June, the worst month since those funds launched—and none of that has anything to do with Saylor’s BTC sale.
What a Drop to $50,000 Would Mean for Bitcoin A fall to $50,000 would put the most pressure on Strategy. The lower Bitcoin goes, the harder it becomes for the company to raise money, and the more tempting it gets to sell more Bitcoin to cover its dividend bills. That’s the loop investors worry about, as lower BTC prices force more selling, which pushes prices lower still.
But even at a $50,000 Bitcoin price, Strategy would still own every one of its 843,775 coins, and nothing automatically forces it to sell. There’s no hidden trigger that sets off a fire sale once Bitcoin hits a certain price.
Moreover, the company is also holding $2.55 billion in cash, enough to cover its dividend payments for more than two years. That buys plenty of time for Bitcoin to recover before anything turns desperate. Even if Bitcoin fell to $50,000 tomorrow, Strategy would wake up owning the same pile of Bitcoin it holds today. The bigger test is the company’s $1 billion debt payment due in 2027, and that’s a problem for another day.
As for Bitcoin itself, a drop to $50,000 would hurt, but it wouldn’t be the end of anything. It’s a level long-term buyers have stepped in at before, a price where patient money tends to come back. Bitcoin could reach $50,000, but Saylor’s $216 million sale won’t be what sends it there. That sale wasn’t a sign that Bitcoin is finished, but a sign that Saylor ran out of cash to pay his bills, and those are two very different things.
If You'd Bought Amazon When the Motley Fool Said To…In September 2002, Stock Advisor told subscribers to buy Amazon. In December 2004, Netflix. In April 2005, Nvidia. The newsletter still publishes two new stock picks every month — and over 23 years, has more than quadrupled the S&P 500. Here's how to get this month's picks:
- Join Stock Advisor for one year, with a 30-day money-back guarantee
- Get this month's two new picks — plus the Top 10 Rankings and the full historical pick list
- Read the analysis, decide for yourself, and trade through your own brokerage
Five years from now, you'll probably wish you'd bought this month's picks. Don't miss them.
, /PRNewswire/ -- Bloomberg announced today it has facilitated its first electronic Indian Government Bonds (IGBs) trade, marking a key step in the internationalization of India's rapidly opening Government Bond markets.
This new electronic trading workflow for IGBs facilitates Foreign Portfolio Investors (FPIs) to efficiently access liquidity provided by international and domestic banks through the Bloomberg Terminal.
The offering, which is part of Bloomberg Electronic Markets, enables FPIs to place, monitor, execute, and allocate IGB trades within a fully electronic trading workflow. The workflow connects directly with Negotiated Dealing System-Order Matching (NDS-OM), managed and operated by Clearcorp Dealing Systems (India) Limited (Clearcorp), improving operational efficiency, reducing manual processes, and minimizing operational risk and errors.
"We are excited to have successfully implemented the first fully electronic IGBs trade on Bloomberg," said Vernon Loh, Fixed Income Trader at State Street Investment Management. "This milestone underscores our commitment to driving innovation, enhancing efficiency, and improving liquidity in fixed income markets."
"We are pleased to connect Bloomberg's global liquidity community with NDS-OM and provide clients with a more efficient way to access liquidity in the Indian Government Bond markets," said Varun Chojhar, Head of Bloomberg, South Asia.
This offering adds to Bloomberg's solutions for the region, and follows Bloomberg Indices' inclusion of India Fully Accessible Route (FAR) Bonds in the Bloomberg Emerging Market (EM) Local Currency Government Index in 2025.
Bloomberg's Electronic Markets solutions are used by leading financial institutions to trade efficiently in over 175 markets around the world. More than 9,000 client firms use Bloomberg Electronic Markets to access industry-leading depth and breadth of liquidity across asset classes from over 1,500 dealers globally. Bloomberg Electronic Markets provides market participants with comprehensive solutions across the trading lifecycle, including robust price transparency, analytics, automation and execution, powered by Bloomberg's high-quality, multi-asset class data and tools.
About Bloomberg
Bloomberg is a global leader in business and financial information, delivering trusted data, news, and insights that bring transparency, efficiency, and fairness to markets. The company helps connect influential communities across the global financial ecosystem via reliable technology solutions that enable our customers to make more informed decisions and foster better collaboration.
For more information, visit Bloomberg.com/company or request a demo.
About State Street Investment Management
At State Street Investment Management, we have been helping create better outcomes for institutions, financial intermediaries, and investors for nearly half a century. Starting with our early innovations in indexing and ETFs, our rigorous approach continues to be driven by market-tested expertise and a relentless commitment to those we serve. With over $5 trillion in assets managed*, clients in 60 countries, and a global network of strategic partners, we use our scale to deliver a comprehensive and cost-effective suite of investment solutions that help investors get wherever they want to go. State Street Investment Management is the asset management arm of State Street Corporation (NYSE: STT).
*This figure is presented as of March 31, 2026 and includes ETF AUM of $1,940.32 billion USD of which approximately $184.18 billion USD in gold assets with respect to SPDR products for which State Street Global Advisors Funds Distributors, LLC (SSGA FD) acts solely as the marketing agent. SSGA FD and State Street Investment Management are affiliated. Please note all AUM is unaudited.
Expands MARA's digital infrastructure platform with access to approximately 2 GW of power capacity
HIF to retain minority ownership in the project
Thousands of jobs expected for Texas
MIAMI, FL and HOUSTON, TX, July 09, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- MARA Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ: MARA) (“MARA”), a leading energy and digital infrastructure company, and HIF USA LLC (“HIF”), a leading energy and sustainable fuels company, today announced that they have entered into a definitive agreement under which MARA will acquire from HIF a large-scale powered land site in Matagorda County, Texas, approximately 90 miles southwest of Houston. HIF will continue its advanced fuels development plans on other sites.
The site encompasses more than 1,200 acres and is expected to provide access to up to an initial 1 GW of grid capacity by October 2027 and up to 2 GW by April 2028. The site is well positioned to support next-generation, efficient digital infrastructure development, and has already received interest from potential High-Performance Computing (“HPC”) tenants. MARA intends to develop the site through its previously announced partnership with Starwood Digital Ventures as a large-scale digital infrastructure campus capable of supporting high-performance computing workloads, as well as flexible compute operations, including Bitcoin mining. Upon execution of a lease with an HPC tenant, HIF will retain a minority ownership interest in the project.
The transaction enables HIF to unlock value from infrastructure assets while maintaining participation in the site’s future development and supporting its broader advanced fuels strategy.
Upon full energization, the site is expected to more than double MARA's potential power capacity to approximately 4.8 GW across its portfolio (including the anticipated close of MARA’s previously announced agreement to acquire Long Ridge Energy & Power), further strengthening MARA's position as a developer and operator of large-scale digital infrastructure.
“This transaction advances our strategy of securing strategically located infrastructure assets capable of supporting high-performance compute and bitcoin workloads,” said Fred Thiel, MARA's chairman and CEO. “As demand for digital infrastructure continues to grow, we believe sites with access to reliable, scalable power will become increasingly valuable. This acquisition meaningfully expands our long-term development pipeline and strengthens our ability to support high-performance compute and maximize the value of that power over time. We look forward to working with our partners at the site to deliver on the project buildout and drive long-term value for all our stakeholders.”
Renato Pereira, CEO of HIF USA, said, “We are pleased to welcome MARA to our long-term partnership with Matagorda County, accelerating our commitment to economic investment and jobs for Texans. The development of this digital infrastructure serves as a powerful economic anchor to strengthen Matagorda County and create local career opportunities for a prosperous future. We have given Notice to Proceed for construction on the switchyard to connect the site to the grid. We continue work on our advanced fuels facilities on other sites we control in Texas and worldwide to provide new sources of secure energy supply to meet rapidly growing global demand.”
Site Development Details
Phased construction of the digital infrastructure campus is expected to begin in 2026, contingent upon regulatory approvals.
By combining MARA's expertise in securing and managing large-scale power loads, Starwood Digital Ventures' world-class experience developing and operating data centers, and HIF's history in Matagorda, MARA believes the site is well positioned to support future digital infrastructure opportunities and create long-term value for customers, local communities, and shareholders.
MARA has a proven track record of investing in the communities where it operates while supporting grid reliability and local economic growth. To date, MARA has invested more than $1.2 billion in Texas. MARA intends to continue investing significantly to develop a premier digital infrastructure campus that is expected to support thousands of construction and permanent full-time jobs upon completion.
About MARA
MARA (NASDAQ: MARA) deploys digital energy technologies to advance the world’s energy systems. Harnessing the power of compute, MARA transforms excess energy into digital capital, balancing the grid and accelerating the deployment of critical infrastructure. Building on its expertise to redefine the future of energy, MARA develops technologies that reduce the energy demands of high-performance computing applications, from AI to the edge.
About HIF Global
HIF Global is a world leading e-Fuels company developing large scale infrastructure projects to recycle captured CO₂ and produce synthetic fuels for existing engines. The name HIF reflects the company’s mission: to produce Highly Innovative Fuels that contribute to global energy security. HIF already produces e-Fuels at its HIF Haru Oni facility in southern Chile and is developing large scale projects in the United States, Uruguay, Brazil, Australia, and Chile. For more information, visit www.hifglobal.com.
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the federal securities laws. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, included in this press release are forward-looking statements. The words “may,” “will,” “could,” “anticipate,” “expect,” “intend,” “believe,” “continue,” “target” and similar expressions or variations or negatives of these words are intended to identify forward-looking statements, although not all forward-looking statements contain these identifying words. Such forward-looking statements include, among other things, statements related to the occurrence of any event, change or other circumstance that could give rise to the exercise of any return or forfeiture right under, the purchase agreement entered into in connection with MARA’s acquisition of the site; MARA’s planned development of the site as a digital infrastructure campus; the expected power capacity (including as a result of the agreement to acquire Long Ridge Energy & Power), scalability and performance of the site; the anticipated ability to commercialize the site’s power capacity for high-performance compute and bitcoin workloads; the number of construction and other jobs anticipated to be created; and the anticipated benefits of the transaction to MARA. Such forward-looking statements are based on management’s current expectations about future events as of the date hereof and involve many risks and uncertainties that could cause MARA’s actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in these forward-looking statements. Subsequent events and developments, including actual results or changes in MARA’s assumptions, may cause MARA’s views to change. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements. All forward-looking statements included herein are expressly qualified in their entirety by these cautionary statements. Actual results may differ materially from those indicated by such forward-looking statements as a result of various important factors, including uncertainties related to market conditions, the risk that the transaction disrupts MARA’s current plans and operations or diverts management’s attention from its ongoing business, the effect of the announcement of the transaction on the ability of MARA to retain and hire key personnel and maintain relationships with others with whom it does business, the effect of the announcement of the transaction on MARA’s operating results and business generally and the other factors discussed in the “Risk Factors” section of MARA’s most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) and the risks described in other filings that MARA may make from time to time with the SEC. Any forward-looking statements contained in this press release speak only as of the date hereof, and MARA specifically disclaims any obligation to update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise, except to the extent required by applicable law.
MARA Company Contact:
Telephone: 800-804-1690
Email: [email protected]
Top Wall Street analysts changed their outlook on these top names. For a complete view of all analyst rating changes, including upgrades, downgrades and initiations, please see our analyst ratings page.
Considering buying ALGN stock? Here’s what analysts think:
Photo via Shutterstock
Market News and Data brought to you by Benzinga APIs
Cloudflare’s NYSE: NET ScotiaBank upgrade highlights an existential shift in its business. Once a mere content delivery service, Cloudflare has emerged as critical not only to cybersecurity but to AI at all levels of the stack, from infrastructure to applications.
Cloudflare Today
$276.69 +3.29 (+1.20%)
As of 09:44 AM Eastern
This is a fair market value price provided by Massive. Learn more.
52-Week Range$158.83▼
$276.82Price Target$244.23
Cloudflare’s distributed network and “serverless” functionality enable low-latency, high-speed, real-time, accurate, secure connections and, most importantly, the development of edge applications.
Get Cloudflare alerts:
Edge applications are the endgame for AI, as they represent the long-awaited monetization of infrastructure and model investments and will drive revenue, cash flow, and earnings for this business long into the future. The moment of truth is when AI can function reliably at the edge in real-time.
That’s when autonomous vehicles, robotics, and physical AI will reach critical mass.
Cloudflare: Mission-Critical for Next-Gen Application DevelopmentScotiaBank analyst Patrick Colville highlighted Cloudflare’s Workers program as an underappreciated pillar of long-term growth. It is becoming the industry standard for "vibe coding," the creation of applications without physical coding—developers dictate what they want, and the AI does the work. Cloudflare makes it happen thanks to the speed enabled by its distributed network.
Current Price$273.37High Forecast$305.00Average Forecast$244.23Low Forecast$136.00Cloudflare Stock Forecast Details
Cloudflare’s ScotiaBank upgrade was to Sector Outperform, with a $300 price target, well above current highs and in line with prevailing trends. Analyst trends have included increasing coverage, firming sentiment, and rising price targets, with sentiment pegged at Moderate Buy, a 65% Buy-side bias among the 34 analysts tracking the stock, and a forecast for fresh all-time highs at the high-end range.
The only bad news is that the consensus lags the market, providing potential for a price correction, but it is rising quickly due to the latest revisions. The Q1 2026 earnings report triggered a sustained series of analyst revisions, including numerous upgrades and price target increases pointing to the high-$200 to low-$300 range.
Cloudflare to Outperform in Back Half of 2026Among the highlights from the Q1 release was tepid guidance. The company’s forecasts were largely in line with consensus estimates, providing little impetus for buyers. However, the guidance forecasts 30% revenue growth and comparable earnings growth and is likely to be outperformed given the trends.
The company identified agentic automation as a business driver, resulting in an exponential increase in traffic requests. The likely outcome is that agentic demand will continue to swell and underpin results going forward, as ScotiaBank’s channel checks suggest. The checks reveal mounting strength, leading ScotiaBank to forecast 500 basis points of back-half outperformance relative to the early July forecasts.
Among the opportunities is Cloudflare’s potential to serve as the toll road for agentic traffic. New tools enable publishers to track and monetize bot traffic that crawls their original content. Bot traffic is categorized and allowed to proceed, asked to pay, or blocked entirely, depending on the site and setup. The tools are expected to drive cash flow for Cloudflare and its clients, increasing its utility and value-building capacity while helping define the future of Internet protocol.
Zero-Trust Expansion Cements Cloudflare as Enterprise Security ProviderCloudflare made a significant pivot, shifting away from legacy VPN-style security toward zero trust. Zero trust is absolutely critical in the AI space because of the lightning-fast speed at which AI works. Traditional architecture is inadequate and can not keep up.
Cloudflare One solves the problems that have kept many enterprises from adopting zero-trust security, enabling them to easily deploy it across networks for endpoint, data, and system security. In addition, Cloudflare took the lead in post-quantum security, developing the first complete secure access service edge (SASE)- compliant platform that provides quantum-proof encryption.
Institutional Buying Returns as Investors Weigh the RisksInstitutional activity reflects a shift. The group sold in late 2025 and early 2026, which led to market volatility and a price pullback, but then reverted to accumulation in Q2. The data reveals a subdued but bullish pace, with them buying approximately $3 in shares for each $1 sold, sufficient to allow price action to advance.
Assuming the group retains a bullish posture, Cloudflare’s price action will continue to drift higher as the year progresses. Critical targets include the current all time high, which is a trigger point when crossed. A likely catalyst is the upcoming Q2 earnings release, scheduled for early August.
Cloudflare’s biggest risk lies in its scale. As one of the world’s largest Internet traffic routing services, an outage or hiccup in services can have a wide-ranging impact on commerce. Likewise, it is itself a target, given its critical role in Internet traffic and cybersecurity, and it spends hundreds of millions each year on research and upgrades to stay relevant.
Should You Invest $1,000 in Cloudflare Right Now?Before you consider Cloudflare, you'll want to hear this.
MarketBeat keeps track of Wall Street's top-rated and best performing research analysts and the stocks they recommend to their clients on a daily basis. MarketBeat has identified the five stocks that top analysts are quietly whispering to their clients to buy now before the broader market catches on... and Cloudflare wasn't on the list.
While Cloudflare currently has a Moderate Buy rating among analysts, top-rated analysts believe these five stocks are better buys.
View The Five Stocks Here
Discover the 10 Best High-Yield Dividend Stocks for 2026 and secure reliable income in uncertain markets. Download the report now to identify top dividend payers and avoid common yield traps.
NEW YORK, July 09, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Bernstein Liebhard LLP, a nationally acclaimed investor rights law firm, reminds Lucid Group, Inc. (“Lucid” or the “Company”) (NASDAQ: LCID) investors of the July 28, 2026 deadline involving a securities fraud class action lawsuit commenced against the Company.
Should You Join The Lucid Class Action Lawsuit:
Do you, or did you, own shares of Lucid Group, Inc. (NASDAQ: LCID)?Did you purchase your shares between February 25, 2026 and April 13, 2026, inclusive?Did you lose money in your investment in Lucid Group, Inc.? What To Do Next:
Investors are encouraged to act promptly and submit a form at Lucid Group, 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 July 28, 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 securities of Lucid between February 25, 2026 and April 13, 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, Lucid 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.
New York, New York--(Newsfile Corp. - July 9, 2026) - Kaplan Fox & Kilsheimer LLP announces that a class action lawsuit has been filed against Lucid Group, Inc. ("Lucid" or the "Company") (NASDAQ: LCID) on behalf of investors that purchased or otherwise acquired Lucid Group securities between February 25, 2026 and April 13, 2026 (the "Class Period").
CLICK HERE TO JOIN THE CASE
If you are an investor in Lucid and have suffered losses, you may CLICK HERE to contact us. You may also contact Kaplan Fox by emailing [email protected] or by calling (646) 315-9003.
DEADLINE REMINDER: If you are a member of the proposed Class, you may move the court no later than July 28, 2026 to serve as a lead plaintiff for the purported class. If you have losses we encourage you to contact us to learn more about the lead plaintiff process. You need not seek to become a lead plaintiff in order to share in any possible recovery.
On Friday April 3, 2026, at the close of the market, Lucid issued in a press release stating that the Company "produced 5,500 vehicles" during the first quarter of 2026, while only "deliver[ing] 3,093 vehicles." The press release further stated that "[d]uring the quarter, deliveries of the Lucid Gravity were disrupted for 29 days due to a supplier quality issue with the second-row seats" and, "[a]s result of this, the [C]ompany's ability to meet customer demand was impacted." That same day, Reuters published an article entitled "Lucid misses first-quarter vehicle delivery estimates on supplier disruptions." According to the article Chief Executive Officer Marc Winterhoff, said "[d]eliveries were particularly hit in February" when the Company "paused to reverse the change and inspect vehicles already produced."
In the first two trading sessions following the news, the price of Lucid shares declined by $1.13 per share, or 11.35%, to close at $8.83 per share on April 7, 2026.
Then, on April 14, 2026, Lucid announced preliminary first quarter 2026 financial results, including revenue in the range of $280 million to $284 million, well below the consensus estimate of $433.8 million according to the complaint, and loss from operations in the range of $985 million to $1.005 billion.
Following this news, the price of Lucid stock fell $0.44 per share, or 4.76%, to close at $8.80 per share on April 14, 2026.
The complaint alleges, among other things, that throughout the Class Period, Defendants made false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that: (i) a supplier quality issue had significantly disrupted deliveries of the Lucid Gravity; (ii) the foregoing was likely to, and did, have a material negative impact on the Company's business and financial results; (iii) accordingly, the Defendants had overstated the purported enhancements to Lucid's manufacturing and delivery capabilities and overall operations; and (iv) as a result, Defendants' public statements were materially false and misleading at all relevant times.
WHY CONTACT KAPLAN FOX?
Kaplan Fox & Kilsheimer LLP is a nationally recognized law firm focused on complex litigation, with offices in New York, Oakland, Los Angeles, Chicago, and New Jersey. Founded in 1956, the firm has spent more than 50 years prosecuting securities, antitrust, and consumer protection actions in federal and state courts nationwide, recovering more than $10 billion for clients and the classes it has represented.
Kaplan Fox is widely regarded as one of the nation's premier plaintiffs' securities litigation firms and has received recognition from Chambers and Partners, Benchmark Litigation, Super Lawyers, and Lawdragon. Serving as lead or co-lead counsel in many landmark cases, the firm has secured some of the largest recoveries in the history of securities litigation, including a $2.425 billion recovery on behalf of Bank of America shareholders in In re Bank of America-the largest recovery ever obtained for claims under Section 14(a) of the Securities Exchange Act-$800 million recovered for the Arkansas Teacher Retirement System and other pension funds in ATRS v. Allianz Global Investors, and a $475 million settlement in In re Merrill Lynch.
For decades, Kaplan Fox has represented public pension funds, institutional investors, businesses, and individuals in high-stakes litigation. Through its successful advocacy and precedent-setting victories, the firm has helped shape important areas of securities and corporate law while advancing accountability and protecting investor interests.
This press release may be considered Attorney Advertising in some jurisdictions under the applicable law and ethical rules. Past results do not guarantee future outcomes.
If you have any questions about this Notice, your rights, or your interests, please contact:
Contacting or submitting information to Kaplan Fox & Kilsheimer LLP does not create an attorney-client relationship, nor an obligation on the part of Kaplan Fox to retain you as a client.
NEW YORK, July 09, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Bernstein Liebhard LLP, a nationally acclaimed investor rights law firm, reminds ZoomInfo Technologies Inc. (“ZoomInfo” or the “Company”) (NASDAQ: GTM) investors of the August 24, 2026 deadline involving a securities fraud class action lawsuit commenced against the Company.
Should You Join The ZoomInfo Class Action Lawsuit:
Do you, or did you, own shares of ZoomInfo Technologies Inc. (NASDAQ: GTM)?Did you purchase your shares between November 3, 2025 and May 11, 2026, inclusive?Did you lose money in your investment in ZoomInfo Technologies Inc.?
What To Do Next:
Investors are encouraged to act promptly and submit a form at ZoomInfo Technologies 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 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 securities of ZoomInfo between November 3, 2025 and May 11, 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, ZoomInfo 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.
BOSTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--DraftKings Inc. (Nasdaq: DKNG) today announced plans to launch its top-rated online sportsbook and casino, along with its Golden Nugget Online Gaming brand, in Alberta on July 13. Alberta will become the second Canadian province and the 34th jurisdiction across North America where DraftKings Sportsbook is available. With the launch, DraftKings Casino will be available in five U.S. states and Golden Nugget Online Gaming casino in four U.S. states, with both brands available in Alberta and Ontario in Canada.
Ahead of the official launch, DraftKings will host a watch party for the World Cup on July 11 at the Wildhorse Saloon in Calgary. The event is part of DraftKings' broader initiative that has brought fans across North America closer to the excitement of the tournament through a series of watch parties in Los Angeles, Dallas, Miami and Hoboken. Each event has featured live match viewing, giveaways and interactive activations designed to create memorable fan experiences.
“We’re thrilled to launch DraftKings Sportsbook and DraftKings Casino, as well as Golden Nugget Online Gaming in Alberta and continue expanding our presence in Canada,” said Greg Karamitis, Executive Vice President and General Manager of Sports at DraftKings. “Alberta is home to a passionate sports fan base, and we’re excited to bring customers across the province our industry-leading sports betting and online casino experiences. Launching during one of the biggest moments in global sports, with the World Cup taking place across North America, makes this an especially exciting time to welcome Albertans to DraftKings.”
To celebrate the launch in Alberta, DraftKings employees will volunteer with Food Banks Alberta and present a $150,000 donation to the organization. The funding will purchase over 40,000 pounds of essential food items to be distributed through Food Banks Alberta's network of member food banks, ensuring resources reach communities both large and small throughout Alberta. This donation will help provide essential food support, including high demand items like fruits and vegetables and baby formula to individuals and families facing hunger, while strengthening local food banks' ability to meet growing demand.
Eligible customers in Alberta will have access to DraftKings’ comprehensive suite of sports betting and online casino offerings. From same-game parlays, live in-game wagering, and special odds boosts on DraftKings Sportsbook to thousands of casino games, including fan-favorite titles like “Wheel of Fortune – Triple Extreme Spin,” exclusive slot titles, as well as progressive jackpots across Golden Nugget Online Gaming and DraftKings Casino, DraftKings delivers one of the industry’s most robust and engaging entertainment experiences.
DraftKings leads the industry in responsible engagement by promoting customer awareness and use of budget and control tools and resources like deposit limits, cool off periods, and self-exclusion to help customers have a fun source of entertainment with a brand they can trust.
The DraftKings Sports and Casino app and Golden Nugget Online Gaming casino app are available to be downloaded today for iOS and Android here and here. Customers can review DraftKings’ Responsible Engagement tools here. For additional problem gambling support or services, Alberta customers can visit GameSense or ABiGaming.ca, or contact the GameSense Info Line at 1-833-447-7523.
About DraftKings
DraftKings Inc. is a digital sports and gaming company created to be the Ultimate Host and fuel the competitive spirit of sports fans with platforms that range across daily fantasy, regulated gaming, prediction markets and digital media. Headquartered in Boston and launched in 2012 by Jason Robins, Matt Kalish and Paul Liberman, DraftKings is the only U.S.-based vertically integrated sports betting operator. DraftKings’ mission is to make life more exciting by responsibly creating the world’s favorite real-money games, betting experiences and event contracts trading. DraftKings Sportsbook is live with mobile and/or retail sports betting operations pursuant to regulations in 30 states, Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico, and Ontario, Canada. The Company operates iGaming pursuant to regulations in five states and in Ontario, Canada under its DraftKings brand and pursuant to regulations in four states and in Ontario, Canada, under its Golden Nugget Online Gaming brand. DraftKings also owns Jackpocket, the leading digital lottery courier app in the United States. DraftKings’ daily fantasy sports platform is available in 44 states, Washington, D.C., and certain Canadian provinces. DraftKings' wholly-owned subsidiary GUS III LLC (d/b/a DraftKings Predictions) also operates DraftKings Predictions, offering federally regulated event contracts under CFTC oversight. DraftKings is both an official sports betting and daily fantasy partner of the NHL, PGA TOUR and WNBA, as well as an official daily fantasy partner of NASCAR, an official sports betting partner of the NBA and an authorized gaming operator of MLB. In addition, DraftKings owns and operates DraftKings Network, a multi-platform content ecosystem. DraftKings is committed to delivering responsible engagement tools and resources, while focusing on integrity and customer education.
This post may contain links from our sponsors and affiliates, and Flywheel Publishing may receive compensation for actions taken through them.
Prediction markets have become a real-time barometer for distressed consumer brands, and traders on Polymarket have historically been quick to list bankruptcy and delisting odds when a household name starts trading below $10. But a fresh sweep of Polymarket this morning turns up something surprising for three of America’s most speculated-about survival stories: Beyond Meat (NASDAQ:BYND), Xerox (NASDAQ:XRX), and JetBlue Airways (NASDAQ:JBLU). None of the three currently has an active bankruptcy or delisting market with meaningful liquidity. That absence is itself a data point, and the resolved earnings markets, sentiment scores, and price action fill in the rest of the picture.
Below is what Polymarket traders have been willing to bet on for each name, paired with the balance-sheet realities driving the speculation.
Beyond Meat: The Crowd Priced 100% Certainty of an Earnings Miss, Then Got Blindsided Beyond Meat is the clearest case where prediction-market pricing has been directly wired to survival anxiety. Shares closed at $0.68 on July 8, 2026, down 81.0% over the past year and 99.5% over five years, well below the Nasdaq $1 minimum bid threshold that governs delisting risk.
Yet as of this morning, no active Polymarket or Kalshi markets exist for Beyond Meat on bankruptcy, delisting, or survival. What Polymarket has priced are earnings-beat markets, and the pattern is brutal. Ahead of the Q4 2025 report on February 25, 2026, traders drove the “will BYND beat” contract to a 100% implied probability of a miss, and the company delivered a GAAP EPS of −$0.29 versus a −$0.14 consensus, a 107% negative surprise. That market saw $207,486 in trading volume, the highest of any Beyond Meat contract on the platform.
The Q1 2026 contract, which resolved on May 6, 2026, went the other way: traders had priced an 86% implied probability of a miss, but Beyond Meat squeaked out a beat against a −$0.08 consensus. The catch is that liquidity was thin at just $2,253 in volume, so the price signal there should be treated with low confidence.
The fundamentals explain why bankruptcy chatter persists even without a formal market. Q1 revenue fell 15.3% year over year to $58.21 million, and the balance sheet shows $411.6 million in debt against $205.8 million of cash, a stockholders’ deficit of -$21.1 million, and material weaknesses in internal controls. Weighted average shares outstanding ballooned from 76.2 million to 455.3 million, the classic dilution spiral. Composite sentiment reads 37.6, bearish with medium confidence, dragged down by a social score of 22.
Xerox: Zero Polymarket Markets, and a Balance Sheet Screaming for One Xerox is the most jarring omission. A Polymarket search for XRX-specific bankruptcy or delisting contracts returned no matching markets, and the platform’s dashboard confirms zero active Kalshi or Polymarket contracts on the name. Given the profile, that gap probably reflects retail-trader interest in flashy consumer stories over B2B print equipment, more than any considered read on Xerox’s health.
Shares closed at $2.67 on July 8, 2026, down 24.8% in the past month, 51.0% over the past year, and 88.8% over five years. The Q1 FY26 report, filed April 30, 2026, showed revenue up 26.7% to $1.846 billion on the Lexmark acquisition, but pro forma revenue actually declined 3.7%, and adjusted EPS of −$0.43 missed the −$0.275 consensus by 56.4%.
The leverage picture is the reason traders would want a market here. Total liabilities of $9.373 billion now dwarf shareholders’ equity of $305 million, which collapsed 75.9% year over year. Equipment gross margin cratered to 10.8% from 27.9%, and non-financing interest expense surged to $84 million from $33 million. Q1 free cash flow ran −$165 million. CEO Louie Pastor countered with reaffirmed FY26 guidance for revenue above $7.5 billion, adjusted operating income of $450 million to $500 million, and free cash flow near $250 million, telling investors he is “genuinely optimistic about the future of this business and confident we are closer to an inflection point than the external narrative suggests.”
SoFi Active Invest is offering a limited-time promotion. Open an account, fund it with $50 or more, and you could receive up to $1,000 in complimentary stock for Active Invest accounts. See for yourself by clicking here now.
Sentiment reads 53.84, neutral with low confidence. Insider activity is net selling across 25 transactions. Analysts are bearish and have a $2.75 mean target price. This is the type of setup that Polymarket typically prices, and its absence likely reflects low retail interest rather than a considered read on solvency.
JetBlue: The CEO Denied Bankruptcy Rumors, and Polymarket Is Silent JetBlue is the name where the disconnect between chatter and market pricing is loudest. The Q1 FY26 earnings summary explicitly notes that bankruptcy speculation had been circulating in the weeks before the CEO publicly reaffirmed the airline’s liquidity position, providing the backdrop for the report. Yet Polymarket has no active bankruptcy or delisting markets on the airline, only resolved earnings-beat contracts.
Those earnings markets tell a coherent story. The Q3 2025 contract with a −$0.42 consensus resolved YES on $12,029 in volume, meaning JetBlue beat that negative bar. The Q1 2026 contract, resolved April 28, 2026, against a −$0.73 street consensus, resolved NO on just $97.30 of volume — effectively an illiquid tape.
The airline reported Q1 adjusted EPS of −$0.87 against a −$0.728 estimate, a 19.51% miss, on revenue of $2.24 billion. Fuel is the key pressure point: Q1 fuel cost averaged $2.96 per gallon, up 15.2% year over year, and Q2 guidance calls for $4.13 to $4.28 per gallon, roughly 75% higher year over year. Total debt is $8.4 billion, and FY26 interest expense is guided at approximately $580 million.
CEO Joanna Geraghty highlighted the JetForward turnaround, which delivered $305 million of incremental EBIT in 2025 against a $290 million target, and targets $310 million in 2026, with $850 million to $950 million cumulative by 2027 and free cash flow turning positive by end of 2027. She emphasized “taking decisive actions to manage what is within our control, including adjusting capacity, optimizing revenue, and maintaining disciplined cost control.”
Markets have listened. JetBlue is the outlier of the three: shares closed at $5.58 on July 8, 2026, up 17.2% over the past month, 22.6% year to date, and 29.5% year over year. Composite sentiment is still 33.44, bearish with medium confidence, and insiders are net buying across 23 transactions.
What the Silence Says Point-in-time, crowd-sourced odds are only useful when a market exists. For all three names as of this morning, Polymarket offers no live bankruptcy or delisting contracts to point to, and Kalshi is similarly quiet. The resolved earnings contracts are useful backward-looking calibration: Polymarket correctly nailed the Beyond Meat Q4 miss on real liquidity and got a Q1 call wrong on almost none. JetBlue’s Q1 market moved on a hundred dollars of flow, which is not a signal.
The takeaway for readers watching these three names: a missing bankruptcy contract still leaves real risk on the table. Xerox’s $9.37 billion of liabilities against $305 million of equity, Beyond Meat’s sub-dollar tape, and JetBlue’s $8.4 billion debt stack facing a 75% fuel spike remain the fundamental facts. When Polymarket eventually lists survival markets on any of these, the first liquid prints will be worth watching; until then, the balance sheets are doing the talking.
Want Up To $1,000? SoFi Is Giving New Active Invest Users Free StockLooking to grow your money but unsure where to begin? SoFi Active Invest is offering a limited-time promotion—open an account, fund it with $50 or more, and you could receive up to $1,000 in complimentary stock for Active Invest accounts.
From $0 commission trading to fractional shares and automated investing, this app is designed to simplify investing for everyone, whether you’re just starting or already experienced. Its easy to sign up and secure your bonus.
Listen to the audio version of this article (generated by AI).
The AI infrastructure story that has dominated markets for the past two years has had one assumed ending: eventually, every enterprise will migrate its AI workloads to the hyperscaler cloud. AWS, Azure, Google Cloud, Oracle (ORCL) — pick your platform, pay per token, and let someone else worry about the hardware.
JPMorgan Chase (JPM) just added an important asterisk.
This week, SambaNova Systems — an AI chip company that Intel (INTC) reportedly tried to acquire for about $1.6 billion less than a year ago — raised $1 billion at an $11 billion valuation.
The customer that made the announcement so interesting was JPMorgan Chase, which selected SambaNova as its inference-infrastructure partner, deploying its systems to power secure, on-premises AI inference at the bank.
The speed of the startup’s re-rating — and who signed on as the anchor customer — isn’t an accident.
JPMorgan Just Put an Asterisk on the Cloud-Only AI Thesis The mainstream AI infrastructure thesis assumes that inference demand — the workload created every time an AI model answers a query, writes code, or completes a task — primarily flows through hyperscaler cloud platforms.
That’s been true so far, and it will remain true for most of the market.
But JPMorgan’s decision points to a segment that the cloud-first narrative underweights: enterprises and institutions that simply cannot send their most sensitive data to a third-party server.
Banks hold client data and proprietary trading strategies they can’t expose. Hospitals manage patient records that federal law requires them to protect. Defense contractors and government agencies often face outright restrictions on running sensitive workloads on commercial cloud infrastructure.
For these organizations, cloud economics are appealing on paper. But that architecture comes with a data exposure risk they can’t accept.
SambaNova’s CEO framed the JPMorgan win as a signal to the whole banking industry: banks want control over their most sensitive inference, and they’re starting to build for it. And the vendors that give them that control are about to have a very interesting few years.
Why Enterprise AI Inference Looks Different From Chatbots We’ve written at length about the inference supercycle — the shift from AI as a training-era story to AI as a persistent, always-on workload running inside enterprise operations. Agentic AI is accelerating that shift, with agent-based workflows consuming more compute than single-shot queries ever did.
What SambaNova’s round shows is that the inference supercycle has a niche the market hasn’t fully accounted for.
A meaningful slice of enterprise inference demand won’t flow through hyperscaler APIs. It will run on-premises, inside the firewall, on hardware owned and operated by the enterprise itself.
Liang noted that enterprises and governments are just starting their AI journey, with most growth so far concentrated among tech’s model makers and frontier labs — leaving substantial revenue still on the table. In regulated industries specifically, that revenue goes to whoever sells the hardware, the networking, the storage, and the software stack that makes on-premises inference work.
But the next phase of the AI trade has more moving parts than most investors realize. If you want to hear where I think the smartest money in AI is moving next — my highest-conviction ideas, live and in-person — I’ll be at the Stansberry Conference & Alliance Meeting in Las Vegas later this year. Interested? Reserve your discounted seat before they sell out.
The AI Infrastructure Trade Is Splitting Between Cloud and On-Prem The picks-and-shovels thesis for AI infrastructure remains intact. The global AI inference market is valued at roughly $120 billion in 2026 and projected to reach $300-plus billion by 2034. That demand has to live somewhere.
Now that “somewhere” is looking a bit more bifurcated.
Hyperscaler cloud captures the majority of it. Within regulated industries, on-premises inference is forming as its own distinct market. Banks, hospital systems, and government agencies can build a compelling economic case for owning their own hardware. The cost per token math favors on-premises at sufficient utilization. And when the regulatory constraints are real, the economics almost don’t matter. Cloud simply isn’t a viable option for their most sensitive workloads.
The names positioned for this are the same ones we’ve been writing about. Dell‘s (DELL) AI Factory already has more than 4,000 enterprise customers. Everpure (P) — formerly Pure Storage — has rebuilt its platform specifically to make enterprise data accessible to AI workloads without the overhead of replication.
JPMorgan’s decision just made their pitch to the next bank a lot easier.
The Bottom Line SambaNova going from a rumored $1.6 billion acquisition target to raising at $11 billion in under a year reflects something real: private capital has decided that secure, on-premises enterprise AI inference is a durable market, and the price of getting in has changed accordingly.
The frontier labs and hyperscalers drove the first phase of this trade. The enterprise and sovereign deployment wave is the second phase — and within regulated industries, it plays by different rules. Banks, hospital systems, and government agencies don’t move fast. But when they do, they move at scale, under long-term contracts, with infrastructure budgets that tend to be sticky.
Other banks are likely watching JPMorgan’s move. So are certain corners of healthcare and government. For data-sensitive organizations, this could be the new blueprint.
The inference supercycle is real, and the hyperscaler cloud will capture most of it. But within sensitive sectors, a structurally distinct market is forming for secure, on-premises inference infrastructure. For the companies best positioned to serve it, it’s a durable one.
And durable infrastructure spend is exactly what the most sophisticated private capital has been positioning around… not at the application layer or the model layer, but underneath all of it.
The energy systems, nuclear capacity, and physical fabrication that make persistent AI compute possible — whether it runs in a hyperscaler’s data center or inside JPMorgan’s firewall — are being secured through private funds and bilateral agreements that most investors never see.
And though most of those positions aren’t accessible publicly, there are seven publicly traded stocks that mirror those same bets almost exactly — the hard-asset backbone of an infrastructure build that isn’t slowing down regardless of where enterprises decide to run their workloads.
NEW YORK, July 09, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Bernstein Liebhard LLP, a nationally acclaimed investor rights law firm, reminds Zoetis Inc. (“Zoetis” or the “Company”) (NYSE: ZTS) investors of the July 27, 2026 deadline involving a securities fraud class action lawsuit commenced against the Company.
Should You Join The Zoetis Class Action Lawsuit:
Do you, or did you, own shares of Zoetis Inc. (NYSE: ZTS)?Did you purchase your shares between January 14, 2025 and May 6, 2026, inclusive?Did you lose money in your investment in Zoetis Inc.? What To Do Next:
Investors are encouraged to act promptly and submit a form at Zoetis 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 July 27, 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 securities of Zoetis between January 14, 2025 and May 6, 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, Zoetis 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.
Docusign (DOCU) earns a Strong Buy rating as AI disruption fears are overblown, and the business fundamentals remain robust. DOCU demonstrates impressive operating leverage, with EBIT up 84.7% YoY on flat OPEX and revenue guidance of $3.5B (+9% YoY). Security and legal risks from AI tools reinforce DOCU's moat, sustaining high adoption despite increased competition and higher pricing.
Memory and storage stocks are rebounding sharply Thursday morning, reversing a bruising start to the week. Western Digital (NASDAQ:WDC | WDC Price Prediction) shares are up 7% to $589 and Seagate Technology (NASDAQ:STX) stock is up 7% to $921 in early trading, while Micron Technology (NASDAQ:MU) shares are up 6% to $1,010 and SanDisk (NASDAQ:SNDK) stock is up 6% to $1,830.
All four names remain up sharply year to date (YTD) despite this week’s pullback. Micron shares are up 233% YTD, Western Digital shares are up 220%, Seagate stock is up 213%, and SanDisk shares are up 628%, making the group among the year’s biggest AI beneficiaries.
Samsung Blowout Fuels Memory Reversal The rebound tracks overnight gains in Asian memory names after Samsung’s blowout preliminary Q2 results. The Korean giant reported operating profit of 89.4 trillion won ($58.44 billion), roughly 19 times year over year (YoY), with revenue up 129% YoY, per figures reported by Samsung via Stocktwits and Quartz. SK Hynix stock rose 5% in Seoul in sympathy, reinforcing that AI-driven memory demand hasn’t cooled.
Earlier this week’s slide was largely profit-taking despite those strong numbers. A secondary tailwind arrived from Washington. President Trump said Iran called seeking a deal, easing geopolitical anxiety and lifting index futures. SK Hynix is also set to price its U.S. IPO on Thursday, an added sector catalyst that has retail traders positioning for direct AI-memory exposure on U.S. exchanges.
Sector Confirmation and Peer Moves The Roundhill Memory ETF (NASDAQ:DRAM) is up 4% to $65, confirming broad memory/storage sector participation. Its top three holdings, Samsung, SK Hynix, and Micron, represent 72% of the fund, so a Korean memory rally translates almost directly into ETF performance. The fund isn’t leveraged, though its narrow theme concentration cuts both ways in volatile weeks.
Broader chip names are also higher this morning as the rebound spreads across the semiconductor complex. The fundamentals still favor the storage and memory group. Micron posted a 24% Q3 FY2026 EPS beat on June 21, and Seagate delivered a 17% Q3 FY2026 EPS beat with $953 million in free cash flow.
Act now: the analyst who called NVIDIA in 2010 just named his top 10 AI stocks — and Micron Technology didn't make the cut. Grab the names FREE today.
The Bull and Bear Debate on Micron The Micron stock bull-bear debate remains polarizing. The bull case leans on AI-driven DRAM and high-bandwidth memory (HBM) demand, with Citi’s upside Catalyst Watch flagging sharply higher DRAM pricing into 2026-2027 and UBS calling chips far from bubble territory. The prediction markets echo the near-term bias, pricing an 84% probability that Micron trades up on July 9 and a 60% probability of closing above $1,100 by month-end.
The bear case centers on memory-cycle pricing risk, rising Chinese competition from CXMT, and rich valuations after the run. Reddit sentiment on Micron stock sits at a bullish score of 68, though r/investing users are openly questioning whether the “value play” framing ignores cyclical realities. Post-earnings history warns of chop, with Micron shares typically declining after a beat across the last eight reports.
What to Watch The SK Hynix U.S. IPO pricing today is the next real catalyst. A strong reception could validate the AI-memory thesis and pull fresh capital toward the group. A softer print could reintroduce the reallocation pressure that Benzinga flagged as a near-term risk to Micron and SanDisk, since some investors may trim positions to fund SK Hynix allocations.
Beyond today, hyperscaler capex commentary and NAND and HDD pricing prints will drive the next leg. Traders can watch for whether Micron shares hold the $1,000 level into the close and whether Western Digital stock and Seagate stock hold the $590 and $920 levels, respectively. Investors should consider keeping their position sizes measured given the group’s volatility after such an outsized run.
Act now: the analyst who called NVIDIA in 2010 just named his top 10 AI stocks — and Micron Technology didn't make the cut. Grab the names FREE today.
WAVE PRO now connects UF, IER, RO, and NF modeling to help water professionals design more accurate, efficient, and versatile treatment systems.
, /PRNewswire/ -- DuPont (NYSE: DD) today announced the latest advancement of Water Application Value Engine (WAVE PRO), its advanced online water treatment modeling tool, now enabling integrated multi-technology design across ultrafiltration (UF), ion exchange resins (IER), reverse osmosis (RO), and nanofiltration (NF) in one comprehensive platform. The enhanced solution supports water treatment applications including drinking water, industrial utility water, wastewater, and seawater desalination.
"We're excited to offer our municipal and industrial customers a water treatment design tool that connects ultrafiltration, ion exchange resins, reverse osmosis, and nanofiltration in one comprehensive platform," said Sylvia Insogna, Digital Leader, DuPont Water Solutions. "By bringing these core water treatment technologies together, WAVE PRO provides more accurate, data-driven system design that optimizes membrane and energy use, can extend asset lifetimes, and helps customers reduce the environmental footprint of water treatment while achieving their operational and financial goals."
The integrated modeling approach in WAVE PRO helps solve several of the most common challenges in water treatment design. It reduces time spent running separate simulations and minimizes manual data-entry errors. It captures the interdependencies between technologies that can materially affect system performance, enabling more realistic projections and more cost-effective designs. For example, an integrated simulation can show how upstream UF can improve downstream RO performance and reduce design constraints.
WAVE PRO also expands design flexibility for more complex systems. Integrated UF and RO modeling supports better pretreatment and high-performance salt removal decisions early in the design phase, while more advanced multi-process configurations can account for recycle streams and closed-loop conditions that single-technology tools cannot accurately model. This helps users design more versatile and reliable systems from the start.
WAVE PRO seamlessly integrates DuPont Water Solutions technologies, including DuPont™ IntegraTec™ and DuPont™ Inge™ ultrafiltration modules, DuPont™ AmberLite™ ion exchange resins, and FilmTec™ reverse osmosis and nanofiltration elements—bringing industry-leading filtration and separation technologies together in a single, powerful design environment. With access to this broader portfolio in a single platform, users can design with greater confidence across a wider range of municipal and industrial applications.
WAVE PRO is a web-based platform that can be securely accessed from any computer or tablet using a single sign-in. It is compatible with both Microsoft Windows and iOS. The platform supports collaboration by allowing multiple users to work on the same projection file, securely share reports, and enhance cross-functional alignment throughout the design process.
WAVE PRO is free to use and available on DuPont Water Solutions' WaterApp, which includes a broad range of digital tools to help water professionals. To directly sign in: http://wavepro.dupont.com
DuPont Water Solutions' technologies help purify more than 50 million gallons of water every minute in 112 countries around the world. DuPont offers a broad portfolio of membranes, resins, and complete systems to address the challenges faced by water treatment municipalities, seawater desalination plants, and industrial water users—including the microelectronics industry. The team continues to innovate solutions that support growing global water and energy demands, including technologies that enable the production of electricity, lithium, and green hydrogen.
About DuPont
DuPont (NYSE: DD) is a global innovation leader, providing advanced solutions that help transform industries and improve everyday life across our key markets of healthcare, water, construction, and industrial. More information about the company, its businesses and solutions can be found at www.dupont.com. Investors can access information included on the Investor Relations section of the website at investors.dupont.com.
DuPont™, the DuPont Oval Logo, and all trademarks and service marks denoted with ™, ℠ or ® are owned by affiliates of DuPont de Nemours, Inc. unless otherwise noted.
Analyst’s Disclosure: I/we have no stock, option or similar derivative position in any of the companies mentioned, and no plans to initiate any such positions within the next 72 hours. I wrote this article myself, and it expresses my own opinions. I am not receiving compensation for it (other than from Seeking Alpha). I have no business relationship with any company whose stock is mentioned in this article.
Seeking Alpha's Disclosure: Past performance is no guarantee of future results. No recommendation or advice is being given as to whether any investment is suitable for a particular investor. Any views or opinions expressed above may not reflect those of Seeking Alpha as a whole. Seeking Alpha is not a licensed securities dealer, broker or US investment adviser or investment bank. Our analysts are third party authors that include both professional investors and individual investors who may not be licensed or certified by any institute or regulatory body.
The Potential LawsuitAccording to Reuters, California Attorney General Rob Bonta has taken the lead in investigating whether the deal violates U.S. laws against mergers that would unlawfully harm competition. Two sources familiar with the matter told Reuters that states concerned about the deal’s competitive impact could file suit as soon as next week.
The deal, which would combine two of Hollywood’s four major studios, has drawn criticism from actors, writers and theater owners who fear job losses and fewer film releases. Theater owners have expressed concern the merger would result in narrowing consumer choice and eroding competition. Paramount CEO David Ellison has sought to assuage those concerns, saying the combined studios would release 30 movies a year.
What’s at StakeA court challenge could prove costly for Paramount. The company is already expected to carry around $80 billion in debt after the transaction closes, and Ellison has agreed to pay Warner Bros. Discovery shareholders a 25-cent-per-share ticking fee — amounting to approximately $650 million in cash each quarter — if the deal does not close before October. Any delay could also push back the $6 billion in cost cuts Paramount has said it would make after closing.
Not all lawsuits seeking to block mergers succeed, but they can delay consummation by months if a judge issues a pause order while the case plays out. Given that multiple states are coordinating, Reuters noted the timeline for filing could still change.
Paramount Shares Edge LowerPSKY Price Action: At the time of publication, Paramount shares are trading 3.38% lower at $9.42, according to data from Benzinga Pro.
Image via Shutterstock
This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.
Market News and Data brought to you by Benzinga APIs
Rivian Automotive Inc. NASDAQ: RIVN likely hoped to complete its recent offering of 75 million Class A shares with as little fanfare as possible, but the market had other plans.
Eightco treasury composition as of July 8, 2026: $90M OpenAI equity (indirect), $18M Beast Industries equity, 16,278 ETH, 283 million WLD holdings, and $149M cash and equivalents, totaling approximately $397 million
Worldcoin token (WLD) now listed on Robinhood (NASDAQ: HOOD), expanding access to millions
OpenAI recently announced that it submitted a confidential S-1, setting itself up for an initial public offering
Eightco provides indirect exposure to some of the most innovative private companies including OpenAI and Beast Industries
, /PRNewswire/ -- Eightco Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ: ORBS) ("Eightco" or the "Company") today provided an update on its total holdings, highlighting its position across digital assets and strategic investments in leading private technology companies.
ORBS Holdings & Key Metrics
The ORBS Portfolio Thesis
As of July 8, 2026, at 6:00 p.m. ET, ORBS' holdings include a $90 million investment (indirectly, through SPVs) in OpenAI, an $18 million funded investment in Beast Industries, a $1 million investment in Mythical Games, 283,452,700 Worldcoin (WLD) at $0.39 per WLD (per Coinbase), 16,278 Ethereum (ETH), and approximately $149 million in total cash and stablecoins, for total holdings of approximately $397 million.
Top Headlines Driving the News:
ORBS management believes the Company's treasury portfolio holds some of the most critical components for the future AI and digital financial system. This week's top headlines include:
OpenAI announced it will publicly release its GPT-5.6 Sol, Terra and Luna models on July 9, 2026. According to OpenAI, GPT-5.6 Sol is its "strongest model yet" and is more capable across coding, biology and cybersecurity (CNBC). On July 8, it was announced that the OpenAI Deployment Company agreed to acquire Northslope, an applied AI firm. The deal expands the Deployment Company's team to hundreds of "forward deployed engineers" (FDEs) who work alongside customers to build AI systems within their organizations. This highlights how the AI race may be defined by who can get businesses to use their AI tools rather than model releases (Axios). On July 7, ABC announced MrBeast will appear as a guest Shark on Shark Tank Season 18 this fall. The appearance marks the world's most-subscribed creator's debut as an investor on the program (ABC). On July 6, World opened its flagship London store, where visitors can learn about the benefits of private proof of human and verify their humanness via an Orb (World). Later this month, on July 24, 2026, the amount of WLD entering the market each day will automatically drop by 43%, from about 5.1 million to about 2.9 million tokens per day, as the token's heaviest three-year release period ends (World Foundation). This schedule was established in the World whitepaper at the token's inception. The Company holds 283,452,700 WLD, about 8.1% of all WLD on the market today and the largest publicly disclosed position in the world. That position does not change on July 24, what changes is the supply of WLD will continue to increase, but the rate of supply increases following July 24 will be at roughly half the previous pace. "Seemingly every week, the capabilities and innovations from AI continue to astound markets," said Thomas "Tom" Lee, Board Member of Eightco. "OpenAI's upcoming release of GPT-5.6 and its acquisition of Northslope demonstrate that the next phase of AI is not only about building more capable models, but also driving enterprise adoption at scale."
"Regarding World, we view their expansion into London as reflective of the growing importance of trusted digital identity as AI becomes increasingly integrated into everyday life. We believe ORBS is uniquely positioned through its exposure to both OpenAI and World, two platforms that are helping define the future of artificial intelligence and the infrastructure required to support it." continued Lee.
Eightco: Exposure to key mega-trends
Eightco is built around three mega-trends the Company expects to shape the next decade of innovation: artificial intelligence, digital identity, and the creator economy, with positions in each trend through indirect investment in OpenAI (23% of ORBS' treasury holdings), Worldcoin (28%), and Beast Industries (5%).
Artificial Intelligence — OpenAI
Eightco has invested approximately $90 million in special purpose vehicles with exposure to equity interests in the parent company of OpenAI, representing approximately 23% of treasury assets, one of the highest disclosed concentrations of any listed vehicle.
ChatGPT, OpenAI's consumer app, is the #1 consumer AI app worldwide (Sensor Tower) and crossed 900 million weekly active users in February 2026, making it the fastest-scaling consumer technology in history (UBS via Reuters).
Digital Identity — WLD Token
Eightco holds over 283 million WLD, approximately 8.1% of circulating supply, the largest publicly disclosed institutional position globally and approximately 28% of the Eightco treasury's assets.
Worldcoin is the native token of World, a global Proof of Human network built by Tools for Humanity (co-founded by Sam Altman and Alex Blania) and stewarded by the World Foundation. Its Orb devices issue a privacy-preserving World ID that verifies a user is a unique human, not an AI agent.
Under World's announced business model, applications pay per-verification fees while end-user verification remains free, with both credential issuers and the World protocol monetizing verified-human authentication. World identifies a $6.35 trillion combined addressable revenue opportunity across 13 industries spanning banking, e-commerce, gaming, social media, and agentic AI (per Tools for Humanity).
Creator Economy — Beast Industries
Eightco has invested $18 million in Beast Industries equity, approximately 5% of treasury assets.
Beast Industries operates one of the largest direct-to-consumer reach footprints in the world, with a combined 500 million-plus follower base across platforms, anchored by MrBeast as the most-watched person on YouTube globally. As AI commoditizes content production, distribution and audience trust become increasingly scarce assets.
About Eightco Holdings Inc.
Eightco Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ: ORBS) is a publicly traded company executing a first-of-its-kind Worldcoin (WLD) treasury strategy, providing investors single-ticker indirect exposure to three of the defining trends of this cycle: artificial intelligence through its indirect investment in OpenAI, digital identity through its position as the largest public holder of WLD and the Proof of Human protocol, and the creator economy through its equity stake in MrBeast's Beast Industries. Backed by leading institutional investors including Bitmine Immersion Technologies Inc. (NYSE: BMNR), MOZAYYX, World Foundation, CoinFund, Discovery Capital Management, FalconX, Payward/Kraken, Pantera, and GSR, Eightco is building the infrastructure layer for human verification in the agentic AI era.
For more information:
X: @iamhuman_orbs
Website: 8co.holdings
Frequently Asked Questions
What is ORBS stock?
Eightco Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ: ORBS) is a publicly traded company on Nasdaq. ORBS provides indirect exposure to: OpenAI and Beast Industries.
Who owns the most Worldcoin (WLD)?
Eightco Holdings (NASDAQ: ORBS) holds 283 million WLD, approximately 8.1% of circulating supply and the largest publicly disclosed institutional position globally.
What is Proof of Human?
Proof of Human is cryptographic verification that a user is a unique, living person, not a bot or AI agent. It is foundational infrastructure for social networks, banking, agentic commerce, and any system requiring "one person, one account" in the agentic AI era.
How does Eightco (ORBS) relate to Proof of Human?
Eightco Holdings (NASDAQ: ORBS) is the largest publicly disclosed institutional holder of Worldcoin (WLD), the token powering World's Proof of Human network.
Who is the CEO of Eightco Holdings?
Kevin O'Donnell is the CEO of Eightco Holdings (NASDAQ: ORBS). The Company's Board includes Tom Lee (Managing Partner and Head of Research at Fundstrat, and Chairman of Bitmine Immersion Technologies (NYSE: BMNR)) and, as an advisor to the Board, Brett Winton (Chief Futurist at ARK Invest).
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. All statements in this press release other than statements of historical fact could be deemed forward-looking, including, without limitation, statements regarding: the Company's expectations that artificial intelligence, digital identity, and the creator economy will shape the next decade of innovation; the Company's belief that its treasury portfolio holds some of the most critical components for the future AI and digital financial system; statements regarding the potential for an initial public offering of OpenAI following its submission of a confidential S-1; statements that Proof-of-Human verification provides foundational infrastructure for social networks, banking, agentic commerce, and any system requiring "one person, one account" in the agentic AI era; statements regarding World's addressable revenue opportunity of $6.35 trillion across industries spanning banking, e-commerce, gaming, social media, and agentic AI; statements regarding the Company's position as the largest publicly disclosed institutional holder of WLD globally; statements that distribution and audience trust become increasingly scarce assets as AI commoditizes content production; statements regarding the Company building the infrastructure layer for human verification in the agentic AI era; statements regarding the listing of Worldcoin (WLD) on Robinhood expanding access to millions of users; statements regarding the capabilities and expected release of OpenAI's GPT-5.6 Sol, Terra, and Luna models; statements regarding the significance of the OpenAI Deployment Company's acquisition of Northslope for enterprise AI adoption; statements regarding the growing importance of trusted digital identity as AI becomes integrated into everyday life; statements regarding the expected reduction in WLD supply growth following July 24, 2026; statements regarding the Company's unique positioning through its exposure to OpenAI and World platforms; and statements regarding OpenAI's belief that GPT-5.6 Sol is its "strongest model yet." Words such as "plans," "expects," "will," "anticipates," "continue," "expand," "advance," "develop," "believes," "guidance," "target," "may," "remain," "project," "outlook," "intend," "estimate," "could," "should," "positioned," "view," and other words and terms of similar meaning and expression are intended to identify forward-looking statements, although not all forward-looking statements contain such terms. Forward-looking statements are based on management's current beliefs and assumptions that are subject to risks and uncertainties and are not guarantees of future performance. Actual results could differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statement as a result of various factors, including, without limitation: the Company's inability to direct the management or operations of private businesses where the Company is not a controlling stockholder, including OpenAI and Beast Industries; risk of loss or markdown on the Company's strategic investments, including its indirect position in OpenAI equity (held through special purpose vehicles), its position in WLD, and its position in Beast Industries equity; the Company's ability to maintain compliance with Nasdaq's continued listing requirements; unexpected costs, charges or expenses that reduce the Company's capital resources or otherwise delay capital deployment; inability to raise adequate capital to fund or scale its business operations or strategic investments; volatility in digital asset prices, including WLD and ETH, which could materially affect the value of the Company's treasury holdings; regulatory changes, future legislation and rulemaking negatively impacting digital assets, artificial intelligence adoption, or biometric data collection; risks related to the development, adoption, and market acceptance of Proof-of-Human technology and the World network; uncertainty regarding the pace and trajectory of agentic AI deployment in enterprise and consumer applications; uncertainty regarding OpenAI's product roadmap, business model developments, and the timing or success of any IPO; risks related to Beast Industries' ability to achieve its growth projections; competition in the digital identity and AI infrastructure markets; reliance on third-party sources for the valuation of certain investments; uncertainty regarding MrBeast's continued success and the performance of Beast Industries' creator-driven business model; risks related to the Company's concentrated positions in certain digital assets and private company investments; shifting public and governmental positions on digital assets or artificial intelligence-related industries; risks related to the timing, features, and commercial reception of OpenAI's model releases; and risks that WLD supply dynamics may not result in anticipated market effects. Given these risks and uncertainties, you are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements. For a discussion of other risks and uncertainties, and other important factors, any of which could cause Eightco's actual results to differ from those contained in the forward-looking statements herein, see Eightco's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"), including the risk factors and other disclosures in its Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC on April 15, 2026 and other publicly available SEC filings. All information in this press release is as of the date of the release, and Eightco undertakes no duty to update this information or to publicly announce the results of any revisions to any of such statements to reflect future events or developments, except as required by law.
-Eightco Holdings (NASDAQ: ORBS) informa que sus activos totales ascienden a aproximadamente 397 millones de dólares, incluyendo OpenAI, Beast Industries, más de 16.000 ETH y más de 283 millones de tokens WLD
Composición de la tesorería de Eightco a 8 de julio de 2026: 90 millones de dólares en acciones de OpenAI (indirectas), 18 millones de dólares en acciones de Beast Industries, 16.278 ETH, 283 millones de tenencias de WLD y 149 millones de dólares en efectivo y equivalentes, lo que suma aproximadamente 397 millones de dólares.
El token Worldcoin (WLD) ahora figura en Robinhood (NASDAQ: HOOD), ampliando el acceso a millones de usuarios.
OpenAI anunció recientemente que presentó un formulario S-1 confidencial, preparándose así para una oferta pública inicial.
Eightco ofrece exposición indirecta a algunas de las empresas privadas más innovadoras, incluidas OpenAI y Beast Industries.
, /PRNewswire/ -- Eightco Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ: ORBS) ("Eightco" o la "compañía") ha dado a conocer hoy una actualización sobre sus participaciones totales, destacando su posición en activos digitales e inversiones estratégicas en empresas tecnológicas privadas líderes
ORBS Holdings & Key Metrics
The ORBS Portfolio Thesis
A fecha de 8 de julio de 2026 a 6:00 p.m. ET, las tenencias de ORBS incluyen una inversión de 90 millones de dólares (indirectamente, a través de SPV) en OpenAI, una inversión financiada de 18 millones de dólares en Beast Industries, una inversión de 1 millón de dólares en Mythical Games, 283.452.700 Worldcoin (WLD) a 0,39 dólares por WLD (según Coinbase), 16.278 Ethereum (ETH) y aproximadamente 149 millones de dólares en efectivo y stablecoins, para un total de tenencias de aproximadamente 397 millones de dólares.
Principales titulares que marcan la pauta informativa:
La dirección de ORBS considera que la cartera de tesorería de la compañía contiene algunos de los componentes más importantes para el futuro sistema financiero digital y basado en la IA. Los titulares más importantes de esta semana incluyen:
OpenAI anunció que lanzará públicamente sus modelos GPT-5.6 Sol, Terra y Luna el 9 de julio de 2026. Según OpenAI, GPT-5.6 Sol es su "modelo más potente hasta la fecha" y es más capaz en codificación, biología y ciberseguridad (CNBC). El 8 de julio se anunció que OpenAI Deployment Company acordó adquirir Northslope, una empresa de IA aplicada. Esta operación amplía el equipo de Deployment Company a cientos de ingenieros de despliegue avanzado (FDE) que trabajan junto a los clientes para desarrollar sistemas de IA dentro de sus organizaciones. Esto pone de manifiesto cómo la carrera por la IA podría definirse por quién consiga que las empresas utilicen sus herramientas de IA, en lugar de por el lanzamiento de nuevos modelos (Axios). El 7 de julio, ABC anunció que MrBeast aparecerá como inversor invitado en la temporada 18 de Shark Tank este otoño. Esta aparición marca el debut del creador con más suscriptores del mundo como inversor en el programa (ABC). El 6 de julio, World abrió su tienda insignia en Londres, donde los visitantes pueden aprender sobre los beneficios de la prueba privada de humanidad y verificar su humanidad a través de un Orb (World). A finales de este mes, el 24 de julio de 2026, la cantidad de WLD que ingresa al mercado cada día disminuirá automáticamente en un 43%, de aproximadamente 5,1 millones a aproximadamente 2,9 millones de tokens por día, al finalizar el período de lanzamiento más importante de tres años del token (World Foundation). Este cronograma se estableció en el documento técnico de World al inicio del token. La Compañía posee 283.452.700 WLD, aproximadamente el 8,1% de todos los WLD en el mercado actualmente y la mayor posición divulgada públicamente en el mundo. Esta posición no cambia el 24 de julio; lo que cambia es que la oferta de WLD continuará aumentando, pero la tasa de aumento de la oferta después del 24 de julio será aproximadamente la mitad del ritmo anterior. "Prácticamente cada semana, las capacidades e innovaciones de la IA siguen asombrando a los mercados", afirmó Thomas "Tom" Lee, miembro del Consejo de Administración de Eightco. "El próximo lanzamiento de GPT-5.6 por parte de OpenAI y la adquisición de Northslope demuestran que la siguiente fase de la IA no solo consiste en crear modelos más capaces, sino también en impulsar su adopción a gran escala en las empresas".
"En cuanto a World, consideramos que su expansión a Londres refleja la creciente importancia de la identidad digital fiable a medida que la IA se integra cada vez más en la vida cotidiana. Creemos que ORBS se encuentra en una posición privilegiada gracias a su exposición tanto a OpenAI como a World, dos plataformas que están ayudando a definir el futuro de la inteligencia artificial y la infraestructura necesaria para respaldarla", añadió Lee.
Eightco: Exposición a las principales megatendencias
Eightco se estructura en torno a tres megatendencias que la compañía prevé que darán forma a la próxima década de innovación: la inteligencia artificial, la identidad digital y la economía de los creadores, con posiciones en cada tendencia a través de inversiones indirectas en OpenAI (23% de las tenencias de tesorería de ORBS), Worldcoin (28%) y Beast Industries (5%).
Inteligencia artificial — OpenAI
Eightco ha invertido aproximadamente 90 millones de dólares en vehículos de propósito especial con exposición a participaciones accionariales en la empresa matriz de OpenAI, lo que representa aproximadamente el 28% de los activos propios, una de las concentraciones más altas divulgadas de cualquier vehículo cotizado.
ChatGPT, la aplicación para consumidores de OpenAI, es la aplicación de IA para consumidores número 1 en todo el mundo (Sensor Tower) y superó los 900 millones de usuarios activos semanales en febrero de 2026, lo que la convierte en la tecnología de consumo de más rápido crecimiento de la historia (UBS via Reuters).
Identidad digital — Token WLD
Eightco posee más de 283 millones de WLD, aproximadamente el 8,1% de la oferta circulante, la mayor posición institucional divulgada públicamente a nivel mundial y aproximadamente el 28% de los activos de la tesorería de Eightco.
Worldcoin es el token nativo de World, una red global de Prueba de Humanidad creada por Tools for Humanity (cofundada por Sam Altman y Alex Blania) y administrada por la Fundación World. Sus dispositivos Orb emiten una identificación World ID que preserva la privacidad y verifica que un usuario es un ser humano único, no un agente de IA.
Según el modelo de negocio anunciado por World, las aplicaciones pagan una tarifa por cada verificación, mientras que la verificación del usuario final sigue siendo gratuita. Tanto los emisores de credenciales como el protocolo World monetizan la autenticación humana verificada. World identifica una oportunidad de ingresos potenciales combinados de 6,35 billones de dólares en 13 sectores, que abarcan la banca, el comercio electrónico, los videojuegos, las redes sociales y la IA con agentes (según Tools for Humanity).
Creator Economy — Beast Industries
Eightco ha invertido 18 millones de dólares en acciones de Beast Industries, lo que representa aproximadamente el 5% de sus activos propios.
Beast Industries cuenta con una de las mayores redes de venta directa al consumidor del mundo, con una base de seguidores combinada de más de 500 millones en diversas plataformas, liderada por MrBeast, la persona más vista en YouTube a nivel global. A medida que la IA convierte la producción de contenido en un bien de consumo, la distribución y la confianza de la audiencia se convierten en activos cada vez más escasos.
Acerca de Eightco Holdings Inc.
Eightco Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ: ORBS) es una empresa que cotiza en bolsa y que está implementando una estrategia de tesorería de Worldcoin (WLD) pionera en su tipo, proporcionando a los inversores una exposición indirecta, a través de un solo símbolo, a tres de las tendencias que definen este ciclo: la inteligencia artificial mediante su inversión indirecta en OpenAI, la identidad digital a través de su posición como el mayor poseedor público de WLD y del protocolo Proof of Human, y la economía de los creadores a través de su participación accionaria en Beast Industries de MrBeast. Respaldada por inversores institucionales líderes como Bitmine Immersion Technologies Inc. (NYSE: BMNR), MOZAYYX, World Foundation, CoinFund, Discovery Capital Management, FalconX, Payward/Kraken, Pantera y GSR, Eightco está construyendo la capa de infraestructura para la verificación humana en la era de la IA con agentes.
Para más información:
X: @iamhuman_orbs
Sitio web: 8co.holdings
Preguntas frecuentes
¿Qué son las acciones de ORBS?
Eightco Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ: ORBS) es una empresa que cotiza en bolsa en Nasdaq. ORBS ofrece exposición indirecta a: OpenAI y Beast Industries.
¿Quién posee la mayor cantidad de Worldcoin (WLD)?
Eightco Holdings (NASDAQ: ORBS) posee 283 millones de WLD, aproximadamente el 8,1% de la oferta circulante y la mayor posición institucional divulgada públicamente a nivel mundial.
¿Qué es Proof of Human?
Proof of Human es una verificación criptográfica que garantiza que un usuario es una persona real y única, no un bot ni un agente de IA. Constituye la infraestructura fundamental para las redes sociales, la banca, el comercio basado en agentes y cualquier sistema que requiera el principio de "una persona, una cuenta" en la era de la IA.
¿Qué relación tiene Eightco (ORBS) con Proof of Human?
Eightco Holdings (NASDAQ: ORBS) es el mayor poseedor institucional de Worldcoin (WLD), el token que impulsa la red Proof of Human de World.
¿Quién es el consejero delegado de Eightco Holdings?
Kevin O'Donnell es el consejero delegado de Eightco Holdings (NASDAQ: ORBS). El consejo de administración de la compañía incluye a Tom Lee (socio gerente y jefe de investigación de Fundstrat, y presidente de Bitmine Immersion Technologies (NYSE: BMNR)) y, como asesor del consejo, a Brett Winton (futurista jefe de ARK Invest).
Declaraciones prospectivas
Este comunicado de prensa contiene declaraciones prospectivas en el sentido de la Ley de Reforma de Litigios sobre Valores Privados de 1995. Todas las declaraciones en este comunicado de prensa que no sean declaraciones de hechos históricos podrían considerarse prospectivas, incluidas, sin limitación, declaraciones sobre: las expectativas de la compañía de que la inteligencia artificial, la identidad digital y la economía de los creadores darán forma a la próxima década de innovación; la creencia de la compañía de que su cartera de tesorería contiene algunos de los componentes más críticos para el futuro sistema financiero digital y de IA; declaraciones sobre el potencial de una cotización directa o una oferta pública inicial de OpenAI después de la presentación de un formulario S-1 confidencial; declaraciones de que la verificación de prueba de humanidad proporciona infraestructura fundamental para redes sociales, banca, comercio agente y cualquier sistema que requiera "una persona, una cuenta" en la era de la IA de agentes; declaraciones sobre la oportunidad de ingresos potenciales de World de 6,35 billones de dólares en industrias que abarcan banca, comercio electrónico, juegos, redes sociales e IA de agentes; declaraciones sobre la posición de la Compañía como el mayor poseedor institucional divulgado públicamente de WLD a nivel mundial; declaraciones de que la distribución y la confianza de la audiencia se convierten en activos cada vez más escasos a medida que la IA mercantiliza la producción de contenido; declaraciones sobre la construcción por parte de la Compañía de la capa de infraestructura para la verificación humana en la era de la IA con agentes; declaraciones sobre la inclusión de Worldcoin (WLD) en Robinhood, lo que amplía el acceso a millones de usuarios; declaraciones sobre las capacidades y el lanzamiento previsto de los modelos GPT-5.6 Sol, Terra y Luna de OpenAI; declaraciones sobre la importancia de la adquisición de Northslope por parte de OpenAI Deployment Company para la adopción de la IA empresarial; declaraciones sobre la creciente importancia de la identidad digital de confianza a medida que la IA se integra en la vida cotidiana; declaraciones sobre la reducción prevista en el crecimiento de la oferta de WLD después del 24 de julio de 2026; declaraciones sobre el posicionamiento único de la Compañía a través de su exposición a las plataformas OpenAI y World; y declaraciones sobre la creencia de OpenAI de que GPT-5.6 Sol es su "modelo más fuerte hasta la fecha". Palabras como "planea", "espera", "hará", "anticipa", "continúa", "expande", "avanza", "desarrolla", "cree", "orientación", "objetivo", "puede", "permanece", "proyecta", "perspectiva", "pretende", "estima", "podría", "debería" y otras palabras y términos de significado y expresión similares tienen como objetivo identificar declaraciones prospectivas, aunque no todas las declaraciones prospectivas contienen tales términos. Las declaraciones prospectivas se basan en las creencias y suposiciones actuales de la gerencia, las cuales están sujetas a riesgos e incertidumbres y no son garantías de rendimiento futuro. Los resultados reales podrían diferir materialmente de los contenidos en cualquier declaración prospectiva como resultado de varios factores, incluidos, sin limitación: la incapacidad de la compañía para dirigir la gestión u operaciones de negocios privados en los que la compañía no es un accionista controlador, incluidos OpenAI y Beast Industries; riesgo de pérdida o depreciación en las inversiones estratégicas de la compañía, incluida su posición indirecta en acciones de OpenAI (mantenidas a través de vehículos de propósito especial), su posición en WLD y su posición en acciones de Beast Industries; la capacidad de la compañía para mantener el cumplimiento de los requisitos de cotización continua de Nasdaq; costes, cargos o gastos inesperados que reduzcan los recursos de capital de la compañía o de otro modo retrasen el despliegue de capital; incapacidad para obtener el capital adecuado para financiar o ampliar sus operaciones comerciales o inversiones estratégicas; volatilidad en los precios de los activos digitales, incluidos WLD y ETH, que podría afectar materialmente el valor de las tenencias de tesorería de la Compañía; cambios regulatorios, legislación futura y reglamentación que impactan negativamente en los activos digitales, la adopción de inteligencia artificial o la recopilación de datos biométricos; riesgos relacionados con el desarrollo, la adopción y la aceptación en el mercado de la tecnología Proof-of-Human y la red World; incertidumbre con respecto al ritmo y la trayectoria del despliegue de IA agente en aplicaciones empresariales y de consumo; incertidumbre con respecto a la hoja de ruta de productos de OpenAI, desarrollos de modelos de negocio y el momento o éxito de cualquier IPO; riesgos relacionados con la capacidad de Beast Industries para lograr sus proyecciones de crecimiento; competencia en los mercados de identidad digital e infraestructura de IA; dependencia de fuentes de terceros para la valoración de ciertas inversiones; incertidumbre con respecto al éxito continuo de MrBeast y el rendimiento del modelo de negocio impulsado por creadores de Beast Industries; riesgos relacionados con las posiciones concentradas de la Compañía en ciertos activos digitales e inversiones en empresas privadas; cambios en las posturas públicas y gubernamentales sobre los activos digitales o las industrias relacionadas con la inteligencia artificial; riesgos relacionados con el momento, las características y la recepción comercial de los lanzamientos de modelos de OpenAI; y riesgos de que la dinámica de la oferta de WLD no genere los efectos de mercado previstos. Dados estos riesgos e incertidumbres, se advierte que no se debe depositar una confianza indebida en dichas declaraciones prospectivas. Para un análisis de otros riesgos e incertidumbres, y otros factores importantes, cualquiera de los cuales podría causar que los resultados reales de Eightco difieran de los contenidos en las declaraciones prospectivas aquí presentadas, consulte los documentos presentados por Eightco ante la Comisión de Bolsa y Valores (la "SEC"), incluidos los factores de riesgo y otras divulgaciones en su Informe Anual en el Formulario 10-K presentado ante la SEC el 15 de abril de 2026 y otros documentos de la SEC disponibles públicamente. Toda la información en este comunicado de prensa es válida a la fecha de su publicación, y Eightco no asume ninguna obligación de actualizar esta información ni de anunciar públicamente los resultados de cualquier revisión de dichas declaraciones para reflejar eventos o desarrollos futuros, excepto según lo exija la ley.
Physical AI has moved from promise to commercial reality, but deploying robots at scale remains the industry's central challenge, according to Citi.
The conclusion follows the bank's fourth annual Robotics and Physical AI Leadership Conference, which gathered founders, investors and operators working at the frontier of the field.
The dominant theme, Citi said, was that commercialisation has arrived but scaling remains hard.
Participants drew a clear line between the promise of physical AI models and the operational reality of deploying them in unstructured, safety-critical environments such as warehouses and factories.
Demand tailwinds are building, according to the bank.
Labour shortages, the reshoring of manufacturing to domestic markets and favourable regulation are all accelerating enterprise appetite for automation.
Set against that, significant friction points persist.
Citi flagged data scarcity, talent constraints, battery limitations and high deployment costs as the key obstacles holding back wider rollout.
The bank also drew a distinction between where investor enthusiasm sits and where returns are actually being generated.
Humanoid robots are attracting significant investment excitement, but near-term returns are being driven by purpose-built autonomous mobile robots and specialised systems.
Citi pointed to warehouse automation specialist Locus Robotics and robotic logistics firm Dexterity as examples of companies delivering measurable results today.
The distinction matters for investors weighing the hype around general-purpose humanoids against the proven economics of machines designed for specific tasks.
The conference reinforced Citi's view that physical AI is a decade-long buildout rather than an overnight revolution.
Durable value, the bank argued, will accrue to companies that own the data flywheel, meaning those whose deployed machines continuously generate the training data that improves their models.
Solving real deployment problems and meeting the highest safety standards will separate winners from the rest, Citi concluded.
Program expected to support expanded investor outreach, shareholder communications, financial media engagement and the Company’s planned Nasdaq Capital Market uplisting process July 09, 2026 08:30 ET | Source: GlobalTech Corporation
RENO, Nev., July 09, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Globaltech Corporation (OTCQB: GLTK) (“Globaltech” or the “Company”), a publicly traded technology platform company building AI and data companies inside real operating infrastructure, today announced that it has engaged MZ Group (“MZ”) to lead a strategic investor relations and shareholder communications program.
MZ will work closely with Globaltech management to support the Company’s capital markets communications strategy, including investor messaging, shareholder communications, investor targeting, roadshow and conference coordination, financial media engagement and broader market awareness.
The engagement is intended to support Globaltech as it advances its technology platform strategy, expands its investor communications program and continues working through its planned Nasdaq Capital Market uplisting process. Any uplisting remains subject to the Company satisfying applicable listing requirements and approval by Nasdaq.
Globaltech combines revenue-generating operating businesses with AI and data technology platforms designed to be tested, validated and scaled inside real commercial environments. The Company currently controls entities which generated more than $10.45 million in revenue during the quarter ended March 31, 2026, have more than 460 employees worldwide, and are supported by approximately $103.7 million in infrastructure assets. Globaltech’s platform includes operating businesses across telecommunications and retail commerce, together with AI and data platforms under commercial launch across financial technology, enterprise software, e-commerce and sports technology.
Through its Center of Excellence, Globaltech seeks to identify, evaluate, integrate and scale technology platforms that can benefit from operating infrastructure, customer environments, commercialization support and public-company resources.
Current platform initiatives include Cadnz, an AI-ready digital lending platform for banks and financial institutions; Thrivo AI, an AI-powered ERP and e-commerce operating platform; and Baseball Blitz, a sports technology platform connecting leagues, players and communities through data and engagement tools.
Dan Green, Chief Executive Officer of Globaltech, commented: “Globaltech is entering an important stage in its capital markets development. As we continue to advance our platform strategy and work through the Nasdaq listing process, we believe consistent, disciplined and transparent communication with the investment community is essential. MZ Group brings deep investor relations experience, capital markets relationships and a strong understanding of how to communicate multi-platform public-company growth stories. We look forward to working with MZ to help investors better understand Globaltech’s operating foundation, AI and data platform strategy, and long-term commercialization model.”
Frank R. Parrish III, President of Globaltech: “We believe that Globaltech has a differentiated public-market story that combines operating revenue, infrastructure and customer environments with a portfolio of AI and data technology platforms. The Company’s model is designed to reduce commercialization risk by developing and validating technology inside real operating businesses before pursuing broader scale. We look forward to working with MZ Group to communicate this strategy clearly and consistently to institutional investors, family offices, brokers, analysts, retail investors and the broader capital markets community.”
For more information on Globaltech, please visit globaltechcorporation.com.
About MZ Group
MZ North America is the U.S. division of MZ Group, a global investor relations and corporate communications firm serving public and private companies. MZ provides customized investor relations programs, strategic communications, investor outreach, public relations, market intelligence, roadshow support, financial media engagement, technology solutions and related capital markets advisory services. MZ works with companies across multiple industries and market capitalizations to help management teams communicate effectively with shareholders, institutional investors, analysts, family offices, brokers, private investors and other key capital markets audiences.
For more information, please visit mzgroup.us.
About Globaltech Corporation
Globaltech Corporation (OTCQB: GLTK) is a publicly traded technology platform company building AI and data companies inside real operating infrastructure. The Company combines revenue-generating operating businesses with AI and data technology platforms across telecommunications, retail commerce, financial technology, enterprise software, e-commerce and sports technology. Through its Center of Excellence, Globaltech seeks to identify, validate and scale technology opportunities using real customer environments, infrastructure, operating workflows and commercialization support.
For more information, please visit www.globaltechcorporation.com.
Forward-Looking Statements
Certain of the matters discussed in this communication which are not statements of historical fact constitute forward-looking statements, that involve a number of risks and uncertainties. Words such as “strategy,” “expects,” “continues,” “plans,” “anticipates,” “believes,” “would,” “will,” “estimates,” “intends,” “projects,” “goals,” “targets” and other words of similar meaning are intended to identify forward-looking statements but are not the exclusive means of identifying these statements. Any statements made in this news release other than those of historical fact, about an action, event or development, are forward-looking statements. Important factors that may cause actual results and outcomes to differ materially from those contained in such forward-looking statements include, without limitation: (a) our strategic plans and treasury management initiatives; (b) our need for additional capital, the terms of such capital and the potential dilution to stockholders caused thereby, including through the issuance of additional shares of common stock or upon conversion of outstanding convertible notes; (c) changes in consumer preferences, purchasing behavior, competitive conditions, and industry trends; (d) macroeconomic, geopolitical, and financial market conditions, including inflation, interest rates, tariffs, and consumer spending levels; (e) disruptions to sourcing, manufacturing, supply chain, logistics, labor availability, and the cost or availability of raw materials and finished goods; (f) the Company's ability to successfully manage inventory, respond to changing fashion trends, maintain the strength of its brands, and execute its retail and growth strategies; (g) foreign currency exchange losses, fluctuations and translation risks related to our business in Pakistan and the United Kingdom; (h) the international economic environment, geopolitical developments and unexpected global events, including economic downturns in Pakistan, the United Kingdom and globally, changes in inflation and interest rates, tariffs, increased borrowing costs and potential declines in the availability of funding; (i) the greater political, legal and economic risks associated with operating in emerging markets as compared to more developed markets; (j) the unpredictability of our revenue performance, including because a significant majority of our customers have not entered into long-term fixed contracts with us; (k) our ability to compete in highly competitive markets, which we expect to become increasingly competitive, and our ability to expand our customer base and retain existing customers; (l) our ability to keep pace with technological changes and evolving industry standards; (m) cyber-attacks and other cybersecurity threats that may lead to compromised or inaccessible telecommunications, digital and financial services, leaks or unauthorized processing of confidential information, and the potential loss of customer confidence resulting therefrom; (n) the highly capital-intensive nature of the telecommunications industry and the substantial and ongoing capital expenditures required to operate and grow our business; (o) the terms of our interconnect agreements and our access to third-party-owned infrastructure and networks over which we have no direct control; (p) increases in license fees and our ability to obtain, maintain, renew or replace licenses, which may be suspended or revoked; (q) risks related to our ability to continue conducting our activities in a manner that does not cause us to be deemed an investment company under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended; (r) the loss of important intellectual property rights or third-party claims alleging infringement of intellectual property rights; (s) our substantial indebtedness and debt service obligations, which could materially decrease cash flow and adversely affect our business and financial condition; (t) our ability to maintain ownership and control of Worldcall Telecom Limited and 123 Investments Limited, as well as our status as a controlled company; (u) conflicts of interest; (v) our ability to comply with the extensive variety of laws and regulations applicable to our business and the uncertain judicial and regulatory environments in which we operate; (w) the fact that our operating subsidiaries, assets and certain of our officers and directors are located in Pakistan and the United Kingdom, which may affect shareholder rights, including the ability to enforce civil liabilities under U.S. securities laws; (x) the outcome of legal disputes, claims, investigations and litigation involving regulators, competitors and third parties; (y) risks relating to future divestitures, asset sales, joint ventures and acquisitions; (z) the absence of an active trading market for our common stock and the risk that such a market may not develop or be sustained; (aa) future operating results; (bb) our ability to uplist our common stock to Nasdaq, including the fact that we do not currently meet Nasdaq’s initial listing requirements, may not meet such requirements in the future, may not have our application to list our common stock on Nasdaq be approved on a timely basis, if at all; and (cc) other plans, objectives, expectations and intentions contained in this release that are not historical facts.
Other important factors that may cause actual results and outcomes to differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking statements included in this communication are described in Globaltech’s publicly filed reports, including, but not limited to, Globaltech’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2025, the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2026, future Annual Reports on Form 10-K, and Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q. These reports are available at www.sec.gov. Globaltech cautions that the foregoing list of important factors is not complete. All subsequent written and oral forward-looking statements attributable to Globaltech or any person acting on behalf of Globaltech are expressly qualified in their entirety by the cautionary statements referenced above. Other unknown or unpredictable factors also could have material adverse effects on Globaltech’s future results. The forward-looking statements included in this press release are made only as of the date hereof. Globaltech cannot guarantee future results, levels of activity, performance or achievements. Accordingly, you should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. Finally, Globaltech undertakes no obligation to update these statements after the date of this release, except as required by law, and takes no obligation to update or correct information prepared by third parties that are not paid for by Globaltech. If we update one or more forward-looking statements, no inference should be drawn that we will make additional updates with respect to those or other forward-looking statements.
Investor Relations Contact
Lucas A. Zimmerman
Managing Director, MZ Group
(262) 357-2918
Company Contact
Dan Green
Chief Executive Officer, Globaltech Corporation [email protected]
Toll Free: (888) 760-7067
USA: (775) 624-4817
NASHVILLE, Tenn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--LP Building Solutions released its 2026 Sustainability Report, detailing its performance across environmental stewardship, innovation, and more.
FREMONT, Calif., July 09, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Enphase Energy, Inc. (NASDAQ: ENPH), a global energy technology company, today announced that it has opened pre-orders for the 20th anniversary limited edition IQ® PowerPack 1500, a smart, portable power station designed to provide reliable power at home, at work, and outdoors.
The limited-edition IQ PowerPack 1500 will be available in black and silver finishes with a commemorative 20th anniversary design. Customers can pre-order the product and related bundles through the Enphase Store with limited-time pre-order pricing. Shipments are expected to begin Aug. 15, 2026.
The IQ PowerPack 1500 provides 1,500 Wh of portable energy and can power multiple devices and small appliances through 11 output ports. It can be charged from a standard electrical outlet, compatible portable solar panels, or a DC 12 V source, and can be monitored and managed through the Enphase® App.
"I run my whole audio system off the IQ PowerPack 1500, and the unit is great," said Kevin Chuang, an Enphase IQ PowerPack 1500 customer and audio enthusiast in Hacienda Heights, California. "It powers my full setup for an estimated nine hours on a charge, and the good app gives me a lot of interesting monitoring details."
"I've spent my career investing in energy and resilience, so I have high standards for the technology I put in my own home," said Ray Rothrock, an Enphase customer and veteran energy and cybersecurity investor. "IQ PowerPack is a great product. It pairs with my IQ Battery 5P system and generator backup to give me reliable power whatever the day brings."
“When the grid went down, my IQ PowerPack kept our fans, lights, TV, and refrigerator running without a hitch,” said Luis A Torres, an Enphase IQ PowerPack 1500 customer based in Mascotte, Florida. “The IQ PowerPack is also my go-to for camping trips—reliable backup power that always comes through.”
“The IQ PowerPack 1500 extends Enphase’s commitment to reliable, intelligent energy into portable power,” said Badri Kothandaraman, president and CEO of Enphase Energy. “As we mark Enphase’s 20th anniversary, we are pleased to offer customers a special-edition product with limited-time pre-order pricing, designed to support backup power, outdoor activities, and everyday energy needs.”
The IQ PowerPack 1500 includes a bright LCD touchscreen and supports Wi-Fi®, Bluetooth®, and cellular connectivity for remote monitoring, software updates, and troubleshooting. The IQ PowerPack 1500, IQ® Portable Panels, and IQ® Cart each come with a 5-year limited warranty.
To learn more or pre-order the 20th anniversary limited edition IQ PowerPack 1500, visit the Enphase Store.
About Enphase Energy, Inc.
Enphase Energy, a global energy technology company based in Fremont, CA, is the world's leading supplier of microinverter-based solar and battery systems, EV chargers, home energy management systems, and virtual power plant (VPP) solutions. Enphase products enable people to harness the sun to make, use, save, and sell their own power, all controlled through the Enphase App. The company revolutionized the solar industry with its microinverter-based technology and has shipped approximately 87.8 million microinverters, with more than 5.2 million Enphase-based systems deployed in over 165 countries. For more information, visit https://enphase.com/.
This press release may contain forward-looking statements, including statements related to the expected availability, shipment timing, features, capabilities, performance, reliability, pricing, promotional offers, and benefits of Enphase Energy’s products described in this release, including the IQ PowerPack 1500, IQ Portable Panels, IQ Cart, and related bundles. These forward-looking statements are based on Enphase Energy’s current expectations and assumptions and inherently involve significant risks and uncertainties. Actual results and the timing of events could differ materially from those contemplated by these forward-looking statements as a result of such risks and uncertainties. Such risks include, but are not limited to, supply availability, logistics, customer demand and adoption, product performance and other factors discussed in Enphase Energy’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including those risks described in more detail in Enphase Energy’s most recently filed Annual Report on Form 10-K and other filings made from time to time with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Enphase Energy undertakes no duty or obligation to update any forward-looking statements contained in this release as a result of new information, future events, or changes in its expectations, except as required by law.
NEWTON, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Service Properties Trust (Nasdaq: SVC) today announced a regular quarterly cash distribution on its common shares of $0.05 per share ($0.20 per share per year), which is unchanged from previous distribution levels after giving effect to the recent five-for-one reverse share split. This distribution will be paid to SVC's common shareholders of record as of the close of business on July 20, 2026 and distributed on or about August 13, 2026. About Service Properties.
, /PRNewswire/ -- Crocs, Inc. (NASDAQ: CROX) announced today that on Thursday, July 30, 2026, at 8:30 am ET, it will host a conference call to discuss the results of its second quarter ended June 30, 2026.
To receive conference call details, please register at the Investor Relations section of the Crocs website, investors.crocs.com. The webcast will also be available live and on replay through April 30, 2027 at this site.
About Crocs, Inc.:
Crocs, Inc. (Nasdaq: CROX), headquartered in Broomfield, Colorado, is a world leader in innovative casual footwear for all, combining comfort and style with a value that consumers know and love. The Company's brands include Crocs and HEYDUDE, and its products are sold in more than 85 countries through wholesale and direct-to-consumer channels. For more information on Crocs, Inc. visit investors.crocs.com. To learn more about our brands, visit www.crocs.com or www.heydude.com. Individuals can also visit https://investors.crocs.com/news-and-events/ and follow both Crocs and HEYDUDE on their social platforms.
Category:Investors
Investor Contact:
Abigail Ritter, Crocs, Inc.
(302) 265-0922
[email protected]
Media Contact:
Melissa Layton, Crocs, Inc.
(303) 848-7885
[email protected]
ORLANDO, Fla.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Travel + Leisure Co. (NYSE: TNL), a leading leisure travel company, today announced it has been named to the TIME America's Best Companies 2026 list.
In a July 6, 2026, SEC filing, Pacific Excel Wealth Advisors, Inc. reported a new position in XPEL (XPEL 10.67%) with an estimated $3.7 million trade based on quarterly average pricing.
What happenedAccording to an SEC filing dated July 6, 2026, Pacific Excel Wealth Advisors, Inc. initiated the stake in XPEL during the prior quarter. The move established the San Antonio-based protective film manufacturer as a significant holding within the firm's portfolio. The position ended the quarter with a valuation of $4.1 million. The firm's total reportable 13F assets were $258.4 million across 228 positions.
What else to knowXPEL was a new position for the firm, representing 1.6% of reportable 13F assets.
Top holdings as of the filing:Vanguard FTSE Developed Markets ETF (VEA 0.62%): $12.0 million (4.7% of AUM)Avantis International Equity ETF (AVDE 0.71%): $11.8 million (4.6% of AUM)Avantis Emerging Markets Equity ETF (AVEM +0.70%): $9.8 million (3.8% of AUM)iShares Russell 2500 ETF (SMMD 1.08%): $8.2 million (3.2% of AUM)State Street SPDR Portfolio Emerging Markets ETF (SPEM +0.55%): $7.9 million (3.1% of AUM)Based on market data, XPEL outperformed the S&P 500 by 7.2 percentage points over the past year.
Company OverviewMetricValueShare Price (as of market close 2026-07-06)$50.05Market Capitalization$1.34 billion52-Week Price Change27.2%Dividend Yield0.0%Company SnapshotXPEL develops, manufactures, and distributes a comprehensive portfolio of aftermarket automotive protection products, including paint protection films, headlight protection solutions, window films, ceramic coatings, and professional installation tools and accessories, complemented by proprietary software solutions and direct-to-consumer e-commerce offerings.The company generates revenue through a diversified distribution model encompassing independent installers, new-car dealerships, third-party distributors, company-owned installation centers, franchisees, and direct online sales channels, creating multiple revenue streams from product sales and installation services.XPEL’s customer base spans independent automotive service providers, new-vehicle dealerships, professional installers, and end consumers, with a geographic reach across North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America, the Middle East, and Africa.XPEL is a leading global provider of automotive protective solutions with a market capitalization of $1.34 billion and operations spanning eight major geographic markets since its establishment in 1997. The company leverages a vertically integrated business model combining manufacturing, distribution, and proprietary software capabilities to serve the growing aftermarket automotive protection segment. With 1,143 employees and headquarters in San Antonio, Texas, XPEL maintains competitive advantages through proprietary product formulations, an extensive installation network, and direct consumer engagement via digital channels.
Should investors buy XPEL too?While I don’t think investors should focus on mirroring Pacific Excel Wealth Advisors’ portfolio moves, given the fund’s typically short holding period, the fund’s purchase of XPEL is interesting. XPEL stock has declined over 50% in the last five years -- but nothing has really “broken" within the company’s operations.
Rather, XPEL is a perfect example of a growth stock whose valuation became too stretched, only for sales growth to slow, prompting a sharp pullback in its share price. However, now trading at just 23 times earnings and with an EV-to-EBITDA ratio of 17, XPEL is again reasonably valued. Five years ago, XPEL was trading at above 100 times earnings and 75 times EBITDA, just for some perspective.
Although XPEL isn’t growing sales by 60% as it did in 2019 and 2021, it grew revenue and EBITDA by 13% and 17%, respectively, in its latest quarter. This steady growth, paired with XPEL’s debt-free balance sheet and leadership in its aftermarket protective niche, makes it an intriguing stock to watch going forward. That said, I would love to see XPEL gain some traction expanding beyond just the automotive market -- especially as some OEMs have started offering their own protection in some cases -- before I would consider buying it for the long term.
Josh Kohn-Lindquist has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Vanguard FTSE Developed Markets ETF. The Motley Fool recommends Xpel. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
NEW YORK, July 09, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- via NetworkNewsWire (“NNW”) — Wrap Technologies Inc. (NASDAQ: WRAP) today announces its placement in an editorial published by NetworkNewsWire (“NNW”), one of 75+ brands within the Dynamic Brand Portfolio@IBN (InvestorBrandNetwork), a specialized communications platform with a focus on financial news and content distribution for private and public companies and the investment community.
To view the full publication, “Federal Ruling Changes Economics of Nonlethal Law Enforcement,” please visit: https://ibn.fm/SQDXI
American law enforcement is in the middle of a legal and cultural reckoning over use of force. Courts are demanding more from officers before they reach for traditional weapons, and the Supreme Court’s unanimous 2025 ruling in Barnes v. Felix has made that demand structurally unavoidable: Every use-of-force decision must now be evaluated against the full context of the encounter, not just the moment it occurred. That legal shift is creating real procurement demand for tools that give officers options earlier in an encounter, before the situation reaches the force threshold that generates liability.
Wrap Technologies Inc. builds exactly those tools, and last week the company received a ruling from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (“ATF”) that may be the single most consequential development in its commercial history: ATF Ruling 2026-2 formally classified the BolaWrap(R) 150 as an instrument of restraint — not a firearm, not a weapon — under both the Gun Control Act and the National Firearms Act. The ruling strengthens Wrap Technologies’ position among other tech leaders operating in the global public-safety space.
About Wrap Technologies Inc.
Wrap Technologies is a global leader in innovative public safety technologies and non-lethal tools, delivering cutting-edge technology with exceptional people to address the complex, modern-day challenges facing public-safety organizations.
WRAP’s complete public-safety portfolio includes the non-lethal BolaWrap(R) 150 device, Wrap Reality(R) immersive training platform, WrapVision(TM) body-worn camera system, WrapTactics(TM) training programs, and next-generation C-UAS solutions such as PAN-DA and the 1KC Kinetic Anti-Drone Cassette, all of which supports the company’s mission to provide safer, scalable and cost-effective technologies for public safety, defense and critical infrastructure markets.
With a growing demand for non-lethal tools and techniques to create time, distance and tactical advantage in noncriminal calls, Wrap’s BolaWrap 150 incorporates a multisensory distraction of sight and sound as a first response, followed by a non-lethal restraint if further escalation is required. This approach reduces the risk of injury to officers, subjects, and the community.
Wrap’s BolaWrap 150 solution is intended to provide law enforcement with a safer choice for nearly every phase of a critical incident. This innovative, patented device deploys a multi-sensory, cognitive disruption to expand the pre-escalation period and gives officers the advantage and critical time to manage non-compliant subjects before resorting to higher-force options. The BolaWrap 150 is not pain-based compliance. It does not shoot, strike, shock or incapacitate; instead, it helps officers strategically operate pre-escalation on the force continuum, reducing the risk of injury to both officers and subjects. Used by more than 1,000 agencies across the United States and in 60 additional countries, BolaWrap is backed by training certified by the International Association of Directors of Law Enforcement Standards and Training (“IADLEST”), reinforcing Wrap’s commitment to public safety through cutting-edge technology and expert training.
WrapReality(TM) VR is a fully immersive training simulator to enhance decision-making under stress.
As a comprehensive public-safety training platform, it provides first responders with realistic, interactive scenarios that reflect the evolving challenges of modern law enforcement. By offering a growing library of real-world situations, WrapReality is intended to equip officers with the skills and confidence to navigate high stakes encounters effectively, which we believe leads to safer outcomes for both responders and the communities they serve.
WrapVision is an all-new body-worn camera and evidence management system built for efficiency.
Designed for efficiency, security, and transparency to meet the rigorous demands of modern law enforcement, WrapVision captures, stores and helps manage digital evidence, ensuring operational security, regulatory compliance and enhanced video picture quality and field of view.
The WrapVision camera, powered by IONODES, boasts streamlined cloud integration and final North American assembly, with a critical made-in-America roadmap projected for early 2026. This track helps ensure data integrity and helps eliminate critical concerns over unauthorized access or foreign surveillance risks.
NOTE TO INVESTORS: The latest news and updates relating to WRAP are available in the company’s newsroom at https://ibn.fm/WRAP
For more information about Wrap Technologies, visit the company’s website at www.Wrap.com.
About NetworkNewsWire
NetworkNewsWire (“NNW”) is a specialized communications platform with a focus on financial news and content distribution for private and public companies and the investment community. It is one of 70+ brands within the Dynamic Brand Portfolio @ IBN that delivers: (1) access to a vast network of wire solutions via InvestorWire to efficiently and effectively reach a myriad of target markets, demographics and diverse industries; (2) article and editorial syndication to 5,000+ outlets; (3) enhanced press release enhancement to ensure maximum impact; (4) social media distribution via IBN to millions of social media followers; and (5) a full array of tailored corporate communications solutions. With broad reach and a seasoned team of contributing journalists and writers, NNW is uniquely positioned to best serve private and public companies that want to reach a wide audience of investors, influencers, consumers, journalists and the general public. By cutting through the overload of information in today’s market, NNW brings its clients unparalleled recognition and brand awareness.
NNW is where breaking news, insightful content and actionable information converge.
For more information, please visit www.NetworkNewsWire.com
Please view full terms of use and disclaimers on the NNW website applicable to all content provided by NNW, wherever published or re-published: http://www.nnw.fm/Disclaimer
NetworkNewsWire
New York, NY
www.NetworkNewsWire.com
212.418.1217 Office [email protected]
NetworkNewsWire is powered by IBN
DISCLAIMER: NetworkNewsWire (NNW) is the source of the Article and content set forth above. References to any issuer other than the profiled issuer are intended solely to identify industry participants and do not constitute an endorsement of any issuer and do not constitute a comparison to the profiled issuer. The commentary, views and opinions expressed in this release by NNW are solely those of NNW. Readers of this Article and content agree that they cannot and will not seek to hold liable NNW for any investment decisions by their readers or subscribers. NNW is a news dissemination and financial marketing solutions provider and are NOT registered broker-dealers/analysts/investment advisers, hold no investment licenses and may NOT sell, offer to sell or offer to buy any security.
The Article and content related to the profiled company represent the personal and subjective views of the Author, and are subject to change at any time without notice. The information provided in the Article and the content has been obtained from sources which the Author believes to be reliable. However, the Author has not independently verified or otherwise investigated all such information. None of the Author, NNW, or any of their respective affiliates, guarantee the accuracy or completeness of any such information. This Article and content are not, and should not be regarded as investment advice or as a recommendation regarding any particular security or course of action; readers are strongly urged to speak with their own investment advisor and review all of the profiled issuer’s filings made with the Securities and Exchange Commission before making any investment decisions and should understand the risks associated with an investment in the profiled issuer’s securities, including, but not limited to, the complete loss of your investment.
NNW HOLDS NO SHARES OF ANY COMPANY NAMED IN THIS RELEASE.
This release contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended and such forward-looking statements are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. “Forward-looking statements” describe future expectations, plans, results, or strategies and are generally preceded by words such as “may”, “future”, “plan” or “planned”, “will” or “should”, “expected,” “anticipates”, “draft”, “eventually” or “projected”. You are cautioned that such statements are subject to a multitude of risks and uncertainties that could cause future circumstances, events, or results to differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements, including the risks that actual results may differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements as a result of various factors, and other risks identified in a company’s annual report on Form 10-K or 10-KSB and other filings made by such company with the Securities and Exchange Commission. You should consider these factors in evaluating the forward-looking statements included herein, and not place undue reliance on such statements. The forward-looking statements in this release are made as of the date hereof and NNW undertakes no obligation to update such statements.
WisdomTree, Inc. (âWisdomTreeâ) (NYSE: WT), a global financial innovator, today announced the launch of the WisdomTree Space Economy Fund (WSPC), listed on
July 09, 2026 08:00 ET | Source: WW International Inc.
Sam's Club Plus members may receive a complimentary three-month Weight Watchers Core membership, while all Sam's Club members can save up to 50% on select Weight Watchers programs
Collaboration connects medication support, nutrition, healthy food choices and trusted pharmacy care in one seamless experience
Brings together two trusted membership brands at a time of growing consumer interest in healthy living
BENTONVILLE, Ark. and NEW YORK, July 09, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Sam’s Club and WW International, Inc. (“Weight Watchers”), two trusted brands that both champion membership and community, today announced a new collaboration to create a more connected, affordable wellness experience. The joint initiative between Sam’s Club, a leading membership retail club, and Weight Watchers, a legacy leader in science-backed weight health, combines expert guidance and nutrition counseling with access to affordable healthy foods, trusted pharmacy services and ongoing support, making it easier for Sam’s Club members to take meaningful steps toward achieving their wellness goals.
Combining Sam's Club's commitment to value with Weight Watchers' expertise in personalized wellness support, the collaboration expands access to science-backed guidance, healthy food solutions and trusted pharmacy services through Sam's Club.
“At Sam's Club, our purpose is to help people save money and live better,” said Myron Frazier, Chief Merchant at Sam's Club. “This collaboration with Weight Watchers extends that commitment by making trusted, science-backed weight health support more affordable and accessible for our members.”
Under the collaboration, Sam's Club Plus members may receive a complimentary three-month Weight Watchers Core membership (a $54 value). After the introductory offer, they can continue Core for just $10 per month with no long-term commitment.* All Sam's Club members will also have access to special pricing on Weight Watchers Core+ and Med+ programs, with savings of up to 50% off everyday pricing. Core+ provides personalized, science-backed wellness support, customized food and nutrition recommendations, and access to virtual and in-person workshops. The collaboration is designed to create a more focused experience for members navigating weight loss, whether they are focused on lifestyle change, currently taking a GLP-1 medication or interested in learning more about clinical weight management options.
“At Weight Watchers, we know people can improve nutrition, sustain weight loss and improve overall quality of life with guidance, support and community, something so aligned with Sam’s Club’s purpose to deliver value to help improve lives,” said Scott Honken, PharmD, Chief Commercial Officer, Weight Watchers. “This new collaboration between Weight Watchers and Sam’s Club opens up access to trusted wellness expertise, value and convenience to help members take meaningful steps toward their wellness goals, whether they are focused on nutrition, weight management, medication support or overall well-being.”
Weight Watchers' approach is rooted in the power of community to help members succeed throughout their wellness journey. That philosophy aligns with Sam's Club's Member's Mark Community, which helps shape products through member feedback, including the company's "Made Without Commitment™", which has removed over 40 unwanted ingredients from Member's Mark food and beverage products. Together with Sam's Club's trusted pharmacy services, including award-winning pharmacists, prescription value programs, acceptance of GLP-1 manufacturer savings coupons, free same-day prescription delivery and select brand-name prescription discounts for Plus members, the collaboration offers members a more connected approach to achieving their health goals. Eligible Sam's Club members can begin accessing these special Weight Watchers offers now.
*valid through duration of the Sam’s Club and Weight Watchers agreement
About Sam’s Club
Sam’s Club®, a division of Walmart Inc. (Nasdaq: WMT), one of the world’s leading retailers, is a membership retail club offering superior products, savings and services to millions of members in more than 600 clubs in the U.S. and Puerto Rico. Now in its 43rd year, Sam’s Club continues to redefine club membership shopping with its highly curated assortment of high-quality fresh food and Member’s Mark® items, in addition to market leading technologies and services like Scan & Go™️, Curbside Pickup and home delivery service in select markets. To learn more about Sam's Club, visit the Sam's Club Newsroom, shop at SamsClub.com and interact with Sam's Club on LinkedIn, X (formerly Twitter), Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and Pinterest.
About Weight Watchers
Weight Watchers (NASDAQ: WW) is the global leader in science-backed weight management, offering an integrated support system built for the GLP-1 era that combines scientific expertise, medication, cutting-edge technology, and human connection. With more than 60 years of experience, Weight Watchers is the most studied commercial weight management program in the world, delivered through its No. 1 U.S. doctor-recommended weight-loss program. Its holistic, personalized approach also includes U.S.-based clinical interventions and access to GLP-1 medications when clinically appropriate, and a global network of coaches and community support. Since 1963, the company has led with science to deliver its members the personalized support they need to reach and sustain their goals. Members can access these solutions directly, or through Weight Watchers for Business’ full-spectrum platform for employers, health plans, and payers. In a landscape crowded with contradictory advice, isolating apps, and one-size-fits-all solutions, Weight Watchers offers a proven path forward that is rooted in research, grounded in empathy and designed to help every member feel better in their body and live a longer, healthier life. For more information, visit weightwatchers.com.
Partnership reinforces Bluebird Botanicals' Colorado roots, environmental values, and commitment to responsible growth under cbdMD leadership
, /PRNewswire/ -- cbdMD, Inc. (NYSE American: YCBD) through its Bluebird Botanicals brand ("Bluebird"), today announced an official partnership with Denver Audubon, a Colorado-based conservation organization dedicated to protecting birds, restoring habitat, advancing community science, and helping transform Denver into a more bird-friendly city.
Founded in Colorado, Bluebird has long drawn inspiration from the natural world. Through this partnership, Bluebird is supporting bird conservation in the state where the Bluebird story began while reinforcing its commitment to nature, transparency, responsibility, and environmental stewardship.
"Bluebird has always stood for more than products," said Ronan Kennedy, CEO and CFO of cbdMD. "The brand was built on a connection to nature, trust, and responsible wellness. Partnering with Denver Audubon allows us to bring those values to life by supporting conservation, education, and wildlife stewardship in Colorado."
Denver Audubon leads conservation, education, and community science initiatives focused on protecting birds and improving habitat across the Denver region. Its work includes educational programming, volunteer engagement, community science efforts, and the Colorado Bluebird Project, which supports bluebird populations through nest box monitoring, habitat awareness, and public participation.
As part of the partnership, Bluebird will support Denver Audubon's conservation and education efforts through its "Buy Bluebird, Save Bluebirds" campaign, contributing 1% of profits from Bluebird product sales over three months this summer.
The announcement comes as cbdMD continues to invest in Bluebird following its acquisition of the brand and product portfolio. Rather than repositioning Bluebird away from its roots, cbdMD is focused on strengthening the brand's identity, preserving its customer relationships, and expanding the ways Bluebird can show up as a responsible wellness brand.
"When cbdMD brought Bluebird into our portfolio, we saw a brand with real history, real values, and a unique connection to consumers," Kennedy added. "Our goal is to protect and amplify what made the brand special. This partnership is a strong example of that commitment."
About cbdMD, Inc.
cbdMD, Inc. (NYSE American: YCBD) is a leading wellness company offering a comprehensive line of U.S.-produced, hemp-derived cannabinoid products, including CBD, CBG, CBN, and more. Its brands include cbdMD, one of the most trusted and recognized CBD brands in the United States; Bluebird Botanicals; Paw CBD, one of the most recognized CBD brands for pets; ATRx Labs functional mushroom supplements; and Oasis, a hemp-derived THC social beverage line. The Company is committed to quality, innovation, science, and transparency, with products distributed both online and through retail partners across the United States. To learn more, please visit www.cbdmd.com.
Bluebird is a Colorado-founded wellness brand known for its commitment to quality, transparency, responsible sourcing, and nature-inspired wellness. As part of the cbdMD, Inc. portfolio, Bluebird continues to serve consumers seeking trusted wellness products while expanding its commitment to environmental responsibility, product innovation, and community impact. To learn more, visit https://BluebirdBotanicals.com.
About Denver Audubon
Denver Audubon is a Colorado-based conservation organization dedicated to protecting birds, restoring habitat, advancing community science, and helping transform Denver into a more bird-friendly city. Through education, volunteer engagement, conservation programs, and community science initiatives, Denver Audubon connects people with nature and creates opportunities to support local bird populations and ecosystems.
For more information, visit www.denveraudubon.org.
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the safe harbor provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Words such as "expect," "will," "believe," "designed to," "anticipate," and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements, including statements regarding the product's attributes and regulatory compliance, anticipated availability and distribution, and consumer demand. Forward-looking statements are based on management's current expectations and assumptions and are subject to known and unknown risks and uncertainties, including evolving federal and state regulation of hemp-derived THC products, that could cause actual results to differ materially, including those described in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The Company undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statement except as required by law.
Contacts
cbdMD, Inc.
Ronan Kennedy
Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer
[email protected]
(704) 445-3064
Life's becoming increasingly expensive. That's the big takeaway from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics' measure of May's inflation. Led by higher energy costs, consumer prices were up a hefty 4.2% year over year, rising at a pace last seen in April 2023. Prices are expected to remain similarly elevated for the foreseeable future too. And it's not just in the U.S. Inflation is up on worldwide as well.
It's a problem for the global economy, of course, and in particular, a risk to credit card lenders. Consumers here and abroad are racking up more and more credit card debt, not because rising income is giving them the confidence to splurge, but because they increasingly need to finance life's basic needs like groceries. For perspective, the Federal Reserve reports credit card debt among U.S. borrowers ended the first quarter at a near-record $1.25 trillion, up 5.9% from the year-earlier comparison.
Cracks are starting to show too -- some modest and some not. One of the not-modest red flags is the fact that an 18-year high 13.2% of credit card accounts are now at least 90 days delinquent on their payments.
And this raises the question: Which credit card stocks will be the first to show signs of this economic strain?
Unequal distribution of growing subprime loan risk The knee-jerk answer might be names like Visa (V 1.29%) and Mastercard (MA 2.20%) simply because these two companies are so dominant in the industry. They aren't though. As operators of payment networks, they're simply intermediaries, charging merchants a small toll every time a consumer uses a card for a purchase. Indeed, Mastercard and Visa are arguably benefiting from increased use of credit cards to purchase more basic consumer goods.
The real risk stacking up here, rather, is borne by the underlying card issuers, who supply the money upfront to fund a purchase that's (hopefully) paid back later, with interest.
These issuers come in all shapes and sizes, and are often banks. Bank of America's (BAC 2.61%) total credit card balances outstanding as of the end of Q1, for instance, were up 3.1% year over year, while Wells Fargo's (WFC 1.86%) were up 6%. Neither of these banks is reporting a rise in delinquencies and charge-offs though, at least not yet. And they may not at all. In fact, both are showing some modest improvement of these measures.
Rather, the outfits most threatened by the impact of higher consumer prices are the so-called subprime lenders and the credit card issuers.
Capital One Financial (COF 5.50%) is arguably the biggest and best-known subprime credit card issuer. Although the lender doesn't officially designate itself as such, it does disclose that about a fourth of its cardholders have FICO scores of 660 or less, which indirectly indicates a less-than-perfect payment history and/or below-average incomes, and/or a limited credit history.
Today's Change
(
-5.50
%) $
-11.16
Current Price
$
191.73
Like Wells Fargo and Bank of America, Capital One's credit delinquencies actually fell in Q1 ending in March, sequentially as well as year over year.
That was before the recent surge of inflation, however, which didn't start picking up until March and didn't explode until April and May. With a full quarter's worth of higher prices now in the books, Capital One's Q2 delinquencies and charge-offs could jump.
That's probable, in fact, given the anecdotal hints that subprime borrowers are suddenly starting to struggle. Standard & Poor's reports 60-day-plus delinquencies for subprime automobile loans rose 37 basis points in May to 6%, extending a trend that's been in place for several months within and outside of the car loan business.
Another name that's particularly vulnerable to the fallout from lingering inflation is lender Synchrony Financial (SYF 9.61%).
You could be a customer without even realizing it. Synchrony often is the lender behind store-issued credit cards, although it also issues its own plastic. Its loan portfolio also includes ordinary installment loans, often to support the purchase of bigger-ticket items like motorcycles, HVAC systems, and more. It's not a subprime lender per se, although it's a lender with a sizable portion of its customer base (more than a fourth) with credit scores of less than 650. If this swath of consumers is forced to shoulder any more financial burden, the payment delinquency cracks that aren't quite yet showing up in its loan portfolio could appear in a hurry.
Image source: Getty Images.
Census Bureau data analyzed by Goldman Sachs suggests that as of April, thanks to rising inflation, the bottom-earning quintile of U.S. households -- households that are more likely to be subprime borrowers -- are now forecast to have just a 0.8% increase in their 2026 disposable cash flow. That's down from an estimated gain of 3.2% as recently as January. For perspective on that figure, Goldman says disposable cash flows for U.S. households of all incomes are still expected to improve by an average of 3.7% this year.
This should be concerning to shareholders of lenders with significant exposure to the subprime credit market.
Serious enough to distinguish prospects from one another These aren't the only lenders facing above-average risk of subprime borrowers' mounting struggles. Bread Financial (BFH 8.33%) could soon hit a wall as well. It's also worth noting that while Capital One and Synchrony's customer bases include more potentially distressed borrowers than those of conventional banks like BofA or Wells Fargo, all of these lenders have some exposure to such borrowers. And just because a borrower is considered prime or better doesn't necessarily mean they will be able to continue making payments on their loans balances. Everyone's in the same economic boat. It doesn't take too much delinquency trouble to do some serious damage to any lender's stock.
If you're looking for a credit card outfit with proven resiliency, consider a stake in American Express (AXP 3.79%), which tends to serve a more affluent customer base that can better withstand economic pressures. Its modest past-dues and charge-offs didn't budge in Q1. Moreover, as Chief Financial Officer Christophe Le Caillec commented during April's Q1 earnings conference call, "retail spending kept up its momentum, up 11% FX‑adjusted. And spending at luxury retail merchants was up 18%, reflecting the continued strength of our premium customer base."
Connect the dots. This contrast is real enough to merit picking one of these aforementioned names over another.
, /PRNewswire/ -- Centene Corporation (Centene) (NYSE: CNC), a leading healthcare enterprise committed to helping people live healthier lives, announced today that its Illinois subsidiary, Meridian Health Plan of Illinois, Inc. (Meridian), has been selected by the Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services (HFS) to continue providing services for the HealthChoice Illinois Medicaid managed care program. The four-year contract is expected to begin January 1, 2027, through 2030.
Meridian logo "Centene has a long track record serving Medicaid and dually eligible Medicaid-Medicare members in Illinois," said Chief Executive Officer Sarah M. London. "This award reflects Meridian's strong local partnerships and focus on delivering coordinated, high-quality care while connecting people to the support they need beyond the clinical setting. We value our partnership with the state and look forward to continuing to expand access and strengthen outcomes across Illinois."
Meridian is one of six managed care organizations selected by HFS to deliver access to high-quality managed care services to approximately 2.4 million Medicaid-eligible Illinoisans statewide. As of May 2026, Meridian serves more than 596,000 Medicaid enrollees through the HealthChoice Illinois Medicaid program. Under the new contract, Meridian will continue providing managed care for Medicaid enrollees, including access to integrated primary, maternal, and behavioral health care.
"We are honored to be chosen again by the Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services to continue delivering access to high-quality, whole person care through proven performance and building on our strategy to address barriers to care," said Meridian Plan President and Chief Executive Officer Cristal Gary.
In addition to ensuring its members get the medical care they need through its clinical and population health programs, Meridian's whole-person approach also focuses on improving well-being by working with community-based partners to address gaps in social drivers that impact health outcomes. Meridian is recognized for its work with the highest possible 5-star rating in the latest 2024 HealthChoice Illinois Report Card in three critical areas: Access to Care, Living with Illness, and Women's/Children's Health.
Building on nearly 20 years of experience serving Illinois communities, Meridian will continue providing comprehensive, coordinated care for some of the state's most vulnerable populations while advancing programs that address social drivers of health across all 102 counties.
About Centene Corporation
Centene Corporation, a Fortune 500 company, is a leading healthcare enterprise that is committed to helping people live healthier lives. The Company takes a local approach with local teams to provide fully integrated, high-quality, and cost-effective services to government-sponsored and commercial healthcare programs, focusing on under-insured individuals. Centene offers affordable and high-quality products to more than 1 in 15 individuals across the nation, including Medicaid and Medicare members (including Medicare Prescription Drug Plans) as well as individuals and families served by the Health Insurance Marketplace.
Centene uses its investor relations website to publish important information about the Company, including information that may be deemed material to investors. Financial and other information about Centene is routinely posted and is accessible on Centene's investor relations website, http://investors.centene.com/.
About Meridian Health Plan of Illinois
Meridian Health Plan of Illinois, Inc. and its family of health plans provide government-sponsored managed care to families, children, seniors, and individuals with complex medical needs. This includes Meridian's Medicaid and Medicare-Medicaid plans, and YouthCare HealthChoice Illinois. YouthCare is a specialized program designed to address the healthcare needs of Illinois Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) youth in out-of-home placement and former youth in care. Meridian connects members to care and offers comprehensive services to support lifelong health and wellness. Meridian is a company of Centene Corporation, a leading healthcare enterprise committed to helping people live healthier lives. Learn more at ILmeridian.com.
All statements, other than statements of current or historical fact, contained in this press release are forward-looking statements. Without limiting the foregoing, forward-looking statements often use words such as "believe," "anticipate," "plan," "expect," "estimate," "predict," "intend," "seek," "target," "goal," "potential," "may," "will," "would," "could," "should," "can," "continue," and other similar words or expressions (and the negative thereof). Centene Corporation and its subsidiaries (Centene, the Company, our or we) intends such forward-looking statements to be covered by the safe-harbor provisions for forward-looking statements contained in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, and we are including this statement for purposes of complying with these safe-harbor provisions. In particular, these statements include, without limitation, statements about our expected future operating or financial performance, changes in laws and regulations, market opportunity, expectations concerning pricing actions, competition, expected contract start dates and terms, expected activities in connection with completed and future acquisitions and dispositions, our investments, and the adequacy of our available cash resources. These forward-looking statements reflect our current views with respect to future events and are based on numerous assumptions and assessments made by us in light of our experience and perception of historical trends, current conditions, business strategies, operating environments, future developments, and other factors we believe appropriate. By their nature, forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties and are subject to change because they relate to events and depend on circumstances that will occur in the future, including economic, regulatory, competitive, and other factors that may cause our or our industry's actual results, performance, or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance, or achievements expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. These statements are not guarantees of future performance and are subject to risks, uncertainties, and assumptions. All forward-looking statements included in this press release are based on information available to us on the date hereof. Except as may be otherwise required by law, we undertake no obligation to update or revise the forward-looking statements included in this press release, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise, after the date hereof. You should not place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements, as actual results may differ materially from projections, estimates, or other forward-looking statements due to a variety of important factors, variables, and events including, but not limited to: our ability to design and price products that are competitive and/or actuarially sound; our ability to accurately predict and effectively manage health benefits and other operating expenses and reserves, including fluctuations in medical costs; rate cuts, insufficient rate changes or other payment reductions or delays by government payors affecting our government businesses; the effect of social, economic, and political conditions, geopolitical events and state and federal policies, including the amount and terms of state and federal funding for government-sponsored healthcare programs, including as a result of changes in U.S. presidential administrations or Congress; changes in federal or state laws or regulations, including changes with respect to income tax reform or government healthcare programs as well as changes with respect to the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and the Health Care and Education Affordability Reconciliation Act (collectively referred to as the ACA) and any regulations enacted thereunder, including the timing and terms of renewal or modification of the Enhanced Advance Premium Tax Credits (eAPTCs) or program integrity initiatives that could have the effect of reducing membership or profitability of our products; unanticipated increased healthcare costs, including due to changes in consumer and provider behaviors, inflation and tariffs; our ability to maintain or achieve improvement in the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) Star ratings and maintain or achieve improvement in other quality scores in each case that could impact revenue and future growth; competition, including for providers, broker distribution networks, contract reprocurements and organic growth; our ability to adequately anticipate demand and timely provide for operational resources to maintain service level requirements in compliance with the terms of our contracts and state and federal regulations; our ability to comply with the terms of our contracts and state and federal regulations and our ability to effectively oversee our third-party vendors to comply with the terms of their contracts with us and state and federal regulations; our ability to manage our information systems effectively; disruption, unexpected costs, or similar risks from business transactions, including acquisitions, divestitures, and changes in our relationships with third-party vendors; impairments to real estate, investments, goodwill and intangible assets; changes in senior management, loss of one or more key personnel or an inability to attract, hire, integrate and retain skilled personnel; membership and revenue declines or unexpected trends; changes in healthcare practices, new technologies, and advances in medicine; our ability to effectively and ethically use artificial intelligence and machine learning in compliance with applicable laws; changes in macroeconomic conditions, including inflation, interest rates and volatility in the financial markets; negative public perception of the Company and the managed care industry; uncertainty concerning government shutdowns, debt ceilings or funding; tax matters; disasters, climate-related incidents, acts of war or aggression or major epidemics; changes in expected contract start dates and terms; changes in provider, broker, vendor, state, federal and other contracts and delays in the timing of regulatory approval of contracts, including due to protests and our ability to timely comply with any such changes to our contractual requirements or manage any unexpected delays in regulatory approval of contracts; the expiration, suspension, or termination of our contracts with federal or state governments (including, but not limited to, Medicaid, Medicare or other customers); the difficulty of predicting the timing or outcome of legal or regulatory audits, investigations, proceedings or matters including, but not limited to, our ability to resolve claims and/or allegations on acceptable terms, or at all, or whether additional claims, reviews or investigations will be brought; challenges to our contract awards; cyber-attacks or other data security incidents or our failure to comply with applicable privacy, data or security laws and regulations; the exertion of management's time and our resources, and other expenses incurred and business changes required in connection with complying with the terms of our contracts and the undertakings in connection with any regulatory, governmental, or third party consents or approvals for acquisitions or dispositions; any changes in expected closing dates, estimated purchase price, or accretion for acquisitions or dispositions; losses in our investment portfolio; restrictions and limitations in connection with our indebtedness; a downgrade of our corporate family rating, issuer rating or credit rating of our indebtedness; the availability of debt and equity financing on terms that are favorable to us and risks and uncertainties discussed in the reports that Centene has filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). This list of important factors is not intended to be exhaustive. We discuss certain of these matters more fully, as well as certain other factors that may affect our business operations, financial condition, and results of operations, in our filings with the SEC, including our annual report on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q and current reports on Form 8-K. Due to these important factors and risks, we cannot give assurances with respect to our future performance, including without limitation our ability to maintain adequate premium levels or our ability to control our future medical and selling, general and administrative (SG&A) costs.
FREMONT, CA / ACCESS Newswire / July 9, 2026 / Aehr Test Systems (NASDAQ:AEHR), a leading provider of test and burn-in solutions for semiconductor devices used in artificial intelligence (AI), silicon photonics, data center, automotive, and industrial applications, today announced it has received an additional follow-on production order from its lead silicon photonics customer for a fully automated FOX-XP® wafer-level burn-in (WLBI) system. The system will support high-volume production burn-in of silicon photonics devices used in AI optical interconnect and hyperscale data center applications.
The order includes Aehr's turnkey FOX-XP multi-wafer WLBI system configured to test up to nine 300mm wafers in parallel together with the fully automated FOX WaferPak® AutoAligner™, enabling automated, high-volume production burn-in with hands-free operation when integrated with an automated wafer handler.
The customer is developing advanced silicon photonics devices used in next-generation optical interconnects and optical I/O architectures for hyperscale AI and cloud data centers and advanced packaging of AI processors and high-performance computing (HPC) devices. These silicon photonics devices enable dramatically higher bandwidth and lower power communication between AI processors, memory, switches, and networking equipment, addressing one of the industry's most significant bottlenecks as AI infrastructure continues to scale. Industry leaders across the AI ecosystem have increasingly identified silicon photonics and optical I/O as key enabling technologies for future AI clusters, rack-scale computing, and chip-to-chip communications to permanently replace copper interconnects that are approaching their practical performance and power limits.
This customer took delivery of its first FOX-XP with fully automated WaferPak Aligner production system in fiscal 2026. The system has now been successfully installed and demonstrated fully automated, hands-free operation integrated with the customer's automated wafer handling equipment and an automated guided vehicle for 300mm wafer FOUP movement. This represents an important production milestone as the customer ramps up manufacturing of its silicon photonics products.
"The successful installation and production qualification of our first fully-automated system with this customer represents another important milestone in our long-term relationship with them," said Gayn Erickson, President and CEO of Aehr Test Systems. "Demonstrating fully hands-free production operation with our integrated FOX-XP platform and automated wafer handling validates not only our technology, but also our ability to support customers as they transition from engineering qualification into high-volume manufacturing.
"We are very pleased to receive this additional follow-on production order early in our new fiscal year. We believe this order reflects the customer's continued confidence in Aehr's FOX-XP platform and represents an encouraging start to fiscal 2027. As AI infrastructure evolves toward optical interconnects and optical I/O, we believe Aehr is well-positioned to support customers that require cost-effective, high-throughput WLBI and stabilization."
Demand for silicon photonics continues to accelerate as hyperscale AI infrastructure expands. Major technology companies and AI infrastructure providers are increasingly adopting optical interconnect technologies to overcome the bandwidth, latency, and power limitations of traditional electrical interconnects. Industry forecasts anticipate significant growth in silicon photonics deployments over the coming years as optical communication moves closer to AI processors and ultimately onto processor packages through optical I/O architectures.
Aehr's FOX-XP platform is designed for high-power wafer-level test and burn-in of advanced semiconductor devices, including silicon photonics integrated circuits, AI processors, power semiconductors, memory devices, sensors, and other leading-edge semiconductor technologies. The FOX-XP system enables parallel burn-in and test of up to nine wafers simultaneously and, when combined with the FOX WaferPak AutoAligner, provides a fully automated production solution that significantly reduces handling time while improving throughput, repeatability, and manufacturing efficiency. The platform utilizes Aehr's proprietary FOX WaferPak Contactors, allowing full-wafer electrical contact and burn-in before singulation to identify infant mortality failures, improve long-term reliability, and lower overall manufacturing costs.
About Aehr Test Systems
Headquartered in Fremont, California, Aehr Test Systems is a leading provider of test solutions for testing, burning-in, and stabilizing semiconductor devices in wafer-level, singulated die, and package-level form, and has installed thousands of systems worldwide. Increasing quality, reliability, safety, and security needs of semiconductors used across multiple applications, including advanced artificial intelligence (AI) processors, silicon photonics, data and telecommunications infrastructure, electric vehicles, electric vehicle charging infrastructure, solar and wind power, computing, and solid-state memory and storage are driving additional test requirements, incremental capacity needs, and new opportunities for Aehr's products and solutions. Aehr has developed and introduced several innovative products including the FOX-PTM families of test and burn-in systems and FOX WaferPakTM Aligner, FOX WaferPak Contactor, FOX DiePak® Carrier and FOX DiePak Loader. The FOX-XP and FOX-NP systems are full-wafer contact and singulated die/module test and burn-in systems that can test, burn-in, and stabilize a wide range of devices such as leading-edge silicon carbide-based and other power semiconductors, 2D and 3D sensors used in mobile phones, tablets, and other computing devices, memory semiconductors, processors, microcontrollers, systems-on-a-chip, and photonics and integrated optical devices. The FOX-CP system is a low-cost single-wafer compact test solution for logic, memory and photonic devices and the newest addition to the FOX-P product family. The FOX WaferPak Contactor contains a unique full-wafer contactor capable of testing wafers up to 300mm that enables IC manufacturers to perform test, burn-in, and stabilization of full wafers on the FOX-P systems. The FOX DiePak Carrier allows testing, burning in, and stabilization of singulated bare die and modules up to 1024 devices in parallel per DiePak on the FOX-NP and FOX-XP systems up to nine DiePaks at a time. Acquired through its acquisition of Incal Technology, Inc., Aehr's new line of high-power package-level reliability/burn-in test solutions for AI semiconductor manufacturers, including its ultra-high-power Sonoma family of test solutions for AI accelerators, GPUs, and high-performance computing (HPC) processors, position Aehr within the rapidly growing AI market as a turnkey provider of reliability and testing that span from engineering to high volume production. For more information, please visit Aehr Test Systems' website at www.aehr.com.
Safe Harbor Statement
This press release contains certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Forward-looking statements generally relate to future events or Aehr's future financial or operating performance. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements because they contain words such as "may," "will," "should," "expects," "plans," "anticipates," "going to," "could," "intends," "target," "projects," "contemplates," "believes," "estimates," "predicts," "potential," or "continue," or the negative of these words or other similar terms or expressions that concern Aehr's expectations, strategy, priorities, plans, or intentions. Forward-looking statements in this press release include, but are not limited to, future requirements and orders of Aehr's new and existing customers; Aehr's ability to receive orders and generate revenue in the future, as well as Aehr's beliefs regarding the factors impacting the foregoing, including the growth of the markets referred to herein; Aehr's ability to integrate Incal efficiently; and the timing and extent to which the acquisition is accretive. The forward-looking statements contained in this press release are also subject to other risks and uncertainties, including those more fully described in Aehr's recent Form 10-K, 10-Q and other reports filed from time to time with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Aehr disclaims any obligation to update information contained in any forward-looking statement to reflect events or circumstances occurring after the date of this press release.
Solution helps small business clients proactively monitor check activity and prevent check fraud before it impacts their business
, /PRNewswire/ -- KeyBank (NYSE: KEY) today announced that Check Control for Business is fully available to KeyBank Business Online® clients. This service, which is unique to KeyBank as to the size of business it supports paired with its minimal cost, can help small business owners address the growing risk of check fraud with the ability to monitor check activity, quickly spot suspicious check transactions, and mark checks for return.
KeyBank Check Control for Business As fraud practices continue to evolve, small business owners are faced with increasing challenges in protecting their operations. According to the Federal Reserve's Business Payments Study, 83% of small firms use paper checks for business payments, and more than $1 billion is recovered each year in counterfeit checks and money orders. Check Control for Business helps combat this by alerting clients to check activity so they can review and act if necessary.
"Check fraud continues to be a growing challenge for businesses as tactics evolve, and we know it's top of the mind for many of our clients, especially small businesses, which are the backbone of our economy," said Victor Alexander, Head of Key's Consumer Bank. "At Key, we are committed to delivering for our clients by helping them stay ahead of emerging threats and protect what they've worked so hard to build. Check Control for Business is another way we're empowering our clients with practical, effective tools to help prevent fraud and operate with confidence."
Check Control for Business is a proactive alert system designed to help business owners monitor check activity from their online or mobile app. In addition to being a fraud mitigation solution, Check Control for Business is also a convenient check reconciliation tool that helps businesses keep track of checks moving through their account.
Check Control for Business empowers small business clients to:
View checks daily from a PC or mobile device Confirm check amounts, numbers, and payees Return suspicious or duplicate checks in just a few clicks Stay in control with customized alerts and notification timing Clients can self-enroll within digital banking with a few simple steps that can be completed in under one minute. Enrolled users receive alerts when checks are ready for review, allowing clients to detect and address potential check fraud before it impacts their business, stopping fraud before it's too late. This can save a business from potentially thousands of dollars in losses and the cascade of problems that follow, like bounced vendor payments and disrupted cash flow.
Check Control for Business is available to eligible KeyBank Business Online clientsi (generally, small business clients with $10 million or less in revenue) at a cost of $5 per enrolled account per month. With the addition of this service, KeyBank continues to invest in digital capabilities that empower small businesses to operate more securely and efficiently in an increasingly complex financial environment.
"Check Control for Business is an exciting addition to our suite of digital capabilities and reflects our commitment to helping businesses of all sizes fight fraud, from emerging small businesses to large enterprises," said Emily Gessner, Head of Commercial Digital for KeyBank. "Providing clients with simple, effective tools to help safeguard their businesses is critical to allowing them to focus on growth."
ABOUT KEYCORP
KeyCorp's roots trace back more than 200 years to Albany, New York. Headquartered in Cleveland, Ohio, Key is one of the nation's largest bank-based financial services companies, with assets of approximately $189 billion at March 31, 2026.
Key provides deposit, lending, cash management, and investment services to individuals and businesses in 15 states under the name KeyBank National Association through a network of approximately 950 branches and approximately 1,100 ATMs. Key also provides a broad range of sophisticated corporate and investment banking products, such as merger and acquisition advice, public and private debt and equity, syndications and derivatives to middle market companies in selected industries throughout the United States under the KeyBanc Capital Markets® trade name. For more information, visit https://www.key.com/. KeyBank Member FDIC.
Check Control for Business is available only to eligible business checking (DDA) subproduct accounts on the Key Business Banking Platform. Accounts enrolled in KeyNavigator® check fraud services (including Positive Pay) are not eligible to enroll.
, /PRNewswire/ -- Main Street Capital Corporation (NYSE: MAIN) ("Main Street") is pleased to announce the following recent activity in its private loan portfolio. During the second quarter of 2026, Main Street originated new or increased commitments in its private loan portfolio totaling $319.0 million and funded total investments across its private loan portfolio with a cost basis totaling $238.9 million.
The following represent notable new private loan commitments and investments during the second quarter of 2026:
$81.5 million in a first lien senior secured term loan, $24.4 million in a first lien senior secured revolver and $32.6 million in a first lien senior secured delayed draw term loan to a provider of mechanical, electrical and plumbing services; $112.4 million in a first lien senior secured term loan, $6.2 million in a first lien senior secured revolver and $18.0 million in a first lien senior secured delayed draw term loan to a national provider of custom power system platforms; $20.4 million in a first lien senior secured term loan, $3.6 million in a first lien senior secured revolver and $1.2 million in equity to a provider of structural repair and restoration services for condominium and commercial properties; and Increased commitment of $7.5 million in an incremental first lien senior secured delayed draw term loan to a provider of senior-level executive search, interim placement, consulting and other talent advisory solutions. As of June 30, 2026, Main Street's private loan portfolio included total investments at cost of approximately $2.1 billion across 86 unique companies. The private loan portfolio, as a percentage of cost, included 93.6% invested in first lien senior secured debt investments and 6.4% invested in equity investments or other securities.
ABOUT MAIN STREET CAPITAL CORPORATION
Main Street (www.mainstcapital.com) is a principal investment firm that primarily provides customized long-term debt and equity capital solutions to lower middle market companies and debt capital to private companies owned by or in the process of being acquired by a private equity fund. Main Street's portfolio investments are typically made to support management buyouts, recapitalizations, growth financings, refinancings and acquisitions of companies that operate in diverse industry sectors. Main Street seeks to partner with entrepreneurs, business owners and management teams and generally provides customized "one-stop" debt and equity financing solutions within its lower middle market investment strategy. Main Street seeks to partner with private equity fund sponsors and primarily invests in secured debt investments in its private loan investment strategy. Main Street's lower middle market portfolio companies generally have annual revenues between $10 million and $150 million. Main Street's private loan portfolio companies generally have annual revenues between $25 million and $500 million.
Main Street, through its wholly-owned portfolio company MSC Adviser I, LLC ("MSC Adviser"), also maintains an asset management business through which it manages investments for external parties. MSC Adviser is registered as an investment adviser under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended.
Contacts:
Main Street Capital Corporation
Dwayne L. Hyzak, CEO, [email protected]
Ryan R. Nelson, CFO, [email protected]
713-350-6000
, /PRNewswire/ -- MSC Income Fund, Inc. (NYSE: MSIF) ("MSC Income" or the "Fund") is pleased to announce the following recent activity in its private loan portfolio. During the second quarter of 2026, MSC Income originated new or increased commitments in its private loan portfolio totaling $74.4 million and funded total investments across its private loan portfolio with a cost basis totaling $62.2 million.
The following represent notable new private loan commitments and investments during the second quarter of 2026:
$24.2 million in a first lien senior secured term loan, $1.3 million in a first lien senior secured revolver and $3.9 million in a first lien senior secured delayed draw term loan to a national provider of custom power system platforms; $13.2 million in a first lien senior secured term loan, $4.0 million in a first lien senior secured revolver and $5.3 million in a first lien senior secured delayed draw term loan to a provider of mechanical, electrical and plumbing services; and $16.2 million in a first lien senior secured term loan, $2.9 million in a first lien senior secured revolver and $1.0 million in equity to a provider of structural repair and restoration services for condominium and commercial properties. As of June 30, 2026, MSC Income's private loan portfolio included total investments at cost of approximately $856.3 million across 81 unique companies. The private loan portfolio, as a percentage of cost, included 92.4% invested in first lien senior secured debt investments and 7.6% invested in equity investments or other securities.
ABOUT MSC INCOME FUND, INC.
The Fund (www.mscincomefund.com) is a principal investment firm that primarily provides debt capital to private companies owned by or in the process of being acquired by a private equity fund. The Fund's portfolio investments are typically made to support leveraged buyouts, recapitalizations, growth financings, refinancings and acquisitions of companies that operate in diverse industry sectors. The Fund seeks to partner with private equity fund sponsors and primarily invests in secured debt investments within its private loan investment strategy. The Fund also maintains a portfolio of customized long-term debt and equity investments in lower middle market companies, and through those investments, the Fund has partnered with entrepreneurs, business owners and management teams in co-investments with Main Street Capital Corporation (NYSE: MAIN) ("Main Street") utilizing the customized "one-stop" debt and equity financing solutions provided in Main Street's lower middle market investment strategy. The Fund's private loan portfolio companies generally have annual revenues between $25 million and $500 million. The Fund's lower middle market portfolio companies generally have annual revenues between $10 million and $150 million.
ABOUT MSC ADVISER I, LLC
MSC Adviser I, LLC ("MSCA") is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Main Street that is registered as an investment adviser under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended. MSCA serves as the investment adviser and administrator of the Fund in addition to several other advisory clients.
Contacts:
MSC Income Fund, Inc.
Dwayne L. Hyzak, CEO, [email protected]
Cory E. Gilbert, CFO, [email protected]
713-350-6000