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Intel Today

$93.90 +3.43 (+3.79%)

As of 12:14 PM Eastern

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$32.89▼

$142.35$108.23

The semiconductor sector is experiencing a visible divergence. As momentum continues to crowd into high-flying artificial intelligence names, institutional capital appears to be quietly scouting for deep-value alternatives. The broader hardware market has seen significant multiple expansion, leading some analysts to flag crowding concerns among peak-cycle favorites. KeyBanc recently issued a $155 price target for Intel Corporation NASDAQ: INTC, signaling a potential shift in capital allocation.

With shares pulling back about 25% over the past month, Intel has essentially reset its near-term valuation after a year-to-date run of over 140%. This consolidation phase has pushed technical health indicators into transitional territory, creating an interesting setup.

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For investors willing to look past the consensus, this target highlights a compelling rotation into legacy architecture and a broader hardware recovery story. Media sentiment surrounding Intel currently registers at a highly positive 0.86, nearly double the average technology sector sentiment of 0.47. This divergence suggests a stealth accumulation of positive narrative momentum.

Squeezing the Supply Chain for Legacy GainsIntel's legacy architecture segments are encountering an unexpected, yet highly favorable, operating environment. Supply chain constraints across the broader hardware ecosystem have led to a notable shortage of server CPUs. This tight supply translates into near-term pricing power, providing a tailwind for a segment that many had assumed would languish in the shadow of pure-play AI accelerators.

As fabrication capacity globally shifts toward producing complex AI chips, traditional compute components are experiencing production bottlenecks. Several top analyst firms recently highlighted these constraints as a primary catalyst that could offset ongoing softness in the traditional personal computer market. Efforts to boost data center utilization are sustaining demand for reliable server processors. As data centers stretch to accommodate new AI workloads, the foundational infrastructure still relies heavily on established x86 ecosystems to manage networking, storage, and general-purpose computing tasks.

This dynamic positions Intel's upcoming third-quarter earnings report as a critical checkpoint. Analysts anticipate strong server-processor demand to buoy the top line. The business recently exceeded expectations in its second-quarter report, delivering roughly $16.13 billion in revenue against estimates of $14.43 billion, while doubling consensus earnings per share to 42 cents. If improving utilization translates into sustained margin expansion, the market might quickly reprice the stock's forward multiples to reflect this renewed pricing leverage.

Regulatory Relief Clears Intel's Factory BottlenecksThe most persistent headwind facing Intel over the past year has been its capital-intensive foundry division. Critics point to billions of dollars in investments and a lack of publicly named customers as structural risks compared to established fabrication giants in Asia. While those concerns have merit, recent developments suggest the downside risk is being actively managed, easing some margin-compression fears that have historically plagued the stock.

A favorable regulatory waiver from the Federal Communications Commission recently allowed Intel to continue using specific foreign-made robotic devices in its manufacturing facilities. This clears a notable operational bottleneck, keeping production timelines on track as the foundry business attempts to scale its advanced packaging capabilities and build out physical infrastructure. Delays in factory tooling can cascade into billions of dollars in lost efficiency, making this regulatory clearance a quiet but highly fundamental win for Intel's balance sheet.

Crescent Island GPUs Target Agentic AI InferenceBeyond the factory floor, Intel is carving out a niche in the expanding AI infrastructure market. The recent unveiling of the Crescent Island GPU D-series and Xeon-based rack designs targets memory-intensive, agentic AI inference. Rather than competing directly in the training chip arms race against primary competitors, these products focus on the hardware, software, and open-ecosystem support needed for broad AI deployment.

Inference is the application phase of artificial intelligence, requiring less raw computing power but relying heavily on efficient memory and rack-level integration. This reinforces a pragmatic approach to data center expansion, allowing Intel to capture revenue from enterprises looking for cost-effective, scalable inference solutions rather than expensive training clusters.

Perhaps the most compelling signal of boardroom confidence comes from recent insider activity. In August, Chief Executive Officer Lip-Bu Tan bought over 100,000 shares on the open market at an average price near $95, representing a personal allocation of roughly $10 million. Insider accumulation of this magnitude often signals a deep internal belief that the turnaround strategy is taking hold and that long-term fundamental value outweighs short-term macroeconomic volatility.

Forward Guidance Steers the Next RotationThe current technical and fundamental alignment makes the Oct. 29 earnings release a focal point for Intel's stock. Options markets are pricing in an implied move of roughly 11% in either direction, underscoring the unusually high volatility expected from the print. Historical data supports this expectation, with shares averaging a 16% swing following the last three quarterly reports.

Intel Stock Forecast Today12-Month Stock Price Forecast:
$108.23
16.96% Upside

Hold
Based on 50 Analyst Ratings

Current Price$92.54High Forecast$200.00Average Forecast$108.23Low Forecast$50.00Intel Stock Forecast Details

Despite the headline analyst consensus of Hold, underlying institutional sentiment shows a more supportive distribution. Of 50 covering analysts, 21 maintain a Buy-equivalent rating, compared with only two outright Sell recommendations. Recent upgrades from firms like Sanford C. Bernstein, which elevated the stock on Oct. 19, 2026, suggest that institutional models are beginning to price in a successful turnaround.

With a forward price-to-earnings ratio just over 87 and a price-to-earnings growth ratio of 9.23, the market appears focused on forward guidance. Trailing GAAP metrics, including a negative price-to-earnings ratio of about -41, reflect the foundry buildout's heavy capital expenditures, making backward-looking profitability ratios less relevant to the current recovery narrative. The recent 25% price correction provides a much-needed valuation reset, offering an asymmetrical risk-to-reward ratio for capital rotating out of overbought semiconductor peers.

Investors monitoring the semiconductor space may want to watch management's forward guidance closely. Any confirmation of margin recovery and server CPU pricing power could serve as the definitive catalyst to push Intel's stock price toward KeyBanc's $155 target. Cautious investors might prefer to wait for the earnings volatility to settle before initiating a position, but the underlying fundamentals suggest a structural shift is quietly underway in the physical hardware economy.

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The upcoming report from Phillips 66 (PSX - Free Report) is expected to reveal quarterly earnings of $11.97 per share, indicating an increase of 375% compared to the year-ago period. Analysts forecast revenues of $33.72 billion, representing a decline of 3.6% year over year.

The consensus EPS estimate for the quarter has been revised 24% higher over the last 30 days to the current level. This reflects how the analysts covering the stock have collectively reevaluated their initial estimates during this timeframe.

Prior to a company's earnings announcement, it is crucial to consider revisions to earnings estimates. This serves as a significant indicator for predicting potential investor actions regarding the stock. Empirical research has consistently demonstrated a robust correlation between trends in earnings estimate revision and the short-term price performance of a stock.

While it's common for investors to rely on consensus earnings and revenue estimates for assessing how the business may have performed during the quarter, exploring analysts' forecasts for key metrics can yield valuable insights.

Given this perspective, it's time to examine the average forecasts of specific Phillips 66 metrics that are routinely monitored and predicted by Wall Street analysts.

The collective assessment of analysts points to an estimated 'Revenues and Other Income- Sales and other operating revenues' of $33.66 billion. The estimate indicates a year-over-year change of -2.5%.

According to the collective judgment of analysts, 'Revenues and Other Income- Equity in earnings of affiliates' should come in at $303.56 million. The estimate indicates a year-over-year change of -9.9%.

The consensus estimate for 'Total sales and other operating revenues- Renewable Fuels' stands at $859.74 million. The estimate points to a change of -46.6% from the year-ago quarter.

Based on the collective assessment of analysts, 'Refining Margins - Western/Pacific (Per Barrel)' should arrive at $37.59 . The estimate compares to the year-ago value of $12.31 .

The consensus among analysts is that 'Refining Margins - Atlantic Basin/Europe (Per Barrel)' will reach $32.76 . The estimate is in contrast to the year-ago figure of $11.94 .

Analysts expect 'Refining Margins - Gulf Coast (Per Barrel)' to come in at $31.24 . Compared to the current estimate, the company reported $8.74 in the same quarter of the previous year.

Analysts predict that the 'Refining Margins - Worldwide (Per Barrel)' will reach $35.65 . The estimate is in contrast to the year-ago figure of $12.15 .

Analysts' assessment points toward 'Refining Margins - Central Corridor (Per Barrel)' reaching $40.60 . The estimate compares to the year-ago value of $15.82 .

The average prediction of analysts places 'Refining operations - West Coast - Crude oil capacity' at 105.00 thousands of barrels of oil per day. Compared to the present estimate, the company reported 244.00 thousands of barrels of oil per day in the same quarter last year.

The combined assessment of analysts suggests that 'Chemicals - CPChem Externally Marketed Sales Volumes' will likely reach 5799 millions of pounds. The estimate is in contrast to the year-ago figure of 6572 millions of pounds.

It is projected by analysts that the 'Refining operations - Central Corridor - Crude oil capacity' will reach 793.00 thousands of barrels of oil per day. Compared to the current estimate, the company reported 531.00 thousands of barrels of oil per day in the same quarter of the previous year.

Analysts forecast 'Refining operations - Central Corridor - Crude oil processed' to reach 754.70 thousands of barrels of oil per day. Compared to the present estimate, the company reported 549.00 thousands of barrels of oil per day in the same quarter last year.

View all Key Company Metrics for Phillips 66 here>>>

Over the past month, Phillips 66 shares have recorded returns of +13.9% versus the Zacks S&P 500 composite's -0.8% change. Based on its Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), PSX will likely outperform the overall market in the upcoming period. You can see the complete list of today's Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) stocks here >>>> .

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TMUS earnings rebound

Buy T-Mobile (TMUS). The stock is oversold on SpaceX fear, but the options market already leans bullish (put/call 0.53; calls around $150). If earnings show postpaid stabilization (churn not worsening, adds re-accelerating), TMUS can snap back toward $150 and then $160 as bears cover and momentum traders re-enter.

Key Risk: Earnings confirm worsening postpaid trends (customer adds keep falling and churn keeps rising), proving SpaceX-driven competition is already hitting results.

Tower operators rerate

Buy American Tower (AMT) and/or Crown Castle (CCI). If SpaceX builds out a network using existing tower infrastructure, demand for tower capacity and leases rises. Even if SpaceX is a competitor to carriers, it still needs towers—so the “competition threat” can translate into higher infrastructure utilization and steadier cash flows.

Key Risk: SpaceX uses a different rollout plan (more in-house sites, fewer leases, or faster buildouts that reduce third-party tower demand), cutting expected incremental tower revenue.

T-Mobile stock price continued its strong sell-off this year, reaching its lowest level since November 2023. TMUS plunged to $146.93, down by over 46% from its highest point in 2025. This retreat has pushed its market capitalization from $309 billion to $157 billion, with focus being the upcoming earnings.

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TMUS earnings could flip sentiment after SpaceX-linked telecom fears.

51% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with this provider.

T-Mobile and other telecommunications companies have remained under pressure in the past few years. This retreat accelerated after the SpaceX, acquired a low-band spectrum license, a move that will see it start offering mobile services to Americans. It is estimated that the company paid $8 billion for the spectrum.

SpaceX has also started talking with companies that provide cell tower services, including popular names like American Tower, Vertical Bridge, and Crown Castle. This is an important move as Tesla will need to use these cellular towers to beam its network in urban areas. 

Analysts believe that SpaceX can become a major competitor to T-Mobile and other companies in the industry. It can also push them to lower their costs, which will affect its margins over time.

History, however, the initial reaction whenever there is a major competition threat is usually an overreaction. We saw that with Netflix, which lagged the market when companies like Disney, Comcast, Apple, and Warner were rushing to create its competitors. Disney maintains a big market share in the industry today. 

The next important catalyst for T-Mobile stock is the upcoming earnings report, which comes out on Wednesday. This report will provide more color on its business during the quarter. 

The last report showed that T-Mobile said that its service revenue rose by 9% in the second quarter to $19 billion. Its postpaid revenue soared by 13% to $15.9 billion with the net income rising to $3.2 billion. 

T-Mobile’s stock dropped after that report because its postpaid customers continued weakening in the last quarter. It added 277,000 postpaid customers, down from 318,000 in the same period last year. Its churn also increased to 0.99% from 0.92% in the same period last year.

Analysts expect the upcoming earnings report to show that its revenue jumped by 5.38% to $23.14 billion. Its EPS is expected to move from $2.41 to $2.91. 

The options market suggest that the stock will likely rebound after its earnings report. Its put/call volume ratio stands at 0.53, suggesting that it has more calls than puts. Most of the calls are at $150, slightly higher than the current $146.

TMUS stock chart | Source: TradingView

The daily chart shows that T-Mobile shares have remained under pressure in the past two years. After peaking at $276 early last year, the stock has dropped to the current $146.

The stock formed a descending channel and has already moved below its lower side. It has also remained below the 50-day and 100-day Exponential Moving Averages (EMA), a sign that bears remain in the drivers seat for now. 

The most likely scenario is where the stock bounces back after earnings. If this happens, it may move back above $150. A move above that level will point to more gains, potentially to the psychological level of $160.

Oracle (ORCL - Free Report) has recently been on Zacks.com's list of the most searched stocks. Therefore, you might want to consider some of the key factors that could influence the stock's performance in the near future.

Shares of this software maker have returned -4.9% over the past month versus the Zacks S&P 500 composite's -0.8% change. The Zacks Computer - Software industry, to which Oracle belongs, has gained 3.4% over this period. Now the key question is: Where could the stock be headed in the near term?

While media releases or rumors about a substantial change in a company's business prospects usually make its stock 'trending' and lead to an immediate price change, there are always some fundamental facts that eventually dominate the buy-and-hold decision-making.

Earnings Estimate RevisionsRather than focusing on anything else, we at Zacks prioritize evaluating the change in a company's earnings projection. This is because we believe the fair value for its stock is determined by the present value of its future stream of earnings.

We essentially look at how sell-side analysts covering the stock are revising their earnings estimates to reflect the impact of the latest business trends. And if earnings estimates go up for a company, the fair value for its stock goes up. A higher fair value than the current market price drives investors' interest in buying the stock, leading to its price moving higher. This is why empirical research shows a strong correlation between trends in earnings estimate revisions and near-term stock price movements.

Oracle is expected to post earnings of $1.88 per share for the current quarter, representing a year-over-year change of -16.8%. Over the last 30 days, the Zacks Consensus Estimate remained unchanged.

For the current fiscal year, the consensus earnings estimate of $8.13 points to a change of +6.6% from the prior year. Over the last 30 days, this estimate has changed +0.3%.

For the next fiscal year, the consensus earnings estimate of $10.86 indicates a change of +33.6% from what Oracle is expected to report a year ago. Over the past month, the estimate has changed -0.1%.

Having a strong externally audited track record, our proprietary stock rating tool, the Zacks Rank, offers a more conclusive picture of a stock's price direction in the near term, since it effectively harnesses the power of earnings estimate revisions. Due to the size of the recent change in the consensus estimate, along with three other factors related to earnings estimates, Oracle is rated Zacks Rank #2 (Buy).

The chart below shows the evolution of the company's forward 12-month consensus EPS estimate:

12 Month EPS

Projected Revenue GrowthWhile earnings growth is arguably the most superior indicator of a company's financial health, nothing happens as such if a business isn't able to grow its revenues. After all, it's nearly impossible for a company to increase its earnings for an extended period without increasing its revenues. So, it's important to know a company's potential revenue growth.

In the case of Oracle, the consensus sales estimate of $21.31 billion for the current quarter points to a year-over-year change of +32.7%. The $90.5 billion and $130.47 billion estimates for the current and next fiscal years indicate changes of +34.4% and +44.2%, respectively.

Last Reported Results and Surprise HistoryOracle reported revenues of $19.35 billion in the last reported quarter, representing a year-over-year change of +29.6%. EPS of $1.92 for the same period compares with $1.47 a year ago.

Compared to the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $19.13 billion, the reported revenues represent a surprise of +1.11%. The EPS surprise was +10.34%.

The company beat consensus EPS estimates in each of the trailing four quarters. The company topped consensus revenue estimates three times over this period.

ValuationNo investment decision can be efficient without considering a stock's valuation. Whether a stock's current price rightly reflects the intrinsic value of the underlying business and the company's growth prospects is an essential determinant of its future price performance.

While comparing the current values of a company's valuation multiples, such as price-to-earnings (P/E), price-to-sales (P/S), and price-to-cash flow (P/CF), with its own historical values helps determine whether its stock is fairly valued, overvalued, or undervalued, comparing the company relative to its peers on these parameters gives a good sense of the reasonability of the stock's price.

The Zacks Value Style Score (part of the Zacks Style Scores system), which pays close attention to both traditional and unconventional valuation metrics to grade stocks from A to F (an A is better than a B; a B is better than a C; and so on), is pretty helpful in identifying whether a stock is overvalued, rightly valued, or temporarily undervalued.

Oracle is graded B on this front, indicating that it is trading at a discount to its peers. Click here to see the values of some of the valuation metrics that have driven this grade.

Bottom LineThe facts discussed here and much other information on Zacks.com might help determine whether or not it's worthwhile paying attention to the market buzz about Oracle. However, its Zacks Rank #2 does suggest that it may outperform the broader market in the near term.

New Oracle AI Data Platform capabilities combine AI-assisted enterprise ontologies, semantic reasoning, and AI estate governance capabilities to help organizations put AI to work at scale

New Oracle AI Data Platform Innovation Service turns AI opportunities into business outcomes

, /PRNewswire/ -- Oracle AI World -- Oracle today announced new Oracle AI Data Platform capabilities that help customers build, deploy, and scale enterprise AI by giving agents a shared understanding of business entities, relationships, policies, and workflows. The platform provides a foundation for developing AI-powered solutions with consistent access to business context and configurable security controls, while helping customers apply governance processes and controls, monitor usage and costs, optimize token consumption, enforce controls, and deliver repeatable outcomes at enterprise scale.

"AI agents are moving beyond information retrieval to participate in business decisions and execution," said T.K. Anand, executive vice president, Oracle. "To scale them reliably, enterprises need a system of context that reflects how the business actually works. Oracle AI Data Platform starts with business knowledge customers already have in their applications, databases, analytics, and documents and makes that context reusable across agents."

AI-Generated, Human-Governed Business Ontologies
Oracle AI Data Platform business ontologies define the concepts, terminology, relationships, and policies used to help analytics, agents, and enterprise applications interpret data consistently. The platform uses an AI Discovery agent to generate ontologies by analyzing database schemas, semantic models, application and API documentation, and business knowledge stored in unstructured documents. Business domain experts can then review and refine these ontologies before approving them as a consistent foundation for all AI solutions. As organizational needs evolve, the platform continuously monitors agents' use of the ontologies and recommends updates for domain experts to review and approve.

"The next competitive advantage in enterprise AI won't come from models alone. It will come from how well AI understands the business," said Megha Kumar, research vice president, IDC. "Oracle AI Data Platform marks an important evolution by helping organizations connect their data, business knowledge, and AI capabilities to move beyond experimentation and toward intelligent, governed business outcomes."

Build the Business Context for Enterprise AI
These business ontologies provide the foundation for a system of context that captures not only what the business data means, but also how the business operates, makes decisions, and takes action. Unlike traditional ontology projects that often rely on extensive manual modeling and specialist maintenance, Oracle AI Data Platform uses AI to help organizations curate and evolve this business context, with business and technical experts retaining ownership and control. By connecting business knowledge with the actions and workflows embedded in enterprise applications, organizations can ground AI not only in what the business knows, but also in what it can do, under which conditions, and with whose authority.

Using ontologies as the source of business knowledge, the Oracle Semantic Reasoning Engine interprets and assembles business-ready context before it reaches the AI model. It orchestrates retrieval across federated systems, resolves business relationships, and applies relevant governance controls so the model can focus on language understanding, reasoning, explanation, and user interaction. By reusing business context and prior analytical findings across queries, the engine helps reduce repetitive reasoning and optimize token usage, supporting more efficient AI operations as organizations scale.

Deep Insight Agents Put Enterprise Context into Action 
Deep Insight Agents use enterprise ontologies and Oracle Semantic Reasoning Engine to investigate and reason through complex business questions. They identify drivers, run forecasts and scenarios, and recommend next actions, while supporting human review and approval.

By integrating Deep Insight Agents with Oracle Analytics Cloud, Oracle Fusion Data Intelligence, and custom applications, customers can make these insights and recommendations available across the Oracle and third-party experiences where they work.

Oracle AI Data Platform Helps Enterprises Build, Manage, and Put AI Agents to Work
As organizations scale AI agents across the business, they need to avoid agent sprawl, duplicated effort, unclear ownership, and inconsistent controls. Oracle AI Data Platform provides a consistent way to build, manage, apply governance controls to, and make agents available across the enterprise, helping organizations scale adoption while helping maintain visibility, security, and control.

Within Oracle AI Data Platform, Oracle AI Registry helps establish the foundation for enterprise AI governance processes by maintaining a centralized inventory of agents, tools, skills, and MCP servers, including their ownership, versions, dependencies, permissions, and lifecycle status. Building on this foundation, Oracle AI Governance and Control is planned to provide testing and policy assessment capabilities, and ongoing monitoring of agent behavior, quality, performance, usage, and cost. These capabilities are designed to help organizations assess readiness before deployment, monitor AI solutions in production, identify risks and unexpected behavior, and take corrective action. Together, these capabilities help customers maintain governance, accountability, and operational oversight as the enterprise AI estate grows. Business users can discover and work with registered agents through Oracle Agent Hub or supported third-party AI assistants, such as ChatGPT and Claude. The AI Registry provides centralized visibility and management of available AI capabilities, while access and execution remain subject to applicable enterprise security policies and controls.

"Anyone can adopt frontier models and agentic AI. Organizations only gain a sustainable competitive advantage when they apply those powerful algorithms to their proprietary processes and datasets," said Kevin Petrie, vice president of research, BARC. "The Oracle AI Data Platform offers a strategic step in that direction by helping enterprises derive governed, consistent, and reusable context from their data. Ontologies in particular enable models and agents to understand the interrelationships of key concepts and entities without consuming unnecessary tokens."

New Oracle AI Data Platform capabilities will be available within the next 12 months.

Oracle AI Data Platform Innovation Service Helps Turn AI Opportunities into Production Solutions
Oracle is introducing Oracle AI Data Platform Innovation Service to help organizations move high-value AI opportunities from concept to production. Working alongside customer teams, Oracle experts help define business outcomes and design, build, validate, deploy, and operate solutions using Oracle AI Data Platform and Oracle Cloud Infrastructure (OCI).

The service combines Oracle technology with forward deployed engineering expertise and ongoing operational support, helping customers put enterprise AI into production with the data, business context, security, and governance controls needed to operate at scale.

About Oracle
Oracle offers integrated suites of applications plus secure, autonomous infrastructure in Oracle Cloud. For more information about Oracle (NYSE: ORCL), please visit oracle.com.

About Oracle AI World
Oracle AI World is where customers and partners discover the latest product and technology innovations, see how AI is being applied across industries, and connect with experts and peers. Attendees will gain practical tips and insights to drive immediate impact within their organizations and explore how Oracle is helping unlock the full potential of AI. Join the event to see new capabilities in action and hear from thought leaders and industry movers. Register now at oracle.com/ai-world or follow the news and conversation at oracle.com/news and linkedin.com/company/oracle.

Trademarks
Oracle, Java, MySQL, and NetSuite are registered trademarks of Oracle Corporation. NetSuite was the first cloud company—ushering in the new era of cloud computing. 

Future Product Disclaimer
The preceding is intended to outline our general product direction. It is intended for information purposes only, and may not be incorporated into any contract. It is not a commitment to deliver any material, code, or functionality, and should not be relied upon in making purchasing decisions. The development, release, timing, and pricing of any features or functionality described for Oracle's products may change and remains at the sole discretion of Oracle Corporation.

SOURCE Oracle

ADT estimates it can save more than $3 million over four years and improve application performance by 25 percent by migrating business-critical applications to Oracle AI Database@Google Cloud

Oracle Cloud HCM automatically answers 90 percent of ADT's basic HR inquiries

, /PRNewswire/ -- Oracle AI World -- ADT Inc. (NYSE: ADT), the trusted leader in smart home security solutions, is expanding its use of AI with Oracle AI Database@Google Cloud and Oracle Fusion Cloud Applications. To reduce infrastructure costs, improve application performance, strengthen data security, and bring business data closer to its analytics and AI tools, ADT moved critical applications to Oracle AI Database@Google Cloud. In addition, ADT is leveraging the extensive AI capabilities in Oracle Fusion Cloud Human Capital Management (HCM) to answer employees' routine HR questions and help managers complete performance reviews faster.

"To develop more intelligent, proactive protection, we need to make it easier for our teams to put critical data to work," said Dave Scott, executive vice president and chief people and administration officer, ADT. "By using Oracle AI Database@Google Cloud, we are bringing that data closer to the tools our teams use to develop and test new ideas. With Oracle Fusion Applications, we are also using AI to help improve HR outcomes. For example, our new hires get the guidance they need while our managers gain more time to support their teams."

Bringing Critical Data Closer to AI and Analytics
ADT estimates that moving its billing, tax, and order management applications to Oracle AI Database@Google Cloud can save more than $3 million over four years and improve application performance by 25 percent. The move also brings data from those applications closer to ADT's Google BigQuery data warehouse, making it more accessible for planned AI projects using Gemini Enterprise. Keeping the data next to the Google Cloud services that use it can also simplify data management, accelerate analyses, and reduce the need to move or duplicate sensitive information. ADT also uses Oracle Database Zero Data Loss Autonomous Recovery Service to help secure and protect critical data, and Oracle Maximum Availability Architecture to enhance availability and disaster recovery of its databases deployed across the three Google Cloud regions it currently uses.

Improving the Employee Experience with AI
With more than 5,000 new hires each year, ADT wanted to give employees a more consistent experience, allow managers to spend more time with their teams, and reduce integration work across its systems. To meet these goals, ADT selected Oracle Cloud HCM, part of Oracle Fusion Applications, to bring HR processes and data together on one platform and take advantage of the latest AI capabilities.

With the AI capabilities in Oracle Cloud HCM, ADT has been able to automate responses to 90 percent of basic HR inquiries. In addition, Oracle Cloud HCM has enabled ADT to reduce HR support tickets by 26 percent, giving HR specialists more time for workforce planning and supporting complex employee needs. For managers, the AI-assisted tools in Oracle Cloud HCM save two to three hours per direct report during performance review cycles. ADT has also built a predictive turnover model in Oracle Cloud HCM that helps leaders identify potential attrition risks by job group and location.

"ADT is taking a practical approach to AI that is delivering results today while creating new opportunities for innovation," said Nathan Thomas, senior vice president, product management, Oracle. "By bringing critical data closer to its AI and analytics tools, ADT is creating new opportunities to move faster and innovate, while its use of AI in HR is already giving employees more time to focus on higher-value work. Together, these efforts will help ADT continue to deliver smarter, more proactive protection for its customers."

ADT's migration to Oracle AI Database@Google Cloud was supported by the Google Solution Line at Insight and Oracle Consulting.

Additional Resources

Customer Story: ADT embraces Oracle AI to improve onboarding and enhance workforce insightsProduct Overview: Oracle AI Database@Google CloudProduct Overview: Oracle Fusion Cloud Human Capital Management (HCM)About ADT
ADT is a leading provider of security, interactive and smart home solutions serving residential and small business customers in the U.S. Through innovative offerings, unrivaled safety and a premium customer experience delivered by the largest network of smart home security professionals in the U.S., ADT empowers people to protect and connect to what matters most, every second, every day. For more information, visit ADT.com.

About Oracle Fusion Cloud Applications
Oracle Fusion Cloud Applications are a complete suite of cloud applications that form the enterprise system of record, spanning finance, HR, supply chain, manufacturing, sales, service, and marketing. The suite includes Oracle Fusion Cloud Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP), Oracle Fusion Cloud Human Capital Management (HCM), Oracle Fusion Cloud Supply Chain & Manufacturing (SCM), and Oracle Fusion Cloud Customer Experience (CX).

Fusion Agentic Applications extend that foundation into a system of outcomes. They can coordinate and execute end-to-end work toward business objectives, and are designed to operate within the policies, controls, and authority each organization defines. With Oracle AI Agent Studio for Fusion Applications, customers and partners can create, extend, and manage these agents and agentic applications combining trusted enterprise data with the security, data governance, and performance needed to operate at scale.

About Oracle
Oracle offers integrated suites of applications plus secure, autonomous infrastructure in the Oracle Cloud. For more information about Oracle (NYSE: ORCL), please visit us at oracle.com.

About Oracle AI World
Oracle AI World is where customers and partners discover the latest product and technology innovations, see how AI is being applied across industries, and connect with experts and peers. Attendees will gain practical tips and insights to drive immediate impact within their organizations and explore how Oracle is helping unlock the full potential of AI. Join the event to see new capabilities in action and hear from thought leaders and industry movers. Register now at oracle.com/ai-world or follow the news and conversation at oracle.com/news and linkedin.com/company/oracle.

Trademarks
Oracle, Java, MySQL and NetSuite are registered trademarks of Oracle Corporation. NetSuite was the first cloud company—ushering in the new era of cloud computing.

Contact:
Ben Wolfson
Oracle 
+1.510.480.5230
[email protected]

SOURCE Oracle

Integrated platform brings together AI-powered production, enterprise media models, and distributed video delivery to help media companies, streaming providers, and brands get more value from their content

, /PRNewswire/ -- Oracle AI World -- Oracle today announced Oracle Media Fabric, an integrated platform designed to help media companies, streaming providers, and brands reduce content production time and cost, distribute and stream high-quality video at scale, and create more personalized experiences for viewers. The platform brings sophisticated content creation and streaming capabilities once available only to the largest proprietary streaming platforms to content creators of all sizes. By connecting AI-powered creative tools with next-generation video delivery infrastructure built around open standards, Oracle Media Fabric enables audience-specific advertising, tailored programming, and shared viewing experiences built around what audiences care about.

"Creating content and delivering it to viewers were separate processes," said Clay Magouyrk, CEO, Oracle. "With Oracle Media Fabric, we're bringing content creation and streaming together, using AI across the entire production and distribution workflow. That helps creators reduce production time and cost, make better use of their existing content, and tailor viewing experiences for different audiences in real-time."

Oracle Media Fabric brings together Oracle Creative Studio, Oracle AI Media Models, and Oracle Video Edge to help customers create, adapt, and deliver content. It includes safeguards to help protect customers' intellectual property (IP) and reduce the risk of generated content infringing the IP rights of others. Powered by the Oracle Creative Studio and Oracle Video Edge, the Oracle Adaptive Media Platform connects creation and delivery to enable audience-specific advertising, personalized programming, and shared viewing experiences.

Oracle Creative Studio: Helps professional media teams and a broad range of creators turn ideas into storyboards, scenes, cinematic video, visual effects, and virtual characters. As an AI-powered production suite, it brings together Oracle AI Media Models and leading third-party models through a flexible, model-agnostic platform that can select models for each creative task based on requirements for security, provenance, cost, and IP protection.Oracle AI Media Models: Help media studios and entertainment companies accelerate content creation while maintaining creative control. The Oracle-developed models focus on video generation, image generation, and image editing, enabling governed, large-scale media processing, intelligent curation and search, and frontier-model customization on Oracle Cloud Infrastructure (OCI).Oracle Video Edge: Helps broadcasters and streaming providers maintain high video quality and low latency during large-scale live events, helping ensure viewer playback starts fast and remains smooth as audience sizes peak. The AI-enabled managed platform uses real-time network and playback information to coordinate capacity and direct viewers to suitable delivery locations across OCI and participating content delivery networks and internet service provider networks.Oracle Adaptive Media Platform: Helps connect creation and delivery, enabling customers to develop audience-specific advertising, personalized programming, and shared viewing experiences. Brands can generate variations of a base advertisement within brand guidelines and approval rules, helping reduce the time and cost of creating multiple versions.By helping broadcasters and streaming providers understand how audiences respond to programming and advertising, Oracle Media Fabric can inform more engaging experiences, strengthen viewer relationships within customers' applications, and create new opportunities to monetize content. Oracle Media Fabric is planned to be available within the next 12 months.

About Oracle
Oracle offers integrated suites of applications plus secure, autonomous infrastructure in Oracle Cloud. For more information about Oracle (NYSE: ORCL), please visit oracle.com.

About Oracle AI World
Oracle AI World is where customers and partners discover the latest product and technology innovations, see how AI is being applied across industries, and connect with experts and peers. Attendees will gain practical tips and insights to drive immediate impact within their organizations and explore how Oracle is helping unlock the full potential of AI. Join the event to see new capabilities in action and hear from thought leaders and industry movers. Register now at oracle.com/ai-world or follow the news and conversation at oracle.com/news and linkedin.com/company/oracle.

Trademarks
Oracle, Java, MySQL, and NetSuite are registered trademarks of Oracle Corporation. NetSuite was the first cloud company—ushering in the new era of cloud computing. 

Future Product Disclaimer
The preceding is intended to outline our general product direction. It is intended for information purposes only, and may not be incorporated into any contract. It is not a commitment to deliver any material, code, or functionality, and should not be relied upon in making purchasing decisions. The development, release, timing, and pricing of any features or functionality described for Oracle's products may change and remains at the sole discretion of Oracle Corporation.

SOURCE Oracle

New first-party service gives customers more choice and flexibility to accelerate enterprise AI initiatives and realize business value faster

, /PRNewswire/ -- Oracle AI World -- Oracle and Snowflake (NYSE: SNOW) today announced that Snowflake AI Data Cloud will be available as a native, first-party service on Oracle Cloud Infrastructure (OCI), further expanding the AI and data capabilities Oracle offers to help organizations accelerate enterprise AI initiatives. By making Snowflake available alongside Oracle's comprehensive portfolio of infrastructure, AI, data, and application services, Oracle will give customers greater flexibility to put their enterprise data to work and drive AI-powered innovation. Customers will be able to purchase and provision the offering directly through Oracle, with simplified pricing and billing, alongside the ability to use Oracle Universal Credits.

"Organizations are looking for faster, simpler ways to turn their enterprise data into business value with AI," said Clay Magouyrk, CEO, Oracle. "By making Snowflake available as a native OCI service, we're giving customers more choice in the AI and data capabilities they can use, while simplifying how they deploy, manage, and pay for those services. This is another way Oracle is helping customers accelerate their AI initiatives and turn innovation into measurable business outcomes."

Oracle helps organizations unlock the value of their enterprise data through an integrated portfolio of cloud infrastructure, AI, databases, and enterprise applications. With mission-critical business data managed across Oracle AI Database, Oracle Autonomous AI Database, Oracle Fusion Cloud Applications, Oracle NetSuite, and other Oracle services, customers can take advantage of OCI's expanding ecosystem of AI and data capabilities to support their business priorities. Making Snowflake available as a native OCI service further expands the capabilities Oracle offers to help customers accelerate enterprise AI initiatives and deliver business value faster.

"AI has dramatically shortened the distance between enterprise data and real business value," said Sridhar Ramaswamy, CEO, Snowflake. "Snowflake is excited to be the flagship AI data platform partner running as a first party offering inside Oracle Cloud Infrastructure, giving joint customers the power to turn their Oracle data estates into an AI-ready foundation with the governance and security to move confidently at scale."

Customers will be able to purchase, provision, and consume Snowflake on OCI directly through Oracle. Oracle will manage pricing, discounts, and billing, providing a single commercial relationship for the service. Customers will also be able to use Oracle Universal Credits to consume Snowflake on OCI, simplifying procurement and enabling them to take advantage of their existing cloud commitments.

Snowflake on OCI is designed to help organizations get more value from their enterprise data in four key ways:

Extend the power of Snowflake analytics and AI to Oracle Cloud: Helps Oracle's customers apply Snowflake's analytics and AI capabilities closer to their mission-critical enterprise data, with supported sources including Oracle Fusion Cloud Applications, Oracle NetSuite, Oracle Autonomous AI Database, MySQL HeatWave, and Oracle NoSQL database.Accelerate analytics and enterprise AI: Enables native data transfer through supported integrations, reducing the need for custom pipelines and accelerating the use of enterprise data for reporting, data engineering, machine learning, and AI insights.Maintain data security and customer control: Designed to help customers use Snowflake on OCI alongside their enterprise data, while maintaining control over data access, use, and governance.Reduce egress costs: Enables seamless data movement within OCI, helping customers access their enterprise data faster while reducing cross-cloud data movement and associated egress costs.Customers will be able to purchase and consume Snowflake on OCI directly from Oracle, with unified pricing and billing. Customers will also be able to apply Oracle Universal Credits toward Snowflake usage, making it easier to use their existing cloud commitments.

Additional Resources

Learn more about Oracle Cloud InfrastructureLearn more about Oracle MulticloudLearn more about Snowflake on OCI through Snowflake's blogAbout Oracle
Oracle offers integrated suites of applications plus secure, autonomous infrastructure in the Oracle Cloud. For more information about Oracle (NYSE: ORCL), please visit us at oracle.com.

About Snowflake
Snowflake is the platform for the AI era, making it easy for enterprises to innovate faster and get more value from data. More than 14,500 customers around the globe, including hundreds of the world's largest companies, use Snowflake's AI Data Cloud to build, use and share data, applications and AI. With Snowflake, data and AI are transformative for everyone. Learn more at snowflake.com (NYSE: SNOW).

About Oracle AI World
Oracle AI World is where customers and partners discover the latest product and technology innovations, see how AI is being applied across industries, and connect with experts and peers. Attendees will gain practical tips and insights to drive immediate impact within their organizations and explore how Oracle is helping unlock the full potential of AI. Join the event to see new capabilities in action and hear from thought leaders and industry movers. Register now at oracle.com/ai-world or follow the news and conversation at oracle.com/news and linkedin.com/company/oracle.

Future Product Disclaimer
The [preceding] is intended to outline our general product direction. It is intended for information purposes only, and may not be incorporated into any contract. It is not a commitment to deliver any material, code, or functionality, and should not be relied upon in making purchasing decisions. The development, release, timing, and pricing of any features or functionality described for Oracle's products may change and remains at the sole discretion of Oracle Corporation.

Forward-Looking Statements Disclaimer
Statements in this article relating to Oracle's future plans, expectations, beliefs, and intentions are "forward-looking statements" and are subject to material risks and uncertainties. Many factors could affect Oracle's current expectations and actual results, and could cause actual results to differ materially. A discussion of such factors and other risks that affect Oracle's business is contained in Oracle's Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) filings, including Oracle's most recent reports on Form 10-K and Form 10-Q under the heading "Risk Factors." These filings are available on the SEC's website or on Oracle's website at oracle.com/investor. All information in this article is current as of October 27, 2026, and Oracle undertakes no duty to update any statement in light of new information or future events.

Trademarks
Oracle, Java, MySQL and NetSuite are registered trademarks of Oracle Corporation. NetSuite was the first cloud company—ushering in the new era of cloud computing.

Forward–Looking Statements
This press release contains express and implied forward-looking statements, including statements regarding (i) Snowflake's business strategy, plans, opportunities, or priorities (ii) Snowflake's products, services, and technology offerings, including those that are under development or not generally available, (iii) market growth, trends, and competitive considerations, (iv) Snowflake's vision, strategy, and expected benefits relating to artificial intelligence and other emerging product areas, and (v) the integration, interoperability, and availability of Snowflake's products, services, and technology offerings with and on third-party platforms. These forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks, uncertainties and assumptions, including those described under the heading "Risk Factors" and elsewhere in the Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and the Annual Reports on Form 10-K that Snowflake files with the Securities and Exchange Commission. In light of these risks, uncertainties, and assumptions, actual results could differ materially and adversely from those anticipated or implied in the forward-looking statements. As a result, you should not rely on any forward-looking statements as predictions of future events.

© 2026 Snowflake Inc.  All rights reserved.  Snowflake, the Snowflake logo, and all other Snowflake product, feature and service names mentioned herein are registered trademarks or trademarks of Snowflake Inc. in the United States and other countries.  All other brand names or logos mentioned or used herein are for identification purposes only and may be the trademarks of their respective holder(s).  Snowflake may not be associated with, or be sponsored or endorsed by, any such holder(s).

SOURCE Oracle

With the 10-year Treasury sitting at 5%, Realty Income faces its sharpest test yet as the gap between its dividend yield and risk-free bonds narrows to a razor's edge. Whether its investment spreads and $10 billion acquisition target can hold…

Realty Income (NYSE:O) reports third-quarter results, expected Monday, November 2, after the close. With the 10-year Treasury at 5.00%, this report tests whether “The Monthly Dividend Company” can keep growing cash flow as capital gets more expensive.

Raised Guidance Runs Into a 5% Treasury
Last quarter, AFFO per share rose 3.8% to $1.09, and revenue of $1.55B beat the $1.44B consensus. GAAP EPS of $0.37 missed the $0.4227 estimate, weighed down by $54.2 million in impairments. Management raised 2026 AFFO guidance to $4.44 to $4.45 and lifted its investment target to $10.0B.

Rates turned less friendly after that. The 10-year peaked at 5.31% on October 5 before falling. Realty Income kept raising capital, closing a $1.0 billion convertible notes offering in August and announcing a euro-denominated joint venture with KKR (NYSE:KKR | KKR Price Prediction) in September. Shares are up 3.5% over the past month and 5.55% year to date.

Wall Street Expects Higher EPS on Flat Revenue

Metric
Consensus
Prior Year
YoY Change

Q3 2026 EPS
$0.4347
$0.35
+24.2%

Q3 2026 Revenue
$1.447B
$1.471B
-1.6%

FY 2026 EPS
$1.5074
$1.17
+28.8%

FY 2026 Revenue
$5.78B
$5.75B
+0.6%

Revenue has beaten estimates in every quarter in the available history. I put more weight on AFFO, the metric REIT investors actually track.

Investment Spreads and Leverage Take Center Stage
Investment yields are my first focus. Realty Income targets roughly a 150-basis-point spread over its cost of capital, and Q2 deals closed at a 7.3% initial cash yield. CEO Sumit Roy called cap rates a “trailing variable” and warned that “in a highly elevated cost-of-capital environment, cap rates will need to adjust.” If acquisition yields fail to rise with the 10-year, spreads shrink.

Leverage comes next. Net debt to EBITDAre rose to 5.4x from 5.2x. So far this year, new debt priced at a blended 3.9% coupon, slightly below the 4% on maturing debt. You should ask whether that advantage lasts a full quarter of 5% Treasuries.

Updates on the $6B hyperscale data center venture and the private capital funds are also worth tracking, as they let Realty Income grow without leaning entirely on public equity. Occupancy slipped to 98.8%, still above the ~98.5% guidance, while the tenant watch list sits in the high-5% area.

Dividend’s Cushion Over Bonds Is Getting Thin
Realty Income just declared its 136th monthly dividend increase, yet its ~5.40% yield now stands close to a 5.00% Treasury. Jim Cramer put it bluntly: “If you think the 10 year is headed to 6%, then Realty Income is not worth a second look.” Reaffirmed guidance and steady spreads would show the dividend story still works when bonds compete for the same income investors (if you want more names that pay on the same monthly schedule as O, we rounded up seven of our favorites in a free report here).

Contact [email protected] for any questions or corrections.

Palantir Technologies Inc. (PLTR - Free Report) is one of the stocks most watched by Zacks.com visitors lately. So, it might be a good idea to review some of the factors that might affect the near-term performance of the stock.

Shares of this company have returned +6.1% over the past month versus the Zacks S&P 500 composite's -0.8% change. The Zacks Internet - Software industry, to which Palantir Technologies belongs, has lost 6.6% over this period. Now the key question is: Where could the stock be headed in the near term?

While media releases or rumors about a substantial change in a company's business prospects usually make its stock 'trending' and lead to an immediate price change, there are always some fundamental facts that eventually dominate the buy-and-hold decision-making.

Earnings Estimate RevisionsRather than focusing on anything else, we at Zacks prioritize evaluating the change in a company's earnings projection. This is because we believe the fair value for its stock is determined by the present value of its future stream of earnings.

Our analysis is essentially based on how sell-side analysts covering the stock are revising their earnings estimates to take the latest business trends into account. When earnings estimates for a company go up, the fair value for its stock goes up as well. And when a stock's fair value is higher than its current market price, investors tend to buy the stock, resulting in its price moving upward. Because of this, empirical studies indicate a strong correlation between trends in earnings estimate revisions and short-term stock price movements.

Palantir Technologies is expected to post earnings of $0.42 per share for the current quarter, representing a year-over-year change of +100%. Over the last 30 days, the Zacks Consensus Estimate has changed +0.2%.

The consensus earnings estimate of $1.64 for the current fiscal year indicates a year-over-year change of +118.7%. This estimate has changed +2.3% over the last 30 days.

For the next fiscal year, the consensus earnings estimate of $2.33 indicates a change of +42.3% from what Palantir Technologies is expected to report a year ago. Over the past month, the estimate has changed +0.8%.

Having a strong externally audited track record, our proprietary stock rating tool, the Zacks Rank, offers a more conclusive picture of a stock's price direction in the near term, since it effectively harnesses the power of earnings estimate revisions. Due to the size of the recent change in the consensus estimate, along with three other factors related to earnings estimates, Palantir Technologies is rated Zacks Rank #3 (Hold).

The chart below shows the evolution of the company's forward 12-month consensus EPS estimate:

12 Month EPS

Revenue Growth ForecastEven though a company's earnings growth is arguably the best indicator of its financial health, nothing much happens if it cannot raise its revenues. It's almost impossible for a company to grow its earnings without growing its revenue for long periods. Therefore, knowing a company's potential revenue growth is crucial.

For Palantir Technologies, the consensus sales estimate for the current quarter of $2.17 billion indicates a year-over-year change of +83.9%. For the current and next fiscal years, $8.22 billion and $11.9 billion estimates indicate +83.6% and +44.8% changes, respectively.

Last Reported Results and Surprise HistoryPalantir Technologies reported revenues of $1.94 billion in the last reported quarter, representing a year-over-year change of +92.8%. EPS of $0.41 for the same period compares with $0.16 a year ago.

Compared to the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.81 billion, the reported revenues represent a surprise of +7.16%. The EPS surprise was +17.14%.

The company beat consensus EPS estimates in each of the trailing four quarters. The company topped consensus revenue estimates each time over this period.

ValuationWithout considering a stock's valuation, no investment decision can be efficient. In predicting a stock's future price performance, it's crucial to determine whether its current price correctly reflects the intrinsic value of the underlying business and the company's growth prospects.

Comparing the current value of a company's valuation multiples, such as its price-to-earnings (P/E), price-to-sales (P/S), and price-to-cash flow (P/CF), to its own historical values helps ascertain whether its stock is fairly valued, overvalued, or undervalued, whereas comparing the company relative to its peers on these parameters gives a good sense of how reasonable its stock price is.

As part of the Zacks Style Scores system, the Zacks Value Style Score (which evaluates both traditional and unconventional valuation metrics) organizes stocks into five groups ranging from A to F (A is better than B; B is better than C; and so on), making it helpful in identifying whether a stock is overvalued, rightly valued, or temporarily undervalued.

Palantir Technologies is graded F on this front, indicating that it is trading at a premium to its peers. Click here to see the values of some of the valuation metrics that have driven this grade.

Bottom LineThe facts discussed here and much other information on Zacks.com might help determine whether or not it's worthwhile paying attention to the market buzz about Palantir Technologies. However, its Zacks Rank #3 does suggest that it may perform in line with the broader market in the near term.

Micron (MU - Free Report) has recently been on Zacks.com's list of the most searched stocks. Therefore, you might want to consider some of the key factors that could influence the stock's performance in the near future.

Shares of this chipmaker have returned -14.3% over the past month versus the Zacks S&P 500 composite's -0.8% change. The Zacks Computer - Integrated Systems industry, to which Micron belongs, has lost 15.4% over this period. Now the key question is: Where could the stock be headed in the near term?

Although media reports or rumors about a significant change in a company's business prospects usually cause its stock to trend and lead to an immediate price change, there are always certain fundamental factors that ultimately drive the buy-and-hold decision.

Earnings Estimate RevisionsHere at Zacks, we prioritize appraising the change in the projection of a company's future earnings over anything else. That's because we believe the present value of its future stream of earnings is what determines the fair value for its stock.

Our analysis is essentially based on how sell-side analysts covering the stock are revising their earnings estimates to take the latest business trends into account. When earnings estimates for a company go up, the fair value for its stock goes up as well. And when a stock's fair value is higher than its current market price, investors tend to buy the stock, resulting in its price moving upward. Because of this, empirical studies indicate a strong correlation between trends in earnings estimate revisions and short-term stock price movements.

For the current quarter, Micron is expected to post earnings of $38.20 per share, indicating a change of +699.2% from the year-ago quarter. The Zacks Consensus Estimate has changed +9.3% over the last 30 days.

For the current fiscal year, the consensus earnings estimate of $177.73 points to a change of +135.3% from the prior year. Over the last 30 days, this estimate has changed +11.6%.

For the next fiscal year, the consensus earnings estimate of $212.02 indicates a change of +19.3% from what Micron is expected to report a year ago. Over the past month, the estimate has changed +12.8%.

Having a strong externally audited track record, our proprietary stock rating tool, the Zacks Rank, offers a more conclusive picture of a stock's price direction in the near term, since it effectively harnesses the power of earnings estimate revisions. Due to the size of the recent change in the consensus estimate, along with three other factors related to earnings estimates, Micron is rated Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy).

The chart below shows the evolution of the company's forward 12-month consensus EPS estimate:

12 Month EPS

Projected Revenue GrowthWhile earnings growth is arguably the most superior indicator of a company's financial health, nothing happens as such if a business isn't able to grow its revenues. After all, it's nearly impossible for a company to increase its earnings for an extended period without increasing its revenues. So, it's important to know a company's potential revenue growth.

For Micron, the consensus sales estimate for the current quarter of $62.04 billion indicates a year-over-year change of +354.8%. For the current and next fiscal years, $277.58 billion and $340.24 billion estimates indicate +108.4% and +22.6% changes, respectively.

Last Reported Results and Surprise HistoryMicron reported revenues of $54.23 billion in the last reported quarter, representing a year-over-year change of +379.3%. EPS of $33.42 for the same period compares with $3.03 a year ago.

Compared to the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $51 billion, the reported revenues represent a surprise of +6.32%. The EPS surprise was +5.73%.

The company beat consensus EPS estimates in each of the trailing four quarters. The company topped consensus revenue estimates each time over this period.

ValuationNo investment decision can be efficient without considering a stock's valuation. Whether a stock's current price rightly reflects the intrinsic value of the underlying business and the company's growth prospects is an essential determinant of its future price performance.

While comparing the current values of a company's valuation multiples, such as price-to-earnings (P/E), price-to-sales (P/S), and price-to-cash flow (P/CF), with its own historical values helps determine whether its stock is fairly valued, overvalued, or undervalued, comparing the company relative to its peers on these parameters gives a good sense of the reasonability of the stock's price.

As part of the Zacks Style Scores system, the Zacks Value Style Score (which evaluates both traditional and unconventional valuation metrics) organizes stocks into five groups ranging from A to F (A is better than B; B is better than C; and so on), making it helpful in identifying whether a stock is overvalued, rightly valued, or temporarily undervalued.

Micron is graded B on this front, indicating that it is trading at a discount to its peers. Click here to see the values of some of the valuation metrics that have driven this grade.

ConclusionThe facts discussed here and much other information on Zacks.com might help determine whether or not it's worthwhile paying attention to the market buzz about Micron. However, its Zacks Rank #1 does suggest that it may outperform the broader market in the near term.

Key Takeaways TSM's Q3 2026 revenues jumped 41.2% year over year to $46.72B, driven by robust demand for advanced chips.TSM raised its 2026 revenue growth outlook to 44%, with Q4 revenues projected at $52.3B-$54.3B.TSM plans $60B-$64B in 2026 capital spending as it expands advanced-node, packaging and global fab capacity. Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Limited (TSM - Free Report) emphasized sustained artificial intelligence demand, accelerating capacity expansion and growing advanced-node adoption during its third-quarter 2026 earnings call.

Management raised its full-year revenue growth outlook while acknowledging manufacturing cost pressures, overseas expansion expenses and uncertainties in consumer markets.

TSM reported third-quarter earnings of $4.60 per ADR, surpassing the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $4.45. Revenues totaled $46.72 billion, exceeding the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $45.62 billion. Revenues increased 41.2% year over year.

TSM Sees Robust AI Demand Beyond AcceleratorsChairman and CEO C.C. Wei emphasized that AI-related semiconductor demand remains exceptionally strong, supported by accelerating adoption of agentic AI, open-source models and advanced computing infrastructure.

During the Q&A, a Citigroup analyst questioned whether infrastructure constraints could affect growth. Wei indicated that AI accelerator growth could exceed the previously discussed mid-to-high 50% compound annual growth rate for 2024-2029.

Wei also highlighted increasing demand for CPUs and networking chips. However, management clarified that CPUs remain outside its narrowly defined AI accelerator growth projections.

TSMC Raises Revenue Outlook Despite Market RisksManagement now expects full-year 2026 revenue growth of approximately 44% in U.S. dollar terms, reflecting strong demand for leading-edge manufacturing technologies.

For the fourth quarter, TSM projects revenues between $52.3 billion and $54.3 billion, representing approximately 14% sequential growth at the midpoint. Gross margin is projected at 65-67%, with operating margin at 56.5-58.5%.

CFO Wendell Huang attributed margin pressure to the steep 2-nanometer ramp and overseas manufacturing costs. Meanwhile, Wei cautioned that rising component prices and macroeconomic uncertainty continue to challenge price-sensitive consumer markets.

TSM Maintains Elevated Capital Spending PlansHuang reiterated the company's 2026 capital expenditure budget of $60 billion to $64 billion, reflecting its commitment to expanding manufacturing capacity.

Management expects capital spending during 2026-2028 to be significantly higher than during the preceding three years.

During the Q&A, a UBS analyst questioned whether equipment inflation would increase future investment requirements. Huang acknowledged rising equipment, material and labor costs but emphasized that long-term customer demand remains the principal investment driver. He maintained that revenue growth should outpace capital spending growth.

TSMC Accelerates Advanced-Node Capacity ExpansionWei outlined an unprecedented global expansion involving nearly 20 manufacturing facilities under development, including 13 leading-edge and advanced packaging facilities in Taiwan.

The company's 2-nanometer technology accounted for 8% of third-quarter wafer revenue. Management expects annual N2-family capacity to more than double in 2027, supported by smartphone and high-performance computing applications.

TSMC also plans additional 3-nanometer manufacturing capacity in Taiwan while preparing its A14 technology for risk production in 2027 and volume production in 2028. Wei indicated that A14 customer engagement already exceeds comparable early N2 activity.

TSM Evaluates Additional U.S. Manufacturing OpportunitiesWei confirmed that TSMC is evaluating manufacturing expansion beyond Arizona, including potential opportunities in Texas.

Responding to a JPMorgan analyst, Wei acknowledged discussions involving the proposed Terafab project. He clarified that any manufacturing collaboration would require TSMC operational control, although ownership arrangements remain under discussion.

Meanwhile, Arizona's second fab is scheduled to begin 3-nanometer volume production in the third quarter of 2027. Huang expects overseas manufacturing to dilute gross margin by 3-4 percentage points during the latter portion of the company's five-year expansion period.

TSMC Strengthens Advanced Packaging SupportWei emphasized advanced packaging as another critical capacity priority amid increasing chip complexity and customer requirements.

He reported successful production of five-reticle-size packaging solutions, with development progressing toward nine- and 14-reticle-size configurations. He identified CoWoS as customers' preferred packaging solution.

During the Q&A, Wei also discussed collaboration with GlobalFoundries to support interposer supply. The arrangement addresses back-end capacity shortages while supporting customers' product introduction schedules.

TSM Balances Expansion With ProfitabilityManagement's overarching message centered on meeting structural semiconductor demand through accelerated investment, manufacturing productivity improvements and capacity optimization.

Although Wei expressed confidence in the company's technology leadership and customer demand, management maintained a disciplined approach to capacity planning, factoring in infrastructure availability, supply-chain constraints and long-term profitability.

Zacks Rank and Style Scores Signal Mixed FundamentalsTSM currently carries a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), indicating favorable earnings estimate revision trends and stronger near-term performance potential. Its Momentum Score of B supports this assessment, while its Value Score of F and Growth Score of C indicate less favorable characteristics in those categories. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.

The stock's VGM Score of D reflects weaker combined value, growth and momentum characteristics despite its favorable Zacks Rank. The Zacks Rank can change as analysts revise earnings estimates following the latest results.

Illinois Tool Works (ITW - Free Report) came out with quarterly earnings of $3 per share, beating the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $2.99 per share. This compares to earnings of $2.81 per share a year ago. These figures are adjusted for non-recurring items.

This quarterly report represents an earnings surprise of +0.33%. A quarter ago, it was expected that this equipment manufacturer for the transportation, power, food and construction industries would post earnings of $2.8 per share when it actually produced earnings of $2.84, delivering a surprise of +1.43%.

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

Illinois Tool Works, which belongs to the Zacks Manufacturing - General Industrial industry, posted revenues of $4.24 billion for the quarter ended September 2026, missing the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 0.59%. This compares to year-ago revenues of $4.06 billion. The company has topped consensus revenue estimates three times over the last four quarters.

The sustainability of the stock's immediate price movement based on the recently-released numbers and future earnings expectations will mostly depend on management's commentary on the earnings call.

Illinois Tool Works shares have added about 12.2% since the beginning of the year versus the S&P 500's gain of 12.1%.

What's Next for Illinois Tool Works?While Illinois Tool Works has outperformed the market so far this year, the question that comes to investors' minds is: what's next for the stock?

There are no easy answers to this key question, but one reliable measure that can help investors address this is the company's earnings outlook. Not only does this include current consensus earnings expectations for the coming quarter(s), but also how these expectations have changed lately.

Empirical research shows a strong correlation between near-term stock movements and trends in earnings estimate revisions. Investors can track such revisions by themselves or rely on a tried-and-tested rating tool like the Zacks Rank, which has an impressive track record of harnessing the power of earnings estimate revisions.

Ahead of this earnings release, the estimate revisions trend for Illinois Tool Works was mixed. While the magnitude and direction of estimate revisions could change following the company's just-released earnings report, the current status translates into a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) for the stock. So, the shares are expected to perform in line with the market in the near future. You can see the complete list of today's Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.

It will be interesting to see how estimates for the coming quarters and the current fiscal year change in the days ahead. The current consensus EPS estimate is $2.94 on $4.25 billion in revenues for the coming quarter and $11.42 on $16.8 billion in revenues for the current fiscal year.

Investors should be mindful of the fact that the outlook for the industry can have a material impact on the performance of the stock as well. In terms of the Zacks Industry Rank, Manufacturing - General Industrial is currently in the bottom 36% of the 250 plus Zacks industries. Our research shows that the top 50% of the Zacks-ranked industries outperform the bottom 50% by a factor of more than 2 to 1.

Another stock from the same industry, Xometry (XMTR - Free Report) , has yet to report results for the quarter ended September 2026. The results are expected to be released on November 3.

This marketplace for on-demand manufacturing is expected to post quarterly earnings of $0.19 per share in its upcoming report, which represents a year-over-year change of +72.7%. The consensus EPS estimate for the quarter has remained unchanged over the last 30 days.

Xometry's revenues are expected to be $235.82 million, up 30.5% from the year-ago quarter.

Wall Street expects a year-over-year increase in earnings on higher revenues when Booking Holdings (BKNG - Free Report) reports results for the quarter ended September 2026. While this widely-known consensus outlook is important in gauging the company's earnings picture, a powerful factor that could impact 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 November 3. 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 online booking service is expected to post quarterly earnings of $4.48 per share in its upcoming report, which represents a year-over-year change of +12.6%.

Revenues are expected to be $9.56 billion, up 6.2% from the year-ago quarter.

Estimate Revisions TrendThe consensus EPS estimate for the quarter has been revised 0.05% 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. 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 Booking Holdings?For Booking Holdings, 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 +1.22%.

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

So, this combination makes it difficult to conclusively predict that Booking Holdings 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 Booking Holdings would post earnings of $2.45 per share when it actually produced earnings of $2.54, delivering a surprise of +3.67%.

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.

Booking Holdings 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 ResultsAmazon (AMZN - Free Report) , another stock in the Zacks Internet - Commerce industry, is expected to report earnings per share of $2.01 for the quarter ended September 2026. This estimate points to a year-over-year change of +3.1%. Revenues for the quarter are expected to be $202.11 billion, up 12.2% from the year-ago quarter.

Over the last 30 days, the consensus EPS estimate for Amazon has been revised 0.4% down to the current level. Nevertheless, the company now has an Earnings ESP of -1.17%, 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 Amazon will beat the consensus EPS estimate. Over the last four quarters, the company surpassed consensus EPS estimates two times.

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

Sysco (SYY - Free Report) is expected to deliver a year-over-year increase in earnings on higher revenues when it reports results for the quarter ended September 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 November 3. 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 food distributor is expected to post quarterly earnings of $1.17 per share in its upcoming report, which represents a year-over-year change of +1.7%.

Revenues are expected to be $22.19 billion, up 4.9% from the year-ago quarter.

Estimate Revisions TrendThe consensus EPS estimate for the quarter has been revised 0.89% 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. 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 Sysco?For Sysco, 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 +2.46%.

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

So, this combination indicates that Sysco 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 Sysco would post earnings of $1.51 per share when it actually produced earnings of $1.53, delivering a surprise of +1.32%.

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.

Sysco 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 Food - Miscellaneous industry, Mondelez (MDLZ - Free Report) , is soon expected to post earnings of $0.72 per share for the quarter ended September 2026. This estimate indicates a year-over-year change of -1.4%. This quarter's revenue is expected to be $9.98 billion, up 2.4% from the year-ago quarter.

The consensus EPS estimate for Mondelez has been revised 0.8% lower over the last 30 days to the current level. However, a lower Most Accurate Estimate has resulted in an Earnings ESP of -0.71%.

This Earnings ESP, combined with its Zacks Rank #3 (Hold), makes it difficult to conclusively predict that Mondelez will 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.

(Kitco News) - The earnings bonanza in the mining sector continues as one of the world's largest copper and gold producers reported better-than-expected third-quarter earnings, with higher metal prices offsetting rising production costs and a sharp decline in gold sales.

Tuesday, ahead of the North American equity market open, Freeport-McMoRan (NYSE: FCX) reported third-quarter revenue of $7.55 billion, beating analysts' consensus forecast of $7.4 billion by approximately 2%. Revenue increased 8.2% from $6.97 billion a year earlier.

The company reported net income attributable to shareholders of $1.17 billion, or $0.81 per share, compared with $674 million, or $0.46 per share, last year. Adjusted earnings totaled $1.28 billion, or $0.88 per share, exceeding consensus estimates of $0.82 per share.

Although higher metal prices supported Freeport's financial performance, its results highlight growing cost pressures across the mining sector, as higher energy prices and persistent inflation threaten operating margins.

Freeport reported consolidated unit net cash costs of $2.07 per pound of copper, up nearly 48% from $1.40 a year earlier. Costs were also above the company's previous forecast of $2.00 per pound.

The company attributed the increase to lower copper and gold volumes at its Grasberg mining complex in Indonesia, along with higher energy and consumables costs. Delayed gold sales also reduced by-product credits, adding further pressure to reported copper production costs.

Freeport separately reported $244 million in idle facility, recovery and restoration costs associated with the September 2025 mud rush incident at Grasberg. These expenses were excluded from its unit net cash cost figures.

The rising costs come as analysts warn that the ongoing war in Iran and disruptions to global energy supplies could undermine the mining industry's otherwise strong earnings performance.

In a recent interview with Kitco News, Chris Mancini, co-portfolio manager of the Gabelli Gold Fund (GOLDX), warned that rising energy and labor costs could cause mining companies to miss earnings expectations, even as elevated gold prices generate significant cash flow.

"I think the big picture is that it's going to be very good earnings, but they'll probably miss a lot of consensus estimates," he said.

Mancini noted that while higher diesel prices have become a significant headwind, labor inflation represents an even greater challenge as companies compete for workers.

Freeport's results illustrate some of those pressures, although stronger metal prices helped offset weaker production and sales volumes.

The company reported gold production of 234,000 ounces, down from 287,000 ounces a year earlier. Gold sales fell nearly 69% to 105,000 ounces, compared with 336,000 ounces last year.

Sales also missed the company's previous guidance of 160,000 ounces, primarily because of delays in refined gold sales from Indonesia.

However, Freeport benefited from higher gold prices, with its average realized price rising nearly 21% to $4,273 an ounce, compared with $3,539 last year.

Freeport said gold production remained in line with expectations, with approximately 60,000 ounces of refined gold sales deferred into the fourth quarter.

The company expects fourth-quarter gold sales of approximately 300,000 ounces, bringing full-year sales to 649,000 ounces.

Despite the decline in gold sales, Freeport said its Grasberg recovery remains on schedule. The company expects operations to reach 80% of capacity by mid-2027 and approach full capacity by year-end.

In a statement, Kathleen Quirk, Freeport's president and CEO, highlighted the company's operational progress.

"We made continued steady progress with our Grasberg ramp-up and advanced innovative leach and technology initiatives in our Americas business to enhance performance and growth options."

Looking ahead, Freeport expects higher gold sales to improve by-product credits and ease production costs. The company forecasts consolidated unit net cash costs of $1.68 per pound in the fourth quarter, bringing its full-year average to approximately $1.90 per pound.

However, the company cautioned that its cost outlook remains vulnerable to developments in the Middle East, particularly their impact on energy and other consumable prices.

Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are those of the author and may not reflect those of Kitco Metals Inc. The author has made every effort to ensure accuracy of information provided; however, neither Kitco Metals Inc. nor the author can guarantee such accuracy. This article is strictly for informational purposes only. It is not a solicitation to make any exchange in commodities, securities or other financial instruments. Kitco Metals Inc. and the author of this article do not accept culpability for losses and/ or damages arising from the use of this publication.

Ares Capital (ARCC +0.03%) has agreed to acquire MidCap Financial (MFIC +23.27%) in a cash-and-stock deal valuing the fellow business development company (BDC) at $2.6 billion, including debt. The deal will further diversify and grow Ares Capital's investment portfolio, which is already the largest among publicly traded BDCs.

Here's a look at the deal and how it will impact Ares Capital's more than 10%-yielding dividend.

Image source: Getty Images.

Details on the dealAres Capital is paying $10.88 per share for MidCap Financial, a 30.1% premium to the closing price before the deal's announcement. It's paying $1.21 per share in cash and the remainder in stock. However, the actual stock consideration will be adjusted based on the special dividend that MidCap Financial expects to pay its investors before the deal closes. The BDC expects to distribute all of its undistributed taxable income as a special dividend at closing, which it anticipates will be meaningful. The stock consideration will fall dollar-for-dollar to account for that special dividend.

The merger will create an even larger-scale BDC. Ares Capital ended the third quarter with an industry-leading $29.2 billion investment portfolio across 636 portfolio companies. Adding MidCap will increase its portfolio to over $31 billion across over 800 portfolio companies. That greater scale and diversification will help lower its risk profile and strengthen its resilience.

$18.62+$0.01 (+0.03%)

NASDAQ · As of 11:35 AM ET 10/27/26

What the merger means for its dividendAres Capital expects that the transaction will be modestly accretive to its core earnings per share. That will provide further support for its dividend. The BDC reported $0.46 per share of core earnings in the third quarter (down from $0.50 per share in the year-ago period), just below its $0.48 per share quarterly dividend.

However, that doesn't mean that the dividend is at any immediate risk of reduction. The transaction environment was slow during the quarter due to surging interest rates. Ares is already seeing stronger activity in the fourth quarter. Meanwhile, it has recorded net realized gains of $0.07 per share this year, providing further support for its dividend. Additionally, the company is carrying forward $1.37 per share of excess taxable income from last year, giving it even more cushion.

As a result, the company expects the MidCap Financial deal to further support its ability to maintain its current dividend rate. Ares has delivered 17 years of a stable-to-increasing quarterly dividend.

MFIC MidCap Financial Investment Corporation$10.31+$1.95 (+23.27%)

NASDAQ · As of 11:37 AM ET 10/27/26

However, the deal does add some risk. MidCap Financial cut its quarterly dividend earlier this year (from $0.38 per share to $0.31 per share) due to changes in interest rates and other factors. It also reported a 3.2% decline in its net asset value per share in the second quarter, driven by credit-related weaknesses at some of its portfolio companies. Investors should monitor any further credit deterioration in MidCap's legacy portfolio.

Further fortifying its dividendAres Capital's acquisition of MidCap Financial should further support its high-yielding dividend. It will expand and diversify its already industry-leading portfolio and increase its core earnings per share. While the deal will introduce additional risk, it should further enhance Ares Capital's competitive position. As a result, it remains one of the best BDC's to buy for passive income.

Key Takeaways WST's Q3 earnings are expected to rise 11.2% to $2.18 per share, with revenues growing 2.7% to $825.9 million.Strong HVP demand, GLP-1 growth and nearly 800 Annex 1 projects are likely to aid Proprietary Products sales.West Vantage's loss of a CGM customer and the SmartDose divestiture may hurt WST's Q3 growth.
West Pharmaceutical Services (WST - Free Report) is scheduled to release third-quarter 2026 results on Oct. 29, before the opening bell. In the last reported quarter, the company delivered an earnings surprise of 13.94%. WST’s earnings beat estimates in each of the trailing four quarters, delivering an average surprise of 17.40%.

West Pharma is likely to have benefited from sustained demand for high-value product (HVP) components in the third quarter of 2026, although weakness in its West Vantage segment and the SmartDose divestiture are expected to have weighed on reported growth. Proprietary Products is expected to have remained the key growth driver, while West Vantage is likely to have faced near-term headwinds from the discontinuation of a continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) contract.

Q3 EstimatesManagement expects third-quarter revenues to be in the range of $820-$835 million, implying 7-8.9% organic sales growth. Also, adjusted earnings per share (EPS) are expected to be in the range of $2.14-$2.24.

Currently, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for revenues is pegged at $825.9 million, indicating growth of 2.7% year over year. The consensus mark for earnings is pinned at $2.18 per share, indicating an improvement of 11.2%.

Our model estimates total revenues to be $825.1 million, implying a 7.6% organic improvement year over year. The adjusted EPS is estimated to be $2.14. While the Proprietary Products segment sales are anticipated to be $677.2 million (organic growth of 9.7%), West Vantage segmental sales are likely to be $147.9 million. Operating profit for the Proprietary Products segment is likely to improve 32.6%, while the metric for West Vantage is estimated to decline 16.5%.

Factors to NoteProprietary Products: Biologics, GLP-1s and HVP Upgrades Drive Growth

The Proprietary Products segment is likely to have delivered low-double-digit growth, supported by continued momentum in HVP Components. Following 18.4% organic growth in the second quarter, demand is likely to have remained strong across biologics and biosimilars, GLP-1 therapies, and HVP upgrades associated with Annex 1 contamination-control requirements.

The company’s pipeline of nearly 800 Annex 1-related projects, up 50% year over year, should have supported further adoption of higher-value components and finishing services, including Envision inspection and pharmaceutical washing.

Both GLP-1 and non-GLP-1 HVP Components are expected to have remained important contributors. Expanding generic GLP-1 launches across international markets, increasing biologics adoption and new drug launches likely supported demand for premium components such as NovaPure and FluroTec.

Meanwhile, continued conversion from Standard Products to HVP components should have improved the segment’s revenue mix and margins. However, relatively flat Standard Products growth and the absence of SmartDose 3.5 revenues following its July 1 divestiture likely limited sales momentum. Growth in the remaining delivery-device portfolio, particularly SelfDose and Crystal Zenith, should have partly offset this impact.

West Vantage: Contract Exit Weighs on Performance

West Vantage’s revenues are expected to have declined in the third quarter, which management had identified as the segment’s anticipated revenue trough. The exit of the CGM contract likely created a significant headwind, while the recovery from the earlier cyber incident had shifted some revenues into the second half. The drug-handling business should have provided some support, although its more meaningful revenue contribution was expected in the fourth quarter as capacity ramped up at Dublin. Higher oil and commodity costs also posed margin risks, potentially requiring additional pricing actions.

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

Earnings ESP: Earnings ESP, which represents the difference between the Most Accurate Estimate and the Zacks Consensus Estimate, is 0.00%. You can uncover the best stocks to buy or sell before they are reported with our Earnings ESP Filter.

Zacks Rank: The company carries a Zacks Rank #3 at present.

Stocks Worth a LookSome stocks worth considering from the broader medical space are Glaukos (GKOS - Free Report) , Edward Lifesciences (EW - Free Report) and Globus Medical (GMED - Free Report) , each carrying a Zacks Rank #2 at present. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.

Glaukos reported second-quarter 2026 earnings per share of 14 cents, which beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 50.00%. Revenues of $186 million surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 24.1%.

Glaukos has an estimated earnings growth rate of 268.8% for 2027. GKOS’ earnings surpassed estimates in three of the trailing four quarters and missed once, the average surprise being 25.87%.

Edward Lifesciences reported second-quarter 2026 adjusted EPS of 78 cents, which beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 6.85%. Revenues of $1.74 billion surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 2.45%.

Edward Lifesciences has an estimated long-term earnings growth rate of 12.7%. EW’s earnings surpassed estimates in three of the trailing four quarters and missed once, the average surprise being 4.49%.

Globus Medical reported a second-quarter fiscal 2026 adjusted EPS of $1.34, which beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 19.6%. Revenues of $790 million missed the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 0.35%.

Globus Medical has an estimated long-term earnings growth rate of 12.4%. GMED’s earnings surpassed estimates in each of the trailing four quarters, the average surprise being 27.88%.

The upcoming report from VALE S.A. (VALE - Free Report) is expected to reveal quarterly earnings of $0.33 per share, indicating a decline of 47.6% compared to the year-ago period. Analysts forecast revenues of $10.14 billion, representing a decline of 2.6% year over year.

The consensus EPS estimate for the quarter has undergone an upward revision of 2% in the past 30 days, bringing it to its present level. This represents how the covering analysts, as a whole, have reassessed their initial estimates during this timeframe.

Prior to a company's earnings release, it is of utmost importance to factor in any revisions made to the earnings projections. These revisions serve as a critical gauge for predicting potential investor behaviors with respect to the stock. Empirical studies consistently reveal a strong link between trends in earnings estimate revisions and the short-term price performance of a stock.

While investors typically use consensus earnings and revenue estimates as a yardstick to evaluate the company's quarterly performance, scrutinizing analysts' projections for some of the company's key metrics can offer a more comprehensive perspective.

With that in mind, let's delve into the average projections of some VALE metrics that are commonly tracked and projected by analysts on Wall Street.

Analysts expect 'Revenue- Vale Base Metals' to come in at $2.50 billion. The estimate suggests a change of +25.3% year over year.

Analysts forecast 'Revenue- Iron ore solutions- fines' to reach $6.57 billion. The estimate suggests a change of -7.2% year over year.

Based on the collective assessment of analysts, 'Revenue- Vale Base Metals- Copper' should arrive at $1.36 billion. The estimate points to a change of +56.1% from the year-ago quarter.

The consensus among analysts is that 'Revenue- Vale Base Metals- Nickel' will reach $1.24 billion. The estimate suggests a change of +87.7% year over year.

It is projected by analysts that the 'Volume sold in tons - Pellets' will reach 7881 thousands metric tons. Compared to the present estimate, the company reported 8769 thousands metric tons in the same quarter last year.

The collective assessment of analysts points to an estimated 'Volume sold in tons - Nickel' of 47 thousands metric tons. The estimate compares to the year-ago value of 43 thousands metric tons.

According to the collective judgment of analysts, 'Volume sold in tons - Fins' should come in at 75454 thousands metric tons. Compared to the present estimate, the company reported 75020 thousands metric tons in the same quarter last year.

The consensus estimate for 'Volume sold in tons - ROM' stands at 2025 thousands metric tons. The estimate compares to the year-ago value of 2208 thousands metric tons.

The average prediction of analysts places 'Volume sold in tons - Copper' at 86 thousands metric tons. Compared to the present estimate, the company reported 70 thousands metric tons in the same quarter last year.

The combined assessment of analysts suggests that 'Average Price - Iron ore pellets realized price' will likely reach $133.94 . Compared to the present estimate, the company reported $130.80 in the same quarter last year.

Analysts' assessment points toward 'C1 cash cost - Iron ore fins - excluding third-party purchase costs' reaching $23.75 . Compared to the current estimate, the company reported $20.70 in the same quarter of the previous year.

Analysts predict that the 'Cash cost per ton - Pellets' will reach $85.67 . Compared to the current estimate, the company reported $77.20 in the same quarter of the previous year.

View all Key Company Metrics for VALE here>>>

Over the past month, shares of VALE have returned -11.7% versus the Zacks S&P 500 composite's -0.8% change. Currently, VALE carries a Zacks Rank #5 (Strong Sell), suggesting that it may underperform the overall market in the near future. You can see the complete list of today's Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) stocks here >>>> .

Key Takeaways WDC expects Q2 revenue of $5.1 billion, up 16% sequentially and 69% year over year.Pricing momentum lifted average price per terabyte 28% year over year, while gross margin reached 58.1%.WDC targets 40TB ePMR and HAMR drives, with HAMR volume shipments expected in first-half fiscal 2027. Western Digital Corporation (WDC - Free Report) is entering the second quarter of fiscal 2027 with strong momentum, driven by rising demand for high-capacity HDDs, favorable pricing and growing data-storage requirements from cloud and AI infrastructure providers. It appears to be benefiting from both increasing sales and improving profitability. Management expects these trends to continue into the fiscal second quarter, led by strong customer demand, higher-capacity products and improved pricing.

At the midpoint of its guidance, WDC expects revenue of $5.1 billion (+/- $100 million), representing a sequential increase of approximately 16% and a year-over-year rise of 69%. Management projects a non-GAAP gross margin of 60-61%, fueled by a favorable shift toward higher-capacity drives and a strong pricing environment. Non-GAAP EPS is expected to reach $5.8 (+/- 20 cents). WDC expects operating expenses to be between $400 million and $410 million, reflecting a sequential increase due to higher spending on product qualification activities.

A major factor behind Western Digital's stronger outlook is its pricing environment. Pricing momentum remains strong, with average price per terabyte rising 28% year over year and gross margin reaching 58.1% in the quarter. Margins are benefiting from higher-capacity drives, operational efficiencies and contractual price increases. When customers pay more for each terabyte of storage, the company can generate additional revenue without needing an equivalent increase in shipment volumes. Another encouraging development is WDC's improving visibility into future customer demand.

Exabyte growth is expected to accelerate through 2027 and beyond with momentum from new product platforms. Long-term demand remains durable, with good visibility up to 2030-2031 for top customers, supported by expanding cloud and AI workloads. Western Digital is also benefiting from its transition toward higher-capacity hard drives. It is advancing its technology roadmap with 40TB ePMR and next-generation HAMR drives to boost exabyte shipments and higher-capacity storage adoption. HAMR volume shipments are expected to begin in the first half of 2027, with additional hyperscale customer qualifications supporting broader commercialization and second-generation development.

Can Intense Storage Rivalry Derail WDC's Growth Prospect?Seagate Technology Holdings plc (STX - Free Report) is set to report fiscal first-quarter results today, after market close. Seagate's BTO model points to sustained demand for high-capacity nearline drives amid rising AI adoption. It expects continued revenue and margin growth in the September quarter, backed by the Mozaic rollout and disciplined pricing. Management anticipates fiscal first-quarter revenues of $4.1 billion (+/- $100 million), up 56% year over year at midpoint. Non-GAAP earnings are expected to be $7.3 per share (+/- 20 cents). For the quarter, non-GAAP operating expenses are expected to be around $300 million. At the midpoint of revenue guidance, non-GAAP operating margin is projected to be roughly 50%.

Sandisk (SNDK - Free Report) , a separate flash entity spun off from WDC, is set to report fiscal first-quarter results on Thursday. For the quarter, Sandisk expects revenues of $10.3-$10.8 billion. Sequential growth is projected to come from both bit growth and modest price increases. Non-GAAP gross margin is expected to be between 83% and 85%, with operating expenses of $520-$540 million. Non-GAAP earnings are expected at $44-$46 per share. Sandisk expects fiscal 2027 sellable bit growth in the mid-teens as it carries higher inventory to support customer commitments. Recently, it introduced the SANDISK Guardian Series, a portfolio of high-endurance memory cards designed for continuous recording in dash cams and home security cameras. 

WDC Price Performance, Valuation and EstimatesIn the past year, shares of WDC have surged 181.2% compared with the Zacks Computer-Storage Devices industry’s growth of 182.2%.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

Going by the price/earnings ratio, the company’s shares currently trade at 14.57 forward earnings compared with 8.05 for the industry.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

WDC’s estimate revisions are currently on an upward trajectory. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for its earnings for fiscal 2027 has been revised upward by 7.3% to $22.13 over the past 60 days, while the same for fiscal 2028 has gone up 0.4% to $40.59.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

Currently, Western Digital has a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.

The market expects Ovintiv (OVV - Free Report) to deliver a year-over-year increase in earnings on higher revenues when it reports results for the quarter ended September 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 earnings report, which is expected to be released on November 3, 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 energy company is expected to post quarterly earnings of $1.89 per share in its upcoming report, which represents a year-over-year change of +83.5%.

Revenues are expected to be $2.32 billion, up 12.2% from the year-ago quarter.

Estimate Revisions TrendThe consensus EPS estimate for the quarter has been revised 30.37% 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.

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 Ovintiv?For Ovintiv, 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 +3.73%.

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

So, this combination indicates that Ovintiv 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 Ovintiv would post earnings of $1.91 per share when it actually produced earnings of $1.74, delivering a surprise of -8.90%.

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.

Ovintiv 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.

Ripple has struck a deal with Robinhood to expand the reach of its digital dollar, RLUSD, strengthening trading and financing links between their institutional businesses and improving Robinhood's internal money management.

The partnership involves using RLUSD to settle institutional trades, automate Robinhood's treasury operations and expand access to digital asset trading and financing through Ripple Prime and Bitstamp, the global crypto exchange acquired by Robinhood last year.

It also helps meet Robinhood's ambition of becoming a global financial super-app, centralizing its customers' financial lives while expanding the underlying infrastructure that can serve both retail and institutional clients.

"Utility is what moves stablecoins forward. Working with Ripple, Bitstamp and Robinhood will have access to RLUSD for institutional settlement, Ripple Treasury for our operations and Ripple Prime for financing," Robinhood Crypto general manager Johann Kerbrat said in a statement shared with CNBC. "That is what a connected, global financial system looks like."

WorkhorseStablecoins have long been a workhorse of the crypto world, giving traders a way to move money among exchanges, buy and sell crypto assets, and park funds between trades without having to convert back into traditional currency. But as the crypto industry evolves beyond trading and markets move toward 24/7 liquidity, stablecoins are becoming essential financial infrastructure because of their ability to enable near-instant settlement and move dollar-denominated value at any time, regardless of traditional banking hours.

As firms look to do more with stablecoins beyond simply listing them on exchanges, stablecoin issuers are betting they'll favor a one-stop-shop approach that bundles the technology and services needed to move money, settle trades and manage cash.

"Stablecoins have evolved from a crypto trading tool into a critical piece of financial infrastructure," Ripple President Monica Long told CNBC. "The clearest evidence of this is where they're now being embedded — from corporate payments to capital markets. Our partnership with Robinhood reflects that evolution."

"This is about much more than trading," she added. "It's about fundamentally changing how money moves and is managed – giving institutions the ability to operate 24/7/365, unlocking liquidity and putting capital to work more efficiently."

Circle Internet Group, a Ripple competitor, is positioning itself for a similar future, where winning platforms, in addition to issuing stablecoins, also provide the infrastructure to put them to work. Earlier this year, for example, it launched the Circle Payments Network, connecting financial institutions and payment providers using its flagship USDC stablecoin and other digital assets for cross-border payments.

The network is Circle's answer to the eight-year-old Ripple Payments business, a service that helps businesses move money across borders, using any of several assets moving through that system, including USDC, Ripple-created XRP and, as of its debut in December 2024, RLUSD.

RLUSD's market cap has grown to more than $2.5 billion. Tether's USDT and Circle's USDC still dominate the total stablecoin market, which now exceeds $300 billion.

RLUSD will also be listed on Robinhood's trading platform, and is currently available to traders on Bitstamp as well as Robinhood Chain, the company's home-grown blockchain for tokenized stocks and other assets.

Robinhood, which reports third-quarter results for the three months ended in September after the market closes, rose about 2.5% in early trading Tuesday, snapping a three-day decline.

Correction: A previous headline misspelled RLUSD.

Rocket Lab (RKLB +6.97%) stock has been declining sharply in recent months. Around the time Space Exploration Technologies Corp went public, there has been less excitement (and money) to go around for space stocks, and Rocket Lab appears to have felt that, significantly. In late May, just before the SpaceX IPO, it hit a high of $151. On Monday, it closed at just under $54 -- a decline of 64% from that peak.

At $34 billion in market cap, it's nowhere near as big as SpaceX, which is worth around $2 trillion today. But it still has tremendous growth potential in space, and it's been posting some incredible numbers. Could this struggling rocket stock be a bargain buy right now?

Image source: Getty Images.

Rocket Lab has been growing fast, and the best is still to comeRocket Lab makes money not only from launching rockets but also from building satellites and spacecraft. It's a business that can benefit from the overall growth of the space economy. When it last reported earnings in August, it posted record numbers yet again, as revenue of $234 million was up an impressive 62% year over year.

It wasn't all that long ago that the business wasn't even generating that much annually. Back in 2022, its top line totaled $211 million. Meanwhile, over the trailing 12 months, it has generated $769 million in total revenue.

And yet, there are still tremendous opportunities ahead as the company's Electron rocket can carry payloads up to 300 kg, but its larger Neutron rocket is sure to unlock even more potential -- it can carry up to 13,000 kg. And that rises to 15,000 kg for expendable missions. Neutron's initial launch has been delayed until next year, and that has soured investors who were hoping to see it this year. But it's still a huge potential catalyst for the business down the road.

RKLB Rocket Lab$57.57+$3.75 (+6.97%)

NASDAQ · As of 11:22 AM ET 10/27/26

The stock comes with risk, but it may prove to be a steal of a deal in the long runRocket Lab has been growing fast, and its opportunities are promising, but investors shouldn't overlook the risk, either. The business remains unprofitable, and spending is likely to be high, given the nature of its operations.

For investors who are, however, comfortable with taking on some risk and volatility, the stock may be worth buying right now, while the market looks to be looking past Rocket Lab. When Neutron finally launches, that could once again spark excitement in the stock and send it soaring.

Paccar (PCAR - Free Report) came out with quarterly earnings of $1.61 per share, in line with the Zacks Consensus Estimate . This compares to earnings of $1.12 per share a year ago. These figures are adjusted for non-recurring items.

A quarter ago, it was expected that this truck maker would post earnings of $1.33 per share when it actually produced earnings of $1.43, delivering a surprise of +7.52%.

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

Paccar, which belongs to the Zacks Automotive - Domestic industry, posted revenues of $7.38 billion for the quarter ended September 2026, missing the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 1.37%. This compares to year-ago revenues of $6.11 billion. The company has topped consensus revenue estimates just once over the last four quarters.

The sustainability of the stock's immediate price movement based on the recently-released numbers and future earnings expectations will mostly depend on management's commentary on the earnings call.

Paccar shares have lost about 4.7% since the beginning of the year versus the S&P 500's gain of 12.1%.

What's Next for Paccar?While Paccar has underperformed the market so far this year, the question that comes to investors' minds is: what's next for the stock?

There are no easy answers to this key question, but one reliable measure that can help investors address this is the company's earnings outlook. Not only does this include current consensus earnings expectations for the coming quarter(s), but also how these expectations have changed lately.

Empirical research shows a strong correlation between near-term stock movements and trends in earnings estimate revisions. Investors can track such revisions by themselves or rely on a tried-and-tested rating tool like the Zacks Rank, which has an impressive track record of harnessing the power of earnings estimate revisions.

Ahead of this earnings release, the estimate revisions trend for Paccar was mixed. While the magnitude and direction of estimate revisions could change following the company's just-released earnings report, the current status translates into a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) for the stock. So, the shares are expected to perform in line with the market in the near future. You can see the complete list of today's Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.

It will be interesting to see how estimates for the coming quarters and the current fiscal year change in the days ahead. The current consensus EPS estimate is $1.70 on $7.83 billion in revenues for the coming quarter and $5.91 on $28.52 billion in revenues for the current fiscal year.

Investors should be mindful of the fact that the outlook for the industry can have a material impact on the performance of the stock as well. In terms of the Zacks Industry Rank, Automotive - Domestic is currently in the bottom 16% of the 250 plus Zacks industries. Our research shows that the top 50% of the Zacks-ranked industries outperform the bottom 50% by a factor of more than 2 to 1.

Oshkosh (OSK - Free Report) , another stock in the same industry, has yet to report results for the quarter ended September 2026. The results are expected to be released on October 29.

This heavy vehicle manufacturer for the military, emergency and commercial companies is expected to post quarterly earnings of $3.01 per share in its upcoming report, which represents a year-over-year change of -5.9%. The consensus EPS estimate for the quarter has been revised 3.1% lower over the last 30 days to the current level.

Oshkosh's revenues are expected to be $2.92 billion, up 8.5% from the year-ago quarter.

The upcoming report from Cheniere Energy (LNG - Free Report) is expected to reveal quarterly earnings of $4.18 per share, indicating a decline of 12% compared to the year-ago period. Analysts forecast revenues of $5.38 billion, representing an increase of 21% year over year.

The consensus EPS estimate for the quarter has been revised 0.8% higher over the last 30 days to the current level. This reflects how the analysts covering the stock have collectively reevaluated their initial estimates during this timeframe.

Ahead of a company's earnings disclosure, it is crucial to give due consideration to changes in earnings estimates. These revisions serve as a noteworthy factor in predicting potential investor reactions to the stock. Numerous empirical studies consistently demonstrate a strong relationship between trends in earnings estimate revision and the short-term price performance of a stock.

While investors typically rely on consensus earnings and revenue estimates to gauge how the business may have fared during the quarter, examining analysts' projections for some of the company's key metrics often helps gain a deeper insight.

In light of this perspective, let's dive into the average estimates of certain Cheniere Energy metrics that are commonly tracked and forecasted by Wall Street analysts.

The average prediction of analysts places 'Revenues- LNG' at $5.52 billion. The estimate indicates a change of +28.3% from the prior-year quarter.

The consensus among analysts is that 'Revenues- Other' will reach $60.71 million. The estimate points to a change of -42.2% from the year-ago quarter.

The collective assessment of analysts points to an estimated 'Revenues- Regasification' of $34.42 million. The estimate indicates a change of +1.2% from the prior-year quarter.

According to the collective judgment of analysts, 'Volumes loaded during the current period' should come in at 695 trillion british thermal units. The estimate compares to the year-ago value of 586 trillion british thermal units.

View all Key Company Metrics for Cheniere Energy here>>>

Shares of Cheniere Energy have demonstrated returns of +11.5% over the past month compared to the Zacks S&P 500 composite's -0.8% change. With a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy), LNG is expected to beat the overall market performance in the near future. You can see the complete list of today's Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) stocks here >>>> .