It's no secret that Tesla (TSLA 1.86%) is one of the most narrative-driven stocks in the market. The company's valuation hinges less on its revenue and profitability numbers, and more on whether investors believe it will successfully evolve into an artificial intelligence (AI) platform business with product lines spanning autonomous vehicles and humanoid robotics.
The bull case centers on Tesla scaling up its production of self-driving vehicles and proving that there is a market for its humanoid Optimus robots. These innovations aim to create entirely new revenue streams far larger than the electric vehicle (EV) and energy storage businesses that dominate its financials today.
On the other hand, the bear case emphasizes that those same projects have experienced repeated delays and are incurring mounting capital expenditures with little in the way of near-term returns, while Tesla's core EV business has yet to demonstrate durable pricing power or margin expansion.
Tesla's second-quarter earnings report is slated for July 22, and growth investors may be wondering how the stock will react to that data readout, particularly given the polarized views about Elon Musk's ambitious vision for the company.
Image source: Getty Images.
Tesla crushed Q2 EV delivery estimates, but questions remain Earlier this month, Tesla published its vehicle delivery figures for the second quarter. The company delivered 480,126 vehicles, comfortably ahead of the 406,024 consensus among sell-side analysts. All told, deliveries rose by 25% year over year and 34% sequentially. The company's energy storage deployments of 13.5 gigawatt-hours further underscored its momentum outside the EV business.
These figures were positive signals regarding Tesla's top-line automotive revenue. With nearly 74,000 more vehicles delivered than Wall Street expected, even conservative average selling prices should translate to a meaningful beat on automotive revenue.
However, the absence of pricing details means investors cannot yet fully judge whether accelerating revenue will translate into expanding gross margins. If a higher proportion of lower-priced vehicles were sold, or if leasing activity increased, that could have diminished the company's revenue upside.
How does Tesla stock usually react after an earnings report? The chart below illustrates Tesla's stock price action over the last three years. Earnings releases are indicated by the purple circles with the letter "E" in the middle. The trends reveal a consistent pattern of sharp reactions from the market each time Tesla's quarterly results and guidance are digested.
TSLA data by YCharts.
Shorter-term movements immediately after the company reports have tended to be particularly pronounced. Several earnings reports across 2024 and 2025 were followed by gains of 15% to 25% over the next 30 days when Tesla's guidance was viewed favorably. At other times, particularly when the stock was already near a peak, the reports triggered pullbacks of 10% or more within the next month.
The chart makes it clear that Tesla stock rarely trades sideways after an earnings report. The market's ongoing shifts in sentiment around autonomous vehicles and AI robotics tend to amplify the impact of any surprise -- positive or negative -- in management's commentary.
Where will Tesla stock trade after the next earnings report? Given that Q2's EV delivery beat is already public knowledge and the stock's tendency to make outsize moves, Tesla shares are likely to trade in a wide range in the days and weeks following the July 22 report.
I think a reasonable base-case forecast points to the stock fluctuating between roughly $365 and $455 over the next month. This means I think Tesla stock will decline by at least 10% by the end of July before any signs of recovery materialize.
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Keep in mind that downside pressure could easily intensify if Tesla's operating expenses or capex guidance point to continued heavy investment in AI infrastructure without corresponding near-term revenue visibility. Conversely, any talk from Musk that touches on robotaxi deployments, Optimus production, or progress toward Full Self-Driving could trigger another of the familiar narrative-driven surges that have repeatedly lifted the stock by double-digit percentages.
History shows that even a single optimistic remark from Musk about autonomous driving or AI can temporarily override the impact of a mixed financial performance and send Tesla stock sharply higher. However, smart investors understand the opposite is equally true: Conservative commentary about product timelines or profit margins can lead to heavy sell-offs.
For these reasons, investors should prepare for elevated volatility rather than a single decisive directional move once Tesla's full picture emerges later this month.
Analyst’s Disclosure: I/we have a beneficial long position in the shares of TSLA, RIVN either through stock ownership, options, or other derivatives. I wrote this article myself, and it expresses my own opinions. I am not receiving compensation for it (other than from Seeking Alpha). I have no business relationship with any company whose stock is mentioned in this article.
Seeking Alpha's Disclosure: Past performance is no guarantee of future results. No recommendation or advice is being given as to whether any investment is suitable for a particular investor. Any views or opinions expressed above may not reflect those of Seeking Alpha as a whole. Seeking Alpha is not a licensed securities dealer, broker or US investment adviser or investment bank. Our analysts are third party authors that include both professional investors and individual investors who may not be licensed or certified by any institute or regulatory body.
MIAMI--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Amazon (NASDAQ: AMZN) today announced it will support a seven-flight humanitarian air delivery operation into Caracas, Venezuela, in response to the devastating twin earthquakes that struck northern Venezuela on June 24, leaving more than 650,000 people in need of aid. The weekly flights are possible through a collaboration between Amazon, Airlink, the U.S. State Department, and United Nations World Food Programme. The State Department will coordinate access with local a.
Needham has reiterated its Buy rating on Amazon (NASDAQ: AMZN) and maintained a $300 price target, signaling continued confidence in the e-commerce and cloud computing giant.
The market has had an up-and-down year, but there are a few stocks that are taking a bigger beating than most. Microsoft (MSFT 1.33%) and Meta Platforms (META 2.16%) are two major underperformers in the tech realm, and have lost investors' money in 2026. So far, Meta is down around 12%, while Microsoft is nearly down 20%.
That's some poor performance from two stocks that have been historically great investments, and I think each could turn it around and be excellent performers before 2026 is over. Here's why.
Image source: Getty Images.
Microsoft It's hard not to appreciate Microsoft's strategy in the artificial intelligence (AI) era. It has several strategies, and all of them seem to be paying off just fine. The launch of Copilot has been incredibly successful, and this business now has $37 billion in annual revenue, growing at a 123% year-over-year pace. This allows its business productivity tools to integrate seamlessly with AI and boost productivity.
However, if clients turn sour on Copilot, it also has a thriving cloud computing division that's powering AI workflows. Azure grew at a 40% year-over-year pace in its most recent quarter, showcasing strong demand for computing infrastructure. So, even if its own internal AI tools don't pan out, it can benefit from other companies building great AI products on its platform.
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Lastly, Microsoft is a major OpenAI investor and owns around 27% of the company. Rumors are starting to swirl of an impending OpenAI IPO, and it could be worth more than $1 trillion when it hits the public market, giving Microsoft a massive payday if it chooses to sell its stake.
Microsoft is really doing great as a company, yet the market doesn't agree. It now trades for 20.2 times forward earnings, which is less than the S&P 500 at 21.7. Microsoft's reputation, growth, and strategy don't reflect a stock that should trade at a discount to the broader market, and I think it could easily rebound through the second half of 2026 as a result.
Meta Platforms Meta is in a similar boat to Microsoft, as it's valued at just 17.9 times forward earnings, but it may have earned at least a portion of its undervaluation compared to the S&P 500. Meta is likely better known by its former name, Facebook. However, with the collapse of the metaverse, Meta would likely be better off changing its name back to Facebook, as it's more representative of the company that it is.
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Nearly all of its revenue comes from advertising on its social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, Threads, and WhatsApp. In Q1, its revenue increased at a 33% year-over-year pace. However, the market doesn't really care about how good its core business is doing. Instead, it's focused on how much it's spending on AI infrastructure. Meta is pouring hundreds of billions into AI, yet it really isn't generating much of a return on investment outside of the improvements it has made to its advertising platform.
That's the primary reason why the market is bearish on the stock, but that could easily turn around if Meta can deliver on its promise to make a superintelligent model that interacts with the world around you via AI glasses. If Meta can deliver that, the stock could easily turn around. However, it may be a few years away.
In the meantime, Meta is a strong advertising business that investors should be mostly focused on. However, that's not current market sentiment, and this mismatch can give investors the edge they need to make great long-term returns with Meta's stock, as the market will eventually come back around to valuing the advertising business for the dominant company that it is.
Nasdaq futures were down 1.30%, while S&P 500 futures slipped 0.88%, adding pressure across semiconductor stocks.
AMD has delivered a strong 12-month rally, making it more vulnerable to short-term selling when market sentiment weakens. As one of the largest AI-related semiconductor stocks, AMD often experiences larger swings than the broader market during risk-off sessions.
Technical Picture Remains ConstructiveDespite the recent pullback, AMD’s longer-term trend remains intact. The stock trades 7.6% above its 50-day simple moving average of $469.57 and well above its 200-day simple moving average of $281.93. A bullish golden cross, formed in July 2025, also remains in place.
However, shares are about 3% below the 20-day moving average of $520.76, indicating that near-term momentum has weakened.
The relative strength index stands at 51.38, a neutral reading that suggests buying and selling pressure are now more balanced after the stock exited overbought territory earlier this year.
Traders are watching resistance near $546.50, which aligns with a recent swing high, while support sits around $495.50, an area where buyers have recently stepped in.
Earnings And Analyst OutlookAMD is expected to report quarterly results on August 4. Wall Street expects earnings of $1.55 per share, up from 48 cents a year earlier, on revenue of $11.28 billion, compared with $7.68 billion in the prior-year quarter.
The stock has a consensus Buy rating and an average analyst price forecast of $505.38. Recent analyst actions include Goldman Sachs raising its price forecast to $640 on July 6, Wells Fargo raising its price forecast to $615 on June 30 and Cantor Fitzgerald raising its price forecast to $700 on June 29.
Tech strategist Dan Ives reiterated his bullish stance on the AI semiconductor sector, saying on CNBC that investors continue to underestimate the long-term earnings potential of leading chipmakers such as AMD.
Ives said the AI revolution remains in its “third inning” and expects upcoming earnings to validate continued AI monetization and demand. He also pointed to strong memory-chip trends in Asia as supportive of the broader AI infrastructure buildout.
Benzinga Edge And ETF ExposureAccording to Benzinga Edge, AMD scores highly on momentum, growth and quality but ranks poorly on value, reflecting its premium valuation. That combination can support strong gains during bullish markets but may also lead to sharper pullbacks when sentiment deteriorates.
AMD Stock Price Activity: Advanced Micro Devices shares were down 2.35% at $504.00 during premarket trading on Wednesday, according to Benzinga Pro data.
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The pullback looks more tied to the softer premarket tone than to a change in the company’s longer-term narrative.
Nokia shares are experiencing downward pressure. What’s pulling NOK shares down? What Is Nokia’s Latest Catalyst with Orange Belgium?Orange Belgium selected Nokia as the sole supplier to modernize its transport infrastructure by converging fixed and mobile networks into a unified optical transport network across Belgium, using Nokia’s AI-powered WaveSuite automation platform.
The multi-year build is designed to improve resilience, security, and scalability, supporting traffic capacities from 1G to 400G and beyond, and it marks the first deployment of Nokia’s 1830 PSS optical transport platform within an Orange affiliate.
Nokia is also expanding how it delivers that automation stack, including running its Autonomous Networks Fabric on AWS with "Level 4" autonomy targeted for availability later this year.
Nokia Stock: Key Technical Levels To WatchFrom a trend perspective, the stock is still in a strong longer-term uptrend (up 130.10% over the past 12 months) and remains well above its 200-day SMA of $8.67, but the near-term chart is in a digestion phase. At $11.56, shares are trading 14.8% below the 20-day SMA ($13.57) and 16.4% below the 50-day SMA ($13.83), which keeps overhead pressure in place until those levels are reclaimed.
Momentum is best framed by MACD right now: MACD is below its signal line and the histogram is negative, which points to fading upside pressure versus the prior upswing unless buyers can reassert control. In plain terms, when MACD sits under its signal line, it often means rallies are having a harder time sustaining.
The bigger-picture moving-average structure is still supportive, with the 50-day SMA above the 200-day SMA (a golden cross that occurred in October 2025), even though the 20-day SMA is now below the 50-day SMA (a bearish near-term crossover). That mix often shows up when a longer-term uptrend is intact, but the stock is working through a pullback.
Key Support: $10.00 — a nearby round-number level that can act as a decision point if the pullback extends What Does Nokia Corporation Do?Nokia is a networking equipment vendor focused primarily on supporting wireless networks and, to a growing extent, Internet Protocol and optical systems. It operates across mobile infrastructure (wireless core equipment and software), network infrastructure (IP, optical, and fixed-network gear like routing, switching, and fiber access), and a portfolio segment that houses businesses viewed as less central longer term.
That business mix is why the Orange Belgium optical transport win matters: it sits directly in the network infrastructure wheelhouse, where carriers are upgrading transport to handle AI-driven bandwidth growth, cloud traffic, and more demanding service-level expectations. Deals that standardize a carrier on a single supplier can also create follow-on opportunities in software automation and lifecycle upgrades.
Nokia Earnings Preview: What Analysts ExpectLooking further out, the next major catalyst for the stock arrives with the July 23, 2026 (confirmed) earnings report.
EPS Estimate: 7 cents (Up from 4 cents YoY) Revenue Estimate: $5.59 Billion (Up from $5.15 Billion YoY) Valuation: P/E of 74.3x (Indicates premium valuation relative to peers) Analyst Consensus & Recent Actions: The stock carries a Buy rating with an average price target of $14.67. Recent analyst moves include:
JP Morgan: Overweight (Raises Target to $21.00) (June 12) Argus Research: Upgraded to Buy (Target $15.00) (April 27) Morgan Stanley: Initiated with Overweight (Target $8.00) (Feb. 9) Nokia Benzinga Edge Rankings BreakdownBelow is the Benzinga Edge scorecard for Nokia, highlighting its strengths and weaknesses compared to the broader market:
The Verdict: Nokia’s Benzinga Edge signal reveals a momentum-led profile with supportive quality, which fits a stock that has been a longer-term winner even as it consolidates. The main trade-off is valuation/ "value" not screening as cheap, so technicians may prefer to see the stock stabilize above key support and start reclaiming shorter-term moving averages.
Nokia Stock Price Action in Premarket TradingNOK Stock Price Activity: Nokia shares were down 2.19% at $11.59 during premarket trading on Wednesday, according to Benzinga Pro data.
Image: Shutterstock
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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.
Boeing (BA - Free Report) has recently been on Zacks.com's list of the most searched stocks. Therefore, you might want to consider some of the key factors that could influence the stock's performance in the near future.
Shares of this airplane builder have returned +8% over the past month versus the Zacks S&P 500 composite's +1.6% change. The Zacks Aerospace - Defense industry, to which Boeing belongs, has gained 4.4% over this period. Now the key question is: Where could the stock be headed in the near term?
While media releases or rumors about a substantial change in a company's business prospects usually make its stock 'trending' and lead to an immediate price change, there are always some fundamental facts that eventually dominate the buy-and-hold decision-making.
Earnings Estimate RevisionsRather than focusing on anything else, we at Zacks prioritize evaluating the change in a company's earnings projection. This is because we believe the fair value for its stock is determined by the present value of its future stream of earnings.
We essentially look at how sell-side analysts covering the stock are revising their earnings estimates to reflect the impact of the latest business trends. And if earnings estimates go up for a company, the fair value for its stock goes up. A higher fair value than the current market price drives investors' interest in buying the stock, leading to its price moving higher. This is why empirical research shows a strong correlation between trends in earnings estimate revisions and near-term stock price movements.
Boeing is expected to post a loss of $0.25 per share for the current quarter, representing a year-over-year change of +79.8%. Over the last 30 days, the Zacks Consensus Estimate remained unchanged.
The consensus earnings estimate of -$0.15 for the current fiscal year indicates a year-over-year change of +98.6%. This estimate has remained unchanged over the last 30 days.
For the next fiscal year, the consensus earnings estimate of $4.06 indicates a change of +0% from what Boeing is expected to report a year ago. Over the past month, the estimate has remained unchanged.
Having a strong externally audited track record, our proprietary stock rating tool, the Zacks Rank, offers a more conclusive picture of a stock's price direction in the near term, since it effectively harnesses the power of earnings estimate revisions. Due to the size of the recent change in the consensus estimate, along with three other factors related to earnings estimates, Boeing is rated Zacks Rank #3 (Hold).
The chart below shows the evolution of the company's forward 12-month consensus EPS estimate:
12 Month EPS
Revenue Growth ForecastEven though a company's earnings growth is arguably the best indicator of its financial health, nothing much happens if it cannot raise its revenues. It's almost impossible for a company to grow its earnings without growing its revenue for long periods. Therefore, knowing a company's potential revenue growth is crucial.
For Boeing, the consensus sales estimate for the current quarter of $23.55 billion indicates a year-over-year change of +3.5%. For the current and next fiscal years, $96.7 billion and $110.91 billion estimates indicate +8.1% and +14.7% changes, respectively.
Last Reported Results and Surprise HistoryBoeing reported revenues of $22.22 billion in the last reported quarter, representing a year-over-year change of +14%. EPS of -$0.2 for the same period compares with -$0.49 a year ago.
Compared to the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $21.46 billion, the reported revenues represent a surprise of +3.53%. The EPS surprise was +78.95%.
Over the last four quarters, Boeing surpassed consensus EPS estimates two times. The company topped consensus revenue estimates each time over this period.
ValuationNo investment decision can be efficient without considering a stock's valuation. Whether a stock's current price rightly reflects the intrinsic value of the underlying business and the company's growth prospects is an essential determinant of its future price performance.
Comparing the current value of a company's valuation multiples, such as its price-to-earnings (P/E), price-to-sales (P/S), and price-to-cash flow (P/CF), to its own historical values helps ascertain whether its stock is fairly valued, overvalued, or undervalued, whereas comparing the company relative to its peers on these parameters gives a good sense of how reasonable its stock price is.
As part of the Zacks Style Scores system, the Zacks Value Style Score (which evaluates both traditional and unconventional valuation metrics) organizes stocks into five groups ranging from A to F (A is better than B; B is better than C; and so on), making it helpful in identifying whether a stock is overvalued, rightly valued, or temporarily undervalued.
Boeing is graded D on this front, indicating that it is trading at a premium to its peers. Click here to see the values of some of the valuation metrics that have driven this grade.
Bottom LineThe facts discussed here and much other information on Zacks.com might help determine whether or not it's worthwhile paying attention to the market buzz about Boeing. However, its Zacks Rank #3 does suggest that it may perform in line with the broader market in the near term.
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.
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.
SAN FRANCISCO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--New research from Visa Business and Economic Insights (VBEI) finds that the great wealth transfer is already influencing major financial decisions, from home purchases to travel and long-term saving. The research estimates that approximately $36 trillion will transfer from baby boomers to Gen X and millennial households over the next 20 years.
The findings also show that most of this wealth will flow to households that are already financially secure, making the spending impact more targeted than transformational.
“For businesses in big-ticket sectors like housing and travel, this is not a future trend to watch,” said Wayne Best, chief economist at Visa. “It is already influencing consumer decisions—and shaping where growth will be distributed in the years ahead.”
The transfer is large, but more concentrated than it appears
Baby boomers hold at least $93 trillion in assets, more than three times U.S. GDP. However, VBEI finds that the amount that reaches heirs is reduced significantly once you factor in debt, retirement spending, taxes, and the wealth held at the very top. The result: approximately $36 trillion transferring to Gen X and millennial households over the next 20 years, equivalent to roughly $515,000 per inheriting household.
Most transferred wealth will be saved or invested
Nearly 75 percent of those receiving an inheritance already have a higher net worth than the median household.1 As a result, $28 trillion of the $36 trillion is likely to be saved or invested. This dynamic represents a significant opportunity for banks, wealth managers, and fintech firms competing for assets from newly inheriting households over the next two decades.
The spending lift is real but targeted to specific categories
The impact will likely show up most in the areas where consumers are already making major financial decisions.
Spending on autos is expected to see a 6.4 percent average annual lift over the next 20 years.2
Overall, the $8 trillion expected to flow into consumer spending will lift annual real spending growth by approximately 0.1 percentage point per year through 2046, a modest boost rather than a major shift in the economy.3
Families are choosing to share wealth earlier
More families are transferring wealth earlier while they can see its impact. One in four millennial homeowners received parental down payment assistance, and 26 percent reported they would not have been able to purchase their current home without it. More than half of individuals expecting to receive an inheritance cite it as critical to their ability to purchase a home, a figure that rises to 69 percent among millennials.
In travel, 28 percent of grandparents have already taken a skip-generation trip with their grandchildren, without the children’s parents, and 35 percent plan to do so within the next three years.
66 percent of boomers say they want to enjoy their wealth or have heirs enjoy it while they are alive, compared to 34 percent who plan to preserve it for after death.4
What this means for consumers and businesses
For consumers, family financial support may help younger households buy homes, travel and reach major milestones sooner For businesses, the opportunity will be focused in sectors where inherited wealth is already driving major purchases, especially housing, autos, travel, retail and financial services For financial institutions, inherited wealth creates an opportunity to support households as they save, invest or purchase property The full report is available at https://usa.visa.com/partner-with-us/visa-consulting-analytics/economic-insights/great-wealth-transfer-reality-check.html
Methodology
VBEI’s analysis is based on internal economic modeling, data from the Federal Reserve Board, the U.S. Department of the Treasury and the U.S. Department of Labor, as well as third-party consumer survey research.
FAQ
How large is the great wealth transfer?
Visa Business and Economic Insights estimates that about $36 trillion will transfer from baby boomers to Gen X and millennial households over the next 20 years, after accounting for debt, retirement spending, taxes and other factors.
How much of that wealth will actually be spent?
Only a portion—about $8 trillion—is expected to translate into consumer spending, as most recipients are already financially secure and more likely to save or invest what they receive.5
Where will the spending impact be most visible?
The impact is expected to be concentrated in housing, autos, travel and retail, where consumers are already making major financial decisions.
Is this a future trend, or is it happening now?
The transfer is already underway, showing up in real-time decisions like down payment assistance for homebuyers and increased multigenerational travel, as more families choose to share wealth earlier.
About Visa Business and Economic Insights (VBEI)
Visa Business and Economic Insights (VBEI) provides data-driven analysis of global economic trends, consumer spending patterns and the evolution of digital commerce, drawing on proprietary VisaNet transaction data, economic modeling and third-party research. The team publishes regular research across macroeconomics, consumer behavior and payments innovation. To subscribe: https://globalclient.visa.com/visaeconomicnews-subscribe
About Visa
Visa (NYSE: V) is a world leader in digital payments, facilitating transactions between consumers, sellers, financial institutions and government entities across more than 200 countries and territories. Our mission is to connect the world through the most innovative, convenient, reliable and secure payments network, enabling individuals, businesses and economies to thrive. We believe that economies that include everyone everywhere, uplift everyone everywhere and see access as foundational to the future of money movement. Learn more at Visa.com.
Forward-Looking Statement
This release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 that relate to, among other things, our economic outlook. Forward-looking statements are generally identified by words such as “believes,” “estimates,” “expects,” “intends,” “may,” “projects,” “could,” “should,” “will,” “continue” and other similar expressions. All statements other than statements of historical fact could be forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date they are made, are not guarantees of future performance and are subject to certain risks, uncertainties and other factors, many of which are beyond our control and are difficult to predict. We describe risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in, or implied by, any of these forward-looking statements in our filings with the SEC. Except as required by law, we do not intend to update or revise any forward-looking statements as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
Disclaimer
The views, opinions, and/or estimates, as the case may be (“views”), expressed herein are those of the Visa Business and Economic Insights team and do not necessarily reflect those of Visa executive management or other Visa employees and affiliates. This presentation and content, including estimated economic forecasts, statistics, and indexes are intended for informational purposes only and should not be relied upon for operational, marketing, legal, technical, tax, financial or other advice and do not in any way reflect actual or forecasted Visa operational or financial performance. Visa neither makes any warranty or representation as to the completeness or accuracy of the views contained herein, nor assumes any liability or responsibility that may result from reliance on such views. These views are often based on current market conditions and are subject to change without notice.
, /PRNewswire/ -- Powered by Bank of America, the official bank of the FIFA World Cup 2026 and released during the tournament is a new short film Street of Dreams, which tells the story of a young girl whose life has been upended through homelessness but refuses to give up on her dream of playing soccer. Set to the new U2 track, also titled 'Street of Dreams', the film features Bank of America's Sports with Us Global Ambassador Sir David Beckham to tell an uplifting story about resilience, hope and the transformative power of sport.
Street of Dreams film The short film tells the story of a young girl 'Calle' played by newcomer Nevaeh Derricks. After her life is disrupted, Calle is seen holding on to soccer as a source of purpose and possibility. As she navigates uncertainty and self-doubt, she is guided by Sir David Beckham who appears as a personification of her inner voice, a guardian only she can see. He's a powerful symbol of belief and opportunity, standing with her and showing up when it matters.
The film highlights Bank of America's recent commitment to grow their 'Soccer with Us' platform, which is showcased in the film. By the end of 2026, the bank aims to impact more than 1,000,000 young people globally through Soccer with Us, supporting young people aged 6-18 by combining sport with life skills. This includes their Soccer at Schools initiative in partnership with U.S. Soccer and the Soccer Forward Foundation which is designed to make soccer accessible to every school across the country by 2030 enabling the bank to positively impact millions more young people.
The release of Street of Dreams also coincides with the culmination of Street Child United's #IAmSomebody Tour. Delivered in partnership with Bank of America, the tour brought Young Leaders from the Street Child World Cup to communities and decision-makers across North America during the FIFA World Cup 2026™. As part of the tour, Sir David Beckham convened an event at Nu Stadium, the home of Inter Miami, where the Street Child United Young Leaders spoke of their experiences and how they're using sport as a vehicle for change in their communities. The tour follows the Street Child World Cup which took place in Mexico City 2026 from 5-15 May, where 28 teams of street-connected young people from around the world came together to play soccer, share their experiences, and develop advocacy demands for governments, institutions, and the global media.
Commenting on the film, Sir David Beckham, Bank of America's Sports with Us Global Ambassador, said: "Football has given me opportunities I could never have imagined, but none of it would have been possible without people who believed in me along the way. Through my work with Bank of America and Street Child United, I've had the privilege of meeting incredible young people from around the world who have overcome unimaginable challenges with courage, resilience and hope. Their stories stay with you. That's why this campaign is so important. By supporting Street Child United and shining a light on its mission, we're helping more young people be seen, heard and given the opportunity to build brighter futures. Sport has the power to create confidence, connection and possibility, but every young person also needs someone who believes in them. I'm proud that Bank of America is using the platform of the FIFA World Cup 2026 to help amplify Street Child's work and invest in programmes that empower young people around the world to realise what's possible."
U2 added, "We had the opportunity to attend the 2026 Street Child World Cup in Mexico City back in May, and we came away with far more than we expected. As proud supporters of Street Child United, it was a privilege to be there in person to watch some great football, soak up the atmosphere and witness these extraordinary young athletes reminding everyone what talent looks like when it refuses to take no for an answer.
As Larry put it, Street Child United is "a little NGO and a very big deal for kids with so much talent but no access." Thankfully, Street Child United is changing that. SCU gives these young people a stage, a voice and the chance to be celebrated for who they are rather than defined by the circumstances they were born into. That's something we're proud to support.
Bank of America have been great supporters of (RED) getting AIDS drugs to people that otherwise wouldn't get them… and a big thanks to them for helping make this story possible and for their commitment to using sport to bring communities together and create opportunity.
We're honoured that 'Street of Dreams' could play a small part in telling a much bigger story."
Directed by award-winning creative duo 'King She' Radha Ganti and Robert Lopuski, whose work has received more than 75 awards and nominations, including Cannes Lions recognition and AICP Best New Director, the short film combines a bold visual narrative with an intimate human story.
The short film was created, developed and produced by Freuds. The film was produced in association with Somesuch.
On the production King She said: "The film is one girl's journey, but really the story is about resilience and what can happen when someone believes in you. In this case Sir David Beckham appears as our young lead's inner voice. We wanted to tell that story in a way that felt almost mythical. Music, soccer and imagination blur together to create possibility.
The shoot was an ambitious undertaking, but when you get an opportunity to make a short film with U2, Sir David Beckham and the Street Child World Cup everyone jumped. It only happened because so many people brought their trust, talent and generosity to the process. It's been a real privilege to help bring this film to life alongside the teams at Freuds and Bank of America."
In addition to the short film launched today, a 30 second TV commercial will be broadcast across both Fox and Telemundo during their World Cup coverage in North America from Monday 13th July.
Bank of America's belief is that reaching goals takes skill. It also takes support. With someone in your corner, your next accomplishment can be even greater. What would you like the power to do?
About Bank of America Sports Commitment
Beyond its growing soccer partnership portfolio, Bank of America partners with iconic brands in sports that share a vision for excellence and achievement. Through these partnerships, the bank works to deepen client relationships, inspire and showcase its teammates, create lasting economic impact in communities, and drive local and global growth through the unifying power of sport.
Bank of America
Bank of America is one of the world's leading financial institutions, serving individual consumers, small and middle-market businesses and large corporations with a full range of banking, investing, asset management and other financial and risk management products and services. The company provides unmatched convenience in the United States, serving nearly 70 million clients with approximately 3,500 retail financial centers, approximately 15,000 ATMs (automated teller machines) and award-winning digital banking with approximately 59 million verified digital users. Bank of America is a global leader in wealth management, corporate and investment banking and trading across a broad range of asset classes, serving corporations, governments, institutions and individuals around the world. As the #1 small business lender in the United States (FDIC), Bank of America offers industry leading support to approximately 4 million small business households through a suite of innovative, easy-to-use online products and services. The company serves clients through operations across the United States, its territories and more than 35 countries. Bank of America Corporation stock (NYSE: BAC) is listed on the New York Stock Exchange.
For more Bank of America news, including dividend announcements and other important information, visit the Bank of America newsroom and register for news email alerts.
Reporters may contact
Andy Aldridge, Bank of America
[email protected]
Something important is happening at Walmart, and it’s easy to misread it.
The company that built its reputation serving the mass market is not abandoning price-conscious shoppers. It is still fighting to be the low-price authority, lowering prices on thousands of household items just this week. But its growth increasingly comes from shoppers who do not fit the old stereotype of the Walmart customer.
In its most recent quarterly results, Walmart said its U.S. market-share gains were "led by upper-income households." That’s a clue to where retail is going.
Walmart, still the largest U.S. retailer by domestic retail sales, is following the money. The problem for many other retailers is that the money is increasingly concentrated in fewer households.
Mark Zandi, chief economist of Moody’s Analytics, shared research that puts numbers around a trend retailers have been experiencing for years. The top 20% of the income distribution now accounts for nearly 60% of all personal outlays, up from about half in the early 1990s. The bottom 80%, which accounted for half of all outlays is now only about 40% of personal outlays. This chart shows the change.
The interests of high-income and low-income consumers are increasingly divergent.
Moody's Analytics
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That’s a major shift in the addressable market for every retailer, restaurant, travel company, brand and service provider in America.
(Moody’s measure is not retail sales, it’s “personal outlays.” The methodology uses two Federal Reserve datasets to capture high-income spending that traditional consumer surveys often miss.)
Walmart's pursuit of higher-income households is often described as a “consumer trading down” story: affluent consumers want value so they shop at Walmart. That’s true, but it’s incomplete.
For higher-income households, Walmart is not just price, it’s often about convenience. Pickup in-store, online assortment, faster fulfillment, advertising and its Walmart+ service change what Walmart means to more affluent households. Walmart can be the place where such a broad variety of products are available to affluent households and saves them a trip to multiple other retailers or apps.
There is another reason the affluent consumer has become more important: wealth.
Moody’s estimates that almost 90% of corporate equities and mutual funds are held by households in the top 20% of the income distribution. When stocks rise, the wealth effect is not spread evenly. It goes mostly to the same households that are already driving spending. It explains why aggregate consumer spending can look healthy while so many households feel financially strained.
It also explains how a broad-based retailer like Walmart can grow when consumer sentiment has dropped by 18.5% in the last year. A majority of people believe the economy is going poorly but a wealthy, prospering minority is driving growth in revenue.
The wealthy are more impactful at retail than ever.
Moody's Analytics
In the twelve months ending March 2026, Moody's estimates that outlays by the top 20% grew 6.5%. Outlays by the bottom 80% grew 2.7%, barely ahead of 2.6% CPI inflation. In real terms, the bottom 80% was close to flat.
That’s the retail conundrum in one sentence: most households are still shopping, but a smaller group is driving the growth. So if you’re a big retailer and you want to grow, you better find a way to appeal to more affluent consumers.
It also means the stock market has become a retail variable. If stocks keep rising or move sideways, the well-to-do consumer can support the economy. If stocks stumble, the same households may pull back quickly.
Not every retailer can chase rich people and many will fail if they try. Walmart is doing it because it’s not diluting its value proposition to its legacy customer base. Costco can do it because membership, treasure hunt and bulk value already appeal across income groups. Many other retailers don’t have that flexibility and their message becomes mixed if they try.
The Big Lessons HereWhen you combine Moody’s analysis with Walmart’s behavior, you can see some important messages:
Value is not just about low price in this environment. It’s also about trust, speed, assortment and convenience. The affluent shopper is not always looking for luxury; often they want convenience without feeling overcharged. There needs to be balance, most retailers can’t afford to lose their lower- and middle-income shoppers who need price relief. There is a broader risk behind the retail trend. When the top 20% of households account for nearly 60% of outlays, the economy can look stronger in the aggregate than it feels to most people. Retail sales can grow. Airlines can fill premium seats. Costco can renew memberships. Walmart can gain affluent shoppers. And yet most households can still feel stuck.
When you take that condition to the extreme, you get instability in society, you get a small number of people holding the wealth and everyone else seething with resentment. It accounts for the constant drumbeat of “throw the bums out” in our politics.
It’s not retailers’ fault that there’s this divide, they’re just trying to live with it. But retailers’ responses help us see the divide more clearly.
That’s why Walmart's move matters. It is not a departure from its history. It is an adaptation to an economy in which the need for value remains broad, but spending power is becoming more concentrated.
JPMorgan Chase & Co. (NYSE:JPM) will release earnings for its second quarter before the opening bell on Tuesday, July 14.
Analysts expect the company to report quarterly earnings of $5.61 per share, up from $4.96 per share in the year-ago period. The consensus estimate for JPMorgan’s quarterly revenue is $49.56 billion. It reported $44.91 billion last year, according to Benzinga Pro.
Ahead of quarterly earnings, UBS analyst Erika Najarian maintained JPMorgan with a Buy rating and raised the price target from $375 to $384, while BofA Securities analyst Ebrahim Poonawala raised the price target from $362 to $408.
With the recent buzz around JPMorgan, some investors may be eyeing potential gains from the company’s dividends too. As of now, JPM has an annual dividend yield of 1.77%, which is a quarterly dividend amount of $1.50 per share ($6.00 a year).
To figure out how to earn $500 monthly from JPMorgan, we start with the yearly target of $6,000 ($500 x 12 months).
Next, we take this amount and divide it by JPM’s $6.00 dividend: $6,000 / $6.00 = 1,000 shares.
So, an investor would need to own approximately $339,220 worth of JPMorgan, or 1,000 shares to generate a monthly dividend income of $500.
Assuming a more conservative goal of $100 monthly ($1,200 annually), we do the same calculation: $1,200 / $6.00 = 200 shares, or $67,844 to generate a monthly dividend income of $100.
Note that dividend yield can change on a rolling basis, as the dividend payment and the stock price both fluctuate over time.
The dividend yield is calculated by dividing the annual dividend payment by the current stock price. As the stock price changes, the dividend yield will also change.
For example, if a stock pays an annual dividend of $2 and its current price is $50, its dividend yield would be 4%. However, if the stock price increases to $60, the dividend yield would decrease to 3.33% ($2/$60).
Conversely, if the stock price decreases to $40, the dividend yield would increase to 5% ($2/$40).
Further, the dividend payment itself can also change over time, which can also impact the dividend yield. If a company increases its dividend payment, the dividend yield will increase even if the stock price remains the same. Similarly, if a company decreases its dividend payment, the dividend yield will decrease.
JPM Price Action: Shares of JPMorgan rose by 0.4% to close at $339.22 on Tuesday.
Photo via Shutterstock
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Walt Disney (DIS - Free Report) has recently been on Zacks.com's list of the most searched stocks. Therefore, you might want to consider some of the key factors that could influence the stock's performance in the near future.
Shares of this entertainment company have returned -1.9% over the past month versus the Zacks S&P 500 composite's +1.6% change. The Zacks Media Conglomerates industry, to which Disney belongs, has gained 0.3% over this period. Now the key question is: Where could the stock be headed in the near term?
While media releases or rumors about a substantial change in a company's business prospects usually make its stock 'trending' and lead to an immediate price change, there are always some fundamental facts that eventually dominate the buy-and-hold decision-making.
Earnings Estimate RevisionsRather than focusing on anything else, we at Zacks prioritize evaluating the change in a company's earnings projection. This is because we believe the fair value for its stock is determined by the present value of its future stream of earnings.
We essentially look at how sell-side analysts covering the stock are revising their earnings estimates to reflect the impact of the latest business trends. And if earnings estimates go up for a company, the fair value for its stock goes up. A higher fair value than the current market price drives investors' interest in buying the stock, leading to its price moving higher. This is why empirical research shows a strong correlation between trends in earnings estimate revisions and near-term stock price movements.
For the current quarter, Disney is expected to post earnings of $1.88 per share, indicating a change of +16.8% from the year-ago quarter. The Zacks Consensus Estimate has changed +0.6% over the last 30 days.
The consensus earnings estimate of $6.86 for the current fiscal year indicates a year-over-year change of +15.7%. This estimate has remained unchanged over the last 30 days.
For the next fiscal year, the consensus earnings estimate of $7.46 indicates a change of +8.8% from what Disney is expected to report a year ago. Over the past month, the estimate has changed +0.1%.
With an impressive externally audited track record, our proprietary stock rating tool -- the Zacks Rank -- is a more conclusive indicator of a stock's near-term price performance, as it effectively harnesses the power of earnings estimate revisions. The size of the recent change in the consensus estimate, along with three other factors related to earnings estimates, has resulted in a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) for Disney.
The chart below shows the evolution of the company's forward 12-month consensus EPS estimate:
12 Month EPS
Revenue Growth ForecastEven though a company's earnings growth is arguably the best indicator of its financial health, nothing much happens if it cannot raise its revenues. It's almost impossible for a company to grow its earnings without growing its revenue for long periods. Therefore, knowing a company's potential revenue growth is crucial.
In the case of Disney, the consensus sales estimate of $25.41 billion for the current quarter points to a year-over-year change of +7.4%. The $101.72 billion and $106.38 billion estimates for the current and next fiscal years indicate changes of +7.7% and +4.6%, respectively.
Last Reported Results and Surprise HistoryDisney reported revenues of $25.17 billion in the last reported quarter, representing a year-over-year change of +6.5%. EPS of $1.57 for the same period compares with $1.45 a year ago.
Compared to the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $25.06 billion, the reported revenues represent a surprise of +0.41%. The EPS surprise was +5.37%.
The company beat consensus EPS estimates in each of the trailing four quarters. The company topped consensus revenue estimates just once over this period.
ValuationWithout considering a stock's valuation, no investment decision can be efficient. In predicting a stock's future price performance, it's crucial to determine whether its current price correctly reflects the intrinsic value of the underlying business and the company's growth prospects.
While comparing the current values of a company's valuation multiples, such as price-to-earnings (P/E), price-to-sales (P/S), and price-to-cash flow (P/CF), with its own historical values helps determine whether its stock is fairly valued, overvalued, or undervalued, comparing the company relative to its peers on these parameters gives a good sense of the reasonability of the stock's price.
As part of the Zacks Style Scores system, the Zacks Value Style Score (which evaluates both traditional and unconventional valuation metrics) organizes stocks into five groups ranging from A to F (A is better than B; B is better than C; and so on), making it helpful in identifying whether a stock is overvalued, rightly valued, or temporarily undervalued.
Disney is graded B on this front, indicating that it is trading at a discount to its peers. Click here to see the values of some of the valuation metrics that have driven this grade.
Bottom LineThe facts discussed here and much other information on Zacks.com might help determine whether or not it's worthwhile paying attention to the market buzz about Disney. However, its Zacks Rank #2 does suggest that it may outperform the broader market in the near term.
Few stocks have run as hard as this one. Seagate Technology (NASDAQ:STX | STX Price Prediction) is up 485.78% over the past year and 216.08% year to date, riding a hyperscaler storage cycle that has turned a legacy hard drive maker into one of the loudest AI infrastructure trades in the market. The question now is whether the setup still pays from here.
Our 24/7 Wall St. price target for Seagate is $916.29, roughly 5.53% above the current $868.26 quote. We rate STX a buy with high conviction at a 90% confidence level.
24/7 Wall St. Price Target Summary Metric Value Current Price $868.26 24/7 Wall St. Price Target $916.29 Upside 5.53% Recommendation BUY Confidence Level 90% A Blowout Quarter, Then a 10% Pullback Seagate’s most recent report was a statement quarter. Fiscal Q3 2026 revenue hit $3.11 billion, up 44.1% year over year, and non-GAAP EPS came in at $4.10 versus a $3.50 consensus. Non-GAAP gross margin expanded to 47% from 36.2% a year earlier, and free cash flow jumped to $953 million. Management guided Q4 revenue to $3.45 billion and EPS to $5 at the midpoint.
Since then the stock has traded like a coiled spring. STX is down 10.35% over the past week after a 10.38% drop on July 2 tied to AI supply glut chatter across memory names. It sits 17% below its 52-week high of $1,144.18.
The Case for $1,200+ Bulls have real ammunition. Melius Research just initiated coverage at Buy with a $1,600 target, Cantor Fitzgerald upgraded to Overweight at $1,300, and Bank of America raised its target to $1,150. Our bull-case scenario puts STX at $1,203.83 in twelve months.
The thesis is straightforward. Nearline capacity is fully allocated through calendar year 2026, with orders for the first half of 2027 opening soon.
HAMR-based Mozaic drives are qualified with all five of the largest cloud customers, and CEO Dave Mosley told investors that “Seagate is entering a new era of structural growth as AI applications amplify data creation.” Agentic AI and video workloads sit at the center of that demand. YouTube alone now sees 20 million uploads daily, up from 2 million three years ago.
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What Could Go Wrong The bear math is straightforward. STX trades at a trailing P/E of 78, well above the sector average near 35. Our bear-case scenario lands at $678.44, roughly a 21.86% drawdown, driven by the risk of pricing pushback on 2027 contract renewals and a memory-sector rotation.
Insider activity is the other flag. There have been 243 recent insider transactions skewed to selling, and Mosley sold 9,343 shares on July 1. In fairness, that trade was executed under a Rule 10b5-1 plan adopted in February and represents a small slice of his 319,380 remaining shares, so labeling it a conviction signal is a stretch.
Seagate Price Prediction 2026-2030 Our 24/7 Wall St. price target of $916.29 keeps us constructive. The confidence level is 90%, and the tipping factor is the contracted demand book through 2026 paired with 47% gross margins.
The setup looks more attractive on any pullback toward the 50-day moving average of $840.19 if HAMR qualifications continue and Q4 lands inside guidance. The thesis weakens if 2027 pricing negotiations disappoint or if hyperscaler capex growth flags.
Year 24/7 Wall St. Price Target 2026 $916 2027 $968 2028 $1,020 2029 $1,070 2030 $1,121 These projections assume Seagate executes on its HAMR roadmap toward 5 TB per disk by 2028 and that hyperscale storage demand holds. Meaningful upside or downside will hinge on 2027 contract pricing and the durability of AI-driven data growth.
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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 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
Passengers are paying more to fly, but the carriers selling those tickets are not necessarily the ones collecting the profits. Facing rapidly aging fleets, operators are incurring higher maintenance bills.
That bottleneck has turned the global fleet older. The average commercial aircraft is now about 15 years old, and some long-haul workhorses are far older.
The Cost Curve Behind the TradeAging aircraft are safe when properly maintained, but the bill can rack up quickly. A 10-year-old jet might need $2 million a year, but a 20-year-old version can cost more than $5 million.
Heavy checks at 6- to 10-year intervals can cost $3 million to $6 million in labor and parts. However, that sum can double when accounting for the lost revenue while the aircraft sits idle for a month or two.
The shortage of engines and components has sharpened the economics. EirTrade Aviation purchased two relatively new Airbus A320 aircraft from recently bankrupt Spirit Airlines for disassembly. In today’s market, aircraft can be worth more as parts inventories than as flying machines.
Thus, companies running the MRO (maintenance, repair, and overhaul) sector stand to profit from the situation.
TransDigm and Proprietary Parts Pricing PowerAs fleets age, airlines need to make repeated replacements. That aftermarket demand is less tied to new-aircraft production cycles and more tied to hours flown, failures, inspections and regulatory compliance — a durable setup for high-margin revenue. The stock is roughly flat year to date. However, Benzinga data shows analysts’ average price forecast implies about 16% upside.
TDG Price Action: TransDigm Group shares were trading up 0.03% at $1329.98 during premarket trading on Wednesday, according to Benzinga Pro data.
Heico and The Alternative Supply ChainIts Parts Manufacturer Approval business supplies alternative components that help carriers extend fleet life and manage costs. As backlogs stretch and traditional channels strain, Heico’s value proposition becomes more compelling: keep aircraft airworthy, reduce dependence on scarce OEM parts and avoid groundings. The stock is up 10.64% year-to-date, with analysts pricing a 12% upside.
HEI Price Action: Heico shares were trading down 0.42% at $356.50 during premarket trading on Wednesday.
AAR – The Pure Play MROThe stock is up over 65% year-to-date, and analysts rate it fairly valued. Still, at a $5.43 billion market cap, it is by far the smallest in the group, suggesting potential to grow in this sector.
AIR Price Action: AAR Corp. shares were trading at $138.40 during premarket trading on Wednesday.
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Two factors often determine stock prices in the long run: earnings and interest rates. Investors can't control the latter, but they can focus on a company's earnings results every quarter.
We know earnings results are vital, but how a company performs compared to bottom line expectations can be even more important when it comes to stock prices, especially in the near-term. This means that investors might want to take advantage of these earnings surprises.
The ability to identify stocks that are likely to top quarterly earnings expectations can be profitable, but it's no simple task. Here at Zacks, our Earnings ESP filter helps make things easier.
The Zacks Earnings ESP, ExplainedThe Zacks Expected Surprise Prediction, or ESP, works by locking in on the most up-to-date analyst earnings revisions because they can be more accurate than estimates from weeks or even months before the actual release date. The thinking is pretty straightforward: analysts who provide earnings estimates closer to the report are likely to have more information.
With this in mind, the Expected Surprise Prediction compares the Most Accurate Estimate (being the most recent) against the overall Zacks Consensus Estimate. The percentage difference provides the ESP figure. The system also utilizes our core Zacks Rank to provide a stronger system for identifying stocks that might beat their next quarterly earnings estimate and possibly see the stock price climb.
Bringing together a positive earnings ESP alongside a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) or better has helped stocks report a positive earnings surprise 70% of the time. Furthermore, by using these parameters, investors have seen 28.3% annual returns on average, according to our 10 year backtest.
Stocks with a #3 (Hold) ranking, which is most stocks covered at 60%, are expected to perform in-line with the broader market. But stocks that fall into the #2 (Buy) and #1 (Strong Buy) ranking, or the top 15% and top 5% of stocks, respectively, should outperform the market. Strong Buy stocks should outperform more than any other rank.
Should You Consider United Airlines?The final step today is to look at a stock that meets our ESP qualifications. United Airlines (UAL - Free Report) earns a #3 (Hold) seven days from its next quarterly earnings release on July 15, 2026, and its Most Accurate Estimate comes in at $1.92 a share.
United Airlines' Earnings ESP sits at +1.26%, which, as explained above, is calculated by taking the percentage difference between the $1.92 Most Accurate Estimate and the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.89. UAL is also part of a large group of stocks that boast a positive ESP. Make sure to utilize our Earnings ESP Filter to uncover the best stocks to buy or sell before they've reported.
Find Stocks to Buy or Sell Before They're ReportedUse the Zacks Earnings ESP Filter to turn up stocks with the highest probability of positively, or negatively, surprising to buy or sell before they're reported for profitable earnings season trading. Check it out here >>
Zoom Communications (ZM - Free Report) has been one of the most searched-for stocks on Zacks.com lately. So, you might want to look at some of the facts that could shape the stock's performance in the near term.
Over the past month, shares of this video-conferencing company have returned -11.5%, compared to the Zacks S&P 500 composite's +1.6% change. During this period, the Zacks Internet - Software industry, which Zoom falls in, has gained 3.4%. The key question now is: What could be the stock's future direction?
While media releases or rumors about a substantial change in a company's business prospects usually make its stock 'trending' and lead to an immediate price change, there are always some fundamental facts that eventually dominate the buy-and-hold decision-making.
Revisions to Earnings EstimatesHere at Zacks, we prioritize appraising the change in the projection of a company's future earnings over anything else. That's because we believe the present value of its future stream of earnings is what determines the fair value for its stock.
We essentially look at how sell-side analysts covering the stock are revising their earnings estimates to reflect the impact of the latest business trends. And if earnings estimates go up for a company, the fair value for its stock goes up. A higher fair value than the current market price drives investors' interest in buying the stock, leading to its price moving higher. This is why empirical research shows a strong correlation between trends in earnings estimate revisions and near-term stock price movements.
For the current quarter, Zoom is expected to post earnings of $1.49 per share, indicating a change of -2.6% from the year-ago quarter. The Zacks Consensus Estimate remained unchanged over the last 30 days.
For the current fiscal year, the consensus earnings estimate of $6.06 points to a change of +2.4% from the prior year. Over the last 30 days, this estimate has remained unchanged.
For the next fiscal year, the consensus earnings estimate of $6.22 indicates a change of +2.7% from what Zoom is expected to report a year ago. Over the past month, the estimate has remained unchanged.
With an impressive externally audited track record, our proprietary stock rating tool -- the Zacks Rank -- is a more conclusive indicator of a stock's near-term price performance, as it effectively harnesses the power of earnings estimate revisions. The size of the recent change in the consensus estimate, along with three other factors related to earnings estimates, has resulted in a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) for Zoom.
The chart below shows the evolution of the company's forward 12-month consensus EPS estimate:
12 Month EPS
Revenue Growth ForecastEven though a company's earnings growth is arguably the best indicator of its financial health, nothing much happens if it cannot raise its revenues. It's almost impossible for a company to grow its earnings without growing its revenue for long periods. Therefore, knowing a company's potential revenue growth is crucial.
For Zoom, the consensus sales estimate for the current quarter of $1.27 billion indicates a year-over-year change of +4.2%. For the current and next fiscal years, $5.09 billion and $5.28 billion estimates indicate +4.5% and +3.7% changes, respectively.
Last Reported Results and Surprise HistoryZoom reported revenues of $1.24 billion in the last reported quarter, representing a year-over-year change of +5.5%. EPS of $1.55 for the same period compares with $1.43 a year ago.
Compared to the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.22 billion, the reported revenues represent a surprise of +1.26%. The EPS surprise was +9.93%.
Over the last four quarters, Zoom surpassed consensus EPS estimates three times. The company topped consensus revenue estimates each time over this period.
ValuationWithout considering a stock's valuation, no investment decision can be efficient. In predicting a stock's future price performance, it's crucial to determine whether its current price correctly reflects the intrinsic value of the underlying business and the company's growth prospects.
Comparing the current value of a company's valuation multiples, such as its price-to-earnings (P/E), price-to-sales (P/S), and price-to-cash flow (P/CF), to its own historical values helps ascertain whether its stock is fairly valued, overvalued, or undervalued, whereas comparing the company relative to its peers on these parameters gives a good sense of how reasonable its stock price is.
As part of the Zacks Style Scores system, the Zacks Value Style Score (which evaluates both traditional and unconventional valuation metrics) organizes stocks into five groups ranging from A to F (A is better than B; B is better than C; and so on), making it helpful in identifying whether a stock is overvalued, rightly valued, or temporarily undervalued.
Zoom is graded C on this front, indicating that it is trading at par with its peers. Click here to see the values of some of the valuation metrics that have driven this grade.
ConclusionThe facts discussed here and much other information on Zacks.com might help determine whether or not it's worthwhile paying attention to the market buzz about Zoom. However, its Zacks Rank #3 does suggest that it may perform in line with the broader market in the near term.
For a few weeks, Wall Street treated Ford Motor (F 0.90%) like a Silicon Valley darling. The legacy automaker launched Ford Energy, a new business pivoting into battery energy storage systems (BESS) for artificial intelligence (AI) data centers, utilities, and industrial hubs.
Ford shares surged over 40% in May following the launch, but June quickly brought a classic market reality check, sending the stock tumbling 20.3%, according to data provided by S&P Global Market Intelligence.
Here's why Ford cooled off so fast, and what it means for investors.
Image source: Getty Images.
Why Sales and recalls dragged Ford stock in June Ford has repurposed its existing EV battery manufacturing plant in Kentucky to build grid-scale battery storage, capitalizing on the AI infrastructure boom. Ford also signed a multi-year agreement with EDF power solutions to provide up to 20 gigawatt hours (GWh) of BESS, starting with 4 GWh annually from 2028.
It's a smart move. Ford has the capital, the expertise, factory space and scale, and even a licensing agreement with Chinese battery maker CATL that itself serves as a massive competitive advantage.
Yet, June reminded investors that Ford still makes money selling vehicles, and those numbers aren't looking good.
Right at the start of June, Ford reported a 13.6% drop in total vehicle sales for May, fueled by a big fall in electric vehicle (EV) sales. Mustang Mach-E sales cratered 44%, while the flagship all-electric F-150 Lightning pickup sales slumped 45%. Even hybrid sales dropped 15.7% at a time when rivals like Hyundai and Kia posted surging sales.
Just as investors were digesting the weak numbers, Ford closed out the month with yet another recall. This time, Ford said it was recalling over 740,000 vehicles -- mostly 2018 to 2021 SUVs and truck models -- due to a transmission defect that poses a rollaway risk. The massive recall spooked investors as it reminded them of Ford's multi-billion-dollar legacy warranty costs.
This one update could be the key catalyst for Ford stock Ford's energy business has solid potential and could easily become a big growth engine, but it won't save the stock if car sales and profits continue to dwindle. Fortunately for investors, there is some good news on that front.
In June, Novelis – a critical aluminum supplier to Ford – restarted production at its Oswego, New York facility, which had been shut down for months following two major fires. Production and sales of Ford's F-series trucks, which use aluminum bodies, took a big beating from the supply crunch. The disruption forced Ford to secure alternative aluminum supply channels that could cost the company up to $2 billion.
While supply won't normalize immediately as the Oswego plant still needs time to safely ramp back to full throughput, the restart should remove a massive production bottleneck and allow Ford to make up for some of the lost volumes and earnings in the coming months.
How quickly Ford can get its truck production back on track is the most important thing to watch for when it releases its second-quarter earnings on July 28 after the market close. That could largely determine where Ford stock heads next, as everything else is mostly noise for now.
Millennial Potash Corp (TSX-V:MLP, OTCQB:MLPNF, FRA:XOD) announced that Gabon's Minister of Mines and Geological Resources, Sosthene Nguema Nguema, led a government delegation on a field visit to the company's Banio Potash Project on July 5 and 6, where officials reiterated government support for the project and discussed infrastructure development.
The delegation also included the Director General of Geology and Mining Support, the Director General of Mining Exploitation, Nyanga Province Governor Jean Robert Mabobet and other local government officials.
During the visit, the minister toured the company's camp and logistics facilities, received a technical presentation on the project and fertilizer production, inspected potash-rich drill core and visited the BA-006 drill site, where drilling operations were underway.
According to Millennial, government representatives expressed support for the project and indicated the government would assist with infrastructure and other regional initiatives.
Millennial chair Farhad Abasov said the visit gave government officials and local stakeholders an opportunity to observe the scale of the project, ongoing exploration work and the participation of Gabonese workers.
“The visit was a very important event at this stage of our development as the Gabonese government pledged full support in terms of the infrastructure build-up and other aspects of the project,” Abasov said.
“We appreciate the constructive engagement and the strong expression of support for the Project as we continue advancing Banio in a responsible and technically disciplined manner."
Millennial said it is continuing a four-hole exploration drilling program aimed at potentially expanding potash resources south and west of the current mineral resource estimate. The company expects to complete the program in 2026 before preparing an updated mineral resource estimate.
The company is also advancing a definitive feasibility study and an environmental and social impact assessment for the project.
Additionally, Millennial announced it has elected to adopt semi-annual financial reporting under Coordinated Blanket Order 51-933, which provides certain venture issuers with exemptions from quarterly reporting requirements.
Under the exemption, the company will no longer file interim financial statements and management's discussion and analysis for the first and third quarters of its fiscal year. Millennial said the first reporting period covered by the exemption will be the nine months ended May 31, 2026.
The company said it will continue filing audited annual financial statements and interim financial statements for its six-month reporting periods.
More than 20,000 home improvement products now available tax-free for delivery to overseas military bases
, /PRNewswire/ -- The Home Depot today announced the expansion of its partnership with the Military Exchanges to include delivery to Army Post Office (APO), Fleet Post Office (FPO) and Diplomatic Post Office (DPO) addresses, providing overseas military communities with tax-free access to more than 20,000 home improvement products.
Available through the Army & Air Force Exchange Service (AAFES) and Navy Exchange Service Command (NEXCOM), the expanded program enables eligible military exchange shoppers to purchase products from The Home Depot and have them delivered directly to overseas military bases. The program will serve military families stationed at more than 750 overseas bases across more than 80 countries.
"The Home Depot has proudly supported military service members, veterans and their families for decades," said Jordan Broggi, EVP Customer Experience and President – Online, The Home Depot. "Expanding delivery through APO, FPO and DPO addresses helps ensure military communities serving around the world have convenient access to the home improvement products they need, no matter where they are stationed."
Eligible military exchange shoppers—including active-duty service members, National Guard members, Reservists, retirees, honorably discharged veterans and authorized civilians—can access the program through AAFES and NEXCOM online shopping platforms. Eligible shoppers living stateside may also purchase products and send them to friends or family members residing at APO, FPO or DPO addresses overseas.
The expanded offering provides access to more than 20,000 products across a variety of home improvement categories. Delivery is facilitated through USPS in accordance with military mailing and security requirements.
The new APO/FPO/DPO delivery capability officially launches July 8, 2026.
About The Home Depot
The Home Depot is the world's largest home improvement specialty retailer. At the end of the first quarter of fiscal 2026, the company operated more than 2,300 retail stores, over 800 branches and more than 780 distribution centers across North America. The Home Depot employs more than 470,000 associates. The Home Depot's stock is traded on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: HD).
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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Starbucks (SBUX - Free Report) has recently been on Zacks.com's list of the most searched stocks. Therefore, you might want to consider some of the key factors that could influence the stock's performance in the near future.
Shares of this coffee chain have returned +6.4% over the past month versus the Zacks S&P 500 composite's +1.6% change. The Zacks Retail - Restaurants industry, to which Starbucks belongs, has gained 6% over this period. Now the key question is: Where could the stock be headed in the near term?
While media releases or rumors about a substantial change in a company's business prospects usually make its stock 'trending' and lead to an immediate price change, there are always some fundamental facts that eventually dominate the buy-and-hold decision-making.
Earnings Estimate RevisionsHere at Zacks, we prioritize appraising the change in the projection of a company's future earnings over anything else. That's because we believe the present value of its future stream of earnings is what determines the fair value for its stock.
Our analysis is essentially based on how sell-side analysts covering the stock are revising their earnings estimates to take the latest business trends into account. When earnings estimates for a company go up, the fair value for its stock goes up as well. And when a stock's fair value is higher than its current market price, investors tend to buy the stock, resulting in its price moving upward. Because of this, empirical studies indicate a strong correlation between trends in earnings estimate revisions and short-term stock price movements.
Starbucks is expected to post earnings of $0.65 per share for the current quarter, representing a year-over-year change of +30%. Over the last 30 days, the Zacks Consensus Estimate remained unchanged.
For the current fiscal year, the consensus earnings estimate of $2.4 points to a change of +12.7% from the prior year. Over the last 30 days, this estimate has remained unchanged.
For the next fiscal year, the consensus earnings estimate of $3.07 indicates a change of +27.8% from what Starbucks is expected to report a year ago. Over the past month, the estimate has remained unchanged.
Having a strong externally audited track record, our proprietary stock rating tool, the Zacks Rank, offers a more conclusive picture of a stock's price direction in the near term, since it effectively harnesses the power of earnings estimate revisions. Due to the size of the recent change in the consensus estimate, along with three other factors related to earnings estimates, Starbucks is rated Zacks Rank #3 (Hold).
The chart below shows the evolution of the company's forward 12-month consensus EPS estimate:
12 Month EPS
Revenue Growth ForecastEven though a company's earnings growth is arguably the best indicator of its financial health, nothing much happens if it cannot raise its revenues. It's almost impossible for a company to grow its earnings without growing its revenue for long periods. Therefore, knowing a company's potential revenue growth is crucial.
In the case of Starbucks, the consensus sales estimate of $9.43 billion for the current quarter points to a year-over-year change of -0.3%. The $38.27 billion and $40.09 billion estimates for the current and next fiscal years indicate changes of +2.9% and +4.8%, respectively.
Last Reported Results and Surprise HistoryStarbucks reported revenues of $9.53 billion in the last reported quarter, representing a year-over-year change of +8.8%. EPS of $0.5 for the same period compares with $0.41 a year ago.
Compared to the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $9.17 billion, the reported revenues represent a surprise of +3.92%. The EPS surprise was +13.64%.
Over the last four quarters, the company surpassed EPS estimates just once. The company topped consensus revenue estimates each time over this period.
ValuationWithout considering a stock's valuation, no investment decision can be efficient. In predicting a stock's future price performance, it's crucial to determine whether its current price correctly reflects the intrinsic value of the underlying business and the company's growth prospects.
While comparing the current values of a company's valuation multiples, such as price-to-earnings (P/E), price-to-sales (P/S), and price-to-cash flow (P/CF), with its own historical values helps determine whether its stock is fairly valued, overvalued, or undervalued, comparing the company relative to its peers on these parameters gives a good sense of the reasonability of the stock's price.
As part of the Zacks Style Scores system, the Zacks Value Style Score (which evaluates both traditional and unconventional valuation metrics) organizes stocks into five groups ranging from A to F (A is better than B; B is better than C; and so on), making it helpful in identifying whether a stock is overvalued, rightly valued, or temporarily undervalued.
Starbucks is graded D on this front, indicating that it is trading at a premium to its peers. Click here to see the values of some of the valuation metrics that have driven this grade.
ConclusionThe facts discussed here and much other information on Zacks.com might help determine whether or not it's worthwhile paying attention to the market buzz about Starbucks. However, its Zacks Rank #3 does suggest that it may perform in line with the broader market in the near term.
Resources Investor Relations Journalists Agencies Client Login Send a Release News Products Contact , /PRNewswire/ -- Cincinnati Financial Corporation (Nasdaq: CINF) plans to release its second-quarter 2026 results on Monday, July 27, 2026, after the close of regular trading on the Nasdaq Stock Market.
The company will hold a conference call to discuss second-quarter 2026 results on Tuesday, July 28, at 11 a.m. ET. To access the call webcast, please visit investors.cinfin.com. A replay will be available approximately two hours after the event's completion.
About Cincinnati Financial Corporation:
Cincinnati Financial Corporation offers primarily business, home and auto insurance through The Cincinnati Insurance Company and its two standard market property casualty companies. The same local independent insurance agencies that market those policies may offer products of our other subsidiaries, including life insurance, fixed annuities and surplus lines property and casualty insurance. For additional information about the company, please visit cinfin.com.
Top Wall Street analysts changed their outlook on these top names. For a complete view of all analyst rating changes, including upgrades, downgrades and initiations, please see our analyst ratings page.
Considering buying PYPL stock? Here’s what analysts think:
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The retail market remains heavily fixated on pure-play artificial intelligence GPUs, pouring capital into the same crowded trades. Meanwhile, a supply shock is quietly unfolding in the traditional data center space, creating an opportunity for investors willing to look past the obvious headlines.
A replacement cycle is unfolding as hyperscalers rapidly swap out aging 2019-era server farms to meet the intense, continuous compute requirements of modern-day AI. Those older racks lack the core density and power efficiency required today, drawing too much electricity and generating unsustainable heat. The sheer volume of this upgrade cycle has exhausted supply pipelines, handing one legacy semiconductor sector giant unprecedented pricing power—just as its manufacturing turnaround takes hold.
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The $200 Buy-In: Smart Money Bets Big on IntelIntel Today
$108.89 -1.50 (-1.36%)
As of 10:04 AM Eastern
This is a fair market value price provided by Massive. Learn more.
52-Week Range$18.97▼
$142.35Price Target$96.69
Intel Corporation NASDAQ: INTC has staged a hearty 200% rally since Jan. 1, 2026, recently climbing from $36.90 to test the $122 level. Wall Street's consensus remains highly fractured, with average price targets hovering near $96. Yet elite institutional desks are pricing in a much more aggressive trajectory.
HSBC semiconductor analyst Frank Lee recently set a Street-high $200 price target, outlining a valuation model based on a structural server supply deficit and flawless execution in foundry manufacturing. To understand why smart money is aggressively accumulating shares at a premium to trailing fundamentals, investors must focus on the data driving the current capacity crisis.
Raising the Stakes: How 15% Price Hikes Change the GameWhen hyperscalers build out infrastructure for agentic AI, systems that do not just answer queries but autonomously execute complex, multi-step workflows, they require tens of millions of traditional central processing units (CPUs) to orchestrate the data flow.
The broader market severely underestimated the processor density required to support these advanced workloads. Competitors like Advanced Micro Devices NASDAQ: AMD do not have the immediate foundry capacity to absorb this sudden surge in aggregate demand. Their server pipelines, reliant on external foundries, are functionally exhausted for 2026. This supply deficit steers enterprise buyers to rely on Intel's ecosystem, regardless of prior brand loyalties.
Recognizing its sudden leverage, Intel recently initiated targeted price increases of 10% to 15% across its enterprise server processor portfolio. In the capital-intensive semiconductor business, pricing power of this magnitude is a rare structural advantage. It allows Intel Corporation to instantly expand net margins without increasing production volume.
For an operation carrying a trailing 12-month net margin of negative 5.9%, these price hikes offer a highly effective top-line catalyst. The immediate revenue injection from the data center and AI segment rewrites the forward earnings math, providing the exact cash flow necessary to fund Intel's aggressive manufacturing buildout.
Silicon on Schedule: Intel Foundry Silences the SkepticsTo earn HSBC's $200 price target, Intel requires more than just a temporary spike in processor sales. It demands absolute execution from Intel Foundry. The bullish thesis is built on winning new customers—third-party tech giants who are increasingly desperate to diversify away from geopolitical risks in Asia.
The lead 18A node is no longer a lab promise—it's in high-volume manufacturing today, with reports indicating the yield problems that dogged it for months are now resolved and output climbing toward 30,000 wafers a month. That proves advanced, next-generation architectures like RibbonFET and backside power delivery actually work at scale.
Just as critical, Intel hit its next milestone on schedule: 18A-P, the performance-tuned version of the node, entered risk production on the exact timeline Intel promised customers a year ago. For a company long dogged by delays, hitting a date it committed to is the message that matters most—predictable execution removes a substantial layer of risk that has hung over Intel for years.
That reliability is what secures the negotiating leverage to lock in binding, high-volume contracts with major fabless clients for the second half of 2026. Without verified, at-scale yields, no hyperscaler would commit billions to an unproven foundry. The transition from designing chips to reliably printing them at scale is the catalyst the $200 case requires.
Reading the Table: Options Markets Signal a BreakoutOverall MarketRank™63rd Percentile
Analyst RatingHold
Upside/Downside11.5% Downside
Short Interest LevelHealthy
Dividend StrengthWeak
News Sentiment0.90 Insider TradingSelling Shares
Proj. Earnings Growth53.97%
See Full Analysis
Retail traders might balk at buying a stock trading at a forward price-to-earnings ratio of ~193, but sophisticated capital relies on forward-looking growth rather than trailing metrics. The recent 200% run is not the byproduct of a mechanical short squeeze. Current short interest stands at 143.87 million shares, or 2.86% of the float, with a short ratio of just 1.1 days to cover. The upward price action is pure fundamental rotation, as institutions recognize the turning point in the physical economy.
Look closely at who is deploying capital. In January of this year, Chief Financial Officer David Zinsner stepped into the open market to purchase roughly $250,000 in shares, directly countering the bearish narratives surrounding early second-quarter executive sales. When a financial executive buys heavily, it telegraphs extreme confidence in the internal balance sheet and future cash flow projections.
On the political and institutional side, recent disclosures reveal that Nancy Pelosi purchased up to $5 million in deep-in-the-money call options for Intel Corporation with a March 2027 expiry and a $50 strike price. Long-term options accumulation of this magnitude signals heavy, sustained confidence in a multi-year manufacturing turnaround rather than a short-term trade.
Showdown at Earnings: Will Megacap Clients Finally Commit?The upcoming July 23 earnings report acts as a definitive binary event for Intel. The chipmaker absolutely obliterated first-quarter expectations earlier this year, delivering 29 cents in non-GAAP earnings per share against a 1-cent consensus estimate. The options market is currently pricing in a severe 23% directional move by late July, perfectly corroborating the heavy institutional anticipation surrounding Intel Corporation's forward guidance.
During the upcoming earnings call, investors should watch for management to quantify the exact margin impact of their recent 10% to 15% price hikes, and for progress with converting theoretical foundry interest into binding second-half 2026 commitments.
If executives can demonstrate that megacap clients are officially signing on for 18A capacity due to the successful risk production metrics, the $200 price target will look less like a bullish outlier and more like a highly probable reality. The path to profitability is no longer a theoretical exercise on a whiteboard; it is actively playing out on the factory floor.
Investors tracking the semiconductor space may want to closely monitor Intel's upcoming earnings call to see whether the margin expansion aligns with Wall Street's most aggressive forecasts.
Should You Invest $1,000 in Intel Right Now?Before you consider Intel, you'll want to hear this.
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Intel‘s (NASDAQ:INTC | INTC Price Prediction) historic breakout came fast and from out of nowhere, as the chip laggard made massive leaps to win back many investors amid the AI revolution. With a competitive slate of chips and a foundry business that could help the tech world diversify away from the likes of Taiwan Semiconductor (NYSE:TSM), perhaps Intel isn’t done rallying, given its role in the AI race as well as the huge votes of confidence from the U.S. government and other leaders in the tech scene.
While the latest drawdown might be a concern for some, with Intel shares falling close to 10% in a single session on Tuesday, dragging the name into a bear market, questions linger about how much of the explosive past year’s gains will be given back.
As it stands today, Intel’s a $555 billion force again, but with a nasty technical backdrop (a double-top pattern may very well be in the works) and a lot of negative momentum behind the semiconductor trade in recent weeks, Intel isn’t a name without its fair share of risks.
Those who missed the latest “perfect storm” of positive headlines might have a chance to do some buying as the name falls hand-in-hand with many of the “pick and shovels” plays that have helped lift the broader Nasdaq 100 higher. Indeed, the industry outlook might be a bit more jittery, with valuations creeping higher and concerns over what could happen if the hyperscalers were to scale back a bit.
Meta Platforms‘ (NASDAQ:META) move into selling AI compute is hardly a sign that CapEx numbers for hyperscalers are going to move lower. What it does signal, though, is that the social-media giant might have more compute than it can put to use.
The semi sell-off is real. Intel might be the best name to buy on weakness Add the decline of “tokenmaxxing” into the equation as well as the rise of “edge AI” as well as the generous credits extended to users of AI compute, and maybe it’s not a stretch to ring the register on some of the AI chip giants as the tables shift back to the spenders (the Mag Seven) and away from the semiconductors selling all those picks and shovels.
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In a prior piece, I highlighted the likelihood that such a rotation would materialize. And after another brutal session for the semis while the Mag Seven held their own, it certainly seems like a rotation is playing out. Indeed, it will be exciting to see what kind of winners AI can mint at the application layer.
But, at the end of the day, Intel is the foundry and AI chip titan that investors cannot ignore. Even as software has its moment to shine, I certainly wouldn’t bet against Intel, especially as the firm enters its profitable growth phase after investing money in all the right places. Of course, perhaps the most overlooked reason to give Intel the benefit of the doubt lies within its new CEO, Lip-Bu Tan.
The man has earned the trust of investors, and with deals inked with giants such as Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL), I certainly wouldn’t hit the panic button just because the semiconductors are taking an overdue breather. As the foundry moves from bleeding cash to raking in considerable sums while we enter the 18A node era, there’s no shortage of things to look forward to when it comes to Intel.
The bottom line The turnaround is in the books. Next comes the profitability push and a chance for the firm to widen its moat further. Arguably, that’s even more exciting now that the haze of uncertainty and existential fears has all been cleared up.
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Intel (INTC - Free Report) has recently been on Zacks.com's list of the most searched stocks. Therefore, you might want to consider some of the key factors that could influence the stock's performance in the near future.
Shares of this world's largest chipmaker have returned +2.3% over the past month versus the Zacks S&P 500 composite's +1.6% change. The Zacks Semiconductor - General industry, to which Intel belongs, has lost 2.4% over this period. Now the key question is: Where could the stock be headed in the near term?
Although media reports or rumors about a significant change in a company's business prospects usually cause its stock to trend and lead to an immediate price change, there are always certain fundamental factors that ultimately drive the buy-and-hold decision.
Earnings Estimate RevisionsHere at Zacks, we prioritize appraising the change in the projection of a company's future earnings over anything else. That's because we believe the present value of its future stream of earnings is what determines the fair value for its stock.
We essentially look at how sell-side analysts covering the stock are revising their earnings estimates to reflect the impact of the latest business trends. And if earnings estimates go up for a company, the fair value for its stock goes up. A higher fair value than the current market price drives investors' interest in buying the stock, leading to its price moving higher. This is why empirical research shows a strong correlation between trends in earnings estimate revisions and near-term stock price movements.
Intel is expected to post earnings of $0.21 per share for the current quarter, representing a year-over-year change of +310%. Over the last 30 days, the Zacks Consensus Estimate remained unchanged.
The consensus earnings estimate of $1.06 for the current fiscal year indicates a year-over-year change of +152.4%. This estimate has remained unchanged over the last 30 days.
For the next fiscal year, the consensus earnings estimate of $1.45 indicates a change of +36.8% from what Intel is expected to report a year ago. Over the past month, the estimate has changed +0.6%.
With an impressive externally audited track record, our proprietary stock rating tool -- the Zacks Rank -- is a more conclusive indicator of a stock's near-term price performance, as it effectively harnesses the power of earnings estimate revisions. The size of the recent change in the consensus estimate, along with three other factors related to earnings estimates, has resulted in a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) for Intel.
The chart below shows the evolution of the company's forward 12-month consensus EPS estimate:
12 Month EPS
Revenue Growth ForecastWhile earnings growth is arguably the most superior indicator of a company's financial health, nothing happens as such if a business isn't able to grow its revenues. After all, it's nearly impossible for a company to increase its earnings for an extended period without increasing its revenues. So, it's important to know a company's potential revenue growth.
For Intel, the consensus sales estimate for the current quarter of $14.39 billion indicates a year-over-year change of +11.9%. For the current and next fiscal years, $58.36 billion and $64.27 billion estimates indicate +10.4% and +10.1% changes, respectively.
Last Reported Results and Surprise HistoryIntel reported revenues of $13.58 billion in the last reported quarter, representing a year-over-year change of +7.2%. EPS of $0.29 for the same period compares with $0.13 a year ago.
Compared to the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $12.33 billion, the reported revenues represent a surprise of +10.09%. The EPS surprise was +2800%.
Over the last four quarters, Intel surpassed consensus EPS estimates three times. The company topped consensus revenue estimates each time over this period.
ValuationNo investment decision can be efficient without considering a stock's valuation. Whether a stock's current price rightly reflects the intrinsic value of the underlying business and the company's growth prospects is an essential determinant of its future price performance.
While comparing the current values of a company's valuation multiples, such as price-to-earnings (P/E), price-to-sales (P/S), and price-to-cash flow (P/CF), with its own historical values helps determine whether its stock is fairly valued, overvalued, or undervalued, comparing the company relative to its peers on these parameters gives a good sense of the reasonability of the stock's price.
The Zacks Value Style Score (part of the Zacks Style Scores system), which pays close attention to both traditional and unconventional valuation metrics to grade stocks from A to F (an A is better than a B; a B is better than a C; and so on), is pretty helpful in identifying whether a stock is overvalued, rightly valued, or temporarily undervalued.
Intel is graded F on this front, indicating that it is trading at a premium to its peers. Click here to see the values of some of the valuation metrics that have driven this grade.
ConclusionThe facts discussed here and much other information on Zacks.com might help determine whether or not it's worthwhile paying attention to the market buzz about Intel. However, its Zacks Rank #1 does suggest that it may outperform the broader market in the near term.
LOS ANGELES, July 08, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Schall Law Firm, a national shareholder rights litigation firm, announces that it is investigating claims on behalf of investors of Hertz Global Holdings, Inc. (“Hertz” or “the Company”) (NASDAQ: HTZ) for violations of the securities laws.
The investigation focuses on whether the Company issued false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose information pertinent to investors. Hertz announced on June 24, 2026, that its “wholly-owned indirect subsidiary, The Hertz Corporation ('Hertz Corp.'), intends to offer, subject to market and other conditions, $300 million in aggregate principal amount of Exchangeable Senior First-Lien Secured PIK Notes due 2030 (the 'Notes') in a private offering to persons reasonably believed to be qualified institutional buyers." The Company added, "Hertz Corp. intends to use the net proceeds received from the offering of the Notes for general corporate purposes, which may include the repayment of outstanding indebtedness." Based on this news, shares of Hertz fell by more than 40.7% on the same day.
If you are a shareholder who suffered a loss, click here to participate.
We also encourage you to contact Brian Schall of the Schall Law Firm, 2049 Century Park East, Suite 2460, Los Angeles, CA 90067, at 310-301-3335, to discuss your rights free of charge. You can also reach us through the firm's website at www.schallfirm.com, or by email at [email protected].
The Schall Law Firm represents investors around the world and specializes in securities class action lawsuits and shareholder rights litigation.
This press release may be considered Attorney Advertising in some jurisdictions under the applicable law and rules of ethics.
CONTACT:
The Schall Law Firm
Brian Schall, Esq.
310-301-3335 [email protected]
Amazon.com: Balancing Retail Scale and Cloud ExpansionAmazon.com (AMZN 1.66%) primarily generates revenue by operating a vast global e-commerce retail enterprise alongside providing comprehensive cloud computing, digital advertising, and subscription services.
It faced regulatory scrutiny from the National Labor Relations Board and launched a private freight network, while it reported a net income margin of 17% for the quarter ended March 31, 2026.
Shopify: Sustaining E-Commerce GrowthShopify (SHOP 3.74%) primarily generates its revenue by providing an extensive suite of software, financial tools, and operational services that equip independent merchants to run digital and physical storefronts globally.
It settled a copyright lawsuit with a competitor and experienced a temporary administrative outage. It reported a net income margin of -18% for the quarter ended March 31, 2026.
Why Revenue Matters for Retail InvestorsRevenue serves as a crucial baseline indicator for investors to assess a company's fundamental ability to generate continuous customer demand and scale its ongoing operations over time.
Foolish TakeIn typical fashion for companies in the retail sector, Amazon and Shopify see their largest sales in the fourth quarter thanks to the holiday shopping season. Both are experiencing year-over-year revenue growth, which is a sign that their businesses continue to expand. Shopify boasts the higher growth rate with first-quarter sales soaring 34% year over year compared to Amazon’s 17%.
Still, Amazon’s total sales far exceed Shopify’s, and looks likely to remain that way due to where each is going with their growth strategies. Shopify focuses on being a technology provider to smaller enterprises interested in selling online. With the rise of artificial intelligence, it is adding functionality that can further galvanize merchant sales on its platform.
Amazon has extended beyond its e-commerce roots to become a provider of artificial intelligence for other businesses. Rather than Shopify’s approach of baking in a set of AI features into its solutions, Amazon has constructed a proprietary AI model that differentiates it from competitors. The move has been costly, as the company builds up its AI infrastructure. It turned to offering $25 billion in bonds recently to fund its AI expansion.
Even so, Amazon’s stock remains a much better value at a price-to-sales ratio of four compared to Shopify’s 13. In fact, Shopify’s high valuation looks like a factor in the stock’s fall to a 52-week low of $94 in May.
Pfizer (PFE - Free Report) is one of the stocks most watched by Zacks.com visitors lately. So, it might be a good idea to review some of the factors that might affect the near-term performance of the stock.
Shares of this drugmaker have returned -6.3% over the past month versus the Zacks S&P 500 composite's +1.6% change. The Zacks Large Cap Pharmaceuticals industry, to which Pfizer belongs, has gained 9.1% over this period. Now the key question is: Where could the stock be headed in the near term?
While media releases or rumors about a substantial change in a company's business prospects usually make its stock 'trending' and lead to an immediate price change, there are always some fundamental facts that eventually dominate the buy-and-hold decision-making.
Revisions to Earnings EstimatesRather than focusing on anything else, we at Zacks prioritize evaluating the change in a company's earnings projection. This is because we believe the fair value for its stock is determined by the present value of its future stream of earnings.
Our analysis is essentially based on how sell-side analysts covering the stock are revising their earnings estimates to take the latest business trends into account. When earnings estimates for a company go up, the fair value for its stock goes up as well. And when a stock's fair value is higher than its current market price, investors tend to buy the stock, resulting in its price moving upward. Because of this, empirical studies indicate a strong correlation between trends in earnings estimate revisions and short-term stock price movements.
Pfizer is expected to post earnings of $0.68 per share for the current quarter, representing a year-over-year change of -12.8%. Over the last 30 days, the Zacks Consensus Estimate remained unchanged.
For the current fiscal year, the consensus earnings estimate of $2.98 points to a change of -7.5% from the prior year. Over the last 30 days, this estimate has changed -0.1%.
For the next fiscal year, the consensus earnings estimate of $2.86 indicates a change of -4.2% from what Pfizer is expected to report a year ago. Over the past month, the estimate has remained unchanged.
With an impressive externally audited track record, our proprietary stock rating tool -- the Zacks Rank -- is a more conclusive indicator of a stock's near-term price performance, as it effectively harnesses the power of earnings estimate revisions. The size of the recent change in the consensus estimate, along with three other factors related to earnings estimates, has resulted in a Zacks Rank #4 (Sell) for Pfizer.
The chart below shows the evolution of the company's forward 12-month consensus EPS estimate:
12 Month EPS
Projected Revenue GrowthEven though a company's earnings growth is arguably the best indicator of its financial health, nothing much happens if it cannot raise its revenues. It's almost impossible for a company to grow its earnings without growing its revenue for long periods. Therefore, knowing a company's potential revenue growth is crucial.
In the case of Pfizer, the consensus sales estimate of $14.48 billion for the current quarter points to a year-over-year change of -1.2%. The $61.85 billion and $59.97 billion estimates for the current and next fiscal years indicate changes of -1.2% and -3%, respectively.
Last Reported Results and Surprise HistoryPfizer reported revenues of $14.45 billion in the last reported quarter, representing a year-over-year change of +5.4%. EPS of $0.75 for the same period compares with $0.92 a year ago.
Compared to the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $13.82 billion, the reported revenues represent a surprise of +4.56%. The EPS surprise was +5.63%.
The company beat consensus EPS estimates in each of the trailing four quarters. The company topped consensus revenue estimates each time over this period.
ValuationWithout considering a stock's valuation, no investment decision can be efficient. In predicting a stock's future price performance, it's crucial to determine whether its current price correctly reflects the intrinsic value of the underlying business and the company's growth prospects.
Comparing the current value of a company's valuation multiples, such as its price-to-earnings (P/E), price-to-sales (P/S), and price-to-cash flow (P/CF), to its own historical values helps ascertain whether its stock is fairly valued, overvalued, or undervalued, whereas comparing the company relative to its peers on these parameters gives a good sense of how reasonable its stock price is.
As part of the Zacks Style Scores system, the Zacks Value Style Score (which evaluates both traditional and unconventional valuation metrics) organizes stocks into five groups ranging from A to F (A is better than B; B is better than C; and so on), making it helpful in identifying whether a stock is overvalued, rightly valued, or temporarily undervalued.
Pfizer is graded A on this front, indicating that it is trading at a discount to its peers. Click here to see the values of some of the valuation metrics that have driven this grade.
ConclusionThe facts discussed here and much other information on Zacks.com might help determine whether or not it's worthwhile paying attention to the market buzz about Pfizer. However, its Zacks Rank #4 does suggest that it may underperform the broader market in the near term.
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]
AUSTIN, Texas--(BUSINESS WIRE)---- $FALC #IBM--FalconStor Software (OTC: FALC), a leader in data protection and cyber resilience for IBM Power environments, today announced the FalconStor Cloud Clean Room: an on-demand infrastructure platform that gives organizations the ability to perform validated recovery testing inside a persistent secure enclave, with each test starting from a known-clean state and leaving no carried-forward risk. Built on FalconStor's patent-pending Zero Trust Secure Enclave (ZTSE) tech.
RALEIGH, N.C. & ARMONK, N.Y.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--IBM and Red Hat launch Lightwell Network, expand Lightwell partner ecosystem for securing the open source world.
New offering, built with IBM watsonx Orchestrate™, expands the Experis EXCELERATE AI portfolio and helps organizations integrate AI agents into enterprise workflows while maintaining governance, oversight, and human control.
, /PRNewswire/ -- Experis, a global leader in technology talent and services, today announced the launch of ExcelerateWorkflow, a new offering built with IBM® watsonx Orchestrate™ that helps organizations deploy AI-powered workflows to transform how work gets done and deliver measurable business outcomes.
Experis U.S. launches ExcelerateWorkflow, built with IBM watsonx Orchestrate™ The launch expands the Experis EXCELERATE AI portfolio, strengthening its ability to support organizations as they move from AI experimentation to practical execution. By combining Experis' expertise in AI strategy, implementation, talent, and governance, with IBM watsonx Orchestrate, ExcelerateWorkflow helps organizations automate high-value work, equip employees to work more effectively alongside AI agents, and deploy governed solutions that deliver real-world results.
Unlike traditional AI consulting approaches, Experis brings together technology implementation, workforce transformation, and specialized AI talent to help organizations move beyond AI pilots and into scalable execution. ExcelerateWorkflow gives clients the tools to build the skills, governance, and operating models needed to sustain long-term value.
"The hard part is making AI work inside real businesses, with real workflows, real people, and real accountability for outcomes. That is where most AI initiatives stall, not at the technology decision, but at execution," said Kye Mitchell, President of Experis U.S. "That's exactly where Experis comes in. We bring together the technology, talent, and governance needed to take what IBM has built with watsonx Orchestrate and put it to work where it matters; inside client operations, connected to their systems, and supported by people with expertise and experience. Our role is to make sure organizations can actually use, scale, govern, and trust it. Technology gets you to the pilot. Humans get you to the results."
Initial deployments of ExcelerateWorkflow are underway with enterprise clients in the United States, with global expansion planned.
Most recently, Experis partnered with Intersect, a leading AI solutions firm serving community and regional banks, to architect and deliver BankIQ, a multi-tenant SaaS platform built on IBM Cloud and powered by IBM watsonx.ai that helps financial institutions move from broad-based marketing to targeted, AI-driven customer engagement.
"The Experis implementation team hit the ground running and their ability to combine deep technical expertise with disciplined execution has helped us maintain momentum without compromising on quality," CJ Kadakia, Intersect CTO, said. "Experis' attention to detail, commitment to architectural discipline, and sophisticated internal tooling have consistently impressed. They bring genuine subject matter expertise and a delivery mindset that matches the standards we set for ourselves. We look forward to leveraging ExcelerateWorkflow in the coming months."
Experis ExcelerateWorkflow is a key component of the expanded EXCELERATE AI ecosystem. As an IBM Gold Business Partner, Experis combines direct access to IBM's technology roadmap and resources with the specialized talent and implementation expertise required to move from experimentation to execution. IBM watsonx Orchestrate supports AI agent orchestration and enterprise workflow automation across business and IT functions, while the Experis Conversational AI Service Desk, managed by Experis and powered by SoundHound AI, supports conversational AI service desk modernization. Together, these capabilities connect enterprise AI platforms with the people and expertise needed to deliver measurable business outcomes.
For more information, visit experis.com/excelerateai
ABOUT EXPERIS
Experis®, a global leader in technology talent and services, provides the experience and expertise to shorten the distance between innovation and business impact in a digital world. Experis is guided by the principle of Human Ingenuity: the belief that technology delivers its greatest value when paired with the right people, skills, and execution. For clients, Experis offers the right mix of talent, governance, and implementation expertise to turn AI investments into measurable results, building solutions that fit their business and enable their teams to succeed in an AI-powered future. For individuals, Experis has the insight, size, and scale to help tech professionals expand their skills, increase their value, and find the right opportunities. By matching talent to technology in transformative ways, Experis creates brighter futures for everyone. Experis is part of the ManpowerGroup® (NYSE: MAN) family of brands, which also includes Manpower and Talent Solutions.
For more information, visit www.experis.com, or follow us on LinkedIn.
ABOUT MANPOWERGROUP
ManpowerGroup® (NYSE: MAN), the leading global workforce solutions company, helps organizations transform in a fast-changing world of work by sourcing, assessing, developing, and managing the talent that enables them to win. We develop innovative solutions for hundreds of thousands of organizations every year, providing them with skilled talent while finding meaningful, sustainable employment for millions of people across a wide range of industries and skills. Our expert family of brands – Manpower, Experis, and Talent Solutions – creates substantially more value for candidates and clients across more than 70 countries and territories and has done so for more than 75 years. We are recognized consistently as a best place to work for Women, Inclusion, Equality, and Disability, and in 2026 ManpowerGroup was named one of the World's Most Ethical Companies for the 17th time; all confirming our position as the brand of choice for in-demand talent.
For more information, visit www.manpowergroup.com, or follow us on LinkedIn and Facebook.
Index Dow Jones -0,95 % na 52423,39 b. S&P 500 -0,52 % na 7465,01 b. Nasdaq Composite -0,33 % na 25734,27 b.
Přední americké indexy se v úvodu středeční seance nachází v záporném teritoriu. Negativně se do cen akcií propisuje zvýšené geopolitické riziko po Trumpových výrocích, že křehké příměří s Íránem je u konce. Cena ropy Brent roste nad úroveň 78 USD za barel.
Apple (-0,45 %) v rámci svého závazku zvýšit výdaje na komponenty vyráběné v USA oznámila rozšíření spolupráce s výrobcem čipů Broadcom (+3,4 %). Hodnota nového kontraktu by měla přesáhnout 30 miliard USD. Součástí partnerství bude výroba více než 15 miliard čipů v USA, což podle Applu podpoří vznik stovek pracovních míst. Firma zároveň pomůže společnosti Broadcom s modernizací výrobních kapacit v americkém státě Colorado.
Index S&P 500 -0,52 % na 7465,01 b. Nejsilnější sektory S&P Změna Nejslabší sektory S&P Změna Energie +0,4 % Základní materiály -2,1 % Nezbytná spotřeba +0,1 % Zbytná spotřeba -1,4 % Informační technologie +0 % Finanční sektor -1,2 % Nejsilnější akcie S&P Změna Nejslabší akcie S&P Změna Dell Technologies (DELL) +4,6 % Smurfit Westrock (SW) -6,9 % Bunge Global SA (BG) +3,6 % Moderna (MRNA) -5,2 % Western Digital Corp (WDC) +3,6 % Palantir Technologies (PLTR) -4,8 % Akamai Technologies (AKAM) +3,5 % ResMed (RMD) -4,5 % Super Micro Computer (SMCI) +3,3 % Builders FirstSource (BLDR) -4,3 % Zdroj: Bloomberg
Jakub Němec
Fio banka, a.s.
Prohlášení
Související odkazy Pozitivní sentiment na Wall Street Apple chce navýšit výrobu skládacích iPhonů, jedná také o čipech z Číny Asijské indexy oslabují, táhnou je dolů akcie výrobců polovodičů Asijské akcie opět klesají, za týden ztrácí 5 % Wall Street v úvodu obchodování klesá, výrazně však rostou výrobci paměťových čipů v čele s Micronem
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Over the last month, the U.S. and Iran have agreed to a ceasefire, and Brent crude oil prices have fallen to around $70 per barrel. For investors looking to add energy stocks, the recent sell-off in oil stocks presents an opportunity.
Two top players in the oil space are ExxonMobil (XOM 0.11%) and Chevron (CVX +1.11%), both of which are making investments to drive growth while effectively managing capital expenditures (capex). Here's which one stands out as a better buy for 2030 right now.
Image source: Getty Images.
The two integrated oil giants have this in common ExxonMobil and Chevron are American supermajors, operating as integrated oil and gas companies that span the entire value chain. These companies engage in upstream exploration and production, midstream logistics, and downstream refining and marketing.
They also maintain strict capital discipline, and their business models enable them to grow steadily over time despite the cyclical nature of oil and gas markets. This capital flexibility is a major reason why the companies have consistently grown their annual dividend payouts -- ExxonMobil for 43 consecutive years and Chevron for 39 consecutive years.
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Comparing ExxonMobil and Chevron ExxonMobil operates on a massive scale, especially since its 2024 acquisition of Pioneer Natural Resources for $60 billion. The move gave ExxonMobil a huge footprint in the resource-rich Permian Basin with 1.4 million net acres, where it has leveraged "cube development" to drastically reduce costs.
As a result, ExxonMobil targets a production cost of $35 per barrel in the Permian Basin this year and $30 per barrel by 2030. In addition, Permian shale is a "short-cycle" asset, meaning a well can be drilled and brought online in months, not years, allowing ExxonMobil to quickly ramp up production when oil prices are high.
Chevron is also a major player in the Permian, holding 2.2 million gross acres in the region. While it has more acreage than ExxonMobil, Chevron produces roughly 1 million barrels of oil equivalent per day (BOE/d), compared with Exxon's 1.6 million BOE/d. Chevron has intentionally capped its growth in the region, investing capital in other projects while significantly reducing capital expenditures in the Permian.
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Looking ahead to 2030 ExxonMobil and Chevron have outlined longer-term goals for their investors. Exxon production is expected to increase to 5.5 million BOE/d, driven by assets in the Permian, Guyana, and LNG, and it aims to deliver $25 billion in earnings growth and $35 billion in cash flow growth by 2030.
Chevron is focusing on accelerating cash flows and maintaining strict cost discipline. The company projects 10% annual growth in adjusted free cash flow and earnings per share by 2030, assuming an oil price of $70 per barrel. It also lowered its annual capex guidance to $18 billion to $21 billion and plans to repurchase between $10 billion and $20 billion of stock during that period.
If you're considering investing in the recent dip in oil and gas stocks, ExxonMobil and Chevron are two top stocks to buy, especially if you are looking for passive income through dividends. ExxonMobil is expanding more aggressively, while Chevron is focusing on more disciplined growth. If you're bullish on oil prices long term, ExxonMobil's growth strategy and massive footprint make it the top stock to buy right now.
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
HOUSTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Chevron Technical Center, a division of Chevron U.S.A. Inc., a subsidiary of Chevron Corporation (NYSE:CVX), and ZL Chemicals Ltd today announced a technology licensing agreement under which ZL may commercialize Chevron-developed chemical surfactant technology. ZL plans to offer products and services utilizing the licensed technology under the Vantis™ brand. Chevron has developed and applied advanced surfactant technology to improve resource recovery in unconventional.
Carnival Corporation Ltd (NYSE:CCL) stock is off by 2.3% in electronic trading as the cost of oil continues to surge following news that President Donald Trump has ended the ceasefire with Iran. Travel stocks—namely the cruise sector—are struggling, while defense stocks enjoy a boost. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude is up nearly 4% at last glance.
Should these losses hold, it will mark a sixth-straight daily fall for the cruise name, adding more weight to its already steep 9% drop in the past 12 months. The $26 level could step in as support, most recently capturing an early June pullback.
It's worth noting that short interest has fallen 16.6% during the past two reporting periods and now accounts for 3% of CCL's available float. It would take shorts less than two days to buy back their bearish bets, at the equity's average pace of daily trading.
Puts have been popular for short-term traders as of late. This is per the stock's Schaeffer's put/call open interest ratio (SOIR) of 1.45, which ranks higher than 85% of readings from the past year.
These options are affordably priced as well. Specifically, Carnival stock's Schaeffer’s Volatility Index (SVI) of 47% stands in the 27th percentile of its annual range.
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.
Here are three stocks with buy rank and strong income characteristics for investors to consider today, July 8th:
CION Investment Corporation (CION - Free Report) : This externally managed, non-diversified closed-end investment company, with an objective is to generate current income and modest capital appreciation by primarily investing in senior secured debt, first lien, second lien and unitranche loans of U.S. middle-market companies, has witnessed the Zacks Consensus Estimate for its current year earnings increasing 1.9% over the last 60 days.
This Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) company has a dividend yield of 18.8%, compared with the industry average of 11.7%.
ZTO Express Cayman (ZTO - Free Report) : This company, which is a leading player in the field of express delivery in China, has witnessed the Zacks Consensus Estimate for its current year earnings increasing 6.8% over the last 60 days.
This Zacks Rank #1 company has a dividend yield of 3.3%, compared with the industry average of 0.0%.
Karooooo (KARO - Free Report) : This company, which is a provider in the telematics industry which offers real-time mobility data analytics solutions for smart transportation, has witnessed the Zacks Consensus Estimate for its current year earnings increasing 5.8% over the last 60 days.
This Zacks Rank #1 company has a dividend yield of 2.2%, compared with the industry average of 0.0%.
See the full list of top ranked stocks here.
Find more top income stocks with some of our great premium screens
BELLEVUE, Wash.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--MLB All-Star Week returns to Philadelphia for the first time in 30 years as America celebrates its 250th, and T-Mobile (NASDAQ: TMUS) is bringing fans closer to the game they love. From the Automated Ball-Strike (ABS) Challenge System powering pitch reviews to brand-new 5G camera angles at T-Mobile Batting Practice, plus exclusive experiences for fans in the area, America's Best Network is at the heart of it all at Citizens Bank Park from July 10–14. Here's wha.
