Track market-moving stories before they get noisy

A downtrend has been apparent in Valmont Industries (VMI - Free Report) lately. While the stock has lost 9.3% over the past week, it could witness a trend reversal as a hammer chart pattern was formed in its last trading session. This could mean that the bulls have been able to counteract the bears to help the stock find support.

While the formation of a hammer pattern is a technical indication of nearing a bottom with potential exhaustion of selling pressure, rising optimism among Wall Street analysts about the future earnings of this infrastructure equipment maker is a solid fundamental factor that enhances the prospects of a trend reversal for the stock.

What is a Hammer Chart and How to Trade It?This is one of the popular price patterns in candlestick charting. A minor difference between the opening and closing prices forms a small candle body, and a higher difference between the low of the day and the open or close forms a long lower wick (or vertical line). The length of the lower wick being at least twice the length of the real body, the candle resembles a 'hammer.'

In simple terms, during a downtrend, with bears having absolute control, a stock usually opens lower compared to the previous day's close, and again closes lower. On the day the hammer pattern is formed, maintaining the downtrend, the stock makes a new low. However, after eventually finding support at the low of the day, some amount of buying interest emerges, pushing the stock up to close the session near or slightly above its opening price.

When it occurs at the bottom of a downtrend, this pattern signals that the bears might have lost control over the price. And, the success of bulls in stopping the price from falling further indicates a potential trend reversal.

Hammer candles can occur on any timeframe -- such as one-minute, daily, weekly -- and are utilized by both short-term as well as long-term investors.

Like every technical indicator, the hammer chart pattern has its limitations. Particularly, as the strength of a hammer depends on its placement on the chart, it should always be used in conjunction with other bullish indicators.

Here's What Increases the Odds of a Turnaround for VMIAn upward trend in earnings estimate revisions that VMI has been witnessing lately can certainly be considered a bullish indicator on the fundamental side. That's because empirical research shows that trends in earnings estimate revisions are strongly correlated with near-term stock price movements.

Over the last 30 days, the consensus EPS estimate for the current year has increased 0.6%. What it means is that the sell-side analysts covering VMI are majorly in agreement that the company will report better earnings than they predicted earlier.

If this is not enough, you should note that VMI currently has a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy), which means it is in the top 20% of more than 4,000 stocks that we rank based on trends in earnings estimate revisions and EPS surprises. And stocks carrying a Zacks Rank #1 or 2 usually outperform the market. You can see the complete list of today's Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) stocks here >>>> .

Moreover, the Zacks Rank has proven to be an excellent timing indicator, helping investors identify precisely when a company's prospects are beginning to improve. So, for the shares of Valmont, a Zacks Rank of 2 is a more conclusive fundamental indication of a potential turnaround.

Textron Inc. (TXT - Free Report) is scheduled to release its second-quarter 2026 results on July 28, before market open. The company delivered an earnings surprise of 11.54% in the last reported quarter.

Let’s discuss the factors that are likely to be reflected in the upcoming quarterly results.

Factors Likely to Affect TXT’s Q2 ResultsHigher aircraft revenues, as well as aftermarket parts and services revenues, are likely to have boosted the Aviation unit’s top line in the second quarter.

Higher sales volumes on the MV-75 program and military sustainment programs, along with increased commercial helicopter parts and services revenues, are projected to have bolstered the Bell unit’s revenue performance.

Higher sales volumes from the Ship-to-Shore Connector program, as well as military training and support services provided by Airborne Tactical Advantage Company (“ATAC”), are likely to have bolstered Textron Systems unit’s performance.

Lower sales volumes from the specialized vehicles are likely to have impacted TXT’s Industrial segment’s performance.

Higher costs of products sold, as well as selling and administrative expenses, are likely to have hurt TXT’s overall bottom line.

TXT’s Q2 EstimatesThe Zacks Consensus Estimate for TXT’s second-quarter revenues is pegged at $3.82 billion, which indicates growth of 2.8% from the year-ago quarter’s figure.

The consensus estimate for TXT’s earnings is pegged at $1.52 per share. This indicates decline of 1.9% from the prior-year figure.

What the Zacks Model UnveilsOur proven model does not conclusively predict an earnings beat for TXT this time. The combination of a positive Earnings ESP and a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), 2 (Buy) or 3 (Hold) increases the odds of an earnings beat, which is not the case here, as you will see below.

Earnings ESP: Textron has an Earnings ESP of 0.00%. You can uncover the best stocks before they’re reported with our Earnings ESP Filter.

Zacks Rank:  TXT currently carries a Zacks Rank of 3. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.

Stocks to ConsiderBelow, we have mentioned a few players from the same sector that have the right combination of elements to beat on earnings in the upcoming releases:

General Dynamics (GD - Free Report) is set to report its second-quarter 2026 earnings on July 29, before market open. It has an Earnings ESP of +1.61% and a Zacks Rank of 2 at present.

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for GD’s earnings is pegged at $3.95 per share. The consensus estimate for its sales is pegged at $13.49 billion, indicating year-over-year growth of 3.4%.

L3Harris Technologies, Inc. (LHX - Free Report) is expected to report its second-quarter 2026 earnings on July 29, after market close. It has an Earnings ESP of +2.09% and a Zacks Rank of 3 at present.

The consensus estimate for LHX’s earnings is pegged at $2.80 per share. The consensus estimate for its sales is pegged at $5.79 billion, indicating year-over-year growth of 6.8%.

CurtissWright (CW - Free Report) is set to report its second-quarter 2026 earnings on Aug. 5, 2026, after market close. It has an Earnings ESP of +0.36% and a Zacks Rank of 3 at present.

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for CW’s earnings is pegged at $3.62 per share. The consensus estimate for its sales is pegged at $930.6 million, indicating year-over-year growth of 6.2%.

New York, New York--(Newsfile Corp. - July 24, 2026) - Kaplan Fox & Kilsheimer LLP is investigating potential securities violations against Medline Inc. ("Medline" or the "Company") (NASDAQ: MDLN).

CLICK HERE TO RECEIVE MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THIS INVESTIGATION

If you are a Medline investor and have suffered losses, or if you have information that could assist in the Medline investigation, you may CLICK HERE to contact us. You may also contact Kaplan Fox by emailing [email protected] or by calling (646) 315-9003.

On June 2, 2026, the Federal Drug Administration ("FDA") published a warning letter dated May 28, 2026 addressed to Medline summarizing "significant violations of Current Good Manufacturing Practice regulations for finished pharmaceuticals[.]" The FDA further states that Medline "failed to thoroughly investigate any unexplained discrepancy or failure of a batch or any of its components to meet any of its specifications."

Following this news, the price of Medline stock fell $2.56 per share, or 7.16%, to close at $33.19 per share on June 2, 2026.

According to a June 3, 2026 Reuters article, the latest FDA warning letter relates to "violations of manufacturing quality standards" and is "the second such action against the [C]ompany in two months." Further, the Reuters article states that according to the FDA, "the Company failed to thoroughly investigate microbial contamination incidents in finished drug products and also cited inadequate cleaning practices."

WHY CONTACT KAPLAN FOX?

Kaplan Fox & Kilsheimer LLP is a nationally recognized law firm focused on complex litigation, with offices in New York, Oakland, Los Angeles, Chicago, and New Jersey. Founded in 1956, the firm has spent more than 50 years prosecuting securities, antitrust, and consumer protection actions in federal and state courts nationwide, recovering more than $10 billion for clients and the classes it has represented.

Kaplan Fox is widely regarded as one of the nation's premier plaintiffs' securities litigation firms and has received recognition from Chambers and Partners, Benchmark Litigation, Super Lawyers, and Lawdragon. Serving as lead or co-lead counsel in many landmark cases, the firm has secured some of the largest recoveries in the history of securities litigation, including a $2.425 billion recovery on behalf of Bank of America shareholders in In re Bank of America—the largest recovery ever obtained for claims under Section 14(a) of the Securities Exchange Act—$800 million recovered for the Arkansas Teacher Retirement System and other pension funds in ATRS v. Allianz Global Investors, and a $475 million settlement in In re Merrill Lynch.

For decades, Kaplan Fox has represented public pension funds, institutional investors, businesses, and individuals in high-stakes litigation. Through its successful advocacy and precedent-setting victories, the firm has helped shape important areas of securities and corporate law while advancing accountability and protecting investor interests.

This press release may be considered Attorney Advertising in some jurisdictions under the applicable law and ethical rules. Past results do not guarantee future outcomes.

If you have any questions about this investigation, please contact:

Contacting or submitting information to Kaplan Fox & Kilsheimer LLP does not create an attorney-client relationship, nor an obligation on the part of Kaplan Fox to retain you as a client.

https://www.kaplanfox.com/case/medline-inc-class-action-alert-learn-more-now/

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/306383

Source: Kaplan Fox & Kilsheimer LLP

Ready to Announce with Confidence? Send us a message and a member of our TMX Newsfile team will contact you to discuss your needs.

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The market expects Dominion Energy (D - Free Report) to deliver a year-over-year increase in earnings on higher revenues when it reports results for the quarter ended June 2026. This widely-known consensus outlook is important in assessing the company's earnings picture, but a powerful factor that might influence its near-term stock price is how the actual results compare to these estimates.

The stock might move higher if these key numbers top expectations in the upcoming earnings report, which is expected to be released on July 31. On the other hand, if they miss, the stock may move lower.

While the sustainability of the immediate price change and future earnings expectations will mostly depend on management's discussion of business conditions on the earnings call, it's worth handicapping the probability of a positive EPS surprise.

Zacks Consensus EstimateThis energy company is expected to post quarterly earnings of $0.78 per share in its upcoming report, which represents a year-over-year change of +4%.

Revenues are expected to be $4.06 billion, up 6.6% from the year-ago quarter.

Estimate Revisions TrendThe consensus EPS estimate for the quarter has been revised 0.03% lower over the last 30 days to the current level. This is essentially a reflection of how the covering analysts have collectively reassessed their initial estimates over this period.

Investors should keep in mind that an aggregate change may not always reflect the direction of estimate revisions by each of the covering analysts.

Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise

Earnings WhisperEstimate revisions ahead of a company's earnings release offer clues to the business conditions for the period whose results are coming out. This insight is at the core of our proprietary surprise prediction model -- the Zacks Earnings ESP (Expected Surprise Prediction).

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

Thus, a positive or negative Earnings ESP reading theoretically indicates the likely deviation of the actual earnings from the consensus estimate. However, the model's predictive power is significant for positive ESP readings only.

A positive Earnings ESP is a strong predictor of an earnings beat, particularly when combined with a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), 2 (Buy) or 3 (Hold). Our research shows that stocks with this combination produce a positive surprise nearly 70% of the time, and a solid Zacks Rank actually increases the predictive power of Earnings ESP.

Please note that a negative Earnings ESP reading is not indicative of an earnings miss. Our research shows that it is difficult to predict an earnings beat with any degree of confidence for stocks with negative Earnings ESP readings and/or Zacks Rank of 4 (Sell) or 5 (Strong Sell).

How Have the Numbers Shaped Up for Dominion Energy?For Dominion Energy, the Most Accurate Estimate is lower than the Zacks Consensus Estimate, suggesting that analysts have recently become bearish on the company's earnings prospects. This has resulted in an Earnings ESP of -7.69%.

On the other hand, the stock currently carries a Zacks Rank of #4.

So, this combination makes it difficult to conclusively predict that Dominion Energy will beat the consensus EPS estimate.

Does Earnings Surprise History Hold Any Clue?Analysts often consider to what extent a company has been able to match consensus estimates in the past while calculating their estimates for its future earnings. So, it's worth taking a look at the surprise history for gauging its influence on the upcoming number.

For the last reported quarter, it was expected that Dominion Energy would post earnings of $0.89 per share when it actually produced earnings of $0.95, delivering a surprise of +6.74%.

Over the last four quarters, the company has beaten consensus EPS estimates four times.

Bottom LineAn earnings beat or miss may not be the sole basis for a stock moving higher or lower. Many stocks end up losing ground despite an earnings beat due to other factors that disappoint investors. Similarly, unforeseen catalysts help a number of stocks gain despite an earnings miss.

That said, betting on stocks that are expected to beat earnings expectations does increase the odds of success. This is why it's worth checking a company's Earnings ESP and Zacks Rank ahead of its quarterly release. Make sure to utilize our Earnings ESP Filter to uncover the best stocks to buy or sell before they've reported.

Dominion Energy doesn't appear a compelling earnings-beat candidate. However, investors should pay attention to other factors too for betting on this stock or staying away from it ahead of its earnings release.

Expected Results of an Industry PlayerEdison International (EIX - Free Report) , another stock in the Zacks Utility - Electric Power industry, is expected to report earnings per share of $1.02 for the quarter ended June 2026. This estimate points to a year-over-year change of +5.2%. Revenues for the quarter are expected to be $4.72 billion, up 3.9% from the year-ago quarter.

The consensus EPS estimate for Edison International has been revised 6.7% lower over the last 30 days to the current level. However, a higher Most Accurate Estimate has resulted in an Earnings ESP of +4.66%.

This Earnings ESP, combined with its Zacks Rank #2 (Buy), suggests that Edison International will most likely beat the consensus EPS estimate. The company beat consensus EPS estimates in each of the trailing four quarters.

Stay on top of upcoming earnings announcements with the Zacks Earnings Calendar.

Selective Insurance Group NASDAQ: SIGI reported its eighth consecutive quarter of double-digit operating return on equity, as higher investment income and underwriting profits across all three insurance segments helped offset weaker premium trends in parts of the business.

On the company’s second-quarter 2026 earnings call, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer John Marchioni said Selective generated a 13.7% operating ROE, supported by an 18% year-over-year increase in investment income. The company’s combined ratio improved 2.2 points from a year earlier to 98.0%, including 5.6 points of catastrophe losses.

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Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer Patrick Brennan said Selective reported fully diluted earnings per share of $2.11 and non-GAAP operating EPS of $1.95 for the quarter. Year to date, the company produced a 13.0% ROE and a 12.8% operating ROE, ahead of its 12% target.

Premium declines reflect underwriting discipline Marchioni said net premiums written declined 5% in the quarter, emphasizing that the decrease was partly the result of deliberate actions to improve portfolio economics and long-term returns. In Standard Commercial Lines, the company’s largest segment, the combined ratio was 99.7% year to date, and management said improving margins there remains a central focus.

Selective’s Standard Commercial Lines net premiums written fell 6% in the quarter. Marchioni said lower new business accounted for three percentage points of the decrease, while actions on the renewal portfolio, particularly in the company’s worst-performing cohorts, drove the remaining three points.

“We are constraining growth where margins do not meet our targets,” Marchioni said, adding that Selective is focusing new business and retention strategies on accounts that improve the earnings power of the book.

The company said Standard Commercial Lines new business premium declined 22% in the second quarter, consistent with the first quarter. Marchioni attributed the decline to stronger new business pricing, informed by Selective’s view of expected loss trends, and a competitive market that drove lower conversion rates.

Selective also continued efforts to diversify away from heavier exposure to contractors. Marchioni said contractors represented 43% of commercial lines premiums in 2025 but accounted for 33% of new business through the first half of 2026. He said contractors remain an important vertical, but the casualty-oriented nature of that business has pressured performance as the industry faces elevated commercial casualty loss trends.

Commercial casualty trends remain a focus Brennan said Selective had no prior-year casualty reserve development at the segment or line-of-business level in the quarter. He said severities have generally tracked in line with expectations, though the company observed higher-than-expected frequency in commercial auto liability during the first half and adjusted current-year loss ratios accordingly.

In commercial auto, the year-to-date underlying loss ratio was 69.7%, up modestly from full-year 2025. Brennan said that reflected current accident-year frequency adjustments and previously anticipated severity pressures, partially offset by earned renewal pure price. In general liability, the year-to-date underlying loss ratio was 0.8 points higher than full-year 2025, reflecting elevated severity trends embedded in the company’s planning process.

For the quarter, renewal pure price increased 7.4% excluding workers’ compensation. General liability pricing rose 8.7%, while commercial auto pricing increased 9.3%. Brennan said auto liability pricing approached 13%.

During the question-and-answer session, Marchioni said Selective’s response to commercial auto was based on frequency in the current year, not a change in its view of loss trends. He said there is a hypothesis that winter weather in the northern U.S. contributed to elevated frequency, but management considered it prudent to react to the data.

Marchioni also discussed tort reform efforts, citing changes in Georgia, targeted liquor liability reforms in South Carolina and restrictions on third-party litigation financing in North Carolina. However, he said these developments remain state-specific and are not broad enough to alter Selective’s view of casualty severity trends in the near term.

E&S remains profitable despite competitive pressure Selective’s excess and surplus lines segment delivered a 91.8% combined ratio in the second quarter. Marchioni said underwriting remained disciplined across both property and casualty.

Renewal pure price in E&S rose 3.4%, with continued casualty rate momentum reflecting the company’s view of general liability loss trends. Property pricing was slightly negative, which Marchioni said was consistent with competitive market conditions and strong margins.

Net premiums written in E&S declined 2% in the quarter. Marchioni said the E&S market has benefited from strong tailwinds in recent years but historically has been more cyclical than the admitted market. He said Selective is seeing more capacity enter the marketplace, including appetite expansion by admitted market carriers.

Despite that pressure, Marchioni said the company’s E&S business remains a long-term opportunity, supported by its margins, 50-state footprint and expanded distribution channel that includes retail agents.

Personal lines profitability improves year to date In personal lines, Selective reported a second-quarter combined ratio of 95.5%, up from 91.6% a year earlier due to higher non-catastrophe property losses. For the first half of 2026, the segment’s combined ratio was 94.1%, 80 basis points better than the first six months of 2025 and ahead of the company’s 95% target.

Marchioni said personal lines results remained stronger outside New Jersey. Net premiums written declined 8%, while target business was down 2%. New business decreased 36% in the quarter, driven by a more competitive auto market and restrictions the company has in place to manage exposure in New Jersey.

Homeowners premium was relatively flat in the quarter as Selective gained traction in its target market. Marchioni said average new business home values remained above $1 million for the first half, and target market business now represents about 70% of homeowners premium. Renewal pure price in personal lines increased 8.9%.

Investment income outlook raised Brennan said after-tax net investment income totaled $119 million in the quarter, up 18% year over year. The increase was driven by higher book yields from elevated interest rates, deployment of operating cash flows and active portfolio management. The investment portfolio had an average credit quality of A+ and a duration of 4.3 years.

Selective raised its 2026 after-tax net investment income expectation to $480 million from its original estimate of $465 million. The company reaffirmed its GAAP combined ratio guidance of 96.5% to 97.5%, assuming six points of catastrophe losses, but Brennan said results are expected to be near the top of the range given year-to-date underlying trends.

The company also renewed its casualty excess of loss and property per risk reinsurance treaties effective July 1. Brennan said the casualty treaty provides $87 million of protection above a $3 million retention, while the property per risk treaty provides $115 million of coverage above a $5 million retention.

On capital management, Brennan said Selective returned nearly 50% of second-quarter after-tax net income to shareholders through its regular dividend and $32 million of share repurchases. At quarter-end, $108 million remained under the company’s repurchase authorization.

Marchioni also noted several corporate milestones, including Selective’s 100th anniversary, its 50th year as a public company, the opening of a new corporate headquarters in Short Hills, New Jersey, and the company’s July 1 launch in Montana and Wyoming.

About Selective Insurance Group (NASDAQ:SIGI)Selective Insurance Group, Inc is an insurance holding company headquartered in Branchville, New Jersey. The organization traces its roots to a regional provider of property and casualty coverage and became a publicly traded holding company following its initial public offering in 1999. Since its formation, Selective has expanded through strategic acquisitions and organic growth initiatives to broaden its product offerings and strengthen its market position.

The company's core business encompasses a broad range of property and casualty insurance products designed to serve both commercial and personal lines customers.

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

Should You Invest $1,000 in Selective Insurance Group Right Now?Before you consider Selective Insurance Group, you'll want to hear this.

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EL SEGUNDO, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Mattel, Inc. (NASDAQ: MAT) announced today that Barbie is introducing a doll in the likeness of professional basketball superstar, entrepreneur, and philanthropist Angel Reese, celebrating her influence on sport, business, fashion, and culture while empowering the next generation of girls to dream without limits. Dressed in signature Barbie style, the doll debuts in Reebok Angel Reese 1 Basketball Shoes in Barbie pink, with a matching pair available for fans.

Eaton (ETN - Free Report) is expected to deliver a year-over-year increase in earnings on higher revenues when it reports results for the quarter ended June 2026. This widely-known consensus outlook gives a good sense of the company's earnings picture, but how the actual results compare to these estimates is a powerful factor that could impact its near-term stock price.

The earnings report, which is expected to be released on July 31, might help the stock move higher if these key numbers are better than expectations. On the other hand, if they miss, the stock may move lower.

While the sustainability of the immediate price change and future earnings expectations will mostly depend on management's discussion of business conditions on the earnings call, it's worth handicapping the probability of a positive EPS surprise.

Zacks Consensus EstimateThis power management company is expected to post quarterly earnings of $3.08 per share in its upcoming report, which represents a year-over-year change of +4.4%.

Revenues are expected to be $8 billion, up 13.9% from the year-ago quarter.

Estimate Revisions TrendThe consensus EPS estimate for the quarter has been revised 0.25% higher over the last 30 days to the current level. This is essentially a reflection of how the covering analysts have collectively reassessed their initial estimates over this period.

Investors should keep in mind that the direction of estimate revisions by each of the covering analysts may not always get reflected in the aggregate change.

Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise

Earnings WhisperEstimate revisions ahead of a company's earnings release offer clues to the business conditions for the period whose results are coming out. Our proprietary surprise prediction model -- the Zacks Earnings ESP (Expected Surprise Prediction) -- has this insight at its core.

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

Thus, a positive or negative Earnings ESP reading theoretically indicates the likely deviation of the actual earnings from the consensus estimate. However, the model's predictive power is significant for positive ESP readings only.

A positive Earnings ESP is a strong predictor of an earnings beat, particularly when combined with a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), 2 (Buy) or 3 (Hold). Our research shows that stocks with this combination produce a positive surprise nearly 70% of the time, and a solid Zacks Rank actually increases the predictive power of Earnings ESP.

Please note that a negative Earnings ESP reading is not indicative of an earnings miss. Our research shows that it is difficult to predict an earnings beat with any degree of confidence for stocks with negative Earnings ESP readings and/or Zacks Rank of 4 (Sell) or 5 (Strong Sell).

How Have the Numbers Shaped Up for Eaton?For Eaton, the Most Accurate Estimate is higher than the Zacks Consensus Estimate, suggesting that analysts have recently become bullish on the company's earnings prospects. This has resulted in an Earnings ESP of +0.32%.

On the other hand, the stock currently carries a Zacks Rank of #2.

So, this combination indicates that Eaton will most likely beat the consensus EPS estimate.

Does Earnings Surprise History Hold Any Clue?Analysts often consider to what extent a company has been able to match consensus estimates in the past while calculating their estimates for its future earnings. So, it's worth taking a look at the surprise history for gauging its influence on the upcoming number.

For the last reported quarter, it was expected that Eaton would post earnings of $2.74 per share when it actually produced earnings of $2.81, delivering a surprise of +2.55%.

Over the last four quarters, the company has beaten consensus EPS estimates three times.

Bottom LineAn earnings beat or miss may not be the sole basis for a stock moving higher or lower. Many stocks end up losing ground despite an earnings beat due to other factors that disappoint investors. Similarly, unforeseen catalysts help a number of stocks gain despite an earnings miss.

That said, betting on stocks that are expected to beat earnings expectations does increase the odds of success. This is why it's worth checking a company's Earnings ESP and Zacks Rank ahead of its quarterly release. Make sure to utilize our Earnings ESP Filter to uncover the best stocks to buy or sell before they've reported.

Eaton appears a compelling earnings-beat candidate. However, investors should pay attention to other factors too for betting on this stock or staying away from it ahead of its earnings release.

An Industry Player's Expected ResultsAmong the stocks in the Zacks Manufacturing - Electronics industry, A.O. Smith (AOS - Free Report) , is soon expected to post earnings of $0.96 per share for the quarter ended June 2026. This estimate indicates a year-over-year change of -10.3%. This quarter's revenue is expected to be $986.45 million, down 2.5% from the year-ago quarter.

The consensus EPS estimate for A.O. Smith has been revised 0.2% lower over the last 30 days to the current level. However, a lower Most Accurate Estimate has resulted in an Earnings ESP of -2.08%.

When combined with a Zacks Rank of #4 (Sell), this Earnings ESP makes it difficult to conclusively predict that A.O. Smith will beat the consensus EPS estimate. Over the last four quarters, the company surpassed consensus EPS estimates three times.

Stay on top of upcoming earnings announcements with the Zacks Earnings Calendar.

LOS ANGELES, July 24, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Schall Law Firm , a national shareholder rights litigation firm, reminds investors of a class action lawsuit against Primoris Services Corporation (“Primoris” or “the Company”) (NYSE: PRIM) for violations of §§10(b) and 20(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and Rule 10b-5 promulgated thereunder by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Investors who purchased the Company's securities between August 5, 2025 and June 22, 2026, inclusive (the “Class Period”), are encouraged to contact the firm before September 21, 2026.

It doesn't matter your age or experience: taking full advantage of the stock market and investing with confidence are common goals for all investors. Luckily, Zacks Premium offers several different ways to do both.

The popular research service can help you become a smarter, more self-assured investor, giving you access to daily updates of the Zacks Rank and Zacks Industry Rank, the Zacks #1 Rank List, Equity Research reports, and Premium stock screens.

Zacks Premium also includes the Zacks Style Scores.

What are the Zacks Style Scores? Developed alongside the Zacks Rank, the Zacks Style Scores are a group of complementary indicators that help investors pick stocks with the best chances of beating the market over the next 30 days.

Each stock is given an alphabetic rating of A, B, C, D or F based on their value, growth, and momentum qualities. With this system, an A is better than a B, a B is better than a C, and so on, meaning the better the score, the better chance the stock will outperform.

The Style Scores are broken down into four categories:

Value ScoreValue investors love finding good stocks at good prices, especially before the broader market catches on to a stock's true value. Utilizing ratios like P/E, PEG, Price/Sales, Price/Cash Flow, and many other multiples, the Value Style Score identifies the most attractive and most discounted stocks.

Growth ScoreWhile good value is important, growth investors are more focused on a company's financial strength and health, and its future outlook. The Growth Style Score takes projected and historic earnings, sales, and cash flow into account to uncover stocks that will see long-term, sustainable growth.

Momentum ScoreMomentum investors, who live by the saying "the trend is your friend," are most interested in taking advantage of upward or downward trends in a stock's price or earnings outlook. Utilizing one-week price change and the monthly percentage change in earnings estimates, among other factors, the Momentum Style Score can help determine favorable times to buy high-momentum stocks.

VGM ScoreIf you like to use all three kinds of investing, then the VGM Score is for you. It's a combination of all Style Scores, and is an important indicator to use with the Zacks Rank. The VGM Score rates each stock on their shared weighted styles, narrowing down the companies with the most attractive value, best growth forecast, and most promising momentum.

How Style Scores Work with the Zacks Rank The Zacks Rank is a proprietary stock-rating model that harnesses the power of earnings estimate revisions, or changes to a company's earnings expectations, to help investors build a successful portfolio.

Investors can count on the Zacks Rank's success, with #1 (Strong Buy) stocks producing an unmatched +23.94% average annual return since 1988, more than double the S&P 500's performance. But the model rates a large number of stocks, and there are over 200 companies with a Strong Buy rank, plus another 600 with a #2 (Buy) rank, on any given day.

With more than 800 top-rated stocks to choose from, it can certainly feel overwhelming to pick the ones that are right for you and your investing journey.

That's where the Style Scores come in.

You want to make sure you're buying stocks with the highest likelihood of success, and to do that, you'll need to pick stocks with a Zacks Rank #1 or #2 that also have Style Scores of A or B. If you like a stock that only has a #3 (Hold) rank, it should also have Scores of A or B to guarantee as much upside potential as possible.

The direction of a stock's earnings estimate revisions should always be a key factor when choosing which stocks to buy, since the Scores were created to work together with the Zacks Rank.

Here's an example: a stock with a #4 (Sell) or #5 (Strong Sell) rating, even one with Style Scores of A and B, still has a downward-trending earnings outlook, and a bigger chance its share price will decrease too.

Thus, the more stocks you own with a #1 or #2 Rank and Scores of A or B, the better.

Stock to Watch: AMN Healthcare Services (AMN - Free Report) AMN Healthcare Services, Inc. (AMN - Free Report) , operating from Dallas, TX, is a travel healthcare staffing company. Its business has evolved beyond traditional healthcare staffing and recruitment services, thereby becoming a strategic total talent solutions partner with its clients. It has expanded its portfolio to serve a diverse and growing set of healthcare talent-related needs. In addition to its healthcare professional staffing and recruitment services, AMN’s suite of healthcare workforce solutions includes MSP, vendor management systems (VMS), medical language interpretation services, predictive labor analytics, workforce optimization technology and consulting, recruitment process outsourcing (RPO), revenue cycle solutions, credentialing services and virtual care management services. AMN enables its clients to build, manage and optimize their healthcare talent to deliver improved patient outcomes and experience. It continues to enhance its platform with technology-enabled solutions, including digital workforce platforms, automation tools and AI-driven capabilities to improve speed, efficiency and clinician engagement.

AMN is a #3 (Hold) on the Zacks Rank, with a VGM Score of A.

It also boasts a Value Style Score of A thanks to attractive valuation metrics like a forward P/E ratio of 12.25; value investors should take notice.

For fiscal 2026, one analyst revised their earnings estimate upwards in the last 60 days, and the Zacks Consensus Estimate has increased $0.17 to $2.70 per share. AMN boasts an average earnings surprise of +53.3%.

With a solid Zacks Rank and top-tier Value and VGM Style Scores, AMN should be on investors' short list.

, /PRNewswire/ -- Simpson Manufacturing Co., Inc. (the "Company") (NYSE: SSD), an industry leader in engineered structural connectors and building solutions, today announced that on July 23, 2026, the Company's Board of Directors (the "Board") declared a regular quarterly dividend of 30 cents per share on the Company's common stock. The dividend is payable on October 22, 2026, to stockholders of record on October 1, 2026.

About Simpson Manufacturing Co., Inc.

Simpson Manufacturing Co., Inc., headquartered in Pleasanton, California, through its subsidiaries, including Simpson Strong-Tie Company Inc., designs, engineers and is a leading manufacturer of wood construction products, including connectors, truss plates, fastening systems, fasteners and shear walls, and concrete construction products, including adhesives, specialty chemicals, mechanical anchors, powder actuated tools and reinforcing fiber materials. The Company primarily supplies its building product solutions to both the residential and commercial markets in North America and Europe. The Company's common stock trades on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol "SSD."

CONTACT:   
Addo Investor Relations
[email protected]
(310) 829-5400

SOURCE Simpson Manufacturing Co., Inc.

Key Takeaways OII posted higher Q2 profit and revenues, led by gains across four business segments.Oceaneering expects Q3 revenue growth with EBITDA of $115M-$125M and strength in SSR, OPG and ADTech.OII raised 2026 adjusted EBITDA guidance to $400M-$440M while lowering the IMDS profit outlook. Oceaneering International, Inc. (OII - Free Report) reported second-quarter 2026 earnings of 65 cents per share, up from 54 cents in the year-ago quarter. Higher year-over-year operating income from the company's Subsea Robotics, Manufactured Products, Offshore Projects Group and Aerospace and Defense Technologies segments contributed to this improvement.

Total revenues were $768.2 million, increased approximately 10% from the year-ago quarter’s $698.2 million. This increase reflected revenue growth across all segments except Integrity Management & Digital Solutions.

In the second quarter of 2026, the Houston, TX-based oil and gas equipment and services company reported adjusted EBITDA of $114.5 million, up 10.9% year over year.

Operating income increased 11% year over year to $88.2 million. Gross margin expanded to $157 million from $148.4 million, reflecting revenue growth and improved performance across most operating segments.

Q2 Segmental Information of OceaneeringSubsea Robotics (SSR): The unit provides remotely operated submersible vehicles for drill support, vessel-based inspection, subsea hardware installation, pipeline surveys and maintenance services.

Revenues totaled $232 million compared with the year-ago quarter’s $218.8 million.

The segment also reported an operating income of $66.3 million compared with $64.5 million a year ago.

The company's segment delivered an EBITDA margin of 35% in the second quarter of 2026, flat compared with the year-ago quarter. Revenue per day for remotely operated vehicles (“ROV”) rose to $11,894, while ROV fleet utilization slightly decreased to 66%.

Manufactured Products: The segment focuses on the manufactured products business, theme park entertainment systems and automated guided vehicles.

Revenues totaled $149 million compared with the year-ago quarter’s $145.1 million.

The segment posted an operating profit of $21.9 million in the second quarter, up from the year-ago quarter’s $18.8 million.

The backlog totaled $445 million as of June 30, 2026, down 13.8% from the same time in 2025. For the 12 months ending June 30, 2026, the book-to-bill ratio was 0.88.

Offshore Projects Group (OPG): This segment involves Oceaneering’s former Subsea Projects unit, excluding survey services and global data solutions, the service and rental business and ROV tooling.

Revenues increased about 22.5% to $182.8 million from $149.3 million in the year-ago quarter.

The unit’s operating income totaled $30 million compared with the prior-year quarter’s $21.7 million. The company’s operating income margin slightly increased to 16% from the prior-year quarter’s 15%, reflecting favorable project mix and disciplined execution.

Integrity Management & Digital Solutions (IMDS): This segment covers Oceaneering’s Asset Integrity unit, along with its global data solutions business.

Revenues of $70.8 million decreased from the year-ago quarter’s $75.4 million.

Operating income decreased to $0.1 million from $4.6 million due to lower activity, weaker cost absorption and higher personnel-related costs in West Africa and the Middle East.

Aerospace and Defense Technologies (ADTech): The segment is engaged in Oceaneering’s government business, which focuses on defense subsea technologies, marine services and space systems.

Revenues totaled $133.5 million, up from $109.6 million recorded in the second quarter of 2025.

The operating income increased to $16.4 million from $16.3 million in the year-ago quarter. Operating income margin decreased to 12% from 15% in the year-ago quarter due to program mix and timing.

OII’s Capital Expenditure & Balance SheetThe capital expenditure in the second quarter, including acquisitions, totaled $30.8 million.

As of June 30, 2026, OII had cash and cash equivalents worth $629.5 million and $688.9 million, respectively, along with a long-term debt of about $490.2 million. The debt-to-capitalization was 29.6%.

The company repurchased 263,335 shares for approximately $10 million. OII also issued $500 million of senior notes due 2034 and increased its revolving credit commitments to $345 million from $215 million.

Q3 and 2026 Outlook by OceaneeringThis Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) company expects consolidated revenues to increase in the third quarter of 2026, with EBITDA projected in the range of $115 million to $125 million. At the segment level, SSR is expected to post growth in both revenues and operating income. Manufactured Products is projected to witness slight declines in revenues and operating income. OPG is anticipated to deliver increases in both revenues and operating income.

IMDS revenues are expected to increase, while operating income is likely to remain relatively flat. Meanwhile, ADTech is forecasted to report higher revenues and operating income. Unallocated expenses are expected to be in the $50 million range. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here

Management expressed confidence in the company's outlook for the remainder of 2026, supported by strong first-half execution, healthy demand across most of its businesses and an improved financial position. The company expects offshore activity to continue strengthening, driven by higher rig utilization, longer-duration contracts and sustained demand for subsea services.

Management also expects Subsea Robotics to benefit from higher ROV utilization and continued survey vessel activity, while the Manufactured Products backlog is anticipated to improve in the second half of 2026, supported by recent contract awards and additional opportunities in the sales pipeline. Despite ongoing uncertainty in the Middle East and lower activity in West Africa affecting the IMDS business, management believes the performance of its other operating segments remains in line with or ahead of prior expectations.

The company updated its full-year 2026 consolidated adjusted EBITDA outlook to a range of $400 million to $440 million. OII retained its previously issued consolidated and segment guidance, except that IMDS operating income is now expected to decline significantly, with the operating income margin projected to be in the low-single-digit percentage range.

Important Energy Earnings at a GlanceWhile we have discussed OII’s second-quarter results in detail, let us take a look at three other key reports in the energy space.

Houston, TX-based oil and gas equipment and services provider Halliburton (HAL - Free Report) posted second-quarter 2026 adjusted net income per share of 55 cents, marginally beating the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 54 cents. The outperformance was backed by year-over-year revenue growth. However, the bottom line was flat compared with the prior-year level.

As of June 30, 2026, Halliburton had approximately $2 billion in cash and cash equivalents and $7.1 billion in long-term debt, representing a debt-to-capitalization of 39%.

Fort Worth, TX-based oil and gas exploration and production company Range Resources Corporation (RRC - Free Report) reported second-quarter 2026 adjusted earnings of 79 cents per share, up 19.7% from 66 cents a year ago. Range Resources’ bottom line topped the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 56 cents by 41.1%. Strong quarterly results are driven by higher production and improved price realization.

Range Resources’ net debt was $880.8 million at June 30, 2026, down 28% from $1.22 billion at year-end 2025. It repurchased $78 million of shares and paid $24 million in dividends during the quarter.

Houston, TX-based oil and gas storage and transportation company Kinder Morgan, Inc. (KMI - Free Report) reported second-quarter 2026 adjusted earnings of 37 cents per share, beating the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 31 cents by 19.35%. Earnings increased 32.1% from 28 cents per share in the year-ago quarter. Strong quarterly results benefited from broad-based segment growth, led by higher natural gas transportation and gathering volumes. Natural gas transport volumes rose 7%, while gathering volumes increased 26%.

As of June 30, 2026, Kinder Morgan reported $89 million in cash and cash equivalents. Kinder Morgan’s net debt stood at $32.03 billion at quarter-end. The net debt-to-adjusted EBITDA ratio improved to 3.6X from 3.8X at the end of 2025.

Shares of Elastic (ESTC - Free Report) have gained 7% over the past four weeks to close the last trading session at $57.33, but there could still be a solid upside left in the stock if short-term price targets of Wall Street analysts are any indication. Going by the price targets, the mean estimate of $72.4 indicates a potential upside of 26.3%.

The mean estimate comprises 25 short-term price targets with a standard deviation of $13.37. While the lowest estimate of $55.00 indicates a 4.1% decline from the current price level, the most optimistic analyst expects the stock to surge 84.9% to reach $106.00. It's very important to note the standard deviation here, as it helps understand the variability of the estimates. The smaller the standard deviation, the greater the agreement among analysts.

While the consensus price target is a much-coveted metric for investors, solely banking on this metric to make an investment decision may not be wise at all. That's because the ability and unbiasedness of analysts in setting price targets have long been questionable.

But, for ESTC, an impressive average price target is not the only indicator of a potential upside. Strong agreement among analysts about the company's ability to report better earnings than they predicted earlier strengthens this view. While a positive trend in earnings estimate revisions doesn't gauge how much a stock could gain, it has proven to be powerful in predicting an upside.

Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise

Here's What You Should Know About Analysts' Price TargetsAccording to researchers at several universities across the globe, a price target is one of many pieces of information about a stock that misleads investors far more often than it guides. In fact, empirical research shows that price targets set by several analysts, irrespective of the extent of agreement, rarely indicate where the price of a stock could actually be heading.

While Wall Street analysts have deep knowledge of a company's fundamentals and the sensitivity of its business to economic and industry issues, many of them tend to set overly optimistic price targets. Are you wondering why?

They usually do that to drum up interest in shares of companies that their firms either have existing business relationships with or are looking to be associated with. In other words, business incentives of firms covering a stock often result in inflated price targets set by analysts.

However, a tight clustering of price targets, which is represented by a low standard deviation, indicates that analysts have a high degree of agreement about the direction and magnitude of a stock's price movement. While that doesn't necessarily mean the stock will hit the average price target, it could be a good starting point for further research aimed at identifying the potential fundamental driving forces.

That said, while investors should not entirely ignore price targets, making an investment decision solely based on them could lead to disappointing ROI. So, price targets should always be treated with a high degree of skepticism.

Why ESTC Could Witness a Solid UpsideAnalysts' growing optimism over the company's earnings prospects, as indicated by strong agreement among them in revising EPS estimates higher, could be a legitimate reason to expect an upside in the stock. That's because empirical research shows a strong correlation between trends in earnings estimate revisions and near-term stock price movements.

For the current year, one estimate has moved higher over the last 30 days compared to no negative revision. As a result, the Zacks Consensus Estimate has increased 13.5%.

Moreover, ESTC currently has a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy), which means it is in the top 20% of more than 4,000 stocks that we rank based on four factors related to earnings estimates. Given an impressive externally-audited track record, this is a more conclusive indication of the stock's potential upside in the near term. You can see the complete list of today's Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) stocks here >>>> .

Therefore, while the consensus price target may not be a reliable indicator of how much ESTC could gain, the direction of price movement it implies does appear to be a good guide.

MaxLinear Inc. (NASDAQ:MXL) on Thursday reported upbeat second-quarter earnings and issued strong third-quarter guidance.

Second-quarter revenue rose 55% year over year and 23% sequentially to $168.8 million, beating the $164.702 million analyst estimate. GAAP earnings were 2 cents per share, while adjusted earnings of 35 cents per share topped the 33-cent estimate.

“Our Q2 financial results highlight the exciting inflection in our business trajectory and the beginning of a multiyear growth phase for MaxLinear,” CEO Kishore Seendripu said.

For the third quarter, MaxLinear expects revenue of $210 million to $220 million, above the $173.837 million analyst estimate.

MaxLinear shares dipped 14.6% to trade at $77.90 on Friday.

These analysts made changes to their price targets on MaxLinear following earnings announcement.

Needham analyst N. Quinn Bolton maintained the stock with a Buy and raised the price target from $60 to $100. Susquehanna analyst Christopher Rolland maintained the stock with a Neutral and raised the price target from $45 to $80. Considering buying MXL stock? Here’s what analysts think:

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Wall Street watches a company's quarterly report closely to understand as much as possible about its recent performance and what to expect going forward. Of course, one figure often stands out among the rest: earnings.

Life and the stock market are both about expectations, and rising above what is expected is often rewarded, while falling short can come with negative consequences. Investors might want to try to capture stronger returns by finding positive earnings surprises.

The ability to identify stocks that are likely to top quarterly earnings expectations can be profitable, but it's no simple task. Here at Zacks, our Earnings ESP filter helps make things easier.

The Zacks Earnings ESP, ExplainedThe Zacks Expected Surprise Prediction, or ESP, works by locking in on the most up-to-date analyst earnings revisions because they can be more accurate than estimates from weeks or even months before the actual release date. The thinking is pretty straightforward: analysts who provide earnings estimates closer to the report are likely to have more information.

Now that we understand the basic idea, let's look at how the Expected Surprise Prediction works. The ESP is calculated by comparing the Most Accurate Estimate to the Zacks Consensus Estimate, with the percentage difference between the two giving us the Zacks ESP figure.

When we join a positive earnings ESP with a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) or stronger, stocks posted a positive bottom-line surprise 70% of the time. Plus, this system saw investors produce roughly 28% annual returns on average, according to our 10 year backtest.

Most stocks, about 60%, fall into the #3 (Hold) category, and they are expected to perform in-line with the broader market. Stocks with a #2 (Buy) and #1 (Strong Buy) rating, or the top 15% and top 5% of stocks, respectively, should outperform the market, with Strong Buy stocks outperforming more than any other rank.

Should You Consider Teradyne?Now that we understand what the ESP is and how beneficial it can be, let's dive into a stock that currently fits the bill. Teradyne (TER - Free Report) earns a #2 (Buy) right now and its Most Accurate Estimate sits at $2.05 a share, just four days from its upcoming earnings release on July 28, 2026.

TER has an Earnings ESP figure of +0.59%, which, as explained above, is calculated by taking the percentage difference between the $2.05 Most Accurate Estimate and the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $2.04. Teradyne is one of a large database of stocks with positive ESPs. Make sure to utilize our Earnings ESP Filter to uncover the best stocks to buy or sell before they've reported.

TER is one of just a large database of Computer and Technology stocks with positive ESPs. Another solid-looking stock is Lam Research (LRCX - Free Report) .

Slated to report earnings on July 29, 2026, Lam Research holds a #2 (Buy) ranking on the Zacks Rank, and its Most Accurate Estimate is $1.71 a share five days from its next quarterly update.

For Lam Research, the percentage difference between its Most Accurate Estimate and its Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.69 is +1.38%.

TER and LRCX's positive ESP metrics may signal that a positive earnings surprise for both stocks is on the horizon.

Find Stocks to Buy or Sell Before They're ReportedUse the Zacks Earnings ESP Filter to turn up stocks with the highest probability of positively, or negatively, surprising to buy or sell before they're reported for profitable earnings season trading. Check it out here >>

Key Takeaways Deckers beat Q1 earnings and revenue estimates, driven by HOKA, UGG and strong DTC demand.DECK raised fiscal 2027 EPS guidance but increased its forward tariff cost assumption to 12.5%.Deckers expects Q2 gross margin pressure from higher tariff and freight costs, despite healthy demand. Deckers Outdoor Corporation (DECK - Free Report) reported first-quarter fiscal 2027 results, with both earnings and revenues surpassing the Zacks Consensus Estimate. The company reported earnings of 94 cents per share, up 1.1% year over year, which beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 88 cents by 6.8%. Net sales increased 5.7% year over year to $1,019.5 million and topped the consensus estimate of $1,017 million by 0.3%. On a constant-currency basis, net sales grew 4.8% year over year.

The company delivered its first-ever June quarter with more than $1 billion in revenues, driven by continued momentum in the HOKA and UGG brands, strong direct-to-consumer (DTC) demand and disciplined full-price selling across channels. Management also raised its fiscal 2027 earnings outlook following stronger-than-expected first-quarter profitability.

However, investors remained cautious as the company projected lower second-quarter gross margin due to tariff and freight headwinds, and increased its tariff cost assumption for the remainder of fiscal 2027. Consequently, shares of the company lost 6.1% yesterday.

DECK’s Brand Momentum Led by HOKA & UGGThe HOKA brand remained the primary growth driver in the first quarter, with net sales increasing 7.7% year over year to $703.5 million, slightly missing our estimate of $705.3 million. Growth was driven by a 17% increase in DTC revenues, supported by continued strength in Europe, China, Japan and the United States.

Management highlighted broad-based demand across franchise families, with Clifton, Bondi, Speedgoat 7, Mach 7, Mafate Speed 2 and Skyward contributing to growth. The company also noted encouraging early consumer response to the recently launched Clifton Pro, while healthy full-price selling and disciplined marketplace management continued to support the brand's performance.

The UGG brand delivered solid first-quarter results, with net sales increasing 4.9% year over year to $278 million, beating our estimate of $276.2 million. Growth was balanced across wholesale and DTC channels, with international markets, particularly Asia, leading performance. Management highlighted continued progress in its 365 and men's growth initiatives, supported by strong demand for the Lowmel family, Golden collection and Otzo Clog. The company cited encouraging consumer response to its spring apparel collection, particularly fleece products, reinforcing UGG's expansion as a year-round lifestyle brand.

Meanwhile, net sales from Other Brands declined 18.1% year over year to $37.9 million compared with our estimate of $37.5 million, primarily reflecting the continued phase-out of Koolaburra standalone operations.

Deckers’ DTC & International Businesses Drive Q1 GrowthWholesale net sales increased 2.2% year over year to $666.7 million in the first quarter. Reported wholesale growth reflected planned timing differences that shifted certain international wholesale and distributor shipments to later in fiscal 2027 compared with the prior year. Management emphasized that underlying demand remained healthy, supported by higher U.S. wholesale sell-in, strong full-price sell-through and record reorder activity in the EMEA region.

DTC net sales increased 13% year over year to $352.8 million, while comparable DTC sales rose 6.8%, driven by continued strength across both HOKA and UGG. HOKA's international DTC business continued to post robust growth in Europe, China and Japan.

From a geographic perspective, domestic net sales increased 3.2% year over year to $517.4 million. International net sales rose 8.4% to $502.1 million. Management noted that both HOKA and UGG continued to generate healthy demand across international markets, with Europe, China and Japan remaining key contributors to growth.

DECK’s Full-Price Selling Lifts Gross MarginGross profit increased 6.9% year over year to $575.2 million in the first quarter. Gross margin expanded 60 basis points to 56.4% and surpassed our estimate of 54.6%. Favorable channel and product mix, full-price selling, foreign exchange benefits and better management of closeout inventory more than offset a 150-basis-point tariff headwind. Closeout management contributed about 60 basis points to the year-over-year margin comparison.

Selling, general and administrative expenses increased 12.7% year over year to $419.9 million. As a percentage of net sales, SG&A expenses increased to 41.2% from 38.6% in the prior-year quarter. Higher spending reflected continued investments in marketing, technology, additional personnel supporting key growth initiatives, higher occupancy costs related to new HOKA stores and unfavorable foreign currency remeasurement.

Operating income declined 6% year over year to $155.3 million from $165.3 million in the year-ago quarter. The operating margin contracted to 15.2% from 17.1%.

DECK Maintains Strong Liquidity & Shareholder ReturnsCash and cash equivalents were $1.60 billion as of June 30, 2026, compared with $1.72 billion a year earlier. Inventories declined 4.9% year over year to $807.6 million, and the company maintained a debt-free balance sheet with no outstanding borrowings. Total stockholders' equity stood at $2.30 billion at the end of the quarter.

During the first quarter of fiscal 2027, Deckers repurchased approximately 3.3 million shares of its common stock for $338.2 million at an average price of $103.79 per share. The company noted that share repurchases continued to be an important component of its capital allocation strategy.

As of June 30, 2026, approximately $4.7 billion remained available under the company's existing share repurchase authorization.

Q2’27 Outlook for DECKFor the fiscal second quarter, this Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) company expects consolidated revenues to increase approximately 5% year over year. HOKA revenues are projected to grow at a high-single-digit rate, while UGG is expected to maintain its mid-single-digit growth rate. Other Brands revenues are expected to decline approximately 50% from the prior-year quarter, primarily reflecting the continued streamlining of the company's brand portfolio following the wind-down of the Koolaburra business.

Management indicated that second-quarter results will continue to reflect planned timing differences in the wholesale and distributor businesses, with some international shipments moving later into the fiscal year. Similar to the first quarter, these timing dynamics are expected to affect reported wholesale growth but do not reflect any change in underlying consumer demand. The company expects continued strength in its direct-to-consumer business, while emphasizing that HOKA and UGG will continue to experience healthy demand across regions and channels.

Gross margin is expected to decline year over year due to higher tariff costs and rising freight expenses. Selling, general and administrative expenses will remain elevated as the company continues to make first-half weighted investments in its strategic growth initiatives, including brand-building, technology and marketplace expansion. As a result, earnings per share are expected to be in the range of $1.73-$1.78.

Management also reiterated that revenue growth is expected to accelerate in the second half of fiscal 2027, primarily driven by the HOKA brand and the normalization of international wholesale and distributor shipment timing. The company noted that quarterly growth is not expected to be linear as it continues to prioritize a pull model of demand and disciplined marketplace execution to support long-term sustainable growth.

Deckers’ Fiscal 2027 View Reflects Higher Tariff AssumptionsFor fiscal 2027, Deckers continues to expect consolidated net sales to be in the range of $5.86-$5.91 billion, representing high-single-digit growth from the prior year. HOKA revenues are still expected to increase at a low-double-digit rate, while UGG revenues are projected to grow at a mid-single-digit pace. Management continues to expect revenue growth to accelerate in the second half of fiscal 2027, primarily driven by the HOKA brand and the normalization of international wholesale and distributor shipment timing.

The company now expects gross margin to be slightly better than 56.5%, reflecting stronger-than-expected first-quarter performance. The updated outlook incorporates a higher forward tariff assumption of 12.5%, up from the previous 10% and continues to exclude any benefit from potential refunds of tariffs previously paid. Management indicated that it is pursuing tariff refunds but has not included any related assumptions in its fiscal 2027 guidance given the uncertainty around timing and recovery.

Selling, general and administrative expenses are still expected to be approximately 35% of net sales as Deckers continues investing in its long-term growth initiatives. Planned investments remain focused on strengthening the company's brand portfolio through marketing, expanding technology capabilities and data analytics, supporting key growth initiatives and reinforcing the foundation of the business. Management stated that these investments are intended to position the company for operating expense leverage beginning in fiscal 2028 and beyond.

Operating margin is now anticipated to be slightly better than 21.5%, reflecting the improved gross margin outlook. The company continues to project an effective tax rate of approximately 23% and has raised its fiscal 2027 earnings per share guidance to $7.35-$7.50, as compared with its prior outlook of $7.30-$7.45, driven by higher expected gross margin. The guidance also assumes share repurchases with a value equal to approximately 80% of projected fiscal 2027 free cash flow.

DECK Stock Past Three-Month Performance

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

Shares of the company have lost 9.9% over the past three months compared with the industry’s 1.2% decline.

Other Key Retail PicksGenesco Inc. (GCO - Free Report) is a Nashville-based specialty retailer and branded company. It sells footwear and accessories through retail stores. The company flaunts a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) at present. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Genesco’s current fiscal-year earnings indicates growth of 55.2% from the year-ago actuals. GCO delivered a trailing four-quarter average earnings surprise of 3.8%.

Canada Goose (GOOS - Free Report) is a designer, manufacturer, distributor and retailer of premium outerwear for men, women and children. The company also holds a Zacks Rank #1 at present.

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Canada Goose’s current fiscal-year earnings and sales indicates growth of 58.9% and 3.7%, respectively, from the year-ago actuals. GOOS delivered a negative trailing four-quarter average earnings surprise of 43.3%.

Designer Brands Inc. (DBI - Free Report) designs, produces and retails footwear and accessories. It offers shoes, boots, sandals, sneakers, socks, handbags and accessories. It currently carries a Zacks Rank #2.

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Designer Brands’ current fiscal-year earnings and sales suggests growth of 137.5% and 0.5%, respectively, from the year-ago actuals. DBI delivered a trailing four-quarter average earnings surprise of 112.8%.

For new and old investors, taking full advantage of the stock market and investing with confidence are common goals. Zacks Premium provides lots of different ways to do both.

The research service features daily updates of the Zacks Rank and Zacks Industry Rank, full access to the Zacks #1 Rank List, Equity Research reports, and Premium stock screens, all of which will help you become a smarter, more confident investor.

It also includes access to the Zacks Style Scores.

What are the Zacks Style Scores? Developed alongside the Zacks Rank, the Zacks Style Scores are a group of complementary indicators that help investors pick stocks with the best chances of beating the market over the next 30 days.

Each stock is assigned a rating of A, B, C, D, or F based on their value, growth, and momentum characteristics. Just like in school, an A is better than a B, a B is better than a C, and so on -- that means the better the score, the better chance the stock will outperform.

The Style Scores are broken down into four categories:

Value ScoreFor value investors, it's all about finding good stocks at good prices, and discovering which companies are trading under their true value before the broader market catches on. The Value Style Score utilizes ratios like P/E, PEG, Price/Sales, Price/Cash Flow, and a host of other multiples to help pick out the most attractive and discounted stocks.

Growth ScoreGrowth investors, on the other hand, are more concerned with a company's financial strength and health, and its future outlook. The Growth Style Score examines things like projected and historic earnings, sales, and cash flow to find stocks that will experience sustainable growth over time.

Momentum ScoreMomentum trading is all about taking advantage of upward or downward trends in a stock's price or earnings outlook, and these investors live by the saying "the trend is your friend." The Momentum Style Score can pinpoint good times to build a position in a stock, using factors like one-week price change and the monthly percentage change in earnings estimates.

VGM ScoreIf you like to use all three kinds of investing, then the VGM Score is for you. It's a combination of all Style Scores, and is an important indicator to use with the Zacks Rank. The VGM Score rates each stock on their shared weighted styles, narrowing down the companies with the most attractive value, best growth forecast, and most promising momentum.

How Style Scores Work with the Zacks Rank The Zacks Rank, which is a proprietary stock-rating model, employs earnings estimate revisions, or changes to a company's earnings expectations, to make building a winning portfolio easier.

It's highly successful, with #1 (Strong Buy) stocks producing an unmatched +23.94% average annual return since 1988. That's more than double the S&P 500. But because of the large number of stocks we rate, there are over 200 companies with a Strong Buy rank, plus another 600 with a #2 (Buy) rank, on any given day.

But it can feel overwhelming to pick the right stocks for you and your investing goals with over 800 top-rated stocks to choose from.

That's where the Style Scores come in.

To maximize your returns, you want to buy stocks with the highest probability of success. This means picking stocks with a Zacks Rank #1 or #2 that also have Style Scores of A or B. If you find yourself looking at stocks with a #3 (Hold) rank, make sure they have Scores of A or B as well to ensure as much upside potential as possible.

The direction of a stock's earnings estimate revisions should always be a key factor when choosing which stocks to buy, since the Scores were created to work together with the Zacks Rank.

Here's an example: a stock with a #4 (Sell) or #5 (Strong Sell) rating, even one with Style Scores of A and B, still has a downward-trending earnings outlook, and a bigger chance its share price will decrease too.

Thus, the more stocks you own with a #1 or #2 Rank and Scores of A or B, the better.

Stock to Watch: Deckers (DECK - Free Report) Founded in 1973 and headquartered in Goleta, Deckers Outdoor Corp. is a leading designer, producer and brand manager of innovative footwear, apparel and accessories developed for outdoor sports, high-performance activities and lifestyle use. The company sells products primarily under three proprietary brands — UGG, HOKA and Other brands (primarily comprised of Teva).

DECK is a #2 (Buy) on the Zacks Rank, with a VGM Score of A.

Additionally, the company could be a top pick for growth investors. DECK has a Growth Style Score of A, forecasting year-over-year earnings growth of 6.3% for the current fiscal year.

Two analysts revised their earnings estimate higher in the last 60 days for fiscal 2027, while the Zacks Consensus Estimate has increased $0.04 to $7.46 per share. DECK also boasts an average earnings surprise of +15.2%.

With a solid Zacks Rank and top-tier Growth and VGM Style Scores, DECK should be on investors' short list.

Taking full advantage of the stock market and investing with confidence are common goals for new and old investors, and Zacks Premium offers many different ways to do both.

Featuring daily updates of the Zacks Rank and Zacks Industry Rank, full access to the Zacks #1 Rank List, Equity Research reports, and Premium stock screens, the research service can help you become a smarter, more self-assured investor.

Zacks Premium also includes the Zacks Style Scores.

What are the Zacks Style Scores? Developed alongside the Zacks Rank, the Zacks Style Scores are a group of complementary indicators that help investors pick stocks with the best chances of beating the market over the next 30 days.

Based on their value, growth, and momentum characteristics, each stock is assigned a rating of A, B, C, D, or F. The better the score, the better chance the stock will outperform; an A is better than a B, a B is better than a C, and so on.

The Style Scores are broken down into four categories:

Value ScoreFinding good stocks at good prices, and discovering which companies are trading under their true value, are what value investors like to focus on. So, the Value Style Score takes into account ratios like P/E, PEG, Price/Sales, Price/Cash Flow, and a host of other multiples to highlight the most attractive and discounted stocks.

Growth ScoreGrowth investors, on the other hand, are more concerned with a company's financial strength and health, and its future outlook. The Growth Style Score examines things like projected and historic earnings, sales, and cash flow to find stocks that will experience sustainable growth over time.

Momentum ScoreMomentum investors, who live by the saying "the trend is your friend," are most interested in taking advantage of upward or downward trends in a stock's price or earnings outlook. Utilizing one-week price change and the monthly percentage change in earnings estimates, among other factors, the Momentum Style Score can help determine favorable times to buy high-momentum stocks.

VGM ScoreIf you like to use all three kinds of investing, then the VGM Score is for you. It's a combination of all Style Scores, and is an important indicator to use with the Zacks Rank. The VGM Score rates each stock on their shared weighted styles, narrowing down the companies with the most attractive value, best growth forecast, and most promising momentum.

How Style Scores Work with the Zacks Rank A proprietary stock-rating model, the Zacks Rank utilizes the power of earnings estimate revisions, or changes to a company's earnings outlook, to help investors create a successful portfolio.

#1 (Strong Buy) stocks have produced an unmatched +23.94% average annual return since 1988, which is more than double the S&P 500's performance over the same time frame. However, the Zacks Rank examines a ton of stocks, and there can be more than 200 companies with a Strong Buy rank, and another 600 with a #2 (Buy) rank, on any given day.

With more than 800 top-rated stocks to choose from, it can certainly feel overwhelming to pick the ones that are right for you and your investing journey.

That's where the Style Scores come in.

You want to make sure you're buying stocks with the highest likelihood of success, and to do that, you'll need to pick stocks with a Zacks Rank #1 or #2 that also have Style Scores of A or B. If you like a stock that only has a #3 (Hold) rank, it should also have Scores of A or B to guarantee as much upside potential as possible.

The direction of a stock's earnings estimate revisions should always be a key factor when choosing which stocks to buy, since the Scores were created to work together with the Zacks Rank.

Here's an example: a stock with a #4 (Sell) or #5 (Strong Sell) rating, even one with Style Scores of A and B, still has a downward-trending earnings outlook, and a bigger chance its share price will decrease too.

Thus, the more stocks you own with a #1 or #2 Rank and Scores of A or B, the better.

Stock to Watch: Sensata (ST - Free Report) Headquartered in Attleboro, MA, Sensata Technologies is a global industrial technology company that develops, manufactures and sells sensors and sensor-rich solutions as well as electrical protection components and systems.

ST is a #2 (Buy) on the Zacks Rank, with a VGM Score of A.

It also boasts a Value Style Score of B thanks to attractive valuation metrics like a forward P/E ratio of 12.23; value investors should take notice.

For fiscal 2026, one analyst revised their earnings estimate upwards in the last 60 days, and the Zacks Consensus Estimate has increased $0.00 to $3.73 per share. ST boasts an average earnings surprise of +3.3%.

With a solid Zacks Rank and top-tier Value and VGM Style Scores, ST should be on investors' short list.

The market expects Church & Dwight (CHD - Free Report) to deliver a year-over-year decline in earnings on lower revenues when it reports results for the quarter ended June 2026. This widely-known consensus outlook is important in assessing the company's earnings picture, but a powerful factor that might influence its near-term stock price is how the actual results compare to these estimates.

The stock might move higher if these key numbers top expectations in the upcoming earnings report, which is expected to be released on July 31. On the other hand, if they miss, the stock may move lower.

While the sustainability of the immediate price change and future earnings expectations will mostly depend on management's discussion of business conditions on the earnings call, it's worth handicapping the probability of a positive EPS surprise.

Zacks Consensus EstimateThis maker of household and personal products is expected to post quarterly earnings of $0.89 per share in its upcoming report, which represents a year-over-year change of -5.3%.

Revenues are expected to be $1.5 billion, down 0.2% from the year-ago quarter.

Estimate Revisions TrendThe consensus EPS estimate for the quarter has been revised 0.27% lower over the last 30 days to the current level. This is essentially a reflection of how the covering analysts have collectively reassessed their initial estimates over this period.

Investors should keep in mind that the direction of estimate revisions by each of the covering analysts may not always get reflected in the aggregate change.

Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise

Earnings WhisperEstimate revisions ahead of a company's earnings release offer clues to the business conditions for the period whose results are coming out. Our proprietary surprise prediction model -- the Zacks Earnings ESP (Expected Surprise Prediction) -- has this insight at its core.

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

Thus, a positive or negative Earnings ESP reading theoretically indicates the likely deviation of the actual earnings from the consensus estimate. However, the model's predictive power is significant for positive ESP readings only.

A positive Earnings ESP is a strong predictor of an earnings beat, particularly when combined with a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), 2 (Buy) or 3 (Hold). Our research shows that stocks with this combination produce a positive surprise nearly 70% of the time, and a solid Zacks Rank actually increases the predictive power of Earnings ESP.

Please note that a negative Earnings ESP reading is not indicative of an earnings miss. Our research shows that it is difficult to predict an earnings beat with any degree of confidence for stocks with negative Earnings ESP readings and/or Zacks Rank of 4 (Sell) or 5 (Strong Sell).

How Have the Numbers Shaped Up for Church & Dwight?For Church & Dwight, the Most Accurate Estimate is higher than the Zacks Consensus Estimate, suggesting that analysts have recently become bullish on the company's earnings prospects. This has resulted in an Earnings ESP of +0.65%.

On the other hand, the stock currently carries a Zacks Rank of #3.

So, this combination indicates that Church & Dwight will most likely beat the consensus EPS estimate.

Does Earnings Surprise History Hold Any Clue?Analysts often consider to what extent a company has been able to match consensus estimates in the past while calculating their estimates for its future earnings. So, it's worth taking a look at the surprise history for gauging its influence on the upcoming number.

For the last reported quarter, it was expected that Church & Dwight would post earnings of $0.93 per share when it actually produced earnings of $0.95, delivering a surprise of +2.15%.

Over the last four quarters, the company has beaten consensus EPS estimates four times.

Bottom LineAn earnings beat or miss may not be the sole basis for a stock moving higher or lower. Many stocks end up losing ground despite an earnings beat due to other factors that disappoint investors. Similarly, unforeseen catalysts help a number of stocks gain despite an earnings miss.

That said, betting on stocks that are expected to beat earnings expectations does increase the odds of success. This is why it's worth checking a company's Earnings ESP and Zacks Rank ahead of its quarterly release. Make sure to utilize our Earnings ESP Filter to uncover the best stocks to buy or sell before they've reported.

Church & Dwight appears a compelling earnings-beat candidate. However, investors should pay attention to other factors too for betting on this stock or staying away from it ahead of its earnings release.

Stay on top of upcoming earnings announcements with the Zacks Earnings Calendar.

LOS ANGELES, July 24, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Schall Law Firm, a national shareholder rights litigation firm, reminds investors of a class action lawsuit against Planet Fitness, Inc. (“Planet Fitness” or “the Company”) (NYSE: PLNT) for violations of §§10(b) and 20(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and Rule 10b-5 promulgated thereunder by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

Investors who purchased the Company’s securities between November 6, 2025 and May 6, 2026, inclusive (the “Class Period”), are encouraged to contact the firm before September 14, 2026.

If you are a shareholder who suffered a loss, click here to participate.

We also encourage you to contact Brian Schall of the Schall Law Firm, 2049 Century Park East, Suite 2460, Los Angeles, CA 90067, at 310-301-3335, to discuss your rights free of charge. You can also reach us through the firm's website at www.schallfirm.com, or by email at [email protected].

The class, in this case, has not yet been certified, and until certification occurs, you are not represented by an attorney. If you choose to take no action, you can remain an absent class member.

According to the Complaint, the Company made false and misleading statements to the market. Planet Fitness failed to effectively roll out a national price increase on its Black Card offering. The Company overstated its growth outlook. The Company exaggerated its ability to drive new member joins with its existing market campaign. Based on these facts, the Company’s public statements were false and materially misleading throughout the class period. When the market learned the truth about Planet Fitness, investors suffered damages.

Join the case to recover your losses.

The Schall Law Firm represents investors around the world and specializes in securities class action lawsuits and shareholder rights litigation.

This press release may be considered Attorney Advertising in some jurisdictions under the applicable law and rules of ethics.        

CONTACT:

The Schall Law Firm
Brian Schall, Esq.,
www.schallfirm.com
Office: 310-301-3335
[email protected]

SOURCE:

 The Schall Law Firm

HomeEarnings AnalysisFinancials 

SummaryGoosehead Insurance delivered 20% year-over-year revenue growth in Q2 2026, with $113.4 million in revenues and 86% client retention.GSHD's dual distribution model leverages a growing franchise network and technology platforms, supporting scalable premium growth with limited capital intensity.The company trades at a forward P/E of 36.7x, reflecting high-growth expectations but exposing investors to valuation risk if growth or retention falters.Revenue concentration in homeowners and auto insurance and sensitivity to real estate and insurer risk appetite present structural risks to GSHD's outlook. seb_ra/iStock via Getty Images

Introduction In my view, Goosehead's strong growth confirms the business quality, though the current price requires almost flawless execution in the coming quarters.

Goosehead Insurance, Inc. (GSHD) is an independent personal lines insurance brokerage

162 Followers

Analyst’s Disclosure: I/we have no stock, option or similar derivative position in any of the companies mentioned, and no plans to initiate any such positions within the next 72 hours. I wrote this article myself, and it expresses my own opinions. I am not receiving compensation for it (other than from Seeking Alpha). I have no business relationship with any company whose stock is mentioned in this article.

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

Portland General Electric (POR - Free Report) is expected to deliver a year-over-year decline in earnings on higher revenues when it reports results for the quarter ended June 2026. This widely-known consensus outlook gives a good sense of the company's earnings picture, but how the actual results compare to these estimates is a powerful factor that could impact its near-term stock price.

The stock might move higher if these key numbers top expectations in the upcoming earnings report, which is expected to be released on July 31. On the other hand, if they miss, the stock may move lower.

While the sustainability of the immediate price change and future earnings expectations will mostly depend on management's discussion of business conditions on the earnings call, it's worth handicapping the probability of a positive EPS surprise.

Zacks Consensus EstimateThis electric utility is expected to post quarterly earnings of $0.64 per share in its upcoming report, which represents a year-over-year change of -3%.

Revenues are expected to be $846.61 million, up 4.9% from the year-ago quarter.

Estimate Revisions TrendThe consensus EPS estimate for the quarter has been revised 9.58% higher over the last 30 days to the current level. This is essentially a reflection of how the covering analysts have collectively reassessed their initial estimates over this period.

Investors should keep in mind that an aggregate change may not always reflect the direction of estimate revisions by each of the covering analysts.

Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise

Earnings WhisperEstimate revisions ahead of a company's earnings release offer clues to the business conditions for the period whose results are coming out. This insight is at the core of our proprietary surprise prediction model -- the Zacks Earnings ESP (Expected Surprise Prediction).

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

Thus, a positive or negative Earnings ESP reading theoretically indicates the likely deviation of the actual earnings from the consensus estimate. However, the model's predictive power is significant for positive ESP readings only.

A positive Earnings ESP is a strong predictor of an earnings beat, particularly when combined with a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), 2 (Buy) or 3 (Hold). Our research shows that stocks with this combination produce a positive surprise nearly 70% of the time, and a solid Zacks Rank actually increases the predictive power of Earnings ESP.

Please note that a negative Earnings ESP reading is not indicative of an earnings miss. Our research shows that it is difficult to predict an earnings beat with any degree of confidence for stocks with negative Earnings ESP readings and/or Zacks Rank of 4 (Sell) or 5 (Strong Sell).

How Have the Numbers Shaped Up for Portland General Electric?For Portland General Electric, the Most Accurate Estimate is the same as the Zacks Consensus Estimate, suggesting that there are no recent analyst views which differ from what have been considered to derive the consensus estimate. This has resulted in an Earnings ESP of 0%.

On the other hand, the stock currently carries a Zacks Rank of #3.

So, this combination makes it difficult to conclusively predict that Portland General Electric will beat the consensus EPS estimate.

Does Earnings Surprise History Hold Any Clue?Analysts often consider to what extent a company has been able to match consensus estimates in the past while calculating their estimates for its future earnings. So, it's worth taking a look at the surprise history for gauging its influence on the upcoming number.

For the last reported quarter, it was expected that Portland General Electric would post earnings of $0.83 per share when it actually produced earnings of $0.58, delivering a surprise of -30.12%.

Over the last four quarters, the company has beaten consensus EPS estimates two times.

Bottom LineAn earnings beat or miss may not be the sole basis for a stock moving higher or lower. Many stocks end up losing ground despite an earnings beat due to other factors that disappoint investors. Similarly, unforeseen catalysts help a number of stocks gain despite an earnings miss.

That said, betting on stocks that are expected to beat earnings expectations does increase the odds of success. This is why it's worth checking a company's Earnings ESP and Zacks Rank ahead of its quarterly release. Make sure to utilize our Earnings ESP Filter to uncover the best stocks to buy or sell before they've reported.

Portland General Electric doesn't appear a compelling earnings-beat candidate. However, investors should pay attention to other factors too for betting on this stock or staying away from it ahead of its earnings release.

An Industry Player's Expected ResultsXcel Energy (XEL - Free Report) , another stock in the Zacks Utility - Electric Power industry, is expected to report earnings per share of $0.79 for the quarter ended June 2026. This estimate points to a year-over-year change of +5.3%. Revenues for the quarter are expected to be $3.58 billion, up 9% from the year-ago quarter.

Over the last 30 days, the consensus EPS estimate for Xcel has been revised 0.5% down to the current level. Nevertheless, the company now has an Earnings ESP of -0.42%, reflecting a lower Most Accurate Estimate.

When combined with a Zacks Rank of #3 (Hold), this Earnings ESP makes it difficult to conclusively predict that Xcel will beat the consensus EPS estimate. Over the last four quarters, the company surpassed EPS estimates just once.

Stay on top of upcoming earnings announcements with the Zacks Earnings Calendar.

Investors in AAON, Inc. (AAON - Free Report) need to pay close attention to the stock based on moves in the options market lately. That is because the Oct 16, 2026 $55 Call had some of the highest implied volatility of all equity options today.

What is Implied Volatility?Implied volatility shows how much movement the market is expecting in the future. Options with high levels of implied volatility suggest that investors in the underlying stocks are expecting a big move in one direction or the other. It could also mean there is an event coming up soon that may cause a big rally or a huge sell-off. However, implied volatility is only one piece of the puzzle when putting together an options trading strategy.

What do the Analysts Think?Clearly, options traders are pricing in a big move for AAON shares, but what is the fundamental picture for the company? Currently, AAON is a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) in the Building Products - Air Conditioner and Heating industry that ranks in the Top 19% of our Zacks Industry Rank. Over the last 30 days, one analyst has increased the earnings estimate for the current quarter, while none have revised their estimates downward. The net effect has taken our Zacks Consensus Estimate for the current quarter from $5.50 per share to $5.53 in that period.

Given the way analysts feel about AAON right now, this huge implied volatility could mean there’s a trade developing. Oftentimes, options traders look for options with high levels of implied volatility to sell premium. This is a strategy many seasoned traders use because it captures decay. At expiration, the hope for these traders is that the underlying stock does not move as much as originally expected.

Newell Brands (NWL - Free Report) is expected to deliver a year-over-year decline in earnings on higher revenues when it reports results for the quarter ended June 2026. This widely-known consensus outlook gives a good sense of the company's earnings picture, but how the actual results compare to these estimates is a powerful factor that could impact its near-term stock price.

The stock might move higher if these key numbers top expectations in the upcoming earnings report, which is expected to be released on July 31. On the other hand, if they miss, the stock may move lower.

While management's discussion of business conditions on the earnings call will mostly determine the sustainability of the immediate price change and future earnings expectations, it's worth having a handicapping insight into the odds of a positive EPS surprise.

Zacks Consensus EstimateThis consumer products company is expected to post quarterly earnings of $0.19 per share in its upcoming report, which represents a year-over-year change of -20.8%.

Revenues are expected to be $1.97 billion, up 1.7% from the year-ago quarter.

Estimate Revisions TrendThe consensus EPS estimate for the quarter has been revised 1.02% lower over the last 30 days to the current level. This is essentially a reflection of how the covering analysts have collectively reassessed their initial estimates over this period.

Investors should keep in mind that the direction of estimate revisions by each of the covering analysts may not always get reflected in the aggregate change.

Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise

Earnings WhisperEstimate revisions ahead of a company's earnings release offer clues to the business conditions for the period whose results are coming out. Our proprietary surprise prediction model -- the Zacks Earnings ESP (Expected Surprise Prediction) -- has this insight at its core.

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

Thus, a positive or negative Earnings ESP reading theoretically indicates the likely deviation of the actual earnings from the consensus estimate. However, the model's predictive power is significant for positive ESP readings only.

A positive Earnings ESP is a strong predictor of an earnings beat, particularly when combined with a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), 2 (Buy) or 3 (Hold). Our research shows that stocks with this combination produce a positive surprise nearly 70% of the time, and a solid Zacks Rank actually increases the predictive power of Earnings ESP.

Please note that a negative Earnings ESP reading is not indicative of an earnings miss. Our research shows that it is difficult to predict an earnings beat with any degree of confidence for stocks with negative Earnings ESP readings and/or Zacks Rank of 4 (Sell) or 5 (Strong Sell).

How Have the Numbers Shaped Up for Newell Brands?For Newell Brands, the Most Accurate Estimate is higher than the Zacks Consensus Estimate, suggesting that analysts have recently become bullish on the company's earnings prospects. This has resulted in an Earnings ESP of +5.36%.

On the other hand, the stock currently carries a Zacks Rank of #2.

So, this combination indicates that Newell Brands will most likely beat the consensus EPS estimate.

Does Earnings Surprise History Hold Any Clue?While calculating estimates for a company's future earnings, analysts often consider to what extent it has been able to match past consensus estimates. So, it's worth taking a look at the surprise history for gauging its influence on the upcoming number.

For the last reported quarter, it was expected that Newell Brands would post a loss of$0.09 per share when it actually produced a loss of -$0.05, delivering a surprise of +44.44%.

Over the last four quarters, the company has beaten consensus EPS estimates just once.

Bottom LineAn earnings beat or miss may not be the sole basis for a stock moving higher or lower. Many stocks end up losing ground despite an earnings beat due to other factors that disappoint investors. Similarly, unforeseen catalysts help a number of stocks gain despite an earnings miss.

That said, betting on stocks that are expected to beat earnings expectations does increase the odds of success. This is why it's worth checking a company's Earnings ESP and Zacks Rank ahead of its quarterly release. Make sure to utilize our Earnings ESP Filter to uncover the best stocks to buy or sell before they've reported.

Newell Brands appears a compelling earnings-beat candidate. However, investors should pay attention to other factors too for betting on this stock or staying away from it ahead of its earnings release.

Stay on top of upcoming earnings announcements with the Zacks Earnings Calendar.

NEW YORK, July 24, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Kaplan Fox & Kilsheimer LLP is investigating potential securities violations against GoDaddy Inc. (“GoDaddy” or the “Company”) (NYSE: GDDY). CLICK HERE TO RECEIVE MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THIS INVESTIGATION If you are a GoDaddy investor and have suffered losses, or if you have information that could assist in the GoDaddy investigation, you may CLICK HERE to contact us.

It doesn't matter your age or experience: taking full advantage of the stock market and investing with confidence are common goals for all investors. Luckily, Zacks Premium offers several different ways to do both.

The research service features daily updates of the Zacks Rank and Zacks Industry Rank, full access to the Zacks #1 Rank List, Equity Research reports, and Premium stock screens, all of which will help you become a smarter, more confident investor.

Zacks Premium includes access to the Zacks Style Scores as well.

What are the Zacks Style Scores? The Zacks Style Scores is a unique set of guidelines that rates stocks based on three popular investing types, and were developed as complementary indicators for the Zacks Rank. This combination helps investors choose securities with the highest chances of beating the market over the next 30 days.

Each stock is assigned a rating of A, B, C, D, or F based on their value, growth, and momentum characteristics. Just like in school, an A is better than a B, a B is better than a C, and so on -- that means the better the score, the better chance the stock will outperform.

The Style Scores are broken down into four categories:

Value ScoreValue investors love finding good stocks at good prices, especially before the broader market catches on to a stock's true value. Utilizing ratios like P/E, PEG, Price/Sales, Price/Cash Flow, and many other multiples, the Value Style Score identifies the most attractive and most discounted stocks.

Growth ScoreGrowth investors are more concerned with a stock's future prospects, and the overall financial health and strength of a company. Thus, the Growth Style Score analyzes characteristics like projected and historic earnings, sales, and cash flow to find stocks that will see sustainable growth over time.

Momentum ScoreMomentum traders and investors live by the saying "the trend is your friend." This investing style is all about taking advantage of upward or downward trends in a stock's price or earnings outlook. Employing factors like one-week price change and the monthly percentage change in earnings estimates, the Momentum Style Score can indicate favorable times to build a position in high-momentum stocks.

VGM ScoreIf you like to use all three kinds of investing, then the VGM Score is for you. It's a combination of all Style Scores, and is an important indicator to use with the Zacks Rank. The VGM Score rates each stock on their shared weighted styles, narrowing down the companies with the most attractive value, best growth forecast, and most promising momentum.

How Style Scores Work with the Zacks Rank The Zacks Rank, which is a proprietary stock-rating model, employs earnings estimate revisions, or changes to a company's earnings expectations, to make building a winning portfolio easier.

Investors can count on the Zacks Rank's success, with #1 (Strong Buy) stocks producing an unmatched +23.94% average annual return since 1988, more than double the S&P 500's performance. But the model rates a large number of stocks, and there are over 200 companies with a Strong Buy rank, plus another 600 with a #2 (Buy) rank, on any given day.

With more than 800 top-rated stocks to choose from, it can certainly feel overwhelming to pick the ones that are right for you and your investing journey.

That's where the Style Scores come in.

You want to make sure you're buying stocks with the highest likelihood of success, and to do that, you'll need to pick stocks with a Zacks Rank #1 or #2 that also have Style Scores of A or B. If you like a stock that only has a #3 (Hold) rank, it should also have Scores of A or B to guarantee as much upside potential as possible.

The direction of a stock's earnings estimate revisions should always be a key factor when choosing which stocks to buy, since the Scores were created to work together with the Zacks Rank.

For instance, a stock with a #4 (Sell) or #5 (Strong Sell) rating, even one that boasts Scores of A and B, still has a downward-trending earnings forecast, and a much greater likelihood its share price will decline as well.

Thus, the more stocks you own with a #1 or #2 Rank and Scores of A or B, the better.

Stock to Watch: Quest Diagnostics (DGX - Free Report) Headquartered in Secaucus, New Jersey, Quest Diagnostics Inc. provides diagnostic information services to a broad range of customers within its primary customer channels of physicians, hospitals, patients, and consumers. The company provides services to Independent Delivery Networks (IDN) throughout the United States, through its Professional Lab Services (PLS) offerings, which allow them to build and execute their laboratory strategy, improve quality, reduce healthcare costs, and focus on core competencies. The company is a key provider of reference testing for approximately half of the hospitals in the United States.

DGX is a #2 (Buy) on the Zacks Rank, with a VGM Score of B.

Momentum investors should take note of this Medical stock. DGX has a Momentum Style Score of B, and shares are up 10.5% over the past four weeks.

One analyst revised their earnings estimate higher in the last 60 days for fiscal 2026, while the Zacks Consensus Estimate has increased $0.02 to $10.72 per share. DGX also boasts an average earnings surprise of +5.8%.

With a solid Zacks Rank and top-tier Momentum and VGM Style Scores, DGX should be on investors' short list.