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Amazon is looking to raise at least $25 billion from a US dollar bond sale, marking its latest jumbo debt offering as the tech giant ramps up spending on artificial intelligence infrastructure. Bloomberg Intelligence analyst Robert Schiffman joins Ed Ludlow on "Bloomberg Tech.

Microsoft Corporation remains fundamentally strong, with Q3 2026 revenues up 18% y/y and robust cloud and AI-driven growth. MSFT's share price decline of over 20% is attributed to negative investor sentiment and AI capex skepticism, not deteriorating business performance. Azure and cloud segments continue to outperform, with Azure growing 40% y/y and AI annual run rate surging 123% y/y to $37B.

Key Takeaways AMD is expanding Ryzen AI capabilities to support local agentic AI development on AI PCs.Ryzen AI Halo systems can run models with up to 200B parameters using Ryzen AI Max 395 chips.Competition from NVIDIA and Intel remains tough across AI PCs, AI servers and agentic AI tools. Advanced Micro Devices (AMD - Free Report) is strengthening its position in the fast-growing agentic AI domain by expanding the capabilities of its Ryzen AI platform. As enterprises increasingly shift AI workloads from cloud-only deployments to hybrid and on-device execution, AMD’s latest Ryzen AI Halo platform is emerging as a key enabler of local agentic AI development.

AMD recently announced that Ryzen AI Halo systems are now available through Micro Center, giving developers access to workstation-class AI PCs capable of building, testing and deploying advanced AI agents locally. Powered by Ryzen AI Max+ 395 processors, the platform supports up to 128GB of unified memory and can run local AI models with as many as 200 billion parameters.

AMD also unveiled the Ryzen AI Max PRO 400 Series processors, the industry's first x86 client processors capable of running 300-billion-parameter models locally, significantly expanding the scope for enterprise-grade agentic AI applications. The platform supports leading AI frameworks, including PyTorch, vLLM, Ollama, llama.cpp and AMD's ROCm software stack, allowing developers to build sophisticated AI workflows without relying entirely on cloud infrastructure.

The launch aligns with AMD’s broader view that agentic AI represents the next major computing wave. During the Bank of America Technology Conference, management said agentic AI is rapidly shifting from simple chatbot interactions to autonomous orchestration, database access and multi-step tool execution, dramatically increasing demand for high-performance CPUs. AMD noted that this transition is driving strong demand across both its EPYC server processors and Ryzen AI client platforms as developers increasingly require powerful local execution environments for AI agents.

AMD believes these workloads will significantly expand CPU demand over the coming years while creating new opportunities across cloud and AI PCs. With Ryzen AI Halo bringing workstation-class AI capabilities to developers’ desktops, AMD is well-positioned to capitalize on the growing adoption of agentic AI across enterprise and commercial markets. AMD also expects server CPU revenues to grow more than 70% in the second quarter, supported by rising adoption of EPYC processors. AMD is on track to launch sixth-gen EPYC Venice later in 2026, with more customers validating platforms than prior generations.

Tough Competition Hurts AMD’s ProspectsAMD’s prospects suffer from stiff competition. NVIDIA (NVDA - Free Report) and Intel (INTC - Free Report) are major competitors in the agentic AI space.

NVIDIA is at the center of AI computing, with its products widely used across data centers, gaming and autonomous vehicles. The company’s newer Hopper 200 and Blackwell GPU platforms are being adopted quickly as customers work to grow their AI infrastructure. NVIDIA’s Blackwell GPUs power large-scale agentic AI training and inference, while DGX Spark and DGX Station target local AI development similar to AMD’s Ryzen AI Halo developer platform. NVIDIA AI Enterprise, NIM microservices and NeMo provide software frameworks for building autonomous AI agents.

Intel is a major competitor across both AI PCs and AI servers. Intel’s Core Ultra processors with integrated NPUs enable on-device agentic AI applications while Xeon CPUs power orchestration, inference and AI server workloads. Intel AI PC Accelerator program promotes local AI software development while Gaudi AI accelerators target enterprise inference workloads.

AMD’s Share Price Performance, Valuation & EstimatesAMD shares have jumped 158.4% year to date, outperforming the broader Zacks Computer and Technology sector’s growth of 16.6%.

AMD Stock’s Price Performance
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

AMD stock is overvalued, with a forward 12-month price/sales of 15X compared with the broader sector’s 6.97X. AMD has a Value Score of F.

AMD Valuation
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2026 earnings is pegged at $7.18 per share, up 0.6% over the past 30 days, suggesting 72.2% growth from the figure reported in 2025.

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

BA outpaces its industry as defense wins, liquidity and earnings growth support its long-term outlook despite a sizable debt burden.

Nvidia (NVDA) could face increasing pressure to maintain its rapid growth trajectory as the chipmaker enters a new phase where investor expectations remain exce

Certara is integrating Nvidia’s BioNeMo Agent Toolkit into its AI-driven drug development platform, while Silo Pharma’s subsidiary, QwikAgents, has joined the Nvidia Developer Program to strengthen its AI agent capabilities.

• Nvidia stock is gaining positive traction. Why are NVDA shares climbing?

Certara Integrates Nvidia BioNeMo Into AI Drug Development PlatformCertara said it is partnering with Nvidia to advance its open, integrated AI platform by combining its scientific software, regulatory expertise, and proprietary datasets with AI-first, agentic frameworks.

Under the collaboration, the Nvidia BioNeMo Agent Toolkit will become one of several agentic frameworks available within Certara’s platform.

The toolkit is designed to turn AI agents into autonomous life sciences researchers by providing access to Nvidia’s life sciences technology stack while complementing Certara’s biosimulation models, regulatory expertise and scientific teams.

AI Agents Target Drug Development WorkflowsAccording to Certara, specialized AI agents will analyze scientific models, datasets and domain expertise across multiple stages of drug development.

The company said these agents can support tasks such as optimizing dosing strategies using systems pharmacology models, analyzing clinical datasets, simulating patient and clinical trial scenarios, evaluating ADMET properties, assembling regulatory-ready evidence and assessing early-stage drug discovery hypotheses.

Certara added that the technology is intended to enhance the work of biosimulation experts and scientific teams by accelerating insight generation while keeping scientists at the center of decision-making.

Silo Pharma Subsidiary Joins NVIDIA Developer ProgramSeparately, Silo Pharma announced its wholly owned subsidiary, QwikAgents, has joined the Nvidia Developer Program.

The company said QwikAgents’ platform automates complex workflows using autonomous AI agents capable of reasoning, taking action and interacting with enterprise systems.

The platform also incorporates persistent memory, intelligent routing across multiple large language model providers, browser automation and secure data management to support scalable AI-driven operations.

Silo Pharma said participation in the Nvidia Developer Program will provide QwikAgents with access to Nvidia’s AI software ecosystem, development frameworks, technical training and optimization resources.

The company expects those resources to help accelerate platform enhancements as it expands AI agent capabilities for enterprise customers.

CERT/SILO Stock Price Activity: Certara shares were down 0.63% at $7.09, Silo Pharma shares were down 2.10% at $6.09 at the time of publication on Tuesday, according to Benzinga Pro data.

Image via Shutterstock/ Alexander56891

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Netflix is again experimenting with new types of content on its streaming service, as the binge model has grown dated. After expanding its service to include live content, video games, and, more recently, video podcasts, the streamer is now adding video content from publishers such as BuzzFeed Studios, Condé Nast, Hearst Magazines, People Inc., Tastemade, and various Penske Media PMX brands, like Variety, THR, Billboard, Eater, Rolling Stone, and IndieWire.

Starting August 3, Netflix will offer video content from these publishers to subscribers in the U.S., Canada, the U.K., Ireland, Australia, and New Zealand, according to Netflix and other reports released on Tuesday by Netflix’s deal partners like Variety, Billboard, THR, Rolling Stone, and others.

The new videos will vary widely in length — some run just two to three minutes, while others stretch past 20, the partners said.

For Netflix, the deal is a low-risk way to test whether its audience has an appetite for the kind of content that’s typically native to the web, such as news, lifestyle, how-tos, and other short-form formats that tend to be cheaper and faster to produce than a scripted series. If it works, Netflix could eventually build similar content in-house, though the company hasn’t said that’s the plan.

The lineup will include both licensed archival and ongoing series coming to Netflix, including BuzzFeed Celeb’s “30 Questions” and “Tasty”; Vanity Fair’s “Lie Detector Test” and “How Well Do They Know Each Other?”; AD’s “Walking Tour”; Elle’s “Where Is the Lie?”; Harper’s Bazaar’s “Burning Questions”; Billboard’s “24 Hours”; People’s “My Life in Pictures”; Travel + Leisure’s “Travel Unfiltered”; Tastemade’s “Struggle Meals”; and more.

Netflix says other publishers will be added over time.

The announcement follows a Bloomberg report this week that found that Netflix is struggling to retain fans between the first and second seasons of top shows. That trend has reportedly worried executives, though it’s largely explained by familiar culprits: high cancellation rates, long gaps between seasons, and inconsistent quality. The report suggests that Netflix is also facing a shift in consumer viewing habits, which sees the streamer now competing with YouTube and TikTok — arguably as much as it competes with traditional TV networks now.

To court viewers drawn to short-form video, Netflix already added a TikTok-style feature called “Clips” that lets users scroll through short snippets from its library. But where Clips is designed to funnel viewers toward longer shows and movies, these new publisher deals go the other direction, bringing short-form content onto the platform in its own right.

“Members don’t just want to watch a show or film and move on — they want to keep exploring the stories and personalities they love long after the final credits roll. These partnerships help us deepen fandom and create more ways for members to carry those stories with them throughout their day,” stated John Derderian, Netflix VP of Animation Series + Kids & Family TV, who is overseeing this project.

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Sarah has worked as a reporter for TechCrunch since August 2011. She joined the company after having previously spent over three years at ReadWriteWeb. Prior to her work as a reporter, Sarah worked in I.T. across a number of industries, including banking, retail and software.

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Bank of America (BAC +0.23%), the second-largest bank in the U.S. by assets, hit a new all-time high today, with the stock topping $60 per share.

Many large bank stocks have had a good year thus far, particularly the investment banks, which have benefited from some massive artificial intelligence initial public offerings.

However, some of the money-center banks, such as Bank of America, have not performed as well. The stock is up about 7.5%, trailing the broader market S&P 500 Index and the Nasdaq Bank Index.

Here’s what it means ahead of second-quarter earnings.

Image source: Getty Images.

Overcoming challengesBank of America is viewed as a high-quality banking franchise, with the number one consumer bank, and strong franchises in investment banking, trading, wealth management, and commercial lending.

The Iran war, which has led to higher inflation and higher bond yields, may have derailed some of its momentum because investors are now worried about persistent inflation and whether the Federal Reserve will need to raise interest rates to ensure price stability.

Higher rates can put pressure on the credit profiles of consumers and businesses and stymie lending and investment banking activity.

Bank of America has also long grappled with balance sheet issues that stem from the pandemic, when the bank loaded up on low-yielding, long-duration bonds.

Today's Change

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The bank has nearly $915 billion in bonds still yielding 2.77%, which is depressing earnings somewhat.

Furthermore, the bank locked in nearly $515 billion of bonds into its held-to-maturity folder that are still carrying an unrealized $81 billion loss.

While Bank of America will be able to hold these bonds to maturity and avoid taking these paper losses, it’s still a drag on earnings. Higher rates would likely exacerbate the paper losses as well.

The good news is that Bank of America is just coming off one of its strongest quarters in a while in the first quarter of 2026, having delivered a 16% return on tangible common equity (ROTCE).

Net interest income, the spread revenue banks make on their lending and bond portfolios after paying funding costs, has been building in recent quarters.

Investment banking should be strong as well, given that Bank of America served as one of the five main bookrunners on the massive Space Exploration Technologies (SPCX 5.80%) IPO.

How investors should think about earningsBank of America will report its second-quarter earnings next week on July 14.

Wall Street analysts’ consensus estimates suggest the bank will report revenue of $30.58 billion and earnings per share of $1.14. That implies slight growth from the first quarter, but certainly nothing heroic.

This is not a huge surprise because large banks are mature companies at this point.

Investors will need to see the company beat estimates for the stock to rise, and credit quality, investment banking fees, and net interest income trends will also be top of mind for the market.

With Bank of America trading at a price-to-tangible-book ratio over 2x and near 10-year highs, earnings misses or minor concerns could lead to selling pressure, given the elevated valuation.

BAC Price to Tangible Book Value data by YCharts

That said, I still think Bank of America is a decent long-term investment.

Continued improvements in ROTCE can lead to a higher valuation over time, and eventually the bond portfolio will run off, boosting the company’s earnings power.

ToplineWalmart moved to give inflation-weary customers a break this summer, rolling back prices on more than 250 seasonal essentials—and within hours, President Trump claimed credit for the cuts on Truth Social.

ALBANY, NY - JUNE 2: Manager of the Albany Walmart supercenter on Washington Avenue Extension explains that Walmart still uses paper price labels on seasonal displays instead of the digital labels used throughout rest of store. (Larry Rulison/Albany Times Union via Getty Images)

Albany Times Union via Getty Images

Key FactsRollbacks will affect prices at Walmart and Sam’s Club across more than 250 items in grocery, household essentials, outdoor living, toys and apparel.

Walmart made no mention of the White House or the Trump administration in its announcement, claiming “the savings are designed to help customers and members make the most of the season while spending less on the products they need, want and love most.”

The price of a market basket of nine grocery items listed in the company’s announcement, including hamburger meat, chips, sodas and paper plates, dropped 25%, from $73.42 to $54.70.

Walmart’s price for a pound of ground beef was cut by 12% to $5.94 from $6.74—effectively returning to year-ago levels before the category’s 12% inflationary surge, according to the BLS.

Key BackgroundWalmart remains the nation’s leading retailer by a wide margin, topping the National Retail Federation’s 2026 top 100 list with $576 billion in U.S. retail sales—nearly double Amazon’s $294 billion and well of ahead of Costco at $199 billion. This price rollback announcement comes at an opportune time, with overall 12-month inflation running 4.2% and grocery costs a key pain point for American households. A new survey conducted by Global Strategy Group for The Kitchen Table Project found 63% of Americans said buying groceries and food was their top financial pressure and over 80% believe that politicians have the power to reduce prices if they choose to prioritize it.

Trump Wants The CreditIn a Truth Social post on Monday, President Trump praised Walmart as “one of the biggest, best and smartest Retailers in America” and a “truly patriotic Company who loves the U.S.A.” At the same time, he stirred controversy by trying to claim credit for the price reductions—“Walmart will be lowering prices, by a lot, at my Administration’s request to celebrate our great Country’s 250th birthday,” he wrote. However, the company announcement didn’t acknowledge any White House involvement in the decision, though mentioning that 250 items will get a price reduction echoed Trump’s patriotic theme. Nonetheless, a presidential endorsement framed in patriotic language can’t hurt and may even help Walmart at a moment when patriotism is running high. A June survey conducted by YouGov found an overwhelming 70% of citizens are proud to be Americans, including 96% of Republicans, 58% of Democrats and 59% of Independents.

Crucial Quote“Walmart is stepping up in a big and bold way, and other Retailers should follow the lead of these absolute Patriots,” President Trump wrote.

TangentAlso on Monday, July 6, President Trump gave a shout out to Dell Computer after founder Michael Dell and his wife, Susan Dell donated $6.2 million to Trump Accounts. Company shares popped 4% after he said, “They are truly incredible people. Go out and buy a Dell computer.”

Further ReadingTrump Says Walmart Will Lower Prices After White House Request (Business Insider)

Trump Says Walmart Cut Prices At His Request, But Walmart Statement Omits Administration’s Role (AP)

WMT Stock In Focus As Trump Says Walmart Will Cut Prices To Celebrate America’s 250th Birthday (Stocktwits)

1:45pm: Markets exposed Global oil markets are underestimating the potential impact of attacks on commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, according to deVere Group CEO Nigel Green, who warned investors may be overlooking risks to global energy supplies.

Despite reports of missile strikes on commercial vessels in the key oil transit route, Brent crude has remained near $73 a barrel, suggesting markets expect the conflict to remain contained. Green said that confidence could leave investors exposed if tensions escalate.

“The current pricing reflects confidence that the conflict will remain limited, but investors could be caught off guard if events deteriorate,” Green said, adding that markets should be demanding a larger risk premium given the strategic importance of the Strait of Hormuz.

12:30pm: SpaceX set to join Nasdaq 100 SpaceX is set to join the Nasdaq 100 later today, marking another milestone just weeks after its IPO.

The company now boasts a market value of about $2.11 trillion, making it the world's eighth most valuable company.

But its shares have been volatile since listing and are currently trading lower than their IPO price.

While index-tracking funds will need to buy the stock as it enters the Nasdaq 100, that buying boost is likely to be temporary. Once it fades later this month, the shares could face renewed pressure.

11:10am: AI stock pullback looks like consolidation Selling pressure across semiconductor and AI-related stocks following Samsung's latest results appears to be a bout of profit-taking rather than the start of a deeper downturn, according to Zaheer Anwari, co-founder and CEO of The Revacy Fund.

While Samsung's earnings underscored strong AI-driven memory demand, investors sold the stock as much of the optimism had already been priced in, weighing on US semiconductor futures.

"The rally in AI stocks has been intact for months, and for now this still looks more like consolidation within that structure than the start of a reversal," Anwari said. He added that the firm continues to favor AI infrastructure and chipmakers, arguing that strong memory demand and long-term AI capital spending support the sector's structural growth outlook.

10am: Nasdaq falls as chips sell off Wall Street was mixed in early trading, with the Nasdaq losing 1.0% as investors rotated out of AI and semiconductor stocks. The S&P 500 fell 0.4%, while the Dow Jones was little changed at 53,067.

The chip sector was under heavy pressure, with Applied Materials down almost 10%, Lam Research, KLA, Western Digital and Intel all losing around 8%, while AMD and Micron both slid over 7%. Nvidia and Broadcom both slipped around 2%.

The sector was rattled by Samsung's post-earnings sell-off.

Defensive stocks supported the Dow, with Johnson & Johnson (NYSE:JNJ) and Verizon adding over 3%, followed by Coca-Cola, Procter & Gamble and McDonald's advancing over 2.5%.

8am: Mixed open expected US markets are set for a mixed open on Tuesday, with technology stocks expected to come under pressure after Samsung delivered record quarterly profits that still failed to satisfy investors, raising fresh questions about AI valuations.

Nasdaq futures were down 1.1% ahead of the opening bell, while S&P 500 futures slipped 0.2%. Dow futures bucked the trend, rising 0.3% or around 150 points.

This followed a strong session for Wall Street, with the Dow Jones climbing 0.3% to a record close of 53,055. The S&P gained 0.7% to 7,537, while the Nasdaq jumped 1.1% to finish at 26,121.

The mood shifted overnight after Samsung forecast operating profits comfortably ahead of consensus expectations, but the shares fell almost 7%.

The sell-off dragged South Korea's Kospi down almost 5%, knocked other Asian markets and is expected to weigh on US semiconductor names.

Another focus for investors will be SpaceX, which joined the Nasdaq-100 overnight after becoming eligible under revised index rules.

The inclusion is expected to trigger billions of dollars of passive buying from index-tracking funds, with JPMorgan estimating around $4.3 billion of demand for the stock.

Away from equities, oil rose around half a dollar to trade above $69 a barrel as geopolitical tensions around the Strait of Hormuz offset expectations of higher OPEC+ supply.

Gold slipped to around $4,130 an ounce, while today's economic calendar is light, a day ahead of the release of the Federal Reserve's June meeting minutes.

Tuesday's releases include the trade balance, the RCM/TIPP economic optimism index and the New York Fed's latest consumer inflation expectations survey. The ADP employment report, which has recently moved to weekly publication, will also be monitored for fresh signs of labour market strength ahead of weekly jobless claims data.

Shanghai Disneyland is Disney's highest earning international international resort. (Photo by VCG/VCG via Getty Images)

VCG via Getty Images

Disney has revealed that the total profit payout it receives from one of its theme parks outside the United States passed the $500 million mark last year making it the studio's highest-earning international outpost based on its share of the bottom line.

Surprisingly, the accolade doesn't go to Disneyland Paris even though it generates more revenue than any other Disney park outside the U.S. Instead, Shanghai Disneyland takes the crown of paying more of its profit to its parent than any other international Disney park with the total coming to an eye-watering $516.2 million since the doors to the resort swung open a decade ago.

The sprawling site on the eastern edge of Shanghai encompasses two hotels, a lake, an entertainment district and a fairytale-themed park which Disney's former chief executive Bob Iger famously described as being "authentically Disney, distinctly Chinese." There is good reason for this. Instead of creating a carbon-copy of Disney's American theme parks, its designers, who are known as Imagineers due to their imaginative use of engineering, tailored the Shanghai site to the local market. Everything was customized, from the park's layout and attraction lineup right down to its wide range of Chinese food.

It has cast a powerful spell as Shanghai Disney welcomed its 100 millionth guest in November last year and it isn't stopping there. At an event marking its tenth anniversary last month the resort announced that it is building a third on-site hotel, called the Disney Enchanted Star, with a fourth property also under development to cater for the surging demand.

According to the latest data from the Themed Entertainment Association (TEA), attendance at Shanghai Disneyland rose 5% to 14.7 million in 2024 driven by the opening of a new land themed to the Oscar-winning computer animated movie Zootopia. This made it the world's fifth most-visited theme park but the magic touch it has on Disney's bottom line has remained a closely-guarded secret. Until now.

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Shanghai Disneyland has surged in popularity since the opening of its 'Zootopia' land. (Photo by Tang Yanjun/China News Service/VCG via Getty Images)

China News Service via Getty Images

Disney doesn't list the results of individual parks in its filings in the United States and China's companies register isn't public. However, recent filings for an obscurely-named company in the United Kingdom have lifted the curtain on the fortunes of Shanghai Disneyland.

Unlike Disney's theme parks in the United States, the resort is a public-private partnership between the media giant and China's state-owned Shanghai Shendi Group.

Disney only has a 43% stake in the company which owns the resort itself with the remainder in Shendi's hands. In contrast, Shendi is a minority shareholder in the resort's management company which is controlled by Disney through its 70% stake. In return, Disney receives royalties as well as a management fee based on the operating performance of the resort.

Disney’s shares in the resort and the management company are held by a wholly-owned subsidiary called WD Holdings (Shanghai) in Burbank, California. It pays dividends from its profits to the Disney companies which directly own it. Precisely 47% of WD Holdings is owned by The Walt Disney Company Limited in London which files publicly-available financial statements. Its latest set of filings were released recently and show that its dividends from WD Holdings began in 2019 and peaked at $57.7 million (£43.1 million) last year as I recently revealed in the Daily Mail.

This only represents 47% of the dividend so the full amount for 2025 is $122.7 million (£91.7 million) as the chart below shows. The dividend hit its lowest level in 2021 when it crashed by 60.3% to $25.9 million (£18.9 million) the midst of the pandemic. It has surged since then, thanks partly to the opening in December 2023 of the new Zootopia land. Is the first and only theme park area based on the film which was a huge hit in China.

Dividends paid by Shanghai Disneyland's holding company

MSM

A massive 23.1% of Zootopia's $1 billion box office was generated in China while a sequel last year did even better. It hauled in $630 million from China making it the highest-grossing Hollywood film in Chinese history. The theme park land capitalizes on this.

Home to a cutting-edge roving simulator ride, it is filled with brightly-colored buildings which have robotic replicas of the characters from the film peering out of their windows. Disney put more than 260 Zootopia products on sale in the park and created themed food for its restaurants. More than 532 tons of its pink paw-shaped pawpsicles alone have been sold. It has given a glow to Disney's bottom line.

'Zootopia' fans can try real-life pawpsicles in Shanghai Disneyland. (Photo by Tang Yanjun/China News Service/VCG via Getty Images)

China News Service via Getty Images

Three of its four international parks either don’t pay a dividend or only pay small sums. Disney doesn’t own its resort in Tokyo, which is run by specialist leisure operator Oriental Land Company (OLC). In return for licensing its intellectual property, OLC pays Disney royalties but not a a share of its profits. Disneyland Paris pays both but the only time it has paid out a share of its profits was in 1993 when its dividend yielded just $10.2 million (FF56.6 million) for Disney as I recently reported in The Guardian.

Likewise, Hong Kong has one of the smallest Disney parks and in 2024, following the opening of a land themed to the Oscar-winning film Frozen it made its highest-ever profit of $107.8 million (HK$838 million) which is lower than the dividend its counterpart in Shanghai paid out last year.

Shanghai's total profit payout of $516.2 million (£392.8 million) is the highest of any of Disney's international parks and doesn't even include any royalties as they are paid directly to one of its U.S. subsidiaries so they aren't shown on the U.K. filings. The total dividend for last year will actually be even higher than the amount reported in the financial statements as Disney shuffled its Shanghai shares into yet another subsidiary mid-way through 2025 and the filings for this entity are confidential.

Disney’s theme parks produced 57% of its $17.6 billion operating income and nearly 40% of its $94.4 billion revenue in 2025 which explains why the company is doubling down on them. It has earmarked $60 billion for investment in its theme park division by 2033 with a new Spider-Man themed roller coaster coming to Shanghai and a second park widely expected to get the green light as this report explained.

Nevertheless, in line with its ownership stake, it is understood that Disney covered around 43% of the estimated $5.5 billion construction cost of its resort in Shanghai so despite banking a string of blockbuster dividends from it, the studio is still waiting for its happy ending.

Additional reporting by Chris Sylt

SpaceX (NASDAQ:SPCX) begins trading as a Nasdaq 100 constituent today, less than a month after going public, and Wall Street celebrated with coverage normally reserved for a moon landing. Jim Cramer flagged it on CNBC’s Squawk on the Street this morning, quoting Deutsche Bank calling the company “the apex of civilizational ambition, oftentimes expressed in steel and fire.”

The initiation flood is real. Nineteen firms opened coverage, eighteen of them bullish, with a median price target of $225 and a range from $131 to $800. JPMorgan came in at $300, Deutsche Bank at $225, and Moffett Nathanson stood alone at $131 as the lone skeptic. The $800 target implies a market cap over $10 trillion, which would make SpaceX larger than any company currently in existence. For reference, the stock’s market cap as of this morning sits around $2 trillion, and shares are trading at $152, down 5% on the session even as the index inclusion prints.

Selling on the induction day is telling. One of the top Reddit threads this morning is literally titled “SPCX finally joined the Nasdaq-100. The first reaction was to sell it.”

The $131 to $800 Chasm A $73 spread is normal. A $669 spread is analysts admitting they have no idea. When targets fan out this widely, the median stops functioning as consensus and becomes an average of guesses. Statisticians call it positive skew. A handful of ultra-bullish outliers drag the average up while most probability mass sits far lower.

Real money agrees with the skeptics. Polymarket’s end-of-July market currently prices only a 19.5% probability that SPCX closes above $210, and just 50.5% probability of closing above $150. The crowd is pricing modest upside at best. Deutsche Bank is pricing a species. Somebody is wrong.

The stock closed at $162 on July 3 after the June IPO priced at $135, briefly pushed the company’s valuation above $2 trillion, then gave back roughly $600 billion in market value amid profit-taking. Volatility this size in a stock this new is baked into the setup.

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

The Starlink and AI Bull Case The bullish thesis is coherent. Starlink now runs roughly 9,600 satellites in Low-Earth Orbit and delivers connectivity to millions of customers across 164 countries. Falcon rockets carry more than 80% of the world’s mass to orbit and have maintained a 99% mission success rate. SpaceX acquired xAI in early 2026, making the AI stack part of the same corporate entity that owns the pipes running underneath it.

Cramer’s summary is that Starlink and AI form a self-reinforcing system, with space as a potential “halo scalar.” Sylvia Jablonski, CIO of Defiance ETFs, argued in June that “investors are underestimating SpaceX by viewing it solely as an aerospace company” and that Starlink is “poised to exceed expectations.” Compelling. Also unfalsifiable in the near term, which is exactly what happens when traditional valuation breaks down.

What a Retail Investors Should Do Cramer’s own analogy on Mad Money on June 11 was Goldilocks and the Three Bears, and he warned that once IPO pricing leaves Musk’s hands, “these are lions Musk can’t tame.” The stock has ripped from $135 to over $220 and back near $150, all in about four weeks. Retail is now piling into short-squeeze narratives.

When 18 of 19 analysts are cheerleading a stock that has been public for under a month, and one writes prose about steel and fire, treat the euphoria as data. The bull case may be right. The valuation risk is real. Both things are true, and position sizing is the only lever you actually control.

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

Contact [email protected] for any questions or corrections.

Zoom (ZM) earns a buy rating, offering strong fundamentals and cash generation despite competitive and AI-driven risks. ZM's balance sheet is robust, with $7.7B in cash and investments, plus a $1.3B Anthropic stake supporting its $25B market cap. Valuation appears attractive: ZM trades at 12.8x TTM GAAP PE, ~42% net income margin, and high free cash flow yields.

Ford is recalling more than 110,000 vehicles in the US across two separate safety campaigns after federal regulators identified defects involving windshield wipers and a rear drivetrain component that could increase crash risks.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the automaker is recalling 110,626 vehicles in two separate actions affecting certain Mustang, Mustang GTD and Mustang Mach-E models.

The larger recall affects 67,842 Mustang and Mustang GTD vehicles.

NHTSA said that under certain cold-weather conditions, the windshield wipers may operate only at the high-speed setting, while the windshield washer system may not function properly.

The agency said the reduced visibility could increase the risk of a crash.

In a separate recall, Ford is recalling 42,784 Mustang Mach-E vehicles because the rear differential pinion shaft may fracture. 

Ford is recalling more than 110,000 vehicles in the US across two separate safety campaigns. Mike Mareen – stock.adobe.com Federal regulators identified defects involving windshield wipers and a rear drivetrain component that could increase crash risks. REUTERS According to NHTSA, the defect could result in a loss of drive power or unintended vehicle movement if the SUV is parked without the parking brake applied, increasing the risk of a crash.

Dealers will repair or replace the affected components free of charge.

Ford shares were flat in early trading and are up more than five percent year to date.

PayPal is upgraded back to Buy as the stock appears to have found a long-term bottom, trading at just above 8x forward earnings. A bargain bin prospect now. Management's focus on technical simplification and Venmo integration is seen as a pivotal growth lever, though execution remains a 'show me' story. Branded checkout weakness persists, but $1.5 billion in cost savings could fund growth initiatives and improve Venmo-PayPal integration.

Figma stock has fallen sharply since its blockbuster initial public offering last July. (Dreamstime)

Figma and Adobe are down in the dumps through the first half of 2026. But investors should only consider buying Figma, which has a better foundation to withstand the artificial intelligence boom, says BofA Securities.

Shopify drew a bullish view from BofA Securities analyst Tal Liani, who said the company could benefit from the shift toward AI-driven agentic commerce.

• Shopify shares are trending higher. What’s driving SHOP shares up?

BofA Sees AI Commerce UpsideLiani reinstated coverage of Shopify with a Buy rating and a $150 price price forecast on Tuesday.

The analyst said concerns that AI platforms could bypass Shopify have pressured the stock. Still, he believes Shopify’s checkout, payments and backend infrastructure could become more important as AI-native transactions grow.

Analyst Highlights Growth and Margin ExpansionLiani said Shopify also benefits from international expansion and larger merchant adoption, with first-quarter international GMV up 45% year over year and ex-U.S. payments up more than 70%.

He modeled revenue growth of 28.3% in calendar 2026 and 24% in calendar 2027, with operating margin rising from 18.1% in calendar 2026 to 18.8% in calendar 2027 and free cash flow margin improving to 18.3% in calendar 2027.

Technical AnalysisFrom a trend perspective, Shopify is trading above its 20-day SMA ($113.04), 50-day SMA ($112.05) and 100-day SMA ($116.95), but it remains about 10% below its 200-day SMA ($135.96), which keeps the longer-term recovery "in progress" rather than fully repaired. The 20-day SMA above the 50-day SMA is a near-term bullish alignment, but the March Death Cross (50-day below 200-day) remains the bigger-picture overhang.

Earnings & Analyst OutlookLooking further out, the next major catalyst for the stock arrives with the Aug. 5 (estimated) earnings report.

EPS Estimate: 37 cents (Up from 35 cents year-over-year) Revenue Estimate: $3.44 billion (Up from $2.68 billion YoY) Valuation: P/E of 117.8x (Indicates premium valuation relative to peers) Top ETF Exposure Baron Technology ETF (NASDAQ:BCTK): 3.41% Weight Significance: Because SHOP carries significant weight in this fund, any significant inflows or outflows will likely trigger automatic buying or selling of the stock.

SHOP Price ActionSHOP Stock Price Activity: Shopify shares were up 1.92% at $122.45 at the time of publication on Tuesday, according to Benzinga Pro data.

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Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - July 7, 2026) - Oracle Commodity Holding Corp. (TSXV: ORCL) (OTCQB: ORLCF) ("Oracle" or the "Company") is pleased to provide the following updates on its royalty and equity portfolio. Oracle holds a core portfolio of net smelter return ("NSR") royalties across advanced fluorspar, vanadium, nickel-PGM, coal, and silver projects located in the United States, Canada, Mongolia and Bolivia, operated by CleanTech Vanadium Mining Corp. ("CleanTech"), Silver Elephant Mining Corp. ("Silver Elephant"), Norway House Cree Nation ("NHCN") and others.

Ten years ago, Costco Wholesale (COST 0.18%) traded around $155 a share. If you had put $10,000 into the membership-based retailer back then and reinvested every dividend along the way, you would be sitting on about $72,000 today. That is more than seven times your money, or an average of about 22% a year -- the kind of compounding most investors only dream about, and it came from a warehouse-club stock.

So, what produced that result? And can the next decade for Costco stock come anywhere close?

Image source: Getty Images.

The compounding engine Costco's returns don't come from a flashy product cycle. They come from a business model that quietly compounds, and the heart of it is the membership fee. Customers pay an annual fee simply for the right to shop, which hands Costco a stream of high-margin, recurring income and a powerful incentive to keep prices low so members feel they are getting their money's worth.

The business model ultimately creates a flywheel. Low prices drive traffic and loyalty, loyalty drives membership renewals, and renewals help fund still-lower prices.

Further, Costco's renewal rates sit around 90%, and the model has proved remarkably durable across economic cycles.

And the growth hasn't slowed. In its fiscal third quarter (the period ended May 10, 2026), Costco's net sales rose 11.6% year over year to $69.2 billion. Its monthly figures have run even hotter lately. For the retail month of May, net sales climbed 14.5%, with comparable sales -- a measure of revenue at locations open at least a year -- up 12.5%, and digitally enabled comparable sales up 21.1%. For a retailer this size to still post double-digit growth, well into its fifth decade as a public company, is impressive.

And there is still room to grow. Costco keeps opening new warehouses every year, and the bulk of its locations remain in North America, leaving markets across Asia and Europe relatively underpenetrated. Earnings are compounding alongside sales -- net income rose about 10% in fiscal 2025 -- and the membership fee gives the company a lever it can pull every few years. The debate around the stock isn't about whether Costco keeps growing. It is about the price you pay to own that growth.

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Can it happen again? The hard part for anyone buying today is understanding what actually drove those returns. That 22%-a-year gain came partly from Costco's growth and partly from investors, over the decade, deciding to pay an ever-higher price for that growth. Ten years ago, the stock traded at a price-to-earnings ratio in the high 20s. Today, it fetches about 48 times earnings.

That rerating did a lot of the heavy lifting, and it can't repeat forever. For the stock to return 22% a year again, investors a decade from now would have to pay something like 70 or 80 times earnings on top of continued strong growth. That is a stretch, and it is the crux of the problem with buying at today's price.

None of which makes Costco a bad business. It is one of the best retailers on the planet, membership renewals give it unusual visibility into future revenue, and at about 13% below its 52-week high, the stock isn't quite as pricey as it was a few months ago. The risk isn't that the business breaks. It is that a stock priced at 48 times earnings has almost no cushion, so even a modest slowdown -- a soft patch in comparable sales, or sharper competition from Amazon or Walmart's Sam's Club -- could pull the valuation multiple down even as the company keeps performing.

But at nearly 48 times earnings, I don't think today's buyers should expect a repeat of the last decade. Costco will very likely keep growing, keep nudging up its membership fee, and keep rewarding patient shareholders -- just probably at a more ordinary pace from this starting valuation. If you already own it, that is a fine reason to hold on. If you are looking to buy, history suggests the returns tend to be far better when you catch this stock on a meaningful pullback. And 13% off the high isn't quite that. Personally, I would keep it on my watch list and wait for a better price.

Key Takeaways LMND benefits from AI-led underwriting, claims automation and rising multi-policy adoption.In-force premium reached $1.33 billion, marking the 10th consecutive quarter of accelerating growth.Lemonade's reinsurance strategy, improving margins and positive free cash flow support its profitability path. Shares of Lemonade (LMND - Free Report) have gained 88.7% in the past year, outperforming the industry’s growth of 8.2%.

Strong premium growth, improving underwriting performance and continued progress toward profitability have driven the stock. Growth in in-force premium, expanding multi-policy adoption, Lemonade auto and its AI-driven platform have supported revenue growth and operating efficiency. While sustained premium growth, improving profitability and higher customer retention could support further upside, the stock's premium valuation may limit multiple expansion. The company has surpassed earnings estimates in each of the last four quarters, with an average of 25.8%.

Lemonade’s shares have outperformed its peers, including EverQuote Inc. (EVER - Free Report) and Hamilton Insurance (HG - Free Report) , which have gained 7% and 63.4%, respectively, while Root Inc. (ROOT - Free Report) has lost 46.5% in a year.

1-Year Price Performance: LMND, EVER, HG, ROOT & Industry
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

Growth Estimates for LMNDThe Zacks Consensus Estimate for the company’s 2026 and 2027 earnings indicates a 23.6% and 49% year-over-year increase, respectively.

The consensus estimates for 2026 and 2027 revenues suggest year-over-year improvements. LMND has a Growth Score of A.

Muted Analysts' Sentiment on LMNDThe Zacks Consensus Estimate for LMND's 2026 and 2027 earnings has witnessed southbound movement, respectively, in the past 30 days.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

Factors in Favor of LMNDLemonade's AI-driven operating model enhances underwriting, pricing, claims automation and customer service, supporting a scalable, low-cost business model. The company's operating efficiency continues to improve, with in-force premium per employee exceeding $1 billion in the first quarter of 2026, nearly tripling over the past four years. Meanwhile, underwriting performance continues to improve, with the gross loss ratio declining despite winter storm-related losses. Disciplined underwriting and favorable prior-year reserve development drove a 159% increase in gross profit in the first quarter, reinforcing the company's path toward sustained profitability.

Pet Insurance and Lemonade Auto continue to post strong growth, while rising multi-policy adoption improves customer retention and lifetime value, supporting long-term premium growth. Its multi-product strategy enhances customer lifetime value through cross-selling opportunities while supporting a recurring, subscription-like revenue model. Strong customer retention and engagement continue to fuel growth, with management forecasting 32% revenue growth for the second quarter and 33% for full-year 2026.

Lemonade’s in-force premium (IFP) reached $1.33 billion at the end of first-quarter 2026, marking the 10th straight quarter of accelerating growth. This momentum reflects the growing contribution of its AI- and automation-driven platform, which enables efficient scaling. Customer growth and higher premiums per customer continue to drive premium expansion. Management has outlined a long-term goal of increasing IFP to $10 billion.

A major strength of the business is its reinsurance strategy, which shifts a substantial portion of claims risk to partners, helping stabilize earnings and reduce volatility. Strong premium growth and a lower reinsurance ceding rate enable the company to retain a larger share of premiums, contributing to revenues. Management expects the favorable reinsurance structure to continue supporting results through at least mid-2026.

Although profitability remains a challenge, margins are improving, free cash flow has turned positive, and management expects EBITDA profitability by the fourth quarter of 2026. Lemonade exited the first quarter with approximately $1.1 billion in cash and investments and raised its full-year 2026 outlook, reflecting confidence in sustained premium growth, improving profitability and continued business momentum.

Risks for LMNDLemonade's premium valuation remains a key concern. It trades at a 12-month trailing price-to-book ratio of 11.67X, well above the industry average of 2.96X and its three-year median of 3.97X. The elevated valuation leaves limited room for multiple expansion.

The company's results also remain exposed to catastrophe losses. Although weather-related claims were manageable in the first quarter, severe storms, hurricanes, wildfires or other catastrophic events could materially increase claims costs, pressure underwriting margins and lead to earnings volatility.

Additionally, Lemonade continues to invest heavily in customer acquisition. Sales and marketing expenses rose more than 50% year over year in the first quarter of 2026. These could weigh on margins if customer acquisition and retention fail to deliver adequate returns. While marketing efficiency remains strong, maintaining it will be important for long-term profitability.

ConclusionLemonade is well-positioned for long-term growth, supported by strong premium expansion, an AI-driven operating model and improving profitability. Its diversified product portfolio, disciplined underwriting and reinsurance strategy strengthen its competitive position. Its favorable growth estimates and positive free cash flow are other positives.

However, given a premium valuation and catastrophe exposure remain key risks, it is wise to adopt a wait-and-see approach for this Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) insurer. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.

Palantir Technologies Inc. is positioning itself as the AI orchestration layer connecting models, enterprise data, and operational workflows. Nvidia partnership strengthens sovereign AI opportunity as governments demand secure control over sensitive AI infrastructure. U.S. commercial adoption is accelerating, with expanding deployments, deeper workflows, and increasing enterprise reliance.

© Bet_Noire / iStock via Getty Images

Palantir (NASDAQ:PLTR | PLTR Price Prediction) and Google (NASDAQ:GOOGL) both just delivered blowout Q1 2026 reports, yet their businesses look nothing alike. Palantir rebounded 14.55% in the past week after touching a $106 June low, powered by an NVIDIA sovereign AI partnership and blistering enterprise growth. Google, meanwhile, is compounding at scale on the back of Cloud and Gemini. Which setup looks more defensible from here?

AIP Explodes at Palantir. Cloud Backlog Explodes at Google. Palantir posted $1.633 billion in revenue, up 84.7% YoY, with U.S. Commercial up 133% as AIP kept landing enterprise deployments. CEO Alex Karp bragged that “Palantir’s Rule of 40 score has soared to 145%,” putting the company in a club with NVIDIA and Micron. Adjusted operating margin reached 60%, and management raised FY26 revenue guidance to 71% growth.

Google is playing a different game. Revenue hit $109.9 billion, up 21.8% YoY, with Cloud accelerating to 63% growth and backlog nearly doubling to over $460 billion. Sundar Pichai noted Gemini is “processing more than 16 billion tokens per minute” via API. Waymo hit 500,000 fully autonomous rides per week.

Driver Palantir Google Growth Engine AIP in U.S. commercial Cloud + Gemini Customer Base U.S. gov + Fortune 500 Global consumers, advertisers, enterprises Leadership Tone Bold, self-congratulatory Measured, execution-focused Hyper Growth vs. The Full Stack Palantir trades at a trailing P/E of 145 and price to sales near 59. That leaves zero room for execution slippage. Compounding the concern, insiders sold heavily on May 20, 2026, with Karp alone disposing of hundreds of thousands of Class A shares in the $132 to $136 range.

Google trades at a P/E of 28 with a forward P/E of 26. Its 2026 capex guide of $175 to $185 billion is enormous, pressuring free cash flow, which fell 46.63% in Q1. But custom TPUs let it sidestep the foundry price hikes squeezing pure-play software.

What I Am Watching Next For Palantir, the July catalyst is whether momentum in that $4.92 billion U.S. commercial remaining deal value converts fast enough to justify the multiple. Prediction markets peg 76.5% odds PLTR touches $138 in July. For Google, I want Q2 confirmation that Cloud can sustain 60% plus growth while capex ramps.

Why I Lean Toward Google Right Now I own the growth story at Palantir, and Karp has earned the swagger. But paying 145 times earnings with the CEO trimming stock feels like a stretch for me personally. Google gives me AI exposure through TPUs, Cloud, Gemini, and Waymo at 27x, with 57 Buy/Strong Buy ratings and a dividend. Palantir remains the higher-beta, momentum-driven story, while Google offers broader AI exposure through TPUs, Cloud, Gemini, and Waymo at a materially lower multiple. On a risk-adjusted basis today, Google looks like the cleaner setup.

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

Contact [email protected] for any questions or corrections.

Shares of Micron Technology (MU 5.87%) have been coming under pressure of late. While the company has been generating strong numbers in recent quarters and its valuation is seemingly low with respect to earnings, it's been falling significantly in the past few days.

It's now down close to 30% from its 52-week high and is well below $1,000. Could now be the time to load up on the tech stock?

Image source: Getty Images.

Micron's stock has been much more volatile of late There haven't been any significant developments recently to explain why Micron's stock has been crashing. But the reality is that it's become much more volatile of late, leading to larger, more sudden price swings.

MU 30-Day Rolling Volatility data by YCharts

The chart above shows the stock's annualized standard deviation over the past 30 trading days. As Micron's value has risen sharply in recent months, volatility has become much more extreme. While this can open up opportunities to buy the stock at lower levels and potentially profit from significant gains, it also highlights the risks of owning the stock right now.

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Is Micron's stock a good buy on the dip? Given the volatility, investors may be tempted to buy the stock while it's trading lower, in the hopes that it'll bounce back up to the highs it reached last month when it was over $1,200. But there is no guarantee that will happen, and with the stock up more than 200% this year, it's already amassed some significant gains -- many investors may be eager to cash out, and if that happens, that could put more downward pressure on the stock.

While Micron may look cheap on earnings, part of the problem is that the market may struggle to price the stock correctly, given that the business is booming due to a shortage of memory and storage products and has been highly cyclical in the past. If that proves to be the case yet again and demand ends up declining, the stock could be due for a massive crash. Even if that may not happen for a few years, forward-thinking investors may already be pricing in that risk.

Although the stock's forward price-to-earnings multiple of six (which is based on analyst projections) may suggest Micron is incredibly undervalued despite its gains, that doesn't mean that there isn't significant risk with buying the stock today. Micron's volatility suggests this may not be a suitable investment for investors without a high tolerance for risk, and it's definitely not a slam-dunk buy just because it's trading lower than $1,000.

Micron Technology (NASDAQ: MU | MU Price Prediction) and Apple (NASDAQ: AAPL) just delivered earnings that expose opposite ends of the AI hardware trade. Micron reported $41.46 billion in fiscal Q3 revenue as data centers hoarded memory. Apple posted a record $111.184 billion March quarter while raising hardware prices to protect margins.

Memory Prices Explode. iPhone Volume Holds The Line. Micron’s quarter reads like a commodity super-cycle in motion. GAAP gross margin jumped to 84.6%, from 37.7% a year earlier, and Cloud Memory revenue hit $13.77 billion as hyperscalers scrambled for HBM4. CEO Sanjay Mehrotra told investors the results “reflect the strategic value of memory in the AI era” and pointed to multi-year Strategic Customer Agreements as evidence of locked-in pricing.

Apple’s story is steadier and more defensive. iPhone brought in $56.994 billion, Services set a fresh record at $30.976 billion, and Tim Cook cited “extraordinary demand for the iPhone 17 lineup.” But the company pushed through a 15% to 54% global price hike on MacBooks and iPads to absorb component inflation, a move that props up the P&L today and risks demand tomorrow.

Business Driver Micron Apple Main Growth Engine HBM and cloud DRAM iPhone plus Services flywheel YoY Revenue Growth 345.7% 16.6% Gross Margin 84.6% Roughly 47% Commodity Bottleneck vs. Elastic Consumer Wallet Micron is spending $7.83 billion in a single quarter on capacity because customers sign long contracts to guarantee supply through structural DRAM shortages locked in through 2027. Apple is defending margin by raising sticker prices on discretionary hardware, a strategy that works only until buyers push back.

Valuation sharpens the contrast. Micron trades at a forward P/E near 7 despite the run to $975.56. Apple sits at a forward P/E of 32 with a PEG near 2.5. One is priced for the cycle to break. The other is priced for perfection.

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

The Next Test Is Whether Consumers Say No Micron guided fiscal Q4 to $50.0 billion in revenue and $31.00 in non-GAAP EPS, with gross margin approaching 86%. Watch whether HBM4E qualifications hold that pricing curve into calendar 2027. On the Apple side, keep an eye on unit demand after the MacBook and iPad price increases, and on the 96% market-implied probability of an iPhone 18 launch this year.

One skeptical note: Micron insiders, including CEO Mehrotra selling 94,078 shares into the rally, are taking chips off the table.

Why I Lean Toward Micron Right Now On the setup alone, Micron looks like the more interesting story. The math of a 7 forward multiple against triple-digit revenue growth and 80%-plus gross margins is hard to ignore, even accounting for cycle risk. Apple remains a fortress with a $100 billion buyback and 2.5 billion active devices. But price hikes to offset memory inflation tell me Cupertino is absorbing the squeeze, while Boise is dictating it. If AI capex cools sharply, I would revisit. Until then, the commodity bottleneck looks like the more compelling setup for research.

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

Contact [email protected] for any questions or corrections.

Key Takeaways ISRG sees about 300,000 U.S. appendectomies as an addressable market still being evaluated.Intuitive Surgical said early analyses showed da Vinci outperformed laparoscopy on multiple measures.ISRG expects appendectomy to lift procedure volume, though lower reimbursement may weigh on revenue mix. Although the appendectomy is in its early stages, it is emerging as one of the newest growth avenues for Intuitive Surgical’s (ISRG - Free Report) robotic surgery franchise. During the first quarter of 2026, the company highlighted continued strength in U.S. general surgery, with cholecystectomy and appendectomy procedures collectively growing 31%.

The growth was primarily supported by increasing use of da Vinci systems during after-hours and weekend surgeries. Management also noted that appendectomy represents an addressable market of roughly 300,000 annual procedures in the United States, though it is still evaluating what proportion of that market is realistically suitable for robotic surgery.

A key catalyst for broader adoption is the emergence of encouraging clinical evidence. Management stated that several institution-level analyses showed da Vinci surgery delivering superior outcomes across multiple functional measures compared with conventional laparoscopy. While these findings remain preliminary and require validation through larger clinical studies, they provide an important foundation for expanding robotic use in a procedure traditionally dominated by laparoscopic techniques.

However, reimbursement remains a meaningful constraint. Intuitive Surgical acknowledged that appendectomy is a relatively quick procedure with comparatively low reimbursement, limiting the immediate economic incentive for hospitals to adopt robotics broadly. The company believes stronger clinical evidence will be necessary before robotic appendectomy gains wider acceptance despite its promising outcomes.

From an investment perspective, appendectomy is likely to drive higher procedure volume, but the impact on margins may not be material in the near term. Higher procedure counts could increase utilization of Intuitive Surgical’s installed base, particularly during evenings and weekends, supporting recurring instrument and accessory revenues.

The lower reimbursement profile suggests the procedure may generate lower revenue per case than more complex robotic surgeries, creating a potential mix headwind. Even so, successful expansion into high-volume general surgery procedures aligns with Intuitive Surgical’s long-term strategy of broadening robotic adoption beyond its traditional specialties, reinforcing sustainable procedure growth over time.

Peer UpdatesZimmer Biomet (ZBH - Free Report) is expanding its robotic surgery opportunity by broadening both procedural indications and platform capabilities rather than relying solely on knee arthroplasty. The company has fully commercialized ROSA Shoulder, enabling robotic assistance for both anatomic and reverse shoulder replacements through glenoid reaming and humeral resection. The company is already developing a second-generation system with tighter integration into the broader ROSA digital ecosystem.

Beyond shoulders, Zimmer is preparing the semi-autonomous mBos robotic platform for a 2027 launch, positioning it as a faster, more accurate and easier-to-use system that could democratize robotic orthopedics across additional procedures. Coupled with investments in more than 200 robotic clinical specialists and continued growth of ROSA and TMINI, the company is building a multi-platform robotics portfolio designed to unlock new procedure categories and expand its addressable market.

Stryker (SYK - Free Report) is widening Mako's growth runway by transforming the platform from a knee-and-hip robot into a multifunctional orthopedic ecosystem. Following record first-quarter Mako installations, the company plans a full Mako 4 launch for shoulder surgery in mid-2026 while adding advanced hip and revision hip procedures that simplify technically demanding operations.

Management believes these new indications will increase robot utilization and ultimately drive demand for additional systems as hospitals require greater robotic capacity. Stryker is also targeting surgeons who have been hesitant to adopt full robotics through the new Mako RPS handheld system, particularly in ambulatory surgery centers, thereby expanding its customer base beyond traditional Mako users. The company indicated that more robotic indications are under development, reinforcing its strategy of creating new market opportunities through continuous procedural expansion rather than relying only on implant growth.

ISRG’s Price Performance, Valuation and EstimatesShares of ISRG have lost 23.6% so far this year compared with a 12.4% decline of the industry.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

From a valuation standpoint, Intuitive Surgical trades at a forward price-to-earnings ratio of 39.08X, above the industry average. But, it is still lower than its five-year median of 69.80X. ISRG carries a Value Score of D.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Intuitive Surgical’s 2026 earnings implies a 16.6% rise from the year-ago period’s level.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

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