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SummaryQXO, Inc. continues to redefine the building-products distribution industry via a strong combination of consolidation and digital transformation.Under the guidance of Brad Jacobs’ proven roll-up and tech-enablement strategy, the company's integration of Beacon provides a healthy and recession-resistant foundation.As QXO ramps up cross-selling, enhances inventory turnover, and embeds procurement efficiencies, it remains well-placed to be a leading technology-enabled distributor in the broader low-tech, fragmented sector. LSOphoto/iStock via Getty Images

Company Overview QXO, Inc. (QXO) is a roll-up and technology-enabled operator catering to the North American building products distribution industry. The company believes that it is an ~$800 billion market that is fragmented

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

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

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Key Takeaways NHTSA opened a defect investigation into Tesla's Model 3, covering about 179,071 model year 2022 vehicles.Petition alleges Tesla's manual door release is concealed, making it hard to locate during emergencies.Earlier this year, NHTSA probed Tesla's Model Y after parents couldn't open doors.
Tesla, Inc. (TSLA - Free Report) is under scrutiny after the U.S. auto safety regulator launched a defect investigation into Model 3 compact sedans, citing concerns that emergency door release controls may be difficult to access or identify in critical situations.

Per the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the probe covers about 179,071 model year 2022 vehicles. It was initiated on Dec. 23 following a defect petition alleging that the mechanical door release is concealed, unlabeled and not intuitive to locate during emergencies.

The automaker primarily uses electronic door latches that operate via buttons instead of conventional mechanical handles. Although the vehicles are equipped with manual door releases for emergencies or power outages, safety experts have long warned that these releases are not consistently visible, clearly labeled or easy to find, especially for rear-seat passengers.

Opening a defect investigation does not automatically result in a recall, but it represents the first stage of a regulatory review that could lead to further action if a safety-related defect is identified.

This marks the second probe this year into Tesla’s door handles. In September, the NHTSA opened an investigation into the 2021 Model Y SUV, affecting roughly 174,000 vehicles, after reports that parents were unable to open the electric doors to reach their children following drives. In four cases, parents reportedly broke the vehicle’s windows to rescue their children.

Tesla’s Zacks Rank & Key PicksTSLA carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) at present.

Some better-ranked stocks in the auto space are General Motors Company (GM - Free Report) , OPENLANE, Inc. (KAR - Free Report) and Garrett Motion Inc. (GTX - Free Report) , each sporting a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) at present. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for GM’s 2025 and 2026 EPS has improved 8 cents and 47 cents, respectively, in the past 30 days.

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for KAR’s 2025 sales and earnings implies year-over-year growth of 9.4% and 48.2%, respectively. EPS estimates for 2025 have improved 9 cents in the past 60 days. EPS estimates for 2026 have improved 2 cents in the past 30 days.

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for GTX’s 2025 sales and earnings implies year-over-year growth of 2.6% and 17.5%, respectively. EPS estimates for 2025 have improved a penny in the past 30 days. EPS estimates for 2026 have improved 8 cents in the past 60 days.

Published in auto-tires-trucks electric-vehicles

Key Takeaways
Coupang announced it has resolved a cyberattack and that no customers' personal information was taken.The South Korean e-commerce firm said the hack only revealed building entrance codes and that a former employee confessed.

An e-commerce stock is rising Friday after the company said a cyberattack doesn't appear to have left customer payment information at risk.

Shares of Coupang (CPNG) were recently up about 9% after the company offered an update about the cyberattack on its South Korean subsidiary, which exposed the personal data of some 33 million customers.

Why This Matters to Investors
The fallout from a cyberattack can be highly problematic, for financial and other reasons, for the companies that are victims. Investors have determined that a recent attack on Coupang wasn't as bad as might have been feared, and the stock rose Friday after the company's update.

Coupang said “the perpetrator has been identified, and that all devices used in the data leak have been retrieved.” It added that its investigation revealed the hacker “retained limited user data from only 3,000 accounts and subsequently deleted the user data.”

The company's shares tumbled on Dec. 1. when the breach was first revealed, later falling to their lowest levels since April. With today’s gains, the shares are up about 13% year-to-date.

Coupang said all that was taken was “2,609 building entrance codes,” and that no “payment data, log-in data or individual customs numbers” were collected.  In addition, Coupang said none of the information was passed on to others.

The company said it determined that the hacker was a former employee who confessed.

The Herbalife stock price staged a strong bullish breakout this year, moving from a low of $5 in March to the current $14, pushing its market capitalization to over $1.4 billion. So, will the HLF share price continue its strong rebound in the coming year?

Herbalife stock price gains steam amid its resilient growth 
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Herbalife is a top company in the health and wellness industries, focusing mostly on direct selling in the United States and other countries.

The company’s business, which has always been highly controversial, has done relatively well in the past few months as demand for its products has continued rising.

Its most recent results showed that its North American business returned to growth for the first time since the second quarter of 2021, a sign of resilient demand. It also jumped as the number of distributors in its network jumped in most of its regions.

The crucial Latin American business continued to thrive, with its sales rising by 11% to $229 million. Its EMEA and Asia Pacific businesses grew by 2% and 3%, respectively.

The revenue rose by 2.7% in the quarter to $1.3 billion, while the closely-watched earnings before interest, tax, depreciation, and amortization rose to $163 million.

Meanwhile, the company continued to improve its balance sheet by repaying the $147 million in outstanding notes and then reduced the total leverage ratio to 2.8x.

Analysts are optimistic about the company’s turnaround
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Wall Street analysts are optimistic that the company’s revenue growth will continue in the coming weeks. The average estimate among the three analysts tracking the company is that its revenue will be $1.25 billion this quarter, up by 3.38% from what it made last year.

Its annual revenue estimate is a modest 0.20% increase to $5 billion, followed by $5.12 billion in the coming year. They also expect that its earnings-per-share will move to $2.15 this year and $2.75 in the coming year.

There are also signs that the company has become highly undervalued as its forward price-to-earnings ratio has moved to 7.6, much lower than the sector median of 18.8 and its five-year average of 9.

Similarly, the company’s forward EV-to-EBITDA multiple of 5.43 is also much lower than the sector median of 10.3, also much lower than its historical averages. 

The Herbalife stock price has also jumped as investors bet on its turnaround strategy, which includes more product launches, digital transformation, including the Pro2col app rollout to nearly 8,000 distributors, margin optimization, and debt reduction.

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HLF stock chart | Source: TradingViewThe weekly chart shows that the HLF stock price has rebounded in the past few months as the company’s turnaround continued. It has already moved above the 50-week and 100-week Exponential Moving Averages (EMA).

The stock is also nearing the 23.6% Fibonacci Retracement level at $18. It also formed an inverse head-and-shoulders pattern, while the Relative Strength Index (RSI) and the Stochastic Oscillator have all pointed upwards.

Therefore, the most likely scenario is where the HLF stock will continue rising as bulls target the 23.6% retracement level at $18. This price target is about 25% above the current level. 

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

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

Key Takeaways ET trades below its 50-day SMA, down 23.6% from its 52-week high, signaling short-term weakness.Energy Transfer continues to invest in growth projects to expand and enhance its asset base.ET generates 90% of revenue from fee-based contracts, limiting exposure to commodity price swings.
Energy Transfer (ET - Free Report) has been trading below its 50-day simple moving average (SMA), signaling a short-term bearish trend. The stock closed at $16.39 as of Dec. 24, 2025, down 23.6% from its 52-week high of $21.45.

The 50-day SMA is a key indicator for traders and analysts to identify support and resistance levels. It is considered particularly important as this is the first marker of an uptrend or downtrend.

ET’s 50 Day SMA
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

In the past six months, ET units have declined 6.4% wider than the Zacks Oil and Gas - Production Pipeline - MLB industry’s loss of 1.7%.

ET Price Performance
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

The oil and gas midstream firm owns a wide network of pipelines across the United States and is pursuing opportunities to serve growing power loads from new demand centers across its network. The firm is also a top exporter of liquefied petroleum gas and is working to expand natural gas liquids (“NGL”) export facilities to cater to the rising demand globally.

Another firm having extensive midstream operations in the United States is Plains All American Pipeline (PAA - Free Report) . PAA’s units have gained 1.5% in the last six months, outperforming the industry’s return in the same time frame.

Given the weakness in its share price, will it be a correct choice to add this oil-energy stock to your portfolio? Let us delve deeper and find out the factors that can help investors decide whether it is a good entry point to add ET stock to their portfolio.

Tailwinds That Support ET’s OperationEnergy Transfer operates more than 140,000 miles of pipelines and related infrastructure across 44 U.S. states. Its diversified and well-balanced asset portfolio underpins stable earnings. The company’s oil and gas pipelines, gathering and processing systems, and storage assets are strategically positioned across key U.S. basins and high-growth demand markets. In 2025, Energy Transfer plans to invest $4.6 billion in growth projects to further expand and enhance its asset base.

Energy Transfer’s assets are strategically positioned across major U.S. production basins and high-demand regions, providing a strong earnings foundation. Its diversified portfolio, including oil and gas pipelines, gathering and processing systems, and storage facilities, allows the company to efficiently serve a broad range of markets.

Most of Energy Transfer’s revenues come from fee-based contracts backed by a strong customer base. Nearly 90% of its revenue is generated through fees for transportation and storage services, which significantly reduces the company’s exposure to commodity price volatility.

Energy Transfer’s insiders and board members have regularly added to their holdings, signaling strong confidence in its future performance and steady growth trajectory. The firm’s insider ownership is estimated at about 10%, a level that surpasses many of its industry counterparts. Insiders’ transactions are often considered a yardstick for judging the long-term financial health of the firm.

Over the past year, Energy Transfer has contracted more than 6 billion cubic feet per day (Bcf/d) of pipeline capacity under agreements with a weighted average term of 18 years, expected to generate over $25 billion in firm transportation fee revenues.

Headwinds for Energy TransferEnergy Transfer depends on certain key producers for its supply of natural gas. To the extent that these and other producers may reduce the volumes of natural gas that they supply to ET, the loss of any of these key producers could adversely impact the firm’s financial results.

ET’s Earnings Estimates Moving UpThe Zacks Consensus Estimate for Energy Transfer’s 2025 and 2026 earnings per unit indicates year-over-year growth of 3.91% and 15.25%, respectively.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

Another firm, operating in the space with strong operations, is Delek Logistics Partners (DKL - Free Report) . The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Delek Logistics Partners’ 2025 and 2026 earnings per unit indicates year-over-year growth of 23.08% and 37.91%, respectively.

ET Stock Trading at a DiscountEnergy Transfer’s units are somewhat inexpensive relative to its industry. ET’s current trailing 12-month Enterprise Value/Earnings before Interest Tax Depreciation and Amortization (EV/EBITDA) is 8.9X compared with the industry average of 10.53X. 

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

ET Shares More With UnitholdersThe company’s current quarterly cash distribution rate is 33.25 cents per Energy Transfer common unit. ET’s management has raised distribution rates 16 times in the past five years, and the current distribution yield is 8.11%, outperforming its industry’s yield of 6.21%.

ET Stock’s ROE is Lower Than the IndustryEnergy Transfer’s trailing 12-month return on equity (“ROE”) is 10.71%, lower than the industry average of 13.28%. ROE, a profitability measure, reflects how effectively a company utilizes its shareholders’ funds to generate income.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

Summing UpWith more than 140,000 miles of pipelines and related infrastructure, Energy Transfer is well-positioned to benefit from continued growth in U.S. oil, natural gas and NGL production. Its fee-based revenue model and disciplined acquisitions enhance its ability to generate long-term value for unitholders, while expanding processing capacity is providing additional operational and earnings support.

Investors holding this Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) stock can consider maintaining their positions and benefit from its steady cash distributions. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.

Yet, at present, the firm’s ROE is lower than the industry average; it will be better for the new investors to wait a little longer and find a better entry point.

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As we turn the page to 2026, certain dividend stocks can become standout performers. Realty Income (NYSE:O), Verizon (NYSE:VZ), and Eastman Chemical (NYSE:EMN) have high yields and are well-positioned to give you upside alongside them.

They don’t catch headlines the way soaring tech stocks have done in the past few years, but that’s the same reason they will be able to outperform if the pendulum swings the other way next year.

Over the past 50 years, companies that regularly raised their payouts delivered more than twice the annualized total return of non-payers. They managed to do it with less volatility.

The yields are in the sweet spot where it’s sustainable and will become very attractive as interest rates go down, and the businesses themselves are solid cash cows with plenty of headroom to keep expanding. Let’s take a look.

Realty Income (O)
Realty Income is hands down the best monthly dividend stock you can go for. No other monthly payer offers anything close to what this company does. You get stability, a high yield, and good upside potential in the coming years.

The broader real estate industry has done much better than expected, as it survived the record interest rate hikes and is set to thrive as rates come down. Realty Income is also a hedge if investors turn sour on the broader AI rally.

The company buys and manages commercial properties that are mostly retail. Its customers are retailers like 7-Eleven, Dollar General (NYSE:DG), Walgreens, and Family Dollar. These customers themselves are very recession-resistant and have inelastic demand year-round.

Realty Income comes with a 5.72% forward yield. It has declared 666 monthly dividend payments and is a Dividend Aristocrat.

Verizon Communications (VZ)
Verizon is a well-known telecommunications company that has faced a rough couple of years since the interest rate hiking cycle began. Telecom companies are known for carrying heavy debt. In Verizon’s case, it carries $126.6 billion in long-term debt. This has led to $1.66 billion in interest expenses in Q3 2025 alone.

Verizon has managed to continue posting solid profits despite those interest expenses, while paying increasing dividends. Net profit margin was 14.64% in Q3 2025 with nearly $5 billion in net income.

It also has 20 consecutive years of dividend growth under its belt, with a payout ratio of just 57.68%.

Verizon has proven that customers no longer see communications services as a discretionary expense. The internet has turned into a necessity that consumers are willing to pay for. Thus, Wall Street is now increasingly seeing Verizon as a cash cow.

I believe VZ stock is set to deliver a full recovery like AT&T (NYSE:T) has done. Lower interest rates will make it a much more profitable business, and the AI buildout is also helping solidify Verizon’s reputation as a stalwart of the telecom industry.

VZ stock has a dividend yield of 6.85%.

Eastman Chemical (EMN)
Eastman Chemical is a lesser-known company, but it comes with an attractive dividend yield with plenty of upside potential on top. It is a specialty materials company that makes chemicals and fibers. The “industrial” characteristic can come in handy due to tariffs and onshoring, though tariffs are a reason why EMN stock is at a discount today.

Management built up a large inventory preceding tariff announcements, but this ended up overlapping with a lull in demand. As a result, both revenue and profits have cratered, but I only expect this to be a temporary phenomenon as demand rebounds.

EMN stock has only been this cheap during the trough of the 2020 crash and back in 2016. I see limited downside risk as it trades at just 10 times 2026 earnings.

Eastman comes with a 5.35% forward dividend yield, and dividends have been increasing for 16 consecutive years.

Key Takeaways Sandisk is benefiting from AI-led data center spending as NAND and enterprise SSD demand accelerate.SNDK's data center revenues rose 26% sequentially, driven by hyperscalers and AI training.Sandisk's high bandwidth flash targets AI inference with lower latency and higher bandwidth.
Marvell Technology (MRVL - Free Report) and Sandisk (SNDK - Free Report) are key players in the technology infrastructure space that are riding the artificial intelligence (AI) wave. While Marvell Technology plays a key role in the custom silicon and data center connectivity space, Sandisk is a leading developer, manufacturer and provider of data storage solutions.

As the AI boom continues to drive growth for the companies providing logic, storage and processing solutions, the question remains: Which stock makes for a better investment pick today? Let’s dive into the fundamentals, valuations, growth outlook and risks for each company.

The Case for MRVL StockMarvell Technology’s custom AI silicon chips are experiencing massive traction among hyperscalers, which is evident in the high-growth rate of Data Center end-market revenues. Marvell Technology’s data center segment has experienced rapid growth in the past seven quarters. In the third quarter of fiscal 2026, Marvell Technology’s data center segment posted revenues of $1.52 billion, up 37.8% year over year, led by strong traction in custom XPU silicon, electro-optic interconnect products and next-generation switches.

These products have crucial applications in AI computation and networking across both hyperscale and enterprise spaces, with the AI wave nowhere near peaking, making them an indispensable part of MRVL’s growth story. As the hyperscalers are expanding AI clusters rapidly, the use of high-bandwidth interconnects, custom ASICs, PAM4/800G, and DCI is rising. As MRVL supplies these modules at scale, the company is expected to benefit from this trend.

Marvell Technology recently announced the acquisition of Celestial AI, which will speed up its momentum in the interconnect space as AI clusters grow more complex. Celestial AI’s high-performance photonic compute interconnect IP will position Marvell Technology at the heart of next-generation AI data center architectures. Marvell Technology has also partnered with industry leaders, including Amazon’s Amazon Web Services (“AWS”) and NVIDIA.

Marvell Technology has a multi-year strategic collaboration with AWS to supply connectivity products for AI and data-center workloads. Marvell Technology has also partnered with NVIDIA to integrate NVIDIA’s NVLink Fusion technology into MRVL’s custom cloud-platform silicon solution. These factors are likely to provide MRVL with long-term growth. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for MRVL’s fiscal 2026 earnings has been pegged at $2.84, indicating year-over-year growth of 90%, which has been revised upward in the past 30 days.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

The Case for SNDK StockSandisk is highly focused on bringing advanced storage technologies and broad flash storage products for AI workloads in data centers, edge devices and consumers. On the first quarter fiscal 2026 earnings call, Sandisk’s management noted that data center and AI infrastructure investments are expected to exceed $1 trillion by 2030, creating strong tailwinds for NAND and enterprise SSD demand.

Furthermore, Sandisk’s Data center revenues have picked up 26% sequentially, mainly due to AI-driven growth led by hyperscalers, NeoCloud providers, and OEM customers that are expanding storage deployments specifically to support AI training and inference pipelines. This segment will highly benefit from the demand for NAND products due to growing AI workloads.

As Sandisk’s customers across data center and the edge are demanding higher-performance AI inference storage, its high bandwidth flash (HBF) is positioned specifically for AI inference. Unlike high bandwidth memory, which is used in training, HBF targets lower latency, higher bandwidth and better power efficiency, serving inference at scale. Besides enterprise customers, Sandisk is also set to gain from AI’s growth in the consumer market.

AI-enabled PCs, Windows 11 refresh cycle and smartphones with on-device generative AI will be a driving factor for higher NAND content per device. These factors are likely to act as a tailwind for Sandisk in the long run. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for SNDK’s fiscal 2026 earnings has been pegged at $12.59, indicating year-over-year growth of 321%, which has been revised upward in the past 60 days.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

Stock Price Performance and Valuation of MRVL & SNDKIn the past three months, MRVL shares have gained 4% compared with the surge of 157.5% in SNDK shares.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

SNDK is trading at a forward sales multiple of 3.11X, way above its median of 2.76X. MRVL’s forward sales multiple sits at 7.46X,  higher than its median of 7.44X over the past year.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

Conclusion: MRVL vs. SNDKMRVL and SNDK are both gaining from the AI wave. MRVL carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy), while SNDK sports a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) at present. Sandisk seems to be a better bet at present due to its explosive earnings growth outlook. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.

, /PRNewswire/ -- Intelligent Living Application Group Inc. (Nasdaq: ILAG) (the "Company" or "Intelligent Living"), a premium lockset manufacturer and distributor headquartered in Hong Kong, today announced, on December 15, 2025, the Company held an extraordinary general meeting of the Company (the "Meeting"). At the Meeting, the shareholders of the Company approved to effect a share consolidation/reverse stock split of all the issued and outstanding and authorized and unissued ordinary shares (the "Ordinary Shares") and preferred shares including Series A and Series B preferred shares (the "Preferred Shares") of the Company be consolidated with a corresponding increase in the par value of the Company's Ordinary Shares and Preferred Shares (collectively, the "Shares"), at any one time or multiple times during a period of up to one year after the date of the approval of the authorization of share consolidations by the shareholders of the Company, at the exact consolidation ratio and effective time as the Board of Directors of the Company (the "Board") may determine from time to time in its absolute discretion provided that the accumulative consolidation ratio for all such share consolidation(s) shall not be more than 1:200 (the "Range"), to be determined by the Company's Board in its sole discretion. (the "Share Consolidation").

On December 22, 2025, the Board determined the ratio for Share Consolidation to be one (1)- for- ten (10) and to round up the fractions of the issued consolidated shares resulting from the Share Consolidation. The Company's Ordinary Shares will begin to trade on the NASDAQ Stock Market on the post-consolidation basis under the symbol "ILAG" on December 30, 2025. The current pre-split number of Ordinary Shares outstanding is 20,769,483 with a par value of $0.0001 and the post-split number of Ordinary Shares outstanding will be approximately 2,077,448 with a par value of $0.001. The new CUSIP number for the Company's Ordinary Shares post-consolidation is G4804S119. The Share Consolidation is primarily being effectuated to comply with Nasdaq Marketplace Rule 5550(a)(2) related to the minimum bid price per share of the Company's ordinary shares. 

The current pre-split number of Series A preferred shares outstanding is 2,000,000 with a par value of $0.0001 and the post-split number of Series A preferred shares outstanding will be approximately 200,000 with a par value of $0.001. The current pre-split number of Series B preferred shares outstanding is 10,000,000 with a par value of $0.0001 and the post-split number of Series B preferred shares outstanding will be approximately 1,000,000 with a par value of $0.001. 

The Company's shareholders will receive one post-consolidation Share for every ten pre-consolidation Shares held by them. Immediately after the Share Consolidation, each shareholder's percentage ownership interest in the Company and proportional voting power will remain unchanged, except for minor changes and adjustments that will result from the treatment of fractional shares. No fractional shares will be issued and the fractional shares will be round up in connection with the Share Consolidation. The rights of the holders of the shares of the Company will be substantially unaffected by the Share Consolidation. Shareholders who are holding their shares in electronic form at brokerage firms do not need to take any action, as the effect of the Share Consolidation will automatically be reflected in their brokerage accounts.

About Intelligent Living Application Group Inc.

Intelligent Living Application Group Inc. is a premium lockset manufacturer and distributor headquartered in Hong Kong. Intelligent Living manufactures and sells high quality mechanical locksets to customers mainly in the United States and Canada and has continued to diversify and refine its product offerings in the past 40 years to meet its customers' needs. Intelligent Living obtained the ISO9001 quality assurance certificate and various accredited quality and safety certificates including American National Standards Institute (ANSI) Grade 2 and Grade 3 standards that are developed by the Builders Hardware Manufacturing Association (BHMA) for ANSI. Intelligent Living keeps investing in self-designed automated product lines, new craftsmanship and developing new products including smart locks. For more information, visit the Company's website at http://www.i-l-a-g.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements. These statements are made under the "safe harbor" provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Statements that are not historical facts, including statements about the Company's beliefs and expectations, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties, and a number of factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statement. In some cases, forward-looking statements can be identified by words or phrases such as "may," "will," "expect," "anticipate," "target," "aim," "estimate," "intend," "plan," "believe," "potential," "continue," "is/are likely to" or other similar expressions. The Company may also make written or oral forward-looking statements in its reports filed with, or furnished to, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, in its annual reports to shareholders, in press releases and other written materials and in oral statements made by its officers, directors or employees to third parties. These statements are subject to uncertainties and risks including, but not limited to, the following: the Company's goals and strategies; the Company's future business development; financial condition and results of operations; product and service demand and acceptance; reputation and brand; the impact of competition and pricing; changes in technology; government regulations; fluctuations in general economic and business conditions in U.S., Hong Kong and China and assumptions underlying or related to any of the foregoing and other risks contained in reports filed by the Company with the SEC. For these reasons, among others, investors are cautioned not to place undue reliance upon any forward-looking statements in this press release. Additional factors are discussed in the Company's filings with the SEC, which are available for review at www.sec.gov. The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly revise these forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances that arise after the date hereof.

SOURCE Intelligent Living Application Group Inc.

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Shares of fintech firm SoFi Technologies (NASDAQ:SOFI) had a solid 2025, with around 95% worth of gains, beating both the S&P 500 and Nasdaq 100 by a wide margin. Undoubtedly, much of the year’s gains have been heavily front-loaded. With shares flatlining over the past four months, investors might be wondering if the market darling is ready for a plunge as the tech trade looks to consider its next moves.

With SoFi reaching several impressive milestones this year, including several more quarters of sustained profitability, a record first quarter, and the launch of its very own stablecoin, SoFiUSD, questions linger as to whether the stock has enough drivers underneath the hood to follow up on an outstanding year with even more gains.

The big SoFiUSD stablecoin launch was a big deal. But is it worth buying SoFi shares post-launch?
Undoubtedly, the SoFiUSD stablecoin launch might continue to be a driver of business going into the new year as crypto investors seek greater credibility from their U.S. dollar-backed digital assets.

Whether the new stablecoin will be a draw for new customers in the new year remains a big question. There’s no question that SoFi’s stablecoin is a force to be reckoned with, thanks in part to its 1:1 backing by cash held at the Federal Reserve. When it comes to stablecoin, it really doesn’t get stabler than such backing by the Fed. T

hough investors were excited about the launch, I think there’s more room to the upside, especially if SoFiUSD becomes the prime taker of market share in the stablecoin scene. If nobody can offer 1:1 Fed backing, I think it’s difficult to go with any other stablecoin, given the potential for liquidity and credit risks. SoFi’s top boss, Anthony Noto, thinks that the blockchain is a “technology super cycle that will fundamentally change finance.”

There’s no question that financial technology will be a fast-moving field in 2026 that will pave the way for new products and platforms that aim to increase convenience and decrease fees. As the disruptive fintech innovators and neobanks lead the charge on blockchain and the like, it’s not hard to imagine the big banks following suit by doing the same.

SoFi isn’t just the first bank to issue a stablecoin; it might be the crypto infrastructure play to stick with for the long haul, as it looks to make other firsts. 

SoFi looks like an impressive crypto infrastructure play
As SoFi takes aim at commercial clients with its so-called “white-label” coins, I do think there’s potential for significant disruption in payments. Of course, there’s some novelty in transacting with stablecoins, but the real edge and opportunity for SoFi and other players in the space could lie in their role as an infrastructure provider, as adoption across the board looks to increase.

Whether we’re talking about real-time settlements (who has time for T+1 or T+2 in 2026?) or removing friction from other parts of payments, I do see SoFi as a rising star in the field if enterprises do look to embrace “white-label” coins. If there are significant savings to be had and friction can be taken out of the payment process, I do think adoption of such coins could rise in the next decade or so. 

In many ways, 2026 is going to be a big year for SoFi as it makes a bigger splash in the crypto waters. With its new crypto trading platform, it seems like there’s ample ground to gain as the fast-moving neobank looks to lead with tech at the top of mind.

Key Takeaways QCOM posted $6.96B handset revenues last quarter, up 14% year over year, accounting for 63% of sales.QCOM faces pressure from MediaTek, weaker smartphone demand, trade tensions, and rivals' in-house chips.Qualcomm is betting on premium Snapdragon 8 Gen 5 chips to drive flagship smartphone growth.
Qualcomm Incorporated ((QCOM - Free Report) ) generated about $6.96 billion in handset revenues in the latest quarter, with a year-over-year increase of 14% and an estimated $27.8 billion in fiscal 2025, contributing roughly 63% of the total company’s revenues. Qualcomm’s strong handset revenues are driven by its increased customer demand for Snapdragon-powered premium Android smartphones.

Qualcomm faces strong competition from rivals like MediaTek, especially in mid-range and budget smartphones, which puts pressure on its market share and pricing. U.S.-China trade tensions have reduced companies' handset demand to a great extent. Qualcomm's handset business experienced ongoing challenges as global smartphone demand slowed down day by day. Moreover, major handset manufacturers, such as Apple and Samsung, are moving toward in-house chip development. This is a major challenge for Qualcomm.

To overcome challenges in the smartphone business, Qualcomm is focusing on premium Snapdragon chips to stay competitive in flagship devices. Qualcomm recently launched the Snapdragon 8 Gen 5, offering high-speed performance, advanced AI, improved graphics, and enhanced camera capabilities for flagship smartphones from global brands like iQOO, Honor, ASUS, OnePlus, and Vivo.

Per a report from Precedence Research, the global 5G chipset market is expected to reach $126.4 billion by 2030 from $18.7 billion in 2022, with a CAGR of 27%, indicating strong underlying growth potential for Qualcomm’s handset segment in the near future. QCOM’s continuous innovation in powering flagship devices with cutting-edge features helps to boost its handset revenues, maintain leadership in the premium segment, and drive future revenue growth.

Other Tech Companies Focused on Handset Chip DevelopmentQualcomm faces competition from Apple, Inc. ((AAPL - Free Report) ) and Broadcom, Inc. ((AVGO - Free Report) ). Apple recently launched the new iPad Pro, MacBook Pro, and upgraded Vision Pro, all powered by their M5 chip. Apple’s iPhone 17 series uses the A19 chip, and the iPhone Air features the A19 Pro chip, both offering faster performance, better graphics, and advanced AI capabilities. These recent chips strengthen Apple’s position in the smartphone market and reduce its reliance on third-party suppliers.

Broadcom recently launched Wi Fi 8 chips for smartphones and connected devices, improving speed, reliability, and efficiency. Broadcom, by providing essential smartphone components like Wi Fi, Bluetooth, and RF chips for major brands, remains important in the handset market. The company also focuses on affordable LTE chips for emerging markets, helping OEMs bring affordable smartphones to countries like India.

QCOM’s Price Performance, Valuation and EstimatesQualcomm shares have gained 11.1% over the past year compared with the industry’s growth of 35.3%.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

Going by the price/earnings ratio, the company's shares currently trade at 14.26 forward earnings, lower than 34.54 for the industry.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

Earnings estimates for 2025 have increased 2% to $12.15 over the past 60 days, while those for 2026 have risen 3.4% to $12.60.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

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

HomeStock IdeasLong IdeasTech 

SummaryNvidia Corporation has completed a healthy 20% correction, resetting technicals and offering an attractive re-entry point in the $170-175 range.NVDA delivered a strong double beat in earnings and guidance, with Q4 sales guided to $65B and a 75% non-GAAP gross margin.NVDA now trades at approximately 18x forward earnings and a PEG ratio near 0.6, signaling compelling value for high-quality growth.I maintain a Buy rating for NVDA and raise my 12-month price target to $250, due to robust AI demand and bullish Wall Street sentiment. BING-JHEN HONG/iStock Editorial via Getty Images

Despite maintaining my relatively bullish stance, I was out of Nvidia Corporation (NVDA) stock for about six months. In fact, I only initiated my most recent Nvidia position about a week ago, as the

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

I am long a diversified portfolio with hedges.

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

Key Takeaways CVNA shares jumped about 117% in 2025, making it the top-performing auto retail stock of the year.Carvana sold a record 155,941 units in Q3 2025, up 44% year over year, with strong demand expected in Q4.CVNA expects adjusted EBITDA of $2-$2.2B in 2025, driven by cost cuts, scale gains and ADESA integration.
Used car e-retailer Carvana Inc. (CVNA - Free Report) has had a stellar 2025, with its shares gaining around 117% so far this year. In fact, CVNA was the best performing auto retail stock, handily outperforming close peers like CarMax (KMX - Free Report) and Lithia Motors (LAD - Free Report) . CarMax — being the largest retailer of used vehicles in the United States — has witnessed its stock price decline more than 50% year to date. Lithia Motors — one of the leading auto retailers of the country (selling both new and used vehicles) — has seen its share price decrease 3% in the same timeframe.

YTD Price Performance Comparison Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

Carvana has been one of the most exciting comeback stories. From being on the brink of collapse in 2022, the company has grown into the second-largest used car retailer in the United States. Early this week, Carvana officially joined the S&P 500 Index on the back of solid operational and financial performance and strategic growth.

Now, the question is whether Carvana can keep winning in 2026 after a stellar 2025. We think the company is well-positioned to continue its momentum.

CVNA Trading Above 50 & 200-Day SMA Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

Factors Driving CVNA’s MomentumCarvana has rewritten the rules of auto retail. Instead of relying on a network of physical dealerships, the company operates a fully digital platform where customers can browse vehicles, arrange financing and schedule delivery online. Its well-known car vending machines are helping the brand stand out in a crowded market. Despite being the second-largest used car retailer in the country, Carvana controls only about 1.5% of the overall market. Given how fragmented the used car industry is, it leaves meaningful room for growth as more buyers become comfortable purchasing vehicles online.

That growth is already showing up clearly in the numbers. In the third quarter of 2025, Carvana sold a record 155,941 retail units, marking a sharp 44% increase from the prior year. Management expects demand to continue in the fourth quarter, with retail sales projected at around 150,000 units. These volumes reflect improving consumer confidence in Carvana’s platform and its ability to scale efficiently.

Financial performance is also improving. Adjusted EBITDA reached $637 million in the last reported quarter, up $208 million year over year, with industry-leading margins of 11.3%. For the full year, Carvana expects adjusted EBITDA between $2 billion and $2.2 billion, a significant step up from $1.38 billion last year.

Image Source: Carvana, Inc.

A key driver behind these gains is operational efficiency. The company has lowered reconditioning and inbound transport costs by bringing more services in-house, standardizing processes, and using proprietary software to better manage logistics. Smarter network utilization and shorter transport distances have further reduced expenses. At the same time, broader customer sourcing and higher contributions from value-added services are lifting gross profit per unit.

The acquisition of ADESA’s U.S. operations has also strengthened Carvana’s position. ADESA adds scale to Carvana’s logistics, auction and reconditioning capabilities, improving both vehicle quality and throughput. Expanding the ADESA Clear digital auction platform across more locations further ties wholesale expertise with Carvana’s technology. Together, these initiatives are helping Carvana drive higher volumes at lower costs, supporting its ongoing momentum.

What’s Next for Carvana in 2026?Cox Automotive expects used vehicle demand to remain steady in 2026, as affordability concerns continue to push customers toward lower-priced vehicles. Against this backdrop, Carvana’s strong unit growth, improving profitability and differentiated digital-first model give it a clearer runway to scale in a still-fragmented market. The company’s focus on operational efficiency and expanding margins should further support earnings growth, leaving room for additional upside heading into 2026.

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Carvana’s 2026 sales and EPS suggests an increase of 31% and 37%, respectively, from the projected 2025 levels. Notably, the consensus EPS estimate for 2026 has been revised higher by 40 cents over the past 60 days, reflecting improving analyst confidence.

Currently, Carvana carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) with a VGM Score of B. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.

Buying low and selling high is a tried-and-true strategy for both buy-and-hold investors and active traders. When a stock is trading at or near its 52-week low, the stock price is trading at one of its lowest points of the year.

There are times when a stock’s low price points to fundamental issues with the company. However, there are times when momentum takes over and pushes a stock into undervalued territory.

Together, these three stocks stand out as asymmetric opportunities for 2026, with risk that appears more contained than the potential upside.

Get Sprouts Farmers Market alerts:

Carrier Global: Data Center Demand May Offset Residential Weakness
Carrier Global Corp. NYSE: CARR is one of the global leaders in heating and cooling solutions (HVAC) for residential and commercial consumers. Carrier stock dropped to its 52-week low after its October earnings report, in which it reported an 8% decline in year-over-year revenue growth.

Carrier Global Today

$53.34 -0.16 (-0.30%)

As of 10:18 AM Eastern

This is a fair market value price provided by Massive. Learn more.

52-Week Range$50.30▼

$81.09Dividend Yield1.69%

P/E Ratio11.93

Price Target$72.00

This reflected weakness in the company’s residential business. That’s likely to continue into 2026. Homeowners can’t avoid emergencies, but they can choose to put off elective decisions, such as replacing their heating and cooling systems, if they have concerns about their income.

However, weakness in that sector is being offset by growth in its commercial business, which includes data centers. That doesn’t make CARR stock an artificial intelligence (AI) play, but it does indicate that the stock may be mispriced.

That opinion is supported by a forecast for earnings growth of over 12% in 2026. CARR stock is also trading at approximately 11.9x forward earnings, which puts it at a discount to its historic average. Plus, for investors who follow the laggard-to-leader strategy, Carrier has delivered about a 40% share price gain over the last five years, which supports the idea that 2025 is an anomaly to be capitalized on.

Mondelez: Margin Pressure Today, Potential Tailwinds in 2026
Mondelez International NASDAQ: MDLZ is a leading global snacks company best known as the parent company for brands such as Oreo, Cadbury, Ritz, and Toblerone. Like many consumer staples stocks, it hasn’t been a sweet year for MDLZ stock. The stock is down approximately 9.3% in 2025, but to be fair, most of that has come since July.

Mondelez International Today

MDLZ

Mondelez International

$54.59 -0.03 (-0.05%)

As of 10:18 AM Eastern

This is a fair market value price provided by Massive. Learn more.

52-Week Range$53.13▼

$71.15Dividend Yield3.66%

P/E Ratio20.45

Price Target$67.58

Higher cocoa prices are an easy target for investors trying to understand why Mondelez faces margin pressure. However, the company believes those inflationary headwinds are going to turn to deflationary tailwinds in 2026.

Some analysts are also concerned about the impact of GLP-1 drugs on the company’s core business. However, for now, macroeconomic concerns (i.e., inflation and jobs) make it hard to find more than an anecdotal correlation.

Investors who buy into the company’s comeback narrative may want to consider MDLZ stock, which is undervalued to its historic average at around 20x earnings. Analysts also see over 12% upside for earnings in 2026.

Sprouts Farmers Market: Low Expectations Create Asymmetric Upside
Sprouts Farmers Market NASDAQ: SFM presents the largest asymmetric growth of the stocks on this list. At $77.48 per share as of this writing, SFM stock trades at 77% below its consensus price target.

Sprouts Farmers Market Today

SFM

Sprouts Farmers Market

$79.85 +0.17 (+0.21%)

As of 10:17 AM Eastern

This is a fair market value price provided by Massive. Learn more.

52-Week Range$75.75▼

$182.00P/E Ratio15.44

Price Target$137.86

The Arizona-based grocery retailer focuses on fresh, natural, and organic foods. Investors might think that the company’s focus should make it relatively safe. It targets higher-income consumers who have been able to weather inflationary pressures better than those at lower incomes.

However, that doesn’t seem to be the case. In the company’s last earnings report, Sprouts expressed softer consumer spending as evidenced by lower year-over-year comps. Furthermore, the company said it expects those pressures to weigh on its top and bottom lines into 2026.

In a recurring theme with these stocks trading at 52-week lows, SFM stock is trading around 15x earnings, which gives it an attractive valuation. Analysts also see around 11% earnings growth for the company.

Should You Invest $1,000 in Sprouts Farmers Market Right Now?Before you consider Sprouts Farmers Market, you'll want to hear this.

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Faruqi & Faruqi, LLP Securities Litigation Partner James (Josh) Wilson Encourages Investors Who Suffered Losses In Synopsys To Contact Him Directly To Discuss Their Options

If you purchased or acquired securities in Synopsys between December 4, 2024 and September 9, 2025 and would like to discuss your legal rights, call Faruqi & Faruqi partner Josh Wilson directly at 877-247-4292 or 212-983-9330 (Ext. 1310).

[You may also click here for additional information]

NEW YORK, Dec. 26, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Faruqi & Faruqi, LLP, a leading national securities law firm, is investigating potential claims against Synopsys, Inc. (“Synopsys” or the “Company”) (NASDAQ: SNPS) and reminds investors of the December 30, 2025 deadline to seek the role of lead plaintiff in a federal securities class action that has been filed against the Company.

Faruqi & Faruqi is a leading national securities law firm with offices in New York, Pennsylvania, California and Georgia. The firm has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for investors since its founding in 1995. See www.faruqilaw.com.

As detailed below, the complaint alleges that the Company and its executives violated federal securities laws by making false and/or misleading statements and/or failing to disclose that: (1) the extent to which the Company’s increased focus on artificial intelligence customers, which require additional customization, was deteriorating the economics of its Design IP business; (2) that, as a result, “certain road map and resource decisions” were unlikely to “yield their intended results;” (3) that the foregoing had a material negative impact on financial results; and (4) that, as a result of the foregoing, Defendants’ positive statements about the Company’s business, operations, and prospects were materially misleading and/or lacked a reasonable basis.

On September 9, 2025, after market hours, Synopsys released its third quarter 2025 financial results, revealing the Company’s “IP business underperformed expectations.” The Company reported quarterly revenue of $1.740 billion, missing its prior guidance of between $1.755 billion and $1.785 billion, and reported net income of $242.5 million, a 43% year-over-year decline from $425.9 million reported for third quarter 2024. Moreover, the Company reported its Design IP segment accounted for approximately 25% of revenue and came in at $426.6 million, a 7.7% decline year-over-year. Finally, management provided guidance which implied that Design IP revenues will decline by at least 5% on a full-year basis in fiscal 2025.

On this news, Synopsys’s stock price fell $216.59, or 35.8%, to close at $387.78 per share on September 10, 2025, on unusually heavy trading volume.

The court-appointed lead plaintiff is the investor with the largest financial interest in the relief sought by the class who is adequate and typical of class members who directs and oversees the litigation on behalf of the putative class. Any member of the putative class may move the Court to serve as lead plaintiff through counsel of their choice, or may choose to do nothing and remain an absent class member. Your ability to share in any recovery is not affected by the decision to serve as a lead plaintiff or not.

Faruqi & Faruqi, LLP also encourages anyone with information regarding Synopsys’ conduct to contact the firm, including whistleblowers, former employees, shareholders and others.

To learn more about the Synopsys class action, go to www.faruqilaw.com/SNPS or call Faruqi & Faruqi partner Josh Wilson directly at 877-247-4292 or 212-983-9330 (Ext. 1310).

Follow us for updates on LinkedIn, on X, or on Facebook.

Attorney Advertising. The law firm responsible for this advertisement is Faruqi & Faruqi, LLP (www.faruqilaw.com). Prior results do not guarantee or predict a similar outcome with respect to any future matter. We welcome the opportunity to discuss your particular case. All communications will be treated in a confidential manner.

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/1c84fcf7-a77f-4c3f-a1dd-153f7bf3d4ac

LOS ANGELES, Dec. 26, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Schall Law Firm, a national shareholder rights litigation firm, announces the filing of a class action lawsuit against Firefly Aerospace Inc. (“Firefly” or “the Company”) (NASDAQ: FLY) for violations of the federal securities laws.

Investors who purchased the Company's securities pursuant and/or traceable to the Company’s Offering Documents issued in connection with its initial public offering (“IPO”) conducted on August 7, 2025, and/or between August 7, 2025 and September 29, 2025, both dates inclusive (the "Class Period"), are encouraged to contact the firm before January 12, 2026.        

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

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

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

According to the Complaint, the Company made false and misleading statements to the market. Firefly overstated the growth potential and demand for its Spacecraft Solutions business. The Company overstated the commercial viability of its Alpha rocket program. Based on these facts, the Company’s public statements were false and materially misleading throughout the IPO period. When the market learned the truth about Firefly, investors suffered damages.

Join the case to recover your losses.

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

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

CONTACT:

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

SOURCE:

 The Schall Law Firm

When deciding whether to buy, sell, or hold a stock, investors often rely on analyst recommendations. Media reports about rating changes by these brokerage-firm-employed (or sell-side) analysts often influence a stock's price, but are they really important?

Before we discuss the reliability of brokerage recommendations and how to use them to your advantage, let's see what these Wall Street heavyweights think about Toast (TOST - Free Report) .

Toast currently has an average brokerage recommendation (ABR) of 1.79, on a scale of 1 to 5 (Strong Buy to Strong Sell), calculated based on the actual recommendations (Buy, Hold, Sell, etc.) made by 29 brokerage firms. An ABR of 1.79 approximates between Strong Buy and Buy.

Of the 29 recommendations that derive the current ABR, 17 are Strong Buy and one is Buy. Strong Buy and Buy respectively account for 58.6% and 3.5% of all recommendations.

Brokerage Recommendation Trends for TOST

Check price target & stock forecast for Toast here>>>

The ABR suggests buying Toast, but making an investment decision solely on the basis of this information might not be a good idea. According to several studies, brokerage recommendations have little to no success guiding investors to choose stocks with the most potential for price appreciation.

Are you wondering why? The vested interest of brokerage firms in a stock they cover often results in a strong positive bias of their analysts in rating it. Our research shows that for every "Strong Sell" recommendation, brokerage firms assign five "Strong Buy" recommendations.

In other words, their interests aren't always aligned with retail investors, rarely indicating where the price of a stock could actually be heading. Therefore, the best use of this information could be validating your own research or an indicator that has proven to be highly successful in predicting a stock's price movement.

Zacks Rank, our proprietary stock rating tool with an impressive externally audited track record, categorizes stocks into five groups, ranging from Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) to Zacks Rank #5 (Strong Sell), and is an effective indicator of a stock's price performance in the near future. Therefore, using the ABR to validate the Zacks Rank could be an efficient way of making a profitable investment decision.

ABR Should Not Be Confused With Zacks RankIn spite of the fact that Zacks Rank and ABR both appear on a scale from 1 to 5, they are two completely different measures.

The ABR is calculated solely based on brokerage recommendations and is typically displayed with decimals (example: 1.28). In contrast, the Zacks Rank is a quantitative model allowing investors to harness the power of earnings estimate revisions. It is displayed in whole numbers -- 1 to 5.

It has been and continues to be the case that analysts employed by brokerage firms are overly optimistic with their recommendations. Because of their employers' vested interests, these analysts issue more favorable ratings than their research would support, misguiding investors far more often than helping them.

On the other hand, earnings estimate revisions are at the core of the Zacks Rank. And empirical research shows a strong correlation between trends in earnings estimate revisions and near-term stock price movements.

In addition, the different Zacks Rank grades are applied proportionately to all stocks for which brokerage analysts provide current-year earnings estimates. In other words, this tool always maintains a balance among its five ranks.

There is also a key difference between the ABR and Zacks Rank when it comes to freshness. When you look at the ABR, it may not be up-to-date. Nonetheless, since brokerage analysts constantly revise their earnings estimates to reflect changing business trends, and their actions get reflected in the Zacks Rank quickly enough, it is always timely in predicting future stock prices.

Should You Invest in TOST?In terms of earnings estimate revisions for Toast, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for the current year has remained unchanged over the past month at $1.04.

Analysts' steady views regarding the company's earnings prospects, as indicated by an unchanged consensus estimate, could be a legitimate reason for the stock to perform in line with the broader market in the near term.

The size of the recent change in the consensus estimate, along with three other factors related to earnings estimates, has resulted in a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) for Toast. You can see the complete list of today's Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) stocks here >>>>

It may therefore be prudent to be a little cautious with the Buy-equivalent ABR for Toast.

Investors often turn to recommendations made by Wall Street analysts before making a Buy, Sell, or Hold decision about a stock. While media reports about rating changes by these brokerage-firm employed (or sell-side) analysts often affect a stock's price, do they really matter?

Let's take a look at what these Wall Street heavyweights have to say about Axon Enterprise (AXON - Free Report) before we discuss the reliability of brokerage recommendations and how to use them to your advantage.

Axon currently has an average brokerage recommendation (ABR) of 1.48, on a scale of 1 to 5 (Strong Buy to Strong Sell), calculated based on the actual recommendations (Buy, Hold, Sell, etc.) made by 20 brokerage firms. An ABR of 1.48 approximates between Strong Buy and Buy.

Of the 20 recommendations that derive the current ABR, 13 are Strong Buy and four are Buy. Strong Buy and Buy respectively account for 65% and 20% of all recommendations.

Brokerage Recommendation Trends for AXON

Check price target & stock forecast for Axon here>>>

The ABR suggests buying Axon, but making an investment decision solely on the basis of this information might not be a good idea. According to several studies, brokerage recommendations have little to no success guiding investors to choose stocks with the most potential for price appreciation.

Are you wondering why? The vested interest of brokerage firms in a stock they cover often results in a strong positive bias of their analysts in rating it. Our research shows that for every "Strong Sell" recommendation, brokerage firms assign five "Strong Buy" recommendations.

In other words, their interests aren't always aligned with retail investors, rarely indicating where the price of a stock could actually be heading. Therefore, the best use of this information could be validating your own research or an indicator that has proven to be highly successful in predicting a stock's price movement.

Zacks Rank, our proprietary stock rating tool with an impressive externally audited track record, categorizes stocks into five groups, ranging from Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) to Zacks Rank #5 (Strong Sell), and is an effective indicator of a stock's price performance in the near future. Therefore, using the ABR to validate the Zacks Rank could be an efficient way of making a profitable investment decision.

ABR Should Not Be Confused With Zacks RankIn spite of the fact that Zacks Rank and ABR both appear on a scale from 1 to 5, they are two completely different measures.

Broker recommendations are the sole basis for calculating the ABR, which is typically displayed in decimals (such as 1.28). The Zacks Rank, on the other hand, is a quantitative model designed to harness the power of earnings estimate revisions. It is displayed in whole numbers -- 1 to 5.

It has been and continues to be the case that analysts employed by brokerage firms are overly optimistic with their recommendations. Because of their employers' vested interests, these analysts issue more favorable ratings than their research would support, misguiding investors far more often than helping them.

In contrast, the Zacks Rank is driven by earnings estimate revisions. And near-term stock price movements are strongly correlated with trends in earnings estimate revisions, according to empirical research.

Furthermore, the different grades of the Zacks Rank are applied proportionately across all stocks for which brokerage analysts provide earnings estimates for the current year. In other words, at all times, this tool maintains a balance among the five ranks it assigns.

Another key difference between the ABR and Zacks Rank is freshness. The ABR is not necessarily up-to-date when you look at it. But, since brokerage analysts keep revising their earnings estimates to account for a company's changing business trends, and their actions get reflected in the Zacks Rank quickly enough, it is always timely in indicating future price movements.

Is AXON a Good Investment?Looking at the earnings estimate revisions for Axon, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for the current year has remained unchanged over the past month at $6.35.

Analysts' steady views regarding the company's earnings prospects, as indicated by an unchanged consensus estimate, could be a legitimate reason for the stock to perform in line with the broader market in the near term.

The size of the recent change in the consensus estimate, along with three other factors related to earnings estimates, has resulted in a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) for Axon. You can see the complete list of today's Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) stocks here >>>>

It may therefore be prudent to be a little cautious with the Buy-equivalent ABR for Axon.

When deciding whether to buy, sell, or hold a stock, investors often rely on analyst recommendations. Media reports about rating changes by these brokerage-firm-employed (or sell-side) analysts often influence a stock's price, but are they really important?

Let's take a look at what these Wall Street heavyweights have to say about SkyWater Technology, Inc. (SKYT - Free Report) before we discuss the reliability of brokerage recommendations and how to use them to your advantage.

SkyWater Technology currently has an average brokerage recommendation (ABR) of 1.71, on a scale of 1 to 5 (Strong Buy to Strong Sell), calculated based on the actual recommendations (Buy, Hold, Sell, etc.) made by seven brokerage firms. An ABR of 1.71 approximates between Strong Buy and Buy.

Of the seven recommendations that derive the current ABR, four are Strong Buy and one is Buy. Strong Buy and Buy respectively account for 57.1% and 14.3% of all recommendations.

Brokerage Recommendation Trends for SKYT

Check price target & stock forecast for SkyWater Technology here>>>

The ABR suggests buying SkyWater Technology, but making an investment decision solely on the basis of this information might not be a good idea. According to several studies, brokerage recommendations have little to no success guiding investors to choose stocks with the most potential for price appreciation.

Do you wonder why? As a result of the vested interest of brokerage firms in a stock they cover, their analysts tend to rate it with a strong positive bias. According to our research, brokerage firms assign five "Strong Buy" recommendations for every "Strong Sell" recommendation.

This means that the interests of these institutions are not always aligned with those of retail investors, giving little insight into the direction of a stock's future price movement. It would therefore be best to use this information to validate your own analysis or a tool that has proven to be highly effective at predicting stock price movements.

Zacks Rank, our proprietary stock rating tool with an impressive externally audited track record, categorizes stocks into five groups, ranging from Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) to Zacks Rank #5 (Strong Sell), and is an effective indicator of a stock's price performance in the near future. Therefore, using the ABR to validate the Zacks Rank could be an efficient way of making a profitable investment decision.

ABR Should Not Be Confused With Zacks RankIn spite of the fact that Zacks Rank and ABR both appear on a scale from 1 to 5, they are two completely different measures.

The ABR is calculated solely based on brokerage recommendations and is typically displayed with decimals (example: 1.28). In contrast, the Zacks Rank is a quantitative model allowing investors to harness the power of earnings estimate revisions. It is displayed in whole numbers -- 1 to 5.

It has been and continues to be the case that analysts employed by brokerage firms are overly optimistic with their recommendations. Because of their employers' vested interests, these analysts issue more favorable ratings than their research would support, misguiding investors far more often than helping them.

In contrast, the Zacks Rank is driven by earnings estimate revisions. And near-term stock price movements are strongly correlated with trends in earnings estimate revisions, according to empirical research.

Furthermore, the different grades of the Zacks Rank are applied proportionately across all stocks for which brokerage analysts provide earnings estimates for the current year. In other words, at all times, this tool maintains a balance among the five ranks it assigns.

There is also a key difference between the ABR and Zacks Rank when it comes to freshness. When you look at the ABR, it may not be up-to-date. Nonetheless, since brokerage analysts constantly revise their earnings estimates to reflect changing business trends, and their actions get reflected in the Zacks Rank quickly enough, it is always timely in predicting future stock prices.

Should You Invest in SKYT?In terms of earnings estimate revisions for SkyWater Technology, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for the current year has remained unchanged over the past month at $0.05.

Analysts' steady views regarding the company's earnings prospects, as indicated by an unchanged consensus estimate, could be a legitimate reason for the stock to perform in line with the broader market in the near term.

The size of the recent change in the consensus estimate, along with three other factors related to earnings estimates, has resulted in a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) for SkyWater Technology. You can see the complete list of today's Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) stocks here >>>>

It may therefore be prudent to be a little cautious with the Buy-equivalent ABR for SkyWater Technology.

The recommendations of Wall Street analysts are often relied on by investors when deciding whether to buy, sell, or hold a stock. Media reports about these brokerage-firm-employed (or sell-side) analysts changing their ratings often affect a stock's price. Do they really matter, though?

Let's take a look at what these Wall Street heavyweights have to say about Gray Media (GTN - Free Report) before we discuss the reliability of brokerage recommendations and how to use them to your advantage.

Gray Media currently has an average brokerage recommendation (ABR) of 1.80, on a scale of 1 to 5 (Strong Buy to Strong Sell), calculated based on the actual recommendations (Buy, Hold, Sell, etc.) made by five brokerage firms. An ABR of 1.80 approximates between Strong Buy and Buy.

Of the five recommendations that derive the current ABR, three are Strong Buy, representing 60% of all recommendations.

Brokerage Recommendation Trends for GTN

Check price target & stock forecast for Gray Media here>>>

The ABR suggests buying Gray Media, but making an investment decision solely on the basis of this information might not be a good idea. According to several studies, brokerage recommendations have little to no success guiding investors to choose stocks with the most potential for price appreciation.

Do you wonder why? As a result of the vested interest of brokerage firms in a stock they cover, their analysts tend to rate it with a strong positive bias. According to our research, brokerage firms assign five "Strong Buy" recommendations for every "Strong Sell" recommendation.

This means that the interests of these institutions are not always aligned with those of retail investors, giving little insight into the direction of a stock's future price movement. It would therefore be best to use this information to validate your own analysis or a tool that has proven to be highly effective at predicting stock price movements.

Zacks Rank, our proprietary stock rating tool with an impressive externally audited track record, categorizes stocks into five groups, ranging from Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) to Zacks Rank #5 (Strong Sell), and is an effective indicator of a stock's price performance in the near future. Therefore, using the ABR to validate the Zacks Rank could be an efficient way of making a profitable investment decision.

Zacks Rank Should Not Be Confused With ABRIn spite of the fact that Zacks Rank and ABR both appear on a scale from 1 to 5, they are two completely different measures.

The ABR is calculated solely based on brokerage recommendations and is typically displayed with decimals (example: 1.28). In contrast, the Zacks Rank is a quantitative model allowing investors to harness the power of earnings estimate revisions. It is displayed in whole numbers -- 1 to 5.

It has been and continues to be the case that analysts employed by brokerage firms are overly optimistic with their recommendations. Because of their employers' vested interests, these analysts issue more favorable ratings than their research would support, misguiding investors far more often than helping them.

On the other hand, earnings estimate revisions are at the core of the Zacks Rank. And empirical research shows a strong correlation between trends in earnings estimate revisions and near-term stock price movements.

Furthermore, the different grades of the Zacks Rank are applied proportionately across all stocks for which brokerage analysts provide earnings estimates for the current year. In other words, at all times, this tool maintains a balance among the five ranks it assigns.

Another key difference between the ABR and Zacks Rank is freshness. The ABR is not necessarily up-to-date when you look at it. But, since brokerage analysts keep revising their earnings estimates to account for a company's changing business trends, and their actions get reflected in the Zacks Rank quickly enough, it is always timely in indicating future price movements.

Should You Invest in GTN?In terms of earnings estimate revisions for Gray Media, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for the current year has remained unchanged over the past month at -$1.4.

Analysts' steady views regarding the company's earnings prospects, as indicated by an unchanged consensus estimate, could be a legitimate reason for the stock to perform in line with the broader market in the near term.

The size of the recent change in the consensus estimate, along with three other factors related to earnings estimates, has resulted in a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) for Gray Media. You can see the complete list of today's Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) stocks here >>>>

It may therefore be prudent to be a little cautious with the Buy-equivalent ABR for Gray Media.

The recommendations of Wall Street analysts are often relied on by investors when deciding whether to buy, sell, or hold a stock. Media reports about these brokerage-firm-employed (or sell-side) analysts changing their ratings often affect a stock's price. Do they really matter, though?

Let's take a look at what these Wall Street heavyweights have to say about Spotify (SPOT - Free Report) before we discuss the reliability of brokerage recommendations and how to use them to your advantage.

Spotify currently has an average brokerage recommendation (ABR) of 1.63, on a scale of 1 to 5 (Strong Buy to Strong Sell), calculated based on the actual recommendations (Buy, Hold, Sell, etc.) made by 36 brokerage firms. An ABR of 1.63 approximates between Strong Buy and Buy.

Of the 36 recommendations that derive the current ABR, 23 are Strong Buy and three are Buy. Strong Buy and Buy respectively account for 63.9% and 8.3% of all recommendations.

Brokerage Recommendation Trends for SPOT

Check price target & stock forecast for Spotify here>>>

The ABR suggests buying Spotify, but making an investment decision solely on the basis of this information might not be a good idea. According to several studies, brokerage recommendations have little to no success guiding investors to choose stocks with the most potential for price appreciation.

Do you wonder why? As a result of the vested interest of brokerage firms in a stock they cover, their analysts tend to rate it with a strong positive bias. According to our research, brokerage firms assign five "Strong Buy" recommendations for every "Strong Sell" recommendation.

This means that the interests of these institutions are not always aligned with those of retail investors, giving little insight into the direction of a stock's future price movement. It would therefore be best to use this information to validate your own analysis or a tool that has proven to be highly effective at predicting stock price movements.

Zacks Rank, our proprietary stock rating tool with an impressive externally audited track record, categorizes stocks into five groups, ranging from Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) to Zacks Rank #5 (Strong Sell), and is an effective indicator of a stock's price performance in the near future. Therefore, using the ABR to validate the Zacks Rank could be an efficient way of making a profitable investment decision.

Zacks Rank Should Not Be Confused With ABRAlthough both Zacks Rank and ABR are displayed in a range of 1--5, they are different measures altogether.

Broker recommendations are the sole basis for calculating the ABR, which is typically displayed in decimals (such as 1.28). The Zacks Rank, on the other hand, is a quantitative model designed to harness the power of earnings estimate revisions. It is displayed in whole numbers -- 1 to 5.

It has been and continues to be the case that analysts employed by brokerage firms are overly optimistic with their recommendations. Because of their employers' vested interests, these analysts issue more favorable ratings than their research would support, misguiding investors far more often than helping them.

In contrast, the Zacks Rank is driven by earnings estimate revisions. And near-term stock price movements are strongly correlated with trends in earnings estimate revisions, according to empirical research.

Furthermore, the different grades of the Zacks Rank are applied proportionately across all stocks for which brokerage analysts provide earnings estimates for the current year. In other words, at all times, this tool maintains a balance among the five ranks it assigns.

There is also a key difference between the ABR and Zacks Rank when it comes to freshness. When you look at the ABR, it may not be up-to-date. Nonetheless, since brokerage analysts constantly revise their earnings estimates to reflect changing business trends, and their actions get reflected in the Zacks Rank quickly enough, it is always timely in predicting future stock prices.

Should You Invest in SPOT?In terms of earnings estimate revisions for Spotify, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for the current year has increased 2.5% over the past month to $7.91.

Analysts' growing optimism over the company's earnings prospects, as indicated by strong agreement among them in revising EPS estimates higher, could be a legitimate reason for the stock to soar in the near term.

The size of the recent change in the consensus estimate, along with three other factors related to earnings estimates, has resulted in a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) for Spotify. You can see the complete list of today's Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) stocks here >>>>

Therefore, the Buy-equivalent ABR for Spotify may serve as a useful guide for investors.

Investors often turn to recommendations made by Wall Street analysts before making a Buy, Sell, or Hold decision about a stock. While media reports about rating changes by these brokerage-firm employed (or sell-side) analysts often affect a stock's price, do they really matter?

Let's take a look at what these Wall Street heavyweights have to say about Advanced Micro Devices (AMD - Free Report) before we discuss the reliability of brokerage recommendations and how to use them to your advantage.

Advanced Micro currently has an average brokerage recommendation (ABR) of 1.61, on a scale of 1 to 5 (Strong Buy to Strong Sell), calculated based on the actual recommendations (Buy, Hold, Sell, etc.) made by 44 brokerage firms. An ABR of 1.61 approximates between Strong Buy and Buy.

Of the 44 recommendations that derive the current ABR, 29 are Strong Buy and three are Buy. Strong Buy and Buy respectively account for 65.9% and 6.8% of all recommendations.

Brokerage Recommendation Trends for AMD

Check price target & stock forecast for Advanced Micro here>>>

The ABR suggests buying Advanced Micro, but making an investment decision solely on the basis of this information might not be a good idea. According to several studies, brokerage recommendations have little to no success guiding investors to choose stocks with the most potential for price appreciation.

Do you wonder why? As a result of the vested interest of brokerage firms in a stock they cover, their analysts tend to rate it with a strong positive bias. According to our research, brokerage firms assign five "Strong Buy" recommendations for every "Strong Sell" recommendation.

In other words, their interests aren't always aligned with retail investors, rarely indicating where the price of a stock could actually be heading. Therefore, the best use of this information could be validating your own research or an indicator that has proven to be highly successful in predicting a stock's price movement.

Zacks Rank, our proprietary stock rating tool with an impressive externally audited track record, categorizes stocks into five groups, ranging from Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) to Zacks Rank #5 (Strong Sell), and is an effective indicator of a stock's price performance in the near future. Therefore, using the ABR to validate the Zacks Rank could be an efficient way of making a profitable investment decision.

ABR Should Not Be Confused With Zacks RankAlthough both Zacks Rank and ABR are displayed in a range of 1--5, they are different measures altogether.

The ABR is calculated solely based on brokerage recommendations and is typically displayed with decimals (example: 1.28). In contrast, the Zacks Rank is a quantitative model allowing investors to harness the power of earnings estimate revisions. It is displayed in whole numbers -- 1 to 5.

Analysts employed by brokerage firms have been and continue to be overly optimistic with their recommendations. Since the ratings issued by these analysts are more favorable than their research would support because of the vested interest of their employers, they mislead investors far more often than they guide.

In contrast, the Zacks Rank is driven by earnings estimate revisions. And near-term stock price movements are strongly correlated with trends in earnings estimate revisions, according to empirical research.

In addition, the different Zacks Rank grades are applied proportionately to all stocks for which brokerage analysts provide current-year earnings estimates. In other words, this tool always maintains a balance among its five ranks.

Another key difference between the ABR and Zacks Rank is freshness. The ABR is not necessarily up-to-date when you look at it. But, since brokerage analysts keep revising their earnings estimates to account for a company's changing business trends, and their actions get reflected in the Zacks Rank quickly enough, it is always timely in indicating future price movements.

Is AMD a Good Investment?Looking at the earnings estimate revisions for Advanced Micro, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for the current year has remained unchanged over the past month at $3.96.

Analysts' steady views regarding the company's earnings prospects, as indicated by an unchanged consensus estimate, could be a legitimate reason for the stock to perform in line with the broader market in the near term.

The size of the recent change in the consensus estimate, along with three other factors related to earnings estimates, has resulted in a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) for Advanced Micro. You can see the complete list of today's Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) stocks here >>>>

It may therefore be prudent to be a little cautious with the Buy-equivalent ABR for Advanced Micro.

Companies within the Zacks Cosmetics industry are operating in an increasingly challenging macroeconomic environment, marked by softer consumer spending, uneven retail restocking patterns and persistent cost pressures. Rising prices for packaging, ingredients, logistics and promotional activities are squeezing margins, while trade tensions and potential supply chain disruptions continue to add uncertainty to the operating landscape. These factors are reshaping demand trends and intensifying competition across the beauty market.Even as near-term pressures persist, long-term industry fundamentals remain supported by innovation and digital transformation. Beauty companies are investing in product innovation, clean and science-backed formulations, and enhanced e-commerce capabilities to strengthen consumer engagement and support growth. Against this backdrop, The Estee Lauder Companies Inc. (

(EL - Free Report) ), Coty Inc. ((COTY - Free Report) ), Helen of Troy Limited ((HELE - Free Report) ) and European Wax Center, Inc. ((EWCZ - Free Report) ) stand out as cosmetics stocks to watch as the market resets for 2026, given their focus on brand strength, digital initiatives and operational execution.

About the Industry
The Zacks Cosmetics industry includes companies that provide beauty and personal care products. Players in the industry manufacture, distribute, sell and market skincare, fragrance, makeup and hair care products. Many firms in the market sell products via sales representatives, whereas some do the same through retailers, independent and chain drug stores and pharmacies, upscale perfumeries, department stores and beauty salons. These companies also operate through retailer websites, third-party distributors and in-flight and duty-free shops. Some products offered by industry participants include moisturizers, serums, toners and cleansers under skincare; perfume sprays, candles and soaps under fragrance; lipsticks, mascaras, powders, eye shadows, foundation and nail polishes under makeup; and shampoos, conditioners and hair color products under hair care.

Trends Shaping the Future of the Cosmetics Industry
Challenging Economic Conditions: The cosmetics industry is navigating mounting challenges amid an increasingly uncertain economic environment. Ongoing trade tensions, softer consumer spending and uneven retail restocking cycles are reshaping the beauty market. As living costs rise and household savings come under pressure, consumers are prioritizing essential purchases and scaling back discretionary spending, including cosmetics. This shift in behavior is weighing on demand across many beauty brands. At the same time, operational costs are rising due to higher prices for packaging materials, ingredients, logistics and promotional activities. These cost pressures are squeezing profit margins and intensifying competition within the industry. Moreover, potential changes in trade policies or global supply chain disruptions could further elevate costs and influence product pricing, adding strain for cosmetic companies operating in a volatile and competitive landscape.

International Risk Factors: Cosmetic companies with global operations face international risk factors, including unfavorable foreign currency movements that can impact revenues and profitability. Geopolitical tensions and political instability may disrupt market access, reduce supply chain efficiency and affect operational continuity. In addition, trade conflicts, tariffs, sanctions and other regulatory restrictions may weigh on industry performance.

Innovation and Digitalization Driving Growth: Innovation and digitization remain key growth drivers in the beauty and skincare market. Consumers are increasingly seeking differentiated products that blend advanced technology with science-backed formulations, prompting cosmetic companies to continuously innovate and expand their offerings. Growing demand for organic and clean beauty products is further supporting market growth. Enhancing e-commerce capabilities is a major focus, with tools such as virtual try-ons, streamlined digital payments and data-driven online marketing gaining traction. In addition, many beauty brands are pursuing strategic acquisitions and partnerships to broaden product portfolios and remain competitive in this evolving industry.

Zacks Industry Rank Indicates Dull Prospects
The Zacks Cosmetics industry is housed within the broader Zacks Consumer Staples sector. The industry currently carries a Zacks Industry Rank #177, which places it in the bottom 27% of more than 243 Zacks industries.

The group’s Zacks Industry Rank, which is basically the average of the Zacks Rank of all the member stocks, indicates dull near-term prospects. Our research shows that the top 50% of the Zacks-ranked industries outperform the bottom 50% by a factor of more than two to one.

The industry’s position in the bottom 50% of the Zacks-ranked industries leads to a negative aggregate earnings outlook for the constituent companies. Looking at the aggregate earnings estimate revisions, it appears that analysts are gradually losing confidence in this group’s earnings growth potential. Since the beginning of October 2025, the industry’s consensus estimate for current financial year earnings has decreased 6.1%.

Before we present a few stocks that you may want to consider for your portfolio, let’s look at the industry’s recent stock market performance and valuation picture.

Industry vs. Broader Market
The Zacks Cosmetics industry has underperformed the S&P 500 composite but outperformed the broader Zacks Consumer Staples sector over the past year.

The industry has returned 10% over this period, underperforming the S&P 500’s growth of 18.3%. Meanwhile, the broader sector has appreciated 2.5%.

One-Year Price Performance

Industry's Current Valuation
Based on the forward 12-month price-to-earnings (P/E), which is commonly used to value consumer staples stocks, the industry is currently trading at 28.99X compared with the S&P 500’s 23.45X and the sector’s 16.42X.

In the past five years, the industry has traded as high as 41.34X and as low as 20.22X, with the median being 31.02X, as the chart below shows.

Price-to-Earnings Ratio (Past Five Years)

4 Cosmetic Stocks Worth Considering
The Estee Lauder Companies: This Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) company manufactures and markets skincare, makeup, fragrance and hair care products. The Estee Lauder Companies is strategically focused on restoring profitability and driving long-term growth through its expanded Profit Recovery and Growth Plan. The transformative Beauty Reimagined vision aims to position the company as a leading consumer-centric prestige beauty brand by enhancing innovation, expanding in high-growth markets and digital channels and streamlining operations for agility. With a strong online business, increased AI integration and successful brand launches, The Estee Lauder Companies is well-positioned for growth. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for EL’s current fiscal year earnings per share (EPS) has moved up 0.5% in the past 30 days to $2.15. The stock has gained 39.7% in the past six months.

Price and Consensus: EL

Coty: A leading manufacturer, marketer and distributor of beauty products, Coty carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) at present and is leveraging its brand equity, accelerating digital transformation and implementing cost-optimization initiatives to enhance overall performance. The company’s growth strategy focuses on stabilizing its Consumer Beauty segment, expanding its Prestige fragrance and makeup portfolio, building a stronger skincare presence, and enhancing its e-commerce and Direct-to-Consumer channels. Fragrances remain a key revenue driver, supported by resilient consumer demand and ongoing product innovation. In addition, Coty’s “All In to Win” cost-saving program continues to support margin expansion and operational efficiency.

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for COTY’s current fiscal year EPS has remained unchanged in the past 30 days at 42 cents. Coty’s shares have lost 34% in the past six months.

Price and Consensus: COTY

Helen of Troy: This Zacks Rank #3 company provides consumer products across the Beauty, Housewares, and Health & Home segments and is pursuing sustainable growth through a focused strategy centered on its high-performing Leadership Brands. These premium, higher-margin brands are supporting market share gains through strategic investments in innovation, marketing, and expanded distribution. The company’s long-term strategic plan, Elevate for Growth, focuses on strengthening brand building and enhancing operational scale. Helen of Troy is also advancing Project Pegasus, a global restructuring initiative designed to improve operating margins, streamline operations, and enable reinvestment in brand growth.

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Helen of Troy’s current fiscal year EPS has moved down 1.2% in the past 30 days to $4.05. The stock has lost 26% in the past six months.

Price and Consensus: HELE

European Wax Center: The largest franchisor and operator of out-of-home waxing services in the United States, EWCZ holds a Zacks Rank #3 at present. Supported by a highly committed network of franchise partners, the company is positioned for long-term expansion. European Wax Center is focused on increasing guest acquisition, boosting average ticket through customer retention and reactivation, and enhancing overall operational productivity. By leveraging innovative marketing initiatives and advanced technology solutions, the brand aims to attract new clients while strengthening engagement with existing guests. These efforts support stronger customer relationships, improved brand loyalty and sustainable long-term growth.

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for European Wax’s current fiscal year EPS has moved down 4.7% in the past 30 days to 61 cents. EWCZ stock has plunged 33.6% in the past six months.

Price and Consensus: EWCZ

Bitcoin’s most liquid trading pairs never reflected the drop, underscoring how isolated the event really was.

A sudden, dramatic price wick on Christmas Day showed Bitcoin (BTC) trading as low as $24,111 on a single Binance trading pair, sparking panic across social media.

The event, however, was not a market-wide collapse but a fleeting liquidity vacuum on an obscure trading venue that was quickly corrected by automated bots.

Anatomy of a Flash Wick
The reported “crash” occurred exclusively on Binance’s BTC/USD1 pair, a market with minimal trading activity. As analyst Shanaka Anslem Perera explained,

“The ‘crash’ existed on ONE order book. Not Bitcoin. Not the market. One pair.”

He pointed out that data had confirmed that the primary BTC/USDT pair, where the vast majority of volume trades, never moved below $86,400 during the incident.

According to him, the entire price dislocation lasted approximately three seconds before arbitrage algorithms bought the cheap BTC, restoring the price to around $87,000. The market observer also noted that the pattern was not new, with a similar wick from $96,000 to $76,000 happening on the same USD1 pair on December 10.

Perera directly linked the instability to a Binance promotional campaign. “Binance launched a 20% APY promotion on USD1 deposits 24 hours before this happened,” he noted.

This incentive, he said, caused a rush of traders to swap their USDT for the USD1 stablecoin to earn yield, which drained sell-side liquidity from the BTC/USD1 order book. When a single large market sell order was placed, it hit an empty book, causing the price to plummet until it found a bid.

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The account Master of Crypto also summarized it plainly:

“That single trade wiped the order book and pushed price down for seconds… Just a liquidity event, not a crash.”

Broader Market Context and Lingering Jitters
This micro-event unfolded against a backdrop of broader market uncertainty, with Bitcoin’s price action choppy and repeatedly rejected near the $90,000 level.

At the time of writing, the asset was trading around $88,500, showing modest daily gains but struggling for a clear directional break. Furthermore, the severe market crash on October 10, which saw Bitcoin lose over $12,000 in a single day, has left the crypto community psychologically scarred.

As one expert recently stated, “October 10 broke something psychologically,” creating a lasting caution that makes the market sensitive to any sign of trouble, even illusory ones.

The Christmas Day wick serves as a case study in how promotional activity can create predictable risks in illiquid markets and how sensational but incomplete information spreads fast.

For traders, it highlighted the danger of new, thinly traded pairs, and for the wider market, it was a brief distraction from Bitcoin’s ongoing struggle to build momentum and shake off the lingering effects of a turbulent fourth quarter.

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