Key Takeaways WDC is benefiting from AI storage demand, pricing strength and enterprise infrastructure spending.Western Digital cut debt, built a net cash position and expanded share repurchase authorization.WDC's fiscal 2026 and 2027 earnings estimates have moved higher amid improving fundamentals. Western Digital Corporation (WDC - Free Report) has been a standout performer in the storage industry over the past year. Its shares have skyrocketed 723.1% over the past year, outpacing the 458.1% growth of the Zacks Computer-Storage Devices industry. The stock has also outperformed the Zacks Computer & Technology sector’s and the S&P 500’s growth of 33.7% and 23.6%, respectively. After enduring a prolonged downturn caused by weak PC demand and excess memory inventory, the company has benefited from a recovery in storage pricing, growing enterprise demand and the accelerating adoption of AI.
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Western Digital competes against several major players in both HDD and flash storage markets, such as Seagate Technology Holdings plc (STX - Free Report) , NetApp, Inc. (NTAP - Free Report) and Teradata (TDC - Free Report) . STX, TDC and NTAP have gained 482.8%, 60.4% and 55.4%, respectively, in the same time frame.
WDC boasts a 52-week high of $799.87. With WDC outperforming many peers over the last 12 months, investors wonder whether there is still upside potential or whether most of the gains have already been priced in.
Here's a closer look.
Industry Tailwinds Continue to Favor WDC StockSeveral broader trends continue supporting long-term storage demand, such as the AI boom, healthy cloud spending, rising enterprise digital transformation and improving operational efficiency. Driven by rising demand for AI-related storage, WD is strengthening its capacity leadership through continuous innovation. The company is advancing 44TB HAMR and 40TB ePMR high-capacity drives in qualification, with volume production expected in the second half of 2026 and a roadmap extending beyond 100TB.
It is also expanding adoption of its UltraSMR technology, now used by three major customers and supporting nearly all exabyte demand. In addition, WD is introducing high-bandwidth drives and dual-pivot technology to optimize AI workloads, while long-term customer agreements extending through 2028 and 2029 provide greater revenue visibility. AI workloads, agentic AI, synthetic data and physical AI are driving strong demand for HDD storage, with long-term exabyte growth projected to exceed 25% CAGR. As AI-generated data continues to expand, HDDs remain the preferred solution for long-term data retention in hyperscale data centers, complementing flash storage, which is optimized for high-speed performance.
Western Digital is also benefiting from higher pricing, a favorable product mix and cost efficiencies. It expects pricing momentum to continue into late 2026, while improvements in areal density, UltraSMR adoption and supply chain efficiencies are lowering costs and supporting margin expansion without requiring additional manufacturing capacity. The UltraSMR JBOD platform aims to broaden market reach, especially into Tier 2 CSPs and some hyperscalers in Asia. By the end of calendar 2027, most key customers will be on UltraSMR, either fully adopted or in qualification. The forecast indicates that close to 60% of exabytes shipped will be on UltraSMR by the end of fiscal 2027. Expansion into Tier 2 CSPs and hyperscalers is a key strategy.
The company is also considering investments in head and media capacity to support multiyear customer commitments, focusing on technological improvements rather than unit capacity. No new unit capacity investments are planned. The focus is on increasing capacity per drive through technology, such as higher aerial density and more platters. There is potential to increase capacity from 14 disks over time if it proves to be economically viable.
Spin-Off Creates New Opportunities for WDCWestern Digital has been restructuring its business by separating its flash memory operations into Sandisk (SNDK - Free Report) from its HDD business. Investors often reward companies that simplify their business models, allowing each segment to pursue strategies tailored to its specific market. During the fiscal third quarter, WDC strengthened its balance sheet by selling 5.8 million SanDisk shares and using the proceeds to reduce debt by $3.1 billion, leaving only $1.6 billion in convertible debt.
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The company also ended the quarter with a net cash position of $450 million and expanded its capital return program by authorizing an additional $4 billion in share repurchases. Strong free cash flow continues to support WesternDigital's shareholder return strategy. The company increased its quarterly dividend by 20%, and has returned $2.2 billion to shareholders through dividends and share repurchases since the fourth quarter of 2025. Supported by a net cash position, management remains focused on returning excess free cash flow through ongoing buybacks and dividends.
Despite the positive outlook, Western Digital remains far from risk-free. The storage industry remains highly cyclical, with supply-demand imbalances capable of quickly pressuring pricing, margins and profitability. The company also faces intense competition, while any slowdown in AI investment or broader macroeconomic weakness could reduce demand for storage infrastructure.
Upbeat Estimate Revision Trend for WDCWDC’s estimate revisions are on an upward trajectory currently. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for WDC’s earnings for fiscal 2026 has been revised north by 0.4% to $10.06 over the past 60 days, while the same for fiscal 2027 has gone up 8.4% to $18.64.
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Valuation ConsiderationsSeveral factors could support continued appreciation, including rising enterprise demand, a better pricing environment, improving margins, the expansion of AI infrastructure and benefits from corporate restructuring. Going by the price/earnings ratio, the company’s shares currently trade at 28.66 forward earnings compared with 12.59 for the industry.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
In comparison, the forward 12-month price/earnings multiple for STX, TDC and NTAP are 29.51X, 19.71X and 22.67X, respectively.
Should You Consider Buying WDC Stock Now?Western Digital’s improving fundamentals, recovering storage markets, better profitability and growing exposure to AI-driven infrastructure spending drove its strong performance. Its long-term prospects remain encouraging as cloud computing, AI and exploding global data creation continue boosting storage demand. The company's strategic restructuring could unlock further shareholder value over time. However, short-term volatility, pricing swings and macroeconomic uncertainty could create periods of weakness even if the long-term trajectory remains intact.
For long-term investors who can tolerate industry cycles, WDC still appears to offer an attractive way to participate in the growing demand for enterprise storage and AI infrastructure. While last year's outsized gains may be hard to repeat, continued execution and favorable industry trends could still support further upside.
Flaunting a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), WDC is an appealing portfolio pick at the moment. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.
Zscaler čelí rostoucím nákladům na infrastrukturu, ale ve 3. fiskálním čtvrtletí výnosy stouply o 25 % na 850 milionů USD a roční opakované tržby přesáhly 3,5 miliardy USD.
Key Takeaways Zscaler expects fiscal 2026 capex to reach high single digits of revenues as hardware costs rise.Zscaler raised branch appliance prices and is buying equipment early to lock in current prices.Zscaler revenues rose 25% to $850M in fiscal Q3, with annual recurring revenues above $3.5B. Zscaler, Inc. (ZS - Free Report) is facing rising infrastructure costs as demand for artificial intelligence (AI)-powered cybersecurity services increases. Higher prices for memory, storage and processors are expected to raise spending on data center equipment and Zero Trust Branch appliances. However, the company believes its growing scale, pricing actions and operational discipline can help offset these cost pressures over time.
Management expects capital expenditures to reach the high single digits as a percentage of revenues in fiscal 2026 compared with its earlier expectation of the mid-single digits. It also anticipates fiscal 2027 capital expenditures as a percentage of revenues to rise by as much as 200 basis points from the 2026 level because of higher hardware costs. To reduce the impact, Zscaler has already increased prices for its branch appliances and is purchasing equipment early to lock in current prices.
Despite these near-term challenges, the company continues to deliver strong financial performance. In the third quarter of fiscal 2026, revenues increased 25% year over year to $850 million, while annual recurring revenues exceeded $3.5 billion. Remaining performance obligations reached roughly $6.5 billion, providing strong visibility into future revenues.
Profitability also remains healthy. Zscaler’s third-quarter non-GAAP gross margin expanded 40 basis points year over year to 80.7%, while non-GAAP operating margin increased by 140 basis points to 23%. Year to date, the company generated a free cash flow margin of 29%, highlighting its ability to fund growth while maintaining financial discipline.
As its customer base expands and long-term contracts grow, Zscaler's larger revenue scale should help absorb higher infrastructure costs. Continued demand for AI security and Zero Trust solutions could further strengthen its operating leverage over the long run. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for fiscal 2026 is currently pegged at $3.33 billion, indicating a year-over-year increase of approximately 25%.
How Are ZS’ Rivals Managing Rising Infrastructure Costs?Zscaler’s major competitors, including Palo Alto Networks, Inc. (PANW - Free Report) and CrowdStrike Holdings, Inc. (CRWD - Free Report) , are also investing heavily in AI infrastructure to strengthen their cybersecurity capabilities.
Palo Alto Networks is investing heavily in AI, cloud security and platform integration while using its large scale to protect margins. In the third quarter of fiscal 2026, revenues increased 31% year over year to $3 billion, and next-generation security ARR surpassed $8 billion. Palo Alto Networks continues to consolidate multiple security products into one platform, helping spread infrastructure costs across a larger customer base and supporting long-term profitability.
CrowdStrike is also expanding AI-powered capabilities while keeping profitability strong. In the first quarter of fiscal 2027, revenues rose 26% year over year to approximately $1.39 billion, while annual recurring revenues reached about $5.51 billion, up 24%. Its cloud-native Falcon platform reduces the need for on-premise hardware, allowing the company to scale efficiently even as AI workloads increase.
Zscaler’s Price Performance, Valuation & EstimatesZS shares have plunged 33.5% year to date against the Zacks Security industry’s surge of 72.3%.
Zscaler YTD Price Return Performance
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From a valuation standpoint, ZS trades at a forward price-to-sales ratio of 6.25, significantly below the industry’s average of 19.33.
Zscaler Forward 12-Month P/S Ratio
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The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Zscaler’s fiscal 2026 and 2027 earnings implies year-over-year increases of 26.2% and 10.6%, respectively. Estimates for fiscal 2026 and 2027 have been revised upward over the past 60 days.
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Zscaler currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
LYB společně s Mondelez, Amcor a Taghleef vyvíjí flexibilní obal pro tyčinky Marabou s 75% podílem recyklátu. Do budoucna chce dodávat polymery z recyklačního závodu MoReTec-1 v Německu.
Key Takeaways LYB partnered with Mondelez, Amcor and Taghleef on circular packaging for Marabou chocolate bars.The new packaging uses CirculenRevive polymers to enable 75% recycled content for food packaging.LYB plans future polymer supply from its MoReTec-1 recycling plant under construction in Germany. LyondellBasell Industries N.V. (LYB - Free Report) has partnered with Mondelez International, Amcor, Taghleef Industries and other players in the industry to introduce an innovative flexible packaging solution for Marabou chocolate bars. The new packaging uses LYB’s CirculenRevive polymers, made with 100% attributed recycled content through an ISCC PLUS-certified mass balance approach, enabling packaging with 75% recycled content.
This move will help transform hard-to-recycle post-consumer mixed plastic waste into high-quality materials suitable for food packaging. The collaboration emphasizes the growing role of chemical recycling in supporting a circular ecosystem while maintaining the performance required for food packaging applications.
With this in mind, LYB plans to supply future polymers for Marabou packaging from its MoReTec-1 catalytic chemical recycling plant, currently under construction in Wesseling, Germany. Designed to process 50,000 metric tons of recycled feedstock annually, which will be used in LYB’s integrated circular ecosystem by converting mixed plastic waste into feedstock for polymer production.
The project depends on collaboration across the packaging value chain. LYB supplies the recycled polymers, Taghleef Industries manufactures the base film, Amcor converts it into flexible packaging and Mondelez brings the final product to consumers.
The new packaging also aligns with recycled-content requirements under the European Union’s Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation. By integrating advanced recycling technologies, the partners are creating a solution that reduces dependence on fossil-based resources while introducing sustainable packaging for the food industry.
LYB’s shares have lost 15.8% over the past year compared with the industry’s 4.7% decline.
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LYB’s Zacks Rank & Key PicksLYB currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold).
Some better-ranked stocks in the Basic Materials space are Albemarle Corporation (ALB - Free Report) , Carpenter Technology Corporation (CRS - Free Report) and Avino Silver & Gold Mines Ltd. (ASM - Free Report) .
While ALB sports a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) at present, CRS and ASM carry a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) each. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for ALB’s 2026 earnings is pinned at $12.98 per share, indicating a 1,743.04% year-over-year increase. Its earnings beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate in three of the trailing four quarters and missed one, with an average surprise of 74.5%. ALB’s shares have jumped 82.3% over the past year.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for CRS’ 2026 earnings is pegged at $10.56 per share, indicating a rise of 41.18% year over year. Its earnings beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate in each of the trailing four quarters, with an average surprise of 8.95%.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for ASM’s current fiscal-year earnings is pinned at 34 cents per share, indicating a 17.24% year-over-year increase. Its earnings beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate in each of the trailing four quarters, with an average surprise of 125%. ASM’sshares have gained 59.4% over the past year.
Insulet spustila ve Španělsku komerční prodej Omnipod 5 a Omnipod Discover. Země je 20. trhem, kde je Omnipod 5 dostupný, a 26. trhem, kde Insulet prodává své produkty Omnipod.
Key Takeaways Insulet launched Omnipod 5 and Omnipod Discover in Spain, expanding its global footprint.Spain is the 20th Omnipod 5 country and 26th Omnipod market for the company.Omnipod 5 is approved in Spain for type 1 diabetes patients aged two years and older. Insulet Corporation (PODD - Free Report) has commercially launched its Omnipod 5 Automated Insulin Delivery (AID) system and the Omnipod Discover data management platform in Spain, further expanding its international footprint. Spain becomes the 20th country where Omnipod 5 is available and the 26th market where the company sells its Omnipod products, marking another step in Insulet’s ongoing global expansion strategy.
From an investor’s perspective, the launch reinforces Insulet’s commitment to broadening the reach of its flagship automated insulin delivery platform across international markets. Spain’s sizable population of people living with diabetes presents a meaningful long-term growth opportunity, while the addition of the Omnipod Discover platform enhances the company’s digital care ecosystem and strengthens its value proposition for patients and healthcare providers. The continued rollout of Omnipod 5 is expected to support international revenue growth and deepen Insulet’s competitive position in the global diabetes technology market.
Likely Trend of PODD Stock Following the NewsShares of PODD have traded flat since the announcement on July 6. In the year-to-date period, shares of the company have lost 43.2% compared with the industry’s 20.8% decline. The S&P 500 increased 10.4% in the same time frame.
The Spain launch is expected to strengthen Insulet’s long-term growth trajectory by expanding the addressable market for its Omnipod 5 platform and reinforcing its leadership in the global insulin delivery market. As reimbursement coverage broadens across Spain’s autonomous regions, the company stands to benefit from a growing base of recurring, high-margin Pod sales.
Moreover, the introduction of the Omnipod Discover platform enhances Insulet’s connected diabetes care ecosystem, improving patient engagement and supporting stronger relationships with healthcare providers. Continued international expansion of its automated insulin delivery platform is likely to drive sustained revenue growth, increase market penetration and diversify the company’s geographic revenue base over the long run.
PODD currently has a market capitalization of $11.1 billion.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
More on the NewsOmnipod 5 is a tubeless AID system designed to simplify diabetes management by automatically adjusting insulin delivery every five minutes based on continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) readings. The waterproof, wearable Pod proactively corrects high glucose levels while helping protect against hypoglycemia, reducing the need for multiple daily insulin injections.
In Spain, the system is approved for individuals aged two years and older with type 1 diabetes and is compatible with Abbott’s FreeStyle Libre 2 Plus and Dexcom’s G7 CGM sensors. According to the company, Spain is home to more than 4.6 million adults living with diabetes, including an estimated 189,000 people and over 18,500 children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes who rely on insulin therapy, underscoring the significant market opportunity for Omnipod 5. Insulet also noted that it is working closely with health authorities, reimbursement agencies and Spain’s autonomous communities to facilitate broader and equitable access to the technology over time.
Alongside Omnipod 5, Insulet introduced Omnipod Discover, its proprietary web-based retrospective data analytics and reporting platform, to the Spanish market. Designed for Omnipod 5 users, caregivers and healthcare professionals, the platform converts diabetes data into clear, actionable insights that can support more personalized treatment decisions and informed therapy discussions. Featuring an intuitive interface and easy-to-understand reports, Omnipod Discover is intended to improve patient engagement while streamlining diabetes management for healthcare providers.
The platform was initially launched in five Middle Eastern countries earlier this year and is set to expand across additional Omnipod 5 markets over the coming year, reflecting Insulet’s broader strategy of complementing its hardware portfolio with digital health capabilities to enhance the overall diabetes care experience.
Favorable Industry Prospect for PODDGoing by the data provided by Grand View Research, the CGM devices market was valued at $15.47 billion in 2026 and is expected to witness a CAGR of 15.1% through 2033.
Factors like the growing cases of diabetes, the increasing adoption of CGM devices, growing clinical needs, technological innovation and shifting care models are boosting the market’s growth.
A Recent Development by PODDRecently, PODD unveiled positive clinical data for its next-generation Omnipod 6 and investigational fully closed-loop automated insulin delivery systems at the American Diabetes Association's 86th Scientific Sessions. Results from the STRIVE pivotal trial and EVOLUTION 3 feasibility study demonstrated improved glucose control, reduced user effort and enhanced automation, reinforcing the company’s innovation pipeline and long-term leadership in diabetes technology.
Some better-ranked stocks from the broader medical space are Globus Medical (GMED - Free Report) , West Pharmaceutical (WST - Free Report) and Intuitive Surgical (ISRG - Free Report) .
Globus Medical, currently carrying a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy), reported a first-quarter 2026 adjusted earnings per share (EPS) of $1.12, which surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 22.1%. Revenues of $759.9 million beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 4.0%. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
GMED has an estimated long-term earnings growth rate of 10.2% compared with the industry’s 12.6% growth. The company’s earnings beat estimates in each of the trailing four quarters, the average surprise being 26.3%.
West Pharmaceutical, currently flaunting a Zacks Rank #1, reported first-quarter 2026 EPS of $2.13, which beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 26.8%. Revenues of $844.9 million surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 8.5%.
WST has an estimated long-term earnings growth rate of 13.9% compared with the industry’s 9.5% growth. The company’s earnings surpassed estimates in each of the trailing four quarters, the average surprise being 19.4%.
Intuitive Surgical, carrying a Zacks Rank #2 at present, reported first-quarter 2026 adjusted EPS of $2.50, which beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 20.2%. Revenues of $2.77 billion surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 6.2%.
ISRG has a long-term estimated growth rate of 14.6% compared with the industry’s 12.6% growth. The company’s earnings surpassed estimates in each of the trailing four quarters, the average surprise being 16.8%.
Key Takeaways Omnicom Group expanded its AI-powered Omni platform and reported higher first-quarter 2026 core revenues.OMC added major new clients and expanded work with existing customers across multiple industries.Omnicom Group returned capital through dividends and buybacks while facing competition and liquidity risks. Shares of Omnicom Group (OMC - Free Report) have had a decent run over the past month. The stock has gained 7.6%, outperforming the industry’s 6.3% growth. The Zacks S&P 500 composite rose 1.5% during the said time frame.
OMC has a Growth Score of B, which condenses key financial metrics to reflect a fair sense of the quality and sustainability of its growth.
The company’s second-quarter 2026 earnings are expected to increase 28.8% year over year. Its 2026 and 2027 earnings are projected to rise 26.8% and 14.2%, respectively. Revenues are anticipated to grow 50.3% in 2026 and be in line in 2027.
Factors That Bode Well for OMCOmnicom Group provides a comprehensive suite of services globally across fundamental disciplines such as Media & Advertising, Precision Marketing, Public Relations, Healthcare, Branding and Retail Commerce, Experiential, and Execution and Support. The sheer breadth of its offerings caters to varied needs and captures business from a range of traditional small, medium and large players or new-age organizations. OMC reported core operations revenues of $5.6 billion during the first quarter of 2026, representing an increase of $345 million compared with the combined core operations in the year-ago quarter.
OMC is enhancing its service delivery, operational efficiency and cost control through targeted internal investments. During the first quarter of 2026, the company expanded deployment of its artificial intelligence (AI)-powered marketing and sales platform, Omni, across the organization, improving campaign performance, audience targeting, measurement capabilities and workflow automation. Upgraded Adobe and Amazon partnerships are boosting retail media performance, fueling faster campaign execution and strengthening customer identity via Acxiom's Real ID.
The company’s new business wins strengthen its position. During the first quarter of 2026, OMC secured multiple significant new accounts with firms such as IBM, GSK, John Deere, Little Caesars, Acadia Pharmaceuticals and Baileys. OMC also expanded relationships with major existing customers such as Clorox, Dyson, Delta, Exxon, Kroger, Merck and Unilever.
OMC consistently rewards its shareholders through dividends and share repurchases. In fiscal 2023, 2024 and 2025, the company repurchased shares worth $570.8 million, $370.7 million and $707.9 million, respectively, while paying out $562.7 million, $552.7 million and $549.6 million, respectively, in dividends. Such moves instill investor confidence in its stock and enhance shareholder value.
Risks to WatchOmnicom Group faces stiff competition from major players, such as WPP and Publicis Groupe. This competition can limit pricing power, increase operational expenses and reduce market share. As a result, the company must balance competitive pricing strategies with the need to maintain healthy profit margins.
OMC had a current ratio of 0.91 at the end of the first quarter of 2026, lower than the industry average of 0.93, due to a sharp rise in current debt. A current ratio below 1 does not bode well for investors, as it implies the company may not be able to meet short-term obligations.
Omnicom Group currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here
Stocks to ConsiderA couple of better-ranked stocks in the broader Zacks Business Services sector are Veralto Corporation (VLTO - Free Report) and Corpay, Inc. (CPAY - Free Report) .
Veralto Corporation carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) at present. It has a long-term earnings growth expectation of 8.4%. VLTO delivered a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 4.9%, on average.
Corpay, Inc. also holds a Zacks Rank of 2 at present. It has a long-term earnings growth expectation of 14.3%. CPAY's earnings beat estimates in three of the last four reported quarters, while matching once, with the surprise being 2%, on average.
PNC Financial Services Group zveřejní hospodaření za 2. čtvrtletí před otevřením trhu 15. července; analytici čekají zisk 4,41 USD na akcii a výnosy 6,39 miliardy USD.
Firma také zvýšila čtvrtletní dividendu z 1,70 USD na 2 USD na akcii.
The PNC Financial Services Group, Inc. (NYSE:PNC) will release its second quarter earnings report before the opening bell on Wednesday, July 15.
Analysts expect the Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania-based company to report quarterly earnings of $4.41 per share, up from $3.85 per share in the year-ago period. The consensus estimate for PNC Financial’s quarterly revenue is $6.39 billion. It reported $5.66 billion last year, according to Benzinga Pro.
On June 25, PNC Financial Services announced plans to raise quarterly dividend from $1.70 to $2 per share.
Shares of PNC Financial rose 0.3% to close at $254.01 on Tuesday.
Benzinga readers can access the latest analyst ratings on the Analyst Stock Ratings page. Readers can sort by stock ticker, company name, analyst firm, rating change or other variables.
Let’s have a look at how Benzinga’s most-accurate analysts have rated the company in the recent period.
Considering buying PNC stock? Here’s what analysts think:
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Ulta Beauty považuje mezinárodní expanzi za klíčový motor budoucího růstu a dál otevírá nové obchody v Mexiku, na Blízkém východě i prostřednictvím Space NK. Společnost očekává, že tyto nové aktivity přinesou postupný dodatečný růst.
Key Takeaways Ulta Beauty views international expansion as a key driver of future accretive growth.ULTA's Space NK continues to grow while expanding its customer base and market share.ULTA added stores in Mexico and the Middle East to strengthen its international footprint. Ulta Beauty, Inc. (ULTA - Free Report) expects to generate incremental accretive growth as it continues to scale its newer businesses, including its international expansion initiatives. These investments will play an important role in the company’s long-term growth strategy while supporting the continued expansion of its global business. Ulta Beauty further strengthened its international footprint by opening new stores across multiple overseas markets, reinforcing its commitment to expanding beyond the United States.
The company highlighted the continued strength of Space NK, its U.K. and Ireland business, which continues to deliver healthy and well-balanced growth. Space NK is expanding its loyal customer base while steadily gaining market share. Ulta Beauty believes this consistent performance reinforces the strength of its international operations and provides a solid foundation for broader global expansion over the long term.
Ulta Beauty also expanded its presence in Mexico by opening two new stores, including the Madero location, a distinctive two-story location that blends modern beauty retail with the historic architecture and character of central Mexico City. In addition, franchise partner Alshaya Group opened the company’s third Middle East location at Dubai Mall, further extending Ulta Beauty’s presence across international markets through continued store expansion. While the company acknowledged that conditions in the Middle East remain fluid, it remains optimistic about the long-term potential of its flagship location and broader opportunities in the region.
Overall, Ulta Beauty continues to pursue a disciplined long-term international expansion strategy as it invests in newer growth businesses. As the company continues to expand its international operations through Space NK, Mexico and the Middle East, management expects these newer businesses to contribute incremental accretive growth over time while supporting its long-term growth strategy.
The Zacks Rundown for ULTAThe company’s shares have lost 4.6% in the past year compared with the industry’s 13.8% decline.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
From a valuation standpoint, ULTA trades at a forward price-to-earnings ratio of 15.06, higher than the industry’s average of 14.41. ULTA currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold).
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for ULTA’s current and next fiscal year earnings implies a year-over-year rise of 11.8% and 11.3%, respectively.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Stocks to ConsiderSome better-ranked stocks have been discussed below:
Five Below, Inc. (FIVE - Free Report) operates as a specialty value retailer in the United States. At present, Five Below sports a Zacks Rank of 1 (Strong Buy). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for FIVE’s current fiscal-year sales and earnings implies growth of 14.7% and 34.3%, respectively, from the year-ago figures. FIVE delivered a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 70.1%, on average.
The Estée Lauder Companies Inc. (EL - Free Report) manufactures, markets, and sells skin care, makeup, fragrance, and hair care products worldwide. At present, EL flaunts a Zacks Rank of 1.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for EL’s current fiscal-year sales and earnings indicates growth of 4.5% and 59.6%, respectively, from the year-ago figures. EL delivered a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 39.1%, on average.
Interparfums, Inc. (IPAR - Free Report) manufactures, markets, and distributes a range of fragrances and fragrance-related products in the United States and internationally. At present, the company carries a Zacks Rank of 2 (Buy).
The consensus estimate for Interparfums’ current fiscal-year sales and earnings implies a decline of 0.1% and 8%, respectively, from the year-ago figures. IPAR delivered a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 8%, on average.
Micron uzavřel dlouhodobé dohody s Fordem a GM na dodávky paměťových a úložných řešení pro budoucí vozidla. Automobily s autonomií úrovně 4 mohou časem potřebovat přes 300 GB RAM.
Key Takeaways MU signed long-term Ford and GM deals as vehicles require more memory and storage content.ON and NXPI are positioned for demand tied to EV powertrains and software-defined vehicles.NVDA is expanding DRIVE partnerships for ADAS and Level 4 autonomous driving applications. Vehicles are becoming increasingly software-defined, requiring far more semiconductors than previous generations. Autonomous driving, electrification, connected features, digital cockpits and zonal vehicle architectures are driving demand for memory, AI processors, sensors, networking chips and power semiconductors. Micron Technology (MU - Free Report) identifies these as five key megatrends reshaping the automotive industry.
These trends are prompting automakers to secure access to critical chip technologies. Recently, Micron signed a long-term agreement with Ford to supply memory and storage solutions for the automaker's future vehicles. The announcement came just days after Micron secured a similar agreement with General Motors. According to Micron CEO Sanjay Mehrotra, vehicles with Level 4 autonomous driving capabilities could eventually require more than 300GB of RAM, pointing to a significant increase in memory content per vehicle.
AI-powered vehicles also require powerful processors to run complex software, image sensors and radar chips to enable advanced safety features and efficient power semiconductors to manage rising computing workloads. As the automotive industry evolves, several semiconductor companies like Micron, ON Semiconductor (ON - Free Report) , NXP Semiconductors N.V. (NXPI - Free Report) , and NVIDIA (NVDA - Free Report) are well-positioned to benefit fromthis shift to the next generation of intelligent vehicles.
MicronMicron is becoming a strategic technology partner for automakers. Under its agreements with Ford and General Motors, the company will provide automotive-grade LPDRAM, NOR flash and UFS NAND storage products while working with customers on future memory platforms and vehicle architectures. This deeper collaboration should strengthen Micron's position as vehicles become increasingly software-defined.
To support long-term demand, Micron is expanding advanced DRAM manufacturing at its Manassas, VA, facility and increasing output of automotive memory solutions designed for long product lifecycles. These investments should improve supply reliability while helping the company capture rising memory content per vehicle. As ADAS, connected features and AV capabilities become more widespread, Micron's growing automotive footprint positions it to benefit from a multi-year increase in demand for high-performance automotive memory and storage.
MU currently sports a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.
onsemionsemi is benefiting from electrification and software-defined vehicles. The company is a leading supplier of silicon carbide (SiC) power semiconductors, which are increasingly used in EV powertrains to improve energy efficiency, charging speed and driving range. Partnerships with automakers such as Geely and NIO continue to strengthen its presence in the world's largest EV market.
Beyond power chips, onsemi is expanding its role in next-generation vehicle architectures. Its Treo platform is gaining traction in software-defined vehicles, and the company recently began production shipments of Ethernet solutions for a North American automaker's zonal architecture. These chips enable faster in-vehicle communication and centralized computing—key building blocks for connected and autonomous vehicles. As adoption of zonal architectures accelerates, ON appears well-positioned to capture both revenue growth and higher-margin opportunities.
onsemi carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold).
NXP SemiconductorsNXP Semiconductors is benefiting from the automotive industry's shift toward software-defined vehicles and centralized computing architectures. The company is seeing rising demand for its S32 processing platforms, automotive Ethernet solutions and imaging radar chips, which enable advanced driver-assistance systems, high-speed in-vehicle communication and real-time data processing.
These next-generation platforms are increasing NXP's semiconductor content per vehicle, allowing the company to capture a larger share of automotive electronics as vehicles become more intelligent. At the same time, deeper engagement in long-term vehicle programs is strengthening relationships with global automakers and improving future revenue visibility. NXP is also gaining traction in China, where rapid adoption of advanced vehicle architectures is creating additional demand for its automotive processors, networking and connectivity solutions. With software-defined vehicles becoming mainstream, NXP appears well-positioned to benefit.
NXP Semiconductors carries a Zacks Rank #3.
NVIDIANVIDIA is becoming a key technology partner for automakers developing AI-powered and AVs. General Motors has collaborated with NVIDIA to use the company's AI technology for next-generation vehicles and manufacturing, while the automaker will also build future vehicles on NVIDIA's DRIVE AGX platform to accelerate the deployment of autonomous driving capabilities. NVIDIA has also deepened ties with Stellantis, Hyundai Motor and Kia, supplying its DRIVE platform and DRIVE AV software for advanced driver-assistance and Level 4 autonomous driving applications.
These partnerships reinforce NVIDIA's growing role beyond AI data centers. Its DRIVE platform integrates AI computing, perception and autonomous driving software into a single architecture, enabling automakers to build software-defined vehicles with advanced safety and connectivity features. As autonomous driving and in-vehicle AI become more mainstream, NVIDIA is well-positioned to capture a larger share of automotive semiconductor spending.
Carpenter Technology zvýšila výhled provozního zisku pro FY26 na 700–705 milionů USD z předchozích 680–700 milionů USD. Ve 3. čtvrtletí FY26 vykázala rekordních 186,5 milionu USD upraveného provozního zisku.
Key Takeaways Carpenter Technology posted a record adjusted Q3'26 operating income of $186.5 million.CRS raised FY26 operating income guidance to $700-$705 million from $680-$700 million.Carpenter Technology expects Q426 operating income of $205-$210 million on pricing and mix gains. Carpenter Technology Corporation (CRS - Free Report) achieved a record adjusted operating income of $186.5 million in the third quarter of fiscal 2026, marking its most profitable third quarter on record. The upside was driven by strong demand in the aerospace and defense end-markets, as well as ongoing improvements in the product mix.
Carpenter Technology has been demonstrating its recovery growth trajectory through fiscal 2023, with increased productivity across the company’s facilities. In fiscal 2023, the company stated that it aims to double its fiscal 2019 operating income by fiscal 2027. By the end of the fourth quarter of fiscal 2024, it revised this timeline forward, expecting to reach its objective by fiscal 2025. The company surpassed its goal of achieving $460-$500 million in fiscal 2025, delivering operating income of $521.8 million.
With record operating performance and strengthening demand signals, CRS raised its fiscal 2026 outlook again. CRS expects full-year operating income of $700-$705 million, up from the prior stated $680-$700 million. The mid-point of the updated range indicates a 34% increase from that reported in fiscal 2025.
For the fourth quarter of fiscal 2026, the company anticipates operating income of $205-$210 million, indicating a year-over-year increase of 37% at the midpoint. The upside can be attributed to higher prices, improved product mix and increased volumes. The company expects expansion beyond fiscal 2027, supported by strengthening market dynamics and additional capacity.
An upbeat outlook and a consistent performance have set an optimistic tone for the fiscal fourth quarter for Carpenter Technology.
Operating Performance & Outlook of Other Steel StocksNucor Corporation (NUE - Free Report) is gaining from healthy demand in the key markets, actions to expand its production capabilities and higher steel prices. Nucor recorded net sales of $9.5 billion in the first quarter of 2026, up 21.3% year over year, driven by higher volumes. Increased shipment volumes and higher average selling prices drove first-quarter earnings in its steel mill segment.
The steel mills segment reported operating income of $1.13 billion, while the steel products segment and raw materials segment reported operating income of $285 million and $45 million, respectively. All three segments reported a sequential increase in operating income.
Nucor expects higher earnings across all three operating segments for the second quarter of 2026 than those reported in the prior quarter, specifically in the steel mills segment. The steel products segment is also anticipated to deliver stronger performance, driven by higher volumes on steady pricing. The raw materials segment is expected to benefit from higher realized pricing, further contributing to overall earnings growth.
Commercial Metals Company (CMC - Free Report) is gaining from a healthy demand across Commercial Metals’ major North American product lines. In the third quarter of fiscal 2026, Commercial Metals’ North America Steel Group segment reported adjusted EBITDA of around $253 million. The Europe Steel Group segment reported adjusted EBITDA of $34.7 million, while the Construction Solutions Group segment generated $97 million.
Commercial Metals expects core EBITDA to increase sequentially in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2026. The outlook reflects healthy domestic demand, strong backlogs and ongoing benefits from strategic initiatives.
North America Steel Group’s adjusted EBITDA is expected to improve, helped by the absence of a $20-million fiscal third-quarter mill outage headwind, and the benefits of volume growth and margin expansion. Construction Solutions Group’s adjusted EBITDA is projected to grow in the mid-teens, while Europe Steel Group’s performance is expected to be modestly higher, excluding CO2 credits.
CRS’s Price Performance, Valuations & EstimatesCarpenter Technology’s shares have surged 114.8% over the past year compared with the industry’s growth of 104.8%. In comparison, the Zacks Basic Materials sector and the S&P 500 have returned 28.3% and 26.5%, respectively.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
CRS is currently trading at a forward price/sales ratio of 8.69 compared with the industry's 2.96.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for fiscal 2026 sales is pegged at $3.12 billion, indicating a 8.7% year-over-year jump. The consensus mark for the year’s earnings is pegged at $10.56 per share, indicating a year-over-year rise of 41.2%.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for fiscal 2027 sales implies 8.2% year-over-year growth and the same for earnings suggests a rise of 17.2%.
EPS estimates for fiscal 2026 and 2027 have moved north over the past 60 days.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
CRS currently has a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
Wall Street expects a year-over-year decline in earnings on higher revenues when Conagra Brands (CAG - Free Report) reports results for the quarter ended May 2026. While this widely-known consensus outlook is important in gauging the company's earnings picture, a powerful factor that could impact its near-term stock price is how the actual results compare to these estimates.
The earnings report, which is expected to be released on July 15, might help the stock move higher if these key numbers are better than expectations. On the other hand, if they miss, the stock may move lower.
While management's discussion of business conditions on the earnings call will mostly determine the sustainability of the immediate price change and future earnings expectations, it's worth having a handicapping insight into the odds of a positive EPS surprise.
Zacks Consensus EstimateThis company is expected to post quarterly earnings of $0.46 per share in its upcoming report, which represents a year-over-year change of -17.9%.
Revenues are expected to be $2.88 billion, up 3.4% from the year-ago quarter.
Estimate Revisions TrendThe consensus EPS estimate for the quarter has been revised 0.22% higher over the last 30 days to the current level. This is essentially a reflection of how the covering analysts have collectively reassessed their initial estimates over this period.
Investors should keep in mind that the direction of estimate revisions by each of the covering analysts may not always get reflected in the aggregate change.
Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise
Earnings WhisperEstimate revisions ahead of a company's earnings release offer clues to the business conditions for the period whose results are coming out. Our proprietary surprise prediction model -- the Zacks Earnings ESP (Expected Surprise Prediction) -- has this insight at its core.
The Zacks Earnings ESP compares the Most Accurate Estimate to the Zacks Consensus Estimate for the quarter; the Most Accurate Estimate is a more recent version of the Zacks Consensus EPS estimate. The idea here is that analysts revising their estimates right before an earnings release have the latest information, which could potentially be more accurate than what they and others contributing to the consensus had predicted earlier.
Thus, a positive or negative Earnings ESP reading theoretically indicates the likely deviation of the actual earnings from the consensus estimate. However, the model's predictive power is significant for positive ESP readings only.
A positive Earnings ESP is a strong predictor of an earnings beat, particularly when combined with a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), 2 (Buy) or 3 (Hold). Our research shows that stocks with this combination produce a positive surprise nearly 70% of the time, and a solid Zacks Rank actually increases the predictive power of Earnings ESP.
Please note that a negative Earnings ESP reading is not indicative of an earnings miss. Our research shows that it is difficult to predict an earnings beat with any degree of confidence for stocks with negative Earnings ESP readings and/or Zacks Rank of 4 (Sell) or 5 (Strong Sell).
How Have the Numbers Shaped Up for Conagra Brands?For Conagra Brands, the Most Accurate Estimate is higher than the Zacks Consensus Estimate, suggesting that analysts have recently become bullish on the company's earnings prospects. This has resulted in an Earnings ESP of +2.20%.
On the other hand, the stock currently carries a Zacks Rank of #4.
So, this combination makes it difficult to conclusively predict that Conagra Brands will beat the consensus EPS estimate.
Does Earnings Surprise History Hold Any Clue?Analysts often consider to what extent a company has been able to match consensus estimates in the past while calculating their estimates for its future earnings. So, it's worth taking a look at the surprise history for gauging its influence on the upcoming number.
For the last reported quarter, it was expected that Conagra Brands would post earnings of $0.4 per share when it actually produced earnings of $0.39, delivering a surprise of -2.50%.
Over the last four quarters, the company has beaten consensus EPS estimates two times.
Bottom LineAn earnings beat or miss may not be the sole basis for a stock moving higher or lower. Many stocks end up losing ground despite an earnings beat due to other factors that disappoint investors. Similarly, unforeseen catalysts help a number of stocks gain despite an earnings miss.
That said, betting on stocks that are expected to beat earnings expectations does increase the odds of success. This is why it's worth checking a company's Earnings ESP and Zacks Rank ahead of its quarterly release. Make sure to utilize our Earnings ESP Filter to uncover the best stocks to buy or sell before they've reported.
Conagra Brands doesn't appear a compelling earnings-beat candidate. However, investors should pay attention to other factors too for betting on this stock or staying away from it ahead of its earnings release.
Stay on top of upcoming earnings announcements with the Zacks Earnings Calendar.
Společnost Varonis oznámila podporu pro Cursor a rozšiřuje tak ochranu AI kódovacích nástrojů o runtime enforcement, detekci hrozeb a forenzní analýzu relací.
MIAMI, July 08, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Varonis Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ: VRNS), the data and AI security leader, today announced support for Cursor, the AI-native coding tool. Varonis Atlas provides runtime enforcement, threat detection, and full session forensics for Cursor, delivering visibility and control across the agentic development lifecycle.
Cursor's agents read, write, and execute inside your codebase — running terminal commands, installing dependencies, and calling MCP-connected tools. That gives Cursor access to crown-jewel data: source code, .env files, credentials, API keys, and customer data. Built-in safeguards are important, but stopping agents that go off-script and securing sensitive data requires runtime enforcement and threat detection.
"The agents may change, but the security requirements don't," said Ron Bennatan, VP of AI and Data Security Strategy at Varonis. "Developers move between integrated development environments (IDEs) and other tools as they work, and each one has its own guardrails. Atlas gives security teams one place to secure data access, monitor agent activity for risky actions, and enforce policy."
By extending support to Cursor, Varonis continues to deepen its coverage of agentic IDEs, like Claude Code, GitHub Copilot, and VS Code. With Varonis Atlas, organizations can more safely adopt and use AI agents, no matter which tools and vendors they work with.
Varonis Atlas supports the full coding agent lifecycle:
Runtime enforcement: Monitor, block, modify, or alert on agent activity directly inside supported coding agent workflows.Session forensics and threat detection: Reconstruct exactly what happened during a Cursor session, including prompts, tool usage, MCP server activity, command execution, and agent actions.Sensitive data and secrets protection: Detect and prevent exposure of source code, credentials, API keys, and regulated data across all agent activity.Shadow AI discovery: Identify unsanctioned coding agent usage and repository-level artifacts, including skills, rules, and MCP configurations. The integration builds on Varonis' growing support for agentic AI security. Recent releases include an integration with the Claude Compliance API, which enhances security for Claude Enterprise and Claude Platform and enables organizations to capture and review AI interactions for audit, compliance, and investigation.
Additional Resources
Read more on the Varonis blog.See Varonis in action: schedule a 30-minute demo.For more information on Varonis' solutions, visit https://www.varonis.com.Visit our blog and join the conversation on LinkedIn and YouTube. About Varonis
Varonis (Nasdaq: VRNS) secures AI and the data that powers it. The Varonis platform gives organizations automated visibility and control over their critical data wherever it lives and helps ensure safe and trustworthy AI from code to runtime. Backed by 24x7x365 managed detection and response, Varonis gives thousands of organizations worldwide the confidence to adopt AI, reduce data exposure, and stop AI-powered threats.
Investor Relations Contact:
Tim Perz
Varonis Systems, Inc.
646-640-2112 [email protected]
News Media Contact:
Rachel Hunt
Varonis Systems, Inc.
877-292-8767 (ext. 1598) [email protected]
Sterling Infrastructure prodloužila splatnost úvěrové facility do července 2031 a rozšířila ji na 1,5 miliardy USD. Kapacita financování se zvýšila o 1,05 miliardy USD.
, /PRNewswire/ -- Sterling Infrastructure, Inc. (NasdaqGS: STRL) ("Sterling," "we," "our" or "the Company") today announced that it entered into a second amendment and restatement of its credit agreement, which, among other things, extends the maturity of its credit facility to July 2031, expands the size of the credit facility, and provides additional flexibility for ongoing and future operations.
The amended credit agreement replaces the existing term loan and revolving credit facilities (the "existing credit facilities") and will initially provide for revolving borrowings of up to $1.5 billion. This represents an increase in borrowing capacity of $1.05 billion compared to the existing credit facilities. The credit agreement amendment was led by BMO Capital Markets Corp., as Joint Lead Arranger and Joint Book Runner, and BMO Bank N.A., as Administrative Agent. The syndication process resulted in new and expanded lender participation from a diversified group of leading national and regional financial institutions.
The facility will be used for, among other things, refinancing and prepaying existing indebtedness, capital expenditures, permitted acquisitions, and other general corporate purposes.
Additional features of the amended facility include: (i) an increase in the base amount of the incremental facility from $400 million to $500 million, (ii) a reduction in the interest rate by eliminating the 10-basis point SOFR adjustment and further reducing the overall pricing margins based on our Total Net Leverage Ratio and (iii) generally less restrictive covenants.
CFO Remarks
"The expansion and extension of our credit facility reflects the confidence that our lending partners share in our long-term strategy and outlook," stated Nick Grindstaff, Sterling's CFO. "We appreciate the confidence and support from our lending group, whose partnership is instrumental in supporting our growth."
Mr. Grindstaff continued, "This enhanced credit facility further strengthens our financial flexibility, providing additional capacity to invest in organic growth, pursue strategic M&A, and capitalize on the significant opportunities across our end markets. With our strong balance sheet and ample liquidity, we believe we are well positioned to execute our strategy and continue creating value for our shareholders."
About Sterling
Sterling Infrastructure, Inc., operates through a variety of subsidiaries within three segments specializing in E-Infrastructure, Transportation and Building Solutions in the United States, primarily across the Southern, Northeastern, Mid-Atlantic and Rocky Mountain regions and the Pacific Islands. E-Infrastructure Solutions provides advanced, large-scale site development services and mission-critical electrical services for data centers, semiconductor fabrication, manufacturing, distribution centers, warehousing, power generation and more. Transportation Solutions includes infrastructure and rehabilitation projects for highways, roads, bridges, airports, ports, rail and storm drainage systems. Building Solutions includes residential and commercial concrete foundations for single-family and multi-family homes, parking structures, elevated slabs, other concrete work, plumbing services, and surveys for new single-family residential builds. From strategy to operations, we are committed to sustainability by operating responsibly to safeguard and improve society's quality of life. Caring for our people and our communities, our customers and our investors – that is The Sterling Way.
Joe Cutillo, CEO, "We build and service the infrastructure that enables our economy to run,
our people to move and our country to grow."
Company Contact:
Sterling Infrastructure, Inc.
Noelle Dilts, VP of Investor Relations and Corporate Strategy
281-214-0795
[email protected]
Quest Diagnostics spouští pilotní integraci testů Haystack MRD a genomického profilování do systému OncoEMR od společnosti Flatiron Health. Po dokončení integrace získá přístup 4 700 kliniků napříč sítí 1 600 komunitních onkologických pracovišť v USA, včetně téměř 200 pracovišť AON.
American Oncology Network (AON) and other community oncology providers launching now as part of a pilot program that provides access to Haystack MRD
, /PRNewswire/ -- Quest Diagnostics (NYSE: DGX), a leading provider of diagnostic information services, today announced it is integrating its Haystack MRD® ctDNA test and Comprehensive Genomic Profiling services for solid tumor cancers within OncoEMR®, an electronic health record (EHR) from Flatiron Health, via a pilot program with American Oncology Network (AON) and other community oncology providers. Flatiron Health is a leading healthtech company dedicated to expanding the possibilities of point-of-care solutions in oncology.
Quest is the largest clinical reference lab to integrate oncology tests in OncoEMR using the opt-in OncoEMR Molecular Profiling Integration (MPI) ordering feature, which is designed to support the specialized test ordering requirements of comprehensive molecular tests. Once completed, the integration will enable 4,700 clinicians across the Flatiron network of 1,600 community-based cancer care locations in the United States to quickly access the Quest services.
"At Flatiron, we're focused on helping oncology teams get the answers they need to deliver the best possible care," said Quincy Weatherspoon, Chief Network Officer, US Point of Care, Flatiron Health. "By integrating Quest's advanced oncology services directly into existing workflows, we're making it easier for physicians to access critical testing insights without adding complexity to their day. This collaboration helps reduce administrative burden so clinicians can spend less time navigating processes and more time focused on caring for patients with cancer."
Molecular oncology testing often involves dozens or even hundreds of individual genetic biomarkers, which can complicate ordering workflows and producing long, complex results reports. The use of OncoEMR MPI will enable providers to set up accounts for Quest services faster, order tests with fewer steps, and receive easy-to-understand reports within their daily EHR workflows.
Select providers can now order and receive results from Quest using the OncoEMR MPI capability as part of a pilot program. Among the pilot customers is American Oncology Network (AON), a leader in community oncology with more than 350 providers practicing across 21 states. Nearly 200 AON sites now have access to OncoEMR MPI and can use it to order the Quest tests. Quest plans to launch the full OncoEMR MPI integration to providers nationwide in the second half of the year.
"At AON, our aim is to provide comprehensive support, ancillary services and practice management benefits to help community physicians to make cancer care better. Empowering them to use OncoEMR MPI via Quest Diagnostics is an important step in that mission," said Dr. Brian Mulherin, Medical Director at AON. "Under this arrangement, our rapidly growing network of physicians can quickly and easily order Quest's innovative cancer tests, such as Haystack MRD, to help guide patient care."
Providers in the pilot now have access to some of Quest's most innovative cancer tests, including Haystack MRD, a highly accurate circulating-tumor DNA (ctDNA) minimal residual disease (MRD) test for solid tumor cancers. In addition, the company's Comprehensive Genomic Profiling portfolio includes several panels that use advanced sequencing to identify up to 530 genes associated with therapy response, providing physicians with necessary insights to determine appropriate treatment for their patients.
"At Quest Diagnostics, we strive to provide comprehensive cancer services that empower providers to work with patients to make optimal care decisions," said Asia Chang, Vice President and General Manager, Oncology at Quest Diagnostics. "We know that positive outcomes in oncology start with excellent diagnostics, but they don't stop there. We're looking forward to providing oncologists at AON and other organizations a single-source ordering and results solution via OncoEMR MPI, as well as the world-class expertise they've come to expect from Quest."
Quest's integration of OncoEMR MPI reflects the company's strategy to make testing simpler and smarter, including through the use of specialized IT and EHR technologies. Last summer, the company began to offer its Haystack MRD test through the Epic Aura platform and now provides a range of specialized tests, from prenatal screening to Alzheimer's disease, through the platform.
About Quest Diagnostics
Quest Diagnostics works across healthcare to create a healthier world, one life at a time. We connect people, from clinicians to consumers, with laboratory insights that illuminate a path to better health. With a focus on delivering smarter, simpler testing, we help reveal new avenues to identify and treat disease, empower healthy behaviors and improve healthcare management. Quest Diagnostics serves half the physicians and hospitals in the United States and one in three American adults each year, and our nearly 57,000 employees work together to deliver diagnostic insights that inspire actions to transform lives. www.QuestDiagnostics.com
About Flatiron Health
Flatiron Health transforms cancer care and research through a unified, global oncology engine powered by expert-validated AI and deep clinical and scientific expertise. Built from the experiences of millions of patients across the US, UK, Germany, and Japan, our real-world evidence informs the research, regulatory, commercial, and treatment decisions shaping oncology today. In the US, our point-of-care technology empowers clinicians to deliver smarter, more connected care while generating deeper insights that help advance cancer research. Flatiron Health is an independent affiliate of the Roche Group. Flatiron.com @FlatironHealth
About American Oncology Network
American Oncology Network (AON) is an alliance of physicians and seasoned healthcare leaders partnering to ensure the long-term success and viability of community oncology and other specialties. Founded in 2018, AON's rapidly expanding network represents more than 350 providers practicing across 21 states. AON pioneers innovative healthcare solutions through its physician-led model, fostering value-based care that improves patient outcomes while reducing costs and expanding access to quality care. AON equips its network physicians with the tools they need to thrive independently while providing comprehensive support, integrated revenue-diversifying ancillary services, and practice management expertise, enabling physicians to focus on what matters most – providing the highest standard of care for every patient. AON is committed to promoting health equity by addressing disparities in cancer care and ensuring that all patients have access to the care they need to achieve optimal health outcomes. With a focus on innovation and collaboration, AON is shaping the future of community oncology. For more information, please visit AONcology.com more information, or follow us on LinkedIn, Facebook, X (formerly Twitter) and YouTube.
Helen of Troy vykázala nečekaný čtvrtletní zisk a zvýšila výhled tržeb na fiskální rok 2027 na 1,76 až 1,83 miliardy USD. Tržby ve 1. čtvrtletí vzrostly o 8,2 % na 402,1 milionu USD.
Helen of Troy (NASDAQ:HELE) delivered a surprise first-quarter profit and raised its full-year revenue guidance, pointing to early progress in its multi-year restructuring effort.
The consumer products company posted adjusted earnings per share of $0.17 for the quarter, sharply beating the analyst consensus, which had called for a loss of $0.01 per share.
Net sales climbed 8.2% year-over-year to $402.1 million, topping forecasts of roughly $374.5 million. Growth was broad-based, with the Home & Outdoor segment up 9.5% and Beauty & Wellness rising 7%.
Following the results, management raised its fiscal 2027 revenue guidance to a range of $1.76 billion to $1.83 billion. Adjusted earnings guidance was maintained at $3.25 to $3.75 per share, a level the company said reflects stabilization after steep declines in fiscal 2026.
The results build on Project Pegasus, a multi-year restructuring program aimed at modernizing the business and improving operating margins. As part of that effort, Helen of Troy (NASDAQ:HELE) has been diversifying its supply chain to limit exposure to China-related tariffs, targeting China-sourced products at 25% to 30% of consolidated cost of goods sold by the end of fiscal 2026.
Gross margin fell 110 basis points to 46% in the quarter due to tariff pressure and customer mix, though cost savings from Project Pegasus helped offset the impact.
Management said it is focusing marketing and innovation spending on brands including OXO, Hydro Flask and Osprey, aiming to fund reinvestment through revenue growth.
The company's broader portfolio spans the Home & Outdoor and Beauty & Wellness segments and includes Vicks, Braun, Honeywell, PUR, Hot Tools, Drybar, Curlsmith, Revlon and Olive & June.
Shares of Helen of Troy were down 2.2% on Wednesday morning.
UroGen získal od FDA povolení pro UGN-501, což umožňuje zahájit plánovanou studii fáze 1 u pacientů s NMIBC. Nábor pacientů má začít ve 4. čtvrtletí 2026.
July 08, 2026 08:00 ET | Source: UroGen Pharma Ltd.
FDA clearance enables initiation of a planned Phase 1 clinical study evaluating local intravesical administration of UGN-501, with patient enrollment expected to begin in Q4 2026UGN-501 is a differentiated investigational next-generation oncolytic virus designed to combine direct tumor cell destruction with anti-tumor immune activation PRINCETON, N.J., July 08, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- UroGen Pharma Ltd. (Nasdaq: URGN), a biotech company dedicated to developing and commercializing innovative solutions that treat urothelial and specialty cancers, today announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) cleared the Company's Investigational New Drug application (IND) for UGN-501, a next-generation investigational oncolytic virus. The IND clearance enables initiation of a planned Phase 1 clinical study in patients with non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC). The Phase 1 study is expected to begin in Q4 2026 and will evaluate the safety, tolerability, and feasibility of intravesical administration of UGN-501.
"Patients with non-muscle invasive bladder cancer continue to face a significant risk of disease recurrence despite available treatment options," said Mark Schoenberg, M.D., Chief Medical Officer of UroGen. "UGN-501 is an investigational next-generation oncolytic virus designed to selectively destroy tumor cells while generating an anti-tumor immune response. FDA clearance of the IND allows us to begin evaluating whether the encouraging nonclinical profile of UGN-501 can translate into a safe and meaningful therapeutic approach for patients with NMIBC. We look forward to initiating the Phase 1 study and advancing our efforts to develop innovative treatment options for patients with bladder cancer."
NMIBC continues to present significant clinical challenges, particularly among patients whose disease recurs following standard treatment. Despite available therapies, recurrence rates remain substantial, underscoring the need for novel bladder-sparing therapeutic approaches. UroGen believes UGN-501's differentiated mechanism of action and local administration strategy may offer a promising new approach for addressing this unmet need.
About UGN-501
UGN-501 is an investigational, next-generation oncolytic virus being investigated for the treatment of non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC). UGN-501 is designed to selectively replicate within tumor cells, resulting in direct tumor cell destruction and an anti-tumor immune response. The program is supported by nonclinical data demonstrating cytotoxic activity across a broad panel of bladder cancer cell lines representing multiple stages and grades of disease. While UGN-501 is initially being developed for bladder cancer, the Company believes UGN-501's underlying properties may have broader applicability across additional solid tumor indications and intends to evaluate future development opportunities based on emerging clinical and translational data.
About UroGen Pharma Ltd.
UroGen is a biotech company dedicated to developing and commercializing innovative solutions that treat urothelial and specialty cancers because patients deserve better options. UroGen has developed RTGel reverse-thermal hydrogel, a proprietary sustained-release, hydrogel-based platform technology that has the potential to improve the therapeutic profiles of existing drugs. UroGen’s sustained release technology is designed to enable longer exposure of the urinary tract tissue to medications, making local therapy a potentially more effective treatment option. Our first product to treat low-grade upper tract urothelial cancer and our second product to treat adult patients with recurrent LG-IR-NMIBC, are designed to ablate tumors by non-surgical means. UroGen is headquartered in Princeton, NJ with operations in Israel.
Visit www.UroGen.com to learn more or follow us on X (formerly Twitter), @UroGenPharma.
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements as that term is defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including, without limitation, statements regarding: the planned Phase 1 clinical study of UGN-501 in NMIBC and the expected timing for patient enrollment; the potential benefits of UGN-501, including to selectively target cancer cells while retaining potency, triggering an immune response, and minimizing systemic exposure; UGN-501’s potential as a safe and meaningful therapeutic approach for patients with NMIBC and its potential for broader applicability across additional solid tumor indications; UroGen’s plans to evaluate future development opportunities for NMIBC based on emerging clinical and translational data; the belief that UGN-501 has several attributes that differentiate it from other oncolytic viruses; the potential of UroGen’s proprietary RTGel technology to improve therapeutic profiles of existing drugs and UroGen’s sustained release technology making local delivery potentially more effective as compared to other treatment options. Words such as “believe,” “can,” “expect,” “intend,” “may,” “plan,” “potential,” “will,” or other words that convey uncertainty of future events or outcomes are used to identify these forward-looking statements. These statements are subject to a number of risks, uncertainties and assumptions, including, but not limited to: prior results may not be indicative of results that may be observed in the future; the ability to maintain regulatory approval; complications associated with commercialization activities; the labeling for any approved product; competition in UroGen’s industry; the scope, progress and expansion of developing and commercializing UroGen’s product candidates; the size and growth of the market(s) therefor and the rate and degree of market acceptance thereof vis-à-vis alternative therapies; UroGen’s ability to attract or retain key management, members of the board of directors and other personnel; UroGen’s RTGel technology may not perform as expected; UroGen’s financial condition and need for additional capital; and UroGen may not successfully develop and receive regulatory approval of any other product that incorporates RTGel technology. In light of these risks and uncertainties, and other risks and uncertainties that are described in the Risk Factors section of UroGen’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2026, filed with the SEC on May 6, 2026 (which is available at www.sec.gov), the events and circumstances discussed in such forward-looking statements may not occur, and UroGen’s actual results could differ materially and adversely from those anticipated or implied thereby. Any forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this press release and are based on information available to UroGen as of the date of this release.
Flagstar Bank oznámila, že 24. července 2026 zveřejní výsledky za druhé čtvrtletí a uspořádá konferenční hovor. Na programu bude i rozbor výkonu banky za toto období.
, /PRNewswire/ -- Flagstar Bank, N.A., (NYSE: FLG) (the "Bank") today announced that it plans to issue results for the three and six months ended June 30, 2026 at approximately 6:00 a.m. Eastern Time (ET) on Friday, July 24, 2026. The earnings release and presentation will be posted to the Investor Relations portion of the Bank's website, ir.flagstar.com shortly after issuance.
The Bank will conduct a conference call at 8:00 a.m. (ET) on the same date, during which Executive Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Joseph Otting; Co-President, Co-Chief Operating Officer, and Chief Financial Officer, Lee Smith; and Co-President, Co-Chief Operating Officer, and Chief Banking Officer, Richard Raffetto, will discuss the Bank's second quarter 2026 performance.
Conference Call Dial-In Instructions:
Once you dial-in to the call, please enter the conference ID (5857240) and press #. You will then be prompted to provide your name and company name before being placed directly into the call. Participants should dial-in at least 15 minutes in advance of the call start time.
The conference call will be simultaneously webcast at ir.flagstar.com and archived through 5:00 p.m. on August 21, 2026.
Conference Call Details:
Conference ID: 5857240
Dial-in for Live Call:
Domestic (888) 596-4144
International (646) 968-2525
Dial-in for Replay:
Availability July 24 (11:00 a.m.) – July 28 (11:59 p.m.)
Domestic (800) 770-2030
International (609) 800-9909
Flagstar Bank, N.A.
Flagstar Bank, N.A. is one of the largest regional banks in the country and is headquartered in Hicksville, New York. At March 31, 2026, the Bank had $87.1 billion of assets, $60.7 billion of loans, deposits of $66.8 billion, and total stockholders' equity of $8.1 billion. Flagstar Bank, N.A. operates approximately 340 locations across nine states, with strong footholds in the greater New York/New Jersey metropolitan region and in the upper Midwest, along with a significant presence in fast-growing markets in Florida and the West Coast.
Investor Contact:
Salvatore J. DiMartino
(516) 683-4286
Apple schválil nový program odkupu akcií za 100 miliard USD a zvýšil čtvrtletní dividendu o 4 % na 0,27 USD na akcii. Firma zároveň uvedla, že za čtvrtletí vrátila akcionářům 15 miliard USD.
$100 billion. That is the size of the fresh share buyback authorization Apple’s board approved alongside its fiscal Q2 2026 earnings, disclosed in the company’s 8-K filed April 30, 2026.
This announcement represents a reload of the existing program. Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL | AAPL Price Prediction) has now returned over $1 trillion to shareholders since the program began, of which more than $850 billion has come through repurchases. The board also lifted the company’s quarterly dividend 4% to $0.27 per share, with a May 14, 2026 payment date.
What It Means The number matters because this dividend is being funded by an operating machine that just posted its best March quarter on record. Apple’s revenue came in at $111.18 billion, up 16.6% year over year, with net income of $29.58 billion and operating income up 21.28% year over year. Diluted EPS of $2.01 beat the $1.9404 consensus, extending the streak to eight consecutive quarters of beating expectations.
The mix is the story behind the mix. Apple’s key segment (its iPhone business) delivered $56.99 billion on demand for the iPhone 17 lineup, while Services set an all-time record at $30.98 billion. That high-margin recurring stream is what makes an authorization this size credible rather than aspirational. Gross profit rose to $54.78 billion, up 22.1% year over year.
Perhaps most notably, every geographic segment posted double-digit revenue growth, including Greater China at $20.5 billion. Cash and marketable securities ended the quarter at $147 billion against $85 billion of debt, leaving a $62 billion net cash position to work with.
Market Reaction Shares have moved with the disclosure. Apple traded at $270.84 at the time of the April 30 filing and closed at $308.63 on July 2, 2026, a 13.84% move over that window. The one-week reading is stronger, with shares up 12.17% from $275.15 on June 25 to $308.63 on July 2. Year to date, the stock is up 13.74%, and the one-year return is 45.86%. Market cap sits at $4.53 trillion.
Bull Case Apple’s bull case rests on a simple pairing: record cash generation feeding a repurchase program that shrinks the share count while a hardware refresh and Services flywheel keep earnings compounding. In Q2 alone, Apple executed $11 billion in open-market repurchases of 42 million shares and paid $3.8 billion in dividends, for $15 billion returned in the quarter. The new $100 billion authorization extends a pattern that saw $90.71 billion returned via buybacks in fiscal 2025.
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Indeed, I’m of the view that Apple’s operating base supports it. Tim Cook told investors, “Today Apple is proud to report our best March quarter ever, with revenue of $111.2 billion and double-digit growth across every geographic segment.” He described the iPhone 17 family as “the most popular lineup in our history when looking at the launch through March” with 99% US customer satisfaction. Greater China, long a swing factor, grew 28% in the March quarter. CFO Kevan Parekh framed the philosophy plainly: “Our investment in the business comes first and foremost, and then we look to return excess cash to shareholders.”
Prediction markets are aligned with the direction of travel. Polymarket assigns an 89.5% probability that AAPL closes above $280 by end of July, and an 85% probability the stock touches $312 in July. Analyst consensus sits at $315.09 with 30 Buy, 15 Hold, and 3 Sell ratings.
Bottom Line For long-term holders, this $100 billion authorization is among the key fundamental factors worht considering for long-term investment. Indeed, it’s the reason why Warren Buffett and other world-class investors have continued to hold Apple, and for so long.
The company’s incredible profitability, reflected by Apple’s $28.7 billion of quarterly operating cash flow with a Services segment at record scale, supports its valuation. At 35x trailing earnings and 30x forward, I’d argue Apple looks fairly valued, particularly if the hardware and services tech giant can see growth reaccelerate in the coming quarters.
I also think the key future catalyst investors need to keep on their radar is the company’s June quarter guide of 14% to 17% revenue growth with gross margin of 47.5% to 48.5%. If Apple delivers into that range, the buyback will keep doing what it has done for a decade: quietly compound the per-share math.
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Ark Invest Cathie Wood od poloviny května prodal téměř celý podíl v Alibaba, včetně jednorázového prodeje za 54 milionů USD koncem června. Akcie zůstávají pod tlakem kvůli ztrátě 848 milionů juanů a rostoucím politickým rizikům.
Since mid-May, Cathie Wood's Ark Invest has liquidated almost all of its position in Alibaba Group (BABA +8.73%). That included a $54 million sale of the Chinese e-commerce and artificial intelligence (AI) stock in a single day in late June.
Wood, who is both the CEO and the public face of the company, has not publicly commented on this move, which some investors may treat as a sell signal in itself. Nonetheless, investors should probably look more closely at Alibaba's fundamentals and business environment before making such a decision on the consumer discretionary stock.
Image source: The Motley Fool.
A sudden reversal Alibaba stock has lost approximately half of its value since it reached its 52-week peak in October. At that time, Ark Invest owned around 99,000 shares of Alibaba.
As the stock began to correct in November, Wood increased her position in it. However, she began selling the stock aggressively at the beginning of June, and as of the time of this writing, she has sold nearly all of Ark Invest's Alibaba stock.
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The first round of bad news came from its May 13 earnings report. Its loss of 848 million yuan ($123 million) stood in stark contrast to the profit of 28.4 billion yuan ($4.2 billion) it reported in the prior-year quarter.
Moreover, free cash flow (FCF) continues to drop. In the quarter, its FCF was negative $2.5 billion, down from $544 million in FCF 12 months ago. Alibaba is engaging in heavy capital expenditures in its efforts to remain competitive in the AI space; that's likely the reason its free cash flow went negative.
If that were all the bad news, one might be able to discount it, based on the argument that Alibaba's high spending today will benefit the company in the long term. However, rising political tensions may have made the stock too risky to hold.
In May, it was reported that China had imposed travel restrictions on its AI professionals, sparking concern that it was isolating its AI sector and reducing collaboration. And the U.S. and Chinese governments remain at odds on AI hardware. In early June, the U.S. Defense Department listed Alibaba as a "Chinese military company," and not surprisingly, that designation has apparently impacted its stock.
Although Alibaba trades at a price-to-earnings ratio (P/E) of just 16, the combination of all of these factors has left many investors with the view that it's too risky to touch -- including, apparently, Cathie Wood and her team.
Is it time to sell Alibaba stock? Knowing Alibaba's situation, investors who don't have a huge tolerance for risk should probably sell the stock.
Admittedly, the 16 P/E ratio makes it a tempting option. If its AI investments eventually pay off and the Chinese and U.S. governments start to make moves that reassure investors, the stock price could surge. That by itself is a good argument for holding a speculative position.
Nonetheless, the two governments seem intent on imposing trade restrictions on each other, and that political risk alone could sink the Alibaba investment thesis, regardless of its financial metrics. Given the uncertainties around the company's business environment, it probably makes sense to follow Ark Invest's lead and avoid holding a large position in Alibaba stock.
Nvidia klesla na 189 USD, tedy 18 % pod letošní maximum, ale technicky se drží na klíčové podpoře a vytváří býčí pattern. Forward P/E spadl na 20, nejníže za roky.
Nvidia stock remains under pressure this week as the recent sell-off continues. It dropped to $189, down by 18% from its highest point this year, with its valuation falling by nearly $1 trillion. Still, the stock has formed a highly bullish pattern and has landed at a core support, suggesting a rebound is possible.
Technicals suggest that the NVDA stock price may bounce back in the near future. For one, it has landed at the 200-day Exponential Moving Average (EMA), which has provided it with substantial support over time. It has barely remained solidly below this MA in years.
At the same time, the stock has slowly formed a falling wedge pattern, which is made up of two descending and converging trendlines. These two lines are now nearing their confluence, which may lead to a bullish reversal.
Technically, a key risk is that the Relative Strength Index (RSI) is falling and is yet to hit the oversold level. As such, the stock may continue to drift lower for a while before it eventually bounces back.
NVDA stock chart | Source: TradingView
Nvidia is being valued like a value stock despite being one of the fastest-growing companies in the United States. Its latest earnings showed that first-quarter revenue surged to $81.6 billion, representing an 85% year-over-year increase.
Most notably, analysts believe that the growth path remains intact. Its second-quarter revenue is expected to be $91.7 billion, up by 96% YoY. This growth is being driven by soaring data center spending, with the top hyperscalers planning to spend over $700 billion in capital expenditure this year.
Yahoo Finance data shows that its annual revenue is expected to grow by 81% to $392 billion. Unless things change, Nvidia has a long history of beating analyst estimates, meaning that its revenue may hit $400 billion for the first time ever. It is then expected to hit $554 billion next year.
Despite these developments, the company’s valuation has plunged. SeekingAlpha data shows that the company has a forward price-to-earnings ratio of 20, much lower than the five-year average of 53. It has dropped to the lowest level in years.
This valuation multiple makes it cheaper than other slow-growing and lower-margin companies. For example, Walmart has a forward PE ratio of 38, while Tesla’s multiple is 189.
Other valuation multiples suggest that the company is a bargain considering that its growth is accelerating. For example, the company has a rule of 40 metric of 132%, based on its forward revenue growth of 70% and a profit margin of 62%.
Nvidia has some notable catalysts that may help to supercharge its growth. The US has allowed it to sell its H200 chips to some Chinese companies, and most recently, it launched a new line of CPUs.
The undervaluation is likely because investors are concerned about the AI industry and whether companies will continue spending. Also, there are concerns about competition, with its biggest customers like Microsoft, OpenAI, Amazon, and Google are launching their GPUs. More competition is coming from smaller companies like Cerebras and SambaNova.
Analysts remain upbeat about Nvidia, with the consensus target being $309, representing a 60% gain from the current level.
Nvidia čelí rostoucí konkurenci v AI čipech, protože startupy i velcí zákazníci jako Google, Amazon a OpenAI vyvíjejí vlastní procesory pro inference. Přesto její datacentrová divize vykázala rekordní tržby 75,2 miliardy USD, meziročně o 92 % více.
The race to challenge Nvidia's dominance in artificial intelligence chips is entering a new chapter, with startups attracting billions of dollars in funding, Big Tech accelerating in-house chip development, and investors betting that the next phase of AI computing may not belong exclusively to graphics processing units.
While Nvidia continues to dominate the market for AI hardware, attention is increasingly shifting from training massive AI models to running them efficiently in real-world applications, known as AI inference.
That transition has opened the door for a new generation of chipmakers promising faster performance, lower power consumption, and significantly lower operating costs.
The latest reminder came on Wednesday when AI chip startup SambaNova raised $1 billion in fresh financing, highlighting investors' willingness to back companies seeking to carve out a share of one of the world's fastest-growing technology markets.
The funding round values SambaNova at $11 billion and was led by General Atlantic, with participation from Seligman Ventures, T. Rowe Price, and Capital Group.
The latest investment follows a separate funding round earlier this year in which the company raised more than $350 million from investors including Intel, alongside a strategic partnership.
According to a CNBC report published in April, AI chip startups raised $8.3 billion globally in 2026.
Unless funding markets experience a sharp downturn, investment in the sector is expected to reach record levels this year.
Source: CNBC
Nvidia built its dominance on graphics processing units originally designed for gaming but later adapted for AI model training.
Those chips remain the industry standard for building large language models.
However, as enterprises increasingly deploy AI applications rather than train new foundation models, the industry is paying greater attention to inference, the process through which trained AI models respond to user queries.
Many startups argue that GPUs, while exceptionally powerful, were never purpose-built for AI workloads.
Instead, they believe specialized processors designed specifically for inference can dramatically reduce costs while consuming less electricity.
SambaNova is far from the only company trying to loosen Nvidia's grip on AI infrastructure.
Cerebras, which recently debuted on public markets after raising $5.5 billion, has long positioned itself as one of Nvidia's strongest competitors.
Morgan Stanley has argued that the company enjoys a first-mover advantage in certain AI computing segments.
Another closely watched player is Groq, whose inference-focused architecture attracted so much attention that Nvidia agreed to license some of its chip technology and hired away its chief executive last December.
CNBC later reported that Nvidia had agreed to acquire Groq for $20 billion in cash, although neither company confirmed the report.
Groq has said it would continue operating independently under chief executive Simon Edwards.
Interestingly, Nvidia later introduced its own language processing unit at its annual GTC conference in March, suggesting that it is incorporating ideas emerging from newer competitors rather than ignoring them.
Another startup attracting attention is D-Matrix, founded in 2019.
The company says its processors can execute inference workloads up to 10 times faster while consuming five times less energy than standalone Nvidia GPUs, provided workloads remain relatively small.
D-Matrix has raised around $500 million to date, reaching an estimated valuation of roughly $2 billion.
Microsoft participated in its funding through its venture arm M12.
The competitive pressure is not coming solely from startups.
Many of Nvidia's largest customers are simultaneously becoming rivals as they invest heavily in designing proprietary AI chips.
The rationale is straightforward. Developing custom silicon reduces dependence on Nvidia, lowers long-term infrastructure costs, and enables tighter integration between hardware and software.
Reuters reported this week that Chinese AI startup DeepSeek is developing its own AI chip in an effort to reduce reliance on Nvidia and Huawei processors used to train and deploy its models.
Earlier this month, The Information reported that Anthropic had held discussions with Samsung about collaborating on a future chip, although key decisions regarding its specifications and intended use remain unresolved.
OpenAI, last month, unveiled its first custom AI processor, named Jalapeño, developed alongside Broadcom.
Broadcom chief executive Hock Tan told Reuters that the processor performs on par with Nvidia's Blackwell chips and Google's tensor processing units.
Google itself is moving aggressively to reduce its reliance on Nvidia.
Rather than using the same processors for both AI training and inference, the company is separating those workloads into dedicated chips under the eighth generation of its tensor processing unit family.
Its TPU 8t and TPU 8i processors are expected to become available later this year.
Amazon is following a similar strategy.
Its AI chief, Peter DeSantis, recently told Bloomberg that Amazon Web Services is discussing the possibility of selling its Trainium AI chips to external customers, potentially creating one of the strongest alternatives to Nvidia in data centre infrastructure.
Such discussions remain at an early stage, but they follow Amazon chief executive Andy Jassy's comments that demand for the company's internally developed AI chips has been so strong that commercializing them is now under consideration.
Meta is also investing aggressively in custom AI hardware through an expanded partnership with Broadcom.
The company's Meta Training and Inference Accelerator (MTIA) programme has already produced its first chip, the MTIA 300, which powers ranking and recommendation systems across Meta's platforms.
Three additional generations are expected through 2027, with the later versions designed specifically for inference workloads that power AI assistants and respond to user queries.
Like Google and Amazon, Meta's objective is to reduce dependence on Nvidia while tailoring chips to its own software stack and AI infrastructure.
The shift illustrates a broader trend across hyperscalers.
Rather than relying entirely on off-the-shelf GPUs, technology giants are increasingly building application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs) optimized for their own workloads.
Unlike many startups, AMD and Broadcom have already established themselves as meaningful competitors in AI infrastructure.
AMD's transformation has mirrored Nvidia's in several ways.
Originally known for gaming graphics cards and PC processors, the company shifted its focus toward data centre accelerators and AI chips, allowing it to emerge as the second-largest public player in the AI accelerator market.
The strategy has paid off handsomely for investors.
AMD shares have surged more than 460% over the past five years, giving the company a market value exceeding $840 billion.
Broadcom, meanwhile, has become one of the most strategically important companies in custom AI silicon.
Rather than competing directly with Nvidia through merchant chips, Broadcom designs custom processors for some of the world's biggest AI developers.
Melius Research analysts recently said Broadcom has visibility into about 10 gigawatts of AI demand by 2027 from customers including Anthropic and Meta Platforms.
The company's influence expanded further on Wednesday after it signed a semiconductor agreement worth more than $30 billion with Apple.
Under the deal, Broadcom will design and manufacture "custom silicon components and cutting-edge wireless connectivity technologies" for Apple's products.
Despite the growing number of competitors, most analysts believe Nvidia's leadership remains overwhelming.
"Nvidia is definitely going to see more competition compared to a year ago," said KinNgai Chan, a managing director at Summit Insights Group, in comments to Reuters in March.
"Nvidia still has over 90% market share in both training and inference markets today."
However, Chan expects that dominance to gradually erode over the coming years.
"We think Nvidia will begin to see share loss starting in 2027, once in-house ASIC programs gain some scale, especially in the inference market," he said, referring to application-specific integrated circuits that are designed for dedicated workloads and offer higher efficiency than general-purpose GPUs.
Morningstar shares a similar long-term outlook.
"In the long term, we think it's inevitable that Google and AWS will push to bring more chips and AI gear in-house, to Nvidia's detriment," Morningstar analyst Brian Colello wrote.
"We expect Nvidia to lose market share to Google's TPUs and Amazon's Trainium (especially if Anthropic and/or Google Gemini emerge as dominant frontier models), but we think Nvidia's share should level out at 68% in 2030 (versus 80% today) within a much larger pie of AI spending," he added.
However, all said and done, Nvidia is not standing still.
The company spent more than $18 billion on research and development during the financial year ended January 2026 as it accelerated work on next-generation AI processors, networking products and photonics technology.
During the latest conference call in May, Huang said Nvidia's new "Vera" central processors give it access to a new $200 billion market.
Nvidia expects its Vera chips to generate $20 billion in revenue by the end of the current fiscal year.
Huang said those sales were not included in the company's earlier projection of $1 trillion in revenue from its Blackwell and Rubin AI chip platforms between 2025 and 2027.
Perhaps more significantly, Nvidia is increasingly choosing collaboration over confrontation.
Instead of competing head-on with every emerging AI chip startup, Nvidia is increasingly choosing to collaborate with companies developing specialized inference processors.
Acquiring assets from AI inference startup Groq in December for $20 billion and announcing investments worth $4 billion in two photonics companies earlier this year were part of this strategy.
Also, by integrating some rival chips alongside its own GPUs in AI server racks, Nvidia is broadening its ecosystem while ensuring it continues to benefit from AI infrastructure spending regardless of which inference technologies gain the most traction.
That strategy allows Nvidia to participate in multiple AI hardware ecosystems while continuing to generate revenue even if customers adopt specialized inference chips alongside its GPUs.
On Wednesday, inference cloud provider Parasail announced it would deploy D-Matrix's Corsair inference accelerators alongside Nvidia Hopper and Blackwell systems to deliver "up to 10x faster, more cost-efficient inference services" for customers.
Further, SambaNova's products are designed to complement Nvidia hardware rather than replace it outright.
Rodrigo Liang, SambaNova's chief executive officer, said its SN40 and SN50 chips can run the so-called decode portion of inference, unpacking the query from the model five to 10 times faster, which helps free up the same number of Nvidia chips for other tasks such as training.
Nvidia's latest financial results suggest competition has yet to meaningfully dent its business.
Its data centre division, which remains the company's primary growth engine, reported revenue of a record $75.2 billion, up 92% year over year.
Chief executive Jensen Huang sought to reassure investors that demand remains broad-based and that new products would help the company surpass the $1 trillion revenue opportunity it has projected for its flagship AI platforms.
Even so, NVDA shares fell 1.6% following the earnings release despite stronger-than-expected revenue guidance and the announcement of an $80 billion share repurchase programme.
The market reaction suggested investors are increasingly looking beyond current earnings and focusing on whether Nvidia can defend its dominant position as competitors multiply.
The stock has gained a relatively modest 4% this year and just over 23% over the past 12 months, a sharp moderation compared with its extraordinary gains during the early stages of the AI boom.
Delta Air Lines má v pátek oznámit výsledky a opční trh čeká po zveřejnění výsledků pohyb akcií až o 6 %. Analytici čekají tržby 19,02 miliardy USD, ale nižší upravený EPS kvůli vyšším cenám paliva.
Key Takeaways Delta Air Lines is set to release quarterly results Friday morning, and traders are expecting the stock to experience a sizable swing after the report.Analysts see Delta’s revenue continuing to grow, while profits likely took a hit from elevated fuel prices caused by the Iran war. Get personalized, AI-powered answers built on 27+ years of trusted expertise.
Delta Air Lines is scheduled to report earnings ahead of the opening bell Friday, and traders are anticipating a big move from the airline’s stock following the results.1
Current options pricing indicates that Delta (DAL) shares are expected to swing as much as 6% by the end of the week. A move of that size from Delta’s Tuesday close of just below $89 could see shares rise to a new record closing high around $94, or fall as low as $83.
Why This Matters to Investors Delta’s results often serve as a preview for how the rest of the airline industry’s quarterly reports could look, and also provide insights into how executives see travel demand unfolding in the quarters to come.
Delta shares have gained nearly 30% since the start of the year. The stock, which closed out June at a record high above $93, rallied in recent months as concerns about high jet fuel prices that dominated last quarter’s airline earnings had largely eased. New strikes launched by the U.S. and Iran this week, however, have sent oil prices rising again.
UBS analysts recently wrote that they expect the reports and third-quarter forecasts from across the air travel industry to help boost stocks in the sector. The analysts said airlines are well-positioned as fuel costs fall while demand has remained strong even with elevated ticket prices, which could drive airlines’ profits and revenue per available seat mile, a key metric for the industry, higher in the third quarter.2
Analysts are estimating that Delta will report $19.02 billion in revenue for the second quarter, up about 14% year-over-year, according to Visible Alpha. Adjusted earnings per share are seen declining to $1.51 from $2.10 a year ago, as fuel costs were elevated in the latest quarter.
Delta stock remains a favorite among analysts, with all nine tracked by Visible Alpha calling the airline a “buy.” Wall Street broadly expects Delta stock to surpass its recent highs, with an average price target of $102.
Delta zavádí tarif Basic Business pro Delta One i první třídu bez možnosti výběru sedadla a přístupu do salonků. Letenky půjdou do prodeje na vybraných trzích pro lety od září.
Delta Air Lines is dividing up the front of the plane into even smaller groups, offering a new "basic" fare for business and first classes that comes without perks like free seat selection and airport lounge access.
The carrier is following United Airlines, which made a similar change earlier this year to its Polaris long-haul business class and other higher-tier cabins. Carriers are seeking to maximize what they can get out of high-spending customers, whose resilient travel demand has helped bolster the industry.
Basic tickets in the Delta One lie-flat, long-haul cabin will go by the new name Basic Business, the airline said Wednesday. There's a similar basic product for first class, which is more common on shorter-haul routes and in premium economy.
That means customers on those tickets will get seats assigned at check-in, earn fewer miles than more expensive options, only be allowed to make changes or cancellations for a fee and do not have the option for same-day standby or confirmed flight changes.
The seats go on sale Wednesday for flights starting in September and are only available in select markets. Delta didn't immediately say which ones would have the basic offering.
Delta, the country's most profitable airline, has been working on these changes for more than a year. Delta's former President Glen Hauenstein said on an earnings call last July that the "segmentation that we've done in main cabin is kind of the template that we're going to bring to all of our premium cabins over time because different people have different needs."
The Atlanta-based carrier reports second-quarter results on Friday.
Read more about airlines' race to win over big spendersUnited ditches more economy seats to make room for bigger premium cabins with new layoutsWhy airline class wars will intensify in 2026Caviar and privacy: Airlines' business-class wars are hereDelta says premium travel is set to overtake coach cabin sales next yearAmerican Airlines is arriving late to the luxury travel boom. Can it catch up?First-class seats are getting so fancy they’re holding up new airplanesAirlines can’t add high-end seats fast enough as travelers treat themselves to first class
Goldman Sachs chce do roku 2030 spravovat 750 miliard USD v alternativních aktivech, z nynějších 429 miliard. Cíl staví na trhu soukromých trhů v řádu bilionů USD.
Goldman Sachs (NYSE:GS | GS Price Prediction) is chasing a private markets opportunity measured in the trillions, and the firm has put a hard number on how much of it it wants to own – $750 billion in alternative assets under supervision by 2030. That target sits inside a private credit landscape CEO David Solomon sized on the Q1 2026 call at roughly $3.5 trillion in total assets, with $1.6 trillion to $1.7 trillion in direct lending alone, and adjacent to a private equity pool of roughly $4 trillion in enterprise value of sponsor-owned companies waiting for exits. Goldman’s own alternatives book stands at $429 billion today.
The gap between where the firm is and where it wants to be is the story (roughly $2 trillion in private markets).
What It Means The $750 billion target rests on a concrete annual fundraising target of $75 billion to $100 billion, and the run rate is already there. Goldman raised $26 billion in gross third-party alternatives in Q1 2026, of which $10 billion went into private credit strategies. Full-year 2025 gross alternatives fundraising hit a record $115 billion, and cumulative alternatives raised since 2019 now total $464 billion.
Firmwide assets under supervision hit a record $3.65 trillion, with $62 billion of long-term fee-based net inflows marking the 33rd consecutive quarter of positive flow. Notably, Goldman Sachs management and other fees rose 14% year over year. This is a capital-light annuity business being layered on top of a capital-markets franchise.
Market Reaction Goldman shares closed at $1,021 on July 2, 2026, up 17.26% year to date from $870.70 at the December 31, 2025 close. Over one year, the stock is up 45.46%, and over five years 207.96%. The last month has seen this growth cool (with GS stock off a little more than 4%), and the analyst consensus price target of $978.35 now sits below the current price.
Bull Case Goldman’s Q1 2026 earnings report already showed what happens when the alternatives flywheel spins alongside a hot deal market. The company posted EPS of $17.55, beating the $16.24 consensus by 8.07%, on $17.23 billion in net revenue. Net income of $5.63 billion rose 18.83% year over year, return on equity hit 19.8%, and return on tangible equity reached 21.3%, well above the through-the-cycle target of 14% to 16%. Advisory revenue climbed 89% year over year to $1.49 billion, and total investment banking fees rose 48% to $2.84 billion.
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The private markets push is being reinforced by acquisitions. The Industry Ventures deal closed in Q1 2026, adding $5 billion in alternative AUS inflows in venture capital secondaries, and the Innovator Capital Management acquisition closed in Q2 2026, adding $31 billion in AUS and vaulting Goldman into the top 10 of global active ETF providers. Solomon called out a 30-year track record in private credit, and CFO Denis Coleman noted that “Our life-to-date realized losses, if you exclude some direct commercial real estate, are 0″ in the FICC financing book. Institutional investors make up over 80% of partners, insulating the platform from the retail redemption pressure hitting peers.”
I think what’s important to note is that this is a company with a very aggressive capital return profile. Goldman returned $6.38 billion to shareholders in Q1 via buybacks and dividends, repurchased 5.4 million shares at an average $923.49, and has roughly $32 billion remaining under buyback authorization. The bank’s CET1 ratio sits at an impressive 12.5%, 110 basis points above requirement.
Bottom Line Long-term holders own a firm converting a cyclical capital-markets engine into a fee-based alternatives platform, at scale, on a stated glide path from $429 billion to $750 billion by 2030. The stock trades at a forward earnings multiple of 17 with a dividend yield of 1.53% and a next dividend already paid on June 29, 2026.
Goldman’s Q2 2026 earnings are the next catalyst, with the Street modeling EPS of $13.95 on revenue of $15.9 billion. The private markets pie is measured in trillions. Goldman just told investors exactly how big a slice it plans to carve out.
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Applied Systems oznámila novou funkci s využitím AI pro komerční pojištění, která umožní zasílat obnovovací nabídky přímo v systému Applied Epic. Prvním partnerem je Travelers.
New AI-powered capability will enable carriers to deliver renewal quotes directly inside agency management systems July 08, 2026 09:00 ET | Source: Applied Systems
CHICAGO and HARTFORD, Conn., July 08, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Applied Systems today announced its submissionless commercial insurance experience, with The Travelers Companies, Inc. (NYSE: TRV) as the first anchor carrier to participate in the initiative. Powered by Cytora, Applied’s agentic AI platform for carriers, the new capability will allow carriers to proactively deliver renewal quotes directly within Applied Epic, the leading agency management system, before the remarketing process begins.
The integration uses agentic AI to identify renewals within an agency’s full renewal portfolio across targeted lines of business and preemptively deliver renewal quotes without agencies needing to initiate remarketing. When a policy becomes eligible, Cytora will digitize risk data stored in Applied Epic and route it automatically to participating carriers’ quoting services. Quotes are returned directly to the management system, creating a connected, frictionless flow of risk information between brokers and insurers. The result is stronger agency engagement and a simpler, faster way to do business.
“Applied sits at the center of the insurance lifecycle, which, along with Cytora’s leading agentic AI technology, allows us to reimagine how the commercial insurance transaction flows,” said Michael Streit, President, Applied Systems Carrier. “As an industry leader and our first anchor carrier, Travelers will help shape how risk flows in the future. We look forward to expanding this capability to more stakeholders, creating more efficient and profitable partnerships for brokers and carriers across the distribution channel.”
“Applied shares our commitment to using AI to simplify the commercial insurance transaction,” said Greg Toczydlowski, Executive Vice President and President of Business Insurance at Travelers. “Delivering renewal quotes before remarketing begins lets our agents and brokers spend less time on process and more time advising customers, which is a win for the customer, for our distribution partners and for us. The capability also plays to our strengths – the visibility into a distribution partner’s full renewal portfolio combined with our data, analytics and product breadth gives us a meaningful competitive advantage in putting it to work.”
About Applied Systems
Applied Systems is the leading global provider of cloud-based software that powers the business of insurance. Recognized as a pioneer in insurance automation and the innovation leader, Applied is the world’s largest provider of agency and brokerage management systems, serving customers throughout the United States, Canada, the Republic of Ireland and the United Kingdom. By automating the insurance lifecycle, Applied’s people and products enable millions of people around the world to safeguard and protect what matters most.
About Cytora
Cytora is an agentic AI platform that enables commercial insurers to digitize and decision risk at scale. Acquired by Applied Systems in September 2025, Cytora’s modular platform spans risk digitization, decisioning and workflow automation – processing submissions from any source, enriching them with external data and routing them decision-ready to underwriters. Cytora is deployed across leading commercial carriers globally.
About Travelers
The Travelers Companies, Inc. (NYSE: TRV) is a leading provider of property casualty insurance for auto, home and business. A component of the Dow Jones Industrial Average, Travelers has more than 30,000 employees and generated revenues of nearly $49 billion in 2025. For more information, visit Travelers.com.
Applied Announces Submissionless Commercial Insurance Experience with Travelers as First Anchor Carrier Partner
Applied Announces Submissionless Commercial Insurance Experience with Travelers as First Anchor Carr... New AI-powered capability will enable carriers to deliver renewal quotes directly inside agency mana...
Contact Data Lauren Malcolm Applied Systems 678-438-5093 [email protected]
Chevron umožní rivalům koupit jeho chemickou technologii surfaktantů prostřednictvím společnosti ZL Chemicals, která má zvýšit těžbu z břidlicových vrtů. Podle firmy technologie zvýšila první roční produkci nových vrtů až o 20 %.
Item 1 of 2 A sample of shale rock, which Chevron uses to test its chemical surfactant technology, is shown in this handout photo provided by Chevron on July 7, 2026. Chevron/Handout via REUTERS
[1/2]A sample of shale rock, which Chevron uses to test its chemical surfactant technology, is shown in this handout photo provided by Chevron on July 7, 2026. Chevron/Handout via REUTERS Purchase Licensing Rights, opens new tab
SummaryCompaniesZL Chemicals will sell Chevron's surfactants to other oil producersChevron said surfactants improved first-year output in new wells by up to 20%Average shale oil recovery across industry is 10%HOUSTON, July 8 (Reuters) - Chevron (CVX.N), opens new tab will allow rival oil producers to buy a chemical technology it developed to boost production from shale wells, the company said on Wednesday, as part of a broader push to increase U.S. oil output.
The move comes as the U.S. shale industry, which transformed global energy markets nearly 20 years ago through the fracking boom, grapples with declining well productivity, which experts say is pushing companies either to drill more wells or adopt new technology to sustain output.
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Chevron said it will license its chemical surfactants technology to chemicals manufacturer ZL Chemicals, which will oversee the sales process to other oil companies.
The chemicals that are being licensed to ZL have improved production from newly drilled wells by up to 20% during the first year, and also reduced production decline in existing wells by between 5% and 8%, Chevron said.
"With constraints on energy in the world today, there's a call on oil and gas companies to get more energy to market," Chevron's Chief Technology and Engineering Officer Ryder Booth said in an interview. "This is a way that we can answer the call to help boost production."
U.S. President Donald Trump recently urged oil companies, including Chevron and ExxonMobil (XOM.N), opens new tab, to increase oil output and help bring down gasoline prices during the U.S.-Israeli war with Iran.
IMPROVING OIL RECOVERYChemical surfactants can help reduce damage to the shale formation from the fracturing process and act similarly to soap, cleaning out particles that can get lodged in cracks in the shale rock and prevent oil from flowing. The chemicals then aid the separation of the oil from the underground rock so that it can more easily reach the surface.
During a recent Reuters tour of a Chevron technology lab in Houston, researchers showed a glass vial of crude oil that clung to the sides of the bottle when shaken around.
In another vial that contained both crude and chemical surfactants, the oil flowed easily through the bottle without sticking to the glass, and the oil eventually separated from the surfactants, illustrating how the process can help oil detach from shale rock.
Industry experts say the oil recovery rate in shale is just 10%, with the industry leaving the remaining 90% in the ground because technology is not yet advanced enough to squeeze the rest of the oil out of tight, compacted rock.
Improving the recovery rate is critical because the best drilling areas have been tapped out over time.
"We're at the point where big gains are not there anymore," said Bob Fryklund, chief upstream strategist at S&P Global Energy, though he added that technology advancements have helped the oil industry consistently beat forecasts.
In addition to its own wells, Chevron also holds a royalty interest in some wells in the Permian Basin that are operated by other companies. Licensing the previously proprietary chemical technology means the company could benefit from higher oil production across the top U.S. oilfield.
"This helps unlock production at a bigger scale beyond just the Chevron-operated areas," Booth said.
The company will begin testing a new version of the chemicals technology in the third quarter, he added.
Reporting by Sheila Dang in Houston; Editing by Nathan Crooks and Sonali Paul
Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles., opens new tab
Agnico Eagle v 1. čtvrtletí vrátila akcionářům 375 mil. USD na dividendách a odkupu akcií, zhruba polovinu volného cash flow. Letos cílí na návrat asi 40 % volného cash flow.
Key Takeaways Agnico Eagle returned $375M in Q1 2026 via dividends and buybacks, about half of free cash flow.AEM raised its quarterly dividend 12.5% and renewed a $2B share repurchase program in May 2026.AEM aims to return about 40% of free cash flow to shareholders this year after roughly one-third in 2025. Agnico Eagle Mines Limited (AEM - Free Report) is leveraging its strong cash flow to boost shareholder value through dividends and share buybacks. AEM returned $375 million in the first quarter of 2026 through dividends and share buybacks, accounting for around half of its free cash flow.
Agnico Eagle raised its quarterly dividend by 12.5% to 45 cents per share in February 2026. It also renewed its normal course issuer bid (NCIB) in May 2026, allowing it to repurchase and cancel up to $2 billion worth of its common shares.
AEM’s first-quarter free cash flow climbed 23% year over year to roughly $732 million. Free cash flow was a record $4.4 billion in 2025, up 105% year over year. The upside was backed by higher realized gold prices and robust operational results.
AEM returned around $1.4 billion to its shareholders in 2025, representing a third of its free cash flow. It sees the potential to increase that to roughly 40% this year.
Agnico Eagle is executing a disciplined capital allocation strategy, capitalizing on its strong cash generation to enhance shareholder value, support a robust pipeline of growth projects and reduce debt. With gold prices staying supportive despite the recent selloff, AEM is well-positioned to sustain this shareholder-focused approach.
Among its peers, Barrick Mining Corporation (B - Free Report) generates healthy cash flows, positioning itself well to take advantage of attractive development and exploration opportunities and drive shareholder value. Barrick returned $2.4 billion to its shareholders in 2025 through dividends and repurchases. It repurchased shares worth $1.5 billion last year. Barrick’s board authorized a new $3 billion share buyback program. Its new dividend policy targets a total payout of 50% of attributable free cash flow on an annualized basis.
Newmont Corporation (NEM - Free Report) has distributed $3.4 billion to its shareholders through dividends and share repurchases in 2025. It has returned $2.7 billion to its shareholders since Feb. 19, 2026. Newmont has executed buybacks of $6 billion under the earlier authorized share repurchase programs, including $2.4 billion since the fourth-quarter 2025 earnings call. NEM’s board has approved an additional $6 billion repurchase program.
The Zacks Rundown for AEMAgnico Eagle’s shares have rallied 27.7% in the past year against the Zacks Mining – Gold industry’s growth of 46.6%.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
From a valuation standpoint, AEM is currently trading at a forward 12-month earnings multiple of 11.3, a roughly 21% premium to the industry average of 9.34X. It carries a Value Score of C.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for AEM’s 2026 and 2027 earnings implies a year-over-year rise of 59.7% and 0.7%, respectively. The EPS estimates for 2026 and 2027 have been trending higher over the past 60 days.
Akcie Oracle v první polovině roku 2026 klesly o 24,8 %; trh znepokojuje její 300miliardová dohoda s OpenAI uzavřená v září 2025 a vyšší kapitálové výdaje na AI infrastrukturu, přičemž pětiletý kontrakt má začít v roce 2027.
Not all hyperscalers are made equal, and some are made less equal than others. Moving on from shamelessly misquoting Orwell, there's a key point here, and it's demonstrated in the chart below. Oracle (ORCL 1.67%) stock declined 24.8% in the first half of 2026, according to data from S&P Global Market Intelligence. Microsoft (MSFT +0.59%) declined by a similar amount, but, interestingly, both Amazon.com and Alphabet, the owner of Google, are in positive territory. Here's why.
Oracle's decline in 2026 There are two themes to explore here. First, the reality is that forecasts for the construction of artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructure have increased throughout the year. That's the main reason AI infrastructure companies like Vertiv and GE Vernova have significantly outperformed the market and the hyperscalers, like Oracle, whose increased capital spending requirements have pressured their stocks in 2026.
The second reason for the decline stems from something it shares with the other hyperscaler in negative territory, Microsoft: significant exposure to the AI model and technology company, OpenAI.
ORCL data by YCharts
Oracle, Microsoft, and OpenAI Microsoft is a major investor in OpenAI, owning about 27% of the company as of the end of March, and earlier in the year, management disclosed that "Approximately 45% of our commercial RPO balance is from OpenAI. "As for Oracle, it and OpenAI signed a landmark $300 billion deal in September 2025. The five-year deal starts in 2027 , in which Oracle will build out AI infrastructure and supply OpenAI with computing power.
Image source: Getty Images.
It was initially well received by the market, but, as the chart below shows, bond markets immediately began pricing in an increased risk of default for Oracle's bonds. For reference, credit default swaps are derivatives that insure the buyer from the risk of a bond's default. They are priced in basis points (whereby 100 basis points equals 1%), so the 170bps pricing of its 5-year bond currently means it costs $17,000 to insure $1,000,000 of Oracle's 5-year debt.
Assuming a 40% recovery rate, the bond market estimates a 2.8% annual default probability and a cumulative default probability of 13.4%. However, the key point is the increase in implied probability after the OpenAI deal.
Data source: S&P Global Market Intelligence. Chart by the author.
Why OpenAI is causing concern Investors are questioning OpenAI's financial projections, with the company expecting to burn through more than $650 billion in cash through 2030. Moreover, its management expects to generate $280 billion in revenue by 2030 after ending 2025 on an annualized revenue run rate of just $20 billion.
While OpenAI may well hit the revenue target and ultimately start generating cash in 2030, , there's a long way to go, it's a competitive market, and it's far from clear whether its AI models will add the value to justify the infrastructure build-out of Microsoft and Oracle. That's why both stocks declined significantly in the first half.
Lee Samaha has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends GE Vernova, Microsoft, Oracle, and Vertiv. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
As of market close on July 7, the S&P 500 (^GSPC 0.42%) and Nasdaq Composite (^IXIC 0.23%) are up 9.6% and 11.1% year to date (YTD), respectively, and hovering around all-time highs. The tech sector -- which makes up 38% of the index -- is largely responsible for the strong gains because it is up 24.5% YTD.
However, some noteworthy value stocks are doing even better than the tech-heavy S&P 500. Kimberly-Clark (KMB 2.75%) is up 13.7% YTD, and that's without even factoring in two $1.28 per share dividend payments. Earlier this year, Kimberly-Clark raised its dividend for the 54th consecutive year, retaining its spot on the list of Dividend Kings, which have at least 50 consecutive years of dividend increases.
Here's why Kimberly-Clark remains a great dividend stock to buy for the second half of the year.
Image source: Getty Images.
1. Kimberly-Clark is recession-resistant Kimberly-Clark has a portfolio of leading household and personal care brands, many of which are paper-based. Its crown jewel is Huggies, which is the No. 2 diaper brand in the world behind Pampers. Other notable brands include Kleenex, Kotex, Scott, and Cottonelle.
Demand for these products tends to be consistent across economic cycles, though Kimberly-Clark's margins have been under pressure due to rising costs and inflationary pressures on consumer spending. In Kimberly-Clark's first-quarter 2026 earnings call, it forecasted $150 million to $170 million in additional costs if oil remained around $100 per barrel. Oil prices have come down significantly since that late April earnings call, but the months when oil was elevated will affect its full-year margins.
However, Kimberly-Clark is implementing productivity initiatives, new pricing with suppliers, and hedging programs to improve margins. Kimberly-Clark's chief financial officer, Nelson Urdaneta, said the following on the Q1 2026 earnings call:
I'd also remind everyone that we've got a solid track record over the last four years of recovering any input cost inflation and actually expanding margins. If you look at 2023 through 2025, we expanded both gross margins and operating profit margins beyond the levels pre-pandemic. So we're confident in our ability to cover all these input costs over time.
Kimberly-Clark isn't immune to consumer spending trends or macroeconomic factors, but it has done a good job adjusting to the new normal of cost inflation.
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2. A major acquisition is right around the corner In November 2025, Kimberly-Clark announced the acquisition of Kenvue (KVUE 1.80%). The consumer health company spun off from Johnson & Johnson in August 2023 and owns many noteworthy brands, including Aveeno, Neutrogena, Tylenol, Listerine, Johnson's, and BAND-AID.
Since then, Kimberly-Clark and Kenvue shareholders have overwhelmingly approved the acquisition, and Kimberly-Clark has moved forward with key organizational and leadership decisions.
The deal will diversify Kimberly-Clark's revenue streams and enhance its resilience in a recession. Kimberly-Clark expects the transaction to close before the end of the year.
3. Kimberly-Clark is dirt cheap You may think that Kimberly-Clark would command a premium valuation, given that its stock price is outpacing the S&P 500 and Nasdaq in 2026. However, Kimberly-Clark fell 23% last year and is down 18.1% over the last decade.
Kimberly-Clark now trades at just 15.2 times analyst consensus 2026 earnings estimates of $7.54 per share. Its 10-year median price-to-earnings ratio is 21.9.
A top high-yield dividend stock to buy now Investors who believe the Kenvue acquisition is the right move are getting a chance to buy Kimberly-Clark at a dirt cheap valuation. Kimberly-Clark expects the combined company to deliver $2.1 billion in annual run rate synergies by the second year following the acquisition, unlocking operating leverage and boosting margins.
In the meantime, investors can count on Kimberly-Clark's high-yield dividend. Although a high yield can sometimes indicate that a dividend is becoming unsustainable, Kimberly-Clark's earnings and free cash flow still exceed its payout.
With an established and recession-resistant portfolio of brands, Kimberly-Clark stands out as an attractive value stock for investors looking for an alternative to high-flying growth stocks. Unlike hyperscaler cloud computing companies, Kimberly-Clark isn't spending a ton of capital expenditures on big ideas that it needs to pay off. Rather, it is a stable stalwart that has rewarded income investors for decades.
Therefore, Kimberly-Clark can continue to outperform the S&P 500 and Nasdaq because its earnings growth expectations are already low. So even decent results would likely be received well by investors. However, Kimberly-Clark isn't without its risks.
If the Kenvue acquisition doesn't go as smoothly as planned or fails to unlock the cost savings Kimberly-Clark hopes for, it could make its dividend less affordable, which could strain its balance sheet. The combined company must also prove it can extract value from a larger portfolio of brands, which comes with a slew of execution challenges from a new leadership team.
Therefore, some investors may want to wait for the dust to settle after the Kenvue acquisition before buying the stock. Investors who don't mind the uncertainty can scoop up shares at an attractive valuation.
MEXC přidá na spotový trh devět tokenizovaných akcií a ETF od Ondo, včetně BEON/USDT, ALABON/USDT a CRDOON/USDT. Cílí na společnosti spojené s rostoucí poptávkou po infrastruktuře pro AI.
MEXC, a pioneer in 0-fee digital asset trading, will add nine Ondo tokenized stock and ETF trading pairs to its spot market, the latest expansion of ongoing collaboration with Ondo Finance. The new pairs cover companies across the data center, semiconductor and power supply chains linked to growing AI infrastructure demand, expanding the range of tokenized U.S. equities available to users and providing on-chain exposure to a sector at the center of the current AI infrastructure buildout.
The pairs include tokenized stocks and ETFs tracking Bloom Energy (BEON/USDT), Astera Labs (ALABON/USDT), Credo Technology (CRDOON/USDT), the Roundhill Memory ETF (DRAMON/USDT), Innodata (INODON/USDT), and Celestica (CLSON/USDT), among others, all listing on July 8, 2026 (UTC). Full details, including exact listing times for each pair, are available in MEXC’s official announcement.
Ondo Finance focuses on bringing traditional financial assets on-chain through compliant infrastructure, allowing users to access assets such as US Treasuries, stocks, and ETFs in a blockchain-native format. Each tokenized asset is backed by the corresponding underlying security held through regulated custodial brokers. This latest batch listing further expands MEXC’s lineup of tokenized stocks, reinforcing its commitment to delivering users Infinite Opportunities.
As a one-stop trading platform, MEXC provides users with diverse access to global markets. Beyond Ondo’s tokenized stocks, MEXC also offers “RealStocks,” a product that allows users to hold real share ownership and dividends. With MEXC’s integrated trading experience, users can seamlessly access diverse investment products without switching between platforms.
About MEXC
MEXC is the world’s fastest-growing cryptocurrency exchange, trusted by more than 40 million users across 170+ markets. Built on a user-first philosophy, MEXC offers industry-leading 0-fee trading and access to over 3,000 digital assets. As the Gateway to Infinite Opportunities, MEXC provides a single platform where users can easily trade cryptocurrencies alongside tokenized assets, including stocks, ETFs, commodities, and precious metals.
MEXC Official Website｜ X ｜ Telegram ｜How to Sign Up on MEXC
This content does not constitute investment advice. Given the highly volatile nature of the cryptocurrency market, investors are encouraged to carefully assess market fluctuations, project fundamentals, and potential financial risks before making any trading decisions.
Key Takeaways BlackBerry says QNX's GEM segment is expanding beyond automotive into safety-critical embedded markets.BB secured a royalty commitment and expanded a customer relationship through its latest SDP 8 platform.BlackBerry says its strongest robotics pipeline yet supports long-term Physical AI growth opportunities. BlackBerry Limited (BB - Free Report) continues to see growing opportunities for its QNX business across robotics and industrial automation through its General Embedded Market (GEM) strategy. The company stated that GEM remains the fastest-growing segment within QNX, expanding its long-term opportunity beyond automotive into robotics, industrial automation, medical devices and other safety-critical applications.
During first-quarter fiscal 2027, BlackBerry secured a significant royalty commitment from a leading semiconductor equipment manufacturer and expanded its relationship with Luminex through an upgrade to its latest SDP 8 platform. These wins reflect continued progress in expanding QNX adoption and deployment across embedded markets.
The company highlighted Physical AI as a key long-term growth driver. As intelligent machines become increasingly autonomous and operate around people, BlackBerry said that safety, security, reliability and real-time determinism become more important. QNX technology is deterministic and safety certified, making it suitable for systems where failure is not an option. BlackBerry noted that automotive has served as a proving ground for Physical AI, describing modern vehicles as robots on wheels and emphasizing QNX’s role in supporting advanced autonomous and safety-critical systems.
BlackBerry also stated that its experience in the automotive market positions it well for opportunities in robotics and industrial automation. The company believes the capabilities it developed for automotive applications, including real-time determinism, safety certification, security and reliability, translate well to these adjacent markets. Management identified robotics, industrial automation and medical instrumentation as the three primary GEM categories where QNX’s technology is well aligned with customer requirements.
On the last earnings call, the company stated that its pipeline across robotics and industrial automation is the strongest it has been, with encouraging opportunities developing in both markets. Management expects to report additional wins as they materialize and noted that GEM continues to be the fastest-growing segment within QNX.
Taking a Look at BB’s CompetitorsCrowdStrike (CRWD - Free Report) continues to strengthen its growth pipeline through product innovation, AI expansion and broader platform adoption. The company introduced Charlotte AI AgentWorks, a no-code platform developed with AWS, NVIDIA and OpenAI, along with Agentic MDR to automate security workflows. Falcon Data Security expanded protection across endpoints, cloud, SaaS and AI environments. Management highlighted a record second-quarter pipeline and increased partner engagement, supporting demand across enterprise and public sector customers. Falcon Flex also gained momentum, adding more than 300 accounts in the first quarter and reaching more than $1.9 billion in ending ARR, reflecting stronger customer commitments and expanding platform adoption.
Palo Alto Networks (PANW - Free Report) continues to benefit from higher cybersecurity priority as enterprises deploy AI and look to consolidate vendors onto fewer platforms. Platformization is translating into larger commitments, supported by expanding next-generation security ARR and RPO, and management guidance implies continued growth in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2026. Momentum in Network Security, SASE and Prisma AIRS, along with early execution on the CyberArk and Chronosphere integrations, supports the long-term revenue mix shift toward recurring software and free cash flow. For fiscal 2026, Palo Alto Networks now expects revenues in the range of $11.41 billion to $11.42 billion, suggesting year-over-year growth of 24%.
BB Price Performance, Valuation & EstimatesShares of BlackBerry have surged 25.6% in the past month compared with the Internet-Software industry’s growth of 5.3%.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Regarding the price/book ratio, BB is trading at 8.67, higher than the industry’s multiple of 4.71.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for BB earnings for fiscal 2027 has been revised downward over the past 60 days.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
BlackBerry currently has a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
Teladoc Health rozšiřuje spolupráci s Walmartem: zákazníci Walmartu mohou za 89 USD za návštěvu využít virtuální péči včetně 24/7 péče, dermatologie a nutriční podpory.
Teladoc Health Inc. (NYSE:TDOC) shares are trending Wednesday as investors take a fresh look at the company.
Teladoc Health stock is trending lower. Why is TDOC stock retreating? For a cash-pay price of $89 per visit, Walmart customers can access Teladoc’s clinical practice through the platform, including 24/7 care for common conditions, dermatology consultations, and one-on-one nutrition support. Prescriptions, if needed, can be sent to a pharmacy including Walmart, where same-day delivery is available in many locations.
“Walmart is where millions of Americans already go for everyday needs, and now, getting care from Teladoc Health can be part of that same experience,” said Kelly Bliss, Teladoc Health’s President of U.S. Group Health. “By removing friction and meeting people where they are, virtual care becomes something people choose first, not just something they can access.”
The announcement builds on an earlier integration — in January, Teladoc’s BetterHelp mental health offering launched on Walmart’s Better Care Services platform, further expanding the companies’ collaboration.
Teladoc Shares FallTDOC Price Action: At the time of publication, Teladoc shares are trading 1.94% lower at $9.33, according to data from Benzinga Pro.
Image: Courtesy of Teladoc
This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.
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Eli Lilly oznámila, že Mounjaro ve 1. čtvrtletí utržil 8,662 miliardy USD, meziročně o 125 % více. Celkové tržby skupiny vzrostly na 19,799 miliardy USD.
The Number $8.662 billion. That is what Mounjaro alone generated for Eli Lilly (NYSE:LLY | LLY Price Prediction) in the first quarter of 2026, a single product, a single quarter, up 125% year over year. The figure was disclosed in Lilly’s Q1 2026 earnings release on April 30, 2026, an actual reported figure.
This key growth driver is what I’d argue is the central investing thesis behind investors who have continued to buy LLY stock at more than $1,200 per share, positioning this stock for a potential stock split (at least in my view).
What It Means Mounjaro is now doing roughly the annual revenue of a mid-cap pharma company every 90 days.
When investors add Zepbound at $4.160 billion in the same quarter (up 80%), and the incretin franchise pushed group revenue to $19.799 billion (55.55% higher than a year earlier), it’s clear to see that there’s no shortage of growth with this biotech giant. Impressively, the company’s volume climbed 65% year over year this past quarter, while realized prices fell 13%. That is a mix Eli Lilly can live with.
Overall, I think the company’s volume growth is its operating leverage, and by all measures, these numbers are surging. With operating income recently hitting $8.915 billion (up 64.84%), and net income landing at $7.396 billion, higher by 168.04%. Non-GAAP EPS of $8.55 beat consensus of $6.7921 by a 25.88% margin, the biggest surprise in the four-quarter streak of beats.
Market Reaction Shares closed at $934.60 on the day of the Q1 earnings report, up 3.07% from the prior close of $851.21. The move has continued since, with LLY stock now trading right around $1,200 per share. That’s good for a gain of around 14% since its earnings report (outpacing the overall NASDAQ), and good for a gain of nearly 450% over the past five years alone.
In other words, forget semiconductor stocks, Eli Lilly is the high-growth large-cap stock many investors are watching perhaps more closely right now.
Bull Case Every claim behind Lilly’s four-digit share price is measurable. The company’s management team recently raised its full-year 2026 revenue guidance to $82.0 billion to $85.0 billion from the prior $80.0 billion to $83.0 billion, lifted non-GAAP EPS guidance to $35.50 to $37.00 from $33.50 to $35.00, and pushed performance margin guidance to 47.0% to 48.5%. These are guidance figures for the full year.
Act now: the analyst who called NVIDIA in 2010 just named his top 10 AI stocks — and Eli Lilly didn't make the cut. Grab the names FREE today.
I think the important thing to note is that this is a biotech giant with a pipeline that’s broadening its base. CEO David A. Ricks framed the quarter this way: “2026 is off to a strong start, we delivered 56% revenue growth in the first quarter and raised our full-year revenue guidance by $2 billion. A key milestone was the U.S. FDA approval of Foundayo, the only approved GLP-1 pill that can be taken any time of day, without food and water restrictions.”
Beyond incretins, key products in immunology, oncology and neuroscience grew 160% year over year, with Ebglyss up 141%, Omvoh up 115%, and Jaypirca up 79%. Four acquisitions were announced in the quarter (Orna Therapeutics, Centessa Pharmaceuticals, Kelonia Therapeutics, and Ajax Therapeutics), extending the pipeline into cell therapies, sleep-wake disorders, in vivo CAR-T, and myelofibrosis.
Importantly, insiders are also voting with their own wallets. Four of the company’s top directors bought shares on the same dates in April, May, and June 2026, at prices climbing from $919.90 to $988.09 to $1,129.35. That is board-level buying at progressively higher prices, month after month. The sell-side is aligned: an average analyst price target of $1,220.39, with 6 strong buys and 17 buys against 5 holds. On forward earnings of roughly 33x, this is priced as a growth compounder.
Bottom Line A four-digit share price and a $1.06 trillion market cap make Lilly a natural candidate for a split conversation, and the fundamentals give management room to push for such a move.
For long-term holders, the number to remember is the one that drove the run: -Mounjaro at $8.662 billion in a single quarter, growing at triple digits. The next scheduled read on that trajectory is Lilly’s Investment Community Meeting on December 7, 2026. Until then, an ex-dividend date of August 14, 2026 is the next mile marker.
To sum it up, Eli Lilly’s share price growth is loud. The revenue growth supporting this move could be even louder.
Act now: the analyst who called NVIDIA in 2010 just named his top 10 AI stocks — and Eli Lilly didn't make the cut. Grab the names FREE today.
Broadcom odhaduje výnosy z AI čipů na 56 miliard USD ve fiskálním roce 2026 a přes 100 miliard USD ve fiskálním roce 2027. Ve druhém čtvrtletí byly AI výnosy 10,80 miliardy USD, meziročně o 143 % vyšší.
Broadcom (NASDAQ:AVGO | AVGO Price Prediction) is now being talked about in $200 billion increments. That figure represents forward AI opportunity framing, surfaced on the company’s Q2 FY2026 earnings call, when JPMorgan analyst Harlan Sur pressed CEO Hock Tan on an implied $200 billion-plus 18-month backlog covering the back half of 2026 through fiscal 2027.
Tan did not push back. He effectively confirmed the trajectory, guiding to $56 billion in AI semiconductor revenue for fiscal 2026, up roughly 180% from fiscal 2025, and reiterating AI semiconductor revenue in excess of $100 billion in fiscal 2027.
What It Means The $200 billion frame represents a forward opportunity. What backs it up is concrete. In Q2 FY2026, Broadcom reported AI semiconductor revenue of $10.80 billion, up 143% year over year, on total revenue of $22.187 billion, up 47.9%. Q3 guidance calls for AI semiconductor revenue of $16.0 billion, over 200% YoY growth, on total revenue of about $29.4 billion.
The demand signal underneath those numbers is what gives the $200 billion figure weight. Tan disclosed that Q2 bookings for AI semiconductors were over $30 billion against the $10.8 billion shipped, roughly three times coverage in a single quarter. Six core customers now have multi-year, multi-gigawatt commitments: a long-term TPU and AI networking agreement with Google, 5 additional gigawatts of TPU-based compute for Anthropic beginning in 2027, 1.3 gigawatts contractually committed to OpenAI in 2027 within a 10-gigawatt agreement by 2029, and 3 gigawatts for Meta through the end of 2028.
Importantly, Tan said visibility now extends into 2028.
Market Reaction Broadcom stock has not celebrated the news above. Shares of AVGO stock traded at $495.00 at the Q2 filing on June 3, 2026, and closed at $360.45 on July 2, 2026. That is a one-month change of -25.03%.
However, year to date, AVGO stock is still up 4.53%, and up 34.53% over one year and 745.73% over five years.
Act now: the analyst who called NVIDIA in 2010 just named his top 10 AI stocks — and Broadcom didn't make the cut. Grab the names FREE today.
Bull Case Broadcom’s bull argument rests on a simple gap, in that the company’s pipeline is expanding faster than the stock is willing to price. In the second quarter, Broadcom delivered a record operating margin of 67% and free cash flow of $10.262 billion, or 46% of revenue. Net income rose 87.51% YoY to $9.310 billion, cash and equivalents sit at $19.628 billion, up 107.22% YoY, and AI is now a scale business inside Broadcom, with AI semiconductors representing 49% of total consolidated revenue and networking accounting for roughly 40% of Q2 AI revenue.
The sell-side has not blinked. Consensus reflects 44 buy ratings, 4 hold ratings, and zero sell ratings, with an analyst target price of $523.73.
I think Broadcom’s forward valuation looks less demanding than the trailing multiple suggests, with a forward P/E of 33 against a trailing P/E of 61, and a PEG ratio of 0.686. Tan also flagged a $35 billion first tranche of an AI XPU platform with Apollo and Blackstone intended to deploy more than 20 gigawatts of compute through 2027. Prediction markets have called Broadcom’s earnings correctly in 100% of 6 resolved markets, and the last Q2 AI revenue market resolved at $11.0 billion, with a crowd implied value of $11.21 billion.
Bottom Line For long-term holders, the $200 billion frame reduces to one question – does Broadcom’s Q2 booking rate translate into shipped revenue on the timelines Tan laid out?
I think this question could be answered with the company’s Q3 FY2026 earnings report, where guidance calls for $29.4 billion in total revenue and $16.0 billion in AI semiconductor revenue.
Broadcom stock is 25% cheaper than it was four weeks ago, while the company’s order book is three times larger than the revenue that produced that price.
Act now: the analyst who called NVIDIA in 2010 just named his top 10 AI stocks — and Broadcom didn't make the cut. Grab the names FREE today.
Palo Alto Networks ve 3. čtvrtletí 2026 zvýšila tržby o 31 % na 3 miliardy USD a opakující se roční tržby z next generation security vzrostly o 60 % na 8,13 miliardy USD. Firma zároveň zvedla celoroční výhled tržeb.
Cybersecurity company Palo Alto Networks, Inc. (PANW) rises 3,770% since first institutional outlier inflow signal in 2013.
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PANW is an AI-first cybersecurity company offering network security solutions to enterprises, service providers, and governments. PANW’s third-quarter 2026 report showed $3 billion in revenue (a 31% year-over-year rise), $8.13 in next generation security annual recurring revenue (a 60% jump), non-GAAP per-share earnings of $0.85, and raised full-year revenue guidance to a high end of $11.425 billion and up to $3.79 in non-GAAP diluted EPS.
No wonder PANW shares are up 30% this year – and they could rise more. MoneyFlows data shows how Big Money investors are again betting heavily on the stock.
Institutions Returning to Palo Alto Institutional volumes reveal plenty. In the last year, PANW has enjoyed strong investor demand, which we believe to be institutional support.
Each green bar signals unusually large volumes in PANW shares. They reflect our proprietary inflow signal, pushing the stock higher:
Source: www.moneyflows.com Plenty of technology names are under accumulation right now. But there’s a powerful fundamental story happening with Palo Alto.
Palo Alto Fundamental Analysis Institutional support and a healthy fundamental backdrop make this company worth investigating. As you can see, PANW has had strong sales and earnings growth:
Also, EPS is estimated to ramp higher this year by +8.9%.
Now it makes sense why the stock has been generating Big Money interest. PANW has a track record of strong financial performance.
Marrying great fundamentals with MoneyFlows software has found some big winning stocks over the long term.
Palo Alto has been a top-rated stock at MoneyFlows. That means the stock has unusual buy pressure and growing fundamentals. We have a ranking process that showcases stocks like this on a weekly basis.
It’s had six Big Money outlier inflow signals in the last year, gaining 67.3% in that time. The blue bars below shows when PANW was a top pick…institutions love this stock:
Source: www.moneyflows.com Tracking unusual volumes reveals the power of money flows.
This is a trait that most outlier stocks exhibit…the best of the best. Big Money demand drives stocks upward.
Palo Alto Price Prediction The PANW action isn’t new at all. Big Money buying in the shares is signaling to take notice. Given the historical gains in share price and strong fundamentals, this stock could be worth a spot in a diversified portfolio.
Disclosure: the author holds no position in PANW at the time of publication.
If you are a Registered Investment Advisor (RIA) or are a serious investor, take your investing to the next level and follow our free weekly MoneyFlows insights.
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Lucas is a well-versed equity investor and educator. He currently is co-founder of research and analytics firm, MAPsignals.com, which focuses on finding outlier stocks by following the Big Money.
Nucor v prvním čtvrtletí 2026 vygeneroval provozní cash flow 886 mil. USD a držel likviditu kolem 3,2 mld. USD. Na dividendách a zpětných odkupech vrátil akcionářům už zhruba 630 mil. USD k 17. červnu 2026.
Key Takeaways Nucor returned about $1.2B to shareholders in 2025 and roughly $630M year to date through June 17, 2026.NUE ended first-quarter 2026 with about $3.2B in liquidity and generated $886M in operating cash flow.NUE targets returning at least 40% of earnings to shareholders while funding growth projects and cutting debt. Nucor Corporation (NUE - Free Report) is maximizing its returns to shareholders by leveraging its strong balance sheet and cash flows. It returned around $1.2 billion to its shareholders in 2025 through dividends and share repurchases, representing nearly 70% of net earnings. Returns to its shareholders were $254 million in the first quarter. Nucor has returned roughly $630 million through share buybacks and dividends year to date till June 17, 2026.
It ended first-quarter 2026 with strong liquidity of roughly $3.2 billion, including cash and cash equivalents of around $2.2 billion. It also generated cash from operations of $886 million in the quarter.
The company, in December 2025, raised its quarterly dividend to 56 cents per share from 55 cents. Nucor has increased its regular dividend for 53 straight years since it started paying dividends in 1973. It remains committed to its policy of returning at least 40% of earnings to its shareholders.
NUE offers a dividend yield of 1% at the current stock price. Its payout ratio is 22% (a ratio below 60% is a good indicator that the dividend will be sustainable), with a five-year annualized dividend growth rate of 4.2%. Backed by strong financial health, the company's dividend is perceived to be safe and reliable.
Nucor is executing a well-defined capital allocation policy using its substantial cash generation to drive shareholder value, fund its growth projects and reduce debt. With a rock-solid balance sheet underpinned by a strong credit profile, NUE remains well-placed to continue this shareholder-focused strategy.
Among its peers, Steel Dynamics, Inc. (STLD - Free Report) remains committed to maximizing shareholder returns. Steel Dynamics bought back shares worth $115 million in the first quarter. STLD also raised its quarterly dividend by 6% to 53 cents per share in February 2026. During the second quarter of 2026, Steel Dynamics repurchased $170 million of its common stock, as announced recently.
Commercial Metals Company (CMC - Free Report) is also pursuing a disciplined capital allocation strategy, capitalizing on its solid balance sheet and cash flow profile. Commercial Metals repurchased shares worth $18.9 million during the fiscal third quarter and kept its quarterly dividend at 20 cents per share. CMC generated cash of $603 million from operating activities for the nine months ended May 31, 2026, up from roughly $400 million in the year-ago period.
NUE’s Price Performance, Valuation & EstimatesNucor has gained 39.4% year to date against the Zacks Steel Producers industry’s growth of 26.5%.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
From a valuation standpoint, NUE is currently trading at a forward 12-month earnings multiple of 12.53, a roughly 11.9% premium to the industry average of 11.2X. It carries a Value Score of B.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for NUE’s 2026 earnings implies a year-over-year rise of 129.3%. The EPS estimates for 2026 have been trending higher over the past 60 days.
Akcie Nio klesly pod klíčovou support úroveň a v New Yorku se dostaly na několikaměsíční minimum 4,88 USD, tedy 40 % pod letošním maximem, navzdory meziročnímu růstu dodávek o 62,9 % v červnu.
Nio stock price dropped below a crucial support level as demand for Chinese electric vehicle shares fell. It dropped to a multi-month low of $4.88 in New York, down by 40% from its highest point this year despite its strong delivery numbers.
Nio has emerged as one of the fastest-growing Chinese EV companies, helped by the traction of its newly launched vehicles.
Data released last week showed that its deliveries jumped by 62.9% YoY in June, bringing its second-quarter figure at 107,658. Its quarterly figure was about 50% higher than where it was last year.
Nio, its main brand, delivered 21,908 vehicles, while ONVO had 11,743. Firefly, the smaller brand delivered 6,946 vehicles during the month. This surge coincided with the launch of NIO WorldModel, which was installed to over 700k vehicles.
The ES9 model has now had over 120k deliveries, while ES9 sold 10,000 vehicles in 30 days, a sign that the brand is resonating with customers. In contrast, most Chinese EV companies like BYD, Li Auto, and XPeng continued to see weak growth.
Li Auto delivered 98,330 vehicles, representing an 11.5% annual decline. XPeng sold 103,295 vehicles, roughly unchanged from a year ago, while BYD delivered 1.1 million vehicles.
Therefore, the ongoing Nio stock plunge is likely happening as investors remain concerned about its growth trajectory. Also, there are concerns about its profitability growth. After reporting a net profit earlier this year, the recent earnings report showed that it made a $48 million loss in the first quarter.
Most of Nio’s metrics are doing well, especially in an industry that is facing substantial pressure. For example, despite the ongoing price war, the company’s gross profit margin rose to 18.8%, higher than many Chinese EV companies. This performance means that it may close the gap with Tesla, which has a margin of 21%.
Nio has other factors that could support its stock over the long term. For example, recent results showed that its research and development expenses declined by 40% year over year, mainly due to lower personnel costs. In addition, the company has largely completed the most capital-intensive phases of its R&D efforts, particularly in vehicle design and development.
Nio has also improved its balance sheet, with the amount of cash and equivalents rising to $7 billion. The management believes that it will not need to raise cash in the near term, which has been a source of concerns among investors.
Therefore, the recent weakness in Nio’s stock appears to be driven largely by fading investor enthusiasm for EV stocks rather than by deterioration in the company’s underlying business performance.
Nio stock chart | Source: TradingView
Technicals point to more weakness in the near term. It has formed a head-and-shoulders pattern, and most recently, it dropped below the neckline. Also, it dropped below the 100-day Exponential Moving Average (EMA), while the Relative Strength Index (RSI) has continued falling.
Therefore, the stock will likely remain under pressure because of the general sector weakness. This retreat may see it fall to the psychological level of $4. Its strong fundamentals may help it bounce back later this year.
Root a Jerry spustily partnerství, které umožní zákazníkům v aplikaci Jerry získat a uzavřít autopojištění Root během několika minut. Integrace nabízí personalizované ceny a plně zabudovaný nákup bez opuštění aplikace.
COLUMBUS, Ohio, July 08, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Root (NASDAQ: ROOT), the leading technology company in car insurance, and Jerry, the innovative insurance and car care platform, today announced a strategic partnership that embeds Root's data-driven car insurance experience directly into Jerry's app.
The partnership represents another milestone in Root’s embedded insurance distribution strategy by bringing personalized pricing and a streamlined digital purchasing experience directly into Jerry’s high-intent marketplace. By integrating into partner ecosystems where consumers are already shopping and making important financial and automotive decisions, Root is expanding access to its differentiated insurance offering while creating a more seamless experience for customers.
Through this digital-first collaboration:
Real-Time Quotes: Jerry customers receive car insurance quotes from Root directly within the Jerry app experience.Quote-to-Bind in Minutes: Customers can seamlessly complete their profile, review personalized options, and bind a Root policy directly within the Jerry app interface. “Our partnership with Jerry is another strong example of how we’re expanding our embedded technology capabilities to partners serving high-intent customers, enabling them to deliver personalized pricing and a modern insurance experience directly within their own platforms,” said Jason Shapiro, Senior Vice President of Business Development at Root. “We’ve removed traditional roadblocks to make affordable coverage available with the speed and ease consumers expect from their digital experiences, right when they’re ready to make a decision.”
Jerry operates a digital insurance and car care platform that lets users compare, buy, and service car, home, renters, and motorcycle insurance policies directly within the app, with licensed agents available seven days a week. Jerry supports customers throughout the insurance lifecycle by securely storing policy documents, facilitating coverage changes, and monitoring renewal rates in-app. Beyond insurance, Jerry simplifies car ownership with maintenance reminders, recall alerts, repair cost comparisons, and driver safety insights.
"Jerry's mission is to simplify ownership of people’s most important assets – including car, home, motorcycle. Our customers come to us to shop insurance coverage without the hassle of long forms or spam calls," said John Spottiswood, Chief Operating Officer at Jerry. "Root gives drivers a strong, fairly priced option they can sign up for in minutes. We look forward to continuing to expand our partnership and making this experience available to even more customers in the near future."
While traditional insurance shopping can be fragmented and time consuming, this partnership offers a modern alternative built for how consumers shop today. Through Jerry’s trusted, top-rated marketplace and Root’s proprietary, data-backed pricing and underwriting technology, the companies have created a simplified, highly intuitive experience that demonstrates how deep technical alignment can transform insurance distribution to better meet the expectations of today’s digital consumers.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Where is Root insurance available through the Jerry app today?
Root auto insurance is available via the Jerry app in Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, Montana, Nebraska, New Mexico, Nevada, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, West Virginia, and Wisconsin.
Can I buy a Root car insurance policy directly inside the Jerry app?
Yes. The partnership features a fully embedded, end-to-end integration. Jerry customers can receive real-time Root quotes, customize their coverage limits, and fully bind and purchase their policy without ever leaving the Jerry app.
How long does it take to get a Root quote and bind coverage on Jerry?
The digital-first integration removes traditional paperwork and friction. By utilizing existing profile data, eligible drivers can go from an initial rate quote to a bound, active Root policy in just minutes.
How does the Root partnership benefit Jerry customers?
Embedded Convenience: No redirects or external forms; the entire process happens in-app.Dual-App Policy Management: Access your digital insurance cards, view coverage details, and set up payment reminders across both the Root and Jerry apps. Drivers can effortlessly update their coverage and manage payments directly from their phones.24/7 Support: Access to licensed Jerry insurance agents seven days a week. About Root
Root Insurance is a technology company revolutionizing car insurance through data science and automation. The Root app has reached nearly 18 million downloads and has analyzed close to 37 billion miles of driving data to deliver personalized and fair pricing. Root, Inc. (NASDAQ: ROOT) is the parent company of Root Insurance Company.
For more information, visit root.com.
About Jerry
Jerry is a licensed insurance agency in all 50 states and Washington, D.C. that helps customers buy and manage their insurance and car care needs, making car and home ownership easier and more affordable. Its data-driven marketplace lets customers compare quotes from 100+ insurers and buy, bundle, and service their car, home, motorcycle, and renters policies directly in the app. Jerry also offers car care services spanning maintenance, repairs, recalls, and driver safety. And while Jerry is digital-first, a team of licensed agents is available seven days a week.
Media inquiries: [email protected] opportunities: Partnership form Forward Looking Statements:
This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of federal securities laws regarding Root, Inc. These forward-looking statements relate to, among other things, expectations about our future business results. Such forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and are subject to risks, uncertainties and other factors, some of which are beyond the company's control and are difficult to predict. We have based our forward-looking statements on our current expectations, estimates and projections about our industry and our company. We caution that these statements are not guarantees of future performance and you should not rely unduly on them, as they involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions that we cannot predict and many of which are beyond our control. Accordingly, our actual results may differ materially from the future performance that we have expressed or forecast in our forward-looking statements. In accordance with "safe harbor" provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, we have included in Root's Form 10-K for the year ended Dec. 31, 2025, and other SEC filings, cautionary language identifying important factors, though not necessarily all such factors, that could cause future outcomes to differ materially from those set forth in the forward-looking statements. Copies of Root's Form 10-K and other SEC filings are available on the SEC's website, Root's website at ir.joinroot.com, or by contacting Root's Investor Relations office.
FCEL těží z poptávky datových center s umělou inteligencí po stabilní energii; jeho projektový pipeline dosáhl asi 4 GW a 89 % z něj souvisí s datovými centry. Firma zároveň plánuje zvýšit kapacitu v Torringtonu na 500 MW.
Key Takeaways FCEL is drawing investor interest as AI data centers increase demand for steady on-site power.FCEL's proposal pipeline reached about 4 GW, with 89% tied to potential data-center customers.FCEL plans to lift Torrington capacity to 500 MW as its 12.5-MW modular block supports growth. FuelCell Energy (FCEL - Free Report) has been one of the strongest clean-energy stocks recently, with shares climbing nearly 300% in the past three months. After such a sharp move, investors may wonder whether the opportunity has already passed. However, FCEL’s rally is not based only on short-term excitement. The company is gaining attention because artificial intelligence (AI) data centers need huge amounts of steady electricity, and existing power grids often cannot supply that power quickly enough. FuelCell Energy offers on-site fuel-cell systems that can provide continuous power where it is needed. This gives FCEL a clearer growth story, especially as investors also watch Bloom Energy (BE - Free Report) and Plug Power (PLUG - Free Report) in the clean-power and hydrogen space.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
AI Data Centers Are Driving FCEL’s Opportunity
AI data centers run powerful computers around the clock. These facilities cannot afford power shortages or long delays in getting electricity. FuelCell Energy’s systems are designed to provide reliable baseload power directly at customer sites, helping reduce dependence on slow grid upgrades, new transmission lines or long utility interconnection timelines.
This is why FCEL’s business pipeline has expanded sharply. The company’s submitted proposal pipeline reached about 4 gigawatts in the fiscal second quarter, up more than 250% from the prior quarter. Around 89% of that pipeline is tied to potential data-center customers. That means most of FCEL’s current growth opportunity is linked to AI and digital infrastructure. Bloom Energy is also benefiting from the same theme, as BE markets on-site power systems for data centers and mission-critical facilities. Plug Power, meanwhile, is pursuing hydrogen and fuel-cell applications across several markets. While Bloom Energy and Plug Power are larger clean-energy names, FuelCell Energy is building a focused story around AI-driven demand for dependable electricity.
Image Source: FuelCell Energy
Modular Product and Manufacturing Scale Add Support
FuelCell Energy has introduced a standardized 12.5-megawatt (“MW”) FuelCell Energy Block. For a layman, this works like a power building block. A customer can begin with one block and add more as electricity demand increases. This is important for data centers because they often want to grow in phases instead of building all their power capacity at once.
The company says the 12.5-MW block uses its proven 1.25-MW modules and is designed to reduce repeat engineering and permitting work. That could make projects easier to plan and faster to deploy. FuelCell Energy is also expanding its Torrington, CT, manufacturing facility. Management now plans to raise annual production capacity to 500 MW, compared with the earlier 350-MW target. The company has said it will expand capacity in line with customer demand, contracted backlog and capital support. This disciplined approach matters because investors want growth, but not reckless spending. Bloom Energy and Plug Power also need strong execution to capture clean-energy demand, so FCEL’s ability to convert proposals into firm contracts will be critical.
Partnerships and Earnings Estimates Strengthen the Case for FCEL
FCEL’s story is not limited to data centers. The company continues to deliver fuel-cell modules to Gyeonggi Green Energy in South Korea and is involved in work tied to the AI Daegu Data Center opportunity. These projects support its international clean-energy presence. Another important opportunity is carbon capture. FuelCell Energy is working with ExxonMobil on technology that can capture carbon while producing power. Two carbon-capture modules were sent to Rotterdam for delivery to ExxonMobil’s facility. If this technology proves successful, FCEL could gain another long-term market beyond power generation.
Apart from price performance, FCEL’s earnings outlook is also improving. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for fiscal 2026 earnings implies a 59% improvement, while the estimate for fiscal 2027 points to another 27% improvement. This does not mean FCEL is already highly profitable, but it suggests analysts expect losses to narrow as the business scales. FuelCell Energy also ended the latest quarter with nearly $441 million in total cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash. That gives the company flexibility to support manufacturing expansion and commercial activity. Management has indicated that reaching a consistent annual production of at least 100 MW is important for moving toward positive adjusted EBITDA. Simply put, FCEL needs more volume to spread costs across a larger revenue base.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Conclusion
FuelCell Energy is not a risk-free stock. The company still needs to turn its large proposal pipeline into signed contracts, grow backlog, improve profitability and compete with Bloom Energy and Plug Power. However, the stock’s sharp rally looks supported by real growth themes, including AI data-center power demand, modular fuel-cell products, manufacturing expansion, international projects, carbon-capture potential and improving earnings estimates. For investors who understand the risks, FCEL may still offer upside even after its near-quadruple move in three months. FCEL stock is currently a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy).
You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
Hyperliquid spálil za necelé dva roky 16 % nabídky HYPE, zatímco objem na platformě táhnou US stock perpetuals. Ty jsou už mezi nejobchodovanějšími páry hned za Bitcoinem a HYPE.
Hyperliquid, a decentralized perpetual futures exchange, has burned 16% of its HYPE token supply in under two years as US stock perpetuals emerge as a key driver of volume on the platform. Notably, stock-linked perpetuals now rank among the most traded pairs, trailing only Bitcoin and HYPE itself. This activity highlights the crypto market’s expansion and ability to capture volume traditionally dominated by conventional finance. The platform’s unique structure allows for continuous activity, even on weekends, when traditional markets are closed, offering leverage and synthetic exposure to equities like Nvidia (NVDA).
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Key Takeaways Hyperliquid’s token burn and volume growth suggest increased platform activity and engagement. The rise of US stock perpetuals on Hyperliquid indicates a shift towards crypto derivatives capturing traditional finance volume. Market pricing appears supportive of Hyperliquid reaching its price targets by the end of 2026, with December 31 odds currently at 38.5% YES. What to Watch Monitor Hyperliquid’s continued ability to capture weekend volume as a potential indicator for further price movement. Developments such as major partnerships or technological innovations could influence market sentiment and pricing. Additionally, any changes in regulatory landscapes or security incidents might impact market confidence and Hyperliquid’s competitive position.
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Term Structure
Contract Odds Δ since publish Volume 24h December 31 38.5% — — View market → January 1 2027 5.5% — — View market → January 1 2027 3.9% — — View market → January 1 2027 71.5% — — View market → January 1 2027 9.1% — — View market → January 1 2027 4.5% — — View market →
USD1 od World Liberty Financial se za zhruba patnáct měsíců stal čtvrtým největším stablecoinem na světě, s obíhající nabídkou kolem 4,5 miliardy USD1. Růst táhly hlavně velké institucionální obchody, včetně vypořádání za 2 miliardy USD1 mezi MGX a Binance.
World Liberty Financial’s USD1 has gone from a March 2025 launch announcement to the fourth-largest stablecoin in the world in roughly fifteen months, overtaking PayPal’s PYUSD and Sky’s DAI along the way. Its rise has been driven less by retail adoption than by a handful of enormous institutional deals — most notably a $2 billion settlement between Abu Dhabi-based MGX and Binance that was paid entirely in USD1 — and by the fact that the project sits inside a company co-founded by the Trump family. Here’s what USD1 actually is, how it works, and what to weigh before using it.
Key Takeaways USD1 is a US dollar-pegged stablecoin issued by World Liberty Financial (WLFI) and custodied by BitGo Trust Company under a South Dakota trust charter Reserves consist of cash, short-term US Treasury bills, and government money market funds, verified through monthly AICPA-standard attestations and a live Chainlink-powered proof-of-reserves dashboard Circulating supply has grown from about $3.3 billion at year-end 2025 to roughly $4.5 billion by mid-2026, making USD1 the fourth-largest stablecoin behind USDT, USDC, and Sky’s USDS, according to DefiLlama’s stablecoin tracker USD1 runs natively on around ten blockchains, including Ethereum, BNB Chain, Tron, Solana, Aptos, and the Stripe-backed Tempo L1 World Liberty Financial is majority-owned by a Trump family business entity, which is entitled to a share of token sale proceeds and stablecoin profits — a fact worth knowing before treating USD1 as a neutral financial product USD1 Price Today MetricValuePrice~$0.9987Market Cap~$4.45B24h Volume~$775MCirculating Supply~4.46B USD1Holders~617KRank#4 stablecoin by market cap Live price and supply data via CoinGecko and CoinMarketCap.
Note: as a stablecoin, USD1’s price is designed to stay near $1.00 — deviations of more than a fraction of a cent typically signal peg stress rather than “price movement” in the way a normal crypto asset would show it. For how USD1 fits into the broader market, see today’s crypto market overview.
What Is USD1? USD1 is a fiat-collateralized stablecoin issued by World Liberty Financial, the same company behind the WLFI governance token. Each USD1 is intended to be backed 1:1 by a corresponding dollar held in cash, short-duration US Treasury bills, and other cash equivalents through government money market funds. The stablecoin launched on Ethereum and BNB Chain in March 2025 and was designed from the outset for institutional settlement rather than retail spending — WLFI co-founder Zach Witkoff pitched it at launch as combining “the power of DeFi” with “the credibility and safeguards of the most respected names in traditional finance.”
That institutional framing has largely held up in practice. USD1’s fastest growth has come from large counterparty deals rather than organic retail demand — Forbes reported that Binance-linked wallets held roughly 87% of USD1 supply at one point, and Binance has run multiple liquidity-seeding campaigns, including a booster program that briefly offered up to 20% APR on USD1 deposits before being cut to 8%.
USD1 uses a standard mint-and-burn mechanism: new tokens are created only when an equivalent dollar amount is deposited with the custodian, and tokens are destroyed when holders redeem. BitGo Trust Company — which operates under a South Dakota trust charter — holds the reserves and processes institutional redemptions, typically within one to two business days. Retail holders generally don’t redeem directly with BitGo; instead, they convert USD1 to other stablecoins or fiat through exchanges and DEXs.
Two transparency mechanisms back the peg claim. A monthly attestation report, prepared by an independent accounting firm under 2025 AICPA criteria for asset-backed fiat-pegged tokens, confirms that USD1 tokens outstanding are matched or exceeded by reserve assets. A separate real-time proof-of-reserves dashboard, powered by a Chainlink oracle on Ethereum, shows total reserves, the collateralization ratio, and supply by network on an ongoing basis. World Liberty Financial introduced the live dashboard in February 2026, shortly after a brief depeg incident (more on that below).
It’s also worth knowing where the yield goes: interest earned on the underlying reserve assets accrues to BitGo and World Liberty Financial-affiliated entities — including a Trump-affiliated entity, DT Marks DEFI LLC — rather than to USD1 holders themselves. That’s standard practice across most fiat-backed stablecoins, including USDT and USDC, but it means holding USD1 doesn’t generate yield on its own; any return comes from separately supplying it to a lending protocol.
Which Blockchains Support USD1 USD1 launched on just two networks and has expanded aggressively since:
Ethereum and BNB Chain — the original launch networks and still the deepest liquidity venues Tron — where dollar-stablecoin transfer volume is heavily concentrated Solana — added as USD1 pushed into high-throughput DeFi Aptos, AB Core, Mantle, Monad, Plume, Morph — newer integrations added through 2025 and 2026 Tempo — the Stripe-backed layer-1, where USD1 launched natively in May 2026 as an early TIP-20 token Cross-chain transfers run on Chainlink’s Cross-Chain Interoperability Protocol (CCIP) rather than a proprietary bridge — a deliberate choice, since Circle’s competing CCTP standard is USDC-specific and unavailable to other issuers.
USD1 and World Liberty Financial USD1 can’t really be separated from the company behind it. World Liberty Financial was founded in late 2024 by Zachary Folkman, Chase Herro, and Zach and Donald Trump Jr., alongside other Trump family members, and describes Donald Trump as its “chief crypto advocate.” A Trump family business entity owns 60% of World Liberty Financial and is entitled to 75% of net proceeds from WLFI token sales as well as a share of stablecoin-related profits; by December 2025, the family had reportedly profited around $1 billion from token proceeds alone.
The project has also drawn foreign investment at a scale unusual for a young crypto company. A firm tied to the Abu Dhabi royal family purchased $2 billion of USD1 in 2025, and reporting from the New York Times indicated Abu Dhabi-linked interests separately agreed to acquire a 49% stake in WLFI. These ties, combined with the Trump family’s direct financial stake, have made USD1 a recurring subject of conflict-of-interest reporting rather than a purely technical stablecoin story — worth factoring in alongside the reserve and custody details above.
On the regulatory side, USD1’s structure is built to align with the GENIUS Act, the federal stablecoin law signed in July 2025 that requires full reserve backing, monthly public disclosure, and licensed-issuer status for payment stablecoins. Implementation is still ongoing through 2026, and in January 2026 a World Liberty trust entity applied for a US national banking charter, which — if granted — would give the issuer direct bank-grade infrastructure instead of relying solely on BitGo as custodian.
USD1 vs. USDT vs. USDC USD1USDTUSDCIssuerWorld Liberty FinancialTetherCircleMarket cap (mid-2026)~$4.5B~$170B+~$73BCustodianBitGo TrustTether InternationalRegulated banking partnersReserve attestationMonthly (AICPA standard)QuarterlyMonthlyChains~10, incl. Ethereum, BNB Chain, Tron, Solana15+20+Primary use caseInstitutional settlement, DeFi collateralTrading pairs, EM remittanceRegulated payments, DeFi USD1 is far smaller than the two incumbents and has no realistic path to displacing either in the near term. Its differentiation is regulatory positioning and political access rather than scale: it launched compliance-first under a framework built toward the GENIUS Act, and its sponsors have secured settlement deals — like the MGX-Binance transaction — that smaller or newer stablecoins typically can’t access.
Risks Worth Knowing USD1 briefly depegged to around $0.994 in February 2026, an incident WLFI attributed to a coordinated attack on co-founders’ social media accounts — a claim that hasn’t been independently verified. The peg recovered within roughly 30 minutes and reserves were confirmed intact, but the episode prompted the launch of the real-time proof-of-reserves dashboard described above.
Supply concentration is a separate concern: with the bulk of USD1 historically held in Binance-linked wallets, the token’s liquidity and price stability depend heavily on a small number of large holders rather than a broad, diversified base. World Liberty Financial’s own risk disclosures also note that USD1 is not legal tender and not deposit-insured, and that BitGo or WLFI-affiliated parties retain the ability to freeze or block specific addresses — a level of centralized control that’s common among regulated stablecoins but worth being aware of before treating USD1 as equivalent to holding cash.
Finally, USD1 is young and its issuer is young: World Liberty Financial has faced congressional scrutiny over conflicts of interest and, separately, a defamation lawsuit tied to public criticism of the project. None of this affects whether current reserves back current supply, but it’s relevant to how much institutional trust the project can sustain if political or legal pressure increases.
Where to Buy USD1 USD1 is listed on most major centralized exchanges as well as several DEXs:
Binance — deepest liquidity, multiple pairs including USD1/USDT and BTC/USD1 Coinbase — added USD1 support as part of WLFI’s push for mainstream accessibility Kraken, OKX, Bybit, Gate, MEXC, Bitget Raydium and PancakeSwap for on-chain swaps via Solana and BNB Chain respectively Self-custody wallets that support USD1’s underlying networks (MetaMask, Phantom, and similar) can hold the token directly using its contract address once added manually or through an exchange’s “add to wallet” integration.
Frequently Asked Questions What is USD1 stablecoin? USD1 is a US dollar-pegged stablecoin issued by World Liberty Financial, a company co-founded by members of the Trump family. It's backed 1:1 by cash and short-term US Treasury securities held through custodian BitGo Trust, with monthly reserve attestations and a real-time proof-of-reserves dashboard.
How do I buy USD1 stablecoin? USD1 trades on major exchanges including Binance, Coinbase, Kraken, OKX, and Bybit, as well as decentralized exchanges like Raydium and PancakeSwap. Create an account on a supported exchange, deposit funds, and trade for USD1 directly or swap another stablecoin like USDT or USDC for it.
Who owns USD1 stablecoin? USD1 is issued by World Liberty Financial, which is majority-owned by a Trump family business entity entitled to 75% of net token sale proceeds and a share of stablecoin profits. Reserves backing USD1 are held by custodian BitGo Trust Company, not by World Liberty Financial directly.
Which blockchain is USD1 on? USD1 runs natively on roughly ten blockchains, including Ethereum, BNB Chain, Tron, Solana, Aptos, and the Stripe-backed Tempo network. Cross-chain transfers use Chainlink's CCIP protocol rather than a single native chain.
Is USD1 safe? USD1 is backed by cash and short-term US Treasuries held with a regulated custodian and publishes monthly attestations, similar to USDC's model. It briefly depegged in February 2026 but recovered within 30 minutes with reserves confirmed intact. As with any stablecoin, it isn't deposit-insured or legal tender, and holders should weigh custodial and issuer-concentration risk before use.
Americké spotové Bitcoin ETF zaznamenaly třetí den čistých přílivů v řadě, tentokrát ve výši 31,64 milionu USD. Od lednového spuštění už přilákaly celkem 12,42 miliardy USD.
US spot Bitcoin ETFs just strung together three straight days of net inflows, a modest but meaningful reversal after weeks of investors heading for the exits. The total haul on April 23 came in at $31.64 million. Not exactly a tidal wave, but after five consecutive days of outflows, even a trickle feels like rain in the desert.
Who’s buying, who’s selling The breakdown across individual ETFs tells a familiar story. BlackRock’s IBIT fund led the pack with $37.92 million in inflows on April 23, extending what had been a remarkable 70-day consecutive inflow streak.
ARK Invest’s ARKB followed with $33.28 million, and Bitwise’s BITB pulled in $23.23 million. These three funds have consistently been the magnets for new capital since spot Bitcoin ETFs launched in January 2024.
Then there’s the other side of the ledger. Grayscale’s Bitcoin Trust, GBTC, continued its role as the group’s chronic bleeder, shedding $66.88 million on the same day. The pattern has been relentless since GBTC converted from a closed-end fund structure: investors rotate out of the higher-fee legacy product and into newer, cheaper alternatives.
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Here’s the thing. The net inflow number, $31.64 million, only looks small because GBTC’s outflows are dragging down the total. Strip out Grayscale, and the rest of the field had a genuinely strong day.
The bigger picture since January Zoom out and the cumulative numbers tell a more compelling story. Since their January 2024 debut, US spot Bitcoin ETFs have attracted $12.42 billion in total net inflows. Assets under management across the group stood at $55.82 billion as of April 23.
BlackRock’s IBIT alone accounts for $15.48 billion in cumulative inflows. Bitcoin was trading around $66,675 during the reporting period.
Why the halving changes the calculus Bitcoin’s fourth halving event, which cuts the block reward miners receive in half, is the elephant in the room. Every previous halving has preceded a significant bull run, though the timing and magnitude have varied. The supply reduction is straightforward economics: fewer new coins entering circulation while demand stays constant or grows.
What’s different this cycle is the existence of spot ETFs as a demand channel. In previous halvings, institutional investors had limited options for gaining Bitcoin exposure. Now they can buy shares of a regulated fund through their existing brokerage accounts.
What this means for investors The competitive landscape among Bitcoin ETF issuers is starting to crystallize. BlackRock, ARK Invest, and Bitwise are emerging as the clear winners in the fee war and distribution battle. GBTC continues to hemorrhage assets, and the gap between the leaders and the rest of the pack is widening with each passing week.
GBTC’s persistent outflows remain a structural headwind that won’t disappear overnight. With nearly $56 billion in assets under management, these products have already cemented themselves as permanent fixtures of the institutional investment landscape.
Disclosure: This article was edited by Editorial Team. For more information on how we create and review content, see our Editorial Policy.
Bitcoin ve středu klesl o více než 3 % na zhruba 61 691 USD poté, co Trumpova slova o Íránu znovu vyvolala obavy z války na Blízkém východě. Později část ztrát smazal a obchodoval se kolem 62 100 USD.
[NEW YORK] Bitcoin tumbled as renewed geopolitical tensions rattled digital asset markets, eclipsing what had been a muted reaction to Strategy Inc’s latest sale of the token earlier in the week.
The largest cryptocurrency fell more than 3 per cent to around US$61,691 on Wednesday (Jul 8) as tensions flared up once more between the US and Iran. The selloff picked up steam after US President Donald Trump said the tentative ceasefire with Iran was over, raising the prospect of renewed military conflict between the two countries. Other cryptocurrencies, including Ether and Solana, also fell.
Bitcoin later pared some of its losses and was trading at around US$62,100 in early morning New York.
“Bitcoin took a quick dive after Trump’s comments, as the market frets about further fuel-linked inflation and potential rate hikes to counter it,” said Caroline Mauron, co-founder of Orbit Markets. “We expect some support around US$61,500, but the market is likely to remain volatile as the geopolitical and macro situations develop.”
Brent crude advanced nearly 6 per cent to US$78.55 a barrel. Stocks extended declines, with the MSCI Asia Pacific Index dropping as much as 1 per cent and India’s Nifty 50 Index sliding 1.5 per cent. S&P 500 futures slid 1 per cent.
Trump’s comments came after the US carried out strikes on Iran, which followed attacks on commercial ships transiting the Strait of Hormuz. Both sides accused the other of violating the ceasefire.
Bitcoin had been looking stronger in July after a 20 per cent drop in June, its worst month in four years. The token is up about 5.5 per cent so far this month.
The cryptocurrency had been relatively resilient after Strategy – the Michael Saylor-founded company that has become the token’s largest corporate buyer – disclosed a US$216 million Bitcoin sale on Monday. Markets barely reacted to the news, a far cry from last month, when Strategy’s disclosure of its first Bitcoin sale since 2022 precipitated a selloff.
“A forced seller of that size not denting the market is a real signal worth noting,” said Sean Rose, an account executive at market intelligence firm Glassnode.
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Some long-term Bitcoin holders had also resumed buying before the latest Middle East flare-up, adding as many as 31,800 tokens per day to their holdings from June 20 to July 6, according to Glassnode.
US-listed spot Bitcoin exchange-traded funds, meanwhile, have added more than US$500 million in three consecutive days of inflows. Investors had pulled more than US$4.5 billion from the funds in June, their worst month since launching in early 2024.
Still, Bitcoin remains down more than 50 per cent since reaching a high above US$126,000 last October. The upside, however, may be lower risk. Glassnode’s Bitcoin Risk Index fell to 0.56 on July 6 from its maximum reading of 1 at the start of the month, which Rose said is “a real de-risking signal.”
Another sign is emerging. Bitcoin has been shaken in recent months by long-term holders taking profit when the token starts to recover, but there are signs that opportunities to do so may be drying up. Net unrealised profit/loss now sits at 0.17, according to a report from Bitrue Research Institute, suggesting most Bitcoin holders have little profit left to take.
As for Strategy, traders may no longer be viewing its decisions with the same apprehension, after having withstood two recent sales. The company has also announced structural changes, which give it broader authority to preserve liquidity and sell Bitcoin when issuing new stock becomes less attractive. It also greenlit the repurchase of US$1 billion of its preferred securities and an additional US$1 billion of common stock.
By reorganising its balance sheet, Strategy “may have finally gotten out of its own way,” Jeff Dorman, chief investment officer at Arca, wrote in a report published on Monday.
The question remains whether Bitcoin’s brittle recovery this month can hold, particularly as geopolitical tensions continue to unsettle global markets. Financial institutions that have been drawn to digital assets are now increasingly looking at stablecoins and other uses of blockchain as ways of growing their presence in the sector instead.
“Institutions are not necessarily looking to take more directional exposure to tokens right now, but they are increasingly interested in using blockchain rails to make financial markets more efficient, programmable, and globally accessible,” said Boris Alergant, an executive at Babylon Labs. BLOOMBERG
The rollout of version 3.2.0 server software is gaining traction on the XRP Ledger network, a move aimed at reducing operational costs and boosting stability for enterprise use cases. Yet, despite the increased adoption of the new version, most nodes across the network are still running the older v3.1.3 release. The real deciding factor for network upgrades remains the choices made by validators, rather than the sheer number of upgraded nodes.
Threshold crossed among validatorsAccording to XRPSCAN data, there are approximately 833 active nodes on the XRP Ledger network. While about 43 percent of these nodes have migrated to v3.2.0, 51 percent still operate on v3.1.3. Nevertheless, an impressive 31 out of 35 validators on the default Unique Node List (UNL) have already upgraded to v3.2.0, representing a substantial 89 percent adoption rate among this crucial group.
The Unique Node List, often abbreviated as UNL, designates the trusted set of validators the XRP Ledger relies on for consensus. For any new software version or protocol amendment to go live, over 80 percent of these validators must continuously support the change for two straight weeks.
Whether or not an upgrade is completed on the XRP Ledger is determined not by the total node count, but by support among validators on the default UNL.
This situation indicates that even if the broader network is slower to adopt the new update, the entities with decision-making authority are largely on board. Thus, while the required technical threshold has been surpassed, sustained support over the designated period is still necessary to finalize the upgrade process.
Metricv3.2.0v3.1.3Active network nodes43%51%Default UNL validators31/35, approx. 89%4/35Activation threshold80%Below thresholdSecurity amendment gets a separate voteA related change known as fixCleanup3_2_0, which comes with the v3.2.0 package, is currently being voted on separately via on-chain governance. This proposal brings a collection of security improvements and bug fixes focused on newer features like single-asset escrows, permissioned decentralized exchanges, multipurpose tokens, and the network’s lending protocol.
Mini glossary: The UNL is the trusted list of validators that serve as the reference for transaction approval on the XRP Ledger. MPT refers to a token standard developed on the XRP Ledger that supports multiple use cases.
The lending protocol stands out by enabling users to secure loans against pooled funds directly on-chain. The fixCleanup3_2_0 update also introduces internal controls to prevent deleted accounts from leaving behind residual data.
Upgrading a validator to the new software is not the same as approving the fixCleanup3_2_0 amendment—the adoption rate for the software is higher than that for the amendment itself.
Ripple votes in support of the amendmentRipple, the payments firm founded by the creators of the XRP Ledger, cast its vote in favor of the fixCleanup3_2_0 amendment. Despite this high-profile backing, support for the amendment still trails behind the level of adoption seen for the v3.2.0 software upgrade.
Once the amendment is activated, any validators that fail to upgrade could find themselves classified as amendment blocked by the network. In this scenario, these validators risk losing access to the distributed ledger entirely.
Disclaimer: The information contained in this article does not constitute investment advice. Investors should be aware that cryptocurrencies carry high volatility and therefore risk, and should conduct their own research.
Na XRP Ledger vzniklo v letech 2024 a 2025 téměř 40 % všech peněženek, což ukazuje na silný růst adopce sítě. Růst podporuje i rostoucí institucionální zájem.
Growth in the number of users on the XRP Ledger network has become increasingly apparent thanks to on-chain data. James Rule XRP, a creator of crypto education content, revealed that wallets created in 2024 and 2025 now account for nearly 40% of all wallets on the network. This highlights a period of strong and steady growth for the XRP Ledger over the last two years.
Wallet statistics highlight user adoptionUnlike price volatility, the number of new wallets provides a more robust indicator of long-term network adoption. Each new wallet represents either a new user or institution joining the XRP ecosystem. This participation ranges from holding the asset and processing payments to issuing tokens, developing decentralized applications, or engaging in tokenization activities.
With around 40% of XRP wallets established in just 2024 and 2025, it is clear that network growth is driven by more than short-lived price movements, reflecting deeper adoption.
While multiple wallets can belong to the same user and therefore wallet numbers may not exactly mirror unique users, the sheer magnitude of the increase points to broadening interest across the network. Notably, this expansion comes after a protracted period of regulatory uncertainty for Ripple and XRP in the United States.
Corporate engagement supports network expansionThis period of rapid growth has coincided with higher institutional interest. Made in USA Inc., a US-based technology firm, recently made a significant investment by acquiring a complete technology stack for the XRP Ledger, affirming its commitment to the network. The move underscores the XRP Ledger’s emerging role as a platform for enterprise blockchain solutions. Made in USA Inc. is recognized for its focus on technology-driven initiatives in the US market.
Mini glossary: XRPL, or XRP Ledger, is an open-source blockchain network tailored for payments and asset transfers. Tokenization refers to representing physical or digital assets on a blockchain.
This investment suggests that companies are pivoting from short-term trading to real-world use cases. The fact that activity on the network is being driven by infrastructure investment, not just market speculation, signals the foundation for a new phase of growth for the XRP Ledger.
Rising demand in Japan stands outA similar upward trend is being observed internationally. Japan’s SBI VC Trade, operating under the SBI Holdings umbrella, has announced that its customer accounts have surpassed 2 million. As a digital asset trading platform, SBI VC Trade’s customer milestone and its XRP and Bitcoin reward programs signal sustained interest in digital assets.
SBI VC Trade’s milestone of more than 2 million customer accounts—alongside growing institutional investment in the XRP Ledger—shows that the network’s use is expanding beyond speculative trading.
With the Japanese yen under pressure, investors’ pivot toward alternative assets is supporting demand for digital currencies. The combination of rising wallet numbers, increased institutional investment, and broader participation raises expectations that on-chain volume, liquidity, and developer activity in the XRP Ledger network may continue to strengthen over time.
For years, discussion around XRP centered largely on regulatory matters and price movements. Now, the latest data show a growing focus on measurable user adoption. The surge in new wallets over the past two years suggests that the XRP Ledger could be entering a fresh phase of expansion.
Disclaimer: The information contained in this article does not constitute investment advice. Investors should be aware that cryptocurrencies carry high volatility and therefore risk, and should conduct their own research.
Ripple oznámil partnerství XRP s Kansas Athletics, první kryptoměnový sponzoring na dresu v hlavním univerzitním sportu. Tím dál roste propojení krypta s NCAA.
Ripple has announced a partnership between its cryptocurrency, XRP, and Kansas Athletics, marking the first instance of a crypto brand sponsorship on a major college athletics uniform. This strategic move underscores the increasing integration of crypto brands into NCAA athletics, a trend that began with FTX’s crypto-based sponsorships in 2021. While XRP is currently near $1.12, reflecting a 20% decline from June levels, analysts have projected a potential price range of $1.15 to $1.32 by August 2026. The partnership may suggest increased visibility and adoption for XRP, potentially impacting its market performance.
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Key Takeaways Ripple’s new partnership with Kansas Athletics appears to indicate further integration of cryptocurrency brands into collegiate sports. Market pricing suggests participants view this development as potentially supportive of increased XRP adoption and visibility. Current XRP pricing reflects a decline, yet future projections suggest a possible recovery influenced by strategic partnerships like this one. What to Watch Markets will likely monitor how this partnership influences XRP’s adoption and market performance. Key indicators include movements in XRP prices and any correlating changes in projected price levels for August. Observers should also watch for potential regulatory developments, such as the CLARITY Act, which could impact broader market conditions and XRP’s price trajectory.
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Term Structure
Contract Odds Δ since publish Volume 24h August 1 2026 0.4% — — View market → August 1 2026 2.6% — — View market → August 1 2026 0.9% — — View market → August 1 2026 0.2% — — View market → August 1 2026 0.4% — — View market → August 1 2026 8% — — View market →
Rezervy XRP na burzách spadly na sedmileté minimum, asi 1,6 miliardy tokenů, zatímco sedm amerických spotových ETF drží už přes 970 milionů XRP. Ripple má v escrow zhruba 36 miliard XRP.
Exchange reserves have fallen to a seven-year low of about 1.6 billion XRP, half what they were at the October 2025 peak. ETFs have absorbed nearly a billion tokens. Ripple still holds roughly 36 billion in escrow. This is the full map of where XRP’s supply actually sits in mid-2026, what moved, what it means, and why a shrinking float has so far failed to move the price.
Summary
XRP exchange reserves have fallen to a seven year low while spot ETFs have accumulated nearly one billion tokens and long term holders continue moving coins into private wallets. Ripple still controls about 36 billion XRP in escrow, but steady monthly releases and relocks have not stopped exchange balances from shrinking to multi year lows. The report says tighter supply alone has not lifted XRP’s price, with weak market demand continuing to outweigh the effects of a declining tradable float. Something unusual is happening to XRP’s supply, and it is happening quietly, underneath a price chart that has spent 2026 telling a story of decline. Exchange reserves, the pool of tokens sitting on trading venues ready to be sold, have fallen to roughly 1.6 billion XRP, the lowest level in seven years and down about 50% from the October 2025 peak of 3.76 billion. On Binance alone, the largest venue for the asset, reserves have dropped 20% since November 2024 to about 2.6 billion tokens across its wallets, pushing a metric called the Scarcity Index to its highest reading in more than two years. Meanwhile the seven US spot ETFs have quietly accumulated more than 970 million XRP, locked in custody on behalf of fund holders, after nine consecutive weeks of net inflows.
Tokens are leaving the places where they can be sold and accumulating in the places where they tend to sit still. In most assets, that migration is the textbook setup for a supply squeeze. In XRP, the price has fallen anyway, trading near $1.13, down roughly 70% from its July 2025 peak of $3.65, through the entire period in which the float was tightening.
That contradiction is the story. This piece maps the full distribution of XRP’s supply as of mid-2026: what sits on exchanges, what the ETFs hold, what Ripple controls in escrow and operational wallets, and what the remaining tens of billions in private hands are doing. It then works through why a halving of exchange reserves has not produced the price response the squeeze thesis predicts, the competing explanations for the gap, and the specific conditions under which a tight float starts to matter. The supply side of XRP has rarely been this interesting; the demand side is the reason nobody has noticed.
The map: 100 billion tokens, five buckets XRP’s supply structure is unlike any other major asset, and the map has to start from its founding fact: all 100 billion tokens were created at launch in 2012. There is no mining, no issuance schedule, no future supply beyond what already exists. About 14 million XRP have been permanently destroyed as transaction fees since then, a rounding error, leaving total supply just below 100 billion. Everything else is a question of where the existing tokens sit, and in mid-2026 they sit in five buckets.
The first bucket is Ripple’s escrow, the largest single concentration of XRP in existence at roughly 36 billion tokens, about 36% of total supply. These are time-locked on-chain contracts releasing one billion XRP on the first of each month, of which Ripple typically relocks 600 to 800 million and keeps a net 200 to 300 million for operations, a mechanism this publication has explained in full. In July, Ripple relocked about 70% of the monthly billion, releasing 300 million into circulation. The escrow is the structural overhang critics cite and the transparency mechanism defenders praise, and either way it is the slowest-moving bucket: at current net-release rates, depletion is roughly nine years out.
The second bucket is circulating supply proper, about 62 billion tokens, and the remaining buckets are subdivisions of it. Exchange reserves, the third bucket, are the sellable edge of the market: roughly 1.6 billion tokens across venues, the seven-year low. The fourth bucket is the ETF complex: seven US spot funds holding a combined 970 million or so tokens, a bit over $1 billion in assets, tokens held by custodians and effectively removed from trading circulation for as long as fund investors stay put. The fifth bucket, by far the largest slice of circulating supply, is everything else: private wallets, corporate treasuries, whale cold storage, and long-term holders, somewhere near 59 billion tokens whose owners have, on the evidence of on-chain data, been net withdrawers from exchanges for over a year.
Two things stand out from the map. First, the actively tradable float, the exchange reserves, is now under 3% of circulating supply and under 2% of total supply, remarkably thin for a top-six asset by market value. Second, the two fastest-growing buckets, ETF custody and private cold storage, are both one-way doors in the short term: tokens flow in easily and come back out only when holders make an affirmative decision to sell.
What moved, and why The reshaping of the map over the past eighteen months has three drivers, each visible on-chain.
The first driver is the ETF complex, which did not exist before November 2025. Since the first spot XRP fund launched, the products have absorbed roughly $1.5 billion in cumulative inflows, and because they hold the underlying token, every dollar of inflow is a market purchase moved into custody. The funds have now recorded nine consecutive weeks of net inflows, adding $17 million in the latest week even as Bitcoin and Ethereum funds bled, a rotation this publication has tracked. Nearly a billion tokens now sit in ETF custody, and the mechanism only reverses if fund investors redeem at scale, which, so far, they have done on exactly one notable day, the quarter-end outflow of June 30.
The second driver is whale and institutional withdrawal. CryptoQuant data shows the Binance drawdown accelerating recently, from about 2.8 billion tokens in May to 2.6 billion in early July, exactly the window in which the Scarcity Index broke out to 0.77. Large-holder activity has strengthened while retail stays cautious, new-wallet creation hit a three-month high, and Korean venues have recorded repeated multi-million-token outflows. The pattern, tokens moving from hot exchange wallets to cold private ones, is the classic signature of accumulation by holders with no near-term intention to sell.
Notably, this is the reverse of December 2024, when the Scarcity Index collapsed because holders were depositing XRP onto Binance in bulk to sell the rally to $3; today’s flows run the other way, out of the venues, into storage, at prices two-thirds lower.
The third driver is the escrow’s steady arithmetic. Ripple’s net release of 200 to 300 million tokens a month adds roughly 4-6% to circulating supply annually, a bounded, scheduled inflation the market can model years ahead. In 2026 the company has if anything leaned conservative, relocking 70% in recent months, and part of what it does release goes to institutional counterparties off-exchange, never touching the tradable float at all. The escrow is a source of supply, but it is a metered one, and its pace has not changed while the exchange drawdown accelerated, which means the drawdown is demand-side behavior, not a supply-side trick.
The puzzle: a tightening float and a falling price Here is where the story stops being simple. Every element above, reserves halved, ETFs absorbing, whales withdrawing, metered issuance, belongs to the standard playbook of a supply squeeze, the setup in which shrinking availability meets steady demand and the price ratchets upward because sellers become scarce. XRP has instead spent 2026 falling, from $2.41 in January to near $1 in late June, before the modest recovery to $1.13. The float tightened; the price halved. Any honest supply analysis has to explain that, and there are three serious explanations, not mutually exclusive.
The first is that scarcity on exchanges measures potential, not pressure. A thin order book amplifies whatever demand arrives; it does not create demand. Through 2026, demand has been the missing side: derivatives open interest collapsed from last year’s highs, retail participation stayed weak, funding rates flipped decisively negative as price approached $1, and ETF inflows, while persistent, ran at a pace of tens of millions per week, roughly the same order of magnitude as Ripple’s monthly net escrow release in dollar terms. Australian lawyer and longtime XRP commentator Bill Morgan has made the sharper version of this point: neither the supply-squeeze thesis nor the older escrow-dump fear explains XRP’s price well, because the dominant variable is simply Bitcoin, which fell through the same months and dragged the whole market with it. On this reading, the tight float is dry tinder, and 2026 has been a year without a spark.
The second explanation is that the headline reserve numbers may overstate the tightness. Skeptics of the squeeze thesis note that measured exchange reserves depend on which wallets analysts attribute to which venues, that internal transfers can masquerade as outflows, and that estimates of total platform-held XRP across all venues and custodians run far higher than the headline 1.6 billion, with some placing 14 to 16 billion tokens within fast reach of order books. The February-March episode in which roughly 350 million XRP dipped and rebounded on Binance, likely internal wallet reshuffling rather than organic flow, illustrates how noisy the data is. If the true sellable supply is several multiples of the visible reserve, the squeeze is further away than the dashboards suggest.
The third explanation is structural: the sellers who matter are not on exchanges yet. Millions of tokens were accumulated between $1.50 and $1.90 during the spring’s failed rallies, and holders underwater at those levels represent a standing wall of supply that will migrate back onto exchanges precisely when price approaches their break-even. Add Ripple’s monthly release and the possibility of ETF redemptions in a risk-off shock, and the tight float is best understood as tight at current prices, with reinforcements waiting at higher ones. Santiment’s MVRV data showing holders at their deepest unrealized losses in the token’s history cuts both ways: it signals capitulation-grade sentiment, and it also marks exactly where the exit orders cluster.
How to read the metrics without fooling yourself Because the supply story runs on a handful of dashboards, and because those dashboards are routinely misread in both directions, a short field guide to the metrics is worth the space.
Exchange reserves are an attribution exercise, not an audit. Analytics firms tag wallets they believe belong to venues and sum the balances, which means the headline number moves when tagging improves, when exchanges reorganize custody, and when internal transfers cross the tagged perimeter, none of which involves a single token changing owners. The 350 million XRP that appeared to leave and re-enter Binance across February and March was almost certainly internal wallet management, and any single week’s reserve print should be read with that episode in mind. The signal is in the trend across months and across independent data providers, and on that standard the 2026 drawdown is robust: the direction has been consistent since late 2024, it appears in CryptoQuant, exchange-published data, and third-party trackers alike, and it has accelerated instead of mean-reverting.
The Scarcity Index is a ratio, and ratios have two moving parts. The index compares available supply on Binance against demand conditions, so it can rise because tokens leave, because buying absorbs, or both, and it can whipsaw, as it did on the round trip from 0.80 in spring to 0.34 in June to 0.77 in July, without the underlying reserve base moving anywhere near as violently. Its historical extremes are more informative than its level: the deeply negative readings of December 2024 marked holders flooding coins onto the venue to sell a top, and the current two-year high marks the opposite regime, coins leaving into weakness. As a regime indicator it has value; as a timing tool it has embarrassed everyone who used it as one this year.
ETF holdings are the cleanest series in the entire picture, because fund custodians disclose and the products file, which is why the roughly 970 million tokens across the seven funds is the number this piece leans on hardest. Even here, one habit matters: distinguish flows from assets. Net assets fall when the price falls even while inflows continue, which is exactly what happened through the spring, deposits arriving as valuations shrank, and reading the AUM decline as investor exit inverted the truth. Flow data, positive for nine consecutive weeks, is the demand signal; asset data is mostly a price echo.
Escrow figures, finally, come with the strongest health warning of all, because the number that matters is not the billion that unlocks but the net that stays out, and the net is only knowable after the relock lands days later. Ripple’s own quarterly reports, the on-chain escrow contracts, and the monthly relock transactions are all public, and the discipline is to compute the net against the trailing 200-to-300-million average before drawing any conclusion. A month in which the net spikes above the band is a genuine signal about the company’s cash needs; a month of headlines about a billion-token unlock that ends in a 70% relock, like this July’s, is a signal about headlines. Every metric in this story is public, which is XRP’s genuine advantage as an object of analysis, and every one of them rewards the reader who checks the denominator before repeating the numerator.
What history says about tightening floats The squeeze thesis is not being invented for XRP in 2026; it has a track record in this asset and others, and the record is worth consulting because it cuts both ways.
The supportive precedent is 2024. Exchange outflows through that year preceded the powerful multi-month rally that carried XRP from under a dollar to its January 2025 highs above $3, with Korean regional demand and shrinking sell-side reserves amplifying the move once the SEC settlement and ETF approvals supplied the demand spark. The structure of that episode maps closely onto today’s: months of quiet withdrawal, a scarcity metric stretching to extremes, skeptics dismissing the data, and then a catalyst arriving into a market with far fewer sellers than buyers expected. Holders who lived through it read the current seven-year-low reserves as the same picture at an earlier frame.
The cautionary precedents are just as instructive. The Scarcity Index itself has whipsawed within 2026: it climbed to nearly 0.80 in the spring, sagged to 0.34 by late June amid heavy long liquidations, then broke out to 0.77 in the first week of July, and the price fell through the entire sequence. A metric that can round-trip that violently inside one quarter is measuring flow conditions, not destiny, and the June reading arrived alongside more than $13 million in single-day long liquidations, a reminder that leverage positioning can overwhelm spot scarcity on any given week. December 2024 offers the mirror lesson: reserves ballooned precisely at the top, as holders raced to deposit and sell the $3 rally, which is to say the metric is at its most bullish after prices have already fallen and its most bearish after they have already risen, a lagging emotional gauge as much as a leading structural one.
The broader crypto record adds a final nuance. Bitcoin’s great supply-squeeze narratives, the 2020-21 exchange exodus, the post-ETF custody absorption of 2024, each eventually mattered, and each mattered on the demand side’s schedule, not the supply side’s. Assets have sat at multi-year reserve lows for quarters while prices drifted, and then repriced in weeks once flows arrived, because a thin float does nothing until someone leans on it, at which point it does everything at once. That asymmetry, long stretches of irrelevance punctuated by sudden amplification, is the honest historical summary, and it is why the traders who take the supply map seriously express the view through patience and position sizing, the same execution discipline any thin market demands, rather than through timing calls the data cannot support.
There is one more structural actor worth watching that previous cycles lacked: the corporate and fund treasuries. Beyond the seven ETFs, a growing roster of listed companies has adopted XRP treasury strategies, and the ETF custodian wallets themselves have become the single most legible accumulation channel in the asset’s history, absorbing roughly 750 million tokens in their first two months alone. Treasury demand is slower and stickier than trader demand, it neither chases rallies nor panics in drawdowns on the same timescale, and its growth quietly raises the floor beneath the float. Whether it grows fast enough to matter against escrow issuance is, like everything in this story, a race whose lap times are published monthly.
What would make the float matter The supply map becomes decisive only when demand shows up, so the forward-looking question is what could supply the spark, and the candidates are concrete.
The nearest is legal. The CLARITY Act’s commodity classification for XRP, if enacted, is the gate behind which the large conditional forecasts sit: JPMorgan and Standard Chartered have each projected $4 to $8.4 billion in first-year ETF inflows under passage, an order of magnitude above the current run rate.
Flows of that size, arriving into a float of under two billion exchange-held tokens, are the scenario in which the scarcity math stops being academic; the Senate’s three-week window is therefore as much a supply-side story as a regulatory one. The second candidate is institutional adoption converting to token demand through collateral and settlement use, the slow path whose honest accounting runs through Ripple Prime, and the third is simply the market cycle: XRP has historically fallen harder than Bitcoin in downturns and snapped back harder in recoveries, and a thin float mechanically steepens the snapback.
Against these, the checkable risks: a CLARITY failure pushing institutional flows past 2027, ETF inflows decelerating or reversing for consecutive weeks, or reserves rebuilding as underwater holders redeposit into any rally. The dashboard for all of it is public. Exchange reserves, the Scarcity Index, weekly ETF flows, and the monthly escrow relock are each published within days, and together they will show the squeeze forming, or failing, in close to real time.
The conclusion the map supports is narrower than either camp’s slogan. XRP’s tradable supply has genuinely, measurably contracted to multi-year lows while long-horizon buckets absorbed the difference, and that contraction has been irrelevant to price for a year because demand collapsed faster than the float did. Scarcity is not a catalyst; it is a multiplier waiting for one. The honest position is that XRP enters the second half of 2026 with the most squeeze-prone supply structure it has had since at least 2019 and no evidence yet of the demand that would trigger it, which makes the supply map neither bullish nor bearish on its own, but the single best lens for judging how violently the price will move when the demand question, one way or the other, finally resolves.
One final frame is worth carrying away, because it reconciles everything above into a single sentence: XRP in mid-2026 is an asset whose company is accumulating credentials, whose long-horizon holders are accumulating tokens, and whose traders have spent a year accumulating losses, and the supply map is the ledger on which all three behaviors are legible at once. The reserves data records the holders’ conviction, the ETF flows record the institutions’ patient entry, the escrow relocks record the company’s restraint, and the price records the absence, so far, of anyone forced to compete for a shrinking float. Markets in this configuration tend to resolve abruptly rather than gracefully, because thin floats do not permit gradual repricing in either direction: the same scarcity that would turbocharge an inflow shock also means a demand collapse finds few bids on the way down, which is the double edge the squeeze narratives rarely mention. The map says the stage is set. It has never claimed to know the play.
For readers who want to run the numbers themselves, the recipe is short. Take the circulating supply of roughly 62 billion, subtract the ETF custody balance published in the funds’ daily disclosures, subtract the aggregated exchange reserves from at least two independent trackers, and treat the remainder as the private-holder bucket whose behavior the withdrawal trends describe. Cross-check the month’s escrow arithmetic against the on-chain relock, and note the week’s ETF flow direction. Fifteen minutes of public data, repeated monthly, reproduces every structural claim in this piece and will catch the turn, whichever way it breaks, well before the headlines do.
The last variable, as always with this asset, is the one no dashboard tracks: how much of the withdrawn supply belongs to hands that will actually hold through the next stress test. Cold-storage balances built at $1.10 by buyers who watched the token at $3.65 carry a different resolve than balances built chasing a rally, and the 2026 drawdown has, if nothing else, transferred an unusual share of the float to owners who bought weakness deliberately. That is not a prediction. It is the one qualitative fact the quantitative map quietly implies, and the one that will decide whether the next demand shock meets a wall of break-even sellers or an empty room.
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute investment advice. Digital asset markets are volatile and you can lose your entire investment. On-chain and market figures are estimates current as of July 8, 2026, and may change. Always do your own research.
Aave DAO schválila nativní nasazení GHO na Arbitrum, což má rozšířit stablecoin mimo původní prostředí a posílit jeho distribuci. Arbitrum mu otevře přístup k širší DeFi likviditě.
Aave’s GHO stablecoin has always needed distribution to matter. The DAO’s approval of a native Arbitrum deployment is a step in that direction, giving the asset a clearer path into one of Ethereum’s busiest scaling ecosystems.
The useful way to read this is not as a guaranteed price signal, but as a fresh piece of information in a market that is trying to sort real developments from noise. The proposal also shows how mature DeFi projects are thinking about expansion now. It is less about launching a token and more about placing that token into the right liquidity venues with the right technical rails.
For more details, visit the official Governance platform.
TL;DR Aave DAO approved a proposal to deploy GHO natively on Arbitrum.The plan expands GHO beyond its original environment and deepens Aave’s stablecoin strategy.The move shows DeFi protocols are still trying to solve cross-chain liquidity and distribution. Why Arbitrum matters for GHO Stablecoins live or die on usefulness. If GHO is going to compete for real DeFi activity, it needs to be available where borrowing, lending, and trading already happen. Arbitrum gives it access to a deeper layer-2 user base and more places where liquidity can circulate.
The proposal also shows how mature DeFi projects are thinking about expansion now. It is less about launching a token and more about placing that token into the right liquidity venues with the right technical rails.
The Market Read Explain the Chainlink CCIP role without making it too technical.
That is the balance readers need to keep in mind. Crypto markets are quick to turn every update into a single-direction trade, but most durable stories are more layered than that. They matter because they change positioning, incentives, infrastructure, or regulation over time.
What Comes Into Focus Now From here, the important thing is follow-through. If the source data, company update, filing, or on-chain record continues to move in the same direction, this can become part of a larger trend. If it stalls, it is still useful as a snapshot of where attention is sitting today.
For traders and readers, the cleaner takeaway is to separate the confirmed development from the speculation around it. The confirmed part is what deserves coverage. The speculation is what needs caution.
For DeFi readers specifically, the story is useful because it gives a clearer frame for the next few sessions. It tells them what to watch, which part of the market is reacting, and where the first obvious risk sits. That is more valuable than simply saying a token, company, or regulator has made a move. The useful work is in connecting the update to liquidity, positioning, adoption, enforcement, or user behaviour without pretending that any single headline controls the whole market.
The practical question now is whether this remains an isolated update or becomes part of a chain of follow-through. A second filing, another wallet move, fresh dashboard data, a new governance vote, or a stronger market reaction can all turn a clean single-day story into a broader narrative. Without that follow-through, it still matters, but more as a marker of where attention was concentrated on July 8 than as a complete trend on its own.
That distinction is especially important in a market where headlines can travel faster than context. A source-backed update gives readers something firmer to work with, but it does not remove liquidity risk, execution risk, or the chance that traders fade the initial reaction once the first wave of attention passes.
In that sense, the headline is only the starting point. The better read is to watch how builders, exchanges, funds, wallets, regulators, or large holders respond after the first announcement has moved through the feed.
This report is based on information from governance.aave.com.
This article was written by the News Desk and edited by Samuel Rae.
Hard forks are usually discussed in big-picture terms, but the final approach is often decided by smaller technical cleanups that do not sound dramatic at all. Cardano’s 9.0.1 hotfix falls into that category.
It is not the sort of release that creates instant market euphoria. It is the sort of release that helps a network avoid unnecessary problems while moving toward a major change.
For more details, visit the official GitHub platform.
TL;DR Cardano released node version 9.0.1 as a recommended hotfix for mainnet validators.The update addresses issues tied to the network’s bootstrap and script behaviour.It keeps the Chang hard fork process on a steadier technical footing. Why A Hotfix Still Matters Intersect’s release notes frame the update as a recommended fix for all mainnet validators, which tells you this is more than cosmetic maintenance. Validators need stable, predictable software when a governance-heavy event is approaching.
In other words, this is part of the real work behind the Chang hard fork narrative. The marketing version is about governance evolution. The operational version is about making sure the machinery behaves properly.
What It Says About Cardano’s Phase Cardano’s supporters have long argued that the project’s slower style reflects caution and discipline. Releases like this fit that argument better than price chatter does.
For the market, the takeaway is simple: governance milestones only matter if the software path toward them remains solid. That is why even a bug-fix release deserves attention.
This report is based on the Cardano node release notes.
This article was written by the News Desk and edited by Samuel Rae.
Charles Hoskinson říká, že upgrade Ouroboros Leios zvýší propustnost Cardana až 60× a přiblíží ho výkonem XRP Ledgeru. Veřejný testnet Musashi Dojo byl spuštěn 23. června 2026, mainnet je cílen před koncem roku 2026.
Hoskinson: Leios Puts Cardano on Par With XRP LedgerCardano founder Charles Hoskinson has made a bold claim about the network's next major protocol upgrade. Speaking in an interview with David Gokhshtein on The Breakdown podcast, Hoskinson said the Ouroboros Leios upgrade will increase Cardano's internal throughput by up to 60 times its current capacity. He argued the improvement would put Cardano on equal footing with the $XRP Ledger in terms of raw performance.
"Leios will be a 60x in terms of throughput inside the system, so we're good, we're as performant as XRP, and we still kept our principles," Hoskinson said.
The comparison carries real weight. The XRP Ledger is capable of processing up to 1,500 transactions per second with settlement times of 3 to 5 seconds, a benchmark that has made it a preferred network for payments and cross-border transfers. Cardano's current throughput sits well below that level, a gap that has drawn persistent criticism from developers and investors.
The Ouroboros Leios protocol introduces parallel transaction processing, aiming to reach speeds above 1,000 TPS while preserving decentralization and security. Hoskinson stressed that the gains come without the usual trade-offs associated with the blockchain trilemma, where scaling improvements often come at the cost of security or decentralization.
Testnet Live, Mainnet Targeted for Year-EndA public testnet called Musashi Dojo launched on June 23, 2026, marking the protocol's first operation in a live network environment. Mainnet deployment is scheduled before the end of 2026.
Hoskinson also said higher performance could attract more users, increase transaction activity, and lift DeFi TVL on the network. The comments follow an earlier warning from Hoskinson that Cardano's ecosystem could suffer if key governance votes fail to approve critical upgrades. He noted that the DeFi TVL on Cardano could collapse if governance members do not vote to approve the upgrades, remarks that came after notable Cardano ecosystem projects TapTools and JPG Store shut down.
The upgrade carries execution risk. Deployment on a live, decentralised mainnet introduces technical hurdles that a testnet environment does not fully replicate, and any delays could weigh on developer and market confidence heading into 2027.
Sources
BeInCrypto: Charles Hoskinson Bets Cardano Will Rival XRP Ledger's Speed After the Leios Upgrade
CryptoNews: Hoskinson Says Cardano Will Be as Performant as XRP With Leios Upgrade
CoinMarketCap: Latest Cardano (ADA) News and Updates
Výzkumníci z Ethereum Foundation navrhují EIP-8141 s „Frame Transactions“, které by mohly u základních převodů snížit nárůst dat až o 99,8 %. Návrh je nyní ve fázi „Strawman“ diskuse.
Developers within the Ethereum Foundation are exploring a new approach to slow down the rapid growth of data on the network. Researcher Toni Wahrstatter has suggested integrating certain elements of the UTXO (Unspent Transaction Output) model into Ethereum. This concept mirrors aspects of the architecture that Cardano has successfully used for years.
Reducing data load is at the core of the proposalThe main challenge Ethereum faces stems from its account-based structure, which requires every wallet’s balance to be persistently stored as active data. Even when a transaction occurs only once, these records continue to occupy space on the blockchain’s memory. Through Ethereum Improvement Proposal (EIP) 8141, Wahrstatter has introduced the idea of ‘Frame Transactions’ that would make simple payments single-use.
Under this system, transaction details would be validated from historical blockchain records only when needed. In active memory, a single bit would indicate whether a transaction output has been spent. Wahrstatter estimates that this framework could reduce unnecessary data growth from basic transfers on Ethereum’s base layer by as much as 99.8%.
Mini glossary: UTXO stands for unspent transaction output, a model where each new payment consumes a previous unspent output. eUTXO is an extended version, adapted by Cardano to allow for more advanced features like smart contracts.
Wahrstatter’s proposal aims to make simple payments single-use, which he believes would cut data growth on the base layer by 99.8%.
The proposal has entered the initial “Strawman” discussion phase within the Ethereum community, with Vitalik Buterin among those following the developments. However, implementing such a change would require not only a technical assessment but also a thorough evaluation for compatibility with existing applications.
Hoskinson criticizes with accusations of hypocrisyCharles Hoskinson, founder of Cardano, responded sharply to these developments. Hoskinson parted ways with Ethereum in 2014 following disagreements with Vitalik Buterin, particularly regarding the network’s commercial direction and long-term architectural roadmap.
Hoskinson believes that within the Ethereum ecosystem, there remains an unspoken taboo against acknowledging his contributions.
For Hoskinson, this debate is not just technical but also symbolic. From day one, Cardano was designed around the Extended UTXO—eUTXO—model to address scaling challenges. Ethereum, on the other hand, has long championed the account-based system as the opposite approach.
Technical overlaps raise new risksThe UTXO model is historically associated with Bitcoin, which operates mainly as a value transfer system with limited capacity for smart contracts. Cardano extended the same logic to create a more flexible infrastructure for complex applications.
Ethereum researchers now considering features inspired by this model to tackle memory constraints is, in some quarters, seen as indirect validation of solutions pioneered elsewhere. Still, merging two disparate architectures is no small feat. Such a hybrid approach could create compatibility risks for the many DeFi applications currently operating on Ethereum.
This means Ethereum now faces two main options: either continue to manage its growing database as is, or pursue a hybrid solution involving a more radical architectural shift.
Disclaimer: The information contained in this article does not constitute investment advice. Investors should be aware that cryptocurrencies carry high volatility and therefore risk, and should conduct their own research.
