Track market-moving stories before they get noisy

Key Takeaways Sonoco's Q2 adjusted EPS beat estimates as pricing, FX and productivity offset softer volume and mix.Productivity savings reached $10 million in Q2, bringing annualized savings to about $38 million.Sonoco reaffirmed its 2026 guidance, expecting adjusted EPS near the low end of $5.80-$6.20. Sonoco Products Company (SON - Free Report) reported adjusted earnings of $1.51 per share in the second quarter of 2026, beating the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.47 by 2.72%. The figure rose 10.2% from $1.37 in the year-ago quarter. Pricing actions, favorable foreign-exchange movements and productivity gains helped offset softer volume/mix during the quarter.

Including one-time items, the company reported earnings of $1.05 per share from continuing operations compared with 69 cents in the year-ago quarter. Including discontinued operations, second-quarter 2026 earnings were $1.05 compared with $4.96 in the year-ago quarter.

Net sales of $1.885 billion declined 1.3% year over year and missed the consensus mark of $1.886 billion by 0.05%. SON’s top line declined from the prior-year period primarily due to the absence of sales from the ThermoSafe business, which was divested in November 2025.

The profitability performance program delivered $10 million in savings during the quarter. Annualized savings reached approximately $38 million, representing 25% of the minimum target under Sonoco’s three-year goal of $150-$200 million.

Sonoco’s Gross Profit Falls in Q2The cost of sales was $1.49 billion, down 0.7% from the year-earlier quarter. Gross profit totaled $392 million, declining 3.4% year over year. The gross margin was 20.8% compared with 21.3% in the prior-year quarter.

Selling, general and administrative expenses amounted to $200 million, down 8.5% year over year.

Adjusted operating income was $242 million, down 1.8% from the prior-year quarter’s $246.9 million. The adjusted operating margin was 12.9%, broadly unchanged year over year.

Adjusted EBITDA was $324 million, down 1.2% from the year-ago quarter.

Sonoco’s Segmental PerformanceThe Consumer Packaging segment’s net sales rose 1.2% year over year to $1.24 billion. The increase reflected pricing actions to offset inflation and tariff-related costs, along with favorable foreign-currency movements, partially offset by softer volumes. The segment’s adjusted EBITDA amounted to $206.7 million, down 3.1% from the prior-year quarter.

Net sales in the Industrial Paper Packaging segment were $643.6 million, reflecting year-over-year growth of 4.2%. The increase was driven by successful pricing actions and favorable foreign exchange. Adjusted segment EBITDA totaled $122.2 million, up 2.9% year over year, as productivity and procurement savings helped offset higher raw-material, freight and other operating costs.

Sonoco’s Cash Flow & Balance Sheet UpdatesThe operating cash flow reached a second-quarter record of $301 million, up 56% year over year. The free cash flow climbed 139% to $237 million, reflecting disciplined working-capital management and a capital expenditure of $64 million.

Cash and cash equivalents were $168.6 million at the quarter-end, down from $378.4 million at the end of the prior-year quarter. Total debt and net debt stood at $4.5 billion and $4.3 billion, respectively, while available liquidity totaled $1.3 billion.

SON Reaffirms 2026 OutlookSonoco maintained its 2026 net sales guidance of $7.25-$7.75 billion and the adjusted EBITDA outlook of $1.25-$1.35 billion. The company also reiterated its operating cash flow forecast of $700-$800 million.

Adjusted earnings guidance is pegged at $5.80-$6.20 per share, with the company continuing to expect results near the low end. Pricing actions, contract resets and productivity initiatives are expected to improve margins in the second half, although inflation and macroeconomic uncertainty remain the key risks.

Sonoco’s Price PerformanceThe company’s shares have gained 21.2% in the past year against the industry’s 5.3% decline.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

SON’s Zacks RankPackaging Stocks Awaiting ResultsBall Corporation (BALL - Free Report) is scheduled to release second-quarter 2026 results on Aug. 4. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for BALL’s second-quarter 2026 earnings is pegged at 99 cents per share, suggesting year-over-year growth of 10%.

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Ball Corp’s top line is pegged at $3.67 billion, indicating growth of 9.8% from the prior-year reported figure. Ball Corp has a trailing four-quarter average surprise of 3.7%.

Silgan Holdings Inc. (SLGN - Free Report) is scheduled to release second-quarter 2026 results on July 29. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for SLGN’s second-quarter 2026 earnings is pegged at 96 cents per share, implying a year-over-year dip of 4.9%.

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Silgan Holdings’ top line is pegged at $1.62 billion, suggesting an increase of 5.1% from the prior-year reported figure. Silgan Holdings has a trailing four-quarter average surprise of 1.8%.

AptarGroup, Inc. (ATR - Free Report) is scheduled to release second-quarter 2026 results on July 30. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for AptarGroup’s second-quarter 2026 earnings is pegged at $1.34 per share, indicating a year-over-year dip of 19.3%.

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for the company’s top line is pegged at $1 billion, implying growth of 3.8% from the prior-year reported figure. ATR has a trailing four-quarter average surprise of 3.1%.

PANews July 24 news, according to official sources, the Gate stock copy trading feature has officially launched. After updating the Gate App, users can access the "Copy Trading > Stocks" entry to follow traders and replicate real stock positions in real time, covering U.S. stocks, Hong Kong stocks, Korean stocks, and all-category ETFs, encompassing 12,500 stocks and ETF targets. The product adopts a proportional copy trading and fractional share trading mechanism, allowing participation with as little as 0.01 shares; it also introduces an HWM high-water mark profit-sharing mechanism, where lead traders only receive new profit shares after the cumulative net profit of copy trading users breaks through the historical high.

In conjunction with this product debut, Gate is launching a stock copy trading launch event from July 24, 2026 14:00 to August 13, 14:00 (UTC+8), with a total prize pool of 70,000 USDT. Lead traders who apply to become stock lead traders during the event period, complete lead trades, or participate in trading volume rankings will have the chance to receive their first lead trading reward and share an exclusive trader prize pool. Copy trading users who try stock copy trading for the first time and complete the specified trading volume can enjoy loss subsidies; those who cumulatively follow different lead traders or join the copy trading sprint competition can also receive corresponding rewards.

This launch combines Gate's real stock market access capabilities with the copy trading mechanism, lowering the barrier for users to participate in multi-market stock and ETF trading; the accompanying event simultaneously incentivizes trader onboarding and optimizes user experience, driving the startup and active growth of the stock copy trading ecosystem.

Gate IPO Access Phase 2 Opens Jersey Mike’s (JMKE) Indication Subscription with Dual-Currency Support in USDT and GUSD

GigaCloud Technology Inc. (GCT - 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 company have returned +12.8% over the past month versus the Zacks S&P 500 composite's +0.6% change. The Zacks Technology Services industry, to which GigaCloud Technology Inc. belongs, has lost 3% over this period. Now the key question is: Where could the stock be headed in the near term?

Although media reports or rumors about a significant change in a company's business prospects usually cause its stock to trend and lead to an immediate price change, there are always certain fundamental factors that ultimately drive the buy-and-hold decision.

Revisions to Earnings 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, GigaCloud Technology Inc. is expected to post earnings of $0.85 per share, indicating a change of -6.6% 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 $4.18 points to a change of +16.4% from the prior year. Over the last 30 days, this estimate has remained unchanged.

For the next fiscal year, the consensus earnings estimate of $4.83 indicates a change of +15.6% from what GigaCloud Technology Inc. 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 GigaCloud Technology Inc..

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 GigaCloud Technology Inc., the consensus sales estimate of $383.7 million for the current quarter points to a year-over-year change of +18.9%. The $1.53 billion and $1.65 billion estimates for the current and next fiscal years indicate changes of +19% and +7.5%, respectively.

Last Reported Results and Surprise HistoryGigaCloud Technology Inc. reported revenues of $359.49 million in the last reported quarter, representing a year-over-year change of +32.2%. EPS of $1.04 for the same period compares with $0.68 a year ago.

Compared to the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $344.9 million, the reported revenues represent a surprise of +4.23%. The EPS surprise was +19.54%.

The company beat consensus EPS estimates in each of the trailing four quarters. 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.

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.

GigaCloud Technology Inc. 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 GigaCloud Technology Inc.. However, its Zacks Rank #3 does suggest that it may perform in line with the broader market in the near term.

Mubadala Capital has launched tokenized access to an evergreen private market strategy through UAE-based infrastructure provider KAIO. 

Summary

Mubadala Capital’s tokenized private markets strategy attracted about $75 million across Solana, Base and Sui. Coinbase will add undisclosed fund exposure to its balance sheet, moving beyond infrastructure support alone. KAIO limits access to qualified investors while handling regulated issuance, administration and multichain fund distribution. The offering is available on Base, Solana and Sui and has attracted about $75 million from traditional and digital-asset investors.

Coinbase will take an undisclosed position in the product and place the exposure on its balance sheet. The exchange is acting as an investor rather than only a network or service provider. Access remains limited to qualified institutional and accredited investors.

Mubadala private markets strategy moves onchain The product is tied to the Mubadala Capital Alternative Solutions Fund, an evergreen strategy with exposure to private equity, direct investments and credit. KAIO handles the tokenized structure, investor access and onchain administration across the three networks.

Mubadala Capital is the alternative asset management subsidiary of Abu Dhabi’s Mubadala Investment Company. Its official website says the platform manages, advises and administers more than $600 billion through its businesses and partnerships. Its alternative investment operations report about $60 billion in assets under management.

The launch follows an official partnership announced in December 2025. Mubadala Capital and KAIO said they would explore regulated digital access to private market investments for eligible investors. They said the structure would retain governance, regulatory controls and investment oversight.

Max Franzetti, head of Mubadala Capital Solutions, said, “Bringing it onchain extends that access to a new class of qualified investors.” The companies did not disclose minimum investments, fees, redemption terms or the number of participating investors.

Coinbase adds the fund to its balance sheet Coinbase’s role goes beyond providing Base as one settlement network. The company said it would add exposure to the tokenized offering to its balance sheet. It did not disclose the value, timing or accounting treatment.

Brett Tejpaul, head of Coinbase Institutional, linked the purchase to growing use of regulated tokenized assets. The transaction gives Coinbase economic exposure to a sovereign-backed private markets product while it continues building services for onchain funds.

Coinbase Asset Management launched the CUSHY tokenized credit strategy in April. That product targets public digital credit, private asset-backed lending and tokenization-related returns across Ethereum, Solana and Base. The Mubadala position adds a separate private markets asset to Coinbase’s holdings.

Coinbase’s involvement does not make the product available to retail users. The fund keeps the eligibility requirements attached to private investments. Transfers must follow KAIO’s compliance controls and rules set by the fund and its regulated providers.

KAIO distributes the product across three networks KAIO provides infrastructure for regulated issuance and management of tokenized funds. Its platform documentation says the system supports compliance and lifecycle management while allowing tokenized assets to move across public networks. Deployment on Base, Solana and Sui gives approved investors several network options.

Tokenization can shorten administrative steps and provide faster ownership updates. It may also allow approved fund interests to interact with digital custody, collateral and settlement systems. However, a blockchain token does not remove lockups, valuation limits or transfer rules tied to private assets.

KAIO previously supported onchain products linked to BlackRock, Brevan Howard, Hamilton Lane and Nomura’s Laser Digital. As previously reported, Tether led an $8 million KAIO funding round in April, bringing total funding to $19 million.

The firm later launched its KAIO governance token and foundation. Crypto.news reported that KAIO had about $100 million in tokenized fund value then. The Mubadala launch adds a sovereign-backed manager and about $75 million in announced commitments.

Solana tokenization activity continues to grow Solana promoted the launch as the arrival of Mubadala Capital’s Alternative Solutions Fund on its network. Base and Sui also host the structure, so it is not exclusive to Solana. KAIO has not published how the $75 million is divided across the chains.

Institutional fund launches on Solana have increased during 2026.State Street and Galaxy launched the SWEEP tokenized cash management fund on Solana in May. Securitize later brought an AAA-rated collateralized loan obligation fund to the network, with Ethena planning a $250 million allocation.

The Mubadala product differs from tokenized Treasury and cash funds because it gives eligible investors exposure to an evergreen private markets strategy. Private assets usually have longer holding periods and less frequent pricing than cash-equivalent products.

The companies have not announced retail access or open secondary trading. They also have not said whether the tokens can serve as collateral in outside applications. The launch provides regulated, multichain access to qualified investors while Coinbase tests the product as a corporate balance-sheet asset at this early stage.

FPF Defense, led by former Acting Secretary of Defense Christopher C. Miller, is developing AI-enabled kinetic interceptors engineered to close the cost-asymmetry gap against mass-produced one-way attack drones

WEST PALM BEACH, FL / ACCESS Newswire / July 24, 2026 / RSE Ventures and Ondas Inc. (NASDAQ:ONDS) today announced a co-led strategic investment into FPF Defense, a defense technology company developing SmartFlak: an integrated counter-UAS system anchored by the Hammerhead low-cost, autonomous interceptor, purpose-built to destroy Shahed-class one-way attack drones at scale.

Recent conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East have left our military faced with new battlefield realities. A Shahed or Geran-class attack drone costs an adversary roughly $50,000 to build while the legacy missile interceptors fired to stop it can cost millions of dollars apiece. That asymmetry is the central problem of modern air defense: an enemy who can mass-produce cheap drones drains a defender's stockpiles and budget faster than any Western industrial base can refill them.

Legacy air defenses were designed for exquisite threats and left a vulnerable gap in the medium-range where cheap, mass-launched drones are having an outsized impact on the battlefield. FPF's SmartFlak system is purpose-built to close it: autonomous launch, sophisticated onboard autonomy, and a kinetic interceptor engineered for U.S. mass production, with a cost per shot in the low tens of thousands of dollars. FPF Defense was built by operators who have lived this problem firsthand.

FPF Defense is led by The Honorable Christopher C. Miller, who spent 27 years as a U.S. Army Green Beret - helping lead the first Special Forces teams into Afghanistan after 9/11 and later commanding a battalion from 5th Special Forces Group in Iraq - before serving as Director of the National Counterterrorism Center and Acting Secretary of Defense.

"The cheapest weapons on the battlefield are getting past the most sophisticated defenses we field. I spent 27 years in uniform and served as Acting Secretary of Defense with one job above all others: protect this country and the people who defend it. FPF is how I keep doing that job - making sure no American is ever lost to a threat we had the power to stop," said Christopher C. Miller, CEO of FPF Defense and former Acting Secretary of Defense.

Miller's command-and-policy pedigree is matched by a deep technical and operational bench. Dr. Jeff Maas, a former DARPA program manager, serves as Chief Technology Officer, while Grant Fox, who brings experience from the U.S. Navy and the Defense Innovation Unit (DIU), serves as Chief Operating Officer. Lieutenant Colonel (Ret.) Christian Sessoms, the fourth founder of FPF Defense, is the Chief Revenue Officer. Sessoms was a career Army Special Forces officer, with extensive post-Army business development success in the defense and technology sectors. The company is advised by General (Ret.) Austin Scott Miller, former Commander of Joint Special Operations Command and the final Commander of U.S. Forces in Afghanistan, as well as Lieutenant General (Ret.) Robert "Whaler" Walsh, a career Marine aviator who helped lead the Marine Corps' force-transformation efforts as Commanding General of Marine Corps Combat Development Command, Commander of U.S. Marine Corps Forces Strategic Command, and Deputy Commandant for Combat Development and Integration. Across the organization, the broader team draws on experience from DARPA, DIU, the U.S. military, and the special operations community.

"Ondas is focused on solving the most critical challenges in autonomous and counter-drone warfare, and we uphold the highest standards for the teams we partner with," said Eric Brock, CEO of Ondas. "FPF cleared that bar immediately with a proven team, a disruptive cost advantage, and a mission-critical capability that the nation requires at scale."

As part of the investment, FPF is relocating its headquarters to West Palm Beach, joining Ondas, which has already established its headquarters there as the first of several defense-technology companies expected to anchor the growing ecosystem in South Florida.

FPF Defense becomes another investment in RSE's defense and industrialization portfolio alongside Performance Drone Works (PDW), the veteran-led combat robotics manufacturer co-founded by Matt Higgins, specializing in Group 1-3 unmanned aerial systems (UAS). Higgins has been deeply involved in national defense since serving as Chief Operating Officer of Lower Manhattan Development Corporation, the organization tasked with rebuilding the World Trade Center site.

"I was on the ground on 9/11, so I've experienced firsthand what it means for our nation to be caught off guard. Once again, we find our skies vulnerable to attack, only now the threat is cheap weaponized drones. We cannot defend our homeland from our back foot, nor can we win if defending against a threat costs ten times more than launching it," said Matt Higgins, CEO & Co-founder, RSE Ventures. "FPF solves this cost asymmetry head-on. Their SmartFlak system and Hammerhead interceptor deliver the scalable, high-volume shield needed to dominate the critical 9-to-20 kilometer gap. We are proud to back FPF as they build that multi-layered defense-right here in West Palm."

The deal was led by Nick Perkins, Senior Vice President of Defense & Industrialization at RSE Ventures.

FPF Defense will deploy the investment to:

Accelerate development and production of the Hammerhead interceptor and SmartFlak integrated launch system

Establish U.S.-based manufacturing with an NDAA-compliant domestic supply chain

Expand engineering headcount across autonomy, systems integration, and propulsion

Build out West Palm Beach headquarters and operational infrastructure

About FPF Defense

FPF Defense develops low-cost, high-volume counter-drone interceptors for U.S. and allied defense. Its flagship SmartFlak system - anchored by the Hammerhead kinetic interceptor - is designed to address the cost asymmetry problem in CUAS defense, targeting the 9-to-20-kilometer engagement gap. Headquartered in West Palm Beach, FL.

About RSE Ventures

Headquartered in West Palm Beach, FL, RSE Ventures is a private investment and innovation firm founded by Stephen Ross and Matt Higgins. RSE builds and invests in category-defining companies across industrialization and defense, sports, media, and consumer. www.rseventures.com

About Ondas Inc.

Ondas Inc. (NASDAQ:ONDS) is a leading global provider of autonomous aerial and ground defense and security and intelligence platforms serving defense, homeland security, public safety and critical infrastructure markets. Headquartered in West Palm Beach, FL. www.ondas.com

Contacts

IR Contact for Ondas Inc.
888-657-2377
[email protected]

Media Contact for Ondas Inc.
Escalate PR
[email protected]

Preston Grimes
Marketing Manager, Ondas Inc.
[email protected]

SOURCE: Ondas Inc.

Flagstar Bank, National Association NYSE: FLG reported its third consecutive quarter of profitability in the second quarter of 2026, as commercial-and-industrial loan growth, deposit growth and lower operating expenses helped offset continued runoff in commercial real estate and multifamily lending.

The bank reported GAAP net income attributable to common stockholders of $0.06 per diluted share, while adjusted earnings were $0.05 per diluted share. That compared with an adjusted loss of $0.14 per share in the second quarter of 2025, according to Executive Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Joseph Otting.

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Flagstar also announced a $250 million share-repurchase program. Chief Financial Officer Lee Smith said the bank ended the quarter with a common equity tier 1 capital ratio of 13.16%, which he described as among the strongest levels in the regional-bank peer group. The company said it had about $1.6 billion of excess capital after tax relative to the low end of its target CET1 operating range.

C&I Lending Drives Balance-Sheet Growth Total balance-sheet growth resumed during the quarter, rising by roughly $600 million from the prior quarter, the first overall balance-sheet growth since 2023. Smith said the balance sheet would have increased by more than $800 million had the company not paid down $250 million of Federal Home Loan Bank advances.

Commercial-and-industrial loans increased by $2 billion, or 12% quarter over quarter, to $18.6 billion. The company generated $4.2 billion in new and increased credit commitments, leading to a record $2.8 billion in C&I loan originations.

Rich Raffetto, co-president, co-chief operating officer and chief banking officer, said Flagstar added 75 new-to-bank C&I relationships and hired 32 producers and credit underwriters during the quarter. The company’s C&I pipeline entering the third quarter stood at more than $2 billion in commitments.

Specialized Industries Banking and Corporate and Regional Commercial Banking together produced $2.1 billion of end-of-period loan growth. Raffetto cited activity in energy, financial institutions, healthcare, technology, sports and entertainment, large corporate diversified banking, and regional commercial banking in New York and Southern California.

The bank also expanded its commercial platform through new team leadership in Dallas, Detroit, Cleveland and Phoenix, launched a Texas regional commercial banking initiative, and added specialized-industry verticals in food and beverage, leisure, hospitality and gaming, and education and nonprofits.

Deposits Grow as Funding Costs Decline Core deposits excluding brokered deposits rose $700 million in the second quarter and were up about $1.8 billion in the first half of 2026. Commercial and private-bank deposits increased approximately $900 million, partly offset by a $290 million decline in retail deposits.

Despite the growth in interest-bearing deposits, Flagstar reduced the cost of interest-bearing deposits by five basis points from the prior quarter and by 65 basis points from a year earlier. Smith said the bank retained roughly 85% of $4.8 billion in retail certificates of deposit that matured during the quarter, with retained balances moving into CD products priced about 15 to 25 basis points below the maturing CDs.

Another $4.4 billion of retail CDs with a weighted-average cost of 3.87% are scheduled to mature in the third quarter. Smith said Flagstar’s all-in spot cost of deposits, including noninterest-bearing and brokered deposits, was approximately 2.49% at quarter-end.

Net interest margin was 2.13% in the second quarter, versus 2.15% in the first quarter. Excluding the effect of an additional day in the quarter, management said NIM would have been 2.16%. June NIM was 2.19%, which Smith said he viewed as a floor as the bank expands its balance sheet, adds market-rate C&I loans and continues reducing lower-yielding multifamily exposure.

CRE Reduction and Credit Trends Flagstar continued to reduce commercial real estate exposure, with multifamily and CRE balances declining $1.5 billion during the quarter. CRE balances are down $14.9 billion, or 28%, since 2023, while the CRE concentration ratio declined to 350% from 367% in the prior quarter and more than 500% when current management joined the company.

CRE par payoffs totaled $1.1 billion, with 39% involving substandard-rated loans. Total multifamily and CRE payoffs reached $1.5 billion. Management said these payoffs accelerate the bank’s diversification strategy but also reduce near-term interest income and margin.

The allowance for credit losses declined by $81 million, primarily because of lower CRE and multifamily balances, charge-offs and lower qualitative adjustments as more appraisals became available. Criticized and classified loans fell $152 million, or 1%, from the prior quarter and were down $1.1 billion, or 9%, year over year. Substandard loans declined $375 million during the quarter.

Nonaccrual loans rose 5% sequentially to $2.8 billion, partly reflecting the company’s review of loans with reset or maturity dates within 18 months. Smith said approximately 40% of nonaccrual loans were current and paying, and Flagstar expects nonaccrual balances to decline to about $2.3 billion by year-end.

Net charge-offs were approximately $100 million, though management said $47 million of that amount had previously been fully reserved. The company expects new C&I production to carry reserve coverage of about 1%, while runoff in CRE and multifamily includes loans with higher risk and coverage levels.

Updated Outlook Flagstar reduced its interest-income outlook for 2026 and 2027, citing faster-than-expected CRE and multifamily payoffs, a greater mix of interest-bearing deposits, somewhat higher anticipated nonaccrual balances and weaker mortgage gain-on-sale revenue in a higher-for-longer rate environment.

2026 earnings per share are forecast at $0.40 to $0.50. 2027 earnings per share are forecast at $1.60 to $1.70. Management expects total assets to end 2026 at roughly $91.5 billion to $92 billion and reach about $100 billion by the end of 2027. Otting said future capital-return decisions would depend on core earnings growth, credit trends and the balance between CRE payoffs and capital needed to support C&I expansion. Smith said the updated earnings guidance does not include the effect of the newly authorized share repurchase program.

About Flagstar Bank, National Association (NYSE:FLG)Flagstar Financial Corporation NYSE: FLG is a bank holding company whose principal subsidiary, Flagstar Bank, provides a range of financial services across the United States. Headquartered in Troy, Michigan, Flagstar combines commercial banking, mortgage lending and servicing, and deposit products to serve individuals, businesses and public entities. As a publicly traded company, Flagstar leverages its banking charter and national mortgage platform to deliver tailored financial solutions through both digital and branch channels.

The company's mortgage business is one of the largest residential originators and servicers in the nation, offering retail, wholesale and correspondent lending channels.

This instant news alert was generated by narrative science technology and financial data from MarketBeat in order to provide readers with the fastest reporting and unbiased coverage. Please send any questions or comments about this story to [email protected].

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The AI infrastructure trade has broadened well beyond hyperscalers and GPU designers. Institutional money is moving into the layer beneath: box builders, interconnect chips and precision sensors. Three names stand out heading into July, each with fresh Q1 2026 numbers that argue the setup is stronger than current prices reflect.

Celestica (CLS): The Hyperscaler Supply Chain Sleeper Celestica (NYSE:CLS | CLS Price Prediction) has become the quiet backbone of hyperscaler networking. Q1 revenue hit $4.05 billion, up 52.8% year over year, with adjusted EPS of $2.16 versus the $2.08 consensus. That marks the fourth consecutive EPS beat.

The Connectivity & Cloud Solutions segment carried the quarter with $3.24 billion in revenue, up 76% year over year, while Hardware Platform Solutions grew 63%. Adjusted operating margin expanded to 8.0%, a new company milestone. Management raised 2026 outlook to $19.0 billion in revenue and $10.15 in adjusted EPS, meaningful step-ups from prior $17.0 billion and $8.75 targets.

CEO Rob Mionis was direct on trend durability: “We continue to see accelerating growth from our CCS customer base… Our outlook for 2027 also continues to strengthen from just 90 days ago.” A new Co-packaged Optics Ethernet switch program with a hyperscaler is set to ramp in 2027.

On July 22, shares traded around $335.92, up 11.08% year to date and more than 114% over the past year. Analyst consensus target sits at $444.11, with 20 of 21 covering analysts rated Buy or Strong Buy. At 33x forward earnings, the multiple is defensible against a raised guide.

The risk: Customer concentration is elevated, with three customers representing 36%, 15%, and 12% of Q4 revenue. A CapEx ramp to approximately $1 billion in 2026 introduces execution risk if hyperscaler orders slip.

Vishay Precision Group (VPG): The Overlooked Sensor Play At a market cap near $1.64 billion, Vishay Precision Group (NYSE:VPG) is the classic under-the-radar name here. Only two analysts cover it, both rated Buy, with a target of $94.67.

Q1 fiscal 2026 reset expectations. Revenue reached $84.35 million, beating consensus of $77.08 million by 9.43%, up 17.6% year over year. Adjusted non-GAAP diluted EPS came in at 7 cents versus a 0-cent consensus. Bookings matter more: $102.08 million, up 25.5% sequentially, the third-highest quarterly level in company history, with a consolidated book-to-bill of 1.21 and Sensors book-to-bill of 1.36.

The AI angle is real. Sensors bookings jumped 29.0% sequentially on demand from semiconductor equipment, data centers, avionics, and military/space. Humanoid robotics orders reached $1.0 million in Q1, and full-year 2025 growth initiative bookings landed at $37.8 million versus a $30 million target. CEO Ziv Shoshani noted “all three segments reported book-to-bill ratios well in excess of 1.0.”

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Shares traded around $110.62 on July 22, up nearly 182% year to date and around 297% over the past year. That gain explains why the descriptor here is “overlooked” rather than “cheap.”

The risk: Valuation is stretched. Forward P/E sits at 135x, well above small-cap sensor peers. Q1 operating cash flow turned negative at -$596,000, and analysts flagged unusual items in reported profits. Israel-based operations add geopolitical exposure.

Astera Labs (ALAB): AI Connectivity With Room to Run Astera Labs (NASDAQ:ALAB) is the most heavily covered name here. This pick reflects an under-appreciated growth runway relative to current 2026 estimates.

Q1 fiscal 2026 revenue hit a record $308.36 million, up 93.4% year over year and 14% sequentially. Non-GAAP diluted EPS came in at $0.61 versus $0.54 consensus, a 13.47% beat, extending the streak to four consecutive EPS beats. GAAP gross margin expanded to 76.3%. Full-year 2025 revenue landed at $852.5 million, up 115% year over year.

CEO Jitendra Mohan tied acceleration to product mix: “Revenue growing by 14% sequentially and 93% year-over-year to a record level of $308.4 million, driven by robust demand for our PCIe 6 portfolio.” The newly launched Scorpio X-Series 320-lane Smart Fabric Switch targets a $20 billion merchant scale-up market by 2030. Q2 2026 guidance calls for $355 million to $365 million in revenue and $0.68 to $0.70 in non-GAAP EPS.

Shares traded around $327.32 on July 22, up more than 82% year to date and nearly 180% over the past year. Analysts responded to Q4 results by raising 2026 revenue forecasts roughly 13% to approximately $1.3 billion.

The risk: Valuation is the entire debate. Trailing P/E is 296x and forward P/E is 147x. Q2 gross margin is guided to compress to roughly 73% from 76.3% as new switch products ramp, and stock-based compensation runs at $48.9 million per quarter. A beta of 3.671 means volatility works both ways.

What to Watch Next Each reports Q2 results in coming weeks. The throughline is the same: hyperscaler CapEx is still expanding, and money is flowing into the infrastructure layer beneath the GPU. Celestica offers scale and cash flow, Vishay Precision Group offers small-cap torque on humanoid robotics and sensor demand, and Astera Labs offers pure-play exposure to PCIe 6 and scale-up fabric switching. Position sizing should reflect where each sits on the risk curve.

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Key Takeaways Groves moved from groundbreaking to startup approval in just over 10 months.OKLO built the facility, qualified staff, procured fuel and completed DOE readiness reviews.Groves may provide a model for future commercial isotope facilities and reduce execution risk. Oklo Inc. (OKLO - Free Report) has secured startup authorization from the U.S. Department of Energy ("DOE") for its Groves Isotope Test Reactor under the Reactor Pilot Program. The approval completes the DOE authorization process and permits fuel loading, startup testing and progress toward first criticality, when a reactor first sustains a controlled nuclear chain reaction. The decision followed a detailed readiness review confirming that the facility, operating procedures, trained personnel and safety-management systems were prepared to support reactor startup and operations.

Groves is a low-power test reactor intended to demonstrate construction, commissioning and operating capabilities while advancing OKLO’s plans for domestic isotope production. Such isotopes could eventually support cancer care, manufacturing, scientific research, space exploration and national security. The nuclear technology company moved from groundbreaking to startup authorization in just over 10 months. During that period, it built the facility, established an operating organization, qualified personnel, implemented nuclear and safety programs, procured fuel and major equipment, and completed the DOE review process.

The project also creates a potential template for future commercial isotope facilities. Groves was privately financed, built on private land and assembled using commercially sourced systems alongside components manufactured by OKLO. This approach gives the company practical experience in engineering, construction, commissioning, operations and regulatory authorization.

Management believes the systems, supplier relationships and operating programs developed through Groves can be applied to future projects, potentially lowering execution risk and improving deployment timelines. The DOE’s pilot framework also allowed construction and organizational-readiness work to advance alongside regulatory reviews while maintaining strict safety oversight.

OKLO’s Groves authorization also highlights the broader momentum building across the advanced nuclear sector, as developers move from design and testing toward licensing, deployment and commercial operations. Several publicly traded companies are pursuing distinct reactor technologies and target markets within this emerging industry.

Other Companies Advancing Nuclear Technology

NuScale Power (SMR - Free Report) is among the leading developers of small modular reactor technology and is the first company to receive U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission approval for a design. NuScale Power is working with partners on projects in the United States and overseas, including Romania, while advancing plans to support large-scale power deployment. NuScale Power believes its modular reactors can deliver reliable, carbon-free electricity for utilities, industries and AI-driven data centers, keeping NuScale Power at the forefront of the commercial small modular reactor market.

Meanwhile, NANO Nuclear Energy (NNE - Free Report) is focused on smaller microreactors through its KRONOS MMR design. The company is preparing to begin the NRC licensing process for its first deployment at the University of Illinois after its construction permit application is formally accepted. At the same time, NANO Nuclear is pursuing opportunities in AI data centers, industrial facilities and defense applications while expanding partnerships that could support future commercialization.

The Zacks Rundown on OKLO

Shares of Oklo have lost some 42% over the past year, underperforming the industry's growth.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

OKLO currently has an average brokerage recommendation (ABR) of 2.04 on a scale of 1 to 5 (Strong Buy to Strong Sell), calculated based on the actual recommendations (Buy, Hold, Sell, etc.) made by 25 brokerage firms. 

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

See how the Zacks Consensus Estimate for OKLO’s earnings has been revised over the past 90 days.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

The company currently carries a Zacks Rank #4 (Sell).

You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.

Apple stock is trading near recent highs. Where are AAPL shares going? Earnings Preview & HistoryApple is scheduled to report third-quarter earnings on July 30. Analysts estimate EPS of $1.89 along with revenue of $108.86 billion. For the prior quarter, Apple reported EPS of $2.01, beating the consensus estimate of $1.94. The company also posted revenue of $111.18 billion, exceeding the consensus estimate of $109.68 billion.

Apple has beaten EPS estimates in eight consecutive quarters. Over the last four quarters, the company has averaged an EPS surprise of 0.07% and a revenue surprise of 0.03%.

What To WatchInvestors will be watching iPhone revenue and pricing trends closely, particularly whether Apple is leaning into a higher-end mix ahead of a potential foldable launch, since traders want to see pricing power holding up rather than being propped up by promotions. Services revenue growth and gross margin direction are also key to track, as a premium valuation typically requires Services to keep cushioning any hardware volatility.

Commentary on Greater China and broader international demand should draw attention too, since regional softness can quickly overshadow an otherwise solid quarter at this valuation.

Apple Trades 17% Above Its 200-Day AverageApple is still in a clear longer-term uptrend, with the stock trading 3.6% above its 20-day SMA ($311.49) and 17.1% above its 200-day SMA ($275.60), which typically signals buyers remain in control on pullbacks. The 20-day SMA is also above the 50-day SMA, and the 50-day SMA remains above the 200-day SMA—keeping the trend structure bullish.

Momentum is best read through MACD right now: MACD is above its signal line and the histogram is positive, which points to improving upside momentum versus the prior downswing. In plain terms, when MACD is above its signal line, it suggests selling pressure is fading and the trend is trying to re-assert higher.

From a levels perspective, the stock is hovering below the 52-week high at $334.99, so that zone is the next obvious area where sellers may show up if the rally continues. On the downside, traders will likely focus on whether pullbacks stay orderly above the late-spring/early-summer pivot area.

Key Support: $287.50 — a nearby level where buyers previously stepped in, sitting close to the stock’s intermediate trend zone between the 100-day and 200-day averages. Analyst Consensus & Recent Actions The stock carries a Buy rating with an average price forecast of $325.36. Recent analyst moves include:

Morgan Stanley: Overweight (Raises Target to $364.00) (July 23) HSBC: Upgraded to Buy (Raises Target to $366.00) (July 17) Keybanc: Downgraded to Underweight (Target $250.00) (July 14) Benzinga Edge RankingsBelow is the Benzinga Edge scorecard for Apple, highlighting its strengths and weaknesses compared to the broader market:

The Verdict: Apple’s Benzinga Edge signal reveals a momentum-and-quality-driven setup, where trend followers tend to stay involved as long as the stock holds key moving averages. The trade-off is valuation: with a weak Value score, the stock can be less forgiving around earnings if results or guidance don’t clearly support the premium multiple.

Apple Shares Edge HigherAAPL Price Action: At the time of publication, Apple shares are trading 0.22% higher at $322.36, according to data from Benzinga Pro.

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HomeEarnings AnalysisTech 

SummaryApple Inc. earns a Strong Buy rating, driven by its integrated AI strategy focused on devices, OS, and services rather than standalone chatbots.AAPL's AI integration leverages its 2.5B device base, proprietary silicon, and privacy-first approach, aiming to drive hardware upgrades and services growth.Q3 guidance calls for 14–17% revenue growth and continued double-digit Services expansion, though gross margin is expected to dip to 47.5–48.5%.Execution risks include delayed AI rollouts in the EU and China, but rising R&D and platform flexibility position AAPL for a potential new growth cycle. Getty Images

Apple Inc. (AAPL) entered the generative AI race later than many competitors- no one’s disputing that. But I don’t think it matters. Instead of competing for chatbot market share, Apple is embedding AI across its devices, operating systems, applications, and services, making intelligence part

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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.

Facebook is rolling out updates today in a bid to increase engagement and make the platform more organized for its users. In the offing are new apps for sellers on Marketplace; a verification system to prove you are human on services like Dating, Marketplace, and Groups; and a new immersive design for video.

Facebook Marketplace sees more than 430 million monthly listings, and with more than 1.1 billion active users, it is a big reason younger folks still use the platform.

To keep this momentum going, Facebook is launching a separate app for people who list and sell items on the platform frequently. Dubbed “Seller,” the app lets sellers manage their listings, message buyers, and track the performance of items.

Image Credits:Facebook Facebook is also rolling out a free verification system called Facebook Verified — not to be confused with Meta Verified, which lets you subscribe for a verification mark and other features.

The new system lets people take a selfie to verify their authenticity as a real user, and then the verification mark will show up on their profile across Facebook Dating, Marketplace, and Groups. The verified mark looks like a check mark within a white circle, unlike the blue badge you can get by paying for Meta Verified.

Image Credits:Meta The company said it is also testing an optional, immersive, full-screen video view for the Facebook app that pops up as soon as you open it. This update will initially be rolled out to “video-heavy” international markets, and make its way to the U.S. next year.

Facebook said users can turn off this UI to go back to the feed-based interface. The company has tested a similar update with Instagram in several markets.

New app releases are turning into a routine course of action for Meta, which has ramped up its app development to engage different sets of users. In May, it debuted a Reddit-like app for Facebook Groups called Forum, and this month it released a vibe-coding app called Pocket.

The company said it plans to add AI to the app to help users automate tasks such as writing descriptions of items they want to put up for sale, or search through groups to answer questions.

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Ivan covers global consumer tech developments at TechCrunch. He is based out of India and has previously worked at publications including Huffington Post and The Next Web.

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The stock plunged 14.52% to close at $319.69—the largest one-day loss in Tesla’s history. Trading volume surged to 115.61 million shares, more than double its three-month daily average of 49.4 million shares.

Earnings Miss Was Only the BeginningTesla’s second-quarter results gave investors multiple reasons to hit the sell button.

While revenue topped Wall Street estimates, adjusted earnings of 33 cents per share fell well short of expectations as automotive margins deteriorated. Gross margin slipped below analyst forecasts, highlighting continued pressure on Tesla’s core vehicle business even as deliveries improved.

But the bigger surprise came below the income statement.

Tesla reported negative free cash flow for the first time in more than two years after capital expenditures more than doubled to roughly $5.8 billion. Management also said capital spending will exceed $25 billion in 2026 and continue climbing as the company ramps investments in robotaxis, Optimus humanoid robots, AI infrastructure and next-generation manufacturing.

Wall Street Wanted More Than AI PromisesTesla has long argued that its future valuation depends less on selling cars and more on becoming an AI and robotics company.

The earnings call reinforced that strategy, but investors appeared unconvinced that the payoff is close enough to justify the growing bill. Analysts noted that while spending plans became clearer, updates on commercialization timelines for Robotaxi, Optimus and other AI initiatives offered few new catalysts to offset concerns about mounting cash burn.

The market’s reaction suggests investors are beginning to ask a tougher question: if Tesla is entering one of the heaviest investment cycles in its history, how long will shareholders have to wait before those billions translate into higher earnings?

Thursday’s answer was painful. In a single trading session, Tesla lost more market value than Toyota is worth. And with JPMorgan and UBS joining the growing list of firms trimming their expectations, Wall Street is signaling that Tesla’s AI future may take longer—and cost more—than investors had anticipated.

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Tesla Inc. (NASDAQ:TSLA) is in the spotlight Friday after a busy July that included record delivery figures, a closely watched earnings report and a sharp post-earnings selloff.

Tesla stock is showing downward pressure. Where is TSLA stock headed? Tesla Q2 Delivers 25% YoY SurgeTesla pre-released its second-quarter production and delivery figures on July 2, reporting 451,758 vehicles produced and 480,126 delivered — up 25% year-over-year and well above the roughly 406,000 Wall Street had expected. Model 3/Y deliveries totaled 467,762, with other models contributing an additional 12,364. The company also deployed 13.5 GWh of energy storage products during the quarter.

Tesla Tops $100B TTM Revenue, Stock SinksShares fell sharply following the report, extending to a 14.5% single-day decline on July 23 — Tesla’s largest single-day drop in over a year, erasing roughly $214.5 billion in market value. The selloff followed the worse-than-expected adjusted EPS result, along with company commentary on high capital expenditure growth, supply-chain bottlenecks and difficulties scaling up Optimus robot production.

The AI and Robotics PivotAnalyst Consensus & Recent ActionsThe stock carries a Buy rating with an average price forecast of $413.49. Recent analyst moves include:

UBS: Neutral (Lowers Target to $385.00) (July 23) JP Morgan: Neutral (Lowers Target to $445.00) (July 23) Morgan Stanley: Equal-Weight (Lowers Target to $400.00) (July 23) Tesla Shares Edge HigherTSLA Price Action: At the time of publication, Tesla shares are trading 0.43% higher at $321.05, according to data from Benzinga Pro.

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AI is supposed to help businesses accelerate. But Google search just grew slower than the quarter before. And -- judging by the headlines about the earnings report -- almost nobody noticed.

Alphabet's (GOOG +0.65%)(GOOGL +0.94%) second-quarter report this week buried the figure under two louder storylines -- a $99 billion paper gain on its equity stakes, and another increase in capital spending plans, to a range topping out at $205 billion this year. The market reacted to the spending, sending shares down about 7% on Thursday.

But I'd argue the Search number deserves more attention than either. Google Search & other revenue, the biggest single line in Alphabet's business, grew 17% year over year to $63.3 billion. In the first quarter, it grew 19%.

And with investors increasingly asking how much of Google's core franchise AI (artificial intelligence) chatbots could eventually take, a Search slowdown is the number the bears have been waiting for. So it's worth being precise about what happened.

Image source: Getty Images.

The end of a four-quarter streak Search had been on a remarkable run of acceleration. Its year-over-year growth rate went from 10% in the first quarter of 2025 to 12% in the second quarter, 15% in the third, 17% in the fourth, and 19% in the first quarter of 2026. That's four consecutive quarters of speeding up. The second quarter's 17% snapped the streak.

To be clear, 17% is still a spectacular rate for a business generating more than $63 billion a quarter. Search's growth last quarter matched the fastest rate it posted in any quarter of 2025. This is a slowdown only in the sense that a very good number followed an even better one.

And the comparison math matters here. A year ago, Search was lapping 10% growth -- its softest quarter in the sequence. Last quarter, it was lapping 12%. Stack the two years together (17% on top of last year's 12%, versus 19% on top of 10%), and growth over the two-year period comes out to about 31% in both the first and second quarters of 2026. On that basis, Search didn't slow at all. The deceleration looks more like a tougher comparison than a change in demand.

Management's evidence points the same way.

"Our popular AI features are driving Search query growth," CEO Sundar Pichai said in Alphabet's second-quarter earnings release, adding that the Gemini app now has 950 million monthly active users. That's the opposite of what share loss to AI assistants should look like, at least so far.

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The context around the number The rest of the report makes the Search figure easier to carry. Alphabet's total revenue rose 24% year over year to $119.8 billion, the company's 12th consecutive quarter of double-digit growth. The company's cloud computing segment, Google Cloud, saw revenue accelerate to 82% growth, reaching $24.8 billion, and the segment's operating margin expanded to 35.6% from 20.7% a year earlier. YouTube ads grew 13% to $11.1 billion, and subscriptions grew 15%.

This is not a company leaning on one growth engine.

Of course, the bear case doesn't need this quarter to prove anything. The argument is about the next several years. If consumers gradually shift their questions from a search bar to AI assistants, the erosion could show up slowly, then all at once.

One decelerating quarter with a flat two-year trend isn't evidence that's happening. But the metric now has investors' attention, and the third quarter will lap a 15% comparison -- harder than last quarter's 12%. If the two-year math starts shrinking from 31%, that would be the earlier warning worth acting on.

I think the takeaway is this: the capital spending debate knocked the stock down, but the Search number is the one that decides if Alphabet's franchise is intact. This quarter, it held up better than the headline rate suggests. I'd keep owning the stock. Just watch the two-year math from here, because that's the version of this number that will be worth watching to see whether the AI worries turn out to be right.

HomeStock IdeasIPO Analysis

SummaryIn this episode, Mike Larson sits down with Eva Ados, COO and chief investment strategist at ERShares, and Mark Mahaney, director of internet research at Evercore ISI.The conversation begins with Eva explaining why companies are staying private longer - and how that shift means a growing share of their value creation can occur before an IPO.Mark then explains why highly anticipated IPOs often trade below their offering prices after going public.For investors interested in IPOs, private-market access, Artificial Intelligence, SpaceX, Amazon, and identifying elite growth companies during periods of weakness, this episode delivers a practical framework for finding opportunity beyond the market’s biggest headlines. primeimages/E+ via Getty Images

By Mike Larson

Mike Larson: Hi there. I'm Mike Larson, Editor-in-Chief with MoneyShow. Coming to you from the MoneyShow Masters Symposium in Las Vegas. Today, I'm sitting now with Eva Ados, COO and Chief Investment Strategist at ERShares, and Mark Mahaney, Director of

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HomeStock IdeasLong IdeasConsumer 

SummaryWhile critics panic over increasing CapEx, Amazon’s $143 billion cash reserves generate enough in quarterly interest income to fund debt obligations.Amazon has $364 billion, and counting, in legally binding, long-term cloud contracts that ensure data center compute capacity is accounted for before construction completes.Though infrastructure investments have temporarily reduced short-term free cash flow, these assets are projected to deliver highly profitable returns by the end of 2028 and for many years to follow.Editor's note: Seeking Alpha is proud to welcome MarginMinded as a new contributing analyst. You can become one too! Share your best investment idea by submitting your article for review to our editors. Get published, earn money, and unlock exclusive SA Premium access.

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Analyst’s Disclosure: I/we have a beneficial long position in the shares of AMZN 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.

I currently own shares in $AMZN. I do not own any options or other derivatives in AMZN. I will not buy/sell shares, options, or other derivatives of AMZN for the 72 hours defined above. I will not initiate any trades for this position per the 72 hours defined above.

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.

IRVINE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- #BusinessTechnology--TrustedTech is among the first Microsoft CSPs selected for Unified for Partners, advancing next-generation partner-led support.

HomeStock IdeasLong IdeasTech 

SummaryAdvanced Micro Devices, Inc. is rated a buy, with a fair value range of $550–$690, driven by secular AI compute demand and expanding CPU and GPU TAM.Confidence is highest in AMD's CPU business, given visible pricing power and a 46% x86 server revenue share, while GPU growth is more dependent on price-driven market share gains.Key risks include TSMC CoWoS capacity constraints, ARM's rising CPU market share, and potential multiple compression regardless of earnings delivery.AMD's margin profile is supported by recent results: Q1 2026 gross margin at 55%, data center operating margin at 28%, and further margin expansion guided for Q2. Robert Way/iStock Editorial via Getty Images

Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. (AMD) has been creating a narrative around itself of both an eater of the data center GPU TAM pie and a leader in the CPU inference market, with a

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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.

Amkor shares are climbing with conviction. Why is AMKR stock up today? Nvidia–Amkor $1.5B Pact Boosts AI PackagingAmkor has already supplied advanced packaging solutions supporting Nvidia platforms across data center processors, networking chipsets, and accelerated computing systems. The expanded partnership is designed to bring new technologies to market at scale as AI infrastructure demand grows, while strengthening domestic semiconductor manufacturing and supply-chain resilience.

“This strategic partnership with NVIDIA underscores the central role advanced packaging plays in enabling the future of AI,” said Kevin Engel, CEO of Amkor Technology. “Our agreement with NVIDIA accelerates our long-term roadmap and supports our ability to deliver full turnkey advanced packaging and test solutions.”

Amkor Shares Race HigherAMKR Price Action: At the time of publication, Amkor shares are trading 4.94% higher at $68.56, according to data from Benzinga Pro.

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Silver’s spectacular rise and brutal collapse in 2026 may look like the classic boom and bust story. But the metal’s rollercoaster ride is more complex: Silver was caught in the crossfire of the Iran war as investors fled precious metals, the US Dollar strengthened and rate-cut expectations faded. But Silver’s industrial backbone remains intact, supported by surging demand from artificial intelligence, renewable energy and electrification. This should keep bears on hold for the rest of the year, unless another wave of policy uncertainty from Mr. Donald Trump changes the equation.

Silver started the second half of the year trading near levels last seen in September 2025. Back then, global inflation among major economies was as close to central banks’ goals as it had ever been since the Coronavirus pandemic global disruptions. And yet, concerns about mounting price pressures  – triggered by United States (US) President Donald Trump's protectionist measures – pushed the metal to a record peak of $121.65 an ounce by January 2026.

It was not just fears of mounting inflationary risks. Silver also benefited from tech demand, focused on the AI boom, electric vehicles and solar power production, with demand for the metal outpacing supply, further boosting its price.

What happened next, none saw coming. And while fears turned into panic, Silver more than halved its price in a couple of months. How come?

US President Trump decided that the US would need to lead the Oil market. Taking over Venezuela was “easy”, but Iran proved much more complicated. Global tensions increased demand for safety, and market players rushed into the US Dollar (USD) and dropped precious metals’ longs. Logical, given that Oil prices more than doubled in a couple of months and triggered speculation that inflation would soar.

The US Dollar (USD) strengthened on the back of speculation that the Federal Reserve (Fed) would have no choice but to respond to inflationary pressures by hiking interest rates. The case for higher rates was further supported by Jerome Powell ending his term as the Fed’s Chair and Kevin Warsh, Trump's new favorite, taking his place.

Geopolitics and protectionism aren’t helping Silver this timeUS policies, or better said, Donald Trump policies, stand in the eye of the storm and are the main market mover these days, and most likely, will remain so for the rest of the year.

On the one hand, the Middle East war, the main inflationary factor, has no end in sight. The closure of the Strait of Hormuz, a critical sea passage for major Oil producers’ vessels, is likely to revive inflationary pressures amid escalating tensions at the start of Q3. The temporary June relief is likely to be wiped out in less than a month should the conflict continue.

With mounting speculation that inflation will soar comes rate hike bets. The odds for a Fed hike before year-end see-saw accordingly to data under Warsh's leadership, yet for the most part, the USD is likely to find demand should the war continue. This isn’t good for Silver.

However, on the other hand, President Trump revived protectionism in mid-July, and resumed threatening tariffs left and right – the main factor that pushed the Greenback into an abyss throughout 2025 – despite, well, TACO.

So, will the Greenback turn north on war doldrums, or south amid widespread tariffs? Not an easy question to answer, but generally speaking, both are seen as inflationary factors, which means the Fed is likely to pull the trigger more than once before year-end.

Given that other major central banks are also on the tightening path, the Fed’s hikes may be enough to prevent the USD from collapsing this time, but it seems hard for the American currency to gain massive momentum across the board.

 But it is not only about the USD. There are always two factors in the equation.

 Where is Silver demand heading?Silver is considered an outstanding electrical and thermal conductor, a key component of the technological transformation driving the global economy. This means that, beyond speculative interest, prices soared amid global industrial demand. 

Solar energy, electric vehicles, data centers, and artificial intelligence are expected to drive demand higher through 2030, according to a report released by the Silver Institute. “The acceleration of digitalization and the widespread adoption of AI are expected to continue gathering pace, placing growing demands on both digital and physical infrastructure.”

Global Silver industrial use is poised to grow further as demand from vital technology sectors accelerates over the next five years.

And what’s up with supply?Demand outpaced supply for a fifth consecutive year in 2025, and expectations indicate that 2026 would be the sixth shortfall in a row.

Global mined Silver supply increased by 3% YoY to 846.6Moz in 2025, while recycling climbed to a 12-year high of 197.6Moz. Still, the Silver market ran an annual deficit of 40.3Moz in the same year. Such a deficit is expected to widen to 46.3Moz, with mine production expected to stay roughly flat through 2026, according to the Silver Institute.

Source: Mining Visuals, Silver Survey 2026

 The Silver demand/supply imbalance should inevitably result in higher Silver prices, particularly if, as expected, mining supply remains flat. As long as consumption remains above production, the most likely scenario for the rest of 2026, a sharp decline in Silver prices is out of the picture.

Fundamental ConclusionSilver has the highest electrical conductivity of any metal. Demand is widely anticipated to surpass supply, which means that, beyond speculative interest, the precious metal has life of its own. And that “life” points to a price recovery in the second half of the year.

The extent of Silver recovery will be conditioned by USD demand, while the latter will depend on sentiment related to the impact of Trump’s policies.

Regardless of his aggressive threats and the noise those trigger, the better chance the US Dollar has, and thus the worst scenario for Silver, is the end of the Middle East war combined with a hawkish Fed, not the most likely scenario.

Technical OutlookSilver peaked at a record high of $121.66 in January and fell to a yearly low of $54.77 in July. The XAG/USD pair has spent the month seesawing around $58.50, which suggests the monthly low is turning into a relevant bottom. The bright metal's bearish momentum seems to be over, as it holds flat for July despite the US Dollar Index (DXY) retaining a good chunk of its monthly gains. 

There is still a chance of lower lows, with a major barrier at the psychological $50 mark, a level Silver conquered in October 2025. As long as the level holds, the odds skew the risks to the upside, although the way north won’t be easy. 

The first threshold to reconquer is the not-too-far $61 area. The price zone has provided relevant support in S1, and attempts to run beyond it in July have been quickly reversed. Once Silver settles above it, the next relevant barrier comes at $74, an inflection point through Q2. If somehow Silver regains the latter, the initial rally could extend towards $88 en route to the $100 magical mark.

Losing the $50 threshold for good opens the door for a test of $39, while losses below the latter are quite unlikely given the macro scenario.

Technical readings in the monthly chart show that the massive decline remains corrective. The XAG/USD pair remains far above a bullish 20 Simple Moving Average (SMA), currently at around $52, while the longer 100 and 200 SMAs lack directional strength below the $28 level, too far away to be relevant in the upcoming months. The same chart shows that technical indicators have erased extreme overbought conditions and begun flattening within positive territory, limiting the bearish case.

Bank of America said ​on Friday it has ‌increased its quarterly common stock dividend by 4 ​cents or 14%, ​to 32 cents a share, ⁠with its CEO ​Brian Moynihan citing the ​lender's commitment to return excess capital to shareholders.

Dimensional Fund Advisors LP raised its stake in shares of JPMorgan Chase & Co. (NYSE:JPM – Free Report) by 3.3% in the first quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The firm owned 18,968,884 shares of the financial services provider’s stock after acquiring an additional 607,288 shares during the quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. makes up 1.2% of Dimensional Fund Advisors LP’s portfolio, making the stock its 6th largest holding. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP owned about 0.71% of JPMorgan Chase & Co. worth $5,578,788,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also modified their holdings of JPM. Fidelis Capital Partners LLC increased its stake in shares of JPMorgan Chase & Co. by 7.9% in the 4th quarter. Fidelis Capital Partners LLC now owns 70,077 shares of the financial services provider’s stock worth $22,580,000 after acquiring an additional 5,101 shares during the last quarter. Howard Capital Management Inc. lifted its holdings in shares of JPMorgan Chase & Co. by 18.2% in the 4th quarter. Howard Capital Management Inc. now owns 25,784 shares of the financial services provider’s stock worth $8,308,000 after acquiring an additional 3,976 shares during the last quarter. Newbridge Financial Services Group Inc. lifted its stake in JPMorgan Chase & Co. by 51.7% during the fourth quarter. Newbridge Financial Services Group Inc. now owns 8,883 shares of the financial services provider’s stock worth $2,862,000 after purchasing an additional 3,027 shares in the last quarter. Brighton Jones LLC lifted its stake in JPMorgan Chase & Co. by 11.0% during the 4th quarter. Brighton Jones LLC now owns 48,732 shares of the financial services provider’s stock worth $11,682,000 after acquiring an additional 4,841 shares in the last quarter. Finally, KTF Investments LLC purchased a new position in JPMorgan Chase & Co. during the 4th quarter valued at about $6,449,000. 71.55% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth Several research firms have commented on JPM. Zacks Research upgraded shares of JPMorgan Chase & Co. from a “hold” rating to a “strong-buy” rating in a research note on Thursday, July 16th. Truist Financial raised their price objective on shares of JPMorgan Chase & Co. from $344.00 to $352.00 and gave the stock a “hold” rating in a report on Wednesday, July 15th. Evercore reissued an “outperform” rating and issued a $360.00 target price on shares of JPMorgan Chase & Co. in a report on Monday, July 6th. Bank of America increased their price target on shares of JPMorgan Chase & Co. from $408.00 to $420.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research note on Thursday, July 16th. Finally, Jefferies Financial Group set a $350.00 target price on JPMorgan Chase & Co. in a research note on Tuesday, July 14th. One analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, sixteen have assigned a Buy rating and eleven have assigned a Hold rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, JPMorgan Chase & Co. currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $358.67.

Get Our Latest Report on JPM

Key Stories Impacting JPMorgan Chase & Co. Here are the key news stories impacting JPMorgan Chase & Co. this week:

Positive Sentiment: JPMorgan raised $9 billion through debt offerings, underscoring its access to cheap funding and strong balance-sheet flexibility. JPMorgan Chase Raises $9 Billion Through Debt Offerings Positive Sentiment: The company’s Q2 results showed record revenue and a record $21.2 billion quarterly profit, reinforcing earnings momentum and helping support the stock’s recent strength. JPMorgan Chase Q2 2026 Earnings Call Transcript Positive Sentiment: Multiple market commentary pieces highlighted JPMorgan’s AI-driven efficiency and growth potential, with some suggesting the bank could be on a path toward a $1 trillion market cap. JPMorgan’s AI Advantage Positions the Bank for a $1T Market Cap Neutral Sentiment: JPMorgan amended its bylaws to strengthen board independence, a governance-related move that is unlikely to move the stock on its own. JPMorgan Chase Strengthens Board Independence With Bylaw Change Negative Sentiment: House lawmakers grilled former executive Jes Staley over Jeffrey Epstein ties, keeping reputational risk and regulatory scrutiny in the headlines. House lawmakers grill former JPMorgan executive Jes Staley over Epstein ties JPMorgan Chase & Co. Trading Up 0.3% NYSE JPM opened at $349.40 on Friday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.30, a current ratio of 0.85 and a quick ratio of 0.86. The company has a market cap of $936.23 billion, a P/E ratio of 14.97, a P/E/G ratio of 1.54 and a beta of 0.99. JPMorgan Chase & Co. has a 12 month low of $279.10 and a 12 month high of $351.24. The company has a 50-day moving average of $322.64 and a 200-day moving average of $310.84.

JPMorgan Chase & Co. Dividend Announcement The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, July 31st. Stockholders of record on Monday, July 6th will be paid a $1.50 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Monday, July 6th. This represents a $6.00 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.7%. JPMorgan Chase & Co.’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 25.71%.

Insider Buying and Selling at JPMorgan Chase & Co. In related news, COO Jennifer Piepszak sold 4,919 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction on Tuesday, May 5th. The shares were sold at an average price of $309.42, for a total transaction of $1,522,036.98. Following the completion of the sale, the chief operating officer directly owned 85,082 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $26,326,072.44. This trade represents a 5.47% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this link. The transaction was executed under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plan. Also, General Counsel Stacey Friedman sold 5,467 shares of JPMorgan Chase & Co. stock in a transaction dated Monday, June 22nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $330.73, for a total value of $1,808,100.91. Following the sale, the general counsel directly owned 40,961 shares in the company, valued at approximately $13,547,031.53. The trade was a 11.78% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. The transaction was executed under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plan. Insiders sold 18,876 shares of company stock valued at $5,907,051 over the last 90 days. 0.41% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

JPMorgan Chase & Co. Company Profile (Free Report)

JPMorgan Chase & Co (NYSE: JPM) is a diversified global financial services firm headquartered in New York City. The company provides a wide range of banking and financial products and services to consumers, small businesses, corporations, governments and institutional investors worldwide. Its operations span retail banking, commercial lending, investment banking, asset management, payments and card services, and treasury and securities services.

The firm’s principal business activities are organized across several core lines: Consumer & Community Banking, which offers deposit accounts, mortgages, auto loans, credit cards and branch and digital banking under the Chase brand; Corporate & Investment Banking, which provides capital markets, advisory, underwriting, trading and risk management services; Commercial Banking, delivering lending, treasury and capital solutions to middle-market and corporate clients; and Asset & Wealth Management, which offers investment management, private banking and retirement services to institutions and high-net-worth individuals.

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Jamie Dimon, a legend on Wall Street, gave some pretty cautious commentary a few days ago in a sit-down with CNBC, commenting on global and fiscal risks that the market may very well be underestimating. Indeed, given the escalating tensions in the Middle East and the latest ascent in the price of oil, it’s hard to disagree with the JPMorgan (NYSE:JPM | JPM Price Prediction) veteran. But just because he’d not be a personal buyer of U.S. stocks or long-dated Treasury securities in this market doesn’t mean you should hit the sell button.

Are there a lot of risks that could derail this latest market rally? Most definitely. The situation in the Middle East is not going well, to say the least, and the oil markets are responding.

Jamie Dimon is right about the risks facing this market As oil rises and pockets of overvaluation within the AI trade begin to unwind, it certainly feels like the stage is set for the next big market spill. Valuations still seem quite frothy, and the lists of risks outlined by Mr. Dimon, I think, are very much worth careful consideration before making a move.

Moving ahead, it feels like stocks are about to roll over, but for long-term thinkers, I view any indiscriminate slide, like the one we had on Thursday, as more of an opportunity to do some buying if your cash hoard has been building up and you haven’t been tempted by anything in recent months.

At the end of the day, Mr. Dimon tends to sound more cautious than not. After all, he’s the top boss of JPMorgan, and he’s not exactly looking to take big swings or big risks on AI or anything else.

When it comes to market gurus, I take what they have to say with a grain of salt because, at the end of the day, the market will continue to act in unpredictable ways. And while markets are starting to feel a bit of pain amid rising tensions in the Middle East and increased chances of interest rate hikes in the second half, I do think that the AI revolution is the theme that matters most for investors willing to stick around for at least the next few years.

Jamie Dimon’s comments might be scary to some. But a little caution never hurt So, in short, Mr. Dimon’s latest comments might be frightening to some retail investors. And while I do think many investors are far too willing to pay a premium price for a wide range of stocks with less consideration for the downside risks, I also view pockets of value out there for investors who are looking for the productivity benefits from the AI revolution to come in steadily over the next three years. At the end of the day, bankers are supposed to think about managing risks.

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While Mr. Dimon’s cautious tone is worth keeping in mind, I wouldn’t necessarily look for the start of a bear market. The man didn’t even remark on one coming. At the end of the day, it feels like markets are already in the process of digesting the heightened risks, especially on the geopolitical front.

As oil, fiscal deficits, and rates climb, investors might not like the environment we find ourselves in come the end of the year. Either way, panicking and emotion-driven investing never pays off.

Alphabet stock might be a deep-value outlier Right now, I think margin of safety isn’t all too hard to find when you look at a name like Alphabet (NASDAQ:GOOG), which cratered after earnings. The massive cloud backlog wasn’t enough to convince investors to forgive the swelling CapEx.

With shares trading at around 24.0 times forward price-to-earnings (P/E), I think the behemoth AI lab is going for a massive discount, especially as the backlog continues to swell and the firm takes more control over the AI stack, from models to infrastructure and hardware (TPUs and the reported “Frozen v2” chip) to applications (Generative UX looks intriguing).

Perhaps there’s a reason Warren Buffett admitted it was him who initiated the purchase for Berkshire Hathaway (NYSE:BRK.B). It is a very Buffett-esque business with a remarkable track record and, odds are, the CapEx won’t be for nothing. While Mr. Dimon might be right about the market risks, I still think there are margins of safety in individual names for those willing to look.

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Tesla (NASDAQ: TSLA | TSLA Price Prediction) and General Motors (NYSE: GM) reported Q2 2026 results within a day of each other. Tesla posted record deliveries of 480,126 vehicles but missed on earnings. GM raised full-year guidance for the second time in 2026 on the back of truck and SUV demand.

Record Deliveries for Tesla, Record Cash for GM Tesla’s top line looked healthy. Revenue rose 25.5% year over year to $28.24 billion, and Services & Other jumped 50% to $4.58 billion at a record 14% gross margin. Under the surface, though, operating margin collapsed to 1.4% as operating expenses surged 47% on AI infrastructure, R&D, and stock-based comp tied to the 2025 CEO Performance Award.

Non-GAAP EPS came in at $0.33 versus a $0.5367 estimate, a miss of nearly 40%. Free cash flow flipped to negative $1.09 billion. FSD attach rate above 55% of new North American deliveries is a bright spot, but the software story has to carry a very heavy capex load.

GM’s quarter looked steady by comparison. Adjusted EPS of $3.57 topped the $3.1844 estimate, the fifth consecutive beat. North America carried the freight: $39.9 billion in revenue, 8.6% EBIT margin, and adjusted EBIT up 42.7%.

Adjusted auto free cash flow climbed 78% to $5.03 billion. GAAP net income fell 31% because CEO Mary Barra took a $2.28 billion EV strategic realignment charge to right-size battery capacity. That is a rare admission from a legacy automaker, and investors rewarded it.

Growth Bet vs. Cash Machine Lens Tesla GM Core Bet Robotaxi, Optimus, FSD software Trucks, SUVs, disciplined capital returns Capex Posture $25B budget under scrutiny Trimming EV overbuild Shareholder Returns None disclosed $2.8B buybacks H1, $0.18 dividend Valuation P/E 344 P/E 29 Tesla is spending like an AI hyperscaler with a car company attached. Robotaxi is now unsupervised in six US metros including Austin, Dallas, Houston, Miami, Orlando, and Tampa, and Optimus lines are being installed at Fremont.

GM is folding Cruise back into the mothership and running its truck franchise for cash. Tesla shares are down 16.83% year to date. GM is up 69.53% over the past year.

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Margins Will Decide the Second Half I will be watching whether Tesla can hold operating margin above the low single digits while capex runs hot.

The Reddit post “Tesla misses on earnings despite revenue beat” drew 184 upvotes and 91 comments, so retail is already flagging the profitability question. Piper Sandler analyst Alexander Potter lowered the firm’s price target on Tesla to $450 from $500 and keeps an Overweight rating on the shares.

For GM, the tell is whether pricing power on Silverado, Tahoe, and Escalade holds as tariff policy shifts. Prediction markets currently give Tesla only a 16.5% chance of launching robotaxis in California by year end, which tells you the crowd is not extrapolating the Texas rollout.

Where the Numbers Point Right Now If you want optionality on autonomy, humanoid robots, and AI compute inside a car company, Tesla is still the only pure play, and I understand paying up for it.

On the numbers, GM screens more defensively: a P/E near 29, a raised full-year outlook of $12 to $14 in adjusted EPS, and real buybacks anchor the story. The signal to watch on Tesla is operating margin recovering above 5% and free cash flow turning positive again.

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Contact [email protected] for any questions or corrections.