AT&T rozšířila 400G konektivitu do více než 40 amerických metropolí a dokončila akvizici fiber aktiv Lumen, která přidala 1,1 milionu fiber zákazníků a více než 4 miliony fiber lokalit. Současně potvrdila výhled na rok 2026.
Key Takeaways AT&T expanded 400G connectivity, added Lumen fiber assets and reaffirmed its 2026 outlook.T added 294,000 postpaid phone users as its wireless and fiber convergence strategy gained traction.T faces elevated debt and intense competition, while AI network monetization remains a long-term prospect. AT&T, Inc. (T - Free Report) stock plunged 27.5% over the past year compared with the Wireless National industry’s decline of 21.7%. The stock has underperformed compared to the Zacks Computer & Technology sector and the S&P 500’s growth during this period.
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The company has underperformed its peers like Verizon Communications Inc. (VZ - Free Report) and T-Mobile US, Inc. (TMUS - Free Report) over the past year. Shares of Verizon have dipped 0.5%, while TMUS stock has plummeted 25.3% during the same period.
Key Growth DriversAT&T expanded 400G wavelength connectivity to 40+ U.S. metros, enabling AI-ready, high-capacity enterprise networking. T’s 400G capability now covers 440,000 properties serving more than 2.3 million business tenants. The expansion has significantly boosted AT&T’s capability in the AI and enterprise networking space.
The company is benefiting from solid traction in the wireless vertical. It has added 294,000 postpaid phone subscribers during the quarter. Postpaid phone churn was 0.89%. The company is focused on increasing the number of households that subscribe to both AT&T wireless and broadband services, including AT&T Fiber and AT&T Internet Air. Its convergence strategy is paying off well, as evidenced by recent quarterly results. Around 42% of AT&T’s advanced home Internet users also subscribe to its wireless services. T recently introduced AT&T OneConnect. The product combines fiber and wireless into a single subscription. Growing adoption of such plans will deepen customer relationships and increase convergence.
AT&T continued to execute on its long-term connectivity strategy by strengthening its fiber footprint. During the first quarter, the company completed the Lumen fiber acquisition ahead of schedule. The buyout has added 1.1 million fiber customers and more than 4 million fiber locations. Along with these developments, AT&T continues to execute on its transformation initiatives, including AI-driven automation and digitalization, to support its target of $4 billion in annual cost savings by 2028.
The company has reaffirmed its guidance for 2026. It is targeting 3-4% adjusted EBITDA growth in 2026. Free cash flow is targeted at more than $18 billion in 2026, in excess of $19 billion in 2027 and in excess of $21 billion in 2028, alongside an adjusted earnings outlook of $2.25 to $2.35 per share for 2026. Given the highly competitive nature of the industry, this is a positive outlook.
Major Challenges for TThe U.S. wireless market remains highly saturated. The company faces strong competition from other players such as Verizon and T-Mobile. Verizon is also aggressively expanding its fiber footprint. It is also offering wireless and fiber bundled solutions to increase customer retention. Such initiatives could hinder AT&T’s fiber expansion and convergence strategy to some extent.
Amid intense competition, AT&T expects to invest $23-$24 billion annually through 2028 to expand fiber and maintain its wireless network. Sustaining such high capex for a few years may impact free cash flow growth and put pressure on margin at least in the near term. The company is also expanding its AI networking infrastructure, but AI monetization remains a long-term growth prospect, not an immediate revenue generator.
Net debt increased sequentially following the Lumen fiber acquisition. AT&T ended the first quarter with $11.96 billion of cash and cash equivalents and total debt of $138.41 billion. The time interest earned ratio has decreased to 4.8 from 5 in the fourth quarter of 2025. At the end of the first quarter, the company had a current ratio of 0.92 and a cash ratio of 0.24. It indicates the company may face challenges in meeting short-term debt obligations.
Estimate Revision Trend of TEarnings estimates for AT&T for 2026 and 2027 have remained unchanged over the past 60 days.
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Key Valuation Metric of TFrom a valuation standpoint, AT&T appears to be trading relatively cheaper compared to the industry and trading below its mean. Going by the price/earnings ratio, the company shares currently trade at 8.52 forward earnings, lower than 60.11 for the industry and the stock’s mean of 11.49.
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End NoteStrong fiber momentum and wireless customer additions are major growth catalysts. The convergence strategy is boosting customer retention. AI-ready network expansion supporting enterprise demand is a positive. However, stiff competition and elevated debt levels are major concerns for investors. Monetization of AI-ready infrastructure remains a long-term prospect. High capital investment to support infrastructure expansion may impact free cash flow growth to some extent. With a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold), AT&T appears to be treading in the middle of the road, and new investors could be better off if they trade with caution. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
Ford ve 2. čtvrtletí prodal v USA 549 200 vozů, což je meziročně o 10 % méně kvůli ukončeným modelům a propadu prodejů do denních pronájmů. F-Series zůstala nejprodávanějším truckem v USA.
Ford Motor Company (F - Free Report) reported second-quarter U.S. sales of 549,200 vehicles, down 10% year over year, primarily due to discontinued models and a 69% decline in daily rental sales. The company is currently retooling its Louisville Assembly Plant to manufacture its new affordable four-door electric pickup based on the Universal Electric Vehicle platform, with production scheduled to begin next year.
During the first half of the year, F-Series sales totaled 357,801 units, retaining their position as America's best-selling truck and surpassing the second-place Chevrolet Silverado by more than 80,000 units. Despite strong customer demand, first-half F-Series sales were impacted by production timing following last year's aluminum supply shortages. Ford expects supply conditions to improve during the second half of 2026.
Ford increased its estimated U.S. retail market share by 0.2 percentage points to 12.3% in June, supported by strong demand for its high-margin SUVs and F-Series pickups. Sales of Expedition, Explorer and Bronco helped offset the planned phase-out of the Ford Escape and Lincoln Corsair, paving the way for the launch of the company's affordable electric pickup built on its Universal Electric Vehicle platform. From Jan. 1, 2026, through the end of June, Ford sold 1 million vehicles, representing a 9.6% decline from the 1.1 million units sold in the first half of 2025.
The Maverick, America's best-selling hybrid pickup, achieved a record second-quarter performance with sales rising 19.3% year over year to 29,457 units. Explorer sales climbed 21% year over year to 126,925 units during the first half, supported by a refreshed trim lineup. Combined sales of the Active and ST-Line trims increased 31% year over year in the first half, while Platinum and Tremor sales jumped 55.6%. Explorer Tremor also recorded its strongest monthly sales in June since its launch last October. Although total Expedition sales declined 9.8% year over year due to fleet order timing, retail sales increased 13.7% in the first half, with second-quarter retail sales advancing 15.2%.
Bronco posted record sales in both the second quarter and the first half, outselling the Jeep Wrangler during the quarter. Second-quarter Bronco sales rose 15.9% year over year, while first-half deliveries increased 6.8% to a record 76,936 units. Off-road-focused variants, including Bronco, Raptor, Tremor and FX4 models, represented 23.9% of Ford's first-half sales mix, up 3.6 percentage points year over year. Sales of these performance-oriented models increased 6.5% year over year to 240,634 vehicles. Raptor sales grew 21.4% in the second quarter and 10.6% in the first half, while Tremor series sales surged 118% from a year ago during the first six months.
Ford Pro's paid software subscriptions exceeded 900,000 in the first half, an increase of approximately 20%, while cumulative hands-free driving hours using BlueCruise surpassed 12 million. F currently has a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
Besides Ford, its top competitors, General Motors Company (GM - Free Report) and Stellantis N.V. (STLA - Free Report) , also reported second-quarter sales results.
General Motors reported second-quarter U.S. sales of 714,896 vehicles, down 4% year over year, as demand was affected by a smaller electric-vehicle market, discontinued models and inventory constraints. EV sales fell 33% from the same period last year. All four of General Motors’ brands posted lower sales in the quarter. Cadillac recorded the steepest decline of 19.2% year over year, followed by Buick at 7.5%, Chevrolet at 3.9% and GMC at 0.3%.
Stellantis reported U.S. sales of 328,284 vehicles in the second quarter of 2026, up 6% year over year, driven by higher demand for Ram pickups and the refreshed Chrysler Pacifica minivan. Ram sales increased 11% year over year, while Chrysler deliveries surged 80%. However, Jeep sales fell 5% year over year, Dodge declined 15%, and sales of Fiat and Alfa Romeo also dropped sharply. For the first half of 2026, Stellantis delivered 634,345 vehicles in the United States, representing a 5% increase from the prior-year period.
HSBC snížila rating společnosti Pfizer na Hold z Buy a cílovou cenu na 28 USD z 32 USD kvůli nejistotě kolem pipeline a změnám ve vedení. Klíčový program sigvotatug vedotin po selhání ve fázi 3 ztratil na pravděpodobnosti úspěchu na 40 %.
Analysts Rajesh Kumar and Dylan Whitfield downgraded to Hold from Buy and lowered their target forecast to $28 from $32, citing increased uncertainty around key pipeline assets and recent executive leadership changes.
The original bullish thesis centered on Pfizer’s increased R&D focus, a dividend yield of roughly 6%, and management’s goal of delivering high single-digit revenue growth between 2028 and 2032.
However, HSBC analysts now believe those growth expectations are unlikely to be validated in the near term.
Oncology Pipeline Delay Weighs On Growth OutlookA key factor behind the downgrade was a reduction in the probability of success for sigvotatug vedotin (SV) to 40% following its Phase 3 setback in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).
The analysts also raised the stock’s beta to 0.85 from 0.78, contributing to the lower price target.
According to the note, Pfizer’s long-term growth outlook depends heavily on the success of SV, atirmociclib, a VEGF-bispecific oncology program, and, to a lesser extent, its obesity portfolio.
However, analysts said meaningful catalysts for these programs are expected closer to 2027 rather than in the second half of 2026, leaving investors with few near-term events that could resolve the ongoing growth debate.
In the meantime, analysts expect the effects of MFN pricing, IRA-related changes, and loss-of-exclusivity pressures to become increasingly visible.
Management Changes Add Another Layer Of UncertaintyThe report also highlighted recent executive leadership changes as another reason for caution.
With a new chief financial officer and chief strategy officer joining the leadership team under the current CEO, analysts believe investors may wait for greater clarity on the company’s approach to capital allocation and dividend discipline.
While analysts said Pfizer’s valuation appears attractive relative to its medium-term earnings potential, they cautioned that the stock could remain inexpensive unless the company delivers successful pipeline outcomes.
They also warned that the NSCLC setback for sigvotatug vedotin increases uncertainty around future catalysts and could negatively affect investor perception of management’s capital allocation if impairments related to Seagen’s intangible assets emerge.
PFE Stock Price Activity: Pfizer shares were down 2.06% at $23.82 at the time of publication on Monday, according to Benzinga Pro data.
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Cisco oznámila silnou poptávku po síťových produktech díky AI infrastruktuře: objednávky vzrostly o více než 50 % a tržby této divize o 25 %. Zároveň zvýšila výhled tržeb na 62,8–63 miliard USD a non-GAAP EPS na 4,27–4,29 USD.
Key Takeaways CSCO's networking business is benefiting from AI infrastructure demand and modernization.Networking product orders jumped more than 50%, marking seven straight quarters of double-digit growth.CSCO raised fiscal 2026 revenue and earnings outlooks as AI and cloud demand accelerate. Cisco Systems’ (CSCO - Free Report) networking business is emerging as one of its strongest growth engines, supported by accelerating AI infrastructure investments, enterprise network modernization and rising bandwidth requirements. Management believes that the industry is entering a "networking super cycle," driven by hyperscaler AI deployments, enterprise AI adoption, sovereign cloud investments and public-sector infrastructure upgrades. As AI workloads become more distributed and bandwidth-intensive, networking is becoming the foundation of AI infrastructure rather than just a connectivity layer.
The improving demand environment offers an excellent growth opportunity for CSCO. In third-quarter fiscal 2026, networking product orders jumped more than 50% year over year, marking the seventh consecutive quarter of double-digit growth. Product revenues from networking increased 25%, driven by AI infrastructure, campus refresh projects, data center switching, wireless and service-provider routing.
Campus networking orders climbed more than 25%, while data center switching orders rose more than 40%, reflecting growing enterprise investments to prepare networks for AI-driven traffic growth. Cisco expects a multi-year, multi-billion-dollar campus refresh cycle as enterprises replace aging infrastructure with AI-ready networking platforms.
Cisco is also strengthening its competitive position through differentiated networking technologies. Silicon One has become a strategic advantage, enabling the company to provide custom silicon, systems and software tailored to hyperscaler requirements while reducing dependence on merchant silicon. Management noted that Silicon One is central to its AI networking strategy, with new hyperscaler design wins across scale-up and scale-out AI deployments.
At the same time, Acacia optics continues to benefit from the rapid expansion of AI clusters, generating more than $1 billion in quarterly orders as demand for coherent optical interconnects accelerates.
Cisco Offers Positive GuidanceCisco appears well-positioned to capitalize on sustained networking demand. Management expects AI infrastructure orders from hyperscalers to reach $9 billion in fiscal 2026, while growing enterprise, sovereign cloud and neocloud deployments should provide an additional long-term growth avenue.
For fiscal 2026, Cisco raised its outlook to revenues of $62.8 billion to $63 billion, and non-GAAP earnings of $4.27-$4.29 per share. The company also announced a restructuring plan to reallocate resources toward silicon, optics, security and AI, and expects up to $1 billion of pretax charges, including roughly $450 million in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2026, with the remainder in fiscal 2027.
CSCO Faces Tough CompetitionCisco is facing stiff competition from Arista Networks (ANET - Free Report) and Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE - Free Report) . Both Arista Networks and HPE are expanding their footprint in the networking domain.
Arista is a leader in high-speed Ethernet switching, particularly 100G, and is benefiting from rising demand for 800G and faster networking. Growth is driven by large data center expansions supporting distributed computing and cloud infrastructure. Arista’s software stack, including EOS, CloudVision and AVD, simplifies network management. Customers include cloud providers, enterprises and telecom companies expanding across industries like manufacturing, insurance and telecom.
Hewlett Packard Enterprise focuses on AI, industrial IoT and distributed computing as the next major growth markets. The company sees these areas as key drivers of future infrastructure demand. The acquisition of Juniper Networks has strengthened Hewlett Packard Enterprise’s position in networking, expanding its capabilities across AI, cloud and hybrid environments. This has helped improve its competitive position in large-scale modern infrastructure deployments.
CSCO’s Share Price Performance, Valuation & EstimatesCisco shares have appreciated 46.3% year to date, outperforming the broader Zacks Computer and Technology sector’s rise of 14.6%.
CSCO Stock Outperforms Sector
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The Cisco stock is trading at a premium, with a forward 12-month price/earnings of 23.77X compared with the broader sector’s 22.73X. CSCO has a Value Score of F.
CSCO’s Valuation
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The Zacks Consensus Estimate for fiscal 2026 earnings is currently pegged at $4.28 per share, up 2.6% over the past 30 days, suggesting 12.3% growth from the fiscal 2025 reported figure.
Cisco currently sports a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.
HSBC zvýšila doporučení pro Gilead Sciences na Buy z Hold a cílovou cenu na 155 USD, protože trh je podle ní příliš pesimistický ohledně HIV byznysu po ztrátě exkluzivity dolutegraviru. Banka vidí podporu v dlouhodobých HIV terapiích, PrEP a onkologických katalyzátorech.
HSBC upgraded Gilead Sciences Inc. (NASDAQ:GILD) on Monday, citing that the consensus is ‘too pessimistic’ in its assumptions of continued decline once dolutegravir faces generics.
Analysts Rajesh Kumar and Dylan Whitfield upgraded the stock to Buy from Hold, and raised the price forecast to $155 from $133, citing the potential of long-acting HIV therapies, growth in HIV prevention, and multiple oncology catalysts to support.
HSBC wrote that consensus estimates assume a steeper decline in Gilead’s HIV franchise than is likely once dolutegravir loses exclusivity. Instead, long-acting HIV therapies could help improve patient adherence and offset much of the anticipated pressure on sales.
Long-Acting HIV Therapies Could Improve AdherenceAccording to the analyst, HIV treatment remains a unique market where better compliance can translate into stronger long-term demand.
Around 60% of patients are estimated to have suboptimal adherence, while more than 40% take fewer than 80% of their prescribed doses.
Long-acting treatment options already on the market, along with candidates in development, are expected to improve adherence. While the exact combinations and launch timelines remain uncertain, the analyst believes these therapies could support stronger-than-expected HIV revenue over time.
Oncology Pipeline And PrEP Business Add UpsideBeyond HIV, the analyst highlighted Gilead’s exposure to the fast-growing pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) market through Yeztugo, which is expected to become a market leader.
The report also pointed to anitocabtagene autoleucel (anito-cel), a CAR T-cell therapy for relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma being co-developed by Arcellx Inc and Kite, a Gilead company.
Gilead acquired Arcellx for $115 per share in cash, along with a contingent value right of $5 per share, totaling an implied equity value of $7.8 billion.
The therapy is currently under FDA review, with a decision expected by December 2026. Although the initial launch is expected in fourth-line treatment, Gilead is pursuing a second-line indication.
The analyst added that expectations for anito-cel remain modest despite its favorable efficacy and safety profile, largely because of limited long-term data compared with competing therapies.
Attractive Valuation Supports UpgradeThe analyst expects Gilead to deliver 5.8% revenue growth through the end of the decade, with additional upside possible as long-acting HIV therapies become less risky and gain broader adoption.
Trading at roughly 13 times next year’s expected earnings following its recent share-price decline, the analyst views the valuation as attractive, supporting the upgrade.
Stock Performance And Technical AnalysisGilead stock is trading lower on Monday as the stock underperforms a soft Healthcare tape and drifts against a risk-on backdrop. The Nasdaq is up 1.21% while the S&P 500 has gained 0.71%.
Gilead is attempting to stabilize after recent weakness, but key technical hurdles remain.
The stock is trading 2.4% above its 20-day simple moving average, suggesting short-term support. However, it remains 0.3% below its 50-day SMA, 5.4% below its 100-day SMA and 0.7% below its 200-day SMA, indicating the longer-term trend is still under pressure.
A bearish death cross formed in July, with the 50-day SMA falling below the 200-day SMA. That pattern often signals continued intermediate-term weakness unless the stock reclaims those longer-term averages.
Momentum also remains mixed. The relative strength index stands at 53.15, indicating neither overbought nor oversold conditions.
The next resistance level sits near $137.50, while initial support is around $128.00, close to the 200-day exponential moving average.
Earnings And Analyst OutlookThe company’s next earnings report is expected on Aug. 6, 2026.
Wall Street expects a loss of $7.14 per share, compared with earnings of $2.01 per share a year earlier, while revenue is projected to increase to $7.40 billion from $7.08 billion.
Gilead trades at about 17.9 times earnings.
Analysts maintain a Buy consensus rating with an average price forecast of $161.23, according to data from 23 analysts. Recent rating actions include:
Cantor Fitzgerald: Reiterated Overweight, maintained a $155 price forecast on July 6. HSBC: Upgraded the stock to Buy and raised its price forecast to $155 on July 6. Cantor Fitzgerald: Reiterated Overweight with a $155 price forecast on June 16. GILD Stock Price Activity: Gilead Sciences shares were down 1.55% at $129.23 at the time of publication on Monday, according to Benzinga Pro data.
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Citi ponechává AstraZeneca na „buy“ před výsledky za 2. čtvrtletí, očekává zisk na akcii 2,41 USD a nezměněný celoroční výhled. Klíčové budou výsledky studií fáze 3 ve druhé polovině roku.
AstraZeneca PLC (LSE:AZN, NASDAQ:AZN) has been kept on a 'buy' rating by Citi, which pointed to a run of late-stage drug trial results in the second half of the year as the key driver for the shares.
The Wall Street bank was previewing second-quarter results from the Anglo-Swedish pharmaceuticals group, due on 27 July.
Citi forecasts earnings per share of $2.41 for the quarter, a rise of 11% at constant exchange rates, though around 3% below the market consensus on higher spending.
The bank expects the company to leave its full-year guidance unchanged, having pencilled in low double-digit growth in earnings per share.
Attention on the results call is likely to centre on a series of phase three trial readouts expected in the second half, the final testing stage before regulatory filing.
These include studies of the heart drug Wainua, the cancer treatment Datroway and the breast cancer therapy camizestrant.
Citi sees a favourable balance of risk and reward given investor caution, noting its downside valuation scenario on a trial failure sits about 15% above the current share price.
Its upside scenario on positive data points to a value roughly 40% higher.
The broker also flagged around 8% of combined further upside from two other pipeline prospects.
The first is detailed data on tozorakimab in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, a lung condition, which could lift Citi's peak sales estimate to $7 billion against a risk-adjusted consensus of $4 billion.
The second is progress on efzimfotase alfa, a treatment for the rare bone disorder hypophosphatasia, where detailed trial data and any filing update could unlock value.
That drug accounts for $3 billion of the bank's $4.4 billion peak sales estimate.
Marvell se mění z cyklického výrobce čipů na hráče v oblasti AI a většina jeho tržeb už plyne z datových center. Analytici čekají do fiskálního roku 2029 růst tržeb o 41 % CAGR.
Micron's (MU +1.45%) stock surged more than 730% over the past 12 months. That rally was driven by its soaring DRAM and NAND memory chip sales for AI-oriented data centers. Micron was once considered a cyclical company that went through "boom and bust" cycles. That perception changed as the AI market expanded and it recently secured over $22 billion in uncancellable, multi-year, fixed-price contracts through 16 Strategic Customer Agreements (SCAs) with data center giants.
From fiscal 2025 (which ended last August) to fiscal 2028, analysts expect Micron's revenue to surge nearly sevenfold as its EPS increases more than 22 times. Those are incredible growth rates for a stock that trades at less than nine times this year's sales and 13 times this year's earnings, so it could still have plenty of upside potential.
Image source: Getty Images.
Micron is still a rock-solid investment, but it's not the only cyclical chipmaker that is evolving into a high-growth AI chipmaker. Another promising stock is Marvell (MRVL +3.22%), which has rallied more than 250% over the past 12 months and still has lots of room to run.
Why is Marvell becoming a high-growth AI chipmaker? In the past, Marvell mainly produced Wi-Fi, Internet of Things (IoT), and mobile chips for consumer devices. But over the past decade, it stopped producing those cyclical, lower-margin chips and expanded its data center with big acquisitions and new product launches.
Today, Marvell generates most of its revenue from its data center business, which produces high-speed optical connectivity chips, custom application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs) for hyperscalers, Ethernet switches, and data processing units (DPUs) that combine CPUs, networking interfaces, and programmable data acceleration engines.
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As the AI market expands, more companies are upgrading their data centers with Marvell's hardware to handle the latest AI applications. Nvidia (NVDA +0.66%) also invested $2 billion in Marvell earlier this year and more tightly integrated its own GPUs, CPUs, and DPUs with Marvell's custom AI accelerators and networking chips through its NVLink platform. It's also co-developing advanced optical interconnect and silicon photonics solutions with Nvidia to eliminate data-transfer bottlenecks in cloud and AI data centers.
How much higher can Marvell's stock soar? From fiscal 2026 (which ended this January) to fiscal 2029, analysts expect Marvell's revenue and adjusted EBITDA to grow at CAGRs of 41% and 43%, respectively. It might seem a bit pricey at 19 times this year's sales and 50 times its adjusted EBITDA, but its long-term growth potential justifies those higher valuations. So if you're looking for an oft-overlooked AI chipmaker that could replicate Micron's massive rally, Marvell might fit the bill.
Leo Sun has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Marvell Technology, Micron Technology, and Nvidia. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
Akcie Palo Alto Networks vyskočily v pondělí až o 5,7 % na rekordních 368,17 USD po zvýšení cílových cen ze strany BTIG a Wells Fargo. Analytici míří na silnou poptávku po AI bezpečnostních řešeních.
Shares of Palo Alto Networks Inc. PANW climbed more than 5% on Monday after analysts at BTIG and Wells Fargo raised their price targets on the cybersecurity company.
The analysts raised prices citing improving business momentum and continued demand for AI-driven security solutions.
The stock rose as much as 5.7% during morning trading to a record high of $368.17 before easing slightly.
Shares were last up about 2.7% at $357.50.
The gains come as investors continue to focus on artificial intelligence-related cybersecurity spending and the company's recently announced $25 billion acquisition of CyberArk, which is expected to strengthen its position in identity security for human, machine and agentic AI environments.
BTIG raised its price target on Palo Alto Networks to $380 from $333 while maintaining a Buy rating.
The brokerage described Palo Alto Networks as its “top pick,” citing improving momentum and larger deal sizes.
Wells Fargo also increased its price target to $420 from $325, maintaining its Overweight rating and adding the stock to its tactical ideas list due to a “clear catalyst path.”
The positive analyst commentary helped push the stock to a fresh all-time high.
BTIG also named Palo Alto Networks among its preferred "second-half outperformer" stocks alongside On Holding and Capital One, reinforcing expectations that the cybersecurity company could continue to outperform despite its strong gains over the past year.
AI security demand remains a key growth driverInvestor optimism has been supported by expectations that the adoption of AI agents will increase cybersecurity risks and drive higher enterprise spending on security platforms.
The company's acquisition of CyberArk has also strengthened that outlook by expanding Palo Alto Networks' exposure to security solutions covering human, machine and agentic AI identities.
At the same time, analysts noted two risks facing the stock: its elevated valuation and the possibility that a portion of its growth is being driven by acquisitions rather than organic expansion.
The stock has gained about 79% over the past 12 months and is now trading above its previous 52-week high of $358.10, a level that technical analysts often view as potential new support if the breakout is sustained.
Palo Alto Technicals Palo Alto Networks is also trading significantly above key moving averages, sitting roughly 40.2% above its 50-day simple moving average of $254.97 and about 76.8% above its 200-day simple moving average of $202.25.
Momentum indicators suggest the rally has become extended. The stock's Relative Strength Index (RSI) stands at 80.28, indicating overbought conditions that could leave shares vulnerable to consolidation or a pullback even if the broader uptrend remains intact.
The longer-term trend, however, continues to appear positive. The 50-day moving average remains above the 100-day moving average, while a golden cross—formed in May when the 50-day moving average moved above the 200-day moving average—continues to support the bullish technical outlook.
Broader market sentiment also provided support, with the Nasdaq-100 rising 1.37% on Monday.
However, analysts cautioned that as momentum continues to build, the risk of the stock becoming a "crowded trade" also increases.
Kroger rozšiřuje AI v reklamním byznysu, aby zrychlil tvorbu publik a optimalizaci v reálném čase. Využívá loajalitní data z 95 % transakcí a přes 20 let historie nákupů.
Key Takeaways Kroger is expanding AI across its media business for real-time optimization and faster audience creation.KR uses loyalty-linked purchase data to help brands target audiences based on actual buying behavior.KR is extending AI-powered retail media through Google Display & Video 360 and a TikTok collaboration. The Kroger Co. (KR - Free Report) is expanding AI-powered capabilities within its media business to support real-time optimization, predictive budget allocation and faster audience creation, positioning the technology as a key enabler of performance and scalability. Rather than presenting artificial intelligence (AI) as a standalone initiative, management is tying it to Kroger Precision Marketing and the company’s broader effort to use customer data more effectively.
Kroger’s AI opportunity rests on its extensive first-party data ecosystem. Management noted that 95% of all transactions are tied to a loyalty card and supported by more than 20 years of purchase history. This gives Kroger the ability to measure actual purchase behavior, not just intent, creating retail signals that are valuable to brands and advertisers.
The company is also extending those capabilities through external digital platforms. Kroger said that advertisers can now use KPM’s retail signals through Google’s Display & Video 360 to reach audiences across YouTube and YouTube TV, with SKU-level conversion reporting available for the first time. The company also said that Kroger Precision Marketing is set to launch a self-service collaboration with TikTok, giving brands direct access to its audiences.
Overall, Kroger is using AI to make its loyalty data and retail media platform more scalable and effective. Management believes that direct customer relationships and first-party data are becoming more important in advertising, and AI could help Kroger turn those assets into more targeted marketing solutions and a longer-term growth opportunity.
The Zacks Rundown for KRThe company's shares have lost 1.8% in the past six months compared with the industry’s decline of 1%.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
From a valuation standpoint, KR trades at a forward price-to-earnings ratio of 10.87, lower than the industry’s average of 33.40. KR currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold).
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for KR’s current and next fiscal year earnings implies year-over-year growth of 7.4% and 6.5%, respectively.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Stocks to ConsiderSome better-ranked stocks have been discussed below:
B&G Foods, Inc. (BGS - Free Report) manufactures, sells and distributes a portfolio of shelf-stable and frozen foods and household products. BGS currently carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for B&G Foods’ current fiscal-year earnings implies growth of 11.8% from the year-ago actuals. BGS delivered a trailing four-quarter negative earnings surprise of 1.7%, on average.
Armanino Foods of Distinction, Inc. (AMNF - Free Report) produces and markets frozen food products in the United States. AMNF currently carries a Zacks Rank of 2.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Armanino Foods' current fiscal-year sales and earnings indicates growth of 7.1% and 1.7%, respectively, from the year-ago actuals. AMNF delivered a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 23.1%, on average.
Mama’s Creations, Inc. (MAMA - Free Report) , together with its subsidiaries, manufactures and markets fresh deli-prepared foods in the United States. MAMA currently carries a Zacks Rank of 2.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for MAMA's current fiscal-year sales & earnings implies growth of 30% and 73.3%, respectively, from the year-ago actuals. MAMA delivered a trailing four-quarter negative earnings surprise of 129.2%, on average.
Canadian National v květnu vytvořila měsíční rekord v zásilkách propanu do Watson Island, když objem vozů meziročně vzrostl o 40 %. Firma to přičítá optimalizaci vlaků, lepšímu využití aktiv a vyšší efektivitě sítě.
Key Takeaways Canadian National set a monthly propane shipment record to Watson Island with 40% higher carloads Y/YCNI boosted throughput through train optimization, better asset use, and greater network efficiency.CNI said collaboration with partners supports growing propane exports and long-term revenue growth. Canadian National Railway Company’s (CNI - Free Report) record propane shipments to Watson Island in May 2026 highlight the company's improving operational efficiency and its ability to support growing export demand within existing commercial arrangements. The 40% year-over-year increase in carloads demonstrates stronger throughput on the South Beamer-to-Watson Island corridor, reflecting robust demand for Canadian propane exports and CNI’s enhanced execution across its rail network.
The new monthly record also underscores the success of CNI’s operational initiatives, including train length optimization, improved asset utilization and greater network efficiency. By surpassing the previous record set in August 2024, the company has demonstrated its ability to increase transportation capacity and reliability without significant infrastructure expansion, strengthening customer confidence in its service.
The milestone reinforces CNI’s strategic role in Canada's energy export supply chain. Reliable transportation to the West Coast enables propane producers and terminal operators to capitalize on strong international demand while supporting higher export volumes and improving the competitiveness of Canadian energy products in global markets.
Looking ahead, CNI’s continued emphasis on operational excellence and collaboration with Pembina and other supply chain partners positions the company to benefit from sustained growth in propane exports. Continued improvements in network efficiency and service reliability could support higher freight volumes and contribute positively to the company's long-term revenue growth.
CNI’s Share Price PerformanceCNI’s shares have gained 23% over the past year compared with the Transportation - Rail industry’s 22.4% growth.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
CNI’ Zacks RankCNI currently carries a Zacks Rank of #3 (Hold).
Stocks to ConsiderInvestors interested in the Zacks Transportation sector may consider Expeditors International of Washington, Inc. (EXPD - Free Report) and Teekay Tankers Ltd (TNK - Free Report) .
EXPD currently sports a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.
Expeditors has an expected earnings growth rate of 11.9% for 2026. The company has an encouraging earnings surprise history. Its earnings outpaced the Zacks Consensus Estimate in each of the trailing four quarters, delivering an average beat of 13.96%.
Teekay Tankers Ltd currently sports a Zacks Rank #1.
TNK has an expected earnings growth rate of 98% for the current year. The company has an encouraging earnings surprise history. Its earnings topped the Zacks Consensus Estimate in each of the trailing four quarters, delivering an average beat of 10.2%.
Lucid v květnu pozastavil výhled výroby pro rok 2026 a čeká na aktualizaci po výsledcích za 2. čtvrtletí 4. srpna. Firma zároveň dál bojuje se slabým odbytem, ztrátami a potřebou dalšího kapitálu.
Lucid Group (LCID +9.95%) stock has plummeted 91% over the past three years amid executive leadership changes, rising costs, slowing demand for electric vehicles, and production hurdles.
And there's no guarantee the next three years will be any better.
Here are some of the opportunities and challenges facing Lucid over the next three years, and why it's probably best to avoid Lucid stock for now.
Image source: Getty Images.
Lucid will likely be selling less-expensive EVs One of Lucid's biggest challenges and opportunities will be selling a smaller, cheaper vehicle. The company has already debuted the Earth and Cosmos crossovers, which have starting prices of under $50,000, according to Lucid. Sales of the vehicles aren't expected to begin until late this year or sometime in 2027, with the Cosmos launching first.
Lucid's goal is to appeal to more buyers, and those with smaller budgets. The lowest-priced Lucid Air sedan starts around $71,000, so the new models will be a big departure from its current luxury models. By offering a sub-$50,000 crossover, Lucid will have a vehicle priced close to the average new car.
If it succeeds, it could help solidify Lucid as an EV automaker for the masses, and not just a luxury carmaker.
Vehicle production could remain rocky Lucid has faced its fair share of production hiccups, the most recent of which came from issues with its seat supplier for its Gravity SUV.
In May, Lucid said it had "elevated inventory" levels it still needs to sell and that it was suspending its 2026 production guidance. The company had previously estimated it would produce between 25,000 and 27,000 vehicles this year.
That suspension came from the company's new CEO, Silvio Napoli, an automotive industry outsider who previously ran an elevator and escalator manufacturing company. Napoli is the third CEO for Lucid over the past few years.
Napoli will review the company's production and will issue updated guidance when the company reports its second-quarter results on Aug. 4. He's already made some controversial moves, laying off 18% of Lucid's employees and overhauling the executive suite with a new CFO, CTO, and other leadership positions.
New management could help Lucid achieve the operational efficiency it needs to be a successful automaker, but the next few years will be crucial. So far, Napoli has a long road ahead of him to get the company producing vehicles efficiently.
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Lucid's financial picture will still be a big question Lucid's first-quarter financial results showed just how much the company needs to improve. Its sales of nearly $283 million were far below Wall Street's consensus estimate of $440 million.
The company's loss per share of $3.46 was also a disappointment, well under the analysts' consensus estimate of $2.64 per share.
But it's not just that Lucid is missing Wall Street's expectations. The company has had to take several cash infusions from its largest investor, the Saudi Arabia Public Investment Fund (PIF), over the years to keep the lights on. The PIF owns an estimated 57% of the company and has already invested billions of dollars, including a $550 million investment earlier this year.
Lucid has $4.7 billion in liquidity right now, so it's not as if the company will shut down tomorrow. But its ongoing need for more capital -- which sometimes causes it to issue new shares and dilute existing shareholder value -- is a recurring theme for the company.
Unless Lucid's new vehicles start selling like hotcakes and its new CEO gets the company's production line humming, the next few years could look like the past three years.
Corning má těžit z poptávky po AI infrastruktuře, hlavně v Optical Communications, kde BofA čeká tržby 2,05 miliardy USD, meziročně +30,7 %. Banka také vidí druhé čtvrtletí nad guidance, s celkovými tržbami 4,65 miliardy USD.
Mohan expects Corning’s second-quarter results to reinforce confidence in a stronger second half, with Optical Communications driving revenue and earnings at or above guidance.
BofA projects second-quarter revenue of $4.65 billion, above Corning’s guidance of about $4.6 billion. It also expects adjusted EPS of 76 cents, near the high end of the company’s 73-cent to 77-cent guidance range.
Optical CommunicationsMohan identified Optical Communications as Corning’s key growth driver, supported by demand for AI infrastructure. He said Corning is benefiting from scale-up, scale-out, and scale-across AI buildout trends, particularly in fiber, connectivity, and cabling.
BofA projects second-quarter Optical revenue of $2.05 billion, up 30.7% year over year. Within the segment, Enterprise revenue is expected to rise 45% to $1.12 billion, while Carrier revenue is projected to increase 17% to $932 million.
Lumen TechnologiesThat support should continue even after stronger first-quarter activity pulled some seasonal demand forward.
Solar And Glass BusinessesBofA identified Solar as Corning’s main near-term headwind. Mohan expects a wafer transition to add about $30 million in second-quarter expense, pressuring margins before the drag eases in the second half.
In Glass Innovations, BofA expects mid-single-digit sequential and year-over-year growth, led by Specialty Materials.
Mohan also sees longer-term upside from GlassBridge technology and future glass substrate opportunities tied to advanced semiconductor packaging around 2029 to 2030.
Financial Forecasts And ValuationBofA raised its 2028 EPS estimate to $6.50 from $5.95 and lifted its 2027 EPS estimate to $5.00 from $4.99. The firm now models revenue of $19.32 billion in 2026, $24.88 billion in 2027, and $30.57 billion in 2028.
BofA values Corning at 37 times its 2028 EPS estimate. Mohan said the premium multiple reflects recoveries in Display, Environmental, and Specialty, as well as multiyear growth in Optical from hyperscalers and generative AI demand.
For the third quarter, BofA expects Corning to guide for revenue of about $5.2 billion and EPS of 87 cents to 91 cents. The outlook reflects Enterprise growth, steadier Carrier revenue, and easing Solar-related pressure.
Corning Technical AnalysisCorning remains in a solid long-term uptrend. The stock trades about 5.3% above its 50-day simple moving average of $189.18, 19.4% above its 100-day SMA of $166.82 and 55.9% above its 200-day SMA of $127.81. The moving averages also remain in a bullish alignment, with the 20-day SMA above the 50-day SMA and the 50-day SMA above the 200-day SMA.
In the near term, shares are trading close to the 20-day SMA of $199.25. That level could act as an important support or resistance point. Meanwhile, the 20-day exponential moving average of $205.61 sits above the current price, suggesting short-term momentum has eased.
The relative strength index stands at 49.22. An RSI near 50 signals neutral momentum and suggests the stock is consolidating rather than becoming overbought or oversold.
Traders are watching nearby technical levels after the stock reached a new 52-week high in June.
Key resistance: $208.50 Key support: $172.50 Corning Earnings And Analyst OutlookThe company’s next earnings report is expected on July 28.
Wall Street expects earnings of 75 cents per share, up from 60 cents a year earlier. Revenue is projected to increase to $4.62 billion from $4.04 billion.
Corning trades at a price-to-earnings ratio of 94.6, reflecting a premium valuation.
Analysts maintain a consensus Buy rating with an average price forecast of $206.60. Recent analyst actions include:
Bank of America: Buy; raised price forecast to $243 on July 6. Mizuho: Outperform; raised price forecast to $270 on July 1. Truist Securities: Hold; raised price forecast to $205 on June 22. GLW Stock Price Activity: Corning shares were up 1.35% at $199.44 at the time of publication on Monday, according to Benzinga Pro data.
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Key Takeaways Dell shares have jumped 213.2% YTD as AI server revenues surged 757% y/y to $16.1 billion in Q1FY27.DELL expects $60 billion in FY27 AI server revenues, nearly 2.4 times last year.Dell faces memory constraints, lower AI server margins and competition in PCs and AI infrastructure. Dell Technologies (DELL - Free Report) shares have jumped a whopping 213.2% year to date (YTD), driven by strong AI infrastructure growth. In the first quarter of fiscal 2027, AI server orders reached $24.4 billion, AI server revenues surged 757% year over year to $16.1 billion and AI server backlog expanded to $51.3 billion. The company expects $60 billion in AI server revenues for fiscal 2027, nearly 2.4 times last year’s reported level.
Dell’s expanding customer base, which now exceeds 5,000 across hyperscalers, neocloud providers, sovereign AI projects and enterprises, provides strong visibility into growth. The company’s management expects fiscal 2027 revenues between $165 billion and $169 billion (up 47% year over year at the mid-point), and non-GAAP earnings of $17.90 per share (plus or minus 25 cents).
Do DELL shares have further room for appreciation? Let us find out.
DELL Shares Ride on AI ProspectsYTD, DELL shares have outperformed the broader Zacks Computer and Technology sector, as well as peers like Apple (AAPL - Free Report) , Super Micro Computer (SMCI - Free Report) and Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE - Free Report) . Shares of Hewlett Packard Enterprise and Apple have returned 71.6% and 13.5%, respectively, while Super Micro Computer has dropped 7% YTD.
DELL Stock’s Price Performance
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Dell has become a key supplier of AI-optimized servers and data center solutions, benefiting from surging enterprise demand for AI training and inference workloads. Dell’s partnerships with leading chipmakers such as NVIDIA allow it to deliver high-performance AI systems that enterprises increasingly need to modernize operations and deploy generative AI applications. The company’s integrated rack-scale systems and data center solutions allow customers to deploy AI clusters efficiently, while managing the total cost of ownership. These capabilities are helping Dell capture opportunities as organizations scale AI workloads across industries.
Growth is not limited to AI. Dell’s traditional server business grew 92% year over year in the first quarter of fiscal 2027, supported by enterprise data center modernization and replacement of aging installed infrastructure. Management highlighted broad-based demand across every geography, while storage revenues increased 8%, marking the fifth consecutive quarter of above-market Dell-IP storage growth. These trends lifted Infrastructure Solutions Group revenues 181% year over year and operating income 206%, demonstrating that both AI and traditional infrastructure are contributing to earnings growth.
The company continues to expand its AI Factory ecosystem with partners, including NVIDIA, Google Cloud, OpenAI, Palantir and ServiceNow, while new offerings such as Dell PowerRack, 18th-generation PowerEdge servers and the AI Data Platform position DELL as a full-stack AI infrastructure provider. Dell emphasized that customers increasingly prefer integrated, production-ready AI infrastructure rather than standalone hardware, supporting continued market share gains.
DELL’s Prospects Suffer From Competition, Supply ConstraintsAlthough expanding AI infrastructure footprint benefits DELL’s prospects, management repeatedly cited memory (DRAM and NAND) constraints as the primary supply bottleneck and acknowledged that demand continues to exceed supply. Large AI systems are complex to manufacture and deploy, making supply-chain execution crucial for sustaining current growth rates.
Dell’s gross margin rate declined to 18.1% because of the mix shift toward lower margin AI servers. Management stated that AI server profitability remains in the mid-single-digit operating margin range, which is below storage margins. As AI becomes a larger percentage of revenues, margin expansion may be more difficult than revenue growth suggests.
DELL continues to face stiff competition from Apple, HP and Lenovo in the PC market, as well as Hewlett Packard Enterprise and Super Micro Computer in the AI infrastructure space.
The PC segment climbed up 4% in the first quarter of calendar 2026, according to Gartner, while per IDC the growth was far more modest at 2.5%. In terms of shipments, Apple outperformed Dell and Lenovo’s growth of 9.5% and 7.6%, respectively, per the latest Gartner data. HP’s shipment declined 4.9%. According to IDC’s list, ASUS shipment growth was 17.1%, trailed by Apple’s 9.1%, Lenovo’s 8.6% and Dell Technologies’ 7.7% growth. HP’s shipment declined 4.9%.
DELL Shares Are Trading at a PremiumDell Technologies shares are trading at a premium, as suggested by a Value Score of C.
In terms of the forward 12-month price/sales (P/S), DELL is trading at 1.45X, higher than Super Micro Computer’s 0.32X and Hewlett Packard Enterprise’s 1.12X.
Valuation – DELL vs. SMCI
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Valuation – DELL vs. HPE
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Technically, Dell Technologies is trading above the 50 and 200-day moving averages (SMAs), indicating a bullish trend.
ConclusionDell’s prospects ride on strong AI infrastructure demand and an impressive liquidity position. An expanding clientele across neoclouds, sovereigns and enterprise customers bodes well for the company’s top-line growth. These drivers justify a premium valuation.
DELL currently sports a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) and has a Growth Score of A, a favorable combination that offers a strong investment opportunity, per the Zacks Proprietary methodology. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.
Yield Guild Games (YGG), the web3 gaming guild that pioneered play-to-earn gaming, is sunsetting its game publishing arm YGG Play, affecting 35 jobs, co-founder Gabby Dizon said on X Monday. YGG will pay departing staff eight additional weeks during the transition and help them find new roles,…
Yield Guild Games (YGG), the web3 gaming guild that pioneered play-to-earn gaming, is sunsetting its game publishing arm YGG Play, affecting 35 jobs, co-founder Gabby Dizon said on X Monday.
YGG will pay departing staff eight additional weeks during the transition and help them find new roles, Dizon said. YGG Play's games, including LOL Land and Waifu Sweeper, and the YGG Play platform itself, will stay live until July 31 before going offline. GIGACHAD BAT will move to delabs Official, while Ragnarok Breaker will continue under Planetarium HQ, according to Dizon's post.
YGG's official account confirmed the decision separately, framing it as "a market decision, not a product decision" driven by "the realities of the broader macroeconomic climate" rather than any failure of YGG Play's "Casual Degen gaming thesis." The unit built the YGG Play Launchpad and worked with major IPs before its shutdown, the company said.
What's Next For YGGGoing forward, Dizon said YGG will operate with a smaller team, returning to its original model of working directly with its gaming community, and expanding into a new line of business: selling player-generated training data to AI labs. The company described its future as a continuation of its "play-to-earn roots, but in a different form."
YGG built its brand during the 2021 P2E boom around Axie Infinity scholarships and later diversified into a broader publishing business as the play-to-earn model cooled, a shift The Defiant covered as the guild weathered previous bear-market pressure.
The YGG Play unit's closure marks the guild's most significant restructuring since that period, cutting a division built to publish original web3 titles rather than manage token-based guild scholarships.
Central Garden & Pet zvýšila tržby v segmentu Pet o 5 % na 477 milionů USD díky silné poptávce po spotřebním zboží a novým produktům. Firma dál investuje do inovací a rozšiřuje distribuci.
Key Takeaways Central Garden is investing in innovation and leading brands to support long-term growth and margins.CENT's Pet segment sales rose 5%, supported by consumables strength and higher-margin product categories.CENT introduced new pet products while maintaining market share and expanding distribution across categories. Central Garden & Pet Company (CENT - Free Report) is continuing to invest behind its strongest brands, innovation and consumer insights. Management said that these investments are gaining traction and positioning the business to drive both growth and margin expansion. While the company remains early in this journey, it expects innovation to become a more meaningful contributor as it continues to scale a more streamlined and efficient operating model.
The Pet segment generated net sales of $477 million, up 5% year over year in the second quarter of fiscal 2026. Growth was driven by continued strength in the company's core consumables portfolio and the expected shift of Outdoor Cushions shipments from the first quarter into the second. Management highlighted healthy demand across its higher-margin dog and cat, equine and professional product lines, where innovation and execution continued to support top-line growth. The company also held overall market share while posting gains in categories including rawhide, dog treats, flea and tick, pet bird and professional products, alongside additional distribution gains across multiple categories.
CENT also advanced its innovation pipeline during the quarter by introducing new branded and private-label products designed to deepen retailer partnerships and better connect with consumers. Recent pet launches included Nylabone dog chews made with real meat and Farnam Endure Gold Killer Fly & Mosquito Control Spray for horses, further expanding the company's branded portfolio.
Overall, management believes continued investment in innovation, disciplined execution and portfolio optimization will strengthen the pet business over time. As innovation becomes a larger contributor within a more efficient operating model, the company expects these initiatives to support future growth while reinforcing retailer partnerships and expanding opportunities across its core pet categories.
The Zacks Rundown for CENTShares of this Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) company have soared 38.9% in the past six months compared with the industry’s gain of 8%.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
From a valuation standpoint, CENT trades at a forward price-to-earnings ratio of 14.41, lower than the industry’s average of 15.25.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for CENT’s current and next fiscal year earnings implies year-over-year growth of 5.9% and 7.3%, respectively.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Other Stocks to ConsiderSome other top-ranked stocks have been discussed below:
Ollie’s Bargain Outlet Holdings Inc. (OLLI - Free Report) is a retailer of closeout merchandise and excess inventory in the United States. It holds a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Ollie Bargain’s current financial-year sales and earnings indicates 12.7% and 17.1% growth from the last year, respectively. OLLI reported a trailing four-quarter average earnings surprise of 4.9%.
Phibro Animal Health Corporation (PAHC - Free Report) operates as an animal health and mineral nutrition company in the United States, Latin America and Canada, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and the Asia Pacific. PAHC carries a Zacks Rank of 2.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for PAHC's current fiscal-year sales and earnings implies growth of 14.8% and 47.4%, respectively, from the year-ago actuals. PAHC delivered a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 16.3%, on average.
Trupanion, Inc. (TRUP - Free Report) together with its subsidiaries, provides medical insurance for cats and dogs on a subscription basis in the United States, Canada, Continental Europe, and Australia. It holds a Zacks Rank #2.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for TRUP’s current financial-year sales and earnings indicates 9.4% and 20% growth from the last year, respectively. TRUP reported a trailing four-quarter average earnings surprise of 4.9%.
FDA označila stažení některých podů Omnipod od Insulet z trhu za závažné po 24 vážných zraněních. Vadné podání inzulinu může vést k vysoké hladině cukru v krvi a ketoacidóze.
The recall follows concerns that some pods may fail to deliver the intended amount of insulin, increasing the risk of dangerously high blood sugar levels and diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA).
Omnipod devices deliver insulin subcutaneously at programmed and variable rates for people with diabetes who require insulin therapy.
FDA Urges Users To Stop Using Affected PodsThe FDA said on Thursday the recall calls for removing specific Omnipod pods from where they are used or sold.
The affected products include the Omnipod 5 Automated Insulin Delivery System, Omnipod DASH Insulin Management System and Omnipod Insulin Management System (Omnipod Eros).
The company advises customers not to use pods from affected lots and to inspect the lot number printed on the pod tray lid, pod box or pod itself.
If a user is currently wearing an affected pod, the FDA recommends replacing it immediately with one from an unaffected lot to restore insulin delivery.
Users who have depleted their supply because of the recall should consult their health care provider about alternative insulin delivery methods while awaiting replacements.
Cannula Defect May Cause Insulin LeakageInsulet identified that certain pods from specific production lots may contain a small tear in the cannula tubing located just above the skin.
The defect can allow insulin to leak outside the body instead of being fully delivered, potentially resulting in insufficient insulin administration.
Affected users may notice wetness around the pod or smell insulin, although the leak may also go undetected.
The FDA cautioned that even users of the Omnipod 5 system operating in automated mode should not rely solely on device alerts, as the issue may occur without triggering a warning.
Risk Of High Blood Sugar and DKAInsulin under-delivery can lead to elevated blood glucose levels that may not respond as expected to insulin therapy.
In severe cases, prolonged high blood sugar can progress to diabetic ketoacidosis, a potentially life-threatening condition requiring prompt medical treatment.
The FDA noted that the issue does not affect continuous glucose monitoring systems (CGM) readings.
As of May 20, Insulet had reported 24 serious injuries associated with the issue and no deaths.
PODD Stock Price Activity: Insulet shares were down 3.30% at $159.05 at the time of publication on Monday, according to Benzinga Pro data.
Image via Insulet
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Bloom Energy a Brookfield rozšířily plán investic do AI energetické infrastruktury z 5 miliard USD na 25 miliard USD. Cílí na rychlejší výstavbu napájecí infrastruktury pro datová centra.
Key Takeaways Bloom Energy and Brookfield expanded AI power infrastructure plans from $5B to $25B.AI workloads need uninterrupted power, making energy availability a key data center bottleneck.Bloom Energy's fuel cells can add on-site data center capacity within months, not years. Bloom Energy (BE - Free Report) and Brookfield have significantly expanded their strategic partnership, increasing the planned deployment of AI-related power infrastructure from $5 billion to $25 billion. The fivefold expansion reflects the surging demand for reliable, scalable electricity as artificial intelligence fuels a global wave of hyperscale data center development.
AI training and inference workloads require vast amounts of uninterrupted power, making energy availability one of the industry's biggest bottlenecks. The partnership is aligned with Brookfield's AI Infrastructure Fund, launched in November 2025, with a target of deploying $100 billion across AI factories, power infrastructure, compute assets, and strategic partnerships. Brookfield has already invested more than $100 billion in digital infrastructure and clean energy, reinforcing its leadership in AI-enabling assets.
Bloom Energy is well-positioned to benefit from this trend through its solid oxide fuel cell technology, which enables on-site power generation much faster than conventional grid expansion. By allowing data center operators to add capacity within months rather than waiting years for utility upgrades, Bloom Energy offers a compelling solution to one of AI's most pressing infrastructure challenges.
The expanded partnership enhances Brookfield's exposure to one of the fastest-growing areas of the digital economy while improving Bloom Energy's long-term revenue visibility. More broadly, the agreement highlights a key investment theme: AI's continued growth depends not only on advanced semiconductors but also on dependable energy infrastructure. Companies providing reliable, lower-emission, and rapidly deployable power solutions are likely to be among the biggest beneficiaries of the next phase of AI-driven investment.
Rapid Deployment Driving Growth in Alternative EnergyQuick deployment of energy systems allows alternative energy companies like Plug Power (PLUG - Free Report) and FuelCell Energy (FCEL - Free Report) to meet rising demand efficiently, secure long-term contracts and scale operations faster. This agility enhances revenue streams, strengthens customer relationships and supports overall financial growth in the clean energy sector.
Plug Power and FuelCell benefit from rapid deployment by quickly delivering hydrogen and fuel cell solutions to industrial and commercial clients. Fast installations help secure long-term contracts, accelerate market penetration and reduce time-to-revenues. This agility strengthens customer relationships and positions Plug Power and FuelCell for sustained growth in the expanding clean energy market.
BE’s Price PerformanceShares of BE have rallied 211.8% in the year-to-date period, outperforming the industry.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
BE’s Expensive ValuationBloom Energy is currently trading at a premium valuation. Its forward 12-month price-to-sales (P/S) ratio of 15.5X is higher than the industry’s 5.3X.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Estimate Movement for BEThe Zacks Consensus Estimate for BE’s second-quarter and third-quarter 2026 earnings per share (EPS) witnessed no movement in the last 30 days. While the earnings estimate for 2026 witnessed no movement, the same for 2027 moved 1% north in the last 30 days.
Key Takeaways Marathon Petroleum gained about 52% in six months, driven by strong refining execution and operations.MPC posted 89% refinery utilization, a 99% capture rate and advanced projects to boost higher-margin output.MPC's 2026 EPS estimate rose 9.7% in 30 days, but cyclical margins and high maintenance remain risks. Shares of Marathon Petroleum Corporation (MPC - Free Report) have climbed 52.3% over the past six months, outperforming the Oil & Gas Refining and Marketing sub-industry’s gain of 29.9% and the broader oil and energy sector's modest rise of 14.7%.
Peer comparison further highlights the strength, as Marathon Petroleum outperformed its peers, Valero Energy Corporation (VLO - Free Report) and Phillips 66 (PSX - Free Report) , which gained 48.3% and 26%, respectively, during the same time period.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Marathon Petroleum stands to benefit from the recent soft oil price environment, which can support refining margins and profitability. However, after such a sharp rally, investors are left wondering whether the stock still offers meaningful upside or if much of the optimism has already been priced in. While Marathon Petroleum's operational strengths remain intact, a closer assessment of its valuation, earnings outlook and growth catalysts is essential to determine whether the stock remains a compelling buy at current levels.
Factors Favoring Marathon Petroleum StockOperational Excellence Is Driving Higher Refining Profitability: Marathon Petroleum continues to distinguish itself through industry-leading operational execution. During the first quarter, its refineries achieved 89% utilization while delivering an impressive 99% capture rate, meaning the company converted nearly all available market refining margins into realized profits. Management highlighted that the quarter recorded the lowest level of unplanned downtime in MPC's decade despite completing a significant portion of scheduled maintenance. Additionally, strategic investments such as the new jet fuel capacity at the Garyville refinery and upcoming projects at El Paso and Robinson are expected to increase production of higher-margin refined products. These investments improve product flexibility and position the company to capitalize on growing demand for jet fuel and diesel. Strong operational reliability, disciplined maintenance planning and superior commercial execution together create a competitive advantage that can sustain profitability even as market conditions fluctuate.
2026 Earnings Estimates Look Compelling: The Zacks Consensus Estimate implies a 208% year-over-year rise in MPC’s 2026 earnings per share, signaling a shift to positive earnings growth. This anticipated growth resembles the optimism embedded in the stock’s current price. Just like MPC, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2026 earnings per share of peer companies — Valero Energyand Phillips 66 — also implies a positive year-over-year earnings growth of 167.4% and 199%, respectively.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
MPC’s Improving Estimate Revisions: Over the past 30 days, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for MPC’s earnings per share has been revised 9.7% higher for 2026. However, the estimates for VLO and PSX have been revised by only 7% and 5.5%, respectively, over the same period.
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Challenges That Pressure Marathon Petroleum StockEarnings Sensitivity to Refining Margins and Market Cyclicality: Marathon Petroleum remains heavily dependent on refining operations, making its earnings sensitive to refining margins and fuel demand. First-quarter results benefited from geopolitical conditions that tightened global fuel supplies and boosted crack spreads. If global refining capacity returns, crude supply disruptions ease, or fuel demand weakens, refining margins could normalize and reduce earnings and cash flow. Because refining is inherently cyclical, current profitability may represent a strong point in the cycle rather than a sustainable long-term earnings level. This cyclicality can lead to significant volatility in both financial performance and Marathon Petroleum’s share price.
Large Maintenance Requirements Could Pressure Returns: Operating one of the largest refining systems in the United States requires significant ongoing spending on maintenance, reliability and regulatory compliance. In the first quarter, Marathon Petroleum incurred about $530 million in refinery turnaround costs and completed nearly 40% of its planned annual maintenance, while maintaining full-year turnaround spending guidance of $1.35 billion. The company is also investing heavily in refinery upgrades, jet fuel optimization projects and MPLX expansion. While these investments are expected to boost long-term growth, they require substantial capital and carry execution risks, potentially pressuring free cash flow if market conditions weaken.
MPC’s Valuation: Based on the forward price-to-sales ratio, Marathon Petroleum appears attractively valued relative to Valero Energy but trades at a premium compared with Phillips 66, which could prompt investors to exercise caution before investing.
Valuation Comparison
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Final Verdict on MPC StockThis Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) company is benefiting from industry-leading refinery execution, improving earnings estimates and strategic investments that should support higher-margin production and long-term profitability. Favorable refining conditions and stronger estimate revisions compared with peers also reinforce its investment case.
However, much of this optimism appears to be reflected in the stock price following its sharp rally over the past six months. Marathon Petroleum's earnings remain highly exposed to cyclical refining margins, while elevated maintenance spending and ongoing capital investments could pressure cash flows if market conditions soften.
In this context, investors should consider adopting a hold strategy for now to monitor Marathon Petroleum’s ongoing strengths while waiting for clearer earnings visibility and avoiding a premature exit before its initiatives potentially translate into shareholder value.
You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
PNC zvýšila čtvrtletní dividendu na kmenové akcie na 2,00 USD na akcii, což je o 18 % více než dříve. Firma uvedla, že to odráží její pokračující finanční sílu, důvěru představenstva ve strategii a výhled a úspěšnou integraci FirstBank.
, /PRNewswire/ -- The board of directors of The PNC Financial Services Group, Inc. (NYSE: PNC) declared a quarterly cash dividend on the common stock of $2.00 per share, an increase of $0.30 per share, or 18%, from the second quarter dividend of $1.70 per share. The dividend will be payable Aug. 5, 2026, to shareholders of record at the close of business July 20, 2026.
"The increase in our dividend reflects our continued financial strength, our board's confidence in our strategy and outlook, and the successful integration of FirstBank," said William S. Demchak, PNC chairman and chief executive officer.
The board also declared a cash dividend on the following series of preferred stocks, which will be payable to shareholders of record as of the close of business on the respective record dates shown below. The preferred stocks listed below (except for Preferred Series B and X) are each represented by 100 depositary shares:
Preferred
Series
Dividend Amount
(per Preferred Share)
Dividend Amount
(per Depositary Share)
2026
Payment
Date*
2026
Record
Date
B
$0.45
N/A
Sept. 10
Aug. 14
T
$850.00
$8.50
Sept. 15
Aug. 28
U
$1,500.00
$15.00
Aug. 15
July 31
V
$1,550.00
$15.50
Sept. 15
Aug. 28
W
$1,562.50
$15.6250
Sept. 15
Aug. 28
X
$18.13
N/A
July 29
July 15
* If a payment date falls on a non-business day, the dividend will be payable the next business day following the payment date.
The PNC Financial Services Group, Inc. is one of the largest diversified financial services institutions in the United States, organized around its customers and communities for strong relationships and local delivery of retail and business banking including a full range of lending products; specialized services for corporations and government entities, including corporate banking, real estate finance and asset-based lending; wealth management and asset management. For information about PNC, visit www.pnc.com.
Keurig Dr Pepper uvedl, že tři hlavní řady Dr Pepper získaly podíl na trhu díky silné poptávce a lepšímu provedení v obchodech. Zero Sugar navíc ve čtvrtletí zaznamenal dvouciferný růst.
Key Takeaways KDP says Dr Pepper's core lines gained share, backed by demand-generation and in-store execution.Creamy Coconut is back as KDP taps dirty soda trends and aims to drive summer growth.Zero Sugar posted double-digit growth as KDP sharpened promotions, marketing and distribution. Keurig Dr Pepper (KDP - Free Report) continues to demonstrate that innovation remains a key pillar of its growth strategy rather than simply a tool for generating short-lived demand spikes. Although the brand faced a difficult year-over-year comparison in the first quarter after the successful Blackberry launch in the prior year, management emphasized that the underlying business remained strong. Its three core product lines — regular, Diet Dr Pepper and Dr Pepper Zero Sugar — collectively gained market share during the quarter, supported by effective demand-generation initiatives and strong in-store execution. This suggests that the brand's momentum is increasingly being driven by sustained consumer demand rather than relying solely on new product introductions.
Innovation, however, remains central to expanding the brand’s reach and keeping consumer interest high. KDP recently relaunched the limited-time Dr Pepper Creamy Coconut flavor, a product that previously generated strong consumer engagement. Management expects the offering to build on its earlier success by tapping into the growing popularity of "dirty sodas," a trend that continues to resonate with younger consumers. The company views innovation as an important contributor to growth throughout the remainder of 2026, complementing the strength of the core portfolio rather than replacing it.
Beyond flavor innovation, KDP is strengthening Dr Pepper through a broader portfolio and commercial initiatives. The company continues to expand its zero-sugar offerings, which delivered double-digit growth during the quarter, while refining promotional strategies to provide attractive price points without sacrificing pricing discipline. At the same time, enhanced precision marketing, targeted consumer engagement and strong direct-store-delivery execution are helping improve shelf presence and product availability. These initiatives allow the company to capture both value-conscious shoppers and consumers seeking lower-sugar beverage alternatives.
Management remains confident that Dr Pepper will continue to outperform through the balance of 2026. The company expects Creamy Coconut to become a meaningful contributor during the summer season, while continued distribution gains, expanding Zero Sugar penetration and personalized marketing campaigns support additional share growth. Rather than depending on one blockbuster launch, KDP is building a repeatable innovation pipeline supported by disciplined commercial execution, positioning Dr Pepper to sustain its competitive strength within the carbonated soft drink category.
Keurig Dr Pepper’s Zacks Rank & Share Price PerformanceShares of this Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) company have gained 30.8% in the past three months, outperforming both the industry and the broader Consumer Staples sector, which have grown 9.2% and 7.8%, respectively.
KDP Stock's Past Three-Month Performance
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Is KDP a Value Play Stock?Keurig Dr Pepper currently trades at a forward 12-month P/E ratio of 13.79X, lower than the industry average of 19.67X and the sector average of 16.64X. This valuation positions the stock at a modest discount relative to both its direct peers and the broader consumer staples sector.
KDP P/E Ratio (Forward 12 Months)
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Stocks to ConsiderDarling Ingredients Inc. (DAR - Free Report) develops, produces and sells sustainable natural ingredients from edible and inedible bio-nutrients. It currently flaunts a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Darling Ingredients’ current fiscal-year sales and earnings indicates growth of 12.3% and 588.2%, respectively, from the prior-year reported levels. DAR delivered a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 16.1%, on average.
United Natural Foods, Inc. (UNFI - Free Report) distributes natural, organic, specialty, produce and conventional grocery and non-food products in the United States and Canada. At present, United Natural carries a Zacks Rank of 2 (Buy).
The consensus estimate for United Natural’s current fiscal-year earnings implies growth of 254.9% from the year-ago figures. UNFI delivered a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 29.9%, on average.
Mama's Creations, Inc. (MAMA - Free Report) manufactures and markets fresh deli-prepared foods in the United States. At present, MAMA has a Zacks Rank of 2.
The consensus estimate for Mama's Creations’ current fiscal-year sales and earnings implies growth of 30% and 73.3%, respectively, from the year-ago figures. MAMA delivered a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 129.2%, on average.
onsemi těží z rostoucí poptávky po pokročilých napájecích řešeních pro datová centra pro AI, EV a ukládání energie. Tržby z datových center pro AI ve 1. čtvrtletí 2026 vzrostly mezikvartálně o více než 30 % a letos se mají zdvojnásobit.
Key Takeaways ON is seeing rising demand for advanced power solutions across AI data centers, EVs and energy storage.AI data center revenues rose more than 30% sequentially in Q1 2026 and are expected to double in 2026.onsemi sees AI rack power content rising to about $115,000 as 800-volt architectures gain adoption. ON Semiconductor (ON - Free Report) or onsemi is benefiting from accelerating demand for advanced power solutions across AI data centers, electric vehicles (EVs), energy storage and industrial applications. The company's differentiated portfolio of silicon carbide (SiC), gallium nitride (GaN), intelligent power modules and analog power management solutions is driving stronger design wins and content growth, positioning it to outpace broader semiconductor demand.
AI infrastructure has emerged as one of ON Semiconductor's strongest growth drivers. In the first quarter of 2026, AI data center revenues increased more than 30% sequentially, nearly double management's expectations, and the company expects AI data center revenues to double year over year in 2026.
ON is benefiting from broader adoption across the entire power tree, with products deployed from high-voltage power conversion and intelligent power stages to system-level power management. The company is engaged with all major hyperscalers, multiple XPU vendors and leading power supply manufacturers, while more than 30 active programs with Flex Power span power supplies, battery backup systems and next-generation 800-volt DC architectures.
The transition to higher-voltage power architectures is significantly expanding onsemi’s content opportunity. Management expects AI racks to migrate to 800-volt designs, wherein ON’s power content per rack could increase from roughly $15,000 today to approximately $115,000, driven by higher adoption of high-voltage silicon carbide and GaN solutions. The company also believes that its proprietary vertical GaN technology and industry-leading 800-volt power conversion capabilities provide a meaningful competitive advantage in delivering higher power density and improved efficiency for next-generation AI infrastructure.
ON Semiconductor continues to benefit from growing electrification trends. The company remains the preferred power supplier for next-generation 900-volt EV platforms in China, where silicon carbide content continues to expand. At the same time, rising AI-related electricity demand is boosting investments in energy storage systems and microgrids. ON expects its energy storage business to grow more than 40% year over year in 2026, supported by differentiated silicon carbide hybrid modules for utility-scale solar inverters, renewable energy and liquid-cooled storage platforms. These diversified power applications reinforce ON Semiconductor's long-term growth prospects.
ON Faces Tough CompetitionOn Semiconductor is facing significant competition from the likes of Texas Instruments (TXN - Free Report) and Navitas Semiconductor (NVTS - Free Report) in the power semiconductors space.
Texas Instruments is gaining traction in the power semiconductor market through broad-based demand across industrial, automotive and AI data center applications. In the first quarter of 2026, analog revenues grew 22% year over year, supported by continued recovery in the industrial markets and accelerating demand from data centers. Data center revenues surged about 90% year over year, while industrial revenues climbed more than 30%, reflecting rising demand for power management, power delivery and analog solutions used in AI infrastructure. The company is also benefiting from long-term secular trends in electrification and AI.
Navitas is gaining momentum by transforming its business toward high-power GaN and SiC solutions for AI infrastructure. The company has shifted away from low-end consumer markets to focus on AI data centers, grid and energy infrastructure, performance computing, and industrial electrification. In the first quarter of 2026, revenues from these high-power markets grew 25% year over year and drove the company's return to sequential revenue growth, with management expecting these businesses to remain the primary growth engine throughout 2026. Navitas is also strengthening its competitive position through differentiated GaN and high-voltage SiC technologies tailored for next-generation AI power architectures.
ON’s Share Price Performance, Valuation & EstimatesShares of onsemi have appreciated 68.4% year to date, outperforming the broader Zacks Computer and Technology sector’s rise of 14.7%.
ON Stock Outperforms Sector
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
The ON Semiconductor stock is trading at a premium, with a forward 12-month price/earnings of 24.4X compared with the broader sector’s 22.73X. ON has a Value Score of D.
ON’s Valuation
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The Zacks Consensus Estimate for ON’s 2026 earnings is currently pegged at $3.09 per share, up 4.4% over the past 60 days, suggesting 31.5% growth from the 2025 reported figure.
On Semiconductor currently has a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
HII získala opční roční kontrakt na výrobu podmořského bezpilotního prostředku Lionfish pro americké námořnictvo. Pětiletý program se může rozšířit až na 200 vozidel s hodnotou přes 347 milionů USD.
POCASSET, Mass., July 06, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- HII, a global leader in autonomous unmanned maritime systems, has been awarded an option year production contract for the U.S. Navy’s next-generation program of record, the Lionfish small unmanned undersea vehicle (SUUV). Lionfish is based on HII’s commercial REMUS 300 platform, originally developed as part of a rapid prototyping initiative in collaboration with the U.S. Navy and the Defense Innovation Unit (DIU).
Designed to address a broad range of undersea warfare missions, Lionfish supports mine countermeasures, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR), anti-submarine warfare, and electronic warfare operations.
This latest option year contract continues to build the momentum of the Lionfish program, which marked a major production milestone at the close of 2025 with the completion of the 42nd Lionfish vehicle at HII’s Pocasset facility. The five-year program could scale to as many as 200 vehicles, with a total contract value exceeding $347 million.
“The decision to exercise this option year production of the Lionfish program reflects the U.S. Navy’s confidence in the platform’s operational performance, reliability and adaptability,” said Duane Fotheringham, president of the Unmanned Systems group in HII’s Mission Technologies division. “Our team remains focused on delivering advanced autonomous systems that provide sailors and marines with critical undersea warfare capabilities in support of evolving mission requirements.”
An image accompanying this release is available at: https://www.hii.com/news/hii-is-awarded-option-year-contract-for-us-navy-lionfish-unmanned-undersea-vehicle-production/.
Following the selection of HII’s REMUS 300 platform for Lionfish, the program has been recognized as the U.S. Navy’s first successful transition from an Other Transaction Authority (OTA) prototype effort to full-scale production, demonstrating accelerated application of dual-use commercial technologies in support of operational U.S. Department of Defense capabilities. Lionfish is also the first and only cyber-compliant unmanned underwater vehicle currently in production for the U.S. Navy.
The REMUS 300 platform is a modular, open-architecture SUUV engineered for multi-mission adaptability. Its open-architecture design enables rapid payload integration and future technology upgrades, allowing operators to adapt the system to evolving mission needs while maintaining cost efficiency over the platform lifecycle.
The REMUS family of unmanned underwater vehicles has been field-proven across global naval operations. HII has delivered more than 700 REMUS vehicles to over 30 countries, including 14 NATO members. More than 90% of REMUS systems delivered during the past 25 years remain in active service today.
About HII
HII is America’s largest shipbuilder, delivering the world’s most powerful ships and all-domain mission technologies, including unmanned systems, to U.S. and allied defense customers. HII is the largest producer of unmanned underwater vehicles for the U.S. Navy and the world.
With a more than 140-year history of advancing U.S. national security, HII builds and integrates defense capabilities extending from the core fleet to C6ISR, AI/ML, EW and synthetic training. Headquartered in Virginia, HII’s workforce is 44,000 strong. For more information, visit:
HII on the web: https://www.HII.com/HII on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TeamHIIHII on X: https://www.twitter.com/WeAreHIIHII on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/WeAreHIIHII on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/wearehii Contact:
Energy Transfer zvýšil výhled upraveného EBITDA na 18,2–18,6 mld. USD poté, co tržby v 1. čtvrtletí vzrostly o 32 % na 27,77 mld. USD. Firma zároveň podepsala smlouvy pro datová centra Oracle.
Midstream pipelines have quietly become the income engine of the energy sector in 2026. With U.S. LNG exports running near maximum capacity and commercial electricity demand (driven by data centers) projected to surpass residential consumption for the first time on record in 2027, the companies that move hydrocarbons are sitting on multi-year volume tailwinds. The bonus: they pay you generously while you wait for the thesis to play out.
Here are three pipeline names worth a hard look this July, each backed by a tool-verified yield and a concrete growth catalyst. A quick tax note up front: EPD and ET are MLPs that issue K-1 forms, while KMI is a C-corp that issues a standard 1099, a meaningful simplicity advantage for IRA holders and casual investors.
Enterprise Products Partners (NYSE: EPD) Enterprise Products Partners (NYSE:EPD | EPD Price Prediction) trades at $36.84 with a current yield of 6%, supported by a 55-cent quarterly distribution ($2.20 annualized) that just stepped up 3% year over year. That extends what is now 27 consecutive years of distribution growth, a track record almost no income vehicle outside the Dividend Aristocrats can match.
The bull case is operational momentum colliding with a finishing build cycle. EPD set 12 new operational records in Q1 2026, including NGL fractionation up 16% and marine terminal volumes up 15%. Adjusted EBITDA hit $2.69 billion, up 10% year over year, even with NGL prices falling to $0.57 per gallon from $0.67 per gallon. CEO Jim Teague has framed 2026 as a free-cash-flow inflection point as the 2022 to 2025 capex cycle winds down, and management backed that with a $5.0 billion buyback authorization. Shares are up 15% year-to-date and 18% over the past year.
Risk: NGL price weakness can pressure unit margins. With $34.2 billion in total debt and ongoing derivative MTM losses, a sustained commodity slump would compress coverage even with the fee-based model.
Energy Transfer (NYSE: ET) Energy Transfer (NYSE:ET) is the highest-yielder of the three at 7%, with units trading near $19.38. The latest quarterly distribution of 33 cents (paid May 20) marks another step in a steady recovery: Distributions have climbed every quarter since 2023 and now sit above the pre-pandemic baseline.
The bull case is scale plus AI-power optionality. Q1 2026 revenue grew 32% year over year to $27.77 billion, and management raised FY2026 adjusted EBITDA guidance by $750 million to $18.2B–$18.6B. NGL exports rose 19% and the company signed Oracle data center supply agreements ramping to ~900 MMcf/d across three facilities. The Transwestern Desert Southwest expansion was upsized to 2.3 Bcf/d (~$5.6 billion), locking in long-haul Permian capacity at the exact moment data center power demand is exploding. Units are up 20% year-to-date, and analysts carry a $23.59 average price target versus the current unit price.
Risk: Q1 EPS of 35 cents missed the 38-cent estimate, with interest expense climbing to $947 million from $809 million against $68.3 billion in long-term debt. The leverage works both ways.
Kinder Morgan (NYSE: KMI) Kinder Morgan (NYSE:KMI) yields 4% at $32.52, the lowest payout of the trio but with the simplest tax treatment. As a C-corp, KMI issues a 1099, no K-1 forms, no UBTI complications inside retirement accounts. The 29-cent quarterly dividend paid May 15, annualizes to $1.19 per share, up 2% from 2025.
The bull case is data centers, full stop. CEO Kim Dang noted that “approximately 70% of future power demand from data centers under development is in states served by KMI assets” and that long-term contracts to move 8 Bcf/d of natural gas feedstocks to LNG facilities are projected to grow to 12 Bcf/d by the end of 2028. The project backlog stands at $10.1 billion, with 92% tied to natural gas and ~60% supporting power generation and LDC demand. Q1 2026 delivered an EPS beat of 48 cents versus 39 cents expected (+22%), and Moody’s upgraded the credit rating to Baa1, putting all three agencies at BBB+ equivalent. Shares lead the group at +22% year-to-date.
Risk: Forward P/E of 24x is the priciest in the group, and KMI carries genuine commodity exposure through its CO2 segment, with crude and condensate volumes down 12% in Q1.
What to Watch Next The next ex-distribution dates land in late July and early August. EPD historically declares its July distribution around early July with a late-July ex-date, and Energy Transfer follows a similar cadence. If you want to capture the next payment, the calendar matters. The bigger picture: with U.S. LNG export capacity projected to reach 27.7 Bcf/d by 2030 from 14.9 Bcf/d in 2025, the volumes that ride these pipelines have a structural growth runway that fee-based midstream operators are uniquely positioned to capture. Investors get paid handsomely while that math compounds.
Credo Technology Group hlásí zrychlení retimer obchodu díky rostoucí poptávce po řešeních 100 Gbps a 200 Gbps na lince. Blue Heron 200 Gbps retimer získává zájem zákazníků pro AI infrastrukturu s podporou Ethernetu i UALink.
Key Takeaways Credo's retimer business is gaining momentum with rising demand for 100G and 200G per lane solutions.CRDO's Blue Heron retimer supports Ethernet and UALink protocols for flexible AI infrastructure deployments.Credo is securing design wins with hyperscalers, OEMs and optical module makers for recurring revenues. As computing systems become more powerful and data transfer speeds continue to increase, maintaining signal integrity across complex interconnects has become a key challenge for the semiconductor industry. This is where retimers have emerged as a critical enabling technology. Among the companies capitalizing on this trend, Credo Technology Group Holding Ltd. (CRDO - Free Report) has steadily strengthened its foothold in the high-speed connectivity market. Its retimer business has reached a crucial inflection point, driven by increasing demand for solutions supporting both 100 Gbps and 200 Gbps per lane.
At the same time, the company is gaining steady traction with its PCIe Gen 6 retimers, reflecting the industry's shift toward next-generation, high-bandwidth computing platforms. A key factor driving this momentum is CRDO's Blue Heron 200 Gbps-per-lane retimer, designed specifically to meet the needs of both scale-out and emerging scale-up AI networks. The device is attracting increasing customer interest because it supports a wide range of 200 Gbps-per-lane protocols, including Ethernet, UALink and Ultra Accelerator Link (UALink)-based ecosystems, allowing customers to deploy flexible, future-proof AI infrastructure.
As AI clusters grow larger and more complex, protocol diversity is rising, making interoperability and signal integrity more important than ever. CRDO believes its deep system-level expertise, paired with its strong software integration capabilities, offers a significant competitive edge. These strengths not only simplify customer deployments but also position CRDO to continue expanding its market share as next-generation AI networking infrastructure develops. Securing design wins with major hyperscalers, networking OEMs and optical module manufacturers position the company for long product lifecycles and recurring revenues as customer deployments scale.
Competition Heating Up in the PCIe Retimer Market for CRDOAstera Labs (ALAB - Free Report) is benefiting from rising demand for PCIe 6 signal conditioning and AI fabric switching as hyperscalers expand rack-scale AI deployments. PCIe Gen 6 business, spanning AI fabric and signal conditioning, remained strong in the first quarter, contributing more than one-third of total revenues. It has now shipped millions of PCIe Gen 6 ports, underscoring the maturity and reliability of its portfolio. The combination of higher-speed interconnect needs and increasing platform diversity supports ongoing content expansion per accelerator. Management expects continued strength in Aries and Taurus and an early-stage ramp in Scorpio X-Series, guiding second-quarter revenues to $355-$365 million.
Broadcom Inc. (AVGO - Free Report) is benefiting from rising demand for AI semiconductors, driven by custom XePUs and AI networking, while VMware continues to support growth in infrastructure software. In networking, AVGO maintains at least a one-generation technology lead. Its 200G and 400G SerDes power direct-attached copper for scale-up networks, while its 100 Tbps Tomahawk 6—the industry's first Ethernet switch at that speed—has been shipping for more than a year, strengthening its leadership in scale-out networking. Broadcom expects to tape out its next-generation 200-terabit switch in fiscal 2026. For fiscal 2026, management expects AI semiconductor revenues of $56 billion, up approximately 180%.
CRDO Price Performance, Valuation and EstimatesShares of CRDO have surged 160.9% in the past year compared with the Electronics-Semiconductors industry’s growth of 74.9%.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
In terms of the forward 12-month price/sales ratio, CRDO is trading at 17.68, higher than the Electronic-Semiconductors industry’s multiple of 8.93.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for CRDO’s earnings for fiscal 2027 has seen a significant uptick over the past 60 days.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
CRDO currently sports a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.
Key Takeaways AXON crossed its 200-day SMA after a 60.2% three-month gain, outperforming peers and the S&P 500.Axon saw strong growth across TASER, body cameras, software and the Dedrone platform in first-quarter 2026.AXON raised its 2025 revenue growth outlook to 30-32% amid strength across multiple business segments. Axon Enterprise, Inc. (AXON - Free Report) crossed its 200-day simple moving average (SMA) on June 30, reaching a key support level from a technical perspective. This reflects a positive market sentiment and confidence in the company's financial health and long-term prospects.
AXON Overtakes the 200-Day Moving Average
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Considering the past few months’ price movement, the stock was seen outperforming the benchmarks, the broader industry, as well as its major peers. Over the past three months, shares of the company have surged 60.2%, outpacing the industry and the S&P 500, which have returned 16.6% and 13.3%, respectively.
Shares of its key rivals like Kratos Defense & Security Solutions, Inc. (KTOS - Free Report) and Leonardo DRS, Inc. (DRS - Free Report) have declined 23.1% and 5.3%, respectively.
3-Month Price Performance
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Closing at $597.04 last Thursday, the stock is trading below its 52-week high of $885.92 but significantly higher than its 52-week low of $339.01. The stock is also trading above its 50-day moving average. With investors’ sentiment starting to pick up for Axon, it is the right time to assess the stock’s potential upside.
Factors Favoring the CompanyAxon’s Connected Devices segment is thriving on the back of strong demand for TASER 10 devices. Growth in cartridge revenues, driven by the higher adoption of the TASER products, has also been augmenting the results. Solid demand for its next-generation body-worn camera, Axon Body 4 and counter-drone equipment also supports its growth.
In first-quarter 2026, revenues from the company’s TASER product line increased 19% year over year, driven by TASER 10, while those from the Personal Sensors surged 23%, led by Axon Body 4. Also, revenues from the Platform Solutions product line soared 95%, supported by counter-drone, virtual reality and fleet. Revenues from the Connected Devices segment surged 32.8% year over year in the quarter, following an increase of 29.1% in 2025.
The company is also witnessing solid momentum in its Software & Services segment, driven by an increase in the aggregate number of users to the Axon network. Continued momentum in digital evidence management and increased adoption of its latest software offerings are driving the segment’s growth.
Strong customer satisfaction and new engagement are consistently driving the purchase of additional services. This ongoing expansion supports a growing base of annual recurring revenues (ARR). After witnessing a year-over-year 39.6% jump in 2025 segmental revenues, the metric increased 35% in the first quarter.
Given the rising global demand for Counter-Unmanned Aircraft Systems (CUAS), Axon is also witnessing strong momentum in its Dedrone platform. Revenues from the Dedrone platform saw robust growth of about 300% year over year in first-quarter 2026. The company also recently launched Dedrone C2, an upgraded version of the platform. This C2 version comes with enhanced sensor fusion technology, offering stronger detection capabilities.
Also, the company’s acquisition of Carbyne (in February 2026) enabled it to come up with Axon 911, a state-of-the-art, fully integrated solution that is designed to connect callers and responders instantly. Driven by strength across its businesses, AXON currently expects 2025 revenues to increase approximately 30-32% year over year, higher than 27-30% guided earlier.
The company’s earnings estimates for 2026 have declined 3.6% to $7.83 per share over the past 60 days. However. the figure indicates year-over-year growth of 14.3%. Earnings estimates for 2027 have inched down 0.3% to $10.64 per share. The figure indicates year-over-year growth of 35.9%.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Axon’s 2026 revenues is pegged at $3.64 billion, indicating year-over-year growth of 31%. The consensus estimate for its 2027 revenues stands at $4.60 billion, suggesting an increase of 26.3% year-over-year.
Stock Valuation
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The stock is trading at a forward 12-month price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio of 64.39X compared with the industry average of 46.82X. This elevated valuation could make the stock vulnerable to further pullbacks if market sentiment sours.
Both peers, Kratos Defense and Leonardo DRS, are trading cheaper compared with AXON. Notably, Kratos Defense and Leonardo DRS are trading at 63.07X and 32.09X, respectively.
Should You Buy AXON Stock Now?Persistent strength across Axon’s TASER and Software & Sensors segments, along with its growing foothold in the counter-drone equipment market, positions it favorably for impressive growth in the quarters ahead. The company’s strategic acquisitions and investments in product innovations should also support its top-line performance.
Despite its expensive valuation, positive analyst sentiment and robust growth prospects indicate it is the right time for potential investors to bet on this Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) company. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
Tenet Healthcare těží z rostoucích upravených přijetí a silného růstu ambulantní péče; odhady zisku na akcii pro letošek byly zvýšeny a počítají s růstem o 5 %.
Key Takeaways Tenet Healthcare is benefiting from rising adjusted admissions and strong Ambulatory Care growth.THC's earnings estimates moved higher, with projected 5% EPS growth and four straight earnings beats.Tenet Healthcare faces rising operating expenses despite cost-control efforts, posing a margin risk. Tenet Healthcare Corporation (THC - Free Report) is well-poised to grow, backed by the expanding adjusted admissions. Its solid Ambulatory Care segment performance is also a major tailwind. In the year-to-date period, shares of Tenet Healthcare have gained 2.6% against the industry’s 5.5% fall. Headquartered in Dallas, TX, THC operates as a provider of diversified healthcare services and has a market cap of $17.5 billion.
Driven by its solid prospects, this Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) stock is worth adding to your portfolio at the moment.
Let’s delve deeper.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Tenet Healthcare’s current-year earnings is pegged at $17.61 per share, which has witnessed two upward estimate revisions in the past 60 days against none in the opposite direction. The estimate indicates 5% year-over-year growth. Tenet Healthcare beat on earnings in all the last four quarters, with an average surprise of 20.6%.
The consensus mark for current-year revenues is pegged at $22.02 billion, signaling a 3.3% increase from a year ago. The company’s solid organic growth, supported by rising patient revenue per adjusted admission and a favorable shift toward higher-acuity services, is likely to support the top line. Favorable demographic trends, such as an aging population and rising chronic disease prevalence, are expected to sustain volume growth and support long-term revenue and earnings expansion.
THC's performance is benefiting from strong growth in its Ambulatory Care segment, driven by same-facility revenue gains, tuck-in acquisitions of ambulatory surgery centers and surgical hospitals, and continued expansion of the USPI platform. It had interests in 541 ambulatory surgery centers and 26 surgical hospitals in 37 states as of March 31, 2026. Ambulatory net operating revenues increased 17.3% in 2024, 14.1% in 2025 and 10.6% year over year in the first quarter of 2026.
THC's return on assets of 5.15% is higher than the industry average of 4.24%, indicating that the company is generating superior returns from its asset base, reflecting stronger operational efficiency and effective capital deployment compared with its peers.
Key Risk to MonitorHowever, investors should keep an eye on the company's expense profile. While Tenet Healthcare has implemented cost-control initiatives, including workforce optimization and renegotiated supplier and vendor contracts, expenses have continued to rise. Operating expenses increased 20.6% in 2025 and a further 4.6% year over year in the first quarter of 2026. Total expenses also rose as a percentage of sales. Persistent labor cost pressures, inflation in medical supplies and other inputs, and higher patient acuity are expected to keep expenses elevated, potentially weighing on margins.
Other Key PicksSome other top-ranked stocks in the broader Medical space are CVS Health Corporation (CVS - Free Report) , agilon health, inc. (AGL - Free Report) and Biodesix, Inc. (BDSX - Free Report) , each carrying a Zacks Rank #2 at present. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for CVS Health’s 2026 bottom line suggests 10.2% year-over-year growth. CVS has witnessed 12 upward estimate revisions over the past 60 days against no movement in the opposite direction. It beat earnings estimates in all the last four quarters, with an average surprise of 16.8%.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for agilon health’s full-year 2026 earnings indicates a 92.4% year-over-year improvement. AGL has witnessed two upward estimate revisions over the past 60 days against no movement in the opposite direction. The consensus mark for current-year revenues is currently pegged at $5.72 billion.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Biodesix’s 2026 full-year earnings implies a 37.7% improvement from the year-ago reported figure. BDSX beat earnings estimates in three of the last four quarters and missed once, with an average surprise of 25.6%. The consensus mark for its current-year revenues is pegged at $110.95 million, which indicates a 25.4% year-over-year increase.
MP Materials v 1. čtvrtletí zvýšila tržby o 49 % na 90,6 mil. USD, ale kvůli vyšším nákladům zůstala už 11. čtvrtletí v řadě v provozní ztrátě. Zároveň zahájila stavbu závodu 10X, který má zvýšit kapacitu magnetů NdFeB na zhruba 10 000 tun ročně.
Key Takeaways MP trades at 15.20X forward sales, above the industry's 1.49X, while shares fell 14.7% in six months.First-quarter revenues rose 49% to $90.6M, but higher costs kept MP in its 11th operating-loss quarter.MP is expanding Independence and building 10X to lift annual NdFeB magnet capacity to about 10,000 tons. MP Materials (MP - Free Report) is trading at a forward 12-month price/sales multiple of 15.20X, well above the industry average of 1.49X. The stock also carries a Value Score of F, suggesting it is expensive at current levels.
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Among rare earth peers, USA Rare Earth, Inc. (USAR - Free Report) trades at a steeper 39.51X, while Lynas Rare Earths Limited (LYSDY - Free Report) appears relatively more reasonably valued at 10.22X.
MP Materials Stock Trails Industry PerformanceMP Materials shares have declined 14.7% over the past six months, significantly lagging the industry’s 8.5% growth. The Zacks Basic Materials sector gained 3.8% while the S&P 500 rose 8%. Over this period, Lynas Rare Earths and USA Rare Earth have gained 19.6% and 11.4%, respectively.
MP's 6-Month Performance Against Industry, Sector, S&P 500 & Peers
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MP Materials continues to trade at a substantial premium even as its shares have lagged the industry. Examining its latest financial results, operational execution, growth catalysts and key challenges can help assess whether that premium remains justified.
MP Delivered Revenue Growth in Q1, Costs Remain ElevatedMP Materials generated first-quarter 2026 total revenues of $90.6 million, up 49% year over year. The company also recognized $42.3 million in income related to a price protection agreement (PPA) with the Department of War (DoW).
Revenues from the Materials segment increased 30% year over year to $72.2 million, on stronger NdPr pricing and sales. The Magnetics segment contributed $21 million in revenues, reflecting increased production of magnetic precursor products. In the year-ago quarter, the segment generated $5.2 million in revenues from its first metal deliveries.
Cost of sales climbed 52% due to higher sales volumes while selling, general and administrative expenses rose 39.2% due to increased personnel costs. Start-up costs surged 503%, reflecting the ramp-up of start-up activities related to magnet production and chlor-alkali facilities. Advanced projects and development expenses spiked 302% due to higher costs incurred for legal, consulting and advisory services to support growth initiatives.
Due to the surge in costs, MP Materials reported an operating loss of $24 million in the quarter compared with the year-ago operating loss of $34.8 million. This was the 11th consecutive quarter of operating loss for the company, reflecting ongoing margin pressure as it continues transitioning toward higher-value separated rare earth products. The company posted adjusted earnings of three cents per share against the year-ago quarter’s loss of 12 cents.
Producing separated rare earth products and magnetic materials involves significantly higher costs than concentrate production, due to additional processing requirements, chemical inputs, labor and maintenance. Cost of sales is, thus, expected to trend higher, reflecting increased sales of NdPr oxide and metal, along with added costs associated with magnetic precursor products. Start-up costs are also likely to increase further in the coming quarters.
MP Materials Scales Production Across OperationsMP Materials reported record production of 917 metric tons of NdPr during the first quarter, up 63% year over year, driven by continued expansion of separated rare earth production. The company also achieved a record 12,983 metric tons of rare earth oxide (REO) concentrate production, representing a 6% increase from the prior-year period, supported by improved recoveries and operational efficiencies. At the same time, production of magnetic precursor products continues to ramp up at the Independence facility.
MP’s Earnings Estimates Trend Lower Reflecting CautionThe Zacks Consensus Estimate for MP Materials’ 2026 earnings stands at 16 cents per share, reflecting a turnaround from the projected loss of 24 cents in 2025. The 2027 estimate is currently pegged at $1.06 per share, implying growth of 562.5%.
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Earnings estimates for both 2026 and 2027 have been revised downward over the past 90 days.
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MP Materials Advances Capacity ExpansionThe company is expanding operations at its Independence facility and has begun construction of the 10X magnetics facility. Commissioning activities for scaled heavy rare earth separation are also expected to begin soon at Mountain Pass. 10X will significantly expand MP’s fully integrated U.S. rare-earth magnetics manufacturing platform, which already encompasses mining and refining, metallization and alloying, sintering, finished magnet production and closed loop recycling. Once operational, the new campus is expected to contribute to the company’s total production capacity of approximately 10,000 metric tons of NdFeB rare-earth magnets per year, advancing the nation’s ability to produce these strategic components domestically.
Our Final Take on MP StockMP Materials remains well-positioned to benefit from the growing demand for domestically produced rare earth materials and magnets, supported by its integrated business model, expanding production capabilities and significant long-term capacity investments. These strengths make the company an attractive long-term holding for existing shareholders.
However, prospective investors may prefer to wait for a more attractive entry point given the stock’s premium valuation, rising operating and start-up costs, and recent downward revisions to earnings estimates. MP currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold).
You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
Archer Aviation posiluje přípravu na komerční provoz: získává certifikace FAA, rozšiřuje infrastrukturu pro městskou leteckou mobilitu a zvyšuje výrobní kapacity v Silicon Valley a Georgii.
Key Takeaways ACHR is advancing FAA certifications to support future aircraft production and commercial operations.ACHR is expanding urban air mobility infrastructure to support future air taxi networks.ACHR strengthens production readiness through facilities in Silicon Valley and Georgia. Archer Aviation Inc. (ACHR - Free Report) shares have declined 13.1% over the past month, underperforming the Zacks Aerospace-Defense industry’s rise of 9%. However, the company is building long-term growth through regulatory preparedness, expanding urban air mobility infrastructure and production readiness. Continued investment in proprietary technologies strengthens its commercialization strategy.
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Some stocks from the same industry, such as Huntington Ingalls Industries, Inc. (HII - Free Report) and Redwire Corporation (RDW - Free Report) , have also underperformed the industry. Over the past month, HII and RDW have declined 0.3% and 39.1%, respectively.
With ACHR shares falling over the past month, investors may hold varied perspectives. Let’s examine the factors and assess the stock’s investment prospects to make an informed decision.
Factors Supporting ACHR Stock's GrowthArcher Aviation continues to advance its commercial readiness by strengthening the regulatory and operational foundation required for future passenger services. The company already holds Federal Aviation Administration (“FAA”) Part 135 Air Carrier, Part 145 Repair Station and Part 141 Pilot School certificates, enabling commercial flight operations, aircraft maintenance and pilot training activities. ACHR is also progressing toward an FAA Production Certificate, which will allow it to manufacture Midnight aircraft that conform to approved type designs, supporting the transition from certification to commercial deliveries.
The company is also expanding its long-term addressable market by developing integrated urban air mobility networks in collaboration with infrastructure providers and local stakeholders. Archer Aviation is working to establish vertiport infrastructure and operational ecosystems that connect major population centers with transportation hubs while supporting future air taxi services. This broader network strategy is intended to improve customer adoption and create recurring opportunities beyond aircraft sales.
Archer Aviation is differentiating itself through continued investment in proprietary technologies and manufacturing capabilities. The company is internally developing key systems such as electric propulsion, flight-control software and composite structures while leveraging certified components from established aerospace suppliers to reduce development risk. Archer Aviation is scaling production of its aircraft and electric powertrain at its "golden manufacturing lines" in Silicon Valley and its high-volume facility in Georgia to support certification and early commercial deployments, enhancing production readiness as commercialization progresses.
Earnings Estimates for ACHR StockThe Zacks Consensus Estimate for ACHR’s 2026 earnings per share (EPS) indicates an increase of 0.97% over the past 60 days.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Huntington Ingalls’ 2026 EPS calls for a rise of 0.12% in the past 60 days. The estimate for Redwire’s 2026 EPS implies a decline of 62% over the same period.
Debt Position of ACHRCurrently, Archer Aviation’s total debt to capital is 3.65%, lower than the industry’s average of 47.1%. It indicates that the company can run its business efficiently with much lower debt levels than its industry peers.
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ACHR’s Liquidity PositionArcher Aviation has a current ratio of 18.06 compared with its industry’s average of 1.12. The ratio, being more than one, indicates that ACHR possesses sufficient capital to pay off its short-term debt obligations.
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Huntington Ingalls and Redwire also maintain current ratios above one. HII has a current ratio of 1.19, while RDW holds 1.75.
ACHR Stock Trades at a DiscountArcher Aviation is currently trading at 1.82X, a discount compared to its industry’s 6.47X on a trailing 12-month Price/Book basis.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
What Should Investors Do Now?Archer Aviation is strengthening its commercial foundation through regulatory preparedness, expanding urban air mobility infrastructure and growing production capabilities, supporting its long-term commercialization strategy. The company's investments in proprietary technologies, manufacturing readiness and expanding operational capabilities are expected to enhance its long-term growth prospects.
Given ACHR's favorable earnings estimate outlook, discounted valuation, lower debt levels and solid liquidity position, investors may consider including this Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) stock in their portfolios at current levels. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
e.l.f. Beauty čeká ve fiskálním roce 2027 růst čistých tržeb o 12 % až 14 % na až 1,865 miliardy USD. Rhode přidala ve čtvrtletí 113 milionů USD a přispěla zhruba 34 procentními body k růstu.
Key Takeaways e.l.f. Beauty expects fiscal 2027 net sales to grow 12% to 14%, reaching up to $1.865 billion. Rhode added $113 million in fourth-quarter sales, driving about 34 percentage points of growth. The core e.l.f. brand slowed recently, while price cuts and innovation aim to support momentum. e.l.f. Beauty, Inc. (ELF - Free Report) has built one of the strongest growth records in beauty, supported by consistent sales expansion, market share gains and a broader brand portfolio. The latest results show that the company is still positioned for double-digit growth in fiscal 2027, though the path now depends on both Rhode’s contribution and improved momentum in the core e.l.f. brand.
Fiscal 2026 net sales increased 25% to $1.64 billion, while fourth-quarter net sales rose 35% to $449.3 million. The quarter marked the company’s 29th consecutive quarter of net sales growth, underscoring the durability of its top-line performance.
The growth mix, however, has changed. Rhode contributed $113 million in fourth-quarter net sales, accounting for about 34 percentage points of quarterly growth. Excluding Rhode, organic net sales increased about 1% in the quarter. The core e.l.f. brand also showed some moderation, with global consumption slowing from high single digits in fiscal 2026 to low single digits over the latest 12 weeks, as spring 2026 innovation started slower than expected.
For fiscal 2027, e.l.f. Beauty expects net sales of $1.835 billion to $1.865 billion, representing growth of 12% to 14% from fiscal 2026. Rhode is expected to contribute about nine percentage points to full-year growth, including approximately $140 million of net sales in the first four months of the fiscal year. Organic net sales are expected to grow about 4% to 5%, encompassing Rhode once it becomes part of the organic growth starting in August.
To support the core e.l.f. brand, the company is focusing on value, innovation, international growth and sharper brand execution. While ELF’s guidance shows that double-digit sales growth remains within reach, sustaining that pace will require a stronger organic contribution from the core e.l.f. brand, alongside the continued scaling of Rhode.
Shares of this Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) company have rallied 25% over the past three months compared with the industry’s growth of 20.6%.
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3 Solid Cosmetic Bets to ConsiderThe Estee Lauder Companies Inc. (EL - Free Report) , a global prestige beauty company across skincare, makeup, fragrance and hair care, currently carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for The Estee Lauder Companies’ current fiscal-year sales and earnings suggests a year-over-year increase of 4.5% and 59.6%, respectively. EL delivered a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 39.1%, on average.
Helen of Troy Limited (HELE - Free Report) operates as a consumer product company with beauty, wellness, home and outdoor brands. HELE carries a Zacks Rank #2 at present.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Helen of Troy’s current fiscal-year earnings calls for a year-over-year decline of 3.1%, while the consensus mark for the next fiscal year EPS suggests 16.6% growth.
Nu Skin Enterprises, Inc. (NUS - Free Report) , a beauty and wellness company selling skincare, personal care and nutrition products, currently holds a Zacks Rank #2.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Nu Skin’s current financial-year sales and earnings indicates year-over-year declines of 4% and 21.3%, respectively. However, the consensus mark for NUS’ next-year sales and EPS suggests respective increases of 7.3% and 32% year over year.
Key Takeaways SOUN's auto and IoT AI business grew 88% organically in Q1, as total revenues rose 52% to $44.2M.SoundHound signed a seven-figure Japanese auto deal and expanded in South America with an OEM.SOUN is adding Voice AI to Walmart's ONN TV brand, broadening its connected-device footprint. SoundHound AI (SOUN - Free Report) reported strong first-quarter results in its automotive and IoT AI business, reflecting continued traction across automotive customers and connected-device integrations.
In the first quarter of 2026, SoundHound stated that its automotive and IoT AI business grew 88% year over year, excluding the impact of acquisitions. The figure is notable given the company’s active M&A backdrop, making organic growth an important indicator of core voice AI traction. Overall revenues increased 52% year over year to $44.2 million, with growth led by financial services and automotive.
Automotive growth was supported by new and expanded customer commitments. During the quarter, SoundHound signed a seven-figure commitment with a prominent Japanese auto manufacturer to deploy its voice assistant globally. The company also expanded into South America with a multinational OEM, indicating a broader geographic reach in the automotive market.
SoundHound’s IoT activity adds another device-based growth channel. The company signed an agreement to integrate its Voice AI into Walmart’s ONN TV brand and noted progress in voice commerce as multiple TV and well-known automotive brands integrate its solution. These agreements broaden the use cases for SOUN’s voice AI across connected-device platforms.
The monetization profile could also improve as automakers upgrade from pre-GenAI voice systems to GenAI and live GenAI capabilities. Higher-priced upgrades create an opportunity for SOUN to increase revenue per unit, while live GenAI adds a renewal component that could support a more recurring revenue profile over time.
SOUN’s organic growth is supported by expanding OEM relationships, higher-value GenAI upgrades, live GenAI renewal opportunities and a broader connected-device footprint. These drivers likely give the automotive and IoT business a stronger base to remain a meaningful contributor to organic growth in the upcoming periods.
SOUN’s Price Performance, Valuation & EstimatesSoundHound’s shares have lost 42.5% in the past year compared with the industry’s fall of 34.8%. At the same time frame, other industry players, including C3.ai, Inc. (AI - Free Report) and BigBear.ai Holdings, Inc. (BBAI - Free Report) , have declined 64.6% and 54.6%, respectively.
SOUN Stock’s One-Year Price Performance
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SOUN stock is currently trading at a discount. It is currently trading at a forward 12-month price-to-sales (P/S) multiple of 11.25, slightly below the industry average of 11.53. Then again, other industry players, such as C3.ai and BigBear.ai, have P/S ratios of 6.26 and 10.95, respectively.
SOUN’s P/S Ratio (Forward 12-Month) vs. Industry
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The Zacks Consensus Estimate for SoundHound’s 2026 loss per share has widened from 13 cents to 18 cents in the past 60 days.
EPS Trend of SOUN Stock
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The company is likely to report dismal earnings, with projections indicating a 38.5% year over year fall in 2026. Conversely, industry players like BigBear.ai are likely to witness growth of 69.5% year over year in 2026 earnings. C3.ai is likely to project a rise of 39.3% in 2027 earnings.
Ultra Clean těží z investic do AI a rostoucí poptávky od klíčových zákazníků v čipovém vybavení. Akcie letos vzrostly o 320,3 % a firma dál rozšiřuje kapacitu i podíl na trhu.
Key Takeaways Ultra Clean is benefiting from AI-driven fab spending and demand from leading chip equipment customers. UCTT's UCT 3.0 strategy aims to boost production ramps, efficiency and market share in next-gen programs. UCTT trades below industry and sector P/S averages despite an improving EPS outlook and scalable capacity. Ultra Clean Holdings (UCTT - Free Report) shares have surged 320.3% year to date, outperforming the Zacks Electronics Manufacturing Machinery industry's return of 147.7% and the broader Computer and Technology sector's appreciation of 14.6%. The rally also outpaces peer MKS Inc. (MKSI - Free Report) , which is up 128.7% over the same period.
The rally reflects UCTT's concentrated positioning in leading-edge foundry logic and advanced memory, two of the fastest-growing verticals in the semiconductor capital equipment market. Major equipment manufacturers such as Applied Materials (AMAT - Free Report) and Lam Research (LRCX - Free Report) source critical subsystems and components from UCTT. Demand from these customers is rising as they ramp tool shipments to meet accelerating fab investment, benefiting UCTT directly. Let us find out whether investors should buy UCTT stock right now.
UCTT’s Price Performance
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UCTT Benefits From the Fab Investment CycleUCTT designs and manufactures gas delivery systems, chemical delivery subsystems, precision cleaning solutions and other high-value components that are integrated directly into semiconductor fabrication equipment, positioning the company close to the equipment build cycle. As leading customers such as Applied Materials and Lam Research increase tool production to support advanced chip manufacturing, Ultra Clean benefits from rising demand for its critical subsystems and manufacturing services.
The current semiconductor investment cycle is being driven by artificial intelligence infrastructure, leading-edge foundry logic, high bandwidth memory and advanced packaging, all of which require increasingly sophisticated wafer fabrication equipment. Industry-wide wafer fabrication equipment spending is projected at $140 billion to $145 billion in 2026 after growing 18% to 20% in 2025. UCTT's customers have pointed to spending growth of at least 15% in 2027, supported by easing memory supply constraints as major producers invest in new fabrication plants and upgrade existing facilities. This is unlocking additional leading-edge factory launches and expanding the addressable opportunity for UCTT.
Ultra Clean's services business provides another long-term growth driver because it is linked to wafer starts rather than new equipment purchases alone. As fabs operate at higher utilization and process greater wafer volumes, services demand increases alongside equipment shipments, creating a more resilient revenue stream throughout the semiconductor cycle.
UCTT Ramps Up to Expand Market ShareBeyond favorable industry conditions, Ultra Clean is strengthening its competitive position through its UCT 3.0 strategy, which focuses on ramp readiness, the MPX new product introduction framework and digital transformation. These initiatives are designed to accelerate customer production ramps, improve manufacturing efficiency and position UCTT to capture a larger share of next-generation semiconductor equipment programs.
The MPX framework enables UCTT to co-innovate with customers earlier in the product development cycle, compressing new product introduction timelines and strengthening supply chain responsiveness. By expanding regional engineering capabilities and aligning manufacturing closer to customer facilities, UCTT is enhancing its ability to support leading customers such as Applied Materials and Lam Research as they transition to more advanced process nodes and ramp up AI-driven semiconductor equipment production.
UCTT's global manufacturing footprint currently supports approximately $3 billion in annual revenues and can scale to nearly $4 billion with modest incremental capital investment, providing ample capacity to meet rising customer demand while improving operating leverage. This scale advantage is notable in a supply landscape that includes larger diversified players such as MKS Inc., which spans vacuum solutions, power delivery and photonics across a wider set of end markets.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2026 EPS is pegged at $2.46 per share, up 11 cents over the past 30 days, indicating year-over-year growth of 134.3%.
UCTT Trades at Attractive ValuationsDespite its strong year-to-date rally, UCTT continues to trade at an attractive valuation. The stock trades at a forward 12-month price-to-sales (P/S) multiple of 1.67X, well below the industry's 3.54X and the broader sector's 6.32X and peer MKS' 4.71X. This discount stands out given UCTT's improving earnings outlook, scalable manufacturing capacity and exposure to the AI-driven semiconductor investment cycle. Supported by long-standing relationships with Applied Materials and Lam Research, UCTT is well-positioned to sustain above industry growth.
UCTT’s P/S F12M Ratio
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ConclusionDespite UCTT's remarkable rally year to date, the company's long-term growth story remains intact. Rising wafer fabrication equipment spending and AI-driven semiconductor investments continue to create favorable demand conditions. UCTT's UCT 3.0 strategy and strong customer relationships should support additional market share gains. With the stock trading at a valuation below the industry and sector averages, UCTT remains a compelling buy for investors seeking exposure to the semiconductor capital equipment supply chain.
Ultra Clean sports a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) at present. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.
Klarna požádala americké a státní regulátory o povolení založit bankovní dceřinou společnost v USA. Pokud uspěje, Klarna Bank USA bude institucí pojištěnou FDIC v Utahu.
Klarna, the Swedish fintech firm best known for its buy now, pay later offerings, said Monday it applied to federal and state regulators to establish a U.S. bank subsidiary.
The firm said that, if approved, Klarna Bank USA would be a Federal Deposit Insurance Corp.-backed institution chartered in Utah. The proposed bank would be led by Gary Harding, former CEO of Milestone Bank and Prime Alliance Bank, according to Klarna.
"We've seen firsthand the appetite for a fairer, more transparent approach in the U.S., and our own banking license is the natural next step," said Sebastian Siemiatkowski, co-founder and CEO of Klarna.
The move will give "customers tools to borrow responsibly and build financial confidence, while bringing greater competition, innovation, and choice" to the market, he said.
Klarna's application is the latest sign that fintech firms, which mostly partner with U.S. banks to offer services, now see owning their own charters as a key advantage. In April, fintech provider Mercury said it won conditional approval to establish its own bank, joining a wave of fintech and crypto firms seeking entry to the traditional banking system.
Klarna said that its charter, if approved, would let it bring its banking operations in-house and strengthen reliability across payments, credit and merchant services.
The application marks Klarna's latest step toward becoming a broader consumer bank rather than just a buy now, pay later provider. Last month, Klarna introduced high-yield savings accounts to U.S. customers, though its partner WebBank holds those accounts.
By owning a bank, fintech firms can fund loans with their own customer deposits instead of more expensive wholesale financing, directly offer checking accounts and credit cards and rely less on third-party banking partners.
Klarna, which went public last September, is trading for about half of its initial public offering price of $40.
Silicon Motion očekává ve 2. čtvrtletí 2026 tržby ve výši 393–411 milionů USD, tedy růst o 15 % až 20 % mezikvartálně. Akcie SIMO za poslední rok vzrostly o 307,4 %.
Key Takeaways SIMO has gained 307.4% in the past year, outpacing its industry and peers, AMD and IBM.Silicon Motion expects Q2 2026 revenues of $393M-$411M, up 15%-20% sequentially.SIMO's SSD controller ramps and fabless model support growth in AI, cloud and automotive. Silicon Motion Technology Corporation (SIMO - Free Report) has gained a stellar 307.4% over the past year compared with the industry’s growth of 221.9%. It has also outperformed peers like Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. (AMD - Free Report) and International Business Machines Corporation (IBM - Free Report) . While Advanced Micro has gained 284.2%, IBM has lost 1% over the same period.
One-Year SIMO Stock Price Performance
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SIMO Buoyed by Health Portfolio TractionSilicon Motion has strengthened its position as the leading independent supplier of client SSD (solid-state drive) controllers to module makers, serving many of the top manufacturers across the United States, Taiwan and China. The company has worked closely with NAND flash vendors to develop proprietary controller technologies that address the limitations of 3D NAND architecture, enabling it to maintain a competitive edge. With initial shipments of its 3D SSD controllers already underway, Silicon Motion expects these products to become a key growth driver over the coming year as its flash partners continue expanding 3D NAND production capacity.
The company has also begun mass production of PCIe NVMe client SSD controllers for its flash partners, positioning itself to benefit from growing SSD demand and favorable industry dynamics. Further strengthening its portfolio, Silicon Motion introduced the industry's first PCIe Gen5 client SSD controller, the SM2508, built on TSMC's advanced 6nm EUV process. The controller delivers up to 50% lower power consumption than comparable 12nm solutions while offering as much as 1.7 times greater power efficiency than PCIe Gen4 SSDs.
Beyond client SSDs, Silicon Motion continues to broaden its market reach by expanding SSD controller programs with PC OEMs and increasing shipments of eMMC and UFS controllers for smartphones, automotive systems and IoT devices. The company is also preparing to launch its next-generation enterprise-class SSD controllers, which should further diversify its growth opportunities. Its eMMC business is showing encouraging signs of recovery, reinforcing the strength of its embedded storage portfolio. As the market shifts from legacy eMMC 4.5 to the more advanced eMMC 5.1 standard, Silicon Motion expects rising demand for its latest eMMC controllers to provide another meaningful avenue for growth.
Fabless Business Model Provides a Competitive AdvantageSilicon Motion operates under a fabless business model, concentrating on the design and development of semiconductor chips while outsourcing manufacturing to leading foundries such as TSMC. This approach significantly reduces capital expenditure by eliminating the need to invest in costly fabrication facilities. As a result, the company can rapidly adopt the latest manufacturing technologies, improve profitability through higher margins and dedicate greater resources to research, innovation and product development instead of managing manufacturing operations.
The company is well-positioned to benefit from several high-growth end markets, including artificial intelligence (AI), high-performance computing (HPC), cloud data centers, automotive storage and smartphones and other mobile devices. These markets continue to expand, creating substantial opportunities for the company. We believe Silicon Motion's broadening customer base, coupled with its continued focus on developing innovative storage controller solutions, will support sustained revenue growth in the years ahead.
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SIMO Offers Bullish GuidanceFor the second quarter of 2026, Silicon Motion expects revenues in the range of $393 million to $411 million, representing sequential growth of 15% to 20% and year-over-year growth of 98% to 107%. Management expects continued momentum through 2026, supported by new product ramps, expanding enterprise opportunities and sustained market share gains across its core businesses.
Estimate Revision TrendEarnings estimates for Silicon Motion for 2026 have moved up 88.7% to $8.87 over the past year, while the same for 2027 have increased 88.4% to $10.87. The positive estimate revision depicts optimism about the stock’s growth potential.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
End NoteWith solid fundamentals and healthy revenue-generating potential, driven by robust demand trends, Silicon Motion appears to be a solid investment proposition. Further, a strong emphasis on quality, diligent execution of operational plans and continuous portfolio enhancements are driving more value for customers. An asset-light fabless semiconductor model, solid growth exposure to AI, cloud and automotive markets, with increasing market share in SSD and mobile controllers and continuous innovation in storage technologies are key growth drivers for the company.
The stock has a long-term earnings growth expectation of 53.6% and delivered a trailing four-quarter average earnings surprise of 18.6%. Silicon Motion sports a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.
Riding on a robust earnings surprise history and favorable Zacks Rank, Silicon Motion appears primed for further stock price appreciation. Consequently, investors are likely to profit if they bet on this high-flying stock now.
Sandisk začal s Kioxia vyrábět 10. generaci 3D flash pamětí BiCS10 s 332 vrstvami. Oproti BiCS8 nabízí až o 59 % vyšší hustotu bitů a rychlost rozhraní až 4,8 Gb/s.
Key Takeaways Sandisk began producing 332-layer BiCS10 3D flash with Kioxia using CBA technology.SNDK says BiCS10 offers up to 59% higher bit density and interface speeds up to 4.8 Gb/s.Sandisk expects BiCS10 to improve storage density, manufacturing efficiency and NAND competitiveness. Sandisk Corporation (SNDK - Free Report) has taken another step in advancing its NAND flash technology roadmap by commencing production of its 10th-generation 3D flash memory with joint venture partner Kioxia. The new generation, known as BiCS10, is based on a 332-layer architecture and incorporates Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor directly Bonded to Array (CBA) technology. This is expected to improve bit density, interface speed and power efficiency compared with the prior BiCS8 generation. The development strengthens Sandisk's technology portfolio at a time when AI-driven storage requirements continue to increase across cloud and enterprise infrastructure.
The transition to BiCS10 is expected to support higher storage densities while lowering cost per bit over time. The new generation delivers up to 59% higher bit density than BiCS8 and interface speeds of up to 4.8 Gb/s. These improvements should help Sandisk address growing customer demand for higher capacity and more power-efficient NAND solutions while improving manufacturing economics as production scales. The technology is also expected to provide flexibility across SSD and embedded storage applications.
The commencement of BiCS10 production represents another step in Sandisk's long-term technology roadmap. As SNDK advances through successive NAND generations, higher layer counts and architectural improvements are expected to enhance storage density, manufacturing efficiency and cost competitiveness. These transitions are likely to play an important role in supporting future bit growth and strengthening Sandisk's position in the evolving NAND market.
While commercial shipments and customer adoption will determine the pace of financial benefits, the successful production launch reduces execution risk around Sandisk's next technology cycle. Continued progress in ramping BiCS10 into volume production and converting its performance advantages into customer wins could strengthen Sandisk's position in the increasingly competitive NAND flash market.
Sandisk Faces Intense NAND CompetitionSandisk competes with Micron Technology (MU - Free Report) and Western Digital (WDC - Free Report) in the NAND flash and storage market. Micron Technology continues to expand its own high-layer-count 3D NAND offerings targeting enterprise SSD applications, while Western Digital maintains a broader storage footprint. Both Micron Technology and Western Digital are investing in next-generation storage technologies to capture share in AI-driven infrastructure spending. The pace at which Sandisk converts BiCS10 samples into qualified designs will influence how it defends its position relative to Micron Technology and Western Digital.
SNDK’s Share Price Performance, Valuation & EstimatesSandisk shares have skyrocketed 635.1% in the year-to-date period, outperforming the broader Zacks Computer and Technology sector’s return of 14.6%.
SNDK Stock Outperforms Sector
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
SNDK stock is trading at a forward 12-month price/sales of 5.66X compared with the Zacks Computer-Storage Devices’ 4.08X. Sandisk has a Value Score of D.
SNDK’s Valuation
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for fiscal 2026 earnings is pegged at $65.73 per share, up by 1.4% over the past 30 days. Sandisk reported earnings of $2.99 per share in fiscal 2025.
Sandisk currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
Na Futu Holdings Limited byla podána hromadná žaloba kvůli údajnému provozování některých činností v pevninské Číně bez potřebných licencí. Firma po zveřejnění oznámení CSRC z 22. května 2026 uvedla, že jí hrozí pokuta, a akcie propadly o 27,5 %.
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania--(Newsfile Corp. - July 6, 2026) - National plaintiffs' law firm Berger Montague PC announces a class action lawsuit against Futu Holdings Limited (NASDAQ: FUTU) ("Futu" or the "Company") on behalf of investors who purchased or acquired Futu securities during the period from May 24, 2023 through May 27, 2026 (the "Class Period").
Investor Deadline: Investors who purchased or acquired Futu securities during the Class Period may, no later than August 25, 2026, seek to be appointed as a lead plaintiff representative of the class. To learn your rights, CLICK HERE.
Based in Hong Kong, Futu operates an online brokerage platform offering securities trading, wealth management products, and related financial services to investors in multiple markets.
According to the complaint, throughout the Class Period, Defendants failed to disclose that certain Futu entities allegedly conducted securities business, public fund sales business, and futures business in mainland China without obtaining the requisite licenses or approvals, subjecting Futu to significant regulatory enforcement and monetary penalties.
The truth allegedly began to emerge on May 22, 2026, when Futu disclosed that it had received a Notification Letter from the CSRC proposing approximately RMB1.85 billion (approximately US$271 million) in confiscation of alleged illegal gains and fines, as well as a proposed personal fine against the Company's founder and CEO, Li Hua. Following these disclosures, Futu's stock price declined 27.5%.
The alleged risks further materialized on May 28, 2026, when Futu announced first-quarter 2026 financial results reflecting the proposed penalties. Following this disclosure, the Company's stock price declined an additional 4.8%.
If you are a Futu investor and would like to learn more about this action, CLICK HERE or please contact Berger Montague: Andrew Abramowitz at [email protected] or (215) 875-3015, or Caitlin Adorni at [email protected] or (267) 764-4865.
About Berger Montague
Berger Montague is one of the nation's preeminent law firms focusing on complex civil litigation, class actions, and mass torts in federal and state courts throughout the United States. With more than $2.4 billion in 2025 post-trial judgments alone, the Firm is a leader in the fields of complex litigation, antitrust, consumer protection, defective products, environmental law, employment law, securities, and whistleblower cases, among many other practice areas. For over 55 years, Berger Montague has played leading roles in precedent-setting cases and has recovered over $50 billion for its clients and the classes they have represented. Berger Montague is headquartered in Philadelphia and has offices in Chicago; Malvern, PA; Minneapolis; San Diego; San Francisco; Toronto, Canada; Washington, D.C., and Wilmington, DE.
For more information or to discuss your rights, please contact:
To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/303930
Source: Berger Montague
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Apple po více než čtyřech letech obnovuje v Indii platby kartou pro Apple Account. Uživatelé tak mohou platit za iCloud+, Apple Music i nákupy v App Store kartami Visa a Mastercard.
Apple has begun restoring card payments for Apple Account purchases in India more than four years after withdrawing the option, the latest sign of how the iPhone maker is adapting its services to regulatory changes that have reshaped the country’s digital payments landscape.
The change, which is rolling out in phases, allows users in India to add eligible Visa and Mastercard credit and debit cards to their Apple Account to pay for subscriptions such as iCloud+ and Apple Music, as well as App Store purchases.
In May 2022, Apple suspended card payments in India following changes to the country’s recurring payments framework. Since then, users have relied on UPI, India’s real-time payments network, net banking, and Apple Account balance for subscriptions and other Apple digital purchases.
The move illustrates a broader challenge for Apple as governments around the world impose country-specific rules on digital platforms, increasingly requiring the Cupertino company to tailor products, payments, and other services to local regulatory frameworks rather than offer a uniform global experience. Similar pressures have led Apple to revise parts of its App Store business in Europe, while regulatory changes in Japan and South Korea have also reshaped aspects of app distribution and payments.
Apple has made the backend changes needed to support card payments under India’s regulatory framework, according to a person familiar with the matter. The phased rollout began recently and is expected to expand to all eligible users over time. Apple has also updated its support documentation to reflect the change.
The framework, introduced by the Reserve Bank of India in 2021 and implemented in stages, required merchants and payment providers to introduce stronger customer authentication for recurring card payments and adopt tokenized card credentials, while preventing merchants from storing customers’ card details. The transition disrupted subscription billing for many domestic and international companies before they updated their payment systems.
“It’s long overdue but happening finally. This solves one of the friction points for subscription renewals,” said Tarun Pathak, research director at Counterpoint Research.
Apple’s services business in India has continued to grow at a double-digit pace despite the lack of direct card payments, but restoring the option becomes increasingly important as the company’s installed base expands and more users expect multiple ways to pay, he told TechCrunch.
The restoration of card payments is also likely to rekindle speculation about Apple Pay in India, following media reports that the company has explored bringing the service to the country. Apple has not announced any plans to launch the mobile payments service in India.
Apple did not respond to a request for comments.
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Jagmeet covers startups, tech policy-related updates, and all other major tech-centric developments from India for TechCrunch. He previously worked as a principal correspondent at NDTV.
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Tesla vzrostla asi o 3 % po rozšíření služby robotaxi do Miami, což podpořily i lepší, než se čekalo, dodávky za 2. čtvrtletí. Firma dodala 480 126 globálních vozů, meziročně o 25 % více.
Tesla stock TSLA rose on Monday, recovering some of last week's sharp losses after investors sold the stock despite a stronger-than-expected second-quarter delivery report.
The rebound came as the electric-vehicle maker expanded its robotaxi service to Miami, adding another city to its autonomous ride-hailing network.
Shares of Tesla climbed about 3% to $405.11 in early trading.
The move was also supported by broader market optimism, with the S&P 500 up 0.6% and the Nasdaq climbing around 1%.
The stock gained after Tesla announced that its robotaxi service became available in Miami from July 3, extending the company's autonomous ride-hailing footprint beyond Texas.
The expansion makes Florida the third state where Tesla's robotaxi operations are available.
The company launched its robotaxi service in Austin about a year ago and has since expanded to additional Texas cities. Tesla also operates a rideshare service in San Francisco.
The rollout forms part of Chief Executive Officer Elon Musk's broader strategy to position artificial intelligence, autonomous driving, and robotics as Tesla's next major growth engines.
Investors have closely watched the pace of Tesla's robotaxi expansion, although the rollout has remained gradual as the company prioritizes safety.
Tesla has said it does not expect robotaxis to become a meaningful contributor to revenue and earnings until at least 2027.
Sentiment has also improved following Tesla's second-quarter delivery report, which exceeded Wall Street expectations.
Tesla reported 480,126 global vehicle deliveries during the quarter, representing a 25% increase from a year earlier.
The company also reported that energy deployments rose 41%, extending the momentum of a business that has grown rapidly even as vehicle demand has fluctuated.
The second-quarter performance followed a 6.3% year-over-year increase in deliveries during the first quarter.
Gary Black, managing director of The Future Fund, said in a post on X that he expects Tesla shares to recover further as analysts revise their earnings forecasts.
"I expect TSLA stock to rebound this week as the sell-side climbs over one another to increase 2Q and FY'26 earnings ests," Black said, adding that higher earnings projections "could boost TSLA price targets."
Black nevertheless argued that Tesla's valuation remains demanding.
He said the stock trades at a 2026 price-to-earnings multiple of more than 200 times despite expected long-term earnings-per-share growth of roughly 35% between 2027 and 2032.
According to Black, that "continues to suggest TSLA is fully priced."
He also suggested that higher gasoline prices during the quarter may have contributed more to stronger vehicle demand than growing enthusiasm around autonomous driving.
Analysts maintain constructive outlookMorgan Stanley analyst Andrew Percoco said Tesla's second-quarter deliveries exceeded sell-side consensus estimates by 18% and represented the company's strongest vehicle growth since the third quarter of 2023.
The firm maintained its Equal Weight rating and a $415 price target.
Separately, Baird reiterated its Outperform rating and $522 price target after Tesla's second-quarter results surpassed both the firm's own forecasts and broader consensus expectations.
Baird also highlighted Tesla's energy storage business, noting that deployments reached 13.5 gigawatt-hours during the quarter, up approximately 41% year over year.
While acknowledging that energy deployments can be uneven from quarter to quarter, the firm described the results as a positive development and said its constructive outlook on Tesla remains unchanged.
Tesla is scheduled to report its full second-quarter financial results after the market closes on July 22.
Netflix je po 42% propadu za 12 měsíců levnější, když se obchoduje za 28násobek volného cash flow a 21násobek odhadovaného zisku. Firma zároveň čeká letos 12,5 miliardy USD volného cash flow.
Netflix (NFLX 1.80%) stock was flying high last summer on strong subscriber and operating income growth. But then some cracks started to appear in the business.
Earnings growth was bolstered by unsustainable positive impacts from foreign exchange rates and price hikes. A Brazilian tax created a one-time earnings hit and raised questions about whether it would remain an ongoing expense. It tried to acquire Warner Bros. Discovery at an exorbitantly high price. Management's 2026 outlook showed decelerating revenue growth. The company escaped the overpriced Warner Bros. Discovery acquisition while receiving a termination fee and pushed through another price hike sooner than expected. Investors rewarded the stock following the news, but it has since sold off to a price unseen since before 2025. The stock now sits about 42% off its high from last summer, making it an excellent buying opportunity for investors.
Image source: Netflix.
This cash machine is selling for cheap After years of burning cash to develop original content, Netflix has transformed into a massive free-cash-flow-generating machine. The company generated about $2.3 billion in organic free cash flow in addition to $2.8 billion in cash from the Warner Bros. termination fee last quarter. Management expects $12.5 billion in free cash flow for the full year, including the termination fee.
That free cash flow growth is supported by a systematic approach to growing the business. The company's recurring subscription revenue makes projecting revenue growth relatively straightforward. It then uses that to set targets for content spend and operating margin. It aims to achieve an annual expansion of that operating margin.
Cash outlays for new content are roughly 1.1-times amortized content expenses, as the company continues to expand its content catalog to drive subscriber growth. That creates predictable free cash flow growth year after year.
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Importantly, Netflix's competitors are hard-pressed to match its breadth and depth of content. It has 325 million global subscribers, across which to monetize all of its content. The shift to ad-supported streaming has opened new content opportunities for Netflix, including sports and other live events. As a result, Netflix can try many different series, films, and events, and quickly double down on whatever's working. That's why Netflix is set to maintain its position as the premier streaming entertainment source for hundreds of millions of consumers, giving it pricing power.
After the crash in Netflix's stock price over the past year, investors can now pick up the stock for just 28 times free cash flow and 21 times forward earnings estimates. While the company may see its top-line growth slow, prudent content cost management will ensure it can continue growing its bottom line and free cash flow at a very appealing rate relative to the current price investors pay. It looks like a great opportunity to buy a wonderful business at a good price.
Adam Levy has positions in Netflix. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Netflix and Warner Bros. Discovery. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
Key Takeaways Sam's Club e-commerce sales rose 23% in Q1 fiscal 2027, lifting digital's role in performance.Club-fulfilled delivery sales grew more than 90%, while digital sales hit a record share of sales. Walmart's membership and other income rose 11%, backed by higher fees, renewals and Plus members. Walmart Inc. (WMT - Free Report) is strengthening Sam’s Club as a digitally enabled membership business, with convenience, fulfillment speed and omnichannel engagement becoming more important parts of the club model. The latest quarter shows that e-commerce is playing a larger role in Sam’s Club’s performance while supporting broader member engagement.
Sam’s Club’s e-commerce sales increased 23% in the first quarter of fiscal 2027, driven by continued strength in club-fulfilled pickup and delivery. Digital sales contributed roughly 400 basis points to comparable sales growth, up from about 350 basis points in the year-ago quarter. Comparable sales, excluding fuel, rose 3.9%, supported by higher transactions and unit volumes, with transactions up 6.2%.
Fulfillment remains central to the momentum. Club-fulfilled delivery sales grew more than 90% in the quarter, and e-commerce reached an all-time high share of Sam’s Club’s sales mix. Walmart also launched Dynamic Express Delivery, allowing members to receive club items in less than an hour.
Membership trends add support. Membership and other income grew 11%, reflecting a 5.6% increase in membership fee revenues, driven by steady growth in member counts, renewal rates and Plus members.
Overall, Sam’s Club’s e-commerce momentum appears supported by stronger fulfillment capabilities, rising digital penetration and a healthier membership base. Walmart is making online shopping a more integrated part of the Sam’s Club member experience, giving the business a clearer foundation to sustain digital growth over time.
What Do the Latest Metrics Say About Walmart?Walmart, which competes with Costco Wholesale Corporation (COST - Free Report) and Target Corporation (TGT - Free Report) , has seen its shares rally 12.6% over the past year compared with the industry’s 10.5% growth. Shares of Costco have dipped 4.1%, while Target has gained 28.2% in the aforementioned period.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
From a valuation standpoint, Walmart's forward 12-month price-to-earnings ratio stands at 36.64, higher than the industry’s 33.4. The company is trading at a premium to Target (with a forward 12-month P/E ratio of 15.18) while trading at a discount to Costco (43).
Key Takeaways J&J's MedTech unit is expected to see Q2 strength in Cardiovascular, Surgery and Vision. JNJ continues to face China sales pressure from the government's volume-based procurement program. J&J expects MedTech growth in 2026 to exceed 2025, driven by newly launched products. Johnson & Johnson's (JNJ - Free Report) MedTech division, which includes orthopedics, surgery, cardiovascular, electrophysiology, vision and wound closure products, contributes roughly 36% to the company’s total revenues.
J&J is repositioning its MedTech portfolio toward more innovative, faster-growing areas, most notably cardiovascular. With the acquisitions of Shockwave in 2024 and Abiomed in 2022, J&J has become a category leader in four of the largest and highest-growth cardiovascular intervention MedTech markets. J&J is the market leader in heart recovery, circulatory restoration and electrophysiology.
J&J’s MedTech business has improved in the last four quarters, driven by the acquired cardiovascular businesses, Abiomed and Shockwave, as well as Surgical Vision and wound closure in Surgery. J&J’s electrophysiology business has also improved significantly in recent quarters, driven by new product launches, including Varipulse and better commercial execution.
Investors are likely to have closely monitored the segment's performance in the second quarter to gauge whether these factors continue to drive MedTech’s growth. J&J is scheduled to report second-quarter 2026 results on July 15.
In the first quarter of 2026, J&J delivered nearly $8.64 billion in sales in its MedTech segment, reflecting growth of 4.6% on an operational basis. The positive trend is expected to have continued in the second quarter. The MedTech business is expected to have seen strong momentum in three focus areas: Cardiovascular, Surgery and Vision in the second quarter, backed by increased adoption of newly launched products. Orthopedics is likely to have grown at a more moderate pace.
However, the company continues to face headwinds in China. Sales in China are being hurt by the impact of the volume-based procurement (VBP) program, which is a government-driven cost containment effort in China. Sales in China are likely to have been hurt by the impact of the VBP program in the second quarter.
On the conference call, investors will also look for updates on the MedTech unit’s outlook for 2026. J&J had earlier said that it expects better growth in the MedTech business in 2026 than 2025 levels, driven by increased adoption of newly launched products across Cardiovascular, Surgery and Vision portfolios. Also, J&J expects continued impacts from VBP issues in China in 2026, mainly in the second half.
Another quarter of mid-single-digit or better operational sales growth would reinforce investor confidence that MedTech can remain a reliable long-term growth engine alongside J&J’s pharmaceutical business.
J&J’s Key Competitors in the Medical Devices MarketJ&J’s MedTech unit faces strong competition from several major players in the medical device industry, like Medtronic (MDT - Free Report) , Abbott, Stryker (SYK - Free Report) and Boston Scientific (BSX - Free Report) .
While Medtronic has a strong presence in cardiovascular, neuroscience and surgical technologies, Stryker is a major player in orthopedics and surgical equipment. Boston Scientific markets products for cardiovascular, endoscopy, urology and neuromodulation. Abbott is known for its medical device products across cardiovascular, diagnostics and diabetes care.
JNJ’s Price Performance, Valuation and EstimatesJ&J’s shares have outperformed the industry so far this year. The stock has risen 28.5% this year compared with 15.3% appreciation of the industry.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
From a valuation standpoint, J&J is slightly expensive. Going by the price/earnings ratio, the company’s shares currently trade at 21.74 forward earnings, higher than 19.11 for the industry. The stock is also trading above its five-year mean of 15.65.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2026 earnings has been stable at $11.57 per share over the past 60 days, while that for 2027 earnings has gone up from $12.58 per share to $12.61 over the same time frame.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
J&J has a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) at present. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
Starbucks Rewards dosáhl rekordu 35,6 milionu aktivních členů a podpořil růst návštěvnosti i tržeb v obchodech. Firma zároveň zvýšila výhled pro fiskální rok 2026, nově čeká globální růst srovnatelných tržeb alespoň o 5 % a zisk na akcii mezi 2,25 a 2,45 USD.
Key Takeaways Starbucks Rewards reached a record 35.6 million active members as customer visits increased.SBUX posted 6.2% global comparable sales growth, driven by higher transactions and faster service.Loyalty enhancements, menu innovation and raised 2026 guidance support Starbucks' growth outlook. Starbucks Corporation (SBUX - Free Report) appears to be regaining momentum, with its revamped Starbucks Rewards program emerging as a key driver of higher customer engagement and store traffic. During the second quarter of fiscal 2026, the coffee giant reported its first year-over-year growth in both revenues and earnings in more than two years, signaling that the "Back to Starbucks" turnaround strategy is gaining traction.
The company's redesigned loyalty program helped lift 90-day active Starbucks Rewards membership to a record 35.6 million, up 4% year over year. More importantly, management highlighted that both Rewards members and non-members increased their visits during the quarter. The newly introduced 60-star redemption option quickly became the most popular reward, accounting for roughly one-third of all redemptions, while early data showed more customers visiting Starbucks four or more times each week.
The loyalty strategy is working alongside operational improvements. Starbucks posted 6.2% global comparable sales growth, including 7.1% comparable sales growth in the United States, driven by transaction growth of more than 4%. Faster service through its Green Apron Service model, expanded delivery, menu innovation and improved in-store experiences have complemented the Rewards program by encouraging repeat visits.
Management noted that the revamped Rewards platform is designed to emphasize personalization and customer recognition rather than heavy discounting. Instead of disrupting customer behavior, the changes produced higher membership and engagement, even during a period when Rewards participation typically declines seasonally.
Starbucks raised its fiscal 2026 guidance, now expecting global comparable sales growth of at least 5% and earnings per share between $2.25 and $2.45. While inflation, coffee costs and broader macroeconomic uncertainty remain as risks, the company's strengthening loyalty ecosystem and improving customer experience position it to sustain higher store traffic and support long-term growth.
Can Rivals Match Starbucks' Loyalty-Driven Traffic Growth?Starbucks' renewed focus on loyalty and customer engagement is intensifying competition with Dutch Bros (BROS - Free Report) and Restaurant Brands International's (QSR - Free Report) Tim Hortons. Dutch Bros continues to expand rapidly through new store openings and its Dutch Rewards program, which encourages repeat visits with personalized offers and app-based ordering. Its younger customer base and strong beverage innovation have helped drive transaction growth, making Dutch Bros a formidable challenger in the specialty coffee market.
Meanwhile, Restaurant Brands International's Tim Hortons is leveraging its extensive footprint and Tims Rewards loyalty platform to increase customer frequency across Canada and select international markets. The brand continues to invest in digital ordering, personalized promotions and value offerings to strengthen customer retention.
While both competitors are enhancing their loyalty ecosystems, Starbucks currently holds an advantage with its record 35.6 million active Rewards members, stronger personalization features and improved in-store experience. Continued execution of its loyalty strategy and operational improvements could help Starbucks maintain higher customer traffic despite intensifying competition.
SBUX’s Price Performance, Valuation & EstimatesShares of Starbucks have gained 11.4% in the past year against the industry’s 5.1% decline.
SBUX’s One-Year Price Performance
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
From a valuation standpoint, SBUX trades at a forward price-to-sales (P/S) multiple of 3.00, below the industry’s average of 3.41.
SBUX’s P/S Ratio (Forward 12-Month) vs. Industry
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for SBUX’s fiscal 2026 earnings per share (EPS) implies a year-over-year increase of 12.7%. EPS estimates for fiscal 2026 have increased in the past 60 days.
EPS Trend of SBUX Stock
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
SBUX’s Zacks RankSBUX stock currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
CINF za rok vzrostl o 31,3 % a uzavřel na 192,03 USD, těsně pod 52týdenním maximem 192,09 USD. Firma těží ze silného upisování, růstu pojistného a vyššího investičního výnosu.
Key Takeaways CINF benefits from Commercial Lines growth, disciplined underwriting and strong agency relationships.Specialty, Personal Lines and pricing initiatives support diversified earnings and profitable premium growth. Cincinnati Financial generates strong cash flow while rewarding shareholders through dividends and buybacks. Cincinnati Financial Corporation’s (CINF - Free Report) shares have risen 31.3% in a year, outperforming the industry’s growth of 7.2%. Its share price closed at $192.03 on Thursday and reached a 52-week high of $192.09, reflecting investor confidence.
Strong underwriting performance, healthy premium growth, improved pricing and higher investment income, along with a robust capital position, have increased investors' confidence. The company has surpassed earnings estimates in each of the last four quarters, with an average of 27.5%. While its premium valuation may limit multiple expansion, continued underwriting discipline, healthy premium growth and improving investment income should support long-term earnings growth.
Cincinnati Financial’s shares have outperformed its peers, including Arch Capital Group Ltd. (ACGL - Free Report) and W.R. Berkley Corporation (WRB - Free Report) , which have gained 14.3% and 1.9%, respectively, while Palomar Holdings, Inc. (PLMR - Free Report) has lost 3.7% in a year.
1-Year Price Performance: CINF, ACGL, WRB, PLMR & Industry
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
CINF’s Premium ValuationCincinnati Financial’s shares are trading at a premium to the industry. Its price-to-book value of 1.89X is higher than the industry average of 1.5X. However, it has a Value Score of B.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
CINF’s Growth Projection EncouragesThe Zacks Consensus Estimate for Cincinnati Financial’s 2026 earnings per share (EPS) is pinned at $8.66, indicating a year-over-year increase of 8.9%. The estimate for 2026 revenues is pegged at $12.05 billion, implying a year-over-year improvement of 7.7%.
The consensus estimate for 2027 EPS and revenues indicates an increase of 4.9% and 6.6%, respectively, from the corresponding 2026 estimates.
The expected long-term earnings growth is pegged at 5.3%. It has a Growth Score of B.
CINF’s Higher Return on EquityReturn on equity in the trailing-12 months was 10.6%, better than the industry average of 7.4%. This highlights the company’s efficiency in utilizing shareholders’ funds.
Factors Acting in Favor of CINFCincinnati Financial’s Commercial Lines Insurance segment has been consistently witnessing growth over the past several quarters, led by disciplined pricing, policy-level risk selection and strong independent agency relationships. The company continues to leverage its agency-centric model to expand Commercial Lines through deeper agency relationships, expand its product offerings and drive profitable premium growth. Its disciplined underwriting approach and focus on risk selection should continue to support Commercial Lines' profitability despite a moderating pricing environment.
Cincinnati Financial continues to strengthen its diversified insurance platform through pricing discipline and targeted growth initiatives. Management expects property and casualty underwriting results to benefit from continued price increases and the expansion of Cincinnati Re and Cincinnati Global, which enhance pricing precision, broaden product offerings and improve income stability.
The Excess & Surplus (E&S) business continues to benefit from strong new business, favorable renewal pricing and product expansion. Meanwhile, Personal Lines remains a key growth driver, which is supported by the Cincinnati Private Client business, higher renewal pricing and geographic diversification. These businesses diversify earnings, reduce volatility and support long-term profitable growth.
Net investment income increased 14% year over year in the first quarter of 2026, driven by higher reinvestment yields, growth in fixed-income investments, and robust operating cash flows, which more than doubled year over year to $656 million in the first quarter of 2026. Backed by a large, high-quality investment portfolio, these factors continue to provide a meaningful earnings tailwind alongside underwriting operations.
Cincinnati Financial’s expansion strategy is driven by its exclusive partnerships with local, independent insurance agencies. This relationship-based model fosters strong customer loyalty, high retention rates and consistent business growth. As the insurer expands its agency network into underserved markets, it remains well-positioned to drive sustainable premium growth, deepen market penetration and create long-term shareholder value.
Cincinnati Financial has returned capital to its shareholders through share buybacks, dividend hikes and special dividends. It has an excellent track record of raising dividends for 65 straight years. Its dividend yield of 2.% is better than the industry average of 0.3%, making the stock an attractive pick for yield-seeking investors.
Risks for CINF StockCincinnati Financial’s results remain sensitive to catastrophe activity, particularly in property lines, and severity can vary sharply by period. Although reinsurance provides protection, elevated catastrophe losses could pressure underwriting margins.
Management continues to emphasize risk selection and segmentation, but rising loss costs, social inflation, larger jury awards and increasing claim severity could pressure profitability despite conservative reserves.
ConclusionStrong performance at the Commercial Lines segment, pricing discipline, agent-focused business models, higher investment income, consistent cash flow and prudent capital deployment support growth. However, exposure to catastrophe losses and loss-cost trends, including social inflation, remains a risk.
Higher return on equity, favorable growth estimates and an impressive dividend history should continue to benefit Cincinnati Financial over the long term. A VGM Score of A instils confidence. Given the premium valuation, it is wise to adopt a wait-and-see approach on this Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) stock. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
Agnico Eagle Mines dočasně zastavila těžbu v Barnat pit v Canadian Malartic po pohybu horninového masivu, bez zranění a škod. Druhá polovina produkce v Canadian Malartic má klesnout o 60 000 až 80 000 uncí.
Key Takeaways AEM halted Barnat pit mining after a July 1 rock mass movement, with no injuries or damage.Stockpiled low-grade ore will keep the Canadian Malartic plant running during the shutdown.AEM sees second-half Malartic output down 60,000-80,000 ounces, with 2026 near low-end guidance. Agnico Eagle Mines Limited (AEM - Free Report) has temporarily suspended mining operations at the Barnat open pit at its Canadian Malartic complex in Quebec due to a rock mass movement that occurred on July 1, 2026, along the north wall of the Barnat open pit. Although there were no injuries, equipment damage or environmental impacts, as a precautionary measure, the company has taken this step.
The affected area had previously been identified to have a geologically weaker structure and was under enhanced monitoring, with safety exclusion zones in place. Technical teams are now conducting a detailed geotechnical assessment to confirm the stability and determine the future path. During the temporary shutdown, the Canadian Malartic processing plant will continue operating using low-grade ore from existing stockpiles to help reduce the near-term impact on production.
The company noted that the second-quarter 2026 production remains unaffected and its expectations of approximately 845,000 ounces of gold production are slightly ahead of plan. However, the company estimates the disruption will reduce second-half production at Canadian Malartic by 60,000-80,000 ounces, taking the full-year output near the lower end of its previously issued guidance of 3.3 million to 3.5 million ounces. The annual expectation of production in 2027 and 2028 was also reduced up to roughly 150,000 ounces, while mitigation measures are being evaluated. The Barnat pit was scheduled to be mined out by early 2029.
The incident is not expected to affect the development or production outlook for the Odyssey mine. The company stays aligned with its long-term goal of achieving annual production of 1 million ounces from the Canadian Malartic complex in the early 2030s.
AEM’s shares have gained 26% over the past year compared with the industry’s 41.3% growth.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
AEM’s Zacks Rank & Key PicksAEM currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold).
Some better-ranked stocks in the Basic Materials space are Albemarle Corporation (ALB - Free Report) , Ingevity Corporation (NGVT - Free Report) and Avino Silver & Gold Mines Ltd. (ASM - Free Report) .
While ALB sports a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) at present, NGVT and ASM carry a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) each. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for ALB’s 2026 earnings is pinned at $12.98 per share, indicating a 1,743.04% year-over-year increase. Its earnings beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate in three of the trailing four quarters and missed one, with an average surprise of 74.5%. ALB’s shares have jumped 106.9% over the past year.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for NGVT’s 2026 earnings is pegged at $5.05 per share, indicating a rise of 22.28% year over year. Its earnings beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate in three of the trailing four quarters.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for ASM’s current fiscal-year earnings is pinned at 34 cents per share, indicating a 17.24% year-over-year increase. Its earnings beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate in each of the trailing four quarters, with an average surprise of 125%. ASM’sshares have gained 78.1% over the past year.
Key Takeaways NEE rose 5.2% in the past month, lagging its industry but beating the utilities sector and the S&P 500.NextEra Energy plans over $94.1B in capital investment through 2030 across FPL and Energy Resources.NEE's earnings estimates are rising, with 2026 and 2027 EPS projected to grow 8.09% and 8.68%. Shares of NextEra Energy (NEE - Free Report) have gained 5.2% in the past month, lagging the Zacks Utility - Electric Power industry’s rally of 5.8%. However, the company has outperformed the Zacks Utilities sector and the S&P 500’s return in the same time frame.
NextEra Energy’s recent choppiness in share price stems from concern of its massive long-term capital expenditure plan and share dilution that will result from the proposed acquisition of Dominion Energy. Yet, rising electricity demand from data centers, AI applications and ongoing electrification, coupled with rising corporate demand for clean energy, creates a strong long-term growth opportunity for the company.
Price Performance (One Month)
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Another utility, The Southern Company (SO - Free Report) , is also making systematic investments in expanding its clean energy generation portfolio. The company plans to invest more than $80 billion over the next five-year period to strengthen its operations. The Southern Company’s shares have gained 7.4% over the past month.
Should you consider adding NEE to your portfolio only based on recent softness in share price movements? Let’s delve deeper and find out the factors that can help investors decide whether it is a good entry point to add the stock to their portfolio.
NEE Stock’s Tailwinds Despite Recent Softness in PriceNextEra Energy's long-term growth strategy is anchored by the planned capital investment of more than $94.1 billion through 2030 across its Florida Power & Light (“FPL”) and Energy Resources businesses. At FPL, these investments will expand generation capacity, modernize grid infrastructure and enhance system reliability to meet Florida's growing electricity demand. The expanding regulated rate base is expected to drive consistent earnings and cash flow growth.
NextEra Energy’s unit Energy Resources continues to strengthen its renewable energy platform through sustained investments in clean-energy projects. The company expects to add approximately 76.6-107.6 gigawatts (GWs) of renewable generation capacity between 2026 and 2032 and currently maintains a renewable development backlog of more than 33 GWs, providing strong visibility into its long-term growth pipeline.
A strong Florida economy continues to create attractive growth opportunities for NextEra Energy by fueling rising electricity demand. The company is well positioned to capitalize on this trend through ongoing investments in infrastructure expansion and grid modernization. Moreover, Florida Power & Light's residential electricity rates remain significantly below the national average, supporting customer growth, retention and long-term earnings expansion.
NextEra Energy also benefits from one of the utility industry's lowest-cost operating structures, supported by operational excellence, the scale of its renewable energy portfolio and strategically located assets. These advantages enhance profit margins, reinforce its competitive position and support sustainable long-term growth.
NextEra Energy’s Earnings Estimates Moving NorthThe Zacks Consensus Estimate for NEE’s 2026 and 2027 earnings per share indicates a year-over-year increase of 8.09% and 8.68%, respectively.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
The same for SO’s 2026 and 2027 earnings per share indicates a year-over-year increase of 6.51% and 7.53%, respectively.
NextEra Energy’s Earnings SurpriseNextEra Energy’s earnings beat estimates in each of the last four quarters, resulting in an average surprise of 6.18%.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
NextEra Energy Increases Shareholders ValueNextEra Energy has authorization in place to repurchase as many as 180 million shares over an unspecified duration. The company also aims to increase its dividend by nearly 10% annually through at least 2026, followed by approximately 6% yearly growth from the end of 2026 through 2028, pending board approval.
NEE’s current quarterly dividend is 62.32 cents per share, while the dividend yield of 2.82% remains higher than 1.38% of the S&P 500 composite.
Another utility, Duke Energy Corporation (DUK - Free Report) , is also making smart capital investments to expand its clean energy generation assets. The current dividend yield of DUK is 3.29% better than its industry and the S&P 500 level.
NEE Stock Returns Better Than Its IndustryReturn on equity (“ROE”) is a financial ratio that measures how well a company uses its shareholders’ equity to generate profits. The current ROE of the company indicates that it is using shareholders’ funds more efficiently than peers.
NextEra Energy’s trailing 12-month ROE is 12.25%, ahead of the industry average of 11.21%.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Duke Energy’s ROE is currently pegged at 9.73% lower than the industry level.
NextEra Energy’s Shares Trading at a PremiumThe company is currently valued at a premium compared with its industry on a forward 12-month P/E basis. NextEra Energy is currently trading at 21.1X compared with the industry average of 15.86X.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Summing UpNextEra Energy continues to deliver steady operational and financial performance, supported by growing demand for clean energy across its service territories. The company is strategically expanding its clean energy portfolio to address this increasing demand, while Florida's robust economic growth is creating additional opportunities to expand the regulated utility business.
Given the recent softness in share price, investors can still consider adding NextEra Energy in their portfolio for potential long-term gains as the stock currently has a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) with rising earnings estimates and strong ROE distributes a stable dividend for its shareholders.
You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
Akcie Oracle vzrostly o 1,3 % poté, co se investoři vrátili po výprodeji kvůli obavám z dluhu a agresivních investic do AI infrastruktury. Tržby podporuje 638 miliard USD RPO backlog.
Oracle Corp. ORCL shares gained 1.3% on Monday as investors returned to the stock following a sharp, debt-driven sell-off, amid improving broader market sentiment.
The recovery also came as broader market sentiment improved, with the Nasdaq Composite gaining 0.95% and the S&P 500 advancing 0.44%.
The move marked a shift in investor sentiment after weeks of selling pressure driven by concerns over Oracle's aggressive investments in artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructure.
While questions remain over the company's capital spending plans and debt levels, some investors now appear to believe the earlier decline had become excessive.
Oracle has faced significant selling pressure in recent weeks.
The stock has declined 28.03% so far this year as investors have questioned the sustainability of its debt-funded AI expansion.
Investor concerns centred on the company's negative free cash flow and its plans to raise as much as $40 billion in financing to support continued investment in AI infrastructure.
Despite these concerns, Oracle's remaining performance obligation (RPO) backlog of $638 billion continues to provide long-term revenue visibility.
The sizeable backlog has reinforced confidence among some investors that the company's heavy AI investments could translate into future growth.
The strength of the backlog has become one of the key factors supporting the stock's recovery after the recent correction.
Oracle's rebound follows one of the sharpest monthly declines in the company's history.
The stock fell about 35% in June after gaining nearly 40% in May.
The June decline marked Oracle's worst monthly performance since September 1990.
The sell-off followed reports that Oracle spent $16.5 billion on capital expenditures during its latest quarter as it expanded its AI infrastructure.
The spending pushed the company's full-year free cash flow to negative $23.7 billion, intensifying investor concerns about the pace and scale of its investment strategy.
Market expectations suggest that Oracle's capital expenditure could rise to approximately $92 billion in the next fiscal year.
At the end of May, the company's debt stood at around $130 billion.
These figures prompted investors to question whether Oracle's expansion plans would place additional pressure on its balance sheet in the near term.
Analysts remain constructive despite debt concernsAlthough concerns over debt and capital spending weighed heavily on the stock, several analysts maintained bullish ratings on Oracle during June.
They also raised their price targets, citing continued strength in cloud computing and AI demand.
The positive analyst outlook has provided additional support for investors who believe the recent decline may have been overdone.
Historical trading patterns also suggest that Oracle has often recovered after experiencing steep monthly declines.
Since 1986, Oracle has recorded monthly declines of 30% or more only eight times.
Following the previous seven instances, the stock typically rebounded, delivering a median gain of 16% over the following three months and 93% over the subsequent year.
The stock finished higher roughly two-thirds of the time after those previous declines.
Monday's gain suggests that investors are once again focusing on Oracle's long-term growth prospects, even as questions surrounding debt levels, free cash flow, and future capital expenditure continue to remain in focus.
Costco rozšiřuje retail media prostřednictvím Google Commerce Media a YouTube, aby podpořila digitální tržby. Ve 3. čtvrtletí fiskálního roku 2026 vzrostly digitálně podpořené srovnatelné tržby o 21,5 % a návštěvnost webu a aplikace o 37 %.
Key Takeaways Costco is expanding retail media through Google Commerce Media and YouTube to boost digital revenues.Digital comparable sales rose 21.5%, while site and app traffic increased 37% in fiscal Q3.Personalized carousels drove triple conversion rates and nearly $0.5 billion in e-commerce sales. Costco Wholesale Corporation (COST - Free Report) is expanding its retail media capabilities to build an incremental digital revenue opportunity while strengthening member engagement. A major step in this strategy is the recently launched collaboration with Google Commerce Media and YouTube. This partnership serves as a significant milestone on the warehouse giant's journey toward expanding its share of retail media revenues. It also simplifies how brands and agencies collaborate with Costco's retail media network.
The opportunity is supported by accelerating digital engagement, with digitally enabled comparable sales rising 21.5%, and site and app traffic increasing 37% during the third quarter of fiscal 2026.
Management emphasized that the company's business model differs from other players due to its high SKU efficiency. However, Costco approaches this opportunity with a strict philosophy where the member always comes first. The primary focus of their retail media expansion is building personalization capabilities to deliver relevant messaging that helps members save both time and money. At the same time, Costco has introduced media activity on third-party sites.
We note that personalized product recommendation carousels generated conversion rates three times higher than typical levels and contributed just under $0.5 billion in e-commerce sales during the quarter.
Management expects retail media revenues to ramp up meaningfully. Brand partners participate to secure a better return on their marketing spend while providing relevant experiences. Costco maintains a strict structural guardrail for this digital revenue stream. Between 80% and 90% of the value generated from retail media is directly reinvested into the membership base through better pricing and greater value, reinforcing Costco's member-first strategy while supporting long-term retail media expansion.
What the Latest Metrics Say About CostcoCostco, which competes with Dollar General Corporation (DG - Free Report) and Target Corporation (TGT - Free Report) , has seen its shares drop 6.1% over the past three months compared with the industry’s 2.9% decline. While shares of Dollar General have fallen 2.6%, those of Target have jumped 8.9% in the aforementioned period.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
From a valuation standpoint, Costco's forward 12-month price-to-earnings ratio stands at 43, higher than the industry’s ratio of 30.6. However, the stock is trading below its 12-month median level of 46.35, indicating some moderation in valuation despite sustained investor confidence in the stock.
Costco is trading at a premium to Target (with a forward 12-month P/E ratio of 15.18) and Dollar General (15.46).
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Costco’s current financial-year sales and earnings per share implies year-over-year growth of 9.5% and 13.3%, respectively. For the next fiscal year, the consensus estimate indicates a 7.9% rise in sales and 10.2% growth in earnings.
The consensus estimates for earnings per share for the current and next fiscal year have increased by 6 cents to $20.38 and 10 cents to $22.46, respectively, over the past 60 days.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Costco currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
AbbVie čeká, že výsledky za 2. čtvrtletí potáhnou Skyrizi a Rinvoq, zatímco tržby Humiry dál klesnou. Trh bude sledovat hlavně prodeje těchto dvou léků.
Key Takeaways AbbVie's Q2 results will hinge on Skyrizi and Rinvoq as Humira sales continue to decline.ABBV expects Skyrizi and Rinvoq momentum, backed by market share gains, to lift immunology sales.AbbVie is expanding in oncology and neuroscience while facing immunology competition from J&J and Lilly. AbbVie (ABBV - Free Report) remains a dominant force in the immunology segment, from where it generates nearly half of its top line. This growth is mainly driven by the continued uptake of its two blockbuster medications, Skyrizi and Rinvoq, which have helped the company return to top-line growth despite the U.S. loss of exclusivity for its legacy drug, Humira, in 2023. Investors’ focus will primarily be on the sales performance of these two drugs when AbbVie reports its second-quarter 2026 results on July 31.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Skyrizi sales is pegged at $5.49 billion, while the same for Rinvoq stands at $2.47 billion. Continued momentum from these therapies, supported by market share gains, is expected to drive immunology sales in the quarter. Meanwhile, Humira sales are expected to continue their downward trajectory, with the Zacks Consensus Estimate pegged at $744 million for the quarter.
AbbVie successfully launched Skyrizi and Rinvoq across Humira's major indications, as well as a distinct new indication, atopic dermatitis. Both drugs have delivered strong performance across approved indications, especially in the popular inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) space, which includes ulcerative colitis (UC) and Crohn’s disease (CD).
The company has also been expanding its presence beyond immunology into oncology and neuroscience. In recent years, ABBV has added Elahere, Emrelis and, most recently, Decnupaz, bringing its total number of oncology therapies to six. Growth in its neuroscience segment has also been supported by the increasing uptake of its migraine drugs, Ubrelvy and Qulipta, as well as the Parkinson’s disease drug Vyalev.
ABBV’s Competition in the Immunology SpaceThe immunology market is highly competitive. A key player in this area is Johnson & Johnson (JNJ - Free Report) , which already markets two blockbuster drugs — Stelara and Tremfya. These medications are approved across multiple immunology indications, including UC and CD. Since Stelara lost U.S. patent exclusivity last year, J&J has shifted its focus to Tremfya. It recently secured approval for a new immunology drug, Icotyde, to treat moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis. While still in the early stages of launch, the drug could pose a competitive threat to Skyrizi.
Another pharma giant expanding its presence in immunology is Eli Lilly (LLY - Free Report) , following the FDA approval of Omvoh for the UC indication in late 2023. Omvoh marked LLY’s first immunology drug approved for a type of IBD in the United States, playing a key role in expanding its immunology portfolio. The Eli Lilly drug is approved for the CD indication.
ABBV’s Price Performance, Valuation and EstimatesShares of AbbVie have outperformed the industry year to date, as seen in the chart below.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
From a valuation standpoint, AbbVie is trading at a discount to the industry. Based on the price/earnings (P/E) ratio, the company’s shares currently trade at 17.2 times forward earnings, lower than its industry’s average of 19.1.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
The bottom-line estimate per share for 2026 has declined from $14.30 to $14.28, while the 2027 estimate has fallen from $16.30 to $16.03 over the past 30 days.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
AbbVie currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
SummaryPalantir Technologies Inc. is evolving into a control layer for operational AI, integrating models with enterprise data, workflows, and security across commercial and government sectors.AIP Bootcamps accelerate adoption, creating sticky customer relationships and driving rapid commercial expansion, evidenced by 133% U.S. commercial revenue growth in Q1 2026.PLTR delivers elite profitability—46% GAAP operating margin, 53% net income margin, and 57% adjusted free cash flow margin—while scaling revenue at 85% year-over-year.I rate PLTR a Strong Buy for investors able to withstand high valuation risk, as it cements itself as a critical AI infrastructure provider with explosive growth and robust margins. JasonDoiy/iStock Unreleased via Getty Images
Investment Thesis Palantir Technologies Inc. (PLTR) is among the few firms whose bull case continues to gain strength as its share price has increased. This seems counterintuitive, but in this author’s view, the recent debate surrounding
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Analyst’s Disclosure: I/we have no stock, option or similar derivative position in any of the companies mentioned, and no plans to initiate any such positions within the next 72 hours. I wrote this article myself, and it expresses my own opinions. I am not receiving compensation for it (other than from Seeking Alpha). I have no business relationship with any company whose stock is mentioned in this article.
Seeking Alpha's Disclosure: Past performance is no guarantee of future results. No recommendation or advice is being given as to whether any investment is suitable for a particular investor. Any views or opinions expressed above may not reflect those of Seeking Alpha as a whole. Seeking Alpha is not a licensed securities dealer, broker or US investment adviser or investment bank. Our analysts are third party authors that include both professional investors and individual investors who may not be licensed or certified by any institute or regulatory body.
Etsy poprvé za dva roky zvýšila počet aktivních kupujících na 86,6 milionu, což naznačuje začátek oživení. App GMS vzrostl o 11,2 % a tvořil asi 47 % celkového GMS.
Key Takeaways Etsy's active buyers rose 0.1% sequentially to 86.6M, the first increase in two years.Gross buyer additions climbed 4.8% to 11.9M, led by new and reactivated buyers.App GMS rose 11.2% and made up about 47% of total GMS as users engaged more deeply. Etsy, Inc.’s (ETSY - Free Report) latest buyer metrics suggest a recovery is beginning, though the evidence remains early rather than decisive. First-quarter 2026 operating metrics paint a mixed but healthier picture of buyer engagement. For the first time in two years, active buyers grew 0.1% sequentially to 86.6 million. This marks a directional shift, even though active buyers remain down 2.1% year over year.
The more encouraging part of the story was buyer additions. Gross buyer additions rose 4.8% year over year to 11.9 million, driven by 5 million new buyers and 6.9 million reactivated buyers. New buyers increased 2.3%, while reactivated buyers rose 6.6%, suggesting Etsy is gaining traction both in attracting fresh shoppers and bringing back lapsed users.
Spending behavior also improved. Gross merchandise sales (GMS) per active buyer reached $122, up 1.5% year over year and 1.1% sequentially, marking the first year-over-year increase since late 2022 and the fourth straight quarter of sequential improvement. Still, purchase frequency remained modestly lower than the prior year. Repeat buyers and habitual buyers fell 3.2% and 5.7% year over year, respectively, though management noted moderation in sequential declines.
Etsy’s app momentum adds another positive signal. App GMS rose 11.2% year over year and represented about 47% of total GMS. With app users visiting more often, engaging more deeply and converting at higher rates, Etsy’s buyer turnaround appears to be gaining early momentum.
The company is using personalized search, home feed recommendations, AI-generated buyer profiles, targeted offers, and more relevant email and push messaging to improve discovery, strengthen loyalty and deepen direct relationships with buyers. The operating metrics support the view that buyer recovery is arriving sooner than expected, though stronger purchase frequency is still needed to confirm durability.
How eBay & Shopify Compare With EtsyeBay Inc. (EBAY - Free Report) reported that trailing 12-month active buyers increased 1% year over year to nearly 136 million, with U.S. buyer growth accelerating to nearly 6% during the first quarter of 2026. The company is improving discovery and engagement through AI-powered Agentic Search, enhanced eBay Live experiences, better event discovery within its app and partnerships that expand the reach of its marketplace. eBay believes these AI-native experiences and community-driven initiatives are making shopping more relevant while supporting higher buyer engagement.
Shopify Inc. (SHOP - Free Report) is expanding personalized discovery across multiple channels, including AI chats, the Shop App and marketplaces, while using Shop Pay and its buyer network to improve conversion and encourage repeat purchases. Shopify also highlighted that traffic from Catalog-powered AI searches converted at more than twice the rate of general AI search traffic, reinforcing its AI-driven commerce strategy. These initiatives position Shopify to strengthen buyer experiences by helping merchants drive more relevant discovery and higher conversion.
What the Latest Metrics Say About EtsyEtsy has seen its shares jump 42.7% over the past three months compared with the industry’s 8.1% rise.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
From a valuation standpoint, Etsy's forward 12-month price-to-earnings ratio stands at 13.14, lower than the industry’s ratio of 21.27. ETSY is also trading below its 12-month median level of 20.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Etsy's earnings per share has seen a downward revision. The consensus estimate for the current fiscal year has fallen from $5.55 to $5.41, while the estimate for the next fiscal year has declined from $6.40 to 6.29 over the past seven days.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Etsy currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
Micron uzavřel dlouhodobé smlouvy s 16 zákazníky na zhruba 20 % DRAM a třetinu NAND, aby si zajistil předvídatelnější poptávku a ceny. Rivalové SK Hynix a Samsung mezitím chystají masivní investice do nové kapacity.
Micron Technologies (MU +3.26%) blew away expectations with its most recent earnings report. The company posted record profitability while quintupling revenue year over year.
But perhaps the biggest takeaway from Micron's earnings report was management's disclosure of new strategic customer agreements (SCAs). Micron signed long-term agreements with some of its largest customers, creating more predictable demand and pricing for its chips over the next three to five years.
That's important because Micron's biggest competitors, SK Hynix (KOSE: A000660) and Samsung (SSNLF +0.00%), are about to invest huge sums of money in building out additional capacity. It'll be a major test for Micron's new strategy.
Image source: Micron Technologies.
Micron's biggest risk Memory chips are, in practicality, commodities. The market has seen a surge in demand over the past year as memory has become a bottleneck in artificial intelligence (AI) training and inference. The more memory you can package with a GPU or other AI accelerator chip, the faster it can process data and generate a response.
However, it takes time for Micron and its competitors to build new capacity. As a result, memory chip prices have skyrocketed, leading to massive near-term profits for the chipmakers.
But as new fabs begin producing more chips, the supply-and-demand equilibrium shifts, and prices and profits decline. This creates earnings cycles throughout the industry. The big risk for Micron is that SK Hynix and Samsung build out more supply than Micron does, putting pressure on pricing and leaving Micron with less volume to make up the difference.
Micron's latest solution to the challenge is its SCAs. So far, it's signed 16 customers, representing about 20% of its DRAM volume and one-third of its NAND volume. The contracts are take-or-pay, which gives Micron more revenue predictability and the confidence to build more capacity. Micron says the contracts represent a minimum value of $100 billion over the course of the agreements.
Last year, Micron announced plans to spend $200 billion on new production capacity and R&D. Despite the SCAs, Micron's management didn't announce any plans to spend more. It merely stated they "provide us greater confidence in our capex (capital expenditures) and R&D (research and development) investments."
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The competition just announced massive spending plans The South Korean government recently announced a joint initiative between SK Hynix and Samsung to build a massive facility in southwestern South Korea. The facility will include four new chip fabrication plants with a total cost of about $520 billion. Separately, another $53 billion is being allocated to a new chip packaging facility.
And reports indicate that SK Hynix and Samsung plan to spend a combined 2,000 trillion won (about $1.3 trillion) on new facilities over the next decade. So, the new fabs and packaging plant may be just the start.
As mentioned, it takes years for a new facility to start producing chips, so the impact of the massive spending plans on chip pricing will be delayed. However, with a new pipeline for memory chips set to enter the market by the end of the decade, it could severely limit Micron's ability to negotiate its SCAs. And that could have a meaningful impact on its business going forward.
As things stand, Micron's current agreements account for just a minority of its revenue. The agreements cap the upside at pricing levels from its second quarter, limiting its near-term earnings potential. However, Micron's management expects supply constraints to continue benefiting pricing through 2027.
With the massive capacity build-out set to influence pricing by the end of the decade, Micron's earnings downcycle could be quite severe despite its best efforts to protect itself with long-term agreements. As such, Micron investors should be wary of paying too much for near-term earnings potential.
