It doesn't matter your age or experience: taking full advantage of the stock market and investing with confidence are common goals for all investors. Luckily, Zacks Premium offers several different ways to do both.
The popular research service can help you become a smarter, more self-assured investor, giving you access to daily updates of the Zacks Rank and Zacks Industry Rank, the Zacks #1 Rank List, Equity Research reports, and Premium stock screens.
Zacks Premium includes access to the Zacks Style Scores as well.
What are the Zacks Style Scores? Developed alongside the Zacks Rank, the Zacks Style Scores are a group of complementary indicators that help investors pick stocks with the best chances of beating the market over the next 30 days.
Based on their value, growth, and momentum characteristics, each stock is assigned a rating of A, B, C, D, or F. The better the score, the better chance the stock will outperform; an A is better than a B, a B is better than a C, and so on.
The Style Scores are broken down into four categories:
Value ScoreFor value investors, it's all about finding good stocks at good prices, and discovering which companies are trading under their true value before the broader market catches on. The Value Style Score utilizes ratios like P/E, PEG, Price/Sales, Price/Cash Flow, and a host of other multiples to help pick out the most attractive and discounted stocks.
Growth ScoreWhile good value is important, growth investors are more focused on a company's financial strength and health, and its future outlook. The Growth Style Score takes projected and historic earnings, sales, and cash flow into account to uncover stocks that will see long-term, sustainable growth.
Momentum ScoreMomentum investors, who live by the saying "the trend is your friend," are most interested in taking advantage of upward or downward trends in a stock's price or earnings outlook. Utilizing one-week price change and the monthly percentage change in earnings estimates, among other factors, the Momentum Style Score can help determine favorable times to buy high-momentum stocks.
VGM ScoreIf you want a combination of all three Style Scores, then the VGM Score will be your friend. It rates each stock on their combined weighted styles, helping you find the companies with the most attractive value, best growth forecast, and most promising momentum. It's also one of the best indicators to use with the Zacks Rank.
How Style Scores Work with the Zacks Rank A proprietary stock-rating model, the Zacks Rank utilizes the power of earnings estimate revisions, or changes to a company's earnings outlook, to help investors create a successful portfolio.
It's highly successful, with #1 (Strong Buy) stocks producing an unmatched +23.94% average annual return since 1988. That's more than double the S&P 500. But because of the large number of stocks we rate, there are over 200 companies with a Strong Buy rank, plus another 600 with a #2 (Buy) rank, on any given day.
This totals more than 800 top-rated stocks, and it can be overwhelming to try and pick the best stocks for you and your portfolio.
That's where the Style Scores come in.
You want to make sure you're buying stocks with the highest likelihood of success, and to do that, you'll need to pick stocks with a Zacks Rank #1 or #2 that also have Style Scores of A or B. If you like a stock that only has a #3 (Hold) rank, it should also have Scores of A or B to guarantee as much upside potential as possible.
As mentioned above, the Scores are designed to work with the Zacks Rank, so any change to a company's earnings outlook should be a deciding factor when picking which stocks to buy.
For instance, a stock with a #4 (Sell) or #5 (Strong Sell) rating, even one that boasts Scores of A and B, still has a downward-trending earnings forecast, and a much greater likelihood its share price will decline as well.
Thus, the more stocks you own with a #1 or #2 Rank and Scores of A or B, the better.
Stock to Watch: Acuity (AYI - Free Report) Headquartered in Atlanta, GA, Acuity, Inc. is the parent company of Acuity Brands Lighting, Inc. and other subsidiaries. The company manufactures and distributes lighting fixtures and related components that comprise devices such as luminaries, lighting controls, and controllers for various building systems, power supplies, prismatic skylights, and drivers, as well as integrated systems designed to optimize energy efficiency and comfort for various indoor and outdoor applications.
AYI is a #3 (Hold) on the Zacks Rank, with a VGM Score of B.
Additionally, the company could be a top pick for growth investors. AYI has a Growth Style Score of B, forecasting year-over-year earnings growth of 8.1% for the current fiscal year.
One analyst revised their earnings estimate upwards in the last 60 days for fiscal 2026. The Zacks Consensus Estimate has increased $0.02 to $19.46 per share. AYI boasts an average earnings surprise of +4.9%.
With a solid Zacks Rank and top-tier Growth and VGM Style Scores, AYI should be on investors' short list.
Some investors are currently focused on falling artificial intelligence (AI) stocks, and understandably so. In addition to the misery this setback has already dished out, the weakness has bigger-picture implications. Namely, it could mark the start of a broader sell-off.
This is precisely the time to make some smart, long-term moves for your portfolio, while few others are considering the same.
To this end, if you're an income investor seeking some new dividend payers, here are three dividend stocks to consider in the midst of all the noise.
Image source: Getty Images.
1. Oneok The prospective wind-down of hostilities between the United States and Iran has let oil prices peel back from their April peak to a multi-month low just last week, dragging most energy stocks down with it.
There's a reason, however, Oneok (OKE 0.55%) is defying this headwind. It's a midstream energy company, meaning it owns and operates 60,000 miles of pipelines that transport both oil and natural gas from one point to another, regardless of the price of either. It charges by volume, however, meaning that as long as the country continues consuming both, Oneok's toll booth keeps churning out revenue.
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This is an ideal business model for a dividend-paying business. To this end, the company has not only paid a dividend like clockwork for decades, but raises it on a reliably regular basis.
2. Sun Communities Most investors are probably familiar with the market's better-known real estate investment trusts (REITs). Sun Communities (SUI 0.02%) is not one of these names.
Perhaps it should be, though, not because its forward-looking yield of 3.7% is wildly thrilling, but because this often-overlooked REIT is quietly building an impressive dividend pedigree. The company has now raised its dividend payout for nine consecutive years.
Sun Communities owns a bunch of mobile home and RV parking rental properties, by the way, which is proving to be a surprisingly resilient market.
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3. Accenture Finally, add Accenture (ACN 0.58%) to your list of dividend stocks to buy while the market is distracted.
Accenture offers a range of business services, including marketing, technology installation, supply chain optimization, personnel recruitment, and more. Its customers include names like Bosch, Levi's, Spotify, and Uber, just to name a few.
The stock hasn't performed all that well for a while now. In fact, shares are now down more than 60% from last February's peak, mostly due to worries that the proliferation of artificial intelligence tools poses a threat to its business.
And in some way, maybe it does.
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It's not quite the danger the stock's recent performance suggests, as artificial intelligence still can't handle much of the real-world, physical work that Accenture is doing. To the extent it is a threat, however, the company is using AI -- and helping its clients use it -- rather than simply ignoring it. The stock's prolonged sell-off has simply pumped its forward-looking dividend yield up to a solid 5.1%.
That's based on an annual dividend, by the way, which has been raised every year for a couple of decades now.
SAN FRANCISCO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Elastic (NYSE: ESTC), the Search AI Company, today announced new capabilities that bring the same scale, performance, and operational simplicity that have made Elastic a trusted platform for logs to metrics. With native Prometheus and PromQL support, out-of-the-box Kubernetes investigation workflows, and automated migration from Datadog and Grafana, Elastic now delivers a unified platform for metrics and logs. Built on Elasticsearch's columnar metrics engine, the.
Elastic Delivers Best-in-Class Metrics With Native Prometheus Support and Agentic Investigation Experiences Elastic (NYSE: ESTC), the Search AI Company, today announced new capabilities that bring the same scale, performance, and operational simplicity that have made Elastic a trusted platform for logs to metrics. With native Prometheus and PromQL support, out-of-the-box Kubernetes investigation workflows, and automated migration from Datadog and Grafana, Elastic now delivers a unified platform for metrics and logs. Built on Elasticsearch's columnar metrics engine, the platform can query metrics up to 30x faster than Prometheus and store data up to 2.5x more efficiently, without cardinality limits or custom metric penalties.
The metrics landscape has changed dramatically. Kubernetes and microservices have already pushed observability systems from thousands to millions of time series. Now AI workloads are accelerating that growth, making metrics not only a scale challenge but also a strategic cost and reliability problem. Most platforms make that growth expensive: premium vendors increase costs as cardinality grows, while lower-cost alternatives fragment metrics and logs across separate backends and query languages. The result is that teams often reduce data collection to control costs, leaving engineers with less context when incidents occur.
Elastic Observability addresses both problems in a single platform that stores OpenTelemetry, Prometheus-native, and application-defined metrics at full resolution alongside logs and traces, with no separate backends and no retention trade-offs. The release spans the metrics engine and the capabilities built on it:
Native PromQL and Prometheus Remote Write: PromQL queries run natively in Kibana and Prometheus metrics arrive via Remote Write, so existing dashboards, alert rules, and scrape configs work without modification.
Out-of-the-box Kubernetes workflows and content: SREs now go straight from an alert to the root cause through out-of-the-box agentic workflows, alert templates, ML anomaly detection jobs, and pre-built dashboards that activate at ingest for Kubernetes. SRE teams do not need to configure infrastructure from scratch before they get value.
Agentic investigations: When an alert fires, Elastic correlates metrics, logs, and traces that already share a single backend, using workflows with ML anomaly detection to surface what changed and how severe the deviation is before anyone is paged. The Observability MCP App and agent skills bring the same investigation capabilities to Claude, Cursor, VS Code, and any MCP-compatible tool.
Automated migration from Datadog and Grafana: The Observability Migration Platform converts dashboards, alert rules, and PromQL queries into Kibana equivalents automatically, so teams move what they've already built rather than rebuilding it.
"Elastic was already the platform many SREs trusted for logs at scale. Now we're bringing that same impressive scale, performance, and operational simplicity to metrics, delivering up to 30x faster metric queries than Prometheus, native Prometheus compatibility, and a more predictable cost model for high-cardinality metrics," said Baha Azarmi, general manager, Observability at Elastic. "With a single backend for every signal, a single query language, and investigations that start before anyone is paged, SREs get complete context at the moment they need it most — without the bills that have forced teams to compromise on the data they keep."
“As we’ve moved more applications into Kubernetes and expanded our cloud footprint, data is growing rapidly and our need for granular, high-cardinality metrics is increasing," said Jeff Beagley, manager of DevOps, SRE, and Cloud Engineering, Bass Pro Shops. “Elastic’s new metrics capabilities let us handle that volume and surface the insights we need. Coupled with Elastic’s OpenTelemetry support, we get visibility into an increasingly complex architecture — all while keeping performance up and costs down.”
“At Eurowings, the improved metrics performance, native Prometheus support, logsdb and incident-handling workflows in Elasticsearch have helped our teams achieve faster incident response times and a more unified view across signals without jumping between systems,” said Iosif Tournas, Cyber Security & Elastic Platform Lead, Eurowings Aviation. “These new metrics capabilities complement the millions of log events per minute and APM traces we’re already handling in Elastic Observability. This unified view reduces operational friction, breaks the silos between teams and the time it takes to detect and respond to issues.”
Availability
The columnar metrics engine (TSDS), ES|QL time series support, PromQL in Kibana, and Prometheus Remote Write ingest are generally available. Out-of-the-box Kubernetes infrastructure content including dashboards, alert templates, SLO and ML anomaly detection jobs are also generally available. The Observability MCP App, Agent Skills, and the Observability Migration Platform are available in tech preview. All capabilities run across Elastic Cloud, serverless, and self-managed deployments.
While Datadog does not offer an on-premises option and Grafana limits its highest-value features to hosted deployments, Elastic gives organizations the flexibility to run observability workloads where their data and operational requirements demand.
Additional Resources
Read the blogs:
[url="]Elasticsearch: best-in-class for logs, now best-in-class for metrics [/url]
[url="]Elasticsearch’s Columnar Store, 160x Faster and 6.6x more storage efficient [/url]
Elastic Observability Metrics Pricing Updates
Elastic (NYSE: ESTC), the Search AI Company, integrates its deep expertise in search technology with artificial intelligence to help everyone transform all of their data into answers, actions, and outcomes. Elastic's Search AI Platform — the foundation for its search, observability, and security solutions — is used by thousands of companies, including more than 50% of the Fortune 500. Learn more at elastic.co.
Elastic and associated marks are trademarks or registered trademarks of elasticsearch B.V. and its subsidiaries. All other company and product names may be trademarks of their respective owners.
View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260630816603/en/
Key Takeaways MaxLinear expects AI-driven infrastructure growth to lift Q2 as data center revenues rise.MXL is expanding Keystone and Panther platform adoption with hyperscale and Tier 1 customers.MXL likely saw strength from increased shipments in its Industrial and multi-market segment. MaxLinear, Inc. (MXL - Free Report) is expected to post its second-quarter 2026 earnings report next month, with four of its end markets likely to contribute favorably. Infrastructure, now the company’s largest revenue category, is likely to remain the primary growth driver as hyperscale customers rapidly scale AI-centric architectures.
Management expects a step-up in data center revenue beginning in the second quarter, with additional upside as run rates continue to expand into 2027. Driving that momentum is the Keystone PAM4 DSP optical transceiver platform, which has been ramping up at multiple major hyperscale customers across both the United States and Asia, supporting both 400G and 800G PAM4 deployments for scale-up and scale-out applications.
The Panther hardware storage accelerator SoC family is also gaining traction, with rising design win activity among Tier 1 network appliance and cloud service providers, setting up for higher storage accelerator revenues. At the same time, wireless infrastructure momentum is improving as carriers increase investments in 5G RAN access and backhaul to support cloud connected and edge AI functionality.
In Broadband and Connectivity, Maxlinear is advancing large-scale deployments of single-chip fiber PON and Wi-Fi 7 gateway platforms with a second major Tier 1 service provider in North America, with acceleration expected in Europe later this year. Management believes these long-cycle deployments create a stable foundation, building on the integration and power efficiency advantages that support the company’s data center portfolio.
Lastly, MaxLinear’s Industrial and multi-market segment is also likely to benefit from increased volume of shipments of high-performance analog products.
What Are MXL Peers Up To?MACOM Technology Solutions Inc. (MTSI - Free Report) introduced a chip scale hot via process built on its AlGaAs diode technology. As an alternative to conventional chip and wire bonding and copper pillar-based surface mount technologies, MACOM’s hot via process simplifies surface mount assembly while delivering low insertion loss and high isolation. The first product using the AlGaAs hot via process technology is the MASW-011261, a broadband SP2T switch operating from 60 to 110 GHz.
Skyworks Solutions, Inc. (SWKS - Free Report) recently unveiled its new Si829x isolated safety gate driver for electric vehicle (EV) traction inverters and other electrified systems, including eTrucking, industrial motor drives and emerging mobility platforms. Introduced at the PCIM Expo, the Si829x uses ProVCD, Skyworks’ second-generation variable current drive, with high-resolution gate waveform shaping and cycle-by-cycle control through a digital interface.
The Zacks Rundown for MXL StockYear to date, MaxLinear shares have surged 523.5% compared with the industry’s 48.8% growth.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
In terms of valuation, MXL trades at a forward, two-year Price/Sales (P/S) of 13.59X compared with its 2.76X median and the industry average of 9.52X.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Here’s how estimates for MaxLinear’s 2026 and 2027 earnings are trending right now.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
MaxLinear currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
But one lesser-known semiconductor stock has quietly done even better.
The reason isn’t another memory boom. It’s the next layer of AI infrastructure.
MaxLinear Is Riding AI’s Connectivity BoomWhile Micron has benefited from soaring demand for HBM used in AI accelerators, MaxLinear has emerged as one of the biggest beneficiaries of another fast-growing market: high-speed optical connectivity.
The company’s first-quarter results marked a turning point.
Infrastructure revenue surged 136% year over year, becoming MaxLinear’s largest business as hyperscalers accelerated deployments of increasingly larger AI clusters.
Management also raised its outlook for optical interconnect products, citing growing demand for its Keystone digital signal processors used in 400G and 800G AI networking.
The AI Supply Chain Is Expanding Beyond MemoryThe comparison with Micron highlights how the AI investment story is evolving.
Micron sits at the center of the memory boom, supplying the high-bandwidth memory chips that power Nvidia Corp.‘s (NASDAQ:NVDA) latest AI accelerators and other advanced processors.
MaxLinear occupies a different part of the ecosystem.
Its chips help move data rapidly between GPUs, servers and networking equipment inside AI data centers—a function becoming increasingly important as AI models grow larger and computing clusters become more interconnected.
In other words, while Micron helps AI systems remember, MaxLinear helps them communicate.
Wall Street Is Looking Beyond GPUsThe stock’s remarkable rally also reflects a broader shift in investor focus.
The first phase of the AI trade was driven by GPU leaders such as Nvidia. The second rewarded memory suppliers led by Micron.
Now, investors are increasingly identifying the companies building the networking infrastructure needed to connect those chips at scale.
Whether MaxLinear can sustain a rally of more than 520% remains an open question.
But its performance underscores an important lesson from 2026: some of the biggest winners in artificial intelligence aren’t necessarily the companies making the most headlines—they’re the ones quietly enabling the next generation of AI infrastructure.
Photo Courtesy: Michael Vi on Shutterstock.com
Market News and Data brought to you by Benzinga APIs
Key Takeaways Chewy is scaling AI across customer service, pharmacy, fulfillment and marketing workflows.CHWY expects AI initiatives to deliver efficiency gains in the low tens of millions of dollars in fiscal 2026.Chewy reported 90 basis points of year-over-year SG&A leverage, aided by productivity and early AI benefits. Chewy, Inc. (CHWY - Free Report) is expanding the use of artificial intelligence ("AI") and automation across its business to enhance customer service and improve operational efficiency. During the first quarter of fiscal 2026, the company built the infrastructure required to deploy AI at scale and began integrating these capabilities across multiple functions to support its long-term growth strategy.
Chewy is applying AI and automation across customer service, pharmacy operations, fulfillment and marketing workflows. Management noted that these initiatives are helping lower the cost of serving customers by improving workflow speed, service quality and productivity. The company is utilizing AI to enhance search relevance, personalization and marketing effectiveness.
Chewy expects AI-driven initiatives to generate efficiency benefits in the low tens of millions of dollars during fiscal 2026, with a more meaningful contribution anticipated in 2027 and beyond. In the first quarter, the company delivered roughly 90 basis points of year-over-year SG&A leverage, supported by fulfillment productivity gains, operating discipline and early benefits from technology, automation and AI-enabled initiatives.
At the same time, Chewy continues to invest in strategic growth initiatives, including expanding Chewy Health, scaling Chewy Vet Care, optimizing its fulfillment network and strengthening customer acquisition capabilities. Management emphasized that investments in AI infrastructure and automation are designed not only to improve near-term productivity but also to reinforce the company's long-term competitive positioning.
Looking ahead, management believes continued investments across health, AI, automation, fulfillment and customer experience will strengthen the Chewy ecosystem. The company reiterated the long-term adjusted EBITDA margin target of 10%, reflecting confidence in the operating model as it balances innovation, automation and disciplined execution.
CHWY’s Price Performance, Valuation & EstimatesChewy, which competes with BARK, Inc. (BARK - Free Report) and Petco Health and Wellness Company, Inc. (WOOF - Free Report) , has fallen 28% over the past three months against the industry’s growth of 5.5%. Meanwhile, BARK's shares have declined 5.4% and Petco has dipped 1%.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
From a valuation standpoint, CHWY trades at a trailing price-to-sales ratio of 0.63X, below the industry’s average of 2.10X. It has a Value Score of A. CHWY is trading at a premium to BARK (with a trailing 12-month P/S ratio of 0.21) and Petco (0.13).
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for CHWY’s fiscal 2026 and 2027 earnings implies year-over-year growth of 20.5% and 21.9%, respectively. Estimates for fiscal 2026 and 2027 have been revised downward by 9 cents and 13 cents, respectively, over the past 30 days.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Although the company continues to invest in AI, healthcare and fulfillment capabilities to support long-term growth, short-term challenges remain. Management expects margin expansion to moderate amid difficult comparisons, higher transportation-related costs and continued strategic investments. A softer consumer spending environment and a more cautious outlook for discretionary categories could limit revenue growth and operating leverage in the near term. CHWY currently carries a Zacks Rank #5 (Strong Sell).
You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
[url="]Sensata Technologies[/url] (NYSE: ST), today announced the launch of its Active + Passive PyroFuse an advanced high-voltage protection device that combi
Shannon Lucas, President & Chief Operating Officer of Slide Insurance Holdings (SLDE 0.10%), reported the sale of 18,279 indirectly-held shares valued at approximately $343,000 on May 20, 2026, according to a SEC Form 4 filing.
Transaction summaryMetricValueShares sold (indirect)18,279Transaction value$343,000Post-transaction shares (direct)220,000Post-transaction shares (indirect)41,137,814Post-transaction value (direct ownership)~$4.11 millionTransaction value based on SEC Form 4 weighted average reported price ($18.78); post-transaction value based on May 20, 2026 market close.
Key questionsWhat does the relatively small percentage of holdings traded in this transaction indicate?
The 0.04% of total holdings sold suggests this filing reflects a minor portfolio adjustment, especially when compared to the larger volume of shares disposed in recent months.How was the sale executed and through which entity?
The sale was conducted indirectly through Securus Risk Management LLC, an entity controlled by Shannon Lucas, with no direct holdings affected by this transaction.How does this trade fit within the recent cadence of insider selling?
Following a series of larger indirect sales since March, this smaller sale aligns with the pattern of declining trade sizes as the available indirect share capacity has diminished.How does the transaction value compare to the company's current market capitalization?
The ~$343,000 transaction represents a negligible fraction of Slide Insurance Holdings' $2.13 billion market capitalization as of May 24, 2026, indicating no material impact on float or insider alignment.Company overviewMetricValueRevenue (TTM)$1.26 billionNet income (TTM)$490.98 millionEmployees3921-year price change-8.00%* 1-year price change calculated as of May 20, 2026.
Company snapshotSlide Insurance offers property and casualty insurance products, focusing on underwriting single family and condominium policies.It generates revenue primarily through insurance premiums, leveraging risk assessment and underwriting expertise to manage claims and profitability.The company targets homeowners and condominium owners in the U.S., with headquarters in Tampa, Florida.Slide Insurance Holdings operates as a specialized property and casualty insurance provider, emphasizing efficient underwriting and risk management. The company leverages a focused business model to serve residential property owners, with a notable presence in high-demand regions. Its scale and profitability are supported by disciplined operations and a targeted approach to customer acquisition.
What this transaction means for investorsThe May 20 sale of Slide Insurance stock by COO Shannon Lucas came at a time when shares had rebounded from a 52-week low of $12.53 reached in September. In fact, she made additional dispositions after this one.
Even so, her sales are not a cause for investor concern. This was a non-discretionary transaction as part of a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plan adopted in November of 2025. Such plans are often implemented by insiders to avoid accusations of trading based on insider information.
Moreover, Lucas maintained a substantial equity stake post-transaction, thanks primarily to the holdings of her husband, Bruce Lucas, Slide’s CEO. Consequently, her sales are not a red flag.
Slide Insurance is doing well. In the first quarter, revenue increased 38% year over year to $389.3 million, and gross premiums written grew 49%. In May, the company announced it was expanding into California, which has seen a significant exodus of insurance companies due to the state’s rules requiring insurance businesses to pay into a state-funded insurance program and to get government approval for rate increases. The expansion could add to the company’s growing revenue.
Robert Izquierdo has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
It doesn't matter your age or experience: taking full advantage of the stock market and investing with confidence are common goals for all investors. Luckily, Zacks Premium offers several different ways to do both.
The popular research service can help you become a smarter, more self-assured investor, giving you access to daily updates of the Zacks Rank and Zacks Industry Rank, the Zacks #1 Rank List, Equity Research reports, and Premium stock screens.
Zacks Premium also includes the Zacks Style Scores.
What are the Zacks Style Scores? The Zacks Style Scores, developed alongside the Zacks Rank, are complementary indicators that rate stocks based on three widely-followed investing methodologies; they also help investors pick stocks with the best chances of beating the market over the next 30 days.
Based on their value, growth, and momentum characteristics, each stock is assigned a rating of A, B, C, D, or F. The better the score, the better chance the stock will outperform; an A is better than a B, a B is better than a C, and so on.
The Style Scores are broken down into four categories:
Value ScoreFinding good stocks at good prices, and discovering which companies are trading under their true value, are what value investors like to focus on. So, the Value Style Score takes into account ratios like P/E, PEG, Price/Sales, Price/Cash Flow, and a host of other multiples to highlight the most attractive and discounted stocks.
Growth ScoreWhile good value is important, growth investors are more focused on a company's financial strength and health, and its future outlook. The Growth Style Score takes projected and historic earnings, sales, and cash flow into account to uncover stocks that will see long-term, sustainable growth.
Momentum ScoreMomentum investors, who live by the saying "the trend is your friend," are most interested in taking advantage of upward or downward trends in a stock's price or earnings outlook. Utilizing one-week price change and the monthly percentage change in earnings estimates, among other factors, the Momentum Style Score can help determine favorable times to buy high-momentum stocks.
VGM ScoreIf you want a combination of all three Style Scores, then the VGM Score will be your friend. It rates each stock on their combined weighted styles, helping you find the companies with the most attractive value, best growth forecast, and most promising momentum. It's also one of the best indicators to use with the Zacks Rank.
How Style Scores Work with the Zacks Rank The Zacks Rank is a proprietary stock-rating model that harnesses the power of earnings estimate revisions, or changes to a company's earnings expectations, to help investors build a successful portfolio.
Investors can count on the Zacks Rank's success, with #1 (Strong Buy) stocks producing an unmatched +23.94% average annual return since 1988, more than double the S&P 500's performance. But the model rates a large number of stocks, and there are over 200 companies with a Strong Buy rank, plus another 600 with a #2 (Buy) rank, on any given day.
This totals more than 800 top-rated stocks, and it can be overwhelming to try and pick the best stocks for you and your portfolio.
That's where the Style Scores come in.
To maximize your returns, you want to buy stocks with the highest probability of success. This means picking stocks with a Zacks Rank #1 or #2 that also have Style Scores of A or B. If you find yourself looking at stocks with a #3 (Hold) rank, make sure they have Scores of A or B as well to ensure as much upside potential as possible.
The direction of a stock's earnings estimate revisions should always be a key factor when choosing which stocks to buy, since the Scores were created to work together with the Zacks Rank.
A stock with a #4 (Sell) or #5 (Strong Sell) rating, for instance, even one with Scores of A and B, will still have a declining earnings forecast, and a greater chance its share price will fall too.
Thus, the more stocks you own with a #1 or #2 Rank and Scores of A or B, the better.
Stock to Watch: The Cooper Companies (COO - Free Report) The Cooper Companies is a global medical device company operating through two main segments: CooperVision (CVI) and CooperSurgical (CSI). CVI focuses on contact lenses, with a strong presence in daily silicone hydrogel lenses, torics, multifocals, and myopia management. Its flagship MyDay franchise, including MyDay Energys and toric/multifocal expansions, continues to capture premium share, while MiSight addresses the growing myopia epidemic. CSI provides products and services in fertility and women’s health, offering in-vitro fertilization (IVF) solutions, contraceptives such as Paragard, and office/surgical devices.
COO is a #3 (Hold) on the Zacks Rank, with a VGM Score of B.
It also boasts a Value Style Score of B thanks to attractive valuation metrics like a forward P/E ratio of 15.41; value investors should take notice.
Four analysts revised their earnings estimate upwards in the last 60 days for fiscal 2026. The Zacks Consensus Estimate has increased $0.01 to $4.63 per share. COO boasts an average earnings surprise of +5.8%.
With a solid Zacks Rank and top-tier Value and VGM Style Scores, COO should be on investors' short list.
COO's premium lenses, MiSight and fertility trends support growth, but Asia-Pacific softness, portfolio shifts and cost pressure keep execution in focus.
Strategic acquisition adds critical network density and route diversity across Northern Virginia and Maryland, reinforcing SummitIG's position as the leading digital connectivity partner
, /PRNewswire/ -- SummitIG, the premier pure-play dark fiber provider with unmatched network quality and scale for data center connectivity solutions, today announced it has completed the acquisition of Dark Fiber and Infrastructure, LLC ("DF&I") from funds managed by Blue Owl Capital Inc. ("Blue Owl") (NYSE: OWL), a leading alternative asset manager. SDC Capital Partners, LLC ("SDC"), a leading digital infrastructure investment firm, has been the majority owner of SummitIG since 2019.
The move further solidifies SummitIG's position as the definitive market leader for dark fiber infrastructure across Virginia and broadens its strategic reach into the burgeoning Maryland market.
Complementing SummitIG's existing footprint of over 1,100 miles of robust, high-capacity dark fiber infrastructure in Virginia, the acquisition integrates nearly 200 miles of DF&I's conduit and dark fiber assets into SummitIG's expansive platform. The newly combined footprint provides customers with unparalleled route diversity and density in Virginia and connects nearly 60 miles of distinct network into Maryland, stretching to Baltimore.
"As a leading infrastructure provider of dense, purpose-built dark fiber networks, SummitIG has established a strong track record of execution, and this acquisition represents a significant milestone in our strategy to expand and strengthen our platform in the markets that matter most to our customers," said Sunny Kumar, CEO of SummitIG. "By integrating DF&I's complementary network into our existing broad footprint, we are giving hyperscalers, carriers and large enterprises greater flexibility, deeper route diversity and the additional capacity required to support the next generation of cloud and AI workloads. We are hitting the ground running to ensure a seamless transition and unlock new opportunities for our combined customer base."
This transaction comes during a period of significant growth for SummitIG, with rapid expansion ongoing across five core domestic markets and the recent establishment of SierraIG, a strategic joint venture extending its infrastructure capabilities into Mexico.
"As global demand for cloud computing and next-generation infrastructure accelerates, specialized digital infrastructure assets have never been more critical," said Chris Jensen, Managing Director, Digital Infrastructure at Blue Owl. "We are incredibly proud of the scaled platform we built alongside DF&I's leadership over the last six years. SummitIG is the ideal successor to take these assets forward, and we are confident that their operational expertise and market momentum will drive continued success and infrastructure excellence across the region."
DF&I was previously a portfolio company of the Blue Owl Digital Infrastructure platform, which supported the company's regional buildout and grew the network's reach sixfold over a six-year period. SummitIG is executing a comprehensive integration plan to seamlessly transition customers, operations and network asset information, while completing any remaining active construction projects to ensure continuity for current contract commitments.
Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP served as legal advisor to SummitIG for the transaction. Bank Street Group served as exclusive financial advisor and Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP served as legal advisor to DF&I in connection with this transaction.
About SummitIG
SummitIG is a preeminent pure-play dark fiber provider that designs, builds, and operates purpose-built fiber networks powering the digital economy. Its high-capacity infrastructure platform delivers unmatched density, route diversity, and scalability for hyperscale cloud providers, carriers, data center operators, and enterprises. With operations across five strategic U.S. markets and two international markets through SierraIG, SummitIG powers next-generation AI, cloud computing, and other data-intensive applications. Learn more at www.summitig.com.
About SDC Capital Partners, LLC
SDC Capital Partners, LLC is a global digital infrastructure investment firm with approximately $12 billion of assets under management. SDC invests in data centers, fiber networks, wireless infrastructure, and associated businesses, with a focus on opportunities to leverage its development capabilities and deep operational expertise in partnership with exceptional teams to create value. For more information, visit www.sdccapitalpartners.com.
About Blue Owl
Blue Owl (NYSE: OWL) is a leading asset manager that is redefining alternatives®. With $315 billion in assets under management as of March 31, 2026, we invest across three multi-strategy platforms: Credit, Real Assets and GP Strategic Capital. Anchored by a strong permanent capital base, we provide businesses with private capital solutions to drive long-term growth and offer institutional investors, individual investors, and insurance companies differentiated alternative investment opportunities that aim to deliver strong performance, risk-adjusted returns, and capital preservation.
Together with over 1,390 experienced professionals globally, Blue Owl brings the vision and discipline to create the exceptional. To learn more, visit www.blueowl.com or LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/blue-owl-capital.
About Dark Fiber and Infrastructure
DF&I is a premier provider of conduit, dark fiber, and related services. DF&I custom-builds topnotch conduit and fiber networks and owns and operates the highest capacity, lowest latency network pathways between the most relevant data centers from Northern Virginia's Data Center Alley to Baltimore, Maryland.
SoFi Small Business Loans offer quick decisions, fast funding and clear upfront pricing to help entrepreneurs and small businesses fund their growth.
SAN FRANCISCO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--SoFi Technologies, Inc. (NASDAQ: SOFI), the everything app for digital financial services, today announced the launch of SoFi Small Business Loans, to help entrepreneurs and small business owners access fast, transparent financing to run and grow their businesses.
Today’s small business owners are ambitious but increasingly constrained by cash flow. Access to capital can be time-consuming and expensive, leaving some owners reliant on credit cards, waiting on slow bank decisions, or wary of alternative lenders with unclear fees or high rates.
In a recent survey of small business owners, 75% who applied for a business loan or line of credit in the last year said it was difficult to access affordable capital and the Federal Reserve found that more than half of borrowers chose online lenders for speed of decision or funding.
“For many of our members, their financial lives do not stop at personal goals, they also include the businesses they are building,” said Anthony Noto, CEO of SoFi. “With SoFi Small Business Loans, we are expanding our ability to serve members in more of the moments that matter, giving them access to business financing through the same digital-first platform they already use to manage their personal finances.”
SoFi has seen strong demand for financing across several small business categories including construction, healthcare, professional services, and more. SoFi Small Business Loans provides eligible business owners with:
Capital to Help Small Business Move Forward: Fixed business loans of up to $250,000 to help members purchase equipment, stock inventory or hire new staff. Quick Eligibility Check and Funding After Approval: Members can check eligibility in minutes and, if approved, access funding as soon as 24 hours after approval1, helping them stock up before a busy season or cover materials for a new job. Simple, Upfront Pricing: Members can view their offer before accepting, with no application fee, no origination fee, and no prepayment penalties. Predictable Payments for Easier Planning: Fixed business loans with predictable payments help members plan ahead, from managing payroll to investing in their business's growth. With SoFi Small Business Loans, SoFi is expanding its support for entrepreneurs and business owners and planning additional products and innovations to help meet their evolving needs.
To learn more about SoFi Small Business Loans and apply, visit, SoFi Small Business Loans
About SoFi
SoFi Technologies (NASDAQ: SOFI) is the everything app for digital financial services on a mission to help people achieve financial independence to realize their ambitions. 14.7 million members trust SoFi to borrow, save, spend, invest, and protect their money and buy, sell and hold their crypto – all in one app – and get access to financial planners, exclusive experiences, and a thriving community. Fintechs, financial institutions, and brands use SoFi’s technology platform Galileo to build and manage innovative financial solutions across 133 million global accounts. For more information, visit www.sofi.com or download our iOS and Android apps.
SoFi Small Business Loans are originated by SoFi Bank, N.A.
Terms and conditions apply. SOFI RESERVES THE RIGHT TO MODIFY OR DISCONTINUE PRODUCTS AND BENEFITS AT ANY TIME WITHOUT NOTICE. To be approved, a borrower’s home address and primary business operating address must be in the U.S. or U.S. territories, and you must meet SoFi's underwriting requirements in SoFi’s sole and absolute discretion. Not all borrowers receive the lowest rate. Lowest rates are reserved for the most creditworthy borrowers. If approved, your actual rate will be within the range of rates at the time of application and will depend on a variety of factors, including term of loan, evaluation of your business and personal creditworthiness, business revenue, and other factors. Rates and terms are subject to change at any time without notice. SoFi Small Business Loans may not be used for personal, family or household purposes. See SoFi.com/legal and SoFi.com/eligibility for more details.
Loan amounts range from $2,500-$250,000. The annual percentage rate (APR) is the cost of credit as a yearly rate and reflects your interest rate.
1As soon as 24 hour Loan Funding: Most borrowers receive funds within 24 hours if the loan is approved and the agreement is signed by 2:45 PM ET. The 24-hour funding timeframe excludes funding on weekends and federal holidays. This timing is not guaranteed, and delays may occur outside of SoFi’s control, such as if inaccurate information is submitted, or the receiving provider declines the transfer. Your bank may have rules on when the funds become available.
Borrowers who do not qualify for a SoFi Small Business Loan will have the opportunity to explore financing options from a provider in SoFi's Loan marketplace. The timing of funding varies by provider.
Availability of Other Information About SoFi
Investors and others should note that we communicate with our investors and the public using our website (https://www.sofi.com), the investor relations website (https://investors.sofi.com), and on social media (X and LinkedIn), including but not limited to investor presentations and investor fact sheets, Securities and Exchange Commission filings, press releases, public conference calls and webcasts. The information that SoFi posts on these channels and websites could be deemed to be material information. As a result, SoFi encourages investors, the media, and others interested in SoFi to review the information that is posted on these channels, including the investor relations website, on a regular basis. This list of channels may be updated from time to time on SoFi’s investor relations website and may include additional social media channels. The contents of SoFi’s website or these channels, or any other website that may be accessed from its website or these channels, shall not be deemed incorporated by reference in any filing under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
SoFi Technologies, Inc. (NASDAQ: SOFI), the everything app for digital financial services, today announced the launch of SoFi Small Business Loans, to help ent
Key Takeaways EFX posted Q1 2026 revenues of $1.65 billion, up 14% year over year on broad demand.EFX's U.S. mortgage revenues jumped 38% y/y in Q1 2026, aided by The Work Number Indicator.Equifax is expanding AI capabilities with Agentic AI and Ignite AI Advisor solutions. Equifax (EFX - Free Report) is benefiting from sustainable demand for its diverse offerings. Strong performance across segments, buyouts and expanding artificial intelligence (AI)-powered innovations in analytical tools and solutions support long-term growth.
EFX has a Growth Score of B. This style score condenses key financial metrics to reflect a fair sense of the quality and sustainability of its growth.
The company’s second-quarter 2026 earnings are expected to increase 11.5% year over year. Its 2026 and 2027 earnings are projected to rise 12% and 19.9%, respectively. Revenues are expected to grow 10.9% in 2026 and 9.3% in 2027.
Factors That Bode Well for EFXEquifax generates stable revenue streams from its diversified global data, analytics and technology services. These offerings leverage comprehensive consumer and business databases to serve a diverse client base and mitigate sector-specific challenges. The company’s total revenues have grown at a compounded annual growth rate of 4.3% in the last five years (2021-2025). EFX reported its first-quarter 2026 revenues of $1.65 billion, which increased 14% year over year.
The company’s U.S. Information Solutions mortgage revenues have been a key catalyst to its overall growth lately. EFX reported the segment’s growth of 38% year over year in the first quarter of 2026, driven by stronger market demand and growing customer adoption of Equifax’s The Work Number Indicator product. The tool alerts lenders upfront if an applicant’s income and employment records are already available in the Equifax database.
EFX’s Workforce Solutions segment has been another significant contributor to its growth. Segment revenues increased more than 10% year over year in the first quarter of 2026 due to strong performance across government services and consumer lending markets.
The company’s consistent approach to leveraging its cloud-native infrastructure and AI capabilities improves operational efficiency and long-term growth opportunities. It is transforming its services into advanced and robust AI-driven solutions. EFX developed an Agentic AI platform to accelerate and standardize the development, deployment, monitoring and governance of AI agents across Equifax. Its recently launched Ignite AI Advisor includes new AI-driven conversational analytics, offering customers deeper insights and personalized recommendations.
Risks to Watch
EFX had a current ratio (a measure of liquidity) of 0.61, below the industry average of 1.15 at the end of the first quarter of 2026. A current ratio below 1 often suggests that a company may not be well-positioned to meet its short-term obligations.
The company operates with enormous amounts of sensitive personal data from clients across the globe, making it highly susceptible to cybersecurity threats. The company suffered a cybersecurity breach in 2017, resulting in the theft of highly sensitive personal data belonging to approximately 143 million consumers. Repetition of such incidents will affect its brand image, reputation and credibility.
EFX’s Zacks Rank & Stocks to ConsiderEquifax currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here
Some better-ranked stocks in the Business Services are FactSet Research Systems Inc. (FDS - Free Report) and Verisk Analytics (VRSK - Free Report) .
FactSet carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) at present. It has a long-term earnings growth expectation of 6.8%.
FDS beat earnings estimates in two of the last four reported quarters and missed twice, delivering an average earnings surprise of 0.4%.
Verisk Analytics also has a Zacks Rank of 2 at present. It has a long-term earnings growth expectation of 11.7%.
VRSK beat earnings estimates in each of the last four quarters, with the earnings surprise being 6.3%, on average.
MIAMI, June 30, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Varonis Systems, Inc. (Nasdaq: VRNS), the data and AI security leader, today announced its Data Security Platform attained GovRAMP Authorization. This latest third-party validation confirms that Varonis meets rigorous security requirements for serving state, local, tribal, and educational government agencies.
SLED organizations are responsible for securing sensitive data and critical infrastructure communities rely on every day — from student and taxpayer data to utilities and emergency response systems. As agencies accelerate cloud adoption and deploy AI, their security strategies must evolve just as fast to keep pace.
“Government organizations are under pressure to manage and safeguard vast amounts of regulated data across on-prem, cloud, and AI systems,” said Dror Shemesh, CISO at Varonis. “Varonis has long supported the SLED sector, and achieving GovRAMP validates our ability to meet stringent security and compliance requirements with solutions that continuously and automatically protect data at scale.”
Varonis maintains a broad portfolio of U.S. and international certifications — including FedRAMP, TXRAMP, ISO 27001, and SOC 2 — that demonstrate its ability to meet the highest security and compliance standards for both public- and private-sector organizations.
Additional Resources
Visit the Trust Center to see additional Varonis certifications.Learn how Varonis supports SLED customers.Visit our blog, and join the conversation on LinkedIn and YouTube.
About GovRAMP
GovRAMP is the leading authority on cloud security standards for state and local governments, providing a standardized approach to assessing and authorizing cloud services. GovRAMP empowers government agencies and their vendors to navigate the complexities of cloud security with confidence.
About Varonis
Varonis (Nasdaq: VRNS) secures AI and the data that powers it. The Varonis platform gives organizations automated visibility and control over their critical data wherever it lives and helps ensure safe and trustworthy AI from code to runtime. Backed by 24x7x365 managed detection and response, Varonis gives thousands of organizations worldwide the confidence to adopt AI, reduce data exposure, and stop AI-powered threats.
Investor Relations Contact:
Tim Perz
Varonis Systems, Inc.
646-640-2112 [email protected]
News Media Contact:
Rachel Hunt
Varonis Systems, Inc.
877-292-8767 (ext. 1598) [email protected]
Top Wall Street analysts changed their outlook on these top names. For a complete view of all analyst rating changes, including upgrades, downgrades and initiations, please see our analyst ratings page.
Considering buying OC stock? Here’s what analysts think:
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Here at Zacks, we focus on our proven ranking system, which places an emphasis on earnings estimates and estimate revisions, to find winning stocks. But we also understand that investors develop their own strategies, so we are constantly looking at the latest trends in value, growth, and momentum to find strong companies for our readers.
Considering these trends, value investing is clearly one of the most preferred ways to find strong stocks in any type of market. Value investors rely on traditional forms of analysis on key valuation metrics to find stocks that they believe are undervalued, leaving room for profits.
Luckily, Zacks has developed its own Style Scores system in an effort to find stocks with specific traits. Value investors will be interested in the system's "Value" category. Stocks with both "A" grades in the Value category and high Zacks Ranks are among the strongest value stocks on the market right now.
One company to watch right now is CBIZ (CBZ - Free Report) . CBZ is currently holding a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) and a Value grade of A.
Investors should also recognize that CBZ has a P/B ratio of 1.53. The P/B ratio pits a stock's market value against its book value, which is defined as total assets minus total liabilities. This company's current P/B looks solid when compared to its industry's average P/B of 3.97. Over the past year, CBZ's P/B has been as high as 4.51 and as low as 1.53, with a median of 2.16.
Value investors also frequently use the P/S ratio. This metric is found by dividing a stock's price with the company's revenue. This is a popular metric because sales are harder to manipulate on an income statement, so they are often considered a better performance indicator. CBZ has a P/S ratio of 0.63. This compares to its industry's average P/S of 1.16.
These are only a few of the key metrics included in CBIZ's strong Value grade, but they help show that the stock is likely undervalued right now. When factoring in the strength of its earnings outlook, CBZ looks like an impressive value stock at the moment.
Quarterly financial reports play a vital role on Wall Street, as they help investors see how a company has performed and what might be coming down the road in the near-term. And out of all of the metrics and results to consider, earnings is one of the most important.
The earnings figure itself is key, of course, but a beat or miss on the bottom line can sometimes be just as, if not more, important. Therefore, investors should consider paying close attention to these earnings surprises, as a big beat can help a stock climb and vice versa.
Hunting for 'earnings whispers' or companies poised to beat their quarterly earnings estimates is a somewhat common practice. But that doesn't make it easy. One way that has been proven to work is by using the Zacks Earnings ESP tool.
The Zacks Earnings ESP, ExplainedThe Zacks Earnings ESP is more formally known as the Expected Surprise Prediction, and it aims to grab the inside track on the latest analyst estimate revisions ahead of a company's report. The idea is relatively intuitive as a newer projection might be based on more complete information.
Now that we understand the basic idea, let's look at how the Expected Surprise Prediction works. The ESP is calculated by comparing the Most Accurate Estimate to the Zacks Consensus Estimate, with the percentage difference between the two giving us the Zacks ESP figure.
Bringing together a positive earnings ESP alongside a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) or better has helped stocks report a positive earnings surprise 70% of the time. Furthermore, by using these parameters, investors have seen 28.3% annual returns on average, according to our 10 year backtest.
Stocks with a ranking of #3 (Hold), or 60% of all stocks covered by the Zacks Rank, are expected to perform in-line with the broader market. Stocks with rankings of #2 (Buy) and #1 (Strong Buy), or the top 15% and top 5% of stocks, respectively, should outperform the market; Strong Buy stocks should outperform more than any other rank.
Should You Consider Arch Capital Group?Now that we understand what the ESP is and how beneficial it can be, let's dive into a stock that currently fits the bill. Arch Capital Group (ACGL - Free Report) earns a #3 (Hold) right now and its Most Accurate Estimate sits at $2.68 a share, just 28 days from its upcoming earnings release on July 28, 2026.
Arch Capital Group's Earnings ESP sits at +8.94%, which, as explained above, is calculated by taking the percentage difference between the $2.68 Most Accurate Estimate and the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $2.46. ACGL is also part of a large group of stocks that boast a positive ESP. Make sure to utilize our Earnings ESP Filter to uncover the best stocks to buy or sell before they've reported.
ACGL is part of a big group of Finance stocks that boast a positive ESP, and investors may want to take a look at Bank of America (BAC - Free Report) as well.
Slated to report earnings on July 14, 2026, Bank of America holds a #3 (Hold) ranking on the Zacks Rank, and its Most Accurate Estimate is $1.13 a share 14 days from its next quarterly update.
For Bank of America, the percentage difference between its Most Accurate Estimate and its Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.11 is +1.80%.
ACGL and BAC's positive ESP figures tell us that both stocks have a good chance at beating analyst expectations in their next earnings report.
Find Stocks to Buy or Sell Before They're ReportedUse the Zacks Earnings ESP Filter to turn up stocks with the highest probability of positively, or negatively, surprising to buy or sell before they're reported for profitable earnings season trading. Check it out here >>
Transaction Will Substantially Grow the Firm’s Coverage Capabilities Across the Oil and Gas Industry
HOUSTON & NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Houlihan Lokey, Inc. (NYSE:HLI), the global investment bank, has agreed to acquire Intrepid Financial Partners, LLC (Intrepid), a premier independent investment bank specializing in providing advisory services to the energy sector. The transaction, signed June 27, 2026, adds substantially to the firm’s comprehensive coverage of the energy sector. The transaction is expected to be completed before September 30, 2026, following regulatory approval. Intrepid Investment Management, LLC, Intrepid’s investment management business, is not part of the transaction and will continue to operate as a separate entity under the same name.
Founded in 2015 by Hugh E. “Skip” McGee III and Christopher F. Winchenbaugh, Intrepid is a leader in providing mergers and acquisitions, fairness opinions, capital raising, and restructuring services to clients across the energy sector, including exploration and production, midstream and infrastructure, downstream and retail, energy services and technology, and energy transition. Since its founding, Intrepid has advised on more than 120 transactions in the energy sector totaling more than $215 billion.
“Intrepid’s suite of services is a perfect match with Houlihan Lokey, and its comprehensive coverage of the energy sector adds significantly to our longtime strategy of delivering the deepest possible sector expertise to our global client base. This acquisition is an outstanding addition to the Oil & Gas Group and to our overall business as we continue to grow our capabilities,” said Larry DeAngelo, Global Co-Head of Corporate Finance at Houlihan Lokey.
Following the transaction, the Intrepid team will join Houlihan Lokey’s global Oil & Gas Group. Mr. McGee, CEO of Intrepid, will join as a Managing Director and Global Chairman of Oil & Gas. Mr. Winchenbaugh, President of Intrepid, will join as a Managing Director and Global Co-Head of Oil & Gas alongside J.P. Hanson, currently Global Head of Oil & Gas at Houlihan Lokey. The acquisition will add 34 financial professionals to Houlihan Lokey’s Oil & Gas team, bringing the global team to more than 70 financial professionals worldwide. On a pro forma basis, according to data from LSEG, the new combined group advised on 23 U.S. Energy and Power M&A transactions in 2025.
“Houlihan Lokey’s comprehensive matrix of products, services, and global footprint, alongside a passionate dedication to its clients, represents an excellent business compatibility and cultural fit with Intrepid’s platform and our ‘client-first’ philosophy. We cannot think of a better home for Intrepid, our team, and our clients, and we’re delighted to be joining the Oil & Gas Group alongside J.P. and his team,” said Mr. McGee. “As part of the Houlihan Lokey team, we will be able to deliver additional products and continue to deliver the best advice to our clients, which is at the core of what we do.”
“Intrepid’s strength in corporate M&A advisory, particularly in the upstream, midstream, and alternative energy sectors, combined with Houlihan Lokey’s global strength in M&A across upstream, midstream, and downstream, as well as technical asset-level acquisition and divestiture (A&D) advisory in the upstream sector, establishes one of the most comprehensive energy advisors, with superior capabilities across all facets of the oil and gas industry and broader energy spectrum,” said Mr. Hanson. “I’m excited to partner with Skip, Chris, and the Intrepid team to grow the business and continue to provide outstanding advice and results to our energy clients.”
“This combination is exceptionally timely,” said Mr. Winchenbaugh. “We are currently navigating a highly compelling seller’s market, driven by volatility with stark pricing dislocations and massive pools of dedicated capital actively seeking deployment amid uncertainty in the energy markets. I have no doubt our clients will benefit tremendously from the strong synergies and centers of expertise that this acquisition establishes.”
Houlihan Lokey’s Oil & Gas Group provides M&A and A&D advisory, capital raising, valuation, and financial recapitalization/restructuring, as well as financial and board advisory services to clients around the world. The global, cross-product, industry-dedicated team consists of more than 40 highly experienced professionals, including an A&D/technical team led by a group of technically focused industry professionals with an average of 25+ years of industry experience. In 2025, Houlihan Lokey was ranked as the No. 1 advisor for U.S. Energy and Power M&A transactions under $1 billion, according to data from LSEG.
About Houlihan Lokey
Houlihan Lokey, Inc. (NYSE:HLI) is a leading global investment bank recognized for delivering independent strategic and financial advice to corporations, financial sponsors, and governments. With uniquely deep industry expertise, broad international reach, and a partnership approach rooted in trust, the firm provides innovative, integrated solutions across mergers and acquisitions, capital solutions, financial restructuring, and financial and valuation advisory. Our unmatched transaction volumes provide differentiated, data-driven perspectives that help our clients achieve their most critical goals. To learn more about Houlihan Lokey, please visit HL.com.
Houlihan Lokey, Inc. NYSE:HLI , the global investment bank, has agreed to acquire Intrepid Financial Partners, LLC (Intrepid), a premier independent investment bank specializing in providing advisory services to the energy sector. The transaction, signed June 27, 2026, adds substantially to the firm’s comprehensive coverage of the energy sector. The transaction is expected to be completed before September 30, 2026, following regulatory approval. Intrepid Investment Management, LLC, Intrepid’s investment management business, is not part of the transaction and will continue to operate as a separate entity under the same name.
Founded in 2015 by Hugh E. “Skip” McGee III and Christopher F. Winchenbaugh, Intrepid is a leader in providing mergers and acquisitions, fairness opinions, capital raising, and restructuring services to clients across the energy sector, including exploration and production, midstream and infrastructure, downstream and retail, energy services and technology, and energy transition. Since its founding, Intrepid has advised on more than 120 transactions in the energy sector totaling more than $215 billion.
“Intrepid’s suite of services is a perfect match with Houlihan Lokey, and its comprehensive coverage of the energy sector adds significantly to our longtime strategy of delivering the deepest possible sector expertise to our global client base. This acquisition is an outstanding addition to the Oil & Gas Group and to our overall business as we continue to grow our capabilities,” said Larry DeAngelo, Global Co-Head of Corporate Finance at Houlihan Lokey.
Following the transaction, the Intrepid team will join Houlihan Lokey’s global Oil & Gas Group. Mr. McGee, CEO of Intrepid, will join as a Managing Director and Global Chairman of Oil & Gas. Mr. Winchenbaugh, President of Intrepid, will join as a Managing Director and Global Co-Head of Oil & Gas alongside J.P. Hanson, currently Global Head of Oil & Gas at Houlihan Lokey. The acquisition will add 34 financial professionals to Houlihan Lokey’s Oil & Gas team, bringing the global team to more than 70 financial professionals worldwide. On a pro forma basis, according to data from LSEG, the new combined group advised on 23 U.S. Energy and Power M&A transactions in 2025.
“Houlihan Lokey’s comprehensive matrix of products, services, and global footprint, alongside a passionate dedication to its clients, represents an excellent business compatibility and cultural fit with Intrepid’s platform and our ‘client-first’ philosophy. We cannot think of a better home for Intrepid, our team, and our clients, and we’re delighted to be joining the Oil & Gas Group alongside J.P. and his team,” said Mr. McGee. “As part of the Houlihan Lokey team, we will be able to deliver additional products and continue to deliver the best advice to our clients, which is at the core of what we do.”
“Intrepid’s strength in corporate M&A advisory, particularly in the upstream, midstream, and alternative energy sectors, combined with Houlihan Lokey’s global strength in M&A across upstream, midstream, and downstream, as well as technical asset-level acquisition and divestiture (A&D) advisory in the upstream sector, establishes one of the most comprehensive energy advisors, with superior capabilities across all facets of the oil and gas industry and broader energy spectrum,” said Mr. Hanson. “I’m excited to partner with Skip, Chris, and the Intrepid team to grow the business and continue to provide outstanding advice and results to our energy clients.”
“This combination is exceptionally timely,” said Mr. Winchenbaugh. “We are currently navigating a highly compelling seller’s market, driven by volatility with stark pricing dislocations and massive pools of dedicated capital actively seeking deployment amid uncertainty in the energy markets. I have no doubt our clients will benefit tremendously from the strong synergies and centers of expertise that this acquisition establishes.”
Houlihan Lokey’s Oil & Gas Group provides M&A and A&D advisory, capital raising, valuation, and financial recapitalization/restructuring, as well as financial and board advisory services to clients around the world. The global, cross-product, industry-dedicated team consists of more than 40 highly experienced professionals, including an A&D/technical team led by a group of technically focused industry professionals with an average of 25+ years of industry experience. In 2025, Houlihan Lokey was ranked as the No. 1 advisor for U.S. Energy and Power M&A transactions under $1 billion, according to data from LSEG.
About Houlihan Lokey
Houlihan Lokey, Inc. NYSE:HLI is a leading global investment bank recognized for delivering independent strategic and financial advice to corporations, financial sponsors, and governments. With uniquely deep industry expertise, broad international reach, and a partnership approach rooted in trust, the firm provides innovative, integrated solutions across mergers and acquisitions, capital solutions, financial restructuring, and financial and valuation advisory. Our unmatched transaction volumes provide differentiated, data-driven perspectives that help our clients achieve their most critical goals. To learn more about Houlihan Lokey, please visit HL.com.
View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260630315767/en/
Key Takeaways MTZ sees AI data center interconnectivity driving multiyear fiber demand worth tens of billions.MTZ's Communications revenues rose 18% YoY to $802M in Q1 2026.MTZ expects about $875M in Q2 Communications revenues and low double-digit margins. MasTec, Inc.’s (MTZ - Free Report) Communications segment appears poised for a stronger growth cycle as artificial intelligence (AI) reshapes network infrastructure requirements. While traditional telecom spending has been uneven in recent years, the rapid buildout of AI data centers is creating a new source of fiber demand that extends beyond consumer broadband. Management believes the need to interconnect hyperscale data centers with high-capacity, low-latency fiber networks could create a multiyear investment opportunity measured in the tens of billions of dollars, providing a meaningful tailwind for the Communications business.
MasTec expects improving telecom fundamentals to support long-term growth, driven by rising data consumption from cloud computing, streaming, gaming and connected devices. Management noted that U.S. data usage is projected to nearly double by 2030, while AI is emerging as a major growth catalyst by increasing demand for high-bandwidth, low-latency fiber networks connecting hyperscale data centers. The company also expects the Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment (BEAD) program to boost rural broadband and middle-mile fiber construction, with public funding and private AI investments expanding growth opportunities beyond traditional wireless deployment cycles.
The improving demand environment is already beginning to translate into operating results. During the first quarter of 2026, the Communications segment’s revenues increased 18% year over year to $802 million. Although margins were temporarily affected by costs associated with exiting certain DIRECTV fulfillment markets, backlog reached another record level, rising 12% from the prior year. Management also pointed to strong, broad-based demand for wireline services and increasing customer interest in multiyear turnkey infrastructure projects. Looking ahead, MasTec expects Communications revenues of approximately $875 million in the second quarter while projecting low double-digit adjusted EBITDA margins.
While traditional telecom capital spending remains cyclical, MasTec believes AI-driven fiber deployment represents a structural growth opportunity rather than a short-term recovery. Combined with BEAD-funded broadband expansion and steadily increasing network traffic, the company sees multiple long-duration demand drivers supporting the Communications business. As AI data center interconnectivity accelerates and customers continue awarding larger turnkey fiber projects, the segment appears positioned to play a larger role in MasTec's broader infrastructure growth strategy.
How MasTec Compares in the AI-Driven Fiber Infrastructure RaceAs AI accelerates investment in digital infrastructure, MasTec is competing with companies such as Sterling Infrastructure, Inc. (STRL - Free Report) and Quanta Services, Inc. (PWR - Free Report) , each benefiting from different parts of the AI buildout. While Sterling Infrastructure is gaining from data center site development and Quanta Services from grid expansion, MasTec is differentiated by its exposure to the communications infrastructure that connects AI campuses through long-haul and metro fiber networks.
Sterling Infrastructure is benefiting from the AI investment cycle primarily through mission-critical site development rather than communications infrastructure. Its E-Infrastructure business is seeing exceptional demand from hyperscale data centers and semiconductor facilities, with first-quarter 2026 E-Infrastructure revenues rising 174% year over year. The company also secured the first phase of a multibillion-dollar semiconductor fabrication campus and reported more than $5 billion of mission-critical backlog and future-phase opportunities.
Quanta Services is approaching the AI buildout from the power infrastructure side. The company is benefiting from accelerating investments in electric transmission, substations, generation and integrated infrastructure required to serve hyperscale data centers and rising electricity demand. Management highlighted growing technology and load-center opportunities, continued investments in transformer manufacturing and off-site fabrication capacity, and a record backlog supported by utility and AI-related projects.
MTZ Stock’s Price Performance & Valuation TrendShares of this Florida-based infrastructure construction company have surged 97.4% in the past six months, outperforming the Zacks Building Products - Heavy Construction industry, the broader Zacks Construction sector and the S&P 500 Index.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
MTZ stock is currently trading at a premium compared with its industry peers, with a forward 12-month price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio of 42.68, as shown in the chart below.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
EPS Trend Favors MTZFor 2026 and 2027, MTZ’s earnings estimates have trended upward in the past 60 days. The revised estimated figures for 2026 and 2027 imply 35.9% and 35.3% year-over-year growth, respectively.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
MasTec stock currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
Joby Aviation (NYSE:JOBY | JOBY Price Prediction) has been one of the most volatile names in the eVTOL space. After a punishing first half of 2026, the risk/reward calculus has shifted. The stock is down sharply, certification is inching closer, and Dubai operations are reportedly on track.
The 24/7 Wall St. Price Target for Joby Aviation Joby Aviation trades at $8.83, down 33.11% year to date. Our 24/7 Wall St. price target for Joby is $11.50 over the next 12 months, implying roughly 30% upside, modestly above the Wall Street consensus target of $11.12. Recommendation: Hold with constructive bias. Confidence: medium, given the binary nature of FAA certification and cash burn risk.
Metric Value Current Price $8.83 24/7 Wall St. Price Target $11.50 Upside 30% Recommendation HOLD Confidence Level 55% A Brutal Six Months, but a Real Earnings Beat Joby has fallen 23.08% over the past month and 11.7% in the past week, pressured partly by Russell rebalance flows. The 52-week range is $7.75 to $20.95, with the 200-day moving average at $12.39.
Q4 2025 results were strong: revenue of $30.84 million exceeded the $16.88 million consensus, and EPS of -$0.14 beat the -$0.20 estimate. A $1.2 billion equity and convertible raise in February pushed cash to $1.41 billion, extending runway materially.
Why Bulls See a Breakout Ahead The bull case is rich. CEO JoeBen Bevirt called 2026 “a key inflection point”, citing Dubai passenger service this year and the eIPP program. FAA Stage 4 certification advanced 18 points in Q4 alone. Joby logged 9,000+ flight miles in 2025 and has letters of intent worth over $1 billion across Saudi Arabia, Kazakhstan, and Japan.
The 700,000 sq ft Dayton, Ohio facility targets eventual capacity of 500 aircraft per year, supported by Toyota’s $500 million commitment. If FAA Type Certification arrives on time and Dubai launches cleanly, a bull scenario points to $15 to $18, near the 52-week high.
The Risks Worth Watching The bear case starts with insider activity. CEO Bevirt sold 322,019 shares on June 15 at $10.38, part of a broader pattern of executive disposals. Director Paul Sciarra sold 500,000 shares at roughly $12. Much of this trades through Rule 10b5-1 plans, and Sciarra still holds 56.1 million shares, so framing every sale as conviction loss overstates the case.
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H1 2026 cash usage is guided at $340 million to $370 million, gross margin sits at -30.1%, and Archer Aviation is a credible competitor. Bulls counter that the operating loss reflects $161.26 million in Q4 R&D spending ahead of certification. A bear scenario revisits the 52-week low near $7.75.
Hold for Now, but Watch Dubai My 24/7 Wall St. price target is $11.50 with a hold rating and 55% confidence. I would be a buyer if Joby announces a concrete FAA TIA flight schedule or confirms paying passenger flights in Dubai before year end.
I would stay on the sidelines if cash burn exceeds guidance or certification slips into 2027. The setup is high risk, high reward. The 30% upside requires execution on certification and Dubai.
Assuming certification by 2027, the Dayton ramp toward 4 aircraft per month, and progressive margin expansion as Blade revenue scales:
Year 24/7 Wall St. Price Target 2026 $11.50 2027 $14.00 2028 $17.50 2029 $21.00 2030 $25.00 Significant upside or downside could result from FAA timing, dilution from future raises, or Archer Aviation winning key contracts.
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It doesn't matter your age or experience: taking full advantage of the stock market and investing with confidence are common goals for all investors. Luckily, Zacks Premium offers several different ways to do both.
The popular research service can help you become a smarter, more self-assured investor, giving you access to daily updates of the Zacks Rank and Zacks Industry Rank, the Zacks #1 Rank List, Equity Research reports, and Premium stock screens.
Zacks Premium also includes the Zacks Style Scores.
What are the Zacks Style Scores? Developed alongside the Zacks Rank, the Zacks Style Scores are a group of complementary indicators that help investors pick stocks with the best chances of beating the market over the next 30 days.
Based on their value, growth, and momentum characteristics, each stock is assigned a rating of A, B, C, D, or F. The better the score, the better chance the stock will outperform; an A is better than a B, a B is better than a C, and so on.
The Style Scores are broken down into four categories:
Value ScoreValue investors love finding good stocks at good prices, especially before the broader market catches on to a stock's true value. Utilizing ratios like P/E, PEG, Price/Sales, Price/Cash Flow, and many other multiples, the Value Style Score identifies the most attractive and most discounted stocks.
Growth ScoreGrowth investors, on the other hand, are more concerned with a company's financial strength and health, and its future outlook. The Growth Style Score examines things like projected and historic earnings, sales, and cash flow to find stocks that will experience sustainable growth over time.
Momentum ScoreMomentum investors, who live by the saying "the trend is your friend," are most interested in taking advantage of upward or downward trends in a stock's price or earnings outlook. Utilizing one-week price change and the monthly percentage change in earnings estimates, among other factors, the Momentum Style Score can help determine favorable times to buy high-momentum stocks.
VGM ScoreIf you like to use all three kinds of investing, then the VGM Score is for you. It's a combination of all Style Scores, and is an important indicator to use with the Zacks Rank. The VGM Score rates each stock on their shared weighted styles, narrowing down the companies with the most attractive value, best growth forecast, and most promising momentum.
How Style Scores Work with the Zacks Rank The Zacks Rank is a proprietary stock-rating model that harnesses the power of earnings estimate revisions, or changes to a company's earnings expectations, to help investors build a successful portfolio.
Investors can count on the Zacks Rank's success, with #1 (Strong Buy) stocks producing an unmatched +23.94% average annual return since 1988, more than double the S&P 500's performance. But the model rates a large number of stocks, and there are over 200 companies with a Strong Buy rank, plus another 600 with a #2 (Buy) rank, on any given day.
With more than 800 top-rated stocks to choose from, it can certainly feel overwhelming to pick the ones that are right for you and your investing journey.
That's where the Style Scores come in.
To have the best chance of big returns, you'll want to always consider stocks with a Zacks Rank #1 or #2 that also have Style Scores of A or B, which will give you the highest probability of success. If you're looking at stocks with a #3 (Hold) rank, it's important they have Scores of A or B as well to ensure as much upside potential as possible.
As mentioned above, the Scores are designed to work with the Zacks Rank, so any change to a company's earnings outlook should be a deciding factor when picking which stocks to buy.
Here's an example: a stock with a #4 (Sell) or #5 (Strong Sell) rating, even one with Style Scores of A and B, still has a downward-trending earnings outlook, and a bigger chance its share price will decrease too.
Thus, the more stocks you own with a #1 or #2 Rank and Scores of A or B, the better.
Stock to Watch: Omnicell (OMCL - Free Report) Headquartered in Mountain View, CA, Omnicell Inc., develops and markets end-to-end automation solutions for the medication-use process. These automation solutions contain medication and supply dispensing systems, central pharmacy storage, retrieval and packaging solutions, a bedside automation solution, a physician order management solution, a decision support application, and a Web-based procurement application.
OMCL is a #1 (Strong Buy) on the Zacks Rank, with a VGM Score of B.
It also boasts a Value Style Score of B thanks to attractive valuation metrics like a forward P/E ratio of 20.74; value investors should take notice.
For fiscal 2026, one analyst revised their earnings estimate upwards in the last 60 days, and the Zacks Consensus Estimate has increased $0.10 to $1.97 per share. OMCL boasts an average earnings surprise of +34.7%.
With a solid Zacks Rank and top-tier Value and VGM Style Scores, OMCL should be on investors' short list.
It doesn't matter your age or experience: taking full advantage of the stock market and investing with confidence are common goals for all investors. Luckily, Zacks Premium offers several different ways to do both.
The research service features daily updates of the Zacks Rank and Zacks Industry Rank, full access to the Zacks #1 Rank List, Equity Research reports, and Premium stock screens, all of which will help you become a smarter, more confident investor.
It also includes access to the Zacks Style Scores.
What are the Zacks Style Scores? Developed alongside the Zacks Rank, the Zacks Style Scores are a group of complementary indicators that help investors pick stocks with the best chances of beating the market over the next 30 days.
Each stock is assigned a rating of A, B, C, D, or F based on their value, growth, and momentum characteristics. Just like in school, an A is better than a B, a B is better than a C, and so on -- that means the better the score, the better chance the stock will outperform.
The Style Scores are broken down into four categories:
Value ScoreFor value investors, it's all about finding good stocks at good prices, and discovering which companies are trading under their true value before the broader market catches on. The Value Style Score utilizes ratios like P/E, PEG, Price/Sales, Price/Cash Flow, and a host of other multiples to help pick out the most attractive and discounted stocks.
Growth ScoreGrowth investors, on the other hand, are more concerned with a company's financial strength and health, and its future outlook. The Growth Style Score examines things like projected and historic earnings, sales, and cash flow to find stocks that will experience sustainable growth over time.
Momentum ScoreMomentum traders and investors live by the saying "the trend is your friend." This investing style is all about taking advantage of upward or downward trends in a stock's price or earnings outlook. Employing factors like one-week price change and the monthly percentage change in earnings estimates, the Momentum Style Score can indicate favorable times to build a position in high-momentum stocks.
VGM ScoreIf you like to use all three kinds of investing, then the VGM Score is for you. It's a combination of all Style Scores, and is an important indicator to use with the Zacks Rank. The VGM Score rates each stock on their shared weighted styles, narrowing down the companies with the most attractive value, best growth forecast, and most promising momentum.
How Style Scores Work with the Zacks Rank A proprietary stock-rating model, the Zacks Rank utilizes the power of earnings estimate revisions, or changes to a company's earnings outlook, to help investors create a successful portfolio.
Investors can count on the Zacks Rank's success, with #1 (Strong Buy) stocks producing an unmatched +23.94% average annual return since 1988, more than double the S&P 500's performance. But the model rates a large number of stocks, and there are over 200 companies with a Strong Buy rank, plus another 600 with a #2 (Buy) rank, on any given day.
This totals more than 800 top-rated stocks, and it can be overwhelming to try and pick the best stocks for you and your portfolio.
That's where the Style Scores come in.
To maximize your returns, you want to buy stocks with the highest probability of success. This means picking stocks with a Zacks Rank #1 or #2 that also have Style Scores of A or B. If you find yourself looking at stocks with a #3 (Hold) rank, make sure they have Scores of A or B as well to ensure as much upside potential as possible.
As mentioned above, the Scores are designed to work with the Zacks Rank, so any change to a company's earnings outlook should be a deciding factor when picking which stocks to buy.
For instance, a stock with a #4 (Sell) or #5 (Strong Sell) rating, even one that boasts Scores of A and B, still has a downward-trending earnings forecast, and a much greater likelihood its share price will decline as well.
Thus, the more stocks you own with a #1 or #2 Rank and Scores of A or B, the better.
Stock to Watch: Host Hotels (HST - Free Report) Bethesda, MD-based Host Hotels & Resorts Inc., one of the leading lodging real estate investment trusts (REITs), engages in the ownership, acquisition, and redevelopment of luxury and upper-upscale hotels in the United States and abroad. It is an S&P 500 Index company.
HST is a #3 (Hold) on the Zacks Rank, with a VGM Score of B.
Momentum investors should take note of this Finance stock. HST has a Momentum Style Score of A, and shares are up 7.5% over the past four weeks.
Five analysts revised their earnings estimate higher in the last 60 days for fiscal 2026, while the Zacks Consensus Estimate has increased $0.04 to $2.13 per share. HST also boasts an average earnings surprise of +8.7%.
With a solid Zacks Rank and top-tier Momentum and VGM Style Scores, HST should be on investors' short list.
SharkNinja Launches the Shark® PowerDetect® Transformer™: Three Vacuums. One System. Zero Compromises. SharkNinja, Inc. (NYSE: SN), a global product design and technology company, today announced the launch of the Shark® PowerDetect® Transformer™, the best overall cleaning upright^ that transforms into a lightweight stick vacuum and powerful handheld. Combining the deep-cleaning performance of a full-size upright with the flexibility of a stick vacuum and the reach of a handheld, Transformer™ gives consumers one complete cleaning system for the entire home.
This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260630926011/en/
Shark® PowerDetect® Transformer™, the best overall cleaning upright^ that transforms into a lightweight stick vacuum and powerful handheld
Consumers often rely on multiple cleaning tools—an upright for deep cleaning, a stick vacuum for maneuverability, and a handheld for above-floor spaces and tight spaces, like the car. Transformer™ brings all three together into one system.
At the core of Transformer™ is a reimagined upright design that eliminates the bulky hose found in traditional vacuums. The result is a streamlined system that delivers full-size cleaning performance while transforming with a click.
Three Vacuums. One System. Zero Compromises.
As a full-size upright vacuum, Transformer™ deep-cleans carpets and hard floors with ultra-powerful suction. With one click, Transformer™ converts into a lightweight stick vacuum for everyday cleaning, easily gliding under sofas and beds. With another click, it becomes a powerful handheld vacuum with 5x more reach**, making it easy to clean stairs, upholstery, ceilings, corners, and cars. When finished, the handheld clicks back into place and automatically empties debris into the main dust cup, eliminating the need to separately empty the handheld.
“The upright vacuum has looked and worked the same way for decades,” said Petra Oman, VP of Marketing, SharkNinja. “We saw an opportunity to rethink the category by eliminating the bulky hose and creating a system that adapts to the way people actually clean. Transformer™ delivers the deep-cleaning performance consumers expect from an upright, with the flexibility and reach needed to clean everything from floors and carpets to stairs, furniture, ceilings, and the car.”
Intelligent Technology That Adapts in Real Time
Transformer™ features Shark's PowerDetect® and Reveal Technologies to uncover hidden dirt and automatically optimize cleaning performance in real time.
Reveal Technology: Helps illuminate hidden debris consumers might otherwise miss. Detect Technologies: Automatically respond to dirt levels, floor types, edges, and movement to optimize cleaning performance. Additional features include:
Auto-Empty System: The handheld clicks back into place and automatically empties debris into the main dust cup within a fully sealed system. HEPA Filtration + Advanced Anti-Allergen Complete Seal Technology® (AACS): Captures and traps 99.99% of dust and allergens† for a cleaner home. Odor Neutralizer Technology: Guards against odors inside the vacuum to keep homes fresh. No Hair Wrap Technology: Actively removes hair wrap during cleaning — no cutting, pulling, or scissors required. DuoClean Detect™ Brushrolls: Designed to grip and capture more* dirt, debris, and hair across carpets and hard floors without switching heads. Availability
The Shark® PowerDetect® Transformer™ is available today on SharkNinja.com and TikTok Shop starting at $529 with promotional offers available. It will be coming soon to Amazon, Walmart, Best Buy, Target, Costco, and Sam’s Club.
About SharkNinja
SharkNinja is a global product design and technology company, with a diversified portfolio of 5-star rated lifestyle solutions that positively impact people’s lives in homes around the world. Powered by two trusted, global brands, Shark and Ninja, the company has a proven track record of bringing disruptive innovation to market, and developing one consumer product after another has allowed SharkNinja to enter multiple product categories, driving significant growth and market share gains. Headquartered in Needham, Massachusetts with more than 4,100 associates, the company’s products are sold at key retailers, online and offline, and through distributors around the world. For more information, please visit sharkninja.com.
^ Based on a geomean of combined tests - ASTM F608, F2607, IEC62885-2 Sec 5.3 FWD, IEC62885-2 Sec 5.3 REV, IEC62885-2 Sec 5.5 FWD, IEC62885 Sec 5.5 REV vs. upright market ** vs. AZ4002 in handheld mode, based on distance from the pod * vs. Shark(R) AZ3002 † Based on ASTM F1977, down to .3 microns. Allergens refers to non-living matters.
View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260630926011/en/
HOUSTON, June 30, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Plains All American Pipeline, L.P. (Nasdaq: PAA) (the "Partnership") today announced that its 2025 Schedule K-3 reflecting items of international tax relevance is available online. Unitholders requiring this information may access their Schedules K-3 at www.taxpackagesupport.com/plainsallamerican.
A limited number of unitholders (primarily foreign unitholders, unitholders computing a foreign tax credit on their tax return and certain corporate and/or partnership unitholders) may need the detailed information disclosed on Schedule K-3 for their specific reporting requirements. To the extent Schedule K-3 is applicable to your federal income tax return filing needs, we encourage you to review the information contained on this form and refer to the appropriate federal laws and guidance or consult with your tax advisor.
To receive an electronic copy of your Schedule K-3 via email, unitholders may call Tax Package Support toll free at (866) 872-2829.
About Plains:
PAA is a publicly traded master limited partnership that owns and operates midstream energy infrastructure and provides logistics services primarily for crude oil. PAA owns an extensive network of pipeline gathering and transportation systems, in addition to terminalling, storage, and other infrastructure assets serving key producing basins, transportation corridors and major market hubs and export outlets in the United States and Canada.
PAGP is a publicly traded entity that owns an indirect, non-economic controlling general partner interest in PAA and an indirect limited partner interest in PAA, one of the largest energy infrastructure and logistics companies in North America.
PAA and PAGP are headquartered in Houston, Texas. More information is available at www.plains.com.
It doesn't matter your age or experience: taking full advantage of the stock market and investing with confidence are common goals for all investors. Luckily, Zacks Premium offers several different ways to do both.
The popular research service can help you become a smarter, more self-assured investor, giving you access to daily updates of the Zacks Rank and Zacks Industry Rank, the Zacks #1 Rank List, Equity Research reports, and Premium stock screens.
Zacks Premium includes access to the Zacks Style Scores as well.
What are the Zacks Style Scores? The Zacks Style Scores is a unique set of guidelines that rates stocks based on three popular investing types, and were developed as complementary indicators for the Zacks Rank. This combination helps investors choose securities with the highest chances of beating the market over the next 30 days.
Each stock is assigned a rating of A, B, C, D, or F based on their value, growth, and momentum characteristics. Just like in school, an A is better than a B, a B is better than a C, and so on -- that means the better the score, the better chance the stock will outperform.
The Style Scores are broken down into four categories:
Value ScoreValue investors love finding good stocks at good prices, especially before the broader market catches on to a stock's true value. Utilizing ratios like P/E, PEG, Price/Sales, Price/Cash Flow, and many other multiples, the Value Style Score identifies the most attractive and most discounted stocks.
Growth ScoreGrowth investors are more concerned with a stock's future prospects, and the overall financial health and strength of a company. Thus, the Growth Style Score analyzes characteristics like projected and historic earnings, sales, and cash flow to find stocks that will see sustainable growth over time.
Momentum ScoreMomentum trading is all about taking advantage of upward or downward trends in a stock's price or earnings outlook, and these investors live by the saying "the trend is your friend." The Momentum Style Score can pinpoint good times to build a position in a stock, using factors like one-week price change and the monthly percentage change in earnings estimates.
VGM ScoreIf you want a combination of all three Style Scores, then the VGM Score will be your friend. It rates each stock on their combined weighted styles, helping you find the companies with the most attractive value, best growth forecast, and most promising momentum. It's also one of the best indicators to use with the Zacks Rank.
How Style Scores Work with the Zacks Rank The Zacks Rank, which is a proprietary stock-rating model, employs earnings estimate revisions, or changes to a company's earnings expectations, to make building a winning portfolio easier.
It's highly successful, with #1 (Strong Buy) stocks producing an unmatched +23.94% average annual return since 1988. That's more than double the S&P 500. But because of the large number of stocks we rate, there are over 200 companies with a Strong Buy rank, plus another 600 with a #2 (Buy) rank, on any given day.
With more than 800 top-rated stocks to choose from, it can certainly feel overwhelming to pick the ones that are right for you and your investing journey.
That's where the Style Scores come in.
You want to make sure you're buying stocks with the highest likelihood of success, and to do that, you'll need to pick stocks with a Zacks Rank #1 or #2 that also have Style Scores of A or B. If you like a stock that only has a #3 (Hold) rank, it should also have Scores of A or B to guarantee as much upside potential as possible.
Since the Scores were created to work together with the Zacks Rank, the direction of a stock's earnings estimate revisions should be a key factor when choosing which stocks to buy.
Here's an example: a stock with a #4 (Sell) or #5 (Strong Sell) rating, even one with Style Scores of A and B, still has a downward-trending earnings outlook, and a bigger chance its share price will decrease too.
Thus, the more stocks you own with a #1 or #2 Rank and Scores of A or B, the better.
Stock to Watch: Jones Lang LaSalle (JLL - Free Report) Chicago-based Jones Lang LaSalle Incorporated — popularly known as JLL — is a leading full-service real estate firm that provides corporate, financial and investment management services to corporations and other real estate owners, users and investors worldwide.
JLL is a #2 (Buy) on the Zacks Rank, with a VGM Score of A.
Momentum investors should take note of this Finance stock. JLL has a Momentum Style Score of B, and shares are up 9.9% over the past four weeks.
For fiscal 2026, two analysts revised their earnings estimate upwards in the last 60 days, and the Zacks Consensus Estimate has increased $0.49 to $22.84 per share. JLL boasts an average earnings surprise of +12.1%.
With a solid Zacks Rank and top-tier Momentum and VGM Style Scores, JLL should be on investors' short list.
Jones Lang LaSalle (JLL - Free Report) closed the last trading session at $313.08, gaining 9.9% over the past four weeks, but there could be plenty of upside left in the stock if short-term price targets set by Wall Street analysts are any guide. The mean price target of $392.2 indicates a 25.3% upside potential.
The average comprises 10 short-term price targets ranging from a low of $320.00 to a high of $447.00, with a standard deviation of $43.23. While the lowest estimate indicates an increase of 2.2% from the current price level, the most optimistic estimate points to a 42.8% upside. More than the range, one should note the standard deviation here, as it helps understand the variability of the estimates. The smaller the standard deviation, the greater the agreement among analysts.
While the consensus price target is highly sought after by investors, the ability and unbiasedness of analysts in setting price targets have long been questionable. And investors making investment decisions solely based on this tool would arguably do themselves a disservice.
But, for JLL, an impressive average price target is not the only indicator of a potential upside. Strong agreement among analysts about the company's ability to report better earnings than they predicted earlier strengthens this view. While a positive trend in earnings estimate revisions doesn't gauge how much a stock could gain, it has proven to be powerful in predicting an upside.
Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise
Here's What You Should Know About Analysts' Price TargetsAccording to researchers at several universities across the globe, a price target is one of many pieces of information about a stock that misleads investors far more often than it guides. In fact, empirical research shows that price targets set by several analysts, irrespective of the extent of agreement, rarely indicate where the price of a stock could actually be heading.
While Wall Street analysts have deep knowledge of a company's fundamentals and the sensitivity of its business to economic and industry issues, many of them tend to set overly optimistic price targets. Are you wondering why?
They usually do that to drum up interest in shares of companies that their firms either have existing business relationships with or are looking to be associated with. In other words, business incentives of firms covering a stock often result in inflated price targets set by analysts.
However, a tight clustering of price targets, which is represented by a low standard deviation, indicates that analysts have a high degree of agreement about the direction and magnitude of a stock's price movement. While that doesn't necessarily mean the stock will hit the average price target, it could be a good starting point for further research aimed at identifying the potential fundamental driving forces.
That said, while investors should not entirely ignore price targets, making an investment decision solely based on them could lead to disappointing ROI. So, price targets should always be treated with a high degree of skepticism.
Here's Why There Could be Plenty of Upside Left in JLLThere has been increasing optimism among analysts lately about the company's earnings prospects, as indicated by strong agreement among them in revising EPS estimates higher. And that could be a legitimate reason to expect an upside in the stock. After all, empirical research shows a strong correlation between trends in earnings estimate revisions and near-term stock price movements.
For the current year, two estimates have moved higher over the last 30 days compared to no negative revision. As a result, the Zacks Consensus Estimate has increased 1%.
Moreover, JLL currently has a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy), which means it is in the top 20% of more than 4,000 stocks that we rank based on four factors related to earnings estimates. Given an impressive externally-audited track record, this is a more conclusive indication of the stock's potential upside in the near term. You can see the complete list of today's Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) stocks here >>>> .
Therefore, while the consensus price target may not be a reliable indicator of how much JLL could gain, the direction of price movement it implies does appear to be a good guide.
For new and old investors, taking full advantage of the stock market and investing with confidence are common goals. Zacks Premium provides lots of different ways to do both.
The research service features daily updates of the Zacks Rank and Zacks Industry Rank, full access to the Zacks #1 Rank List, Equity Research reports, and Premium stock screens, all of which will help you become a smarter, more confident investor.
Zacks Premium includes access to the Zacks Style Scores as well.
What are the Zacks Style Scores? The Zacks Style Scores, developed alongside the Zacks Rank, are complementary indicators that rate stocks based on three widely-followed investing methodologies; they also help investors pick stocks with the best chances of beating the market over the next 30 days.
Based on their value, growth, and momentum characteristics, each stock is assigned a rating of A, B, C, D, or F. The better the score, the better chance the stock will outperform; an A is better than a B, a B is better than a C, and so on.
The Style Scores are broken down into four categories:
Value ScoreFinding good stocks at good prices, and discovering which companies are trading under their true value, are what value investors like to focus on. So, the Value Style Score takes into account ratios like P/E, PEG, Price/Sales, Price/Cash Flow, and a host of other multiples to highlight the most attractive and discounted stocks.
Growth ScoreWhile good value is important, growth investors are more focused on a company's financial strength and health, and its future outlook. The Growth Style Score takes projected and historic earnings, sales, and cash flow into account to uncover stocks that will see long-term, sustainable growth.
Momentum ScoreMomentum trading is all about taking advantage of upward or downward trends in a stock's price or earnings outlook, and these investors live by the saying "the trend is your friend." The Momentum Style Score can pinpoint good times to build a position in a stock, using factors like one-week price change and the monthly percentage change in earnings estimates.
VGM ScoreIf you want a combination of all three Style Scores, then the VGM Score will be your friend. It rates each stock on their combined weighted styles, helping you find the companies with the most attractive value, best growth forecast, and most promising momentum. It's also one of the best indicators to use with the Zacks Rank.
How Style Scores Work with the Zacks Rank The Zacks Rank is a proprietary stock-rating model that harnesses the power of earnings estimate revisions, or changes to a company's earnings expectations, to help investors build a successful portfolio.
Investors can count on the Zacks Rank's success, with #1 (Strong Buy) stocks producing an unmatched +23.94% average annual return since 1988, more than double the S&P 500's performance. But the model rates a large number of stocks, and there are over 200 companies with a Strong Buy rank, plus another 600 with a #2 (Buy) rank, on any given day.
This totals more than 800 top-rated stocks, and it can be overwhelming to try and pick the best stocks for you and your portfolio.
That's where the Style Scores come in.
You want to make sure you're buying stocks with the highest likelihood of success, and to do that, you'll need to pick stocks with a Zacks Rank #1 or #2 that also have Style Scores of A or B. If you like a stock that only has a #3 (Hold) rank, it should also have Scores of A or B to guarantee as much upside potential as possible.
Since the Scores were created to work together with the Zacks Rank, the direction of a stock's earnings estimate revisions should be a key factor when choosing which stocks to buy.
For instance, a stock with a #4 (Sell) or #5 (Strong Sell) rating, even one that boasts Scores of A and B, still has a downward-trending earnings forecast, and a much greater likelihood its share price will decline as well.
Thus, the more stocks you own with a #1 or #2 Rank and Scores of A or B, the better.
Stock to Watch: Ollie's Bargain Outlet (OLLI - Free Report) Headquartered in Harrisburg, PA, Ollie's Bargain Outlet Holdings is a value retailer of brand-name merchandise at drastically reduced prices. The company offers products principally under Ollie’s, Ollie’s Bargain Outlet, Good Stuff Cheap, Ollie’s Army, Real Brands Real Cheap!, Real Brands! Real Bargains!, Sarasota Breeze, Steelton Tools, American Way and Middleton Home. As of May. 2, 2026, the company operated 672 outlets in 35 states. It offers products under the categories, Consumables (31.9% of FY25 Sales), Home (28.3%), Seasonal (19.1%) and Other (20.7%). Product offerings include; Housewares: cooking utensils, dishes, appliances, plastic containers, cutlery, storage and garbage bags, detergents and cleaning supplies, cookware and glassware, fans and space heaters, candles, frames and giftware.
OLLI is a #2 (Buy) on the Zacks Rank, with a VGM Score of A.
It also boasts a Value Style Score of B thanks to attractive valuation metrics like a forward P/E ratio of 16; value investors should take notice.
For fiscal 2027, five analysts revised their earnings estimate upwards in the last 60 days, and the Zacks Consensus Estimate has increased $0.04 to $4.52 per share. OLLI boasts an average earnings surprise of +4.9%.
With a solid Zacks Rank and top-tier Value and VGM Style Scores, OLLI should be on investors' short list.
, /PRNewswire/ -- GoTu Technology, the nation's leading dental talent marketplace, and Henry Schein, Inc. (Nasdaq: HSIC), the world's largest provider of health care solutions to office-based dental and medical practitioners, today announced a new strategic partnership designed to help dental practices address ongoing staffing challenges and maintain continuity of patient care.
Through this collaboration between GoTu and Henry Schein Dental Recruitment Services (a division of Henry Schein Financial Enterprises, LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Henry Schein), dental practices will gain expanded access to GoTu's technology-enabled platform, which connects offices with qualified dental hygienists, dental assistants, and associate dentists for both temporary and permanent staffing needs. GoTu will now be part of Henry Schein Dental Recruitment Services, which offers a range of services from permanent placement solutions to enterprise-level Recruitment Process Outsourcing (RPO). By combining GoTu's workforce technology with Henry Schein's extensive customer network, the partnership aims to deliver modern, flexible solutions that support practice efficiency and reduce operational strain.
"Staffing shortages continue to be one of the most significant challenges facing dental practices," said Cary Gahm, Co-Founder and Co-CEO of GoTu. "Partnering with Henry Schein allows us to bring reliable, scalable workforce support to more offices across the country. Together, we can help practices stabilize their teams and ensure patients receive uninterrupted, high-quality care."
GoTu's recently released third annual State of Work survey, developed in collaboration with the American Dental Hygienists' Association, continues to underscore the severity of the dental workforce shortage and its impact on practice operations and patient care. The partnership with Henry Schein builds on those insights by expanding access to GoTu's workforce platform through one of dentistry's most trusted customer networks, helping more practices find flexible, scalable support when staffing gaps arise.
"We are pleased to collaborate with GoTu to expand the staffing resources available to our customers," said Mark Hillebrandt, Vice President and Chief Digital Revenue Officer at Henry Schein. "This partnership reflects our commitment to helping dental professionals operate efficient, successful practices and to supporting the long-term health of the dental ecosystem."
GoTu has filled more than 500,000 shifts nationwide, offering practices a streamlined way to manage staffing gaps and maintain productivity. Henry Schein's broad reach and trusted advisor model will help bring these solutions to practices seeking greater flexibility and support during a period of sustained workforce pressure.
"At GoTu, we see our role as helping the dental industry solve one of its most urgent and persistent challenges," said Edward Thomas, Co-Founder and Co-CEO of GoTu. "That requires more than technology alone. It requires partnership, reach, and a shared commitment to supporting the practices and professionals who keep dentistry moving. By working with trusted industry leaders like Henry Schein, we can expand the support GoTu provides and help more dental offices access the workforce solutions they need."
About GoTu
GoTu (formerly TempMee) is a pioneering, technology-driven workforce solution and skill-sharing marketplace serving the dental industry. The platform allows dental offices to contract directly with registered dental hygienists, dental assistants, and associate dentists to fill both short-term and permanent positions. Launched in 2019, GoTu has filled more than 500,000 shifts nationwide, empowering dental professionals with flexibility and control while ensuring practices can deliver exceptional patient care. Miami-based GoTu has grown from a bootstrapped startup to an institutional investor-backed powerhouse with 120+ team members. For more information, visit www.gotu.com.
About Henry Schein, Inc.
Henry Schein, Inc. (Nasdaq: HSIC) is a products, services, and technology platforms company for healthcare customers. With more than 25,000 Team Schein Members worldwide, the Company's network of trusted advisors provides more than 1 million customers globally with more than 300 valued solutions that help improve operational success and clinical outcomes. Our Business, Clinical, Technology, and Supply Chain solutions help office-based dental and medical practitioners work more efficiently so they can provide quality care more effectively. These solutions also support dental laboratories, government and institutional healthcare clinics, as well as other alternate care sites.
Henry Schein operates through a centralized and automated distribution network, with a selection of more than 300,000 branded products and Henry Schein corporate brand products in our distribution centers.
A FORTUNE 500 Company and a member of the S&P 500® index, Henry Schein is headquartered in Melville, N.Y., and has operations or affiliates in 34 countries and territories. The Company's sales reached $13.2 billion in 2025, and have grown at a compound annual rate of approximately 11.0 percent since Henry Schein became a public company in 1995.
For more information, visit Henry Schein at www.henryschein.com.
Here at Zacks, our focus is on the proven Zacks Rank system, which emphasizes earnings estimates and estimate revisions to find great stocks. Nevertheless, we are always paying attention to the latest value, growth, and momentum trends to underscore strong picks.
Of these, perhaps no stock market trend is more popular than value investing, which is a strategy that has proven to be successful in all sorts of market environments. Value investors use a variety of methods, including tried-and-true valuation metrics, to find these stocks.
On top of the Zacks Rank, investors can also look at our innovative Style Scores system to find stocks with specific traits. For example, value investors will want to focus on the "Value" category. Stocks with high Zacks Ranks and "A" grades for Value will be some of the highest-quality value stocks on the market today.
One stock to keep an eye on is Urban Outfitters (URBN - Free Report) . URBN is currently sporting a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy), as well as an A grade for Value. The stock is trading with a P/E ratio of 13.05, which compares to its industry's average of 15.11. Over the last 12 months, URBN's Forward P/E has been as high as 15.49 and as low as 9.10, with a median of 12.80.
Another valuation metric that we should highlight is URBN's P/B ratio of 2.48. The P/B ratio is used to compare a stock's market value with its book value, which is defined as total assets minus total liabilities. This stock's P/B looks attractive against its industry's average P/B of 6.49. URBN's P/B has been as high as 2.97 and as low as 1.40, with a median of 2.14, over the past year.
Finally, we should also recognize that URBN has a P/CF ratio of 10.93. This metric focuses on a firm's operating cash flow and is often used to find stocks that are undervalued based on the strength of their cash outlook. This stock's P/CF looks attractive against its industry's average P/CF of 15.64. Over the past year, URBN's P/CF has been as high as 12.80 and as low as 7.56, with a median of 10.42.
These are just a handful of the figures considered in Urban Outfitters's great Value grade. Still, they help show that the stock is likely being undervalued at the moment. Add this to the strength of its earnings outlook, and we can clearly see that URBN is an impressive value stock right now.
The recommendations of Wall Street analysts are often relied on by investors when deciding whether to buy, sell, or hold a stock. Media reports about these brokerage-firm-employed (or sell-side) analysts changing their ratings often affect a stock's price. Do they really matter, though?
Let's take a look at what these Wall Street heavyweights have to say about Nice (NICE - Free Report) before we discuss the reliability of brokerage recommendations and how to use them to your advantage.
Nice currently has an average brokerage recommendation (ABR) of 1.88, on a scale of 1 to 5 (Strong Buy to Strong Sell), calculated based on the actual recommendations (Buy, Hold, Sell, etc.) made by 17 brokerage firms. An ABR of 1.88 approximates between Strong Buy and Buy.
Of the 17 recommendations that derive the current ABR, nine are Strong Buy and one is Buy. Strong Buy and Buy respectively account for 52.9% and 5.9% of all recommendations.
Brokerage Recommendation Trends for NICE
Check price target & stock forecast for Nice here>>>
The ABR suggests buying Nice, but making an investment decision solely on the basis of this information might not be a good idea. According to several studies, brokerage recommendations have little to no success guiding investors to choose stocks with the most potential for price appreciation.
Are you wondering why? The vested interest of brokerage firms in a stock they cover often results in a strong positive bias of their analysts in rating it. Our research shows that for every "Strong Sell" recommendation, brokerage firms assign five "Strong Buy" recommendations.
This means that the interests of these institutions are not always aligned with those of retail investors, giving little insight into the direction of a stock's future price movement. It would therefore be best to use this information to validate your own analysis or a tool that has proven to be highly effective at predicting stock price movements.
With an impressive externally audited track record, our proprietary stock rating tool, the Zacks Rank, which classifies stocks into five groups, ranging from Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) to Zacks Rank #5 (Strong Sell), is a reliable indicator of a stock's near-term price performance. So, validating the Zacks Rank with ABR could go a long way in making a profitable investment decision.
Zacks Rank Should Not Be Confused With ABRIn spite of the fact that Zacks Rank and ABR both appear on a scale from 1 to 5, they are two completely different measures.
The ABR is calculated solely based on brokerage recommendations and is typically displayed with decimals (example: 1.28). In contrast, the Zacks Rank is a quantitative model allowing investors to harness the power of earnings estimate revisions. It is displayed in whole numbers -- 1 to 5.
Analysts employed by brokerage firms have been and continue to be overly optimistic with their recommendations. Since the ratings issued by these analysts are more favorable than their research would support because of the vested interest of their employers, they mislead investors far more often than they guide.
In contrast, the Zacks Rank is driven by earnings estimate revisions. And near-term stock price movements are strongly correlated with trends in earnings estimate revisions, according to empirical research.
Furthermore, the different grades of the Zacks Rank are applied proportionately across all stocks for which brokerage analysts provide earnings estimates for the current year. In other words, at all times, this tool maintains a balance among the five ranks it assigns.
There is also a key difference between the ABR and Zacks Rank when it comes to freshness. When you look at the ABR, it may not be up-to-date. Nonetheless, since brokerage analysts constantly revise their earnings estimates to reflect changing business trends, and their actions get reflected in the Zacks Rank quickly enough, it is always timely in predicting future stock prices.
Is NICE a Good Investment?In terms of earnings estimate revisions for Nice, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for the current year has remained unchanged over the past month at $11.1.
Analysts' steady views regarding the company's earnings prospects, as indicated by an unchanged consensus estimate, could be a legitimate reason for the stock to perform in line with the broader market in the near term.
The size of the recent change in the consensus estimate, along with three other factors related to earnings estimates, has resulted in a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) for Nice. You can see the complete list of today's Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) stocks here >>>>
It may therefore be prudent to be a little cautious with the Buy-equivalent ABR for Nice.
Key Takeaways AAOI is benefiting from steady CATV demand and higher-speed optical product engagement. CATV revenues rose 24% sequentially in Q1, with Q2 revenues expected to be at $75-$80 million.Datacenter revenues more than doubled year over year as AI and cloud demand boosted orders. Applied Optoelectronics (AAOI - Free Report) , which designs and manufactures fiber-optic networking products for internet data centers, cable television, telecommunications and fiber-to-the-home end markets, is benefiting from steady demand for its cable television (“CATV”) products.
In the first quarter of 2026, CATV revenues were $66.8 million, up 24% sequentially, supported by shipments of 1.8 GHz amplifiers to its largest CATV customer and expanding engagement with additional MSOs. For the second quarter, management expects CATV revenues of $75 million to $80 million. Based on recent customer discussions, AAOI now expects to generate more than $325 million annually in CATV, with the majority tied to amplifier deployments and some contribution from software solutions.
Applied Optoelectronics' CATV business is benefiting from ongoing broadband infrastructure upgrades as cable operators expand network capacity to support rising data consumption and faster internet services. The CATV segment also offers AAOI a diversified revenue base, complementing its data center business and helping reduce dependence on a single end market.
Datacenter revenues in the March quarter reached $81.4 million, more than doubling from the year-ago quarter, as customer engagement strengthened around higher-speed optical products. The ramp helped offset a smaller telecom contribution and drove the company’s top line. We note that in the first quarter of 2026, total revenues increased 51.4% year over year to $151.1 million.
Applied Optoelectronics has highlighted accelerating AI-driven datacenter investment as a key demand driver and pointed to strong customer engagement around both 800G transceivers and emerging 1.6 Tb products. The company also said it anticipates sequential revenue growth through 2026, with significantly larger growth expected starting in the third quarter as additional capacity comes online.
Applied Optoelectronics' data center business is benefiting from the rapid expansion of AI infrastructure and cloud computing, which require significantly higher bandwidth and faster optical connectivity. The company supplies high-speed optical transceivers used in hyperscale data centers to connect servers, switches and GPUs, with growing demand for 400G, 800G and next-generation 1.6T solutions.
As cloud service providers continue to invest heavily in AI clusters and network upgrades, AAOI is experiencing stronger order volumes and an improving product mix. Its vertically integrated manufacturing model enables tighter cost control, faster production scaling and greater pricing competitiveness, helping the company capitalize on the industry's transition to higher-speed optical networking.
Taking a Look at Some Other AI StocksMicron Technology (MU - Free Report) is poised to be the key beneficiary of surging AI-related infrastructure spending, as companies continue to build out GPU clusters and AI data centers that require advanced memory solutions. AI PCs are an important part of Micron’s growth plan. An expanding partner base that includes the likes of NVIDIA, AMD and Intel is enabling Micron to capture a larger share of the AI infrastructure market. Deepening relationships with major cloud and enterprise customers ensures stable revenue streams and reduces the risk of pricing volatility.
Micron’s transformation as a key AI infrastructure supplier, supported by surging AI-driven High Bandwidth Memory or HBM demand, explosive revenue growth, expanding margins, strong cash generation and its Anthropic partnership, provides multiple catalysts for significant upside.
Teradyne (TER - Free Report) is benefiting from strong AI-related demand, which is driving significant investments in cloud AI build-out as customers accelerate production of a wide range of AI accelerators, networking, memory and power devices.
The company is being aided by the growing demand for AI infrastructure, which is driving robust growth across its semiconductor test business. Teradyne expects robust growth in the semiconductor test market, particularly in the compute segment, which is projected to expand significantly due to the rapid build-out of AI data centers and the growth of edge AI.
AAOI’s Price Performance, Valuation & EstimatesShares of AAOI have surged in triple digits (% wise) over the past six months, outperforming the Zacks Electronics - Semiconductors industry’s return.
6-Month Price ComparisonImage Source: Zacks Investment Research
In terms of forward 12-month Price/Sales (P/S), Applied Optoelectronics is trading at a discount compared with its industry.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
See how the Zacks Consensus Estimate for AAOI’s earnings has been revised over the past 90 days.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
AAOI’s Zacks RankAAOI currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
Key Takeaways LUNR is expanding lunar surface technologies to support future exploration missions.LUNR combines transportation, surface systems and mission technologies across the lunar value chain.LUNR is building capabilities for payload deployment, mobility and sustained lunar operations. Intuitive Machines, Inc. (LUNR - Free Report) continues expanding its role in the lunar economy by developing technologies that support operations on the Moon's surface. Beyond lunar transportation, the company is advancing capabilities that enable payload deployment, surface mobility, mission operations and infrastructure supporting future lunar exploration. This strategy positions Intuitive Machines to participate in multiple stages of lunar missions while broadening its long-term growth opportunities.
Developing lunar surface infrastructure allows the company to support increasingly complex exploration activities. Intuitive Machines is expanding technologies that help customers operate scientific payloads, conduct surface missions and perform activities required for sustained lunar operations. These capabilities complement the company's lunar transportation services while strengthening its ability to support government and commercial exploration programs.
The company's broader portfolio also creates opportunities to participate across multiple elements of the lunar value chain. By combining transportation, surface systems and mission technologies, Intuitive Machines can support customers from mission planning through surface operations. This integrated approach strengthens customer relationships while expanding the company's addressable market within the growing lunar economy.
As interest in long-term lunar exploration continues to increase, demand for reliable surface infrastructure is expected to grow alongside it. Intuitive Machines' continued investment in these capabilities positions the company to support future lunar missions while strengthening its presence across the evolving space sector.
Companies Expanding Lunar Exploration CapabilitiesAs interest in lunar exploration continues to grow, aerospace companies are expanding technologies that support future missions to the Moon. Companies like Lockheed Martin Corporation (LMT - Free Report) and Rocket Lab Corporation (RKLB - Free Report) are also strengthening their capabilities in this area.
Lockheed Martin is advancing lunar spacecraft, surface systems and exploration technologies that support sustained operations and future Artemis missions.
Rocket Lab is expanding its lunar exploration capabilities through spacecraft platforms, deep-space mission technologies and components that aid government and commercial lunar missions.
Earnings Estimates for LUNRThe Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2026 and 2027 earnings per share suggests a year-over-year decline of 2.38% and growth of 94.78%, respectively.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
LUNR Stock Trading at a PremiumLUNR is trading at a premium relative to the industry, with a forward 12-month price-to-sales of 4.6X compared with the industry average of 2.62X.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
LUNR Stock Price PerformanceOver the past year, LUNR shares have surged 96.9% compared with the industry’s 6.1% growth.
NEW YORK, June 30, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Lowey Dannenberg P.C., a preeminent law firm in obtaining redress for consumers and investors, is investigating Tennant Company (NYSE: TNC) (“Tennant” or the “Company”) for potential violations of the federal securities laws.
On February 24, 2026, Tennant revealed that the rollout of its new ERP system in North America caused severe operational disruptions, including the inability to process and ship customer orders following the launch of the system. As a result, Tennant lost roughly $30 million in sales and would need to spend more than $20 million in 2026 to remediate the issues, compared to roughly $5 million the company had planned to spend.
This revelation came after Tennant repeatedly assured investors that the project was “progressing as we’ve anticipated,” was “on time and on budget,” and that the launch of the ERP in its Asia-Pacific region had been “successful,” with Tennant stating it had “mitigated disruptions and stabilized operations.”
This news caused the price of Tennant stock to drop $19.28 per share, more than 23%, from a closing price of $82.30 per share on February 23, 2026, to $63.02 per share on February 24, 2026.
“We urge Tennant investors to reach out and check their eligibility,” said Andrea Farah, Partner and Head of Securities Practice at Lowey Dannenberg, P.C. “Investors can either email us directly or check their eligibility on our case management platform, Claim Magic.”
If you suffered a loss in Tennant securities and wish to participate, check your eligibility through Lowey’s case management platform, https://claimmagic.com/cases/tennant-company. Alternatively, you can contact our attorneys Andrea Farah ([email protected]) at (914)733-7256 or Vincent R. Cappucci Jr. ([email protected]) at (914)733-7278.
About Lowey Dannenberg
Lowey Dannenberg is a national firm representing institutional and individual investors who suffered financial losses resulting from corporate fraud and malfeasance in violation of federal securities and antitrust laws. The firm has significant experience in prosecuting multi-million-dollar lawsuits and has previously recovered billions of dollars on behalf of investors.
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Contact
Lowey Dannenberg P.C.
44 South Broadway, Suite 1100
White Plains, NY 10601
Tel: (914) 733-7256
Email: [email protected]
C3.ai, Inc. (AI - Free Report) has recently been on Zacks.com's list of the most searched stocks. Therefore, you might want to consider some of the key factors that could influence the stock's performance in the near future.
Shares of this company have returned -24.5% over the past month versus the Zacks S&P 500 composite's -2.9% change. The Zacks Computers - IT Services industry, to which C3.ai belongs, has lost 14.3% over this period. Now the key question is: Where could the stock be headed in the near term?
Although media reports or rumors about a significant change in a company's business prospects usually cause its stock to trend and lead to an immediate price change, there are always certain fundamental factors that ultimately drive the buy-and-hold decision.
Revisions to Earnings EstimatesHere at Zacks, we prioritize appraising the change in the projection of a company's future earnings over anything else. That's because we believe the present value of its future stream of earnings is what determines the fair value for its stock.
Our analysis is essentially based on how sell-side analysts covering the stock are revising their earnings estimates to take the latest business trends into account. When earnings estimates for a company go up, the fair value for its stock goes up as well. And when a stock's fair value is higher than its current market price, investors tend to buy the stock, resulting in its price moving upward. Because of this, empirical studies indicate a strong correlation between trends in earnings estimate revisions and short-term stock price movements.
For the current quarter, C3.ai is expected to post a loss of $0.63 per share, indicating a change of +26.2% from the year-ago quarter. The Zacks Consensus Estimate has changed +7.1% over the last 30 days.
The consensus earnings estimate of -$2.28 for the current fiscal year indicates a year-over-year change of +30.4%. This estimate has changed +8% over the last 30 days.
For the next fiscal year, the consensus earnings estimate of $2.04 indicates a change of +10.4% from what C3.ai is expected to report a year ago. Over the past month, the estimate has changed -6.8%.
With an impressive externally audited track record, our proprietary stock rating tool -- the Zacks Rank -- is a more conclusive indicator of a stock's near-term price performance, as it effectively harnesses the power of earnings estimate revisions. The size of the recent change in the consensus estimate, along with three other factors related to earnings estimates, has resulted in a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) for C3.ai.
The chart below shows the evolution of the company's forward 12-month consensus EPS estimate:
12 Month EPS
Projected Revenue GrowthWhile earnings growth is arguably the most superior indicator of a company's financial health, nothing happens as such if a business isn't able to grow its revenues. After all, it's nearly impossible for a company to increase its earnings for an extended period without increasing its revenues. So, it's important to know a company's potential revenue growth.
In the case of C3.ai, the consensus sales estimate of $51.46 million for the current quarter points to a year-over-year change of -26.8%. The $221.58 million and $240.78 million estimates for the current and next fiscal years indicate changes of -11.5% and +8.7%, respectively.
Last Reported Results and Surprise HistoryC3.ai reported revenues of $51.6 million in the last reported quarter, representing a year-over-year change of -52.5%. EPS of -$0.33 for the same period compares with -$0.16 a year ago.
Compared to the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $49.75 million, the reported revenues represent a surprise of +3.72%. The EPS surprise was +13.16%.
Over the last four quarters, C3.ai surpassed consensus EPS estimates three times. The company topped consensus revenue estimates two times over this period.
ValuationNo investment decision can be efficient without considering a stock's valuation. Whether a stock's current price rightly reflects the intrinsic value of the underlying business and the company's growth prospects is an essential determinant of its future price performance.
While comparing the current values of a company's valuation multiples, such as price-to-earnings (P/E), price-to-sales (P/S), and price-to-cash flow (P/CF), with its own historical values helps determine whether its stock is fairly valued, overvalued, or undervalued, comparing the company relative to its peers on these parameters gives a good sense of the reasonability of the stock's price.
The Zacks Value Style Score (part of the Zacks Style Scores system), which pays close attention to both traditional and unconventional valuation metrics to grade stocks from A to F (an A is better than a B; a B is better than a C; and so on), is pretty helpful in identifying whether a stock is overvalued, rightly valued, or temporarily undervalued.
C3.ai is graded F on this front, indicating that it is trading at a premium to its peers. Click here to see the values of some of the valuation metrics that have driven this grade.
ConclusionThe facts discussed here and much other information on Zacks.com might help determine whether or not it's worthwhile paying attention to the market buzz about C3.ai. However, its Zacks Rank #3 does suggest that it may perform in line with the broader market in the near term.
Rigetti Computing, Inc. (RGTI - Free Report) is one of the stocks most watched by Zacks.com visitors lately. So, it might be a good idea to review some of the factors that might affect the near-term performance of the stock.
Over the past month, shares of this company have returned -24.2%, compared to the Zacks S&P 500 composite's -2.9% change. During this period, the Zacks Internet - Software industry, which Rigetti Computing falls in, has lost 8.7%. The key question now is: What could be the stock's future direction?
Although media reports or rumors about a significant change in a company's business prospects usually cause its stock to trend and lead to an immediate price change, there are always certain fundamental factors that ultimately drive the buy-and-hold decision.
Revisions to Earnings EstimatesRather than focusing on anything else, we at Zacks prioritize evaluating the change in a company's earnings projection. This is because we believe the fair value for its stock is determined by the present value of its future stream of earnings.
We essentially look at how sell-side analysts covering the stock are revising their earnings estimates to reflect the impact of the latest business trends. And if earnings estimates go up for a company, the fair value for its stock goes up. A higher fair value than the current market price drives investors' interest in buying the stock, leading to its price moving higher. This is why empirical research shows a strong correlation between trends in earnings estimate revisions and near-term stock price movements.
Rigetti Computing is expected to post a loss of $0.05 per share for the current quarter, representing a year-over-year change of -10%. Over the last 30 days, the Zacks Consensus Estimate remained unchanged.
The consensus earnings estimate of -$0.22 for the current fiscal year indicates a year-over-year change of -26.5%. This estimate has remained unchanged over the last 30 days.
For the next fiscal year, the consensus earnings estimate of $0.19 indicates a change of +11.6% from what Rigetti Computing is expected to report a year ago. Over the past month, the estimate has remained unchanged.
Having a strong externally audited track record, our proprietary stock rating tool, the Zacks Rank, offers a more conclusive picture of a stock's price direction in the near term, since it effectively harnesses the power of earnings estimate revisions. Due to the size of the recent change in the consensus estimate, along with three other factors related to earnings estimates, Rigetti Computing is rated Zacks Rank #4 (Sell).
Revenue Growth ForecastWhile earnings growth is arguably the most superior indicator of a company's financial health, nothing happens as such if a business isn't able to grow its revenues. After all, it's nearly impossible for a company to increase its earnings for an extended period without increasing its revenues. So, it's important to know a company's potential revenue growth.
For Rigetti Computing, the consensus sales estimate for the current quarter of $4.91 million indicates a year-over-year change of +173%. For the current and next fiscal years, $25.32 million and $52.04 million estimates indicate +257.3% and +105.5% changes, respectively.
Last Reported Results and Surprise HistoryRigetti Computing reported revenues of $4.4 million in the last reported quarter, representing a year-over-year change of +199.3%. EPS of -$0.04 for the same period compares with -$0.08 a year ago.
Compared to the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $3.24 million, the reported revenues represent a surprise of +35.59%. The EPS surprise was +20%.
The company beat consensus EPS estimates in each of the trailing four quarters. The company topped consensus revenue estimates just once over this period.
ValuationNo investment decision can be efficient without considering a stock's valuation. Whether a stock's current price rightly reflects the intrinsic value of the underlying business and the company's growth prospects is an essential determinant of its future price performance.
While comparing the current values of a company's valuation multiples, such as price-to-earnings (P/E), price-to-sales (P/S), and price-to-cash flow (P/CF), with its own historical values helps determine whether its stock is fairly valued, overvalued, or undervalued, comparing the company relative to its peers on these parameters gives a good sense of the reasonability of the stock's price.
The Zacks Value Style Score (part of the Zacks Style Scores system), which pays close attention to both traditional and unconventional valuation metrics to grade stocks from A to F (an A is better than a B; a B is better than a C; and so on), is pretty helpful in identifying whether a stock is overvalued, rightly valued, or temporarily undervalued.
Rigetti Computing is graded F on this front, indicating that it is trading at a premium to its peers. Click here to see the values of some of the valuation metrics that have driven this grade.
Bottom LineThe facts discussed here and much other information on Zacks.com might help determine whether or not it's worthwhile paying attention to the market buzz about Rigetti Computing. However, its Zacks Rank #4 does suggest that it may underperform the broader market in the near term.
NASSAU, Bahamas--(BUSINESS WIRE)--OneSpaWorld Holdings Limited (NASDAQ: OSW), the pre-eminent global provider of health and wellness services and products onboard cruise ships and in destination resorts worldwide, and Azamara Cruises, the small-ship cruise line renowned for Destination Immersion®, today announced a series of meaningful enhancements to the onboard spa experience as part of their nearly 20-year partnership. The upgrades will roll out fleetwide across Azamara Cruises vessels as ea.
Brinker International (EAT - Free Report) has recently been on Zacks.com's list of the most searched stocks. Therefore, you might want to consider some of the key factors that could influence the stock's performance in the near future.
Shares of this operator of restaurant chains Chili's Grill & Bar and Maggiano's Little Italy have returned +18.3% over the past month versus the Zacks S&P 500 composite's -2.9% change. The Zacks Retail - Restaurants industry, to which Brinker International belongs, has gained 1.6% over this period. Now the key question is: Where could the stock be headed in the near term?
Although media reports or rumors about a significant change in a company's business prospects usually cause its stock to trend and lead to an immediate price change, there are always certain fundamental factors that ultimately drive the buy-and-hold decision.
Revisions to Earnings EstimatesRather than focusing on anything else, we at Zacks prioritize evaluating the change in a company's earnings projection. This is because we believe the fair value for its stock is determined by the present value of its future stream of earnings.
Our analysis is essentially based on how sell-side analysts covering the stock are revising their earnings estimates to take the latest business trends into account. When earnings estimates for a company go up, the fair value for its stock goes up as well. And when a stock's fair value is higher than its current market price, investors tend to buy the stock, resulting in its price moving upward. Because of this, empirical studies indicate a strong correlation between trends in earnings estimate revisions and short-term stock price movements.
Brinker International is expected to post earnings of $3.08 per share for the current quarter, representing a year-over-year change of +23.8%. Over the last 30 days, the Zacks Consensus Estimate remained unchanged.
The consensus earnings estimate of $10.75 for the current fiscal year indicates a year-over-year change of +20.8%. This estimate has remained unchanged over the last 30 days.
For the next fiscal year, the consensus earnings estimate of $12.42 indicates a change of +15.6% from what Brinker International is expected to report a year ago. Over the past month, the estimate has remained unchanged.
Having a strong externally audited track record, our proprietary stock rating tool, the Zacks Rank, offers a more conclusive picture of a stock's price direction in the near term, since it effectively harnesses the power of earnings estimate revisions. Due to the size of the recent change in the consensus estimate, along with three other factors related to earnings estimates, Brinker International is rated Zacks Rank #3 (Hold).
The chart below shows the evolution of the company's forward 12-month consensus EPS estimate:
12 Month EPS
Projected Revenue GrowthEven though a company's earnings growth is arguably the best indicator of its financial health, nothing much happens if it cannot raise its revenues. It's almost impossible for a company to grow its earnings without growing its revenue for long periods. Therefore, knowing a company's potential revenue growth is crucial.
For Brinker International, the consensus sales estimate for the current quarter of $1.53 billion indicates a year-over-year change of +4.7%. For the current and next fiscal years, $5.81 billion and $6.11 billion estimates indicate +7.9% and +5.3% changes, respectively.
Last Reported Results and Surprise HistoryBrinker International reported revenues of $1.47 billion in the last reported quarter, representing a year-over-year change of +3.2%. EPS of $2.9 for the same period compares with $2.66 a year ago.
Compared to the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.48 billion, the reported revenues represent a surprise of -0.59%. The EPS surprise was +1.75%.
The company beat consensus EPS estimates in each of the trailing four quarters. The company topped consensus revenue estimates three times over this period.
ValuationWithout considering a stock's valuation, no investment decision can be efficient. In predicting a stock's future price performance, it's crucial to determine whether its current price correctly reflects the intrinsic value of the underlying business and the company's growth prospects.
Comparing the current value of a company's valuation multiples, such as its price-to-earnings (P/E), price-to-sales (P/S), and price-to-cash flow (P/CF), to its own historical values helps ascertain whether its stock is fairly valued, overvalued, or undervalued, whereas comparing the company relative to its peers on these parameters gives a good sense of how reasonable its stock price is.
The Zacks Value Style Score (part of the Zacks Style Scores system), which pays close attention to both traditional and unconventional valuation metrics to grade stocks from A to F (an A is better than a B; a B is better than a C; and so on), is pretty helpful in identifying whether a stock is overvalued, rightly valued, or temporarily undervalued.
Brinker International is graded B on this front, indicating that it is trading at a discount to its peers. Click here to see the values of some of the valuation metrics that have driven this grade.
ConclusionThe facts discussed here and much other information on Zacks.com might help determine whether or not it's worthwhile paying attention to the market buzz about Brinker International. However, its Zacks Rank #3 does suggest that it may perform in line with the broader market in the near term.
Investors often turn to recommendations made by Wall Street analysts before making a Buy, Sell, or Hold decision about a stock. While media reports about rating changes by these brokerage-firm employed (or sell-side) analysts often affect a stock's price, do they really matter?
Let's take a look at what these Wall Street heavyweights have to say about Brinker International (EAT - Free Report) before we discuss the reliability of brokerage recommendations and how to use them to your advantage.
Brinker International currently has an average brokerage recommendation (ABR) of 1.59, on a scale of 1 to 5 (Strong Buy to Strong Sell), calculated based on the actual recommendations (Buy, Hold, Sell, etc.) made by 23 brokerage firms. An ABR of 1.59 approximates between Strong Buy and Buy.
Of the 23 recommendations that derive the current ABR, 15 are Strong Buy and two are Buy. Strong Buy and Buy respectively account for 65.2% and 8.7% of all recommendations.
Brokerage Recommendation Trends for EAT
Check price target & stock forecast for Brinker International here>>>
The ABR suggests buying Brinker International, but making an investment decision solely on the basis of this information might not be a good idea. According to several studies, brokerage recommendations have little to no success guiding investors to choose stocks with the most potential for price appreciation.
Do you wonder why? As a result of the vested interest of brokerage firms in a stock they cover, their analysts tend to rate it with a strong positive bias. According to our research, brokerage firms assign five "Strong Buy" recommendations for every "Strong Sell" recommendation.
In other words, their interests aren't always aligned with retail investors, rarely indicating where the price of a stock could actually be heading. Therefore, the best use of this information could be validating your own research or an indicator that has proven to be highly successful in predicting a stock's price movement.
Zacks Rank, our proprietary stock rating tool with an impressive externally audited track record, categorizes stocks into five groups, ranging from Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) to Zacks Rank #5 (Strong Sell), and is an effective indicator of a stock's price performance in the near future. Therefore, using the ABR to validate the Zacks Rank could be an efficient way of making a profitable investment decision.
ABR Should Not Be Confused With Zacks RankAlthough both Zacks Rank and ABR are displayed in a range of 1--5, they are different measures altogether.
Broker recommendations are the sole basis for calculating the ABR, which is typically displayed in decimals (such as 1.28). The Zacks Rank, on the other hand, is a quantitative model designed to harness the power of earnings estimate revisions. It is displayed in whole numbers -- 1 to 5.
It has been and continues to be the case that analysts employed by brokerage firms are overly optimistic with their recommendations. Because of their employers' vested interests, these analysts issue more favorable ratings than their research would support, misguiding investors far more often than helping them.
In contrast, the Zacks Rank is driven by earnings estimate revisions. And near-term stock price movements are strongly correlated with trends in earnings estimate revisions, according to empirical research.
In addition, the different Zacks Rank grades are applied proportionately to all stocks for which brokerage analysts provide current-year earnings estimates. In other words, this tool always maintains a balance among its five ranks.
Another key difference between the ABR and Zacks Rank is freshness. The ABR is not necessarily up-to-date when you look at it. But, since brokerage analysts keep revising their earnings estimates to account for a company's changing business trends, and their actions get reflected in the Zacks Rank quickly enough, it is always timely in indicating future price movements.
Is EAT a Good Investment?Looking at the earnings estimate revisions for Brinker International, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for the current year has remained unchanged over the past month at $10.75.
Analysts' steady views regarding the company's earnings prospects, as indicated by an unchanged consensus estimate, could be a legitimate reason for the stock to perform in line with the broader market in the near term.
The size of the recent change in the consensus estimate, along with three other factors related to earnings estimates, has resulted in a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) for Brinker International. You can see the complete list of today's Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) stocks here >>>>
It may therefore be prudent to be a little cautious with the Buy-equivalent ABR for Brinker International.
When deciding whether to buy, sell, or hold a stock, investors often rely on analyst recommendations. Media reports about rating changes by these brokerage-firm-employed (or sell-side) analysts often influence a stock's price, but are they really important?
Before we discuss the reliability of brokerage recommendations and how to use them to your advantage, let's see what these Wall Street heavyweights think about Cava Group (CAVA - Free Report) .
Cava currently has an average brokerage recommendation (ABR) of 1.86, on a scale of 1 to 5 (Strong Buy to Strong Sell), calculated based on the actual recommendations (Buy, Hold, Sell, etc.) made by 29 brokerage firms. An ABR of 1.86 approximates between Strong Buy and Buy.
Of the 29 recommendations that derive the current ABR, 17 are Strong Buy and one is Buy. Strong Buy and Buy respectively account for 58.6% and 3.5% of all recommendations.
Brokerage Recommendation Trends for CAVA
Check price target & stock forecast for Cava here>>>
While the ABR calls for buying Cava, it may not be wise to make an investment decision solely based on this information. Several studies have shown limited to no success of brokerage recommendations in guiding investors to pick stocks with the best price increase potential.
Do you wonder why? As a result of the vested interest of brokerage firms in a stock they cover, their analysts tend to rate it with a strong positive bias. According to our research, brokerage firms assign five "Strong Buy" recommendations for every "Strong Sell" recommendation.
In other words, their interests aren't always aligned with retail investors, rarely indicating where the price of a stock could actually be heading. Therefore, the best use of this information could be validating your own research or an indicator that has proven to be highly successful in predicting a stock's price movement.
Zacks Rank, our proprietary stock rating tool with an impressive externally audited track record, categorizes stocks into five groups, ranging from Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) to Zacks Rank #5 (Strong Sell), and is an effective indicator of a stock's price performance in the near future. Therefore, using the ABR to validate the Zacks Rank could be an efficient way of making a profitable investment decision.
ABR Should Not Be Confused With Zacks RankIn spite of the fact that Zacks Rank and ABR both appear on a scale from 1 to 5, they are two completely different measures.
The ABR is calculated solely based on brokerage recommendations and is typically displayed with decimals (example: 1.28). In contrast, the Zacks Rank is a quantitative model allowing investors to harness the power of earnings estimate revisions. It is displayed in whole numbers -- 1 to 5.
Analysts employed by brokerage firms have been and continue to be overly optimistic with their recommendations. Since the ratings issued by these analysts are more favorable than their research would support because of the vested interest of their employers, they mislead investors far more often than they guide.
In contrast, the Zacks Rank is driven by earnings estimate revisions. And near-term stock price movements are strongly correlated with trends in earnings estimate revisions, according to empirical research.
In addition, the different Zacks Rank grades are applied proportionately to all stocks for which brokerage analysts provide current-year earnings estimates. In other words, this tool always maintains a balance among its five ranks.
There is also a key difference between the ABR and Zacks Rank when it comes to freshness. When you look at the ABR, it may not be up-to-date. Nonetheless, since brokerage analysts constantly revise their earnings estimates to reflect changing business trends, and their actions get reflected in the Zacks Rank quickly enough, it is always timely in predicting future stock prices.
Is CAVA a Good Investment?In terms of earnings estimate revisions for Cava, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for the current year has remained unchanged over the past month at $0.55.
Analysts' steady views regarding the company's earnings prospects, as indicated by an unchanged consensus estimate, could be a legitimate reason for the stock to perform in line with the broader market in the near term.
The size of the recent change in the consensus estimate, along with three other factors related to earnings estimates, has resulted in a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) for Cava. You can see the complete list of today's Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) stocks here >>>>
It may therefore be prudent to be a little cautious with the Buy-equivalent ABR for Cava.
Although the Ethereum (ETH) price has been trapped in a five-year consolidation, Robert Kiyosaki, author of Rich Dad Poor Dad, has predicted a parabolic rally after an imminent stock market crash.
Kiyosaki predicted that the ETH price could experience a meteoric rise to $95,000 a year after the ‘biggest bubble bust’ in history, according to his X post analyzed by Finbold on June 30. Kiyosaki predicted that a global financial crisis is on the horizon and could be the catalyst that propels Ethereum into an exponential bull market.
“I do not know what pin, what event will pop the biggest bubbles in history. Whatever the event, the pin is near. It’s not if. It’s when,” Kiyosaki stated.
The financial educator stated that Ethereum is poised to benefit significantly alongside Bitcoin (BTC), Gold, and Silver. Notably, he predicted that the gold price could reach $35,000/oz, the silver price $200/oz, and the Bitcoin price $750,000.
Why is Kiyosaki bullish on Ethereum Price? Kiyosaki could be predicting a monster rally for ETH after the imminent stock market crash, given the altcoin’s institutional demand. For instance, 40.3 million Ethereum has already been staked, representing about 33.3% of the total circulating supply, according to data from CryptoQuant.
ETH total value staked. Source: CryptoQuant Kiyosaki’s bullish outlook for ETH is partially fueled by notable cash inflows into United States Ethereum ETFs (Exchange-Traded Funds), as per metrics from SoSoValue. At the time of reporting, the U.S. spot ETH ETFs had registered a net cash inflow of approximately $10.87 billion, led by BlackRock’s iShares Ethereum Trust (ETHA) and Fidelity Ethereum Fund (FETH).
ETH ETFs data. Source: SoSoValue Meanwhile, BitMine Immersion Technologies Inc. (NYSE: BMNR) has led more than 30 entities in accumulating over 7.7 million ETH, representing 6.39% of the total circulating supply, according to updates from CoinGecko. With the Clarity Act, a U.S. bill that would establish clear rules for the cryptocurrency industry, anticipated to be enacted in the near term, Kiyosaki’s prediction is bolstered by Ethereum’s strong fundamentals.
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SummarySandisk Corporation is rated a Buy with 15-20% upside, driven by a structural shift beyond cyclical NAND margins.SNDK's entry into High Bandwidth Flash positions it as a critical AI memory supplier, potentially earning a premium component multiple.Post-spinoff independence enables disciplined supply management, supporting higher normalized margins and reducing downside risk for SNDK from historical cycles.Datacenter SSD mix-shift and contracted enterprise revenue provide a higher earnings floor, challenging legacy bear-cycle assumptions. Getty Images
Thesis Sandisk Corporation (SNDK) aka SanDisk has had an awe-inspiring run to the top of the S&P 500 (SP500), inspiring bulls and bears to ask a similar question: how long can the NAND Supercycle and
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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.
CHANTILLY, Va.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- #ASCEND--Amentum (NYSE: AMTM), a global leader in advanced engineering and technology solutions, has been awarded NASA's Consolidated Spaceflight Mission Operations and Systems (COSMOS) contract. The award comes through the ASCEND Aerospace & Technology, LLC, a joint venture between Amentum and Aerodyne Industries, LLC, formed under the Small Business Administration's Mentor-Protégé Program. The COSMOS work reinforces Amentum's vital role in the U.S. space program in.
Amentum (NYSE: AMTM), a global leader in advanced engineering and technology solutions, has been awarded NASA’s Consolidated Spaceflight Mission Operations and Systems (COSMOS) contract. The award comes through the ASCEND Aerospace & Technology, LLC, a joint venture between Amentum and Aerodyne Industries, LLC, formed under the Small Business Administration’s Mentor-Protégé Program.
This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260630998168/en/
Mission Control Center at NASA’s Johnson Space Center; image courtesy of NASA
The COSMOS work reinforces Amentum's vital role in the U.S. space program in support of the NASA mission to explore new frontiers and advance human understanding.
“Amentum’s proven track record in enabling complex spaceflight missions makes us an ideal partner to advance U.S. leadership in space,” said Mark Walter, president for the Engineering and Technology business at Amentum. “Through the ASCEND partnership, we’re delivering the space systems and training solutions to facilitate NASA’s ambitious goals for deep-space exploration and scientific discovery.”
Under the COSMOS contract, ASCEND will deliver critical mission operations, systems, and training solutions to support NASA’s Flight Operations Directorate at the Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas. This work will play a vital role in advancing some of NASA’s most complex and high-profile programs, including the Orion and Space Launch System (SLS) programs which enable future deep-space exploration as well as International Space Station (ISS) operations and astronaut training programs. Additional programs include the Commercial Crew Program, which expands access to low-Earth orbit and the Artemis program, aimed ultimately at developing a sustained human presence on the lunar surface.
Amentum will provide expertise in Mission Control Center systems, training for both astronauts and instructors, flight controller readiness, training systems development, and mockup environments that replicate real-world conditions, delivering mission-ready solutions as a trusted partner to NASA and the U.S. space enterprise.
About Amentum
Amentum is a global leader in advanced engineering and innovative technology solutions, trusted by the United States and its allies to address their most significant and complex challenges in science, security and sustainability. Our people apply undaunted curiosity, relentless ambition and boundless imagination to challenge convention and drive progress. Our commitments are underpinned by the belief that safety, collaboration and well-being are integral to success.Headquartered in Chantilly, Virginia, we have approximately 50,000 employees in more than 70 countries across all 7 continents.
Visit us at amentum.com to learn how we advance the future together.
Follow @Amentum_corp on X
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About Aerodyne
Aerodyne Industries LLC is a Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business (SDVOSB) headquartered in Cape Canaveral, FL with a primary focus on serving our NASA, DoD, and federal customer programs and resolving their most challenging technical issues. Visit https://www.aerodyneindustries.com.
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains or incorporates by reference statements by Amentum Holdings, Inc. (the “Company”) that relate to future events and expectations and, as such, constitute “forward-looking statements” as that term is defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and other federal securities laws. These forward-looking statements may be characterized by terminology such as “believe,” “project,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “estimate,” “forecast,” “outlook,” “target,” “endeavor,” “seek,” “predict,” “intend,” “strategy,” “plan,” “may,” “could,” “should,” “will,” “would,” “will be,” “will continue,” “will likely result,” or the negative thereof or variations thereon or similar terminology generally intended to identify forward-looking statements. All statements, other than historical facts, including, but not limited to, statements regarding the anticipated work and revenue under the awarded contract, and the Company’s objectives, expectations and intentions, applicable legal, economic and regulatory conditions, and any assumptions underlying any of the foregoing, are forward-looking statements.
A number of important factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in or implied by these forward-looking statements, including those factors discussed in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), including, among others: the occurrence of an accident or safety incident; the ability of the Company to control costs, meet performance requirements or contractual schedules; and other factors set forth under Item 1A, Risk Factors in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 27, 2024, which can be found at the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov or the Investor Relations portion of our website at www.amentum.com. Any forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date on which it is made, and the Company assumes no obligation to update or revise such statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by applicable law.
View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260630998168/en/
PHILADELPHIA, June 30, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- 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.
Headquartered in Hong Kong, Futu is an online brokerage and wealth management company that provides securities trading, investment, and financial services to retail investors.
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 required regulatory approvals. The complaint further alleges that, on December 30, 2022, the China Securities Regulatory Commission (“CSRC”) stated that Futu had conducted cross-border securities business with domestic investors in mainland China without regulatory consent, resulting in restrictions on opening new accounts for mainland Chinese investors and soliciting new business from mainland investors.
The truth allegedly began to emerge on May 22, 2026, when Reuters reported that the CSRC, together with seven other Chinese government agencies, had launched a regulatory crackdown targeting brokers allegedly operating without approval. That same day, Futu disclosed that it had received a Notification Letter from the CSRC imposing 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 Chief Executive Officer, Li Hua. Following these disclosures, Futu's stock price fell $34.10 per share, or 27.5%, to close at $89.76 on May 22, 2026.
The truth allegedly continued to emerge on May 28, 2026, when Futu reported first-quarter 2026 financial results reflecting the proposed regulatory penalties, including approximately RMB470 million in confiscated alleged illegal gains and approximately RMB1.38 billion in fines. Following this disclosure, the Company's stock price fell an additional $5.31 per share, or 4.8%, to close at $104.91.
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:
LOS ANGELES, June 30, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Portnoy Law Firm advises Futu Holdings Limited, (“Futu” or the "Company") (NASDAQ: FUTU) investors of a class action on behalf of investors that bought securities between May 24, 2023 and May 27, 2026, inclusive (the “Class Period”). Futu investors have until August 25, 2026 to file a lead plaintiff motion.
Investors are encouraged to contact attorney Lesley F. Portnoy, by phone 310-692-8883 or email: [email protected], to discuss their legal rights, or join the case via https://portnoylaw.com/futu-holdings-limited. The Portnoy Law Firm can provide a complimentary case evaluation and discuss investors’ options for pursuing claims to recover their losses.
The Futu class action lawsuit alleges that defendants throughout the Class Period made false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that: (i) Futu was not in compliance with the requirements of the China Securities Regulatory Commission (“CSRC”), including because Futu continued to conduct securities business, public fund sales business, and futures business in mainland China without obtaining the requisite licenses or approval; (ii) as a result, Futu was reasonably likely to face regulatory penalties, including the disgorgement of ill-gotten gains and other penalties; and (iii) as a result of the foregoing, Futu’s financial results were overstated.
On May 22, 2026, pre-market, Futu issued a press release allegedly disclosing that it had received a notification letter from the CSRC stating that “certain Futu entities in mainland China and Hong Kong . . . without obtaining the requisite licenses or approval, conducted securities business, public fund sales business and futures business in mainland China” and that the CSRC “proposes to order the Related Companies to rectify or cease such activities, confiscate illegal gains, and impose fines, with the total proposed penalty amounting to approximately RMB1.85 billion (approximately USD271 million).” The Futu class action lawsuit further alleges that the regulatory authority “proposes to impose a personal fine of RMB1.25 million (approximately USD 183,575) on Mr. LI Hua, the founder and CEO of the Company.” On this news, the price of Futu stock fell more than 27%, according to the complaint.
Then, on May 28, 2026, before the market opened, Futu issued a press release reporting financial results for the first quarter of 2026, allegedly including the proposed penalties comprised of “(i) confiscation of illegal gains of approximately RMB470 million [approximately $69.21 million USD] and (ii) imposition of fines of approximately RMB1.38 billion [approximately $20 billion USD] in an aggregate amount of approximately RMB1.85 billion.” On this news, the price of Futu stock declined nearly 5%, according to the complaint.
The Portnoy Law Firm represents investors in pursuing claims caused by corporate wrongdoing. The Firm’s founding partner has recovered over $5.5 billion for aggrieved investors. Attorney advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes.
Lesley F. Portnoy, Esq.
Admitted CA, NY and TX Bar [email protected]
310-692-8883
www.portnoylaw.com
Key Takeaways DOE aims for at least three advanced reactors to achieve criticality by July 4, 2026.OKLO, SMR and NNE may benefit as policy support accelerates advanced nuclear development.Testing, licensing and project execution remain key factors for advanced nuclear stocks. The U.S. nuclear industry is approaching a milestone that could shape the future of advanced reactor development. Under the Department of Energy’s (“DOE”) Reactor Pilot Program, the goal is to have at least three advanced reactors achieve criticality by July 4, 2026. Criticality means a reactor has achieved a self-sustaining nuclear chain reaction, an essential step before it can eventually generate electricity commercially. While it does not mean the reactor is ready to produce power immediately, reaching this stage validates years of design, engineering and regulatory work and marks meaningful progress toward commercialization.
Among publicly traded companies, Oklo Inc. (OKLO - Free Report) , NuScale Power (SMR - Free Report) and NANO Nuclear Energy (NNE - Free Report) are likely to remain in focus as investors assess which companies stand to benefit from the renewed policy support for advanced nuclear technology.
A Faster Path for Advanced ReactorsThe DOE launched the Reactor Pilot Program in 2025 to accelerate the testing and demonstration of first-of-a-kind advanced reactors. The program was created under Executive Order 14301, which directed the DOE to streamline approvals and target at least three reactors reaching criticality by this Independence Day.
Two projects have already crossed this important milestone. Antares Nuclear's Mark-0 reactor achieved criticality on June 4, becoming the first U.S. non-light-water reactor to do so in more than four decades. Valar Atomics followed on June 18 with its Ward 250 microreactor, while Aalo Atomics is expected to become the third reactor to reach criticality before the July 4 deadline.
Recent comments from U.S. policymakers suggest confidence in achieving the target of having three advanced reactors reach criticality by July 4. Officials have described the current period as the beginning of a new phase for advanced nuclear development, supported by faster regulatory processes and stronger policy backing. They also believe that some small modular reactors (SMRs) could begin generating electricity as early as next year, with wider commercial deployment expected before 2028. If that timeline holds, it could improve investor confidence in the long-term outlook for the advanced nuclear industry.
What It Means for Oklo, NuScale and NANO NuclearAlthough Oklo, NuScale and NANO Nuclear are not the reactors currently racing toward the July 4 milestone, the broader policy environment could benefit the entire advanced nuclear sector.
OKLO has one of the closest links to the DOE's broader effort. The company is developing its Pluto project under the Reactor Pilot Program and is targeting July 4, 2026 criticality for its Groves isotope test reactor. OKLO is also moving forward with its Aurora-INL project while expanding into fuel fabrication and fuel recycling. This gives the Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) company exposure to several parts of the nuclear value chain rather than relying on reactor development alone.
You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
NuScale stands out for its regulatory progress. Its SMR technology has already received key U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission approvals, and the company uses commercially available low-enriched uranium fuel. NuScale is also working on large-scale deployment opportunities through projects in the United States and Romania, positioning it as one of the more commercially advanced SMR developers.
NANO Nuclear is focused on smaller microreactors through its KRONOS MMR design. The company is preparing to begin the NRC licensing process for its first deployment at the University of Illinois after its construction permit application is formally accepted. At the same time, NANO Nuclear is pursuing opportunities in AI data centers, industrial facilities and defense applications while expanding partnerships that could support future commercialization.
Beyond the July 4 DeadlineThe significance of the July 4 target extends well beyond one milestone. The administration ultimately wants U.S. nuclear capacity to reach roughly 400 gigawatts by 2050, with advanced reactors expected to serve military bases, data centers, industrial facilities and export markets. The DOE is also expanding testing infrastructure through initiatives such as the Nuclear Energy Launch Pad to provide developers with a more permanent pathway from demonstration to commercial deployment.
For investors, this means the investment case is no longer centered on a single reactor announcement. Instead, OKLO, NuScale and NANO Nuclear are increasingly being evaluated within a policy framework designed to shorten development timelines and encourage private investment. Even so, commercial deployment requires additional testing, licensing and execution, making regulatory progress and project delivery important factors to monitor alongside technological advances.
Cerebras (CBRS 3.95%) shares took a hit after the inference chipmaker reported its first quarterly results as a public company after the bell on June 23. After surging on its opening day back on May 14, the stock has been on a steady decline since, and it traded below its $185 IPO price for a short period last week.
Let's take a closer look at the company's results to see whether this weakness presents a buying opportunity for the AI stock.
Image source: The Motley Fool.
Cerebras posted strong revenue growth Cerebras demonstrated rapid revenue growth in Q1, with sales surging 92% year over year to $193.4 million. Its net loss, meanwhile, narrowed to $14 million from $23.9 million a year earlier, while its adjusted loss was just $3.5 million. Hardware revenue climbed 60% year over year to $111.6 million, while core cloud and other service revenue surged 167% to $79.8 million.
The company also announced two major partnerships. It revealed that it signed a $20 billion multi-year deal with OpenAI in late December. It also announced a collaboration with Amazon's cloud computing unit, Amazon Web Services (AWS), to combine Amazon's Trainium chip with Cerebras' CS-3 system to be used within AWS data centers. Given the large size of Cerebras' inference chips and the specialized cooling they require, it only sells them as a full system.
Looking ahead, Cerebras projected full-year 2026 core revenue to be between $855 million and $865 million, representing growth of around 69%. For Q2, it expects revenue to soar 88% to $194 million. It is seeking revenue to accelerate later in the year as cloud deployments ramp up. The AWS partnership will become a bigger contributor in 2027.
One area that disappointed investors was its gross margin guidance. After seeing gross margins expand from 42.1% a year ago to 46.5% in Q1, it forecast that they would drop to between 38% and 41% for the year. The company's CEO later said investors were confused by its gross margin guidance, noting that the only reason they were set to fall was that it decided to rent back some capacity from an existing customer.
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Is it time to buy the dip on Cerebras? Cerebras is uniquely tackling the inference market with its wafer-sized SRAM-based chips. They have superior performance, but given their size and cooling needs, they cost more and right now remain a bit of a niche. However, with the OpenAI and AWS deals, the company has the opportunity to move its technology closer to the mainstream.
That said, with a market cap of around $40 billion and projected revenue of less than $900 million this year, this is an expensive stock. It really needs to show it can upend the inference market to justify its current valuation. As such, I'd consider it a highly speculative stock at this point.
