Track market-moving stories before they get noisy

Looking for a stock that has been consistently beating earnings estimates and might be well positioned to keep the streak alive in its next quarterly report? Dropbox (DBX - Free Report) , which belongs to the Zacks Internet - Services industry, could be a great candidate to consider.

When looking at the last two reports, this online file-sharing company has recorded a strong streak of surpassing earnings estimates. The company has topped estimates by 5.04%, on average, in the last two quarters.

For the most recent quarter, Dropbox was expected to post earnings of $0.71 per share, but it reported $0.76 per share instead, representing a surprise of 7.04%. For the previous quarter, the consensus estimate was $0.66 per share, while it actually produced $0.68 per share, a surprise of 3.03%.

Price and EPS Surprise

With this earnings history in mind, recent estimates have been moving higher for Dropbox. In fact, the Zacks Earnings ESP (Expected Surprise Prediction) for the company is positive, which is a great sign of an earnings beat, especially when you combine this metric with its nice Zacks Rank.

Our research shows that stocks with the combination of a positive Earnings ESP and a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) or better produce a positive surprise nearly 70% of the time. In other words, if you have 10 stocks with this combination, the number of stocks that beat the consensus estimate could be as high as seven.

The Zacks Earnings ESP compares the Most Accurate Estimate to the Zacks Consensus Estimate for the quarter; the Most Accurate Estimate is a version of the Zacks Consensus whose definition is related to change. The idea here is that analysts revising their estimates right before an earnings release have the latest information, which could potentially be more accurate than what they and others contributing to the consensus had predicted earlier.

Dropbox currently has an Earnings ESP of +4.52%, which suggests that analysts have recently become bullish on the company's earnings prospects. This positive Earnings ESP when combined with the stock's Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) indicates that another beat is possibly around the corner.

When the Earnings ESP comes up negative, investors should note that this will reduce the predictive power of the metric. But, a negative value is not indicative of a stock's earnings miss.

Many companies end up beating the consensus EPS estimate, though this is not the only reason why their shares gain. Additionally, some stocks may remain stable even if they end up missing the consensus estimate.

Because of this, it's really important to check a company's Earnings ESP ahead of its quarterly release to increase the odds of success. Make sure to utilize our Earnings ESP Filter to uncover the best stocks to buy or sell before they've reported.

Key Takeaways SPB is investing in innovation and brand building to support growth across pet care, home & garden.Spectrum Brands is expanding e-commerce, digital marketing and omnichannel capabilities. SPB is improving efficiency through portfolio optimization, ERP modernization and capital allocation. Spectrum Brands Holdings Inc. (SPB - Free Report) is strategically investing in brand equity, digital channels and innovations. The company has made significant investments in marketing, product development and e-commerce, efforts that are positioning it for long-term success and demand resilience, especially across its pet care, home & garden and grooming categories. SPB is actively pursuing digital transformation and portfolio reshaping as core pillars of its long-term strategy.

Innovation continues to play a meaningful role in the company’s strategy. Spectrum Brands is prioritizing product launches primarily in its pet care and home and garden segments to remain competitive and drive growth. The company is also focused on its core strategic pillars by simplifying its organizational structure, improving operational efficiencies and reinvigorating its global workforce.

Spectrum Brands is advancing its digital transformation by expanding its e-commerce capabilities, strengthening digital marketing efforts and enhancing omnichannel execution. The company is leveraging data analytics and consumer insights to improve marketing effectiveness, optimize merchandising and support product innovation. It is also investing in enterprise technology upgrades, including ERP modernization, to streamline supply-chain operations, improve inventory management and boost productivity.

Overall, SPB is focused on driving growth by investing in product innovation, strengthening its portfolio of trusted brands and expanding its presence. The company also remains committed to disciplined capital allocation, focusing on cash flow generation and portfolio optimization. In a nutshell, management is aligning the portfolio toward power brands and faster-turning consumables while pursuing greater scale. These strategic initiatives, combined with continued brand investments, position Spectrum Brands to drive long-term success.

SPB’s Price Performance, Valuation and EstimatesSpectrum Brands’ shares have gained 30.5% in the past six months compared with the industry’s 4.9% growth.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

From a valuation standpoint, SPB trades at a forward price-to-earnings ratio of 15.28X compared with the industry’s average of 15.14X.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for SPB’s fiscal 2026 earnings per share (EPS) indicates a year-over-year drop of 2% while that of fiscal 2027 EPS shows growth of 3.5%. The company’s EPS estimates for fiscal 2026 and fiscal 2027 have been stable over the past 30 days. 

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

Spectrum Brands currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold).

Key Picks in the Consumer Discretionary SpaceDuluth Holdings Inc. (DLTH - Free Report) , which deals in casual wear, workwear and accessories for men and women, currently sports a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.

Duluth Holdings delivered a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 107.5%, on average. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for DLTH’s current financial-year EPS indicates a decline of 11.6% from the year-ago number.

Columbia Sportswear (COLM - Free Report) engages in marketing and distribution of outdoor and active lifestyle apparel, footwear and accessories. It currently sports a Zacks Rank of 1.

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for COLM’s current financial-year EPS is expected to rise 4.6% from the corresponding year-ago reported figure. COLM delivered a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 44.1%, on average.

Ralph Lauren Corporation (RL - Free Report) , which is a designer and marketer of premium lifestyle products, currently carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy).

RL delivered a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 9.1%, on average. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Ralph Lauren’s current financial-year sales indicates growth of 6.3% from the year-ago number.

Growth stocks are attractive to many investors, as above-average financial growth helps these stocks easily grab the market's attention and produce exceptional returns. But finding a growth stock that can live up to its true potential can be a tough task.

By their very nature, these stocks carry above-average risk and volatility. Moreover, if a company's growth story is over or nearing its end, betting on it could lead to significant loss.

However, it's pretty easy to find cutting-edge growth stocks with the help of the Zacks Growth Style Score (part of the Zacks Style Scores system), which looks beyond the traditional growth attributes to analyze a company's real growth prospects.

Vertiv Holdings Co. (VRT - Free Report) is one such stock that our proprietary system currently recommends. The company not only has a favorable Growth Score, but also carries a top Zacks Rank.

Research shows that stocks carrying the best growth features consistently beat the market. And returns are even better for stocks that possess the combination of a Growth Score of A or B and a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) or 2 (Buy).

While there are numerous reasons why the stock of this company is a great growth pick right now, we have highlighted three of the most important factors below:

Earnings GrowthArguably nothing is more important than earnings growth, as surging profit levels is what most investors are after. And for growth investors, double-digit earnings growth is definitely preferable, and often an indication of strong prospects (and stock price gains) for the company under consideration.

While the historical EPS growth rate for Vertiv is 64%, investors should actually focus on the projected growth. The company's EPS is expected to grow 51.9% this year, crushing the industry average, which calls for EPS growth of 8.9%.

Cash Flow GrowthCash is the lifeblood of any business, but higher-than-average cash flow growth is more beneficial and important for growth-oriented companies than for mature companies. That's because, high cash accumulation enables these companies to undertake new projects without raising expensive outside funds.

Right now, year-over-year cash flow growth for Vertiv is 41%, which is higher than many of its peers. In fact, the rate compares to the industry average of 9.7%.

While investors should actually consider the current cash flow growth, it's worth taking a look at the historical rate too for putting the current reading into proper perspective. The company's annualized cash flow growth rate has been 31.5% over the past 3-5 years versus the industry average of 8.5%.

Promising Earnings Estimate RevisionsSuperiority of a stock in terms of the metrics outlined above can be further validated by looking at the trend in earnings estimate revisions. A positive trend is of course favorable here. Empirical research shows that there is a strong correlation between trends in earnings estimate revisions and near-term stock price movements.

The current-year earnings estimates for Vertiv have been revising upward. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for the current year has surged 0.2% over the past month.

Bottom LineVertiv has not only earned a Growth Score of A based on a number of factors, including the ones discussed above, but it also carries a Zacks Rank #2 because of the positive earnings estimate revisions.

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

This combination positions Vertiv well for outperformance, so growth investors may want to bet on it.

Momentum investing is all about the idea of following a stock's recent trend, which can be in either direction. In the "long context," investors will essentially be "buying high, but hoping to sell even higher." And for investors following this methodology, taking advantage of trends in a stock's price is key; once a stock establishes a course, it is more than likely to continue moving in that direction. The goal is that once a stock heads down a fixed path, it will lead to timely and profitable trades.

Even though momentum is a popular stock characteristic, it can be tough to define. Debate surrounding which are the best and worst metrics to focus on is lengthy, but the Zacks Momentum Style Score, part of the Zacks Style Scores, helps address this issue for us.

Below, we take a look at Datadog (DDOG - Free Report) , a company that currently holds a Momentum Style Score of B. We also talk about price change and earnings estimate revisions, two of the main aspects of the Momentum Style Score.

It's also important to note that Style Scores work as a complement to the Zacks Rank, our stock rating system that has an impressive track record of outperformance. Datadog currently has a Zacks Rank of #2 (Buy). Our research shows that stocks rated Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) and #2 (Buy) and Style Scores of "A or B" outperform the market over the following one-month period.

You can see the current list of Zacks #1 Rank Stocks here >>>

Set to Beat the Market?Let's discuss some of the components of the Momentum Style Score for DDOG that show why this data analytics and cloud monitoring company shows promise as a solid momentum pick.

A good momentum benchmark for a stock is to look at its short-term price activity, as this can reflect both current interest and if buyers or sellers currently have the upper hand. It is also useful to compare a security to its industry, as this can help investors pinpoint the top companies in a particular area.

For DDOG, shares are up 8.59% over the past week while the Zacks Internet - Software industry is up 4.62% over the same time period. Shares are looking quite well from a longer time frame too, as the monthly price change of 10.23% compares favorably with the industry's 2.97% performance as well.

Considering longer term price metrics, like performance over the last three months or year, can be advantageous as well. Over the past quarter, shares of Datadog have risen 131.99%, and are up 67.56% in the last year. On the other hand, the S&P 500 has only moved 14.34% and 21.46%, respectively.

Investors should also pay attention to DDOG's average 20-day trading volume. Volume is a useful item in many ways, and the 20-day average establishes a good price-to-volume baseline; a rising stock with above average volume is generally a bullish sign, whereas a declining stock on above average volume is typically bearish. DDOG is currently averaging 4,265,776 shares for the last 20 days.

Earnings OutlookThe Zacks Momentum Style Score also takes into account trends in estimate revisions, in addition to price changes. Please note that estimate revision trends remain at the core of Zacks Rank as well. A nice path here can help show promise, and we have recently been seeing that with DDOG.

Over the past two months, 6 earnings estimates moved higher compared to none lower for the full year. These revisions helped boost DDOG's consensus estimate, increasing from $2.28 to $2.41 in the past 60 days. Looking at the next fiscal year, 6 estimates have moved upwards while there have been no downward revisions in the same time period.

Bottom LineGiven these factors, it shouldn't be surprising that DDOG is a #2 (Buy) stock and boasts a Momentum Score of B. If you're looking for a fresh pick that's set to soar in the near-term, make sure to keep Datadog on your short list.

Carpenter Technology (CRS - Free Report) could be a solid addition to your portfolio given its recent upgrade to a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). This upgrade primarily reflects an upward trend in earnings estimates, which is one of the most powerful forces impacting stock prices.

The sole determinant of the Zacks rating is a company's changing earnings picture. The Zacks Consensus Estimate -- the consensus of EPS estimates from the sell-side analysts covering the stock -- for the current and following years is tracked by the system.

Since a changing earnings picture is a powerful factor influencing near-term stock price movements, the Zacks rating system is very useful for individual investors. They may find it difficult to make decisions based on rating upgrades by Wall Street analysts, as these are mostly driven by subjective factors that are hard to see and measure in real time.

Therefore, the Zacks rating upgrade for Carpenter basically reflects positivity about its earnings outlook that could translate into buying pressure and an increase in its stock price.

Most Powerful Force Impacting Stock PricesThe change in a company's future earnings potential, as reflected in earnings estimate revisions, and the near-term price movement of its stock are proven to be strongly correlated. The influence of institutional investors has a partial contribution to this relationship, as these big professionals use earnings and earnings estimates to calculate the fair value of a company's shares. An increase or decrease in earnings estimates in their valuation models simply results in higher or lower fair value for a stock, and institutional investors typically buy or sell it. Their transaction of large amounts of shares then leads to price movement for the stock.

For Carpenter, rising earnings estimates and the consequent rating upgrade fundamentally mean an improvement in the company's underlying business. And investors' appreciation of this improving business trend should push the stock higher.

Harnessing the Power of Earnings Estimate RevisionsEmpirical research shows a strong correlation between trends in earnings estimate revisions and near-term stock movements, so it could be truly rewarding if such revisions are tracked for making an investment decision. Here is where the tried-and-tested Zacks Rank stock-rating system plays an important role, as it effectively harnesses the power of earnings estimate revisions.

The Zacks Rank stock-rating system, which uses four factors related to earnings estimates to classify stocks into five groups, ranging from Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) to Zacks Rank #5 (Strong Sell), has an impressive externally-audited track record, with Zacks Rank #1 stocks generating an average annual return of +25% since 1988. You can see the complete list of today's Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here >>>> .

Earnings Estimate Revisions for CarpenterThis maker of stainless steels and special alloys is expected to earn $10.56 per share for the fiscal year ending June 2026, which represents no year-over-year change.

Analysts have been steadily raising their estimates for Carpenter. Over the past three months, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for the company has increased 3.1%.

Bottom LineUnlike the overly optimistic Wall Street analysts whose rating systems tend to be weighted toward favorable recommendations, the Zacks rating system maintains an equal proportion of "buy" and "sell" ratings for its entire universe of more than 4,000 stocks at any point in time. Irrespective of market conditions, only the top 5% of the Zacks-covered stocks get a "Strong Buy" rating and the next 15% get a "Buy" rating. So, the placement of a stock in the top 20% of the Zacks-covered stocks indicates its superior earnings estimate revision feature, making it a solid candidate for producing market-beating returns in the near term.

You can learn more about the Zacks Rank here >>>

The upgrade of Carpenter to a Zacks Rank #2 positions it in the top 20% of the Zacks-covered stocks in terms of estimate revisions, implying that the stock might move higher in the near term.

Key Takeaways Quanta has surged 78.6% in a year, outpacing its industry, sector and the S&P 500.PWR trades at 44.11X forward earnings, well above the industry average of 29.8X.Quanta raised 2026 guidance after record Q1 revenue and backlog reached $48.5 billion. Quanta Services (PWR - Free Report) has been one of the biggest winners in the infrastructure sector over the past year, with its stock soaring 78.6%. The rally has comfortably outpaced the Zacks Engineering - R&D Services industry's 36.8% gain, the Zacks Construction sector's 18.9% advance and the S&P 500's 23.9% rise. Investors have rewarded the company for consistently delivering strong earnings, expanding its backlog and positioning itself at the center of several long-term infrastructure trends.

PWR Price Performance (1 Year)

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

PWR's Technical Trend

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

The stock's impressive performance, however, has come with a higher price tag. Quanta now trades at a forward 12-month price-to-earnings (P/E) multiple of 44.11X, significantly above the industry average of 29.8X. While Wall Street remains optimistic about the company's long-term prospects, investors now face an important question: Does    Quanta's business outlook justify paying such a premium, or has much of its future growth already been priced into the stock?

PWR Valuation (P/E F12M) vs Industry

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

The answer depends on whether Quanta can continue converting its industry-leading project pipeline into sustained earnings growth while maintaining strong execution. Let's take a closer look at what continues to support the investment case and the factors that could limit further upside.

Quanta's Growth Drivers Remain StrongQuanta continues to benefit from one of the most attractive infrastructure spending environments in decades. Rising electricity demand, AI-driven data center construction, renewable energy integration, transmission expansion and electric grid modernization are creating significant opportunities across its end markets.

The company has evolved beyond being a traditional contractor into a provider of integrated infrastructure solutions. Its engineering expertise, skilled workforce, fabrication capabilities and supply-chain investments allow it to execute increasingly complex projects for utilities, hyperscalers and industrial customers. This integrated approach has strengthened customer relationships and enabled Quanta to participate earlier in customers' multiyear capital planning cycles.

Management also continues investing to support future demand. The company is expanding transformer manufacturing capacity and nearly doubling its off-site fabrication and logistics footprint, positioning itself to capitalize on accelerating investments in power infrastructure and AI-related projects. These investments should strengthen Quanta's competitive advantage as customers increasingly prioritize execution certainty and supply-chain reliability.

Strong Execution Supports Higher Earnings Outlook for PWRQuanta's first-quarter 2026 results reinforced confidence in its long-term growth strategy. Revenues increased 26.3% year over year to a record $7.87 billion, while adjusted earnings per share (EPS) climbed to $2.68 from $1.78 in the prior-year quarter. Both the Electric Infrastructure Solutions and Underground & Infrastructure Solutions segments delivered margin expansion, highlighting disciplined project execution and favorable work mix. The company also ended the quarter with a record total backlog of $48.5 billion, providing excellent revenue visibility over the coming years.

Following the strong start to the year, management raised its full-year 2026 outlook. Quanta now expects revenues between $34.7 billion and $35.2 billion and adjusted EPS between $13.55 and $14.25, reflecting improved visibility across its utility, power generation and large-load infrastructure businesses.

Management remains equally optimistic about the longer term. At its recent Investor Day, Quanta outlined a strategy to more than double adjusted earnings power by 2030, supported by an estimated $2.4 trillion addressable market spanning utilities, power generation and large-load infrastructure.

Analysts also remain constructive. Over the past 60 days, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2026 EPS has increased from $13.87 to $14.03, representing expected growth of 30.5% from 2025. Revenue estimates point to 22.1% growth in 2026, followed by continued double-digit growth in 2027.

PWR EPS Estimate

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

PWR Stock’s Premium Valuation Demands Continued ExecutionQuanta's biggest challenge today is not demand but valuation. Despite trading below its 50-day moving average, the stock still commands a forward P/E multiple of 44.11X, substantially above the industry average of 29.8X. Such a premium reflects investor confidence that Quanta can sustain above-average earnings growth for several years.

Wall Street's optimism remains evident. The stock carries an Average Brokerage Recommendation (ABR) of 1.37, with 22 of the 27 analysts rating it a Strong Buy. Analysts' average price target of $808.00 also implies roughly 20% upside from current levels.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

Nevertheless, premium valuations leave little room for disappointment. Any slowdown in backlog growth, project execution or margin expansion could pressure the stock more than lower-valued peers.

Macro Risks Could Create Near-Term VolatilityAlthough Quanta's long-term outlook remains favorable, several external factors could influence future performance.

Large infrastructure projects are often subject to permitting delays, regulatory approvals, adverse weather, supply-chain disruptions and changing customer schedules. Inflation, tariffs, labor shortages and higher interest rates may also increase project costs or delay customer capital spending.

Management acknowledged that weather, permitting, regulatory issues, trade policy, supply-chain conditions and broader macroeconomic uncertainty remain important variables affecting project timing and financial performance, even as underlying demand remains robust.

How Quanta Stacks Up Against CompetitorsQuanta competes with EMCOR Group (EME - Free Report) , Sterling Infrastructure (STRL - Free Report) and Comfort Systems USA (FIX - Free Report) across several infrastructure and mission-critical construction markets.

From a share price perspective, Comfort Systems has delivered the strongest performance, with shares rising roughly 240% over the past year. Sterling Infrastructure follows closely with a gain of 215.9%, while Quanta has advanced 78.6%. Although Quanta has significantly outperformed EMCOR, whose shares have gained 45.5%, it has lagged the exceptional rallies posted by Comfort Systems and Sterling Infrastructure.

Valuation paints a different picture. EMCOR trades at the lowest forward P/E multiple of 25.27X, suggesting a more modest growth premium. Sterling Infrastructure trades at 31.76X, while Comfort Systems commands 37.37X. Quanta's forward P/E of 44.11X is the highest among the four companies, indicating that investors assign the greatest premium to Quanta's earnings visibility, diversified business model and long-term infrastructure opportunities.

Should Investors Buy PWR Stock Now?Quanta continues to execute at a high level. Record backlog, improving financial guidance, rising earnings estimates and strong demand across electric infrastructure, AI data centers and power generation provide a solid foundation for long-term growth. Management's investments in manufacturing capacity, supply-chain capabilities and integrated solutions further strengthen its competitive position for the coming decade.

However, the stock's premium valuation cannot be ignored. After nearly an 80% gain over the past year, investors are paying a substantial premium for Quanta's quality and growth prospects. While the business fundamentals continue to justify optimism, the current valuation reduces the margin of safety and makes flawless execution increasingly important.

Considering the company's attractive long-term outlook alongside its elevated valuation, the current Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) appears appropriate. Existing investors can remain confident in Quanta's multiyear growth story, while new investors may benefit from waiting for either a more attractive entry point or further earnings growth to better support the premium multiple. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.

Key Takeaways MKTX handled more than $1.04T in Q2 credit trading volume, even as total ADV declined 11% year over year.MKTX saw growth in Emerging Markets, portfolio trading and record Mid-X volume offset weaker U.S. rates.MarketAxess' U.S. credit portfolio trading market share rose to 20.6% as Q2 EPS is projected to decline. MarketAxess Holdings Inc. (MKTX - Free Report) recently announced that in the second quarter of 2026, it recorded a total trading average daily volume (ADV) of $43.6 billion, an 11% year-over-year decrease. Nevertheless, its electronic trading platform facilitated more than $1.04 trillion in total credit trading volume in the quarter, increasing 1% year over year.

Growth in Emerging markets (+12%) and Agencies and Other Government Bond Rates (+84%) supported the total volume, offset by declines in U.S. Government Bond Rates (-22%), High-grade (-4%) and High-yield (-8%). Eurobonds markets saw a 1% increase in ADV from the year-ago period.

Total credit average variable transaction fees per million (“FPM”) declined 7% year over year in the quarter due to product and protocol mix and lower duration in U.S. high-grade, while the same for total rates jumped 24% year over year due to protocol mix. The number of trading days in the United States and the U.K. were 62 and 61, respectively, in the second quarter. Its estimated market share of U.S. credit portfolio trading came at 20.6%, rising from 17.5% a year ago.

The second quarter figures indicate 33% rise in total portfolio trading ADV to $2 billion, but Dealer-initiated ADV of $1.7 billion fell 3% year over year. It also announced that total Mid-X trading volume surged 156% to a record $23.6 billion.

Where Do Q2 Estimates Stand?The Zacks Consensus Estimate for MarketAxess’ second-quarter earnings is pegged at $1.90 per share, which indicates a 5% year-over-year decrease. The consensus mark for revenues stands at $220.43 million, suggesting a 0.4% year-over-year increase. Notably, the company has surpassed earnings estimates in each of the past four quarters, with an average surprise of 4.5%.

Zacks Rank & Key PicksMarketAxess currently has a Zacks Rank #4 (Sell).

Some better-ranked stocks in the broader Finance space are Cboe Global Markets, Inc. (CBOE - Free Report) , Nasdaq, Inc. (NDAQ - Free Report) and Chime Financial, Inc. (CHYM - Free Report) , each carrying a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) at present. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Cboe Global’s current-year earnings is pegged at $13.36 per share, signaling 25.2% year-over-year increase. CBOE beat earnings estimates in each of the past four quarters, with an average surprise of 5.4%. The consensus mark for its current-year revenues is pegged at $2.75 billion, a 13.1% jump from a year ago.

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Nasdaq’s 2026 earnings indicates 11.2% year-over-year growth. During the past month, NDAQ has witnessed one upward estimate revision against none in the opposite direction. It beat earnings estimates in each of the past four quarters, with an average surprise of 4.9%.

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Chime Financial’s current-year earnings suggests a 107% year-over-year improvement. During the past 60 days, CHYM has witnessed two upward estimate revisions against none in the opposite direction. The consensus mark for current-year revenues suggests a 22.6% jump from a year ago.

Key Takeaways Lockheed's Ultra Maritime acquisition is set to expand its undersea warfare capabilities.Defense buyouts by Rheinmetall, Thales, RENK, AeroVironment and Teledyne signal wider naval consolidation.SHLD and MISL provide diversified exposure to defense firms participating in the trend. To further strengthen its footprint in the future of naval warfare, the globe’s largest defense contractor, Lockheed Martin (LMT - Free Report) has recently announced a definitive agreement to acquire Ultra Maritime, a specialist in anti-submarine warfare (ASW), for $3.45 billion. This acquisition marks LMT’s strategic effort to integrate Ultra Maritime's advanced sonar, torpedo defense, and autonomous sensing technologies into its Rotary and Mission Systems division, thereby enhancing its capability to deliver next-generation undersea solutions to allied forces.

Lockheed is far from an outlier in pursuing this strategy. Across the globe, defense primes are aggressively expanding their maritime and undersea capabilities through consolidation, signaling a significant shift in the industry.

For investors looking to gain exposure to this wave of naval consolidation, a diversified approach through Defense Exchange-Traded Funds (ETFs) may offer a more prudent path than betting on individual stocks. While the strategic rationale for these buyouts is clear, the integration risks and regulatory complexities inherent in defense M&A make a broader sector vehicle highly attractive.

To understand the full macro scope of this maritime shift, it is essential to look beyond Lockheed and examine the other recent power moves reshaping the naval defense landscape. It is precisely this industry-wide wave of consolidation that highlights the necessity of opting for a diversified ETF approach.

The New Arms Race Beneath the WavesLockheed's latest announcement to purchase Ultra Maritime comes as part of a much larger pattern of consolidation seen lately across the defense sector, with other major contractors also making significant moves to bolster their maritime portfolios. These include:

•    German arms manufacturer, Rheinmetall (RNMBY - Free Report) , which completed the takeover of Naval Vessels Lürssen (NVL) in March 2026. This consolidation establishes a dedicated German systems house for the development and manufacturing of state-of-the-art navy and coastguard vessels, as well as maritime autonomous surface systems. 

•    French defense contractor, Thales (THLLY - Free Report) , has recently reached an agreement to acquire the Gorgé family’s stake in Exail Technologies, a maker of autonomous underwater drones, valuing the firm at roughly $4.5 billion. This buyout should bolster Thales' expertise in quantum sensors and underwater warfare.

•    German-based RENK Group, a manufacturer of propulsion, gearboxes, transmissions, and suspension systems used in military battle tanks, acquired David Brown Defence in July 2026. This deal provides RENK with access to major "Five Eyes" naval programs, which involve 34 warships, including the Type 26 frigates and River Class destroyers.

•    U.S.-based combat drone leader, AeroVironment (AVAV - Free Report) completed a massive $4.1 billion all-stock acquisition of defense tech firm BlueHalo in May, last year. This buyout directly expanded AeroVironment's uncrewed and autonomous operations by bringing in advanced underwater robotic and subsea systems, including the Mission Specialist Defender ROV used by the U.S. Navy. 

•    Teledyne Technologies (TDY - Free Report) , an American defense electronics provider, acquired the TransponderTech business from Saab AB in October 2025. TDY’s rationale behind this takeover was to strengthen its maritime technology solutions, with TransponderTech's communications and navigation solutions highly complementary and capable of expanding TDY’s marine portfolio. 

This surge in M&A activity over the past year has been directly driven by escalating maritime threats in critical regions, particularly across Middle Eastern shipping lanes. The resulting vulnerability of global trade routes has forced commercial vessels to reroute along longer, costlier paths. In response, major global powers are aggressively deploying and upgrading their naval forces to secure these vital sea lanes — a macro demand shock perfectly reflected in the recent string of high-profile defense buyouts.

A New Horizon for Naval Defense: The Case for ETFsAgainst the current backdrop, the outlook for the naval defense sector is exceptionally strong, with these acquisitions creating more integrated, powerful, and innovative players capable of delivering comprehensive solutions. For defense primes like Lockheed, the immediate benefit is clear — acquiring specialized technology and international market access. 

However, investing directly in a company like Lockheed carries inherent risks. Execution risk is paramount; integrating a $3.45 billion acquisition is a complex process. Furthermore, defense stocks often face political and budgetary headwinds, as spending can be impacted by shifting government priorities.

Considering such single-stock oriented risks, investors seeking a safer, diversified route to capitalize on this industry-wide trend may instead go for defense ETFs that offer broad exposure to the sector, including Lockheed. 

These ETFs minimize the risk associated with any single acquisition or stock, allowing investors to benefit from the overall growth of the defense industry, including the ongoing naval consolidation wave.

Defense ETFs to ConsiderConsidering the aforementioned discussion, a prudent investor may want to gain exposure to the following defense ETFs:

Global X Defense Tech ETF (SHLD - Free Report)

This fund, with net assets worth $7.36 billion, offers exposure to 50 companies that build and manage cybersecurity systems, utilize artificial intelligence and big data, and build advanced military systems and hardware, such as robotics, fuel systems, and aircrafts for defense applications. RTX Corp. (RTX - Free Report) holds the first spot in this fund, with 9.12% weightage, while LMT holds the third spot with 8.08% weightage. RNMBY holds the eighth position in this fund, with 4.09% weightage, while THLLY holds the 10th spot with 3.66% weightage.  

SHLD has gained 8.6% over the past year. The fund charges 50 basis points (bps) as fees. 

U.S. Defense ETF (DUTY - Free Report)

This fund, with net assets worth $2.95 million, offers exposure to publicly traded U.S. companies that have significant exposure to defense-related industries. General Dynamics holds the first spot in this fund, with 7.63% weightage, while LMT holds the second spot with 7.38% weightage. 

DUTY has rallied 8.2% over the past year. The fund charges 45 bps as fees. 

iShares Defense Industrials Active ETF (IDEF - Free Report)

This fund, with net assets worth $4.31 billion, offers exposure to 117 aerospace, cybersecurity, defense and infrastructure firms. RTX holds the first spot in this fund, with 8.48% weightage, while LMT holds the second spot with 7.08% weightage. 

IDEF has surged 19.5% over the past year. The fund charges 55 bps as fees. 

First Trust Indxx Aerospace & Defense ETF (MISL - Free Report)

This fund, with net assets worth $811.8 million, offers exposure to 39 U.S. companies engaged in business activities associated with certain aerospace and defense sub-themes. GE Aerospace holds the first spot in this fund, with 8.80% weightage, while LMT holds the sixth spot with 6.39% weightage. 

MISL has soared 25.9% over the past year. The fund charges 60 bps as fees.  
 

Key Takeaways Corpay shares gained 17.3% in three months, outperforming its industry and the S&P 500 Composite.CPAY's 2026 revenues and EPS are expected to rise 17.3% and 25.6% y/y, respectively.Corpay's organic revenues rose 11% in Q1'26, marking a fourth straight quarter of growth. Corpay, Inc. (CPAY - Free Report) is a payments company that assists companies in controlling, simplifying and automating corporate expenses, international transactions and vendor payments. 

What Makes Corpay an Attractive Pick?An Outperformer: Shares of Corpay have gained 17.3% over the past three months, outperforming the industry’s 11.5% growth and the Zacks S&P 500 Composite's10.9% rise.

3-Month Share Price Performance                                                                  Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

Solid Prospects: Corpay’s top and bottom-line prospects appear impressive. For 2026, the consensus estimate for revenues is $5.3 billion, up 17.3% year over year. For the same year, EPS is expected to increase 25.6% to $26.86. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2027 revenues is $5.8 billion, suggesting a year-over-year growth rate of 9.2%. EPS is expected to increase 13.7% to $30.53 in 2027.

Northbound Estimate Revision: Nine estimates for 2026 moved north in the past 60 days versus no southward revision. For 2027, eight estimates moved upward versus no downward revision, reflecting analysts’ confidence in the company. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2026 and 2027 earnings has moved up 3.1% and 3.3%, respectively, in the past 60 days.

Positive Earnings Surprise History: CPAY has a decent earnings surprise history. The company outpaced the Zacks Consensus Estimate in the four trailing quarters, delivering an average earnings surprise of 2.1%.

Growth Factors: CPAY’s top line grows organically, backed by an upsurge in volume and revenues per transaction in its payment programs. In 2023, 2024 and 2025, the company registered year-over-year organic revenue growth of 10%, 20% and 10%, respectively, backed by sales, solid retention and business initiatives.

In the first quarter of 2026, the company witnessed 11% year-over-year growth in organic revenues. The company registered this growth for the fourth consecutive quarter. That being said, a strong first-quarter performance raises confidence for the rest of the year.

Corpay utilizes a multi-channel approach to market and sell its solutions to current and prospective customers. This go-to-market strategy involves a comprehensive digital channel, sales forces and strategic partner relationships. The omnichannel approach helps Corpay’s salespeople become more efficient by improving their prospecting efforts through digital-sourced leads.

The company conducts share repurchases actively, as evidenced by $686.9 million, $1.3 billion and $783 million worth of repurchased shares in 2023, 2024 and 2025, respectively. Such actions improve the bottom line, creating value for shareholders and boosting confidence in its business.

Corpay’s Zacks Rank & Stocks to ConsiderThe company has a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) at present.

Some better-ranked stocks from the broader Zacks Business Services sector are Payoneer Global (PAYO - Free Report) and PagSeguro Digital (PAGS - Free Report) , currently carrying a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.

Payoneer Global has a long-term earnings growth expectation of 34.2%. PAYO delivered a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 4.2%, on average.

PagSeguro Digital has a long-term earnings growth expectation of 14.9%. PAGS delivered a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 3.1%, on average.

Investors interested in stocks from the Security and Safety Services sector have probably already heard of Alarm.com Holdings (ALRM) and Assa Abloy AB (ASAZY). But which of these two companies is the best option for those looking for undervalued stocks?

Key Takeaways MPWR is targeting consumer electronics with power solutions for mobile and smart devices.MPWR's PMICs, chargers, converters, LED drivers and USB-C technologies support faster charging.Monolithic Power's compact chips simplify design, cut components and improve device reliability. Monolithic Power Systems, Inc. (MPWR - Free Report) is focusing on the evolving consumer electronics semiconductor market to deliver innovative power-management solutions for smartphones, tablets, laptops, wearables, gaming devices and smart home products. Rising demand for energy-efficient portable electronics, premium mobile devices and advanced consumer applications continues to support the adoption of the company's analog and mixed-signal semiconductor solutions.

Monolithic Power's consumer electronics portfolio includes power-management integrated circuits, battery-charging solutions, DC-DC converters, LED drivers and USB Type-C power-delivery technologies. These products improve battery life, enable faster charging, enhance thermal performance and help manufacturers develop thinner, lighter and more advanced electronic devices.

The company integrates multiple functions into compact semiconductor solutions, simplifying system design, reducing component count and improving product reliability. This enables manufacturers to accelerate product development across a broad range of consumer electronics applications.

As manufacturers continue to introduce more advanced consumer devices, Monolithic Power's strong customer relationships and continued innovation position it well to benefit from long-term industry trends.

How Are Competitors Performing in the Consumer Electronics Market?Monolithic Power faces stiff competition from Analog Devices, Inc. (ADI - Free Report) and Microchip Technology Incorporated (MCHP - Free Report) . Analog Devices continues to expand its consumer electronics business by providing semiconductor solutions for smartphones, wearables and smart home devices. The company is focused on improving device performance, connectivity and battery efficiency. ADI’s continued product innovation is expected to support long-term growth.

Microchip is strengthening its presence in the consumer electronics market by providing microcontrollers, connectivity solutions and analog semiconductors for smart home devices, wearables and home appliances. Its diversified semiconductor portfolio enables it to participate in a broad range of consumer electronics applications.

MPWR’s Price Performance, Valuation & EstimatesMonolithic Power shares have soared 66.4% over the past year compared with the industry’s 55.4% growth.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

From a valuation standpoint, Monolithic Power trades at a forward price-to-sales ratio of 16.16, above the industry tally of 9.51.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

Earnings estimates for 2026 and 2027 have remained static at $24.05 and $29.30 per share, respectively, over the past 60 days.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

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

Investors looking for stocks in the Chemical - Specialty sector might want to consider either Axalta Coating Systems (AXTA) or RPM International (RPM). But which of these two stocks presents investors with the better value opportunity right now?

Key Takeaways AMN Healthcare is poised for growth with its broad services, MSP momentum and demand from labor disruptions.AI tools in WorkWise and AMN Passport are boosting recruiting, engagement and workforce planning.Soft staffing markets, client concentration and regulatory challenges could pressure AMN's growth. AMN Healthcare Services, Inc. (AMN - Free Report) is well-poised for growth in the coming quarters, courtesy of its broad array of services. The optimism is led by strong momentum in its Managed Services Program (MSP), rising labor disruption demand and investments in technology and AI-driven platforms. However, industry shifts, pricing pressure and healthcare cost-consciousness are major downsides.

Shares of this Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) company have jumped 126.9% in the year-to-date period against the industry's 14.6% decline. However, the S&P 500 Index has risen 10.3% in the said timeframe.

This renowned player in the healthcare total talent services space has a market capitalization of $1.35 billion. The company projects 98.5% of earnings growth for 2026 and expects to witness continued improvements in its business. AMN Healthcare surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate in all the trailing four quarters, delivering an average earnings surprise of 53.25%.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

Factors Favoring AMN StockHealthcare Workforce Solutions Strengthening Client Relationships: AMN Healthcare is benefiting from a shift in healthcare providers' workforce priorities. During the first-quarter 2026 earnings call, management noted that hospitals are no longer primarily focused on reducing contract labor usage. They are seeking long-term workforce optimization through predictive analytics, technology-enabled staffing and total talent management. The company strengthened its MSP business by adding a new Locum MSP client, and renewing and expanding its largest Locums contract. These developments, combined with deeper client relationships built during recent labor disruption events, position AMN to capture additional market share as healthcare organizations increasingly prefer strategic workforce partners over traditional staffing vendors.

AI and Technology Investments Driving Operational Efficiency: AMN continues to leverage artificial intelligence and digital tools to improve recruiting efficiency, clinician engagement and workforce management. The company introduced new AI-powered capabilities within its WorkWise platform, including automated candidate scoring, enhanced job search functionality and AI-assisted job description creation. Its AI recruiter helped deploy more than 10,000 clinicians during the quarter, while the AMN Passport mobile app recorded more than 30% growth in users and over 50% growth in monthly active users.

The company recently partnered with Brightfield to enhance its workforce intelligence capabilities. Brightfield's Talent Data Exchange (TDX) complements AMN's proprietary workforce insights, improving market transparency and labor planning. The partnership also enhances AMN's WorkWise ecosystem with stronger decision-support capabilities.

These technology investments are improving hiring speed, strengthening clinician engagement and enhancing workforce planning capabilities, supporting management's long-term goal of expanding revenue while improving operating leverage.

Improving Core Business Momentum and Financial Strength: Beyond the temporary boost from labor disruption events, AMN Healthcare's underlying businesses showed encouraging signs of recovery. Excluding labor disruption assignments, Nurse and Allied Solutions returned to year-over-year traveler volume growth for the first time since 2022, while international staffing posted its first year-over-year revenue increase since late 2023. Leadership search also returned to growth, reflecting improving demand across multiple service lines. With improving demand trends, disciplined capital management and management targeting sustainable revenue growth alongside faster adjusted EBITDA expansion, the company appears well positioned for long-term growth.

Downsides of AMN StockSoftness in Key Staffing Markets: Although AMN's Nurse and Allied business is showing signs of recovery, some of its core staffing markets remain under pressure. During first-quarter 2026, management noted that physician staffing demand remains soft, with many Locums clients focusing on centralized program management and hiring permanent physicians. Demand has also shifted toward the more competitive third-party channel, where fill rates are lower and pricing pressure is higher. At the same time, healthcare systems are investing in internal recruiting capabilities, workforce analytics and AI-powered staffing tools, which could reduce reliance on external staffing providers over time.

Client Concentration and Industry Consolidation Risks: Consolidation among healthcare providers continues to strengthen customers' bargaining power, allowing them to negotiate lower staffing rates and centralize workforce management. Mergers may also result in the loss of contracts if the combined organizations choose existing vendors. AMN Healthcare derives approximately 22% of its consolidated revenues from Kaiser Foundation Hospitals, making the company dependent on a single large customer. As healthcare organizations use vendor management systems and group purchasing organizations, pricing pressure and customer concentration could weigh on future revenue growth and margins.

Regulatory and Competitive Challenges: AMN operates in a highly regulated and competitive healthcare staffing industry. Changes in Medicare and Medicaid reimbursement, workforce regulations, immigration policies and evolving rules surrounding AI, cybersecurity and data privacy could increase compliance costs and influence customer hiring decisions. The company also faces competition from large national staffing firms, specialized healthcare recruiters and technology-driven workforce providers. As hospitals continue expanding in-house staffing programs and adopting AI-enabled workforce management solutions, AMN Healthcare must invest in technology and service innovation to protect its competitive position.

Estimate TrendAMN Healthcare has been witnessing a positive estimate revision trend for 2026. Over the past 60 days, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for its earnings per share has improved 40% to $2.70.

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for second-quarter 2026 revenues and earnings per share is pegged at $626 million and 22 cents, respectively, suggesting 4.9% and 26.7% declines from the year-ago reported numbers.

Key PicksSome better-ranked stocks from the broader medical space are West Pharmaceutical (WST - Free Report) , Intuitive Surgical (ISRG - Free Report) and Pacific Biosciences of California (PACB - Free Report) .

West Pharmaceutical, carrying a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) at present, reported first-quarter 2026 EPS of $2.13, which beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 26.8%. Revenues of $844.9 million surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 8.5%. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.

West Pharmaceutical has an estimated long-term earnings growth rate of 13.9%. WST’s earnings surpassed estimates in the trailing four quarters, the average surprise being 19.4%.

Intuitive Surgical, carrying a Zacks Rank #2 at present, reported first-quarter 2026 core earnings per share of 85 cents, which missed the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 20.2%. Revenues of $2.77 billion surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 6.2%.

Intuitive Surgical has a long-term estimated growth rate of 14.3%. ISRG’s earnings surpassed estimates in each of the trailing four quarters, the average surprise being 16.8%.

Pacific Biosciences of California, carrying a Zacks Rank #2 at present, reported a first-quarter 2026 adjusted loss per share of 12 cents, which came narrower than the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 29.4%. Revenues of $37.2 million missed the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 9.3%.

Pacific Biosciences of California has an estimated earnings growth rate of 22.6% for 2026. PACB’s earnings surpassed estimates in each of the trailing four quarters, the average surprise being 29.8%.

Issued on behalf of QSE - Quantum Secure Encryption Corp.

QSE - Quantum Secure Encryption Corp. (CSE: QSE) (OTCQB: QSEGF) (FSE: VN80) will showcase its portfolio of post-quantum cybersecurity solutions at CYDES 2026, one of Southeast Asia's premier cybersecurity conferences, alongside a regional digital-trust partner, as part of its broader expansion across the region.

, /PRNewswire/ -- Equity Insider News Commentary, One of the quieter but more consequential races in technology is the effort to rebuild the world's encryption before quantum computers grow powerful enough to break it. Governments and standards bodies have set migration deadlines, regulators are turning quantum risk into a compliance requirement, and the market for solutions is beginning to form around that urgency. Into that moment steps QSE - Quantum Secure Encryption Corp. (CSE: QSE) (OTCQB: QSEGF) (FSE: VN80), a post-quantum cybersecurity company that has announced it will showcase its platform at CYDES 2026, a leading Southeast Asian cybersecurity conference, in collaboration with a regional digital-trust partner, as it pushes deeper into a region it sees as a meaningful growth opportunity.

Key Takeaways

QSE - Quantum Secure Encryption Corp. (CSE: QSE) (OTCQB: QSEGF) (FSE: VN80) will participate in CYDES 2026, one of Southeast Asia's premier cybersecurity conferences, where it plans to showcase its portfolio of post-quantum cybersecurity solutions in collaboration with a regional digital-trust and cybersecurity partner. The Company plans to demonstrate practical enterprise products, including its QPrime Quantum Preparedness Assessment, QAuth quantum-ready authentication, Quantum Secure Storage, and enterprise cryptographic migration solutions. CYDES brings together government agencies, regulators, and critical infrastructure operators from across Asia-Pacific, and QSE's participation supports its broader Southeast Asia expansion strategy, following recent commercial activity within Malaysia's financial-services sector. QSE describes itself as focused on quantum-resilient data protection, identity security, secure storage, and cryptographic migration readiness, built around quantum-delivered entropy and a zero-knowledge architecture. Other publicly traded names positioned across post-quantum security and cybersecurity include SEALSQ (NASDAQ: LAES), Fortinet (NASDAQ: FTNT), Cloudflare (NYSE: NET), and Lattice Semiconductor (NASDAQ: LSCC), each distinct, most far larger, and none a proxy for QSE. The Deadline Nobody Can Ignore

To understand why a conference appearance matters for a company like QSE, it helps to understand the problem the whole sector is organized around. Much of the encryption that protects the world's data today, from banking and healthcare records to government communications, relies on mathematical problems that conventional computers cannot solve quickly. A sufficiently powerful quantum computer could, in principle, solve some of those problems and render that encryption vulnerable. The machines capable of doing so do not exist yet, but the threat is already treated as real because of what security professionals call "harvest now, decrypt later": adversaries can collect encrypted data today and simply wait to decrypt it once the technology matures.

That dynamic has turned what might sound like a distant, theoretical risk into a present-day planning problem. Standards bodies have finalized the first post-quantum cryptography standards, and governments have begun setting timelines for migrating critical systems to quantum-resistant encryption. The practical implication is that organizations cannot wait for quantum computers to arrive before acting; because migrating cryptography touches nearly every system that uses it, the work has to begin years in advance. That is what converts quantum risk from a research topic into a budget line, and it is the demand QSE and its peers are built to serve.

What QSE Is Bringing to CYDES

At CYDES 2026, QSE plans to demonstrate a set of enterprise products designed to walk an organization through the practical steps of preparing for that migration. The company has described four core offerings it intends to showcase. Its QPrime Quantum Preparedness Assessment is designed to help organizations identify cryptographic exposure and prioritize migration planning, essentially a way to find where the risk lives before trying to fix it. QAuth, its quantum-ready authentication product, is designed to strengthen enterprise login and identity security. Quantum Secure Storage is designed to protect sensitive data against both current cyber threats and future quantum-enabled attacks. And a set of enterprise cryptographic migration solutions supports the longer-term planning organizations need for post-quantum security requirements.

The through-line across those products is practicality. Rather than positioning itself around the far-off moment when quantum computers can break encryption, QSE frames its platform as something organizations can begin using today: assess exposure, protect identities, secure data, and plan the migration. That framing reflects a broader reality of the post-quantum security market, where the near-term commercial opportunity lies less in dramatic breakthroughs and more in the unglamorous, compliance-driven work of inventorying systems and planning transitions.

"CYDES provides an important platform to engage directly with government agencies that are moving from awareness to action on post-quantum cybersecurity," said Ted Carefoot, Chief Executive Officer of QSE. "Before agencies and organizations can protect themselves, they need to understand where their encryption, identity and data risks exist. QSE's platform is designed to make that process practical, clear and manageable."

Why Southeast Asia, and Why Now

The choice of venue is itself part of the story. CYDES brings together government agencies, regulators, and critical infrastructure operators from across the Asia-Pacific region to discuss emerging cyber threats and next-generation security technologies, exactly the audience a post-quantum security company needs to reach. These are the organizations that hold the most sensitive long-lived data and that face the earliest regulatory pressure to act, which makes them natural first customers for quantum-readiness tools.

For QSE, the appearance supports a broader Southeast Asia expansion strategy, and it follows what the company describes as recent commercial activity within Malaysia's financial-services sector. Management believes the region represents a meaningful growth opportunity as governments, critical infrastructure operators, and regulated enterprises begin evaluating how to prepare for quantum-related cybersecurity risks. In other words, the company is trying to be present in a market at the moment that market is beginning to move from awareness toward procurement. Whether that translates into meaningful revenue remains to be demonstrated, and a conference appearance is an opportunity to build relationships rather than a booked result, but the strategic logic of showing up early where demand is forming is clear.

"Post-quantum security is quickly moving from a technical discussion to a business and compliance priority," added Carefoot. "Events such as CYDES allow us to show that QSE is focused on practical solutions organizations can start using today, rather than waiting for the quantum threat to become an immediate operational problem." The company believes demand for quantum migration planning is accelerating as governments and standards bodies encourage organizations to assess cryptographic risk, inventory vulnerable systems, and begin planning future migration strategies.

The Technology Underneath

QSE describes itself as a Canadian technology company specializing in post-quantum data security, encryption, and secure data infrastructure. According to the company, its solutions are built around quantum-delivered entropy and a zero-knowledge architecture, and are designed to protect sensitive data from both current cyber threats and future quantum-enabled attacks. Entropy, in cryptography, refers to the quality of the randomness used to generate encryption keys; better randomness makes keys harder to predict or reproduce. A zero-knowledge architecture, broadly, is one designed so that the service provider itself cannot access the underlying data it protects.

The company says it serves organizations across commercial, enterprise, and public-sector environments that require long-term data confidentiality and resilience, precisely the customers for whom the harvest-now-decrypt-later threat is most pressing, because their data must stay confidential for years or decades. As with any early-stage technology company, the value of that positioning will ultimately be measured by adoption and revenue rather than by architecture alone, and investors should weigh the company's small size and stage against the scale of the opportunity it is pursuing.

The Public Companies Across Post-Quantum Security

QSE is a small, early-stage company quoted on the Canadian Securities Exchange, and it is not directly comparable to the names below. These comparisons are for industry context only; each company pursues a different technology and business model, most operate at vastly greater scale, and none is a proxy for QSE or implies any partnership or comparable performance.

SEALSQ (NASDAQ: LAES) designs semiconductors and public-key infrastructure for device security, with a stated focus on post-quantum cryptography and quantum-resistant chips for connected-device, identity, and IoT markets. As one of the more visible pure-play post-quantum security names in the public markets, SEALSQ is the closest thematic reference point to the segment QSE operates in, though it pursues a hardware-centric model.

Fortinet (NASDAQ: FTNT) is a large, established cybersecurity and network-security company offering firewalls, secure networking, cloud security, and endpoint protection to businesses worldwide. Fortinet has been identified by analysts as a potential beneficiary of post-quantum cryptography spending, illustrating how incumbent security platforms are positioning for the same migration wave from a very different scale.

Cloudflare (NYSE: NET) provides cloud-based security and network services and has rolled out post-quantum support across parts of its platform. Like Fortinet, Cloudflare represents the large-incumbent approach to the post-quantum transition, embedding quantum-safe capabilities into an existing, broadly deployed service rather than as a standalone product.

Lattice Semiconductor (NASDAQ: LSCC) makes low-power programmable chips and has positioned itself for the post-quantum transition through crypto-agile, secure hardware designed to support evolving cryptographic standards. Lattice offers a view of the semiconductor layer of the migration, where quantum-resistant capability is built into the hardware that security ultimately runs on.

The Bottom Line

A conference appearance is a beginning, not a milestone that changes a company's fundamentals on its own, and QSE remains a small, early-stage company whose commercial traction still has to be proven against far larger and better-capitalized competitors. But the moment it is stepping into is a real one: governments and regulators have turned post-quantum migration into a deadline-driven requirement, Southeast Asia is an early-moving region, and QSE is positioning its practical toolkit, from cryptographic assessment to authentication, storage, and migration planning, directly in front of the government and infrastructure buyers who face that requirement first. For investors tracking how the post-quantum security market takes shape, QSE's push into Southeast Asia is a concrete data point, with commercial contracts, revenue, and customer adoption the markers worth watching from here.

SIGNAL OVER NOISE

Signal over noise. Cybersecurity, quantum-computing, and post-quantum-security headlines move fast, and the crowd often moves first. Eagle Eye is a real-time investor signal-intelligence platform that surfaces sentiment shifts, news flow, and trending tickers as they happen, so you see the move forming instead of reading about it later. See it at eagle-eye.dev.

CONTACT
Equity Insider
[email protected]

SOURCES

[1] QSE - Quantum Secure Encryption Corp., "QSE to Showcase Quantum-Ready Cybersecurity Platform at CYDES 2026 with Regional Digital Trust Partner" (news release, Vancouver, British Columbia, 2026; QPrime, QAuth, Quantum Secure Storage, cryptographic migration solutions; Southeast Asia expansion; Malaysia financial-services activity).

[2] SEALSQ Corp (NASDAQ: LAES), Fortinet, Inc. (NASDAQ: FTNT), Cloudflare, Inc. (NYSE: NET), and Lattice Semiconductor Corporation (NASDAQ: LSCC), corporate disclosures and market data, 2026.

DISCLAIMER

Nothing in this publication should be considered as personalized financial advice. We are not licensed under securities laws to address your particular financial situation. No communication by our employees to you should be deemed as personalized financial advice. Please consult a licensed financial advisor before making any investment decision. This is neither an offer nor recommendation to buy or sell any security. We hold no investment licenses and are thus neither licensed nor qualified to provide investment advice. The content in this report or email is not provided to any individual with a view toward their individual circumstances. This article is being distributed for Market IQ Media Group Limited, a company incorporated under the laws of Ireland ("MIQL"), which wholly owns and operates Equity Insider. MIQL has not been paid a fee in connection with this article. MIQL and/or its associates have previously been paid a fee for QSE - Quantum Secure Encryption Corp. advertising and digital media, which compensation has since expired. MIQL and/or its associates, owners, and operators own shares of QSE - Quantum Secure Encryption Corp. that were acquired through private placements and in the open market, and reserve the right to buy and sell shares of QSE - Quantum Secure Encryption Corp. at any time without any further notice commencing immediately and ongoing. There may also be 3rd parties who may have shares of QSE - Quantum Secure Encryption Corp., and may liquidate their shares which could have a negative effect on the price of the stock. This share ownership constitutes a conflict of interest as to our ability to remain objective in our communication regarding the profiled company. Because of this conflict, individuals are strongly encouraged to not use this publication as the basis for any investment decision. While all information is believed to be reliable, it is not guaranteed by us to be accurate. Individuals should assume that all information contained in our newsletter is not trustworthy unless verified by their own independent research. Always consult a licensed investment professional before making any investment decision. Be extremely careful, investing in securities carries a high degree of risk; you may likely lose some or all of the investment.

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS: This publication contains forward-looking statements, including statements regarding QSE's participation in CYDES 2026 and the products it plans to showcase; its collaboration with a regional digital-trust partner; its Southeast Asia expansion strategy and recent commercial activity in Malaysia's financial-services sector; the anticipated growth of demand for post-quantum migration planning; and the capabilities and positioning of its QPrime, QAuth, Quantum Secure Storage, and cryptographic migration solutions. Forward-looking statements are based on current expectations and assumptions and are subject to known and unknown risks and uncertainties, many beyond the company's control, including the early-stage nature of the company and the post-quantum security market; the risk that conference participation and business-development activity may not translate into contracts or revenue; the pace of government and enterprise adoption of post-quantum cryptography; competition from larger and better-capitalized companies; the company's need for additional capital; continued satisfaction of Canadian Securities Exchange requirements; regulatory and general economic conditions; and the other risks described in the company's management discussion and analysis and other filings available under its profile on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca. Actual results could differ materially from those projected. Except as required by applicable law, the company assumes no obligation to update any forward-looking statement. The Canadian Securities Exchange has in no way passed upon the merits of the business of the company and has neither approved nor disapproved the contents of this publication. References to other companies are based on those companies' public disclosures, are provided for industry context only, and do not imply any partnership, endorsement, affiliation, or comparable performance.

Key Takeaways Howmet's defense aerospace revenues rose 10% in Q1, driven by F-35 engine spares and legacy fighter demand.HWM's Engine Products segment posted 29% revenue growth as defense aerospace strength continued.Howmet raised its 2026 outlook, expecting up to $9.725 billion in revenues and $3.095 billion in EBITDA. Howmet Aerospace Inc. (HWM - Free Report) is witnessing persistent strength in its defense aerospace market. In first-quarter 2026, revenues from the defense aerospace market surged 10% year over year, constituting 16% of the company’s revenues. Also, in 2025, revenues from this market increased 21% year over year. The surge in revenues was driven by the strong demand for engine spares, particularly related to the F-35 program, and increased orders for legacy fighter jet spares.

This uptick significantly benefited Howmet’s Engine Products segment, which reported a 29% year-over-year revenue increase in the first quarter. The company is expanding its efforts on new programs, particularly in the drone and collaborative combat aircraft space. With military-aircraft programs expected to benefit from increased funding, HWM is poised to maintain strong demand momentum in the upcoming quarters.

It's worth noting that the fiscal year 2026 Defense Appropriations Act was signed into law in February 2026, providing a strong budgetary allocation for defense. Such robust budgetary provisions set the stage for Howmet, which is focused on the defense business, to win more contracts, which is likely to boost its top line.

Driven by strength across both defense and commercial aerospace markets, the company raised its 2026 outlook and currently expects total revenues of $9.575-$9.725 billion and adjusted EBITDA of $3.025-$3.095 billion.

Segment Snapshot of HWM’s PeersTextron Inc.’s (TXT - Free Report) defense business is gaining momentum, backed by key U.S. military contracts and steady government support. In first-quarter 2026, Bell’s military revenues increased year over year, driven by continued growth on the MV-75 Cheyenne program. Textron Systems revenues increased 13% largely due to higher volume on the Ship-to-Shore Connector program and military training services at ATAC.

GE Aerospace (GE - Free Report) is benefiting from solid momentum in its Defense & Propulsion Technologies segment. In first-quarter 2026, GE Aerospace clinched a $1.4 billion deal for T408 engines to support the U.S. Marine Corps’ CH-53K helicopter fleet. Driven by strong bookings, revenues from the Defense & Propulsion Technologies segment increased 19% year over year and orders grew 67% in the first quarter.

HWM's Price Performance, Valuation and EstimatesShares of Howmet have surged 32.3% in the past six months against the industry’s decline of 1.7%.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

From a valuation standpoint, HWM is trading at a forward price-to-earnings ratio of 50.86X, above the industry’s average of 34.03X. Howmet carries a Value Score of D.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for HWM’s 2026 earnings has increased 9% over the past 60 days.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

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

This post may contain links from our sponsors and affiliates, and Flywheel Publishing may receive compensation for actions taken through them.

SoFi Technologies (NASDAQ:SOFI | SOFI Price Prediction) is trading around $18 as of July 7, 2026, still down 31.3% year-to-date after a brutal spring. The catalyst for the drawdown: a March 2026 Muddy Waters report alleging accounting misstatements and undisclosed charge-off rates. Yet shares have rallied 12.2% over the past month, raising the question of whether the stock has bottomed.

The Fundamentals Never Broke The bear thesis was that credit was cracking beneath the surface. The Q1 2026 earnings report, filed April 29, 2026, argued otherwise. Revenue hit $1.10 billion, beating consensus by 4.9%, with EPS of $0.12 matching estimates for the fourth straight quarter. GAAP net income of $166.73 million rose 134.5% year over year, and loan originations set a record at $12.18 billion.

CEO Anthony Noto said, “We had an excellent Q1 delivering another quarter of durable growth and strong returns, fueled by our relentless focus on innovation and brand building.”

What Sparked the Bounce Recovery catalysts have stacked up quickly. On June 23, 2026, SoFi acquired Composer Securities and launched Composer by SoFi, an AI-powered investing platform. Noto argued, “As AI becomes a foundational part of investing, Composer by SoFi strengthens our ability to deliver powerful investing tools through an experience that is simple, intuitive, and accessible.” Days later, the company rolled out small business loans up to $250,000 with 24-hour funding.

Smart money has been leaning in. Cathie Wood’s ARK made four consecutive purchases, including over 200,000 shares (around $3.62 million) on June 30, 2026. Jim Cramer reiterated an “I Continue to Believe It’s Time to Buy” stance on June 23, 2026. For investors weighing how to play post-selloff setups, 24/7 Wall Street’s Breakout Buyers Rulebook covers the framework.

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The Bear Case Hasn’t Vanished The Muddy Waters overhang lingers. Signal Law Group followed up on June 27, 2026, with a Securities Disclosure Risk bulletin. Credit metrics are drifting: personal loan charge-offs rose to 3.0% from 2.8% sequentially, student loan charge-offs to 0.7% from 0.5%, and average asset yields fell 63 basis points. The Technology Platform segment shrank 27% after a large client departure.

Wall Street is unconvinced. The consensus rating is Hold, with an average target of $20.90. The forward P/E of 30x relative to 2026 guidance of approximately $0.60 in adjusted EPS leaves little room for error.

Verdict: Off the Lows, Not Yet Confirmed Shares have clearly recovered from the $16.03 low in early June, and the operational story continues to support the bulls. Whether $18 holds as a durable base depends on the July 29, 2026, Q2 earnings call, where analysts expect revenue of $1.1 billion and EPS of $0.11. Investors should monitor the stock and, more importantly, the charge-off trajectory.

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Healthcare has been an unloved corner of the market in 2026, but that neglect has created a rare setup: quality names trading in single-digit and low-double-digit territory while still throwing off cash, growing earnings, and reaffirming guidance. For retail investors scanning for value, the sub-$30 shelf in healthcare currently offers exposure to a pending strategic buyout, a 7% dividend yield backed by a reaffirmed outlook, and a restructuring story with multiple near-term FDA catalysts. That is a lot of optionality for very little share price.

With that in mind, here are three healthcare stocks trading under $30 that look attractively priced heading into the back half of 2026.

Kenvue (NYSE: KVUE) Kenvue (NYSE:KVUE | KVUE Price Prediction) is the consumer health company spun off from Johnson & Johnson (NYSE:JNJ), home to Tylenol, Neutrogena, Aveeno, Listerine, BAND-AID, Zyrtec, and Nicorette. Shares closed the last session at $19.83, comfortably under the $30 ceiling and up 17.65% year to date, which still leaves the stock below its 52-week high of $21.85.

The fundamentals are firming quickly. Q1 FY26 delivered adjusted EPS of $0.32 versus $0.26 expected, a 23.08% beat, on revenue of $3.91 billion, up 4.49% year over year. Gross margin expanded 90 basis points to 58.9% and adjusted operating margin reached 24.0%, while free cash flow climbed 60.64% to $400 million. Kenvue carries a forward P/E of 17 and a 4.28% dividend yield, with an analyst consensus price target of $19.50.

The bull case is anchored by the pending acquisition by Kimberly-Clark (NYSE:KMB), structured as $3.50 cash per share plus 0.14625 Kimberly-Clark shares, expected to close in the second half of 2026 with shareholder approval already secured and the HSR waiting period expired. That gives holders a defined takeout floor while the underlying business keeps expanding margins. CEO Kirk Perry said the company is “confident in our ability to navigate ongoing macro uncertainty” as it works toward closing the combination.

The key risk is deal execution: foreign regulatory approvals could delay the timeline, and total debt has risen to $8.7 billion. Even so, with a takeout premium, margin momentum, and defensive brands, Kenvue looks like a low-volatility way to earn a return under $20. Pfizer (NYSE:PFE) is one such name.

Pfizer (NYSE: PFE) Pfizer is one of the largest global biopharmaceutical companies, with a portfolio spanning oncology, vaccines, specialty care, and primary care. The stock last traded at $24.32, up just 0.97% year to date, keeping it well inside the under-$30 zone and near the low end of its $21.97 to $28.28 52-week range.

At current levels, Pfizer trades at a trailing P/E of 19 and a forward P/E of 8, with a dividend yield of 7.2% supported by a quarterly payout of $0.43 that has held steady since Q1 2025. Q1 FY26 marked the fifth consecutive EPS beat, with adjusted EPS of $0.75 versus $0.72 expected on revenue of $14.45 billion, up 5.4% year over year. Growth drivers included Padcev +39%, Nurtec ODT/Vydura +41%, Eliquis +13%, and Abrysvo +37%. The analyst consensus price target sits at $29.15, with 11 buy or strong buy ratings against 16 holds.

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The bull case rests on three pillars. First, the Vyndamax patent settlement extends U.S. exclusivity to June 2031, removing a major overhang on one of the company’s most profitable franchises. Second, management reaffirmed FY26 guidance of $59.5 to $62.5 billion in revenue and $2.80 to $3.00 in adjusted EPS. Third, the pipeline is loaded, with roughly 20 key pivotal trial starts planned in 2026, including 10 obesity assets from the Metsera acquisition. CEO Albert Bourla said Pfizer is “particularly encouraged by what we’re seeing in oncology and obesity.”

The risk profile is real. Pfizer faces a $1.5 billion expected revenue headwind from generics and biosimilars in 2026, ongoing COVID product declines (Comirnaty -59%, Paxlovid -63%), and pricing pressure from Most Favored Nation policy discussions. On Polymarket, traders currently give a 13% implied probability that the U.S. federal government takes a stake in Pfizer this year, a low-odds tail risk worth acknowledging. For income-oriented value investors, Pfizer offers a rare combination of a 7% yield, single-digit forward multiple, and a rebuilding growth story.

Viatris (NASDAQ: VTRS) Viatris (NASDAQ:VTRS) is a global pharmaceutical company blending generics and branded drugs, including Lipitor, Lyrica, EpiPen, Viagra, and Creon. Shares last changed hands at $16.70, up a remarkable 36.24% year to date and 85.74% over the past year, yet still trading materially below the $30 ceiling.

Even after the rally, valuation remains compressed. Viatris trades at a forward P/E of 7, a price-to-book of 1.327, and offers a 2.97% dividend yield from a $0.12 quarterly payout that has held steady for 16 consecutive quarters. Q1 FY26 delivered adjusted EPS of $0.59 versus $0.50 expected, a 17.53% beat, on revenue of $3.52 billion, up 8.1% year over year. Greater China net sales surged 22% to $680.1 million, brands grew 10% to $2.33 billion, and adjusted EBITDA rose 14% to $1.05 billion. The analyst consensus target of $17.81 is now within striking distance.

The bull case combines cost discipline with catalysts. Management is executing an enterprise-wide restructuring targeting $600 to $700 million in annualized cost savings with up to a 10% workforce reduction, and reaffirmed FY26 guidance of $14.45 to $14.95 billion in revenue, $2.33 to $2.47 in adjusted EPS, and $1.95 to $2.35 billion in free cash flow. The pipeline offers three near-term decisions: the contraceptive patch PDUFA on July 30, 2026, the MR-141 presbyopia PDUFA on October 17, 2026, and the non-opioid pain therapy MR-107A-02 decision expected December 27, 2026. CEO Scott Smith said the company is “well positioned to deliver on our full-year guidance.”

The risks are meaningful. Viatris posted a FY25 GAAP net loss of $3.51 billion including $2.9 billion in Q1 25 goodwill impairment, and continues to work through the Indore FDA warning letter and a $71.9 million writedown tied to the Nashik India facility fire. Generic pricing pressure in North America and Japan remains a persistent headwind. Still, with a mid-single-digit forward multiple, reaffirmed guidance, and three catalysts before year-end, Viatris looks like the highest-optionality name of the three.

The Bottom Line Kenvue, Pfizer, and Viatris each carry real risks, from deal timing and regulatory hurdles to patent cliffs, pricing policy, and manufacturing issues. What makes them interesting today is that their sub-$30 quotes come attached to reaffirmed 2026 guidance, expanding margins, and identifiable catalysts, not just cheap headline multiples. Investors should dig into the filings, weigh each risk against their own time horizon, and decide whether the setup matches their portfolio needs before acting.

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Key Takeaways Omnicell is expanding autonomous pharmacy solutions with SaaS, services and OmniSphere adoption.OMCL is benefiting from health system wins, international expansion and recurring subscription revenue.Omnicell expects tariff costs in 2026, while labor shortages and inflation remain operational challenges. Shares of Omnicell (OMCL - Free Report) have rallied 52.6% over the past year, significantly outperforming the industry’s 20.8% fall and the S&P 500 composite’s 23.9% gain.

Sporting a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) at present, the healthcare technology company continues to pursue the vision of the autonomous pharmacy, designed to improve medication management outcomes. Growth in SaaS and Expert Services, rising adoption among health systems and international expansion further strengthen its outlook.

Headquartered in Mountain View, CA, Omnicell develops and markets end-to-end automation solutions for the medication-use process. These automation solutions contain medication and supply dispensing systems, central pharmacy storage, retrieval and packaging solutions, a bedside automation solution, a physician order management solution, a decision support application and a Web-based procurement application. The products offered by the company enable care providers to improve patient safety and increase efficiency by lowering costs.

Factors Favoring OMCL’s GrowthOmnicell continues to advance toward its goal of achieving the industry-defined vision of autonomous medication management, which is a roadmap to improving operational efficiencies and ultimately targeting zero-error medication management. Over the past several years, Omnicell has evolved from offering a single-point solution to a platform of products and services and has also secured several wins with major health systems and government health care facilities. OMCL’s ongoing R&D investments across Points of Care, Central Pharmacy and IV Compounding, Specialty Pharmacy and 340B Program and Ambulatory Care market categories are expected to deliver solutions that drive positive medication management outcomes for customers.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

The company derives an increasing portion of revenues from its subscription-based SaaS and Expert Services offerings, which include a combination of robotics, smart devices and intelligent software, all optimized by expert services. In recent years, Omnicell has integrated three key acquisitions, such as Specialty Pharmacy Services (formerly ReCept), FDS Amplicare and MarkeTouch Media, LL (merged into EnlivenHealth, Inc), to broaden the offerings. In 2025, SaaS and Expert Services revenues were $259 million.

In the first quarter of 2026, several health systems committed to using Omnicell's inventory optimization service, alongside central pharmacy automation and point-of-care dispensing solutions. The company announced OmniSphere in late 2024, a cloud-native platform designed to unify all Omnicell products under a single, secure infrastructure to make it simpler, safer and more connected to manage medications within a growing health system. EnlivenHealth also continues to gain traction with cross-selling and upselling communication solutions to existing customers.

Healthcare providers outside the United States are becoming increasingly aware of the benefits of automation. There is a substantial demand for adherence packaging equipment outside the domestic market. Omnicell’s international operations include its sales efforts centered in Canada, Europe, the Middle East and the Asia-Pacific regions and supply-chain efforts in Asia. Given the fact that the international market is less than 1% penetrated, with very few hospitals adopting medication control systems, this creates a solid long-term growth opportunity.

Risks for OMCLSimilar to its health-care system partners, Omnicell’s operations continue to be affected by persisting labor shortages as well as increased inflationary costs related to components’ raw materials and freight. The company’s 2026 guidance incorporates an updated estimate of approximately $12 million in tariff-related costs impacting profitability.  

A Glance at OMCL’s EstimatesThe Zacks Consensus Estimate for Omnicell's earnings per share (EPS) is pegged at $1.97 for 2026 and $2.23 for 2027, implying year-over-year growth of 21.6% and 13.2%, respectively. Over the past 60 days, the consensus estimate for 2026 EPS has moved up 5.3%, while the 2027 estimate has increased 2.3%.

Revenues for 2026 are projected to grow 4.9% to $1.24 billion, and another 4.2% to $1.30 billion in 2027.

Other Key StocksSome other top-ranked stocks in the broader medical space are Illumina (ILMN - Free Report) , Align Technology (ALGN - Free Report) and Integra LifeSciences (IART - Free Report) .

Illumina has an earnings yield of 2.8% compared to the industry’s negative 14.6% yield. Its earnings surpassed estimates in each of the trailing four quarters, with the average surprise being 12.2%. ILMN shares have rallied 95.8% compared with the industry’s 25.6% growth over the past year.

ILMN carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) at present. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.

Align Technology, carrying a Zacks Rank #2, has an estimated long-term earnings growth rate of 10.3% compared with the industry’s 5.5% growth. Shares of the company have dipped 6.3% against the industry’s 9.6% growth. ALGN’s earnings outpaced estimates in three of the trailing four quarters and missed on one occasion, the average surprise being 7.8%.

Integra LifeSciences, carrying a Zacks Rank #2, has an earnings yield of 13.7% against the industry’s negative 3% yield. Its earnings beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate in each of the trailing four quarters, with the average surprise being 16.7%. IART shares have rallied 33.8% against the industry’s 10.5% decline over the past year.

, /PRNewswire/ -- Webster First Federal Credit Union today announced integration with Payrailz®, a leading digital payments solution from Jack Henry®, to embed the Payrailz® Pay a Person™ peer-to-peer (P2P) payments capability within its digital banking platform. This rollout reflects a growing industry shift toward in-app, real-time payment experiences that reduce reliance on third-party fintech rails and keep transaction volume within the financial institution's ecosystem.

Payrailz Pay a Person lets members send P2P transfers using just the recipient's name and mobile phone number. There's no need to share account or routing numbers, sign up for separate apps, or wait days for the money to clear. By streamlining the payment flow to a few taps, the credit union aims to drive digital engagement, increase transaction frequency, and strengthen primary financial institution (PFI) relationships with its member base.

"We're pleased that Webster First Federal Credit Union is enabling members to send P2P payments through Payrailz Pay a Person, while also giving recipients the option to receive funds instantly over the RTP® and FedNow® payment rails," said Tede Forman, president of Jack Henry Payment Solutions. "This fast, convenient exchange of funds supports a broad range of accountholders – from small businesses looking to grow to consumers seeking better control of their cash flow."

Built for flexibility, the solution uses a multi-rail payments framework to support different use cases and delivery speeds. Transfers between Webster First accounts and standard external ACH payments are available at no cost. For faster delivery, recipients can choose to accept the funds instantly for a flat $2.50 fee, offering a simple, transparent alternative to the percentage-based pricing common among many P2P fintech providers.

By integrating Payrailz payments technology directly into its core digital banking infrastructure, Webster First positions P2P payments as a native component of the member experience rather than a bolt-on service. The initiative underscores the credit union's broader digital transformation strategy and its commitment to delivering secure, transparent, and competitive payment solutions that meet evolving member expectations.

About Webster First Federal Credit Union

Webster First Federal Credit Union is a financial cooperative dedicated to providing innovative and secure banking solutions to its members. Committed to empowering members through responsible financial tools and exceptional service, the credit union offers a comprehensive suite of digital and traditional banking products. For more information, visit websterfirst.com.

About Jack Henry & Associates, Inc.®

Jack Henry® (Nasdaq: JKHY) is a well-rounded financial technology company that strengthens connections between financial institutions and the people and businesses they serve. We are an S&P 500 company that prioritizes openness, collaboration, and user centricity – offering banks and credit unions a vibrant ecosystem of internally developed modern capabilities as well as the ability to integrate with leading fintechs. For 50 years, Jack Henry has provided technology solutions to enable clients to innovate faster, strategically differentiate, and successfully compete while serving the evolving needs of their accountholders. We empower approximately 7,400 clients with people-inspired innovation, personal service, and insight-driven solutions that help reduce the barriers to financial health. Additional information is available at jackhenry.com.

Please direct any queries to:
Lauren Conti, Community Relations Coordinator
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[email protected]

SOURCE Webster First Federal Credit Union

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Analyst’s Disclosure: I/we have a beneficial long position in the shares of ACHV either through stock ownership, options, or other derivatives. I wrote this article myself, and it expresses my own opinions. I am not receiving compensation for it (other than from Seeking Alpha). I have no business relationship with any company whose stock is mentioned in this article.

Seeking Alpha's Disclosure: Past performance is no guarantee of future results. No recommendation or advice is being given as to whether any investment is suitable for a particular investor. Any views or opinions expressed above may not reflect those of Seeking Alpha as a whole. Seeking Alpha is not a licensed securities dealer, broker or US investment adviser or investment bank. Our analysts are third party authors that include both professional investors and individual investors who may not be licensed or certified by any institute or regulatory body.

Hubbell (HUBB - Free Report) could be a solid choice for investors given its recent upgrade to a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). This upgrade primarily reflects an upward trend in earnings estimates, which is one of the most powerful forces impacting stock prices.

A company's changing earnings picture is at the core of the Zacks rating. The system tracks the Zacks Consensus Estimate -- the consensus measure of EPS estimates from the sell-side analysts covering the stock -- for the current and following years.

Since a changing earnings picture is a powerful factor influencing near-term stock price movements, the Zacks rating system is very useful for individual investors. They may find it difficult to make decisions based on rating upgrades by Wall Street analysts, as these are mostly driven by subjective factors that are hard to see and measure in real time.

Therefore, the Zacks rating upgrade for Hubbell basically reflects positivity about its earnings outlook that could translate into buying pressure and an increase in its stock price.

Most Powerful Force Impacting Stock PricesThe change in a company's future earnings potential, as reflected in earnings estimate revisions, has proven to be strongly correlated with the near-term price movement of its stock. That's partly because of the influence of institutional investors that use earnings and earnings estimates for calculating the fair value of a company's shares. An increase or decrease in earnings estimates in their valuation models simply results in higher or lower fair value for a stock, and institutional investors typically buy or sell it. Their transaction of large amounts of shares then leads to price movement for the stock.

Fundamentally speaking, rising earnings estimates and the consequent rating upgrade for Hubbell imply an improvement in the company's underlying business. Investors should show their appreciation for this improving business trend by pushing the stock higher.

Harnessing the Power of Earnings Estimate RevisionsAs empirical research shows a strong correlation between trends in earnings estimate revisions and near-term stock movements, tracking such revisions for making an investment decision could be truly rewarding. Here is where the tried-and-tested Zacks Rank stock-rating system plays an important role, as it effectively harnesses the power of earnings estimate revisions.

The Zacks Rank stock-rating system, which uses four factors related to earnings estimates to classify stocks into five groups, ranging from Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) to Zacks Rank #5 (Strong Sell), has an impressive externally-audited track record, with Zacks Rank #1 stocks generating an average annual return of +25% since 1988. You can see the complete list of today's Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here >>>> .

Earnings Estimate Revisions for HubbellFor the fiscal year ending December 2026, this electrical products manufacturer is expected to earn $19.83 per share, which is unchanged compared with the year-ago reported number.

Analysts have been steadily raising their estimates for Hubbell. Over the past three months, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for the company has increased 0.2%.

Bottom LineUnlike the overly optimistic Wall Street analysts whose rating systems tend to be weighted toward favorable recommendations, the Zacks rating system maintains an equal proportion of "buy" and "sell" ratings for its entire universe of more than 4,000 stocks at any point in time. Irrespective of market conditions, only the top 5% of the Zacks-covered stocks get a "Strong Buy" rating and the next 15% get a "Buy" rating. So, the placement of a stock in the top 20% of the Zacks-covered stocks indicates its superior earnings estimate revision feature, making it a solid candidate for producing market-beating returns in the near term.

You can learn more about the Zacks Rank here >>>

The upgrade of Hubbell to a Zacks Rank #2 positions it in the top 20% of the Zacks-covered stocks in terms of estimate revisions, implying that the stock might move higher in the near term.

Investors interested in Industrial Services stocks are likely familiar with LegalZoom (LZ) and W.W. Grainger (GWW).

Key Takeaways NICE deepens AI leadership with Sopra Steria's CXone and Copilot deployment across three countries.Sopra Steria's CXone setup helps answer 90% of customer calls within 20 seconds. NICE's cloud revenues rose 14.6% in Q1 2026 and made up about 75% of the total revenues. NICE (NICE - Free Report) shares have declined 14% year to date, significantly underperforming the Zacks Computer & Technology sector’s return of 16.6%. The decline reflects investor concerns surrounding a slower enterprise spending environment, longer sales cycles and intensifying competition from Genesys, Five9, Salesforce (CRM - Free Report) and Microsoft (MSFT - Free Report) in the customer experience software market.

However, NICE remains focused on strengthening its enterprise (artificial intelligence) AI platform through continued cloud innovation and strategic customer wins. Sopra Steria, one of Europe’s leading technology consulting firms, has deployed NICE’s CXone and Copilot for Agents across its service centers in France, Poland and India. The deployment marks one of NICE’s first large-scale AI implementations in France and extends its presence across Europe’s growing enterprise AI market.

The cloud-based CXone platform is integrated with Sopra Steria’s IT service management tools, Active Directory and monitoring systems, providing intelligent routing, real-time reporting, interaction traceability and SLA management. The platform consolidates voice, email, chat and digital communications into a single agent interface, enabling Sopra Steria to answer 90% of customer calls within 20 seconds while improving customer experience and operational efficiency.

Sopra Steria's Digital Platform Services division, which manages more than 1.2 million inbound customer interactions annually, is using Copilot for Agents to provide real-time contextual guidance, recommended responses and automated interaction summaries. The deployment supports more than 2,000 employees, including nearly 800 AI-enabled agents and is expected to reduce agent workload, accelerate issue resolution and improve service quality. The deployment further expands NICE's international customer base and is expected to strengthen recurring cloud revenues over the long term.

AI Expansion Strengthens NICE’s ProspectsThe Sopra Steria deployment aligns with NICE’s broader strategy of expanding agentic AI across enterprise customer service operations. In the first quarter of 2026, the company launched CXone Mpower Orchestrator, an AI-powered platform that coordinates AI agents, human employees and business workflows across front, middle and back-office operations. NICE also introduced CXone Mpower Agents, autonomous AI agents that improve productivity by handling customer interactions with minimal human intervention.

NICE’s strong cloud execution and growing AI adoption reinforce its long-term growth prospects. Cloud revenues increased 14.6% year over year in the first quarter of 2026 and represented approximately 75% of the total revenues. Encouraged by this momentum, the company raised its 2026 revenue outlook to $2.92-$2.94 billion. The expanding AI portfolio is expected to strengthen NICE’s competitive position, drive higher cloud adoption and support sustainable recurring revenue growth over the long term.

NICE expects second-quarter 2026 revenues to be $761-$771 million. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for second-quarter 2026 revenues is pegged at $767.17 million, indicating 5.57% year-over-year growth.

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for second-quarter 2026 earnings is pegged at $2.63  per share, which has been unchanged over the past 30 days. The figure implies a year-over-year decline of 12.62%.

NICE Faces Stiff CompetitionNICE faces increasing competition from Microsoft and Salesforce as both companies deepen their presence in AI-powered CX, contact center and enterprise automation markets.

Microsoft competes with NICE through its Dynamics 365 Contact Center, Microsoft Teams, Azure AI and Copilot ecosystem. The company is embedding generative AI, intelligent routing, real-time agent assistance and customer service automation into widely used enterprise productivity applications. Microsoft offers customers an integrated platform that reduces the need for standalone contact center solutions. Its vast enterprise customer base and Azure cloud infrastructure also strengthen its competitive position.

Meanwhile, Salesforce is intensifying competition through Service Cloud, Agentforce, Einstein AI and Data Cloud. The company enables enterprises to deploy autonomous AI agents, automate customer service workflows and unify customer data across sales, marketing and service functions. Salesforce’s broad CRM ecosystem, extensive partner network and deep enterprise relationships make it an attractive end-to-end customer engagement platform, challenging NICE in AI-driven customer experience management.

Zacks Rank & Stock to Consider

Key Takeaways LUNR has fallen 36.5% in the past month, lagging its industry and the sector.Intuitive Machines faces losses, high mission spending, execution risks and supply-chain pressures.LUNR has NASA-backed growth prospects, but earnings estimates and valuation point to caution. Intuitive Machines, Inc. (LUNR - Free Report) stock has lost 36.5% in the past month, underperforming both the Zacks Aerospace-Defense industry’s growth of 7.3% and the broader Zacks Aerospace sector’s gain of 7.2%. It also came above the S&P 500’s return of 1.6% in the same time frame.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

Other industry players, such as General Dynamics (GD - Free Report) and RTX Corporation (RTX - Free Report) , have delivered a similar stellar performance in the past month. Shares of GD and RTX have risen 10.6% and 12.7%, respectively, in the said period.

LUNR’s recent weak price performance may raise concerns among investors. It is important to evaluate whether the company’s underlying fundamentals can support long-term growth or if near-term pressures could continue to weigh on the stock. Assessing its growth prospects and risks can help investors make a more informed decision.

Headwinds for LUNRIntuitive Machines continues to face profitability challenges as ongoing investments in lunar missions, spacecraft technologies and space infrastructure weigh on its near-term earnings. Although these investments are expected to support long-term growth, they are likely to continue limiting profitability in the near future.

The company also operates in a highly competitive and capital-intensive space industry, where rising research, development and mission-related expenses could pressure margins and cash flows. Additionally, risks associated with mission delays, launch failures and the successful execution of key lunar programs may affect its future growth and financial performance.

Supply-chain disruptions and labor shortages across the aerospace and space industry remain additional headwinds. These challenges could lead to production delays, increased operating costs and slower project execution for Intuitive Machines. Larger aerospace and defense companies such as General Dynamics and RTX continue to face similar supply-chain and workforce constraints, highlighting broader industry-wide challenges. The company also remains exposed to risks related to government contract funding, shifts in budget priorities and delays in mission execution, any of which could weigh on its growth prospects and profitability.

Tailwinds for LUNRIntuitive Machines continues to strengthen its position in the growing lunar economy through new NASA contracts and investments in its operational capabilities.

In June 2026, the company secured a firm-fixed-price contract from NASA worth up to $148.3 million to deliver a production-line-qualified Nova-C lunar lander by 2028. The award supports NASA's Artemis program and reinforces Intuitive Machines' role in future lunar missions.

The company is also expanding its operations. In June 2026, the State of Maryland awarded Intuitive Machines a $1 million Build Our Future Grant to expand its robotics operations into a new 69,000-square-foot facility, supporting upcoming NASA missions and long-term lunar operations.

With expanding government contracts and continued investments in its capabilities, Intuitive Machines is well-positioned to benefit from the growing demand for lunar exploration and space infrastructure.

Estimates for LUNR’s Sales and EarningsThe Zacks Consensus Estimate for LUNR’s 2026 sales implies year-over-year growth of 340.2%. The consensus estimate for its 2026 earnings indicates a year-over-year decrease of 2.4%.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

The downward revision in its 2026 and 2027 earnings over the past 60 days suggests investors’ decreasing confidence in this stock’s earnings generation capabilities.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

LUNR’s ValuationIn terms of valuation, LUNR’s forward 12-month price-to-sales (P/S) is 4.13X, a premium to the industry average of 2.67X. This suggests that investors will be paying a higher price than the company's expected earnings growth compared with its industry average.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

General Dynamics and RTX are trading at a discount in comparison with LUNR. GD’s forward 12-month P/S is 1.81X, while RTX’s forward 12-month P/S is 2.79X.

What Should an Investor do Now?Intuitive Machines is benefiting from growing demand for lunar exploration, supported by new NASA contracts and continued investments in its operational capabilities. These developments strengthen the company's long-term growth prospects and position it well in the expanding space infrastructure market.

However, the company continues to face near-term challenges, including ongoing operating losses, high research and mission-related spending, and execution risks associated with lunar programs. It also operates in a capital-intensive industry where supply-chain constraints and labor shortages could continue to pressure margins and project timelines.

Furthermore, analysts have lowered their earnings estimates for 2026 and 2027 over the past 60 days, reflecting a more cautious outlook for the company's profitability. Given these challenges, it is advisable to avoid the stock at present.

LUNR currently carries a Zacks Rank #4 (Sell).

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

A July 6, 2026 SEC filing shows TTRF Capital Ltd established a new Nebius Group N.V. (NBIS 4.13%) position estimated at $64.0 million using quarterly average pricing.

What happenedAccording to an SEC filing reported on July 6, 2026, the firm initiated its stake in the AI infrastructure provider. This entry into Nebius Group followed the company's rebranding from Yandex N.V. in August 2024. The stake's valuation reached $89.2 million by quarter-end. Separately, the firm reported 13 total equity positions in the quarter.

What else to knowThe July 6, 2026 filing confirms a new position for the firm, representing 58.8% of reported 13F assets.Top five holdings as of the filing date:Nebius Group (NBIS 4.13%): $89.2 million (58.8% of AUM)Palantir Technologies (PLTR +3.44%): $20.0 million (13.2% of AUM)AST SpaceMobile (ASTS 4.45%): $7.8 million (5.1% of AUM)SoFi Technologies (SOFI 2.15%): $7.7 million (5.1% of AUM)Meta Platforms (META +1.30%): $7.5 million (4.9% of AUM)Nebius Group has outperformed the S&P 500 index by about 300 percentage points over the past year.Company OverviewMetricValueShare Price (as of market close 2026-07-06)$215.08Market Capitalization$51.75 billionOne Year Total Return328.0%Employees1,371Company SnapshotNebius Group operates a comprehensive AI infrastructure platform that provides GPU computing clusters, cloud services, and developer tools to support demanding artificial intelligence workloads globally.The company generates revenue from its diversified portfolio, including Nebius (an AI cloud platform), Toloka AI (data solutions for generative AI development), TripleTen (technology education), and Avride (autonomous driving technologies).The company serves enterprise customers, AI developers, technology learners, and autonomous vehicle manufacturers seeking scalable infrastructure and specialized services within the artificial intelligence ecosystem.Nebius Group is a technology infrastructure company headquartered in Amsterdam with 1,371 employees and a market capitalization of $51.75 billion as of July 6, 2026. The company has established itself as a critical infrastructure provider for the global AI industry, leveraging its diversified business segments to address multiple facets of AI development and deployment. With operations spanning Europe, North America, and Israel, Nebius maintains a strategic focus on providing essential computational resources and specialized services that support the accelerating adoption of artificial intelligence technologies across enterprise and consumer applications.

What this transaction means for investorsTTRF Capital is a young firm running a concentrated portfolio heavy on technology-related names. Nebius appears to be the firm’s highest-conviction stock, with the only other pure-play AI cloud infrastructure supplier being Iren Ltd. (IREN 5.72%) Iren isn’t among its top five holdings, however.

Most investors should work to build a more diversified portfolio, including stocks beyond the technology sector. However, owning Nebius in the higher-risk, technology portion of any portfolio may make sense for those with the proper risk tolerance.

Nebius’ services are in high demand for their GPU capacity, and even AI-leader Nvidia (NVDA +0.90%) owned nearly 1.2 million Nebius shares as of March 31.

Investors should be aware that the market has already built significant potential business into Nebius’ valuation. Its $50 billion market cap is lofty even given the company’s projection of revenue at an annual run rate of $7 billion to $9 billion entering 2027. Positions should be allocated accordingly, and potential volatility should be considered as the company works to manage its fast-growing sales base.

Howard Smith has positions in Nvidia. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends AST SpaceMobile, Meta Platforms, Nvidia, and Palantir Technologies. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.