Intel (INTC -2.24%) set out to raise $15 billion on Aug. 10. Demand was strong enough that the offering priced at $20 billion the same day -- 210.5 million new shares at $95 each.
The deal then grew once more. Underwriters exercised their option to purchase additional shares in full on Aug. 11, taking the total to about 242 million shares and about $23 billion in all.
Eleven days later, the stock trades below the price all of that money paid. Shares closed Thursday at $92.13, their second straight finish under $93.
What does it mean when a stock slips below a price that $23 billion of institutional demand just set?
Image source: Intel.
The deal kept growingThe mechanics of the deal show how much appetite there was. Intel priced 210,526,315 shares at $95, upsizing the offering from the $15 billion it had announced hours earlier. It also granted underwriters a 30-day option on about 31.6 million additional shares, and they took every one of them. The offering was set to close on Aug. 12.
Notably, $95 wasn't a fire-sale price. Intel's stock last traded at $97.52 on the day the deal was announced, so buyers paid only about a 3% discount to the market.
In other words, this wasn't a company shaking loose whatever cash it could get. Institutions lined up to pay nearly the market price, for far more shares than Intel originally set out to sell.
Intel says demand is the reasonWhy raise the money at all? Intel's announcement pointed at its customers. The company said they continue to signal "a strong and sustainable demand environment, driven by unprecedented investment in AI compute," and that the offering would let it pursue growth opportunities "while maintaining a strong balance sheet and its commitment to an investment-grade rating."
The stated use of proceeds is broad. Intel says the money is for general corporate purposes, a category that may include capital expenditures and working capital.
That flexibility is likely the point. Artificial intelligence (AI) demand is pulling Intel toward years of heavy spending, and the company chose to fund the next stretch of it with stock instead of debt.
The offering language also leans on opportunity, not distress. That framing is easier to defend when the stock sits above the offer price than when it sits below it.
Below the offer priceThe change came fast. Shares closed above $103 as recently as Monday. Then came three straight down sessions: $96.69 on Tuesday, $92.80 on Wednesday, and $92.13 on Thursday. And shares still sit near that last level as of this writing.
The last two closes sit below $93, nearly 3% under the offer price. Anyone from the deal still holding those shares is underwater on them.
Of course, a break like this isn't automatically a verdict on the company. New shares take time to digest, and the slide came during a rough stretch for chip stocks broadly. A 3% gap could close in a single good session.
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But I think the gap still tells you something. On Aug. 10, $95 was the price at which an enormous amount of professional money wanted in -- enough to grow the deal by more than half over its original size. Today the market will sell anyone the same shares for less, and buyers aren't stepping up to close the difference.
What would move the stock back through $95 is the same evidence that justified the raise. Intel has told investors that unprecedented AI demand is coming its way, and the latest results back the claim. Revenue grew 25% year over year to $16.1 billion last quarter, up from $12.9 billion a year earlier, and management's third-quarter forecast of $15.8 billion to $16.8 billion holds revenue near that new level. More quarters in that direction, with the new $23 billion getting spent productively along the way, would arguably get the stock there on their own. But those quarters haven't been reported yet, and the spending is only beginning.
The buyers of 242 million new shares were willing to pay $95. But the market wants more proof before it agrees -- a reasonable ask.
It's been an interesting and mixed 2026 thus far for Tesla (TSLA +5.14%). While the stock has dropped almost 25% since January, the company's dominance in the U.S. electric vehicle (EV) market climbed to 59%, according to data from Cox Automotive. This is a level Elon Musk's company has not seen since 2023.
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The rebound in market share tells an interesting story for Tesla, which has battled an increasingly competitive yet challenging landscape, the expiration of the federal EV tax credit, and Musk's public image, which has hurt the brand. The overall American appetite for EVs has stalled, and legacy automakers have shifted gears back to gas-powered vehicles. The market-share dominance is both a sign of that retreat and of Tesla's competitive edge against pure-play rivals.
While the market share story is positive, there are still plenty of obstacles ahead for Tesla. The company's revenue increased 26% on a record number of deliveries, but profitability decreased. In fact, free cash flow turned negative as Tesla increased its funding of other ambitions, including artificial intelligence, Optimus, and robotaxis.
Image source: The Motley Fool.
This is a familiar conundrum for Tesla investors. The company remains a top player in the global electric vehicle market. Yet the investments in speculative ancillary businesses hurt margins and make investors nervous.
Tesla's core business remains strong even as BYD, Rivian, and other rivals intensify competition globally. What Tesla needs in the long run is for one of its other big bets, be it autonomous driving or robotics, to pay off, thereby justifying the increased pressure on the balance sheet and income statements. Until then, Tesla remains a wild card. It trades at a hefty premium as it shifts its priorities. Longtime investors have done well, but those looking to get in now should expect continued volatility as Tesla's AI projects iterate.
There's still potential upside, but also plenty of risk.
Catie Hogan has positions in Rivian Automotive. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Tesla. The Motley Fool recommends BYD Company. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
This post may contain links from our sponsors and affiliates, and Flywheel Publishing may receive compensation for actions taken through them.
Earlier this week, Mark Cuban weighed in on one of the year’s louder debates in medicine with a post on X: “No chance radiologists get replaced. A model is outdated the minute it is released. Model usage costs money. A lot more than a radiologist. Medicine is a business. Putting together AI with domain knowledge is complex.” The post stands out because it argues against AI replacing a specialty on cost and liability grounds rather than on capability grounds.
Cuban’s logic is worth pulling apart. Foundation models drift the moment they ship. Inference at clinical scale carries a real per-query bill. And, in his framing, medicine is a business in which the combination of AI and domain expertise is genuinely hard to assemble.
Where Cuban Thinks the Automation Actually Lands Earlier the same morning, Cuban drew the other side of the line in a separate post: “AI will replace most doctors [sic] tasks! Because most of their tasks are [expletive removed] administrivia introduced by the huge HC conglomerates that serve no purpose.” Read together, the two posts describe one position. Clinical judgment under liability and cost pressure stays. Administrative paperwork, in his view, does not have to.
The administrative layer Cuban is describing is concentrated in a handful of vertically integrated, publicly listed companies, most visibly in the pharmacy benefit manager (PBM) business. A PBM sits between drug manufacturers, insurers, pharmacies, and patients, negotiating prices, setting formularies, and processing claims. Critics call PBMs middlemen; the companies argue they hold down drug costs.
CVS Health (NYSE:CVS | CVS Price Prediction) owns Caremark. In Q2 2026, Health Services revenue reached nearly $52 billion, and CEO David Joyner told investors CVS had launched an AI-enabled claims-assist manager that will reduce processing time by over 20% and accelerate payment for providers on hundreds of millions of claims every year. Aetna executive Steve Nelson said Aetna 1 advocates who used to spend 90 minutes preparing a case now take only two minutes. Shares are up 21% year to date.
Cigna (NYSE:CI) owns Express Scripts inside Evernorth. Q2 2026 Evernorth revenue was $61.5 billion, though pharmacy benefit services pre-tax adjusted earnings came in at $609 million, down year over year as Cigna invests in its rebate-free Signature model. CEO Brian Evanko said Cigna’s Pharmacy Forward program uses AI to cut time to therapy in half on average and reduce clinician documentation time by up to 50%. Shares are roughly flat year to date.
And of course, UnitedHealth Group (NYSE:UNH) owns Optum Rx. UnitedHealthcare committed to eliminating 30% of prior authorization volume and nearly two-thirds of prior authorization requirements for pediatric care by year-end, and targets processing 80% of prior authorizations in real time by the end of 2027. Optum’s digital prior auth product reports 96% first-pass approval. Q2 revenue was $112 billion. Shares are up 18% year to date.
Consider the Source, Then Consider the Argument Cuban co-founded Mark Cuban Cost Plus Drug Company, which was built to bypass the PBM layer with transparent pricing, so he of course has a viewpoint on this.
And also – the three conglomerates are already deploying AI against the exact administrative work Cuban says should go. Whether that compresses their margins or expands them is the open question for investors holding these names. Cuban’s framing inverts the usual AI-disruption story: the specialists may keep their jobs; the administrative layer that pays for a lot of enterprise value at CVS, Cigna, and UnitedHealth may not keep all of its scope.
Contact [email protected] for any questions or corrections.
Lululemon očekává za fiskální 2026 2. čtvrtletí tržby 2,450 až 2,475 miliardy USD, tedy pokles o 2 % až 3 %. Zisk na akcii má činit 1,76 až 1,81 USD, výrazně pod 3,10 USD před rokem.
It's time for Lululemon Athletica (LULU +4.65%) to show us if its financial results can stretch as well as some of its signature yoga gear and fitness apparel. Lululemon reports its 2026 fiscal second-quarter results after the market close on Sept. 3.
Expectations are low, and understandably so for a stock that has been cut nearly in half from its December high. Lululemon's own guidance from early June calls for $2.450 billion to $2.475 billion in revenue, a 2% to 3% decline. Its per-share profit forecast of $1.76 to $1.81 for the quarter is well below the $3.10 it posted for the same quarter last summer.
Image source: Getty Images.
It's a downward-facing dog Investors of the struggling retail stock could use a break. After five fiscal quarters of uninspiring single-digit revenue growth, Lululemon is bracing investors for only its second quarterly decline since going public 19 years ago. The only other time this happened was the first quarter of the COVID-19 shutdown.
Bulls will argue that Lululemon is cheap, trading for just 9 times trailing earnings. However, that's a flimsy argument when the bottom line has declined for five consecutive quarters. The chain's guidance predicts that the streak will extend to six reports in two weeks. Lululemon's forward earnings multiple is just above 10 right now.
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Hoping for a cobra pose The good news is that the pessimism is already baked into today's share price. Lululemon has lost a lot of key hires -- including its chief AI and technology officer last week, bolting after less than a year at the retailer -- but that also results in fresh thinking.
There is change coming, even at the top. Former Nike executive Heidi O'Neill will begin leading the company on Sept. 8, a few days after its fiscal second-quarter update. She won't have to return to Lululemon's heady days of growth to make the stock a market beater again. Simply reversing the negative sales and earnings trends could be enough. Namaste.
Rick Munarriz has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Nike. The Motley Fool recommends Lululemon Athletica Inc. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
Apple v pátek dopoledne klesl asi o 0,2 % na 310,60 USD, protože investoři řeší, zda nový šéf urychlí vývoj AI. Wall Street chce, aby se výhoda v AI promítla do produktů, růstu i zisků.
, the consumer-technology giant behind the iPhone, slipped approximately 0.2% to $310.60 Friday morning as investors wrestled with one big question: Will Apple's next chief executive finally hit the accelerator on artificial intelligence? The stock trailed a rising market, yet the company still carried a towering market value of roughly $4.58 trillion. Expectations remain sky-high.
Apple has refused to copy the hyperscalers' data-center spending frenzy. Its playbook is leaner: use outside partners, push more processing onto devices and weaponize an installed base measured in billions. The engine is hardly sputtering. Fiscal third-quarter revenue jumped 16% to $109.4 billion, while earnings surged 29% to $2.02 per share. But supply constraints and a slower AI rollout are creating doubt. Discipline can protect profits. It can also become hesitation.
The chart makes the pressure obvious. At $310.60, Apple trades 9.44% above its GF Value™ estimate of $283.81 and at roughly 35 times trailing earnings. That premium demands more than promises. Spend aggressively on AI, and margins could take a hit. Stay cautious, and Apple risks becoming increasingly dependent on outside models and chip suppliers. Friday's dip was modest. The warning was not: Wall Street wants Apple's AI advantage to show up in products, growth and profits.
Meta v pátek ráno vzrostla přibližně o 0,6 % na 549,33 USD, protože investoři přehlížejí hrozbu žaloby až o 200 miliard USD. Tržby ve druhém čtvrtletí stouply o 28 % na 60,8 miliardy USD.
, the social-media and artificial-intelligence juggernaut, climbed approximately 0.6% to $549.33 Friday morning as mega-cap growth stocks fought back. But Meta's rebound comes with a legal grenade still rolling across the floor. Investors must weigh a roaring advertising business against a youth-safety trial that could force painful changes to its biggest platforms.
Twenty-nine states are challenging Meta over children's data and allegedly addictive product features. The possible penalty has been estimated at approximately $200 billion, according to Reuters. Meanwhile, the money machine keeps humming. Second-quarter revenue exploded 28% to $60.8 billion. The ugly number was free cash flow, which crashed 91% to only $784 million as Meta opened the spending floodgates for AI.
A massive fine would sting. A forced redesign of recommendations, infinite scroll or youth engagement could hurt far more because it would strike directly at Meta's advertising engine. Yet the stock sits 34.64% below its GF Value estimate of $840.41. That is a monster valuation gap—but investors are being paid to absorb monster-sized legal risk and an AI spending spree that is devouring cash.
Meta dál masivně investuje do AI, ale Bernstein vidí hlavní oporu v růstu tržeb asi o 28 % meziročně a v prvních známkách zpeněžování. Analytik drží doporučení Outperform a cílovou cenu 800 USD.
Meta Platforms Inc. (META, Financials), the parent of Facebook and Instagram, continues to spend aggressively on artificial intelligence, but Bernstein thinks investors may be looking too much at the expense and not enough at what could go right.
Analyst Mark Shmulik maintained an Outperform rating and $800 price target, saying Meta's core business is still robust enough to support the AI drive. Revenue is still growing roughly 28% year over year, with early evidence of AI monetization starting to come in business messaging, paid model APIs and subscriptions.
That matters because Meta doesn't need every AI project to be a big moneymaker. Bernstein, however, believes that one good consumer AI success may do a lot to improve mood among investors and make today's spending look a lot more justified.
There is still a lot of execution risk. Meta is likely to continue heavy expenditure on AI models, personnel and infrastructure at least through 2027. But the valuation is helping.
Bernstein thinks the stock already represents much of the uncertainties around that investment, at about 15 times next year's earnings. The scenario for investors is really simple: Meta's primary advertising engine is still growing rapidly, and the business is starting to show that AI might someday lead to new sources of income, not just a cost center.
Tesla, SpaceX a Intel staví Terafab, čipový závod za 16,8 miliardy USD v okrese Grimes v Texasu. Projekt má snížit riziko v dodavatelských řetězcích a podpořit růst obou firem.
The construction of Terafab, a semiconductor manufacturing plant that's part of a joint venture among Tesla (TSLA +5.14%), Space Exploration Technologies (SPCX +2.22%), and Intel, is integral to the investment case for the two Elon Musk-run companies. Not only is the initiative critical to supporting growth, but its successful implementation will significantly improve something that's too little discussed in the investment world -- it will derisk companies' supply chains and, therefore, their risk profile. Here's why.
Tesla and SpaceX's Terafab plans The Terafab initiative is massive. The first phase involves a $16.8 billion investment in a 100-million-square-foot semiconductor manufacturing plant in Grimes County, Texas. A multiphase build-out could ultimately amount to a $119 billion investment. It aims to produce 1 terawatt (TW) of compute, which is significantly larger than the current global supply, according to SpaceX.
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The fundamental rationale behind it is simple: Both companies need to develop and manufacture chips to support growth in their cost technologies, electric vehicles (EVs) and Optimus robots for Tesla, and AI compute and data centers for SpaceX.
Four key benefits of Terafab for Tesla and SpaceX First, Musk believes that its suppliers, such as Samsung, Taiwan Semiconductor (TSMC), and Micron, will not be able to produce enough chips to meet Tesla's demand alone, let alone SpaceX's.
Second, shifting chip production will help reduce the geopolitical risk inherent in reliance on chips manufactured in Taiwan. China views Taiwan as an integral part of Chinese territory and seeks to unify it with the mainland.
Third, vertically integrating chip production into its supply chain means Tesla/SpaceX will, in theory, save on the near-60% operating margins that suppliers like TSMC currently maintain.
Fourth, it's not just a question of securing a physical supply; the timing and flexibility of that supply are also critical for a manufacturer, as is the ability to custom-make chips.
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Why Tesla and SpaceX need Terafab Chips are an integral part of both companies' business. Tesla currently uses its AI4 chip in its EVs and will use AI5 for Optimus and data centers, with Musk arguing that, at some point, it will also be used in EVs as AI4 ages. The next chip, AI6, will also be used for Optimus and data centers. Samsung makes the AI4 chip, will make the AI5 chip, and will make the next chip, AI6. TSMC will also make the AI5 chip.
However, beyond those chips, Terafab will begin producing chips for Tesla and SpaceX, including those critical to the operation of SpaceX's data centers, whether orbital or on the ground.
Elon Musk: Image source: The White House.
What it means to Tesla and SpaceX investors Terafab won't be easy, as semiconductor manufacturing is complex and capital-intensive, and Tesla/SpaceX have no background in the industry. Moreover, there's a need for commercial agreements between Tesla and SpaceX regarding ownership and payment responsibilities at Terafab. Indeed, many investors believe these issues are key support for a Tesla/SpaceX merger.
Terafab comes with risk, but it could remove a huge amount of risk for both companies. Supply chains matter, and mitigating risk in a critical component like semiconductors is a major plus for stocks. That's the key point of the initiative.
Tesla získala povolení provozovat v Las Vegas až 5 000 robotaxi, což podpořilo akcie o 5,1 % v pátek. Firma zároveň potvrdila evropský debut elektrického tahače.
Tesla (NASDAQ: TSLA) stock finished Friday, Aug. 21, 2026, up 5.1%, on news that it received approval to bring its robotaxis to Las Vegas. The company also confirmed a European debut for its electric semi truck.
Both the S&P 500 and the Nasdaq Composite finished Friday up 0.4%.
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Clark County cleared Tesla for up to 5,000 robotaxis in Las Vegas On Thursday, Clark County, Nevada, cleared Tesla, Alphabet's Waymo, and Uber to begin running robotaxi services in Las Vegas -- driverless cars that pick up paying passengers with no one behind the wheel. Together, the three can put as many as 8,000 robotaxis on local roads over the next year.
But Tesla got the largest share of that by a wide margin -- its approval covers up to 5,000 vehicles.
Image source: Getty Images.
The stock also got a boost from the news that Tesla plans to show its new all-electric semi-truck at an international transportation expo in Germany as it gears up for a European launch.
Tesla's valuation leans on businesses that don't exist yet These are exciting developments, no doubt, but both projects remain in their development stages, far from true commercial deployment. Tesla's stock is too richly valued, and for my money, too much of that value is derived from lines of business that may never materialize.
Johnny Rice has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Tesla. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
Akcie Microsoftu vzrostly asi o 0,5 % poté, co tržby za fiskální 4. čtvrtletí stouply o 18 % na 90 miliard USD a backlog komerčních závazků vyskočil o 84 % na 678 miliard USD. Azure vzrostl o 43 %.
, the enterprise-software, cloud and artificial-intelligence heavyweight, rose approximately 0.5% to $483.56 Friday afternoon as mega-cap technology stocks clawed back ground. The rebound was hardly explosive. The 30-year Treasury yield remained near a 19-year high, forcing investors to demand more from companies priced for years of future growth.
Microsoft is delivering. Fiscal fourth-quarter revenue surged 18% to $90 billion, Azure revenue rocketed 43% and commercial remaining performance obligations exploded 84% to $678 billion. Free cash flow hit $19.6 billion and beat expectations, but it still dropped 23% year over year. The AI machine is growing fast. It is also devouring cash.
That $678 billion backlog is Microsoft's weapon. The company already has the demand; now it must build enough computing capacity to collect the money. Higher yields punish distant profits, but Microsoft can bankroll the expansion internally while weaker rivals reach for expensive debt. The valuation picture adds another twist: the shares trade 16.32% below their $577.84 GF Value™, suggesting Wall Street sees the spending surge but may be underpricing the cash still waiting in the pipeline.
Investoři vyčkávají na výsledky společnosti Nvidia 26. srpna, které mohou přepsat očekávání pro celý trh s AI čipy včetně AMD. AMD zároveň vykázala ve 2. čtvrtletí tržby ve výši 11,5 miliardy USD.
, the chipmaker fighting for a bigger slice of the AI boom, edged approximately 0.1% higher to $470.19 Friday afternoon. That tiny gain says plenty. Investors are holding their fire ahead of Nvidia's August 26 earnings, which could reset expectations for every AI-accelerator player—including AMD's Instinct business.
AMD is no longer knocking politely on the AI market's door. Its second-quarter revenue surged to $11.5 billion, with data-center sales delivering roughly $6.7 billion. Anthropic has committed to buying up to two gigawatts of MI450 capacity beginning in 2027, while AMD could invest as much as $5 billion in the AI developer as deployment milestones are cleared. That is a huge endorsement. More importantly, it gives AMD a genuine route into the heavyweight AI workloads Nvidia has dominated.
Now comes the hard part: execution. Big commitments mean little until chips ship, software performs and revenue lands. The valuation already assumes a knockout performance. At $470.19, AMD trades 72.58% above its $272.45 GF Value™ estimate, flashing a clear overvaluation warning. The market has priced in the AI victory lap before the race is finished—and AMD cannot afford to stumble.
Nike se obchoduje na nejnižší úrovni za 12 let a za posledních pět let akcie spadly o více než 75 %. Firma zároveň čeká, že tržby v první polovině fiskálního roku 2027 klesnou o nízké až střední jednotky procent.
Nike (NKE +1.37%), the world's largest athletic footwear and apparel maker, was once considered a stable blue chip stock. But over the past five years, its stock has plunged more than 75%. It's now trading at its lowest price in 12 years.
Could Nike be a contrarian play at these levels? Let's see why its stock plummeted, if it's historically undervalued, and if it has a shot at a comeback over the next few years.
Image source: Getty Images.
What happened to Nike? More than a decade ago, Nike declared it could grow its revenue from $30.6 billion in fiscal 2015 (which ended in May 2015) to $50 billion in fiscal 2020. But in reality, Nike's revenue only reached $37.4 billion in fiscal 2020. Its sluggish sales in North America and Europe, soft demand for its Converse brand, and the COVID-19 pandemic all caused it to miss that target.
After the pandemic passed, Nike stabilized its business by expanding Nike Direct (its first-party e-commerce marketplace and brick-and-mortar stores) to reduce its dependence on wholesale retailers. From fiscal 2020 to fiscal 2023, its revenue grew at a steady 11% CAGR.
But after that recovery, Nike's top-line growth flatlined in fiscal 2024, and its revenue fell 10% in fiscal 2025. That slowdown was caused by its declining sales in North America and a strong dollar, which offset its steadier growth in China and other overseas markets. Nike Direct's expansion backfired as shoppers returned to wholesale retailers, and aggressive competitors -- including Deckers' Hoka, New Balance, and On Holding -- carved up the performance-running and lifestyle sneaker markets.
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That pressure forced Nike to rely on markdowns to grow its revenue. From fiscal 2023 to fiscal 2025, its gross margin declined from 43.5% to 42.7%, and its EPS fell from $3.23 to $2.16.
In fiscal 2026, Nike's revenue came in flat again. Its North American business finally grew, but its overseas sales -- especially in China -- fizzled out. Its EPS dipped 3% to $2.10. Its gross margin expanded 20 basis points to 42.9% for the year, but that was mainly due to a one-time tariff recovery rather than a significant reduction in markdowns.
Can Nike stabilize its business? Nike's turnaround strategy has been messy. It's trying to rebuild relationships with the wholesale retailers it alienated during Nike Direct's expansion, reduce its excess inventory without cheapening its brand, and develop new performance-oriented brands to widen its moat and reduce its dependence on its aging retro flagship shoes (Air Force 1, Dunk, and Air Jordan Retros). It also needs to find fresh ways to pull consumers back from rapidly growing local challengers like Anta and Li-Ning in China.
CEO Elliot Hill, who took the helm in Oct. 2024, doesn't expect the "Win Now" transformation plan to boost its revenue anytime soon. Instead, Hill is calling fiscal 2027 a "reset year" in which it will sacrifice its top-line growth to clear out its inventory and stabilize its margins.
Will Nike's stock sink even lower? For the first half of fiscal 2027, Nike expects its revenue to decline by the low- to mid-single digits, with a steeper decline in the second quarter. It expects heavy overseas digital promotions, the adjusted timing of its North American wholesale shipments, and tough macro headwinds on discretionary consumer spending to cause that slowdown.
It's also bracing for slower sales in China through fiscal 2027 as it clears out its inventories, reduces sell-in levels, and transitions toward digital storefronts on third-party marketplaces. That decline should be partly offset by its growth in North America. Analysts expect its revenue to decline nearly 2% for the full year.
On the bright side, Nike expects its gross margins to start expanding in the first quarter of fiscal 2027 as its logistics and supply chain costs decline. But analysts still expect its EPS to drop 18% for the full year.
At $40, Nike still isn't undervalued at 23 times this year's earnings. Its forward dividend yield of 4.1% might seem attractive, but it's lower than the 10-Year Treasury's 4.7% yield. So while Nike's stock price might seem historically cheap, it could get even cheaper if it doesn't address its existential challenges. That's why I'd avoid it until a few more green shoots appear.
Nvidia investuje do Cloverleaf Infrastructure, startupu zaměřeného na energetickou infrastrukturu pro obří datová centra. Firma tím míří na další úzké hrdlo AI boomu: dostupnost elektřiny.
Nvidia Corp. (NVDA, Financials), the dominant supplier of AI processors, is putting money into another part of the artificial intelligence boom: the infrastructure needed to power it.
That helps explain why Nvidia has put money into Cloverleaf Infrastructure, a startup that is focused on building power projects for massive data centers. This is a good step because Nvidia is no longer only selling more GPUs as its growth story.
Those chips need large quantities of electricity and the businesses developing the AI data centers are already bumping into restrictions regarding grid access, power availability and how rapidly more capacity can be added. Nvidia obviously sees that problem getting bigger.
Backing Cloverleaf gives the company a means to get closer to the infrastructure side of the AI buildout and potentially help take one of the constraints off its clients. It also tells you something about where the AI boom is headed. The chips were the shortage everyone feared in the last few years. The next scarcity it may be megawatts.
That's important for Nvidia because customers can't put their systems to use, even if demand is great, if they don't have enough power to run them. So this might not be a big issue for Nvidia financially, but it fits into a much wider story. The corporation is beginning to spend not just in the AI boom itself, but in the things that need to happen to keep the boom going.
SEC obvinila bývalého investičního bankéře Bank of America Jasona Satského z insider tradingu kvůli údajnému tipu na chystanou fúzi South Jersey Industries. Jeho známý Gavin Wolfe měl podle SEC vydělat 18,5 milionu USD.
The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission on Friday charged a former senior Bank of America (BAC.N) investment banker with insider trading, alleging he tipped a longtime friend and former colleague about a pending merger, allowing the friend to make $18.5 million of illegal profit.
Jason Satsky, who was Bank of America’s co-head of Americas power and renewable energy banking, allegedly tipped Gavin Wolfe in late 2021 about the potential acquisition of South Jersey Industries, an energy holding company that the bank was advising.
The SEC said Wolfe, who runs the firm Evergreen Capital and has been Satsky's friend for more than 20 years, bought more than 2.2 million shares of the South Jersey Gas parent worth about $53 million, and realized a 36% gain after the company announced an $8.1 billion buyout on February 24, 2022.
Satsky and Wolfe allegedly communicated multiple times about a possible acquisition, including when they and their wives attended a nationally televised college basketball game between Duke and Kentucky at Madison Square Garden, where Satsky had luxury box seats obtained through Bank of America.
The lawsuit seeks to recoup ill-gotten gains from Wolfe, and impose civil fines and officer-and-director bans against Satsky and Wolfe, among other remedies.
Satsky, 59, lives in New York, while Wolfe, 55, lives in New York and Sunny Isles Beach, Florida.
"Jason strongly denies the SEC’s allegations and is confident that the evidence will demonstrate that he acted properly and that he will be fully vindicated," Satsky's lawyer Robert Anello said in a statement. "Jason did not provide Gavin Wolfe, or anyone else, with material nonpublic information regarding South Jersey Industries."
Reed Brodsky, a lawyer for Wolfe, in a statement said his client "categorically denies the allegations and will vigorously defend himself." He also said the SEC ignored sworn testimony and documents that showed Wolfe bought South Jersey shares based on an "independent investment thesis."
Wolfe was a senior power and renewable energy banker at Credit Suisse before he and Satsky joined Bank of America in 2012. Evergreen manages Wolfe family assets. Bank of America terminated Satsky in March 2025, the SEC said.
Bank of America was not accused of wrongdoing and confirmed Satsky no longer works there. Evergreen did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Cincinnati Financial schválila pravidelnou čtvrtletní hotovostní dividendu 94 centů na akcii, splatnou 15. října 2026. Tím završuje 66 po sobě jdoucích let zvyšování ročních dividend.
, /PRNewswire/ -- Cincinnati Financial Corporation (Nasdaq: CINF) announced that at today's regular meeting, the board of directors declared a 94 cents-per-share regular quarterly cash dividend. The dividend is payable October 15, 2026, to shareholders of record as of September 23, 2026.
Stephen M. Spray, president and chief executive officer, commented, "Our financial strength remains in excellent shape, giving us the confidence and ability to continue executing on our plans to achieve profitable growth in our insurance operations. Our strong operations, in turn, create the basis for rewarding shareholders now and into the future. This October dividend payment completes 66 consecutive years of increasing annual cash dividends – a record we believe is matched by only seven other publicly traded U.S. companies."
About Cincinnati Financial
Cincinnati Financial Corporation offers primarily business, home and auto insurance through The Cincinnati Insurance Company and its two standard market property casualty companies. The same local independent insurance agencies that market those policies may offer products of our other subsidiaries, including life insurance, fixed annuities and surplus lines property and casualty insurance. For additional information about the company, please visit cinfin.com.
Mailing Address:
Street Address:
P.O. Box 145496
6200 South Gilmore Road
Cincinnati, Ohio 45250-5496
Fairfield, Ohio 45014-5141
Safe Harbor Statement
Our business is subject to certain risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially from those suggested by forward-looking statements. Any forward-looking statements contained herein, are based upon our current estimates, assumptions and plans that are subject to uncertainty. These statements are made subject to the safe-harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements can be identified by words like "seek," "expect," "will," "should," "could," "might," "anticipate," "believe," "estimate," "intend," "likely," "future," or other similar expressions. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they were made; we assume no obligation to update such statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in, or implied by, the forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to:
Insurance-Related Risks
Risks and uncertainties associated with our loss reserves or actual claim costs exceeding reserves Increased frequency and/or severity of claims or development of claims that are unforeseen at the time of policy issuance Unusually high levels of catastrophe losses due to risk concentrations or changes in weather patterns, environmental events, war or political unrest, terrorism incidents, cyberattacks, civil unrest or other causes; and our ability to manage catastrophe risk Risks associated with analytical models in key areas such as underwriting, pricing, capital management, reserving, investments, reinsurance, and catastrophe risk management Inadequate estimates or assumptions, or reliance on third-party data used for critical accounting estimates Events or conditions that could weaken or harm our relationships with our independent agencies and hamper opportunities to add new agencies, resulting in limitations on our opportunities for growth Mergers, acquisitions, and other consolidations of agencies that result in a concentration of a significant amount of premium in one agency or agency group and/or alter our competitive advantages Our inability to manage business opportunities, growth prospects, and expenses for our ongoing operations Changing consumer insurance-buying habits The inability to obtain adequate ceded reinsurance on acceptable terms, for acceptable amounts, and from financially strong reinsurers; and the potential for nonpayment or delay in payment by reinsurers Domestic and global events, such as the wars in Ukraine and in the Middle East, future pandemics, inflationary trends, changes in U.S. trade and tariff policy, and disruptions in the banking and financial services industry, resulting in insurance losses, capital market or credit market uncertainty, followed by prolonged periods of economic instability or recession, that lead to: Securities market disruption or volatility and related effects such as decreased economic activity and continued supply chain disruptions that affect our investment portfolio and book value Significant or prolonged decline in the fair value of securities and impairment of the assets Significant decline in investment income due to reduced or eliminated dividend payouts from securities Significant rise in losses from surety or director and officer policies written for financial institutions or other insured entities or in losses from policies written by Cincinnati Re or Cincinnati Global An unusually high level of claims in our insurance or reinsurance operations that increase litigation-related expenses Decreased premium revenue and cash flow from disruption to our distribution channel of independent agents, consumer self-isolation, travel limitations, business restrictions and decreased economic activity The inability of our workforce, agencies, or vendors to perform necessary business functions Financial, Economic, and Investment Risks
Declines in overall stock market values negatively affecting our equity portfolio and book value Downgrades in our financial strength ratings Interest rate fluctuations or other factors that could significantly affect: Our ability to generate growth in investment income Values of our fixed-maturity investments and accounts in which we hold bank-owned life insurance contract assets Our traditional life policy reserves Economic volatility and illiquidity associated with our alternative investments in private equity, private credit, real property, and limited partnerships Failure to comply with covenants and other requirements under our credit facilities, senior debt, and other debt obligations Recession, prolonged elevated inflation, or other economic conditions resulting in lower demand for insurance products or increased payment delinquencies The inability of our subsidiaries to pay dividends consistent with current or past levels impacting our ability to pay shareholder dividends or repurchase shares General Business, Technology, and Operational Risks
Ineffective information technology systems or failing to develop and implement improvements in technology Difficulties with technology or data security breaches, including cyberattacks, could negatively affect our, or our agents', ability to conduct business; disrupt our relationships with agents, policyholders, and others; cause reputational damage, mitigation expenses, data loss, and expose us to liability Difficulties with our operations and technology that may negatively impact our ability to conduct business, including cloud-based data information storage, data security, remote working capabilities, and/or outsourcing relationships and third-party operations and data security Disruption of the insurance market caused by technology innovations – such as driverless cars – that could decrease consumer demand for insurance products Delays, inadequate data developed internally or from third parties, or performance inadequacies from ongoing development and implementation of underwriting and pricing models and methods, including usage-based insurance methods, automation, artificial intelligence, or technology projects and enhancements expected to increase our efficiency, pricing accuracy, underwriting profit, and competitiveness Intense competition, and the impact of innovation, emerging technologies, artificial intelligence and changing customer preferences on the insurance industry and the markets in which we operate, could harm our ability to maintain or increase our business volumes and profitability Inability to defer policy acquisition costs for any business segment if pricing and loss trends would lead management to conclude that the segment could not achieve sustainable profitability Unforeseen departure of certain executive officers or other key employees that could interrupt progress toward important strategic goals or diminish the effectiveness of certain longstanding relationships with insurance agents and others Our inability, or the inability of our independent agents, to attract and retain personnel Events, such as a pandemic, an epidemic, natural catastrophe, or terrorism, which could hamper our ability to assemble our workforce, work effectively in a remote environment, or other failures of business continuity or disaster recovery programs Regulatory, Compliance, and Legal Risks
Actions of insurance departments, state attorneys general or other regulatory agencies, including a change to a federal system of regulation from a state-based system, that: Impose new obligations on us that increase our expenses or change the assumptions underlying our critical accounting estimates Place the insurance industry under greater regulatory scrutiny or result in new statutes, rules, and regulations Restrict our ability to exit or reduce writings of unprofitable coverages or lines of business Increase assessments for guaranty funds, other insurance‑related assessments, or mandatory reinsurance arrangements; or that impair our ability to recover such assessments through future surcharges or other rate changes Increase our provision for federal income taxes due to changes in tax laws, regulations, or interpretations Increase other expenses Limit our ability to set fair, adequate, and reasonable rates Restrict our ability to cancel policies Impose new underwriting standards Place us at a disadvantage in the marketplace Restrict our ability to execute our business model, including the way we compensate agents Adverse outcomes from litigation, environmental claims, mass torts or administrative proceedings, including effects of social inflation and third-party litigation funding on the size and frequency of litigation awards Events or actions, including unauthorized intentional circumvention of controls, which reduce our future ability to maintain effective internal control over financial reporting under the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 Effects of changing social, global, economic, and regulatory environments Additional measures affecting corporate financial reporting and governance that can affect the market value of our common stock Risks and uncertainties are further discussed in other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including our 2025 Annual Report on Form 10-K, Item 1A, Risk Factors, Page 30.
Myriad Uranium dokončila převzetí 100 % akcií Rush Rare Metals a Rush se stala její stoprocentní dceřinou společností. Akcie Rush byly vyřazeny z Canadian Securities Exchange.
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - August 21, 2026) - Myriad Uranium Corp. (CSE: M) (OTCQB: MYRUF) (FSE: C3Q) ("Myriad" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that it has completed the acquisition of 100% of the issued and outstanding common shares (the "Rush Shares") of Rush Rare Metals Corp. ("Rush") pursuant to a statutory plan of arrangement (the "Arrangement"), as previously announced by Myriad in news releases dated February 13, 2026 and July 13, 2026.
Myriad's CEO, Thomas Lamb, commented: "This merger is a significant value catalyst for Myriad. Full ownership of Copper Mountain gives us a clean, simplified structure and complete control over a uranium project we believe could become America's largest. I want to recognize Pete Smith, whose original vision created both Rush and Myriad, and I'm pleased he'll remain closely involved as an advisor to the Company going forward."
Under the Arrangement, Myriad issued an aggregate of 24,983,671 Myriad common shares (each, a "Myriad Share") to Rush shareholders, representing approximately one (1) Rush Share to 0.5405 Myriad Shares (the "Exchange Ratio"). In addition, all outstanding Rush stock options were replaced with an aggregate of 2,110,120 Myriad stock options (each, a "Myriad Option"), with appropriate adjustments made to reflect the Exchange Ratio.
The Arrangement was approved by the Rush shareholders at an annual general and special meeting held on August 17, 2026. On August 19, 2026, the Supreme Court of British Columbia issued the final order to approve the Arrangement. For additional details respecting the Arrangement, see Rush's management information circular dated June 23, 2026, a copy of which can be found under Rush's profile on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca. Following completion of the Arrangement, Rush has become a wholly owned subsidiary of Myriad, and the Rush Shares have been delisted from the Canadian Securities Exchange.
Spinout of Boxi Property
As part of the Arrangement, Rush shareholders received an aggregate of 11,555,816 common shares ("Spinco Shares) of a subsidiary of Rush, 1577075 B.C. Ltd. ("Spinco"), representing one (1) Rush Spinco share for each four (4) Rush Shares outstanding. In exchange for the Spinco Shares, Rush transferred all of its right, title and interest in and to its Boxi Property in Quebec and has funded $100,000 to support the capitalization of Rush Spinco.
Letter of Transmittal
Registered Rush shareholders should send their completed and executed letters of transmittal and their Rush share certificates to the depository, TSX Trust Company, as soon as possible in order to receive their Myriad Shares to which they are entitled under the Arrangement. Non-registered Rush shareholders who hold shares through a broker or another intermediary should follow the instructions provided to them by their broker or such other intermediary. A copy of the letter of transmittal is available on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca under Rush's profile.
None of the securities to be issued pursuant to the Arrangement have been or will be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "U.S. Securities Act"), or any state securities laws, and any securities issuable in the transaction are anticipated to be issued in reliance upon available exemptions from such registration requirements pursuant to Section 3(a)(10) of the U.S. Securities Act and applicable exemptions under state securities laws. This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities.
Certain directors and officers of Myriad hold securities of Rush which will be exchanged for Myriad securities and Spinco Shares under the Arrangement, which exchange is considered to be a "related party transaction" as defined under Multilateral Instrument 61-101 ("MI 61-101"). This related party transaction is exempt from the formal valuation and minority shareholder approval requirements of MI 61-101 as the fair market value of the transaction does not exceed 25% of Myriad's market capitalization of the Company, as determined in accordance with MI 61-101. In considering and unanimously approving the transaction, there were no materially contrary views, abstentions (except for any abstentions required by corporate law) or material disagreements by any Myriad director.
About Myriad Uranium Corp.
Myriad Uranium Corp. holds a 100% interest in the Copper Mountain Uranium Project in Wyoming, USA. Copper Mountain hosts multiple historic uranium deposits and past-producing mines, including the Arrowhead Mine (approximately 500,000 lbs U₃O₈ produced). Union Pacific conducted extensive exploration and development in the district during the late 1970s, including approximately 2,000 boreholes and advanced mine planning, before the uranium market downturn in 1980. Union Pacific is estimated to have invested approximately C$125 million (2026 dollars) in the project, generating significant historical resource estimates.
A news release detailing a comprehensive assessment of Copper Mountain's uranium endowment by Bendix Engineering for the US Department of Energy published in 1982 can be viewed here.
Myriad holds a 10% free carried interest in the Red Basin Uranium Project, recently sold to 8VC- and Overmatch-backed Subatomic Industries. Red Basin carries significant historical resource estimates from extensive drilling by Occidental Oil in the late 1970s, and also hosts vanadium, which has been designated a strategic and critical mineral by the U.S. government. Note the caution on historical estimates below.
Myriad's 100%-owned Breccia Pipe Project in Arizona comprises at least 23 breccia pipes that are prospective for uranium and REEs. One of the pipes, the Wate Pipe, was previously owned and explored by Energy Fuels and is the subject of a historical resource estimate.
Note: A qualified person has not done sufficient work to classify the Copper Mountain, Red Basin, and Breccia Pipe Project historical estimates as current mineral resources or reserves and Myriad is not treating historical estimates as current resources or reserves. Myriad intends to conduct further work to determine whether the historical estimates can be verified and, if appropriate, supported by current mineral resource estimates.
Forward-Looking Statements
This news release contains "forward-looking information" that is based on current expectations, estimates, forecasts and projections. This forward-looking information includes, among other things, each company's business, plans, outlook and business strategy. The words "may", "would", "could", "should", "will", "likely", "expect," "anticipate," "intend", "estimate", "plan", "forecast", "project" and "believe" or other similar words and phrases are intended to identify forward-looking information. All statements in this news release, other than statements of historical facts, including statements regarding future estimates, plans, objectives, timing, assumptions or expectations of future performance are forward-looking statements and contain forward-looking information, including, but not limited to: the prospects of the combined company following completion of the Arrangement; and that the anticipated benefits of the Arrangement will be realized. Forward-looking information also involves known and unknown risks and uncertainties and other factors, which may cause actual events or results in future periods to differ materially from any projections of future events or results expressed or implied by such forward-looking information or statements, including, among others: failure to realize the anticipated benefits of the Arrangement or implement the business plan for the combined company, negative operating cash flow and dependence on third party financing, uncertainty of additional financing, no known current mineral reserves or resources, reliance on key management and other personnel, potential downturns in economic conditions, actual results of exploration activities being different than anticipated, changes in exploration programs based upon results, and risks generally associated with the mineral exploration industry, environmental risks, changes in laws and regulations, community relations and delays in obtaining governmental or other approvals and the risk factors with respect to Myriad set out in the Company's most recent annual management discussion and analysis and other filings which have been filed with the Canadian securities regulators and available under Myriad's profile on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca.
Although Myriad has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking information or implied by forward- looking information, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that forward-looking information and statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated, estimated or intended. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements or information. Myriad does not undertake any obligation to update or reissue forward- looking information as a result of new information or events except as required by applicable securities laws.
The CSE has not reviewed, approved or disapproved the contents of this news release.
To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/310909
Source: Myriad Uranium Corp.
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Oracle získala u ministerstva pro záležitosti veteránů větší příležitost: strop kontraktu na elektronické zdravotní záznamy Oracle Health se zvýšil zhruba o 17 miliard USD na asi 27 miliard USD. Firma ale peníze nezíská hned; jde o vyšší strop pro budoucí zakázky.
Oracle Corp. (ORCL, Financials) has just received a significantly larger opportunity with the Department of Veterans Affairs. The VA boosted the maximum on Oracle Health’s electronic health record contract by roughly $17 billion to approximately $27 billion.
That’s a big figure, but with an essential caveat. Oracle won’t see $17 billion right away. The boost just provides the VA with greater flexibility for awarding contracts as the rollout proceeds. And there is much to do.
Only 14 of the VA’s 164 medical centers are live on the federal EHR system, and most are not yet using it. The deal now also includes three more one-year options that may keep the program running through May 2031.
A longer runway might be significant for Oracle's software division, Mizuho says. The brokerage reiterated its Outperform rating and $320 price target, saying the larger VA opportunity might help boost SaaS growth over the next several years.
Oracle has spent most of the last few years trying to sell investors on its cloud infrastructure story. That gives the corporation another lever for growth, one supported by a significant government customer. The next thing to watch will be simple: How fast that excess contract capacity transforms into actual task orders and revenue.
Hyliion Holdings čelí vyšetřování Robbins LLP kvůli možnému porušení zákonů o cenných papírech. Akcie HYLN v úterý klesly o 16 % po zprávě short-sellera Pelican Way Research, která zpochybnila klíčovou zákaznickou dohodu.
, /PRNewswire/ -- Shareholder rights law firm Robbins LLP is investigating Hyliion Holdings Corp. (AMEX: HYLN) to determine whether certain Hyliion Holdings officers and directors violated securities laws and breached fiduciary duties to shareholders. Hyliion is a power generator company whose primary product is the KARNQ Power Module.
Why Are We Investigating Hyliion Holdings?
Hyliion stock dropped 16% on Tuesday, June 23, 2026, following the release of a short-seller report from Pelican Way Research that questioned the legitimacy of a major customer agreement that had recently driven the Company's valuation up by approximately 150%. Specifically, the Company announced a non-binding LOI with VFG Holdings for up to 250 KARNO Cores, representing approximately $133 million in potential revenue.
Pelican Way Research alleged that the VFG LOI accounted for roughly one-third of Hyliion's reported $400 million-plus pipeline and questioned whether the LOI provided meaningful commercial validation. The report further alleged that VFG, which Pelican Way identified as VFG Tech Holdings, LLC, was incorporated in January 2026, appeared to have only four LinkedIn employees, had a minimal website, and lacked evidence of funding or operating substance sufficient to support an order of that size.
The report also noted that the Company's Financial filings show that between fiscal year 2021 and fiscal year 2025, Hyliion brought in a total of $8 million in cumulative revenue. Over that exact same period, CEO Thomas Healy was paid $15.4 million in total compensation.
What Can Shareholders Do Now?
If you lost money investing in Hyliion Holdings Corp. contact Robbins LLP for more information by submitting an inquiry, emailing attorney Aaron Dumas, Jr., or calling (800) 350-6003.
All representation is on a contingency fee basis. Shareholders pay no fees or expenses.
About Robbins LLP
A recognized leader in shareholder rights litigation, the attorneys and staff of Robbins LLP have been dedicated to helping shareholders recover losses, improve corporate governance structures, and hold company executives accountable for their wrongdoing since 2002. Since our inception, we have obtained over $1 billion for shareholders.
To be notified if a class action against Hyliion Holdings Corp. settles or to receive free alerts when corporate executives engage in wrongdoing, sign up for Stock Watch today.
Attorney Advertising. Past results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
FDA autorizovala 11 nových nikotinových sáčků Philip Morris, včetně 9mg variant Zyn Ultra Citrus, Menthol a Wintergreen. Úřad je označil za méně škodlivé než jiné orální a bezdýmné tabákové produkty.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration said on Friday it had authorized 11 nicotine pouch products recently launched by Philip Morris (PM.N), citing lower levels of harmful constituents compared with other oral and smokeless tobacco products.
Philip Morris unveiled its higher-strength Zyn Ultra nicotine pouches in June, at prices lower than its flagship Zyn brand, to fend off competition from British American Tobacco's (BATS.L) Velo.
Here are more details:
The latest authorization follows the agency's June approval of 20 variants of the company's Zyn pouches as less harmful than cigarettes.
These pouches, placed under the lip to deliver nicotine, are the fastest-growing nicotine category in the United States.
The newly authorized products include 9 mg Zyn Ultra Citrus, Menthol, and Wintergreen variants made by Philip Morris subsidiary Swedish Match USA.
Last month, Philip Morris reported better-than-expected quarterly earnings and said it would increase investment in Zyn as competition intensifies. However, the tobacco company lowered its annual forecast amid currency headwinds.
Akcie Eli Lilly v pátek vzrostly asi o 1,9 % na 1 268,23 USD, protože trh dál sází na její léky na obezitu. Ve 2. čtvrtletí tržby vyskočily o 48 % na 23 miliard USD a firma zvýšila celoroční výhled tržeb na 85 až 87 miliard USD.
, the drugmaking giant behind Mounjaro and Zepbound, jumped approximately 1.9% to $1,268.23 Friday afternoon. Thursday's dip did not scare buyers. It brought them back. The stock is once again charging toward its 52-week high as Wall Street bets that Lilly's obesity-drug machine still has plenty of fuel.
The numbers are monstrous. Second-quarter revenue rocketed 48% to $23 billion. Mounjaro sales exploded 91% to $9.94 billion, while Zepbound delivered another $4.93 billion after growing 46%. Lilly responded by lifting its full-year revenue forecast to between $85 billion and $87 billion. And this is not a two-drug story forever. According to Investor's Business Daily, Lilly has 35 Phase 2 programs and another 41 therapies in Phase 3 trials.
Still, the concentration risk is impossible to ignore. Mounjaro and Zepbound generated roughly 65% of quarterly revenue, putting manufacturing, insurance coverage and competitive pricing under a brutal spotlight. Yet investors keep paying up because Lilly keeps delivering growth that almost no company of its size can touch. Even better, the stock's $1,268.23 market price remains 16.32% below its $1,520 GF Value estimate. Lilly is expensive at roughly 43 times trailing earnings—but Friday's rally says Wall Street still sees firepower behind that premium.
Coherent obchoduje nad 40násobkem EBITDA a nad 60násobkem upraveného zisku, takže prostor pro zklamání je malý. Firma čeká v 1. čtvrtletí asi 50% růst tržeb a 70% růst non-GAAP EPS meziročně.
Key Takeaways Coherent trades above 40X EBITDA and 60X adjusted earnings, leaving little room for disappointment.COHR guides for about 50% Q1 revenue growth and a 70% rise in non-GAAP EPS year over year.Coherent's backlog extends into fiscal 2028, while capacity, margins and demand durability remain key. Coherent (COHR - Free Report) offers investors a compelling growth story, but its valuation makes the entry point important. Based on fiscal 2026 results, the stock trades above 40 times EBITDA and above 60 times adjusted earnings, levels that leave little room for operational disappointment.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Those multiples could decline rapidly if Coherent delivers the growth currently anticipated. First-quarter guidance indicates roughly 50% year-over-year revenue growth and a 70% increase in non-GAAP earnings per share. Full-year consensus projections of $9.46 per share in earnings and approximately $2.8 billion in EBITDA would lower the valuation to about 36 times earnings and 25 times EV/EBITDA.
The central question is how long exceptional datacom demand can continue. Coherent’s backlog extends into fiscal 2028, making manufacturing capacity and production ramps the primary near-term constraints. However, supply should eventually catch up with demand, potentially slowing revenue growth and pressuring the premium investors assign to the shares.
Margin expansion may provide some support, though the opportunity appears measured. Fiscal 2026 adjusted gross margin improved 152 basis points to 39.4%, while management continues to target more than 42%. Greater internal production of indium phosphide lasers could help, but rising transceiver sales carry relatively lower margins. With adjusted operating margin already near 20%, revenue growth will likely remain the dominant earnings driver.
COHR’s Peer LandscapeLumentum Holdings (LITE - Free Report) and Fabrinet (FN - Free Report) provide useful comparisons within the optical communications ecosystem. Lumentum is exposed to similar AI-driven networking demand, while Fabrinet benefits from increased manufacturing requirements across optical products. Investors comparing Coherent with Lumentum should assess differences in product exposure and profitability. Likewise, Fabrinet offers another perspective on how capacity expansion converts into earnings. Ultimately, Lumentum and Fabrinet reinforce that execution, margins and demand durability matter alongside headline growth.
COHR appears attractive for long-term AI infrastructure believers, but its valuation and volatility favor a disciplined entry price.
COHR’s Price Performance & EstimatesThe stock has declined 20% in the past three months compared with the industry’s 12% fall.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for COHR’s fiscal 2027 earnings increased over the past 60 days.
COHR currently sports a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
C.H. Robinson ve 2. čtvrtletí zvýšila EPS o 24,8 % na 1,61 USD a tržby o 19,3 % na 4,93 mld. USD, obojí nad odhady analytiků. Provozní marže se rozšířila na 34,7 %.
Key Takeaways C.H. Robinson's Q2 EPS rose 24.8% to $1.61, beating the consensus estimate by 5.2%.CHRW's adjusted operating margin expanded 360 basis points to 34.7% on productivity gains.CHRW's premium valuation, $1.68B debt load and limited price-target upside temper the bull case. C.H. Robinson Worldwide (CHRW - Free Report) has a stronger fundamental case after a solid second-quarter earnings beat, improving profitability and continued shareholder returns. The stock’s sharp three-month pullback may draw investor attention, especially as earnings and margins move higher.
Still, the setup is not clearly compelling. CHRW trades at a premium to industry and sector benchmarks, carries rising debt and has only limited upside to the stated price target.
CHRW’s Earnings Beat Strengthens the CaseC.H. Robinson reported second-quarter 2026 earnings of $1.61 per share, up 24.8% year over year. The result topped the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.53 by 5.2%.
Revenues rose 19.3% year over year to $4.93 billion and exceeded the consensus mark of $4.42 billion by 11.7%. Higher pricing across truckload, LTL, air and ocean services supported the top-line gain.
C.H. Robinson Expands Operating MarginsProfitability improved faster than adjusted gross profit. Adjusted gross profits increased 6.5% year over year to $738.0 million, while adjusted income from operations advanced 19.5% to $263.2 million.
Adjusted operating margin expanded 360 basis points to 34.7%. That improvement came even as operating expenses rose 1% to $482.2 million, showing that cost optimization and productivity gains helped offset higher incentive compensation tied to strong operating performance.
The company’s earnings presentation also highlights the operating model behind the margin improvement. CHRW said it is using Lean principles and custom-built AI tools to streamline processes, reduce waste, decouple headcount growth from volume growth and drive operating leverage.
CHRW’s Valuation Offers Little Clear DiscountValuation limits the bull case. CHRW trades at 20.79X forward 12-month earnings, above 15.33X for the Zacks sub-industry and 14.62X for the broader transportation sector. It is also slightly above the S&P 500’s 20.34X multiple.
The stock is not far from its own historical norm either. Over the past five years, CHRW’s forward P/E has ranged from 11.49X to 33.46X, with a median of 20.98X. That makes the current multiple look fair to full rather than clearly discounted.
C.H. Robinson’s Price Target Caps the UpsideThe stated $151 price target compares with a reported share price of $143.83. That implies positive but limited appreciation potential.
The narrow spread matters because investors are being asked to pay near a historical median multiple while still relying on continued earnings execution. Shares have plunged 18% over the past three months, but they remain up 17.1% over the past year, so the pullback does not automatically make the stock cheap.
CHRW’s Leverage Tempers the Bull CaseThe balance sheet adds caution. CHRW ended the second quarter with $154.59 million in cash and cash equivalents, while long-term debt stood at $1.68 billion.
Cash-flow trends also weakened. Cash generated from operations fell to $35.9 million from $227.1 million in the year-ago quarter, mainly because higher freight rates drove a negative working-capital swing.
Shareholder returns remain a positive offset. In the second quarter, CHRW returned $301.3 million to shareholders, including $226 million of share repurchases and $75.3 million of dividends. However, higher leverage and working-capital demands reduce financial flexibility despite solid earnings. Apart from CHRW, other stocks like Schneider National, Inc. (SNDR - Free Report) and Expeditors (EXPD - Free Report) from the similar industry have also been consistently rewarding their shareholders.
C.H. Robinson’s Scores Favor SelectivityThe bottom line: C.H. Robinson’s earnings beat, margin expansion and capital returns support investor interest, especially after the stock’s recent pullback. But the valuation, debt load and limited price-target upside argue against an aggressive stance.
CHRW carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold), which supports patience. Its Growth, Momentum and VGM Score of B are constructive, but the C Value Score aligns with a stock trading near its historical median multiple and above industry valuation benchmarks. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
Sezzle ve 2. čtvrtletí uvedla, že její AI chatbot vyřešil 68 % příchozích dotazů zákazníků a měl vyšší spokojenost než lidští agenti.
AI také vytvořila 88 % nového kódu a zvýšila produktivitu vývojářů o 20 % mezikvartálně.
Key Takeaways Sezzle's AI chatbot deflected 68% of consumer inbounds and achieved higher satisfaction than human agents.AI shopping assistant drove a 3.6 times higher product click rate and reached 80% of Sezzle Anywhere users.AI developed 88% of new code as developer productivity rose 20% quarter over quarter. Sezzle Inc. (SEZL - Free Report) is pushing AI deeper into its business, and the early numbers suggest the effort is affecting customer service and internal productivity. In the second quarter of 2026, the company reported that its AI support chatbot deflected 68% of consumer inbounds and achieved higher customer satisfaction than human agents.
The consumer side is showing gains. Sezzle’s AI shopping assistant generated a 3.6 times higher product click rate than the control group and was live for 80% of Sezzle Anywhere users. Management plans to expand the tool to all consumers, tying AI more closely to engagement and shopping activity.
Inside the company, AI is increasingly integrated into daily operations. Sezzle reported that 88% of new code was AI-developed, while 30% of merged code received an added AI review layer. Developer productivity rose 20% quarter over quarter, and 98% of support tickets were automatically graded through its AutoQA process.
These efficiency gains come as Sezzle is growing. In the second quarter of 2026, revenues rose 51.7% year over year to $149.7 million, while adjusted EBITDA reached $58 million with a 38.8% margin. Active subscribers increased 76.4% to 854,000, and average quarterly purchase frequency climbed to a record 7.2 times.
Management is also using AI to speed product development. Sezzle said the upcoming Sezzle Send product was built largely with AI by a small team in weeks rather than months. Sezzle Send already had approximately 100,000 prospective users on its wait list, giving investors another data point to watch, as AI moves from support tools into product creation.
How Are Its Competitors Faring?Klarna Group plc (KLAR - Free Report) is pushing AI beyond customer support and into the core of its payments and shopping operations. The company is using AI to automate service, personalize recommendations, improve marketing and raise employee productivity. Its AI assistant quickly became a major service channel, handling about two-thirds of customer-service chats within its first month.
Affirm (AFRM - Free Report) is embedding artificial intelligence across underwriting, servicing, engineering, pricing and merchant promotions, making AI a broader operating tool rather than a standalone feature. Its AdaptAI platform uses real-time data to tailor financing incentives and improve conversion, with early deployments producing nearly a 10% incremental improvement in merchant conversion rates.
SEZL’s Price Performance, Valuation & EstimatesShares of Sezzle have outperformed in the past three months compared with the broader industry and the S&P 500 Index.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
From a valuation standpoint, Sezzle’s shares have a Value Score of D. In terms of forward 12-month P/E, SEZL stock is trading at 19.1X, which is at a premium to the Zacks Financial Transaction Services Market industry’s 18.85X.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Sezzle’s estimate revisions reflect a positive trend. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for full-year 2026 EPS has been revised upward to $5.24 in the past month. The consensus estimate for the metric indicates a year-over-year increase of 45.96%.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Sezzle currently sports a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.
Quantum Computing Inc. zvýšila tržby ve 2. čtvrtletí 2026 na 5,6 milionu USD z 61 tisíc USD a objednávková kniha dosáhla zhruba 42,5 milionu USD. Společnost také dodala systém Dirac-3 globální poradenské firmě.
Key Takeaways QUBT's revenues surged, backlog hit $42.5 million, and Dirac-3 was delivered to a global firm.QNT's revenues jumped 279%, with $81 million in year-to-date bookings and a $28-$32 million outlook.QUBT and QNT offer differentiated growth paths as investors demand stronger commercial evidence. The quantum-computing trade has entered a more demanding phase in the second half of 2026. After a powerful rally earlier this year, investors are increasingly looking beyond qubit milestones and government support toward revenue visibility, cash requirements and commercialization. This shift comes as the macro backdrop becomes less favorable for high-risk growth stocks within the quantum computing space.
Against this backdrop, two pure-play quantum computing stocks outside the sector's leading names that are showing notable commercial momentum are Quantum Computing Inc. (QUBT - Free Report) or QCi and Quantinuum Inc. (QNT - Free Report) . Let’s delve deeper.
A Cooling Labor MarketThe Federal Reserve kept the federal funds target range at 3.5%-3.75% at its July 29 meeting, while inflation remains elevated. Going by the BLS’ July CPI report, released in August 2026, the July Consumer Price Index (CPI) rose 3.4% year over year, with core CPI up 2.5%, while the energy index increased 14.7% for the 12 months ending July. The labor market is also cooling. July nonfarm payrolls declined 23,000, with unemployment at 4.1%, according to the BLS’ August-released Employment Situation Summary report.
Higher Yields, Persistent Inflation and Fiscal Risks Add PressureThe macro backdrop is becoming less forgiving for long-duration, speculative technology stocks. The BEA's latest Personal Income and Outlays report showed the personal consumption expenditures (PCE) price index rising 3.7% year over year in June, while core PCE increased 3.3%. Although the headline PCE index fell 0.1% month over month, underlying inflation remains well above the Federal Reserve's 2% target, limiting the scope for rapid monetary easing.
Producer-price pressures add to the challenge. July Producer Price Index (PPI) rose 4.7% year over year, although the index was unchanged month over month. Prices excluding food, energy and trade services also rose 4.7% over the 12 months ended in July, suggesting that cost pressures remain elevated.
Image Source: The U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA)
At the same time, real consumer spending increased 0.4% in June, according to the BEA, indicating that the U.S. economy still has an important source of resilience. That makes the backdrop less about an outright economic downturn and more about persistent inflation, elevated borrowing costs and a higher hurdle for speculative investments.
The bond market is adding another layer of pressure. Reuters reported on Aug. 21 that U.S. long-term yields remained elevated, with the 30-year Treasury yield around 5.25%, as investors weighed inflation, fiscal deficits and a U.S. debt load that has surpassed $40 trillion. Oil prices also climbed amid renewed Middle East tensions, increasing the risk that energy inflation could complicate the Fed's policy path.
For quantum stocks, the message is increasingly clear- technological promise alone is no longer enough. Investors want evidence that bookings, partnerships and technical milestones can translate into scalable commercial revenue.
Why IONQ and QBTS Are Under PressureThe pressure on prime-line pureplay quantum stocks like IonQ (IONQ - Free Report) and D-Wave Quantum (QBTS - Free Report) is therefore not necessarily a rejection of quantum technology. It reflects the widening gap between ambitious long-term opportunities and near-term financial execution. IonQ delivered an impressive 287% year-over-year increase in its second-quarter revenues and raised its 2026 revenue outlook to $280-$290 million. However, its valuation remains lumpy, while the company continues to invest heavily in expansion and integration following the SkyWater acquisition. IONQ currently has a Zacks Rank #4 (Sell).
D-Wave faces a different challenge. First-half bookings surged 1,120% year over year, but second-quarter revenue was only $3.1 million, essentially flat from a year earlier. The disparity shows the sector's key bottleneck- turning bookings, pilots and technical advances into recurring revenue at scale. QBTS also carries a Zacks Rank #4 right now.
Government Support is Strong - But Commercialization Still MattersWashington continues to support the strategic development of quantum computing. A June 22 White House executive order called for a national effort to develop a powerful quantum computer and accelerate quantum capabilities for commercial applications. The Department of Energy subsequently launched its Quantum Genesis initiative targeting scientifically relevant, fault-tolerant quantum computers.
These initiatives strengthen the industry's long-term opportunity, but government support does not eliminate execution risk. Quantum companies still face hardware-scaling, error-correction, manufacturing, data-preparation and customer-adoption bottlenecks.
QUBT: Diversification Creates a Different Growth ProfileQuantum Computing or QCi’s second-quarter 2026 revenues jumped to $5.6 million from $61,000 a year earlier, while contract backlog reached approximately $42.5 million. The company also completed its NHanced Semiconductors acquisition and delivered its Dirac-3 quantum optimization system to a global consulting firm. Importantly, QUBT is building exposure across quantum photonics, semiconductors and quantum optimization rather than relying on a single hardware pathway.
The stock currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). Based on short-term price targets offered by six analysts, the average price target for QCi comes to $18.33, representing an increase of 125.2% from the last closing price of $8.14.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
QNT: Commercial Momentum Is AcceleratingQuantinuum offers another differentiated route into quantum computing, with an enterprise-focused full-stack model spanning hardware, software and applications. Its second quarter revenue increased 279% year over year, while the company raised its 2026 revenue outlook to $28-$32 million and reported year-to-date bookings of $81 million. Its Helios system also demonstrated near-five-nines logical fidelity, strengthening its technology proposition. Quantinuum's planned integration with Oracle Cloud Infrastructure provides another potential avenue for enterprise adoption. With more than $2 billion of cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments after its IPO, QNT has substantial resources to fund development. Its key risk remains valuation and the long path to profitability.
The stock also carries a Zacks Rank #3. Based on short-term price targets offered by 12 analysts, the average price target for Quantinuum comes to $97.17, representing an increase of 77% from the last closing price of $54.90. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
SpaceX vypustila dalších 24 satelitů Starlink a blíží se hranici 11 000 satelitů na oběžné dráze. Síť už tvoří téměř dvě třetiny aktivních satelitů kolem Země.
SpaceX SPCX shares gained 1.4% on Friday as investors weighed the rapid expansion of its Starlink satellite network, upcoming share unlocks and the company's significant capital spending requirements.
The stock had fallen 3% on Wednesday and declined 4.1% on Thursday as another 319 million shares held by employees, early investors and other insiders became eligible for trading.
SpaceX launched another 24 Starlink satellites from California on Tuesday, bringing the constellation closer to 11,000 spacecraft in low Earth orbit.
Tracking data from astronomer Jonathan McDowell showed around 10,979 Starlink satellites in orbit as of Aug. 19, with about 10,963 operational.
SpaceX has launched more than 12,700 Starlink satellites since 2019, although roughly 1,700 have since deorbited.
The network now represents nearly two-thirds of all active satellites orbiting Earth.
SpaceX has approval to launch between 15,000 and 19,000 Gen-1 and Gen-2 Starlink satellites by 2031.
The company has also sought approval for a next-generation constellation of up to 100,000 satellites.
CEO Elon Musk said earlier this month that the Starlink system could eventually exceed 100,000 satellites.
He has also said the space economy will be significantly larger than Goldman Sachs' current $1.8 trillion projection for 2035.
Starlink is already a major contributor to SpaceX's financial performance.
The company's Connectivity segment generated $4.3 billion in revenue during the second quarter of 2026, accounting for about 55% of SpaceX's total $7.8 billion revenue.
The segment generated $1.7 billion in operating profit, up 66% year over year.
The growth was supported by a doubling of subscribers to 12 million.
SpaceX aims for Starlink to eventually carry most of the world's internet traffic.
The company also sees potential applications in AI infrastructure, mobile connectivity and internet services for homes, businesses and governments.
Investors are also monitoring the impact of additional shares becoming available for trading.
The Aug. 20 unlock made up to 319 million restricted shares eligible for trading. The shares represented about 2.4% of SpaceX's outstanding stock and could increase the company's tradable float by around 20%.
Additional unlocks are scheduled through the rest of 2026, while Musk's large stake remains locked until June 2027.
Meanwhile, DZ Bank analyst Markus Leistner initiated coverage with a Sell rating and a $100 price target.
The bearish view contrasts with broader Wall Street sentiment, with about 75% of analysts covering SpaceX rating the stock Buy. The average analyst price target stands near $226.
The differing views partly reflect the scale of SpaceX's future investment requirements.
FactSet estimates SpaceX revenue could exceed $100 billion in 2027, compared with about $44 billion in 2026.
However, Wall Street projects roughly $800 billion in cumulative capital spending by the end of the decade.
Much of that spending is expected to support AI and communications infrastructure.
SpaceX currently operates about 1.4 gigawatts of computing capacity at two terrestrial data centers and aims to reach 10 gigawatts by the end of 2027.
For investors, the company's rapid Starlink growth offers significant revenue potential, but the scale of required investment and continued share unlocks remain important factors for the stock.
Alphabet poprvé přímo zpeněžil své TPU čipy, čímž se oficiálně dostal do výroby čipů. Nové tržby se promítly do čtvrtletních tržeb cloudové divize 24,8 miliardy USD, meziročně +82 %.
There's no denying that Alphabet's (GOOG +1.40%)(GOOGL +1.46%) cloud computing results were the centerpiece of the company's recently posted second-quarter report. This business unit's revenue improved by a whopping 82% year over year, more than tripling its operating income as a result.
As encouraging as that is, however, perhaps it's not the most exciting leap Google's parent company made during the three months ending in June. Far more important was the fact that -- for the first time ever -- the company's so-called Tensor Processing Units (TPUs) were also directly monetized, officially putting Alphabet in the chipmaking business.
Alphabet is in the right place at the right time Nvidia remains the leading designer of artificial intelligence processors. But several technology giants with the capabilities of designing their own, often in partnership with players like Broadcom -- are doing so. Alphabet's one of them. Its Tensor Processing Units were initially used strictly in-house, with capacity leased to clients via Google Cloud. But now, some are being shipped to data centers operated by third parties.
Image source: Getty Images.
We don't know how much revenue these chips actually produced last quarter, although it likely wasn't a great deal. All we know is that these sales were reflected within the company's Q2 cloud computing revenue of $24.8 billion, which, as was noted, grew 82% year over year.
Nevertheless, look for an increasingly bigger impact from TPUs going forward.
See, the AI industry has only scratched the surface of establishing the infrastructure it thinks it will eventually need. Technology industry research outfit Technavio expects the worldwide artificial intelligence chip business's annual revenue to grow at an average annual pace of more than 24% between now and 2030, when it will be $155 billion bigger than it is now. That growth outlook jibes with Global Market Insights' projection, which is calling for $1.1 trillion worth of annual artificial intelligence chip sales by 2035.
Already a well-proven cloud technology name, Alphabet is positioned to capture at least its fair share of this growth.
Bolstering the bullish case It's not a reason in and of itself to own Alphabet stock. The lion's share of the company's sales and operating income still comes from its market-leading search engine, and for the time being, most of its cloud computing revenue reflects rented access to its service and apps rather than revenue stemming from sales of Tensor Processing Units. And with Google Cloud's backlog of future business growing by $50 billion to $514 billion as of the end of Q2 (and Q2's total revenue of $119.8 billion, for perspective), that's not apt to change in the immediate future. That's even more so the case given that the company's current supply of TPU chips is being rationed between external customers and internal use.
The potential revenue that TPUs could -- and likely will -- bring to the table in the near and distant future, however, is yet another good reason to take a swing at Alphabet stock.
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Of course, the top reason to buy right now remains that shares of the powerhouse technology company are still down 15% from their mid-May peak, for reasons that most analysts don't agree with. The majority of Wall Street pros covering the ticker still rate it as a strong buy, with a consensus price target of $426.40. That's 24% above the stock's present price.
Alibaba Group Holding Ltd. (NYSE:BABA) reported mixed results for its first quarter on Thursday.
Alibaba reported fiscal first-quarter 2027 revenue of $39.64 billion, up 9% year over year and above the $38.63 billion analyst estimate. However, adjusted earnings per ADS fell 42% to $1.26, missing expectations of $1.85. Adjusted net income declined 38% to $3.05 billion, while adjusted EBITA fell 30% to $4.03 billion. Net income plunged 75% to $1.54 billion.
“We delivered a strong quarter, driven by the improving commercialization of our full‑stack AI capabilities,” said Eddie Wu, Chief Executive Officer of Alibaba Group. “Alibaba Cloud’s external revenue growth accelerated to 45%, with AI-related product revenue delivering triple-digit growth for the twelfth consecutive quarter. We recently launched frontier language, coding, video, audio, image and music models, all delivering top-tier performance. We introduced QwenWork, an AI workforce agent that unleashes enterprise productivity and capabilities. With our full‑stack AI strategy, we have put Alibaba in a superior position to capture the substantial growth of demand for artificial intelligence and AI compute.”
Alibaba shares dipped 8.4% to trade at $119.62 on Friday.
These analysts made changes to their price targets on Alibaba following earnings announcement.
Baird analyst Colin Sebastian maintained the stock with an Outperform rating and lowered the price target from $164 to $160. Barclays analyst Jiong Shao maintained the stock with an Overweight rating and raised the price target from $195 to $200. JP Morgan analyst Alex Yao maintained the stock with an Overweight rating and raised the price target from $205 to $210. Considering buying BABA stock? Here’s what analysts think:
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Nvidia příští středu po uzavření trhu zveřejní výsledky za fiskální 2. čtvrtletí. Investoři už ale po třech po sobě jdoucích reportech s překonáním odhadů a zvýšením výhledu čekají víc než jen další překonání odhadů.
NVIDIA Corp. (NASDAQ:NVDA) reports fiscal second-quarter results next Wednesday after the market close, and the print arrives as the chipmaker’s remarkable AI-driven rally faces a stagnant stretch.
NVDA stock is trending. See the chart and price action here. Nvidia shares have surged from roughly $11 in late 2022, split-adjusted, to about $216 today, a gain near 1,700% since ChatGPT’s November 2022 launch kicked off the AI boom, according to Bespoke Investment Group.
The move ranks among the most powerful multi-year runs by any large-cap stock in recent market history, and the long-term chart remains firmly in an uptrend despite a sluggish past year.
Bespoke highlights just how dramatic the shift in fundamentals has been. Quarterly revenue has exploded since late 2022, blowing past Wall Street’s consensus estimates by wide margins nearly every period. Few companies have seen fundamentals catch up to a stock’s rally quite like this one.
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The Triple-Play KingNvidia has become what Bespoke calls a “triple-play king,” a company that consistently beats both earnings and revenue estimates while also raising guidance.
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Over the past 20 quarterly reports spanning five years, the chipmaker has delivered 14 triple plays, including three straight heading into Wednesday’s release.
The catch: Nvidia’s triple plays no longer guarantee a stock pop. Shares finished lower on each of the last three beat-and-raise reports, suggesting investors have priced in near-flawless execution and now demand something more.
Sky-High ExpectationsExpectations have grown too large for good news alone to move the needle. A beat-and-raise quarter, once cause for celebration, now reads as the baseline.
Nvidia investors increasingly want confirmation that AI demand extends well beyond the current cycle, plus clarity on margins as competition intensifies from custom silicon and rival chipmakers.
Wednesday’s report will test whether Nvidia can finally snap the pattern. A fourth consecutive triple play met with another sell-off would reinforce the idea that the stock has entered a “prove it” phase, one where even flawless numbers cannot overcome heightened investor demands.
NVDA Stock Price Activity: Nvidia stock was down 0.47% at $215.89 at the time of publication on Friday, according to data from Benzinga Pro.
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BMO Capital Markets označila Nvidia za „top pick“ před zveřejněním výsledků za fiskální 2. čtvrtletí, které mají být zveřejněny 26. srpna po uzavření trhu, a stanovila cílovou cenu na 340 USD. Firma má AI systémy na příštích 12 měsíců plně vyprodané.
Buy Nvidia (NVDA). The article says systems are “fully booked for the next 12 months” and the Vera Rubin NVL72 ramps in the back half, so earnings should confirm demand/supply tightness rather than hype. Valuation is framed as a “discount” at ~18x forward P/E versus very high growth (84% revenue growth in fiscal 2027).
Key Risk: Customers suddenly slow AI capex or cancel/defers orders, breaking the “fully booked” visibility.
AI infrastructure beneficiaries
Buy Broadcom (AVGO). If NVDA demand stays strong, hyperscalers keep building AI clusters, which pulls through networking/ASIC spend. AVGO is a direct second-order beneficiary of more AI rack deployments and higher switch/accelerator demand tied to NVDA-led buildouts.
Key Risk: AI infrastructure spending shifts away from networking/ASICs or AVGO’s AI-related revenue growth disappoints despite NVDA strength.
Nvidia NVDA stock is in focus on Friday after BMO Capital Markets said the chipmaker remains a “top pick” for those seeking exposure to the global artificial intelligence (AI) buildouts.
Analyst Harsh Kumar announced an Outperform rating and $340 price target on the semiconductor behemoth heading into its fiscal Q2 earnings set to be released on August 26th (after market close).
Ahead of the earnings event, Nvidia stock is up over 30% versus its year-to-date low.
BMO’s bullish thesis starts with Nvidia’s unusually strong position across the AI computing stack.
Kumar said the giant’s AI systems are “fully booked for the next 12 months as demand exceeds supply,” a striking assessment heading into its earnings report.
That level of visibility matters because it suggests NVDA shares’ growth story is being supported by actual customer demand rather than simply elevated expectations around AI spending.
BMO also expects Nvidia’s next-gen Vera Rubin NVL72 system to begin ramping in the back half of the year.
The new platform could provide another leg of growth as hyperscalers and other large customers continue expanding AI infrastructure.
Kumar’s broader view is that AI remains in “the early innings,” with capital expenditures expected to rise for years as demand for AI tokens and computing capacity expands.
Crucially, BMO does not believe Nvidia’s valuation has become excessive relative to its expected growth.
Kumar pointed to the stock’s 18x forward price-to-earnings (P/E) multiple – calling that valuation “a discount” when measured against the firm’s expected revenue growth.
According to him, NVDA could grow revenue by 84% in fiscal 2027 and another 50% in the year after.
His argument goes directly against one of the biggest concerns surrounding Nvidia shares: whether the stock already prices in too much of the AI boom.
At roughly $216, Nvidia remains below its $236 high and has recently struggled to regain its May peak.
The combination of a still-elevated growth rate, massive AI infrastructure demand and a valuation BMO considers compelling gives the bull case more substance than simply betting on another AI-driven rally.
Wall Street’s expectations for Nvidia Corp’s fiscal Q2 results are already enormous.
Consensus estimates call for about $92.16 billion in revenue and $2.09 in adjusted earnings per share, representing year-over-year growth of about 96% and 99%, respectively.
The underlying strength in Nvidia’s financials reflects sustained demand for its AI chips – as cloud providers and other major tech firms continue committing enormous sums to AI infrastructure.
Note that NVDA stock also currently pays a small dividend yield of 0.46%, which makes it even more attractive as a long-term holding.
Netflix uvedl tržby za 2Q 2026 ve výši 12,56 miliardy USD, meziročně o 13,37 % více, a EPS 0,80 USD překonal konsensus. Společnost zároveň potvrdila celoroční výhled tržeb 51 až 51,4 miliardy USD.
Netflix (NASDAQ:NFLX | NFLX Price Prediction) has been one of 2026’s most punished megacaps, and the setup is starting to look asymmetric. With shares at $80.44 and free cash flow guidance of roughly $12.5 billion for the year, our proprietary model calls for sharp mean reversion.
Our 24/7 Wall St. price target for Netflix is $177.34, implying 121% upside over the next 12 months. Our recommendation is buy with high model confidence.
24/7 Wall St. Price Target Summary Metric Value Current Price $80.44 24/7 Wall St. Price Target $177.34 Upside +121.0% Recommendation BUY Confidence Level 90% How a Streaming Leader Ended Up in the Bargain Bin Netflix lost roughly a third of its value over the past year, down 33.93% from $121.42 a year ago and 14.44% lower year to date. Shares have stabilized, gaining 18.67% in the past month off a 52-week low of $65.08.
Q2 2026 delivered revenue of $12.56 billion up 13.37% and EPS of $0.80 beating the $0.7883 consensus. Management guided full-year revenue to $51 to $51.4 billion with a 31.5% operating margin target. The stock was punished more for engagement-data disclosure changes than any operational miss.
Why Bulls See a Breakout Ahead Netflix’s addressable market is enormous relative to current penetration. CFO Spence Neumann said Netflix reaches an audience “approaching a billion people” while capturing just 7% of a $670 billion addressable revenue market and 5% of global TV view share.
Advertising revenue is on pace to roughly double to $3 billion in 2026, with advertiser count up 70% year over year. Buybacks are aggressive, with $4.7 billion repurchased in Q2 (a company record) and $27.1 billion remaining under authorization. Our bull case models to $191.03.
What Could Go Wrong The bear case is a valuation reset. Q2 free cash flow declined 32.73% to $1.53 billion, and Q1 EPS missed by 8.55%. Bulls counter that FCF decline reflects higher cash taxes tied to the $2.80 billion Warner Bros. termination fee and front-loaded content amortization, with underlying economics intact.
Competition from Alphabet, Amazon, Disney, and TikTok remains structural, and $1 billion of debt matures later this year. Reddit’s composite sentiment is bearish at 38, and insider activity is net selling. Our bear case still lands at $141.71, well above spot.
How Netflix Compares to Disney and Spotify Walt Disney (NYSE:DIS) is the direct streaming rival. Disney trades at a P/E of 15 with operating margin of 14.6%, versus Netflix’s 33.4%. Disney is cheaper on earnings, but Netflix earns roughly double the margin and delivers 42.76% ROE against Disney’s 11.78%. That gap justifies a premium multiple.
Spotify (NYSE:SPOT) is the closest pure-play subscription comp. Spotify trades at P/E near 50 with operating margin of 12.8%, roughly double Netflix’s multiple on materially thinner profitability. If Spotify deserves that multiple on subscription growth, Netflix at 24 times forward earnings looks conservatively priced. The peer set makes our $177.34 target look reasonable.
Company P/E Operating Margin Netflix 24 33.4% Disney 15 14.6% Spotify 50 12.8% Buy the Reset Reiterating the 24/7 Wall St. price target of $177.34, a buy rating, and 90% model confidence. A business generating $12.5 billion of free cash flow with expanding margins should not trade at 25 times forward earnings for long.
The bull thesis holds if ad revenue continues tracking to double this year. The setup weakens if content amortization growth reaccelerates into 2027.
Year 24/7 Wall St. Price Target 2026 $105.84 2027 $175.30 2028 $318.93 2029 $467.36 2030 $600.43 These projections assume Netflix executes on advertising, live programming, and gaming while sustaining pricing power. Meaningful downside could result from subscriber saturation in developed markets or a competitive shock from a well-funded rival.
Contact [email protected] for any questions or corrections.
Altria zvýšila spodní hranici výhledu upraveného EPS pro rok 2026 na 5,61 USD, zatímco horní hranice zůstala na 5,72 USD. Ve 2. čtvrtletí jí pomohly 4,5% cenové realizace u smokeable a marže 64,8 %.
Key Takeaways Altria raised the low end of 2026 adjusted EPS guidance to $5.61, keeping the $5.72 high end unchanged.MO's 4.5% smokeable price realization and 64.8% margin helped support the earnings outlook in Q2.Cigarette volumes fell 3.2%, while oral tobacco income dropped 8% and capital spending guidance increased. Altria Group, Inc. (MO - Free Report) missed second-quarter consensus expectations, but adjusted earnings still increased year over year and management raised the low end of its 2026 earnings outlook. That combination puts more weight on execution in the second half.
Pricing, smokeable margins and cigarette import and export benefits support the earnings path. Cigarette volume declines, weaker oral tobacco results and higher capital spending remain the main offsets.
Altria’s Q2 Miss Still Came With Earnings GrowthAdjusted second-quarter earnings were $1.48 per share, up 2.8% year over year but below the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.50. Higher adjusted operating companies income and a lower share count supported the increase.
Net revenues rose 0.1% to $6.11 billion. Revenues net of excise taxes increased 1.2% to $5.356 billion, below the consensus mark of $5.362 billion.
MO’s Narrower Guidance Raises the Earnings FloorAltria narrowed 2026 adjusted earnings guidance to $5.61-$5.72 per share from $5.56-$5.72. The revision leaves the upper end unchanged while lifting the lower end by 5 cents.
The new range implies 3.5-5.5% growth from adjusted earnings of $5.42 per share in 2025. Management narrowed the range after first-half adjusted earnings increased 4.9% to $2.80 per share.
Altria’s Pricing and Margins Support the OutlookSmokeable price realization was 4.5% in the second quarter, led by Marlboro pricing and partly offset by Basic mix. Adjusted smokeable operating companies income increased 2.4% to $3.02 billion, while margin expanded 30 basis points to 64.8%.
Management continues to expect a greater benefit from cigarette import and export activity in the second half than in the first half. It expects that benefit to be more balanced between the third and fourth quarters.
MO’s Volume and Cost Pressures Could Limit ProgressDomestic cigarette shipment volume declined 3.2% in the second quarter, or an estimated 4.5% after adjusting for trade inventory movements. Oral Tobacco Products revenues fell 5.3%, while adjusted operating companies income declined 8% as lower volume and higher promotional investment weighed on results.
Capital expenditure expectations increased to $375-$450 million from $300-$375 million. Peer execution also raises the competitive bar. Philip Morris International Inc. (PM - Free Report) said smoke-free products generated about 42% of first-half 2026 net revenues, while British American Tobacco p.l.c. (BTI - Free Report) reported 18% growth in first-half New Category revenues.
Altria’s Second-Half Estimates Set the Next TestThe Zacks Consensus Estimate calls for third-quarter earnings of $1.50 per share and fourth-quarter earnings of $1.40. The full-year 2026 earnings estimate stands at $5.67 per share.
The consensus sales estimates are $5.33 billion for the third quarter and $5.09 billion for the fourth quarter. Those figures provide the next operating benchmarks as investors assess whether pricing and second-half benefits are offsetting volume and spending pressure.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
MO’s Signals Keep the Guidance Reset in PerspectiveThe narrowed guidance provides a clearer 2026 earnings range, but the operating path still depends on pricing, margin discipline and the timing of second-half benefits. Volume pressure and weaker oral tobacco profitability leave less room for execution slippage.
MO currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold), a VGM Score of C, Value Score of C, Growth Score of C and Momentum Score of D. The Style Score framework favors A and B grades, particularly alongside Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) or 2 (Buy) stocks, while a Zacks Rank #3 can still support holding an existing position. MO’s C and D scores point to a more mixed near-term setup. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.
United Airlines dokončila první fázi rozšíření pilotního výcvikového centra v Denveru a přidala 40 zařízení CAE od roku 2022, čímž kapacita stoupla na 86 simulátorů. Centrum zvládne přes 32 000 výcviků ročně a až 860 pilotů denně.
Key Takeaways United Airlines added 40 CAE training devices since 2022, bringing the Denver center's total to 86.The center can conduct over 32,000 training events annually and train up to 860 pilots per day.United Airlines expects phase-two groundbreaking in 2027, with the expanded facility operational around 2030. In a bid to strengthen its network, United Airlines Holdings, Inc. (UAL - Free Report) is expanding its footprint beyond providing airline services to passengers to training pilots. To this end, United Airlines announced the completion of the first phase of expansion of the pilot training facility, adding 40 new CAE training devices (a combination of full-motion and fixed simulators) since 2022.
UAL’s chief executive officer (CEO), Scott Kirby, was accompanied by CAE's president and chief executive officer, Matthew Bromberg, along with other UAL and CAE leaders, to acknowledge the completion of phase one.
Kirby stated, "United pilots are the best aviators in the world, and the pace at which our team has completed this project is an example of making investments that support our high standard of excellence."
Phase two of the expansion project is set to start next year and is anticipated to be operational by 2030.
UAL’s Flight Training Center DetailsUAL’s Flight Training Center is located in the Central Park neighborhood of Denver. The facility is spread across 22 acres (almost 700,000 square feet of training space) and is the only training facility for the airline's nearly 18,000 active pilots and all newly hired pilots.
UAL's flight training center now has eight total buildings and a total of 86 CAE training devices: 52 state-of-the-art full-motion flight simulators and 34 fixed training devices. The center can conduct more than 32,000 training events annually and train up to 860 pilots per day. The facility operates 24 hours a day for 362 days a year.
UAL has started formal site building plans and expects groundbreaking on the next phase of the Flight Training Center expansion to begin on the new land in 2027, with the facility expected to be operational around 2030. The airline plans to supervise the additional Flight Training Center in conjunction with its current facility.
The Center was originally constructed between 1966 and 1968 as part of the Stapleton Airport complex and has been used as UAL’s main pilot training facility since then. Since 2016, UAL has invested $370 million in the Flight Training Center overall.
UAL’s Expansion in DenverUnited Airlines has spent nearly $1 billion in investments since 2021 to boost the customer experience in the region, as Denver is one of its fastest-growing hubs. In 2025, nearly $40 million was spent on hotel room nights in Denver for pilots visiting the training facility, with an expectation to spend nearly $50 million on hotel room nights in 2026.
UAL hired more than 1,400 people in Denver last year and plans to hire more than 1,300 people in 2026.
To ConcludeUnited Airlines continues to be the popular career destination choice for pilots, given its largest widebody fleet in North America and the global network and hubs across the United States. UAL has hired more than 9,500 pilots since announcing its United Next growth strategy in 2021. In 2026, UAL has hired 700 pilots so far, with plans to hire hundreds more this year.
Given this encouraging backdrop, the expansion seems to be a strategic business step on UAL’s part, reflecting its strength in training pilots.
UAL's Zacks Rank and Stocks to ConsiderPresently, UAL carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold).
Investors interested in the Zacks Transportation sector may consider Expeditors International of Washington, Inc. (EXPD - Free Report) and Seanergy Maritime Holdings (SHIP - Free Report) as well.
Expeditors currently carries a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.
EXPD has an expected earnings growth rate of 28.6% for 2026. The company has an encouraging earnings surprise history. Its earnings outpaced the Zacks Consensus Estimate in each of the trailing four quarters, delivering an average beat of 17.15%.
Seanergy Maritime Holdings currently sports a Zacks Rank #1.
SHIP has an expected earnings growth rate of more than 100% for the current year. The company has an encouraging earnings surprise history. Its earnings topped the Zacks Consensus Estimate in each of the trailing four quarters, delivering an average beat of 38%.
ExxonMobil čeká do konce dekády růst produkce v Permianu na 2,5 mil. barelů ropného ekvivalentu denně a celkové produkce na 5,5 mil. barelů ropného ekvivalentu denně. Firma zároveň cílí na růst zisku o 25 mld. USD a cash flow o 35 mld. USD mezi lety 2024 a 2030.
Key Takeaways XOM expects Permian production to reach 2.5 Moebd and total production to hit 5.5 Moebd by decade-end.ExxonMobil's fifth Guyana FPSO is on track for startup by year-end, supporting upstream production growth.XOM targets $25B in earnings growth and $35B in cash-flow growth between 2024 and 2030. ExxonMobil Holdings Corporation (XOM - Free Report) remains well-positioned for continued growth in earnings and cash flows, supported by its advantaged assets and focus on cost efficiency. The company’s earnings are primarily driven by its Upstream segment, aided by advantaged volume growth in Guyana and the Permian Basin. XOM expects its Permian production to reach 2.5 million oil equivalent barrels per day (Moebd) by the end of this decade, while total production is anticipated to reach 5.5 Moebd.
The company continues to invest in production growth from these advantaged upstream assets. In Guyana, ExxonMobil’s fifth FPSO is on track for startup by year-end, while the Longtail development is on the path to reach a final investment decision. New technology deployment and extended-reach development in the Permian Basin are anticipated to enhance well recovery and drive capital efficiency.
XOM’s structural cost savings have reached $16.3 billion since 2019. With the oil price environment remaining favorable for oil and gas producers, XOM is expected to benefit from its focus on production growth. The company intends to deliver approximately $25 billion of earnings growth and $35 billion of cash-flow growth between 2024 and 2030, supported by its advantaged assets, high-value product growth and further cost reductions.
Other Industry Majors With a Low-Cost Production ProfileConocoPhillips (COP - Free Report) and EOG Resources, Inc. (EOG - Free Report) are two other energy firms that own low-cost resource bases in the shale basins of the United States, supporting their profitability.
ConocoPhillips is involved in the exploration and production of crude oil, natural gas liquids (NGLs), bitumen and natural gas. The company boasts a strong asset base in the shale basins of the United States, including the Delaware Basin, Midland Basin, Eagle Ford and Bakken shale. These assets support low-cost production, which enables ConocoPhillips to maintain its profitability and generate free cash flow even during periods of low oil prices.
EOG Resources is a leading independent exploration and production company with operations focused on the prolific acres in the United States as well as several resource-rich international basins. EOG boasts a high-return, low-decline asset base and stands out among the low-cost producers in the United States. The company’s focus on maintaining a resilient balance sheet and lowering production costs should enable it to weather oil price volatility.
XOM’s Price Performance, Valuation & Estimates
Shares of XOM have gained 56.8% over the past year compared with the industry’s growth of 50.4%.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
From a valuation standpoint, XOM trades at a trailing 12-month enterprise value to EBITDA (EV/EBITDA) of 9.27X. This is above the broader industry average of 5.82X.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for XOM’s 2026 earnings hasn’t seen any revisions over the past seven days.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
XOM, COP and EOG each currently carry a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
Colgate-Palmolive zvýšil výhled zisku pro základní byznys, protože objemy i marže se zlepšují. Přesto zůstává tlak v Severní Americe a valuace je 22,47× forward zisků.
Key Takeaways CL's volumes are improving, margins are holding up and management raised its Base Business earnings outlook.Emerging-market organic sales rose 4.8%, while North America fell 3% as U.S. demand and competition weighed.CL trades at 22.5X forward earnings, above key benchmarks, while favorable estimate revisions add support. Colgate-Palmolive Company (CL - Free Report) enters the second half of 2026 with better operating momentum. Volumes are improving, margins have held up better than expected and management lifted its Base Business earnings outlook.
The restraint is valuation. CL still trades above its sub-industry, sector and the broader market, while weakness in North America leaves less room for execution misses.
Colgate's Growth Mix Is Getting HealthierSecond-quarter organic sales rose 2.4%, with organic volume up 0.8% and pricing contributing 1.6%. Worldwide organic volume improved sequentially for a third straight quarter, giving Colgate a more balanced growth mix than one driven mainly by price.
Emerging markets added breadth, with organic sales up 4.8%. Latin America rose 5.3% and Asia Pacific increased 5.2%, while management expects the second half to be somewhat more volume-driven as innovation and brand penetration efforts scale.
CL's Margin Outlook Improves Despite Higher CostsGross profit margin expanded 140 basis points year over year to 61.5% in the second quarter. Revenue growth management, productivity, pricing and mix helped absorb higher investment, including a 15% increase in advertising.
Management now expects full-year gross profit margin to be roughly flat year over year, versus a prior expectation for a decline. That upgrade matters because raw-material and tariff costs are still expected to be higher in the second half than in the second quarter.
Colgate's North America Weakness Caps the UpsideNorth America remains the clearest operating drag. Second-quarter organic sales fell 3% and organic volume declined 3.9% as softer U.S. categories, retailer inventory reductions, heavier competition and some market-share loss pressured results.
Competitive intensity is meaningful. The Procter & Gamble Company (PG - Free Report) competes in oral care through brands including Crest and Oral-B, while The Clorox Company (CLX - Free Report) has a broad home-care portfolio. Colgate plans selective pricing and promotional actions, but persistent category softness could slow the volume recovery.
CL's Valuation Leaves Less Room for ErrorCL trades at 22.47X forward 12-month earnings, above the Zacks sub-industry's 18.38X, the sector's 17.2X and the S&P 500's 20.6X. That premium raises the hurdle for further upside if U.S. demand or cost pressures worsen.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
The stock is not at an extreme relative to its own history. Its current multiple sits below the five-year median of 23.5X, with the five-year range spanning 19.4X to 28.8X. The valuation therefore looks elevated versus external benchmarks but less stretched versus Colgate's historical norm.
Colgate's Earnings Revisions Add SupportThe Zacks Consensus Estimate for earnings in the current fiscal year has moved higher, with the estimate up 1.3% over four weeks and 1.1% over 12 weeks. Second-quarter Base Business earnings of 99 cents per share also beat the consensus mark of 95 cents by 4.2%.
Projected EPS growth for the current fiscal year is 4.3%. That keeps the valuation-growth trade-off in focus because estimate revisions are favorable, but the expected earnings growth rate remains modest relative to the stock's forward multiple.
CL's Mixed Style Scores Reinforce PatienceThe operating picture has improved, but the valuation premium and North American pressure argue for patience rather than treating recent progress as an unqualified buying signal. CL currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold), consistent with a balanced near-term stance. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
CL has a VGM Score of B, a Growth Score of B and a Momentum Score of B, but a Value Score of D. The B grades are favorable within their respective styles, while the Value Score is a counterweight. Because the Zacks Style Scores complement the Zacks Rank, the mix shows favorable growth and momentum characteristics alongside weaker value characteristics.
UnitedHealth v roce 2026 čeká pokles počtu členů v Medicare Advantage o zhruba 1,1 milionu, protože opouští nerentabilní plány. Zároveň zvýšila výhled upraveného zisku na akcii (EPS) na 19,50–20 USD.
Key Takeaways UnitedHealth expects MA enrollment to fall by 1.1 million members as it exits unprofitable plans.Medicare margins are expected above 3% in 2026 as pricing and benefit changes improve the membership mix.UnitedHealth raised its 2026 adjusted EPS outlook to $19.50-$20 amid improving medical cost trends. UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (UNH - Free Report) is taking a more disciplined approach to Medicare Advantage (MA), with profitability increasingly taking precedence over membership expansion. This shift comes as elevated medical costs continue to challenge the industry and pressure insurers to reassess pricing, benefits and market participation.
UnitedHealthcare expects 2026 MA enrollment to decline by approximately 1.1 million members, reflecting targeted exits from unprofitable plans. However, Medicare margins are now expected to finish the year above 3%. The improvement reflects tighter benefit design, pricing actions and a more favorable membership mix, while the company expects Medicare medical cost trends to come below the initial estimate of near 10%.
Cost-control initiatives are also becoming an important part of the strategy. Network curation, care management, affordability programs and greater use of value-based care are helping contain medical expenses. Favorable claims experience and a lighter respiratory season have provided additional support. UNH’s consolidated medical care ratio improved to 86.7% in the second quarter from 89.4% a year ago. The company raised its 2026 adjusted EPS outlook to $19.50-$20. For 2027, benefit planning remains centered on current cost trends, with adjustments to benefits and selective market participation aimed at maintaining margin stability.
The strategy could place UnitedHealth on a more sustainable MA growth path, even as near-term enrollment remains under pressure. Improving medical cost trends and a gradual recovery in membership could strengthen the economics of UnitedHealth’s MA business. If these trends persist, UNH could emerge from its current reset with a more profitable MA business and a stronger foundation for long-term growth.
How Are Competitors Faring?Some of UNH’s major competitors in the medical space are Humana Inc. (HUM - Free Report) and Elevance Health, Inc. (ELV - Free Report) .
Humana remains heavily exposed to Medicare Advantage, making medical cost control and benefit optimization critical to its outlook. HUM is focusing on pricing, network management and operating efficiencies to restore margins while navigating membership pressure and elevated utilization across its MA portfolio.
Elevance Health is sharpening its Medicare Advantage strategy by prioritizing profitable growth over broad membership gains. Portfolio repositioning, disciplined plan design and a stronger focus on D-SNP and HMO offerings are improving performance, while care management and favorable claims trends support ELV’s path toward at least a 2% operating margin in 2026.
UnitedHealth’s Price Performance, Valuation & EstimatesShares of UNH have gained 25.2% in the past year compared with the industry’s growth of 21.4%.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
From a valuation standpoint, UnitedHealth trades at a forward price-to-earnings ratio of 17.96, above the industry average of 15.60. UNH carries a Value Score of B.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for UnitedHealth’s 2026 earnings is pegged at $19.69 per share, implying 20.4% growth from the year-ago period.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
UNH stock currently sports a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.
Synopsys před výsledky za 3Q ukázal silný růst: tržby ve 2Q stouply meziročně o 41,98 % na 2,28 mld. USD a non-GAAP EPS překonal odhad o 5,96 %.
Firma zároveň zvýšila celoroční výhled.
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Synopsys (NASDAQ:SNPS | SNPS Price Prediction) is the highest-conviction EDA setup in front of the August 26, 2026 after-market fiscal Q3 report, and the data behind that call leaves little room for deliberation. Two consecutive beat-and-raise quarters, expanding margins, and a rapidly deleveraging balance sheet frame the risk/reward as one-sided.
Beat-And-Raise Pattern Already In Motion Synopsys posted non-GAAP EPS of $3.35 against a $3.1617 consensus in Q2, a 5.96% beat, on the heels of a 5.98% Q1 beat. Revenue climbed 41.98% year-over-year to $2.28 billion. Management then raised the FY2026 non-GAAP EPS range to $14.72 to $14.80 and revenue to $9,625 to $9,705 million. Q3 guidance already calls for revenue of $2,410 to $2,460 million and EPS of $3.63 to $3.69. The trajectory is a company beating its own raised bar.
AI-Driven EDA Demand Is Compounding Design Automation adjusted operating margin expanded to 43.3%, and backlog reached $11 billion. CEO Sassine Ghazi framed demand directly: “AI is scaling semiconductor demand, architectural diversity and complexity of chips and the systems they power”. Hyperscaler custom silicon and Ansys integration synergies drove more than 30 full-flow technical wins in Q2 alone.
Cash Generation Funds The Deleveraging Synopsys targets approximately $2,000 million in FY2026 free cash flow and repaid $3.46 billion in debt during H1 FY2026, alongside $262.5 million in buybacks. The September 30, 2026 Investor Day extends the story past this report.
Head-To-Head Against Cadence Cadence Design Systems (NASDAQ:CDNS) is the obvious comparable, and it loses on the metrics that matter. Cadence grew Q2 revenue 24.23% year-over-year against Synopsys’s 41.98%. Cadence’s FY2026 non-GAAP EPS guide of $8.05 to $8.15 and revenue guide of $6.26 billion to $6.34 billion sit well below Synopsys’s $14.76 EPS midpoint and $9,665 million revenue midpoint. Cadence carries a larger $86.74 billion market cap versus SNPS at roughly $76.83 billion. Investors are paying more for slower growth on a smaller revenue base.
Dismissing The Debt Concern The standard pushback centers on the $10.0 billion long-term debt load from the Ansys deal and $403.6 million of quarterly intangibles amortization pressuring GAAP earnings. That objection collapses under H1’s $3.46 billion in paydown and roughly $2B in annual free cash flow, and amortization is a non-cash accounting item. Analyst positioning agrees, at 18 buy, 5 hold, and 1 sell, with an average target of $561.03 against a recent print of $401.24.
SNPS sits at the top of the pre-earnings watchlist heading into next Wednesday’s release.
Contact [email protected] for any questions or corrections.
Clorox za poslední měsíc vzrostl o 13,1 %, ale růst dál brzdí inflace, slabší marže a utlumená poptávka. Firma čeká pro fiskální rok 2027 organický růst tržeb 3,5–4,5 %, po očištění o srovnávací efekt ERP beze změny až mírně vyšší.
Key Takeaways Clorox's rally faces tests from inflation, softer margins and subdued underlying demand.Organic growth is expected to be flat to slightly positive excluding ERP comparison benefits.Clorox faces more than $200 million in inflation, while fiscal 2027 EPS estimates have declined. The Clorox Company (CLX - Free Report) has climbed 13.1% in the past month, rebounding as investors digest its fiscal fourth-quarter results and fiscal 2027 outlook. The advance has come despite pressure from inflation, subdued category demand and softer margins.
Clorox’s recent earnings beat, the GOJO acquisition and completion of its U.S. enterprise resource planning rollout provide reasons for optimism. The durability of the rally, however, will depend on whether those catalysts translate into better underlying sales growth and margin recovery.
What is Fueling CLX's Rebound?Fiscal fourth-quarter adjusted earnings of $1.66 per share topped the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.64 by 1.2%. Sales of $1.95 billion also beat the consensus mark by 1.8%, though they fell 2% year over year. GOJO added about 10 percentage points to reported sales growth, partly offsetting a 13% organic sales decline that largely reflected the ERP shipment comparison.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
For fiscal 2027, management expects net sales to rise 13-14%, including about 9.5 points from GOJO. Adjusted earnings per share are projected at $5.70-$6.00, up 3-8%. ERP productivity benefits are expected to begin later in the year. Home Care has posted eight consecutive quarters of share growth, while Glad Trash and Hidden Valley Ranch returned to share growth in the fiscal fourth quarter.
The Rally Still Faces Margin and Demand TestsProfitability remains the central challenge. Fiscal 2026 gross margin fell 290 basis points to 42.3%, while fourth-quarter gross margin declined 520 basis points to 41.3%. Management expects fiscal 2027 gross margin of about 42%, with cost savings more than offset by higher-than-normal inflation and negative mix. Inflation is projected to exceed $200 million, more than twice the company's historical $75-$100 million range.
Headline growth also overstates the underlying demand picture. Fiscal 2027 organic sales are expected to increase 3.5-4.5%, but more than 3.5 points of that growth comes from lapping the prior-year ERP inventory drawdown. Excluding that comparison, organic sales are expected to be flat to up slightly. Fresh Step remains early in its reset, while value-seeking consumers and a soft grilling category add risk.
Peer Trends Put CLX's Setup in ContextThe Procter & Gamble Company (PG - Free Report) reported flat organic sales in its fiscal fourth quarter and 1% organic growth for fiscal 2026. Its results show that even large branded peers are navigating a muted growth environment.
Church & Dwight Co., Inc. (CHD - Free Report) , meanwhile, posted second-quarter organic sales growth of 5.8% and a 40-basis-point increase in adjusted gross margin to 45.4%. CLX trades at 17.7X forward 12-month earnings, slightly below its sub-industry's 18.2X multiple but near the consumer staples sector's 17.2X.
Can Clorox Keep the Gains Building?Clorox can extend its rebound if GOJO integration, ERP productivity and improving market shares support healthier underlying organic growth while margins recover. The fiscal 2027 setup offers catalysts, but much of the expected top-line improvement still comes from acquisition and comparison effects rather than broad demand acceleration.
Near-term signals remain cautious. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for fiscal 2027 earnings has declined 3.8% in the past four weeks to $5.82 per share. CLX currently carries a Zacks Rank #4 (Sell), with a Value Score of C, Growth Score of D, Momentum Score of F and VGM Score of D. Recent price strength has not yet been matched by favorable earnings revisions or Style Score support, keeping execution in focus.
You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
Clorox čeká, že GOJO přidá do fiskálního roku 2027 asi 9,5 bodu k růstu čistých tržeb a podpoří upravený zisk na akcii. Marže ale dál snižuje inflace o více než 200 milionů USD a slabší organická poptávka.
Key Takeaways Clorox expects GOJO to add 9.5 points to fiscal 2027 sales growth and boost its health platform.Organic sales growth may be limited as inflation tops $200 million and negative mix pressures margins.Clorox must deliver stronger core demand and margin recovery as ERP benefits fade. The Clorox Company (CLX - Free Report) enters fiscal 2027 with a larger health-and-hygiene platform after the GOJO acquisition, but investors are weighing that growth against weaker margins and muted underlying demand. Clorox expects GOJO to add about 9.5 percentage points to fiscal 2027 net sales growth and be accretive to adjusted earnings per share.
The earnings outlook offers improvement, yet much of the reported growth comes from acquisition and enterprise resource planning (ERP) comparison effects. Persistent inflation, softer categories and negative mix keep the near-term investment case balanced rather than straightforward.
GOJO Gives Clorox a New Growth EngineClorox's fourth-quarter fiscal 2026 net sales fell 2% to $1.95 billion but beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.91 billion by 1.8%. GOJO contributed about 10 percentage points to sales growth. Health and Wellness sales increased 16% to $860 million, with the acquisition contributing about 28 points to the segment's growth.
GOJO also changes Clorox's longer-term mix. The combined global health-and-hygiene portfolio now accounts for more than half of net sales. For fiscal 2027, management expects total net sales to increase 13-14%, including the roughly 9.5-point GOJO contribution, while adjusted earnings are projected at $5.70-$6.00 per share, up 3-8%.
Margin Pressure Limits the UpsideProfitability is the main counterweight. Fiscal 2026 gross margin declined 290 basis points to 42.3%, while fourth-quarter gross margin dropped 520 basis points to 41.3%. The quarter included about 150 basis points of pressure each from the ERP shipment comparison and GOJO inventory step-up, alongside higher commodity, manufacturing and logistics costs.
Clorox expects fiscal 2027 gross margin of about 42%, with cost savings more than offset by higher-than-normal inflation and negative mix. Inflation is expected to exceed $200 million, more than twice the company's historical $75-$100 million range. Organic sales are forecast to rise 3.5-4.5%, but more than 3.5 points reflect the ERP comparison. Excluding that benefit, organic sales are expected to be flat to up slightly.
Peer Results Show a Mixed Staples BackdropThe Procter & Gamble Company (PG - Free Report) reported flat organic sales in its fiscal fourth quarter and 1% organic sales growth for fiscal 2026. That performance underscores the subdued demand environment across large branded household and personal-care categories, even for companies with broad portfolios and substantial scale.
Church & Dwight Co., Inc. (CHD - Free Report) offered a more favorable margin comparison. Its second-quarter 2026 organic sales increased 5.8%, while adjusted gross margin expanded 40 basis points to 45.4%. The contrast shows that consumer-staples companies are navigating similar inflation and value pressures with different operating outcomes.
Is CLX Stock Worth Buying Now?The GOJO acquisition gives Clorox a credible growth driver, and completed ERP investments could support productivity later in fiscal 2027. Still, the core business must show firmer organic demand and better margin progression before the growth profile looks more durable. CLX trades at 17.9X forward 12-month earnings, modestly below its sub-industry's 18.2X multiple.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Near-term Zacks signals remain cautious. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for fiscal 2027 earnings is $5.82 per share and has declined 3.8% in the past four weeks. CLX currently carries a Zacks Rank #4 (Sell), along with a Value Score of C, Growth Score of D, Momentum Score of F and VGM Score of D. Under the Zacks framework, the Rank points to unfavorable earnings-revision trends, while the weaker Growth, Momentum and VGM scores provide limited support for an aggressive buying case.
You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
Key Takeaways Molson Coors expects a 1%-2% U.S. price increase in 2026 to help cushion shipment declines and higher costs.U.S. domestic shipments fell 7.3% in Q2, while the broader U.S. beer industry was estimated down 4.2%.Premiumization, price-pack changes and brand support are aimed at improving mix amid weak category demand. Molson Coors Beverage Company (TAP - Free Report) continues to rely on pricing and favorable mix as key levers to counter persistent volume weakness in a challenging beer market. Consumer spending remained pressured in the second quarter of 2026, with shoppers increasingly favoring convenience and dollar channels as well as smaller pack sizes. Against this backdrop, the company remains focused on protecting price realization while refining its price-pack architecture across Coors Light, Miller Lite and its value portfolio. Premiumization, supported by brands such as Peroni and Fever-Tree, also remains an important component of its revenue-management strategy.
The need for these pricing actions is evident in Molson Coors’ recent volume trends. In the second quarter, U.S. domestic shipments declined 7.3%, while the company estimated that the broader U.S. beer industry fell 4.2%. Consolidated net sales revenues decreased 3.6% on a constant-currency basis, underscoring the impact of softer volumes. However, Molson Coors continues to expect an annual U.S. price increase of 1%-2% in 2026, alongside mix benefits from premiumization across both business units. These measures should provide some cushion against shipment declines and elevated input costs.
Nonetheless, pricing alone may not be sufficient to restore sustainable top-line growth if category demand and market-share trends remain weak. Management has acknowledged that share performance is not yet where it wants it to be and is therefore stepping up commercial execution, innovation, retail activation and brand support. Progress across Coors Banquet, Peroni, value offerings and beyond-beer brands provides additional avenues to improve mix and lessen reliance on the core beer category. The effectiveness of these initiatives, coupled with disciplined pricing, will likely determine how well Molson Coors can navigate persistent volume pressure in the second half.
TAP’s Zacks Rank & Share Price PerformanceShares of this Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) company have declined 13.9% in the past six months, underperforming the Zacks Beverages - Soft Drinks industry’s loss of 5.1% and the broader Consumer Staples sector’s fall of 3.4%.
TAP Stock's Six-Month Performance
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Is TAP Stock a Value Play?Molson Coors shares are currently trading at a forward 12-month price-to-earnings (P/E) multiple of 8.67X, at a discount compared with the industry’s average of 14.97X. The stock is undervalued compared with its industry peers, offering compelling value to investors looking for exposure to the beverage segment.
TAP P/E Ratio (Forward 12 Months)
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Stocks to ConsiderDarling Ingredients Inc. (DAR - Free Report) , which is a global developer and producer of sustainable natural ingredients, currently sports a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Darling Ingredients' current financial-year sales indicates growth of 12.7% from the prior-year level. DAR delivered a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 38.9%, on average.
The Coca-Cola Company (KO - Free Report) is a leading beverage company with a portfolio of 32 billion-dollar brands spanning sparkling beverages, water, sports drinks, dairy and value-added beverages. KO currently carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy).
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Coca-Cola’s current fiscal-year sales and earnings implies growth of 4.03% and 9.7%, respectively, from the year-ago reported figures. Coca-Cola delivered a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 4.6%, on average.
Primo Brands Corporation (PRMB - Free Report) is a leading North American branded beverage company focused on healthy hydration. It currently has a Zacks Rank #2.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Primo Brands’ current fiscal-year sales indicates growth of 2.5% from the prior year’s reported levels. PRMB delivered a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 7.7%, on average.
Michael Burry varuje, že výstavba datových center pro AI připomíná excesy před rokem 2008 kvůli kruhovému financování a skrytému zadlužení. Zmínil NVIDIA, Oracle, Nebius Group, Micron Technology a Palantir Technologies. NVIDIA klesla o 0,9 % na 214,87 USD, Micron Technology o 1 % na 961,96 USD, Oracle naopak vzrostl o 3 % na 146,81 USD, Palantir Technologies o 4 % na 180,20 USD a Nebius Group o 0,1 % na 220,28 USD.
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Michael Burry issued a fresh warning Friday that the AI data center boom mirrors the structural excesses that preceded 2008, arguing that circular financing, off-balance-sheet vehicles and captive insurers are quietly building leverage across the ecosystem. The investor behind the Big Short trade reportedly declared in a Substack post that “The shenanigans are apparent today for those that care to look.”
NVIDIA (NASDAQ:NVDA | NVDA Price Prediction) stock is down 0.9% to $214.87 in Friday midday trading, its sixth straight losing session. Notably, Micron Technology (NASDAQ:MU) shares are falling 1% to $961.96, extending a pullback from record levels reached on HBM4 memory shipments.
Meanwhile, Oracle (NYSE:ORCL) stock is rising 3% to $146.81, one of several names Burry called out. Also, Palantir Technologies (NASDAQ:PLTR) shares are climbing 4% to $180.20 in a session shrugging off the Substack, while Nebius Group (NASDAQ:NBIS) stock is up 0.1% to $220.28. That’s just one day of share-price gains, but investors might wonder how Burry is justifying his cautionary tone.
Circular Financing at the Heart of the Warning Burry’s central charge is that a growing share of NVIDIA’s future revenue is “majority financed in a circular arrangement” rather than pulled through by organic end-user demand. He points to special-purpose vehicles, off-balance-sheet financing and captive insurers as mechanisms that can absorb risky debt while making leverage harder to see from the outside.
The pattern shows up at Oracle. In its Q4 FY26 report, Oracle disclosed remaining performance obligations of $638 billion, with $75 billion tied to bring-your-own-hardware or prepaid customer arrangements. Oracle also plans to raise $40 billion in debt and equity in fiscal 2027 to fund a $70 billion capex program, per its 8-K filing.
Nebius Group tells a similar story from the buyer side. The company’s disclosed capital stack (including NVIDIA pre-funded warrants, convertible debt and uncommenced lease obligations) reflects the sort of intertwined arrangements Burry says obscure true leverage.
Data That Sparked the Warning Burry anchored his argument to data from Torsten Slok, Apollo’s chief economist, showing that data-center construction accelerating even after the Federal Reserve began raising rates in 2022 while rate-sensitive segments contracted. Moreover, private non-residential construction excluding data centers fell 7.9% year over year in June.
In the same post, Burry asserted, “GDP growth is really counting on that data center buildout.” Slok reads that resilience as evidence investors expect AI returns to justify the cost of capital, while Burry treats it as a risk indicator worth flagging.
Semiconductors as a group capture the boom he is questioning. The iShares Semiconductor ETF (NASDAQ:SOXX) was up 74% year to date (YTD) through Thursday’s close, and Micron stock was up 242% over the same stretch on HBM4 memory shipments.
Names Burry Has Positioned Against Burry has positioned against several AI infrastructure names, including Micron Technology, Oracle, Nebius Group and Palantir Technologies. PLTR stock trades at a trailing P/E ratio of 148.68x and a price-to-sales ratio of 67.91x, valuations that leave little room for a growth stumble.
Furthermore, Friday’s session argues both ways. Oracle stock and Palantir Technologies stock are rising against his thesis, and NVIDIA stock and Micron shares are falling in line with it. NVIDIA’s slide predates the Substack post, extending a five-session losing streak through Thursday.
The chipmaker’s own disclosures illustrate the scale in play. NVIDIA reported Q1 FY27 revenue of $82 billion, and total supply commitments and prepaids reached $145 billion. CEO Jensen Huang stated on the call that “Demand has gone parabolic.”
What Investors Can Take Away The question Burry is raising centers on whether the investment boom has built a financial system that now depends on AI demand continuing at its current pace. Nebius, NVIDIA, Oracle’s capex program and Micron Technology’s take-or-pay memory contracts all sit inside that dependency loop. Riding a mania is fine as long as you plan the exit, and we covered both halves in a free bubble survivor’s handbook.
Traders can size AI infrastructure exposure with an eye on financing structure disclosures rather than headline growth alone. Shareholders may want to watch how remaining performance obligations at Oracle and Nebius convert into cash flow over the coming quarters.
Contact [email protected] for any questions or corrections.
Fastenal zvýšil tržby z MRO o 16,4 % meziročně na 1,08 miliardy USD a tento segment tvořil 44,6 % čtvrtletních tržeb. SG&A klesly na 23,5 % tržeb a provozní marže zůstala na 21 %.
Key Takeaways FAST's FMI sales rose 16.4% YoY to $1.08 billion, reaching 44.6% of second-quarter sales.FMI automation supports replenishment efficiency, customer retention and fixed-cost leverage for FAST.FAST cut SG&A to 23.5% of sales, helping offset gross-margin pressure and hold operating margin at 21%. Fastenal Company (FAST - Free Report) is steadily expanding the role of its Fastenal Managed Inventory (FMI) platform, strengthening a technology-enabled service model that could support greater operating leverage over time. In the second quarter of 2026, FMI sales increased 16.4% year over year to $1.08 billion and represented 44.6% of total revenues, up from 44.1% a year ago. Weighted FASTBin and FASTVend signings rose 8.3% to 6,993 units, while the installed base increased 6.5% to 140,789 machine-equivalent units.
The leverage opportunity stems from FMI's ability to automate inventory management, improve replenishment efficiency and deepen customer integration. Management views FMI installations as leading indicators of future sales, retention and operating efficiency. As more customer spending moves through these systems, Fastenal can potentially support higher sales volumes without a proportionate increase in operating costs.
The second-quarter results provide evidence of that benefit. SG&A expenses improved to 23.5% of sales from 24.4% a year ago, helped by labor productivity and fixed-cost leverage. This offset a 75-basis-point decline in gross margin and allowed operating margin to remain at 21%. Fastenal's larger strategic accounts generally carry lower gross margins, but management believes their higher volumes improve fixed-cost absorption and operating efficiency. FMI is also supporting Fastenal's broader push toward larger customers. Contract sales rose 17.6% and represented 75.8% of quarterly sales, while customer sites generating at least $50,000 per month increased 16.5%.
Overall, Fastenal's rising 44.6% FMI sales mix appears capable of supporting greater operating leverage through automation, customer retention and fixed-cost efficiencies. While price/cost pressure and investment needs could limit near-term margin expansion, continued FMI penetration should strengthen the company's ability to convert sales growth into improved operating efficiency over time.
How Fastenal Stacks Up Against PeersFastenal competes in a distribution market increasingly shaped by digital tools, inventory automation and operating efficiency. MSC Industrial Direct Co., Inc. (MSM - Free Report) and SiteOne Landscape Supply, Inc. (SITE - Free Report) are pursuing similar productivity and customer-integration initiatives.
MSC Industrial is expanding its vending and in-plant solutions while improving productivity across its sales organization. In third-quarter fiscal 2026, vending installations increased 7% year over year to about 30,800 machines, while sales through vending rose 15% and represented roughly 20% of company sales. Sales to customers with in-plant programs increased 16% and accounted for about 21% of sales. MSC is also using automation and AI to reduce manual work and support growth without proportionate headcount increases.
SiteOne is also using digital tools and operational initiatives to improve customer engagement and productivity. The company's siteone.com sales increased more than 50% year to date, while regular active users rose about 40%. Management said digitally engaged customers are growing faster than the company average and that the platform helps increase market share while making associates more productive. SiteOne is pairing these digital initiatives with delivery efficiencies, branch optimization and tight SG&A management as it targets further EBITDA margin expansion.
Fastenal’s FMI platform remains a key competitive advantage, supporting customer integration, retention, share gains and greater operating efficiency as adoption expands.
FAST Stock’s Price Performance & Valuation TrendShares of this wholesale distributor of industrial and construction supplies have gained 26.2% year to date, outperforming the Zacks Industrial Services industry, the broader Industrial Products sector and the S&P 500 Index.
FAST YTD Share Price Performance
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
FAST stock is currently trading at a premium compared with its industry peers, with a forward 12-month price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio of 37.84, as shown in the chart below.
FAST P/E Ratio (Forward 12-Month) vs. Industry
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Earnings Estimate Revision of FASTFAST’s earnings estimates for 2026 and 2027 have increased over the past 30 days. The estimated figures for 2026 and 2027 imply year-over-year growth of 12.8% and 15.6%, respectively.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Fastenal currently has a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
Cummins těží z AI boomu: ve 2. čtvrtletí mu tržby Power Systems vzrostly o 19 % meziročně díky silné poptávce po záložním napájení datacenter. S&P Global čeká, že hyperscale firmy letos utratí za AI zhruba 750 miliard USD.
Data centers can't simply shut down when the grid fails. That's why these facilities require enormous backup generators capable of providing electricity almost immediately.
That's exactly what Cummins (CMI -0.51%) provides. The company best known for diesel engines also happens to be a major supplier of backup power for data centers, and that's becoming increasingly valuable as AI spending soars.
S&P Global estimates that Alphabet (GOOG +1.22%)(GOOGL +1.37%), Amazon (AMZN -0.39%), Meta Platforms (META +0.70%), Microsoft (MSFT +0.34%), and Oracle (ORCL +3.38%) will collectively spend approximately $750 billion on capital expenditures in 2026, equal to about 38% of their combined revenue. Much of that spending is being driven by AI and the data centers required to support it. Cummins is already cashing in.
Not a one-quarter phenomenon During the second quarter, Cummins' Power Systems sales jumped 19% year over year, driven by strong global demand for data center power equipment. Segment EBITDA margin also reached 24.5%, up from 22.8% a year earlier.
This isn't just a one-quarter phenomenon, either. Cummins says its growth in the data center market is being driven partly by sales of diesel and natural gas generator sets used for backup power, as AI racks are becoming more power-hungry.
Cummins says traditional data center racks averaged around 12 kilowatts, while next-generation AI racks could reach 600 kilowatts or more. The more electricity these facilities consume, the more backup generating capacity they need when the grid goes down.
Image source: Getty Images.
Cummins is moving beyond backup power Cummins is also starting to sell generators that don't simply wait around for an outage. In June, the company announced an agreement with Circe Energy to provide high-powered natural gas generators for a large high-performance-computing data center in West Texas. Those generators will be part of a behind-the-meter microgrid providing primary power, with deliveries scheduled from 2026 through 2030.
That's a huge opportunity. Grid connections can take years, and AI developers don't necessarily want to wait. Cummins can now potentially sell generators both as emergency backup and as a bridge, or even alternative, to traditional grid power.
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An industrial stock riding the AI boom Make no mistake: Cummins isn't an AI pure play. Trucks, engines, components, and industrial equipment remain major parts of its business. But AI is also serving as a catalyst for a new form of revenue generation for the company.
The truth is, you don't have to bet on which AI model wins or which semiconductor eventually replaces today's graphics processing units. The world's largest technology companies are spending hundreds of billions of dollars building computing infrastructure, and every one of those facilities requires reliable backup power. Cummins already sells the equipment that provides it. It's pretty much a no-brainer.
If hyperscalers really spend around $750 billion this year, Cummins only needs a small piece of that infrastructure build-out for data centers to become a much bigger part of its business.
Jeff Siegel has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Alphabet, Amazon, Cummins, Meta Platforms, Microsoft, and Oracle. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
McCormick uvedl, že tržby divize Flavor Solutions v konstantní měně vzrostly o 6 % a organicky o 3 % ve fiskálním 2. čtvrtletí. Firma čeká, že tento objemový impuls potáhne růst celé společnosti i ve fiskálním roce 2026.
Key Takeaways McCormick's Flavor Solutions sales rose 6% in constant currency, with 3% organic growth in fiscal Q2.Americas Flavor Solutions organic sales rose 4%, with Flavors and Branded Foodservice driving volume gains.MKC expects Flavor Solutions volume momentum to continue and drive company volume growth in fiscal 2026. McCormick & Company, Inc.’s (MKC - Free Report) Flavor Solutions business emerged as a key volume driver in the second quarter of fiscal 2026, with volume growth exceeding expectations. Segment sales rose 6% in constant currency, reflecting a 3% acquisition contribution and 3% organic growth. Organic growth was driven equally by volume and pricing, showing that the segment’s top-line improvement was not dependent on price alone.
The Americas was the main source of strength. Flavor Solutions' organic sales in the region increased 4%, with a 2% contribution from price and a 2% increase in volume. The volume gain reflected strong performance across the Flavors portfolio, including large CPG customers and high-growth innovators, along with robust growth in Branded Foodservice. Growth across the Flavors customer base also included private-label customers. In Branded Foodservice, distributor volume recovery, sustained demand in non-commercial channels and strong e-commerce performance supported the quarter. Branded Foodservice growth was balanced across channels during the quarter.
The growth drivers extend beyond current customer demand. Innovation plans have started to commercialize across large CPGs, private label and high-growth innovators, with activity especially strong in cereals, soft drinks, sports nutrition and snacking. McCormick is also participating in beverage innovation, protein and better-for-you products. A majority of second-quarter customer briefs were tied to health and wellness innovation and renovation, while reformulation projects with large CPG customers are increasing and beginning to reach the market.
The regional picture was not uniformly strong. EMEA organic sales were flat as softer QSR traffic, particularly in the United Kingdom, and pressured volume. Asia-Pacific organic sales were also flat, with 1% volume growth offset by price. Still, McCormick expects Flavor Solutions volume momentum to continue and the segment to drive total company volume growth for fiscal 2026.
MKC’s Zacks Rank & Share Price PerformanceShares of this Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) company have gained 17.6% over the past three months, outperforming the industry, the broader Consumer Staples sector and the S&P 500, which advanced 12.2%, 2.4% and 2.5%, respectively, during the same period.
MKC Stock's Past 3 Months’ Performance
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Is MKC a Value Play Stock?McCormick currently trades at a forward 12-month P/E ratio of 17.06 compared with the industry average of 15.36. This valuation places the stock at a premium relative to peers, indicating broader market expectations around its business stability and ability to navigate current cost and demand dynamics.
MKC P/E Ratio (Forward 12 Months)
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Stocks to ConsiderDarling Ingredients Inc. (DAR - Free Report) develops, produces and sells sustainable natural ingredients from edible and inedible bio-nutrients in North America, Europe, China, South America and internationally. At present, Darling Ingredients sports a Zacks Rank of 1 (Strong Buy). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.
The consensus estimate for Darling Ingredients’ current fiscal-year sales and earnings implies growth of 12.8% and 926.5%, respectively, from the year-ago figures. DAR delivered a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 38.9%, on average.
The Chefs' Warehouse, Inc. (CHEF - Free Report) distributes specialty food and center-of-the-plate products in the United States, the Middle East and Canada. At present, CHEF flaunts a Zacks Rank #1. Chefs' Warehouse delivered a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 30.4%, on average.
The consensus estimate for Chefs' Warehouse’s current fiscal-year sales and earnings implies growth of 10.6% and 33.7%, respectively, from the year-ago reported figures.
The Vita Coco Company, Inc. (COCO - Free Report) develops, manufactures, markets and distributes coconut water products under the Vita Coco brand name in the United States, Canada, Europe, the Middle East, Africa and the Asia Pacific. COCO currently sports a Zacks Rank #1. The company delivered a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 21.9%, on average.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Vita Coco’s current fiscal-year sales and earnings indicates growth of 31.6% and 64.7%, respectively, from the year-ago reported numbers.
Western Union spustila program Beyond Efficiency s cílem ušetřit 50 milionů USD v roce 2026 a 200 milionů USD do konce roku 2027. Ziskovost snižuje růst digitálních transakcí, zatímco provozní marže ve 2. čtvrtletí klesla na 15 % z 19 %.
Key Takeaways Western Union targets $50M in 2026 savings and $200M by the end of 2027.Digital growth is pressuring revenue and margins as transactions shift away from cash payouts.AI, lower payout costs and operational changes aim to support profitability and second-half results. The Western Union Company (WU - Free Report) is facing profitability pressure as its business shifts toward digital payments. In the second quarter of 2026, branded digital transactions grew 25%, but adjusted revenues increased only 6%. At the same time, adjusted operating margin fell to 15% from 19% a year ago. The shift from cash payouts to digital and account payouts is weighing on revenues and profit per transaction.
To address the profitability pressure, the Beyond Efficiency program targets $50 million in run-rate savings by year-end 2026 and $200 million by the end of 2027. The plan includes reducing discretionary operations and technology capacity by 20% and closing existing European digital wallets, which is expected to generate $6 million to $8 million in run-rate savings.
The company is using AI to automate work and align operations with local markets. For example, APAC agent onboarding is being moved from Lithuania and Costa Rica to Manila, which is expected to reduce unit labor costs while improving cost, quality and speed. Another focus is lowering the cost of moving money. In Colombia, it recently reduced a digital payout cost from more than $2 per transaction to less than $0.50 per transaction, which should boost contribution profit.
Execution of these steps is key to an earnings turnaround. New agent wins, a better revenue mix and the accelerated Beyond Efficiency program are expected to support stronger results. With full-year 2026 adjusted EPS guidance revised down to $1.25-$1.35, disciplined execution will be critical for WU to stabilize profitability and strengthen its long-term earnings trajectory.
How Are Competitors Faring?Some of WU’s competitors in the payments space include Euronet Worldwide, Inc. (EEFT - Free Report) and Remitly Global, Inc. (RELY - Free Report) .
Euronet operates across electronic payments, money transfers and financial services. Its diversified operations include Ria Money Transfer, a global ATM network and electronic point-of-sale processing. EEFT continues to invest in expanding its physical and digital payment infrastructure to support global transaction growth.
Remitly Global focuses on digital financial services, with cross-border remittances as its core business. Operating an asset-light, mobile-first model, RELY continues to expand its digital platform and customer reach while focusing on transaction growth and operating efficiency in the international money-movement market.
Western Union’s Price Performance, Valuation & EstimatesShares of WU have fallen 16% over the past year compared with the industry’s decline of 14.7%.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
From a valuation standpoint, Western Union trades at a forward price-to-earnings ratio of 5.02X, significantly down from the industry average of 18.84X. WU carries a Value Score of A.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Western Union’s 2026 earnings is pegged at $1.29 per share, implying a 26.3% decline from the year-ago period.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
WU currently has a Zacks Rank #5 (Strong Sell).
You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
Paramount Skydance uvedla, že získala všechna regulační schválení potřebná k uzavření akvizice Warner Bros. Discovery. Firma zároveň tlačí na dohodu se 12 státními žalobci, kteří transakci napadají.
<p>"Now Streaming" is The Fly's weekly recap of the stories surrounding the biggest content streamers.</p><p><b>PLAYING THIS WEEKEND: </b>This weekend's most notable streaming content is the fifth and final season of Netflix <a href="/NFLX">(NFLX)</a> mystery teen drama "Outer Banks." Meanwhile, Hulu <a href="/DIS">(DIS)</a> subscribers can catch the first episode of the new season of comedy series "It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia," while HBO Max <a href="/WBD">(WBD)</a> users can stream psychological drama film "Mother Mary," starring Anne Hathaway and Michaela Coel. </p><p><b>PARAMOUNT/WARNER BROS.:</b> Last Friday, Paramount Skydance <a href="/PSKY">(PSKY)</a> said it has satisfied all regulatory clearances required under the merger agreement to close its proposed acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery. The company said, "The eight-month review process has spanned 68 countries worldwide, including the European Union, UK, Australia, Canada, Brazil, China, COMESA, the U.S. Department of Justice and, most recently, Mexico, which announced its clearance today. These independent regulators from across the globe applied the law and market definitions that reflect how audiences consume entertainment and how media companies compete today - and have consistently found no basis to prevent the transaction from moving forward. Paramount and WBD could and would close today and begin delivering the benefits recognized by regulators around the world, theater owners and others across the industry but for the actions of just 12 state attorneys general." Paramount urges the 12 state attorney generals who brough litigation to "engage with us in good faith, as we have repeatedly sought to do, to resolve this litigation and clear the way to bring these two companies together."</p><p>Meanwhile, Reuters' David Shepardson reported this week that Paramount has asked a U.S. judge to require states challenging the acquisition of Warner Bros. to post a $1.88B bond to address the costs caused by the delays. The company must pay $7M a day if the $110B merger does not close by September 30. Paramount noted trials with the states is scheduled for March and final legal briefs are in April, which would result in Paramount Skydance paying Warner Bros $1.3B in "ticking fees."</p><p>Additionally, while a dozen state attorneys general argue the takeover of Warner Bros. Discovery would hurt movie theaters, chains controlling 60% of the U.S. market now argue the opposite, Brooks Barnes of The New York Times reported. Cinemark <a href="/CNK">(CNK)</a> is the latest movie theater owner to support CEO David Ellison's deal, pointing to Ellison's "firm" commitment for at least 30 movies in theaters each year, waiting at least 45 days before making them available on streaming, and 90 days before being put on subscription streaming services. AMC Entertainment <a href="/AMC">(AMC)</a> endorsed the transaction in April after similar assurances from Ellison. Regal similarly followed suit this month. </p><p><b>PEACOCK PRICE: </b>Effective August 18, the prices of Peacock <a href="/CMCSA">(CMCSA)</a> subscription plans have changed. A Peacock Select monthly subscription is now $8.99/month up from $7.99. A Peacock Premium monthly subscription is now $12.99/month up from $10.99. A Peacock Premium Plus monthly subscription is now $19.99/month up from $16.99. A Peacock Select annual subscription is now $89.99/year up from $79.99. A Peacock Premium annual subscription is now $129.99/year up from $109.99. A Peacock Premium Plus annual subscription is now $199.99/year up from $169.99. The company said, "These price changes allow Peacock to continue to create the best experience for its viewers, remain competitive in the marketplace, and deliver unique content across all genres. Current annual subscribers, or any users on active promotional offers, will continue at their current prices until those plans or offers expire. Subscriptions will then renew at the new price."</p><p><b>DISNEY/FCC: </b>Disney's ABC is suing the FCC, arguing that its efforts to challenge ABC's broadcast licenses and regulate The View are unconstitutional attempts to suppress speech, The Wall Street Journal's Joe Flint reported. ABC's current fight with the FCC stems from a broader dispute that began with Brendan Carr's investigation into Disney's DEI practices, while ABC executives viewed the probe as connected to criticism from programs including Jimmy Kimmel Live! and The View, Flint said. The FCC maintains the DEI review is focused on potential discrimination violations and is separate from programming, while ABC argues the investigations have become a means of pressuring the network over its speech.</p><p><b>YOUTUBE/NETFLIX:</b> YouTube <a href="/GOOGL">(GOOGL)</a> is offering millions of dollars to popular channels on its platform if they upload videos exclusively to the site for a period of time, Lucas Shaw of Bloomberg reported, citing people familiar with the matter. YouTube is hoping to halve Netflix's pursuit of its top stars. The company has not yet finalized any deals with creators but is close to an agreement with several partners, the sources added.</p><p><b>STOCK PLAYS:</b> Other publicly traded companies in the streaming space include Apple <a href="/AAPL">(AAPL)</a>, Roku <a href="/ROKU">(ROKU)</a>, Fox <a href="/FOXA">(FOXA)</a>, Amazon <a href="/AMZN">(AMZN)</a>, AMC Global Media <a href="/AMCX">(AMCX)</a>, and Fubo <a href="/FUBO">(FUBO)</a>.</p>
Bloom Energy v posledních týdnech prudce oslabil, z letošního maxima 350 USD spadl na zhruba 200 USD a klesá sedmou seanci v řadě. Investory dál trápí vysoké ocenění, i když tržby ve 2. čtvrtletí vyskočily o 165 % na 1,06 miliardy USD.
Onsite power supply chain — Buy (SPWR/ENPH basket)
Buy a small basket of solar/energy-infrastructure names that benefit from the same data-center buildout tailwind but trade at more reasonable multiples than BE. The second-order effect of hyperscaler/AI power demand is more grid-scale and on-site generation/efficiency spend (solar + storage + power electronics) to reduce delivered power costs and speed deployments. If BE’s valuation compresses, capital often rotates into cheaper “picks-and-shovels” that still ride the capex wave. Use a basket approach (e.g., SolarEdge Technologies (SEDG) and Enphase (ENPH)) to reduce single-name risk while targeting the broader theme.
Key Risk: Data-center power demand shifts toward cheaper grid upgrades or long-term utility contracts, reducing incremental spend on distributed generation and power electronics.
Bloom Energy (BE) — Sell/Short
Sell or short BE. The news is bullish on growth (AI data-center power, higher gross margins, big Brookfield deal), but the stock is already pricing perfection: forward non-GAAP P/E ~74 vs S&P ~20. With BE below the 50/100-day EMAs and a multi-week freefall, any “good news” is likely to be met with valuation-driven selling. Thesis: growth won’t be enough fast enough to defend a premium multiple while momentum is negative. Key catalyst to watch is whether the next earnings report sustains margin expansion without guidance surprises.
Key Risk: BE keeps beating expectations and expands margins faster than the market expects, forcing valuation re-rating upward despite the downtrend.
Bloom Energy stock has slumped sharply in recent weeks, falling from its year-to-date high of $350 to around $200. The stock has declined for seven consecutive sessions, reaching its lowest level since August 3. Its technical indicators suggest that further downside may be ahead, while persistent valuation concerns continue to weigh on investor sentiment.
Bloom Energy has become one of the fastest-growing companies in the United States, helped by the ongoing data center boom. It has partnered with some of the biggest companies in the industry like Oracle and Nebius. Recently, it inked a $25 billion deal with Brookfield, one of the biggest private equity companies in the world.
The most recent earnings report showed that its revenue soared by 165% in the second quarter to $1.06 billion as it continued delivering onsite power to data centers. This growth will likely continue in the foreseeable future after the company continues to monetize its projects.
Its gross margins jumped from 26.7% in the second quarter of last year to the current 33.4%, with its profitability accelerating. KR Sridhar, the CEO, said:
“Today, all the major US hyperscalers and over a dozen US neoclouds, AI labs, and colocation data center operators have validated and approved our power solutions for their AI factories. Bloom is now a standard for AI onsite power.”
This growth will likely continue as the data center buildup gains steam. For example, Nvidia has reached a financing deal with OpenAI for a Ohio data center project valued at over $105 billion.
It has also reached a $500 billion deal with several financial companies like BlackRock, BlackStone, Goldman Sachs, and Brookfield to fund data centers. Bloom Energy will be one of the top beneficiaries of these investments.
Yahoo Finance data shows that analysts are upbeat about its growth prospects, especially after the company launched Power Connect, which can reduce its onsite power installation time by over 40%.
The average estimate is that its revenue will by 103% this year to $4.13 billion this year. After that, it will make over $6.77 billion next year. Its earnings-per-share is expected to move from 76 cents to $2.71 this year. It is expected to nearly double next year to $4.89.
The main challenge, however, is that it has become a highly overvalued company, with its forward price-to-earnings on a non-GAAP basis being 74, much higher than the S&P 500 Index average of over 20. As such, it needs to demonstrate strong revenue and profitability growth to justify this valuation.
BE stock chart | Source: TradingView
The daily chart shows that BE stock has been in a strong freefall in the past few months. It has moved from the year-to-date high of $351 to the current $200. It is also in the process of erasing most of the gains it made after releasing its financial results earlier this month.
The stock has dropped below the 50-day and 100-day Exponential Moving Averages (EMA), a sign that bears remain in control. Therefore, the path of the least resistance for the stock is downwards, with the next key target to watch being at $180. In the long term, however, the stock will bounce back
SEI Investments vykázala za 2. čtvrtletí upravený zisk na akcii (EPS) 1,66 USD, nad odhadem 1,45 USD, a tržby vzrostly meziročně o 14,7 % na 641,6 milionu USD. Akcie jsou za poslední měsíc výše o 11,2 %.
It has been about a month since the last earnings report for SEI Investments (SEIC - Free Report) . Shares have added about 11.2% in that time frame, outperforming the S&P 500.
Will the recent positive trend continue leading up to its next earnings release, or is SEI due for a pullback? Before we dive into how investors and analysts have reacted as of late, let's take a quick look at the latest earnings report in order to get a better handle on the important catalysts.
SEI Investments Beats on Q2 Earnings as Revenues & AUM Rise Y/YSEI Investments’ second-quarter 2026 adjusted earnings per share of $1.66 surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.45. The bottom line reflected a rise of 38.3% from the prior-year quarter.
Results were aided by higher revenues and a rise in AUM. However, higher expenses acted as a spoilsport.
Results excluded certain non-recurring items. After considering these, net income attributable to SEI Investments was $195.7 million, down 13.8% from the year-ago quarter.
Revenues & AUM Improve, Expenses RiseTotal quarterly revenues were $641.6 million, up 14.7% year over year. The rise was driven by higher asset management, administration and distribution fees, as well as information processing and software servicing fees. The top line beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $637.9 million.
Total expenses were $444.6 million, up 8.2% year over year. The increase was due to a rise in almost all cost components, except for consulting, outsourcing and professional fees, facilities, supplies and other costs, and depreciation charges.
Operating income (GAAP) rose 33% year over year to $197 million.
As of June 30, 2026, AUM was $606.7 billion, reflecting a rise of 17.2% from the prior-year quarter. Client assets under administration (AUA) were $1.36 trillion, up 19.7%. Client AUA did not include $14.3 billion related to Funds of Funds assets reported as of June 30, 2026.
Share Repurchase UpdateIn the reported quarter, the company bought back 1.3 million shares for $112.4 million at an average price of $86.92 per share.
How Have Estimates Been Moving Since Then?It turns out, fresh estimates have trended upward during the past month.
VGM ScoresCurrently, SEI has a average Growth Score of C, though it is lagging a bit on the Momentum Score front with a D. Following the exact same course, the stock has a score of D on the value side, putting it in the bottom 40% for value investors.
Overall, the stock has an aggregate VGM Score of D. If you aren't focused on one strategy, this score is the one you should be interested in.
OutlookEstimates have been broadly trending upward for the stock, and the magnitude of these revisions looks promising. Notably, SEI has a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). We expect an in-line return from the stock in the next few months.
Performance of an Industry PlayerSEI is part of the Zacks Financial - Investment Management industry. Over the past month, BlackRock (BLK - Free Report) , a stock from the same industry, has gained 9.9%. The company reported its results for the quarter ended June 2026 more than a month ago.
BlackRock reported revenues of $7.08 billion in the last reported quarter, representing a year-over-year change of +30.6%. EPS of $13.91 for the same period compares with $12.05 a year ago.
For the current quarter, BlackRock is expected to post earnings of $14.24 per share, indicating a change of +23.3% from the year-ago quarter. The Zacks Consensus Estimate has changed -0.1% over the last 30 days.
The overall direction and magnitude of estimate revisions translate into a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) for BlackRock. Also, the stock has a VGM Score of F.
Alaska Air Group zavede v květnu 2027 sezónní přímé linky ze Seattlu do Athén a Paříže. Linka do Athén začne 12. května 2027 a linka do Paříže 25. května 2027. Athény budou první nonstop spojení Seattlu s tímto městem a jediné ze západního pobřeží do Řecka.
Key Takeaways Alaska Air Group will launch seasonal Seattle-Athens and Seattle-Paris nonstop service in May 2027. The Athens route will be Seattle's first nonstop to Athens & the West Coast's only link to Greece's Cap Boeing 787-9s will serve both routes as ALK grows Seattle to seven intercontinental destinations. Alaska Air Group (ALK - Free Report) is expanding its international footprint from Seattle with new nonstop seasonal service to Athens and Paris, reinforcing its position as Seattle’s largest international carrier. The Athens service will begin on May 12, 2027, operating three times weekly through October, while Paris service will start on May 25, 2027, with five weekly flights over the same period. The new routes are expected to provide travelers in the Pacific Northwest with more convenient access to key European destinations.
The Athens route is particularly notable, as Alaska will become the first airline to offer nonstop service between Seattle and Athens and the only carrier to provide a nonstop connection between the West Coast and Greece’s capital. Meanwhile, the Paris route will provide direct access to one of the most in-demand transatlantic markets from the region. The airline also expects the expanded network to support same-day connections between Honolulu and Paris through Seattle, improving international connectivity for travelers from Hawaii.
Both routes will be operated with Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners, featuring Alaska’s new long-haul international experience, including lie-flat Business Class Suites, premium amenities and Starlink Wi-Fi. With Athens and Paris, Alaska’s Seattle intercontinental network will grow to seven destinations, alongside Iceland, London, Rome, Seoul and Tokyo. The airline plans to add at least five more intercontinental destinations by 2030, supported by additional Dreamliners.
The expansion underscores Alaska’s broader strategy of transforming Seattle into a major global gateway and increasing its long-haul international presence. Its oneworld alliance and other global partnerships will further enable passengers to connect to hundreds of destinations across Europe, the Middle East and Asia. This international growth could strengthen Alaska’s competitive position in the Pacific Northwest while giving the carrier greater exposure to growing demand for long-haul leisure and business travel.
ALK’s Share Price PerformanceALK’s shares have declined 32.4% in the past three months compared with the Transportation - Airline industry’s 0.3% fall.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
ALK’s Zacks RankALK currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold).
Stocks to ConsiderInvestors interested in the Zacks Transportation sector may consider Expeditors International of Washington, Inc. (EXPD - Free Report) and Seanergy Maritime Holdings (SHIP - Free Report) as well.
Expeditors currently carries a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.
EXPD has an expected earnings growth rate of 28.6% for 2026. The company has an encouraging earnings surprise history. Its earnings outpaced the Zacks Consensus Estimate in each of the trailing four quarters, delivering an average beat of 17.15%.
Seanergy Maritime Holdings currently sports a Zacks Rank #1.
SHIP has an expected earnings growth rate of more than 100% for the current year. The company has an encouraging earnings surprise history. Its earnings topped the Zacks Consensus Estimate in each of the trailing four quarters, delivering an average beat of 38%.
It has been about a month since the last earnings report for Medpace (MEDP - Free Report) . Shares have added about 1.1% in that time frame, underperforming the S&P 500.
But investors have to be wondering, will the recent positive trend continue leading up to its next earnings release, or is Medpace due for a pullback? Well, first let's take a quick look at the most recent earnings report in order to get a better handle on the recent drivers for Medpace Holdings, Inc. before we dive into how investors and analysts have reacted as of late.
MEDP Q2 Earnings and Revenues Surpass EstimatesMedpace Holdings, Inc.reported second-quarter 2026 earnings of $4.25 per share, up 37.1% year over year. The figure beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 4.17%.
Revenues rose 17.2% to $707.33 million and surpassed the consensus mark by 1.12%. On a constant-currency basis, growth was also 17.2%, indicating that foreign exchange had little effect on the reported expansion.
Medpace Posts Record Quarterly Awards
Net new business awards jumped 28.2% to $795.7 million, driving a net book-to-bill ratio of 1.13. Management attributed the record net bookings performance partly to a meaningful decline in cancellations from elevated first-quarter levels.
Backlog as of June 30, 2026 rose 4.9% year over year to $3.01 billion. Medpace expects about $1.96 billion of backlog to convert into revenues over the next 12 months. The quarterly backlog conversion rate increased to 24.1% from 21.2% a year ago.
MEDP Sees Oncology Regain Momentum
Management said oncology accounted for more than half of second-quarter bookings and initial award notifications. This marked a shift from the recent period when cardiometabolic programs were a larger contributor to business growth.
Medpace expects oncology to move back toward a more historically typical share of its portfolio over the next year. Cardiometabolic award notifications have moderated, while oncology opportunities have strengthened. The company also reported meaningfully higher request-for-proposal activity both sequentially and year over year.
Medpace Highlights Cash Position and Buybacks
Cash and cash equivalents totaled $502.7 million at the second quarter-end compared with $652.7 million as of March 31, 2026.
Net days sales outstanding remained favorable at negative 59.6 days.
Cumulative cash flow from operating activities came in at $162 million compared with $274.4 million a year ago.
MEDP repurchased approximately 706,000 shares for $294.7 million during the second quarter. The company had $527 million remaining under its authorized share repurchase program at quarter-end.
MEDP Raises Its 2026 Outlook
Medpace now expects 2026 revenues of $2.805-$2.885 billion, implying growth of 10.9%-14% over 2025 levels. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for revenues stands at $2.84 billion.
EBITDA is projected between $618 million and $642 million, suggesting growth of 10.8%-15.1%.
GAAP net income is forecast at $494-$514 million, while earnings are expected between $17.25 and $17.95 per share. The Zacks Consensus Estimate expects earnings to be $17.51 per share. The guidance assumes a 19%-19.5% tax rate, $21.1 million of interest income and no additional share repurchases after June 30.
How Have Estimates Been Moving Since Then?In the past month, investors have witnessed a upward trend in fresh estimates.
The consensus estimate has shifted 5.61% due to these changes.
VGM ScoresCurrently, Medpace has a strong Growth Score of A, though it is lagging a lot on the Momentum Score front with an F. Charting a somewhat similar path, the stock has a grade of D on the value side, putting it in the bottom 40% for value investors.
Overall, the stock has an aggregate VGM Score of C. If you aren't focused on one strategy, this score is the one you should be interested in.
OutlookEstimates have been trending upward for the stock, and the magnitude of this revision looks promising. It comes with little surprise Medpace has a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). We expect an above average return from the stock in the next few months.
Performance of an Industry PlayerMedpace belongs to the Zacks Medical Services industry. Another stock from the same industry, Elevance Health (ELV - Free Report) , has gained 4.5% over the past month. More than a month has passed since the company reported results for the quarter ended June 2026.
Elevance Health reported revenues of $49.83 billion in the last reported quarter, representing a year-over-year change of +0.8%. EPS of $7.45 for the same period compares with $8.84 a year ago.
Elevance Health is expected to post earnings of $4.82 per share for the current quarter, representing a year-over-year change of -20.1%. Over the last 30 days, the Zacks Consensus Estimate has changed -1.5%.
Elevance Health has a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) based on the overall direction and magnitude of estimate revisions. Additionally, the stock has a VGM Score of B.
Alliant Energy těží z růstu počtu odběratelů: ve 2. čtvrtletí 2026 měla 1 011 128 odběratelů elektřiny a 432 892 odběratelů plynu. Firma čeká 60% růst zatížení do roku 2031.
Key Takeaways Alliant Energy's customer growth supports higher utility sales and a stronger regulated revenue base. LNT expects load to grow 60% by 2031, driven by large customer demand progressing with 2026 expectations. LNT plans nearly $13.4B in capital investments through 2029 to support demand and customer growth. Alliant Energy’s (LNT - Free Report) earnings prospects are supported by ongoing additions to electric and natural gas customer volumes. Its geographic footprint and regulatory tools support new wind and gas resources tied to load growth. A broader customer base also strengthens demand growth, helping offset fluctuations in usage and supporting long-term revenue expansion.
The company’s diversified customer base provides greater revenue stability by reducing its reliance on any single customer segment. In the second quarter of 2026, Alliant Energy reported 1,011,128 electric customers, up 0.69% from 1,004,242 a year earlier, while natural gas customers increased 0.47% to 432,892 from 430,859. This continued customer expansion can support higher utility sales and strengthen the company’s regulated revenue base over time. The company expects 60% load growth by 2031, with large customer demand projected to begin materializing in 2026, supporting a multi-year expansion in electricity consumption.
The growth opportunity is also supported by Alliant Energy’s strategic investment program. The company plans nearly $13.4 billion in capital investments through 2029. These investments are aimed at supporting economic development, customer growth and rising energy demand.
Alliant Energy expects 2026 ongoing earnings per share (EPS) of $3.36-$3.46 and long-term EPS growth of 5-7% through 2029, supported by increasing capital investments and rising utility demand. Therefore, stronger customer growth can support Alliant Energy’s investment plans by increasing electricity and gas demand and helping expand its rate base.
Growing Customer Base Drives Utility GrowthA steadily expanding customer base creates fresh demand for utility services, supporting revenues and earnings. Along with LNT, other utilities also witness continued customer expansion, as discussed below:
NextEra Energy’s (NEE - Free Report) Florida Power & Light unit added more than 90,000 average customers year over year in the second quarter of 2026, while weather-normalized retail sales rose 0.6%, driven primarily by population growth and supporting continued capital investment and earnings growth.
Xcel Energy (XEL - Free Report) reported 0.7% year-over-year growth in both its electric and natural gas customer bases in second-quarter 2026.
The Zacks Rundown on LNTLNT’s Earnings EstimatesThe Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2026 and 2027 EPS indicates a year-over-year increase of 6.52% and 7.21%, respectively.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
LNT’s Stock Trading at a Premium LNT is trading at a premium to the industry, with a forward 12-month price-to-earnings ratio of 19.36X versus the industry average of 15.42X.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
LNT’s Stock Price PerformanceIn the past six months, the company’s shares have plunged 3.4% compared with the industry’s 7.9% decline.
