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Combination creates a new cybersecurity powerhouse to deliver a complete security platform that protects against AI-accelerated threats and data risks

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Proofpoint, Inc.

MIAMI and SUNNYVALE, Calif., Oct. 15, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Varonis Systems, Inc. (Nasdaq: VRNS) (“Varonis”), the data and AI security leader, and Proofpoint, Inc. (“Proofpoint”), a global leader in human and agent cybersecurity, today announced entrance into a definitive agreement under which Varonis will be acquired by Proofpoint, a portfolio company of Thoma Bravo, in an all-cash transaction valued at approximately $6.3 billion.

Under the terms of the agreement, Varonis shareholders will receive $49.75 per share in cash. This purchase price represents a premium of 52% to Varonis’ closing stock price of $32.71 on June 22, 2026, the last full trading day prior to initial rumors about a potential sale of the Company, and a premium of 17% over Varonis’ closing stock price of $42.35 on September 1, 2026, the last full trading day prior to additional media reports speculating about a potential sale of Varonis. The transaction values Varonis at approximately 53x LTM Free Cash Flow and 8.4x LTM Revenue.1

The combined company will serve more than 16,000 enterprises and millions of organizations globally, creating one of the world’s leading pure-play cybersecurity companies and establishing the industry's largest data and AI cybersecurity organization. Together, the combined company intends to deliver a unified platform that helps organizations adopt AI with confidence: finding and protecting sensitive data, controlling what people and AI can access, and stopping data loss. Following closing, Proofpoint intends to move quickly to integrate the companies’ capabilities, align go-to-market efforts, and accelerate delivery of the combined platform to customers.

“Today begins an exciting new chapter for Varonis and our customers. It’s a testament to the incredible work of the Varonis team over two decades,” said Yaki Faitelson, Varonis CEO, Co-Founder and Chairman of the Board of Directors. “Our mission is to secure AI and the data that powers it. By joining forces with Proofpoint, we can achieve this mission faster than ever.”

Faitelson continued, “This announcement follows a comprehensive evaluation led by a committee of independent members of our Board of Directors, which included extensive outreach to a range of potential strategic and financial buyers. This transaction is an excellent outcome for the company and our shareholders, representing a realization of immediate, significant, and certain value well in excess of the risk-adjusted value of delivering against our standalone plan.”

“As AI becomes embedded across the enterprise, the data it can access determines both its value and its risk. AI agents are increasingly accessing sensitive information and taking action across systems, making it critical for organizations to understand not only what data needs protecting and who can access it, but how it is actually being used,” said Sumit Dhawan, CEO of Proofpoint. “By connecting communications, identities, permissions, data, and AI, we are creating an intelligence advantage that helps customers see risk more clearly, respond faster, and defend against the next generation of AI risks. This is a defining step in Proofpoint’s evolution into a cybersecurity platform built for the future of AI.”

Transaction Details

The transaction, which has been unanimously approved by the Varonis Board of Directors, is expected to close in the first half of 2027, subject to customary closing conditions, including approval by Varonis shareholders and receipt of regulatory approvals. Thoma Bravo is providing committed equity financing, and has secured debt financing commitments, to fund the purchase. Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan has also agreed to make an investment into Proofpoint in connection with the transaction. Until the transaction closes, Proofpoint and Varonis will continue to operate as separate and independent companies. Upon completion of the transaction, Varonis' common stock will cease trading on the Nasdaq, and Varonis will become a private company.

Third Quarter 2026 Financial Results

Varonis will announce its financial results for the third quarter 2026 following the close of the U.S. financial markets on November 3. The news release will be available on the Investor Relations section of the company’s website. In light of the announced transaction, Varonis will not conduct an earnings conference call.

Advisors

Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC is acting as exclusive financial advisor and Paul Hastings LLP is serving as legal counsel to Varonis.

BofA Securities, Inc., Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC, J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, UBS Securities LLC, and Mizuho Securities USA LLC are serving as financial advisors, and Kirkland & Ellis LLP is serving as legal counsel to Proofpoint.

About Varonis

Varonis (Nasdaq: VRNS) secures AI and the data that powers it. The Varonis platform gives organizations automated visibility and control over their critical data wherever it lives and helps ensure safe and trustworthy AI from code to runtime. Backed by 24x7x365 managed detection and response, Varonis gives thousands of organizations worldwide the confidence to adopt AI, reduce data exposure, and stop AI-powered threats.

About Proofpoint, Inc. 

Proofpoint, Inc. is a global leader in human and agent cybersecurity, securing how people, data and AI agents connect across email, cloud and collaboration tools. Proofpoint is a trusted partner to over 80 of the Fortune 100, over 14,000 large enterprises, and millions of smaller organizations in stopping threats, preventing data loss, and building resilience across people and AI workflows. Proofpoint’s collaboration, data, and AI security platform helps organizations of all sizes protect their people, defend their data, and adopt AI securely and confidently. Learn more at www.proofpoint.com.

Connect with Proofpoint on LinkedIn

Proofpoint is a registered trademark or tradename of Proofpoint, Inc. in the U.S. and/or other countries. All other trademarks contained herein are the property of their respective owners. 

Forward-Looking Statements

This communication contains not only historical information, but also forward-looking statements made pursuant to the safe-harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements represent Varonis Systems, Inc.’s (the “Company”) expectations or beliefs concerning future events, including the timing of the proposed transactions contemplated by the Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated October 15, 2026 (the “Merger Agreement”), by and among the Company, Proofpoint, Inc. (“Parent”) and Vail Merger Sub, Inc. (“Merger Sub”) and other information relating to the proposed transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement (the “Transaction”). Forward-looking statements include information concerning possible or assumed future results of operations of the Company, the expected completion and timing of the proposed Transaction and other information relating to the proposed Transaction. Without limiting the foregoing, the words “believes,” “anticipates,” “plans,” “expects,” “intends,” “forecasts,” “should,” “estimates,” “contemplate,” “future,” “goal,” “potential,” “predict,” “project,” “projection,” “may,” “will,” “could,” “would,” “assuming” and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. However, the absence of these words does not mean that the statements are not forward-looking. Where, in any forward-looking statement, the Company expresses an expectation or belief as to future results, such expectation or belief is expressed in good faith and believed to be reasonable at the time such forward-looking statement is made. However, these statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve certain risks, uncertainties and other factors beyond the Company’s control. Therefore, actual outcomes and results may differ materially from what is expressed or forecast in the forward-looking statements. The following important factors and uncertainties, among others, could cause actual results to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements: (i) the risk that the Transaction may not be completed in a timely manner or at all, which may adversely affect the Company’s business and the price of the common stock of the Company, (ii) the failure to satisfy the conditions to the consummation of the Transaction, including the adoption of the Merger Agreement by the stockholders of the Company and the receipt of regulatory approvals from various governmental entities (including any conditions, limitations or restrictions placed on these approvals) and the risk that one or more governmental entities may deny approval, (iii) the occurrence of any event, change or other circumstance that could give rise to the termination of the Merger Agreement, (iv) the risk that the Merger Agreement may be terminated in circumstances that require the Company to pay a termination fee; (v) the effect of the announcement or pendency of the Transaction on the Company’s business relationships, operating results and business generally, including the Company’s ability to attract, integrate, develop, manage, retain and motivate qualified employees and senior leaders as a result of such effects, (vi) risks that the proposed Transaction disrupts current plans and operations, (vii) risks related to diverting management’s attention from the Company’s ongoing business operations, (viii) the outcome of any legal proceedings that may be instituted against the Company related to the Merger Agreement or the Transaction, (ix) unexpected costs, charges or expenses resulting from the proposed Transaction, (x) the ability to obtain the necessary financing arrangements set forth in the commitment letters received in connection with the proposed Transaction; (xi) the impact of adverse macroeconomic or labor market conditions, including the impacts of inflation and effects of geopolitical instability, (xii) risks caused by delays in upturns or downturns being reflected in the Company’s financial position and results of operations, (xiii) uncertainty as to timing of completion of the proposed Transaction, and (xiv) other factors described under the heading “Risk Factors” in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2025, the Company’s subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, and in other reports and filings with the SEC. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this communication or the date of any document incorporated by reference in this document. The Company cautions you that the important factors referenced above may not contain all of the factors that are important to you. In addition, the Company cannot assure you that the Company will realize the results or developments expected or anticipated or, even if substantially realized, that they will result in the consequences or affect the Company or the Company’s operations in the way the Company expects. The forward-looking statements included in this communication are made only as of the date hereof. Except as required by applicable law or regulation, the Company does not undertake to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

This press release includes LTM Free Cash Flow, a non-GAAP measure, which is calculated as net cash provided by operating activities less purchases of property and equipment and capitalized internal-use software, and is presented for the 12 months ended June 30, 2026. Please refer to “Reconciliation of GAAP Measures to non-GAAP Measures” set forth in Varonis’ earnings releases furnished to the SEC on Form 8-K for reconciliations of free cash flow to net cash provided by operating activities for the 12 months ended December 31, 2025 and the six months ended June 30, 2026.

Additional Information About the Acquisition and Where to Find It

This communication is being made in respect of the proposed Transaction involving the Company, Parent, and Merger Sub. The Company expects to seek and intends to file with the SEC a proxy statement and other relevant documents in connection with a special meeting of the Company’s stockholders for purposes of obtaining stockholder approval of the proposed Transaction. The Company may also file other relevant documents with the SEC regarding the proposed Transaction. This communication is not a substitute for the proxy statement or any other document that the Company may file with the SEC. The definitive proxy statement (when available) will be sent or given to the stockholders of the Company and will contain important information about the proposed Transaction and related matters. INVESTORS AND STOCKHOLDERS OF THE COMPANY ARE URGED TO READ THE DEFINITIVE PROXY STATEMENT AND ANY OTHER RELEVANT DOCUMENTS THAT MAY BE FILED WITH THE SEC BY THE COMPANY, AS WELL AS ANY AMENDMENTS OR SUPPLEMENTS TO THESE DOCUMENTS, CAREFULLY AND IN THEIR ENTIRETY WHEN THEY BECOME AVAILABLE BECAUSE THEY WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT THE COMPANY AND THE PROPOSED TRANSACTION. Investors will be able to obtain a free copy of the proxy statement and other documents containing important information about the Company and the proposed Transaction, once such documents are filed by the Company with the SEC at the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov or from the Company at its website at https://ir.varonis.com.

Participants in the Solicitation

The Company, and certain of its directors and executive officers, may be deemed to be participants in the solicitation of proxies in connection with the proposed Transaction. Information about the Company’s directors and executive officers is set forth in (i) the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2025, including under the headings “Item 10. Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance”, “Item 11. Executive Compensation”, “Item 12. Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters” and “Item 13. Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence”, which was filed with the SEC on February 4, 2026, (ii) the Company’s Definitive Proxy Statement for its 2026 annual meeting of stockholders, which was filed with the SEC on April 17, 2026, under the headings “Information Regarding the Board of Directors and Corporate Governance”, “Director Compensation”, “Executive Officers”, “Compensation Discussion and Analysis”, “Executive Compensation”, “Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management”, and “Transactions with Related Persons”, (iii) in the supplemental information regarding the participants’ holdings of Company securities that can be found in SEC filings on Statements of Change in Ownership on Form 4 filed with the SEC on June 2, 2026 (available here) for Dov Gottlieb; on May 22, 2026 (available here) for Guy Melamed; on May 1, 2026 (available here) for Carlos Aued; on May 1, 2026 (available here) for Kevin Comolli; on May 1, 2026 (available here) for John J. Gavin, Jr.; on May 1, 2026 (available here) for Gili Iohan; on May 1, 2026 (available here) for Avrohom J. Kess; on May 1, 2026 (available here) for Ohad Korkus; on May 1, 2026 (available here) for Thomas Mendoza; on May 1, 2026 (available here) for Rachel Prishkolnik; on May 1, 2026 (available here) for Ofer Segev; and on May 1, 2026 (available here) for Fred van den Bosch, (iv) the Company’s Current Reports on Form 8-K, which were filed on April 28, 2026, June 2, 2026 and July 28, 2026, (v) the Company’s Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q which were filed on April 29, 2026 and July 29, 2026, and (vi) in subsequently filed Statements of Change in Ownership on Form 4, Current Reports on Form 8-K and Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q. Other information regarding the participants in the solicitation and a description of their direct and indirect interests, by security holdings or otherwise, will be set forth in the Company’s definitive proxy statement and other relevant materials to be filed with the SEC regarding the proposed Transaction when such materials become available. Investors should read the proxy statement carefully when it becomes available. Copies of the documents filed with the SEC by the Company will be available free of charge through the website maintained by the SEC at sec.gov and the Company’s website at https://ir.varonis.com.

No Offer

No person has commenced soliciting proxies in connection with the proposed Transaction referenced in this communication, and this communication is neither an offer to purchase nor a solicitation of an offer to sell securities.

Contacts

For Varonis

Media
FGS Global
[email protected]

Investors
Tim Perz
+1 646.640.2112
[email protected]

Proxy Solicitor
Okapi Partners
Bruce Goldfarb
+1 212.297.0722
[email protected]

For Proofpoint, Inc.

Media
[email protected]

1 Transaction multiples are calculated as Enterprise Value / LTM Revenue and Market Capitalization / LTM Free Cash Flow as of June 30, 2026.

For customers, the financial services industry in Latin America used to be slow, expensive, and frustrating. Nu Holdings (NU -1.34%) is fixing that. With 139 million total customers (as of June 30), it has become a digital banking powerhouse that offers a comprehensive suite of products and services.

Nu shares trade 17% off their peak (as of Oct. 13). But I predict that a $1,000 investment in this fintech stock right now will be worth $2,939 by 2030.

Image source: Getty Images.

Two drivers to pay attention to In the long run, a company's share price is most affected by its fundamentals. And no single metric matters as much as profits. Own businesses whose net income is set to be much higher in the future, and you stack the odds in your favor.

According to consensus analyst estimates, Nu's earnings per share (EPS) are projected to grow at a compound annual rate of 35% from 2025 through 2028. Let's take this forecast, which is obviously full of uncertainty, at face value.

Additionally, assume that in 2029, the company posts another 35% bottom-line gain. This means that in 2029, Nu will report EPS of $1.94.

Valuation expansion can potentially be another catalyst. Nu's stock currently trades at a price-to-earnings ratio of 18.6, which is very compelling. Comparatively, the S&P 500 (^GSPC +0.33%) carries a multiple of 23.6. If Nu continues to operate with strong momentum, it's not unrealistic to see its P/E ratio rise 27% to match the overall benchmark's.

Taking these two tailwinds together, $1,000 invested in this growth stock could be worth $2,939 by 2030. This translates to a superb 194% return.

$14.73-$0.20 (-1.34%)

NYSE · As of 4:00 PM ET 10/15/26

No guarantees Nu's impressive profit gains, coupled with the attractive starting valuation, support the bull case. It's hard for investors not to be optimistic. However, don't let the strong financial performance distract you from the risks. There is no sure thing in the stock market.

Nu's rapid growth could decelerate sooner than expected. It has a mature position in Brazil. And its newest market, the U.S., presents an extremely competitive landscape that makes it harder to expand quickly.

And as is the case with any bank, changing macroeconomic conditions, paired with credit risk, also open the possibility of financial trouble during recessionary periods. Investors can't ignore what an economic downturn would do to the company.

That being said, I believe Nu still looks like a high-caliber investment candidate for long-term investors. Buying about 64 shares at today's price of $15.58 is a good use of $1,000.

NEW YORK, Oct. 15, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) --

WHY: Rosen Law Firm, a global investor rights law firm, continues to investigate potential securities claims on behalf of shareholders of Build-A-Bear Workshop, Inc. (NYSE: BBW) resulting from allegations that Build-A-Bear may have issued materially misleading business information to the investing public.

SO WHAT: If you purchased Build-A-Bear securities you may be entitled to compensation without payment of any out of pocket fees or costs through a contingency fee arrangement. The Rosen Law Firm is preparing a class action seeking recovery of investor losses.

WHAT TO DO NEXT: To join the prospective class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/cases/buildabear-workshop-inc-bbw/join or call Phillip Kim, Esq. toll-free at 866-767-3653 or email [email protected] for information on the class action.

WHAT IS THIS ABOUT: Rosen Law Firm is investigating potential civil securities claims.

WHY ROSEN LAW: We encourage investors to select qualified counsel with a track record of success in leadership roles. Often, firms issuing notices do not have comparable experience, resources, or any meaningful peer recognition. Many of these firms do not actually litigate securities class actions. Be wise in selecting counsel. The Rosen Law Firm represents investors throughout the globe, concentrating its practice in securities class actions and shareholder derivative litigation. Rosen Law Firm has achieved the largest ever securities class action settlement against a Chinese Company. Rosen Law Firm was Ranked No. 1 by ISS Securities Class Action Services for number of securities class action settlements in 2017. The firm has been ranked in the top 4 each year since 2013 and has recovered billions of dollars for investors. In 2019 alone the firm secured over $438 million for investors. In 2020, founding partner Laurence Rosen was named by law360 as a Titan of Plaintiffs’ Bar. Many of the firm’s attorneys have been recognized by Lawdragon and Super Lawyers.

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Tesla (TSLA -1.08%) says its Cybercab fleet in Austin, Texas, has grown eightfold in just 30 days, reaching more than 300 vehicles. And Dallas could be next.

On Oct. 10, Tesla announced the milestone on X through its official Robotaxi account. Shortly afterward, Ashok Elluswamy, the company's vice president of artificial intelligence software, indicated that Dallas would be the next city to receive Cybercab service.

For CEO Elon Musk, who has spent years promising that autonomous driving would transform Tesla's business, this is encouraging progress. But is Tesla finally turning its robotaxi ambitions into a scalable business?

Image source: Getty Images.

From dozens of vehicles to hundreds in one month Tesla began offering public Cybercab rides in Austin in September. Its purpose-built robotaxi has two seats and operates without a steering wheel or pedals.

According to Tesla, the fleet has expanded from fewer than 40 vehicles to more than 300 in approximately one month. Texas vehicle-registration data supports the expansion. As of Oct. 10, the state registered approximately 319 Cybercabs and 420 Model Y robotaxis. That's a significant increase in the number of vehicles available for deployment.

However, registration doesn't necessarily mean every vehicle is actively transporting paying passengers. Tesla hasn't disclosed how many Cybercabs operate simultaneously, how many rides they complete, or whether the service is profitable. And those numbers will ultimately determine whether the expansion translates into meaningful revenue.

Why Dallas could be the bigger test Expanding from one city to another would demonstrate that Tesla's autonomous-driving technology can operate beyond its initial Austin environment. Unlike traditional ride-hailing services, robotaxis don't require a paid driver behind the wheel. That could eventually reduce operating expenses and improve profit margins.

Tesla also manufactures its own vehicles and develops the software that controls them, which could give it an advantage as production increases. But the company does face established competition from Alphabet's (GOOGL +0.56%) (GOOG +0.33%) Waymo, which already operates a substantial autonomous ride-hailing business. Tesla will need to demonstrate comparable reliability as it expands its fleet and service areas.

Regulatory scrutiny presents another challenge. Federal safety officials are reviewing allegations involving Tesla robotaxis exceeding speed limits in school zones. Regulators are also examining the Cybercab's compliance with vehicle safety standards. Neither review establishes wrongdoing, but both could complicate expansion.

TSLA Tesla$363.20-$3.96 (-1.08%)

NASDAQ · As of 3:53 PM ET 10/15/26

Austin numbers suggest Tesla is making genuine progress. An eightfold increase in fleet size in one month is considerably more substantial than another demonstration or an ambitious production forecast. Still, scaling vehicles isn't the same as scaling profits. In other words, we really need to watch for growth in completed rides, customer demand, operating costs, and expansion into additional cities.

Dallas could provide the next meaningful milestone, although Tesla hasn't announced a launch date. But I remain optimistic about Tesla's long-term autonomous-driving potential. Its manufacturing capabilities and growing robotaxi fleet provide a foundation for a potentially lucrative transportation business. Bottom line: Tesla is beginning to demonstrate scale. Now it needs to demonstrate economics. And I suspect we'll start seeing some evidence of that in 2027.

Amazon is placing its bets on ambient computing, not apps, as the future of personal AI.

Alongside the launch of its new AI wearables from Bee, Panos Panay, who serves as Amazon’s SVP of Devices, Alexa & Leo, took the stage at TechCrunch Disrupt on Thursday to talk in more depth about where he sees personal computing headed.

“A lot of times, what you’re doing right now — what we all do right now — is we have to remember what we’re asking our tool to do for us,” Panay began, explaining that this is how we engage with our modern smartphones. “It’s like point, shoot, return,” Panay continued. “I think where we’re headed is a world [that] starts with ambient devices.”

By “ambient devices,” he means those that work quietly in the background, using sensors, and AI to help you figure out what needs to be done, instead of the other way around, where you’re telling the device what you need to do.

“As it works in the background, you’re able to stay more present. You’re able to get more done. You’re about to spend more time with people… you’re not afraid if you miss something. It’s incredibly powerful,” Panay said.

Amazon’s biggest entry into this space is the set of new Bee devices it introduced on Thursday, which include a band you can wear on your wrist or detach to wear as a pendant, as well as a new credit-card-sized device that attaches magnetically to the back of your smartphone.

These gadgets passively record audio and take notes about your day, finding the to-dos, reminders, and insights you may later need to refer back to. To balance the need to be useful with user privacy, Bee’s devices don’t actually store the raw audio from your conversations; they process the audio in real time and then delete it when done. Transcripts of conversations are encrypted using keys that your device creates and controls. That means no one else, including Amazon employees, can access those files unless you intentionally share them.

Panay said that privacy was a key consideration for how these new ambient devices should work.

“You have to give customers that control,” he said. “Every product is different, but for Bee specifically, as an example in the ambient space like that, you have to design with privacy in mind. And that’s what we do. That’s critical.”

The executive, who came to Amazon after 19 years at Microsoft where he oversaw the development of Surface devices, has spent a lot of his life thinking about how personal computing will evolve. With Bee — and ambient computing more generally — Panay also envisioned a future where the idea of interacting with apps becomes less important, as more tasks are handled via AI.

“Do I think we have a future where there’s a bit of a balance — a whole generation that doesn’t say ‘give me the app’ for that, but says it should just understand what I need? Yeah, I do. I think that transformation is coming. I think that is the next generation,” he said.

That doesn’t necessarily mean the smartphone itself won’t continue to be an important personal computing device (as much as Amazon would like it to be an Alexa tablet or Echo smart speaker), Panay pointed out. Rather, he believes a new crop of devices will emerge that use sensors to understand users better, and to bring intelligence to the world around you.

“I’m not a proponent that says one form factor is going to replace another. I don’t think that’s the case,” he clarified. “I think there’s an intelligence layer that connects it all… and it has to be useful.”

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Sarah has worked as a reporter for TechCrunch since August 2011. She joined the company after having previously spent over three years at ReadWriteWeb. Prior to her work as a reporter, Sarah worked in I.T. across a number of industries, including banking, retail and software.

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Home Depot beat earnings and still lost a quarter of its value from its 52-week high, and analysts say one overlooked catalyst sitting outside the company's control could flip that story fast.

Home Depot (NYSE:HD | HD Price Prediction) trades at $292.62, and our 24/7 Wall St. Price Target of $357.14 points to 22.05% upside over the next 12 months. Our model rates the stock a buy with high confidence.

24/7 Wall St. Price Target Summary Metric Value Current Price $292.62 Price Target from 24/7 Wall St. $357.14 Upside/Downside 22.05% Recommendation BUY Confidence Level 90% The whole setup hinges on housing turnover. CFO Richard McPhail said in August that turnover “has never been lower as a percentage of the housing stock.”

A sustained break in mortgage rates is the one catalyst that could free up deferred projects and re-rate the stock.

Shares Slide Despite a Clean Earnings Beat Home Depot is at $291.14 intraday, up 1.55% over the past week but down 5.7% over a month, 15.61% quarter to date and 13.54% year to date. That leaves shares roughly 25% below the $389.18 52-week high and about 5% above the $277.15 low. On Tuesday, the stock outperformed competitors on a strong trading day, MarketWatch reported.

The selloff came after solid results. Q2 revenue rose 5.7% to $47.86 billion, exceeding the $47.24 billion estimate, and adjusted EPS of $4.92 beat the $4.73 consensus.

Comparable sales grew 1.7%, accelerating to 2.3% in July. Management reaffirmed guidance for adjusted EPS growth of flat to +4%.

Why Bulls See $398 if Rates Break The bull case is $398.53. McPhail noted that when turnover hits roughly 3% of housing stock, “it’s always bounced up relatively quickly.”

Also, SRS is posting comparable sales above the company average, digital sales rose 11%, and big-ticket transactions above $1,000 grew 2.4%. Wall Street’s consensus target is $379.75, with 21 Buy or Strong Buy ratings and no Sells.

Risks That Could Stall the Rebound McPhail also admitted “there’s just no sign of an inflection point at this moment.” Existing home sales of 3.99 million remain down 2.2% year over year, transactions fell 1%, and SG&A grew 8.5%.

Our bear case is $324.83. Bulls would counter that high costs reflect the GMS and SRS build-out aimed at capturing pro share.

How Home Depot Compares to Lowe’s and Floor & Decor Lowe’s (NYSE:LOW) is the direct big-box rival. It trades at 16x earnings versus Home Depot’s 21x, but Q2 comps rose just 0.2% and guidance was narrowed to flat comps. Stronger execution justifies Home Depot’s premium.

Floor & Decor (NYSE:FND) is the most rate-sensitive comp, with management mentioning high mortgage rates. Comps fell 2.1%. Relative to both peers, our target looks reasonable.

Company Q2 Comp Sales FY26 Comp Guide Home Depot +1.7% Flat to +2.0% Lowe’s +0.2% Flat Floor & Decor -2.1% -4.0% to flat Rates Hold the Key to Re-Rating Our 24/7 Wall St. price target of $357.14 has a buy rating at 90% confidence. Even our bear case is above today’s price.

The case strengthens if mortgage rates step down and turnover rises. It weakens if transactions keep shrinking and SG&A outpaces sales into fiscal 2027.

Here is where our model projects Home Depot could trade, assuming current trends hold.

Year Price Target from 24/7 Wall St. 2026 $296.60 2027 $358.42 2028 $415.11 2029 $453.57 2030 $499.89 These estimates assume continued execution on the pro and digital strategy. A housing recovery could drive significant upside, while extended mortgage lock-in creates the main downside risk.

Contact [email protected] for any questions or corrections.

Shopify turned a $1,000 bet into a life-changing fortune over ten years, but the path ran straight through a collapse that sent most investors sprinting for the exit. Whether today's entry point repeats that story or ends differently depends on…

From Storefront Builder to Commerce Operating System Ten years ago, Shopify (NASDAQ:SHOP | SHOP Price Prediction) was a tool small merchants used to spin up online stores. It went public in May 2015, so this decade covers almost its entire life as a public company. Today it serves millions of businesses across 175+ countries, from first-time founders to brands like SKIMS and Supreme.

Most of the money now comes from Merchant Solutions, which covers payments, shipping and merchant lending that grow with sales volume. That segment grew 37% to $2.78B last quarter. Subscription fees grew 22%.

Pandemic Boom, Brutal Bust, Leaner Comeback The 2020 ecommerce surge drew heavy investor demand for Shopify, and the stock peaked in late 2021. Then the correction hit. Growth stocks dropped, and Shopify’s costly push into logistics weighed on results. From a split-adjusted high of about $176.29 in November 2021 to a low of $23.63 in October 2022, shares fell 86.6%. A 10-for-1 split took effect in the middle of the slide.

In 2023, management sold the Deliverr logistics business and went back to an asset-light platform. Growth picked up again. Revenue for fiscal 2025 reached $11.56B, up 30.1%, with $2.01B in free cash flow.

Your $1,000 Became $39,467.50, If You Started Early 1-Year Return

Initial Investment: $1,000 Current Value: $1,105.40 Total Return: 10.54% S&P 500 (same period): $1,157.30 (15.73%) 5-Year Return

Initial Investment: $1,000 Current Value: $1,186.30 Total Return: 18.63% Annualized Return: 3.48% S&P 500 (same period): $1,718.90 (71.89%) 10-Year Return

Initial Investment: $1,000 Current Value: $39,467.50 Total Return: 3,846.75% Annualized Return: 44.42% S&P 500 (same period): $3,596.10 (259.61%) The 10-year gain far outpaced the S&P 500, and the five-year window shows how much entry timing counted. Someone who bought in October 2021, close to the peak, trails the index by a wide margin. Shopify also fell behind the S&P 500 over the past year. To collect the decade’s gain, you had to hold through an 86.6% collapse (the kind of runner most investors walked past at the lows, a pattern we broke down in a free report on missed winners). You also had to sit through another drop this year to a 52-week low of $94 before shares climbed back to $169.

What Would Justify Putting $1,000 In Today A $1,000 investment in Shopify today could make sense if revenue growth above 30% can continue for years while margins keep expanding. The case weakens if a high valuation runs into slowing consumer spending.

On the positive side, Shopify has posted 11 consecutive quarters of 25%+ revenue growth. Its free cash flow margin reached 18%, and it launched a $2B buyback. Orders from AI channels tripled year over year, and management says Shopify has got less than 1% of global retail sales.

On the bear side, shares trade at about 171 times earnings and 105 times free cash flow. Transaction and loan losses rose to $141M from $80M a year earlier. GAAP results also swing hard on equity investment marks.

The business looks stronger than at any point in the last ten years. Even so, the stock has rebounded 26.22% in a month, and its history shows how violently this stock can dropped. Keep an eye on whether the stock holds its recent gains.

Contact [email protected] for any questions or corrections.

Key Takeaways BD's Revello stent met the AGILITY trial's nine-month primary endpoint, with a failure rate of just 2.8%.Trial showed 97.2% primary patency and 98.3% freedom from clinically driven target lesion revascularization.BD's Revello stent remains investigational in the U.S., with clinical follow-up continuing through 36 months. Becton, Dickinson and Company (BDX - Free Report) , popularly known as BD, recently reported positive nine-month results from the iliac cohort of the AGILITY trial evaluating its Revello Vascular Covered Stent for treating iliac artery disease, a form of peripheral artery disease (PAD). The findings, presented at VIVA 2026, showed promising safety and effectiveness and support continued clinical evaluation of the device.

The results are encouraging for BD as it seeks to strengthen its position in the peripheral vascular market through product innovation and clinical evidence. If subsequent follow-up confirms the device’s durability and effectiveness, Revello could expand BD’s growth opportunities in vascular intervention. Although Revello is CE-marked, it remains under clinical development in the United States and is limited to investigational use under U.S. law. Its commercial potential will depend on further clinical results and regulatory progress.

BDX Stock Trend Following the NewsFollowing the announcement on Oct. 7, BDX stock has gained more than 2% till yesterday’s close. Year to date, shares of the company have lost 2.7% against the industry’s 9.5% growth and the S&P 500’s 12.5% rise.

The positive AGILITY trial results could support BDX’s long-term growth by strengthening its portfolio of peripheral vascular intervention products and expanding clinical evidence for the Revello Vascular Covered Stent. Favorable outcomes may improve physician confidence in the device and support its adoption if it secures the necessary regulatory approvals.

This could create an additional growth opportunity for BD in treating peripheral artery disease while complementing its broader vascular portfolio. However, long-term revenue contribution will depend on the completion of clinical follow-up, regulatory clearance in the United States and the device’s eventual commercial uptake.

BDX currently has a market capitalization of $51.63 billion.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

AGILITY Trial Demonstrates Strong Safety and EffectivenessBD’s AGILITY Investigational Device Exemption trial evaluated the Revello Vascular Covered Stent in patients with iliac artery disease, which can restrict blood flow to the legs and feet, causing pain, cramping and reduced mobility. The iliac cohort enrolled 120 patients across 28 investigational sites in the United States, Europe, Australia and New Zealand. At nine months, the study met its primary composite safety and effectiveness endpoint, with a failure rate of just 2.8%, well below the prespecified performance goal of 19%.

The results also showed 97.2% primary patency, indicating that the treated arteries remained open. Trial data also demonstrated 98.3% freedom from clinically driven target lesion revascularization, suggesting a low need for repeat procedures due to clinical symptoms. Additionally, there were no device- or procedure-related deaths, no major amputations in the target limb at or above the ankle, or unanticipated serious adverse device effects. These findings support the stent’s performance in treating iliac artery disease, including cases involving moderate-to-severe lesion calcification.

Revello Stent Advances BD’s Peripheral Vascular PortfolioThe Revello Vascular Covered Stent is designed to combine the flexibility of a nitinol self-expanding stent with radial resistive force tailored to the iliac arteries. Beyond safety and vessel patency, patients treated in the AGILITY trial showed improvements in disease severity and walking ability. The mean Rutherford category, a measure of peripheral artery disease severity, improved from 3.0 at baseline to 0.3 at nine months, while the mean Walking Impairment Questionnaire score increased by 31.7 points.

Women accounted for approximately 41% of enrolled patients, adding to the diversity of the study population. Clinical follow-up in the iliac cohort will continue through 36 months to assess the durability of the results. BD also completed enrollment in the trial’s superficial femoral and proximal popliteal artery cohort in August 2026, extending the study’s evaluation of the device across additional peripheral vascular applications.

Continued positive results and progress toward regulatory approval could strengthen BD’s competitive position in peripheral intervention, although broader commercial adoption will depend on longer-term clinical outcomes and regulatory developments.

Industry Prospects Favoring the MarketGoing by data provided by Grand View Research, the global iliac stent market size was valued at $1.2 billion in 2025 and is projected to grow from $1.3 billion in 2026 to $2 billion by 2033, at a CAGR of 6.5% from 2026 to 2033.

Growth of the market can be attributed to growing advancements in medical technology, increasing prevalence of peripheral artery diseases and expanding awareness about minimally invasive procedures as an effective treatment option.

Other NewsBD recently advanced its pharmacy automation portfolio in the United States with the deployment of BD Vmax 160, its next-generation pharmacy automation robot at Fairview Health Services. The technology is designed to help high-volume centralized outpatient pharmacies manage the growing complexity of specialty and refrigerated medications while increasing fulfillment capacity and improving medication access.

BDX’s Zacks Rank & Key PicksCurrently, BDX carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold).

Some better-ranked stocks from the broader medical space are OPKO Health (OPK - Free Report) , Globus Medical (GMED - Free Report) and Merit Medical Systems (MMSI - Free Report) .

OPKO Health, currently flaunting a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), reported a second-quarter 2026 adjusted loss of 1 cent per share, which surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 87.5%. Revenues of $163.6 million beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 24.7%. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.

OPK has an estimated earnings growth rate of 23.3% for 2026. The company’s earnings beat estimates in each of the trailing four quarters, the average surprise being 95.1%.

Globus Medical, currently carrying a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy), reported a second-quarter 2026 adjusted earnings per share (EPS) of $1.34, which surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 19.6%. Revenues of $789.6 million beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 0.4%.

GMED has an estimated long-term earnings growth rate of 12.4%. The company’s earnings beat estimates in each of the trailing four quarters, the average surprise being 27.9%.

Merit Medical Systems, carrying a Zacks Rank #2 at present, reported second-quarter 2026 adjusted EPS of $1.19, which beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 23.9%. Revenues of $418.8 million surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 3.5%.

MMSI has an estimated long-term earnings growth rate of 10.4%. MMSI’s earnings surpassed estimates in the trailing four quarters, with the average surprise being 14.1%.

Transition to Coca-Cola brings two iconic brands together, a visible proof point in KFC's broader comeback plan

, /PRNewswire/ -- KFC U.S. today announced a new partnership with The Coca-Cola Company, another step in the brand's ongoing effort to refresh its menu and beverage platform and create more reasons for customers to visit. Beginning in January 2027, KFC will transition its U.S. beverage partnership to The Coca-Cola Company, with Coca-Cola products expected to be served in all U.S. restaurants by spring 2027.

"I'm incredibly excited to bring KFC and Coca-Cola together. These are two originals, with deep consumer love" said Catherine Tan-Gillespie, President of KFC U.S. "This partnership is about more than what's in the cup. It is another step in our work to evolve KFC, strengthen our restaurants, menu offerings and create a more relevant experience for today's customers. Coca-Cola shares our ambition for the future of this brand, and I'm excited about what we can create together."

"This exciting new partnership brings Coca-Cola and KFC together across the U.S. for the first time," said Dagmar Boggs, President of Foodservice & On-Premise, North America, The Coca-Cola Company. "By pairing KFC's iconic food and flavors with the breadth of Coca-Cola's beverage portfolio and innovation capabilities, we have an incredible opportunity to make every visit more refreshing, create memorable consumer experiences and unlock new growth possibilities together."

The partnership will bring together KFC's signature food and Coca-Cola's broad beverage portfolio to create compelling food-and-drink pairings, expand choice and explore new ways to make the KFC experience more complete. Together, the two brands see an opportunity to serve customers across more occasions, whether they are gathering over a family meal, stopping in for a snack or looking for something refreshing on its own. Coca-Cola's extensive system capabilities will also support KFC restaurants across the U.S.

The announcement comes as KFC continues to evolve its beverage platform through new drink offerings, expanded daypart occasions and innovation already underway across several global markets. Recent examples include the new drink lineup introduced at Open House, the brand's new innovation restaurant in McKinney, Texas, featuring iced coffees, boba, shakes and other craveable creations designed to give fans more flavor and more reasons to visit.

Together, the new Coca-Cola partnership and KFC's continued expansion of beverages mark the next step in KFC's plan to meet changing consumer preferences and create a more relevant customer experience. The partnership brings two iconic originals together as part of the broader Kentucky Fried Comeback, with a shared ambition to build memorable experiences around great food and beverages.

About KFC

KFC Corporation, based in Plano, TX., has been serving up Finger Lickin' Good Original Recipe® fried chicken since 1952, including chicken on the bone, nuggets and tenders. Beyond the top secret 11 herbs & spices, KFC specialties include the KFC Chicken Sandwich, Extra Crispy™ chicken, KFC Famous Bowls®, Pot Pies, Secret Recipe Fries, biscuits and homestyle sides. There are over 30,000 KFC restaurants in 150 countries and territories around the world. KFC Corporation is a subsidiary of Yum! Brands, Inc., Louisville, Ky. (NYSE: YUM). For more information, visit www.kfc.com. Follow KFC on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and TikTok.

SOURCE Kentucky Fried Chicken

UBS expects Chipotle Mexican Grill Inc (NYSE:CMG), the US restaurant chain, to report broadly in-line third-quarter sales on October 28, with sales growth and restaurant margins facing continued pressure before a potential recovery in 2027.

The bank forecasts same-store sales growth of 1.5% for the quarter, slightly above the 1.3% consensus estimate, but expects weaker trends at the start of the fourth quarter to challenge near-term performance.

UBS sees scope for improvement in 2027 as Chipotle expands menu innovation, marketing, catering and operational initiatives, with the bank arguing that these measures could support stronger customer transactions despite persistent economic pressures.

The broker expects third-quarter same-store sales growth to comprise a 2.5% contribution from pricing, offset by a 0.6% decline in transactions and a 0.4% negative impact from sales mix.

Chipotle's performance is expected to reflect broader economic pressures and food safety headlines, partly offset by new menu items such as Pollo Asado and Chili Lime Chips, promotional campaigns and operational improvements.

UBS also highlighted marketing initiatives, including a Cardi B-branded Bardi Bowl, partnerships linked to the PGA Tour and children's meals, and promotional offers designed to attract customers.

However, alternative sales data from Second Measure suggest trading trends weakened at the start of the fourth quarter, raising the possibility that sales growth could fall short of market expectations.

The bank forecasts same-store sales growth of 1.4% for the 2026 financial year, below the consensus estimate of 1.8%, before accelerating to 2.6% in 2027.

Chipotle's restaurant-level margins are also expected to remain under pressure, with UBS forecasting a 23.6% margin for the third quarter, below the 23.8% consensus estimate and down 90 basis points year on year.

For the fourth quarter, UBS forecasts restaurant-level margins of 22.8%, compared with the consensus estimate of 23.4%, reflecting expectations for continued sales weakness and investment in store operations.

The bank expects some margin recovery in 2027, forecasting 24.0% for the year, although this remains below the 24.4% consensus estimate as cost inflation and weaker sales remain risks.

Chipotle's longer-term growth prospects are supported by new restaurant openings, with UBS forecasting store growth of 8.7% in 2026 and 8.0% in 2027.

New restaurants are generating productivity equivalent to about 80% of established locations, while second-year cash-on-cash returns are approximately 60%, with cannibalisation of existing stores remaining around 1%.

UBS expects further sales support from an expanded High-Efficiency Equipment Package rollout, which is targeting 2,000 stores by the end of 2026, alongside a national catering launch planned for 2027 and tests of a restaurant remodelling programme.

The broker sees potential upside if sales trends improve through the remainder of the fourth quarter and into 2027, supported by Chipotle's planned initiatives, continued restaurant expansion and strong balance sheet.

Several large Indian mutual funds issued public notices late on Thursday suspending bulk subscriptions to gold exchange-traded funds, just ahead ​of the festive season when investor demand typically rises.

The notices from the ‌fund houses, including Kotak Mahindra Mutual Fund, UTI Mutual Fund and HDFC Mutual Fund, did not cite a reason for the move. There is no restriction on redemptions from these funds.

The decision ​was taken following a nudge from the Securities and Exchange Board of India, ​according to a mutual fund executive familiar with the discussions. Two ⁠bullion industry officials confirmed the halt had followed discussions with the market regulator.

The sources ​declined to be identified as they are not permitted to comment on discussions with ​the regulator.

A spokesperson for SEBI did not respond to a Reuters request for comment outside business hours.

The Indian rupee has been under pressure this year due to a surge in global oil prices, which ​have inflated the country's import bill, and heavy selling by foreign investors in Indian ​equities. Strong demand for gold has further weighed on the currency, prompting the government to raise ‌import ⁠duties on gold and silver earlier this year.

India, the world's largest consumer of silver and second-largest consumer of gold, relies on imports to meet most of its demand, a dependence that can sometimes widen its trade deficit.

Gold imports fell to $1.8 billion in September, ​from $2.3 billion in August. ​However, Indians will ⁠celebrate Dussehra in October and Diwali in early November, when buying gold is considered auspicious.

Inflows into gold and silver ETFs surged ​during last year's festive season as investors turned to precious metals ​amid lackluster ⁠stock market returns.

The move is surprising, as gold and silver imports have fallen sharply over the past two months from a year earlier and have not contributed to the ⁠trade deficit, ​said a dealer at a private bank that ​supplies bullion to ETFs.

"It looks more like a precautionary measure to avoid a surge in imports in October," ​the dealer said.

Key Takeaways SNA sees growing data center demand for its Mountz precision torque tools.SNA's C&I sales rose 13.8% in the second quarter, including 11% organic growth.SNA's C&I operating income surged 41.8%, operating margin expanded 330 basis points.
Snap-on Incorporated (SNA - Free Report) is witnessing growing opportunities in its specialty torque business, supported by rising demand for precision tools across critical industries, including data centers. The company highlighted increasing demand for its Mountz product line, which specializes in low-force precision torque applications. Management noted a sizable order serving data center customers and expressed optimism about securing additional business in this market. The Mountz business also contributed to the Commercial & Industrial (C&I) segment's quarterly growth.

The growing adoption of automated systems across critical industries is creating demand for tighter tolerances, precision and customization. Snap-on's expanding specialty torque portfolio serves applications ranging from large hydraulic and tensioning systems to lower-force operations that require greater speed and control. The Mountz acquisition has strengthened the company's capabilities in these specialized applications, positioning it to capitalize on increasing precision requirements.

This momentum is reflected in C&I's strong second-quarter performance. Segment sales increased 13.8% year over year to $395.8 million, including 11% organic growth. Specialty torque and power tools operations recorded double-digit gains, while sales to critical industries advanced in the mid-single digits. C&I operating income surged 41.8% to $66.5 million, with the operating margin expanding 330 basis points to a record 16.8%.

Management also highlighted improving profitability in the torque business, alongside ongoing sourcing and production adjustments. The company noted considerable profitability improvements in its torque operations. Overall, with data center demand emerging as an additional growth opportunity alongside established industrial applications, Snap-on's specialty torque operations appear well-positioned to support C&I's expansion and profitability.

The Zacks Rundown for SNASnap-on’s shares have lost 12.4% in the past three months compared with the industry’s 7.9% decline.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

From a valuation standpoint, SNA trades at a forward price-to-earnings ratio of 17.39 compared with the industry’s average of 17.99. The company currently carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy).

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for SNA’s current and next fiscal-year sales and earnings implies a rise of 1.1% and 7.3%, respectively, from the previous year’s figures.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

Other Stocks to ConsiderSome other top-ranked stocks have been discussed below:

G-III Apparel Group, Ltd. (GIII - Free Report) designs, sources, and markets women's and men's apparel in the United States and internationally. GIII currently carries a Zacks Rank of 2. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for GIII’s current financial-year sales and earnings is expected to decline 8.4% and 13.8%, respectively, from the corresponding year-ago reported figures. GIII delivered a trailing four-quarter negative earnings surprise of 1.4%, on average.

Kontoor Brands, Inc. (KTB - Free Report) , a lifestyle apparel company, designs, manufactures, procures, sells and licenses apparel, footwear and accessories, primarily under the Wrangler, Lee, and Helly Hansen brands. At present, KTB carries a Zacks Rank of 2.

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for KTB’s current fiscal-year sales and earnings implies a decline of 14.3% and 6.1%, respectively, from the year-ago figures. KTB delivered a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 21.4%, on average.

The Toro Company (TTC - Free Report) provides professional turf maintenance equipment and services. It operates through Professional and Residential segments. At present, TTC carries a Zacks Rank of 2.

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for TTC’s current fiscal-year sales and earnings implies growth of 6.5% and 10.5%, respectively, from the year-ago figures. TTC delivered a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 7.2% on average.

The AI power trade that sent Bloom Energy surging 165% this year is now reversing hard, and whether the selloff is a brief pause or a warning signal depends on one uncomfortable question about data center spending.

Artificial intelligence’s power trade is slowing down, and Bloom Energy (NYSE:BE) shares are taking the hardest hit among the equipment makers tied to data center electricity demand. Bloom Energy stock is down 4% to $229.83 in afternoon trading, trimming a rally that still leaves it up 165% year to date (YTD).

Meanwhile, Caterpillar (NYSE:CAT | CAT Price Prediction) shares are down 3% to $727.55, a smaller decline than Bloom Energy stock is posting. Generac Holdings (NYSE:GNRC) stock is down 1% to $195.67, the smallest drop among the three power equipment names.

Benchmarks tracking industrials and the S&P 500 are far calmer. The Industrial Select Sector SPDR ETF (NYSEARCA:XLI) is down 0.2% to $166.65, a fraction of the damage in the power equipment names. At the same time, the SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (NYSEARCA:SPY) is up 0.1% to $770.43, a sign the broader market is holding steady.

Rotation Out of AI Hits Data Center Power Names
Capital is shifting out of artificial intelligence and technology names into defensive sectors. Equipment makers whose recent gains came from data center power demand, including Bloom Energy, are giving back the most.

Fuel cell systems are Bloom Energy’s core product, generating electricity at the site where it’s consumed. That model ties its order book to data center operators choosing to build their own generation on site so they can skip the wait for grid capacity (we rounded up seven suppliers to the AI expansion, from power to cooling, in a free report you can grab here). Generac and Caterpillar sell engines and standby generators into the same buildings, yet both reach far broader customer bases that have nothing to do with data centers.

Bloom Energy’s chief executive made that dependence explicit with the company’s Q2 FY2026 results on July 28, stating that “all the major US hyperscalers and over a dozen US neoclouds, AI labs, and colocation data center operators have validated and approved our power solutions… Bloom is now a standard for AI onsite power.” This endorsement fueled the rally in Bloom Energy shares, and it also leaves the business heavily tied to one end market. The company lists a potential slowdown in AI adoption, which could reduce data center expansion, as a key risk.

Strong Results Backed the Rally
Solid results gave the rally in Bloom Energy stock real support. In Q2, the company posted revenue of $1.07 billion, up 165.5% year over year, and non-GAAP EPS of $0.78, well ahead of the $0.41 estimate. GAAP operating income also swung to a profit from a loss a year earlier, a sign the growth is turning into earnings.

During the quarter, Bloom Energy’s product revenue jumped 215% to $935.4 million, while GAAP gross margin expanded to 33.4% and operating cash flow reached $226.4 million. Those numbers explain why Bloom Energy shares ran so far, and why they can fall quickly when the theme cools off.

Next Test for Bloom Energy
The next test for Bloom Energy is whether new site-level power commitments arrive at the pace its YTD gain assumes. Management’s raised full-year 2026 outlook calls for revenue of $3.9 billion to $4.2 billion, a target that leans on data center builders continuing to add onsite generation.

Bloom Energy’s guidance also calls for non-GAAP EPS of $2.55 to $2.85 and non-GAAP operating income of $800 million to $900 million. Hitting those targets depends on operators choosing onsite power at a steady clip, and a cooling AI trade puts that assumption under a brighter light.

Strong momentum and rapidly growing sales support a constructive view of Bloom Energy shares for patient holders. However, a gain that large could shrink quickly if data center builders slow their spending, so it makes sense to size one’s positions conservatively.

Contact [email protected] for any questions or corrections.

Key Takeaways FITB is set to report Q3'26 results on Oct. 19, with EPS likely to be $1.09, suggesting y/y rise of 17.2%.FITB expects Q3'26 NII to increase 2-2.5% sequentially, supported by loan growth and stable funding costs.FITB expects adjusted expenses to fall 1-2% sequentially, aided by Comerica integration synergies. Fifth Third Bancorp (FITB - Free Report) is scheduled to report third-quarter 2026 results on Oct. 19, before the opening bell. Quarterly earnings and revenues are expected to have registered year-over-year growth in the to-be-reported quarter.

In the last reported quarter, the bank’s earnings surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate. Results benefited from growth in net interest income (NII) and fee income. Higher loan and deposit balances were also encouraging. However, increased expenses and higher provisions for credit losses acted as headwinds.

This Cincinnati, OH-based lender has an impressive earnings surprise history. Its earnings beat estimates in three of the trailing four quarters and missed once, with an average surprise of 4.18%.

Factors Likely to Impact FITB’s Q3 PerformanceLoans & NII: After strong lending activity in the first half of 2026, loan growth momentum likely moderated in the to-be-reported quarter. According to the Federal Reserve’s latest data, commercial and industrial lending demand remained healthy during the third quarter, while consumer and real estate lending held steady. Decent loan demand, along with stable deposit and funding costs, is expected to have supported growth in average interest-earning assets. Management expects average loans and leases to increase 1% sequentially in the third quarter of 2026.

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for average interest-earning assets of $269.8 billion for the third quarter indicates an 1.8% rise from the prior quarter’s actual.

In September 2026, the Fed raised interest rates by 25 basis points to 3.75–4.00%, citing persistently elevated inflation. As rates remained unchanged for most of the third quarter, its impact on NII is likely to have been limited. Meanwhile, growth in interest-earning assets, disciplined deposit pricing and stable funding costs are expected to have supported FITB’s NII in the to-be-reported quarter.

Fifth Third expects NII to increase at the upper end of its 2–2.5% range on a sequential basis in the third quarter of 2026.

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for NII is pegged at $1.93 billion, indicating a 25.8% sequential increase.

Non-Interest Revenues: Global mergers and acquisitions (M&A) activity moderated in the third quarter of 2026 as geopolitical uncertainty, elevated inflation, a persistent backlog of private equity exits and higher interest rates continued to weigh on deal-making. Despite these challenges, strategic buyers continued to pursue transactions to expand scale and strengthen operational resilience, supporting advisory activity.

Continued demand for M&A advisory services is expected to have supported FITB’s advisory and capital markets fees, contributing to growth in commercial banking revenues in the to-be-reported quarter.

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for commercial banking revenues is pegged at $127.2 million, indicating a 1.8% sequential rise.

Mortgage activity remained challenging in the third quarter of 2026, with mortgage rates hovering near 7% and affordability constraints weighing on both purchase and refinancing activity. Nevertheless, FITB’s strategic focus on expanding its mortgage lending business, increasing market share and deepening customer relationships may have provided some support to its mortgage banking income in the to-be-reported quarter.

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for mortgage banking income is pegged at $44.2 million, indicating a 13.3% increase from the prior quarter’s reported figure.

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for wealth and asset management revenues is pegged at $263.2 million, indicating a 2.8% increase from the prior quarter’s actual level.

Management expects non-interest income to increase at the upper end of the 1-3% sequential growth range in the third quarter of 2026.

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for non-interest income is pegged at $1.1 billion, which indicates a nearly 1% sequential rise.

Expenses: The company’s continued investments in technology, branch expansion and the Comerica integration are likely to have kept expenses elevated in the to-be-reported quarter. However, ongoing expense-management efforts and the expense synergies from the Comerica integration are likely to have provided some relief during the quarter to be reported.

Management expects adjusted expenses to decline at the lower end of its prior guidance range of 1–2% sequentially.

Asset Quality: Ongoing inflationary pressures and elevated borrowing costs may have strained borrowers’ repayment capacity in the third quarter of 2026. Still, favorable credit trends and continued loan demand are likely to have supported Fifth Third’s asset quality. As such, the company is less likely to have maintained elevated reserves during the quarter.

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for non-performing assets is pegged at $1.1 billion, representing an 14.5% decline from the prior quarter's reported figure.

What the Zacks Model Reveals for FITBOur proven model predicts an earnings beat for Fifth Third this time. The combination of a positive Earnings ESP and Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), 2 (Buy), or 3 (Hold) increases the odds of an earnings beat. That is exactly the case here.

FITB’s Earnings ESP: The Earnings ESP for Fifth Third is +0.89%. You can uncover the best stocks to buy or sell before they are reported with our Earnings ESP Filter.

Zacks Rank of Fifth Third: The company currently carries a Zacks Rank #3.

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for FITB’s third-quarter earnings has remained unchanged at $1.09 per share over the past seven days. The figure indicates an increase of 17.20% from the year-ago quarter.

The consensus estimate for third-quarter revenues is pegged at $3.34 billion, suggesting a rise of 45.23% from the year-ago reported figure.

Stocks That Warrant a LookHere are a couple of other bank stocks that you may want to consider, as our model shows that these also have the right combination of elements to post an earnings beat this time around.

The Earnings ESP for BOK Financial Corporation (BOKF - Free Report) is +0.59% and carries a Zacks Rank #3 at present. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.

The company is slated to report its third-quarter 2026 results on Oct. 19, 2026. Over the past seven days, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for BOKF’s quarterly earnings has remained unchanged at $2.54 per share.

KeyCorp (KEY - Free Report) is scheduled to announce third-quarter 2026 results on Oct. 20. The company has an Earnings ESP of +0.44% and a Zacks Rank #3 at present.

Quarterly earnings estimates for KEY have remained unchanged at 46 cents per share over the past week.

Jefferies has resumed coverage of Spectrum Brands Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:SPB), the US consumer products company, with a Buy rating and a $97 price target, implying 26% upside from current levels.

The broker believes investors are focusing too heavily on near-term consumer weakness and cost pressures while overlooking improving earnings potential, with operational improvements and recovering product categories expected to support growth beyond financial year 2027.

Spectrum Brands shares trade at a roughly 30% discount to their average valuation multiples over the past two and three years, leaving room for a re-rating as earnings visibility improves.

Jefferies expects organic sales growth, which excludes the effects of acquisitions, disposals and currency movements, to strengthen from 0.7% in financial year 2027 to 2.4% in financial year 2028, above market expectations of 1.8% for the latter period.

The broker expects improving conditions in Global Pet Care and easing cyclical pressures in Home & Garden to support the recovery, while Home & Personal Care is likely to remain challenged despite easier year-on-year comparisons.

Jefferies forecasts adjusted earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) of $319 million in financial year 2027 and $335 million in financial year 2028.

The estimates compare with Visible Alpha consensus forecasts of $326 million and $327 million, respectively, suggesting the broker expects profitability to strengthen beyond the near term.

The current share price implies financial year 2028 EBITDA of about $272 million under Jefferies' base-case valuation assumptions, roughly 19% below its forecast and close to trough levels recorded in financial years 2022 and 2023.

Jefferies argues that this valuation understates Spectrum Brands' improved operational execution and stronger balance sheet, with productivity initiatives, higher sales volumes and operating leverage expected to offset inflationary pressures.

Jefferies' $97 price target is based on an enterprise value-to-EBITDA multiple of approximately 7.5 times, benchmarked against Spectrum Brands' historical valuation relative to small and mid-cap Home & Personal Care peers.

The target multiple is broadly in line with the peer group's current one-year average, although the broker applies a 5% discount in its base case.

Its scenario analysis sets an upside case of $112 and a downside case of $67, reflecting the potential for a valuation recovery but also the risk that consumer demand and cost pressures continue to weigh on performance.

Jefferies expects financial year 2027 to remain a transitional period, with the investment case depending on improving category conditions, sustained operational progress and greater confidence in the company's earnings trajectory.

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Bank of America has upgraded CarMax Inc (NYSE:KMX), the US used-car retailer, to 'buy' from 'underperform' and raised its price target to $65 from $50 as improving price competitiveness drives market share gains.

The bank expects enforcement of the Federal Trade Commission’s (FTC) price-transparency rules, alongside CarMax’s own pricing changes, to support sales growth beyond the initial regulatory boost.

CarMax’s comparable used-vehicle sales rose 13% in its second financial quarter, while the wider industry declined 2%, highlighting the company’s recent outperformance.

Bank of America said the FTC’s campaign, which began in May, should benefit CarMax as dealers face greater pressure to advertise prices that include previously undisclosed fees.

CarMax removed its processing fees in May, and the bank estimates that regulatory changes accounted for half of the improvement in its price competitiveness.

The broker expects the benefits to last as more dealers comply with the rules and customers develop greater trust in CarMax’s advertised prices, potentially encouraging repeat purchases.

Bank of America also sees scope for CarMax to reduce prices further through cost savings in vehicle reconditioning and logistics, allowing it to attract more buyers without reducing gross profit per vehicle.

The company has introduced a centralised parts selection tool, shortened its warranty period to 30 days and reduced transfers across the roughly 2 million to 2.5 million vehicles it handles annually.

A review of nearly 500 advertised listings for six popular 2023 vehicle models found CarMax’s prices were 0.3% above the market average, compared with 1.2% below average at online rival Carvana and 0.1% below average at franchised dealers.

Bank of America believes cost reductions could give CarMax room to become more price-competitive while maintaining gross profit per vehicle.

The broker also highlighted an opportunity from consumers trading down from new vehicles as affordability pressures persist, with the average new-vehicle transaction price reaching about $50,600 in September.

Higher-income buyers and demand for vehicles aged zero to three years helped lift CarMax’s average selling price rose by 6% through changes in the sales mix during the second quarter, while its pricing strategy kept sales to lower-income households stable.

Bank of America identified CarMax’s planned November 3 strategic update as a near-term catalyst, with investors expected to look for cost initiatives that can sustain comparable sales growth as the initial pricing and regulatory benefits fade.

Shares of CarMax were trading over 4% higher on Thursday at around $51.85.

Key Takeaways Murphy Oil advances offshore growth with a Vietnam oil discovery and new production from Chinook #8. MUR's Chinook #8 well began production at nearly 15 MBOEPD, meeting pre-drill expectations. Murphy Oil's Lac Da Vang field targets peak net output of 10,000-15,000 BOEPD in 2028-2029. Murphy Oil Corporation (MUR - Free Report) announced an oil discovery at the Lac Da Trang North-1X well offshore Vietnam and the start of production from the Chinook #8 development well in the Gulf of America. The company also reported successful appraisal results at the Bubale West-1X well offshore Cote d’Ivoire. These developments highlight Murphy Oil’s progress in expanding its resource base and bringing offshore projects into production.

The nearby Lac Da Vang field, which achieved first oil on Sept. 27, 2026, could provide existing infrastructure for a potential tieback of the Lac Da Trang North discovery. This approach could help reduce the need for separate facilities and support a more capital-efficient development.

Murphy Oil also brought the Chinook #8 development well online in the Cascade-Chinook field in the Gulf of America. The well achieved an initial gross production rate of nearly 15 MBOEPD, in line with pre-drill expectations. It produces through the Pioneer floating production, storage and offloading (FPSO) vessel, utilizing existing infrastructure.

New Discoveries to Strengthen Murphy Oil’s Long-Term OutlookThese developments are expected to benefit Murphy Oil by increasing its production capacity, expanding its oil resource base and strengthening future revenues and cash flow. The start of production at the Lac Da Vang field in Vietnam and the Chinook #8 well in the Gulf of America will provide additional oil output and cash flow. Lac Da Vang is expected to reach net peak production of approximately 10,000-15,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day in 2028-2029.

Meanwhile, the new oil discovery at Lac Da Trang in Vietnam and the successful appraisal results in Cote d’Ivoire could create opportunities to develop additional reserves and support long-term production growth. Murphy Oil may also benefit from lower development costs at Lac Da Trang by connecting the discovery to existing Lac Da Vang infrastructure. Overall, these developments could strengthen the company’s production outlook, improve cash generation and create long-term shareholder value, although the benefits will depend on successful development and future oil prices.

Offshore Discoveries and Production Support Industry GrowthOil and gas companies are expanding their resource portfolios through exploration successes and offshore development, creating opportunities to strengthen production and long-term growth. Along with MUR, several other oil and gas companies are expanding their resource portfolios through new discoveries and offshore project development.

On Aug. 17, 2026, Chevron Corporation (CVX - Free Report) announced an oil and gas condensate discovery at the 105-4X exploration well in Block 0 offshore Angola. Located in the Lower Congo Basin, the well encountered a hydrocarbon column exceeding 2,000 feet, including more than 300 feet of net pay in the Pinda reservoir.

Chevron’s unit, Cabinda Gulf Oil Company Limited (CABGOC), operates Block 0 with a 39.2% working interest. Sonangol E&P holds 41%, TotalEnergies holds 10% and Azule Energy holds 9.8%.

EOG Resources (EOG - Free Report) is expanding its exploration portfolio through successful oil discoveries in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Two horizontal test wells each produced more than 25,000 barrels of oil during their initial 30 days.

These results support further exploration, while EOG expects 5% oil production growth in 2026, supporting industry growth.

On July 27, 2026, Talos Energy Inc. (TALO - Free Report) announced an agreement to acquire a 50% working interest in Block 29 offshore Mexico, operated by Repsol S.A. The block, located in the Salinas-Sureste Basin, contains the Polok and Chinwol oil discoveries, which are estimated to hold more than 200 million barrels of oil equivalent in gross recoverable resources.

The transaction includes a contingent $30 million payment upon a final investment decision and a cash carry of up to $20 million for the next exploration well. The project could reach the final investment decision stage in 2027, subject to regulatory approvals.

Share Price Movement of MURIn the past month, shares of the company have risen 3% compared with the industry’s 2.1% growth.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

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

Gold price climbs after another US inflation report on Thursday. Although the snapshot of US wholesale inflation came in hotter than expected, it was already priced in by investors, who trimmed their hawkish bets on the Federal Reserve (Fed). That produced a tailwind for the yellow metal, which benefits from lower interest rate environments. The XAU/USD trades at $4,148, up 1.1%.

Bullion rebounds as falling Treasury yields and reduced October Fed hike bets lift BullionBullion prices recovered following a red-hot US Consumer Price Index (CPI) report on Wednesday, which prompted investors to increase hawkish Fed bets. Nevertheless, toward the end of the session, traders reduced those bets ahead of the release of Thursday's Producer Price Index (PPI).

The US PPI in September jumped above the 6% threshold, largely due to a rise in energy prices. The headline print exceeded estimates of 5.3%, surging to 6.3% YoY, while underlying inflation jumped from 4.8% to 5%, also above forecasts.

The Greenback and US Treasury yields initially steadied, before weakening, a tailwind for the precious metal. The US Dollar Index (DXY), which measures the performance of the buck’s value against a basket of six peers, edged down 0.4% to 102.11. At the same time, the yield of the US 10-year benchmark bond fell ten basis points to 5.089%.

After the data release, money markets now expect a 26% chance of a 25-basis-point rate hike by the Fed at the October 28 meeting, though for December they priced in a 92% chance.

In the meantime, Federal Reserve officials, led by San Francisco Fed President Mary Daly and Governor Michelle Bowman, stated that an immediate rate hike might not be needed.

US Retail Sales in September also cooled from 1.3% to 0.8% MoM but came in better than economists' projections of 0.3%. Further data showed that Initial Jobless Claims for the week ending October 10 came at 199K, below forecasts of 200K.

Investors are also looking for comments from Fed Chair Kevin Warsh at the International Monetary Fund's annual meeting, looking for clues ahead of this month's Fed meeting.

XAU/USD technical analysis: Gold jumps back above $4,100 but remains bearishOn Wednesday, Gold reached a weekly low of $4,073, but during Thursday’s sessionit reclaimed the $4,100 mark and is hovering near $4,150. Despite this, the Relative Strength Index (RSI) remains bearish but is showing signs that buyers are moving in.

For a bullish reversal, buyers need to clear $4,200 before testing the 100-day Simple Moving Average (SMA) at $4,245. Above lies the 50-day SMA at $4,334.

For a bearish continuation, the first support for XAU/USD is $4,100. A decisive breakdown will expose the October 14 low of $4,073, then the July 29 cycle low at $3,996, and finally the July 17 low at $3,959. Below that is the yearly low at $3,941.

Gold daily chart
Gold FAQs

Gold has played a key role in human’s history as it has been widely used as a store of value and medium of exchange. Currently, apart from its shine and usage for jewelry, the precious metal is widely seen as a safe-haven asset, meaning that it is considered a good investment during turbulent times. Gold is also widely seen as a hedge against inflation and against depreciating currencies as it doesn’t rely on any specific issuer or government.

Central banks are the biggest Gold holders. In their aim to support their currencies in turbulent times, central banks tend to diversify their reserves and buy Gold to improve the perceived strength of the economy and the currency. High Gold reserves can be a source of trust for a country’s solvency. Central banks added 1,136 tonnes of Gold worth around $70 billion to their reserves in 2022, according to data from the World Gold Council. This is the highest yearly purchase since records began. Central banks from emerging economies such as China, India and Turkey are quickly increasing their Gold reserves.

Gold has an inverse correlation with the US Dollar and US Treasuries, which are both major reserve and safe-haven assets. When the Dollar depreciates, Gold tends to rise, enabling investors and central banks to diversify their assets in turbulent times. Gold is also inversely correlated with risk assets. A rally in the stock market tends to weaken Gold price, while sell-offs in riskier markets tend to favor the precious metal.

The price can move due to a wide range of factors. Geopolitical instability or fears of a deep recession can quickly make Gold price escalate due to its safe-haven status. As a yield-less asset, Gold tends to rise with lower interest rates, while higher cost of money usually weighs down on the yellow metal. Still, most moves depend on how the US Dollar (USD) behaves as the asset is priced in dollars (XAU/USD). A strong Dollar tends to keep the price of Gold controlled, whereas a weaker Dollar is likely to push Gold prices up.

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BENSALEM, Pa.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Law Offices of Howard G. Smith reminds investors of the upcoming December 7, 2026 deadline to file a lead plaintiff motion in the case filed on behalf of investors who purchased Duolingo, Inc. (“Duolingo” or the “Company”) (NASDAQ: DUOL) securities between May 2, 2025 and February 26, 2026, inclusive (the “Class Period”).

IF YOU ARE AN INVESTOR WHO SUFFERED A LOSS IN DUOLINGO, INC. (DUOL), CONTACT THE LAW OFFICES OF HOWARD G. SMITH TO PARTICIPATE IN THE ONGOING SECURITIES FRAUD LAWSUIT.

Contact the Law Offices of Howard G. Smith to discuss your legal rights by email at [email protected], by telephone at (215) 638-4847 or visit our website at www.howardsmithlaw.com.

What Happened?

On November 5, 2025, Duolingo, Inc. announced its financial results for the third quarter of 2025. It disclosed that growth in daily active users had slowed for yet another consecutive quarter, falling to 36% from 40% in the second quarter of 2025 and 49% in the first quarter of 2025. The Company also disclosed that it was retreating from its push to increase monetization. It stated that it would now place user growth ahead of monetization and that it needed to invest more heavily in “teaching better across all our subjects.”

On this news, Duolingo, Inc. stock fell $66.28 or 25.49%, to close at $193.74 on November 6, 2025, thereby injuring investors.

Then, on January 12, 2026, Duolingo, Inc. disclosed the resignation of its Chief Financial Officer, Matthew Skaruppa. In the same announcement, the Company released limited preliminary operating metrics for the fourth quarter of 2025, which showed growth in daily active users of only 30%. This was a further slowdown of six percentage points from the third quarter of 2025.

On this news, the price of Duolingo, Inc. stock fell $14.92 or 8.45%, to close at $161.74 on January 12, 2026, thereby further injuring investors.

Finally, on February 26, 2026, Duolingo, Inc. released its financial results for the fourth quarter of 2025. The results confirmed the slowdown in daily active user growth and showed that the financial effects of the Company’s change in strategy would not be “small” or “little.” Instead, they would materially harm its 2026 bookings, daily active user growth rates, revenue, and adjusted EBITDA.

On this news, the price of Duolingo, Inc. stock fell $16.45 or 14.01%, to close at $101 on February 27, 2026, thereby further injuring investors.

What Is The Lawsuit About?

The complaint filed in this class action alleges that throughout the Class Period, Defendants made materially false and/or misleading statements, as well as failed to disclose material adverse facts about the Company’s business, operations, and prospects. Specifically, Defendants failed to disclose to investors that: (i) Daily Active User ("DAU") growth rates were being leveraged against deliberately added user friction in the form of significant increases in ad volume, subscription tier upsells, and worsened product quality, and defendants understood that any amount of user friction would cause users to leave the app and, ultimately, negatively impact DAU growth rates; (ii) Duolingo's rigorous A/B testing demonstrated to defendants that increased friction in the free user experience was having negative impacts on DAU growth rates; (iii) Duolingo's quickly generated AI content was worsening the quality of Duolingo's product offerings, negatively impacting the user experience and user trends, and threatening the sustainability of Duolingo's financial performance; and (iv) far from driving sustained growth and strong user momentum through content and "product improvements" that "get improved retention," Duolingo's constant A/B testing informed Duolingo that its monetization push and lower-quality, rapidly generated AI content were degrading the Duolingo product experience and the value proposition of its subscription tiers; and (v) as a result, Defendants’ positive statements about the Company’s business, operations, and prospects were materially misleading and/or lacked a reasonable basis at all relevant times.

If you purchased or otherwise acquired Duolingo, Inc. securities during the Class Period, you may move the Court no later than December 7, 2026 to ask the Court to appoint you as lead plaintiff if you meet certain legal requirements.

Contact Us To Participate or Learn More:

If you wish to learn more about this class action, or if you have any questions concerning this announcement or your rights or interests with respect to these matters, please contact us:

Law Offices of Howard G. Smith,
3070 Bristol Pike, Suite 112,
Bensalem, Pennsylvania 19020,
Telephone: (215) 638-4847
Email: [email protected],
Visit our website at: www.howardsmithlaw.com.

To be a member of the class action you need not take any action at this time; you may retain counsel of your choice or take no action and remain an absent member of the class action.

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

More News From Law Offices of Howard G. Smith

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Key Takeaways Doximity extends its U.S. News partnership, supporting Doctor Finder, Patient Connect and hospital rankings.DOCS will provide physician data and remain the exclusive third-party provider of Expert Opinion surveys.Doximity's network of over 3 million medical professionals connects patients with hospitals and physicians. Doximity (DOCS - Free Report) recently announced an extension of its 13-year partnership with U.S. News & World Report, strengthening its role in helping patients find physicians and schedule appointments. The company will continue providing physician data for U.S. News' Doctor Finder, supporting its Patient Connect appointment-booking tools. DOCS will also continue to serve as the exclusive third-party provider of the Expert Opinion physician survey used in the Best Hospitals and Best Children's Hospitals rankings.

Per management, Doximity leverages its network of more than 3 million medical professionals across specialties and treatment areas to help Americans identify and connect with appropriate healthcare providers. The company is pleased to extend its strategic partnership with U.S. News & World Report to further support patients in navigating their healthcare needs.

DOCS Stock Trend Following the NewsDOCS stock has lost 2.1% since the announcement on Tuesday. Year to date, the stock has declined 32.4% against the industry’s 17.8% growth and the S&P 500’s 12.5% rise.

The extended agreement could support DOCS' growth by reinforcing its relationships with major healthcare information platforms and hospital partners. Continued integration of Doximity's physician data and appointment-booking technology may strengthen demand for its digital solutions while helping hospitals attract patients. The partnership also reinforces the value of Doximity's extensive physician database, creating opportunities to expand its hospital-facing services and deepen its role in the patient acquisition process.

DOCS currently has a market capitalization of $5.45 billion.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

More on the NewsDoximity will continue supporting three key U.S. News offerings. Its physician data powers Doctor Finder, which helps patients identify doctors and book appointments with hospital partners. Its Patient Connect product enables appointment scheduling and links patients directly to participating healthcare providers. Doximity will also remain the exclusive third-party provider of the Expert Opinion physician survey, which contributes to U.S. News' hospital rankings.

The extended partnership strengthens Doximity’s role as a data provider for U.S. News’ physician- and hospital-facing products, combining U.S. News’ independent rankings and healthcare platform with Doximity’s physician network, data and technology. With over 65 million Americans using U.S. News annually to research healthcare options, the collaboration helps connect patients' care decisions with practical next steps, including finding physicians and scheduling appointments with participating hospitals.

Industry Prospects Favoring the MarketAccording to Precedence Research, the U.S. patient referral management software market was valued at $5.82 billion in 2025 and is projected to witness a CAGR of 17% from 2026 to 2035.

Factors like a large healthcare ecosystem of healthcare providers, rising demand for integrated referral solutions, widespread EHR adoption and CMS and ONC initiatives promoting interoperability and seamless data exchange are boosting market growth.

Other NewsDoximity recently announced that it has become a founding partner in Fireworks’ Specialized Intelligence Index, featuring leading AI benchmarks across healthcare, law and customer support. The company is also launching its open-source Bedside Bench to evaluate clinical AI performance in real-world medical scenarios. Independently graded by Fireworks, Doximity Ask ranked first against leading frontier models.

DOCS’ Zacks Rank & Key PicksCurrently, Doximity carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold).

Some better-ranked stocks from the broader medical space are OPKO Health (OPK - Free Report) , Globus Medical (GMED - Free Report) and Merit Medical Systems (MMSI - Free Report) .

OPKO Health, currently flaunting a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), reported a second-quarter 2026 adjusted loss of 1 cent per share, which surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 87.5%. Revenues of $163.6 million beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 24.7%. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.

OPK has an estimated earnings growth rate of 23.3% for 2026. The company’s earnings beat estimates in each of the trailing four quarters, the average surprise being 95.1%.

Globus Medical, currently carrying a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy), reported a second-quarter 2026 adjusted EPS of $1.34, which surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 19.6%. Revenues of $789.6 million beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 0.4%.

GMED has an estimated long-term earnings growth rate of 12.4%. The company’s earnings beat estimates in each of the trailing four quarters, the average surprise being 27.9%.

Merit Medical Systems, carrying a Zacks Rank #2 at present, reported second-quarter 2026 adjusted EPS of $1.19, which beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 23.9%. Revenues of $418.8 million surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 3.5%.

MMSI has an estimated long-term earnings growth rate of 10.4%. MMSI’s earnings surpassed estimates in the trailing four quarters, the average surprise being 14.1%.

Peru and Mexico both mined less silver than a year earlier, and Mexico was the one expected to grow, so the supply case that silver holders rely on just got a little firmer.

Metals Focus and the Silver Institute forecast world mine supply to slip slightly this year. They expect gains in Mexico and Morocco to be more than offset by declines, mainly in Peru and Argentina. Peru is falling as forecast. Mexico's latest monthly figure, for July, went the other way. Then on October 8 a strike was formally declared at San Dimas, one of Mexico's larger silver mines, where work had already stopped. One month does not overturn a full-year forecast, and the ounces involved are small next to this year's expected shortfall. But the direction favours silver holders over the coming year, even while interest rates drive the price in the short run.

The price has not reflected any of this yet. Silver fell about 6% on October 14. US consumer prices had risen faster than expected, and markets moved toward another Federal Reserve rate rise. Kitco's late-afternoon reading put silver at $55.41 and gold at $4,098.80. That is a gold-silver ratio of about 74. At that reading silver was about 22.7% below its 2025 closing price, on MetalCharts' figures. Silver pays no interest, so it becomes less attractive to hold when bonds pay more after inflation. Real yields, the return on bonds after inflation, and the dollar have been the main near-term influences on the price this year, though the daily link is not one-to-one. At Golden Meadow® I track both sides: the price, which answers to rates in the short run, and the balance of supply and demand, which builds the longer-term case.

A strike at one of Mexico's larger Silver minesWorkers at First Majestic's San Dimas mine in Durango stopped work on September 18. On October 8 about 800 of them, in two sections of Mexico's national miners' union, made it a formal strike. Extraction of gold and silver is halted. The union cites safety conditions, worn equipment, breaches of the labour contract and a productivity bonus. As of October 13, local reports said work remained completely halted, with no agreement and no date set for a return.

The dispute was already showing in the company's numbers. San Dimas produced 41% less silver in the third quarter than a year earlier, according to First Majestic's own release. The company blames 12 operating days lost to the dispute. It also cites lower grades, meaning less silver in each tonne of ore, which it links to the dispute as well. At last year's pace of output, each further month of strike removes roughly half a million ounces.

That quarterly fall needs reading with care. It mixes the strike with lower grades. Ore that is not mined during a strike can be mined later, so the quarter overstates any permanent loss of supply.

Peru and Mexico both mined lessIn August, I looked at what cut silver output in Mexico, Peru and Chile at once. The latest official figures point the same way, and they measure silver directly rather than estimate it.

Peru's mines ministry reported less silver for January to July than in the same months of 2025. The fall was 1.64 million ounces, or 2.4%. Silver output in July on its own rose 0.5%, so the decline came earlier in the year. Much of Peru's silver comes out of zinc and lead ore, and Peru's zinc output fell 22.2% in July. That fits the survey, which expected Peru's decline to come from lower output at its lead and zinc mines.

In Mexico, the statistics agency INEGI put July's mined silver 4.3% below a year earlier. That is a loss of about 0.58 million ounces in one month. Mexico also publishes a series for refined silver, which fell 2.3%. The mined series is the one that measures what came out of the ground.

Chile adds a copper signal, which is not the same as a silver signal. Copper mines are the second-largest source of byproduct silver, the silver recovered as a side product of mining another metal. Chile's copper output fell 12.7% in August, and workers at the Centinela copper mine went on strike on October 7. No Chilean source publishes the silver in that copper, so it is a pointer rather than a measurement.

Sources: Peru mines ministry via REDIMIN | INEGI, mining bulletin, September 2026 | First Majestic Q3 2026 (SEC) | REDIMIN, Peru zinc output | La Jornada, San Dimas strike | Meganoticias, strike status October 13 | El Siglo de Durango, strike declared | Endeavour Silver Q3 2026 (SEC) | PSU Connect, Hindustan Zinc | Cochilco data via CNN Chile | World Silver Survey 2026, Metals Focus and the Silver Institute

The San Dimas fall mixes the strike with lower grades, and ore not mined during a strike can be mined later, so the quarterly figure overstates a permanent supply loss. The Hindustan Zinc figure is saleable refined silver from an integrated miner and smelter, taken from a secondary report; the exchange filing was not seen.

What pulls the other waySupply is rising in some places, and an honest reading has to count them. India's Hindustan Zinc reported 20% more refined silver in the July to September quarter, about 0.93 million ounces. That is saleable metal from a company that both mines and smelts, taken from a secondary report. It measures something different from Mexico's mined output, so it cannot be subtracted from Mexico's decline. It does show supply growing elsewhere.

In Mexico itself, Endeavour Silver's total silver output across its mines rose 19% as its new Terronera mine ramped up. Discovery Silver's Cordero project in Chihuahua received its federal environmental permits on October 6. The bank BMO's model puts first production in the second half of 2029, so it adds no supply for years.

What this means to Silver investorsSilver that is used has to come from somewhere: a mine, recycling or a stockpile. When mines and recyclers supply less than the world uses, stockpiles fill the gap. Metals Focus and the Silver Institute forecast that gap at 46.3 million ounces this year, which would make 2026 the sixth year in a row of shortfall. Other things being equal, less silver mined in Peru, Mexico or at San Dimas widens it.

The size is modest. The measured declines in Peru and Mexico add up to about 2.2 million ounces. They cover different periods, so this is not a global estimate. A strike that lasts through November would add about another million ounces. None of it is large next to the forecast shortfall.

The direction matters more than the size. The survey expected Mexico to grow this year and soften Peru's decline. July went the other way, and one of the country's larger silver mines is now shut. A single month does not overturn a full-year forecast. Mexico's August figures, due around October 21, will show whether July was a blip or the start of a run. Third-quarter results from the larger producers follow from late October.

So this is good news for silver holders on the supply side, at a small scale, and it matters over the coming year rather than the coming week. The price fell on interest rates this week and may keep answering to them for a while. The supply side is what builds the longer-term case, and in the latest data it got firmer.

The technology sector is a favorite of growth-hungry investors, and it isn't difficult to see why. When tech companies develop innovative solutions to difficult problems, it can allow them to disrupt established industries and pioneer entirely new ones. The returns can be huge.

For example, if you had bought $5,000 worth of D-Wave Quantum (QBTS +3.57%) stock two years ago, you would have a position worth over $64,000 today -- a return of 1,190%. But that would have required some good timing. Investors who bet on the company around the time it debuted on the market in 2022 via a reverse merger with a special purpose acquisition company (SPAC) would be up just 25%. D-Wave spent a couple of years after that in doldrums, down at one point by more than 95% from its early peak. And those who bought at almost any time during the past year are in the red as well. The stock is down by about 69% over the past 12 months. But for investors today, the question is where D-Wave could be going. Let's dig deeper into the pros and cons of the company to decide what the future might have in store.

$12.46+$0.43 (+3.57%)

NASDAQ · As of 1:46 PM ET 10/15/26

Why quantum computing?
Quantum computing is a cutting-edge evolution of computer technology that is built around a completely different model from the computers and digital devices you use every day. Where those familiar machines store and process data in bits (either 1s or 0s), quantum machines process data in quantum bits, also known as "qubits." That allows them to perform computations in an entirely different way -- one that will (eventually) let them rapidly solve problems that would take today's most powerful supercomputers years or even millennia. If the technology can be developed to the point where it works reliably and at commercial scale, it promises to revolutionize industries ranging from drug discovery to AI.

To be fair, this is something that has been touted as being "just around the corner" for decades. But recent progress by industry leaders like Alphabet and IBM has helped raise investor optimism about the timeline for quantum computing to reach commercial viability.

Both companies believe they can have workable, fault-tolerant machines by the end of the decade. Wall Street is also getting optimistic, with analysts at investment banking firm Jefferies projecting that quantum computing industry revenue could rise from around $1 billion this year to $198 billion by 2040. Early leaders like D-Wave Quantum offer investors a way to get in on the ground floor.

What is D-Wave's edge?
D-Wave stands out from others working in this space because of its focus on developing quantum annealing machines, a niche subset of quantum computing technology that works by finding the lowest-energy solutions to problems. This is distinct from the gate-based quantum computers that most industry leaders are working on. Those are intended as more general-purpose devices.

Quantum annealing computers, by contrast, are only suitable for solving optimization and sampling problems. But while that's a narrower set of use cases, it includes a large set of tasks that are among the first that companies want to use quantum computing to solve. For example, in logistics, a quantum annealing machine could determine the most efficient routes for delivery drivers with dozens of locations to visit.

The company seems to believe its strategy offers a faster path to commercial viability. A test conducted by British pharmaceutical giant GSK (which has tested quantum devices for drug discovery and cybersecurity) suggests D-Wave's annealing devices may already be useful in certain niche real-world scenarios. However, D-Wave's second-quarter report shows that it has a long way to go before shareholders can rest easy.

Image source: Getty Images.

The good news was that the company's first-half bookings jumped 1,120% year over year to $35.5 million. (Bookings refers to orders that will generate sales in the future). However, Q2 revenue remained practically flat at $3.1 million.

There are also bottlenecks slowing the pace at which the company can fulfill the obligations associated with its orders. These issues raise questions about the scalability of its business model, even if demand for its machines continues to grow.

Meanwhile, D-Wave's bottom line looks grim. In the quarter, its operating losses doubled year over year to $53.3 million, and that trend looks likely to continue because of the significant outlays needed to pioneer a cutting-edge technology and keep up with much larger rivals like Google and IBM, which have significantly more resources.

Is D-Wave Quantum still a millionaire-maker?
After jumping by more than 10-fold in two years, it is fair to say that D-Wave Quantum has already been a millionaire-maker stock for many investors who bought it when the market was more pessimistic about its prospects. The company's focus on a potentially transformational technology means it is capable of continuing to trounce the wider market if things go as expected.

That said, much of the rally that drove it upward over the past couple of years was driven by hype and optimism instead of tangible operational results. Earnings still leave much to be desired, and with a price-to-sales (P/S) multiple of 362, the stock is already priced for perfection, and with an enormous amount of hoped-for growth baked in. While D-Wave is exciting, serious investors may want to wait on the sidelines for a lower entry point.

CoreWeave (NASDAQ:CRWV), the artificial intelligence cloud computing provider, shares fell 3% on Thursday as financing concerns hit AI infrastructure stocks, despite Bank of America raising its revenue growth forecasts.

Bank of America reiterated its 'buy' rating and $140 price target on Thursday, arguing that CoreWeave’s ability to bring computing capacity online at scale gives it a competitive advantage.

The bank’s revenue growth forecasts for 2027 were raised to 105% from 102%, and for 2028 to 63% from 58%, reflecting expectations for additional capacity and higher pricing.

The revised forecasts assume CoreWeave will add between 1.4 gigawatts and 1.5 gigawatts of power capacity annually in 2027 and 2028, with active capacity reaching 4.8 gigawatts by the end of 2028.

Bank of America also expects revenue per megawatt to increase from about $10 currently to $14 by the end of 2028, supported by deployments of Nvidia’s next-generation Vera Rubin computing systems.

CoreWeave added 500 megawatts of active power in the second quarter of 2026 and is targeting 8 gigawatts of power capacity by the end of 2030.

The bank believes the company’s operating model helps manage execution risks because it primarily leases data centre capacity from third-party developers rather than building facilities itself.

CoreWeave also structures agreements between infrastructure providers and customers, with customer prepayments that can cover about 50% of the contract value, helping to reduce financing requirements.

Its reliance on five-year contracts with major cloud computing companies and AI developers provides revenue visibility and supports financing secured against long-term contracted cash flows.

However, investors have raised concerns about the cost of funding its rapid expansion, with rising bond yields highlighting the financial pressures facing companies building AI infrastructure.

Bank of America’s positive outlook rests on CoreWeave continuing to increase capacity and improve pricing while maintaining its long-duration contract model, which prioritizes predictable revenue over potentially more lucrative shorter-term agreements.

Key Takeaways STX's Mozaic 4 rollout supports margin expansion via higher storage density and lower costs per terabyte.STX expects Mozaic 4 to represent 50% of HAMR exabyte shipments by year-end 2026 amid rising cloud demand.Seagate's non-GAAP gross margin reached 52.7% in fiscal Q4 2026, with further gains expected in fiscal 2027.
Seagate Technology Holdings plc (STX - Free Report) is strengthening its profitability outlook through the growing adoption of its heat-assisted magnetic recording (HAMR)-based Mozaic platform. The company's second-generation Mozaic 4 technology, supporting storage capacities of up to 44 terabytes (TB) per drive, is emerging as a key contributor to margin expansion. By increasing storage density while maintaining relatively stable drive production volumes, Seagate is positioned to improve manufacturing efficiency, lower costs per terabyte and capture greater value from its high-capacity storage portfolio.

The Mozaic 4 platform is gaining traction among major cloud service providers. Seagate is currently ramping production with the world's two largest cloud providers, while additional customer qualifications remain underway. The company expects Mozaic 4 to account for 50% of its HAMR-based exabyte shipments by the end of calendar 2026. Management highlighted that Mozaic 4 shipments increased significantly during the June quarter after initial deliveries began in March. The platform contributed meaningfully to its financial performance and is expected to provide further benefits in the September quarter.

Seagate's improving product mix is already supporting substantial profitability gains. In the fourth quarter of fiscal 2026, non-GAAP gross margin reached 52.7%, expanding 570 basis points sequentially. The improvement reflected favorable pricing, increasing shipments of high-capacity nearline drives and disciplined operational execution. Management emphasized that the transition from 3TB to 4TB per disk provides another opportunity to strengthen profitability through higher areal density and improved cost efficiency.

Strong demand from cloud customers, supported by expanding artificial intelligence (AI) workloads and data retention requirements, further reinforces this opportunity. Seagate's value-based pricing strategy and long-term customer commitments provide additional visibility into revenue and margin growth. Management expects sequential gross margin improvements throughout fiscal 2027, supported by continued Mozaic adoption and favorable supply-demand conditions.

However, manufacturing complexity, customer qualification timelines and temporary inefficiencies during technology transitions could moderate near-term gains. Despite these challenges, improving production yields and a richer mix of higher-capacity drives should support further profitability expansion. Overall, the continued rollout of 44TB Mozaic 4 drives strengthens Seagate's prospects for sustained gross margin improvement in fiscal 2027.

Taking a Look at STX’s CompetitorsWestern Digital (WDC - Free Report) is well-positioned to benefit from rising demand for high-capacity storage driven by AI, cloud and data-intensive workloads. Strong cloud demand, favorable pricing and long-term customer agreements support revenue visibility. Its high-capacity ePMR and UltraSMR drives, along with upcoming HAMR technology, strengthen its position among hyperscale customers. A richer product mix, lower cost per terabyte and operating leverage are supporting margin expansion and cash generation. Western Digital issued encouraging first-quarter fiscal 2027 guidance, projecting non-GAAP revenues of $4.1 billion at the midpoint, plus or minus $100 million, representing 45% year-over-year growth.

NetApp (NTAP - Free Report) is benefiting from rising enterprise spending on AI-ready storage, supported by demand for all-flash, Public Cloud and Keystone solutions. Its unified platform and acquisition initiatives strengthen data modernization, AI and migration capabilities. Raised fiscal 2027 guidance signals growth and operating leverage. For the fiscal second quarter, NetApp expects revenues of $2.03-$2.18 billion, non-GAAP gross margin of 67-68%, operating margin of 30.9-31.9% and earnings of $2.54-$2.64 per share. For fiscal 2027, revenues are projected at $7.98-$8.23 billion, with earnings of $9.73-$10.03 per share, reflecting continued growth momentum.

STX Price Performance, Valuation and EstimatesIn the past month, STX’s shares have lost 8.8% against the Zacks Computer Integrated Systems industry growth of 7.7%.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

STX’s shares are trading at a forward price-to-earnings multiple of 16.91X, higher than the industry’s 10.74X.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for STX’s earnings for fiscal 2027 has been unchanged over the past 60 days.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

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

FRANKLIN, Tenn., Oct. 15, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Toll Brothers, Inc. (NYSE:TOL), the nation’s leading builder of luxury homes, today announced its newest Nashville-area community, Magnolia Green, is coming soon to the intersection of Murfreesboro Road (Hwy. 96) and Ralston Lane in Franklin, Tennessee. Construction of the Sales Center and model home is anticipated to begin in early 2027, with sales expected to begin shortly thereafter.

Located near the heart of historic downtown Franklin, Magnolia Green will include 57 new single-family homes by Toll Brothers. Homebuyers will have the opportunity to choose from four exquisite home designs ranging from 4,859 to 5,896 square feet, each built with the outstanding quality, craftsmanship, and value for which Toll Brothers is known. The homes will have 3-car garages, options for single-level living, and home sites large enough for personal pools.

“The proximity to downtown Franklin paired with large home sites and stunning home designs instantly makes Magnolia Green a highly desirable place to call home,” said Jordan Hartigan, Division President of Toll Brothers in Tennessee. “Downtown Franklin is a very special place, and we’re excited to bring this highly anticipated community to life.”

Homebuyers will enjoy proximity to nearby shopping, dining, arts and entertainment, and recreational destinations, including GRAYS on Main, Red Pony, Cork & Cow, The Franklin Theatre, Pinkerton Park and The Park at Harlinsdale Farm. Children will attend school in the highly acclaimed Williamson County and Franklin Special School District.

With major highways, including Interstate 65, just moments away, residents will appreciate convenient connections to Brentwood, downtown Nashville, and the entire South Nashville corridor.

Toll Brothers' portfolio of new home communities in the greater Nashville area includes Franklin Ridge in Franklin, Toll Brothers at August Park in Spring Hill, Toll Brothers at The Nations in Nashville, Tomlinson Pointe in Mt. Juliet, Meadowlark in Murfreesboro, and upcoming development, Sagebrook by Toll Brothers in Nolensville, which is slated to open for sales in early 2027.

For more information on Magnolia Green and to join the Toll Brothers interest list, call 855-949-8655 or visit TollBrothers.com/TN.

ABOUT TOLL BROTHERS
Toll Brothers, Inc., a Fortune 500 Company, is the nation’s leading builder of luxury homes. The Company was founded in 1967 and became a public company in 1986 with common stock listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “TOL.” Toll Brothers builds new homes and communities in over 60 markets across the United States, serving first-time, move-up, active-adult, and second-home buyers. The Company also operates its own architectural, engineering, mortgage, title, land development, smart home technology, landscape, and building components manufacturing businesses.

Toll Brothers was named the #1 Most Admired Home Builder in Fortune magazine’s 2026 list of the World’s Most Admired Companies®, the ninth year the Company has achieved this honor. Toll Brothers has also been named Builder of the Year by Builder magazine and is the first two-time recipient of Builder of the Year from Professional Builder magazine. For more information visit TollBrothers.com.

From Fortune, ©2026 Fortune Media IP Limited. All rights reserved. Used under license.

Contact: Andrea Meck | Toll Brothers, Senior Director, Public Relations & Social Media | 215-938-8169 | [email protected]

Photos accompanying this announcement are available at 

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/e5925cbf-329f-4316-a3e0-fec65877aed5

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/b67288bd-8862-4375-b3d9-ee4371c4211c

Sent by Toll Brothers via Regional Globe Newswire (TOLL-REG)