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52-Week Range$160.07▼
$239.48Dividend Yield3.23%
P/E Ratio33.51
Price Target$217.50
After a sweet run-up in its stock back in February, Hershey NYSE: HSY is now trading 3.8% below its year-start price.
But while the share price is lingering, the company’s picture has changed. Having overcome soaring cocoa costs with remarkable pricing power, easing commodity pressures, and the proven strength of its brands, the company is positioning itself for a potential margin recovery.
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Most analysts rate it a Hold, with a 20% upside, as a balance of pricing and demand continues. Yet with a proven loyalty from customers and an alignment of new products, the company appears well-positioned if the market follows current trends.
Hershey's Pricing Power Is Paying OffWhat hurt the company recently was a well-known event. Cocoa prices surged to historic highs in late 2024 and 2025, squeezing the margins of every chocolate maker in the world. Hershey saw its net income drop from $797 million in the fourth quarter of 2024 to $224 million the next three months in 2025 and to $63 million the quarter after that.
For Hershey, which generated annual sales of $11.7 billion last year and holds a market capitalization of around $36 billion, the shock also arrived at an awkward moment. The company was already pursuing a broader portfolio reorganization. It was pushing harder into salty snacks, including Dot's Homestyle Pretzels. LesserEvil, and SkinnyPop, as well as protein products, such as Fulfil bars in North America.
Sales and Earnings Rebound Despite Higher CostsWhen cocoa prices soared, the story for Hershey shifted from long-term growth to short-term damage control. As a result, the company leaned into its pricing power. By the end of last year, organic price realization, or the benefit from price increases, rose 6% in the fourth quarter of 2025, then accelerated to 10% in the first quarter of 2026. Consumers might have grumbled, but they kept buying.
The first-quarter 2026 results told the broader story. Consolidated net sales reached $3.1 billion, up 10.6% from $2.8 billion a year earlier. Adjusted earnings per share came in at $2.35, an increase of 12.4%, and well above analyst estimates, compared with $2.09 in the prior-year period. Reported net income was $435 million, or $2.13 per share, from $1.10 a year earlier.
Operating results were also sharply higher. The first quarter’s reported operating profit rose 73.5% to $640.7 million, while the profit margin hit 20.6%, up 7.4 points from last year. The company said an increase in sales and prices helped offset higher commodity and tariff-related costs.
Looking ahead, management reaffirmed its full-year guidance of 4% to 5% net sales growth and 30% to 35% adjusted earnings per share (EPS) growth. The full-year adjusted EPS is projected to come in the range of $8.20 to $8.52 compared with $6.31 in 2025.
Lower Cocoa Prices Could Boost MarginsThe success of its salty snacks was evident in North America, which reported $2.5 billion in net sales. That segment recorded an acquisition-led 26% year-over-year increase, while North American confectionery products recorded an 8.3% increase.
The cost picture is improving, but not resolved. In the previous quarter, the gross margin fell 17 percentage points to 37% as cocoa prices remained high. Even in the first three months of 2026, adjusted gross margin rose to 40.4%, but was still down 80 basis points year over year due to elevated commodity and tariff-related costs.
The encouraging development is that cocoa prices have fallen dramatically from their late-2024 and early-2025 highs, which were well above $10,000 per metric ton. Having fallen below $4,000 earlier this year, the commodity is currently trading at nearly $5,000.
ONE Hershey Aims to Drive Long-Term GrowthBeyond cocoa, the company is making other structural moves.
In March, the company announced the unification of its sweet, salty, and protein brand portfolios under an integrated operating model called ONE Hershey. The company hopes that by having its products under a single umbrella, it can more effectively align strategy, cross-selling, brand messaging, in-store performance, and innovation.
The initiative also comes at a time of top management changes. A new president and CEO took over last August, and more recently, a new president of U.S. operations was appointed to oversee the integrated businesses.
Analysts See Upside But Remain CautiousOverall MarketRank™97th Percentile
Analyst RatingHold
Upside/Downside21.7% Upside
Short Interest LevelHealthy
Dividend StrengthStrong
News Sentiment0.79 Insider TradingSelling Shares
Proj. Earnings Growth17.04%
See Full Analysis
The financial picture around the stock reflects the tension between the business quality and the cost environment.
Over the past 52 weeks, Hershey has traded between $160 to nearly $240 per share. At current levels around $175 per share, its price/earnings ratio of over 33 is not cheap, and the consensus among 23 analysts is that the stock is currently a Hold. Sixteen analysts recommend a Hold, and seven recommend a Buy.
With an average 12-month price target of $217.50, the current upside on the stock is above 20%. The highest price target is $260 and the lowest is $185, suggesting genuine uncertainty about the pace of margin recovery.
Hershey also carries a sizable quarterly dividend of $1.45 per share for a yield above 3%. The company has raised its dividend for 15 consecutive years,
The Next Few Quarters Could Be CriticalWhether the momentum that Hershey has created continues will soon be seen in its second-quarter earnings.
The question is whether its pricing power has held and how much lower cocoa costs will help. New management will also help set direction.
For investors, Hershey presents a choice between patience and precision. Hershey is a category-leading company with a storied brand in the consumer staples sector. It has proven pricing power, a 15-year dividend growth streak, and a commodity headwind that appears to be easing. The next quarter or two should show if the trajectory continues.
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MarketBeat just released its list of the 7 hottest IPOs expected to hit Wall Street in 2026. See which companies are preparing to go public and why investors are watching closely.
Jabil těží z růstu v AI: jeho optické transceiverové moduly využívají Intel silicon photonics pro rychlejší přenos dat. Odhady zisku pro fiskální rok 2026 vzrostly o 14,9 % na 12,74 USD na akcii a pro fiskální rok 2027 o 25,1 % na 16,59 USD na akcii.
Key Takeaways Jabil has climbed 78.4% in a year, though it trails Flex and Celestica's stronger industry gains.Jabil's optical transceiver modules use Intel silicon photonics to support faster AI data transmission.Jabil's fiscal 2026 and 2027 earnings estimates rose, signaling bullish growth sentiment. Jabil, Inc. (JBL - Free Report) has soared 78.4% over the past year compared with the industry’s growth of 104.2%. It has underperformed peers like Flex Ltd. (FLEX - Free Report) and Celestica Inc. (CLS - Free Report) over this period. While Celestica has gained 145%, Flex surged 234.3%.
One-Year JBL Stock Price Performance
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
JBL Rides on AI StrengthJabil's extensive manufacturing footprint and expertise position it as an ideal partner in the burgeoning AI/ML ecosystem. The company's commitment to providing unparalleled value to customers underscores its strategic importance in the optical module space. The company’s photonics-based optical transceiver modules are designed to fuel the AI/ML revolution, promise unparalleled performance and scalability, thanks to the collaborative efforts of industry giants.
The breakthrough technology leverages Intel Corporation's (INTC - Free Report) cutting-edge silicon photonics platform, renowned for its manufacturing efficiency and reliability. The collaboration sets a new standard for speed, efficiency and reliability in data transmission. Intel's volume-proven silicon photonics platform, with on-chip laser sources fabricated, tested and burned-in at wafer scale, ensures unparalleled reliability and simplicity in module integration. With a focus on reliability, scalability and performance, its optical transceiver modules are poised to drive significant advancements in data-intensive applications with considerable improvement in the bandwidth capacity of data center racks without requiring modifications to existing infrastructure.
Diversified Bouquet Lends SupportWith a presence across 100 locations in 30 countries, Jabil is likely to gain from secular growth drivers with strong margins and cash flow dynamics. Moreover, its unmatched end-market experience, technical and design capabilities, manufacturing know-how, supply chain insights and global product management expertise have put it in good stead. Its extensive global footprint is further strengthened by a centralized procurement process, which, coupled with a single Enterprise Resource Planning system, aids customers with end-to-end supply chain visibility.
Jabil’s focus on end-market and product diversification is a key catalyst. The company’s target that “no product or product family should be greater than 5% operating income or cash flows in any fiscal year” is commendable. The diversification increases the reliability of the company’s earnings and revenues, thereby driving long-term returns for investors.
The company is likely to gain from the rapid adoption of 5G wireless and cloud computing in the long run. It is benefiting from solid demand in key end markets, diligent execution of operational plans and skillful management of supply chain dynamics. A large-scale portfolio of business sectors offers Jabil a high degree of resilience during macroeconomic and geopolitical disruptions.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Estimate Revision TrendThe Zacks Consensus Estimate for Jabil’s fiscal 2026 earnings has surged 14.9% to $12.74 per share over the past year, while the same for fiscal 2027 has increased 25.1% to $16.59. The positive estimate revision depicts bullish sentiments about the stock’s growth potential.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
End NoteJabil is bullish on its long-term prospects. The company is well-positioned to capitalize on growth opportunities in areas such as AI data center hardware, power and energy infrastructure, software-defined electric and hybrid vehicles, and healthcare. Strong margins and robust free cash flow are likely to enable continued investment in profitable growth and capital returns to shareholders.
The uptrend in estimate revisions further portrays positive sentiments about the stock’s growth potential. JBL has a long-term earnings growth expectation of 28.5% and delivered a trailing four-quarter average earnings surprise of 5.9%. It has a VGM Score of A. Jabil carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
With a solid Zacks Rank and healthy fundamentals, Jabil appears primed for further price appreciation. Consequently, investors are likely to profit if they bet on this high-flying stock now.
HII získala od amerického námořnictva kontrakt téměř za 417,7 mil. USD na údržbu a opravy letadlových a výsadkových lodí. Zakázka má být dokončena do června 2031.
Key Takeaways HII secured a nearly $417.7M Navy contract for carrier and amphibious ship maintenance support.Huntington Ingalls supports fleet readiness through maintenance, modernization and technical services.HII's shipbuilding and sustainment expertise positions it for long-term naval modernization demand. Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII - Free Report) continues to strengthen its position in the naval sustainment market through its long-standing partnership with the U.S. Navy and broad portfolio of shipbuilding, maintenance and lifecycle support capabilities. The company provides mission-critical maintenance, modernization and technical support services that help ensure the operational readiness of some of the Navy's most advanced surface vessels.
A key example is HII's latest U.S. Navy contract. In June 2026, the company secured a nearly $417.7 million contract from the Naval Sea Systems Command to provide maintenance and repair support for aircraft carriers and amphibious ships. The contract is expected to be completed by June 2031.
Aircraft carriers and amphibious assault ships play a critical role in projecting naval power and supporting expeditionary operations worldwide. Maintaining key systems, such as aircraft elevators, is essential to ensuring uninterrupted flight deck operations, efficient movement of personnel and equipment, and overall mission readiness. HII's expertise in providing long-term sustainment and maintenance services reinforces its role in supporting the operational availability of the U.S. Navy's fleet.
With governments worldwide increasing investments in naval modernization and fleet readiness, demand for maintenance, repair and lifecycle support services is expected to remain strong. Huntington Ingalls' extensive experience in naval shipbuilding, sustainment and modernization, combined with its long-standing relationship with the U.S. Navy, positions it well to benefit from long-term defense modernization initiatives and the growing focus on maintaining combat-ready naval fleet.
Other Naval Sustainment Stocks to WatchOther aerospace and defense companies strengthening their presence in the naval sustainment market are discussed below:
Lockheed Martin (LMT - Free Report) : The company's Rotary and Mission Systems segment supports advanced naval warfare programs, including the AEGIS Combat System, the Littoral Combat Ship and Multi-Mission Surface Combatant programs, strengthening the operational capabilities of the U.S. Navy and allied fleet.
BAE Systems plc (BAESY - Free Report) : The company designs, builds, modernizes and supports a wide range of naval platforms, including aircraft carriers, destroyers and frigates. Its broad naval sustainment capabilities and shipbuilding expertise position it to benefit from rising global investments in naval fleet modernization.
The Zacks Rundown for HIIShares of HII have surged 11.9% in the past year compared with the industry’s 6.4% growth.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
The company shares are trading at a discount on a relative basis, with its forward 12-month Price/Sales being 0.83X compared with its industry’s average of 2.62X.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for HII’s 2026 earnings has moved north over the past 60 days.
ArcBest těží z utahující se kapacity truckload trhu a lepšího cenového prostředí. AI optimalizace tras přinesla 15 milionů USD v anualizovaných úsporách.
Key Takeaways ArcBest is benefiting from tighter truckload capacity and a more supportive pricing environment. ARCB's renewals rose in the March quarter and Asset-Based tonnage per day also increased in the period. AI route optimization delivered $15 million in annualized savings and better asset utilization. ArcBest Corporation (ARCB - Free Report) is benefiting from a freight market that is becoming more constructive after a prolonged downturn.
The company’s setup combines tightening truckload capacity, disciplined pricing, technology-led productivity and an integrated logistics model that can support margins if freight demand continues to normalize.
ARCB Benefits From a Tighter Freight CycleTruckload capacity is tightening as carriers exit the industry, while manufacturing indicators have moved into expansion. That backdrop is helping create a more supportive pricing environment for ArcBest.
The company’s first-quarter 2026 contract renewals and deferred pricing agreements averaged a 6.3% increase. Asset-Based shipments per day rose 1.8%, while tonnage per day increased 6.5%, giving ARCB a better base for operating leverage as demand improves.
ArcBest Uses AI to Improve Route DensityTechnology is central to the margin story. ArcBest’s continuous improvement training has reached roughly 75% of its network and generated $32 million in annualized cost savings.
Its AI-enabled city route optimization program has delivered $15 million in annualized savings. The system supports optimized pickup and delivery routes, daily demand projections and better asset utilization, helping the company improve service and lower cost without relying only on aggressive capital spending.
ARCB Cross-Sell Model Supports Better PricingArcBest is not just a traditional trucking name. It combines ABF Freight’s asset-based less-than-truckload network with Asset-Light logistics offerings, including brokerage, managed transportation and expedited services.
About 70% of Asset-Light customers also use Asset-Based services, and cross-sold accounts generate more than three times the revenue and profit per account. This integrated positioning differs from pure less-than-truckload peers such as Old Dominion Freight Line (ODFL - Free Report) , one of North America’s largest less-than-truckload carriers, and asset-light logistics players such as C.H. Robinson Worldwide (CHRW - Free Report) , which focuses on global logistics, freight brokerage and supply-chain technology.
ArcBest View adds another layer to that model by letting customers quote, book and track shipments across logistics solutions through one interface. The expanding dynamic quote pool also helps ARCB selectively fill capacity and optimize yield.
ArcBest Faces Inflation and Mix PressuresThe recovery is not without friction. In the first quarter, Asset-Based operating ratio worsened to 97.3% from 95.9% a year earlier as labor, fuel and equipment depreciation costs rose.
Mix also remains a drag. Asset-Based billed revenue per shipment increased 0.6%, but billed revenue per hundredweight fell 3.9% as the freight profile shifted toward heavier shipments.
Asset-Light margins remain sensitive to purchased transportation costs. Purchased transportation expense was 86.2% of Asset-Light revenues in the first quarter, leaving profitability exposed to carrier-cost swings as capacity conditions change.
ARCB Style Scores Fit a Trend-Driven SetupThe bottom line: ARCB’s investment case is tied to whether pricing discipline, freight-cycle improvement and productivity initiatives can translate into durable margin expansion.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for ArcBest’s June-quarter, September-quarter and current-year sales implies a year-over-year improvement of 15.3%, 13.3% and 11.4%, respectively. ARCB’s EPS indicates upward revisions over the past 60 days for the June-quarter, September-quarter and current-year, reflecting optimism.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
The stock currently sports a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), along with a VGM Score of B. It also has a Momentum Score of B, which fits a trend-driven setup supported by improving pricing conditions and positive estimate revisions. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.
ARCB’s Value Score of C and Growth Score of C are more balanced signals. They suggest the story is not simply about a cheap valuation or a clean growth profile, but about execution through a freight-cycle recovery.
Natera se spojí s Aveta Biomics a do globální studie fáze 3 LA-HNSCC zapojí test Signatera pro sledování MRD a odpovědi na léčbu. Studie může zahrnout asi 826 pacientů.
Key Takeaways Natera partnered with Aveta to integrate Signatera into a global Phase 3 LA-HNSCC trial.Signatera will assess MRD and treatment response across neoadjuvant to follow-up care.The trial may enroll 826 patients globally, with enrollment expected in the second half of 2026. Natera (NTRA - Free Report) recently announced a partnership with Aveta Biomics to support AVTA 30-01, a global Phase 3 registrational trial of its oral immunotherapy, APG-157, in patients with locally advanced head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (LA-HNSCC). Natera’s Signatera test will be integrated into the AVTA 30-01 Phase 3 study to assess molecular residual disease (MRD) and treatment response during neoadjuvant, induction, adjuvant and follow-up care.
Management noted that growing clinical evidence continues to demonstrate the value of Signatera for MRD detection in head and neck cancer. The company believes its collaboration with Aveta on the AVTA 30-01 trial will further demonstrate Signatera’s potential to advance the field and improve patient care.
Likely Trend of NTRA Stock Following the NewsShares of NTRA have lost 0.3% since the announcement on Monday. Year to date, the stock has gained 18.5% against the industry’s 2.3% decline. The S&P 500 has risen 9.7% in the same timeframe.
The partnership with Aveta Biomics is a positive development for Natera as it expands the clinical use of Signatera in a global Phase 3 registrational trial. Successful validation of Signatera for MRD monitoring and treatment response in head and neck cancer could strengthen its clinical evidence and support wider adoption. Over time, the collaboration could enhance Natera’s position in precision oncology while creating opportunities for biopharma partnerships centered on MRD-guided treatment strategies.
NTRA currently has a market capitalization of $39.00 billion.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
More on the NewsAPG-157 is Aveta’s first-in-class oral immunotherapy designed to benefit both immune-hot and immune-cold tumors in LA-HNSCC. The therapy has received FDA Fast Track and Orphan Drug Designations for this indication. The Phase 3 study builds on Phase 2 results that demonstrated favorable safety, evidence of tumor control, deep molecular responses and promising event-free survival outcomes.
The trial is expected to enroll approximately 826 patients across North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific and Australia, with patient enrollment to begin in the second half of 2026. It will include separate randomized cohorts for patients with resectable and unresectable locally advanced disease, with both treatment and control arms. Signatera will serve as a secondary endpoint to generate insights into disease recurrence and therapeutic response through circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) monitoring to assess MRD.
Head and neck cancer affects roughly 950,000 people worldwide each year, and recurrence remains a significant cause of mortality despite advances in surgery, radiation and immunotherapy. This collaboration further expands Natera’s clinical evidence in head and neck cancer, following the positive results from the recently concluded Phase 2 SINERGY trial, which supported the use of Signatera MRD-guided monitoring in this disease setting.
Industry Prospects Favoring the MarketGoing by the data provided by Precedence Research, the minimal residual disease testing market was valued at $1.70 billion in 2025 and is expected to witness a CAGR of 12% through 2034.
Factors like the demand for highly sensitive technologies like next-generation sequencing and digital PCR, which accurately detect minimal residual cancer cells to guide treatment decisions and predict patient outcomes, are boosting the market’s growth.
Other NewsNatera recently announced a collaboration with CytoDyn to evaluate ctDNA dynamics and generate real-world molecular data in support of the latter’s metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) program.
In May, Natera announced a collaboration with Diakonos Oncology to incorporate its Signatera molecular residual disease test into Diakonos’ DOC-RM Phase I/II investigational immunotherapy trial for patients with refractory melanoma.
Natera received the FDA approval of Signatera CDx as a companion diagnostic (CDx) for use with adjuvant atezolizumab immunotherapy in patients with muscle-invasive bladder cancer.
NTRA’s Zacks Rank & Key PicksNatera currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold).
Some better-ranked stocks from the broader medical space are BrightSpring Health (BTSG - Free Report) , Globus Medical (GMED - Free Report) and West Pharmaceutical (WST - Free Report) .
BrightSpring Health, currently carrying a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy), reported first-quarter 2026 adjusted earnings per share (EPS) of 39 cents, which beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 34.5%. Revenues of $3.61 billion surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 8.35%. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
BrightSpring Health has an estimated long-term earnings growth rate of 46.5%. BTSG’s earnings surpassed estimates in three of the trailing four quarters and missed once, the average surprise being 14.6%.
Globus Medical, currently carrying a Zacks Rank #2, reported a first-quarter 2026 adjusted EPS of $1.12, which surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 22.1%. Revenues of $759.9 million beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 4.0%.
GMED has an estimated long-term earnings growth rate of 10.2%. The company’s earnings beat estimates in each of the trailing four quarters, the average surprise being 26.3%.
West Pharmaceutical, carrying a Zacks Rank #2 at present, reported first-quarter 2026 EPS of $2.13, which beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 26.8%. Revenues of $844.9 million surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 8.5%.
West Pharmaceutical has an estimated long-term earnings growth rate of 13.9%. WST’s earnings surpassed estimates in the trailing four quarters, the average surprise being 19.4%.
Freedom Holding Corp. získala schválení BRSA a tureckého antimonopolního úřadu k převzetí 99,32 % Turkish Bank A.Ş. Tím se přiblížila k rozšíření bankovního byznysu v Turecku.
ISTANBUL, July 01, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Freedom Finansal Hizmetler A.Ş., a subsidiary of Freedom Holding Corp. (NASDAQ: FRHC), an international diversified financial services group operating in more than 20 countries, today announced that Türkiye’s Banking Regulation and Supervision Agency (BRSA) and Competition Authority of Türkiye has approved its planned acquisition of 99.32% of the share capital of Turkish Bank A.Ş.
BRSA approval is an important step toward completing the transaction and supports Freedom Holding Corp.’s strategy to build integrated financial services platforms in selected growth markets. Upon closing, Turkish Bank A.Ş., a Turkish banking institution with a history dating back to 1982, will become part of the Group’s regional platform in Türkiye, alongside its brokerage, investment and capital markets businesses.
“Türkiye is a strategic market for Freedom, and we are entering it with a clear understanding of what we want to build. In Kazakhstan, we have already proven that a digital ecosystem can become part of people’s everyday lives. In less than two years since its launch, Freedom SuperApp has reached 5.67 million users and has become one of the country’s fastest-growing digital services. We have brought financial services and advanced digital products together on a single platform, allowing them to complement and strengthen one another,” said Timur Turlov, founder and Chief Executive Officer of Freedom Holding Corp.“This is the experience we intend to bring to the Turkish market, where the potential client base could be four to five times larger than in Kazakhstan. The acquisition of a bank creates the foundation for scaling a model that has already proven its effectiveness, and BRSA approval is an important step toward launching it in Türkiye,” Turlov added.
Following completion of the acquisition, Turkish Bank will continue to operate under Turkish regulatory supervision and will gain access to Freedom’s expertise in digital financial services, technology-driven distribution and client-focused product development.
BRSA approval also comes as Freedom Holding is in the final stage of establishing its brokerage business in Türkiye. Final authorization from the Capital Markets Board of Türkiye would allow the Group to expand its financial products and services for retail, affluent and high-net-worth clients, as well as small and medium-sized businesses and corporate clients.
The Bank is expected to support Freedom’s regional strategy by enabling deeper integration of banking services, capital markets, insurance and cross-border financial solutions. Over time, the model may be expanded through non-financial services, including e-commerce, telecommunications and lifestyle offerings.
“BRSA approval is an important step toward implementing our strategy in Türkiye,” said H. Cenk Eynehan, Chief Executive Officer of Freedom Finansal Hizmetler A.Ş. “Following completion of the transaction, we will have the opportunity to combine the heritage and market position of an established Turkish banking institution with Freedom’s technology, entrepreneurial culture and international expertise. Our priority will be to create additional value for clients through innovation, accessibility and an expanded range of financial products and services.”
Freedom plans to implement a modernization and growth program focused on digital transformation, client channels, product expansion and operational efficiency. Integration will focus on technology infrastructure, client experience, product development and cooperation among Freedom’s Turkish business lines.
The transaction is expected to expand Freedom Holding Corp.’s presence across Eurasia, the Middle East and Central Asia and support the Group’s long-term investment strategy in selected growth markets.
The Freedom Holding Corp.'s banking business is already present in Tajikistan. In November last year, The Agency of the Republic of Kazakhstan for Regulation and Development of the Financial Market granted the holding company approval to establish a bank in Georgia. In early June, Freedom Holding Corp. submitted an application to the French regulator for a banking license. Timur Turlov noted that the company plans to invest approximately €500 million in developing its digital ecosystem in France.
About Freedom Holding Corp.
Freedom Holding Corp. provides financial services in 22 countries, including Kazakhstan, the United States, Cyprus, Poland, Spain, Uzbekistan, and Armenia. The Company’s principal executive office is located in New York City. In Kazakhstan, Freedom is actively developing its financial and digital ecosystem, which includes Freedom Bank, Freedom Broker, the insurance companies Freedom Life and Freedom insurance, as well as a lifestyle segment that features Arbuz.kz, Freedom Ticketon, and Aviata. Freedom Holding Corp. shares are traded on the U.S. technology exchange NASDAQ, the Kazakhstan Stock Exchange (KASE), and the Astana International Exchange (AIX) under the ticker symbol FRHC. Freedom Holding Corp. is regulated by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and the common stock is included in Russell 3000 Index.
Freedom Finansal Hizmetler A.Ş., a wholly owned subsidiary of Freedom Holding Corp., was established in 2022 to support the Group’s expansion in Türkiye’s financial services sector. The company focuses on financial consulting and investments across banking, insurance, capital markets, payment systems and other financial services, including supporting the capitalization and development of portfolio companies.
In 2025, the Capital Markets Board of Türkiye granted the company an establishment license. Freedom Yatırım Menkul Değerler A.Ş. was subsequently established and is working toward obtaining an operating brokerage license upon meeting the regulator’s requirements.
Turkish Bank A.Ş. is a commercial bank operating in Türkiye and a member of TurkishBank Group. The bank provides a range of financial services, including corporate, commercial and retail banking solutions.
TurkishBank Group, established in 1901, is a privately owned financial services group operating across Türkiye, the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus and the United Kingdom. The Group provides banking, financial and wealth management solutions through an international network.
Contact
Head of Public Relations
Natalia Kharlashina
Freedom Holding Corp. [email protected]
+77013641454
A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/6db975c8-cd09-47b5-85de-8c3e5db261ec
Key Takeaways Bell delivered a helicopter to Texas DPS for law enforcement, emergency response and surveillance missions.TXT's Bell 407GXi offers versatility, advanced avionics and support for patrol, rescue and disaster response.Textron is positioned to benefit as governments and commercial operators modernize helicopter fleet. Textron (TXT - Free Report) continues to strengthen its position in the helicopter market through its Bell business, which develops advanced rotorcraft for military, government and commercial customers worldwide. Bell's helicopters are designed to deliver reliable performance, mission flexibility and advanced capabilities across a wide range of operational environments.
A key example is Bell's latest delivery to the Texas Department of Public Safety. In May 2026, the company delivered a new Bell 407GXi helicopter to the agency, reinforcing its long-standing relationship with Texas DPS. The aircraft will support a variety of missions, including law enforcement, emergency response and aerial surveillance.
The Bell 407GXi is a light single-engine helicopter known for its versatility, reliability and advanced avionics. Its ability to perform missions ranging from patrol and search-and-rescue to disaster response makes it a preferred platform for government agencies and commercial operators. The helicopter enhances operational flexibility while enabling operators to respond effectively to evolving mission requirements.
With governments and commercial operators continuing to modernize their helicopter fleet, demand for advanced rotorcraft is expected to remain healthy. Textron's broad helicopter portfolio, combined with Bell's decades of experience in rotorcraft manufacturing and innovation, positions it well to benefit from long-term opportunities in the global helicopter market.
Other Companies Expanding Their Helicopter CapabilitiesOther aerospace and defense companies expanding their helicopter capabilities are discussed below:
Northrop Grumman Corporation (NOC - Free Report) : The company's Fire Scout is a combat-proven autonomous helicopter system that provides real-time intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance, target acquisition, laser designation and battle management capabilities without relying on manned aircraft or space-based assets.
Lockheed Martin Corporation (LMT - Free Report) : Through its Sikorsky business, the company manufactures renowned military helicopters used for combat, transport and rescue missions worldwide. Its portfolio includes the Black Hawk, Seahawk and CH-53K King Stallion heavy-lift helicopters.
The Zacks Rundown for TXTShares of TXT have surged 12% in the past year compared with the industry’s 6.3% growth.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
The company shares are trading at a discount on a relative basis, with its forward 12-month Price/Sales being 1.00X compared with its industry’s average of 2.62X.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for TXT’s 2026 earnings has moved north over the past 60 days.
Key Takeaways VIAV is gaining from AI infrastructure demand, product innovation and the Spirent business acquisition.VIAV expanded margins as revenues rose 42.8% and non-GAAP operating margin reached 21% in fiscal Q3 2026.Viavi expects AI networking, data centers, 5G, fiber, aerospace and defense demand to support growth. Viavi, Solutions, Inc. (VIAV - Free Report) shares have skyrocketed 167.9% year to date compared with the industry’s growth of 150.2%. The stock has outperformed the Zacks Computer & Technology sector and the S&P 500 during the same time frame.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
The company has outperformed its peers like Keysight Technologies, Inc. (KEYS - Free Report) , and Ciena Corporation (CIEN - Free Report) . Shares of Keysight have jumped 72.3% and shares of Ciena have risen 109.7%.
VIAV Rides on Strength in AI Infrastructure VerticalViavi is witnessing solid traction in its Network and Service Enablement, backed by ongoing AI infrastructure buildout. Growing demand from the data center ecosystem, including hyperscalers and semiconductor-driven infrastructure, is driving revenues in the NSE segment.
The company recently launched the industry's first Ultra Ethernet Transport validation solution for AI fabrics. The platform enables hyperscalers, cloud providers and network equipment vendors to verify AI networks with costly GPU infrastructure. The innovation boost Viavi’s prospects across multiple use cases, such as validation of large language model traffic, congestion control and AI workload emulation and several others.
Viavi recently introduced AI Experts, an AI-driven software layer integrated into its testing platforms. Its capabilities include automated configuration, diagnostics assistance, workflow automation, real-time troubleshooting and faster wireless validation. This shows that VIAV is moving towards intelligent software-enabled testing instead of simply selling hardware. This can improve customers’ brand loyalty and boost software revenues over time. The company also recently secured PCIe 6.0 Certification. The certification enhances VIAVI's credibility as a trusted provider of compliance and validation solutions for advanced computing technologies.
One of the largest contributors to growth is the acquisition of Spirent's high-speed Ethernet, network security and channel emulation businesses. Following the buyout, the company benefited from a broader customer base, an Ethernet testing portfolio expansion, stronger AI networking capabilities and increased cross-selling opportunities. A diverse portfolio, innovation initiatives are boosting its competitive edge against its peers such as Keysight, Ciena and Teradyne.
Strong Operating Margin Growth is a PositiveStrong margin expansion shows improving operating leverage. Revenue grew 42.8% year over year, while non-GAAP operating income grew 79.2% during the same time period. Non-GAAP operating margin improved to 21% in the third quarter of fiscal 2026, up from 16.7% in the year-ago quarter. This reflects higher volumes and a favorable product mix within Network and Service Enablement. Segment profitability benefited from acquisition synergies and stronger demand across data center and aerospace markets. Fourth quarter fiscal 2026 outlook indicates additional operating margin expansion, signaling continued operating leverage as revenues scale and a greater portion of sales comes from differentiated testing and software-oriented offerings.
Estimate Revision TrendThe company’s earnings estimates for 2026 has remained unchanged and for 2027 it has improved over the past 60 days.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Key Valuation Metric of VIAVFrom a valuation standpoint, VIAV is currently trading at a discount compared to the industry. Going by the price/earnings ratio, the company’s shares currently trade at 51.16 forward 12-month earnings, lower than 58.46 for the industry.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
End NoteViavi is positioning itself as a critical supplier to AI networking infrastructure. Strong demand from data centers, continued 5G and fiber network upgrades, and steady aerospace and defense demand are expected to be major growth drivers for the upcoming quarters. Portfolio expansion through strategic acquisition and a strong focus on innovation is a positive factor. Hence, with a Zacks rank #2 (Buy), Viavi appears to be a good investment option at the moment. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
Credo Technology Group ve 4. fiskálním čtvrtletí vykázala zisk na akcii 1,16 USD a tržby 437 milionů USD, obojí nad odhady. Firma čeká na 1. čtvrtletí tržby 465–475 milionů USD.
It has been about a month since the last earnings report for Credo Technology Group Holding Ltd. (CRDO - Free Report) . Shares have added about 18.8% in that time frame, outperforming 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 Credo Technology Group due for a pullback? Well, first let's take a quick look at the latest earnings report in order to get a better handle on the recent drivers for Credo Technology Group Holding Ltd. before we dive into how investors and analysts have reacted as of late.
Credo's Q4 Earnings & Revenue BeatCredo Technology reported fourth-quarter fiscal 2026 non-GAAP diluted earnings per share of $1.16, which beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.03 by 12.6%. GAAP diluted earnings rose to 88 cents from 20 cents in the prior-year quarter.
Revenues surged 157% year over year to $437 million and surpassed the consensus mark of $430.1 million by 1.6%. The upside was driven by strong AI connectivity demand, with the top four end customers each contributing at least 10% of revenues.
Management said fourth-quarter revenues exceeded the company’s total fiscal 2025 revenues, highlighting the speed of the current AI infrastructure ramp. Fiscal 2026 revenues surpassed $1.3 billion, more than tripling year over year.
The company’s portfolio is positioned around high-speed copper and optical interconnects that help large AI clusters improve reliability, power efficiency and signal integrity. Management noted that connectivity has become a critical constraint as clusters scale from tens of thousands to hundreds of thousands of GPUs.
AECs remained a key growth engine. In addition to AEC, CRDO is now focusing on the IC portfolio (retimers and DSPs). The company expects mid-single-digit sequential growth in the first half of fiscal 2027, followed by a stronger second-half acceleration buoyed by its optical portfolio. Management projects more than $600 million in optical revenues, with ZeroFlap optics, silicon photonics PICs and optical DSPs each contributing more than $100 million. This is expected to support more than 80% year-over-year revenue growth for the full year.
The acquisition of Dust Photonics strengthens Credo’s high-speed optical connectivity portfolio with silicon photonics PIC technology. The deal adds advanced technology, including 800G and 1.6T solutions, and would aid in developing upcoming 3.2T solutions.
Margins Reflect Strong Operating LeverageNon-GAAP gross profit was $298.4 million in the fourth quarter compared with $114.5 million in the year-ago period. Non-GAAP gross margin expanded to 68.3% from 67.4% a year earlier.
Non-GAAP operating expenses increased to $81.7 million from $52 million in the prior-year quarter. The increase reflected continued investment in research and development. Non-GAAP operating income rose to $216.7 million from $62.5 million. Non-GAAP net margin reached 51.9% in the fiscal fourth quarter, underscoring the company’s ability to convert top-line growth into bottom-line profitability.
For fiscal 2026, the company reported a non-GAAP gross margin of 68.1%, improving by 310 basis points year over year, while operating margins expanded significantly to 47.8%.
Cash Flow NumbersCash flow from operations was a record $182.2 million in the quarter. Capital expenditures were $4.8 million, resulting in free cash flow of $177.5 million. Credo ended the quarter with cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments of $1.4 billion, up from $431.3 million at the end of the year-ago period.
Outlook Points to Continued ExpansionFor the first quarter of fiscal 2027, Credo expects revenues of $465-$475 million. Non-GAAP gross margin is projected between 67% and 69%, while non-GAAP operating expenses are expected in the range of $86-$90 million.
For fiscal 2027, management expects more than 80% year-over-year revenue growth. The company anticipates non-GAAP gross margin to remain broadly consistent with fiscal 2026 levels and non-GAAP operating expenses to rise approximately 50%, well below the expected revenue growth rate.
Four hyperscalers each contributed 10% or more of total revenues in the last reported quarter, with the top three customers representing 34%, 27% and 16% of revenues. Beyond the traditional hyperscalers, Credo is also seeing increasing demand from emerging Neocloud providers.
Credo continues to expect that three to four customers will account for more than 10% of revenues in the upcoming quarters.
How Have Estimates Been Moving Since Then?It turns out, estimates review have trended upward during the past month.
The consensus estimate has shifted 18.12% due to these changes.
VGM ScoresAt this time, Credo Technology Group has a nice Growth Score of B, however its Momentum Score is doing a bit better with an A. However, the stock has a score of F on the value side, putting it in the fifth quintile for this investment strategy.
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 these revisions looks promising. It comes with little surprise Credo Technology Group has a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy). We expect an above average return from the stock in the next few months.
Performance of an Industry PlayerCredo Technology Group is part of the Zacks Electronics - Semiconductors industry. Over the past month, Marvell Technology (MRVL - Free Report) , a stock from the same industry, has gained 2.4%. The company reported its results for the quarter ended April 2026 more than a month ago.
Marvell reported revenues of $2.42 billion in the last reported quarter, representing a year-over-year change of +27.6%. EPS of $0.80 for the same period compares with $0.62 a year ago.
Marvell is expected to post earnings of $0.93 per share for the current quarter, representing a year-over-year change of +38.8%. Over the last 30 days, the Zacks Consensus Estimate has changed -1.5%.
The overall direction and magnitude of estimate revisions translate into a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) for Marvell. Also, the stock has a VGM Score of F.
Axon v 1. čtvrtletí 2026 zvýšil výnosy divize Software & Services o 35 % díky růstu uživatelů a vyšší poptávce po digitální správě důkazů. Výnosy platformy Dedrone vzrostly zhruba o 300 %.
Key Takeaways AXON's Software & Services revenues rose 35% in Q1 2026, driven by growth in network users.Software growth is fueled by digital evidence management, software adoption and premium add-on demand.Dedrone platform revenues grew about 300% as Axon launched the upgraded Dedrone C2 platform. Axon Enterprise, Inc. (AXON - Free Report) is benefiting from persistent strength in its Software & Services segment. In the first quarter of 2026, the segment’s revenues increased 35% year over year, driven by an increase in the aggregate number of users to the Axon network.
Growing popularity for the company’s digital evidence management and higher adoption of its latest software offerings are driving the segment’s growth. Also, strong demand for premium add-on features is aiding the segment. Existing customers are consistently returning to purchase additional services, reflecting strong customer satisfaction and engagement. This ongoing expansion supports a growing base of annual recurring revenues (ARR).
Given the rising global demand for Counter-Unmanned Aircraft Systems (CUAS), Axon is also witnessing strong momentum in its Dedrone platform. Revenues from the Dedrone platform saw robust growth of about 300% year over year in first-quarter 2026. The company also recently launched Dedrone C2, an upgraded version of the platform. This C2 version comes with enhanced sensor fusion technology, offering stronger detection capabilities.
Strong customer alignment, increased adoption across sectors and continuous product innovation led Axon to issue bullish guidance for 2026. The company currently expects revenues to increase approximately 30-32% year over year compared with 27-30% guided earlier.
Segment Performance of AXON's PeersAmong its major peers, Kratos Defense & Security Solutions, Inc. (KTOS - Free Report) Government Solutions segment’s first-quarter 2026 revenues increased 20.4% year over year to $288.4 million. Higher sales of Kratos’ Defense and Rocket Support, Turbine Technologies and Microwave Products units aided the results. Kratos Defense derived 77.7% of its total revenues from this segment during the quarter.
Its another peer, Woodward, Inc.’s (WWD - Free Report) Industrial business segment reported net sales of $387 million in the second quarter of fiscal 2026, up 20% year over year. Woodward generated 35% of its total sales from this segment in the quarter. The revenue growth for Woodward’s Industrial business segment was driven by higher demand for power generation equipment and services, along with favorable conditions in marine transportation and steady investment in parts of oil and gas.
AXON’s Price Performance, Valuation and EstimatesShares of Axon have gained 14.4% in the past month against the industry’s decline of 0.2%.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
From a valuation standpoint, AXON is trading at a forward price-to-earnings ratio of 60.72X, above the industry’s average of 48.00X. Axon carries a Value Score of F.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for AXON’s 2026 earnings has increased 15.6% over the past 60 days.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
The company currently carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
SAIC za poslední měsíc ztratil asi 2,6 %, přestože poslední výsledky za 1Q fiskálního 2027 překonaly odhady a tržby vzrostly na 1,91 miliardy USD. Firma navíc zvýšila výhled na fiskální 2027.
A month has gone by since the last earnings report for SAIC (SAIC - Free Report) . Shares have lost about 2.6% in that time frame, underperforming the S&P 500.
But investors have to be wondering, will the recent negative trend continue leading up to its next earnings release, or is SAIC due for a breakout? Well, first let's take a quick look at its most recent earnings report in order to get a better handle on the recent drivers for Science Applications International Corporation before we dive into how investors and analysts have reacted as of late.
Science Applications' Q1 Earnings Beat Expectations, Revenues Rise Y/YScience Applications International reported better-than-expected results for the first quarter of fiscal 2027, wherein both top and bottom lines surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate.
SAIC’s non-GAAP earnings of $3.23 per share beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $2.26 by 42.9%. The bottom line increased 68.2% from the year-ago quarter’s earnings of $1.92.
Science Applications' fiscal first-quarter revenues increased 1.5% year over year to $1.91 billion and surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.78 billion by 6.9%.
SAIC’s Q1 in DetailSegment-wise, revenues from Defense and Intelligence, which accounted for 76.9% of revenues, totaled $1.47 billion and increased 2.3% year over year. Civilian revenues, which constitute 23.1% of revenues, totaled $440 million and decreased 0.9% year over year.
Net bookings were approximately $2.1 billion in the first quarter, which reflected a book-to-bill ratio of 1.1. The company’s trailing 12-month book-to-bill ratio was 1.0 at the end of the fiscal first quarter. SAIC’s estimated backlog at the end of the quarter was approximately $22.9 billion. Of the total backlog amount, approximately $3.7 billion was funded.
Selling, general and administrative (SG&A) expenses decreased 6.7% to $83 million. SG&A expenses, as a percentage of revenues, declined to 4.4% from 4.7% in the year-ago quarter.
Non-GAAP operating income increased year over year to $221 million from the year-ago quarter’s operating income of $158 million. The non-GAAP operating margin expanded 320 basis points (bps) year over year to 11.6%.
Adjusted EBITDA rose 41% to $222 million. Adjusted EBITDA margin for the quarter was 11.6% compared with 8.4% in the prior-year quarter.
Balance Sheet & Cash Flow Details of SAICScience Applications ended the fiscal first quarter with cash and cash equivalents of $109 million, significantly down from the previous quarter’s $182 million.
As of May 1, 2026, Science Applications’ long-term debt (net of the current portion) was $2.46 billion compared with $2.47 billion as of Jan. 30, 2026.
The company generated operating and free cash flows of $127 million and $118 million, respectively, in the fiscal first quarter.
During the fiscal first quarter, Science Applications repurchased shares worth $175 million and paid $17 million in dividends.
SAIC Provides Fiscal 2027 GuidanceScience Applications expects fiscal 2027 revenues between $7 billion and $7.2 billion.
Adjusted EBITDA is anticipated to be in the range of $720-$730 million, up from the earlier guidance of $705-$715 million. Adjusted EBITDA margin is expected to be in the band of 10.1-10.3%, up from the previous guided range of 9.9-10.1% band.
The company forecasts adjusted EPS in the range of $9.90-$10.10, up from the earlier guidance of $9.50-$9.70.
Science Applications estimates free cash flow for fiscal 2027 to exceed $600 million.
How Have Estimates Been Moving Since Then?It turns out, fresh estimates have trended downward during the past month.
VGM ScoresAt this time, SAIC has a great Growth Score of A, though it is lagging a lot on the Momentum Score front with a D. However, the stock was allocated a score of A on the value side, putting it in the top 20% for this investment strategy.
Overall, the stock has an aggregate VGM Score of A. If you aren't focused on one strategy, this score is the one you should be interested in.
OutlookEstimates have been broadly trending downward for the stock, and the magnitude of these revisions indicates a downward shift. Notably, SAIC has a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). We expect an in-line return from the stock in the next few months.
FactSet Research Systems Inc. (FDS) Q3 2026 Earnings Call July 1, 2026 9:00 AM EDT
Company Participants
Kevin Toomey - Head of Investor Relations
Sanoke Viswanathan - CEO & Director
Joshua Warren - Chief Financial Officer
Conference Call Participants
Ashish Sabadra - RBC Capital Markets, Research Division
Faiza Alwy - Deutsche Bank AG, Research Division
Alex Kramm - UBS Investment Bank, Research Division
Kelsey Zhu - Autonomous Research US LP
Manav Patnaik - Barclays Bank PLC, Research Division
Shlomo Rosenbaum - Stifel, Nicolaus & Company, Incorporated, Research Division
Surinder Thind - Jefferies LLC, Research Division
Yehuda Silverman - Morgan Stanley, Research Division
Andrew Nicholas - William Blair & Company L.L.C., Research Division
Keen Fai Tong - Goldman Sachs Group, Inc., Research Division
Jason Haas - Wells Fargo Securities, LLC, Research Division
Curtis Nagle - BofA Securities, Research Division
Presentation
Operator
Good day, and thank you for standing by. Welcome to the FactSet Third Quarter Earnings Call. [Operator Instructions] Please be advised that today's conference is being recorded.
I would now like to hand the conference over to your speaker today, Kevin Toomey, Head of Investor Relations. Please go ahead.
Kevin Toomey
Head of Investor Relations
Thank you, and good morning, everyone. Welcome to FactSet's Third Quarter Fiscal 2026 Earnings Call. Before we begin, the slides we reference during this presentation can be found through the webcast on the Investor Relations section of our website at factset.com. A replay of today's call will be available on our website. After our prepared remarks, we will open the call to questions.
The call is scheduled to last for 1 hour. To be fair to everyone, please limit yourself to one question. You may reenter the queue for additional follow-up questions, which we will take if time permits.
Before we discuss our results, I encourage all listeners to review the legal notice on Slide 2. Discussions on
Reddit za posledních šest měsíců oslabil o 28,2 %, přesto ve 1. čtvrtletí 2026 vzrostly DAUq o 17 % a ARPU o 44 % na 5,23 USD. Mezinárodní tržby vyskočily o 76 %.
Key Takeaways Reddit's DAUq grew 17%, WAUq 23% and ARPU 44% year over year in the first quarter of 2026. RDDT is expanding globally with machine translation, lifting international revenues and user growth. RDDT trades at a premium, but revenue and earnings estimates point to strong year-over-year growth. Reddit (RDDT - Free Report) shares have lost 28.2% in the past six months, in contrast to the broader Zacks Computer & Technology sector’s rise of 15.2%.
The company’s shares have also underperformed its peers like Pinterest (PINS - Free Report) , META Platforms (META - Free Report) , and Alphabet (GOOGL - Free Report) , which are expanding their footprint into advertising to compete in the rapidly growing digital ad market. While Pinterest and Meta Platforms’ shares have lost 20.8% and 13.4%, respectively, Alphabet shares have risen 13.4% in the past six-month period.
Reddit’s underperformance can be attributed to a challenging macroeconomic environment and seasonal volatility. Stiff competition in the digital advertising market poses a significant challenge for Reddit.
RDDT Stock Performance
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
However, the company’s expanding portfolio, strong user engagement, including rising daily and weekly active users, gains in Average Revenue Per User (ARPU), and the expansion of advertiser tools such as Dynamic Product Ads (DPAs), Reddit Pixel, and CAPI have been key catalysts. These factors are expected to fend off competitors like Pinterest, Meta Platforms, and Alphabet.
RDDT Benefits From Expanding PortfolioReddit’s expanding portfolio has been a key catalyst in driving the company’s user engagement. In the first quarter of 2026, ARPU increased 44% year over year to $5.23, indicating that portfolio expansions are driving higher monetization per user. Reddit reported 126.8 million daily active uniques (DAUq), up 17% year over year, and 493.1 million weekly active uniques (WAUq), up 23% year over year.
Further expanding its portfolio, in June 2026, Reddit launched video in comments, allowing users to reply with short videos alongside text, images and GIFs for more expressive conversations. Users can upload an existing clip or record one directly within the comment box.
The feature is being rolled out across eligible public, safe-for-work communities, while moderators retain control over whether video comments are enabled and who can post them. The new addition makes discussions more immersive by letting users demonstrate ideas visually, further expanding engagement options and encouraging richer community interactions.
RDDT Rides on Strong International ExpansionReddit is benefiting from a robust international expansion strategy that is fueling both its financial performance and long-term growth prospects. In the first quarter of 2026, international revenues surged 76% year over year, outpacing the already strong 67% growth in U.S. revenues.
In the first quarter of 2026, International ARPU increased 51% year over year to $2.02, signaling improving monetization intensity across regions. The platform’s international daily active unique users grew 26% year over year to 73.3 million. These metrics highlight Reddit’s ability to attract and engage users outside the United States, which is critical for its advertising revenues.
One of the key drivers behind this international momentum is Reddit’s investment in machine translation, which has enabled the platform to support content in more than 30 languages, helping to build local communities and increase engagement outside the United States. The company is also investing in features like bot verification, improved onboarding, and faster app performance to enhance user experience. The adoption of advanced ad products like Reddit Max and Dynamic Product Ads is helping advertisers achieve strong returns, further encouraging global brands to invest in Reddit’s platform.
Earnings Estimates for Reddit Show Upward TrendRDDT’s expanding portfolio and rising user engagement are expected to drive the company’s top-line growth.
For the second quarter of 2026, management expects revenues to be in the range of $715 million to $725 million. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for second-quarter revenues is pegged at $746.89 million, indicating year-over-year growth of 49.49%.
For the second quarter, the consensus mark for earnings is pegged at 99 cents per share, unchanged over the past 30 days. This implies year-over-year growth of 120%.
RDDT Stock Is OvervaluedReddit stock is currently trading at a premium, as suggested by its Value Score of F.
In terms of the forward 12-month price/sales ratio, RDDT is trading at 8.84X, higher than the broader Zacks Computer & Technology sector’s 6.49X.
RDDT Valuation
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
ConclusionReddit’s prospects benefit from an expanding advertising business, an expanding clientele, and rising user engagement. These factors justify the company’s premium valuation.
RDDT stock currently carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) and has a Growth Score of A, a favorable combination that offers a strong investment opportunity, per the Zacks proprietary methodology. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
Nebius zvýšil kapitálové výdaje pro rok 2026 na 20–25 miliard USD a potvrdil výhled ročního běžného výnosu na 7–9 miliard USD. Poptávka po jeho AI cloudu zůstává silná a pipeline vzrostl na rekordní úroveň.
Key Takeaways NBIS pipeline generation grew 3.5 times quarter over quarter to a record level amid strong demand.Nebius raised 2026 capital spending to $20B-$25B to expand capacity with customer commitments secured.NBIS reaffirmed 2026 revenue guidance as utilization, pricing and added capacity support growth. Nebius Group N.V. (NBIS - Free Report) is seeing strong momentum in customer demand, supported by a rapidly expanding sales pipeline and increasing adoption of its AI cloud platform. During the first quarter, the company reported that pipeline generation grew 3.5 times from the previous quarter, marking a record level. Management stated that the growing pipeline, together with strong customer demand, is driving continued investments in infrastructure, platform capabilities and capacity expansion. The company noted that several customers are typically competing for every GPU it brings online, while contract durations, average contract values and customer prepayments continue to increase.
Alongside growing demand, Nebius continues to expand its AI infrastructure and full-stack cloud platform. The company increased its contracted power capacity to more than 3.5 gigawatts and now targets at least 4 gigawatts by the end of 2026. It also announced a new Pennsylvania site capable of supporting 1.2 gigawatts of power. To strengthen its platform, Nebius acquired Tavily, Eigen AI and Clarifai, adding engineering talent and enhancing its inference optimization, agentic search and Token Factory capabilities.
The company highlighted its pipeline excludes strategic hyperscaler agreements such as Meta Platforms, Inc. (META - Free Report) and consists of qualified opportunities across its AI cloud and Token Factory offerings, serving AI-native companies, software vendors and enterprises. Nebius maintained strong win rates while shortening sales cycles, increasing average selling prices and securing customer wins across healthcare, life sciences, physical AI, automation and fintech.
For 2026, Nebius raised capital expenditure guidance to $20 billion-$25 billion from the previous $16 billion-$20 billion range. The increase reflects investments for 2027 capacity, with customer commitments already secured, including Meta. Management expects these investments to begin contributing to revenue during the first half of 2027.
Nebius reiterated its full-year 2026 guidance for annualized run-rate revenue of $7 billion-$9 billion, group revenue of $3 billion-$3.4 billion and a group adjusted EBITDA margin of around 40%. The company said utilization and pricing remain strong, while additional capacity will remain the key factor supporting growth throughout the year.
Taking a Look at NBIS’ CompetitorsMicrosoft (MSFT - Free Report) capitalizes on AI business momentum and Copilot adoption alongside accelerating Azure cloud infrastructure expansion. Strong Microsoft 365 Commercial cloud demand has been propelling Productivity and Business Processes revenue growth. ARPU is increasing through E5 and M365 Copilot uptake across key segments. Strategic execution through expanding scale and enterprise customer growth is driving non-AI services. Azure growth for the fourth quarter is projected to be 39-40% at cc, suggesting demand saturation, with customer demand exceeding available capacity. For the fourth quarter of fiscal 2026, Microsoft expects total company revenues between $86.7 billion and $87.8 billion, suggesting growth of 13% to 15%, with accelerating commercial growth partially offset by the consumer business.
CoreWeave (CRWV - Free Report) is seeing strong demand for inference-ready compute across GPU generations, which management expects to support long-term margin and earnings growth. The company also expects its storage business to grow rapidly, while software, CPU and networking offerings are each projected to exceed $100 million in ARR by 2026. AI adoption is expanding its customer base and platform opportunities as clients scale deployments across training, inference and agentic AI workloads. CoreWeave has surpassed 3.5 GW of contracted power capacity, secured more than $20 billion in financing and grown its backlog to nearly $100 billion, supporting growth through 2026 and 2027.
NBIS Price Performance, Valuation and EstimatesShares of Nebius have gained 4.4% in the past month against the Internet – Software and Services industry’s decline of 0.3%.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
On a price-to-book basis, NBIS’ shares are trading at 9.65X, above the Internet Software Services industry’s 4.21X.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for NBIS’ earnings for 2026 has been revised significantly upward over the past 60 days.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
NBIS currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
D-Wave získala grant NSF ve výši 1,5 milionu USD v rámci programu National Quantum Virtual Laboratory na podporu iniciativy ERASE vedené Yale University. Projekt má rozvíjet škálovatelné, chybově odolné kvantové výpočty.
Key Takeaways New NSF grant adds to growing U.S. government support for D-Wave.QBTS will provide dual-rail gate-model resources through its Quantum Circuits subsidiary.QBTS previously announced a proposed $100M CHIPS Act funding commitment. D-Wave Quantum (QBTS - Free Report) , or D-Wave, has secured a $1.5 million grant under the U.S. National Science Foundation’s National Quantum Virtual Laboratory (“NQVL”) program. The funding will support the company’s participation in ERASE (Erasure Qubits and Dynamic Circuits for Quantum Advantage), a Yale University-led initiative focused on developing the technologies needed for scalable, fault-tolerant quantum computing. The project brings together researchers from leading academic institutions and industry organizations to advance dual-rail gate-model quantum computing hardware, software, error correction and applications.
The University pioneered the dual-rail technology behind D-Wave’s gate-model program and later became part of the company through its January 2026 acquisition of Quantum Circuits, Inc., a Yale startup. As part of the collaboration, D-Wave will provide researchers with access to its superconducting dual-rail gate-model quantum computing resources through the subsidiary. The award also moves ERASE into the second phase of the NQVL program.
Researchers participating in ERASE will be able to explore new software, compilers and error-correction approaches on D-Wave's platform via selected development interfaces and APIs. At the same time, the project will also broaden workforce development efforts with academic and industry partners, helping expand the talent pipeline for quantum technologies.
The latest NSF-funded project builds on growing U.S. government support for D-Wave's quantum computing technologies. In May, the company announced it had signed a Letter of Intent for $100 million of proposed funding under the U.S. CHIPS and Science Act to accelerate the development and scaling of its annealing and gate-model quantum computing systems.
Recent Developments Among QBTS PeersIBM (IBM - Free Report) introduced the world’s first sub-1 nanometer (nm) chip technology, featuring a breakthrough transistor architecture at the 0.7 nm, or 7 angstrom node. The development marks a major milestone for an industry facing the physical limits of traditional chip scaling. IBM’s new sub-1 nm chip packs nearly 100 billion transistors onto a chip the size of a fingernail, nearly twice the density of IBM’s 2 nm chip, unveiled in 2021.
IonQ (IONQ - Free Report) recently unveiled Clavis XG Multiplex, a new addition to its Clavis XG Quantum Key Distribution portfolio, designed to make quantum security even more practical and deployable across metropolitan fiber networks. The Clavis XG product line stands out for its enterprise???grade network integration, offering benefits in form factor and maintenance to configuration and management. IonQ also recently opened a new laboratory suite in Boulder, CO, to support quantum computing R&D and semiconductor chip testing facilities.
The Zacks Rundown for QBTS StockYear to date, QBTS shares have dropped 8.3% compared with the industry’s 14.3% decline.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
D-Wave is trading at a forward, three-year Price/Sales (P/S) of 134.69X, significantly higher than its 75.49X median and the industry average of 3.62X.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Take a look at how estimates for D-Wave’s 2026 and 2027 earnings are shaping up.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
D-Wave currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
Applied Digital oznámila dokončení fáze 1 budovy 2 v Polaris Forge 1 a předání 75 MW AI kapacity zákazníkovi podle plánu. Celková live kapacita kampusu tak vzrostla na 175 MW.
DALLAS, July 01, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Applied Digital (NASDAQ: APLD), a designer, builder, and operator of high-performance, sustainably engineered data centers and colocation services for artificial intelligence, cloud, networking, and blockchain workloads, today announced it has achieved Ready for Service for Phase 1 of Building 2 at Polaris Forge 1, delivering 75 MW of operational AI capacity to its customer on schedule and bringing total live capacity at the campus to 175 MW.
The delivery marks the next major milestone in the continued buildout of Polaris Forge 1, Applied Digital’s fully leased AI Factory Campus designed to support high-density artificial intelligence and high-performance computing workloads. At full build out, Polaris Forge 1 is contracted to deliver 400 MW of critical IT load under long-term lease agreements.
“Delivering this phase on time underscores the strength of our execution model,” said Wes Cummins, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Applied Digital. “Polaris Forge 1 continues to demonstrate the depth of our team and the discipline it takes to bring critical AI infrastructure capacity online for our customers. Achieving this milestone required intense coordination across the field, construction, engineering, operations, procurement, development, and corporate teams, and I’m proud of the entire Applied Digital organization for delivering as planned. With 175 MW now live at the campus, Polaris Forge 1 demonstrates the repeatable model we are scaling across our AI Factory footprint.”
This latest achievement follows Applied Digital’s on-time completion of the first 100 MW building at Polaris Forge 1 and further demonstrates the Company’s ability to bring critical IT capacity online in alignment with customer deployment timelines. With 175 MW now live, Polaris Forge 1 continues to demonstrate Applied Digital’s ability to execute across multiple phases of a large-scale AI infrastructure deployment.
Applied Digital’s execution approach is built around what the Company refers to as its AI Factory franchise model: a repeatable framework that replicates a core team of design, construction, and operations professionals across each campus, supported by centralized expertise and dedicated site-level execution teams.
“Polaris Forge 1 continues to validate the repeatable model we are building across our AI Factory platform,” Cummins continued. “We are not just securing power; we are turning it into live, operational AI capacity. That is the hard part, and it is where Applied Digital continues to differentiate itself.”
As demand for large-scale AI infrastructure continues to grow, customers are placing increasing importance on execution certainty and speed to market. Applied Digital’s on-time delivery of another major phase at Polaris Forge 1 reinforces the Company’s ability to bring complex infrastructure online in alignment with customer timelines.
Polaris Forge 1 is located in Ellendale, North Dakota, where Applied Digital has operated since 2021 and built long-standing relationships with local leaders, partners, and community stakeholders. As the campus continues to expand, the Company remains focused on responsible development, local partnership, and creating long-term value in the communities where it builds.
About Applied Digital
Applied Digital (Nasdaq: APLD), named Best Data Center in the Americas 2025 by Datacloud — designs, builds, and operates high-performance, sustainably engineered data centers and colocation services for artificial intelligence, cloud, networking, and blockchain workloads. Headquartered in Dallas, TX, and founded in 2021, the company combines hyperscale expertise, closed-loop cooling, and rapid deployment capabilities to deliver secure, scalable compute at industry-leading speed and efficiency, while creating economic opportunities in underserved communities through its AI Factory franchise model.
Learn more at applieddigital.com or follow @APLDdigital on X and LinkedIn.
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains “forward-looking statements” as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 regarding, among other things, future operating and financial performance, product development, market position, business strategy and objectives, and future financing plans. These statements use words, and variations of words, such as “will,” “continue,” “build,” “future,” “increase,” “drive,” “believe,” “look,” “ahead,” “confident,” “proven,” “deliver,” “outlook,” “expect,” “project” and “predict.” Other examples of forward-looking statements may include, but are not limited to, (i) statements that reflect perspectives and expectations regarding lease agreements and any current or prospective data center campus development; (ii) statements about the high-performance computing (HPC) industry; (iii) statements of company plans and objectives, including the company’s evolving business model, or estimates or predictions of actions by suppliers; (iv) statements of future economic performance; (v) statements of assumptions underlying other statements and statements about the company or its business; and (vi) the company’s plans to obtain future project financing. You are cautioned not to rely on these forward-looking statements. These statements are based on current expectations of future events and thus are inherently subject to uncertainty. If underlying assumptions prove inaccurate or known or unknown risks or uncertainties materialize, actual results could vary materially from the company’s expectations and projections. These risks, uncertainties, and other factors include, among others: whether or not our customers exercise the renewal options under their leases with us (if not, we will not recognize further revenue from such customer under its respective lease); our ability to complete construction of our data center campuses as planned; the lead time of customer acquisition and leasing decisions and related internal approval processes; changes to artificial intelligence and HPC infrastructure needs and their impact on future plans; costs related to the HPC operations and strategy; our ability to timely deliver any services required in connection with completion of installation under lease agreements; our ability to raise additional capital to fund the ongoing datacenter construction and operations; our ability to obtain financing of datacenter leases and more broadly for our development and general corporate activities; our dependence on principal customers, including our ability to execute and perform our obligations under our leases with key customers; our ability to timely and successfully build new hosting facilities with the appropriate contractual margins and efficiencies; power or other supply disruptions and equipment failures; the inability to comply with regulations, developments and changes in regulations; cash flow and access to capital; availability of financing to continue to grow our business; decline in demand for our products and services; maintenance of third party relationships; and conditions in the debt and equity capital markets. A further list and description of these risks, uncertainties, and other factors can be found in the company’s most recently filed Annual Report on Form 10-K and Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, including in the sections captioned “Forward-Looking Statements” and “Risk Factors,” and in the company’s subsequent filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Copies of these filings are available online at www.sec.gov, on the company’s website (www.applieddigital.com) under “Investors,” or on request from the company. Information in this press release is as of the dates and time periods indicated herein, and the company does not undertake to update any of the information contained in these materials, except as required by law.
Sandisk rozšiřuje portfolio QLC SSD pro AI úložiště a enterprise workloady, čímž doplňuje stávající nabídku TLC. Firma zároveň uzavřela pět víceletých dodavatelských smluv na více než třetinu očekávaných dodávek ve fiskálním roce 2027.
Key Takeaways Sandisk's QLC SSD expansion strengthens its AI storage portfolio alongside existing TLC offerings.SNDK aims to address both performance-focused and capacity-focused AI workloads with complementary SSDs.Sandisk's multiyear supply agreements provide stronger visibility into future enterprise storage demand. Sandisk Corporation (SNDK - Free Report) is expanding its Quad Level Cell (QLC) Solid State Drive (SSD) portfolio, which is expected to strengthen its position in the fast-growing AI storage market and support long-term growth. The upcoming Stargate QLC enterprise SSDs will add to the company's data center storage lineup, complementing its existing TLC based enterprise SSDs. By offering high-capacity and cost-efficient storage for AI inference and enterprise workloads, the QLC portfolio should help Sandisk expand its opportunity in hyperscale data centers.
The company continues to build on its BiCS8 NAND platform, which supports both TLC and QLC SSDs. Growing AI inference and enterprise workloads are increasing demand for higher-density flash storage solutions that balance performance with cost efficiency. This shift favors wider QLC adoption, and Sandisk's growing list of enterprise SSD qualifications across cloud customers positions SNDK to capitalize on this trend. Having both TLC and QLC products also allows the company to serve performance-heavy and capacity-heavy AI workloads at the same time.
Financial performance already reflects this momentum. Data center revenues rose 233% sequentially in the fiscal third quarter to $1.47 billion, helping drive total revenue growth of 97% sequentially to $5.95 billion. Sandisk has also signed five multiyear supply agreements covering more than one-third of its expected fiscal 2027 bit shipments, giving it stronger visibility into future demand. The expanding QLC SSD portfolio, supported by long-term customer commitments and increasing AI storage demand, is expected to remain an important driver of Sandisk's growth over the next few years.
How SNDK's Rivals Stack UpSandisk competes with Micron Technology (MU - Free Report) and Seagate Technology (STX - Free Report) in the enterprise SSD market, where demand for high-capacity flash storage continues to rise. Micron is expanding its enterprise SSD portfolio with advanced NAND technology, while Seagate continues to enhance its NVMe SSD offerings for enterprise and cloud customers.
However, Sandisk's expanding QLC SSD portfolio, supported by its BiCS8 NAND platform, provides a differentiated offering. As Micron and Seagate continue investing in enterprise SSD solutions, Sandisk's complementary TLC and QLC SSD lineup positions it well to address evolving storage needs. Growing adoption of QLC SSDs will remain a key area of competition among Micron, Seagate and Sandisk.
SNDK’s Share Price Performance, Valuation & EstimatesSandisk shares have skyrocketed 857.8% in the year-to-date period, outperforming the broader Zacks Computer and Technology sector’s return of 15.7%.
SNDK Stock Outperforms Sector
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
SNDK stock is trading at a forward 12-month price/sales of 17.28X compared with the Zacks Computer-Storage Devices’ 6.56X. Sandisk has a Value Score of F.
SNDK’s Valuation
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for fiscal 2026 earnings is pegged at $64.01 per share, up by a penny over the past 30 days. Sandisk reported earnings of $1.78 per share in fiscal 2025.
Sandisk currently sports a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.
Waste Connections (WCN) za poslední měsíc vzrostla o 11,8 % a firma čeká růst tržeb o 5,7 % v roce 2026 a o 6,1 % v roce 2027. Zisk má stoupnout o 6,8 % a 12,4 %.
Key Takeaways WCN shares gained 11.8% in the past month, outpacing the industry's 9.7% rally.WCN expects revenues to rise 5.7% in 2026 and 6.1% in 2027, with earnings also growing.WCN's landfill tons rose 4%, aided by municipal solid waste and special waste volume gains. Shares of Waste Connections (WCN - Free Report) have gained 11.8% in the past month, outpacing the industry’s 9.7% rally.
WCN’s revenues in 2026 and 2027 are expected to increase 5.7% and 6.1% year over year, respectively. Earnings are anticipated to rise 6.8% in 2026 and 12.4% in 2027.
Factors That Augur Well for WCN’s SuccessMarket Expansion Support Top-Line Growth: Waste Connections is well-positioned to capitalize on the global waste management market's expansion. According to Grand View Research, the market is expected to see a 6% CAGR through 2033, reaching $2.4 trillion. The company accounts for an estimated 35% of total industry revenues, making it a major player with a significant market share.
Landfill Volume Drivers: Despite disruptions faced during winter, WCN witnessed a 4% increase in landfill tons, hinting at robust demand for volume moving into facilities. This growth can be attributed to a 5% rise in Municipal Solid Waste and an 8% hike in special waste tons. The first quarter of 2026 marks the sixth consecutive quarter of high special waste activity. This momentum hints at a construction demand that can benefit the company’s broader volumes in the future.
AI-Backed Tech Optimizes Operations: WCN’s AI-fueled pricing tool supported a nearly 20% year-over-year enhancement in customer retention and pricing efficiency while ensuring strong core pricing. This tool allows the company to incorporate price hikes efficiently, retaining customers for the long term and lowering returns. Management anticipates the complete deployment of AI initiatives to boost margins by 100 basis points heading into 2028.
Shareholder-Friendly Actions: Waste Connections consistently rewards its shareholders despite fluctuations in its cash position, underscoring its dedication to creating long-term value for investors. In 2023, 2024 and 2025, Waste Connections paid out $271 million, $302 million and $334 million in dividends, respectively. Consistent dividends demonstrate the company’s commitment to returning value to shareholders and support share prices.
Risks Faced by Waste ConnectionsHigh Competition: The regulated waste collection and disposal business is characterized by very low barriers to entry, allowing competitors to raise prices rapidly to gain market share. This capital-intensive industry includes larger and better-capitalized companies, which affects its ability to invest in substantial labor and capital resources.
Weak Liquidity: At the end of the first quarter of 2026, WCN’s current ratio was pegged at 0.69, lower than the industry average of 1.08. The 1.4% dip in the current ratio from the year-ago quarter due to a rise in accounts payable and a current ratio of less than 1 indicates that the company may have problems paying off its short-term obligations.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Seasonality Hurts Revenues, Operating Risks High: WCN’s top-line is highly seasonal, with first-quarter revenues being the lowest. While revenues climb in the second and third quarters, fourth-quarter revenues are lower than the prior two quarters. The anticipated fluctuation between the highest and lowest quarters due to seasonality is around 10%. This is mainly due to the lower volume of solid waste generated during winter and early spring, owing to comparatively lesser construction and demolition activities, as well as reduced E&P activity.
WCN’s Zacks Rank & Stocks to ConsiderThe company has a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) at present.
Some better-ranked stocks from the broader Zacks Business Services sector are Ralliant Corporation (RAL - Free Report) and Pentair (PNR - Free Report) , currently flaunting a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) and Zacks Rank #2 (Buy), respectively. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.
Ralliant has a long-term earnings growth expectation of 8.4%. RAL delivered a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 8%, on average.
Pentair has a long-term earnings growth expectation of 11%. PNR delivered a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 3.7%, on average.
SpaceX klesl o více než 6 % na 159,95 USD při volatilním obchodování po nedávném IPO. Wedbush ale zahájil pokrytí s doporučením outperform a cílovou cenou 190 USD.
SpaceX stock SPCX fell sharply on Wednesday as investors continued to navigate volatile post-IPO trading.
Shares of Elon Musk's space and artificial intelligence company dropped more than 6% to $159.95 in early trading.
The decline came amid broader weakness in technology and semiconductor stocks.
The Nasdaq Composite fell 0.4%, while the S&P 500 slipped 0.1%. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 88 points.
Among other technology names, Micron fell 6%, Sandisk dropped 8%, Nvidia lost roughly 2%, and Broadcom declined about 1%.
The pullback highlights the ongoing debate over SpaceX's valuation following its blockbuster public market debut.
With the stock experiencing significant swings since listing, investors are increasingly looking to analyst assessments for clues about how much upside remains after the company's rapid ascent.
On Tuesday evening, Wedbush analyst Dan Ives initiated coverage of SpaceX with an outperform rating and a $190 price target.
"We view SpaceX as one of the most differentiated assets within the tech market with a strong footprint across its three core markets, with Starlink driving success with connectivity, Starship launches leading to a demand flywheel, and increasing deal flow for its Colossus [AI data centers]," Ives wrote.
According to Ives, Starship remains central to the company's long-term growth strategy.
The analyst argued that the next-generation launch vehicle could reduce the cost of reaching space by roughly 90% compared with Falcon 9 missions, potentially enabling a broader range of commercial opportunities, including orbital AI data centers.
"All of SpaceX's future business runs through Starship, whether it's Starlink's next-generation [satellites], the orbital AI-compute constellation, the Artemis lunar lander, or the cost-and-capacity step the whole forward [valuation] case assumes," Ives wrote.
"The vehicle is the single largest source of value in the franchise as much as its largest risk."
Ives based his valuation on a sum-of-the-parts framework that separately assesses the company's launch, satellite internet, and artificial intelligence businesses.
Under that approach, he values SpaceX's launch operations at approximately $66 billion and Starlink at roughly $600 billion.
The largest component of the valuation is the company's artificial intelligence business, which Ives estimates is worth approximately $1.8 trillion.
He expects AI-related operations to generate more than $80 billion in revenue by 2028, before any contribution from potential orbital AI data centers.
The analysis places significant emphasis on SpaceX's expanding AI ambitions alongside its traditional aerospace operations.
Separately, SpaceX is set to become one of the fastest companies ever added to the Nasdaq-100 index following recent rule changes adopted by Nasdaq.
Nasdaq announced after last Friday's close that SpaceX qualifies for inclusion in the benchmark technology index.
Assuming the company continues to meet eligibility requirements, index-tracking funds and related investment products will begin purchasing shares after the market closes on July 6, with SpaceX officially joining the Nasdaq-100 before trading begins on July 7.
More than $800 billion tracks the Nasdaq-100, including the Invesco QQQ Trust, one of the largest and most actively traded exchange-traded funds.
SpaceX is expected to enter the index with a weighting of less than 1%.
Even with a relatively small weighting, inclusion could create meaningful buying demand because SpaceX's public float remains limited compared with its overall market capitalization.
Index funds and exchange-traded funds tied to the Nasdaq-100 will need to acquire shares to reflect the benchmark's revised composition, while active managers benchmarked against the index may also adjust positions.
Short interest na SpaceX vzrostl na 31 % volně obchodovaných akcií, ale shortaři už od IPO prodělávají zhruba 760 milionů USD. Půjčení akcií zůstává levné, kolem 1 %.
The New Year's eve ball ascends on the day of SpaceX's initial public offering (IPO) in New York City, U.S., June 12, 2026. REUTERS/Brendan McDermid/File Photo Purchase Licensing Rights, opens new tab
SummaryCompaniesShort interest about 31% of SpaceX free float — Ortex dataCost to borrow still relatively cheap at 1% from as high as 14% at launchShorts sitting on mark-to-market losses of about $760 mln since IPO, Ortex saysNo squeeze yet, but if shares rebound short sellers could be hitNEW YORK, July 1 (Reuters) - Short sellers are betting SpaceX's(SPCX.O), opens new tab will resume its post-debut decline with nearly a third of its tradable shares now sold short — even as those wagers have already cost them nearly three-quarters of a billion dollars in paper losses.
The sizeable short position could inject further volatility into the stock, with every $1 SpaceX share price swing translating to roughly $200 million in gains or losses for shorts, Ortex estimates.
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Short sellers, who sell borrowed shares in the hope of buying them back at a profit when the stock slips, were emboldened after SpaceX shares' initial burst of strength gave way to weakness and the share price slipped as much as 23% in the days following its June 12 market debut.
Short interest now stands at 196 million shares, about 31% of the free float, through Tuesday, up from some 83 million shares, or 13% of the free float, a week ago, Ortex data showed.
"(The rise in short bets) is extraordinary for a stock that has been public less than a month," said Ortex co-founder Peter Hillerberg.
SpaceX's more than $2 trillion valuation makes it a target for short sellers skeptical of its rich price tag, but strong retail and institutional interest and Musk's history of public battles against short sellers make that a risky proposition. SpaceX did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
SpaceX shorts are sitting on mark-to-market losses of about $760 million since the IPO, Ortex estimates.
When the stock bottomed near $153 last week they were up around $2.5 billion on paper, but the rebound in SpaceX shares since has wiped all of that out, Ortex data showed.
"SpaceX has been a roller coaster for the short sellers," Hillerberg said.
The cost to borrow SpaceX shares, a gauge of demand to short a stock relative to the supply of shares available to lend, remains relatively cheap at about 1%, Ortex data showed.
Given the number of shares sold short relative to the total tradable shares available, should SpaceX's stock price continue to rebound, short covering — where bearish investors are forced to buy shares to close out their wagers to avoid further losses — has the potential to push the shares even higher, Hillerberg said.
"(It's) a lot of potential fuel if it tips into a squeeze," he said.
Reporting by Saqib Iqbal Ahmed Editing by Nick Zieminski Editing by Nick Zieminski
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Wedbush zahájil pokrytí SpaceX s doporučením outperform a cílovou cenou 190 USD, tedy asi 16 % nad úterním závěrem. Firma podle něj není jen raketová společnost, ale hyperscaler se třemi byznysy: Starlink, Starship a AI segment.
Wedbush has initiated coverage of SpaceX Corp (NASDAQ:SPCX) with an 'outperform' rating and a $190 price target, implying 16% upside from Tuesday's close of $163.33, arguing the company is becoming a hyperscaler in its own right rather than just a rocket company.
Dan Ives and his team frame SpaceX as three vertically integrated businesses: Starlink connectivity, Starship launch, and an AI segment built around Colossus compute clusters and the Grok model.
Starlink is doing the heavy lifting on profitability, with roughly 12 million subscribers as of June 5 and average revenue per user of about $66 across its enterprise and consumer base. Wedbush estimates SpaceX still holds less than 1% of the global telecom and broadband market, leaving what it calls "early innings" of penetration.
Capital keeps flowing
The analysts point to SpaceX's roughly $86bn IPO haul, about a fifth of which is earmarked for AI infrastructure, as sufficient funding for the near term while the company works through its debt. Wedbush expects further financing to follow given the scale of the AI ambitions.
Starship as the swing factor
Reusability remains the strategic edge, according to the note, cutting hardware costs while building a flywheel that improves flight rates without a corresponding jump in capital spending. The new Starship models are expected to carry around 60 Starlink satellites per launch, more than double the 27 carried by Falcon 9, which the analysts argue makes the rocket essential not just to the launch business but to the broadband and orbital compute ambitions layered on top of it.
Where the valuation comes from
Wedbush's $190 target is built on a sum-of-the-parts valuation using FY28 estimates, implying roughly $2.48 trillion of enterprise value.
Connectivity is valued at 17 times revenue given its high-margin, recurring subscriber base; AI and compute carry the richest multiple at 22 times, reflecting a contracted compute book with Anthropic, Google, and Reflection AI worth an annualised run rate of roughly $28bn; and Space carries the lowest multiple at 9 times given its capital intensity and lumpier earnings profile.
The analysts are explicit that this excludes several potential upside drivers, including sub-$200 per kilogram launch economics, orbital data centres, and enterprise AI monetisation, all of which they see as optionality rather than base-case value given the execution hurdles still ahead, including Starship's need to demonstrate orbital delivery, upper-stage catch and in-orbit propellant transfer.
Wedbush's bull case puts the target at $235, its bear case at $135.
Akcie Nebius a CoreWeave byly v ranním obchodování asi o 15 % níže a IREN klesla asi o 6,5 % po zprávě, že Meta zvažuje vlastní cloud a prodej přebytečné kapacity pro AI. Trh to čte jako rostoucí konkurenci pro neocloudy.
The artificial intelligence buildout has created one of the largest infrastructure races in technology history. Companies across the industry are spending hundreds of billions of dollars on data centers, GPUs, networking equipment, and energy capacity to support AI models. Annual AI infrastructure spending by the major hyperscalers is approaching $750 billion, as they, startups, and governments compete for compute power.
That spending wave created a new class of AI infrastructure companies known as “neoclouds.” These specialized providers built businesses around supplying GPU clusters and high-performance computing capacity faster than traditional cloud providers could deliver. But a report from Bloomberg this morning that Meta Platforms (NASDAQ:META | META Price Prediction) is exploring its own cloud business under its Meta Compute initiative sent shares of several AI infrastructure companies lower — raising a bigger question for investors: Is the neocloud opportunity shrinking just as quickly as it emerged?
Shares of Nebius Group (NASDAQ:NBIS), CoreWeave (NASDAQ:CRWV), and IREN (NASDAQ:IREN) are all declining following the news. Nebius and CoreWeave were down about 15% in morning trading, while IREN declined about 6.5%. Meta Platforms is up over 10%.
The market reaction reflects a simple concern: Meta is not just a customer anymore — it could become a competitor.
Neoclouds Built a Business Around AI’s Compute Shortage Neocloud companies exist because AI demand moved faster than traditional cloud capacity.
The biggest cloud providers — Amazon (NASDAQ:AMZN), Microsoft (NASDAQ:MSFT), and Alphabet (NASDAQ:GOOG) — remain dominant, but AI companies need GPU capacity immediately. That opened the door for companies focused almost entirely on AI workloads.
Here is how the major players compare:
Company Focus Key Customers/Partners Nebius Full-stack AI cloud, GPU clusters, AI infrastructure Meta, Microsoft CoreWeave Nvidia GPU-focused AI cloud Meta, OpenAI, Anthropic IREN Renewable-powered AI/HPC data centers Microsoft, AI customers Nebius gained attention after securing a deal with Meta worth up to about $27 billion over five years. Nvidia (NASDAQ:NVDA) has invested billions in the company. Nebius is building an AI-focused cloud platform designed around GPU infrastructure.
CoreWeave has followed a similar path. The company’s business model centers on Nvidia GPU availability and optimized AI computing environments. Its agreement with Meta reportedly totals about $21 billion, alongside partnerships involving OpenAI and Anthropic.
IREN took a different route. Originally focused on Bitcoin (CRYPTO:BTC) mining, the company has shifted toward AI and high-performance computing data centers, using renewable energy as part of its infrastructure strategy.
Meta’s Move Is a Risk — But Also a Validation Bloomberg reported that Meta is considering selling excess AI compute capacity through Meta Compute. The company could eventually offer raw GPU capacity or AI-related services. The plans remain early and could change.
The concern, though, is obvious. If Meta spends billions building AI infrastructure and then sells unused capacity, it could pressure pricing for companies whose business depends on renting GPUs.
But there is another side, too. Meta’s own AI ambitions are enormous. CEO Mark Zuckerberg has discussed building massive AI infrastructure to support Llama models and future “superintelligence” efforts. Meta has indicated it expects to build tens of gigawatts of AI capacity over time. Selling excess capacity would be a way to improve returns on those investments.
That strategy is not unusual. Companies with expensive infrastructure often monetize unused capacity. SpaceX (NASDAQ:SPCX), for example, uses its technology platform to serve outside customers through its Starlink business.
Surprisingly, Meta becoming a potential competitor also confirms the scale of the opportunity. Companies do not spend hundreds of billions of dollars building AI infrastructure because demand is disappearing.
The Bigger Risk Is Not Meta — It Is Supply and Execution Granted, neocloud investors need to understand the risks. These companies have attractive growth opportunities, but they also carry heavy capital requirements. Building AI data centers requires billions of dollars in GPUs, power infrastructure, and financing.
The risks include:
AI demand slowing before capacity investments generate returns Hyperscalers flooding the market with cheaper compute Higher interest rates increasing financing costs Customer concentration creating bargaining pressure Customer concentration is especially important. Meta and Microsoft are valuable partners, but they also have the resources to build internally.
That said, neocloud companies still offer advantages. They can deploy specialized AI infrastructure faster, provide flexible capacity, and serve customers that need immediate access to GPUs.
In short, the market reaction looks more like a reset of expectations than the end of the neocloud story.
Key Takeaway Meta’s cloud ambitions are a reminder that the AI infrastructure race will become more competitive. Neocloud companies cannot assume today’s demand environment will continue forever. But investors should not confuse competition with collapse.
Meta’s willingness to spend billions on AI infrastructure supports the core investment thesis: compute demand remains massive. The companies best positioned for the next phase will likely be those with strong contracts, diversified customers, efficient data center operations, and specialized offerings.
For investors, the question is not whether AI compute demand exists. The question is which companies can turn that demand into durable profits as the industry matures.
Meta jmenovala Alexe Schultze prvním chief data officerem, aby lépe řídil globální AI analytiku. Denise Morenoová se zároveň stává marketingovou šéfkou.
A woman walks by the Meta Lab in Los Angeles, California, U.S., May 20, 2026. REUTERS/Daniel Cole/File Photo Purchase Licensing Rights, opens new tab
July 1 (Reuters) - Meta said on Wednesday its chief marketing officer Alex Schultz will become the company's first chief data officer, to better manage AI analytics globally.
The Facebook-parent also promoted its vice president of consumer marketing and growth, Denise Moreno, to marketing chief.
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"My focus in this new role will be helping transform how Meta learns and makes decisions in the AI era," Schultz said in a LinkedIn post, opens new tab.
The leadership changes signal at Meta's move to deepen its focus on data-driven decision-making and AI integration across its operations.
Schultz joined the company in 2007 and held responsibilities across various domains like developing Meta's brand strategy and WhatsApp privacy campaigns, according to his LinkedIn page.
Shares of Meta were up 10% after Bloomberg News reported earlier on Wednesday that the company is building a cloud business to sell excess AI computing capacity.
A 17-year veteran at Meta, Moreno began her career managing email marketing and growth experiments, she said, opens new tab in a separate post.
Axios first reported about Meta naming Schultz as its chief data officer and elevating Moreno as CMO.
Meta is projected to spend as much as $145 billion on AI infrastructure this year, a significant portion of Big Tech's more than $700 billion outlay on the technology.
Reporting by Jaspreet Singh in Bengaluru; Editing by Joyjeet Das
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Google překročil pětiletý cíl investovat v Africe 1 miliardu USD a oznámil nové iniciativy v oblasti infrastruktury a AI. Patří mezi ně první čtyři plánované konektivní huby na kontinentu a AI laboratoř v Ghaně.
A Google Cloud logo is pictured at a trade fair in Hannover Messe, in Hanover, Germany, April 22, 2024. REUTERS/Annegret Hilse//File Photo Purchase Licensing Rights, opens new tab
JOHANNESBURG, July 1 (Reuters) - Google (GOOGL.O), opens new tab has exceeded a five-year target to invest $1 billion in Africa, it said on Wednesday, as it made public initiatives on infrastructure and development of AI to accelerate the continent's digital growth.
They follow on from Google's launch of a cloud for the Johannesburg region in 2025.
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Here are the details of the new initiatives that Google, owned by Alphabet, announced at the first Africa Cloud Summit in Johannesburg.
Google will establish a connectivity hub in South Africa's Eastern Cape, the first of four planned connectivity hubs on the continent.
The facility will link Africa to Australia via the Umoja subsea cable and to India through a new route, strengthening internet resilience and capacity.
Africa's first applied AI lab in Ghana will pair local startups with Google researchers and provide early access to its AI models.
A more than $1 million programme in partnership with UK actor Idris Elba's Akuna Group will train underrepresented creators in AI-driven storytelling.
Google's Economic and Community Development programme and WeThinkCode have committed to build a 3 million rand ($183,468) digital innovation centre in Soweto, Johannesburg.
Google also said its startup accelerator programme will back 15 South African firms as part of Google's pledge to back 50 African ventures between 2024 and 2028.
"The AI opportunity for Africa is significant, and Google is committed to doing our part working with Africans to help Africa realise it," James Manyika, Google's senior vice president for research and technology, told reporters.
($1 = 16.3516 rand)
Reporting by Nqobile Dludla; editing by Barbara Lewis
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Nqobile is a Johannesburg-based reporter covering the South African retail, telecom and tech sectors. She has been a journalists for about 10 years. She joined Reuters in 2015 and has covered a variety of beats ranging from pharma, health to property and banking.
Amazonu loni vzrostly emise o 16 % na téměř 80,9 milionu tun CO2e, hlavně kvůli vyšší spotřebě energie v datových centrech pro AI. Firma přesto dál drží cíl čisté nuly do roku 2040.
by Lisa Stiffler on Jul 1, 2026 at 9:00 amJuly 1, 2026 at 7:53 am
Wind Wall, a wind farm in California’s Tehachapi Mountains, produces renewable energy for Amazon Web Services. (Amazon Photo) Amazon’s carbon footprint jumped 16% last year after several years of little or no increase. The company emitted nearly 80.9 million metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent in 2025. By comparison, that’s slightly higher than the nation of New Zealand’s emissions.
Amazon disclosed its climate-related data in its most comprehensive sustainability report to date, which includes a breakdown of its carbon sources, water use and other environmental impacts.
Not surprisingly, energy use showed the biggest rate of increase in the 2025 carbon tally as Amazon and other tech companies are working to rapidly expand their data center capacity to meet AI computing demand.
For the first time since 2019, the company also reported an uptick in its “carbon intensity” — a measure of how much carbon was emitted relative to each dollar of revenue. Amazon has promoted this metric as a sign that it can decouple its growth from its climate impacts.
*Million of metric tons carbon dioxide equivalent. † Grams of carbon dioxide equivalent per dollar of revenue. ‡ Carbon emissions for 2025 were calculated using a market-based method, including the application of Environmental Attribute Credits (EACs). (2025 Amazon Sustainability Report) Despite emissions moving in the wrong direction and ongoing data center-driven challenges, the Seattle-area company remains committed to its pledge of net-zero carbon emissions by 2040.
When it comes to that goal, “I remain confident and optimistic in the overarching vision and the long-term progress we continue to make toward it,” said Kara Hurst, Amazon’s chief sustainability officer, in the foreword to the company’s annual report.
The report highlights areas of success that include:
Data center efficiency: Amazon’s data centers are 9% more efficient than the public cloud average and 30% more efficient than on-premises data centers at directing energy toward computing rather than cooling, lighting or overhead. Data center water use: Amazon is seven times more efficient in its water use than the industry average thanks to its use of air cooling at most sites, most of the year. 100% clean energy overall: For the third year running, Amazon matched its company-wide electricity use with an equivalent volume of purchased clean energy, although it technically still draws on fossil fuels for some of its energy. Electric vehicle fleet: It has the largest corporate EV fleet in North America, with more than 52,700 delivery vans worldwide. It’s halfway to meeting its 2030 goal of 100,000 EVs. The company also reported improvements in reducing packaging and plastic use in delivered items; increasing use of low-carbon building materials in data center construction; and progress toward becoming water positive at its data centers, meaning it aims to replenish more water to communities than it uses.
The Amazon-backed Climate Pledge — an effort to get other organizations to commit to net-zero carbon emissions by 2040 — has grown to 656 signatories after adding 107 companies this year. It marks a notable increase at a time when companies are growing quieter about climate commitments, with some stepping back from earlier goals.
But the surge in data center investment shows little sign of slowing, which will keep complicating Amazon’s path to lower emissions. CEO Andy Jassy said Amazon expects to spend a record $200 billion in capital expenditures this year, including “AI, chips, robotics, and low-Earth orbit satellites.”
Not all reactions to that buildout have been positive — even within the company. Members of Amazon Employees for Climate Justice this month testified before the Seattle City Council in favor of data center requirements for renewable energy and labor protections, though Amazon doesn’t operate any data centers within city limits.
In the report, Amazon CSO Hurst acknowledged that AI-fueled advances could catalyze sustainability solutions or slow progress toward climate goals.
“But what alternative do we have,” she said, “but to continue to invest, learn, and move forward to try to solve one of the world’s most challenging issues?”
Microsoft AI segment překročil roční tempo tržeb 37 miliard USD a roste o 123 %. Analýza vidí při pokračujícím růstu tržeb potenciál akcie až k 547,83 USD.
GERMANY - 2026/06/10: In this photo illustration, the logo of productivity software Microsoft 365 is displayed on a smartphone in front of abstract background on computer screen. (Photo Illustration by Timon Schneider/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)
SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images
This article was written by Doug Nathman, with research by his team at Trefis.
A new business within Microsoft (MSFT) has quietly grown to massive scale. The company's AI segment has crossed a $37 billion annual run rate, expanding at an astonishing 123%. This new growth engine already represents a meaningful portion of Microsoft Cloud, which itself exceeded $54 billion in quarterly revenue. This is not a future promise; it is a current reality.
This rapid growth is why the upside case is centered on revenue. The Intelligent Cloud segment, which houses these AI services, grew 30% to become a $34.7 billion quarterly business. Continued compounding from this base is the main driver of the stock's potential upside.
That is the story. The question is whether it is strong enough to drive meaningful upside from here, or whether today’s price already reflects most of that optimism. Yes, but with caveats. A conservative 3-year scenario points to roughly 49%. Revenue compounding does the heavy lifting, while the multiple barely changes.
Here is the operational picture behind the math:
MSFT Key Metrics
Trefis
How Compounding Builds The UpsideRevenue compounds at 15.2% annually, lifting the top line from $318.3B to $486.5B over three years. That is a step down from the LTM 17.9% pace, since today's acceleration is unlikely to extrapolate cleanly over a full three-year period.
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Margins ease from 39.3% to 38.3% as today's LTM level gives back slightly toward the longer-run average. Together, that lifts earnings from $125.2B to roughly $186.1B, a 49% increase.
The model assumes a constant price-to-earnings (P/E) multiple of 21.9x, implying that earnings growth alone drives the projected valuation gain. Applying that multiple to higher earnings puts the stock near $547.83, with a market cap of $4.1T versus $2.7T today. That is roughly 49% above where the stock trades now.
Has revenue compounding been the lever behind MSFT's recent move? See the lever breakdown.
What Could Accelerate The Top LineThe next leg of growth could come from a fundamental shift in the business model, as management explained that per-user businesses will become both per-user and usage-based. With Microsoft 365 Copilot seat additions already up 250% year-over-year, layering consumption on top of this adoption curve creates a new, unmodeled revenue opportunity.
What Could Slow It DownThe main concern raised on the call is the sheer scale of investment needed to support this growth. Management expects to invest roughly $190 billion in capital expenditures in calendar year 2026 alone. This spending pace creates what one analyst described as a disconnect, making investors nervous about the timing of the return.
Is The Compounding Real?For this case to play out, revenue needs to keep compounding near 15.2%, a step down from today's 17.9% but still clearly positive. The multiple is not being asked to do anything dramatic, which makes the case more defensible. The projected margin also sits at or near the 3-year peak, so any move back toward the longer-run average would make the rest of the math more difficult.
While the shift to usage-based pricing provides a clear revenue catalyst, the planned $190 billion capital investment creates meaningful near-term risk.
Should You Invest In Microsoft?A careful 3-year case on a single company is still a concentrated bet, as historical volatility across past market crises shows. Investors who build analyses like this around individual positions often want the same framework applied across a diversified book, partly for discipline and partly because even the cleanest single-stock thesis can break for reasons the math does not capture.
The Trefis High Quality (HQ) Portfolio combines analytical rigor with a forward-looking view across 30 stocks, using a consistent selection framework and a sizing and re-balancing discipline designed to deliver upside without the single-name risk described here. By selecting 30 high-conviction stocks, the HQ strategy has historically outpaced a benchmark that combines the three major indices - the S&P 500, S&P Mid-cap, and Russell 2000.
Haleon uzavřel spolupráci s Microsoftem na rozšíření AI včetně Azure a Copilotu, aby zrychlil inovace, automatizaci i rozhodování. Firma to spojuje s cílem oslovit do roku 2030 o jednu miliardu více spotřebitelů.
The agreement aims to increase the adoption of AI-powered tools across the business while strengthening Haleon’s digital infrastructure with advanced security, identity, and agentic AI capabilities.
AI Collaboration Targets Productivity And Business TransformationThe partnership builds on Haleon’s existing use of Microsoft 365 Copilot and helps employees automate repetitive tasks, improve collaboration, and dedicate more time to higher-value work.
The companies also plan to jointly develop AI applications across several key business functions, including consumer insights, innovation, supply chain management, and commercial execution.
Haleon expects these initiatives to support faster scientific research, speed up clinical content development, improve marketing personalization, and strengthen forecasting and business decision-making.
Focus On Consumer Insights And Operational EfficiencyAccording to the company, expanding its AI capabilities will provide deeper insights into changing consumer preferences while helping accelerate product innovation and streamline operations from manufacturing through commercial activities.
Haleon said it intends to use the technology investments to respond more quickly to growing consumer demand, deliver more personalized health products, and improve product availability across global markets.
The company added that these efforts support its broader objective of reaching one billion more consumers by 2030 while delivering industry-leading shareholder returns.
Azure, Copilot And Agentic AI Form Core Of StrategyAs part of the agreement, Haleon will continue using Microsoft Azure as its primary cloud platform and Microsoft Copilot as a foundation for its enterprise AI initiatives.
The company said Azure’s scalable infrastructure, analytics capabilities, and enterprise-grade security features will help protect data, systems, and AI-powered workflows as it expands AI deployment responsibly and securely.
Haleon also plans to advance its use of next-generation agentic AI, enabling intelligent digital agents that can assist teams in identifying opportunities sooner, responding more quickly to changing conditions, and supporting better outcomes for consumers, customers, and healthcare professionals.
The company said the collaboration aligns with its ambition to build an AI-powered, decision-intelligent enterprise where data and insights enable faster, smarter, and more consumer-focused decision-making.
HLN Price Action: Haleon shares were up 0.48% at $9.37 at the time of publication on Wednesday, according to Benzinga Pro data.
Photo by Poetra.RH via Shutterstock
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Nvidia sází na robotiku jako na další velkou příležitost a fyzická umělá inteligence jí už za posledních 12 měsíců přinesla přes 9 miliard USD tržeb. Nový Halos for Robotics má posílit její softwarovou a bezpečnostní vrstvu pro humanoidy.
HomeInvestingYour Digital SelfYour Digital SelfNear-term revenue belongs to the motion and sensor companies supplying the industry’s buildoutJuly 1, 2026, 12:13 p.m. ET
Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang has called humanoid robots a “multitrillion-dollar economic opportunity.” Photo: Getty Images/iStockphotoJensen Huang has taken to calling robotics and physical AI the next trillion-dollar opportunity for Nvidia NVDA, and the market takes the company’s CEO at his word. Nvidia’s physical-AI revenue has run past $9 billion over the trailing 12 months, up from $6 billion the year before, and analysts now treat robots as its second act.
Nvidia’s ambition is to do for robotics what its CUDA platform did for accelerated computing. Huang has called humanoid robots a “multitrillion-dollar economic opportunity.” Nvidia’s newly announced Halos for Robotics safety stack sharpens the point: The company is building the software, compute and safety layer around humanoids, not trying to own the entire machine. Nvidia wants the operating layer underneath — and if physical AI scales the way factory automation has, it will get it.
NVIDIA uvedla za 1. čtvrtletí FY2027 tržby 81,615 miliardy USD a upravený zisk na akcii (EPS) 1,87 USD, oba údaje nad odhady. Firma zároveň čeká ve 2. čtvrtletí tržby 91 miliard USD.
I bought NVIDIA again last Friday, and I plan to buy it again this week if the selloff holds. That makes five additions in eight weeks for me, and the case for the next one has only gotten stronger. NVIDIA (NASDAQ:NVDA | NVDA Price Prediction) is down 13% in June and 7.55% over the past month, sitting at $194.97 while the company is printing the strongest fundamentals it has ever produced. That gap is why my finger keeps finding the buy button.
The thesis is simple. I am buying the only company selling the picks and shovels for what Jensen Huang calls “the largest infrastructure expansion in human history.” The institutional rotation out of semiconductors leaves NVIDIA’s business intact while lowering the price I pay to own it.
The Numbers That Keep Me Adding Start with Q1 FY2027. Revenue came in at $81.615 billion, up 85.23% year over year, beating consensus by 3.16%. Non-GAAP EPS landed at $1.87 versus the $1.7738 estimate, the fourth consecutive earnings beat. Net income grew 210.63% YoY to $58.321 billion. Free cash flow hit $48.554 billion, up 85.41%. Non-GAAP gross margin held at 75.0%, versus 60.8% a year ago. Those are platform margins, and they are widening.
Growth is accelerating. Quarterly revenue growth moved from 55.6% to 62.5% to 73.2% to 85.2% across the last four quarters. Forward guidance calls for $91.0 billion in Q2 revenue, and that number assumes zero Data Center compute revenue from China.
Then there is the capital return. The board raised the quarterly dividend from $0.01 to $0.25 per share and approved an additional $80.0 billion buyback authorization on top of $38.5 billion still outstanding. NVIDIA returned roughly $20.0 billion to shareholders in Q1 alone. At a forward P/E of 22 with revenue compounding above 80%, that math works for me.
Don't wait: the analyst who called NVIDIA in 2010 just revealed his top 10 AI stocks. See the full list FREE now.
The Moat I Cannot Find Anywhere Else NVIDIA has Meta committed to millions of Blackwell and Rubin GPUs, OpenAI signed up for at least 10 gigawatts of NVIDIA systems, Anthropic at 1 gigawatt, and CoreWeave building 5+ gigawatts of AI factories by 2030. Data Center networking revenue grew 199% YoY, proof that the full-stack platform is being adopted alongside the GPUs. The $119.0 billion in supply commitments tells me management sees demand years out.
The Risk I Refuse to Ignore China is gone from the Q2 outlook. Zero Data Center compute revenue assumed, against $4.6 billion in H20 shipments in the year-ago quarter. Insiders also sold heavily in June, including coordinated dispositions by CEO Jensen Huang, CFO Colette Kress, and three other executives at $207.41 on June 17. I sat with both facts. The China hole is real, and the company guided to $91 billion anyway. The insider sales follow pre-set 10b5-1 plans at prices above where I am buying today. The thesis holds.
Why the Buy Button Stays Active The five-year return on NVIDIA is 878.06%. The ten-year is 16,943.1%. Those are history. I am buying the cash flows underneath them at a forward multiple of 22, with a 25x dividend hike fresh in the account and an $80 billion buyback at my back. The rotation handed me a price. I intend to use every dollar of it.
Don't wait: the analyst who called NVIDIA in 2010 just revealed his top 10 AI stocks. See the full list FREE now.
Walmart Connect ve 1. čtvrtletí vzrostl o 44 % a pomohl zvednout hrubou marži Walmart U.S. o 29 bazických bodů. Růst podpořilo hlavně digitální inzerování a lepší mix podnikání.
Key Takeaways Walmart Connect grew 44% in Q1, outpacing 36% U.S. advertising revenue growth. Sellers lifted ad spending by more than 50% after sales gains, reinforcing Walmart's ad opportunity.WMT's U.S. gross margin rose 29 bps, helped mainly by digital advertising and better business mix. Walmart Inc. (WMT - Free Report) is steadily reshaping its profit profile by scaling higher-margin digital businesses alongside its core retail operations. Within that shift, Walmart Connect is emerging as an increasingly important part of the company’s margin story.
In the first quarter of fiscal 2027, Walmart U.S. advertising revenues increased 36%, while Walmart Connect, excluding VIZIO, grew 44%. This growth came alongside 26% U.S. e-commerce sales growth and nearly 50% Marketplace sales growth, giving brands and sellers a broader, more engaged customer base.
Marketplace growth is also reinforcing the advertising opportunity. Sellers increased their advertising spending by more than 50% after seeing corresponding sales gains. Walmart also enhanced its ad capabilities via AI-powered campaign optimization tools and expanded reach through VIZIO’s connected TV platform.
The margin impact is becoming more visible. Walmart U.S. gross margin expanded 29 basis points, helped by a favorable business mix led primarily by digital advertising, though higher fuel costs in distribution and fulfillment partly offset the gains. Adjusted operating income for Walmart U.S. rose 5.7%, reflecting improved e-commerce economics, higher Walmart+ membership fee revenues and other income benefits.
Walmart Connect may not yet be proven as WMT’s biggest margin driver, but it is clearly becoming a more meaningful one. Its rapid growth, seller engagement and role in improving business mix suggest advertising is strengthening Walmart’s omnichannel economics and supporting a more profitable growth model.
How TGT and KR Are Using Retail Media to Lift MarginsTarget Corporation (TGT - Free Report) is also using retail media to support profitability beyond merchandise sales. In first-quarter 2026, the company reported a 24.6% increase in non-merchandise revenues, driven by growth in Roundel advertising, Target Circle 360 membership fees and Target Plus marketplace revenues. These higher-margin streams helped lift TGT’s gross margin rate to 29% from 28.2% a year ago, along with lower markdowns and supply-chain efficiencies. For Target, Roundel is becoming a more visible earnings lever within its broader digital ecosystem.
The Kroger Co. KR is pursuing a similar path through higher-margin alternative profit businesses. In first-quarter 2026, the company’s Kroger Precision Marketing profit grew more than 20%, supported by strong on-site customer traffic and higher advertiser commitments. KR also delivered 19% adjusted e-commerce sales growth, while e-commerce, including media, reached profitability for the first time. By leveraging first-party customer data and digital engagement, Kroger is making retail media a more meaningful contributor to margin expansion beyond grocery sales.
WMT Stock Price Performance, Valuation & EstimatesShares of Walmart have risen 16% over the past year compared with the industry’s growth of 14.9%.
WMT Price Performance Versus Industry
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
From a valuation standpoint, WMT trades at a forward price-to-earnings ratio of 37.17, higher than the industry’s average of 34.18.
WMT Valuation Compared to Industry
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Johnson & Johnson čeká u Innovative Medicine další růst díky Darzalexu, Tremfyi a Erleadě, ale tlak biosimilarek na Stelaru a slabší Imbruvica jej budou brzdit.
Key Takeaways Johnson & Johnson's Darzalex, Tremfya and Erleada should drive Innovative Medicine growth. JNJ faces steeper Stelara biosimilar pressure and continued weakness in Imbruvica sales. Investors await updates on Icotyde, Inlexzo and Imaavy sales and commercialization plans. Johnson & Johnson (JNJ - Free Report) , through its Innovative Medicine segment, commercializes multiple blockbuster therapies spanning a wide range of disease areas, such as neuroscience, cardiovascular and metabolic disorders, immunology, oncology, pulmonary hypertension (PH), and infectious diseases. The company is set to announce its second-quarter 2026 results on July 15, and investors will be closely watching the performance of the Innovative Medicine segment.
Below, we highlight some key factors that may have influenced the segment’s sales during the quarter.
J&J’s Innovative Medicine unit is showing a growth trend, despite the loss of exclusivity (LOE) of the blockbuster drug, Stelara. The segment has recorded four consecutive quarters of sales of more than $15 billion despite the Stelara LOE, a trend likely to have continued in the second quarter of 2026.
J&J expects growth in the second quarter to be driven by higher sales of key products such as Darzalex, Tremfya and Erleada due to strong market growth and share gains.
Other products like Uptravi and Opsumit are likely to have witnessed continued growth.
New drugs like Carvykti, Tecvayli, Talvey, Rybrevant and Spravato are also likely to have contributed to top-line growth. However, sales of Xarelto, Simponi/Simponi Aria and Remicade declined in the first quarter, a trend likely to have continued in the second quarter.
Also, generic/biosimilar competition for key drug, Stelara, and lower sales of Imbruvica are likely to have hurt top-line growth.
Several biosimilar versions of Stelara were launched in the United States in 2025. According to patent settlements and license agreements, Amgen (AMGN - Free Report) , Teva Pharmaceutical Industries, Samsung Bioepis/Sandoz and some other companies launched Stelara biosimilars in 2025. Stelara’s LOE negatively impacted the Innovative Medicines segment’s growth by 9.2% in the first quarter. We expect the negative impact to be steeper in the second quarter of 2026.
Imbruvica sales are likely to have declined due to rising competitive pressure in the United States due to new oral competition.
Investors will look for initial sales numbers and commercialization plans of J&J’snewly launched oral pill for plaque psoriasis, Icotyde, which was approved by the FDA in March 2026.
Investors will also be keen to know how J&J’s other new drugs approved last year performed. These products are Inlexzoh, a first-of-its-kind drug-releasing system, for treating high-risk non-muscle invasive bladder cancer and Imaavy (nipocalimab) for treating generalized myasthenia gravis.
Inlexzo generated sales of slightly above $30 million in the first quarter. J&J received a permanent J-code for Inlexzo reimbursement in April, which should have boosted patient access and sales for the therapy in the second quarter. J&J did not separately disclose sales of Imaavy in the first quarter results. It remains to be seen if it does so in the second quarter.
J&J Key CompetitorsImmunology and oncology are J&J’s key areas. Other large drugmakers with a strong presence in the oncology market include Novartis, AstraZeneca (AZN - Free Report) , AbbVie (ABBV - Free Report) , Amgen, Merck, Bristol-Myers, Roche and Pfizer. In immunology, AbbVie, Amgen, Sanofi, AstraZeneca and Pfizer hold a strong position.
JNJ’s Price Performance, Valuation and EstimatesJ&J’s shares have outperformed the industry so far this year. The stock has risen 24.1% in the past year compared with 14.5% appreciation of the industry.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
From a valuation standpoint, J&J is slightly expensive. Going by the price/earnings ratio, the company’s shares currently trade at 21.02 forward earnings, higher than 19.02 for the industry. The stock is also trading above its five-year mean of 15.65.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2026 earnings has been stable at $11.57 per share over the past 60 days, while that for 2027 earnings has gone up from $12.58 per share to $12.60 over the same time frame.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
J&J has a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) at present. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA - APRIL 25: A Target logo is displayed outside a store on April 25, 2025 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Kevin Carter/Getty Images)
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In the world of third-party retail marketplaces, Target stands apart. While Amazon and Walmart run open platforms where any vendor can pay to play and get their products listed alongside first-party inventory, Target Plus is carefully curated, where only selected brands are invited to play in their sandbox.
This transforms the marketplace shopping experience from an abundance of riches—and the paradox of choice that comes with it—into a carefully edited collection of products that fit seamlessly alongside Target’s own assortment. It’s the “Tar-zhay” enhancement applied to third-party ecommerce.
This approach—leading with style and design, anchored by value, merchandising authority and enhanced customer experiences, both in-store and online—is pivotal to Target’s turnaround. Jefferies analysts call it a “cultural reset,” a play-to-win strategy where differentiated merchandise is the “most important change.”
Target’s most recent results show its differentiated merchandising strategy is working. First-quarter revenues grew 6.7%, with every merchandise sector posting gains, including a 15% surge in Hardlines (Fun 101) and 10% growth in Beauty.
And in the quarter, Target Plus was on fire, with GMV up nearly 60% and digitally originated comparable sales rising 20%. To keep that forward momentum, Target Plus has invited a range of new, in-demand brands to the platform as it sets its sight on scaling the marketplace from $1 billion to $5 billion by 2030.
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Joining The Line UpUnlike Amazon and Walmart, where sellers buy their way in, Target Plus is built on partnerships. Every brand must earn its place on the platform and is chosen to complement Target’s differentiated merchandising strategy.
Chief digital and revenue officer Sarah Travis oversees the brands selected to be hosted on Target Plus, and she does it in true “merchant prince”—or more accurately, princess—fashion.
Three new apparel brands are coming on board, representing a mix of classic heritage, trend-forward style and performance:
Heritage footwear brand Clarks, which celebrated its 200th anniversary last year and remains partly family-owned, is bringing its classic styles, comfort, and value to the platform.Trend-forward fashion brand Forever 21—forced to close all stores following last year’s bankruptcy and now owned by Authentic Brands—is opening on Target Plus, broadening its reach to a youthful audience.JanSport joins in the functional performance sportwear category. The beauty and wellness assortment will get a lift with the addition of premium, dermatologist-owned LovelySkin skincare brand and health supplements brand NatureWise.
Other additions include Serta, an authority in mattresses and bedding; JLab in value-focused audio technology, including Bluetooth and wired earbuds and headphones; Hisense in TVs and home appliances; and Wild Alaska Company, a sustainable,100% wild-caught and flash-frozen seafood brand.
Complements, Not CompetesAmazon and Walmart have been beset by controversies surrounding their third-party marketplaces. Amazon faces a class-action lawsuit over claims it overcharged for products sold by third-party sellers and prohibited vendors for charging less on other platforms. And Inc’s Micah Solomon found the economics of Prime Day rarely works in sellers’ favor once the required the 20% price discount, 15% referral fee on every sale and hefty advertising fees are factored in. Likewise, Walmart has battled charges of lax third-party vetting, allowing counterfeits on the site and false health claims, following a CNBC investigation last year.
Target Plus takes a fundamentally different approach. Its relationship with third-party vendors is more a partnership than a transaction—benefitting both customers and brands.
“One of the biggest advantages of Target Plus is that it helps us build our assortment strategies around what guest want most from Target and what’s best for our business,” Travis said. “It gives us another way to serve guests online while making thoughtful choices about the role our stores play.”
She noted that by offering larger-sized items—TVs, computers and home goods—online, it frees up store space for products better suited to in-person shopping. And Target Plus gives the retailer the ability to expand choices across a wider range of specialty brands.
“As we bring more new brands to Target Plus, we’re focused on brands that add something meaningful for guests and reinforce what guests expect from Target: style, design and value,” she concluded.
See Also:
ForbesWellness May Be Target’s Key To Restoring Its ‘Tar-zhay’ MagicBy Pamela N. DanzigerForbesTarget Withstood DEI Boycotts To Show Signs Of Reputation RecoveryBy Pamela N. Danziger
DETROIT — General Motors' second-quarter U.S. sales fell 4.2% as year-over-year demand for its all-electric vehicles and Chevrolet Silverado pickup trucks declined.
The Detroit automaker reported that it sold 714,896 vehicles from April through June, down from 746,588 units during the second quarter of 2025. Its sales through the first half of the year were 1.3 million, down 6.8% compared with a year ago.
The second quarter sales were slightly better than a forecast last week by Cox Automotive, which expected GM's sales to decline 7.2% through the first half of the year, including a 5.1% fall during the second quarter.
"Our business is performing well, and customer demand is resilient, especially for our trucks and SUVs. The depth, breadth and appeal of our vehicle portfolio allows us to lead the market in sales, while maintaining discipline on inventory, pricing and incentives to deliver strong margins," GM North America President Duncan Aldred said in a release.
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The Detroit automaker is expected to underperform the U.S. auto industry during the second quarter, which forecasters Cox Automotive and J.D. Power expect to be roughly level compared to a year earlier. Cox forecast industry sales to be off 0.5%, while JDP expected a 0.7% increase in vehicles sold.
GM's EV sales during the second quarter were off 33% compared to last year, when demand for all-electric vehicles began to surge ahead of expectations of the Trump administration ending up to $7,500 in incentives for consumers to purchase an EV.
GM said that despite a 7.7% decline in its Silverado pickups for the quarter, including a 25.9% drop for its electric truck, the company still expects to have gained market share in the full-size truck segment during the period.
Its GMC Sierra pickup trucks did better, with a 5% increase in sales, including double-digit increases for its electric and light-duty 1500 models amid tough comparisons. GM recorded its best combined sales of Silverado and Sierra full-size pickup trucks in 20 years in 2025, leading to a sixth straight year of leading that highly profitable U.S. segment.
Each off GM's brands saw year-over-year sales declines during the second quarter, led by a 19.2% decline in Cadillac. Buick was down 7.5%, Chevrolet fell 3.9% and GMC reported a 0.3% decline.
Read more CNBC auto newsCarvana's new vehicle strategy turns dealership into 'playground,' test-drive center with sales all onlineLucid to lay off roughly 18% of U.S. workforce, COO Marc Winterhoff leavesRivian laying off hundreds of workers amid R2 launch
Starbucks ve 2. čtvrtletí fiskálního roku 2026 zvýšil konsolidovanou provozní marži na 9,4 %, ale v Severní Americe klesla na 10,2 % kvůli nákladům, clu a drahé kávě. Firma čeká, že ve 2. polovině fiskálního roku 2026 tlak na marže poleví.
Key Takeaways SBUX's North America operating margin fell about 170 bps YoY to 10.2% in Q2 FY26.Product, distribution and legal accrual pressures weighed on SBUX's North America margins in Q2.SBUX expects stronger sales leverage and easing coffee and tariff pressure in 2H FY26. Starbucks Corporation (SBUX - Free Report) is entering the back half of fiscal 2026 with improving sales momentum, but North America margin pressure remains an important test for the turnaround. In the fiscal second quarter, consolidated operating margin expanded 110 basis points year over year to 9.4%, marking Starbucks’ fiscal first quarter of consolidated margin expansion since the first quarter of fiscal 2024. However, margin performance in North America remained under pressure, with segment operating margin contracting approximately 170 basis points year over year to 10.2%.
The margin contraction reflected several cost and accrual-related pressures. Starbucks’ North America margins were affected by roughly 190 basis points of product and distribution cost increases as a percentage of revenues, as well as greater-than-anticipated legal accruals. About half of the product and distribution increase was tied to innovation-led product mix, while the remaining pressure was largely related to tariffs and elevated coffee prices.
The second-half setup is more balanced. Starbucks expects coffee and tariff pressures to begin easing in the back half of fiscal 2026, helped by recent trends in coffee prices. The benefit may not appear immediately because Starbucks’ coffee costs typically lag market movements due to purchasing and hedging practices. Still, a moderation in these pressures could help reduce one of the more visible drags on North America’s profitability.
For the back half of fiscal 2026, the margin recovery case depends on Starbucks converting stronger U.S. traffic into better profit flow-through. The company expects stronger sales leverage over the next two quarters, supported by continued progress on cost-savings initiatives. If those benefits materialize alongside easing coffee and tariff pressure, Starbucks could have a clearer path to offsetting North America margin headwinds.
How Starbucks’ Margin Setup Compares With PeersDutch Bros Inc. (BROS - Free Report) is navigating a similar input-cost backdrop, with higher coffee costs and food rollout expenses driving a 120-basis-point increase in beverage, food and packaging costs as a percentage of company-operated shop revenues in the first quarter of 2026. The impact was partly mitigated by operating leverage, as labor costs improved 120 basis points and adjusted SG&A improved 100 basis points as a percentage of revenues. For 2026, BROS expects adjusted EBITDA margin pressure from higher coffee and occupancy costs, partially offset by SG&A leverage.
McDonald’s Corporation (MCD - Free Report) provides a scale-driven comparison. The company reported an adjusted operating margin of 46% and more than $3.6 billion in restaurant margins in the first quarter, although U.S. company-operated margins remained under pressure. To manage cost volatility, MCD is relying on supply-chain scale, supplier partnerships and hedging strategies while also reviewing the optimal mix of company-operated and franchised restaurants.
Against this backdrop, Starbucks’ margin challenge is more closely tied to North America turnaround investments and input-cost pressure. BROS is relying on labor efficiency and SG&A leverage to cushion coffee and occupancy headwinds, while MCD benefits from scale, franchising and supply-chain discipline. For Starbucks, Green Apron Service investments, innovation-related costs and operating discipline remain important variables in determining whether Back to Starbucks can translate into stronger operating leverage.
SBUX’s Price Performance, Valuation & EstimatesShares of Starbucks have gained 8.5% in the past year against the industry’s 8.2% decline.
SBUX’s One-Year Price Performance
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
From a valuation standpoint, SBUX trades at a forward price-to-sales (P/S) multiple of 2.93, below the industry’s average of 3.32.
SBUX’s P/S Ratio (Forward 12-Month) vs. Industry
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for SBUX’s fiscal 2026 earnings per share (EPS) implies a year-over-year increase of 12.7%. The EPS estimates for fiscal 2026 have increased in the past 60 days.
EPS Trend of SBUX Stock
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
SBUX’s Zacks RankSBUX stock currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
Royal Caribbean otevřel Royal Beach Club Santorini a silná poptávka podporuje jeho strategii privátních destinací. Další projekty v Cozumelu, Mexiku a Costa Maya mají dál posílit výnosy.
Key Takeaways RCL opened Royal Beach Club Santorini, where strong demand supports its destination-led strategy.RCL expects Cozumel in early 2028, with Perfect Day Mexico and Costa Maya due in late 2027.RCL expects Perfect Day Mexico, Royal Beach Club Cozumel and Icon-class ships to strengthen Galveston demand. Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. (RCL - Free Report) is expanding its private-destination portfolio as part of a broader effort to support multi-year yield growth through differentiated vacation experiences. The strategy can strengthen itinerary appeal across key cruise markets and support pricing power over time.
Following the launch of Royal Beach Club Paradise Island, RCL recently opened Royal Beach Club Santorini, a core element of its “ultimate Santorini Day” experience. Strong demand for the beach club underscores the value of proprietary destinations in enhancing the company’s vacation offering and reinforcing its competitive positioning.
The next phase of the pipeline is concentrated in the Caribbean and Mexico. Royal Beach Club Cozumel is expected to open in early 2028, while Perfect Day Mexico and Costa Maya are expected to open in late 2027 and ramp in early 2028. These projects are expected to further differentiate RCL’s itinerary portfolio and contribute to yield growth over time.
Perfect Day Mexico also gives RCL a larger opportunity in the Gulf and Texas markets. The project, together with Royal Beach Club Cozumel and Icon-class ships, is expected to strengthen the company’s position in Galveston and expand its reach across drivable markets. Texas remains underpenetrated relative to Florida, giving RCL room to build demand over time.
Royal Caribbean’s ability to extend this momentum will likely depend on whether its private destinations can support stronger guest demand and improve monetization as new assets open and ramp. If the portfolio scales successfully, destination-led differentiation could become a meaningful driver of RCL’s multi-year yield growth.
How RCL’s Destination Strategy Compares With PeersCarnival Corporation Ltd. (CCL - Free Report) is building its destination strategy around scale, capacity and itinerary differentiation. The company has enhanced Celebration Key’s capacity profile through a pier expansion, enabling the destination to accommodate up to four ships and more than 13,000 guests per day. RelaxAway, Half Moon Cay can accommodate two of CCL’s largest ships at the same time. Together, these assets allow CCL to offer two differentiated beach experiences within a single itinerary, strengthening its Caribbean value proposition.
CCL’s strategy also extends beyond individual destinations. Its Paradise Collection is expected to welcome more than 9 million guest visits next year. About 85% of CCL’s Caribbean itineraries are expected to include at least one exclusive destination, while nearly half are expected to include two or more of these destinations on the same sailing. The company is also leveraging Isla Tropicale in Roatán, Puerta Maya in Cozumel and its integrated Alaska land-and-sea platform, creating a broad destination footprint across both beach and experiential cruise markets.
Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd. (NCLH - Free Report) is pursuing a more focused destination upgrade strategy through Great Stirrup Cay. Great Tides Waterpark is expected to enhance the island’s offering, improve the guest experience and become a demand driver moving into 2027. NCLH also expects fourth-quarter net yields to improve from the third quarter, partly supported by the waterpark opening by the end of the third quarter.
Against this backdrop, RCL’s private-destination strategy remains highly relevant but increasingly competitive. CCL is using scale and destination density to strengthen Caribbean itinerary appeal, while NCLH is upgrading Great Stirrup Cay to support demand and yield improvement. For RCL, Royal Beach Club Cozumel, Perfect Day Mexico, Costa Maya and its beach-club platform will likely be important in sustaining itinerary differentiation, pricing power and multi-year yield growth.
RCL’s Price Performance, Valuation & EstimatesShares of Royal Caribbean have gained 16.1% in the past three months compared with the industry’s 13.9% growth.
RCL Stock’s Three-Month Price Performance
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From a valuation standpoint, RCL trades at a forward price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio of 17.11, below the industry’s average of 17.22.
RCL’s P/E Ratio (Forward 12-Month) vs. Industry
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for RCL’s 2026 earnings implies a year-over-year uptick of 10.4%. The EPS estimates for 2026 have remained unchanged in the past 30 days.
EPS Trend of RCL Stock
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
RCL’s Zacks RankRCL stock currently has a Zacks Rank #4 (Sell).
You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
HPE po silném čtvrtletí zvýšila výhled na fiskální rok 2026, včetně růstu tržeb o 29–33 % a upraveného zisku na akcii (non-GAAP EPS) 3,35–3,45 USD. Akcie ale od poslední výsledkové zprávy klesly asi o 19,7 %.
It has been about a month since the last earnings report for Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE - Free Report) . Shares have lost about 19.7% in that time frame, underperforming the S&P 500.
But investors have to be wondering, will the recent negative trend continue leading up to its next earnings release, or is Hewlett Packard Enterprise due for a breakout? Well, first let's take a quick look at its most recent earnings report in order to get a better handle on the recent catalysts for Hewlett Packard Enterprise Company before we dive into how investors and analysts have reacted as of late.
HPE Q2 Earnings Surpass Expectations, Revenues Rise Y/YHewlett Packard Enterprise reported better-than-expected results for second-quarter fiscal 2026. HPE’s non-GAAP earnings of 79 cents per share beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 46.3% and increased 107.9% year over year.
HPE posted revenues of $10.7 billion for the quarter, beating the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 8.7%. The company’s revenues increased 40.0% year over year.
HPE’s quarterly performance was supported by strong demand across the portfolio, with orders more than doubling year over year and driving a record backlog. Management also highlighted progress in Juniper integration and the Catalyst initiative, which remained ahead of schedule.
HPE’s Segment-Wise PerformanceHewlett Packard’s Networking segment generated $2.7 billion in revenues in the second quarter of fiscal 2026, up 148.2% year over year. The segment’s operating profit margin was 21.6%, down from 25.0% in the year-ago quarter.
Within Networking, Campus & Branch revenues were $1.3 billion, up 50.2% year over year. Data Center Networking revenues were $320 million, up 233.3%, and Security revenues were $273 million, up 155.1%. Routing revenues were $775 million compared with $1 million in the year-ago quarter.
The Cloud & AI segment reported $7.7 billion in revenues, up 22.9% year over year, with an operating profit margin of 12.4%, up from 6.6% in the prior-year period.
Within Cloud & AI, Server revenues were $5.5 billion, up 32.7% year over year. Storage revenues totaled $1.2 billion, up 2.4%, while Financial Services contributed $0.9 billion, up 5.6% year over year.
HPE’s Corporate Investments and Other revenues came in at $281 million, up 3.3% from the prior-year period.
HPE’s Operating ResultsHewlett Packard’s non-GAAP gross profit for the second quarter of fiscal 2026 was $3.94 billion compared with $2.24 billion in the year-ago quarter, while the non-GAAP gross margin expanded to 36.9%, up 750 basis points year over year.
The company’s non-GAAP operating profit was $1.4 billion compared with $613 million in the year-ago quarter. The non-GAAP operating margin improved to 13.3%, up 530 basis points from the year-ago quarter.
HPE’s Balance Sheet and Cash FlowHewlett Packard ended the second quarter with $5.29 billion in cash and cash equivalents compared with $4.84 billion at the end of the previous quarter.
In the second quarter, HPE generated $1.4 billion in cash from operating activities and produced $915 million in free cash flow. The company returned $343 million through dividends and share repurchases during the quarter.
HPE Updates FY26 GuidanceHewlett Packard raised its outlook following the strong quarter and improved second-half visibility. For the third quarter of fiscal 2026, HPE expects revenues in the range of $11.5-$12.1 billion.
It anticipates non-GAAP earnings per share of 88-93 cents.
For fiscal 2026, HPE raised its revenue growth outlook to 29-33% and expects non-GAAP earnings per share of $3.35-$3.45.
The company also lifted its free cash flow outlook and now expects free cash flow to be at least $3.5 billion. Separately, HPE introduced a fiscal 2027 framework calling for revenue growth of 8-12% and free cash flow of at least $4.5 billion.
How Have Estimates Been Moving Since Then?It turns out, fresh estimates have trended upward during the past month.
The consensus estimate has shifted 71.61% due to these changes.
VGM ScoresAt this time, Hewlett Packard Enterprise has a nice Growth Score of B, a grade with the same score on the momentum front. Following the exact same course, the stock has a grade of B on the value side, putting it in the second quintile for value investors.
Overall, the stock has an aggregate VGM Score of A. 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 these revisions looks promising. It comes with little surprise Hewlett Packard Enterprise has a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy). We expect an above average return from the stock in the next few months.
General Mills oznámila hospodářské výsledky za 4. čtvrtletí fiskálního roku 2026 a celoroční výsledky. Na konferenčním hovoru vedení představilo komentář k těmto výsledkům.
General Mills, Inc. (GIS) Q4 2026 Earnings Call July 1, 2026 9:00 AM EDT
Company Participants
Jeff Siemon - Vice President of Investor Relations & Treasurer
Jeffrey Harmening - Chairman & CEO
Dana McNabb - COO, Group President of North America Retail & North America Pet and Director
Kofi Bruce - Chief Financial Officer
Conference Call Participants
Max Andrew Gumport - BNP Paribas, Research Division
Peter Grom - UBS Investment Bank, Research Division
Andrew Lazar - Barclays Bank PLC, Research Division
Thomas Palmer - JPMorgan Chase & Co, Research Division
David Palmer - Evercore ISI Institutional Equities, Research Division
Peter Galbo - BofA Securities, Research Division
Matthew Smith - Stifel, Nicolaus & Company, Incorporated, Research Division
Christopher Carey - Wells Fargo Securities, LLC, Research Division
Robert Dickerson - BTIG, LLC, Research Division
Presentation
Operator
Hello, everyone. Thank you for joining us, and welcome to General Mills Fiscal 2026 Q4 Earnings Call. [Operator Instructions]
I will now hand the conference over to Jeff Siemon, Vice President, Investor Relations and Corporate Finance. Jeff, please go ahead.
Jeff Siemon
Vice President of Investor Relations & Treasurer
Thank you, Samantha, and good morning to everyone. Thanks for joining us today for our live Q&A session on our Q4 and full year fiscal '26 results. I hope you all had time to review our press release, listen to the prepared remarks and view our presentation materials, which we made available this morning on our Investor Relations website.
It's important to note that in our Q&A session, we may make forward-looking statements that are based on management's current views and assumptions. So please refer to this morning's press release for factors that could impact forward-looking statements and for reconciliations of non-GAAP information, which may be discussed on today's call.
I'm here with Jeff Harmening, our Chairman and CEO; Dana McNabb, our COO; and Kofi Bruce, our CFO.
Costco má téměř 20 miliard USD v likvidních aktivech a silný členský model, což mu pomáhá čelit tlaku v maloobchodu. Příjmy z členských poplatků vzrostly o 10,7 % na 1,373 miliardy USD.
Key Takeaways Costco's balance sheet remains a key edge as inflation, tariffs and cautious spending weigh on retail.Costco held nearly $20B in liquid assets, with current assets exceeding liabilities in fiscal Q3.Membership fee income rose 10.7%, supported by 82.9M paid memberships and an 89.7% renewal rate. Costco Wholesale Corporation's (COST - Free Report) balance sheet remains a key competitive advantage as retailers navigate inflation, tariff uncertainty and cautious consumer spending. The company ended the third quarter of fiscal 2026 with $18,946 million in cash and cash equivalents, up from $14,161 million at the end of fiscal 2025. Combined with $1,050 million in short-term investments, Costco held nearly $20 billion in liquid assets, providing ample financial flexibility to navigate short-term disruptions while continuing to invest in long-term growth.
The company's conservative capital structure further reinforces that strength. Current assets totaled $45,177 million, comfortably exceeding current liabilities of $42,125 million, while long-term debt remained modest at $5,670 million. Shareholders' equity increased to $33,509 million, reflecting continued earnings growth and a solid financial foundation. Management emphasized that maintaining financial flexibility allows Costco to prioritize investments in warehouse expansion, remodels, supply-chain infrastructure and digital capabilities without stretching its balance sheet.
Cash generation continues to support these investments. During the first 36 weeks of fiscal 2026, operating cash flow climbed to $11,133 million, comfortably funding $4,228 million of capital expenditures. Costco continues to expect approximately $6.5 billion in fiscal 2026 capital spending as it accelerates new warehouse openings, expands depot capacity, remodels existing warehouses and enhances the member digital experience.
Another important source of financial resilience is Costco's membership model. Membership fee income increased 10.7% year over year to $1,373 million, supported by 82.9 million paid memberships, 41.2 million executive memberships and a worldwide renewal rate of 89.7%. This recurring, high-quality revenue stream provides predictable cash flows that strengthen Costco's ability to invest through economic cycles.
Backed by substantial liquidity, disciplined leverage and durable membership economics, Costco remains well equipped to withstand retail headwinds while continuing to fund its long-term expansion strategy.
What the Latest Metrics Say About CostcoCostco, which competes with Dollar General Corporation (DG - Free Report) and Target Corporation (TGT - Free Report) , has seen its shares drop 7.8% over the past three months compared with the industry’s 4.4% decline. While shares of Dollar General have fallen 3.8%, those of Target have jumped 8.5% in the aforementioned period.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
From a valuation standpoint, Costco's forward 12-month price-to-earnings ratio stands at 42.31, higher than the industry’s ratio of 30.41. However, the stock is trading below its 12-month median level of 46.37, indicating some moderation in valuation despite sustained investor confidence in the stock.
Costco is trading at a premium to Target (with a forward 12-month P/E ratio of 15.23) and Dollar General (15.12).
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Costco’s current financial-year sales and earnings per share implies year-over-year growth of 9.5% and 13.3%, respectively. For the next fiscal year, the consensus estimate indicates a 7.9% rise in sales and 10.2% growth in earnings.
The consensus estimate for earnings per share for both the current and next fiscal year has increased by 1 cent to $20.38 and $22.46, respectively, over the past 30 days.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Costco currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
Palantir CEO Alex Karp on Wednesday criticized the token model used by U.S. artificial intelligence labs Anthropic and OpenAI as costs skyrocket.
"I'm not throwing shade at them, but something has gone completely wrong," he told CNBC's "Squawk Box." "The basic view among enterprises in this country is I'm going to chillax and waste my time with tokens."
As AI costs surge, and new models prove pricier than previous iterations, enterprises are shifting from a mindset of so-called "tokenmaxxing" in favor of a return on investment.
That setup is prompting some enterprises to adopt open weight models, capable of performing similar tasks at a fraction of the price. Chinese models are also accelerating capabilities, raising concerns that the AI rival could soon catch up to U.S. frontier labs.
Shares of the AI software company climbed 9% on Wednesday.
Read more CNBC tech newsAnthropic says Trump admin has lifted export controls on Claude Fable 5 and Mythos 5OpenAI, Anthropic backer MGX raises one of the biggest AI funds ever as it closes at $49 billionEmployers who laid off workers citing AI are already starting to regret itRecord chip rally adds $2 trillion in combined value to Micron, Intel and AMD in second quarterKarp told CNBC that the industry should not underestimate the speed at which China is making progress in building AI models.
In this environment, many businesses are also shifting from using far-reaching AI models to building and training their own, more efficient proprietary tools.
Earlier this week, Palantir announced an expanded partnership with Nvidia to use the chipmaking giant's AI tools to build custom models for U.S. government agencies.
Karp views open weight models as a potential solution for CEOs frustrated by AI labs.
"What aligns me with Nvidia, and I think is what the technical customers want, which is control over their compute, their models, their data stack and their alpha," Karp said. "They want to know they own the means of production. It's not being transferred to someone else."
Alex Karp z Palantiru označil odvětví AI za „šílené“ a obvinil přední firmy z přemrštěných cen, zneužívání dat a ohrožování národní bezpečnosti USA. Akcie Palantiru ve středu vzrostly o více než 9 %.
ToplinePalantir CEO Alex Karp on Wednesday called the AI industry “effing insane” in a heated interview on CNBC, accusing leading AI firms of overcharging, exploiting customer data and jeopardizing U.S. national security.
“This is the voice of American business that is being channeled through me,” the billionaire cofounder remarked.
AFP via Getty Images
Key FactsKarp, who appeared on CNBC to discuss Palantir’s partnership with Nvidia in a deal to help the U.S. government use advanced AI more securely, said CEOs he speaks with privately are “livid” with leading AI companies and that Palantir’s recent deal with Nvidia was designed to relieve those concerns.
He criticized the U.S. for relying on AI companies to develop technology for the military and national security, saying: “Are we really going to outsource the battlefield of this country to the consensus view in Silicon Valley? That is effing insane.”
Karp accused AI companies of imposing a “wealth tax” on businesses by charging high fees for their AI tools while collecting valuable data that could improve their own AI models.
At one point during the interview, one host commented, “You sound pretty angry,” to which Karp responded, “This is the voice of American business that is being channeled through me,” and suggested other CEOs would express the same anger in private.
After the interview appeared to end, Karp asked the hosts, “Are we still on?”
Shares of Palantir soared by more than 9% as of Wednesday morning.
forbes valuationKarp has a fortune valued at $12.3 billion as of Wednesday, according to Forbes’ estimates. Karp cofounded Palantir with billionaire Facebook investor Peter Thiel ($27.4 billion), whom Karp met while at Stanford Law School, and Stephen Cohen ($4.6 billion), and the company went public on the New York Stock Exchange through an unusual direct listing process in 2020.
key backgroundThe rollout of new AI models from OpenAI and Anthropic in recent months has drawn criticism from the U.S. government. The Pentagon designated Anthropic a “supply chain risk” in March, after Anthropic claimed the company refused to remove restrictions preventing its technology from being used for mass domestic surveillance or fully autonomous weapons. Days earlier, amid a broader contract dispute with Anthropic, the Pentagon reached a deal with OpenAI that sparked criticism from AI policy and legal experts. President Donald Trump issued an executive order in June requesting that companies allow federal oversight of new AI models before they are publicly released. OpenAI announced last week it would roll out new AI models, but said broader access would come after a “limited preview for a small group of trusted partners” approved by the U.S. government.
tangentAnthropic said late Tuesday the Commerce Department lifted export controls on Claude Fable 5 and Mythos 5, after the government banned the company from allowing foreign nationals to access its newest models over national security concerns. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick said the government had “worked closely” with Anthropic to “analyze and improve” Fable 5 and “strengthen America’s leadership in AI.”
further readingForbesU.S. Lifts Restrictions On Anthropic’s Mythos 5 And Fable 5 AI ModelsBy Siladitya Ray
Etsy zvýšila tržby z marketplace GMS o 5,5 % na 2,5 mld. USD a čeká růst v každém čtvrtletí roku 2026. Celoroční růst má být v nízkých jednotkách procent.
Key Takeaways Etsy's marketplace GMS rose 5.5% year over year to $2.5B, improving 540 basis points from Q4.Active buyers grew sequentially for the first time in two years, with GMS per buyer rising to $122.Etsy expects marketplace GMS to grow every quarter of 2026 and full-year growth in the low single digits. Etsy, Inc. (ETSY - Free Report) entered 2026 with renewed momentum, but the bigger question is whether its marketplace gross merchandise sales (GMS) growth can remain sustainable through the rest of the year. The first quarter offered encouraging evidence that the company is rebuilding the marketplace on stronger operating fundamentals rather than relying solely on temporary tailwinds.
Marketplace GMS increased 5.5% year over year to $2.5 billion, with the growth rate improving 540 basis points from the fourth quarter. Management said progress in product development and marketing is translating into improvements across marketplace fundamentals, while foreign exchange tailwinds and a softer prior-year comparison also supported the performance.
What makes the current recovery more meaningful is the shift in customer behavior. Active buyers posted sequential growth for the first time in two years, new buyers and active sellers increased year over year, while GMS per active buyer rose for the first time since late 2022, reaching $122 on a trailing 12-month basis. Etsy's mobile app continues to play a central role, with app GMS increasing 11.2% year over year and accounting for roughly 47% of marketplace GMS. Management said the momentum reflects continued investments in machine learning, personalization and improved product discovery.
Management expects some first-quarter benefits, including foreign exchange tailwinds and tariff-related average order value increases, to moderate as the year progresses. Even so, it expects continued progress in product discovery, personalization and customer engagement initiatives to further strengthen marketplace fundamentals through the remainder of 2026.
During the earnings call, management reiterated its expectation for year-over-year marketplace GMS growth in every quarter of 2026 and forecast full-year growth in the low single digits. ETSY guided second-quarter marketplace GMS to be between $2.48 billion and $2.53 billion, implying 3% to 5% year-over-year growth.
How eBay & Shopify Compare With Etsy on Marketplace GrowtheBay Inc. (EBAY - Free Report) also delivered a strong marketplace performance in the first quarter of 2026, with gross merchandise volume (GMV) rising 14% year over year to $22.2 billion. eBay said growth was broad-based across major categories, supported by faster momentum in collectibles, motors, electronics and fashion, while AI-powered seller tools, Live commerce and consumer-to-consumer initiatives continued to improve marketplace engagement. Management expects eBay's GMV growth to moderate in the second quarter as some category-specific tailwinds ease, but reaffirmed confidence in sustained marketplace momentum through the remainder of 2026.
Shopify Inc. (SHOP - Free Report) also continued to deliver healthy marketplace expansion, with first-quarter 2026 GMV increasing 35% year over year to $101 billion. Shopify attributed the performance to balanced growth across merchant sizes, geographies and sales channels, while AI capabilities such as Sidekick and integrations with ChatGPT, Microsoft Copilot and Google continued to support merchant growth. Management highlighted accelerating online, offline and B2B commerce trends and expects Shopify to maintain strong momentum, supported by continued investments. The consistent GMV growth underscores Shopify's ability to scale merchant sales despite an evolving commerce landscape.
What the Latest Metrics Say About EtsyEtsy has seen its shares jump 45.9% over the past three months compared with the industry’s 7.9% rise.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
From a valuation standpoint, Etsy's forward 12-month price-to-earnings ratio stands at 12.35, lower than the industry’s ratio of 21.21. ETSY is also trading below its 12-month median level of 20.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Etsy's earnings per share has seen an upward revision. The consensus estimate for the current fiscal year has risen from $3.76 to $3.82, while the estimate for the next fiscal year has increased from $4.30 to $4.59 over the past 60 days.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Etsy currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
The Micron Technology logo is displayed on a smartphone screen with the company's website in the background, in Creteil, France, on May 27, 2026. The American semiconductor company officially crosses the symbolic threshold of $1 trillion in market capitalization on Wall Street the previous day. (Photo by Samuel Boivin/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
NurPhoto via Getty Images
This article was written by Doug Nathman, with research by his team at Trefis.
The memory industry is in the midst of an unprecedented boom.
AI servers are driving unprecedented demand for high-bandwidth memory; supply remains tight, and DRAM prices have surged, forcing PC and smartphone makers to look beyond their traditional suppliers. That search is increasingly leading them to China. Apple has reportedly sought approval to source DRAM chips from blacklisted ChangXin Memory Technologies (CXMT), while Dell Technologies, HP Inc., Acer, and ASUS are reportedly considering similar moves.
For companies like Micron (MU), which recently posted gross margins above 84%, the real question is whether today’s extraordinary profitability can survive China’s entry into the market.
And if history is any guide, investors should start paying close attention.
China has followed this playbook before. Solar panels, batteries, EVs, and shipbuilding all went through the same cycle: state-backed investment, reverse-engineered technology, and relentless manufacturing scale, until established global players could no longer compete on cost. Until now, memory chips seemed immune. For nearly three decades, the DRAM market has been dominated by Samsung Electronics, SK Hynix, and Micron, whose technological lead and manufacturing expertise kept challengers at bay.
But the current shortage may be creating the opening China has been waiting for. If this shortage gives Chinese memory makers their first meaningful foothold with global OEMs, it could mark the biggest competitive shift the DRAM industry has seen in 30 years.
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The Squeeze That Created An OpeningThe proximate cause is the AI memory supercycle. Conventional DRAM contract prices surged between 93% and 98% QoQ over the first quarter of this year.
Samsung, SK Hynix, and Micron are shifting wafer capacity toward high-bandwidth memory, the premium high-speed memory that sits alongside Nvidia (NVDA) AI accelerators, because that is where the margin is. This is having a major side effect: commodity DRAM, the kind that goes into laptops and phones, is getting squeezed out. Apple just raised MacBook and iPad prices by between $100 and $300, citing component costs, while simultaneously shopping for a cheaper Chinese alternative. Both moves point to the same conclusion: management sees this as structural, not a passing cycle.
That is the opening companies like China’s CXMT could step into. And the speed of its rise is notable. The company began volume DRAM production in 2020. By 2026, its global revenue share had reached 8%, up from 3% a year earlier, making it the fourth-largest DRAM maker. CXMT currently has two 12-inch DRAM fabrication plants with a combined capacity of about 300,000 wafers per month. There are reports that, with a new Shanghai facility as well as other new capacity, CXMT will double its DRAM wafer output to approximately 600,000 wafers per month, according to Reuters. This compares to Micron’s own 385,000 capacity. Revenue is on pace for roughly 700% year-over-year growth in early 2026, with the company posting its first-ever profitable quarter. Its DDR5 chips are already inside Lenovo laptops shipping today.
Investors are betting that Micron will see a multi-year upcycle, driven by long-term contracts for memory. But there could be a catch.
There Are Still ChallengesStill, China’s memory push has a problem that its other sectors, such as solar and EVs, did not. Those industries were won mostly by building factories faster and cheaper than anyone else, using technology that was largely available to whoever could afford it. Memory is different because of a single piece of equipment: extreme ultraviolet (EUV) lithography machines, made only by the Dutch company ASML, which are not essential for DRAM production but are critical for manufacturing the most advanced chips efficiently. Washington has blocked ASML from selling these machines to Chinese firms, so CXMT is stuck building chips with older tools, no matter how much capital Beijing throws at it.
That shows up clearly in the numbers. CXMT’s DDR5 die is roughly 40% larger than Samsung’s equivalent, which means fewer usable chips per wafer and a structurally worse cost base, not a better one. The larger die size is itself a byproduct of working without EUV: older lithography tools cannot pack circuits as densely, so CXMT needs more silicon to do the same job. Its cost per bit remains more than 30% above the three leading suppliers, suggesting its current profitability is a function of unusually strong pricing across the whole market, not genuine product superiority.
The gap is starker in HBM, the high-bandwidth memory used in AI accelerators and the segment driving SK Hynix’s and Samsung’s surge. CXMT has only sampled HBM2 and HBM3 chips with customers like Huawei; commercial-volume production keeps slipping, even as rivals are already shipping HBM4. Unlike DDR5, catching up in HBM requires far more than manufacturing scale and capital investment.
What It Means For Micron, Samsung And SK HynixFor the likes of Micron, Samsung, and SK Hynix, China’s rise is a challenge, but not an existential one. CXMT is emerging as a credible competitor in commodity DRAM, where it could pressure pricing in PCs and smartphones. But the real investment story has shifted to HBM, where demand from AI accelerators remains strong and technological barriers are much higher. As long as China lacks access to EUV lithography and advanced HBM manufacturing, the incumbents are likely to maintain their lead in the industry’s fastest-growing and most profitable market.
That said, the industry’s trajectory will depend not just on technology, but also on regulation. Export controls, licensing decisions, and trade policy could determine how quickly Chinese suppliers expand globally and how much of the memory market ultimately becomes contestable.
A disciplined portfolio approach helps smooth these risks while still participating in long-term growth themes. The Trefis High Quality (HQ) Portfolio has consistently outperformed its market benchmark since inception, delivering cumulative returns of over 105%.
A strong stock as of late has been TSMC (TSM - Free Report) . Shares have been marching higher, with the stock up 6.9% over the past month. The stock hit a new 52-week high of $479 in the previous session. TSMC has gained 57.2% since the start of the year compared to the 18.2% move for the Zacks Computer and Technology sector and the 57.2% return for the Zacks Semiconductor - Circuit Foundry industry.
What's Driving the Outperformance?The stock has an impressive record of positive earnings surprises, having beaten the Zacks Consensus Estimate in each of the last four quarters. In its last earnings report on April 16, 2026, TSMC reported EPS of $3.49 versus consensus estimate of $3.31.
For the current fiscal year, TSMC is expected to post earnings of $15.35 per share on $161.91 in revenues. This represents a 44.13% change in EPS on a 32.26% change in revenues. For the next fiscal year, the company is expected to earn $19.5 per share on $204.95 in revenues. This represents a year-over-year change of 26.98% and 26.58%, respectively.
Valuation MetricsTSMC may be at a 52-week high right now, but what might the future hold for the stock? A key aspect of this question is taking a look at valuation metrics in order to determine if the company has run ahead of itself.
On this front, we can look at the Zacks Style Scores, as these give investors a variety of ways to comb through stocks (beyond looking at the Zacks Rank of a security). These styles are represented by grades running from A to F in the categories of Value, Growth, and Momentum, while there is a combined VGM Score as well. The idea behind the style scores is to help investors pick the most appropriate Zacks Rank stocks based on their individual investment style.
TSMC has a Value Score of D. The stock's Growth and Momentum Scores are B and A, respectively, giving the company a VGM Score of B.
In terms of its value breakdown, the stock currently trades at 31.1X current fiscal year EPS estimates, which is not in-line with the peer industry average of 31.1X. On a trailing cash flow basis, the stock currently trades at 32.1X versus its peer group's average of 32.1X. Additionally, the stock has a PEG ratio of 1.2. This isn't enough to put the company in the top echelon of all stocks we cover from a value perspective.
Zacks RankWe also need to look at the Zacks Rank for the stock, as this is even more important than the company's VGM Score. Fortunately, TSMC currently has a Zacks Rank of #2 (Buy) thanks to favorable earnings estimate revisions from covering analysts.
Since we recommend that investors select stocks carrying Zacks Rank of 1 (Strong Buy) or 2 (Buy) and Style Scores of A or B, it looks as if TSMC meets the list of requirements. Thus, it seems as though TSMC shares could have potential in the weeks and months to come.
Morgan Stanley získala podmíněný souhlas OCC na založení Morgan Stanley Digital Trust, který má rozšířit její regulované služby pro digitální aktiva. Spuštění je možné až po splnění kapitálových, likviditních a předběžných požadavků.
Key Takeaways Morgan Stanley received conditional OCC approval to establish Morgan Stanley Digital Trust.MS must meet capital, liquidity and pre-opening requirements before beginning operations. MS aims to expand federally regulated custody, staking and digital-asset servicing capabilities. Morgan Stanley (MS - Free Report) has moved closer to building a regulated digital-asset infrastructure after receiving preliminary conditional approval from the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (“OCC”) to establish Morgan Stanley Digital Trust, National Association.
The proposed national trust bank, headquartered in Purchase, NY, is expected to support Morgan Stanley’s digital-asset custody ambitions under federal oversight. Morgan Stanley Digital Trust is expected to provide custody of certain digital assets and conduct related activities, including the purchase, sale, swap and transfer of digital assets to support client investment activities. It will also facilitate staking of digital assets on a fiduciary basis and act as a collateral administrator for digital-asset lending offered by an affiliate.
The approval is conditional, meaning the trust bank cannot begin operations until it satisfies the OCC's pre-opening requirements and receives final authorization.
As part of the approval, the digital-asset trust must maintain at least $50 million in Tier 1 capital during its first three years of operation, with at least half held as eligible liquid assets. It must maintain additional eligible liquid assets sufficient to cover 180 days of operating expenses. During these three years, the trust is required to assess its capital and liquidity on a quarterly basis and engage an independent external auditor to conduct annual audits.
The trust must obtain the OCC's non-objection before appointing senior executive officers or directors during its first three years. It must also notify the OCC at least 60 days before making any significant changes to its business plan or operations.
Here’s Why This Matters for Morgan StanleyThe charter approval is strategically significant for Morgan Stanley as it strengthens the company’s push into regulated digital-asset services.
For a wealth-management-focused company like Morgan Stanley, client trust, regulatory oversight and operational reliability are critical. Bringing custody capabilities closer to its platform could improve control, reduce external dependency and enhance the client experience as demand for digital-asset exposure grows.
The trust charter provides MS with a clearer regulatory pathway to support crypto-related services such as custody, transfers, trading support and fiduciary staking. It also positions the company to capture fee opportunities across custody, servicing and related activities, while competing more effectively with established players benefiting from the institutionalization of crypto market structure.
The move complements Morgan Stanley’s broader cryptocurrency initiatives, including its partnership with crypto infrastructure provider Zerohash to introduce crypto trading capabilities for E*Trade clients. Establishing a federally regulated trust bank would give MS greater control over asset custody, settlement and operational risk management, making the initiative more than just a crypto expansion.It reflects the company’s effort to build the regulated infrastructure needed to serve investors who increasingly prefer digital-asset exposure through traditional financial institutions.
Crypto custody and related digital-asset services are unlikely to materially change Morgan Stanley’s near-term earnings profile. However, if finalized, the charter would enhance the company’s long-term growth opportunities and help it gain a competitive advantage against traditional financial institutions and crypto-focused custodians.
FinTech Taking Similar Steps as Morgan StanleyIn April 2026, Coinbase Global Inc. (COIN - Free Report) secured conditional approval from the OCC for a national trust company charter, which will help grow its crypto custody business. Once fully approved, the national trust company charter will help COIN to offer custody and related banking services nationwide.
In December 2025, Circle Internet Group’s (CRCL - Free Report) First National Digital Currency Bank, N.A. received conditional OCC approval for a crypto custody bank charter. Once fully approved, the federally regulated national trust bank would operate under OCC oversight and oversee management of the USDC Reserve for CRCL's U.S. issuer, while also supporting institutional-grade digital-asset custody capabilities.
Morgan Stanley’s Price Performance & Zacks RankMS shares have rallied 15% in the past six months, outperforming the industry’s growth of 2.8%.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Currently, Morgan Stanley carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
ServiceNow NOW and Salesforce shares climbed 5% on Wednesday after Guggenheim upgraded the software companies, arguing that their valuations have become attractive despite ongoing risks posed by artificial intelligence.
The upgrade comes after a difficult year for enterprise software stocks, with investors reassessing growth prospects as AI reshapes the industry.
ServiceNow shares are down 33% so far in 2026, while Salesforce has fallen 38%.
Guggenheim analyst John DiFucci upgraded ServiceNow to Buy from Neutral and assigned a $125 price target, valuing the company at 7.5 times enterprise value to next-12-month recurring revenue.
According to DiFucci, the upgrade reflects valuation rather than optimism that ServiceNow will emerge as a major AI winner.
"We believe current levels present an attractive opportunity for investors to purchase a comfortably profitable stock likely to continue to grow at double digits," DiFucci noted, citing expected improvements in the company's US federal government business.
His discussions with management suggest that ServiceNow's government-related business could improve as disruptions tied to federal spending changes and procurement delays associated with the Department of Government Efficiency begin to ease.
DiFucci also upgraded Salesforce to Buy from Neutral, saying investors have become overly pessimistic about the software company.
He described the "Armageddon scenario" reflected in Salesforce's valuation as "misaligned with reality."
Salesforce is currently trading at about 3.7 times projected enterprise value to revenue over the next 12 months, a valuation DiFucci believes is "grossly undervalued."
AI remains a risk, not a growth driverAlthough DiFucci turned more constructive on both companies, he maintained a cautious stance on artificial intelligence.
He has previously described AI as a major threat to software companies and said that view has not changed materially.
"We want to be clear that we are not upgrading shares because we see [ServiceNow] as an AI beneficiary," he wrote, adding that he believes AI monetization is "unlikely to materialize" for the company, and that the threat of artificial intelligence "does pose significant risks."
Regarding Salesforce, DiFucci also tempered expectations for future growth.
"Realistically, the company will 'struggle to grow much, but does not decline much either,'" he said. "This is not a call that [Salesforce] will be a beneficiary of AI, but we don't believe it will decline as implied in the current valuation."
The brokerage also pointed to ongoing risks, including talent migration to AI-native startups and the company's reliance on acquisitions, including Armis, to support growth.
Separately, Evercore ISI reiterated its Outperform rating on ServiceNow with a $150 price target ahead of the company's second-quarter earnings report.
The brokerage said investor attention has shifted from long-term AI strategy toward execution over the coming quarters.
ServiceNow recently outlined its AI Control Tower strategy, AI-native product packaging, and a target of generating more than $30 billion in subscription revenue by fiscal 2030.
According to Evercore ISI, the company's long-term target implies subscription revenue compound annual growth of approximately 17.5% without requiring an acceleration in growth.
According to Evercore ISI, the company's long-term target implies subscription revenue compound annual growth of approximately 17.5% without requiring an acceleration in growth.
For the second quarter, ServiceNow guided current remaining performance obligations growth of about 19.5% in constant currency, including contributions from the Moveworks and Armis acquisitions.
Evercore ISI said investors will closely watch whether organic growth stabilizes as pressure in the federal government market eases and AI adoption increases.
The firm added that constant-currency growth of 20% to 20.5% would likely meet expectations, while results closer to 21% or higher could help ease concerns about slowing organic growth.
Broadcom oznámil tržby ve výši 22,187 miliardy USD a tržby z polovodičů pro AI ve výši 10,80 miliardy USD, což je meziročně o 143 % více. Firma zároveň očekává ve 3. čtvrtletí tržby z polovodičů pro AI na úrovni 16 miliard USD.
Broadcom (NASDAQ: AVGO | AVGO Price Prediction) and NVIDIA (NASDAQ: NVDA) just delivered fresh AI semiconductor reports that point in similar directions but reveal very different business models.
NVIDIA closed Q1 FY2027 on May 20, 2026, and Broadcom followed with Q2 FY2026 on June 3, 2026. One sells branded GPUs to everyone. The other designs custom silicon for a handful of hyperscalers.
Custom Silicon Surges, Merchant GPUs Still Dwarf Everyone Broadcom posted $22.187 billion in revenue, up 47.9% YoY, with AI semiconductor revenue hitting $10.80 billion (+143% YoY). Hock Tan attributed the result to “increasing demand for custom AI accelerators and AI networking”, and guided Q3 AI semis to $16 billion, a triple-digit jump. The Infrastructure Software segment, anchored by VMware, added $7.178 billion at 9% growth, providing a steady subscription base.
NVIDIA operates at a different scale entirely. Data Center revenue alone reached $75.246 billion, up 92% YoY, with networking products tripling to $14.8 billion. Jensen Huang described the AI buildout as the largest infrastructure expansion in human history and pointed to Blackwell Ultra ramping at full speed. Q2 guidance landed at $91 billion, excluding any China Data Center compute.
Business Driver Broadcom NVIDIA AI Revenue (latest quarter) $10.80B $75.25B Data Center Software Anchor VMware subscriptions CUDA ecosystem Customer Pattern Few large hyperscalers Broad merchant base One Bets on Customization. One Owns the Platform. Broadcom wins by becoming indispensable to specific customers. Designing custom ASICs alongside Google, Meta, and others gives Tan a path to his stated goal of exceeding $100 billion in AI sales by 2027. That model trades volume risk for concentration risk. Lose one mega-customer and the math gets ugly fast.
NVIDIA’s playbook looks broader. Huang called the company “the only platform that runs in every cloud, powers every frontier and open source model, and scales everywhere AI is produced”.
The Vera Rubin platform, Spectrum-X networking, and a deepening partner list (Google Cloud, Anthropic, Meta, Marvell) keep the moat wide. The cost: China revenue has effectively vanished from Data Center compute, and supply-related commitments now total $119.0 billion, a meaningful cash bet.
Valuation tells its own story. AVGO trades at 61 trailing earnings and 32 forward. NVDA sits at 30 trailing and 22 forward, with a far heavier profit base.
The Next Test Is Customer Concentration Versus China I will be watching whether Broadcom’s Q3 AI ramp to $16 billion actually lands, and whether more than two or three hyperscalers contribute. For NVIDIA, the question is whether Blackwell Ultra and the Vera Rubin rollout can offset the China gap while sustaining 75% gross margins.
AVGO is down 16.5% over the past month and NVDA 7.55%, so the AI trade is clearly cooling. Hyperscaler capex commentary in July is the next data point worth tracking for both names.
How The Setup Frames Up From Here On scale, NVIDIA leads decisively, with a software moat that keeps compounding and a forward multiple that looks reasonable relative to 85.2% revenue growth.
Broadcom’s profile looks more like a complement. The custom ASIC story is real, and Tan’s execution has been clean across 8 consecutive quarters of EPS beats, though the concentration risk and richer multiple are worth weighing.
For income-oriented investors, Broadcom’s $0.65 quarterly dividend stands out. Hyperscaler capex commentary this summer will be the key swing factor for both names.
Lucid propustí asi 1 500 lidí, tedy přibližně 18 % zaměstnanců, a zrušila druhou směnu v továrně v Arizoně. Firma zároveň stáhla výhled po slabých dodávkách.
If investors hoping to find the next Tesla only glanced at Lucid (LCID +1.05%), it's easy to understand the intrigue. Lucid designed and delivered some of the most technologically advanced and efficient electric vehicles (EVs) in the world. They helped set benchmarks in range and battery efficiency, and the company strung together eight consecutive quarters of record deliveries, which ran through the end of 2025. Lucid even had an extremely wealthy backer in Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund (PIF), which poured billions into the young EV maker.
If investors dug deeper, they would have found just as many, or more, flaws with the company, including production hiccups, massive cash burn, and a failure to drive down vehicle unit economics. Worse yet, red flags have been popping up recently, and the situation appears increasingly dire.
What now? Last week, Lucid announced it would lay off roughly 1,500 employees, or about 18% of its current workforce. And this isn't the first recent instance. Just four months ago, Lucid cut 12% of its workforce.
Public relations can try to spin this as a smart move to make the EV maker more competitive and cost-efficient moving forward, but the truth is this is a substantial workforce slashing across multiple moves in a short four-month span.
Lucid's recent red flags don't stop with its employee cuts, either. The company also confirmed last week that it eliminated the second production shift at its Casa Grande, Arizona, factory.
There isn't much of a positive spin you can put on this, as it's simply trying to match production with lower-than-anticipated consumer demand for its vehicles and to balance inventory that had become bloated after a supplier issue slowed deliveries of the Gravity SUV. During the first quarter of 2026, the company produced 5,500 vehicles and delivered only just over 3,000, prompting it to pull its guidance and indicating it will provide more insight during the second-quarter earnings call.
Image source: Lucid.
Jumping ship? Further complicating matters is that Lucid's recent CEO is a bit of an unusual choice, and executive turnover is mounting.
Marc Winterhoff, who did an admirable job as interim CEO for over a year and was supposed to stay on as chief operating officer after the new CEO, Silvio Napoli, took over, has now left the company. In a regulatory filing, Lucid noted that it had eliminated the COO position.
Winterhoff's departure follows a slew of executive turnover. Starting from the top, founder and longtime CEO Peter Rawlinson unexpectedly resigned in February 2025, followed by chief engineer Eric Back being let go later that year. More recently, Emad Dlala resigned earlier this month, which also seemed a bit odd after receiving a promotion just a few months earlier. In total, more than a dozen top executives have left the young EV maker in the past two years.
This makes the executive turnover more curious: Napoli appears to be an unusual pick to run the EV start-up. Napoli built a career at a Swiss company, Schindler Group, a maker of elevators and escalators -- while an industry outsider, his overall experience could still be valuable to Lucid.
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What it all means Lucid's moves to cut workforce and overhead by the third quarter are expected to cost the company roughly $32 million in severance pay but will save about $158 million in annualized costs. No matter how you slice it, those are not a level of cost cuts that can save Lucid as it heads toward a conundrum of cutting significant workforce while also preparing for its next more affordable mass-market vehicle, the Cosmos SUV, expected to start under $50,000.
While investors believed Lucid could produce high-quality vehicles, it never delivered the financial metrics to keep them on board. Lucid's net loss in 2025 hit $2.7 billion, flat with the prior year's $2.71 billion; its operating loss widened from $2.4 billion in 2024 to $3.5 billion in 2025; and its cash burn was a staggering $3.8 billion in 2025 alone.
It's easy to root for Lucid, but it is increasingly difficult to imagine how it becomes a viable investment and much easier to see how it could speed toward bankruptcy, especially if the PIF backing were to end.
Lam Research by mohl ve 4. čtvrtletí dosáhnout hrubé marže 50,5 %, poprvé nad 50 %, díky silné poptávce po AI čipech a pokročilých nástrojích pro leptání a depozici.
Key Takeaways Lam Research targets a Q4 gross margin of 50.5%, its first guide above the 50% level.AI demand for advanced etch and deposition tools is boosting product mix and profitability.Advanced packaging revenues are expected to rise more than 50% in 2026 as AI chip investment grows. Artificial intelligence (AI) is emerging as the biggest driver of Lam Research Corporation’s (LRCX - Free Report) profitability, and it could help the company achieve a new high in the gross margin in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2026. Strong demand for advanced memory, foundry and packaging equipment is improving the product mix and allowing Lam Research to generate higher returns from its product portfolio.
In the third quarter of fiscal 2026, Lam Research reported a non-GAAP gross margin of 49.9%, up from 49.7% in the previous quarter and 49% a year ago. Revenues climbed 24% year over year to a record $5.84 billion, while non-GAAP earnings per share increased 41% to a record $1.47. The company also delivered a 35% non-GAAP operating margin, reflecting strong execution and disciplined cost management.
Management expects the momentum to continue. For the fourth quarter of fiscal 2026, Lam Research projected revenues of $6.6 billion at the midpoint and a non-GAAP gross margin of 50.5%, marking the first time the company has guided for a margin above the 50% level. This outlook is supported by higher demand for advanced etch and deposition tools used in AI chips and high-bandwidth memory production.
AI is also expanding Lam Research’s long-term growth opportunities. The company expects advanced packaging revenues to increase by more than 50% in calendar year 2026 as chipmakers invest in complex packaging technologies for AI processors. At the same time, management forecasts wafer fabrication equipment spending of about $140 billion this year.
If AI-driven investments remain strong and Lam Research continues improving its product mix, the company has a solid chance of delivering another record gross margin in the upcoming fiscal fourth quarter.
How Competitors Fare Against Lam ResearchKLA Corporation (KLAC - Free Report) and Applied Materials, Inc. (AMAT - Free Report) remain two of the biggest competitors challenging Lam Research as AI-driven semiconductor demand lifts profitability across the equipment industry.
KLA focuses on process control, inspection and yield management solutions. As AI chips become more complex, semiconductor makers need more testing and monitoring tools to improve production efficiency.
KLAC's strong exposure to advanced logic and memory manufacturing has helped it maintain healthy margins and steady cash flow growth. The company's non-GAAP gross margin has been above 60% over the past several quarters.
Applied Materials has also benefited from rising AI and memory spending. In its last reported results for the second quarter of fiscal 2026, the company generated Semiconductor Systems revenues of $5.97 billion, supported by strong DRAM and advanced packaging demand.
Applied Materials continues to invest heavily in materials engineering and advanced chip packaging technologies, areas that are becoming increasingly important for AI servers and high-bandwidth memory. In the second quarter, the company's non-GAAP gross margin expanded 80 basis points year over year to 50%.
LRCX’s Share Price Performance, Valuation and EstimatesShares of Lam Research have surged 153.9% year to date compared with the Zacks Electronics – Semiconductors industry’s rise of 54.9%.
Lam Research YTD Price Return Performance
Image Source: Zacks Investment ResearchFrom a valuation standpoint, Lam Research trades at a forward price-to-earnings ratio of 76.24, significantly higher than the industry’s average of 35.94.
Lam Research Forward 12-Month P/E Ratio
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Lam Research’s fiscal 2026 and 2027 earnings implies a year-over-year increase of approximately 37.2% and 38.3%, respectively. Estimates for fiscal 2026 have been revised upward over the past 30 days, while estimates for fiscal 2027 have been raised northward over the past seven days.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Lam Research currently carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
Toyota Motor North America v červnu v USA prodala 212 793 vozů, což je meziročně o 10,1 % více. Prodeje elektrifikovaných vozů vyskočily o 35 % na 122 063 a tvořily 57,4 % celkového objemu.
RAV4 Hybrid achieved an all-time best-ever Best-ever June sales for Lexus division 33 electrified vehicle options available between both Toyota and Lexus brands TMNA June electrified vehicle sales of 122,063, up 35.0 percent , /PRNewswire/ -- Toyota Motor North America (TMNA) today reported June 2026 U.S. sales of 212,793 vehicles, up 10.1 percent on a volume basis and up 5.7 percent on a daily selling rate (DSR) basis compared to June 2025. Sales of electrified vehicles for the month totaled 122,063, up 35.0 percent on a volume basis and up 29.6 percent on a DSR basis, representing 57.4 percent of total sales volume.
Toyota Motor North America Reports June, Second Quarter 2026 U.S. Sales Results For the second quarter, TMNA reported sales of 673,971 vehicles, up 1.1 percent on a volume basis and up 1.1 percent on a DSR basis versus the second quarter of 2025. Sales of electrified vehicles for the second quarter totaled 383,091, up 19.5 percent on a volume basis and up 19.5 percent on a DSR basis, representing 56.8 percent of total sales volume.
Toyota division posted June sales of 183,627 vehicles, up 11.2 percent on a volume basis and up 6.8 percent on a DSR basis. For the quarter, Toyota division reported sales of 585,211 vehicles, up 2.6 percent on a volume basis and up 2.6 percent on a DSR basis.
Lexus division posted June sales of 29,166 vehicles, up 3.9 percent on a volume basis and down 0.3 percent on a DSR basis. For the quarter, Lexus division reported sales of 88,760 vehicles, down 7.5 percent on a volume basis and down 7.5 percent on a DSR basis.
"Our second-quarter results reflect continued momentum across the Toyota and Lexus lineups," said Andrew Gilleland, senior vice president, Automotive Operations Group, Toyota Motor North America. "Strong demand and disciplined inventory management have fueled consistent gains versus a year ago, and accelerating interest in our electrified vehicles—with month-over-month growth throughout the quarter—reinforces that our multi-pathway approach is resonating. Combined with our commitment to affordability and a broad range of vehicles starting under $35,000, we're well-positioned to expand access to electrification while delivering value across every powertrain."
Highlights (volume basis unless otherwise noted)
TMNA:
Second quarter sales up 1.1 percent Second quarter electrified vehicle sales of 383,091, up 19.5 percent June sales up 10.1 percent June electrified vehicle sales of 122,063, up 35.0 percent 33 total electrified vehicles currently available in dealerships between both the Toyota and Lexus brands Among the lowest incentives among full-line manufacturers Toyota Division:
RAV4 Hybrid achieved an all-time best-ever All-time best-ever electrification mix at 61.4% Second quarter sales up 2.6 percent Second quarter electrified vehicle sales of 345,791, up 21.1 percent June sales up 11.2 percent June electrified vehicle sales of 110,627, up 38.0 percent Lexus Division:
Achieved an all-time best-ever June Second quarter sales down 7.5 percent Second quarter electrified vehicle sales of 37,300, up 6.5 percent June sales up 3.9 percent June electrified vehicle sales of 11,436, up 11.7 percent About Toyota
Toyota (NYSE:TM) has been a part of the cultural fabric in North America for nearly 70 years, and is committed to advancing sustainable, next-generation mobility through our Toyota and Lexus brands, plus our more than 1,800 dealerships.
Toyota directly employs nearly 64,000 people in North America who have contributed to the design, engineering, and assembly of more than 50 million cars and trucks at our 14 manufacturing plants. In 2025, Toyota's plant in North Carolina began to assemble automotive batteries for electrified vehicles.
For more information about Toyota, visit www.ToyotaNewsroom.com.
Key Takeaways Pacira will divest iovera to Zimmer Biomet for up to $140M, with closing expected in Q3 2026.PCRX to receive $70M upfront plus up to $70M in potential milestones and plans to reduce debt with the cash. Zimmer Biomet gains iovera rights and will collaborate with PCRX on the registrational spasticity program. Pacira BioSciences (PCRX - Free Report) is reshaping its business through an agreement to divest its iovera medical device franchise to Zimmer Biomet (ZBH - Free Report) for up to $140 million. The deal marks another step in Pacira's strategy to transition toward an innovative biopharmaceutical company while allowing Zimmer Biomet to expand its portfolio of pain management technologies. The closing of the transaction is expected in the third quarter of 2026, subject to customary closing conditions.
The iovera system is an FDA-cleared, drug-free cryoneurolysis device that uses controlled cold therapy to temporarily interrupt peripheral nerve signaling and relieve pain. It is approved for destroying tissue during surgical procedures and creating lesions in peripheral nervous tissue to block pain. It is also indicated for relieving pain and symptoms associated with knee osteoarthritis (OA) for up to 90 days, with some patients experiencing longer-lasting benefits.
The system can also assist with nerve targeting when used with compatible stimulation components. Clinical studies have shown that patients treated with iovera after total knee replacement surgery experienced improved knee symptoms and function, lower pain intensity and a 45% reduction in opioid use during the 12 weeks following surgery.
More on PCRX's iovera Divestiture Deal With ZBHUnder the agreement, Pacira will receive up to $140 million from Zimmer Biomet, consisting of $70 million in upfront cash and potential milestone payments tied to future revenues totaling up to an additional $70 million through Dec. 31, 2031. ZBH will acquire all rights related to the development, manufacturing and commercialization of the iovera platform. Pacira expects to use the upfront proceeds to strengthen its balance sheet, including reducing borrowings under its senior secured revolving credit facility.
The companies will also collaborate on advancing the iovera spasticity program. Pacira could earn incremental compensation if the program successfully completes its registrational study and secures regulatory approval. To facilitate the transfer of the business, the companies plan to establish a customary transition services agreement upon the potential closing of the deal.
Year to date, PCRX shares have lost 2% compared to the industry’s 6.3% growth.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
The divestiture aligns with Pacira's broader strategy of sharpening its focus on innovative biopharmaceutical products while monetizing a non-core medical device asset. The cash infusion is expected to enhance financial flexibility, support debt reduction and allow greater emphasis on its long-term growth priorities.
For Zimmer Biomet, the acquisition expands its portfolio with an established, FDA-cleared pain management technology that complements its orthopedic franchise. The company is also expected to leverage its global commercial infrastructure and medical device expertise to broaden adoption of iovera, while the continued collaboration on the spasticity program provides both companies with an opportunity to create additional long-term value.
PCRX’s Other Marketed ProductsApart from the iovera system, Pacira’s marketed product portfolio comprises two drugs — Exparel and Zilretta.
Exparel is PCRX’s flagship pain-management product, initially launched in 2012. It is a long-acting local analgesic currently approved for infiltration, fascial plane block, and as an interscalene brachial plexus nerve block, an adductor canal nerve block and a sciatic nerve block in the popliteal fossa for postsurgical pain management.
Zilretta, on the other hand, is approved as an extended-release intra-articular injection for providing relief to OA patients with knee pain.
Pacira is also currently looking to expand Zilretta’s indication to include treatment for OA pain in the shoulder. Enrollment in the phase III registrational study of Zilretta for this indication has been completed, with top-line results expected later this year. Based on the success of the study, the company plans to seek label expansion of the drug for OA pain in the shoulder.
Beyond its marketed products, PCRX is developing a pipeline of clinical-stage therapies for musculoskeletal pain and related indications. Its most advanced candidate, PCRX-201 (enekinragene inzadenovec), is a novel locally administered gene therapy being evaluated in a phase II study for knee OA.
PCRX’s Zacks Rank & Other Stocks to ConsiderPacira currently carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy).
Some other top-ranked stocks in the biotech sector are Liquidia Corporation (LQDA - Free Report) and Immunocore (IMCR - Free Report) , each sporting a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) at present. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.
Over the past 60 days, estimates for Liquidia’s 2026 EPS have increased from $1.75 to $3.02. Over the same period, EPS estimates for 2027 have also risen from $2.91 to $4.92. LQDA shares have surged 131.1% year to date.
Liquidia’searnings beat estimates in three of the trailing four quarters and missed in the remaining one, with the average surprise being 54.40%.
The estimate for Immunocore’s 2026 EPS is currently pegged at 6 cents, while the same for its 2027 EPS is currently pegged at 87 cents. IMCR shares have lost 8.5% year to date.
Immunocore’s earnings beat estimates in three of the trailing four quarters while missing the same on the remaining occasion, with the average surprise being 46.66%.