, /PRNewswire/ - GFL Environmental Inc. (NYSE: GFL) (TSX: GFL) ("GFL" or the "Company") today announced that the Board of Directors of the Company has declared a cash dividend of US$0.0169 for each outstanding subordinate voting share and multiple voting share of the Company for the second quarter of 2026.
The cash dividend will be paid on July 31, 2026 to shareholders of record at the close of business on July 13, 2026. The Company has designated this dividend as an eligible dividend within the meaning of the Income Tax Act (Canada).
About GFL
GFL is the fourth largest diversified environmental services company in North America, providing comprehensive solid waste management services from its platform of facilities throughout Canada and 18 U.S. states. GFL has a workforce of more than 15,000 employees across its organization.
Forward Looking Statements
This release includes certain "forward-looking statements", which are not guarantees or assurances of future performance. Because forward-looking statements are related to the future, they are subject to inherent uncertainties, risks and changes in circumstances that may differ materially from those contemplated by the forward-looking statements. GFL undertakes no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statement, except as required by applicable securities laws. The declaration, timing, amount and payment of any future dividends remains at the discretion of GFL's Board of Directors.
For more information:
Patrick Dovigi
+1 905-326-0101
[email protected]
SpaceX may put other mega-cap IPOs on the fast track.
According to Kathmere Capital Management's chief investment officer, it could emerge as the ultimate blueprint for Silicon Valley — especially when it comes to the expected Anthropic and OpenAI public debuts.
"It would not surprise me at all to see a similar dynamic play out with some of these [IPOs] set to come in the months ahead," Nick Ryder told CNBC's "ETF Edge" this week.
Ryder, whose firm provides financial advice to individuals and businesses, contends market conditions will determine whether upcoming mega-cap IPOs will rip a page from SpaceX's playbook.
"We've been in… a pretty historic two- [or] three-month rally for the equity market [which] was feeding into [SpaceX]," added Ryder. "When these other mega IPOs eventually come to market the environment might be different, and so it's really hard to predict how it will be."
SpaceX since public debut
SpaceX, which went public on June 12 with a historic $2 trillion-plus market cap, soared 53% above its $150 opening price in just three trading days. But the big gain didn't last. As of Wednesday's close, shares of the aerospace and satellite company are up nearly 17% since the debut.
Index inclusionAlso notable: SpaceX is one of the fastest stocks to get added to major indexes. It's already in the Russell 1000. Now, it's set to be added to the Nasdaq-100 on July 6 after the market close.
Arne Noack is the FTSE Russell head of equity & multi-asset indices for the Americas. He sees the indexes themselves, rather than SpaceX, as the true blueprint for upcoming IPOs.
"As index providers, [we] have put in place a blueprint that is clearly visible for anyone… meaning there is a fast-track eligibility. If you meet certain thresholds, you're potentially eligible for index inclusion," Noack said.
As Apple Inc. (NASDAQ: AAPL) stock opened the second half of 2026 with a bullish outlook, David Vogt, an analyst from UBS, reiterated a neutral sentiment.
In a note to clients on July 1, Vogt maintained a Hold rating for AAPL stock. The Wall Street analyst set his 12-month target for Apple stock price at $296, which was almost hit during the premarket trading session on July 2.
According to the report, UBS’s Evidence Lab survey of over 7,500 smartphone users across key markets revealed mixed signals for Apple. While iPhone purchase intent in the United States (U.S.) rose approximately 300 basis points year-over-year to around 20%, demand in China continued to soften, falling 100 basis points to roughly 15%.
Stronger gains were seen in the United Kingdom (UK), where the increase reached 600 basis points (bps), and in Germany, where it rose by 400 bps. The survey also showed the average age of iPhones in use edged lower to 22.9 months, though it remains near recent highs.
On the software side, enthusiasm for Apple Intelligence news appeared to cool, with the percentage of respondents who said they would upgrade sooner for those capabilities falling 500 basis points, to about 24%. Vogt noted that net interest in a potential Apple foldable iPhone also slipped modestly compared with the prior survey.
Apple stock price forecast and performance Following the UBS rating, Apple stock has received 30 analyst reviews over the past three months, according to data from TipRanks. Notably, the company’s shares have received an average 12-month price forecast of about $324.40 and a Moderate Buy.
Apple stock price forecast. Source: TipRanks From a technical analysis standpoint, Apple stock has been attempting to maintain bullish sentiment after closing June in the red.
AAPL stock 1-day chart. Source: TradingView During Thursday’s premarket, AAPL stock hovered around $295.29, with the daily Relative Strength Index (RSI) and Moving Average Convergence Divergence (MACD) signaling a potential bullish reversal. The near-term technical reversal is also bolstered by analysts’ bullish sentiments.
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The S&P/ASX Small Ordinaries Index (XSO) softened on the day, slipping 15.70 points, or 0.46%, to 3,409.20.
The move extended recent weakness across the small-cap segment, with the index down 48.80 points, or 1.41%, over the past five trading days.
Junior resources and battery materials companies continue to generate strong news flow, led by drilling momentum at FireFly Metals, the start of mining at Lindian Resources’ Kangankunde project and further field activity at Krakatoa Resources’ Zopkhito antimony-gold project. You can read about the following and more throughout the day.
FireFly Metals strengthens Green Bay high-grade copper story FireFly Metals Ltd (ASX:FFM, TSX:FFM, OTC:FFMFF) has delivered further strong drilling results from the Green Bay Copper-Gold Project in Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada, reinforcing the continuity of high-grade mineralisation within the project’s core zone.
The latest results form part of ongoing infill drilling aimed at upgrading the existing mineral resource as FireFly advances economic studies for an upscaled restart of mining at Green Bay.
Recent intersections from the high-grade convergent core zone include 42 metres at 6.1% copper equivalent and 51.5 metres at 4.9% copper equivalent, supporting the company’s view that the area could become an important component of future mining plans.
The core zone currently hosts a mineral resource of 8.8 million tonnes at 3.9% copper equivalent in the measured and indicated category and 10.9 million tonnes at 3.8% copper equivalent inferred, with the company seeing further growth potential.
FireFly also reported that its deepest hole drilled to date returned 49.1 metres at 6.1% copper equivalent, highlighting the depth potential of the system.
Lindian begins active mining at Kangankunde Lindian Resources Ltd (ASX:LIN, OTC:LINIF) has completed the first production blast at its Kangankunde Rare Earths Project in Malawi, marking the start of active mining operations and another key step in its transition from developer to rare earth producer.
The maiden production blast was drilled, charged and fired across 206 blast holes, fragmenting around 13,100 tonnes of material, including an estimated 5,500 tonnes of ore.
Mining is now underway using Lindian’s owner-operator Komatsu fleet, with ore haulage started and run-of-mine stockpiles being established ahead of process plant commissioning.
The company said building ROM stockpiles before commissioning was expected to support a smoother plant start-up and help de-risk the ramp-up to first production, which remains scheduled for the fourth quarter of 2026.
The milestone was also backed by strong local support, with senior representatives from Malawi’s Ministries of Mining and Labour, along with the MMRA, MEPA and Balaka District Council, attending the first blast.
Krakatoa starts second field season at Zopkhito Krakatoa Resources Ltd (ASX:KTA) has started its second field season at the Zopkhito Antimony-Gold Project in Georgia, providing an update on drilling and development activity as it advances work across the historic mineralised system.
The Zopkhito project covers 1,779 hectares in the Racha region and is held under an existing mining licence valid until March 2042. Krakatoa holds an exclusive option to acquire up to an 80% interest in the project.
Zopkhito contains a foreign resource estimate of 225,000 tonnes at 11.6% antimony for 26,000 tonnes of contained antimony and 7.1 million tonnes at 3.7 g/t gold for 815,119 ounces of gold.
The project benefits from extensive historical work, including around 27 kilometres of underground exploration adits, more than 15,000 historical channel and geochemical samples, and previous LiDAR and IP geophysical surveys.
Critical Resources highlights battery cathode technology validation Critical Resources Ltd (ASX:CRR, FRA:9S70) has reported peer-reviewed research validating the dry supersonic deposition cathode technology over which it holds an exclusive option.
The research, published in the international journal Electrochimica Acta, provides independent scientific support for the solvent and binder-free manufacturing method that underpins the licensable intellectual property.
The technology is the subject of a provisional patent application and aligns with Critical Resources’ strategy to commercialise the process through licensing rather than by manufacturing battery cells directly.
The company said the validation was an important step in supporting the commercial potential of the technology, which is designed for lithium iron phosphate cathode production.
Nova Minerals strengthens board with finance and geoscience expertise Nova Minerals Corp (ASX:NVA, NYSE-A:NVA, FRA:QM30) has appointed Joshua Girnun to its board of directors, effective July 1, 2026.
Girnun brings institutional finance and risk underwriting experience from JP Morgan Chase & Co., where he co-founded a client-facing risk underwriting team covering metals and mining, energy, renewables, industrials, oil and gas, and agriculture.
He also brings technical expertise, holding two master’s degrees across resource finance and geosciences, along with an honours degree and a bachelor’s degree in geology.
Nova said the appointment adds financial, technical and sector-specific experience to the board as it continues to advance its resource projects.
Altech Batteries gains more time on CERENERGY funding conditions Altech Batteries Ltd (ASX:ATC, OTC:ALTHF, FRA:A3Y) has secured an extension to the deadline for fulfilling financial close conditions tied to its €46.7 million conditional funding approval for the CERENERGY® Sodium Chloride Solid State Battery Project in Saxony, Germany.
The deadline has been extended from June 30, 2026, to September 30, 2026.
The funding is being provided under Germany’s federal STARK program, supported by the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy in cooperation with the European Union.
The program is designed to help regions undergoing structural change transition toward ecologically, economically and socially sustainable futures.
For Altech, the extension provides additional time to progress the project financing requirements attached to the grant funding package.
Altech Batteries Ltd (ASX:ATC, OTC:ALTHF, FRA:A3Y) has received an extension to the financial close deadline attached to a conditional €46.7 million German Government grant for its CERENERGY® Sodium Chloride Solid State battery project in Saxony, Germany.
The German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy had extended the deadline for achieving full project financial close from June 30, 2026, to September 30, 2026. The grant approval covers about 30% of eligible project capital expenditure, with funding of up to €46.7 million.
The funding approval was previously granted under Germany’s federal STARK economic development program, which is supported by the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy in cooperation with the European Union.
The program is designed to support regions undergoing structural change and help them transition toward an ecologically, economically and socially sustainable future.
The extension gives Altech additional time to complete financial close for the CERENERGY® project, which is being developed as a stationary energy storage solution for the European market.
Safe and sustainable battery technology CERENERGY® is a sodium-chloride solid-state battery technology being developed by Altech in collaboration with the Fraunhofer Society. The technology offers a safe, sustainable and strategically independent alternative to lithium-ion batteries, with potential application in long-duration stationary energy storage.
Altech said it remained focused on completing financial close and advancing CERENERGY® toward commercial deployment to support safe and sustainable energy storage solutions in Europe.
Funding in and mining rights preserved Recently, Altech strengthened its working capital position after completing the sale of its Meckering landholding in Western Australia for gross proceeds of $950,000.
The land, held through Altech Meckering Pty Ltd, had been classified as non-core by the board, with settlement of the transaction now finalised.
Importantly, Altech has retained rights to mining lease M70/1334, allowing the company to preserve exposure to the asset while releasing capital from land considered surplus to requirements.
As part of the sale, Altech has entered into an Exploration, Mining, Access, Compensation and Option to Purchase Agreement with the new landowner.
The agreement covers both the land and mining lease M70/1334 and is designed to ensure future mining access is maintained.
Under the agreed terms, any future mining of the lease can continue, while any future owner of the mining lease would also be able to operate a mining operation on the site.
About Altech Batteries Altech Batteries is a specialty battery technology company working with German battery institute Fraunhofer IKTS to commercialise CERENERGY® Sodium Chloride Solid State batteries.
The batteries are designed to be fire and explosion-proof, have a lifespan of more than 15 years and operate in extreme cold and desert climates. They use table salt and are lithium-free, cobalt-free, graphite-free and copper-free, reducing exposure to critical metal price and supply chain risks.
The joint venture plans to construct a 120MWh production facility on Altech’s land in Saxony, Germany, to produce CERENERGY® battery modules for grid storage markets.
FireFly Metals Ltd (ASX:FFM, TSX:FFM, OTC:FFMFF) has delivered another strong batch of drilling results from the Green Bay Copper-Gold Project in Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada, with assays reinforcing the continuity and grade of the project’s high-grade core zone.
The latest results, including 42 metres at 6.1% copper equivalent (CuEq) and 51.5 metres at 4.9% CuEq, will be incorporated into an updated resource model underpinning economic studies for the potential upscaled restart of mining at Green Bay.
High-grade core strengthens early production case FireFly's infill drilling continued to demonstrate broad, high-grade copper-gold mineralisation across the convergent core zone, where upper volcanogenic massive sulphide (VMS) lenses meet the footwall stringer-style copper zone.
Key results from the core zone included 42.0 metres at 6.1% CuEq, including 9.8 metres at 16.5% CuEq, in hole MUG26-053, and 51.5 metres at 4.9% CuEq, including 17.0 metres at 9.1% CuEq, in hole MUG26-054.
Other notable core zone hits included 50.2 metres at 4.0% CuEq and 34.4 metres at 5.0% CuEq, supporting the company’s view that the zone could become an important part of future mine planning.
Isometric view of the Ming Mine 805L Exploration Drive showing the location of drill platforms and drilling reported in this announcement. Assay results greater than 0.5% Cu are shown in red.
Resource upgrade to feed economic studies The Green Bay resource currently stands at 50.4 million tonnes at 2.0% CuEq in the measured and indicated category, with a further 29.3 million tonnes at 2.5% CuEq inferred. The high-grade core zone contains 8.8 million tonnes at 3.9% CuEq measured and indicated, plus 10.9 million tonnes at 3.8% CuEq inferred.
FireFly's latest results will be included in a mid-year mineral resource estimate, which will support the preliminary economic assessment and scoping study now expected in July-August 2026.
Managing director Steve Parsons said the results showed “extremely high grades over substantial widths” and demonstrated strong continuity, providing a positive indicator for the upcoming economic studies.
“These are exceptional results with extremely high grades over substantial widths. They also demonstrate the strong continuity of this mineralisation. This is an outstanding combination of grade and width. The continuing of this mineralisation is a very positive indicator for the upcoming economic studies, which will assess the potential development scenarios for Green Bay.
“These results will be included in the economic studies, which are in the process of being completed, enabling us to demonstrate the financial benefits of such a rich core of mineralisation.
“With six rigs drilling underground, as well as regional exploration in progress, we intend to keep growing and upgrading the resource in parallel with economic and technical studies”.
Green Bay growth program continues Six underground rigs are operating at the Ming Mine, split between resource conversion and step-out drilling, while regional exploration is also advancing. Two surface rigs are testing geophysical anomalies at Green Bay and maiden drilling has started at the Tilt Cove project.
FireFly remains well funded, with about A$219.9 million in cash and liquid investments as of March 31, 2026.
What’s ahead FireFly's Near-term work will focus on:
upgrading inferred resources into the measured and indicated category; growing the resource through down-plunge drilling; completing the PEA/scoping study; advancing permitting and engineering, and pursuing new discoveries through underground and surface drilling
It's rare for a stock the size of Meta Platforms (META +8.88%) to jump 9% on non-earnings news, but that's exactly what happened on Wednesday, and for good reason.
Bloomberg reported that the social media giant is launching its own cloud computing business. Though Meta hasn't made its own announcement about a new cloud infrastructure service, the news comes weeks after CEO Mark Zuckerberg said that a cloud business was "definitely on the table."
The move added about $150 billion to Meta's market cap as investors are hopeful it could unlock a second profitable revenue stream for the company, complementing its advertising juggernaut, and leverage infrastructure it already owns. Cloud computing has become a huge cash cow for Meta's big tech peers like Amazon, Microsoft, and Alphabet, and all three are reporting accelerating growth in the cloud, showing demand for compute infrastructure skyrocketing in the AI era. Meta is also considered the fourth hyperscaler, though it's the only one without a cloud business. Zuckerberg has said that his company receives interest in cloud services every week, and that companies are willing to pay a premium, suggesting it should be able to hit the ground running when it launches.
The shockwaves from the news were felt throughout the tech sector as neocloud companies like CoreWeave and Nebius fell by double digits as Meta represents a huge new competitor, and chip stocks like Micron were down sharply as well, as investors interpreted the news as an increase in chip supply, which would hurt "bottleneck" plays like Micron, which have soared in recent months on the memory shortage. Additionally, it could signal a peak in the AI capex investment cycle.
Image source: The Motley Fool.
What's in Meta's new cloud service The service is still in development, but according to the report, Meta is planning on offering two primary services. The first is access to bare-metal computing capacity, essentially renting out its AI chips to companies willing to pay for them. This is CoreWeave's business model, and it's driven several quarters of triple-digit revenue growth, though CoreWeave has had to take on billions in debt to build out its data centers to meet demand, leading to losses.
Like Amazon's Bedrock, Meta is also expected to host AI models, including those from its new Muse Spark LLM, and charge developers to access them.
Meta's cash cow advertising business and the money it's already invested in AI infrastructure give it a competitive advantage against companies like CoreWeave, which don't have the cash cushion that Meta has, nor do they have another way to monetize cloud demand as Meta is doing with its AI models.
Getting into the cloud business looks like a smart business move. If Meta can turn an asset it owns from a high-risk investment to a profit center, why wouldn't it do so? It also shows Zuckerberg may be starting to act more rationally and follow the market, rather than his own product vision and desires, which have mostly led to flops.
Finally, there's a bonanza going on in AI cloud computing, which has driven bumper profits for the three leading hyperscalers. Google Cloud, the smallest of the three leaders, was losing money as recently as 2022, with a loss of $1.9 billion that year, but its profits have soared in the AI era as both demand and prices for cloud computing have gone up. By 2025, its operating income had jumped to $13.9 billion, more than doubling from the year before.
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Prior to the cloud computing report, Meta stock had slumped on worries that its AI investments weren't paying off, on reports of low morale following several rounds of layoffs, and concerns that it was overspending after lifting its capex forecast to $125 billion-$145 billion this year.
As a result, the stock now trades at a very attractive price-to-earnings ratio of 22, and that's after it reported 33% revenue growth in the first quarter, showing the core business is strong.
While the details on the cloud business aren't fully clear, if it executes effectively, a Meta Cloud could be where Google Cloud is today in five or ten years, as there's plenty of demand for it.
Trading at a discount to the S&P 500, the stock looks like a no-brainer buy on plans to launch a cloud business.
Nasdaq futures are down 0.15% while S&P 500 futures have gained 0.07%.
The quiet trading followed a strong Wednesday session where Meta shares closed nearly 9% higher.
The market movement follows reports that the Facebook parent is developing an internal initiative called “Meta Compute.” The program aims to generate revenue from excess AI computing capacity by renting raw compute to external businesses.
Similarly, rival neocloud platform Nebius Group N.V. (NASDAQ:NBIS) saw its stock plummet 17.01% as investors processed the competitive threat.
Meta’s AI Compute OpportunityMeta could generate $10 billion to $20 billion in incremental annual revenue by selling excess AI computing capacity, according to Evercore ISI analyst Mark Mahaney.
Speaking with CNBC on Wednesday, Mahaney said the most bullish interpretation is that Meta already has excess compute capacity, reducing the need for further sharp increases in capital spending while creating a new high-margin revenue opportunity.
If successful, Meta could leverage its scale to compete with specialized AI infrastructure providers while generating a lucrative new revenue stream from assets it has already built.
Mahaney also said investors are underestimating Meta’s AI opportunity beyond advertising. He pointed to the company’s large base of small businesses using WhatsApp and Instagram, where AI-powered business tools could become another long-term growth driver.
Meta Technical Picture Remains MixedMeta continues to trade above its short-term trend indicators, suggesting near-term buying interest remains intact.
The stock is trading 6.3% above its 20-day simple moving average of $578.70 and 1.3% above its 50-day simple moving average of $606.95. However, it remains 0.6% below its 100-day simple moving average of $618.41 and 5% below its 200-day simple moving average of $647.42.
The longer-term setup remains cautious. The 20-day moving average is below the 50-day moving average, while the 50-day remains below the 200-day moving average. That “death cross,” which formed in December 2025, continues to signal a weak long-term trend despite recent stabilization.
Momentum indicators have improved. The moving average convergence divergence (MACD) remains above its signal line, with a positive histogram, suggesting bullish momentum is building after the previous decline.
Technical traders are watching resistance near $625, with the 100-day moving average just below that level. Support is seen around $595, close to the 50-day exponential moving average.
META Stock Price Activity: Meta Platforms shares were trading up 0.21% at $614.20 during premarket trading on Thursday, according to Benzinga Pro data.
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Google’s (GOOG) (GOOGL) costly EU defeat just became permanent. (00:16) What if Americans owned part of OpenAI? (00:52) A backyard BBQ now costs nearly $20 more than it did in 2019. (01:31)
This is an abridged transcript.
Alphabet’s Google (GOOG) (GOOGL) has lost its long-running battle against the European Union.
The company will have to pay a €4.1B ($4.7B) antitrust fine after the bloc's top court upheld regulators' findings that it abused the market dominance of its Android operating system.
The European Court of Justice ruled on Thursday that Google's appeal against the European Commission's penalty should be dismissed. The decision is legally binding, marking a major victory for the regulator in a case that began when the fine was imposed in 2018.
OpenAI (OPENAI) has discussed giving a 5% stake to the U.S. government.
Sam Altman, chief executive of the ChatGPT maker, has argued that giving the public a financial stake in the company is the best way to share the upside of AI.
According to two people familiar with the talks, he has suggested a stake of this size in early conversations with the administration.
The Financial Times reported on Thursday that the proposed arrangement would involve other US AI companies handing over a similar stake, although it is not clear if the other labs would be willing to do so, the report said.
This weekend’s America 250, Independence Day celebrations will cost you more.
Data from Arbor Data Science shows the cost of a 10-person cookout rising from $54.88 in 2019 to $73.82 in 2026.
For context, the annual inflation rate averaged around 1.8% in July 2019, while more recent readings show annual inflation at approximately 4.2% in May 2026. Inflation also surged in the intervening period, remaining above 7% from December 2021 through November 2022 and peaking at 9.1% in June 2022.
According to AAA, driving to your destination is also a hit on the wallet. A year ago the average price of gas was $3.17. Today it’s $3.83. But, $3.83 is less than it was a month ago when we were paying $4.29 a gallon.
What’s Trending on Seeking Alpha
Volkswagen braces for turbulent talks ahead of critical board meeting over massive restructuring
Taiwan detains two Super Micro employees in alleged Nvidia AI server export probe - report
Nonfarm payroll growth is seen slowing but staying 'relatively strong' in June
Catalyst watch:
CrowdStrike's (CRWD) four-for-one stock split will become effective when the market opens.
Circana will release its latest report on U.S. video game sales.
US stock index futures are in mixed territory.
Crude oil is down 1.5% at $67. Bitcoin is up 1% at $60,000. Gold is up 0.8% at $4,066.
The FTSE 100 is up 0.5% and the DAX is up 0.6%.
One stock on the biggest movers list: National Beverage (FIZZ) +6% - Shares gained after the maker of LaCroix declared a special cash dividend of $3.25 per share following FY2026 results.
Economic calendar:
8:30 am Employment Situation
The U.S. stock exchanges are closed tomorrow for observance of the Independence Day holiday.
Lending support to his choice, Morgan Stanley analyst Brian Nowak, on June 30, maintained Alphabet with an Overweight rating and raised the price target from $375 to $415.
On Thursday, the European Union’s highest court upheld the €4.1 billion ($4.67 billion) antitrust fine against Google, which is owned by Alphabet, rejecting the company’s appeal over anti-competitive practices tied to the Android operating system.
Google said it updated its agreements in 2018 to comply with the original ruling and will continue focusing on innovation, while its shares slipped about 1% in premarket trading.
Don’t forget to check out our premarket coverage here
Brian Belski, founder, CEO & chief investment officer at Humilis Investment Strategies, picked Unum Group (NYSE:UNM).
Unum Group promoted Andrew Walker to executive vice president and chief customer operations officer on Wednesday.
Joseph M. Terranova, senior managing director for Virtus Investment Partners, named The J. M. Smucker Company (NYSE:SJM).
On the earnings front, J.M. Smucker reported better-than-expected fourth-quarter financial results on June 9 and issued FY27 sales guidance above estimates. Also, the company issued FY27 adjusted EPS guidance with its midpoint above estimates.
Price Action Unum Group gained 2.2% to close at $91.40 on Wednesday. iShares Expanded Tech-Software Sector ETF rose 3% during the session. Alphabet shares gained 1.1% to close at $361.21 on Wednesday. J. M. Smucker shares rose 2.1% to settle at $114.86 during the session. Photo via Shutterstock
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Amazon (AMZN +1.48%) stock lost 12% in June, according to data provided by S&P Global Market Intelligence. There's a long list of artificial intelligence (AI) concerns that have led to this point, and many of the hyperscalers and other top AI stocks have been dropping of late.
Hyperscalers and hyper spending The average U.S. shopper knows Amazon as an e-commerce giant. It's part of the fabric of society at this point, with its trucks a regular feature on U.S. roads and highways. However, it has many other growing businesses, in particular Amazon Web Services (AWS), its cloud services provider that houses its AI business.
Image source: Amazon.
AWS has been on fire, and the AI business is thriving. Amazon has a huge assortment of AI tools that can code with prompts, create AI agents, and whip up marketing campaigns in minutes. AWS is the largest cloud provider in the world, with almost a third of the entire market, and its millions of clients are engaging with AI through its platform. In the 2026 first quarter, for example, its Strands agentic AI tool was downloaded 200% more times than the previous quarter. Users of its Kiro developer tool more than doubled sequentially, and Kiro enterprise customer usage increased almost 10-fold.
The platform is also bringing in more sales to AWS, which increased 28% year over year, the fastest pace in 15 quarters.
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It's coming at a cost, and it's not just the cost of creation. Amazon stock had already been crushed by its spending habits, which had been alarming the market. Management said it would spend $200 billion in capital expenditures this year, and although it doubled down on its assertion that this was necessary to position itself for a windfall, the stock tanked anyway. It had made a rebound after its fantastic first-quarter report, but now the next worry is on the table as the AI race continues. With many players and lots of competition, the latest fear is that the spending may not be recouped, even as the technology thrives. According the law of supply and demand, a plethora of options could drive prices down, and the biggest spenders could end up being the biggest losers.
Don't give up on Amazon CEO Andy Jassy explained that it's in a high-investment phase as it prepares to monetize its spending. There's a cash-crunch in laying the groundwork, but not only has it paid off quickly in the past, the infrastructure also lasts for decades.
The market's fear is reasonable, but Amazon is well-positioned to bounce back and reward patients shareholders.
Top Wall Street analysts changed their outlook on these top names. For a complete view of all analyst rating changes, including upgrades and downgrades, please see our analyst ratings page.
Considering buying AMZN stock? Here’s what analysts think:
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Inside a cavernous aircraft hangar in the Mojave Desert, JetZero is building a full-size demonstrator of what could be a 200-plus-seat jet, a lucrative market segment expected to be at the center of future plane strategies for Airbus and Boeing.
Chipmaker Nvidia says it is entering revenue-sharing agreements with fast-growing start-ups, in a move which will see customers swap access to compute power for a slice of future profits.
The artificial intelligence chip leader says its new partnership program, announced Thursday, offers fast-growing AI startups token credits to power their development. Cloud-based AI firms, model builders and other enterprises will share both product and cloud revenue with Nvidia, which is positioning itself as an intermediary helping startups gain direct access to full-stack computing powered by Nvidia chips.
In its announcement, Nvidia named two initial partners who will provide the compute power behind the scheme. Australia-based Sharon AI will deploy up to 40,000 Nvidia GPUs, while Singapore AI infrastructure company Firmus Technologies says it is building a data center in Batam, Indonesia, which is expected to scale to 360 megawatts and house up to 170,000 Nvidia GPUs.
Nvidia's move illustrates the critical importance of access to scarce compute power for AI-oriented startups, with GPUs likened to oil and even reportedly tied to futures contracts as users grapple with fluctuations in cost and issues around availability. Meanwhile, AI firms have increasingly entered into revenue and equity-sharing sharing agreements with chipmakers in order to circumvent liquidity issues afflicting the sector.
OpenAI has inked a number of deals that have seen it buy shares or entertain investments from partners including Amazon and AMD, CNBC reported in January.
Nvidia earlier this month said it was aiming to raise debt which sources said could amount to at least $20 billion. The firm intends to use the proceeds from the offering for general corporate purposes, including repayment and refinancing of existing debt.
Nvidia delivered a clean beat-and-raise quarter, with revenue up 85% Y/Y and Data Center revenue surging 92% Y/Y. NVDA doubled Blackwell/Rubin pipeline visibility to $1T through 2027, with supply commitments at $119B and no margin compression despite new architecture risks. Capital return accelerated with a dividend hike to $0.25 and a new $80B buyback, signaling management's confidence in structural free cash flow.
HomeMarketsNeed to KnowNeed to KnowStephen Yiu lines his fund with recipients of AI investmentsUpdated July 2, 2026, 7:55 a.m. ET
Invest in the companies that are receiving artificial-intelligence investments, says the Blue Whale Growth Fund’s Stephen Yiu. Photo: MarketWatch photo illustration/iStockphotoInvesting in the artificial-intelligence trade takes nerves of steel these days, with ever-cloudy visibility into whether all the money being invested will ultimately pay off.
A far simpler way to approach that complicated trade is to just “follow the money,” says Stephen Yiu, the lead fund manager of the nearly $4.5 billion Blue Whale Growth Fund.
Procter & Gamble remains a Hold, as I see muted upside due to its premium valuation and inconsistent performance versus the S&P 500. PG's recent acceleration in top and bottom-line growth is encouraging, but I need to see sustained consistency before turning bullish. The company's 69-year dividend history and shareholder-friendly capital allocation partially justify its premium, with dividend growth expected to continue.
Survey Completed: Approximately 28 line-kilometers of induced polarization ("IP") surveying have now been completed across seven lines at the Hook target, expanding upon a previously announced reconnaissance line which returned exceptionally high chargeability, up to 40 mV/V.Strong Continuity: The completed survey has now outlined the chargeability feature extending over a strike length of ~1.8 kilometers. Strongest Response Near Surface: The highest-intensity portion of the anomaly, ranging from 20-40 mV/V, is modelled to begin within approximately 100 meters of surface on Lines 1 and 2, providing a near-surface drill target.Comparable Geometry to Leviathan Discovery: The completed survey reveals a shallow northeast plunging geometry, with similar scale, orientation and intensity to the IP signature at the Leviathan porphyry copper discovery (Figure 1).Drilling Underway: The first drill hole testing the target is currently at 200 meters depth. The anomaly begins approximately 100 m below surface; however, a nearby existing access road is being utilized which requires an estimated 350-400 m drilled length to reach the target zone on the initial test (Figure 4).Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - July 2, 2026) - Hercules Metals Corp. (TSXV: BIG) (OTCQB: BADEF) (FSE: C0X) ("Hercules" or the "Company") is pleased to announce the final results of seven induced polarization ("IP") geophysical survey lines recently completed at the Hook target, on its 100% owned Hercules Property in western Idaho (the "Property").
The completed survey defines a large, continuous chargeability anomaly that extends across all seven lines and exhibits a geometry that closely resembles the IP signature seen at the Company's Leviathan porphyry copper discovery.
The survey was designed to determine the lateral extents of a new near surface anomaly announced earlier in the year. The final results provide increasing confidence in the potential for additional porphyry mineralization concealed beneath shallow post-mineral cover.
At Leviathan, elevated chargeability is closely associated with both porphyry copper mineralization and a surrounding pyrite alteration halo, making IP one of the most effective exploration tools for concealed porphyry systems on the Property.
Chris Paul, CEO of Hercules Metals, "Encountering continuous chargeability across seven widely spaced survey lines has significantly strengthened our geological confidence in the Hook target. With a geometry and intensity comparable to that at the nearby Leviathan discovery, and strong values beginning within 100 meters of surface, we are excited that drilling is now underway at another large new porphyry copper target in the emerging Hercules district."
Figure 1: Three-dimensional view, looking northwest, showing the recently completed seven-line IP survey at the Hook target and resulting new chargeability anomaly in the lower right (orange to pink), alongside the Leviathan IP anomaly in the upper left. The same colour scale has been applied to both datasets, highlighting the similarity in scale, geometry and intensity between the two anomalies. In-progress drill hole HER-26-03 is shown in black.
To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:
https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/9425/303694_f31a53800451da59_002full.jpg
Figure 2: Compilation map showing the Leviathan and Southern Flats discoveries, as well as the new Hook and Pegasus targets. MT conductivity in the background highlights a district-scale structural corridor, within which the ongoing IP survey is exploring for shallow porphyry centers.
To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:
https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/9425/303694_f31a53800451da59_003full.jpg
Figure 3: Hook target showing Cu-Mo soil geochemistry surrounding landslide- and basalt-covered areas. Pink traces indicate the anomalous portions of completed IP lines. The strongest chargeability response occurs beneath shallow cover within a broader copper-molybdenum geochemical anomaly.
To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:
https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/9425/303694_f31a53800451da59_004full.jpg
Figure 4: East-west cross-section (looking north) comparing the Leviathan (left) and Hook (right) IP chargeability anomalies. Chargeability values greater than 17 mV/V are shown using a common colour scale, illustrating the similar intensity of both targets.
To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:
https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/9425/303694_f31a53800451da59_005full.jpg
Southern Flats Drilling Update
A second drill hole has been completed to a depth of 1,255 m at the new Southern Flats porphyry discovery. Drill hole HER-26-01 successfully extended porphyry mineralization 200 meters west of HER-25-25, where the Company recently announced an intercept of 177 m of 0.66% CuEq1 at a new porphyry center (See NR dated May 26, 2026). Drill core has been sampled and is being shipped to MSA Labs for analysis.
Current geological and geophysical information suggests the system strikes north-south, indicating considerable east-west width to the mineralization, which still remains open on both sides. MT geophysics and preliminary IP indicate the system likely extends for a significantly greater distance north-south along strike.
A narrow porphyry dyke was intersected in HER-26-01, but a large causative porphyry remains to be encountered, suggesting significant scale remains to be defined.
Potential Near Surface Extension at Leviathan
Updated geological modelling has identified strong potential for a southern extension of shallow near-surface mineralization at the Leviathan system, in an area with silver-mineralized rhyolite cover mapped at surface, with only 125 meters estimated true depth to the porphyry target below.
A new step-out hole has commenced to test this prospective extension of Leviathan's hanging-wall enrichment zone, which remains open toward Southern Flats. Drill testing this shallow extension of Leviathan will allow faster turnaround of results from a high value target area, as well as support consistent flow of exploration results from different zones, while assays remain pending at Southern Flats.
Qualified Person
The scientific and technical information in this news release has been reviewed and approved for disclosure by Dillon Hume, P.Geo. and Vice President, Exploration for the Company. Mr. Hume is a "Qualified Person" for Hercules Metals within the meaning of National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects.
About Hercules Metals Corp.
Hercules Metals Corp. (TSXV: BIG) (OTCQB: BADEF) (FSE: C0X) is an exploration Company focused on developing America's newest porphyry copper district, in Idaho.
The 100% owned Hercules Project, located northwest of Cambridge, hosts the newly discovered Leviathan porphyry copper system, one of the most important new discoveries in the country to date. The Company is well positioned for growth through continued drilling, supported by a strategic investment from Barrick Mining Corporation.
With the potential for significant scale, the Company's management and board of directors aims to deliver value to shareholders through proven discovery success.
This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any of the securities in the United States. Any securities referred to herein have not and will not be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "U.S. Securities Act") or any state securities laws and may not be offered or sold within the United States or to U.S. Persons unless registered under the U.S. Securities Act and applicable state securities laws of an exemption from such registration is available.
Disclaimer for Forward-Looking Information
This news release contains certain information that may be deemed "forward-looking information" with respect to the Company within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Such forward-looking information involves known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the Company's actual results, performance or achievements, or developments in the industry to differ materially from the anticipated results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking information. Forward-looking information includes statements that are not historical facts and are generally, but not always, identified by the words "expects," "plans," "anticipates," "believes," "intends," "estimates," "projects," "potential" and similar expressions, or that events or conditions "will," "would," "may," "could" or "should" occur. Forward-looking information contained in this press release may include, without limitation, the expected execution of future exploration programs on the Property; assay results of future drill holes; results of operations, and the expected financial performance of the Company.
Although the Company believes the forward-looking information contained in this news release is reasonable based on information available on the date hereof, by its nature, forward-looking information involves assumptions and known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause our actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements, or other future events, to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking information.
Examples of such assumptions, risks and uncertainties include, without limitation, assumptions, risks and uncertainties associated with general economic conditions; the Covid-19 pandemic; adverse industry events; the receipt of required regulatory approvals and the timing of such approvals; that the Company maintains good relationships with the communities in which it operates or proposes to operate, future legislative and regulatory developments in the mining sector; the Company's ability to access sufficient capital from internal and external sources, and/or inability to access sufficient capital on favorable terms; mining industry and markets in Canada and generally; the ability of the Company to implement its business strategies; competition; the risk that any of the assumptions prove not to be valid or reliable, which could result in delays, or cessation in planned work, risks associated with the interpretation of data, the geology, grade and continuity of mineral deposits, the possibility that results will not be consistent with the Company's expectations, as well as other assumptions risks and uncertainties applicable to mineral exploration and development activities and to the Company, including as set forth in the Company's public disclosure documents filed on the SEDAR+ website at www.sedarplus.ca.
THE FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THIS PRESS RELEASE REPRESENTS THE EXPECTATIONS OF HERCULES METALS AS OF THE DATE OF THIS PRESS RELEASE AND, ACCORDINGLY, IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE AFTER SUCH DATE. READERS SHOULD NOT PLACE UNDUE IMPORTANCE ON FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION AND SHOULD NOT RELY UPON THIS INFORMATION AS OF ANY OTHER DATE. WHILE HERCULES METALS MAY ELECT TO, IT DOES NOT UNDERTAKE TO UPDATE THIS INFORMATION AT ANY PARTICULAR TIME EXCEPT AS REQUIRED IN ACCORDANCE WITH APPLICABLE LAWS.
Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this press release.
1 Copper equivalent (CuEq) for drill intersections is calculated using a three-year trailing average for each commodity, which equates to US$ 4.20/lb Cu, US$ 2,600/oz Au, US$ 30.50/oz Ag and US$ 21.50/lb Mo, with 80% metallurgical recoveries assumed for all metals. The formula is: CuEq % = Cu % + (0.000512 * Mo ppm) + (0.010591 * Ag g/t) + (0.902879* Au g/t).
To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/303694
Source: Hercules Metals Corp.
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DETROIT — As negotiations officially reopen for the USMCA North American trade deal, Ford Motor CEO Jim Farley is clear about what the automaker wants under the new talks: a more level playing field.
He told CNBC he wants automakers such as Ford that largely produce their vehicles domestically to be awarded under the deal. Along with that, Farley said other automakers — such as General Motors and Toyota Motor — that may produce here but also heavily rely on imported vehicles should get more penalties.
"It's imperative that any new agreement makes it easier, not harder, to compete with U.S. makers who import from Japan, South Korea and global competitors that import from those locations," Farley told CNBC during a phone interview Wednesday. "That's the key for us."
Producing in such countries is typically less expensive due to labor costs.
GM and Toyota are No. 1 and No. 2 in U.S. sales, respectively, while also being the top two importers of vehicles in 2025.
GM imported 1.17 million vehicles, or 41% of its U.S. sales, while Toyota imported more than 1.19 million units, or 47%, of its domestic sales, according to industry data.
Hyundai Motor, which plans to roughly double its amount of U.S.-produced domestic sales to 80% by 2030, was the largest importer of vehicles from South Korea, followed by GM.
Ford, meanwhile, reports it assembled more than 2 million vehicles in the U.S. last year — more than any other auto manufacturer, including 311,000 units for export to more than 60 international markets. It imported 378,000 vehicles, or 17%, of its 2.2 million sales last year.
"Ford's a leader of U.S. auto production with the most U.S.-built vehicles but, more importantly, we import very few, and we export the most, and we have the most UAW [union] workers here," Farley said. "So we're very proud, especially of the ratio between what we build here and what we import."
Farley's comments come as the Trump administration has decided not to renew its trilateral trade pact with Canada and Mexico, instead opting to conduct annual reviews of the treaty that could eventually lead to an end to the agreement by 2036.
The auto industry represented about 18% of America's trading with its neighboring countries last year, according to industry data, making it one of the key sectors in the discussions. Automakers and others watching the talks are concerned that reopening the deal could create additional trade uncertainty that leads to lower investments and fewer jobs.
A consortium of U.S. trade groups representing most automakers, dealers and suppliers on Wednesday voiced support for a trilateral deal like the countries currently have.
"We urge the leaders of the U.S., Canada, and Mexico to swiftly reach consensus on an extension of USMCA that preserves the existing trilateral partnership, returns to preferential treatment for qualifying goods, and continues the stability and predictability that has helped the industry thrive for the past six years," they said in a statement.
FedEx Corporation reported a non-GAAP Q4 EPS beat, but GAAP margins compressed and shares declined, signaling deeper concerns. Adjusted EPS growth guidance for 2026 requires margin expansion not yet evident, raising skepticism about the achievability of targets. Valuation models suggest a fair value of $345–$355, implying limited upside and supporting a Hold rating until margin expansion is proven.
Artificial intelligence (AI) has become more than a technology initiative at UnitedHealth Group (UNH +2.63%). It's increasingly becoming a business strategy.
The company plans to invest $3 billion in AI across 2026 and 2027, and management says it's already generating roughly $2 of value for every $1 invested through lower administrative costs, higher productivity, and new software products.
That's not a trivial development from one of the largest healthcare companies in the world.
Image source: Getty Images.
AI is tackling healthcare's biggest inefficiencies Healthcare remains one of the most administratively complex industries in the United States.
Insurance claims, prior authorizations, billing, scheduling, customer service, and medical documentation require enormous amounts of manual work. In fact, data from Morgan Stanley show that insurers and healthcare providers collectively spend roughly $80 billion each year on administrative transactions.
About one-third of the company's AI investment is going toward software products within Optum Insight (the company's technology and data analytics division). At the same time, the remaining two-thirds is focused on improving internal operations. The objective isn't simply to make employees more productive. It's to redesign workflows across the organization.
The returns are already showing up Unlike some corporate AI initiatives that remain largely experimental, UnitedHealth says it's already seeing measurable benefits.
AI tools are helping automate customer service, summarize clinical records, detect fraud, schedule appointments, and process administrative requests that previously required significant human involvement. As a result, management expects much of the return on its AI investments to materialize within 12 to 18 months.
The company is also using AI to improve prior authorization. Today, approximately 95% of prior authorization requests are submitted electronically, about half are processed in real time, and 90% receive a decision within one business day.
For a company serving nearly 150 million people, even small efficiency improvements can produce meaningful financial results.
This is not a random trend UnitedHealth isn't investing in AI simply to keep up with the latest technology trend. The company is trying to solve one of healthcare's biggest cost problems.
If AI continues reducing administrative expenses while improving customer service and speeding up care decisions, it could expand margins across multiple business lines. At the same time, Optum Insight plans to commercialize many of the AI tools it develops internally, creating another potential source of recurring revenue.
The broader business also continues to perform well.
In the first quarter of 2026, UnitedHealth generated $111.7 billion in revenue and adjusted earnings of $7.23 per share, both ahead of Wall Street expectations. Management also raised full-year earnings guidance to more than $18.25 per share, reflecting improving operating performance.
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Lowering costs and improving productivity Artificial intelligence won't solve every challenge facing UnitedHealth. Healthcare remains heavily regulated, reimbursement rates continue to evolve, and medical costs remain difficult to predict.
But unlike many companies still searching for practical AI applications, UnitedHealth is deploying the technology where it can directly lower costs and improve productivity. If management continues delivering the returns it's projecting, AI could become a meaningful driver of long-term earnings growth.
And that's what makes this initiative worth watching.
AI isn't just another expense for UnitedHealth. It has the potential to become a significant competitive advantage.
The wild stock moves driven by the artificial intelligence (AI) and space economy boom have shaken up the constituents of the Nasdaq-100 index. The index holds the 100 largest non-financial stocks listed on the Nasdaq, and the boom in AI and space stocks has ousted five companies from the index in its latest reshuffling.
One stock now included in the Nasdaq-100 is CoreWeave (CRWV 13.87%), which replaced Charter Communications (CHTR 1.66%). Investors are optimistic about CoreWeave and its aggressive spending to build an AI cloud computing business, while there are major fears over competitive threats to Charter's home internet business.
However, looking at the financials, it is clear that investors should find Charter Communications a much more attractive opportunity than CoreWeave at the moment. Here's why.
Image source: Getty Images.
Steady cash flow Charter is a cable, home internet, and mobile connectivity provider, one of the largest in the United States. It has faced a structural headwind in its cable TV business for more than a decade, which has dragged on revenue growth. However, this is an overrated concern as the segment comes with high content costs and little profitability.
The other concern that has the stock down 84% from its highs is the stagnating growth of the home internet business, which is facing some competitive pressure from mobile providers like T-Mobile, fiber internet competitors, and satellite services. These have been headwinds to the business, but Charter has fought back with its bundle of mobile internet services sold to customers, which, combined, have stabilized revenue from connectivity in recent quarters.
CoreWeave is growing much faster than Charter as it gobbles up computer chips from providers like Nvidia and sells its computing power to AI software companies like OpenAI, but CoreWeave lacks financial discipline and solid unit economics. Its revenue grew by more than 100% year over year last quarter to $2 billion, but it was not profitable and has burned $10 billion in free cash flow over the last 12 months.
Despite being in a capital-intensive industry itself, Charter's free cash flow has been positive for the last decade.
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Better valuation Since CoreWeave is not profitable, it is difficult to use traditional valuation metrics to analyze the stock. However, we can look at its price-to-sales ratio (P/S) of 7.7, which is a premium for a business with low gross margins and high capital intensity. Charter trades at a much lower P/S ratio and is actually profitable.
Both businesses use debt to fund their operations, with CoreWeave sitting on $25 billion in debt at the end of last quarter. Charter has a much larger debt load of $94 billion, but its quarterly operating income is $3.2 billion, well above its quarterly interest expense of $1.25 billion.
Even using enterprise value -- which includes net debt when making valuation analysis -- Charter trades at an enterprise value-to-EBIT (earnings before interest and taxes) ratio below 10. CoreWeave, on the other hand, is struggling to generate any profit.
Why Charter is a better stock than CoreWeave Investors are right to fear the competitive threats facing Charter, but they shouldn't assume the existing wired home internet model will go away tomorrow. Wireless home internet from mobile providers like T-Mobile and satellite internet are much less reliable than a cable wired to a home, and only work in certain regions.
CoreWeave is not without competition, either. It is benefiting from the current trend of insatiable spending on AI data centers, but eventually this growth will normalize, with its competitors being the largest technology providers in the world. Combine this with its lack of profitability and premium valuation, and it is clear that Charter is a better value than CoreWeave stock today.
SAP said it would exercise greater discipline when it comes to hiring and travel expenses as it seeks to redeploy workers in roles where they can make better use of AI.
, /PRNewswire/ - Agnico Eagle Mines Limited (NYSE: AEM) (TSX: AEM) ("Agnico Eagle" or the "Company") reports that a rock mass movement occurred on July 1, 2026, along the north wall of the Barnat open pit at the Canadian Malartic complex in Quebec, Canada. There were no injuries, equipment damage or environmental impact as a result of the event. As a precautionary measure, the Company has temporarily suspended mining operations in the Barnat open pit.
The rock mass movement occurred within an area that had been previously identified as having weaker geological structures within the north wall at Barnat and was subject to enhanced geotechnical monitoring in accordance with established mine planning and safety protocols, including safety exclusion zones.
The Company's technical teams are conducting a detailed geotechnical assessment to confirm the stability of the affected area and determine the appropriate path forward. Planning activities are underway to support the safe and orderly resumption of operations in the Barnat pit. Safety remains the Company's highest priority.
During the suspension of in-pit mining operations, the Canadian Malartic processing plant will be supplied with low-grade ore from existing stockpiles in place of planned Barnat ore feed. This approach is expected to help mitigate the near-term impact on production.
Production in the second quarter of 2026 was not affected and the Company expects production for the second quarter of approximately 845,000 ounces of gold, slightly ahead of plan. However, based on currently available information, the Company expects the rock mass movement to reduce production in the second half of 2026 at Canadian Malartic by approximately 60,000 to 80,000 ounces of gold. Accordingly, the Company expects full year 2026 production to be near the lower end of its previously disclosed guidance range of 3.3 million to 3.5 million ounces of gold.
The Barnat open pit was expected to be mined out by early 2029. While the Company's geotechnical assessment remains ongoing, the event is currently expected to result in reduced production in both 2027 and 2028 of up to approximately 150,000 ounces of gold per year. The Company is continuing to evaluate opportunities to mitigate this potential impact to its production outlook.
Importantly, the Company believes that the rock mass movement will not affect the development or production outlook for the Odyssey mine and does not change the pathway to achieving annual production of 1 million ounces of gold from the Canadian Malartic complex in the early 2030s.
The Company will continue to advance its geotechnical assessment and refine the timing for a safe restart of mining operations at the Barnat open pit. Further updates to production and cost guidance will be provided with the Company's second quarter 2026 results, scheduled for release after market close on July 29, 2026.
About Agnico Eagle
Canadian-based and led, Agnico Eagle is Canada's largest mining company and the second largest gold producer in the world, operating mines in Canada, Australia, Finland and Mexico. Agnico Eagle is advancing a pipeline of high-quality development projects in these regions to support sustainable growth over the next decade. Agnico Eagle is a partner of choice within the mining industry, recognized globally for its leading sustainability practices. Agnico Eagle was founded in 1957 and has consistently created value for its shareholders, declaring a cash dividend every year since 1983.
For further information regarding Agnico Eagle, contact Investor Relations at [email protected] or call (416) 947-1212.
Forward-Looking Statements
Certain statements contained in this news release constitute "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and "forward-looking information" under the provisions of Canadian provincial securities laws and are referred to herein as "forward-looking statements". All statements, other than statements of historical fact, that address circumstances, events, activities or developments that could, or may or will occur are forward-looking statements. When used in this news release, the words "could", "estimate", "expect", "guide", "may", "pathway", "plan", "potential", "schedule", "will", and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements.
Forward-looking statements in this news release include, without limitation, statements relating to the Company's forward-looking guidance, including gold production for 2026, 2027 and 2028; life of mine estimates; the use of low-grade stock piles at the Canadian Malartic processing facility; the potential to mitigate the impact production impacts from the rock mass movement; the target to achieve annual production of 1 million ounces of gold from the Canadian Malartic complex in the early 2030s; the expected impact of the rock mass movement on the development and production outlook of the Odyssey mine; the expected environmental impact of the rock mass movement; and the potential to restart mining operations at the Barnat pit. Such statements reflect the Company's views as at the date of this news release and are subject to certain risks, uncertainties and assumptions, and undue reliance should not be placed on such statements. Forward-looking statements are necessarily based upon a number of factors and assumptions that, while considered reasonable by Agnico Eagle as of the date of such statements, are inherently subject to significant business, economic and competitive uncertainties and contingencies. The material factors and assumptions used in the preparation of the forward-looking statements contained herein, which may prove to be incorrect, include, but are not limited to, the assumptions set forth herein and in management's discussion and analysis for the year ended December 31, 2025 (the "2025 MD&A") and the Company's Annual Information Form (the "AIF") for the year ended December 31, 2025 filed with Canadian securities regulators and that are included in its Annual Report on Form 40-F for the year ended December 31, 2025 (the "Form 40-F") filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") as well as: that there are no significant disruptions affecting operations; that production, permitting, development, expansion and the operations at each of Agnico Eagle's properties proceeds on a basis consistent with current expectations and plans; that the Company's plans for its mining operations are not changed or amended in a material way; that the relevant metal prices, foreign exchange rates and prices for key mining and construction inputs (including labour and electricity) will be consistent with Agnico Eagle's expectations; that the effect of tariffs or trade disputes will not materially affect the price or availability of the inputs the Company uses at its operations; that Agnico Eagle's current estimates of mineral reserves, mineral resources, mineral grades and metal recovery are accurate; that there are no material delays in the timing for completion of ongoing growth projects; that seismic activity at the Company's operations at LaRonde, Goldex, Fosterville and other properties is as expected by the Company and that the Company's efforts to mitigate its effect on mining operations, including with respect to community relations, are successful; that the Company's current plans to address climate change and reduce greenhouse gas emissions are successful; that the Company's current plans to optimize production are successful; that there are no material variations in the current tax and regulatory environment; that governments, the Company or others do not take measures in response to pandemics or other health emergencies or otherwise that, individually or in the aggregate, materially affect the Company's ability to operate its business or its productivity; and that measures taken relating to, or other effects of, pandemics or other health emergencies do not affect the Company's ability to obtain necessary supplies and deliver them to its mine sites. Many factors, known and unknown, could cause the actual results to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such risks include, but are not limited to: the volatility of prices of gold and other metals; uncertainty of mineral reserves, mineral resources, mineral grades and mineral recovery estimates; uncertainty of future production, project development, capital expenditures and other costs; foreign exchange rate fluctuations; inflationary pressures; financing of additional capital requirements; cost of exploration and development programs; seismic activity at the Company's operations, including at LaRonde, Goldex and Fosterville; mining risks; community protests, including by Indigenous groups; risks associated with foreign operations; risks associated with joint ventures; governmental and environmental regulation; the volatility of the Company's stock price; risks associated with the Company's currency, fuel and by-product metal derivative strategies; the current interest rate environment; the potential for major economies to encounter a slowdown in economic activity or a recession; the potential for increased conflict or hostilities in various regions, including Europe, South America and the Middle East; and the extent and manner of communicable diseases or outbreaks, and measures taken by governments, the Company or others to attempt to mitigate the spread thereof may directly or indirectly affect the Company. For a more detailed discussion of such risks and other factors that may affect the Company's ability to achieve the expectations set forth in the forward-looking statements contained in this news release, see the AIF and 2025 MD&A filed on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca and included in the Form 40-F filed on EDGAR at www.sec.gov, as well as the Company's other filings with the Canadian securities regulators and the SEC. Other than as required by law, the Company does not intend, and does not assume any obligation, to update these forward-looking statements.
, /PRNewswire/ -- Baidu, Inc. ("Baidu" or the "Company") (Nasdaq: BIDU; HKEX: 9888 (HKD Counter) and 89888 (RMB Counter)), a leading AI company with strong Internet foundation, today announced that the record date for the purpose of determining the eligibility of the holders of its ordinary shares, par value US$0.000000625 per share (the "Ordinary Shares"), to vote and attend its forthcoming extraordinary general meeting of shareholders (the "General Meeting") will be as of close of business on Friday, July 17, 2026, Beijing/Hong Kong time (the "Ordinary Shares Record Date"). In order to be eligible to vote and attend the General Meeting, all valid documents for the transfers of shares accompanied by the relevant share certificates must be lodged with the Company's Hong Kong branch share registrar and transfer office, Computershare Hong Kong Investor Services Limited, Shops 1712–1716, 17th Floor, Hopewell Centre, 183 Queen's Road East, Hong Kong, not later than 4:30 p.m. on Friday, July 17, 2026, Beijing/Hong Kong time. All persons who are registered holders of the Ordinary Shares on the Ordinary Shares Record Date will be entitled to vote and attend the General Meeting.
Holders of the Company's American depositary shares (the "ADSs") representing the Ordinary Shares may not attend or vote at the General Meeting. Holders of ADSs as of close of business on Friday, July 17, 2026, New York time (the "ADSs Record Date"), will be able to instruct The Bank of New York Mellon, the holder of record of Ordinary Shares represented by ADSs, as to how to vote the Ordinary Shares represented by such ADSs. The Bank of New York Mellon, as depositary of the ADSs, will endeavor, to the extent practicable and legally permissible, to vote or cause to be voted at the General Meeting the amount of Ordinary Shares represented by the ADSs in accordance with the instructions that it has properly received from ADS holders. Please be aware that, because of the time difference between Hong Kong and New York, if a holder of ADSs cancels his or her ADSs in exchange for Ordinary Shares on Friday, July 17, 2026, New York time, such holder of ADSs will not be able to instruct The Bank of New York Mellon, as depositary of the ADSs, as to how to vote the Ordinary Shares represented by the cancelled ADSs as described above, and will also not be a holder of those Ordinary Shares as of the Ordinary Shares Record Date for the purpose of determining the eligibility to attend and vote at the General Meeting.
Details including the date and location of the General Meeting will be set out in the Company's notice of General Meeting to be issued and provided to holders of its Ordinary Shares as of the Ordinary Shares Record Date and holders of its ADSs as of the ADSs Record Date together with the proxy materials in due course.
About Baidu
Founded in 2000, Baidu's mission is to make the complicated world simpler through technology. Baidu is a leading AI company with strong Internet foundation, trading on Nasdaq under "BIDU" and HKEX under "9888". One Baidu ADS represents eight Class A ordinary shares.
Wells Fargo & Company (NYSE:WFC) will release earnings for its second quarter before the opening bell on Tuesday, July 14.
Analysts expect the San Francisco, California-based company to report quarterly earnings of $1.71 per share, up from $1.60 per share in the year-ago period. The consensus estimate for Wells Fargo’s quarterly revenue is $21.81 billion. It reported $20.82 billion last year, according to Benzinga Pro.
On June 24, Wells Fargo announced plans to raise quarterly dividend from 45 cents to 50 cents per share.
Shares of Wells Fargo rose 4% to close at $85.94 on Wednesday.
Benzinga readers can access the latest analyst ratings on the Analyst Stock Ratings page. Readers can sort by stock ticker, company name, analyst firm, rating change or other variables.
Let’s have a look at how Benzinga’s most-accurate analysts have rated the company n the recent period.
Considering buying WFC stock? Here’s what analysts think:
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Key Takeaways General Mills says fiscal 2027 will focus on innovation, renovation and sharper brand execution.General Mills targets $3B in cumulative cost savings through fiscal 2030 to fund reinvestment.General Mills expects organic sales from down 1.5% to up 0.5% and adjusted EPS of $3.00-$3.20. General Mills, Inc. (GIS - Free Report) used its fourth-quarter call to argue that fiscal 2026 was a reset year, not an endpoint. Management said pricing work is largely complete, and fiscal 2027 will shift toward innovation, renovation and sharper brand execution.
That message came with a more aggressive productivity plan. Executives paired a modest organic sales outlook with a new $3 billion cumulative cost-savings target through fiscal 2030, framing efficiency as the funding source for both growth investment and margin protection.
GIS Shifts From Pricing to InnovationChairman and CEO Jeffrey Harmening said the company entered fiscal 2026 focused on restoring competitiveness through base pricing. On the call, he described that work as largely finished and said the next step is to make the rest of General Mills’ marketing and product activity work harder.
Harmening tied the fiscal 2027 playbook to product benefits consumers are willing to pay for, including protein, fiber, bold flavors and indulgence. He cited Cheerios, Blue Buffalo, Häagen-Dazs and Annie’s as brands where the company sees room to improve remarkability and mix.
The shift matters because management is not counting on a better consumer backdrop to do the heavy lifting. Executives repeatedly said growth improvement should come from company-controlled levers rather than a rebound in categories.
General Mills Sees a Tough Consumer Holding OnDana McNabb, COO and group president of North America Retail and North America Pet, said the company expects shoppers to remain pressured in fiscal 2027. She said consumers are buying more on promotion, making channel and pack-size tradeoffs, and keeping value at the center of purchase decisions.
McNabb added that categories slowed by about one point exiting the fourth quarter, and management is not assuming that trend reverses soon. Instead, the company is trying to pair better shelf pricing with premium benefits that can still command spending.
That backdrop helps explain the company’s fiscal 2027 guidance. General Mills expects organic net sales to range from down 1.5% to up 0.5%, with adjusted operating profit down 13% to down 8% in constant currency and adjusted EPS of $3.00 to $3.20.
GIS Keeps Totino’s and Pet in FocusAnalyst questions repeatedly returned to market share, and management did not dodge the weak spots. Harmening said Totino’s was a bigger issue than Wilderness dog feeding because of its size, while McNabb said Totino’s suffered from poor execution on price-pack architecture and insufficient innovation.
Management pointed to early fixes, including stronger merchandising, new frozen snack launches and better product architecture. McNabb said June trends had already improved in hot snacks and pizza, though she stopped short of calling four weeks a durable trend.
In Pet, the issue was less consumption than inventory flow. McNabb said channel sales were up 1% for the year, but organic sales lagged because faster-growing customers such as e-commerce and mass carry less inventory, and she said a low-single-digit inventory headwind is built into fiscal 2027 assumptions.
General Mills Pairs Savings With ReinvestmentThe biggest new strategic number from the call was the $3 billion cost-savings target through fiscal 2030. About $2 billion is expected from Holistic Margin Management, while the remaining $1 billion is tied to transformation and other efficiency work.
McNabb said the supply chain is a particular focus, arguing it was built for a different operating environment and now needs more speed and packaging flexibility. Management said details are still in early design, but the fiscal 2027 savings goal is at least $750 million.
Chief financial officer Kofi Bruce said HMM is meant to fund reinvestment into product and marketing, not just protect margins. That framing makes the productivity push central to the growth plan rather than a separate cost-cutting story.
GIS Delivers a Beat, but GAAP Was DistortedFor the quarter, General Mills reported adjusted EPS of $0.95 and revenue of $4.61 billion. That topped the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $0.82 and $4.6 billion, respectively, with EPS surprise of 15.9% and revenue surprise of 0.1%.
Those adjusted results aligned with management’s own expectations, but GAAP figures were heavily distorted. The company posted a loss per share of $3.74, driven by $1.8 billion in goodwill and brand impairment charges and a roughly $1.0 billion valuation loss tied to the planned sale of the Brazil business.
That split between adjusted and reported results shaped the tone of the call. Executives spent little time defending the quarter itself and much more time arguing that the underlying business, especially pricing, household penetration and base volume, is on firmer footing entering fiscal 2027.
General Mills Leaves a Measured But Assertive ToneThe closing message from management was disciplined rather than upbeat. Harmening said the company is on a path to restore profitable growth, but the near-term setup still includes inflation, lapping the 53rd week and divestiture-related headwinds.
Even so, executives sounded more assertive in Q&A than in the headline numbers. Their stance was that fiscal 2027 improvement depends on better execution, better innovation and better mix, not relief from the consumer environment.
Zacks Signals Remain Cautious on GISGIS carries a Zacks Rank #4 (Sell), alongside a Value Score of A, Growth Score of F, Momentum Score of D and VGM Score of D. Under Zacks’ framework, Style Scores work best as a complement to the Zacks Rank, and stronger combinations are generally Rank #1 (Strong Buy) or #2 (Buy) stocks with A or B style grades. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.
That leaves a mixed signal. The value profile stands out, but Zacks’ own guidance says investors should not buy stocks with a Zacks Rank #4 or #5 (Strong Sell) even if some Style Scores are favorable, and the rank can change as estimate revisions move after the quarter.
The share price for Costco Wholesale (COST 1.23%) dropped below $1,000 on May 28 and hasn't returned to that level since. Still, at roughly $950 per share as of this writing, investors may be wondering if a stock split will still happen in 2026.
The stock doesn't need to climb back to $1,000 to split, so even if shares trade around these current levels or even lower, one could still happen. But the potential of a split alone shouldn't be the only reason to consider investing in the retailer.
Image source: Getty Images.
Why shareholders like to see stock splits When a stock reaches a certain price, it may seem too high to attract retail investors. Without them, demand could lessen, theoretically weighing on the share price.
For instance, if a stock is trading at $1,000 and a company conducts a 5-for-1 split, the stock will trade at $200 after the split. Psychologically, that may seem like a more favorable price to start or add to a position than paying $1,000 or more.
And research has found that split announcements can boost stock prices. According to data published by Statista sourced from Bank of America's Research Investment Committee, for four decades, companies that split their stock saw an average total return of more than 25% in the 12 months following the announcement of the split. The committee found that it was more than twice the average return of the S&P 500 during the same time frame researched.
Does history offer a clue about a Costco stock split? History doesn't offer much of an answer on whether Costco would split its stock at its current price; the last one was in 2000, with a two-for-one split. What that does tell us, however, is that the company doesn't take splitting its stock lightly.
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Also, with many online brokers offering fractional investing, management may not see the need to split the stock. On Robinhood Markets, for instance, fractional investing allows users to invest as little as $1 in companies, though some restrictions apply.
What to focus on instead of a split There's no way to know whether or when a Costco stock split will happen before an official announcement. And even if one does happen, nothing guarantees the price will see a short-term boost. Instead, what's more valuable to focus on for the long term is the strength of the company's business model.
In the case of Costco, it's a recession-resistant business because its bulk pricing on essential items attracts shoppers, no matter what's going on in the economy. Its members are also incredibly loyal, with the company enjoying an 89.7% global membership renewal rate.
Costco could further increase loyalty by opening new stores and winning over new customers. It focuses on deliberate expansion, which is a strength in the long run because the company is setting up its stores for success rather than rushing to build new ones. Costco expects its global warehouse totals to climb from 914 at the end of 2025 to 940 by the end of its fiscal 2026.
Also, while it's mainly known for its in-person shopping, Costco is seeing an increase in sales through its online efforts. For its fiscal 2026 third-quarter earnings, the retailer reported that its e-commerce and app traffic increased 37%, with digitally enabled comparable sales rising 21.5%.
Ultimately, what's more important than a split is if Costco keeps renewal rates high, builds more locations, and continually increases in-person and digital sales.
Shares of Lemonade (LMND +6.38%) stock jumped 12% in June, according to data provided by S&P Global Market Intelligence. The digital insurance start-up gave shareholders some good news about its reinsurance program.
A different kind of insurance company Lemonade set out to disrupt insurance with artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning long before they became today's catchphrases, and it's harnessing the technology to create a better insurance company.
Since it's just over a decade old, it's still building up its business. It's attracting new members at a rapid pace, cross-selling existing customers to bundles and new policies, and edging closer to profitability.
Image source: Getty Images.
Part of developing the business has been working with third-party reinsurers. Reinsurance programs work as "extra" insurance in the case of catastrophes, and in the past, Lemonade has ceded a high rate to its third-party partners to cover the extras. As its economics improve, it has been renegotiating the deals down so it keeps more of the good stuff while retaining the extra coverage.
This week, Lemonade said that its newest agreement cedes 18% of premiums, down from 20%, allowing it to keep more of the gross profit. The implications of that are clear: more of the premiums will flow to the bottom line without any other changes. At the same time, the new deal has even better coverage, plus a new partner, widening its reinsurance base. Altogether, management believes it's much better than its previous agreement, and it's easy to see why the market is giving this news a thumbs-up.
Profits on the horizon Lemonade isn't profitable yet, but management has been guiding for positive adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization (EBITDA) by the end of this year and positive net income next year.
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In-force premium (IFP), the average total of premiums at a given time, and the top-line metric commonly used by insurance companies, has been increasing at an accelerated rate for 10 quarters already. Lemonade has a steady road to further growth as it rolls out new products in new regions and attracts new users. This has come at a price, though, in high rollout expenses.
However, accelerating IFP (and revenue) will start to cover more expenses, and AI is helping the company keep operating costs steady. As AI algorithms help reduce its loss ratio, it's also keeping more of each policy's premium. Adding the higher gross profit from its new agreements, it's likely to hit its goal of becoming profitable on an adjusted EBITDA basis, and the stock will reflect that.
The AI gold rush continues in mid-2026, with companies racing to turn flashy models into actual money-making systems. While the market obsesses over token prices and frontier lab drama, a quieter shift is underway.
Governments and enterprises want AI they control — not rent — especially when national security or trade secrets sit on the line. Palantir Technologies’ (NYSE:PLTR | PLTR Price Prediction) just-announced partnership with Nvidia (NASDAQ:NVDA) taps directly into that demand.
Here is what actually matters here for long-term shareholders.
Real Control in Sovereign Environments The deal integrates Nvidia’s Nemotron open-weight models into Palantir’s Sovereign AI Operating System. Customers in U.S. government agencies and critical infrastructure gain the ability to deploy, customize, and post-train models on their own data — while keeping full ownership of the resulting model weights.
In plain English, this is not another vague AI announcement. Palantir supplies the ontology layer that structures messy data into usable intelligence, plus deployment tools via AIP, Foundry, and Apollo. Nvidia brings the hardware acceleration and open models. Together they create a secure, on-premises or air-gapped stack that closed labs like OpenAI and Anthropic struggle to match on data sovereignty.
Palantir CEO Alex Karp highlighted this exact point during his July 1 CNBC appearance. Enterprises and agencies grow tired of unpredictable token costs and the risk of transferring their “alpha” — competitive advantage — to third parties. Palantir’s approach lets them own the means of production.
The Rule of 40 score reached 145%, a mark matched by only a few AI infrastructure names like Nvidia itself. Adjusted free cash flow came in at $925 million in the quarter, or 57% FCF margin, and the balance sheet showed $8 billion in cash and equivalents.
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Compare that to the broader picture. While many software peers chase 20% to 30% growth, Palantir delivers triple-digit commercial acceleration in the U.S. The sovereign AI push builds on existing federal momentum and opens doors in regulated commercial sectors that need similar data control.
The Moat Most Analysts Overlook Here’s what receives too little attention: switching costs. Once an agency or critical infrastructure operator builds workflows on Palantir’s ontology, ripping it out becomes painful. Add Nvidia’s performance layer and you get a full-stack solution hard to replicate.
This matters because sovereign AI infrastructure could grow into a $177 billion market by 2035 at a 28% CAGR, according to Precedence Research. Palantir doesn’t need to win every dollar — it only needs to become the default operating layer for the most sensitive workloads.
Granted, the valuation sits at a trailing P/E around 141x. That leaves little room for disappointment if federal contract pacing slows or if international expansion lags. That said, the company generates real cash and shows accelerating momentum that justifies a premium for many growth investors.
Key Takeaway The Palantir-Nvidia deal quietly strengthens Palantir’s position as infrastructure rather than just another AI tool provider. With 85% revenue growth in Q1, guidance raised 71% for the full year, and a platform built for control-hungry customers, the setup favors patient shareholders who focus on execution over daily volatility.
Smart investors will watch upcoming contract announcements and Q2 results for confirmation that this partnership moves from headline to revenue. In the end, the winners in AI won’t just have the best models — they will have the best systems for using them securely at scale. Palantir and Nvidia just made a strong case for why they belong in that group.
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Micron Technology (MU 10.13%) is a candidate for stock of the year halfway through 2026. Its shares are trading up about 309% so far in 2026, making it the second-best performing stock in the S&P 500 (^GSPC 0.22%), trailing only Sandisk, another memory chipmaker. Its newfound success has also allowed it to join the $1 trillion valuation club.
But after the stock has quadrupled to start the year, there are obvious questions about how much upside is left. Let's take a look at Micron's business to see if its stock is one to buy now or one to avoid.
Image source: Getty Images.
Memory chip demand isn't slowing down Micron is caught in the middle of the biggest demand wave memory chip companies have ever seen. The data center build-out has required an immense amount of memory, and companies like Micron do not have nearly the capacity to meet demand. When there is a huge demand and low supply, prices skyrocket, and that's exactly what's driving Micron's stock price higher.
This increased demand isn't expected to resolve anytime soon, as Micron believes the memory chip supply crunch will persist beyond calendar year 2027. That means these elevated prices are here to stay, and even with Micron opening new production facilities in 2027, it still may not be enough to drive prices down.
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That creates a bullish environment for Micron's stock, and its finances back it up. During Q3 of fiscal year 2026 (ending May 28), Micron's revenue rose a jaw-dropping 346% year over year to $41.5 billion. For reference, Micron provided guidance for $33.5 billion. That's a huge guidance beat, but it's far from done. Next quarter, Micron expects $50 billion in revenue. Growth is clearly driving Micron's stock, and it's the major reason the stock was up so much following the announcement, but is there still room to run?
Since the quarter underway is Micron's Q4, I think it's best to start valuing the stock on fiscal year (FY) 2027 earnings, which would start in September. From that perspective, Micron's stock trades for a cheap 7.6 times forward earnings.
Data by YCharts.
The S&P 500 trades for 21.5 times forward earnings, and many big tech stocks can trade for far higher. That suggests Micron's stock could still have a long way to run, especially if the memory chip crunch persists beyond 2027.
As a result, I think investors can purchase Micron's stock now and still have solid gains over the next few years.
Micron (NASDAQ: MU) stock saw its biggest insider trade of 2026 when, on June 26, CEO Sanjay Mehrotra sold 4,000 MU shares, raising a total of just over $46 million.
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This signal is triggered upon the reporting of the trade to the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).
Additionally, the sale featured so many individual, smaller components that the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) limitation of up to 30 ‘line-items’ means that it required two FORM 4 documents.
Thus, the first filing shows that the CEO dumped 28,506 Micron shares at an average price of $1,149 for a total of $32.76 million. The second document reveals that an additional 11,494 MU shares were sold at a slightly higher average price of $1,181, raising a total of $13.57 million.
Notably, while CEO Mehrotra is the company’s most prolific insider trader, the sales executed on June 26 and reported on June 30 eclipse all his previous activity in 2026.
Indeed, he made two stock dumps in May – worth roughly $21 million toward the beginning and $38.5 million toward the end of the month – and his other most recent selling was done as far back at November 2025 and raised a total of $3 million.
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This signal is triggered upon the reporting of the trade to the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).
What is next for Micron stock in 2026? Elsewhere, at least part of the rise in the size of insider trades can be linked directly to Micron stock’s performance in 2026. Specifically, after starting the year at $315.42and stagnating during the first quarter (Q1), MU experienced a rapid Q2 upsurge.
Indeed, the memory giant ended the most recent session – July 1 – at $1,032.28 for a 227.27% rally from the January 2 closing price.
Micron stock price YTD chart. Source: Google Still, the success has suddenly come under threat in the most recent 24 hours due to the implied bearish signal coming from Meta Platforms (NASDAQ: META).
In a nutshell, Mark Zuckerberg’s company joined SpaceX (NASDAQ: SPCX) in offering some of its artificial intelligence (AI) data center capacity to other businesses.
Though the move could help Meta raise additional cash and offset some of its rising expenditure, it implies that despite data center construction severely lagging relative to the initial announcements – at least as far as can be judged from publicly available information – there exists a gap between supply and demand.
Much of Micron stock’s Q2 rally was driven by the AI boom narrative and the company’s decision to abandon the consumer market in favor of ‘hyperscalers.’
Featured image via Shutterstock
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Investors are creatures of habit. They are influenced by behavioral finance, and their decisions are often driven by psychological factors, emotions, and cognitive biases. The result: choices that, in hindsight, could be regrettable.
That subjective decision-making was on full display last week, as the fear-driven semiconductor sell-off wiped out $2.7 trillion in market cap from some of the biggest winners over the past year.
But what we have learned is that those fears—warranted or not—have manifested before. And time and time again, the sellers are left on the sidelines as the tech sector bounces back.
Get Roundhill Memory ETF alerts:
The reality is that despite a series of all-time highs for the major indices, triple-digit gains for AI-leveraged stocks, and a concerning pattern of circular financing, the structural rally in memory chip makers remains intact.
Why Chip Stocks Sold Off Despite Strong AI DemandMarket contrarians have been on the lookout for the next bubble ever since the last one burst. But the ongoing AI-fueled bull market is not the same as the dot-com crash, which was notable for unsustainable valuations, untenable burn rates, and prioritizing growth over profitability.
Rather, the so-called AI bubble has proven to be multi-faceted and constantly evolving. And like any run-up in price, the latest pullback in chip stocks was less a symptom of an overextended market than it was a component of a healthy market cycle.
Still, jittery investors dumped shares over concerns about rising hardware input costs, debt spending, and ballooning CapEx.
Apple NASDAQ: AAPL, for instance, recently announced price hikes for Macs and iPads, directly attributing those increases to the memory chip shortage.
Gaming hardware is feeling the pressure as well. Microsoft NASDAQ: MSFT increased its XBOX console prices, and Nintendo OTCMKTS: NTDOY showed similar strain with a Switch 2 price increase set to take effect Sept. 1.
CapEx is another concern. A perceived rift between hyperscalers’ consumption and memory suppliers’ production has surfaced, with investors concerned about potential return-on-investment shortfalls.
Collectively, four of the biggest hyperscalers—Alphabet NASDAQ: GOOGL, Amazon NASDAQ: AMZN, Meta Platforms NASDAQ: META, and Microsoft—are on track to reach more than $700 billion in CapEx this year. But Wall Street isn’t convinced that that spending spree will materialize in earnings.
Analysts question whether that funding will result in near-term, high-margin revenue, given that those companies aren’t just paying for more hardware; they are paying vastly inflated prices. For example, during its Q3 FY2026 earnings call, Microsoft’s CFO Amy Hood disclosed that $25 billion of its projected $190 billion CapEx is being driven by component inflation rather than new capacity.
Still, even with trillions wiped out from memory chip market caps in June, the PHLX Semiconductor Index remains up more than 11% over the past month, nearly 99% year to date, and 157% over the past year. With the shortage forecast to last at least through 2028 while enjoying a compound annual growth rate of 11.6% through 2030, the recent pullback has proven to be a valuation correction rather than a breakdown in long-term demand.
The Proof in the Pudding for Micron and the Roundhill Memory ETFIn the first half of 2025, Micron Technology NASDAQ: MU was a little-known name. In Q1 FY2025, its market cap stood at just over $108 billion. Today, the company’s market cap is approximately $1.2 trillion, making it the 12th largest U.S.-listed company.
Micron has gained over 200% year-to-date and over 750% over the past 52 weeks. The company hasn’t missed on earnings since Q2 FY2023, and the company’s year-over-year earnings growth in Q3 FY2026 was over 1,358%.
Micron Technology, Inc. (MU) Price Chart for Thursday, July, 2, 2026
Still, the stock carries a consensus Buy rating, a 12-month price target of more than 20% from current prices, and Micron announced gross margins of nearly 85% and earnings per share of $25.11 when it reported Q3 results on June 24.
Importantly, during its earnings call, the company said it signed 16 strategic customer agreements covering data center, consumer, auto, and other markets, which it believes will transform its business model, showing that demand isn’t being driven solely by hyperscalers.
Meanwhile, one thematic exchange-traded fund (ETF) continues to prove June’s panic-sellers wrong.
Roundhill Memory ETF Today
DRAM
Roundhill Memory ETF
$65.86 -7.99 (-10.82%)
As of 07/1/2026 04:10 PM Eastern
52-Week Range$26.14▼
$81.34Assets Under Management$25.91 billion
Less than two weeks after making its debut, MarketBeat profiled the Roundhill Memory ETF BATS: DRAM.
The ETF was designed explicitly to provide targeted exposure to the memory chip industry.
Since its launch on April 2, the fund has gained over 130% despite the recent and sizable sell-off.
For context, over the same period, Alphabet—the best Magnificent Seven performer—gained less than 21%, underscoring the raw growth potential of memory chip makers, the ETFs that track them, and the individual and semiconductor stocks that are in their baskets.
DRAM holds Micron, SK Hynix (which recently filed for its NASDAQ IPO), and Samsung OTCMKTS: SSNLF, which together are three of the newest members of the trillion market cap club. Icing the cake, the ETF also owns Sandisk NASDAQ: SNDK, Western Digital NASDAQ: WDC, and Seagate Technology NASDAQ: STX.
Should You Invest $1,000 in Roundhill Memory ETF Right Now?Before you consider Roundhill Memory ETF, you'll want to hear this.
MarketBeat keeps track of Wall Street's top-rated and best performing research analysts and the stocks they recommend to their clients on a daily basis. MarketBeat has identified the five stocks that top analysts are quietly whispering to their clients to buy now before the broader market catches on... and Roundhill Memory ETF wasn't on the list.
While Roundhill Memory ETF currently has a Hold rating among analysts, top-rated analysts believe these five stocks are better buys.
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Project delivered under a US$41 million EPC agreement as part of the 21 MW DC Honeywell portfolio in upstate New York 7.01 MW DC ground-mount solar facility now operational, capable of powering approximately 875 homes with clean energy annually Project expected to operate as a community solar site, selling credits to subscribers under the NYSERDA NY-Sun Program , /PRNewswire/ - PowerBank Corporation (NASDAQ: PBK) (Cboe CA: PBK) (FSE: 103) ("PowerBank" or the "Company"), a leader in independent energy development and asset ownership in North America, today announces that the 7.01 MW DC / 5 MW AC ground-mount community solar project known as SB-14 (the "Project"), located in upstate New York, has achieved commercial operation. The 7.01 MW Project was developed and constructed by PowerBank for Honeywell International Inc. (NASDAQ: HON) ("Honeywell") as part of the Company's US$41 million engineering, procurement, and construction ("EPC") agreement covering a portfolio of three community solar projects totaling 21 MW DC. The Project is built on an industrial brownfield owned by Honeywell, which is regulated by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation. The Project has been moved from Honeywell International Inc. to Honeywell Aerospace Inc., following the planned spinoff of Honeywell Aerospace on June 29, 2026.
PowerBank originated the site and developed SB-14 as part of a three-project portfolio alongside SB 13-1 and SB 13-2. This is the second project from the portfolio to reach commercial operation, and brings the total to 14.02 MW of clean energy now being generated for the community.
In September 2023, the Company completed the sale of the Projects to Honeywell and entered into an EPC agreement to build the Projects through to commercial operation. The total transaction value, including the sale of the Projects and the EPC agreement, is approximately US$41 million. PowerBank has retained an operations and maintenance contract for the Projects.
Community solar allows dozens or even hundreds of renters and homeowners to save money from the electricity generated by the project. By subscribing to a community solar project, a homeowner earns credits on their electric bill every month from their share of the solar energy generated, accessing the financial and environmental benefits of solar without installing panels on their home.
Andrew van Doorn, President and COO of PowerBank, commented: "Reaching commercial operation on SB-14 reflects the strength of our long-standing partnership with Honeywell and the consistent execution our team brings to every project. Developing a community solar facility on a regulated industrial brownfield requires precision at every stage, and delivering that cleanly speaks to the maturity of PowerBank's development and construction platform. We are proud of what this team has built here, and we look forward to bringing the final project across the finish line."
PowerBank's proven expertise, with over 100 MW of completed projects and a development pipeline exceeding 1 GW, underpins the project's execution. PowerBank is increasingly well-positioned to serve not only traditional utility and community solar offtakers, but also the rapidly growing demand for reliable, on-site power generation driven by AI compute infrastructure and modular data centers.
About PowerBank Corporation
PowerBank Corporation is a vertically integrated and independent North American energy company helping to power the digital economy. The Company develops, builds, owns, and operates solar and battery energy storage systems that deliver reliable, resilient, and behind-the-meter power to the electricity grid, commercial and industrial clients, and municipal and residential off-takers. As AI and digital infrastructure drive unprecedented electricity demand, PowerBank is uniquely positioned to deliver the speed, scale, and energy independence that the next generation of power consumers requires, without waiting years for grid interconnection. The Company has a potential development pipeline of over one gigawatt and has developed energy projects with a combined capacity of over 100 megawatts built. To learn more about PowerBank, please visit www.powerbankcorp.com.
FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
This news release contains forward-looking statements and forward-looking information within the meaning of Canadian securities legislation (collectively, "forward-looking statements") that relate to the Company's current expectations and views of future events. Any statements that express, or involve discussions as to, expectations, beliefs, plans, objectives, assumptions or future events or performance (often, but not always, through the use of words or phrases such as "will likely result", "are expected to", "expects", "will continue", "is anticipated", "anticipates", "believes", "estimated", "intends", "plans", "forecast", "projection", "strategy", "objective" and "outlook") are not historical facts and may be forward-looking statements and may involve estimates, assumptions and uncertainties which could cause actual results or outcomes to differ materially from those expressed in such forward-looking statements. In particular and without limitation, this news release contains forward-looking statements pertaining to the Company's expectations regarding its industry trends and overall market growth; the Company's plans to add AI compute infrastructure and modular data centers; the Company's plan to provide energy and battery storage solutions; potential revenues; and the size of the Company's development pipeline. No assurance can be given that these expectations will prove to be correct and such forward-looking statements included in this news release should not be unduly relied upon. These statements speak only as of the date of this news release.
Forward-looking statements are based on certain assumptions and analyses made by the Company in light of the experience and perception of historical trends, current conditions and expected future developments and other factors it believes are appropriate, and are subject to risks and uncertainties. In making the forward looking statements included in this news release, the Company has made various material assumptions, including but not limited to: obtaining the necessary regulatory approvals; that regulatory requirements will be maintained; execution of definitive agreements for suitable solar or BESS sites; that power is available to be sufficient to support a modular data center; general business and economic conditions; the Company's ability to successfully execute its plans and intentions; the availability of financing on reasonable terms; the Company's ability to attract and retain skilled staff; market competition; the products and services offered by the Company's competitors; that the Company's current good relationships with its service providers and other third parties will be maintained; and government subsidies and funding for renewable energy will continue as currently contemplated. Although the Company believes that the assumptions underlying these statements are reasonable, they may prove to be incorrect, and the Company cannot assure that actual results will be consistent with these forward-looking statements. Given these risks, uncertainties and assumptions, investors should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements.
Whether actual results, performance or achievements will conform to the Company's expectations and predictions is subject to a number of known and unknown risks, uncertainties, assumptions and other factors, including those listed under "Forward-Looking Statements" and "Risk Factors" in the Company's most recently completed Annual Information Form, and other public filings of the Company, which include: the Company may be adversely affected by volatile solar power market and industry conditions; failure to execute definitive agreements for suitable solar or BESS sites; power availability may not be sufficient to support a modular data center; the execution of the Company's growth strategy depends upon the continued availability of third-party financing arrangements; the Company's future success depends partly on its ability to expand the pipeline of its energy business in several key markets; governments may revise, reduce or eliminate incentives and policy support schemes for solar and battery storage power; general global economic conditions may have an adverse impact on our operating performance and results of operations; the Company's project development and construction activities may not be successful; developing and operating solar Project exposes the Company to various risks; the Company faces a number of risks involving Power Purchase Agreements ("PPAs") and project-level financing arrangements; any changes to the laws, regulations and policies that the Company is subject to may present technical, regulatory and economic barriers to the purchase and use of solar power; the markets in which the Company competes are highly competitive and evolving quickly; an anti-circumvention investigation could adversely affect the Company by potentially raising the prices of key supplies for the construction of solar power projects; foreign exchange rate fluctuations; a change in the Company's effective tax rate can have a significant adverse impact on its business; seasonal variations in demand linked to construction cycles and weather conditions may influence the Company's results of operations; the Company may be unable to generate sufficient cash flows or have access to external financing; the Company may incur substantial additional indebtedness in the future; the Company is subject to risks from supply chain issues; risks related to inflation and tariffs; unexpected warranty expenses that may not be adequately covered by the Company's insurance policies; if the Company is unable to attract and retain key personnel, it may not be able to compete effectively in the renewable energy market; there are a limited number of purchasers of utility-scale quantities of electricity; compliance with environmental laws and regulations can be expensive; corporate responsibility may adversely impose additional costs; the future impact of any global pandemic on the Company is unknown at this time; the Company has limited insurance coverage; the Company will be reliant on information technology systems and may be subject to damaging cyberattacks; the Company may become subject to litigation; there is no guarantee on how the Company will use its available funds; the Company will continue to sell securities for cash to fund operations, capital expansion, mergers and acquisitions that will dilute the current shareholders; and future dilution as a result of financings.
The Company undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as may be required by law. New factors emerge from time to time, and it is not possible for the Company to predict all of them, or assess the impact of each such factor or the extent to which any factor, or combination of factors, may cause results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statement. Any forward-looking statements contained in this news release are expressly qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement.
Malaysia: TotalEnergies Divests its Minority Non-Operated Interest in Marjoram Gas Field TotalEnergies (Paris:TTE) LSE:TTE NYSE:TTE announces the divestment to INPEX of its 85% interest in Block 2E offshore Malaysia, representing a net interest of 8.5% in the Marjoram gas field currently under development, for a consideration of USD 350 million.
Through this transaction, TotalEnergies crystallizes the full value of this minority interest in a non-operated gas project, to focus on its operated portfolio and strategic growth opportunities in Malaysia.
“This agreement is fully aligned with our strategy of actively managing our portfolio and prioritizing material positions to support our ambition to develop low-cost, low-emission projects. With Jerun field now on stream and a large portfolio of opportunities, Malaysia is a strategic platform for TotalEnergies’ low-cost, low-emission growth strategy, serving both the country and the wider Southeast Asia region,” said Nicolas Terraz, President Exploration & Production at TotalEnergies.
***
About TotalEnergies in Malaysia
TotalEnergies has been present in Malaysia since 1985 and has maintained a long-standing partnership with the national oil company PETRONAS. Following the acquisition of SapuraOMV Upstream, TotalEnergies became the country’s third-largest gas producer.
The Group employs around 300 people in Malaysia and holds operated and non-operated interests in 17 offshore blocks off the coast of Sarawak and Sabah.
Through its subsidiary TotalEnergies Marketing Malaysia, TotalEnergies also markets petroleum products. In 2023, the Group signed an agreement with PETRONAS and Mitsui to develop a CO₂ storage project in Southeast Asia and to assess several potential sites in the Malay Basin.
On the 2nd of April 2026 TotalEnergies and Masdar announced the creation of a $2.2 billion joint venture to accelerate the growth of renewable energy in Asia and particularly in Malaysia.
About TotalEnergies
TotalEnergies is a global integrated multi-energy company that produces and markets energies: oil and biofuels, natural gas, biogas and low-carbon hydrogen, renewables and electricity. Our more than 100,000 employees are committed to providing as many people as possible with energy that is more affordable, more available and more sustainable. Present in around 120 countries, TotalEnergies places sustainable development at the heart of its strategy, its projects and its operations.
Cautionary Note
The terms “TotalEnergies”, “TotalEnergies company” or “Company” in this document are used to designate TotalEnergies SE and the consolidated entities that are directly or indirectly controlled by TotalEnergies SE. Likewise, the words “we”, “us” and “our” may also be used to refer to these entities or to their employees. The entities in which TotalEnergies SE directly or indirectly owns a shareholding are separate legal entities. This document may contain forward-looking information and statements that are based on a number of economic data and assumptions made in a given economic, competitive and regulatory environment. They may prove to be inaccurate in the future and are subject to a number of risk factors. Neither TotalEnergies SE nor any of its subsidiaries assumes any obligation to update publicly any forward-looking information or statement, objectives or trends contained in this document whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Information concerning risk factors, that may affect TotalEnergies’ financial results or activities is provided in the most recent Universal Registration Document, the French-language version of which is filed by TotalEnergies SE with the French securities regulator Autorité des Marchés Financiers (AMF), and in the Form 20-F filed with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).
View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260630556148/en/
Disclosures I/we have no positions in any stocks mentioned, and have no plans to buy any new positions in the stocks mentioned within the next 72 hours.
Stryker is a Dividend Aristocrat with 32 years of increases, robust cash flow, and a strong M&A-driven growth strategy. SYK's Q1 2026 results were impacted by a cybersecurity incident, but management maintained full-year guidance and expects normalization. The stock trades at ~21x 2026E EPS, below its 5-year average, suggesting undervaluation despite recent share price declines.
General Dynamics delivered 10.3% revenue growth in Q1 2026, with all four segments growing. Marine Systems led the quarter, helped by Columbia-class and Virginia-class submarine work. Backlog reached $130.8 billion, up 47.6% year over year.
Banks have rallied during the past few months, lifting the KBW Nasdaq Bank Index, which tracks the largest U.S. bank stocks, more than 12% so far this year.
But there is one often overlooked sector of the banking industry that has outperformed considerably: custody banks. These are not like traditional banks that lend to consumers and businesses. They hold and service huge amounts of institutional assets -- such as mutual funds, pensions, exchange-traded funds (ETFs), stocks and other investments, real estate, cash, hedge funds, endowments, and 401(k)s -- all from large institutions.
They collect fees on these assets for servicing and holding them -- and those fees rise as the asset totals increase.
Image source: Getty Images.
In addition, custody banks hold clients' uninvested cash and pay a low deposit rate. But they aggregate cash and reinvest it in liquid, higher-yielding short-term instruments, profiting off the difference.
They also make money through securities lending, where they loan idle stocks and bonds from their clients to third parties -- like brokers or hedge funds -- to settle short sales or other trades. In exchange, the borrower provides collateral, typically bonds or cash, which the custody bank then invests and splits the return with the borrower.
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In addition to custody services, all banks have asset management arms with a roster of ETFs, funds, and separate accounts. State Street (STT +0.54%), one of the largest custody banks, runs the SPDR funds through its asset management arm.
It is a very sturdy, all-weather business dominated by a few major players. Right now, the leading custody banks, State Street, BNY Mellon (BNY +0.97%), and Northern Trust (NTRS +1.01%), are firing on all cylinders.
The top custody banks are all significantly outperforming other bank stocks and hovering near all-time highs. State Street is up 32% this year, while BNY Mellon has gained 26%, and Northern Trust has rallied 29%.
BNY Mellon is the largest custodian bank, overseeing some $59 trillion in client assets. It also manages $2 trillion in assets. In the first quarter, BNY Mellon reported record revenue of $5.4 billion, up 13% year over year. Fee income rose 12% year over year to $3.8 billion, while net interest income jumped 18% to $1.4 billion. Further, net income spiked 36% to $1.6 billion, while earnings rose 42% to $2.24 per share.
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What sparked the surge in revenue despite a rocky first quarter? A few factors benefited BNY Mellon and custody banks that did not apply to traditional consumer banks.
BNY Mellon attracted more deposits and client assets, as more of its large clients made a flight to safety during a volatile quarter. They sought the safety of parking their cash and gaining interest. This helped BNY Mellon increase assets under custody (AUC), which boosted fee income. Custody assets rose 12%, and average deposits surged 13% year over year.
In addition, BNY Mellon saw a spike in trading and foreign exchange income because, during volatile markets, the number of transactions by pensions and funds increase to rebalance and make changes to their portfolios. Further, the high interest rates on short-term bonds and investments in which BNY Mellon invested its assets helped raise spreads and net interest income.
I'm using BNY Mellon as an example, but the other major custody banks had similar results.
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These custody banks will release their Q2 earnings in the coming weeks. BNY Mellon reports earnings on July 15, followed by State Street on July 16 and Northern on July 22.
All three stocks are buys heading into earnings because they are relatively cheap, are stable businesses as the dominant players among a small group of competitors that collect fees no matter the market environment, and aren't as reliant on net interest income. But with the S&P 500 (^GSPC 0.22%) rising almost 15% in Q2, these custody banks should see AUC and revenue surge to perhaps new records.
CrowdStrike stock NASDAQ:CRWD looked like it had fallen off a cliff on Thursday, with the stock moving from roughly $773 at Wednesday’s close to about $193 on split-adjusted screens.
The scary-looking drop was not a selloff, but a company’s scheduled 4-for-1 stock split taking effect.
Investors who held one share now hold four, each priced at roughly one-quarter of the old level.
It means the total value of the position remains unchanged.
CrowdStrike’s 4-for-1 split took effect on July 2, after the company distributed additional shares following the July 1 close.
Shareholders of record as of June 25 received three extra shares for every one share they already owned, the company said when it reported first-quarter results.
Trading was expected to begin on a split-adjusted basis on July 2.
The math is straightforward as a shareholder with one CrowdStrike share worth about $773 on Wednesday would now hold four shares worth about $193 each, before any normal market moves.
A holding worth $7,730 across 10 shares becomes a holding worth roughly the same amount across 40 shares.
That is why the headline number looks dramatic, but the economics do not. A stock split does not change market capitalisation, ownership percentage, revenue, profit or cash flow.
It simply lowers the per-share price and increases the share count by the same proportion.
Companies often split shares after a strong run to make the stock appear more accessible to retail investors and employees.
MarketWatch said the stock closed at $772.74 on July 1, its fifth straight gain, and was only 1.64% below its 52-week high of $785.66 reached on June 1.
Analysts are not treating the apparent 75% fall as a fundamental event because it is not one. The more important debate is whether CrowdStrike stock can keep growing fast enough to justify a rich valuation.
The bull case remains strong with Wells Fargo’s Michael Turrin raising his price target on CrowdStrike from $500 to $900 while maintaining a Buy rating.
The analyst cited checks that showed enterprise customers were still prioritising platform-based security spending.
The broader analyst backdrop is also constructive.
As per FactSet data, estimates from 47 analysts put CrowdStrike’s average 12-month target at $720.93 before the split adjustment, with forecasts ranging from $413 to $825.
It also showed a Buy consensus across 53 covering analysts, with 41 Buy ratings, 12 Holds and no Sells.
There is still a cautious camp as Bernstein’s Peter Weed kept a Market Perform rating and raised his target to $413 from $368.
The concern is valuation, not the split as TradingKey also noted worries that annual recurring revenue growth could slow below 25% and said the stock was trading at about 137 times forward earnings.
, /PRNewswire/ -- Ares Capital Corporation ("Ares Capital") (NASDAQ: ARCC) announced today that it will report earnings for the second quarter ended June 30, 2026 on Wednesday, July 29, 2026 prior to the opening of the Nasdaq Global Select Market. Ares Capital invites all interested persons to attend its webcast/conference call at 12:00 p.m. (Eastern Time) on the same day to discuss its second quarter ended June 30, 2026 financial results.
All interested parties are invited to participate via telephone or the live webcast, which will be hosted on a webcast link located on the Home page of the Investor Resources section of our website at www.arescapitalcorp.com. Please visit the website to test your connection before the webcast. Domestic callers can access the conference call toll free by dialing +1 (800) 245-3047. International callers can access the conference call by dialing +1 (203) 518-9765. All callers are asked to dial in 10-15 minutes prior to the call so that name and company information can be collected and to reference the conference ID ARCCQ226. For interested parties, an archived replay of the call will be available approximately one hour after the end of the call through August 29, 2026 at 5:00 p.m. (Eastern Time) to domestic callers by dialing toll free +1 (800) 839-3736 and to international callers by dialing +1 (402) 220-2978. An archived replay will also be available through August 29, 2026 on a webcast link located on the Home page of the Investor Resources section of Ares Capital's website.
ABOUT ARES CAPITAL CORPORATION
Founded in 2004, Ares Capital is a leading specialty finance company focused on providing direct loans and other investments in private middle market companies in the United States. Ares Capital's objective is to source and invest in high-quality borrowers that need capital to achieve their business goals, which often leads to economic growth and employment. Ares Capital believes its loans and other investments in these companies can generate attractive levels of current income and potential capital appreciation for investors. Ares Capital, through its investment manager, utilizes its extensive, direct origination capabilities and incumbent borrower relationships to source and underwrite predominantly senior secured loans but also subordinated debt and equity investments. Ares Capital has elected to be regulated as a business development company ("BDC") and was the largest publicly traded BDC by market capitalization as of June 30, 2026. Ares Capital is externally managed by a subsidiary of Ares Management Corporation (NYSE: ARES), a publicly traded, leading global alternative investment manager. For more information about Ares Capital, visit www.arescapitalcorp.com.
CONTACT
Ares Capital Corporation
Carl G. Drake or John Stilmar
(888) 818-5298
[email protected]
Replacing a $70,000 salary with dividend income comes down to one variable: yield. At a 3% blended yield you need roughly $2.33 million invested. At a 10% blended yield, you need roughly $700,000.
Same paycheck, very different portfolios, very different risk profiles. Here is how the math breaks at three tiers, using real stocks with verified current yields.
Conservative Tier: 3% Yield, $2.33 Million Required This is the sleep-at-night book: Dividend Kings with multi-decade growth streaks, low betas, and earnings power that funds the next raise. The cost is capital intensity. Replacing $70,000 at roughly 3% requires about $2.33 million.
The Coca-Cola Company (NYSE:KO | KO Price Prediction) yields 3% on a 53-cent quarterly payout, with a beta of 0.354. Q1 2026 revenue grew 12% and management raised FY2026 comparable EPS growth guidance to 8% to 9%. Johnson & Johnson (NYSE:JNJ) yields 2% after a 3% increase to $1.34 per share quarterly, extending a 60-plus-year dividend growth streak. JNJ’s beta is 0.256. Procter & Gamble (NYSE:PG) yields 3%, with a 62% payout ratio and 31% return on equity. The latest quarterly dividend stepped up to $1.0885, the 70th consecutive annual increase per the company. Blend the three and the effective yield lands near 2.5%, pushing capital needs above $2.5 million. Stretch to a true 3% mix and the math holds at $2.33 million. Five-year total returns for this group span 77% for KO, 81% for JNJ, and 25% for PG. Lower yields, but the dividend grows and the share count compounds.
Moderate Tier: 5% to 7% Yield, Around $1 Million Required Mature payers with elevated payout ratios. Capital required drops by more than half versus the conservative tier.
Act now: the analyst who called NVIDIA in 2010 just named his top 10 AI stocks — and Johnson & Johnson didn't make the cut. Grab the names FREE today.
Altria Group (NYSE:MO) yields 6% on a $1.06 quarterly dividend. Q1 2026 adjusted EPS came in at $1.32 and the company paid $1.8 billion in dividends in the quarter. The stock has returned 129% over five years. Main Street Capital (NYSE:MAIN) pays a 26-cent monthly base plus quarterly supplementals of 30 cents, the 19th consecutive quarterly supplemental. Headline yield on regulars is 6%, and non-accruals sit at 1% of fair value. At 7%, $70,000 in income runs $1,000,000 in capital. Dividend growth slows here, and tobacco volume declines plus BDC NAV sensitivity introduce headwinds the conservative tier does not carry.
Aggressive Tier: 10%+ Yield, $700,000 Required Ares Capital (NASDAQ:ARCC) is the benchmark. Yield is 11% on a quarterly dividend held at 48 cents for eight consecutive quarters. NAV per share is $19.59, non-accruals are 2%, and Q1 2026 total investment income was $763 million. The dividend has not been cut. That said, ARCC trades below book value at 0.929x, and quarterly earnings growth was down 64% year over year. A hypothetical 25% dividend reduction in a credit downturn would take the $0.48 quarterly to $0.36 and gross income on a $700,000 stake from $70,000 to roughly $52,500.
At 10% yield, the capital requirement is $700,000. The five-year total return of 52% trails every name in the conservative tier on price appreciation.
The Insight Most Readers Miss A 3% yielder growing the dividend 8% annually doubles its payout in roughly nine years. Start with $70,000 from a $2.33 million KO/JNJ/PG book and the income trajectory points toward $140,000 inside a decade with no new capital. A 10% yielder with a flat dividend, like ARCC at $0.48 for 8 consecutive quarters, delivers $70,000 every year and exactly $70,000 in year ten. Inflation does the rest of the work. The risk-free 10-year Treasury at 4% frames the aggressive yield premium as compensation for credit and NAV risk.
What to Do Pull the live yield on every name before sizing. The five-year gain/loss (KO up 51% vs. ARCC down nearly 7%) only matters if entry yield is current. Model a hypothetical 25% cut on the aggressive tier and confirm the reduced monthly income still covers fixed expenses. If retirement is inside five years, weight the conservative book heavier and let the moderate tier carry the yield uplift, rather than depending on a single 10%-plus payer. Act now: the analyst who called NVIDIA in 2010 just named his top 10 AI stocks — and Johnson & Johnson didn't make the cut. Grab the names FREE today.
LI faces headwinds from domestic competition and nascent global sales in H2'26, with FY2025/FY2026 likely to be trough years before potentially recovering from FY2027 onwards. This is worsened by the aggressive discounting and the consequently impacted top/bottom lines, albeit with the ongoing cash burn mitigated by the rich balance sheet. LI's refreshed L series at higher ASPs already report robust order books, with it offering a promising potential for H2'26 recovery, pending further capacity ramp-up.
